Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Double red cell concentrates –in vitro quality after delayed refrigeration

Automated collection of red cell concentrates (RCC) presents a number of potential advantages to donors, blood services and recipients, and allows the collection of finished components from sites that are remote from a blood centre. However, data are lacking on how long the collected RCC may be stored at ambient temperature prior to their final storage at 4 °C. In this study, the Haemonetics Cymbal device was used to collect RCC using citrate, phosphate and dextrose (CPD‐50) anticoagulant. A total of 10 procedures each yielded two leucodepleted RCC in saline, adenine, glucose and mannitol (SAGM) additive solution. One of each pair of RCC was kept warm in an insulated transport bag for 8 h and the other for 6 h. In vitro assessments of the quality of the RCC were made during subsequent 42‐day storage of the RCC at 2–6 °C, and compared with reference data. All collected RCC were within UK and European limits for volume, haematocrit and haemoglobin content. Haemolysis was within specification at Day 42 and was no different in RCC held warm for 6 or 8 hours, but tended to be higher than reference data from whole blood derived RCC. ATP, 2,3 DPG and supernatant potassium levels were all similar in RCC held warm for 6 or 8 hours and reference data. We conclude that the Cymbal device may be used to collect two RCC in SAGM, and the in vitro assessment indicates that RCC may be stored without refrigeration for up to 8 h following collection, prior to final storage at 4 °C.
Macrophage activation and induction of macrophage cytotoxicity by purified polysaccharide fractions from the plant Echinacea purpurea

Purified polysaccharides (EPS) prepared from the plant Echinacea purpurea are shown to strongly activate macrophages. Macrophages activated with these substances develop pronounced extracellular cytotoxicity against tumor targets. The activation is brought about by EPS alone and is independent of any cooperative effect with lymphocytes. Also the production and secretion of oxygen radicals and interleukin 1 by macrophages is increased after activation with EPS. Cells of the macrophages lineage seem to be the main target for the action of these polysaccharides. EPS has no effect on T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes show a comparatively modest proliferation after incubation with E. purpurea EPS. Thus, these compounds, which are at least in tissue culture completely nontoxic, may be suited to activate in vivo cells of the macrophage system to cytotoxicity. They may therefore be of relevance in tumor and infectious systems.
A comparison of the dechlorination mechanisms and Ni release styles of chloroalkane and chloroalkene removal using nickel/iron nanoparticles

ABSTRACT In this study, we compared the removal kinetics and Ni release styles of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), trichloroethylene (TCE), and tetrachloroethene (PCE) that result from the use of Ni/Fe nanoparticles in water. Compared to TCE and PCE, 1,1,1-TCA was more readily removed, and the concentration profiles of the three chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) during the reduction processes fit pseudo-first-order reaction rate models well. The surface area-normalized rate constants show that the 11% Ni Ni/Fe nanoparticles, which has the largest Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, has the highest capacity for 1,1,1-TCA removal per unit surface area and that the 6% Ni sample was the best for removing TCE and PCE. The observed by-products suggested that hydrogenolysis was responsible for the dechlorination of CAHs in the presence of Ni/Fe nanoparticles. More Ni2+ was released during the degradation of 1,1,1-TCA than that of TCE and PCE because Ni will reduce the CAHs directly as a zerovalent metal does when hydrogen atoms in the Ni lattice are not sufficient due to the rapid incomplete dechlorination of 1,1,1-TCA. The different modes of adsorption of chloroalkane and chloroalkene onto the surfaces of Ni/Fe particles might play an important role in their dechlorination process. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Systemic Delivery of Bone Marrow–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to the Infarcted Myocardium: Feasibility, Cell Migration, and Body Distribution

Background—Systemic delivery of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) is an attractive approach for myocardial repair. We aimed to test this strategy in a rat model after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods and Results—BM-MSCs were obtained from rat bone marrow, expanded in vitro to a purity of >50%, and labeled with 99mTc exametazime, fluorescent dye, LacZ marker gene, or bromodeoxyuridine. Rats were subjected to MI by transient coronary artery occlusion or to sham MI. 99mTc-labeled cells (4×106) were transfused into the left ventricular cavity of MI rats either at 2 or 10 to 14 days after MI and were compared with sham-MI rats or MI rats treated with intravenous infusion. Gamma camera imaging and isolated organ counting 4 hours after intravenous infusion revealed uptake of the 99mTc-labeled cells mainly in the lungs, with significantly smaller amounts in the liver, heart, and spleen. Delivery by left ventricular cavity infusion resulted in drastically lower lung uptake, better uptake in the heart, and specifically higher uptake in infarcted compared with sham-MI hearts. Histological examination at 1 week after infusion identified labeled cells either in the infarcted or border zone but not in remote viable myocardium or sham-MI hearts. Labeled cells were also identified in the lung, liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Conclusions—Systemic intravenous delivery of BM-MSCs to rats after MI, although feasible, is limited by entrapment of the donor cells in the lungs. Direct left ventricular cavity infusion enhances migration and colonization of the cells preferentially to the ischemic myocardium.
Review article: the pathophysiology and medical management of diverticulosis and diverticular disease of the colon

The incidence of diverticulosis and diverticular disease of the colon, including diverticulitis, is increasing worldwide, and becoming a significant burden on national health systems. Treatment of patients with diverticulosis and DD is generally based on high‐fibre diet and antibiotics, respectively. However, new pathophysiological knowledge suggests that further treatment may be useful.
CYP4F2 gene polymorphism as a contributor to warfarin maintenance dose in Japanese subjects

What is known and Objective: Polymorphisms in the gene encoding CYP4F2 may partly explain the variability in warfarin maintenance dose by altering the metabolism of vitamin K. To determine the genetic factors that cause large inter‐patient variability in warfarin efficacy, we investigated the relationship between serum warfarin concentration and CYP4F2 V433M (1347C>T, rs2108622) polymorphism in Japanese subjects.
Impact Theory of Mass Extinctions and the Invertebrate Fossil Record

There is much evidence that the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary was marked by a massive meteorite impact. Theoretical consideration of the consquences of such an impact predicts sharp extinctions in many groups of animals precisely at the boundary. Paleontological data clearly show gradual declines in diversity over the last 1 to 10 million years in various invertebrate groups.Reexamination of data from careful studies of the best sections shows that, in addition to undergoing the decline, four groups (ammonites, cheilostomate beyozoans, brachiopods, and bivalves) were affected by sudden truncations precisely at the iridium anomaly that marks the boundary. The paleontological record thus bears witness to terminal-Cretaceous extinctions on two time scales: a slow decline unrelated to the impact and a sharp truncation synchronous with and probably caused by the impact.
Bursa tract diverticulum in the hermaphroditic land snail Arianta arbustorum (Stylommatophora: Helicidae): Morphology, function, and evolutionary implications

A bursa tract diverticulum is widespread in the female part of the hermaphroditic reproductive system of stylommatophoran pulmonates. However, the ultrastructure of the diverticulum is unknown and there is only anecdotal evidence for a spermatophore‐dissolving function for this organ. In the present study, we examined the ultrastructure of the diverticulum and investigated histological, histochemical, and morphometric changes at different time intervals after mating in the simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail Arianta arbustorum. The diverticulum in this species of snail is a prominent organ, consisting of a luminal columnar epithelium surrounded by a thick layer of connective tissue. During mating, the diverticulum functions as the site of spermatophore uptake. Within the lumen of the diverticulum the spermatophore wall is dissolved or at least partly broken down. The digested material is taken up by epithelial cells and accumulated in molluscan‐specific cells of the connective tissue, the so‐called rhogocytes. Subsequent to copulation, the total diameter of the diverticulum increases markedly, reaching a maximum size 12 h after mating, while at the same time the thicknesses of the diverticulum wall and diverticulum epithelium decrease. The length of the diverticulum shows a positive allometry and a high phenotypic variation compared to snail size, which suggests that the diverticulum is under directional sexual selection. We propose that the diverticulum in A. arbustorum has evolved in response to selection pressures imposed by divergent evolutionary interests between male and female function. J. Morphol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ossification Heterochrony in the Therian Postcranial Skeleton and the Marsupial–Placental Dichotomy

Abstract Postcranial ossification sequences in 24 therian mammals and three outgroup taxa were obtained using clear staining and computed tomography to test the hypothesis that the marsupial forelimb is developmentally accelerated, and to assess patterns of therian postcranial ossification. Sequence rank variation of individual bones, phylogenetic analysis, and algorithm-based heterochrony optimization using event pairs were employed. Phylogenetic analysis only recovers Marsupialia, Australidelphia, and Eulipotyphla. Little heterochrony is found within marsupials and placentals. However, heterochrony was observed between marsupials and placentals, relating to late ossification in hind limb long bones and early ossification of the anterior axial skeleton. Also, ossification rank position of marsupial forelimb and shoulder girdle elements is more conservative than that of placentals; in placentals the hind limb area is more conservative. The differing ossification patterns in marsupials can be explained with a combination of muscular strain and energy allocation constraints, both resulting from the requirement of active movement of the altricial marsupial neonates toward the teat. Peramelemorphs, which are comparatively passive at birth and include species with relatively derived forelimbs, differ little from other marsupials in ossification sequence. This suggests that ossification heterochrony in marsupials is not directly related to diversity constraints on the marsupial forelimb and shoulder girdle.
Aflatoxin B1 and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon adducts, p53 mutations and p16 methylation in liver tissue and plasma of hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Elevated aflatoxin B1‐albumin adducts (AFB1‐Alb) have been associated with an increased risk for HCC development. However, there are no studies in humans, correlating albumin adducts in blood with liver DNA adducts. Forty frozen tumor tissues and 39 paired plasma samples from HCC patients were collected in Taiwan, to determine the relationship between albumin adducts in blood and DNA adducts in liver tissue as well as mutations in p53 and methylation of p16. AFB1‐ and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)‐DNA adducts in tissue and albumin adducts in plasma were determined by immunohistochemistry and competitive ELISA, respectively. Plasma AFB1‐Alb adducts in subjects with low, medium and high levels of AFB1‐DNA adducts in tumor tissues were 51.0 ± 36.5, 70.5 ± 48.1 and 84.9 ± 48.2 fmol/mg, respectively (ptrend = 0.05). No significant correlation was found for PAH. Fourteen of 40 (36%) tissues were positive for mutant p53 protein by immunohistochemistry; 11 of 40 tissue DNA samples (28%) were positive for p53 mutations, but not their corresponding plasma DNAs. p16 was methylated in 24 of 40 (62%) tissues and 12 of 39 (32%) plasma DNAs. Significant correlations were observed between AFB1‐Alb adducts and p53 mutations and p16 methylation. These data suggest that genetic, epigenetic and environmental exposure biomarkers in plasma may help in estimating the risk for the development of HCC. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Martingale Regressions for a Continuous Time Model of Exchange Rates

One of the daunting problems in international finance is the weak explanatory power of existing theories of the nominal exchange rates, the so-called “foreign exchange rate determination puzzle”. We propose a continuous-time model to study the impact of order flow on foreign exchange rates. The model is estimated by a newly developed econometric tool based on a time-change sampling from calendar to volatility time. The estimation results indicate that the effect of order flow on exchange rates is more than doubled compared with the traditional econometric estimations. The normality tests of the distribution of regression residuals confirm our application of the new econometric tool.
Molecular Detection of Dopamine Decarboxylase Expression by Means of Reverse Transcriptase and Polymerase Chain Reaction in Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood: Utility as a Tumor Marker for Neuroblastoma

A highly sensitive molecular method was used to evaluate the presence of dopamine decarboxylase (DDC) mRNA in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of patients with neuroblastoma (NB). DDC, like tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), is an enzyme involved in the catecholamine synthesis pathway and has recently been proposed as a specific marker of NB among pediatric malignancies. DDC transcript was detected in five of five NB cell lines, 10 of 10 NB primary tumors, 17 of 18 (94%) bone marrow samples, and 12 of 18 (66%) blood samples drawn at diagnosis in 18 patients affected by disseminated NB. In contrast, no PCR signal was found in 20 bone marrow samples obtained from patients with other malignancies or in eight of nine marrow and blood samples drawn from patients with localized NB (two stage 2 and seven stage 3). In addition, all marrow and blood samples obtained from NB patients at relapse revealed DDC mRNA. Furthermore, the percentage of DDC-positive samples was lower among the samples drawn from these patients during treatment. By comparison with conventional methods for disease evaluation, DDC transcript research can increase the sensitivity of NB cell detection in marrow and blood samples at diagnosis and during the treatment and follow-up of NB patients. These results suggest that finding DDC mRNA in NB patients could be a potential marker for minimal residual disease study.
Association of Intestinal Granulomas with Smoking, Phenotype, and Serology in Chinese Patients with Crohn's Disease

INTRODUCTION:Crohn's disease (CD) is a heterogenous disease characterized by variable manifestations and outcomes, and increasing in incidence in China. Phenotypic classification has been proposed to assist in subtyping of disease. Non-caseating intestinal granulomas are a hallmark of CD, but whether intestinal granulomas help predict Chinese CD phenotypes or determine severity, is not known.AIMS:To determine the association between intestinal granulomas with CD phenotype, severity, risk factors, and serological markers.METHODS:This was a single-centre study of consecutive definite Chinese CD cases. Granulomas were diagnosed by an experienced GI pathologist. Correlation with the Vienna Classification and other parameters was performed.RESULTS:Eighty Chinese CD patients were recruited, 40 (50%) of whom had intestinal granulomas. Intestinal granulomas were independently associated with the stricturing behavior (OR: 4.71; 95% CI: 1.41–15.72), colonic location of disease (OR: 26.96; 95% CI: 2.68–271.14), but not with age of CD diagnosis. Current or previous smoking protected against the development of granulomas (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04–0.59). Granulomas were not associated with peri-anal involvement, extra-intestinal manifestations, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody or anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody serology, or severity of CD gauged by the requirement of major intestinal surgery or immunomodulating therapy.CONCLUSIONS:Intestinal granulomas in the setting of CD may be helpful in determining phenotypic subtypes of CD, but is unhelpful in predicting disease severity. Smoking impairs the formation of granulomas in CD.
Induction of apoptosis in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF‐7 cells by prodelphinidin B‐2 3,3′‐di‐O‐gallate from Myrica rubra via Fas‐mediated pathway

Myrica rubra Sieb et Zucc. (Myricaceae) is well known as a rich source of tannins. Prodelphinidin B‐2 3,3′‐di‐O‐gallate (PB233′OG) is a proanthocyanidin gallate that has been reported to exhibit anti‐oxidant and antiviral activity. In this study, we evaluated the anti‐proliferative activity of PB233′OG isolated from the bark of M. rubra in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF‐7 cells. To identity the anti‐cancer mechanism of PB233′OG, we assayed its effect on apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and levels of p53, p21/WAF1, Fas/APO‐1 receptor and Fas ligand. The results showed that PB233′OG induced apoptosis of MCF‐7 cells without mediation of p53 and p21/WAF1. We suggest that Fas/Fas ligand apoptotic system is the main pathway of PB233′OG‐mediated apoptosis of MCF‐7 cells. Our study reports here for the first time that the activity of the Fas/Fas ligand apoptotic system may participate in the anti‐proliferative activity of PB233′OG in MCF‐7 cells.
Role of Novel Mediators of Inflammation in Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Do They Affect the Outcome of Patients?

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major mechanism for cardiovascular death and disability. A significant number of post-MI patients develop progressive left ventricular enlargement and heart failure and many require heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices. Understanding of the basic mechanisms regulating the reaction to injury is crucial for the development of site-specific cell biological strategies of intervention to both reduce injury and promote repair. To determine whether there are new inflammatory markers having a role in structural remodeling after AMI in patients who applied to the emergency department of this hospital with severe chest pain at the first 12 hours, the authors measured the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) in patients with AMI at hospital admission and on day 5. They measured plasma CRP concentrations by using highly sensitive CRP reagent with the immunonephelometric method, and plasma M-CSF and IL-3 concentrations with the help of a commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay test in 30 patients with AMI. Mean plasma CRP, M-CSF, and IL-3 concentrations at admission to the hospital were significantly higher than those on day 5 (5.0 ∓3.1 mg/dL, 119.4 ∓103.6 pg/mL, and 155.1 ∓83.4 ng/mL, respectively, p<0.001 for each value). CRP, M-CSF, and IL-3 were all increased in patients with AMI. These findings suggest that these are new inflammatory markers, which may have important roles in LV remodeling after AMI.
Increased Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Protein Levels in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

We compared the intact α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) protein levels in the peripheral blood leukocytes in 15 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and 13 normal elderly control subjects. Demographic data and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were obtained. Western blot analysis for α7nAChR protein levels in peripheral blood leukocytes was performed. There were no significant differences in sex and age between the AD and control groups. The mean MMSE score of the AD subjects was significantly lower than that of the normal control subjects (15.4 ± 5.5 vs. 28.5 ± 1.9 respectively; p < 0.001). The median value of normalized α7nAChR protein levels (optical density, arbitrary unit) of the AD group was significantly higher than that of the normal control group (0.6923 vs. 0.4803 respectively; p = 0.045, Mann-Whitney U test). The normalized α7nAChR protein levels showed a significant inverse correlation with the MMSE scores (Spearman rho = –0.45; p = 0.016; n = 28). Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analyses showed that the area under curve was 0.72 (95% CI 0.52– 0.87). If the cut-off of the α7nAChR protein level was >0.312, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value would be 80, 39, 60 and 63%, respectively. These findings showed that the α7nAChR protein levels would be a potentially useful diagnostic marker for AD.
Effect of a total work-site smoking ban on employee smoking and attitudes.

A "smoke-free" policy was adopted at the Duke University Medical Center but not at the adjacent University Campus. Three months after the smoking prohibition went into effect, a cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted, using randomly selected groups of 400 employees from each campus. Subjects were queried about current and previous smoking histories and their opinion of the smoking ban. As determined retrospectively from this survey, at the time of the announcement of the policy and 6 months before implementation, 23.6% of employees at the Medical Center were smokers, compared with 20.3% on the University Campus. Three months after implementation of the Medical Center smoking prohibition, smoking cessation rates were 12.6% at the Medical Center and 6.9% on the University Campus dating back 9 months to the time of policy announcement (P less than 0.10). Mean cigarette consumption during work hours declined over this same period from 8.1 +/- 6.8 (mean +/- SD) to 4.3 +/- 4.4 at the Medical Center but showed little change on the University Campus (9.3 +/- 7.5 v 8.7 +/- 8.0). Overall, 75.8% of subjects at the Medical Center "somewhat" or "strongly" agreed with the policy compared with 73.2% on the University Campus. A follow-up survey of the cohort of current or recent ex-smokers identified on the initial survey was conducted 6 months later. This survey revealed a smoking cessation rate of 22.5% at the Medical Center and 6.9% on the University Campus, dating back 15 months to the time of policy announcement (P less than 0.01). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)