Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of underfeeding, hemigonadectomy, sex and cyproterone acetate on serum FSH levels in immature rats.

Dietary regimens have been shown to influence the secretion of gonadotrophins (Mulinos the changes occurring as the result of decreased hypothalamic content of FSH-RF and LH-RF (Piacsek & Meites, 1967) or FSH-RF activity (Negro-Vilar et al., 1971). Root & Russ (1972) demonstrated that fasting reduced serum FSH levels in intact male rats whereas Howland (1971a) reported that no change occurred in fasted female rats. Root & Russ (1972) and Ibrahim & Howland (1972) found that castration increased serum FSH levels, but the release of FSH was inhibited in the females and increased in the males when they were also fasted. A similar increase in FSH secretion in both sexes has been shown many times (Benson et al., 1969; Ibrahim & Howland, 1972; Howland & Skinner, 1973; Stewart et al., 1973; Ramirez & Sawyer, 1974) to occur after unilateral gonadectomy. Restriction of food to hemicastrated male rats resulted in increased levels of serum FSH compared with those of fully fed controls (Stewart et al., 1973). The present study was undertaken to determine (a) if the FSH response to underfeeding in the female was similar to that of the male, and (b) if the administration of cyproterone acetate, an anti-androgenic compound, to male rats would indicate what part androgens played in FSH release, since cyproterone acetate will block "androgen-sensitive CNS-receptors that regulate FSH secretions" (Von Berswordt-Wallrabe Stumpf, 1973).
Molecular and Functional Identification of a Ca2+ (Polyvalent Cation)-sensing Receptor in Rat Pancreas*

The balance between the concentrations of free ionized Ca2+ and bicarbonate in pancreatic juice is of critical importance in preventing the formation of calcium carbonate stones. How the pancreas regulates the ionic composition and the level of Ca2+ saturation in an alkaline environment such as the pancreatic juice is not known. Because of the tight cause-effect relationship between Ca2+ concentration and lithogenicity, and because hypercalcemia is proposed as an etiologic factor for several pancreatic diseases, we have investigated whether pancreatic tissues express a Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaR) similar to that recently identified in parathyroid tissue. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence microscopy, we demonstrate the presence of a CaR-like molecule in rat pancreatic acinar cells, pancreatic ducts, and islets of Langerhans. Functional studies, in which intracellular free Ca2+concentration was measured in isolated acinar cells and interlobular ducts, show that both cell types are responsive to the CaR agonist gadolinium (Gd3+) and to changes in extracellular Ca2+ concentration. We also assessed the effects of CaR stimulation on physiological HCO3 −secretion from ducts by making measurements of intracellular pH. Luminal Gd3+ is a potent stimulus for HCO3 − secretion, being equally as effective as raising intracellular cAMP with forskolin. These results suggest that the CaR in the exocrine pancreas monitors the Ca2+ concentration in the pancreatic juice, and might therefore be involved in regulating the level of Ca2+ in the lumen, both under basal conditions and during hormonal stimulation. The failure of this mechanism might lead to pancreatic stone formation and even to pancreatitis.
Protein quantification and electrophoresis in aqueous humor of pseudoexfoliation eyes.

PURPOSE Pseudoexfoliation (PSX) eyes frequently show clinical signs of blood-aqueous barrier impairment. To analyze these alterations, the authors examined aqueous humor of human eyes with and without PSX. METHODS After aqueous humor samples had been obtained during cataract or filtering glaucoma surgery, a modified Pierce-bicin choninic acid assay was used to quantify total aqueous protein concentration in 27 PSX eyes and 37 eyes without clinical signs of PSX (12 cataract eyes and 25 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma). In addition, aqueous protein composition was analyzed by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, silver staining, and laser densitometry in 27 PSX eyes and 59 eyes without PSX. RESULTS Aqueous protein concentration was significantly higher in PSX (mean 0.42 +/- 0.16 mg/ml) than in normal cataract eyes (0.22 +/- 0.08 mg/ml, P < 0.0001) and in eyes with open-angle glaucoma (0.26 +/- 0.09 mg/ml, P < 0.0001, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test). Electrophoresis revealed a characteristic increase of a 12.5-kDa band in 15 of 27 PSX eyes but in only 1 of 59 eyes without PSX (P < 0.00001, chi-square test). CONCLUSIONS These results substantiate increased aqueous protein concentration and aqueous barrier impairment in PSX. The additional finding of an increased 12.5-kDa band in 56% of PSX eyes may be related to the pathogenesis of PSX in the anterior ocular segment.
Essential Competencies for Teaching Students With Hearing Loss and Additional Disabilities

The purpose of this national study was to establish an initial database of the essential competencies needed for working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing with additional disabilities. Surveys were sent to program supervisors across the United States; each supervisor was asked to give the survey to a professional on his or her staff who worked with students who were deaf or hard of hearing with additional disabilities. Respondents indicated that there were 67 specific competencies needed for working with this diverse population of students. A list of the specific competencies and a rationale for providing more in-depth training for teachers is provided.
Effects of Circadian Mutations and LD Periodicity on the Life Span of Drosophila melanogaster

The pervasive occurrence of circadian clocks throughout the living world underlines their adaptive value. Nonetheless, there is surprisingly little evidence for a negative impact, on any animal species, of a constant discrepancy between the environmental and endogenous periods. Male Drosophila melanogaster per mutants with altered circadian periods were compared to the wild type in two different LD schedules. Life span was used as a global index of physiological adaptation. The life span of the mutants was significantly reduced by up to 15% for the flies whose period differs most from that of the wild type. A reduction was observed even when flies were kept in an LD schedule fitting a mutant period. The LD schedule made no significant difference on its own, but the authors found evidence for an interaction between genotype and LD schedule in determining life span. These results are consistent with the importance of the circadian clock in maintaining internal temporal order independent of environ-mental cycles. Nonetheless, a large difference between the environmental and endogenous periods has a measurable impact.
Detection of a latent soluble form of membrane type 1 matrix metalloprotease bound with tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases‐2 in periprosthetic tissues and fluids from loose arthroplasty endoprostheses

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP) is implicated in pericellular proteolysis, and, together with tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases‐2 (TIMP‐2), in the activation of pro‐matrix metalloproteinase‐2 on the cell surface. It is expressed on the cell surface either activated or as a proenzyme. A soluble form of MT1‐MMP (sMT1‐MMP) has been previously identified in periprosthetic tissues and fluid of patients with loose arthroplasty endoprostheses. The aim of this study was to examine periprosthetic tissues and fluids from patients with loose arthroplasty endoprostheses, as well as tissues and fluids from patients with other disorders, for the presence of sMT1‐MMP, and to investigate its activation state and possible role. With antibody against MT1‐MMP, a protein with molecular mass of ~ 57 kDa was detected by western blotting in all samples tested, representing a soluble form of MT1‐MMP, which cannot be ascribed to alternative splicing, as northern blotting showed only one transcript. With various biochemical methods, it was shown that this species occurs in a latent form bearing the N‐terminal prodomain, and, additionally, it is bound to TIMP‐2, which appeared to be bound via its C‐terminal domain to a site different from the active site. Cell ELISA and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that, besides fibroblasts, all other cells, such as inflammatory, epithelial, endothelial, giant and cancer cells, express MT1‐MMP on their plasma membrane as a proenzyme. Taking into account the proteolytic abilities of MT1‐MMP, the latent sMT1‐MMP–TIMP‐2 complex could be considered as a new interstitial collagenase. However, the exact role, the production mechanism and the cell origin of this complex remain to be elucidated.
Toxicologsy : Global and Focussed-Approaches-T " \ NOCase Studies

Safety testing of potential drugs has been and will continue to be achallenging taskfor the toxicologist in the pharmaceutical industry. Wepresent two examples for the use of target-specijic cell models to detect and assess species-specijic toxicity. In the first example, adrenal models based on primary cells as well as a permanent human adrenal cell line were used. Both cell systems enabled a good prediction of adrenal effects in rodents, non-rodents and humans. The second example made use of primary hepatocytes. In this project, a potential drug candidate showed unexpected toxicity in vitro as well as species-specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction in vivo. We therefore analysed CYP induction and gene expression signatures in rat and human hepatocytes as well as in samples from in vivo animal toxicity studies. By this approach, the rat hepatocyte model correctly predicted the effects observed in rats and the in vitro /in vivo comparison enabled a solid extrapolation of consequences in humans. These examples demonstrate that an intelligent testing strategy, using alternative methods, can enable a meaningful safety assessment for humans by adding a "tailor-made" range oftechnologies to "classic" toxicological methods. Zusammenfassung: Alternativen in der Arzneimitteltoxikologie: Globale und fokussierte Lösungsansätze Zwei Fallstudien Es ist und bleibt eine Herausforderung für Toxikalogen in der Pharmazeutischen Industrie, mögliche Arzneimittel auf ihre Sicherheit zu überprüfen. Wir schildern hier zwei Beispiele von primären Zellkulturmodellen, die als Angriffspunkt für spezies-spesifische toxische Effekte dienen können. Beim ersten Beispiel verwenden wir primäre Nierenzellkulturen und eine permanente humane Nierenzelllinie. Beide Zellsysteme erlauben eine gute Vorhersage toxischer Effekte in Nagern, Nicht-Nagern und Menschen. Beim zweiten Beispiel verwenden wir primäre Hepatozyten. Dabei zeigte ein Arzneimittelkandidat zusätzlich zur P450 Induktion (CYP) in vivo unerwartete toxische Effekte. Wir analysierten daher die CYP Induktion und Genexpression in Hepatozyten von Ratte und Mensch im Vergleich zu Proben aus in vivo Studien. Bei diesem Ansatz erlaubte das Ratten-Hepatozytenmodell eine korrekte Vorhersage der bei Ratten beobachteten Effekte, ein Vergleich der in vivo und vitro Ergebnisse ergab darüber hinaus eine brauchbare Extrapolation auf die Konsequenzen beim Menschen. Diese Beispiele zeigen, dass eine intelligente Teststrategie unter Verwendung alternativer Methoden einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Sicherheitsprüfung für den Menschen ergeben kann, wenn eine Reihe "massgeschneiderter" Methoden in Verbindung mit der" klassischen" Toxikologie zum Einsatz kommt.
Positive Regulation of the Vibrio cholerae Porin OmpT by Iron and Fur

ABSTRACT The transcription factor Fur regulates the expression of a number of genes in Vibrio cholerae in response to changes in the level of available iron. Fur usually acts as a repressor, but here we show that Fur positively regulates the expression of ompT, which encodes a major outer membrane porin. OmpT levels increased when the bacteria were grown in medium containing relatively high levels of iron, and this effect required Fur. The level of ompT mRNA also is increased in the presence of iron and Fur. The effect of iron on OmpT levels was independent of the known ompT regulators ToxR and Crp, and it did not require RyhB, which has been shown to be responsible for positive regulation by iron of some V. cholerae genes. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that Fur binds upstream of the ompT transcription start site in a region overlapping known binding sites for ToxR and Crp. These data suggest that Fur and iron positively regulate ompT expression through the direct binding of Fur to the ompT promoter.
Aggression in the Laboratory: Problems with the Validity of the Modified Taylor Competitive Reaction Time Test as a Measure of Aggression in Media Violence Studies

ABSTRACT Many laboratory studies of aggression use a measure known as the modified Taylor Competitive Reaction Time Test (TCRTT), for which validation studies are lacking. Using sound blasts administered by the participant against a fictional human opponent, the TCRTT also allows for multiple methods of measuring aggression. The validity of the TCRTT was tested in 53 college student participants. Participants took a self-report measure of aggressiveness as well as neuropsychological measures of frontal lobe functioning predictive of aggression. Results were not supportive of the TCRTT's validity and indicated concerns regarding the use of the TCRTT as a measure of aggression. Results suggest that labaratory studies of media violence using the TCRTT are of questionable validity.
Failure to detect antibodies to myelin basic protein or peptic fragments of myelin basic protein in CSF of patients with MS

Using the sodium sulfate precipitation radioimmunoassay and solid-phase radioimmunoassay, we measured antibody to intact human myelin basic protein and myelin basic protein peptic fragments, residues 1–44, 45–89, and 90–170, in CSF. Comparable levels of binding were obtained for MS and normal CSF by both tests. The increased amount of CSF IgG in MS patients cannot be attributed to specific antibody against myelin basic protein or its peptic fragments.
Identifying Empathetic Messages in Online Health Communities

Empathy captures one’s ability to correlate with and understand others’ emotional states and experiences. Messages with empathetic content are considered as one of the main advantages for joining online health communities due to their potential to improve people’s moods. Unfortunately, to this date, no computational studies exist that automatically identify empathetic messages in online health communities. We propose a combination of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks, and show that the proposed model outperforms each individual model (CNN and LSTM) as well as several baselines.
LOTIS, Super-LOTIS, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and Tautenburg Observations of GRB 010921

We present multi-instrument optical observations of the High Energy Transient Explorer (HETE-2) and Interplanetary Network error box of GRB 010921. This event was the first gamma-ray burst (GRB) partly localized by HETE-2 that has resulted in the detection of an optical afterglow. In this Letter, we report the earliest known observations of the GRB 010921 field, taken with the 0.11 m Livermore Optical Transient Imaging System (LOTIS) telescope, and the earliest known detection of the GRB 010921 optical afterglow, using the 0.5 m Sloan Digital Sky Survey Photometric Telescope (SDSS PT). Observations with the LOTIS telescope began during a routine sky patrol 52 minutes after the burst. Observations were made with the SDSS PT, the 0.6 m Super-LOTIS telescope, and the 1.34 m Tautenburg Schmidt telescope 21.3, 21.8, and 37.5 hr, respectively, after the GRB. In addition, the host galaxy was observed with the US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station 1.0 m telescope 56 days after the burst. We find that at later times (t > 1 day after the burst), the optical afterglow exhibited a power-law decline with a slope of α = 1.75 ± 0.28. However, our earliest observations show that this power-law decline cannot have extended to early times (t < 0.035 days).
[Comparison of cerclage and cerclage pessary in the treatment of pregnant women with incompetent cervix and threatened preterm delivery].

UNLABELLED Cervical incompetence is one of the causes of preterm delivery. Ultrasound examination of the cervix has given the evidence that cervical shortening, dilatation of internal cervical os and funneling observed long before term are the warning signs of preterm delivery. Early diagnosis and treatment may serve better outcome. Cerclage, which has been employed for more than 50 years is a traumatic procedure, furthermore requiring anaesthesia. Cerclage pessary can be a safe alternative to cerclage. This method seems to be less invasive. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of the two methods employed in gravid patients between 22 and 27 completed weeks of pregnancy with clinically and ultrasonographically confirmed shortening of the cervix. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analysed 57 patients, 22 treated with McDonald cerclage procedure and 35 with pessary. The primary outcome measure was prolongation of pregnancy--mean 13.4 weeks and 12.1 weeks for cerclage and pessary respectively (p = 0.06). There were no significant differences regarding the mode of delivery, rate of prematurity, mean birthweight and Apgar score. CONCLUSIONS Cerclage and cerclage pessary are equally effective methods of prolongation of pregnancy in gravid patients with incompetent cervix and threatened preterm labor. The choice of the method does not affect the mode of delivery as well as neonatal outcome.
The Comparative Bactericidal Action of Normal Serum, “Whole” Blood and Serum-Leucocyte Mixtures; with Further Observations on the Bactericidal Mechanism of Normal Serum

1. Normal “whole” blood and serum-leucocyte mixtures may exert a bactericidal effect when the serum (or plasma) is inactive in this respect, and may possess quantitatively greater bactericidal properties than serum (or plasma), when the latter is active per se, but such effects are relatively weak. 2. Leucocyte suspensions may exhibit an initial bactericidal action on certain bacteria, but this is usually weak and is followed by a pronounced growth-promoting influence on the surviving organisms. 3. Under certain conditions normal “whole” blood and serum-leucocyte mixtures are inferior to serum (or plasma) in bactericidal power. This is observed when the serum (or plasma) is strongly active per se and is due not merely to an inhibition of the bactericidal action of the leucocytes, but also to a lessened effect of the serum-bactericidins. 4. The comparative bactericidal power of normal “whole” blood or serumleucocyte mixtures on the one hand and serum or plasma on the other depends on the activity of the serum; when this is relatively weak, blood shows an enhanced action; when strong, blood is less active. 5. The above findings apply to a wide variety of bacteria irrespectively of biological species. 6. Bacterial extracts possess marked inhibitory properties on the bactericidal action of serum (or plasma), but not to any extent on the bactericidal properties of the leucocytes as evidenced by the approximately equal influence of such extracts on whole blood and serum respectively. 7. Dead bacteria in certain numbers produce inhibition of the bactericidal action of serum (or plasma), but exert a greater inhibitory influence on the reaction of “whole” blood. 8. It is suggested tentatively that when the serum is strongly bactericidal the killed organisms on being phagocyted along with living bacteria interfere with the intracellular destruction of the latter which at the same time are protected from the serum-bactericidins. 9. The paper also includes certain data regarding the time of maximum bactericidal action by serum towards various organisms and the occurrence of growth-promoting action following an initial bactericidal effect.
Chest Radiographs in the Pediatric Emergency Department for Children ≤18 Months of Age with Wheezing

There are no widely accepted predictors of pneumonia in wheezing infants and toddlers who present to the emergency department (ED). A 10-month retrospective review of ED visits of wheezing children ≤18 months of age revealed the following chest radiograph (CXR) results: normal (21 %), findings consistent with uncomplicated bronchiolitis or asthma (61%), focal infiltrates (18%), and other abnormalities (<1%). Patients with focal infiltrates on CXR were more likely to have the following: a history of fever (p=0.03, OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0, 4.4), temperature ≥38.4° (p=0.01, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1,5.8) or crackles on examination (p<0.0005, OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.7,9.0). Selective use of CXRs has the potential to save health care dollars and limit unnecessary radiation. Clin Pediatr. 1999;38:395-399
Anti-Arthritic Activity of the Methanolic Leaf Extract of Urtica pilulifera L. on Albino Rats

Problem statement: Urtica pilulifera (Urticeacae) has been used in folk medicine to alleviate inflammation and arthritis. In this study the anti-arthritic effect of methanolic leaf extract of the plant was evaluated and compared to untreated control as well as ibuprofen-treated groups in a rat model of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis. Approach: Arthritis was induced by injecting CFA subcutaneously into the right paw. The extract was given orally one day before CFA injection up to the completion of study (for 30 days). Two extract doses (1.33 and 2.0 g kg-1) and ibuprofen (53 mg kg-1) as a positive control were used. Paw volume was measured on alternate days up to 30 days. In addition, the effect of the extract on joint deformity, ankle swelling and inflammatory markers was evaluated. Results: The extract prevented arthritis-induced increase in paw volume and joint deformity dose-dependently as compared to control. Moreover, the extract showed significant increase in the packed cell volume [p<0.05]. No alteration of kidney or liver function tests was detected in rats during repeated dose treatment. Conclusion: This study supports the traditional use of U. pilulifera for the treatment of inflammatory disorders and rheumatoid arthritis and suggests further evaluation for its role in increasing red blood cells.
Patients With Electrical Status Epilepticus in Sleep Share Similar Clinical Features Regardless of Their Focal or Generalized Sleep Potentiation of Epileptiform Activity

The study objective was to compare qualitatively the clinical features of patients with electrical status epilepticus in sleep with focal versus generalized sleep potentiated epileptiform activity. We enrolled patients 2 to 20 years of age, studied between 2001 and 2009, and with sleep potentiated epileptiform activity defined as an increase of epileptiform activity of 50% or more during non–rapid eye movement sleep compared with wakefulness. Eighty-five patients met the inclusion criteria, median age was 7.3 years, and 54 (63.5%) were boys. Sixty-seven (78.8%) patients had focal sleep potentiated epileptiform activity, whereas 18 (21.2%) had generalized sleep potentiated epileptiform activity. The 2 groups did not differ with respect to sex, age, presence of a structural brain abnormality, epilepsy, or other qualitative cognitive, motor, or behavioral problems. Our data suggest that there are no qualitative differences in the clinical features of patients with focal versus generalized sleep potentiated epileptiform activity.