Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human umbilical cord blood cell therapy blocks the morphological change and recruitment of CD11b‐expressing, isolectin‐binding proinflammatory cells after middle cerebral artery occlusion

Secondary neurodegeneration resulting from stroke is mediated by delayed proinflammatory signaling and immune cell activation. Although it remains unknown which cell surface markers signify a proinflammatory phenotype, increased isolectin binding occurs on CD11b‐expressing immune cells within injured brain tissue. Several reports have confirmed the efficacy of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cell therapy in reducing ischemic injury in rat after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and these effects were attributed in part to dampened neuroinflammation. The present study examined the time course of lectin binding to cells of microglia/macrophage lineage within 96 hr after MCAO and whether delayed HUCB cell treatment alters the migration and/or morphological characteristics of these cells throughout the period of infarct expansion. Isolectin binding was up‐regulated in response to injury, was maximal at 96 hr, and colocalized with cells that expressed the putative proinflammatory markers MMP‐9 and nitric oxide. Isolectin‐tagged fluorescence was also significantly increased at 72 hr and localized to greater numbers of amoeboid, CD11b‐expressing cells relative to 51 hr. Treatment with 1 × 106 HUCB cells significantly reduced total lectin binding at 72 hr, as well as the total area occupied by lectin‐tagged fluorescence at both 51 and 72 hr, relative to vehicle‐treated controls. This effect was accompanied by a shift in the morphology of CD11b‐positive cells from amoeboid to ramified shape. These data indicate that HUCB cell therapy suppressed the recruitment of proinflammatory, isolectin‐binding cells during the period of infarct expansion, thus offering a potential mechanism for the protective effects of HUCB cell therapy. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prognostic utility of the 21-gene assay in hormone receptor-positive operable breast cancer compared with classical clinicopathologic features.

PURPOSE Adjuvant! is a standardized validated decision aid that projects outcomes in operable breast cancer based on classical clinicopathologic features and therapy. Genomic classifiers offer the potential to more accurately identify individuals who benefit from chemotherapy than clinicopathologic features. PATIENTS AND METHODS A sample of 465 patients with hormone receptor (HR) -positive breast cancer with zero to three positive axillary nodes who did (n = 99) or did not have recurrence after chemohormonal therapy had tumor tissue evaluated using a 21-gene assay. Histologic grade and HR expression were evaluated locally and in a central laboratory. RESULTS Recurrence Score (RS) was a highly significant predictor of recurrence, including node-negative and node-positive disease (P < .001 for both) and when adjusted for other clinical variables. RS also predicted recurrence more accurately than clinical variables when integrated by an algorithm modeled after Adjuvant! that was adjusted to 5-year outcomes. The 5-year recurrence rate was only 5% or less for the estimated 46% of patients who have a low RS (< 18). CONCLUSION The 21-gene assay was a more accurate predictor of relapse than standard clinical features for individual patients with HR-positive operable breast cancer treated with chemohormonal therapy and provides information that is complementary to features typically used in anatomic staging, such as tumor size and lymph node involvement. The 21-gene assay may be used to select low-risk patients for abbreviated chemotherapy regimens similar to those used in our study or high-risk patients for more aggressive regimens or clinical trials evaluating novel treatments.
Histological study on the vesicular glands of castrated and non-castrated bucks

The present study was investigated the histological structure of the vesicular glands of eight mature castrated and noncastrated zaraibi bucks (4 animals/ each group). Generally, the vesicular gland of bucks was compact and lobulated gland. It was covered by a muscular capsule sending fibro-muscular septa dividing the gland into irregular unequal lobules. Each lobule was formed of numerous secretory acini and few amount of inter-acinar connective tissue stroma. Each lobule had a central collecting sinus to collect the secretions from the different acini. Both secretory acini and central collecting sinuses were lined mainly with pseudostratified columnar epithelium that was consisted mainly of secretory columnar cells and few small basal cells. The secretion was released into the acinar limen via apocrine mode. The castrated bucks showed more connective tissue and less acinar components in comparison to non-castrated bucks. Such finding represents the histological difference between the vesicular gland of castrated and non-castrated bucks that pointed out the effect of castration on structure of the vesicular gland.
Donor specific antibodies median fluorescence intensity levels are the best indicator for monitoring desensitization treatment in kidney transplant.

Vol. 11 | No. 03 | May June 2014 | UROLOGY JOURNAL Donor Specific Antibodies Median Fluorescence Intensity Levels Are the Best Indicator for Monitoring Desensitization Treatment in Kidney Transplant Francisco Boix,1 Santiago Llorente,2 Anna Mrowiec,1 Jorge Eguia,1 Ruth Lopez-Hernandez,1 Maria Victoria Bernardo,1 Maria Rosa Moya-Quiles,1,3 Jose A. Campillo,1,3 Alfredo Minguela,1,3 Luisa Jimeno,2 Maria R. AlvarezLopez,1,3 Manuel Muro1,3
Parental Satisfaction on Multiple Daily Injections, Insulin Pump and Flexible Multiple Daily Injections Used for Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Aims: This study aims to identify differences in parental satisfaction between three distinct types of intensive insulin therapies used for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) namely multiple daily injection (MDI), continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and flexible multiple daily injection (fMDI). Materials and Methods: Data was collected over a 6-month period during the quarterly clinic visits. Two modified versions of validated tools- Insulin Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (ITSQ) and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ), were electronically filled in by the parents of children with T1D. This provided information on parental satisfaction on the following areas: inconvenience of regimen, lifestyle flexibility, impression of glycaemic control, fear of hypoglycaemia, diabetic symptoms, treatment barriers, worry, treatment adherence and communication. Results: 34 parents completed the electronic data forms on iSurvey. Parents of the fMDI group were the most confident to avoid severe hypoglycaemia whereas MDI-parents being the least confident, t (21) = 2.12, p = 0.046. There was no statistical difference noted on how confident parents felt to avoid asymptomatic hypoglycaemia, their worry about nocturnal hypoglycaemia, convenience and ease of using insulin in public places, nor was there statistically significant difference in the pain and discomfort felt by their children. Parents of children with fMDI felt the time their children spent with hyperglycemia was higher than the MDI, t (21) = 2.11, p = 0.047. Parents of the CSII group were most likely to continue their current treatment and were also, most likely to recommend the treatment regimen to others. Parents of MDI were least likely to do so, t (20) = 2.12, p =. 047 and t (18) = 2.35, p = 0.031. Conclusion: Although this study was conducted with a very small sample size, it has revealed no significant difference in parental satisfaction among MDI, CSII and fMDI groups including parental anxiety and stress, ease of use in public places, convenience, flexibility, parental perception of pain and discomfort experienced by their children and fear of nocturnal hypoglycaemia. However, parents indicated greater confidence in avoiding severe hypoglycaemia in fMDI albeit there was higher glycaemic variability. Parents with CSII were more satisfied with treatment and more likely to recommend their current treatment option to others, than fMDI and MDI, as the preferred mode of treatment.
Learning Invariance from Natural Images Inspired by Observations in the Primary Visual Cortex

The human visual system has the remarkable ability to largely recognize objects invariant of their position, rotation, and scale. A good interpretation of neurobiological findings involves a computational model that simulates signal processing of the visual cortex. In part, this is likely achieved step by step from early to late areas of visual perception. While several algorithms have been proposed for learning feature detectors, only few studies at hand cover the issue of biologically plausible learning of such invariance. In this study, a set of Hebbian learning rules based on calcium dynamics and homeostatic regulations of single neurons is proposed. Their performance is verified within a simple model of the primary visual cortex to learn so-called complex cells, based on a sequence of static images. As a result, the learned complex-cell responses are largely invariant to phase and position.
Exemplar-based video inpainting with large patches

Inpainting is the process of reconstructing damaged regions of images and video frames. This study deals with weaknesses of the current video inpainting techniques, when an object is totally damaged, and a framework for video inpainting is proposed. Using this framework, the moving object is separated from the background. A large mosaic image is constructed using the moving object and then a patch-based method with large patches is used to fill holes. In each frame, the inpainted foreground is obtained by placing the object in its location. Missing areas of the stationary background are also filled separately and the final video is produced by composing the inpainted background and object frames. Results for three video sequences with an occluded object show that this approach represents the object in the missing region better than other approaches.
IN VIVO SURVIVAL OF SPERMATOZOA IN CERVICAL MUCUS.

Abstract 1. Valuable information concerning timing and character of ovulation can be obtained by correlating alterations of cervical mucus with changes in the basal body temperature during the menstrual cycle. 2. Examination of phase lines formed at the interphase between cervical mucus and seminal fluid in vitro gives some indication of the in vivo behavior of these fluids. 3. The consistent absence of spermatozoa from the cervical mucus one day after intercourse or insemination should arouse suspicion about the mucus-semen incompatibility. 4. The presence of many nonmotile and abnormal spermatozoa in cervical mucus 24 hours or longer after intercourse or insemination, in some patients, suggests the possibility that cervical mucus acts as a filter, which prevents ascent of abnormal spermatozoa up the genital tract. 5. Frequently, in vivo spermatozoa survive in cervical mucus for as long as 5 days after insemination or intercourse, and occasionally up to 7 days. Theoretical implications regarding the effectiveness of the “rhythm system” for contraceptive purposes in some women are left to the reader.
Assessment of a modified DSM-5 diagnosis of alcohol use disorder in a genetically informative population.

BACKGROUND Proposed changes to the upcoming DSM-5 include the following: (i) combining criteria for DSM-IV alcohol abuse (AA) and alcohol dependence (AD) into 1 diagnostic category (alcohol use disorder [AUD]); (ii) exclusion of the "legal problems" (LP) criterion; and (iii) addition of a "craving" criterion. Few published studies empirically assess the potential consequences of the proposed changes. METHODS Using a population-based sample of twins assessed for lifetime AA/AD diagnoses, we explored phenotypic differences across DSM-IV and a modified DSM-5 diagnoses without craving because of its unavailability in the data set. We used factor analysis and item response theory (IRT) to evaluate the potential consequences of excluding the LP criterion from AUD and used twin modeling to examine genetic differences between DSM-IV and the modified DSM-5 diagnoses. RESULTS The prevalence of AUD was slightly higher than that of DSM-IV diagnoses. Individuals meeting DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria, but not both, exhibit fewer comorbid diagnoses than those meeting both sets of criteria. Individuals meeting only DSM-5 criteria were slightly less severely affected than those meeting only DSM-IV criteria. Factor analysis indicated that the LP criterion loading is the lowest of all symptoms; IRT analysis suggested that this criterion has low discriminatory power. The genetic correlation between DSM-IV and DSM-5 diagnoses was slightly but significantly lower than unity. CONCLUSIONS The proposed DSM-5 AUD criteria are unlikely to result in significant changes in prevalence of diagnosed alcohol problems. However, it is unclear whether the new criteria represent a more valid diagnosis: new cases are no more severely affected than DSM-IV-only cases. Given the psychometric properties of LP, its exclusion should not negatively impact diagnostic validity. Similarly, the stable heritability across DSM-IV and DSM-5 diagnoses suggests that the proposed changes will not have substantial negative consequences in terms of familial influences, a key validator. These results provide equivocal empirical support for the proposed DSM-5 changes for AUDs.
First Genome Sequence of a Canine Distemper Virus Strain from South America

ABSTRACT Canine distemper virus causes a severe infectious disease in carnivores worldwide. Herein, we sequenced and analyzed the genome of a new strain (Uy251/2012) isolated from a dog in Uruguay. The Uy251/2012 strain belongs to the Europe1/South America1 lineage, and constitutes the first report of a genomic sequence in South America.
Bioinspired Nanonetworks for Targeted Cancer Drug Delivery

A biomimicry approach to nanonetworks is proposed here for targeted cancer drug delivery (TDD). The swarm of bioinspired nanomachines utilizes the blood distribution network and chemotaxis to carry drug through the vascular system to the cancer site, recognized by a high concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our approach is multi-scale and includes processes that occur both within cells and with their neighbors. The proposed bionanonetwork takes advantage of several organic processes, some of which already occur within the human body, such as a plate-like structure similar to those of red blood cells for more environmental contact; a berry fruit architecture for its internal multi-foams architecture; the penetrable structure of cancer cells, tissue, as well as the porous structure of the capillaries for drug penetration; state of glycocalyx for ligand-receptor adhesion; as well as changes in pH state of blood and O 2 release for nanomachine communication. For a more appropriate evaluation, we compare our work with a conventional chemotherapy approach using a mathematical model of cancer under actual experimental parameter settings. Simulation results show the merits of the proposed method in targeted cancer therapy by improving the densities of the relevant cancer cell types and VEGF concentration, while following more organic and natural processes.
Growth‐associated protein 43 immunoreactivity in the superficial dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord is localized in atrophic C‐fiber, and not in sprouted A‐fiber, central terminals after peripheral nerve injury

Peripheral nerve injury induces the up‐regulation in dorsal root ganglion cells of growth‐associated protein 43 (GAP‐43) and its transport to the superficial laminae of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where it is located primarily in unmyelinated axons and growth‐cone like structures. Peripheral nerve injury also induces the central terminals of axotomized myelinated axons to sprout and form novel synaptic contacts in lamina II of the dorsal horn. To investigate whether the sprouting of A‐fiber central terminals into lamina II is the consequence of GAP‐43 incorporation into their terminal membranes, we have used an ultrastructural analysis with double labelling to identify the localization of GAP‐43 immunoreactivity. Transganglionic transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP) was used to identify C‐fiber terminals. Transganglionic transport of the B fragment of cholera toxin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (B‐HRP) was used to label A‐fiber sciatic nerve central terminals in combination with GAP‐43 immunocytochemistry. GAP‐43 was found to colocalize only with WGA‐HRP‐ and not with B‐HRP‐labelled synapses or axons. In addition, many single‐labelled GAP‐43 synapses were observed. Many of the WGA‐HRP‐labelled terminals that were characterized by degenerative changes were GAP‐43 immunoreactive. Our results indicate that peripheral nerve injury induces novel synapse formation of A fibers in lamina II but that up‐regulated levels of GAP‐43 are present mainly in other axon projections to the superficial dorsal horn. J. Comp. Neurol. 386:111–118, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effects of masking on the activation of auditory-associated cortex during speech listening in white noise

Conclusions. Noise-induced masking has different effects on the two hemispheres during speech listening. Auditory-associated cortices in the left hemisphere were more affected by masking than the right side. However, activation of primary and secondary auditory cortices was not affected in both sides under the masking with high signal to noise ratio. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of masking on the central auditory system during speech listening in white noise. Materials and methods. Twelve healthy young subjects with normal hearing participated in this study. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed while subjects were listening to speech sounds alone and speech plus white noise binaurally. Results. In humans, the activation of several regions including the middle parts of the superior and middle temporal gyri, parahippocampal gyrus, cuneus and thalamus of the left hemisphere was significantly reduced under the masking paradigm with +5 dB signal to noise ratio. In addition, reduced activation was also found at the lingual gyrus, anterior and middle parts of the superior temporal gyrus (STG), uncus, fusiform gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus of the right hemisphere during masking.
Random Walk or Planned Excursion? Continuity and Change in the Left–Right Positions of Political Parties

Implicit in theories of democratic elections is the idea of change—or at least the potential for change. Elections provide the opportunity for citizens to change their party preferences and thus alter the course of government. In addition, political parties can change their programmatic positions to attract new voters. Our research asks how much parties change their Left–Right positions between elections and what this tells us about parties’ strategic choices. We utilize data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems project and the Chapel Hill Expert Surveys. We demonstrate very high stability in parties’ Left–Right position over time. Furthermore, we find only modest evidence that parties change their Left–Right position in a conscious process of vote seeking.
Variação Sazonal e Espacial da Biomassa Fitoplanctônica Relacionada com Parâmetros Hidrológicos no Estuário de Barra das Jangadas (Jaboatão dos Guararapes - Pernambuco - Brasil).

Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo de determinar a variacao espacial e sazonal da biomassa fitoplanctonica e sua relacao com alguns parâmetros hidrologicos do estuario de Barra das Jangadas, onde foram realizadas coletas mensais, no periodo de marco/99 a fevereiro/00, na superficie com garrafa de Nansen e Van Dorn. Constatou-se que existe uma sazonalidade da biomassa com maiores valores no periodo chuvoso. Estes dados mostraram uma relacao direta com o nitrato e material em suspensao e inversa com a transparencia da agua, temperatura, salinidade, fosfato e silicato. Quanto a distribuicao espacial da biomassa observou-se um gradiente decrescente das estacoes mais costeiras para as mais internas na baixa-mar ao contrario da preamar, mostrando a influencia marinha no estuario. A fracao <20µm foi a mais representativa, contribuindo com mais de 90% da biomassa total. O fosfato e o silicato apresentaram maiores teores no periodo seco, sendo o inverso do nitrato e da biomassa. Todos os sais nutrientes apresentaram variacoes espaciais com maiores concentracoes nas estacoes mais internas, apresentando um gradiente crescente da estacao 1 para a 4. Palavras chave: estuario, fitoplâncton, biomassa, hidrologia e variacao espaco-temporal.
Efficacy of Aripiprazole in Comorbid Addiction in Bipolar Disorder

Comorbid substance use is a very common problem in bipolar disorder (BD) [1]. Few controlled pharmacological studies have examined its treatment, while comorbidity often complicates BD’s diagnosis and treatment and worsens the course of illness and prognosis [2]. Aripiprazole is the first partial agonist dopaminergic antipsychotic with an action on D2/D3 dopamine receptors and a low side-effect profile. Aripiprazole has been proven to be useful during all phases of bipolar illness [3]. In substance-dependence treatment, early results with aripiprazole are promising and warrant further exploration [4,5]. We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of a patient presenting with type II BD and polysubstance use (PSU) successfully treated by aripiprazole for both disorders at the 6-month follow-up.
Air pollution and risk of lung cancer in a prospective study in Europe

To estimate the relationship between air pollution and lung cancer, a nested case‐control study was set up within EPIC (European Prospective Investigation on Cancer and Nutrition). Cases had newly diagnosed lung cancer, accrued after a median follow‐up of 7 years among the EPIC exsmokers (since at least 10 years) and never smokers. Three controls per case were matched. Matching criteria were gender, age (±5 years), smoking status, country of recruitment and time elapsed between recruitment and diagnosis. We studied residence in proximity of heavy traffic roads as an indicator of exposure to air pollution. In addition, exposure to air pollutants (NO2, PM10, SO2) was assessed using concentration data from monitoring stations in routine air quality monitoring networks. Cotinine was measured in plasma. We found a nonsignificant association between lung cancer and residence nearby heavy traffic roads (odds ratio = 1.46, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.89–2.40). Exposure data for single pollutants were available for 197 cases and 556 matched controls. For NO2 we found an odds ratio of 1.14 (95% CI, 0.78–1.67) for each increment of 10 μg/m3, and an odds ratio of 1.30 (1.02–1.66) for concentrations greater than 30 μg/m3. The association with NO2 did not change after adjustment by cotinine and additional potential confounders, including occupational exposures. No clear association was found with other pollutants. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparative developmental studies on the fine structure of the vomeronasal sensory and the olfactory epithelia in the golden hamster.

ハムスター鋤鼻器官感覚上皮および嗅上皮の微細構造の胎生期ならびに生後の発達について検索を行なった. 感覚上皮と嗅上皮はともに嗅板から分化し, それぞれの幹細胞は両上皮に共通であったが, 嗅上皮では細胞の分化は速く生後1日にはすでに成体嗅上皮とほぼ同様の細胞学的特徴を備えていた. いっぽう, 感覚上皮細胞の分化は遅く, 生後4日でも多くの未分化な細胞が観察され, 生後10日においてもなお分化は未完了であった. リボゾームとミトコンドリアはもっとも早く発現し, 中心小体は感覚上皮, 嗅上皮感覚受容細胞の両者に観察され, 微小管の核形成の場と考えられた. 嗅上皮では嗅小毛が胎齢13日に萌出したが, 感覚上皮線毛は成体においてもみとめられなかった. 以上の成績から, 嗅覚機能は主として嗅上皮によって担われるものと考えられ, 鋤鼻器官感覚上皮は嗅覚の識別能力あるいはその機能を補い, あるいは嗅覚とは別の何らかの感覚に関与していることが想像された.