Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human IL10 Gene Repression by Rev-erbα Ameliorates Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clearance*

Background: Transcriptional modulation of IL10, a cytokine that blocks phagolysosome maturation, is not well understood. Results: This study demonstrates human IL10 gene repression by direct binding of Rev-erbα on Rev-DR2 in the proximal promoter. Conclusion: Rev-erbα binds to IL10 proximal promoter, represses expression, and impedes Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human macrophages. Significance: This study provides rationale to target Rev-erbα as a therapeutic intervention that might support host defense in tuberculosis. Nuclear receptors modulate macrophage effector functions, which are imperative for clearance or survival of mycobacterial infection. The adopted orphan nuclear receptor Rev-erbα is a constitutive transcriptional repressor as it lacks AF2 domain and was earlier shown to be present in macrophages. In the present study, we highlight the differences in the relative subcellular localization of Rev-erbα in monocytes and macrophages. The nuclear localization of Rev-erbα in macrophages is subsequent to monocyte differentiation. Expression analysis of Rev-erbα elucidated it to be considerably more expressed in M1 phenotype in comparison with M2. Rev-erbα overexpression augments antimycobacterial properties of macrophage by keeping IL10 in a basal repressed state. Further, promoter analysis revealed that IL10 promoter harbors a Rev-erbα binding site exclusive to humans and higher order primates and not mouse, demonstrating a species barrier in its functionality. This direct gene repression is mediated by recruitment of co-repressors NCoR and HDAC3. In addition, our data elucidate that its overexpression reduced the survival of intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis by enhancing phagosome lysosome maturation, an event resulting from IL10 repression. Thus, these findings suggest that Rev-erbα bestows protection against mycobacterial infection by direct gene repression of IL10 and thus provide a novel target in modulating macrophage microbicidal properties.
Chronic periodontitis and implant dentistry

Dental implants are regularly placed in patients with a history of periodontitis, even though peri-implant tissues are susceptible to the same host-modulated plaque-induced factors that initiate and sustain periodontitis. This article endeavors to clarify the evidence regarding the history of periodontitis as a risk factor for implant success and survival, and the role of supportive periodontal therapy in maintaining implants for individuals with a history of periodontitis.
Beyond demarcation: Care ethics as an interdisciplinary field of inquiry

Background: For many years the body of literature known as ‘care ethics’ or ‘ethics of care’ has been discussed as regards its status and nature. There is much confusion and little structured discussion. The paper of Klaver et al. (2014) was written as a discussion article to which we respond. Objectives: We aim to contribute to the ongoing discussion about the status and nature of care ethics. Research design: Responding to ‘Demarcation of the ethics of care as a discipline’ by Klaver et al. (2014) and ‘Three versions of an ethics of care’ by Edwards (2009), we identified shared concerns and formulated criticisms of both texts in order to develop an alternative view. Participants and research context: This paper has been written from the academic context of a master in care ethics an policy. Ethical considerations: We have tried to be fair and respectful to the authors discussed. Findings: Both Klaver et al. (2014) and Edwards (2009) raise important concerns about the question if care ethics can be considered an academic discipline, and to what extend it can be seen as a moral theory. Despite shared concerns, their arguments fail to convince us in all respects. Discussion and conclusion: We propose to conceive care ethics as an interdisciplinary field of inquiry, incorporating a dialectical relation between empirical research and theoretical reflection. Departing from the notion of caring as a practice of contributing to a life-sustaining web, we argue that care ethics can only profit from a loosely organized academic profile that allows for flexibility and critical attitude that brings us close to the good emerging in specific practices. This asks for ways of searching for a common focus and interest that is inherently democratic and dialogical and thus beyond demarcation.
The relationship between instability of H2 production and compositions of bacterial communities within a dark fermentation fluidised‐bed bioreactor

Microbial community composition dynamics was studied during H2 fermentation from glucose in a fluidised‐bed bioreactor (FBR) aiming at obtaining insight into the H2 fermentation microbiology and factors resulting in the instability of biofilm processes. FBR H2 production performance was characterised by an instable pattern of prompt onset of H2 production followed by rapid decrease. Gradual enrichment of organisms increased the diversity of FBR attached and suspended‐growth phase bacterial communities during the operation. FBR bacteria included potential H2 producers, H2 consumers and neither H2 producers nor consumers, and those distantly related to any known organisms. The prompt onset of H2 production was due to rapid growth of Clostridium butyricum (99–100%) affiliated strains after starting continuous feed. The proportion trend of C. butyricum in FBR attached and suspended‐growth phase communities coincided with H2 and butyrate production. High glucose loading rate favoured the H2 production by Escherichia coli (100%) affiliated strain. Decrease in H2 production, associated with a shift from acetate–butyrate to acetate–propionate production, was due to changes in FBR attached and suspended‐growth phase bacterial community compositions. During the shift, organisms, including potential propionate producers, were enriched in the communities while the proportion trend of C. butyricum decreased. We suggest that the instability of H2 fermentation in biofilm reactors is due to enrichment and efficient adhesion of H2 consumers on the carrier and, therefore, biofilm reactors may not favour mesophilic H2 fermentation. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97: 742–758. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The second messenger bis‐(3′‐5′)‐cyclic‐GMP and its PilZ domain‐containing receptor Alg44 are required for alginate biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The ubiquitous bacterial second messenger c‐di‐GMP regulates the expression of various virulence determinants in a wide range of bacterial pathogens. Several studies have suggested that proteins with a PilZ domain function as c‐di‐GMP receptors. We have identified in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome eight genes encoding for PilZ orhologues and demonstrated binding of c‐di‐GMP to all but one of these proteins in a direct ligand binding assay. One protein with the PilZ domain, Alg44, is involved in biosynthesis of the extracellular polysaccharide alginate. We have shown that increasing c‐di‐GMP levels by overexpression of highly active diguanylate cyclases, or hydrolysis of c‐di‐GMP by phosphodiesterases, enhanced or reduced formation of alginate in mucoid strains, respectively. We have engineered substitutions in several conserved residues of the PilZ domain of Alg44 determined that they resulted in simultaneous loss of c‐di‐GMP binding and the ability to support production of alginate in P. aeruginosa. A 6xHis‐tagged Alg44 fusion was also shown to localize in the membrane fraction of P. aeruginosa independently from its ability to bind c‐di‐GMP. Alg44 appears to be an essential component of the alginate biosynthetic apparatus, where, following binding of c‐di‐GMP, it controls polymerization or transport of the polysaccharide.
Decreased plasma activity of antithrombin or protein C is not due to consumption coagulopathy in septic patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation

Abstract: We investigated whether depressed plasma antithrombin and protein C activity, considered as a specific finding of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), is due to consumption coagulopathy in septic patients with DIC. An analysis of hemostatic parameters was performed in 139 septic patients (68 with DIC and 71 without DIC). Plasma activity of antithrombin and protein C tended to be significantly decreased in septic patients with DIC but not in those without DIC (p < 0.001). However, when the septic patients were classified into three groups according to the albumin (or choline esterase) level, no significant differences in antithrombin activity or protein C activity were observed between the patients with and without DIC in any of the subgroups. Notably, neither the plasma activity of antithrombin nor protein C was decreased even in septic patients with DIC who had normal plasma levels of albumin (or choline esterase). No significant correlation was observed between plasma levels of thrombin–antithrombin complex (TAT) and antithrombin activity, or between plasma levels of TAT and protein C activity either in septic patients with DIC or without DIC. It is reasonable to conclude that the markedly reduced plasma activity of antithrombin and protein C is not due to consumption coagulopathy in septic patients with DIC.
Use of combination therapy of topical mitomycin C and cyclosporine a as an adjunct to surgery for corneal and conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive squamous cell carcinoma.

To the Editors: This is with regard to the novel report by Zaki et al published in the October 2009 issue of the Cornea in which they have studied the effectiveness of combining topical mitomycin C (MMC, 0.01%) and topical cyclosporine A (0.05%) after surgical excision in intraepithelial and invasive squamous neoplasia of the cornea and conjunctiva. Their attempt to combine the 2 drugs MMC, a cytotoxic agent, and cyclosporine A, an immunomodulator, is commendable. However, there are a few issues that need to be clarified for the effective use of this regimen. It would be useful to know the duration of therapy at which the various toxic effects occurred because some of these effects have been responsible for stoppage of therapy in various studies. Moreover, these side effects like conjunctival hyperemia have been known to occur even with each of these drugs used alone. The duration of therapy in this study was 12 weeks, but in all previously published studies, the maximum duration of therapy was around 21 days even with drug-free intervals. Even with the low concentration of 0.01% of MMC, we feel that 12 weeks would have been an unnecessarily long duration. The purpose of using cyclosporine A in this study has not been clearly elucidateddwas it used to improve ocular surface by increasing tear production, was it used to suppress the malignant cells, or did cyclosporine play a role in reducing the ocular side effects of MMC? Cyclosporine A has been used in concentrations varying from 0.05%, 0.15%, 1%, and 2% in various conditions. Published reports of cyclosporine suggests that it acts by decreasing inflammatory cells like lymphocytes and hence reducing inflammation, but it may require several weeks to produce a therapeutic effect. Even doses as low as 0.002% MMC has been reported to be useful in treatment of corneal conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive carcinoma without any ocular side effects. Hence, the need to use cyclosporine may be completely obviated in further studies. A similar study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology had the same pitfalls. We also feel that the results would have been clearer if a case–control study with 2 groups had been studieddone in which only MMC and another in which the combination was tried.
Verbal fluency as a function of time in autism spectrum disorder: An impairment of initiation processes?

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that the reported discrepancy in the performance of verbal fluency in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by an overall word productivity impairment with normal clustering and switching abilities, may be due to an initiation deficit. In the present study, we evaluated the temporal dynamics of both letter and semantic verbal fluency tasks in a sample of 20 young adults with high-functioning ASD compared with a sample of 20 gender-, age-, education-, and verbal-IQ-matched participants. We first compared both the word productivity and the qualitative analysis of clustering and switching abilities during the entire task to replicate the discrepancy reported in the literature. Importantly, we next analyzed both word productivity and clustering and switching abilities in two time intervals (0–30 s and 31–60 s), as it was our primary interest to evaluate the functioning of the initial component of word retrieval. Directly supporting the idea that the discrepancy found between an impairment in global word productivity combined with normal clustering and switching strategies is due to an activation and initiation deficit, we observed an abnormal performance for the ASD group in the first time period only. We interpreted these results to be preliminary findings of deficits in initiation processes in ASD.
The phenomenology of body memory

Memory comprises not only one’s explicit recollections of the past, but also the acquired dispositions, skills, and habits that implicitly influence one’s present experience and behavior. This implicit memory is based on the habitual structure of the lived body, which connects us to the world through its operative intentionality. The memory of the body appears in different forms, which are classified as procedural, situational, intercorporeal, incorporative, pain, and traumatic memory. The life-long plasticity of body memory enables us to adapt to the natural and social environment, in particular, to become entrenched and to feel at home in social and cultural space. On the other hand, the structures accrued in body memory are an essential basis of our experience of self and identity: The individual history and peculiarity of a person is also expressed by his or her bodily habits and behavior. Finally, sensations or situations experienced by the lived body may function as implicit memory cores, which, under suitable circumstances, can release their enclosed content, as in Proust’s famous madeleine experience. This unfolding or explication of body memory is of particular importance for therapeutic approaches working with bodily experience.
Regeneration of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons following their transection for repair of the anterior cruciate ligament

Apparent regeneration of the tendons of the semiten dinosus and gracilis muscles after their use for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was noted during rou tine followup of 225 patients. From this group, four patients were selected for thorough examination, in cluding magnetic resonance imaging, electromyo graphic studies, strength testing, and clinical examina tion. The results demonstrate that these tendons ap pear to regrow and are probably functional.
CPR, ECLS, BVAD and Successful Heart Transplantation within 2 Months: A Single-centre Case Series in Two Young, High-urgency Listed Patients

Introduction In times of organ shortage, death while on the heart waiting-list still represents a major problem. As a consequence, bridging to transplant as well as the decision when to escalate therapy play a very important role. Methods and results We report on two young patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and acute decompensation who were successfully bridged to heart transplantation with both left and temporary right ventricular assist devices in just 2 months. Conclusions As a permanent biventricular assist device (BVAD) would have definitely impaired the patients' outcome after HTX, we decided to implant an LVAD with a temporary RVAD. In our opinion, this represents a suitable strategy to reduce mortality in HU-listed patients with acute deterioration of cardiac pump function and should be further evaluated in future studies.
Experimental Amebiasis: Immunohistochemical Study of Immune Cell Populations

Abstract Distribution of immune cell populations was studied in a C3H/HeJ mouse model of intestinal amebiasis from 5 to 60 days post-inoculation with Entamoeba histolytica, using immunoperoxidase techniques. At various time intervals, the ceca from mice were fixed in 10% formalin, dehydrated, embedded and sectioned at 5 μm. Sections were incubated with conjugated peroxidase-labelled antibodies to mouse IgA, IgM, and IgG. Color was developed with 3, 3′-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB)/H2O2 solution. CD3, CD4, and CD8 cells, as well as neutrophils were detected by reacting with biotin-conjugated anti-mouse CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD11 monoclonal antibodies, followed by their incubation with avidin-peroxidase and color development with DAB/H2O2 solution. Erythrocin B and toluidine blue were used to stain eosinophils and Mast cells, respectively. It was observed that the IgA+ plasma cell was the dominating immune cell present in the mucosa, although eosinophils, neutrophils, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgM+, IgG+ cells and Mast cells were also seen. Results of this study suggest that infiltration of immune cells at the mucosal surface during intestinal amebiasis might be important in the defense against this parasite.
Hepatocyte growth factor may accelerate healing in chronic leg ulcers: a pilot study

BACKGROUND : Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a heparin-binding protein with mitogenic, motogenic and morphogenic activities for various cell types. The regenerative properties of HGF have been the object of several animal and in vitro studies in recent years. OBJECTIVE : To investigate the physiological and therapeutic effects of HGF on chronic leg ulcers. METHODS : HGF in gel form was locally applied, once daily for 7 days, to 15 of 19 chronic leg ulcers in 11 elderly patients. All patients had previously been treated by conventional methods and their leg ulcers had been in stable conditions for between 1 and 14 years. Any signs of allergy, discomfort or pain were reported daily. Microcirculation perfusion in the ulcers, compared to the intact contiguous skin, was determined by laser Doppler at the beginning of the study, after 1 week and again after 3 months (in seven patients). Ulcer size and characteristics were also documented. RESULTS : It was observed that microcirculatory perfusion, which might reflect the angiogenic effect of HGF, was statistically significantly correlated ( r = 0.94, p < 0.002) to ulcer area reduction in the treated ulcers. Excellent (84-100% area reduction) or partial healing (58-59%) was seen in eight out of 11 patients. No control group was included in this pilot study, which must be completed by proper control studies. CONCLUSION : This study suggests that HGF may heal chronic leg ulcers, possibly by improving the microcirculation. Proper control studies need to be performed.
Measles immunization produces adequate immunological responses with no significant effect on immune function , even among children of low socioeconomic status who suffer from poor nutrition

• Vol 10 • August-September 2008 640 Measles is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children in the Middle East. This region has many hard-to-reach populations, causing difficulties in the provision of adequate immunization coverage. There has been concern that measles vaccine may produce transient immunosuppression in malnourished children and thereby increase their risk for the development of infectious diseases in the immediate post-immunization period. Since the Middle East has a relatively high rate of children suffering from chronic malnutrition, it is important to assess the immune response of these children to measles immunization in order to provide assurance that the measles vaccine, while effective in preventing measles, does not increase the risk for other infectious diseases. Israel is officially part of the European Region of the World Health Organization but belongs geographically to the Middle East. Other countries in the Middle East are included in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the WHO. This paper reviews the progress made in Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the WHO towards achieving the WHO goal of the elimination of measles by the year 2010. In addition, this review summarizes data on humoral and cellular immune responses to measles vaccine that is relevant for programs targeted at the prevention of measles in populations suffering from malnutrition.
Guapimirim , Rio de Janeiro State , southeastern Brazil

We studied the leaf-litter frog community of Estação Ecológica Estadual Paraíso, in Guapimirim, Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. Herein we combined three sampling methods (large plots, visual encounter surveys and pit-fall traps) to present data on species composition, richness, relative abundance and densities. The local assemblage of frogs associated to the leaf-litter was composed by 14 species, belonging to nine families. Haddadus binotatus, a direct-developing frog, was the most abundant species in the community. The estimated density of the local leaflitter frog assemblage based on plot sampling was 4.3 frogs/100 m2. Haddadus binotatus had the highest density (1.1 ind/100 m2). Frogs were predominantly found at night. Thoropa miliaris had the largest values of SVL (39.0 ± 10.3 mm), whereas the smallest species were Euparkerella brasiliensis (16.7 ± 2.2 mm) and E. cochranae (16.0 ± 2.7 mm). Rhinella ornata had the highest mean body mass (12.1 ± 7.5 g), and E. cochranae the lowest (0.4 ± 0.2 g). The overall frog mass was 938.6 g/ha. Our data support that higher densities of leaf-litter frogs tend to occur in the Neotropical region compared to the Old World tropics, tending to be higher in Central America than in South America.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

DR For many years, it has been believed that the gut’s organisms were somehow involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Throughout our history of looking for a cause of IBD, there have been repeated attempts to identify a specific organism or infection as the instigator. Even in the absence of identifying specific organisms, trials of administering broad-spectrum antibiotics to patients, under the assumption that there might be an organism driving the disease, have failed. Nevertheless, there remains interesting indirect evidence that organisms may be involved in what causes IBD, both in the recent observations that patients with IBD have an imbalance in their gut flora, as well as the indirect evidence that, after surgery, patients with Crohn’s disease benefit in the short term from antibiotics that prevent recurrence. Now that improved tools are available to study the organisms that live in the bowel, there is great interest for new studies that will help us understand whether the gut microbiome will elucidate the causes of IBD or else simply tell us more about the effects of the disease processes on that ecosystem.