Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induced neuroprotection independently from PrPSc accumulation in a mouse model for prion disease treated with simvastatin.

BACKGROUND The misfolding and aggregation of specific proteins has emerged as a key feature of several neurodegenerative diseases. In prion diseases, progressive disease and neuronal loss are associated with the accumulation of PrP(Sc), the misfolded isoform of PrP(C). Previous in vitro studies suggest that cholesterol-lowering drugs inhibit the conversion of PrP(C) to PrP(Sc) and the accumulation of the latter, possibly through the disturbance of cholesterol-rich membrane domains (lipid rafts). OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of simvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, on prion disease progression and survival. DESIGN Controlled animal study. SETTING University medical center research laboratory. SUBJECTS Female mice from the FVB/N strain. INTERVENTIONS Peripheral and central nervous system inoculations with scrapie Rocky Mountain Laboratory inoculum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical, immunological, pathological, and molecular assays were performed. RESULTS Simvastatin delayed disease progression, leading to increased survival in peripheral as well as central nervous system inoculations. Simvastatin's beneficial effect is mediated through the l-mevalonate pathway; however, it is independent of brain cholesterol levels. Interestingly, simvastatin treatment induced PrP(Sc) accumulation in parallel with an induced neuroprotective effect. In accordance, we found that simvastatin induced immunomodulatory mechanisms in the brains of infected mice, affecting expression levels of specific microglial chemokines and cytokines. CONCLUSIONS Simvastatin delays prion disease progression and increases survival in vivo, independently of the pathogenic conversion of PrP(C) to PrP(Sc). We show that simvastatin's effects on neuroprotection are correlated with downregulation of Cox2 levels and induction of microglial activation in prion-infected mouse brains.
Heterotrophic plate counts of surface water samples by using impedance methods

Membrane filtration, spread plating, and pour plating are conventional methods used to determine the heterotrophic plate counts of water samples. Impedance methods were investigated as an alternative to conventional methods, since sample dilution is not required and the bacterial count can be estimated within 24 h. Comparisons of impedance signals obtained with different water samples revealed that capacitance produced faster detection times than conductance. Moreover, the correlation between heterotrophic plate count and detection time was highest (r = 0.966) when capacitance was used. Linear and quadratic regressions of heterotrophic plate count and impedance detection time were affected by incubation temperatures. Regressions between heterotrophic plate counts based on conventional methods and detection times of water samples incubated at less than or equal to 25 degrees C had R2 values of 0.878 to 0.933. However, regressions using detection times of water samples incubated at greater than or equal to 30 degrees C had lower R2 values, even though water samples produced faster detection times. Comparisons between broth-based versions of R2A medium and plate count agar revealed that the latter correlated highly with heterotrophic plate count, provided that water samples were incubated at 25 degrees C and impedance measurements were conducted with the capacitance signal (r = 0.966). When the linear regression of this relationship was tested with 100 water samples, the correlation between predicted and actual log10 CFU milliliter-1 was 0.869. These results indicate that impedance methods provide a suitable alternative to conventional methods.
Impaired Self-Awareness After Acquired Brain Injury: Clinicians' Ratings on Its Assessment and Importance for Rehabilitation

Background:Impaired self-awareness is a potential obstacle to successful rehabilitation. Objective:To obtain clinicians' ratings of the importance of self-awareness for brain injury rehabilitation and use of instruments to assess self-awareness. Participants:One hundred sixty-three members of 3 major Dutch organizations for neuropsychology or rehabilitation. Main Measure:Online survey addressing: (1) factors participants consider important for the course and success of rehabilitation, (2) whether they assess patients' levels of self-awareness, and (3) the instruments they use to do so. Results:Of the 163 respondents, 116 (71.2%) considered self-awareness to be important for the course of rehabilitation; 113 (69.3%) considered it to be important for the success of rehabilitation. One hundred fifty-six clinicians (95.7%) reported assessing patients' levels of self-awareness, but only 12 (7.4%) reported using standardized instruments specifically designed for this purpose. The instruments most frequently reported to be used were the Awareness Questionnaire and Patient Competency Rating Scale. Conclusions:It is difficult to capture different aspects of self-awareness in a standardized manner. There is a need for instruments that are valid and reliable and that have good clinical utility.
Judgments of Semantic Anomaly in Agrammatic Patients: Argument Movement, Syntactic Complexity, and the Use of Heuristics

Two studies on the judgment of semantic anomaly of sentences in agrammatic aphasia are reported. The primary question was whether performance on this task would be negatively affected by sentence complexity. In a first experiment, we repeated part of the study by Schwartz, Linebarger, Saffran, and Pate (Language and Cognitive Processing, 2, 85-113, 1987). With a group of 15 Dutch-speaking agrammatics, we obtained a small but significant negative effect of "lexical padding": sentences like "#the puppy ran around excitedly and accidently dropped the little boy onto the wet grass which upset Louise" elicited more errors than their simple counterparts, "#the puppy dropped the little boy. " In our second study, we looked at (a) the effect of sentence embedding (e.g., "the doctor, who was tired of climbing a staircase, examined the patient") and (b) the effect of incorporating a "distractor agent" in the sentences, that is, an NP that could serve as a possible agent of the critical action (e.g., "the doctor, who had talked to the nurse, examined the patient"). In addition we employed sentences with moved arguments (e.g., "it was the patient who the doctor examined"). There were two major conclusions. First, syntactic complexity has a strong negative effect on anomaly judgments. Second, patient use a linear-order strategy to deal with the task. Results are discussed in terms of a range of recent approaches to agrammatic comprehension, not only representational hypotheses, based upon linguistic theory, but also processing accounts.
Phase II trial of docetaxel in patients with advanced or metastatic transitional-cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE A phase II trial of docetaxel was conducted to assess its efficacy and toxicity in patients with advanced transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) who had failed to respond to prior cisplatin-based therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty assessable patients who had failed to respond to or relapsed after one prior cisplatin-containing regimen were treated with docetaxel 100 mg/m2 over 1 hour, every 21 days. All patients were premedicated with dexamethasone and diphenhydramine to reduce allergic reactions. Reductions of subsequent doses were made for severe hematologic toxicity. Prophylactic hematopoietic growth factors were not used. RESULTS Four of 30 patients (13.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8% to 30.7%) demonstrated a partial response (PR), with durations of response ranging from 3 to 8 months. The estimated median survival duration for all patients is 9 months (95% CI, 6 to 12 months) with a median follow-up time of 14 months (range, 1 to 27). Hematologic toxicity included anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and febrile neutropenia. Nonhematologic toxicity included alopecia and mucositis. Fluid retention was not observed and cutaneous toxicity was mild and infrequent. Dose reductions were necessary for adverse events in 18 patients (60%). CONCLUSION Docetaxel is an active single agent in previously treated patients with TCC of the urothelial tract. Therapy was well tolerated in this patient population but myelosuppression was frequent. Further study in previously untreated patients, both alone and in combination, is warranted.
[Clinical study of femtosecond laser corneal small incision lenticule extraction for correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety, efficacy, predictability, stability and complications of femtosecond laser corneal small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedure for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. METHODS In this prospective study, 50 patients (88 eyes) with myopia and myopic astigmatism were chosen to be performed SMILE procedure randomly. These patients were followed up at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively and were examined for uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), manifest refraction, intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal topography. The results were analyzed with paired-t test, independent-samples t test and regression analysis. RESULTS SMILE procedure was performed well in all patients, only 3 cases (3 eyes, 3.4%) suffered from the suction loss, 14 cases (26 eyes, 29.5%) developed opaque bubble layer. All patients gained perfect UCVA (20/20), no eye had decrease of BCVA. The residual spherical equivalent was (-0.11 ± 0.29) D, the astigmatism was (0.01 ± 0.33) D 3 months postoperatively. The incidence of diffuse lamellar keratitis and haze was low, and no other complications were observed. The IOP was decreased slightly after 1 month(t = 6.238, P < 0.05), but no changes after 3 months (t = 0.053, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The SMILE procedure is good at the safety, efficacy, predictability and stability for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism.
The murine IL-13 receptor alpha 2: molecular cloning, characterization, and comparison with murine IL-13 receptor alpha 1.

Two components of a receptor complex for IL-13, the IL-4R and a low affinity IL-13-binding chain, IL-13R alpha 1, have been cloned in mice and humans. An additional high affinity binding chain for IL-13, IL-13R alpha 2, has been described in humans. We isolated a cDNA from the thymus that encodes the murine orthologue of the human IL-13R alpha 2. The predicted protein sequence of murine IL-13R alpha 2 (mIL-13R alpha 2) has 59% overall identity to human IL-13R alpha 2 and is closely related to the murine low affinity IL-13-binding subunit, IL-13R alpha 1. The genes for both mIL-13-binding chains map to the X chromosome. A specific interaction between mIL-13R alpha 2.Fc protein and IL-13 was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance using a BIACORE instrument. Ba/F3 cells that were transfected with mIL-13R alpha 2 expressed 5000 molecules per cell and bound IL-13 with a single Kd of 0.5 to 1.2 nM. However, these cells did not proliferate in response to IL-13, and the IL-4 dose response was unaffected by high concentrations of IL-13. In contrast, the expression of mIL-13R alpha 1 by Ba/F3 cells resulted in a sensitive proliferative response to IL-13. Consistent with its lower affinity for IL-13, IL-13R alpha 1.Fc was 100-fold less effective than IL-13R alpha 2.Fc in neutralizing IL-13 in vitro. These results show that mIL-13R alpha 2 and mIL-13R alpha 1 are not functionally equivalent and predict distinct roles for each polypeptide in IL-13R complex formation and in the modulation of IL-13 signal transduction.
Characterization of proliferation and cellular wound fill in periodontal cells using an in vitro wound model.

BACKGROUND The therapeutic success of periodontal regenerative therapy may be compromised by our limited understanding of the wound healing process. Wound healing requires the coordination of complex cellular and molecular interactions. Recently, using an in vitro wound model, our laboratory has shown that gingival fibroblasts (GF) fill an in vitro wound more rapidly than periodontal ligament cells (PDL). This suggests that there may be differences in the levels of proliferation for these 2 cell types during the wound healing process. Such specific cell type differences may be significant in clinical outcomes of regenerative therapy. Therefore, the aim of this research was to characterize and compare the levels of both proliferation and cellular wound fill between GF and PDL using our in vitro wound model. METHODS Primary cultures of human PDL and GF cells were established from explanted tissue, and passaged to 12-well tissue culture plates. Triplicate cultures of both cell types were grown to confluence and in vitro wounds were mechanically created, removing a 3 mm wide band of the cell layer across the diameter of the wells. The wells were then incubated for 2, 6, or 9 days in media containing either 0.1% or 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). At each time point, cells were pulsed with 5-bromo, 2-deoxyuridine (BrdU), fixed, and nuclei stained to measure DNA synthesis (as a measure for proliferation). Cells were counter stained with cytoplasmic stain to measure cell number. Quantitative analysis distant from (area of interest [AOI 1]), next to (AOI 2), and within the wound boundaries (AOI 3 and 4) was accomplished using computer-assisted histomorphometry. RESULTS The levels of proliferation and cellular fill for each cell type were assessed relative to time and AOI. Overall, the PDL displayed greater (P <0.01) levels of proliferation than the GF. For both cell types, proliferation was found to be significantly (P<0.001) greater at day 2 compared to other time points. PDL displayed greater levels of proliferation than GF in all AOI, with this difference reaching significance (P<0.02) within the cell layer (AOI 1 and 2). When comparing levels of cellular fill in 10% FBS, GF displayed greater wound fill than the PDL. This difference was significant at day 6 (P <0.05) for both the marginal (AOI 3) and central (AOI 4) portions of the wound. CONCLUSIONS These findings, demonstrating unique differences between PDL and GF with respect to proliferation and wound fill in an in vitro model, suggest that there may be cell-specific differences in cellular activity critical to periodontal wound healing. In addition, the results of this study show that the cellular proliferation response may not accurately reflect the overall wound healing response.
Initial safety and feasibility of cold-stored uncrossmatched whole blood transfusion in civilian trauma patients

BACKGROUND The transfusion of cold-stored uncrossmatched whole blood (WB) has not been extensively used in civilian trauma resuscitation. This report details the initial experience with the safety and feasibility of using WB in this setting after a change of practice at a Level 1 trauma center was instituted. METHODS Up to two units of uncrossmatched group O positive WB that was leukoreduced using a platelet-sparing filter from male donors were transfused to male trauma patients with hypotension secondary to bleeding. Hemolytic marker haptoglobin and reports of transfusion reactions in these patients were followed. Additionally, transfusion volumes and outcomes were compared to a historical cohort of male trauma patients who received at least one red blood cell (RBC) unit, but not WB, during the first 24 hours of admission. RESULTS There were 47 WB patients who were transfused with a mean (SD) of 1.74 (0.61) WB units. The median haptoglobin concentration on post-WB transfusion Day 1 was 25.1 (9.3) mg/dL in 7 of 30 non–group O recipients. No adverse reactions in temporal relation to the WB transfusions were reported. There were 145 male historical control patients identified who were resuscitated with component therapy; the median volume of incompatible plasma transfused to the WB versus component therapy group was not significantly different (1,000 vs. 800 mL, respectively; p = 0.38); the mean plasma:RBC (0.99 [0.47] vs. 0.77 [ 0.73], respectively; p = 0.006) and platelet:RBC (0.72 [0.40] vs. 0.51 [0.734], respectively; p < 0.0001) ratios were significantly higher in the WB group. CONCLUSION Transfusion of two units of cold-stored uncrossmatched WB is feasible and seems to be safe in civilian trauma resuscitation. Determining the efficacy of WB with regard to reducing the number of blood products transfused in the first 24 hours or improving recipient survival will require a larger randomized trial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV.
Increasing magnesium intakes in relation to magnesium absorption in dry cows

Earlier studies with temporarily isolated rumen of heifers show saturation kinetics of Mg efflux across the rumen wall. Therefore, we hypothesized that high Mg intakes would not further increase the rate of Mg absorption in cows. To test our hypothesis, six ruminally fistulated non-pregnant dry cows were given diets with different Mg concentrations in a 6×6 Latin square design. Desired concentrations of Mg were attained by adding MgO to the basal diet and the Mg concentrations in the total rations were 3·8, 6·4, 9·1, 11·8, 14·1 and 17·3 g Mg/kg dry matter, which provided Mg intakes of 27·1, 44·6, 64·6, 83·5, 100·4 and 124·3 g/d, respectively. Increasing Mg intakes were associated with increased (P<0·001) faecal Mg excretion. However, apparent Mg absorption expressed as g/d was not significantly different for Mg intakes from 100·4 to 124·3 g/d while Mg absorption expressed as a proportion of intake was not significantly different for Mg intakes ranging from 64·6 to 124·3 g/d. Mg concentrations in rumen fluid after feeding increased (P<0·001) with increasing Mg intakes. Apparent absorption of Mg appeared to become saturated at a ruminal Mg concentration of 17·5 mM (Mg intake of 83·5 g/d). Group-mean post-feeding concentrations of Mg and Na in rumen fluid were significantly correlated (Pearson's r=−0·96; P=0·003, n=6). This study showed that under conditions of practical dairy cow feeding, Mg absorption was maximal at Mg intakes [ges ]84 g/d.
Chronic pain after open mesh and sutured repair of indirect inguinal hernia in young males

Chronic pain is common after herniorrhaphy, but the effect of surgical technique (mesh versus non‐mesh repair) and the social consequences of the pain have not been established. The aim of this study was to analyse chronic postherniorrhaphy pain and its social consequences in young males operated on for an indirect inguinal hernia with a Lichtenstein mesh repair, Shouldice or Marcy (annulorrhaphy) repair.
Market Orientation and Business Performance among SMEs in Ghana

The effect of market orientation on business performance has been extensively researched over the past two decades with authors generally agreeing on its positive outcome. It appears however that previous studies placed much emphasis on its applications in large scale organizations. Only recently have researchers begun to publish articles on the patterns of market orientation in small and medium scale organizations (SMEs) (Blankson et al., 2006; Keskin, 2006). Even so, it seems that researchers are yet to reach a common ground on the appropriateness of this management toolkit to SMEs. This study argues that it is in this sector that firms need to be more customer focus, monitor competitive trends, and respond appropriately to market intelligence in order to survive given evidence of their financial, technical and other constraints. Following an adoption of two popular scales in the literature, the study investigated the market orientation-performance link among Ghanaian SMEs using a survey to collect data on 191 firms. Results show that the development of market orientation in this sector rests more on the attitude of owners/ managers and, more importantly, the repeatedly reported performance implication of market orientation does not elude Ghanaian SMEs. More specifically, market orientation leads to superior performance under ceaseless competitive conditions. Conclusions are drawn; the limitations and directions for further investigations of the construct are provided.
Timing and cell dose determine therapeutic effects of bone marrow stromal cell transplantation in rat model of cerebral infarct

Stereotactic transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) enables efficient delivery to the infarct brain. This study was aimed to assess its optimal timing and cell dose for ischemic stroke. The BMSCs were harvested from the green fluorescent protein‐transgenic rats and were labeled with quantum dots. The BMSCs (1 × 105 or 1 × 106) were stereotactically transplanted into the ipsilateral striatum of the rats subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion at 1 or 4 weeks post‐ischemia. Motor function was serially assessed. Using in vivo near infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging, the engrafted BMSCs were visualized at 3 weeks post‐transplantation. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate their fate. Functional recovery was significantly enhanced when both low and high doses of BMSCs were transplanted at 1 week post‐ischemia, but such therapeutic effects were observed only when the high‐dose BMSCs were transplanted at 4 weeks post‐ischemia. Both optical imaging and immunohistochemistry revealed their better engraftment in the peri‐infarct area when the high‐dose BMSCs were transplanted at 1 or 4 weeks post‐ischemia. These findings strongly suggest the importance of timing and cell dose to yield therapeutic effects of BMSC transplantation for ischemic stroke. Earlier transplantation requires a smaller number of donor cells for beneficial effects.
ADSORPTION BEHAVIOR OF ZINC AND CADMIUM ION ON GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON IN SINGULAR AND BINARY SYSTEMS AND THE INFLUENCE OF NITRILOTRICETIC ACID AS A COMPLEXING AGENT

ABSTRACT Adsorption characteristics of zinc and cadmium ion on granular activated carbon have been studied in dynamic and equilibrium aspects and singular and binary adsorption behavior were compared. Based on the van't Hoff equation, reaction orders and rate constants were observed to increase as initial concentration of adsorbate was raised for both metal ions. Adsorption of Zn and Cd ion was found to increase with temperature, and this endothermic nature of adsorption reaction was further verified by thermodynamic calculation. Taking nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) as a ligand, the influence of complexing agent was examined and the variation of adsorption percentage was found to closely relate with the change in ionic form of NTA depending upon pH conditions and amount of complexing agent used. Features of binary adsorption are discussed for several influential parameters and experimental observations for both ions were correlated with a predicted adsorption isotherm based on a Langmuir multi-component model.