Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BDNF and NT‐3, but not NGF, Prevent Axotomy‐induced Death of Rat Corticospinal Neurons In Vivo

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3) have been identified as survival factors for adult axotomized rat corticospinal neurons (CSN) in vivo. Axotomy of corticospinal neurons at the level of the internal capsule induced death of 46% of the CSN within the first week after axotomy. The surviving population of CSN displayed severe atrophy with mean cross‐sectional area 49% of their unlesioned contralateral counterparts 7 days after axotomy. Using in situ hybridization to assess the expression of the receptors for the family of neurotrophins, we found trkB and trkC but not trkA mRNA expression in CSN. Intraparenchymal application of BDNF or NT‐3 at doses of 12 μg/day for 7 days via an osmotic minipump fully prevented the axotomy‐induced death of CSN. Interestingly, no neuronal atrophy was seen after BDNF application while NT‐3 had only a partial effect on the size of the axotomized CSN. Nerve growth factor did not prevent death or cell atrophy, consistent with the lack of trkA mRNA expression in these neurons. These findings show that BDNF and NT‐3 are survival factors for adult rat CSN in vivo, and may contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies aiming at the prevention of CSN degeneration in human motor neuron diseases.
Fucosylation and Galactosylation of IgG Heavy Chains Differ between Acute and Remission Phases of Juvenile Chronic Arthritis

Abstract Oligosaccharide structures are attached to nearly all membrane and serum proteins, and their composition changes significantly in many diseases. We have analysed glycosylation of IgG heavy chains in 34 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis and 13 control individuals. IgG was purified from 0.7 ml of serum, separated by electrophoresis and transferred on to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA I) and Bandeirea simplicifolia (BSA II) and Ulex europaeus (UEA I) lectins were used to measure galactose, N-acetylglucosamine and fucose, respectively. While there was no significant difference in average levels of galactose and N-acetylglucosamine, patients with juvenile chronic arthritis had 2.4 times more fucose attached to IgG heavy chains than control individuals. A different picture emerged when patients were divided into those with acute disease and those in remission. Patients in whom juvenile chronic arthritis was currently active had significantly lower levels of galactose than those in remission, in whom galactose levels were comparable to the control group. Fucose levels in both groups of patients were significantly higher than in the control group. These results show that whereas de-galactosylation is a good test to detect and measure the activity of juvenile chronic arthritis, increased fucosylation is a much more reliable measure for diagnosis of the disease itself.
Apolipoprotein composition of HDL in cholesteryl ester transfer protein deficiency Published, JLR Papers in Press, December 1, 2003. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M300198-JLR200

Our purpose was to compare HDL subpopulations, as determined by nondenaturing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting for apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), apoA-II, apoA-IV, apoCs, and apoE in heterozygous, compound heterozygous, and homozygous subjects for cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) deficiency and controls. Heterozygotes, compound heterozygotes, and homozygotes had CETP masses that were 30, 63, and more than 90% lower and HDL-cholesterol values that were 64, 168, and 203% higher than those in controls, respectively. Heterozygotes had ∼50% lower preβ-1 and more than 2-fold higher levels of α-1 and preα-1 particles than controls. Three of the five heterozygotes' α-1 particles also contained apoA-II, which was not seen in controls. Compound heterozygotes and homozygotes had very large particles not observed in controls and heterozygotes. These particles contained apoA-I, apoA-II, apoCs, and apoE. However, these subjects did not have decreased preβ-1 levels. Our data indicate that CETP deficiency results in the formation of very large HDL particles containing all of the major HDL apolipoproteins except for apoA-IV. We hypothesize that the HDL subpopulation profile of heterozygous CETP-deficient patients, especially those with high levels of α-1 containing apoA-I but no apoA-II, represent an improved anti-atherogenic state, although this might not be the case for compound heterozygotes and homozygotes with very large, undifferentiated HDL particles.
Directed integration of minute virus of mice DNA into episomes

Recent studies with adeno-associated virus (AAV) have shown that site-specific integration is directed by DNA sequence motifs that are present in both the viral replication origin and the chromosomal preintegration DNA and that specify binding and nicking sites for the viral regulatory Rep protein. This finding raised the question as to whether other parvovirus regulatory proteins might direct site-specific recombination with DNA targets that contain origin sequences functionally equivalent to those described for AAV. To investigate this question, active and inactive forms of the minute virus of mice (MVM) 3' replication origin, derived from a replicative-form dimer-bridge intermediate, were propagated in an Epstein-Barr virus-based shuttle vector which replicates as an episome in a cell-cycle-dependent manner in mammalian cells. Upon MVM infection of these cells, the infecting genome integrated into episomes containing the active-origin sequence reported to be efficiently nicked by the MVM regulatory protein NS1. In contrast, MVM did not integrate into episomes containing either the inactive form of the origin sequence reported to be inefficiently nicked by NS1 or the active form from which the NS1 consensus nick site had been deleted. The structure of the cloned MVM episomal recombinants displayed several features previously described for AAV episomal and chromosomal recombinants. The findings indicate that the rules which govern AAV site-specific recombination also apply to MVM and suggest that site-specific chromosomal insertions may be achievable with different autonomous parvovirus replicator proteins which recognize binding and nicking sites on the target DNA.
Specialty choices: Patterns and determinants among medical undergraduates in Enugu Southeast Nigeria

Background: Specialty choices of medical undergraduates are important in planning educational programs and human resources for health-care delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the specialty preferences of medical undergraduates and determine the factors that influenced their specialty choices. Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey carried out among final year medical undergraduates of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu Nigeria. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection from the participants. Sociodemographic characteristics, decision to specialize, the timing of the decision, specialty choices and factors influencing these choices were evaluated. Chi-squared test and unpaired t-test were used to analyze the observations. Results: Surgery and surgical specialties 79 (52%) were the most preferred specialties among the students. This was followed by obstetrics and gynecology 22 (14.5%) and public health 16 (10.5%). Personal interest in a specialty, personal abilities/competence, and career prospects were the most influential determinants of specialty choices. The career choices of male students were preferentially influenced by family/societal expectations (P = 0.03) and diversity of patients (P = 0.01). Low work hours significantly (P = 0.04) influenced the career choices of female students. Conclusion: Surgical specialties, obstetrics and gynecology, and public health were the most preferred specialties among our participants. The most important determinants of specialty choices were personal interest, personal abilities, and career prospects.
The burden of infectious intestinal disease (IID) in the community: a survey of self-reported IID in The Netherlands

SUMMARY In 2009, a 1-year retrospective survey was performed in The Netherlands to estimate the incidence and the disease burden of infectious intestinal disease (IID) in the community, to study the selection of patients consulting a general practitioner and to identify potential risk factors for IID in the community. A questionnaire was sent to 6000 persons selected at random from the population registries of 28 municipalities, with 500 persons being approached per month. A total of 1975 (33%) persons participated. The incidence rate of IID was 964/1000 person-years. Potential risk factors associated with IID in the community were young age (0–4 years) [odds ratio (OR) 3·9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·5–10·5], having asthma as a child (OR 3·4, 95% CI 1·1–10·3) and use of gastric acid suppressive medication by persons aged ⩾45 years (OR 2·8, 95% CI 1·4–5·6). Of the 146 cases with IID, 11 (8%) consulted a physician. Cases with a long duration of symptoms, blood in the stool, children with IID and cases with a low level of education were more likely to consult a physician. Two cases had a stool sample taken and one was admitted to hospital. In conclusion, IID is common and has a significant burden of illness in The Netherlands. Our data indicate that about 15·9 million episodes of IID occur in The Netherlands per year. The incidence rate is substantially higher than the rate of 283/1000 person-years as estimated in 1999 in The Netherlands. This is probably largely due to the retrospective nature of the present study and, to a lesser extent, to differences in case definitions.
Local Irradiation Not Only Induces Homing of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells at Exposed Sites but Promotes Their Widespread Engraftment to Multiple Organs: A Study of Their Quantitative Distribution After Irradiation Damage

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to migrate to various tissues. There is little information on the fate and potential therapeutic efficacy of the reinfusion of MSCs following total body irradiation (TBI). We addressed this question using human MSC (hMSCs) infused to nonobese diabetic/ severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice submitted to TBI. Further, we tested the impact of additional local irradiation (ALI) superimposed to TBI, as a model of accidental irradiation. NOD/SCID mice were transplanted with hM‐SCs. Group 1 was not irradiated before receiving hMSC infusion. Group 2 received only TBI at a dose of 3.5 Gy, group 3 received local irradiation to the abdomen at a dose of 4.5 Gy in addition to TBI, and group 4 received local irradiation to the leg at 26.5 Gy in addition to TBI. Fifteen days after irradiation, quantitative and spatial distribution of the hMSCs were studied. Histological analysis of mouse tissues confirmed the presence of radio‐induced lesions in the irradiated fields. Following their infusion into nonirradiated animals, hMSCs homed at a very low level to various tissues (lung, bone marrow, and muscles) and no significant engraftment was found in other organs. TBI induced an increase of engraftment levels of hMSCs in the brain, heart, bone marrow, and muscles. Abdominal irradiation (AI) as compared with leg irradiation (LI) increased hMSC engraftment in the exposed area (the gut, liver, and spleen). Hind LI as compared with AI increased hMSC engraftment in the exposed area (skin, quadriceps, and muscles). An increase of hMSC engraftment in organs outside the fields of the ALI was also observed. Conversely, following LI, hMSC engraftment was increased in the brain as compared with AI. This study shows that engraftment of hMSCs in NOD/ SCID mice with significantly increased in response to tissue injuries following TBI with or without ALI. ALI induced an increase of the level of engraftment at sites outside the local irradiation field, thus suggesting a distant (abscopal) effect of radiation damage. This work supports the use of MSCs to repair damaged normal tissues following accidental irradiation and possibly in patients submitted to radiotherapy.
Anthropometric parameters as indicators of metabolic derangements in schizophrenia patients stabilized on olanzapine in an Indian rural population

Context: For any given body mass, Asian Indians have higher central obesity than Europeans. A periodic measurement of body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) is practically more feasible than other parameters of metabolic syndrome by repeated blood collection. However, few studies are available on the relative importance of BMI and WHR as markers of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in schizophrenia patients stabilized on second generation antipsychotics in Indian population. Aim: We conducted the present study on such patients to examine whether BMI or WHR can better predict dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in these patients in a rural area. Settings and Design: The study was a hospital based case control study under rural settings on 38 schizophrenia patients stabilized on olanzapine and 30 matched controls. Materials and Methods: Fasting concentrations of blood glucose, lipid parameters and serum insulin were assessed. Data for Homeostatic model for assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), BMI, and WHR were obtained to assess the insulin resistance, overall body fat distribution and abdominal fat dispensation respectively. Statistical analysis used: ‘t’ test was performed to assay any difference in corresponding mean values between cases and controls. Dependence of HOMA-IR on key parameters was assessed by analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) study. Results: Cases exhibited significantly higher values for HOMA-IR, serum triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) with a significantly lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) level. ANCOVA study reflected that irrespective of age and sex, HOMA-IR was dependent on serum triglyceride level and WHR (F=8.3 and 5.7 respectively, P<0.05), but not on BMI (F<0.001, P=0.997). Conclusions: Central obesity could be more closely associated with the pathogenesis of prediabetic state in our case group. So, WHR is a better anthropometric parameter than BMI for an early assessment of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in schizophrenia patients stabilized on olanzapine in our region.
Tissue microarrays compared with whole sections and biochemical analyses. A subgroup analysis of DBCG 82 b&c.

Introduction. The tissue microarray (TMA) technique comprises the potential of significantly reducing time and tissue spent on slicing and performing immunohistochemical (IHC) stainings of paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. Tissue heterogeneity is an argument against using TMAs, which has been dealt with by increasing the size and number of cores punched from each tumor. No consensus exists on the most optimal size, number, and position of TMA cores in the donor paraffin block and no information exist regarding agreement between TMA cores from two different paraffin blocks from the same tumor or between TMA cores and biochemical analyses. Patients and methods. A central and a peripheral 1mm core and a whole section from each of 54 paraffin blocks from 27 breast cancers included in a one-institution cohort, and a single 1mm central TMA core, from each breast tumor from 1000 patients included in the DBCG82 b&c trials, were IHC stained for ER, PgR and HER2. In addition, ER and PgR were measured in the DBCG82 b&c trials by a biochemical analysis. Statistical analyses included Kappa statistics, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, Log-rank tests, and Cox regression hazards analyses. Results and conclusion. IHC stainings for ER, PgR, and HER2 showed a substantial agreement between a single 1mm TMA core and the corresponding whole section, between central and peripheral cores, and between cores from two different paraffin blocks from the same tumor. In addition, a fine agreement was found for ER and PgR between IHC stainings of TMA cores and biochemical analyses. Divergence between IHC and biochemical analyses was predominantly due to the chosen thresholds. IHC staining of one 1mm core from each tumor revealed a significant independent prognostic value of PgR and HER2 on overall survival. In conclusion, IHC stainings for ER, PgR, and HER2 of just a single 1mm TMA core seems to be sufficient, as no significant heterogeneity was noticed.
Studies of the factors modulating antidiuretic hormone excretion in man in response to the osmolar stimulus: effects of oestrogen and angiotensin II.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of hormones known to regulate fluid and electrolyte balance on the release of antidiuretic hormone induced by raising serum osmolality. The stimulus provoked by the infusion of a 2.5% NaCl solution induces an increase of urinary [arginine-8]-vasopressin from 1.12 to 2.64 ng/h in men and from 1.65 to 7.27 ng/h in women as has been previously reported. These results were compared to those obtained in males infused with angiotensin II (AII) before and during a hypertonic sodium load and in males infused with hypertonic saline on the fourth day of administration of ethinyl-oestradiol. During the combined infusion of AII and then hypertonic saline, the mean hourly urinary excretion of AVP increased from 2.8 to 5.67 ng/h. Within each group the increase of urinary AVP was highly significant. The rise of urinary AVP during AII infusion was significantly different from the rise observed both in untreated males and untreated females, lying in between. The mean hourly excretion rate of AVP increased before and after hypertonic saline loading from 2.65 to 5.3 ng/h in males pre-treated with ethinyl-oestradiol. The significant difference observed between males and females is reduced when males treated with oestrogen were compared to female subjects. In each group plasma renin activity decreased to low values during the salt-loading test. During oestrogen treatment PRA and plasma renin substrate rose, while urinary aldosterone remained almost unchanged. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
What is the difference between percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with and without previous open renal surgery?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In this study we aimed to determine the effects of previous open renal surgery on the results and complications of subsequent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). PATIENTS AND METHODS From October 2005 to October 2007, 104 patients underwent PCNL in our hospital. We compared the patients who undergone previous open surgery on the same kidney (group 1; n = 36) with those who had undergone no previous surgery (group 2; n = 68). We extracted requested information such as age, sex, stone number, stone burden, intraoperative and postoperative complications, hospital stay, access time, operative time, and success rate. The results of the study were analyzed using SPSS 10 software. RESULTS Intraoperative complications were seen in 11.11% of the group 1 patients and in 11.8% of the group 2 patients. Postoperative fever was seen in 33.3% of the patients in group 1 and in 26.5% of the patients in group 2. Mean hospital stay was 85.88 +/- 17.25 hours and 80.20 +/- 17.71 hours in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Mean operating time was 75.41 +/- 17.2 minutes in group 1 and 67.42 +/- 26.25 minutes in group 2. Stone-free rate was 88.9% in the group 1 patients and 79.4% in the group 2 patients. Step 1 access time in group 1 and group 2 was 120.02 +/- 68 seconds and 117.80 +/- 80.52 seconds, respectively (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS PCNL in patients who previously underwent open renal surgery is effective and safe. We found no difference in results between the two groups based on the number of stones and the number of accesses. The step 1 of dilatation was the only difference between the two groups.
Hemodynamic Adaptation during Pregnancy in Chronic Hypertension

Objective: To assess hemodynamic and NT-proANP changes in women with chronic hypertension during pregnancy. Methods: Stroke volume index (SI), heart rate (HR), cardiac output index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and left cardiac work index (LCWI) were measured using whole-body impedance cardiography. Systolic blood pressure (SAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), diastolic blood pressure (DAP), and pulse pressure (PP) were also measured. Arterial compliance was defined as the SI-to-PP ratio (SI/PP). Hemodynamic parameters and NT-proANP concentrations were assessed during the early and late second trimester, the third trimester, and after delivery in 20 women with essential hypertension and 30 normotensive women. Results: Arterial blood pressure, SVRI, and PWV remained higher during the whole study period in chronic hypertensive compared with healthy pregnancies. In the early second trimester, women with chronic hypertension had significantly lower SI and NT-proANP concentrations than did normotensive women. Conclusion: The hemodynamics of chronic hypertension during pregnancy are characterized by persistent high vascular resistance. Lower SI and NT-proANP values found in chronic hypertensive pregnancies during the early second trimester may suggest a reduced intravascular volume increase during pregnancy.
Postoperative Peritonitis Without An Underlying Digestive Fistula After Complete Cytoreductive Surgery Plus HIPEC

Background/Aim: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is a pernicious event associated with a dismal prognosis. Complete cytoreductive surgery (CCRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is able to yield an important survival benefit but at the price of a risky procedure inducing potentially severe complications. Postoperative peritonitis after abdominal surgery occurs mostly when the digestive lumen and the peritoneum communicate but in rare situation, no underlying digestive fistula can be found. The aim of this study was to report this situation after CCRS plus HIPEC, which has not been described yet and for which the treatment is not yet well defined. Patients and Methods: Between 1994 and 2012, 607 patients underwent CCRS plus HIPEC in our tertiary care center and were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 52 patients (9%) reoperated for postoperative peritonitis, no digestive fistula was found in seven (1%). All had a malignant peritoneal pseudomyxoma with an extensive disease (median Peritoneal Cancer Index: 27). The median interval between surgery and reoperation was 8 days [range: 3-25]. Postoperative mortality was 14%. Five different bacteriological species were identified in intraoperative samples, most frequently Escherichia coli (71%). The infection was monobacterial in 71%, with multidrug resistant germs in 78%. Conclusions: Postoperative peritonitis without underlying fistula after CCRS plus HIPEC is a rare entity probably related to bacterial translocation, which occurs in patients with extensive peritoneal disease requiring aggressive surgeries. The principles of treatment do not differ from that of other types of postoperative peritonitis.