Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA-1 promotes apoptosis of cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells in intracranial aneurysm through targeting Bcl-2

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether microRNA-1 (miR-1) facilitates the apoptosis of cerebral vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) through inhibiting Bcl-2 in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm (IA). Methods: The rats in control groups (n=12) received no operation and just normal diet, and the rats in aneurysm group (n=12) received operation and normal diet containing 1% normal saline in order to induce IA. Then, the rats were euthanized, their cerebral arteries were dissected for cerebral VSMCs culture, and the regions of aneurysmal dilation on the cerebral arteries were dissected for size measurement and miR-1 expression analysis. Cerebral VSMCs were transfected with different oligonucleotides and then the relationship between miR-1 and Bcl-2 expression in cerebral VSMCs was detected. Luciferase reporter assay was used to investigate the interaction between miR-1 and Bcl-2. Cell proliferation was determined through using CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis was detected through flow cytometry. Results: The expression levels of miR-1 were dramatically up-regulated in the regions of aneurysmal dilation of IA rat models and significantly correlated to the sizes of aneurysms. MiR-1 directly targeted Bcl-2 and down-regulated Bcl-2 expression in cerebral VSMCs. Moreover, we found that inhibition of miR-1 greatly suppressed the proliferation ability and promoted the apoptosis of cerebral VSMCs through regulating Bcl-2 expression. Conclusion: Our results suggested that miR-1 might be a key molecule in regulating cerebral VSMC proliferation and apoptosis through directly down-regulating Bcl-2, revealing that specific modulation of miR-1 in cerebral VSMCs served as an effective approach for the treatment of IA.
ALTERATIONS IN MEMBRANE CHOLESTEROL CAUSE MOBILIZATION OF LIPID RAFTS FROM SPECIFIC GRANULES AND PRIME HUMAN NEUTROPHILS FOR ENHANCED ADHERENCE-DEPENDENT OXIDANT PRODUCTION

The present study sought to examine the function of membrane lipid rafts in adherence-dependent oxidant production in human neutrophils. Rafts are membrane domains that are rich in glycosphingolipids and cholesterol and are thought to be the foci for formation of signaling complexes in a variety of cells. Disruption of lipid rafts by depletion of membrane cholesterol with the chelating agent methyl-&bgr;-cyclodextrin (M&bgr;CD) has been widely used to examine the function of lipid rafts. Here, we report that treatment of human neutrophils with M&bgr;CD unexpectedly caused priming of these cells, manifested as enhanced adherence-dependent oxidant production. Treatment of neutrophils with M&bgr;CD dose-dependently increased oxidant production after adhesion to fibronectin-coated plates. This priming effect was associated with recruitment of CD11b- and CD66b-rich raft domains from the specific granules, as determined by immunoblot and flow cytometry. Confocal microscopy showed that M&bgr;CD caused otherwise untreated neutrophils to rapidly adhere and spread on fibronectin-coated plates. Furthermore, three-dimensional reconstruction microscopy studies showed that M&bgr;CD caused expansion and coalescence of raft domains that covered most of the cell surface. These large raft domains expressed CD11b primarily in the core of these regions. Our studies demonstrate that cholesterol depletion with M&bgr;CD results in neutrophil priming manifested as enhanced adherence-dependent oxidant production. These studies caution against assumption that any observed M&bgr;CD effects are a function of reduced raft formation.
Decision-making and the frontal lobes

Purpose of reviewThis article reviews the most significant advances concerning the neural correlates of decision-making with emphasis on those imaging studies investigating the neural implementation of evaluative judgment processes. This is done against the background of current concepts from the field of judgment and decision-making. Recent findingsActual neuroscientific findings suggest that subject to the extent of how deeply a decision-maker has to explore his/her value system in order to reach a decision, distinguishable orbital and medial prefrontal areas will be engaged. Decisions low in costs mapping the values onto the decision problem mainly rely on orbital and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, whereas decisions high in costs particularly draw on anterior–medial and dorsomedial prefrontal areas. This suggestion is related to the anatomic properties of the respective areas. SummaryCombining neuroimaging data with concepts from research in judgment and decision-making may facilitate advances in our understanding of the contrast between normative theories and descriptive theories of decision-making. Incorporating findings from research on decision-making behavior in patients with specific prefrontal lesions may have much to offer for an understanding of both the areas’ functions and cognitive theories on decision-making.
Muir-Torre Syndrome in a Middle-Aged Chinese Patient with Sebaceous Carcinoma of the Eyelid

Abstract Muir-Torre syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant condition characterized by the presence of a skin tumor of sebaceous differentiation and visceral malignancies. We reviewed the case of a 46-year-old Chinese man who had a bleeding mass over the right upper eyelid. He had a history of colon cancer and a family history satisfying the Amsterdam criteria for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome with germline mutation in the MutS homolog-2 gene. The eyelid lesion was excised completely and submitted for histopathologic examination which showed sebaceous carcinoma. Frozen section and conjunctival map biopsy showed no residual malignancy or local metastasis. Post-operative positron-emission tomography with combined computed tomography did not reveal any residual or visceral malignancy. He had no recurrence in the 32-month follow-up period. We should consider Muir-Torre syndrome in patients with sebaceous carcinoma, especially in the presence of personal and/or family history of visceral malignancies.
Effect of preservatives on extending the shelf-life of Rasogolla

The study aims, to find out an effective preservative to extend the shelf-life of Rasogolla, a highly popular Bengal sweetmeat achieving the highest worth in all social and religious festivals in Bangladesh due to its special appeal of taste, as well as to assess the effect of preservative on its biochemical and microbial status. Rasogolla available in local market survives for too a short span (2-3days) to export in abroad since its processing and preservation still lie at a very infantile stage. In this research, Rasogolla was prepared in laboratory using calcium propionate, sodium metabisulfite, sorbic acid, sodium diacetate, sodium propionate, acetic acid, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, P-4-hydroxybenzoate as preservatives followed by a comparative study on the biochemical and microbial status of both market and laboratory made Rasogolla. Sorbic acid and sodium metabisulfite exerted the highest effectiveness in extending Rasogolla’s shelf-life for 24 and 15 days, respectively, whereas the combination of sorbic acid (0.1%) and sodium metabisulfite (0.1%) was found more effective than their individual uses rendering the longer keeping ability up to 30 days ensuring color, flavor, taste and texture. Compositional analysis showed that total solid, moisture, fat, protein, carbohydrate and ash content of market Rasogolla were 75.87-83.17%, 16.83-24.13%, 2.86-4.31%, 5.2-7.94%, 64.26-73.30% and 0.30-0.61%, respectively, whereas those in laboratory made were 73.70-79.83%, 20.17-26.30%, 3.18-6.09% 6.9-8.59%, 61.18-65.25% and 0.30-0.61%, respectively. Market Rasogolla were found more susceptible for microbial growth and contamination than that prepared in laboratory. Keywords: Rasogolla, Preservative, Sorbic acid, Channa, Na-metabisulfite DOI = 10.3329/cerb.v14i1. 3940 Chemical Engineering Research Bulletin 14 (2010) 19-24
Errorless learning in cognitive rehabilitation: A critical review

Cognitive rehabilitation research is increasingly exploring errorless learning interventions, which prioritise the avoidance of errors during treatment. The errorless learning approach was originally developed for patients with severe anterograde amnesia, who were deemed to be at particular risk for error learning. Errorless learning has since been investigated in other memory-impaired populations (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) and acquired aphasia. In typical errorless training, target information is presented to the participant for study or immediate reproduction, a method that prevents participants from attempting to retrieve target information from long-term memory (i.e., retrieval practice). However, assuring error elimination by preventing difficult (and error-permitting) retrieval practice is a potential major drawback of the errorless approach. This review begins with discussion of research in the psychology of learning and memory that demonstrates the importance of difficult (and potentially errorful) retrieval practice for robust learning and prolonged performance gains. We then review treatment research comparing errorless and errorful methods in amnesia and aphasia, where only the latter provides (difficult) retrieval practice opportunities. In each clinical domain we find the advantage of the errorless approach is limited and may be offset by the therapeutic potential of retrieval practice. Gaps in current knowledge are identified that preclude strong conclusions regarding a preference for errorless treatments over methods that prioritise difficult retrieval practice. We offer recommendations for future research aimed at a strong test of errorless learning treatments, which involves direct comparison with methods where retrieval practice effects are maximised for long-term gains.
Age and Gender Influences on Rate and Duration of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

The influence of age and gender on the character of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) has not been described. Methods: The heart rate (HR) during PAF in patients receiving placebo or antiarrhythmic therapy was analyzed. Data from 177 24‐hour Holter recordings were analyzed to mark the onset and termination of PAF and converted into RR interval files. PAF episodes lasting at least 2 minutes and containing ± 20% noise were included. HR during the first 30‐second segment versus during the remainder of the episode, and the duration of PAF episodes were compared among groups of different ages and sex (Wilcoxon test). Results: 236 episodes from 55 recordings in 32 patients (all patients: 61.4 ± 12.8 years; men (19): 58.5 ± 12.6 years; women (13) 65.5 ± 12.4 years, P = ns for difference in age) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Women had a higher mean heart rate at AF onset (123 ± 35 beats/min vs 115 ± 20 beats/min, P = 0.02) and during the remainder of the episode (120 ± 25 beats/min vs 112 ± 22 beats/min at the start, P = 0.01, and 116 ± 26 beats/min vs 108 ± 18 beats/min subsequently, P = 0.01). Episodes tended to be longer in women (mean 89.8 min vs 50.5 min, P = NS) and in the aged (mean 83.8 min vs 46.9 min, P = NS). Conclusion: PAF episodes are associated with faster heart rates and last longer in women, which may reflect differing autonomic responses to AF. A slower ventricular rate during PAF in older patients probably reflects an increasing prevalence of impaired atrioventricular conduction.
Acute effects of different immunosuppressive drugs on pancreatic, islet, renal, and arterial hepatic blood flow in anesthetized rats

The effects of four different immunosuppressive drugs on organ blood flow were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously with 0.2 ml of either 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG; 5 mg/kg body weight), RS 61443 (80 mg/kg body weight), FK 506 (0.5 mg/kg body weight), cyclosporin A (9.5 mg/kg body weight), or the vehicles used. At 15 or 60 min after injection of the drugs, the blood perfusion of the whole pancreas, the pancreatic islets, and the kidneys, as well as the arterial blood flow to the liver, were measured in anesthetized animals using a microsphere technique. Fifteen minutes after administration, both FK506 and DSG decreased the fraction of whole pancreatic blood flow diverted through the islets. FK 506 and cyclosporin A reduced renal blood flow, but only 60 min after injection of the drug. None of the drugs influenced hepatic blood flow. RS 61443 did not affect the blood flow of the organ systems investigated. These differences in the effects of the drugs tested on blood flow might have some important implications on their efficacy and side effects. Thus, in view of its lack of influence on organ blood flow, RS 61443 seems to be preferable, at least when compared with cyclosporin A and FK 506 in the context of organ transplantation.
Glenohumeral Joint Translations before and after Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. A Study in Cadavera*

The purpose of the present study was to examine the motions of natural and prosthetically reconstructed glenohumeral joints without capsular contracture in the laboratory to obtain a better understanding of joint motion as it may relate to failure of the implant. Seven joints from fresh-frozen human cadavera were instrumented with a six-degrees-of-freedom magnetic tracking device to study patterns of translation and rotation with and without the application of simulated muscle forces (active and passive models). The specimens were tested before and after reconstruction of the joint with use of modified operative techniques and implants that had from zero to five millimeters of radial mismatch between the humeral head and glenoid components. The natural and reconstructed joints had similar patterns of translation, with larger rotations and translations observed in the passive model. On the average, the active translations of the natural joints were best reproduced by the reconstructed joints with less conforming articulations. The mean active translation in the natural joints was 1.5 millimeters along the anterior-posterior axis and 1.1 millimeters along the superior-inferior axis. The active translations in the reconstructed joints were observed to increase consistently as the conformity of the components decreased: the mean active anterior-posterior translations ranged from 0.3 millimeter for conforming components to 1.7 millimeters for components with a five-millimeter radial mismatch, and the mean active superior-inferior translations ranged from 0.4 to 1.1 millimeters. The patterns of translation during passive motions were less consistent, presumably because of the influence of capsular ligaments and because the translations were large enough for the articular surface of the humeral head to lose contact with the articular surface of the glenoid component. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Glenohumeral translations during active motions were found to depend on articular conformity, which indicates that the choice of implants may have important consequences for normal motions. Totally conforming designs may impose a degree of restraint to translations that is higher than that in the natural joint. The patterns of translation may influence the longevity of the joint replacement with respect to stability, loosening of the glenoid component, and wear of the components.
The effect of CAT trinucleotide interruptions on the age at onset of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1)

The effect of CAT trinucleotide interruptions in the CAG trinucleotide repeats of the SCA1 gene on the age at onset of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) was investigated. The number of CAG repeats in SCA1 was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, and the presence of CAT interruptions was assessed on the basis of the sensitivity of the PCR products to the restriction endonuclease SfaNI, which recognises CAT trinucleotides. Only one in 17 expanded SCA1 alleles from 17 SCA1 patients was interrupted by CAT. The SfaNI sensitive SCA1 allele from this single patient contained 58 CAG repeats, which would predict an age at onset of SCA1 of 22.0 years, in contrast to the actual 50 years. In addition, the brain stem atrophy of this patient was mild compared with that of a patient with 52 uninterrupted CAG repeats. A sequence analysis showed that the repeat portion of the patient contained (CAG)45CATCAG CAT(CAG)10. From these results, we suggest that the age at onset of SCA1 is not determined by the total number of CAG repeats (58) but by the number of uninterrupted CAG repeats.
Adult antisocial syndrome co-morbid with borderline personality disorder is associated with severe conduct disorder, substance dependence and violent antisociality.

This study tested the hypothesis that syndromal adult antisocial behaviour (AABS) co-morbid with borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a syndrome that emerges from severe conduct disorder (CD) in childhood and adolescence and is strongly associated, in adulthood, with both violence and substance dependence. In a sample of 8 580 community-resident adults screened for the presence of personality disorders, the following predictions arising from this hypothesis were tested: first, that those with AABS co-morbid with BPD would, in comparison with those showing AABS or BPD only, show a high level of antisocial outcomes, including violence; second, that adjusting for co-morbid alcohol dependence would attenuate group differences in many of the antisocial outcomes, and violence in particular; and third, that the AABS/BPD group would show both a high prevalence and a high severity of CD, and that adjusting for co-morbid CD would attenuate any association found between AABS/BPD co-morbidity and violence. Results confirmed these predictions, suggesting that AABS/BPD co-morbidity mediates the relationship between childhood CD and a predisposition to adult violence. The triad of AABS/BPD co-morbidity, alcohol dependence and severe CD is likely associated with the risk of criminal recidivism in offenders with personality disorder following release into the community.
Audit of transthoracic fine needle aspiration of the lung: cytological subclassification of bronchogenic carcinomas and diagnosis of tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION Transthoracic fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a useful tool for evaluating neoplastic and inflammatory lung nodules. In view of the relative paucity of published audit studies regionally, such a study was undertaken to assess the use of the technique in our centre. METHODS One hundred and fourteen FNACs were performed during 1997-1999. Immediate assessment for specimen adequacy was done. Diagnoses were correlated with clinical-pathological information and selective blind review performed. RESULTS Cytologically, 65.8% of cases were malignant, 1.8% were atypical, 25.4% were inflammatory/non-malignant and 7% were inadequate. Cytological-histological tumour diagnostic concordance was 94.4%. Diagnostic sensitivity for malignancy: 93.4%, specificity: 95.8%, accuracy: 94%. Eight inadequate/ benign cases (7%) proved to be malignant with clinical-pathological follow-up. Tuberculosis was confirmed (acid-fast bacilli detected) in six cases (5.3%) and suggested in a further 10 cases (8.8%). The cytological review showed 96% concordance with the original benign/malignant diagnoses. Pneumothorax rate was 18%. CONCLUSION FNAC is an accurate and safe method for the evaluation of lung nodules and it enables subclassification of bronchogenic carcinomas in the vast majority of cases. It is also useful for the diagnosis of tuberculous pulmonary nodules. Immediate assessment optimises specimen adequacy; inadequate/non-malignant smears in particular, need clinical correlation, close follow-up and re-biopsy, if necessary.
E-Cadherin Expression in Colonic Mucosa with and Without Fecal Stream

ABSTRACT The tissue content of E-cadherin changes in inflammatory bowel diseases; however, similar changes have not yet been evaluated in diversion colitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the tissue expression of E-cadherin in the mucosa of the colon in both segments with and without a fecal stream. Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were subjected to deviation of fecal stream by proximal colostomy in left colon and a distal mucosal fistula. Animals were divided into three experimental groups that were sacrificed 6, 12, and 18 weeks after surgery. In each experimental group, five animals underwent laparotomy without intestinal deviation (control subgroup). Colitis was diagnosed based on the presence of three independent histological parameters: reduction of the crypt length, neutrophil infiltration of the mucosa and submucosa, and epithelial erosion or ulceration. The E-cadherin expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and the tissue levels by computerized morphometry. The Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to compare the groups adopting a significance level of 5% (p < .05). Results: Segments without fecal stream showed a reduction in E-cadherin content when compared with segments with fecal stream. In the segments with a fecal stream, E-cadherin was expressed at the apical surface of colon glands, while segments without fecal stream showed a decrease in the amount of apical E-cadherin. The content of E-cadherin was maintained over the entire time of the intestinal exclusion. Conclusions: Diversion of the fecal stream decreases the expression of E-cadherin of the colon epithelium.
Online optimal experimental re‐design in robotic parallel fed‐batch cultivation facilities

We present an integrated framework for the online optimal experimental re‐design applied to parallel nonlinear dynamic processes that aims to precisely estimate the parameter set of macro kinetic growth models with minimal experimental effort. This provides a systematic solution for rapid validation of a specific model to new strains, mutants, or products. In biosciences, this is especially important as model identification is a long and laborious process which is continuing to limit the use of mathematical modeling in this field. The strength of this approach is demonstrated by fitting a macro‐kinetic differential equation model for Escherichia coli fed‐batch processes after 6 h of cultivation. The system includes two fully‐automated liquid handling robots; one containing eight mini‐bioreactors and another used for automated at‐line analyses, which allows for the immediate use of the available data in the modeling environment. As a result, the experiment can be continually re‐designed while the cultivations are running using the information generated by periodical parameter estimations. The advantages of an online re‐computation of the optimal experiment are proven by a 50‐fold lower average coefficient of variation on the parameter estimates compared to the sequential method (4.83% instead of 235.86%). The success obtained in such a complex system is a further step towards a more efficient computer aided bioprocess development. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 610–619. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.