Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mixed Tocopherols Inhibit N-methyl-N-Nitrosourea-Induced Mammary Tumor Growth in Rats

Abstract Tocopherols are present in significant amounts in vegetable oils used in human foods. The most prevalent tocopherols in foods are the α, β, γ, and δ variants with (RRR) stereochemistry. Tocopherols are lipophilic phenolic antioxidants, produced by plants. In the United States, γ -tocopherol is the most prominent dietary tocopherol due to its high amount in the dominant commercially produced vegetable oils such as soybean, corn, and cottonseed. In this report, experiments were designed to study the inhibitory effect of mixed tocopherols against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary tumor growth in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Beginning at 21 days of age, rats were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg body weight of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. One wk later, the rats were fed experimental diets containing 0 or 0.1% mixed tocopherols containing over 50% γ -tocopherol. At 9 wk after N-methyl-N-nitrosourea treatment, all rats were evaluated for inhibition of mammary tumor growth and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Dietary administration of mixed tocopherols significantly suppressed mammary tumor growth (P < 0.05) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (P < 0.01) and also moderately suppressed tumor multiplicity. The treatment increased the serum levels of γ - and δ -tocopherols without affecting the body weight. The results of this study suggest that mixed tocopherols may be safe and effective agents for the prevention of breast cancer.
Cytology of the Normal and Abnormal Choroid Plexi in Selected Domestic Mammals, Wildlife Species, and Man

A cytologic study of the choroid plexi of animals and humans was carried out using impression smears (imprints, imp) to understand better the cellular changes that occur in the cerebrospinal fluid in the case of disease. The samples, totaling 756 imp were from 11 dogs (239 imp), 10 horses (219 imp), 1 mule (23 imp), 3 cattle (69 imp), 1 sheep (19 imp), 2 pigs (39 imp), 1 deer (20 imp), 4 monkeys (22 imp), and 7 humans (106 imp). The samples came from individuals clinically free of neurologic disease, as well as from a few abnormal cases. Six of the 7 humans had no history of neurologic disease and had a complete necropsy with brain histopathology. The seventh human case had mild neurologic signs at the time of death and only a partial necropsy with histopathological examination of the brain, in which a few small leptomeningeal lymphocytic infiltrates and polymicrogyria were found. One of the human brains without neurologic disease had arteriosclerosis. In the 40 individuals studied, several features and some unique cell types were found, for which little or no information is available. Four different morphologic cell types were consistently found in all the species studied. The first 3 types were arbitrarily named alpha (with deeply basophilic cytoplasm), beta (with neutral to weakly acidophilic cytoplasm), and gamma or vesicle-bearing cells. The third type, gamma, was a cell bearing unique inclusions (vesicles) filled with many tiny light tan to pale pink granules. The fourth type was the Kolmer cell found in very low numbers. Immature lymphocytes were found in all of 3 newborn foals, in 1 pig, and in the only stillborn calf and deer studied. The results suggest that the choroid plexi contain more than 1 epithelial cell type and that knowledge of their morphology is far from complete because other unusual cells and structures are also present in small numbers. Imprints are excellent for studying the choroid plexi, especially for tiny changes that are too subtle to be seen in hematoxylin and eosin sections.
Cancer pain intensity measurement: concurrent validity of three tools--finger dynamometer, pain intensity number scale, visual analogue scale.

Although the visual analogue scale (VAS) and number scales are known to be valid and sensitive measures of pain intensity, some older individuals are unable to use them. For individuals who lack the ability to use these scales, valid alternative measures of pain intensity would be useful for research and clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to examine the concurrent validity of a new measure of pain intensity, the Finger Dynamometer (FD), in a sample of 15 adults with advanced stage cancer pain. In a repeated measures correlational design each patient rated present pain intensity using the FD, a Pain Intensity Number Scale (PINS), and a VAS at four separate times. Data analyses using Kendall Correlational Coefficients indicated weak to moderate correlation between the FD and PINS (gamma = .47 to .68; p less than .01) and between the FD and VAS (gamma = .38 to .46; p less than .05) at each measurement time. Strong correlation was found between the VAS and the PINS (gamma = .77 to .89; p less than .001). Findings support the concurrent validity of the VAS and the PINS but indicate that further research is necessary to establish the psychometric properties of the FD as a measure of pain intensity in chronic pain models, such as cancer pain. Recommendations are made regarding important variables to be considered in further research with the FD.
Autoantibodies to histone, DNA and nucleosome antigens in canine systemic lupus erythematosus

Dogs can develop systemic lupus erythematosus syndromes that are clinically similar to those seen in humans. In contrast, previous observations suggest differences in their autoantibody reactivity patterns against histones and DNA which are components of the nucleosome in chromatin. The objective of this study was to assess comprehensively the levels of autoantibodies against histone, DNA and nucleosome antigens in a population of lupus dogs. The specificities of antibodies in lupus and control dog sera were determined using IgM‐ and IgG‐specific reagents in an ELISA against a variety of chromatin antigens. When compared with control sera, IgG antibodies to individual histones H1, H2A, H3 and H4 were significantly higher in the lupus group. In contrast, we did not detect IgG antibodies specific for H2B, H2A‐H2B, DNA, H2A‐H2B‐DNA or nucleosomes in lupus dogs. There was no significant increase in any of the IgM specificities tested. Therefore, the reactivity pattern to nucleosome antigens in canine lupus is restricted to IgG antibodies against individual histones H1, H2A, H3 and H4. This stands In contrast with human and murine lupus, where autoantibodies are directed against a wide variety of nucleosomal determinants, suggesting that unique mechanisms lead to the expansion of anti‐histone antibody clones in canine lupus. The high incidence of glomerulonephritis in dog lupus suggests that anti‐DNA antibodies are not required for the development of this complication, whereas IgG anti‐histone antibodies may be relevant to its pathogenesis.
Secretion of CyaA-PrtB and HlyA-PrtB fusion proteins in Escherichia coli: involvement of the glycine-rich repeat domain of Erwinia chrysanthemi protease B

Protease B from Erwinia chrysanthemi was shown previously to have a C-terminal secretion signal located downstream of a domain that contains six glycine-rich repeats. This domain is conserved in all known bacterial proteins secreted by the signal peptide-independent pathway. The role of these repeats in the secretion process is controversial. We compared the secretion processes of various heterologous polypeptides fused either directly to the signal or separated from it by the glycine-rich domain. Although the repeats are not involved in the secretion of small truncated protease B carboxy-terminal peptides, they are required for the secretion of higher-molecular-weight fusion proteins. Secretion efficiency was also dependent on the size of the passenger polypeptide.
Distribution and structural variation of the she pathogenicity island in enteric bacterial pathogens.

Shigella flexneri serotype 2a carries a chromosomal pathogenicity island (PAI), termed the she PAI, that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diarrhoeal disease. The complete nucleotide sequence and genetic organisation of the she PAI of S. flexneri 2a strain YSH6000T was determined recently. In the current study the distribution and structure of the she PAI was investigated by PCR and Southern analysis in 65 isolates of enteric pathogens including Shigella spp. , enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), Yersinia enterocolitica and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The study showed that the she PAI has undergone a variety of structural changes, defined by the presence or absence of specific marker genes in the PAI. The she PAI or structural variants of this element were found in all species of Shigella as well as in EIEC, EHEC and EPEC. No evidence of the PAI was found in Y. enterocolitica or Sal. Typhimurium. The structural form of the she PAI that exists in strain YSH6000T was present in all strains of S. flexneri serotype 2a and in some strains of S. flexneri serotypes 2b and 3c. Variants of the PAI that were missing one or more marker regions were found in all species of Shigella and in pathogenic strains of E. coli. In all strains, the PAIs have inserted into either pheV or a phe tRNA gene in another location on the chromosome. It was concluded that the she PAI is one of several closely related genetic elements that have disseminated throughout Shigella and pathogenic strains of E. coli and diverged into distinct stuctural forms.
EWI-2 Association with α-Actinin Regulates T Cell Immune Synapses and HIV Viral Infection

EWI motif-containing protein 2 (EWI-2) is a member of the Ig superfamily that links tetraspanin-enriched microdomains to the actin cytoskeleton. We found that EWI-2 colocalizes with CD3 and CD81 at the central supramolecular activation cluster of the T cell immune synapse. Silencing of the endogenous expression or overexpression of a cytoplasmic truncated mutant of EWI-2 in T cells increases IL-2 secretion upon Ag stimulation. Mass spectrometry experiments of pull-downs with the C-term intracellular domain of EWI-2 revealed the specific association of EWI-2 with the actin-binding protein α-actinin; this association was regulated by PIP2. α-Actinin regulates the immune synapse formation and is required for efficient T cell activation. We extended these observations to virological synapses induced by HIV and found that silencing of either EWI-2 or α-actinin-4 increased cell infectivity. Our data suggest that the EWI-2–α-actinin complex is involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton at T cell immune and virological synapses, providing a link between membrane microdomains and the formation of polarized membrane structures involved in T cell recognition.
Renal Ablation Update

Abstract Thermal ablative technologies have evolved considerably in the recent past and are now an important component of current clinical guidelines for the treatment of small renal masses. Both radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation have intermediate-term oncologic control that rivals surgical options, with favorable complication profiles. Studies comparing cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation show no significant difference in oncologic control or complication profile between the two modalities. Early data from small series with microwave ablation have shown similar promising results. Newer technologies including irreversible electroporation and high-intensity–focused ultrasound have theoretical advantages, but will require further research before becoming a routine part of the ablation armamentarium. The purpose of this review article is to discuss the current ablative technologies available, briefly review their mechanisms of action, discuss technical aspects of each, and provide current data supporting their use.
Correction for Holland et al., Subregional neuroanatomical change as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease

(i) PHYSIOLOGY. “NCX-1000, a NO-releasing derivative of ursodeoxycholic acid, selectively delivers NO to the liver and protects against development of portal hypertension,” by Stefano Fiorucci, Elisabetta Antonelli, Olivia Morelli, Andrea Mencarelli, Alessandro Casini, Tommaso Mello, Barbara Palazzetti, Dominique Tallet, Piero del …
The infectious profiles of anti‐tumor necrosis factor agents in a Thai population: a retrospective study a the university‐based hospital

Aims: Anti‐tumour necrosis factor‐α (anti‐TNF) agents represented treatment advances in a number of rheumatologic diseases. However, adverse effects of anti‐TNF agents have been identified through both clinical trials and post‐marketing surveillance, especially an increased risk of serious infections. This study firstly described the infectious profiles of anti‐TNF agents in a Thai population.
Clinical Significance of Mucinous Rectal Adenocarcinoma following Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy and Curative Surgery

Aims To investigate the efficacy and prognosis associated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced mucinous rectal cancer (MRC). Methods Our analysis included 412 patients who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy and curative surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer. Among these patients, 30 had MRC and 382 had nonmucinous rectal cancer (NMRC). Tumor downstaging, defined as a lower pathologic stage than clinical stage, and survival were compared between MRC and NMRC. Results Increased frequency of cT4 disease was seen in MRC compared to NMRC (23.3% vs 8.9%, p = 0.021). Complete pathologic response rate and tumor downstaging rate were 0% and 23.3% in MRC and 15.4% and 52.4% in NMRC, respectively (p = 0.025 and p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in disease-free survival between the 2 groups (62.1% vs 75.0% at 5 years, p = 0.170), while there was a significantly lower overall survival in MRC vs NMRC (67.4% vs 88.0% at 5 years, respectively; p = 0.012). When analyzed by stage, the overall survival difference between MRC and NMRC was significant in the cT3 group (71.1% vs 89.1% at 5 years, p = 0.047) and marginally significant in the cT4 group (51.4% vs 74.5% at 5 years, p = 0.053), but not significant in subgroups with the same pathologic stage. Conclusions Mucinous rectal cancer is related to a lower response rate to chemoradiotherapy and poorer prognosis compared to NMRC, even when corrected for clinical stage. The poor prognosis in MRC might be associated with poor responsiveness to preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
The effects of traumatic brain injury on patients and their families. A follow-up study.

AIM With this study we wanted to verify whether the same uneasiness elements as those described by numerous previous studies also existed in an Italian sample of traumatic brain-injured (TBI) patients. METHODS A follow-up investigation was conducted on a sample of 16 subjects who had suffered severe TBI 5 to 10 years earlier. Based on series of neuropsychological tests, the patients' levels of remaining autonomous function were assessed. For each patient, a family reference person was identified with a semistructured interview to define how they dealt with the consequences of the trauma within the familial nucleus, what motivated their choices, the social outcome of the familial nucleus, the behavioral outcome, and the social- and work-related outcomes of the patient. The caregiver's current emotions were also analyzed. RESULTS The study results confirmed that the family felt isolated from the social groups it used to belong to, and that few patients had fully achieved reinsertion into their social and/or work environments. Only 50% of subjects had returned to their job, most of them finding work at a lower level. The closest relatives reported experiencing a state of hardship. Many (70%) care-givers expressed by a steady feeling of worry but had devised effective compensatory strategies over the course of the study period to deal with depression. Such compensation appeared to be the result of the care-givers' awareness of the need to cope with situations where the patients very often depended on them. The hardship level the patient's familial nucleus experienced was not correlated with the patient's social- and work-related outcome, and elements of difficulty were evident among the relatives of patients who had returned to a productive life and those who were close to the family. The presence of severe cognitive and/or behavioral disability was a major factor in generating concern and worry about the future. In cases where the patient was severely disabled, the happiness level perceived by the patient's relatives, as expressed on a 5-point Likert scale, was 2.1, whilst in cases where disability was absent the level was 3.5. CONCLUSIONS Our observations confirm evidence from previous studies that even many years after a severe trauma incident, a state of disability and/or hardship involving the entire familial nucleus persists.
Measuring the generality of nanotechnologies and its potential economic implications

Technologies that have applications in a large number of sectors (general) have a more significant positive impact on economic activity in comparison to technologies that have applications in a few sectors (focused). The former are referred to in the economic literature as general purpose technologies (GPTs). Using patent data I conclude that nanotechnologies show one of the main characteristics of a GPT, high Generality, and I show the progression of their generality over the time period 1980-2008. A metric for generality is applied to compare nanotechnologies with other technologies previously identified as GPTs. The measurements show that `Nanotechnologies' have a higher average generality than semiconductors, and that the level of generality of nanotechnologies has remained fairly constant for more than two decades. Technologies such as `carbon nanotubes', and `nanoparticles' have a higher generality than `quantum dots'. `self-assembly' appears to have transformed from a focused technology to a general purpose one. The choice of classification system used to calculate the generality is relevant for the analysis of time trends. A high level of generality in nanotechnologies is important to nanotech-intensive firms because it translates into a larger potential range of applications of their innovations. On the other hand, it also increases the possibility of competition from rivals that were previously developing focused technologies.
Surface Characterization of Amalgam Made with Hg-In Liquid Alloy

When amalgam was triturated with Hg-In liquid alloys instead of pure mercury, the resultant amalgams released a significantly smaller amount of mercury vapor during setting. To understand the mechanisms responsible for the drastic decrease in mercury evaporation from the In-containing amalgam, we used Auger Electron Spectroscopy to examine surface oxide films on amalgams made with Hg-10 wt% In or pure mercury. The surface of the In-containing amalgam was rapidly covered with both indium and tin oxide films. Greater amounts of oxygen were found on the γ1 Ag-Hg matrix in the In-containing amalgam than in the amalgam without indium. The rapid formation of the oxide film contributes to a reduction in the mercury release from the In-containing amalgam by forming an effective barrier to evaporation.
NMDA receptor‐dependent long‐term potentiation in mouse hippocampal interneurons shows a unique dependence on Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent kinases

Long‐term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synaptic transmission plays a major role in memory encoding in the cerebral cortex. It can be elicited at many synapses on principal cells, where it depends on Ca2+ influx through postsynaptic N‐methyl‐d‐aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors. Ca2+ influx triggers phosphorylation of several kinases, in particular Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent kinase type II (CaMKII). Auto‐phosphorylation of CaMKII is a key step in the LTP induction cascade, as revealed by the absence of LTP in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of αCaMKII T286A‐mutant mice, where auto‐phosphorylation of the α isoform at residue T286 is prevented. A subset of hippocampal interneurons mediating feed‐forward inhibition also exhibit NMDA receptor‐dependent LTP, which shows all the cardinal features of Hebbian LTP in pyramidal neurons. This is unexpected, because αCaMKII has not been detected in interneurons. Here we show that pathway‐specific NMDA receptor‐dependent LTP is intact in hippocampal inhibitory interneurons of αCaMKII T286A‐mutant mice, although in pyramidal cells it is blocked. However, LTP in interneurons is blocked by broad‐spectrum pharmacological inhibition of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent kinases. The results suggest that non‐α Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent kinases substitute for the α isoform in NMDA receptor‐dependent LTP in interneurons.
Effects of Presurgical Exercise Training on Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Lung Resection for Suspected Malignancy: A Pilot Study

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of presurgical exercise training on quality of life (QOL) in patients with malignant lung lesions. Using a single-group prospective design, patients were enrolled in supervised aerobic exercise training for the duration of surgical wait time (mean 59.7 days). Participants completed assessments of cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen consumption) and QOL using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung scales, including the trial outcome index (TOI) and the lung cancer subscale (LCS) at baseline, immediately presurgery, and postsurgery (mean, 57 days). 9 participants provided complete data. Repeated-measures analysis indicated a significant effect for time on TOI (P = .006) and LCS (P = .009). Paired analysis revealed that QOL was unchanged after exercise training (ie, baseline to presurgery), but there were significant and clinically meaningful declines from presurgery to postsurgery in the LCS (−3.6, P = .021) and TOI (−8.3, P = .018). Change in peak oxygen consumption from presurgery to postsurgery was significantly associated with change in the LCS (r = 0.70, P = .036) and TOI (r = 0.70, P = .035). Exercise training did not improve QOL from baseline to presurgery. Significant declines in QOL after surgery seem to be related to declines in cardiorespiratory fitness. A randomized controlled trial is needed to further investigate these relationships.
Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in human pituitary tumors.

OBJECTIVE To determine the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1, -2, and -3 and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, -2, and -3 in 12 tissue samples from normal pituitary glands and in 28 human pituitary tumors ranging from Grade 0 to Grade IV, and to establish a correlation between the level of expression of MMPs and TIMPs and the tumor grade. METHODS The expression of MMPs and TIMPs was determined by Western blotting. MMP activity was detected by gelatin zymography. RESULTS MMPs were expressed in the majority of tumors, and their levels of expression were unrelated to tumor grade or to their invasive phenotype. Some correlation was observed between MMP activity detected by zymography and tumor grade. TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 were poorly expressed in high-grade tumors and strongly expressed in normal pituitary glands and in the majority of low-grade tumors. CONCLUSION No correlation could be established between the invasive potential of tumors and MMP-1, -2, and -3 expression levels. Some correlation was observed between MMP activity detected by zymography and tumor grade. A good inverse correlation was observed between TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 expression levels and tumor grade. These data suggest that monitoring the expression of TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 or gelatinolytic activity could be of prognostic value.