Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monoclonal anti-MM46 antibody:ricin A chain conjugate: in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity.

Abstract In an approach to antitumor agents with improved tumor specificity, the ricin toxic subunit A chain was covalently coupled with a monoclonal IgG2b antibody directed against MM antigen, a tumor-specific antigen on syngeneic mouse mammary tumor MM46 cells (anti-MM46 IgG), using N -succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate as cross-linking agent. The conjugate thus prepared (anti-MM46 conjugate) showed potent dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MM antigen-positive MM46 cells in vitro and inhibited the cell growth at concentrations above 1 µg/ml. The immunological specificity was verified by the observation that anti-MM46 conjugate did not show cytotoxicity against MM antigen-negative MM48 cells. Neither nonimmune conjugate similarly prepared from mouse nonimmune IgG nor unconjugated anti-MM46 IgG alone exhibited cytotoxicity against MM46 cells. Anti-MM46 IgG still retained considerable in vitro complement-dependent cytotoxicity against MM46 cells after conjugation with ricin A chain. In Winn-type tumor-neutralizing assay in which C3H/He mice were inoculated i.p. or s.c. with MM46 cells preincubated with a test material, anti-MM46 conjugate showed greater activity than did anti-MM46 IgG. A markedly enhanced efficacy of anti-MM46 conjugate was also observed in therapeutic experiments. When a group of five C3H/He mice inoculated i.p. with 5 × 10 4 MM46 cells were treated with an i.p. injection of 1 µg of anti-MM46 conjugate on Days 1, 3, and 5, all five mice survived tumor-free, although those treated with 1 µg of anti-MM46 IgG died before Day 20 with a life span similar to those of mice treated with nonimmune conjugate or phosphate-buffered saline (control). Thus, the in vivo efficacy of anti-MM46 conjugate over anti-MM46 IgG alone was demonstrated by therapeutic experiments as well as by tumor-neutralizing assays. Although anti-MM46 conjugate showed no antitumor effect when injected i.p. to C3H/He mice bearing s.c. -inoculated MM46 tumor (inoculum, 4 × 10 5 ) on Days 1, 3, 5, and 7 at a dose of 10 µg, it inhibited tumor growth when injected intraregionally to tumor-bearing mice, suggesting that the conjugate is effective also to solid-type MM46 tumor if a sufficient amount of anti-MM46 conjugate reaches the tumor site.
An in vitro comparison of the bactericidal efficacy of lethal photosensitization or sodium hyphochlorite irrigation on Streptococcus intermedius biofilms in root canals.

AIM To compare the bacterial killing of Streptococcus intermedius biofilms in root canals using lethal photosensitization with various combinations of photosensitizer concentration and laser light dose or 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) irrigation. METHODOLOGY Extracted teeth (n = 35) with single canals were selected and the canals prepared to apical size 25 with a 10% taper. The teeth were autoclaved and the canals inoculated with Streptococcus intermedius in brain heart infusion broth and were incubated for 48 h to allow a biofilm to form. The teeth were then subjected to 3% NaOCl irrigation (n = 4) or lethal photosensitization using combinations of a range of toluidine blue O (TBO) photosensitizer concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 100 microgram/mL-1) and light doses (60, 90, 120, 300, 600 s equivalent to energy doses of 2.1-21 J) using a 35-mW helium-neon low power laser targeted at the access cavity (n = 4 for each combination). Controls consisted of laser light only (TBO = 0 microgram/mL-1) (n = 4), TBO only (light dose = 0 s) (n = 4), and no treatment (positive control n = 17). Following treatment the canal contents were sampled with sterile paper points, the sample was dispersed in transport medium, serially diluted and cultured on blood agar to determine the number of colony forming units (CFU). RESULTS The combination of 100 microgram/mL-1 TBO and 600 s (21 J) of laser energy achieved maximum reduction in recovered viable bacteria (5 log10 CFU). TBO at low concentrations (< or =50 microgram/mL-1) was not bactericidal but treatment with 100 microgram/mL-1 TBO alone reduced recovered viable bacteria by 3 log10 CFU. Laser light alone had limited bactericidal effect. No viable bacteria were recovered following treatment with 3% NaOCl. CONCLUSIONS The combined use of a photosensitizing agent and a low power laser directed at the access cavity was bactericidal to S. intermedius biofilms in root canals but was unable to achieve total kill, unlike 3% NaOCl.
Recovery of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials after a vertigo attack due to vestibular neuritis

Conclusions. Inferior vestibular nerve functions could recover in patients with vestibular neuritis (VN). Objectives. Although the recovery of superior vestibular nerve functions has been reported, there is little information about the recovery of inferior vestibular nerve functions in patients with VN. This study was done to clarify if inferior vestibular nerve functions recover after an attack of VN. Methods. Neuro-otological tests including vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing and caloric testing were sequentially performed in 13 patients with VN, who showed absence of VEMP on the affected side at the initial examination (7 men and 6 women, 28–82 years of age). VEMPs to click stimulation (95 dBnHL) were recorded with surface electrodes over each sternocleidomastoid muscle. Results. Among the 13 patients, 5 patients (4 men and 1 woman) showed recovery of VEMP responses. Four of the five patients (three men and one woman) showed recovery of VEMP to the normal range. It takes 6 months to 2 years to recover within the normal range. On the other hand, caloric responses recovered to the normal range only in one patient.
Secondary alveolar echinococcosis in lymphotoxin‐α and tumour necrosis factor‐α deficient mice: exacerbation of Echinococcus multilocularis larval growth is associated with cellular changes in the periparasitic granuloma

The availability of mice carrying a deletion of LT‐α and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α genes enabled us to investigate the role of the TNF during alveolar echinococcosis. We compared the growth rate of Echinococcus multilocularis in LT‐αTNF‐α +/+ mice to that of mice having either no or only one LT‐αTNF‐α functionnal allele. LT‐αTNF‐α−/− mice harboured a significantly higher parasite burden than did the other two populations at 5, 10, and 15 weeks of infection, and they did not survive thereafter. Liver metacestodes removed from these mice were alive and the dehydrogenase activities of peritoneal metacestodes were decreased. Liver lesions regressed in most wild‐type mice. Indeed, dead parasites were cordoned by granulomas containing numerous macrophages and lymphocytes leading to focal liver fibrosis at an early stage of infection. In contrast, most of LT‐αTNF‐α−/− mice harboured metacestodes interspersed with leucocytes, realising purulent abscesses with secondary extensive irregular fibrosis at a late stage of infection. Heterozygous mice had behavioural characteristics intermediate between homozygous mutants and wild‐type mice. Levels of E. multilocularis‐specific delayed‐type hypersensitivity and serum antibodies were slightly decreased in LT‐αTNF‐α−/− mice. This study shows that TNF‐α and/or LT‐α genes play an essential role in the immune protection mechanisms against E. multilocularis at the site of infection.
From Lundberg to SIM-ICP: Computational Physiology and Modeling Intracranial Pressure

A simplified dynamic model generates patient-specific estimates of intracranial pressure and suggests a path forward for bringing simulated (SIM) physiologic models to the patient’s bedside. A simplified dynamic model generates patient-specific estimates of intracranial pressure and suggests a path forward for bringing simulated (SIM) physiologic models to the patient’s bedside.
trans-activation of viral enhancers by the hepatitis B virus X protein

We have used the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene expression system to study the effect of the X protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) on viral enhancers. Plasmids containing the HBV enhancer and the core gene promoter linked to the cat gene were cotransfected with a plasmid containing the X gene into the human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5. Our results indicate that the transfected X gene caused a trans-activation of the HBV enhancer. If a frameshift mutation or a deletion in the X structural gene was created, this trans-activation function was abolished. This result and the observation that the frameshift mutation did not alter the transcription of X mRNA suggest that the X protein is the trans-activating factor. Using similar techniques, we found that the X protein was also capable of trans-activating the simian virus 40 (SV40) and Rous sarcoma virus enhancers (pSV2cat and pRSVcat) in CV-1 cells. However, trans-activation of the SV40 enhancer by the X protein was not observed in COS-1 cells. By cotransfecting pSV2cat and the X gene with a plasmid containing either the intact SV40 genome, the SV40 genome devoid of the T-antigen (T-ag) gene, or only the T-ag gene, we demonstrated that SV40 T-ag can suppress trans-activation by the X protein. SV40 T-ag did not inhibit expression of the X gene or inactivate the X protein. The most probable mechanism of this inhibition is that T-ag competes with the X protein for a common target.
Small-Dose S(+)-Ketamine Reduces Postoperative Pain When Applied with Ropivacaine in Epidural Anesthesia for Total Knee Arthroplasty

Reduction of nociceptive input through blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors has been reported. We compared the effects of epidural S(+)-ketamine versus placebo on postoperative pain in a randomized, double-blinded study in 37 patients undergoing unilateral knee arthroplasty. After lumbar epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine (10 mg/mL, 10–20 mL), 19 patients received 0.9% epidural saline, and 18 patients received 0.25 mg/kg epidural S(+)-ketamine 10 min before surgical incision. After surgery, patient-controlled epidural analgesia with ropivacaine was provided. During the first 8 h after surgery, visual analog scale pain rating was similar between groups. Twenty-four and 48 h after surgery, patients anesthetized with ropivacaine had higher visual analog scale ratings at rest and during movement (P < 0.05) than patients anesthetized with S(+)-ketamine and ropivacaine. Forty-eight hours after surgery, patients anesthetized with ropivacaine also consumed more ropivacaine (558 ± 210 mg) (P < 0.01) than those anesthetized with S(+)-ketamine and ropivacaine (319 ± 204 mg). Adverse events were similar between groups. Patients who received S(+)-ketamine and ropivacaine rated the quality of their pain therapy better than those who received ropivacaine alone (P < 0.05). We conclude that the combination of S(+)-ketamine and ropivacaine in epidural anesthesia increases postoperative pain relief when compared with ropivacaine.
Mitochondrial gene fragments suggest paraphyly of the genus Panorpa (Mecoptera, Panorpidae).

Life history studies of scorpionfly species have been used to test predictions of evolutionary theory, but comparative analysis has been hampered by a lacking phylogeny of scorpionflies. We present a molecular phylogeny of selected panorpid scorpionflies inferred from mitochondrial 12S, 16S rRNA, and COI gene fragments, using parsimony and maximum-likelihood methods. Maximum-likelihood reconstructions depend on an explicit evolutionary substitution model; therefore, we estimated fit of substitution models to our data and used an optimal evolutionary substitution model in subsequent reconstructions. Both reconstruction methods converge on compatible trees with considerable statistical support for a majority of nodes. We performed parametric tests of most important phylogenetic conclusions employing the fitted GTR + %I + Gamma substitution model. Parametric bootstrapping allowed rejection of alternative explanations of the data set, where classical tests, like the KHY test, failed. Parametric bootstrapping confirmed that the association of Neopanorpa sp. with Asian Panorpa species is currently the superior explanation of the data set. Therefore, it is concluded that the genus Panorpa is most likely paraphyletic to the representative of the genus Neopanorpa. We conclude that the sequenced mitochondrial gene fragments appear to be well suited for future more comprehensive phylogenetic investigations of panorpid scorpionflies.
[Study on application of CPP-ACP on tooth mineralization during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance].

PURPOSE To determine the value of clinical application of CPP-ACP during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance. METHODS Seventy-five subjects were divided randomly into three groups, the control group, experimental group A and experimental group B. The control group were emphasized on daily oral hygiene. Experimental group A used fluor protector every three months under the dentist's guidance. Experimental group B used Casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate(CCP-ACP) once a day. After finishing the orthodontic treatment, photos were taken under the same condition ,then the degree of the enamel's demineralization was examined and the enamel decalcification index(EDI) was calculated. SPSS11.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS (1)The incidence of three groups' enamel decalcification declined in sequence as the control group(60%),experimental group A (36%), experimental group B (32%). (2)The incidence of the teeth's enamel calcification of three groups declined in sequence as the control group(14.7%),experimental group A (8.46%), experimental group B (7.72%), the difference between the control group and two experimental groups was significant, while no significant difference was found between the two experimental groups. (3(EDI of the control group was 0.155+/-0.023, EDI of the experimental group A was 0.082+/-0.009,while EDI of the experimental group B was 0.078+/-0.006. The difference between the control group and two experimental groups was statistically significant, while was not statistically significant between the two experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS The application of fluor protector and CPP-ACP can improve the mineralization of the teeth during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance. CPP-ACP is more convenient for the patients to use. Supported by Research Fund of Bureau of Science and Technology of Futian District Shenzhen City(Grant No.FTWS056).
Candida albicans C3d receptor, isolated by using a monoclonal antibody

Pseudohyphae of Candida albicans possess a receptor for C3d, a fragment of the complement component C3. This receptor was partially purified by using a monoclonal antibody (CA-A) that previously had been shown to inhibit the binding of C3d to C. albicans pseudohyphae. Purified immunoglobulin G from ascites fluid (CA-A) was coupled to a cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose column, and an affinity-purified fraction (A2) from C. albicans pseudohyphae was obtained. This fraction inhibited rosetting of the EAC3d receptor by pseudohyphae and appeared to contain glycoprotein, since receptor activity could be removed when A2 was incubated with lectins specific for mannose and glucose. A2 was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and two polypeptides of approximately 60 and 70 kilodaltons (kDa) were consistently identified in reducing gels. The 60-kDa protein was identified as a glycoprotein by concanavalin A binding. A2 was further analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Of three fractions obtained by HPLC, one containing the 60-kDa protein was found to have receptor activity. When analyzed by HPLC, this protein was found to contain mannose and glucose in approximately equal amounts. Both immunofluorescence and electron microscopy of pseudohyphae treated with CA-A identified A2 as a surface moiety. Thus, the C3d receptor of C. albicans, isolated with CA-A, is a glycoprotein of approximately 60 kDa.
Iterative learning control for discrete-time stochastic systems with quantized information

An iterative learning control (ILC) algorithm using quantized error information is given in this paper for both linear and nonlinear discrete-time systems with stochastic noises. A logarithmic quantizer is used to guarantee an adaptive improvement in tracking performance. A decreasing learning gain is introduced into the algorithm to suppress the effects of stochastic noises and quantization errors. The input sequence is proved to converge strictly to the optimal input under the given index. Illustrative simulations are given to verify the theoretical analysis.
Attachment, Belongingness Needs, and Relationship Status Predict Imagined Intimacy With Media Figures

The present study uses an interpersonal relationships measure (Relationship Rating Form [RRF], Fraley & Davis, 1997) to assess both imagined intimacy with a favorite media figure and real intimacy with close others among 173 undergraduates. We examine how relational tendencies (attachment style, need to belong) and relationship status (single or partnered) interact to predict degree of imagined intimacy with same and opposite gender media figures. Results indicate that intimacy reported with a same gender friend is positively correlated with imagined intimacy for a same gender media figure. However, a compensatory pattern emerged with romantic relationships: single individuals reported greater imagined intimacy with opposite gender media figures than those in a relationship. Attachment anxiety and the need to belong (NTB) were positively predictive of imagined intimacy with opposite gender media figures for single individuals only. Social psychological motivations for media attachments are discussed.
Analysis of the gene-expression profile regarding the progression of human gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Tumor tissue consists of a variable mixture of tumor and host-cell populations. Recent developments in laser microdissection (LMD) and cDNA microarray analysis have encouraged us to study the differential gene expression profiles among normal cells, primary carcinoma cells, and metastatic carcinoma cells in cases of gastric carcinoma. METHODS Total RNA was extracted from the cells obtained by means of LMD from the primary carcinoma, the corresponding gastric epithelium, and the lymph node metastasis in 5 cases of primary gastric carcinoma. RNA was amplified by the T7-based amplification system to be applied to a cDNA microarray. Thereafter, the differentially expressed genes among the 3 populations were evaluated. RESULTS cDNA samples for microarray studies were successfully obtained from each cell population of 5 cases. The cDNA microarray demonstrated that several interesting genes, such as cell-cycle regulators and growth factors, were overexpressed in the metastatic cells compared with in the primary carcinoma cells. Oncogenes and cell-adhesion molecules were more overexpressed in the primary carcinoma cells than in the normal cells. On the other hand, caspase 8 and cadherin were more suppressed in the primary carcinoma cells than in the normal cells. Interestingly, among the matrix metalloproteinase family, only MMP7 was identified as a differentially overexpressed gene in both the primary carcinoma and the metastatic cells in comparison with the normal cells. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that the combined use of LMD, T7-based amplification, and a cDNA microarray enabled us to identify genes directly associated with each population of tumor tissue. The method will open up new possibilities for the precise gene analysis of tumor progression and metastasis.
Interventions to improve question formulation in professional practice and self-directed learning.

BACKGROUND Formulating questions is fundamental to the daily life of a healthcare worker and is a defining characteristic of professional competence and meaningful learning. With high expectations for healthcare providers to remain up-to-date with current evidence and the movement towards formalizing reflective practice as part of physician revalidation, it is important that curricula developed for improving the ability to formulate well-constructed questions are based on the best evidence. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of interventions for increasing the frequency and quality of questions formulated by healthcare providers in practice and the context of self-directed learning. SEARCH STRATEGY We obtained studies from searches of electronic bibliographic databases, and supplemented these with handsearching, checking reference lists, and consultation with experts. SELECTION CRITERIA We considered published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), interrupted time-series (ITS), and controlled before-after (CBA) studies of any language examining interventions for increasing the quality and frequency of questions formulated by health professionals involved with direct patient care. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently undertook all relevancy screening and 'Risk of bias' assessment in duplicate. Intervention characteristics, follow-up intervals, and measurement outcomes were diverse and precluded quantitative analysis. We have summarized data descriptively. MAIN RESULTS Searches identified four studies examining interventions to improve question formulation in healthcare professionals. Interventions were mostly multi-component, limited within the context of EBM and primarily in physician and resident populations. We did not identify studies examining changes in frequency of questions formulated or those within the context of reflection. Risk of bias was generally rated to be 'high risk'. Three of the four studies showed improvements in question formulation in physicians, residents, or mixed allied health populations in the short- to moderate term follow up. Only one study examined sustainability of effects at one year and reported that skills had eroded over time. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Evidence from our review suggests that interventions to increase the quality of questions formulated in practice produce mixed results at both short- (immediately following intervention), and moderate-term follow up (up to nine months), comparatively. Although three studies reported effectiveness estimates of an educational intervention for increasing the quality of question formulation within the short term, only one study examined the effectiveness in the longer term (one year) and revealed that search skills had eroded over time. Data suggests that sustainability of effects from educational interventions for question formulation are unknown.