Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The importance of minor salivary gland biopsy in prediction of lymphoma in Sjögren's syndrome: should we be obtaining more information about prognosis from minor salivary gland samples?

Theander,1 in this issue, provides an important contribution with the article ‘Lymphoid organization in labial salivary gland biopsies is a possible predictor for the development of malignant lymphoma in primary Sjogren’s syndrome'. It has been known for many years that ectopic germinal centres are present in minor salivary gland biopsies of a subpopulation of patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). The frequency of SS patients with an ectopic germinal centre in the minor salivary gland biopsy has ranged from 10% to 25%. 2,–,4 Previous studies by Jonsson and his research group have described the clinical and laboratory characteristics of SS patients with ectopic germinal centres in their minor salivery gland biopsies.5,–,9 Other groups have also used histology, immunohistology and gene profiling to characterise the ectopic germinal centre in SS.10,–,14 In the current paper, the frequency of ectopic germinal centres was somewhat lower than in previous publications. The goal has been to determine the risk of B cells undergoing transition from benign lymphoproliferation to overt malignancy.15 The current study1 extends those studies by emphasising the increased risk of lymphoma in SS patients whose minor salivary gland biopsy contains an ectopic germinal centre. This is not a new concept, because an association between ectopic germinal centre formation and lymphoma development in primary SS was initially proposed in 1999.16 Despite the important prognostic information to be gained from a more detailed analysis of the minor salivary gland biopsy, most rheumatologists in the USA do not obtain biopsies, and oral pathologists do not routinely examine them critically for the presence of ectopic germinal centres. At present, the minor salivary gland biopsy is used …
The Career Decisions of Young Men

This paper provides structural estimates of a dynamic model of schooling, work, and occupational choice decisions based on 11 years of observations on a sample of young men from the 1979 youth cohort of the National Longitudinal Surveys of Labor Market Experience (NLSY). The structural estimation framework that we adopt fully imposes the restrictions of the theory and permits an investigation of whether such a theoretically restricted model can succeed in quantitatively fitting the observed data patterns. We find that a suitably extended human capital investment model can in fact do an excellent job of fitting observed data on school attendance, work, occupational choices, and wages in the NLSY data on young men and also produces reasonable forecasts of future work decisions and wage patterns.
Pulp Progenitor Cell Recruitment is Selectively Guided by a C5a Gradient

It recently became evident that activation of the complement system also contributes to tissue regeneration after infection/injury. The complement-derived fragment C5a induces vascular modifications and attracts cells expressing its receptor (C5aR/CD88) to the site of infection and tissue injury. Besides inflammatory cells, various tissue cells express this receptor. We hypothesized that pulp progenitor cells, being exposed to local complement activation in caries lesions, may respond to C5a via the C5aR. Our work aimed at evaluating the ability of C5a to induce pulp progenitor cell migration that may link complement activation to dentin regeneration. Immunofluorescence analysis of third molar pulp sections showed perivascular localization of the mesenchymal stem cell markers STRO-1 and C5aR. RT-PCR on STRO-1-sorted pulp progenitor cells, co-expressing both STRO-1 and C5aR, revealed high C5aR mRNA levels. Experiments with the C5aR antagonist W54011 revealed that C5a specifically bound to progenitor cells via C5aR, inducing their selective migration toward the C5a gradient. Since we could also demonstrate C5b-9 formation by immunohistochemistry in carious teeth, our findings suggest that, upon local complement activation, C5a induces pulp progenitor cell migration, which may be critical in initiating the regenerative process after dentin/pulp injury.
Analysis of the Degradation of a Model Dental Composite

Dental composites undergo material property changes during exposure to the oral environment and may release compounds of potential toxicity, such as bisphenol A. Degradation of dental composites was studied in a simplified overlayer model in which bisphenol A diglycidyl methacrylate (BisGMA) was covalently bound to a porous silicon oxide surface. It was hypothesized that the chemical structure of this overlayer would allow release of bisphenol A, BisGMA, and the decomposition products thereof, upon exposure to water for an extended period. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry found leaching of intact BisGMA and several degradation products that contained the bisphenol A moiety from the overlayer into distilled water after 2 wks of aging. The absence of bisphenol A release from the overlayer reduces concerns regarding its potential health risk in dental composites. Nevertheless, health concerns might arise with respect to BisGMA and the leached degradation products, since they all contain the bisphenol A moiety. Abbreviations: BisGMA, bisphenol A diglycidyl methacrylate; HPLC, high-performance liquid chromatography; LCMS, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry; MA, methacrylic acid; MPS, 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate; m/z, mass-to-charge ratio; and TIC, total ion chromatogram.
The Dynamics of Establishment Productivity: Technology Transfer and Productivity Dispersion

This paper investigates the dynamics of Total Factor Productivity at the establishment level. We introduce technology transfer into a framework with heterogeneous rms and ongoing entry and exit. We nd evidence that convergence to the frontier is statistically and quantitatively important. Foreign multinationals make up a signi cant proportion of establishments at the technological frontier, and therefore make an important contribution to productivity growth through shifting out the technological frontier and thus allowing greater technology transfer. Acknowledgements: This work was funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the ESRC Centre for Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the ESRC/EPSRC AIM initiative. The paper has been produced under contract to the ONS. We are grateful to Andrew Bernard, John Van Reenen, Richard Rogerson, Dieter Urban, three anonymous referees, as well as conference and seminar participants at CEPR, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the Royal Economic Society Conference, and the University of Nottingham for helpful comments. This work contains statistical data from ONS which is Crown Copyright and reproduced with the permission of the controller of HMSO and Queens Printer for Scotland. The use of the ONS statistical data in this work does not imply the endorsement of the ONS in relation to the interpretation or analysis of the statistical data. Responsibility for any results, opinions, and errors lies with the authors alone. JEL Classi cation: F23, O33, O47
Afferent projections to the pontine micturition center in the cat

The pontine micturition center (PMC) or Barrington's nucleus controls micturition by way of its descending projections to the sacral spinal cord. However, little is known about the afferents to the PMC that control its function and may be responsible for dysfunction in patients with urge‐incontinence and overactive bladder. In five female cats, wheatgerm agglutinin‐conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP) injections were made in the PMC and adjoining dorsolateral pontine tegmentum. Retrogradely labeled neurons were found in a large area, including the medullary and pontine medial and lateral tegmental field; dorsomedial, lateral, and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter (PAG); posterior hypothalamus; medial preoptic area (MPO); bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; central nucleus of the amygdala; and infralimbic, prelimbic, and insular cortices. To verify whether these areas indeed project specifically to the PMC or perhaps only to adjacent structures in the pontine tegmentum, in 67 cats 3H‐leucine or WGA‐HRP injections were made in each of these regions. Five cell groups appeared to have direct connections to the PMC, the ventromedial pontomedullary tegmental field, the ventrolateral and dorsomedial PAG, the MPO, and the posterior hypothalamus. The possible functions of these projections are discussed. These results indicate that all other parts of the brain that influence micturition have no direct connection with the PMC. J. Comp. Neurol. 494:36–53, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The mediating role of processing speed in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although disorders of mood and cognition are frequently observed in multiple sclerosis, their relationship remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether this mood–cognition relationship is mediated by inefficient processing speed, a deficit typically associated with mood symptomatology in the psychiatric literature and a common deficit observed in multiple sclerosis patients. Method: In this study, comprehensive cognitive data and self-reported mood data were retrospectively analyzed from 349 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. We performed a bootstrapping analysis to examine whether processing speed provided an indirect means by which depressive symptoms influenced cognitive functioning, specifically memory and executive function. Results: We observed that processing speed mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and measures of memory and executive function. Interestingly, exploratory analyses revealed that this mediational role of processing speed was specific to MS patients who were younger, had a lower disability level, and had fewer years since MS diagnosis. Conclusions: Together, these findings have implications for mood and cognitive intervention with multiple sclerosis patients.
Calving interval genetic parameters and trends for dairy breeds in South Africa

Calving interval (CI) is a fertility trait that can be used in selection programmes to minimize the negative effects that selection for production have on fertility. CI can be derived from milk recording data, therefore this fertility trait can easily be implemented in the National Dairy Genetic Evaluations of South Africa. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for CI for estimation of breeding values and genetic trends to enable South African dairy breeders to assess and select for improved fertility. Breeds included in the study were Ayrshire, Guernsey, Holstein and Jersey. Genetic parameters and trends were based on the first three CIs for all breeds. The genetic software package, VCE4, was used to estimate genetic parameters for CI. Heritabilities ranged from 0.011 for CI1 to 0.069 for CI2, both for the Guernsey breed. Genetic correlations ranged from 0.606 between CI2 and CI3 for the Guernsey breed, to 0.810 between CI1 and CI2 for the Ayrshire breed. Breeding value estimation was done using the genetic software package, PEST. The estimated breeding values were combined into an index value, using weighting factors based on the amount of information available for each trait. Genetic trends were calculated by averaging the CIindices of measured cows per year of birth. These genetic trends indicated that CI increased genetically for all breeds. The genetic parameters will now be implemented for the estimation of CI breeding values, which can be included in selection programmes for improvement of fertility of dairy breeds in South Africa. Keywords : Ayrshire, genetic correlations, fertility, Guernsey, heritability, Holstein, Jersey
In vivo kinematic evaluation of total hip arthroplasty during stair climbing

Stair climbing is a physically demanding task and a painful limitation for patients suffering from severe hip osteoarthritis. Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the definitive treatment for end‐stage osteoarthritis, it is not well understood whether THA restores hip kinematics during strenuous activities. The purpose of this study was to compare the 3D kinematics of THA and native hip during physically demanding tasks and correlate potential differences with THA components orientations/positions in patients with unilateral THA. In vivo hip kinematics were determined during step‐up and leg stance activities using a validated combination of 3D CT‐based computer modeling and dual fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS). The THA side demonstrated an average 3.4° (±6.5°, range: −5.9° to 15.2°) greater internal rotation than the contralateral native hip, during the step‐up activity but not during leg stance. The difference in internal rotation was highly correlated to the difference in femoral anteversion and anterior translation of hip joint center between implanted and native hip (R2 = 0.71, p < 0.01). The results suggest the importance of accurate THA component placement in restoring normal hip kinematics during functional activities. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:1087–1093, 2015.
Psoriasis and cardiovascular disease

Current epidemiological data support the association between psoriasis and cardiovascular (CV) risk, in apparent correlation with psoriasis severity. Although less unanimously, evidence of an increased prevalence of CV diseases among psoriasis patients has been reported, including ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular, peripheral vascular and heart structural disorders. In particular, various studies showed a correlation between psoriasis and major CV events (i.e., myocardial infarction, stroke), while others investigated subclinical changes of blood vessels, such as intima‐media thickness increase, arterial stiffness and coronary artery calcification. A series of different mechanisms, like traditional CV risk or iatrogenic risk factors, inflammation, hemostasis dysregulation, hyperhomocysteinemia, and shared genetic susceptibility, are thought to underlie this epidemiological association. Among these elements, inflammation and its related cytokine milieu, including Th1‐mediated response and Th17/Treg imbalance, C reactive protein and the newly implicated osteopontin are considered to play a primary role, even if yet to be fully understood.
Study of the liver changes occurring in preeclampsia and their possible pathogenetic connection with acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to investigate liver involvement in preeclampsia on the basis of clinical, laboratory, and histological data and to detect a possible connection with fatty liver of pregnancy by the determination of microvesicular fatty infiltration of the liver. METHODS The authors studied the liver changes in 10 patients with preeclampsia, observing the clinical and laboratory alterations, the macroscopic liver surface features by laparoscopy, and the presence of microvesicular fatty infiltration by specific lipid staining of hepatic tissue collected by needle biopsy. RESULTS Macroscopy of the liver surface disclosed some degree of subcapsular liver hemorrhage in all cases; however, the hemorrhage was not related to the clinical and histological severity of the disease. Microvesicular fat droplets were observed in all patients, and the intensity of the fat deposition was not related to pressor levels, laboratory alterations, or the evolution of preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS The presence of fatty liver infiltration in all patients studied supports the idea that preeclampsia and acute fatty liver of pregnancy could be components of the same pathologic spectrum, with a probable, but still unproved, pathogenetic connection. The deficiency of the long chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity may be the determining factor in the evolution of the disease.
Variability in micronucleus induction with different mutagens applied to several species of fish

Fish are often used for screening genotoxicity of water. For such programs, a knowledge of the sensitivity to clastogens, spontaneous micronucleus frequency and cell cycle kinetics of the target tissue is necessary. To investigate the pattern of inter-specific sensitivity to micronucleus induction three species of fish, Tilapia rendalli, Oreochromis niloticus and Cyprinus carpio, were exposed to the clastogens bleomycin (BLM), cyclophosphamide (CP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and mitomycin C (MMC). The binucleate/mononucleate ratio in peripheral erythrocytes exposed to cytochalasin B was also used to evaluate the time-dependent response of micronucleus formation during hematopoesis in the kidney and the micronucleus peak in peripheral erythrocytes. Micronucleus frequencies induced by CP were significantly greater than their respective controls for the three fish species throughout all treatment periods. During the whole evaluation period (30 days) CP was also the most effective clastogen. In general, until the 14th day of evaluation period T. rendalii was the most sensitive species to clastogens. No difference in micronucleus frequencies among species was observed in the 4th evaluation (at the 30th day). A micronucleus peak was observed at the 7th day after treatment. After the 14th day the frequencies were stabilized. The cytochalasin B experiment was carried out to demonstrate that micronuclei induced in the young kidney erythrocyte cells were detected in the circulating blood 2-4 days later.
Global patterns of root turnover for terrestrial ecosystems

summary Root turnover is a critical component of ecosystem nutrient dynamics and carbon sequestration and is also an important sink for plant primary productivity. We tested global controls on root turnover across climatic gradients and for plant functional groups by using a database of 190 published studies. Root turnover rates increased exponentially with mean annual temperature for fine roots of grasslands (r# fl 0.48) and forests (r# fl 0.17) and for total root biomass in shrublands (r# fl 0.55). On the basis of the best-fit exponential model, the Q "! for root turnover was 1.4 for forest small diameter roots (5 mm or less), 1.6 for grassland fine roots, and 1.9 for shrublands. Surprisingly, after accounting for temperature, there was no such global relationship between precipitation and root turnover. The slowest average turnover rates were observed for entire tree root systems (10% annually), followed by 34% for shrubland total roots, 53% for grassland fine roots, 55% for wetland fine roots, and 56% for forest fine roots. Root turnover decreased from tropical to high-latitude systems for all plant functional groups. To test whether global relationships can be used to predict interannual variability in root turnover, we evaluated 14 yr of published root turnover data from a shortgrass steppe site in northeastern Colorado, USA. At this site there was no correlation between interannual variability in mean annual temperature and root turnover. Rather, turnover was positively correlated with the ratio of growing season precipitation and maximum monthly temperature (r# fl 0.61). We conclude that there are global patterns in rates of root turnover between plant groups and across climatic gradients but that these patterns cannot always be used for the successful prediction of the relationship of root turnover to climate change at a particular site.
A Soluble Secretory Reporter System in Trypanosoma brucei

A homolog of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) hsp70 protein, binding protein (BiP), from the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei (Bangs, J. D., Uyetake, L., Brickman, M. J., Balber, A. E., and Boothroyd, J. C. (1993) J. Cell Sci. 105, 1101-1113) is further characterized. In co-precipitation experiments, BiP transiently associates with newly synthesized secretory proteins, including variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), confirming its role as a molecular chaperone. To study the molecular signals targeting BiP to the ER, we have developed soluble secretory reporters for expression in transformed procyclic trypanosomes. Deletion of the BiP C-terminal tetrapeptide (MDDL) and the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor addition sequence of VSG converts these proteins to secreted forms. Attachment of MDDL to VSG results in intracellular retention confirming that MDDL is a trypanosomal ER localization signal. Secretion of both reporters is inefficient, but further truncation of the BiP C-terminal peptide-binding domain allows quantitative export (t1/2 ~1 h) of the N-terminal ATPase domain (BiPN), consistent with the conserved domain structure of hsp70 proteins. This is the first demonstration of soluble protein secretion in African trypanosomes. Using the BiPN reporter, the sequence specificity of C-terminal tetrapeptide retention signals in trypanosomes is analyzed and found to be similar to higher eukaryotes. These results indicate that the basic signals mediating protein targeting to the ER lumen are conserved throughout the wide range of eukaryotic evolution.
Modelling large areas of demyelination in the rat reveals the potential and possible limitations of transplanted glial cells for remyelination in the CNS

Transplantation of myelin‐forming glial cells may provide a means of achieving remyelination in situations in which endogenous remyelination fails. For this type of cell therapy to be successful, cells will have to migrate long distances in normal tissue and within areas of demyelination. In this study, 40 Gy of X‐irradiation was used to deplete tissue of endogenous oligodendrocyte progenitors (OPCs). By transplanting neonatal OPCs into OPC‐depleted tissue, we were able to examine the speed with which neonatal OPCs repopulate OPC‐depleted tissue. Using antibodies to NG‐2 proteoglycan and in situ hybridisation to detect platelet‐derived growth factor alpha‐receptor Rα (PDGFRα) mRNA to visualise OPCs, we were able to show that neonatal OPCs repopulate OPC‐depleted normal tissue 3–5 times more rapidly than endogenous OPCs. Transplanted neonatal OPCs restore OPC densities to near‐normal values and when demyelinating lesions were made in tissue into which transplanted OPCs had been incorporated 1 month previously, we were able to show that the transplanted cells retain a robust ability to remyelinate axons after their integration into host tissue. In order to model the situation that would exist in a large OPC‐depleted area of demyelination such as may occur in humans; we depleted tissue of its endogenous OPC population and placed focal demyelinating lesions at a distance (≤1 cm) from a source of neonatal OPCs. In this situation, cells would have to repopulate depleted tissue in order to reach the area of demyelination. As the repopulation process would take time, this model allowed us to examine the consequences of delaying the interaction between OPCs and demyelinated axons on remyelination. Using this approach, we have obtained data that suggest that delaying the time of the interaction between OPCs and demyelinated axons restricts the expression of the remyelinating potential of transplanted OPCs. GLIA 38:155–168, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.