Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compromised neuroimmune status in rats with experimental colitis

In colitis, chronic and recurrent inflammation is associated with a breakdown in host defence mechanisms that leads to local and systemic infection. Whether this is due to a compromised neuroimmune response has not been studied. Our aim was to determine if colitis altered the host neuroimmune response as reflected in either body temperature rhythm or the febrile responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Body temperature was monitored by telemetry from conscious, unrestrained male rats treated with trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid or saline. Twenty‐six days after initial induction, colitis was reactivated. Animals were given LPS (50 μg kg−1Escherichia coli LPS) during colitis and after reactivation. At the peak of colitis, treated rats showed a disruption of circadian body temperature rhythm, manifested as day‐time fever followed by night‐time hypothermia. In response to LPS, controls displayed a characteristic fever, whereas treated animals had a significantly reduced fever and low plasma levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). During reactivation of colitis, treated animals did not mount a fever or exhibit increased plasma levels of IL‐6 and TNF‐α after LPS. We conclude that experimental colitis is associated with a compromised neuroimmune status.
Kinetic parameters of narcotic agonists and antagonists, with particular reference to N-allylnoroxymorphone (naloxone).

Gyang & Kosterlitz (1966) have shown that all narcotic analgesic drugs have dual agonist and antagonist actions, whether they are used clinically as " agonists " or "antagonists. " They examined the effects of these drugs on the contractions of the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig isolated ileum stimulated by coaxial electrodes and found that the " narcotic antagonists " always exhibited greater antagonist activity than the " narcotic agonists"; however, there was often little difference in the agonist activity of chemically related pairs of "narcotic agonists" and "narcotic antagonists" such as morphine and nalorphine, levorphanol and levallorphan, phenazocine and cyclazocine. It seemed of interest, therefore, to examine the kinetics of these drugs and for this purpose the following parameters were chosen: the concentration causing 50% inhibition of the contraction of the longitudinal muscle (ID50), to characterize agonist activity; the equilibrium constant (Ke) and the recovery rate constant (Kr), to characterize antagonist activity. The representatives of the morphine, morphinan and benzomorphan series examined by Gyang & Kosterlitz (1966) were included in this investigation and also some other compounds; of particular interest was the morphine derivative, naloxone, a potent "narcotic antagonist" with insignificant agonist activity (Foldes, Lunn, Moore & Brown, 1963; Lasagna, 1965; Blumberg, Dayton & Wolf, 1966; Jasinski, Martin & Haertzen, 1967; McClane & Martin, 1967).
The role of synchrotron-based studies in the elucidation and design of active sites in titanium-silica epoxidation catalysts.

X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements unambiguously establish the structure of the active centers in high-performance Ti-SiO2 epoxidation catalysts. Subtleties in structural changes in proceeding from the dispersed titanocene dichloride precursor to the anchored Ti(IV) centers are charted, in situ, by both near-edge (XANES) and extended-edge (EXAFS) measurements. The active centers are tripodally attached titanol groups: (Si-O)3-TiOH. These permit facile expansion of the coordination shell (also monitored by in situ XAFS studies) during catalysis, and thereby lead to the formulation of a plausible mechanism of epoxidation of alkenes that is consonant with recent DFT computations. Previously proposed mechanisms, based on a three-coordinated titanyl group (as well as possible five- or six-coordinated active sites), are discounted. Comparable XAFS studies of soluble catalytically active four-coordinated Ti(IV)-containing molecular entities establish that the heterogeneous Ti-SiO2 catalyst has "single-site" active centers. Equipped with such information, minute changes in hydrophobicity and local composition (e.g., replacement of one Si by a Ge) can be wrought so as to boost the performance of the catalyst. The merits of using combined in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopic and X-ray diffractometric measurements are also highlighted.
Cancer Awareness among a Nigerian Population

We conducted a population survey with the objective of identifying the level of cancer awareness. In Nigeria many patients present late for medical care. We analysed data from 460 literate Nigerians. Three hundred and sixty (78.3%) had heard about cancer, 34.1% identified particular risk age categories, while 62.2% said that cancer could occur at any time. Awareness of warning signs and sites of cancer location was very poor and only 33% recognized that a breast lump was a warning sign. Knowledge of methods of early detection was also very low and only 50% said that cancer is curable when detected early. This investigative survey highlighted a considerable ignorance and lack of awareness of cancer among the Nigerian population.
Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance in patients with Sjögren syndrome secondary to hepatitis C virus infection.

OBJECTIVE To investigate if the serum immunologic profile, as delineated by serum circulating levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines and autoantibodies, is different in patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) with and without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS This study included 20 patients with HCV-related SS and 47 consecutive patients with primary SS. All fulfilled 4 or more of the modified 1996 European criteria for SS. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2 (pg/mL), srIL-2 (pM), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (pg/mL), IL-6 (pg/mL), and IL-10 (pg/mL) were determined using enzyme immunoassay. We also analyzed the following immunologic tests: anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), anti-parietal cell antibodies (PCA), anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA), anti-liver-kidney microsome antibodies type-1 (LKM-1), anti-Ro/SS-A, anti-La/SS-B, rheumatoid factor (RF), complement factors (C3 and C4), and cryoglobulins. RESULTS Of the 20 patients with HCV-related SS, 18 were women and 2 men (mean age, 66 years). Patients with HCV-related SS had a different cytokine profile compared with patients with primary SS, with higher circulating levels of IL-6 (73.6 v 33.0 pg/mL, P =.045), IL-10 (6.7 v 3.1 pg/mL, P =.01), srIL-2 (124.6 v 72.7 pM, P =.001), and TNF-alpha (59.8 v 31.7 pg/mL, P =.003). The main immunologic features were ANA, detected in 75% of patients, RF in 63%, cryoglobulinemia in 50%, hypocomplementemia in 40%, SMA in 30%, PCA in 25%, anti-Ro/SS-A in 25%, AMA in 20% and anti-La/SS-B in 16%. When compared with primary SS patients, those with HCV-related SS had a higher prevalence of AMA (20% v 2%, P =.025), hypocomplementemia (40% v 11%, P =.015), and cryoglobulinemia (50% v 12%, P =.003). CONCLUSION Although chronic HCV infection may mimic the main clinical, histologic and immunologic features of primary SS, patients with HCV-related SS showed some differentiated characteristics, including a predominant Th2 pattern and a higher frequency of cryoglobulinemia and hypocomplementemia (features closely related to HCV). This suggests that the SS observed in some HCV patients should be interpreted as one of the extrahepatic manifestations of chronic HCV infection.
Photosensitizers neutral red (type I) and rose bengal (type II) cause light-dependent toxicity in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and induce the Gpxh gene via increased singlet oxygen formation.

The connection between the mode of toxic action and the genetic response caused by the type I photosensitizer and photosynthesis inhibitor neutral red (NR) and the type II photosensitizer rose bengal (RB) was investigated in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. For both photosensitizers, a light intensity-dependent increase in toxicity and expression of the glutathione peroxidase homologous gene (Gpxh) was found. The toxicity of RB was reduced by the singlet oxygen (1O2) quenchers 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2. 2]octane and L-histidine, and the RB-induced Gpxh expression was stimulated in deuterium oxide-supplemented growth medium. These observations clearly indicate the involvement of 1O2 in both toxicity and the genetic response caused by RB. NR up-regulated the expression of typical oxidative and general stress response genes, probably by a type I mechanism, and also strongly induced the Gpxh expression. The stimulating effect of deuterium oxide in the growth medium suggested the involvement of 1O2 also in the NR-induced response. Indeed, an increased 1O2 formation was detected with EPR-spin trapping in NR-treated spinach thylakoids. However, none of the 102 quenchers could reduce the light-dependent toxicity of NR in C. reinhardtii, indicating that NR has a different mode of toxic action than RB.
Root growth and soil nitrogen depletion by onion, lettuce, early cabbage and carrot

Experiments examining root growth, the utilization of N and the effect of green manures were carried out on four vegetable crops. Large differences were observed both in rooting depth penetration rates, and in final rooting depth and distribution. Onion had a very low depth penetration rate, carrot an intermediate rate, and lettuce and cabbage showed high rates. A combination of depth penetration rates and duration of growth determined rooting depth at harvest. Therefore, lettuce, which had a very short growing season, had a shallow root system at harvest, whereas carrot with a lower depth penetration rate but a long growing season had deep rooting at harvest. The final rooting depth of the vegetables varied from approximately 0.3 m for onion to more than 1.0 m for carrot and early cabbage. Carrot and cabbage were able to utilize N from deeper soil layers, not available to onion and lettuce. The ability of green manure crops to concentrate available N in the upper soil layers was especially valuable when they were grown before the two shallow rooted crops.
Serologic analysis of three cases of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia associated with HLA antibodies

BACKGROUND: Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is caused when maternal alloantibodies react with paternally inherited antigens present on the fetal PLTs, a reaction mainly due to antibodies against human PLT antigens. Cases in which NAIT has been caused by HLA antibodies are relatively rare. In this study, three cases of NAIT associated with HLA antibodies that occurred in a 1‐year period are reported.
Random-field effects on the nematic-smectic-A phase transition due to silica aerosil particles

INFM, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Universita`di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy~Received 28 August 1996! A high-resolution calorimetric study has been made on the smectic-A to nematic phase transition in liquidcrystals perturbed by the dispersion of 70-A-diam silica spheres ~aerosils! The speciﬁc heat peak of thistransition decreases in amplitude and shifts to lower temperatures with increasing silica density. However, itremains sharp in comparison to the effects of aerogel conﬁnement at the same silica densities. The bulktransition in octylcyanobiphenyl ~8CB! exhibits a crossover critical exponent a50.30, whereas on addition ofaerosils the speciﬁc heat peak takes on an increasingly asymmetric appearance reminiscent of three-dimensional ~3D! XY criticality. Power-law ﬁts reveal an effectiveacontinuously decreasing from 0.30 to20.03 with increasing silica density. No changes in the critical behavior are found when the bulk liquid crystalalready possesses a small negative a, i.e., 3D XY criticality, as shown in octylphenylthiol-pentyloxybenzoate.Apparently, the silica-dopant-induced random ﬁeld drives the critical behavior towards 3DXY universality in8CB by changing the nature of the coupling between the nematic and smectic order parameters. The nematicto isotropic transition in 8CB plus aerosils has also been observed; it exhibits a bimodal character that deviatesfrom observations in aerogel systems. @S1063-651X~97! 09503-2#PACS number~s! : 61.30. 2v, 64.70. Md, 82.70. RrI. INTRODUCTION
Tyrosine Sulfation of Chemokine Receptor CCR2 Enhances Interactions with Both Monomeric and Dimeric Forms of the Chemokine Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1)*

Background: Chemokine receptors are post-translationally sulfated on tyrosine residues. Results: A tyrosine-sulfated fragment of CCR2 binds more tightly to the monomeric form than the dimeric form of the chemokine MCP-1. Conclusion: Binding to sulfated CCR2 promotes conversion of MCP-1 from inactive dimer to active monomer. Significance: Tyrosine sulfation may regulate the ability of chemokine receptors to be activated by chemokines. Chemokine receptors are commonly post-translationally sulfated on tyrosine residues in their N-terminal regions, the initial site of binding to chemokine ligands. We have investigated the effect of tyrosine sulfation of the chemokine receptor CCR2 on its interactions with the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2). Inhibition of CCR2 sulfation, by growth of expressing cells in the presence of sodium chlorate, significantly reduced the potency for MCP-1 activation of CCR2. MCP-1 exists in equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric forms. The obligate monomeric mutant MCP-1(P8A) was similar to wild type MCP-1 in its ability to induce leukocyte recruitment in vivo, whereas the obligate dimeric mutant MCP-1(T10C) was less effective at inducing leukocyte recruitment in vivo. In two-dimensional NMR experiments, sulfated peptides derived from the N-terminal region of CCR2 bound to both the monomeric and dimeric forms of wild type MCP-1 and shifted the equilibrium to favor the monomeric form. Similarly, MCP-1(P8A) bound more tightly than MCP-1(T10C) to the CCR2-derived sulfopeptides. NMR chemical shift mapping using the MCP-1 mutants showed that the sulfated N-terminal region of CCR2 binds to the same region (N-loop and β3-strand) of both monomeric and dimeric MCP-1 but that binding to the dimeric form also influences the environment of chemokine N-terminal residues, which are involved in dimer formation. We conclude that interaction with the sulfated N terminus of CCR2 destabilizes the dimerization interface of inactive dimeric MCP-1, thus inducing dissociation to the active monomeric state.
Hypochondriasis: The Patient's Perspective

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to learn how patients with hypochondriasis view their physicians and medical care. Method: To accomplish this, we identified 20 patients with DSM-III-R hypochondriasis and 26 nonhypochondriacal patients from a general medicine clinic. Using a semistructured interview, we obtained information from patients about their recent health problems and medical care. The investigators then reviewed transcribed interviews and assigned comments to a series of categories. Results: Hypochondriacal and non-hypochondriacal patients made equal numbers of positive comments, but hypochondriacal patients made significantly more negative comments about physicians' professional characteristics, characteristics of the patients themselves and total negative comments. Many viewed physicians they had seen as unskilled and uncaring. They indicated that, in many instances, their relationships with physicians had suffered from poor communication and collaboration. Conclusion: Since successful management of patients with hypochondriasis rests upon positive relationships, ways must be found to improve the frustrating and costly situation that currently exists.
Immediate rehabilitation of completely edentulous arches with a four-implant prosthesis concept in difficult conditions: an open cohort study with a mean follow-up of 2 years.

PURPOSE There is a growing pressure in implant dentistry to perform implant rehabilitations in difficult conditions, such as fresh extraction sockets, periodontally compromised sites, or sites with low bone density and quantity that imply a high likelihood of dehiscences or fenestrations. The aim of this study was to document complete rehabilitations in both jaws through the so-called All-on-Four concept (ie, four implants with the posterior implants placed at an angle) using immediate function implants inserted in "nonideal" conditions (eg, implants inserted with dehiscences or fenestrations, in periodontally compromised sites, or in fresh extraction sockets). MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective cohort study included patients with immediately functioning implants placed in difficult conditions to support fixed full-arch maxillary and mandibular prostheses. RESULTS One hundred forty-two patients received 227 implants. A total of seven implants failed in six patients (three implants in three patients in the maxilla and four implants in three patients in the mandible), for cumulative patient and implant survival rates of 96.2% and 97.7% for the maxilla and 94.7% and 94.8% for the mandible, respectively, after 2 years (Kaplan-Meier). The average (standard deviation) peri-implant bone resorption after 1 year and 3 years in the maxilla was 1.3 mm (0.4 mm) and 1.6 mm (0.4 mm), respectively; in the mandible, the average (standard deviation) peri-implant bone resorption at 1 year and 5 years was 1.4 mm (0.3 mm) and 1.7 mm (0.6 mm), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results support the conclusion that the four-implant ("All-on-Four") immediate-function concept in completely edentulous maxillae and mandibles using implants inserted in difficult conditions is a viable concept in the short term.
Tumours of the jaw in West Africa. A review of 256 patients

DOCTORS in tropical Africa have for a long time reported that tumours of the jaw are among the tall trees in the jungle of surgical pathology. The development of transport and communications no less than the tools of diagnosis and the accoutrements of modern surgery has brought patients and their lesions into the open and enabled this area of the vast clinical field to be sketched in lightly. From these tumours drawn, provided the limitations are appreciated and duly allowed for. Frequency. -The extraordinary frequency of tumours of the jaw in Uganda has been the subject of publications by Cook and Singh (1956) and Davies and Davies (1960), and as long ago as 1901 was commented on by Sir Albert Cook. A recent article by Dodge (1965) reported that tumours of the jaw in
A prospective, naturalistic, blinded study of early neurobehavioral outcomes for infants following prenatal antidepressant exposure.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the potential effects of antidepressant exposure in pregnancy on early infant neurobehavioral outcomes. METHOD In this prospective, naturalistic study, neurobehavioral assessments using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) were completed by blinded raters between March 2001 and August 2005 on 64 infants who were born to mothers in 1 of 3 categories: (1) women with a history of DSM-IV-diagnosed major depressive disorder (MDD) who were treated with antidepressants during pregnancy, (2) women with a history of DSM-IV-diagnosed MDD who discontinued or chose not to be treated with antidepressants during pregnancy, and (3) a nonpsychiatric control group. Summary scores for the BNBAS were obtained within the first week of life and at 6 to 8 weeks of age. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between groups at either the first week after delivery or at 6 to 8 weeks of age on any of the summary scores for the 7 major clusters of the BNBAS. CONCLUSIONS Antidepressant exposure during pregnancy does not appear to have major adverse effects on indices of early infant neurobehavioral development during the first 2 months of life as assessed by the BNBAS. While this finding is encouraging, further studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are needed.
Organizations Non Gratae? The Impact of Unethical Corporate Acts on Interorganizational Networks

In this study, we examine the effects of illegal/unethical acts on interfirm networks. We hypothesize that the quality of network partners will decline and overall network structure will change after a firm commits an unethical act. More specifically, we posit that the decline in partner quality is primarily driven by higher quality firms leaving the network, and the focal firm being forced to replace them with lower quality ones. We also propose that partner prominence and network cohesion will be affected after these acts, and that the changes in partner quality and network structure will be greater for those acts perceived as more illegitimate. We test these hypotheses using a sample of 200 large firms in the United States and data on unethical acts by these firms. Our results show that the quality of a firm's network partners declines after the firm's commission of an unethical act, and that the deterioration in partner quality tends to be greater for acts of greater illegitimacy. Our results also show declines in network prominence and cohesion for firms involved in these activities. We discuss the implications of our results for the literatures on interfirm networks and unethical corporate activities.
Prenatal Androgen Exposure and Growth and Secretion of Growth Hormone and Prolactin in Ewes Postweaning 1 2

Abstract Growth and secretion of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) in ewe lambs exposed to androgen during fetal development were investigated. Testosterone cypionate was administered to the pregnant dams from approximately Days 28 to 84 of gestation. Ewe lambs from dams that received androgen exhibited masculinized external genitalia and some masculine behavioral characteristics. Intact androgenized ewe lambs grew faster (P < 0.05) and were more efficient in conversion of food to body gain (P < 0.05) than ewe lambs born to untreated dams over the period from 70 to 224 days of age. One-half of the ewe lambs in each group was ovariectomized at 58 days of age. Ovariectomy had no effect on subsequent growth or efficiency of growth in the control ewe lambs. However, ovariectomy of androgenized ewe lambs abolished the observed stimulated rate of growth and decreased the improvement in efficiency of food conversion. Blood samples were collected from the lambs at 85 and 136 days of age at 15-min intervals for 8 hr to determine parameters of GH and PRL secretion. Prenatal androgen exposure had no effect on any parameter of GH or PRL secretion. These data indicate that prenatal androgen exposure altered differentiation of growth potential in ewe lambs, but the growth response was not mediated through dramatic changes in secretion of adenohypophysial somatotropic hormones, GH and PRL.