Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TLR7/8 agonists impair monocyte‐derived dendritic cell differentiation and maturation

Pathogen recognition by TLR activates the innate immune response and is typically followed by the development of an adaptive immune response initiated by antigen presentation. Dendritic cells (DC) are the most efficient APC and express diverse TLRs, including TLR7 and ‐8, which have been recently identified as targets for ssRNA recognition during viral infection. We have studied the effect of TLR7/8 agonists on DC differentiation and maturation from human monocytes. The synthetic agonist Resiquimod (R‐848) or the physiological agonist ssRNA impaired monocyte differentiation to DC phenotypically and functionally. Induced expression of the nonclassical MHC molecules of the CD1 family in DC was inhibited at the protein and mRNA levels, and antigen acquisition was inhibited. Proinflammatory cytokine (including IL‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α, IL‐1β) and IL‐10 production were induced during DC differentiation. Cross‐talk between TLR4 and TLR7/8 was revealed as immature DC, which had been differentiated in the presence of R‐848 were insensitive to LPS‐mediated maturation and cytokine production but still induced allostimulation. These data lead us to suggest that ongoing viral activation of TLR7/8 could alter the adaptive immune response by modifying DC differentiation and by down‐regulating DC responsiveness to a subsequent bacterial TLR4‐mediated signal.
Quality of care in primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state, North central Nigeria; the clients' perspective.

BACKGROUND Quality of care is one of the major public health concerns in this 21st century. We tried to assess the clients' perspectives of quality of care provided by the primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area in Niger state North central Nigeria. METHODOLOGY A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among the 273 clients utilizing services in the 3 primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state in the North central geo-political zone of Nigeria. RESULTS Result from the research shows that more than one-third (39%) of the clients attending the primary health centres were children within the age group of 0-9 months. Outpatient services for common health care problems such malaria and diarrhoea account for more than onethird (35.7%) of the total clients load. On their experiences during receiving care all the clients (100%) were seen by the health worker, more than half of the clients (57%) obtained all drugs prescribed, three-quarter (76%) were satisfied with questions asked during consultation and less than half (44%) were examined. Furthermore, more than four-fifth (83%) were informed on how to take drugs and 62% were informed of when to come back. More than one-third of the respondents (36.7%) waited for about 1-3 hrs. When their overall satisfaction was placed on the Likert's 5-point scale, 3% highly satisfied, 8% were satisfied, 39% fairly satisfied, 29% dissatisfied and 9% were highly dissatisfied. CONCLUSION In conclusion, despite the level of advancement attained in health care in the 21st century which is regarded as the era of Total Quality Management, Quality of care in primary health care centres leaves much to be desired. This therefore calls for an urgent, deliberate, sustained and purposeful effort to institutionalize Quality Assurance mechanism as an integral part of our health system.
Evaluación de las variaciones hemodinámicas durante la inducción anestésica en pacientes hipertensos tratados

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Due to the high prevalence of hypertension, the increase in life expectancy, and improvement of diagnostic methods and surgical techniques, this comorbidity will be increasingly more common in surgical patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the hemodynamic variables during anesthetic induction in treated hypertensive patients. METHODS This is an observational study on the behavior of hemodynamic parameters (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate) during the anesthetic induction of hypertensive and normotensive patients scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesia, at four moments: preparation (MP), drug (MD), laryngoscopy/intubation (ML), and 5 minutes after laryngoscopy/intubation (ML5). RESULTS The sample was composed of 128 patients divided into two groups: hypertensive (GH) and normotensive (GN). Diastolic blood pressure was reduced at MD in both groups, with a smaller percentage reduction in GH (18.3 +/- 14.0% versus 23.0 +/- 11.4%, p = 0.04). There was an increase in SBP and DBP at ML in both groups, with smaller percentage reductions in GH (8.2 +/- 16.3% versus 18.2 +/- 21.2%, p < 0.01; 8.6 +/- 20.2% versus 25.0 +/- 27.9%, p < 0.01, respectively for DBP and SBP). As for ML5, HR, SBP and DBP did not show significant differences between both groups. CONCLUSIONS Hypertensive patients under treatment and with controlled blood pressure levels demonstrated greater hemodynamic stability during anesthetic induction.
High frequency new particle formation in the Himalayas

Rising air pollution levels in South Asia will have worldwide environmental consequences. Transport of pollutants from the densely populated regions of India, Pakistan, China, and Nepal to the Himalayas may lead to substantial radiative forcing in South Asia with potential effects on the monsoon circulation and, hence, on regional climate and hydrological cycles, as well as to dramatic impacts on glacier retreat. An improved description of particulate sources is needed to constrain the simulation of future regional climate changes. Here, the first evidence of very frequent new particle formation events occurring up to high altitudes is presented. A 16-month record of aerosol size distribution from the Nepal Climate Observatory at Pyramid (Nepal, 5,079 m above sea level), the highest atmospheric research station, is shown. Aerosol concentrations are driven by intense ultrafine particle events occurring on >35% of the days at the interface between clean tropospheric air and the more polluted air rising from the valleys. During a pilot study, we observed a significant increase of ion cluster concentrations with the onset of new particle formation events. The ion clusters rapidly grew to a 10-nm size within a few hours, confirming, thus, that in situ nucleation takes place up to high altitudes. The initiation of the new particle events coincides with the shift from free tropospheric downslope winds to thermal upslope winds from the valley in the morning hours. The new particle formation events represent a very significant additional source of particles possibly injected into the free troposphere by thermal winds.
The special extract ERr 731 of the roots of Rheum rhaponticum decreases anxiety and improves health state and general well-being in perimenopausal women

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of the special extract ERr 731 from the roots of Rheum rhaponticum compared with placebo on anxiety, health state, and general well-being in perimenopausal women. Design: This study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, in which 109 perimenopausal women with climacteric complaints and anxiety received either 1 enteric coated tablet of ERr 731 (n = 54) or placebo (n = 55) daily for 12 weeks. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Menopause Rating Scale II, the Women's Health Questionnaire, and the Psychological General Well-Being Index were used to measure anxiety, health state, and subjective psychological well-being. Results: The results demonstrate that ERr 731 is highly effective in reducing anxiety in perimenopausal women compared with placebo. After 12 weeks, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale total score decreased significantly with ERr 731 (from 27.5 ± 6.8 to 9.4 ± 4.2 points) compared with placebo (from 25.1 ± 6.0 to 21.6 ± 8.6 points). ERr 731 also reduced the Hamilton Anxiety Scale factor scores for somatic and psychic anxiety. After 12 weeks, a reduction in the severity of anxiety from "moderate" or "severe" to "slight" was observed in 33 of 39 ERr 731 women completing the double-blind phase, which correlated well with the reduction in number and severity of hot flushes. This was reflected by a high rate of ERr 731 women reporting a marked improvement in health state and general well-being. Conclusions: ERr 731 is an effective medication for women with menopause-related anxiety and improves their health state and general well-being.
Role of sodium in the protective effect of ticarcillin on gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rats

Coadministration of sodium ticarcillin with an aminoglycoside is known to reduce the nephrotoxicity of the aminoglycoside. However, it is not known whether the penicillin or the obligatory sodium load confers protection. To investigate this, gentamicin has been administered intraperitoneally in doses of 50, 60, or 80 mg/kg per day for 12 days in groups of rats receiving either a normal or a low sodium intake. Alterations in creatinine clearance have been measured. Salt depletion resulted in an enhanced nephrotoxic response with a shift in the dose-response curve to the left. Administration of sodium ticarcillin to rats with a salt-depleted intake at a dose sufficient to replace sodium intake conferred an equal degree of protection to rats with a normal salt intake. We report that the obligatory salt supplement with ticarcillin is sufficient to account for the renal sparing effect of the combination treatment without having to infer a direct chemical interaction of penicillin with the aminoglycoside.
Tissue protective effect of xanthine oxidase inhibitor, polymer conjugate of (styrene–maleic acid copolymer) and (4-amino-6-hydroxypyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine), on hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury

The detrimental role of superoxide anion (O2 −) has been well documented in the pathogenesis of ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. Our and other studies suggested that one critical source of O2 − generation may be xanthine oxidase (XO). We thus hypothesized that I/R injury could be protected by inhibiting XO activity, which would reduce the amount of O2 − and hence reduce pathogenic consequences. Among various XO inhibitors, we previously found 4-amino-6-hydroxypyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (AHPP) exhibited potent XO inhibitory activity. Here, we report that the covalent conjugate of AHPP with amphipathic styrene–maleic acid copolymer (SMA-AHPP) showed protective effect against I/R-induced injury in a rat hepatic I/R model. Liver ischemia was induced by occluding both the portal vein and the hepatic artery for 30 min, and followed by reperfusion. SMA-AHPP was administered via the tail vein two hours before ischemia was initiated. A remarkable increase of liver enzymes in plasma (aspartate aminotransferase, AST; alanine aminotransferase, ALT and lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) was detected three hours after reperfusion, whereas prior injection of SMA-AHPP greatly suppressed this increase of AST, ALT and LDH. Moreover, induction of inflammatory cytokines, i.e. tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) by I/R were significantly inhibited by SMA-AHPP treatment. Accordingly, cytotoxic effect or apoptosis in the liver caused by I/R was clearly reduced by SMA-AHPP pretreatment. Furthermore, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance assay showed a significant decrease of lipid peroxidation in rat liver after the administration of SMA-AHPP, which is parallel with the decreased XO activity after SMA-AHPP treatment, indicating the involvement of reactive oxygen species generated by XO. In addition, SMA-AHPP was found to bind to albumin, thus to exhibit prolonged in vivo (plasma) half-life. These results suggest that SMA-AHPP exerted a potent cytoprotective effect against I/R injury in rat liver, by inhibiting XO activity and the subsequent generation of O2 −.
Further evidence for involvement of a noncanonical function of uracil DNA glycosylase in class switch recombination

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) introduces DNA cleavage in the Ig gene locus to initiate somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) in B cells. The DNA deamination model assumes that AID deaminates cytidine (C) on DNA and generates uridine (U), resulting in DNA cleavage after removal of U by uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG). Although UNG deficiency reduces CSR efficiency to one tenth, we reported that catalytically inactive mutants of UNG were fully proficient in CSR and that several mutants at noncatalytic sites lost CSR activity, indicating that enzymatic activity of UNG is not required for CSR. In this report we show that CSR activity by many UNG mutants critically depends on its N-terminal domain, irrespective of their enzymatic activities. Dissociation of the catalytic and CSR activity was also found in another UNG family member, SMUG1, and its mutants. We also show that Ugi, a specific peptide inhibitor of UNG, inhibits CSR without reducing DNA cleavage of the S (switch) region, confirming dispensability of UNG in DNA cleavage in CSR. It is therefore likely that UNG is involved in a repair step after DNA cleavage in CSR. Furthermore, requirement of the N terminus but not enzymatic activity of UNG mutants for CSR indicates that the UNG protein structure is critical. The present findings support our earlier proposal that CSR depends on a noncanonical function of the UNG protein (e.g., as a scaffold for repair enzymes) that might be required for the recombination reaction after DNA cleavage.
A comparison of coracoid and axillary approaches to the brachial plexus

Background: Brachial plexus block by the coracoid approach does not require arm abduction and may be more effective than the axillary approach because of a more proximal injection of local anaesthetic. However, the clinical usefulness of the coracoid approach has not been tested in prospective controlled trials. The present randomized, observer‐blinded study compared success rates, time to obtain a complete block, frequency of adverse effects and block discomfort in two groups of 30 patients, anaesthetized for hand surgery using either the coracoid or the axillary approach to the brachial plexus.
Keratinocyte growth factor promotes preadipocyte proliferation via an autocrine mechanism

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; also known as FGF‐7) is a well‐characterized paracrine growth factor for tissue growth and regeneration. However, its role in adipose tissue, which is known to undergo tremendous expansion in obesity, is virtually unknown. Given that we previously identified KGF as one of the up‐regulated growth factors in adipose tissue of an early‐life programmed rat model of visceral obesity, the present study was undertaken to examine the hypothesis that KGF promotes adipogenesis. Using 3T3‐L1 and rat primary preadipocytes as in vitro model systems, we demonstrated that (1) KGF stimulated preadipocyte proliferation in a concentration‐dependent manner with a maximal effect at 2.5 ng/ml (∼2‐fold increase); (2) KGF mRNA was highly expressed in rat adipocytes and preadipocytes as well as 3T3‐L1 cells; (3) treatment of preadipocytes with a neutralizing antibody against KGF and siRNA‐mediated knockdown of KGF led to a 50% reduction in their proliferative capacity; (4) KGF activated the protein kinase Akt, and the PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 blocked KGF stimulation of preadipocyte proliferation; and (5) KGF did not promote differentiation of preadipocytes to mature adipocytes. Together, these results reveal adipocytes and their precursor cells as novel sites of KGF production. Importantly, they also demonstrate that KGF promotes preadipocyte proliferation by an autocrine mechanism that involves activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Aberrant KGF expression may have consequences not only for normal adipose tissue growth but also for the pathogenesis of obesity. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 737–746, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human papillomavirus mRNA testing for the detection of anal high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in men who have sex with men infected with HIV

Currently, screening for anal high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (anal HSIL) relies on anal cytology and high‐resolution anoscopy. Since this approach has limited sensitivity and specificity for detecting anal HSIL, there is increasing interest in the role of biomarkers for predicting anal HSIL. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of HPV E6/E7‐mRNA expression for the detection of anal HSIL in MSM infected with HIV, in comparison to DNA‐HR‐HPV and anal cytology. This cross‐sectional screening study included 101 MSM followed at the HIV‐unit of La Paz University Hospital. Intra‐anal swabs from patients participating in a screening program including cytology, high‐resolution anoscopy and histology were analyzed. HR‐HPV‐DNA detection was performed by means of the CLART® HPV2 assay (GENOMICA S.A.U., Madrid, Spain). E6/E7‐mRNA detection of HR‐HPV‐types 16, 18, 31, 33, and 45 was performed using the NucliSENS‐EasyQ assay (BioMérieux, Marcy ĺEtoile, France). HR‐HPV DNA and HPVE6/E7 mRNA were detected in 82% and 57% of the anal smears respectively. Anal cytology screening was abnormal in 70.3%. For the detection of HSIL sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 71.7%, 55.6%, 57.9%, and 69.8% for E6/E7‐mRNA testing, respectively, compared to 100%, 31.5%, 55.4%, and 100% for HR‐HPV‐DNA testing and to 83%, 40.7%, 54.9%, 73.3% of cytology testing. In comparison with the other tests, HPVE6/E7 mRNA testing yielded a lower clinical sensitivity but a higher clinical specificity and PPV for the detection of anal HSIL in MSM infected with HIV. J. Med. Virol. 87:1397–1403, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of periodontal diseases among rural population of Mustabad, Krishna District

Aims and Objectives: People in rural areas neglect oral health as they lack awareness on dental diseases and also due to inadequate availability of dental services. The prevalence of illiteracy is also a reason which can be attributed to a poor oral health. This epidemiological study is undertaken to assess the prevalence of periodontal diseases in the rural population of Mustabad - in Krishna, Andhra Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study based on randomized sampling method was carried out using the WHO assessment form (1997) on a population of 470. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 15.0. Results: The subjects were 220 males and 250 females. Maximum numbers of subjects were in the age group of 35-44 years (21.91%). Prevalence of periodontal disease was found to be 73.62%. The periodontal status deteriorated with aging. Prevalence of periodontitis was higher in females (56.35%) compared to males (43.65%). Males had a higher prevalence of deep pockets (3.18%), whereas females had a higher prevalence of shallow pockets (3.20%). Females had twice the bleeding tendency (18.80%) compared to males (8.64%). Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of periodontal diseases is an impending problem which needs immediate intervention, if not it would have a serious negative impact on the future oral health. The need of the hour is more epidemiological studies with a bigger sample are required.
Daily School Context of Adolescents' Single Best Friendship and Adjustment

ABSTRACT Research on adolescent best friendships typically focuses on school-based friendships, ignoring important differences between classroom-based and out-of-school friendships. With data from 156 ninth-grade students, many of whom named more than 1 best friend across the 14-day period, the authors examined associations between the daily school context of one's best friendship and adjustment. Benefits of in-grade best friendships were found in academic engagement when a composite was assessed across the 2-week period. Daily findings were more complex and were different between weekends and school days. Out-of-grade best friends were named more frequently on weekends, and on weekend days in which they named an out-of-school best friend participants spent more time with that friend but felt like less of a good student. Implications for our understanding of friendship context and for the measurement of friendship itself are discussed.
Transnational Relations Between Perceived Parental Acceptance and Personality Dispositions of Children and Adults

Three questions drawn from parental acceptance–rejection theory were addressed: (a) Are children’s perceptions of parental acceptance transnationally associated with specific personality dispositions? (b) Are adults’ remembrances of parental acceptance in childhood transnationally associated with these personality dispositions? and (c) Do relations between parental acceptance and offspring’s personality dispositions vary by gender of parents? All studies used the child and adult versions of the Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaires (PARQ) for Mothers and for Fathers, as well as the child and adult versions of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ). Results showed that both maternal and paternal acceptance in childhood correlated significantly in all countries with all seven personality dispositions of adult offspring. Adults’ remembrance of paternal acceptance in childhood correlated significantly with all adult personality dispositions except dependence.
Androgens, angiogenesis and cardiovascular regeneration

Purpose of reviewStriking sex differences exist not only in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, but also in the clinical outcomes. Although cardiovascular events occur earlier in men, in women, it appears they have poorer short-term and long-term outcomes following these events compared to men. Thus, intrinsic sex differences may exist not only in atherogenesis, but also with respect to cardiovascular adaptation/repair in response to ischemia and/or infarction. Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is essential for organ development and is critical to cardiovascular repair/regeneration. Although the effect of estrogen on angiogenesis has been studied extensively, the role of androgens has remained largely unexplored. Recent findingsMultiple lines of evidence now suggest an important role for androgens in cardiovascular repair and regeneration. Studies suggest that androgens stimulate angiogenesis via vascular endothelial growth factor-related mechanisms and by the stimulation of erythropoietin production. Furthermore, endothelial progenitor cells, important in angiogenesis, appear to be hormonally regulated and an important target of androgen action. SummaryGiven the age-related decline in androgens, the findings discussed here have implications for therapeutic angiogenesis and androgen replacement therapies in aging and hypogonadal men.