Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthetic retinoids as inducers of apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cell lines

Apoptosis is also known as programmed cell death. Apoptosis plays an essential role in maintaining normal tissue and cell physiology in multicellular organisms. Clearance of aberrant or pre‐cancerous cells occurs through the induction of apoptosis. It has been reported that many tumors and tumor cell lines have dysfunctional apoptosis signaling, causing these tumors to escape immune monitoring and internal cellular control mechanisms. One potential cause of this dysfunctional apoptosis is the tumor suppressor p53, an important regulator of growth arrest and apoptosis that is mutated in over 50% of all cancers. Retinoids have great potential in the areas of cancer therapy and chemoprevention. While some tumor cells are sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of natural retinoids such as all‐trans‐retinoic acid (ATRA), many ovarian tumor cells are not. 6‐[3‐(1‐Admantyl)]‐4‐hydroxyphenyl]‐2‐naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437) and fenretinide N‐[4‐hydroxyphenyl] retinamide (4‐HPR) are conformationally restricted synthetic retinoids that induce growth arrest and apoptosis in both ATRA‐sensitive and ATRA‐resistant ovarian tumor cell lines. Recently, we have identified the molecular pathways of apoptosis induced by treatment of ovarian carcinoma cells with mutated p53 by CD437 and 4‐HPR. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia on long‐term transplant survival in kidney transplant recipients

Long‐term prognosis in kidney transplant recipients depends on multiple factors. The purpose of this study was to quantify the influence of hyperuricemia and hyperglycemia (elements of the so‐called ‘syndrome X’, i.e., a combination of metabolic disorders like hyperuricemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension) on organ function in 350 kidney transplant recipients who had received 375 kidney transplants up to 1990 and in whom sex, age of recipient and donor, nephrologic disease, duration of dialysis, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) classification, and duration of transplant ischemia had been well matched. We found the influence of hyperuricemia on graft survival to be statistically significant (p≤0.05), while a statistically significant correlation between hyperglycemia and graft survival could not be detected in the present study. The transplant survival rates 2, 4, and 5 yr post‐kidney‐transplantation were 96.7, 80.7, and 78.7 in normogylcemic patients vs. 96.9, 85, and 82.7% in hyperglycemic (>100 mg/dL) kidney transplant recipients (p>0.05). Transplant survival in hyperuricemic patients (male,> 8 mg/dL; female,> 6.2 mg/dL) 2, 4, and 5 yr post‐transplantation was significantly reduced (92.2, 70.6, and 68.8% vs. 98.1, 85.6, and 83.3%), as compared to normouricemic recipients. A combined presence of both hyperuricemia and hyperglycemia probably influencing the prognosis post‐kidney‐transplantation failed to reach the level of statistical significance. We found a significant correlation between age of recipients and plasma glucose (p≤0.01) and between serum uric acid concentrations and diuretic therapy (p≤0.05) and gender (p≤0.05).
Predictability and Reliability of Different Anterio-Posterior Skeletal Discrepancy Indicators in Different Age Groups - A Cephalometric Study.

INTRODUCTION The lateral cephalometric skeletal discrepancy indicators play a major role in diagnosing and preparing a case for orthognathic surgeries and the dentofacial corrections. AIM The study was aimed to check the reliability and the predictability of different anterio-posterior skeletal discrepancy indicators in different age groups and to derive the most reliable indicator for the orthodontic diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 100 subjects including 29 adolescent (15 males and 14 females) and 71 adult (41 males and 30 females) subjects with the mean age of 19.05 ± 5.78 years. All the subjects had Angle's Class I molar relationship. The lateral cephalograms of the sample were taken under the standard setting and hand tracing of the cephalometric radiographs using a sharp 4H pencil were made on acetate tracing paper. The anterio-posterior cephalometric indicators like β-angle, Wits appraisal (mm), Sella- Nasion plane to Point A and Point B distance (SN-AB mm) and Maxillo-Mandibular plane angle bisector to Point A and Point B distance (MM-AB mm) were measured. Intra-examiner reliability of tracings was evaluated using Intra Class Correlation (ICC) test. Mann Whitney U-test was applied for comparison of parameters between different malocclusion groups. Concurrent validity of various parameters was calculated using Cohen's kappa. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The comparison of intra-examiner reliability of tracings in Angle's Class I adolescent group showed, MM-AB to have an almost perfect agreement followed by Wits. Intra-examiner reliability of tracings in Angle's Class I adult group showed moderate agreement for Wits and MM-AB showed almost perfect agreement and all the parameters showed statistically significant ICC. Comparison of parameters between adolescent and adult, Angle's Class I malocclusion group showed significant difference between adolescent and adult group for the Wits and SN-AB parameter. CONCLUSION The final outcome of the present study revealed that, the MM-AB is highly reliable in the reproducibility and also highly valid parameter for checking antero-posterior discrepancies and ANB angle was least reliable for diagnosing the antero-posterior skeletal discrepancies.
Autotransfusion by cell saver technique in surgery of lumbar and thoracic spinal fusion with instrumentation.

OBJECT The authors used a modern cell saver technique to perform autotransfusion in patients undergoing instrument-assisted lumbar and/or thoracic spinal fusion, in whom significant blood loss was anticipated. The safety and benefits of this procedure as well as its cost effectiveness were analyzed. METHODS The authors studied 50 patients who underwent lumbar and/or thoracic spinal fusion in which instrumentation was placed between January 1998 and June 2000 and in whom an estimated blood loss of 500 ml or more was expected. All surgeries were conducted by a single neurosurgeon (D.R.S.). During surgery, the Brat 2 cell saver system was used to salvage the autologous blood. The anesthesiologist and surgeon jointly decided, on the basis of hematocrit and clinical stability, whether transfusion was necessary in each patient. Various parameters (hematocrit, plasma and urine hemoglobin, platelet counts, coagulation profile, and serum bilirubin) were measured pre-, intra-, and postoperatively. Thirty-three patients (66%) required transfusion. The mean blood loss in these patients was 1046 ml. The most important factor affecting blood loss was the number of levels fused (p < 0.0001). Only two patients required postoperative homologous transfusion. The mean decrease in hematocrit was 7.82%. The maximum reduction of platelet count was limited to 80,000/mm3. Major complications such as hemoglobinuria, coagulopathy, cardiopulmonary problems, air embolism, and major sepsis were not observed in this study. CONCLUSIONS Autotransfusion performed using a modern cell saver technique is safe and has many advantages over homologous transfusion. It conserves the homologous blood resources. The costs of the two modes are statistically comparable when greater than 500 ml of red blood cell transfusion is necessary.
The possible role of ATP and PACAP as mediators of apamin‐sensitive NANC inhibitory junction potentials in circular muscle of guinea‐pig colon

1 In the presence of atropine (1 μm), guanethidine (3 μm), indomethacin (3 μm), nifedipine (1 μm), L‐nitroarginine (L‐NOARG, 100 μm), and the selective tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptor antagonists, SR 140,333 and GR 94,800, respectively (0.1 μm each), a single pulse of electrical field stimulation (EFS) produced a monophasic non‐adrenergic non‐cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory junction potential (i.j.p., about 10 mV in amplitude) in the circular muscle of guinea‐pig proximal colon, recorded by the modified single sucrose gap technique. 2 The P 2 purinoceptor agonist, α, β methylene ATP (α, β mATP, 100 μm) and the pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide (PACAP, 1 μm) both produced hyperpolarization (11 ± 0.8 mV, n = 14 and 10.2 ± 0.8 mV, n = 19, respectively) and relaxation (1.1 ± 0.2 mV, n = 14 and 1.5 ± 0.2mN, n = 19, respectively) of the circular muscle. 3 Apamin (0.1 μm) nearly abolished (about 90% inhibition) the NANC i.j.p. and the α, β mATP‐induced hyperpolarization, markedly reduced the α, β mATP‐induced relaxation (73% inhibition) and the PACAP‐induced hyperpolarization (65% inhibition), while the PACAP‐induced relaxation was unaffected. 4 Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10 mM) increased the EFS‐evoked i.j.p. and revealed an excitatory junction potential (e.j.p.). In the presence of TEA, α, β mATP induced a biphasic response: transient depolarization and contraction followed by hyperpolarization and relaxation. The hyperpolarization to PACAP was reduced by TEA (45% inhibition) but the relaxation was unaffected. 5 The combined application of apamin (0.1 μm) and TEA (10 mM) abolished the i.j.p. and single pulse EFS evoked a pure e.j.p. with latency three times longer than that of the i.j.p. In the majority of strips tested, α, β mATP and PACAP elicited a biphasic response: depolarization and small contraction followed by hyperpolarization and relaxation. 6 The P2 purinoceptor antagonist, pyridoxalphosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulphonic acid (PPADS) inhibited the NANC i.j.p. in concentration‐dependent manner and inhibited the α, β mATP‐induced hyperpolarization and relaxation, without affecting the hyperpolarization and relaxation induced by PACAP. On the other hand, the P2 purinoceptor antagonist, suramin (100 μm) inhibited to a similar extent (60–80%) the NANC i.j.p. and the hyperpolarization and relaxation induced by α, β mATP or PACAP. 7 PPADS and suramin reduced the NANC e.j.p. evoked by a single pulse EFS in the presence of apamin and TEA (100 μm of PPADS and 300 μm of suramin inhibited the e.j.p. by about 40%). 8 We conclude that ATP, but not PACAP, mediates the apamin‐sensitive NANC i.j.p. in the circular muscle of the guinea‐pig colon. After blockade of the NANC i.j.p., ATP may act as an excitatory transmitter by activating excitatory P2 purinoceptors. The subtypes of P2 purinoceptor involved in the inhibitory and excitatory responses remain to be established. The data suggest that excitatory P2 purinoceptors may be located extrajunctionally.
Comparison of periodontal status among patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip along with a cleft in palate and alveolus

Background and Objectives: A healthy periodontium is an important prerequisite for unhindered dentition and long-term oral health. In cleft subjects, especially in those with cleft lip, alveolus and palate (CLAP), maintenance of oral hygiene is a difficult task for the patients because of the patent oro-nasal communication. Crowding of teeth in cleft patients is a common finding, especially in those with CLAP and those with cleft palate (CP). In the case of multiple tooth-malpositions, transverse deficiency, arch length deficiency and primary cross-bite; periodontal trauma increases and is detrimental to periodontal health. According to literature, a critical periodontal situation was found in patients with CLAP. Hence a study was conducted to analyze the periodontal status of patients with cleft lip (CL); those with cleft palate; and those with cleft lip, alveolus and palate. Materials and Methods: The present study consisted of 60 cleft subjects divided into 3 groups: those with cleft lip; those with cleft palate; and those with cleft lip, alveolus and palate. Subjects with permanent dentition were selected, and the clinical examination included determination of oral hygiene status using Oral Hygiene Index — Simplified (OHI-S) index and periodontal status using community periodontal index (CPI). Results: Statistically significant increase in the periodontal disease in the CLAP group as compared with the other 2 groups, and the oral hygiene was seen to be generally poor with the CLAP group. Interpretation and Conclusion: Individuals with clefts are more prone to periodontal disease due to the presence of cleft, which causes retention of food in the defect sites and inability to maintain good oral hygiene; but the severity of periodontal disease is more if the defect is large and involving the lip, alveolus and palate.
Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Patients in General Medicine Wards: No independent correlation with In- and Out-Of-Hospital Mortality.

BACKGROUND Admission glucose levels correlate with clinical outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) hospitalized in general medicine wards. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether in-hospital hyperglycemia alone, and after adjustment for age, gender and lipidemia, correlates with in- and out-of-hospital mortality. METHODS Capillary glucose, serum lipids and diagnoses at discharge among patients with T2DM hospitalized in the general medical wards of our hospital were documented. Correlation with in- and out-of-hospital mortality was determined through uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Of the 4607 patients included in the study 22% died while hospitalized. From a median of five capillary glucose tests obtained per patient, average capillary glucose level was significantly lower in those who survived than in those who died (174 ± 64 vs. 180 ± 65 mg/dl, P = 0.005). Overall, blood cholesterol was higher in those who survived than in those who died (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis, however, including age, gender, lipidemia and glycemia, showed that only age and male gender correlated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS Hyperglycemia was associated with increased in- and out-of-hospital mortality on univariate analysis. However, it was not an independent risk factor when corrected for age, gender and hyperlipidemia.
Polymorphisms of APOE and LRP Genes in Brazilian Individuals With Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia in Western countries. Putative genetic risk factors for AD are polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) gene. Our objective was to investigate the role of the APOE coding region polymorphisms ϵ2, ϵ3, and ϵ4 and APOE promoter variants A/T at position -491 and G/T at -219, as well as LRP polymorphism C/T, as risk factors for AD in Brazilian individuals. One hundred and twenty patients with probable AD, along with 120 controls were analyzed. A significant difference between patients and controls for ϵ4 alleles was observed: frequency of this allele in AD was 0.31, and 0.10 in controls. Individuals with 2 ϵ4 alleles had a higher risk for AD than subjects with only 1 such allele; presence of 1 ϵ2 allele proved protective. The presence of the T allele of the -219 polymorphism was also associated with an increased risk of AD, but this polymorphism is in linkage disequilibrium with APOE ϵ polymorphisms. No significant differences between patients and controls were observed for -491 APOE or LRP polymorphisms. In this Brazilian population, both the ϵ4 allele and T -219 polymorphism were associated with an increased risk for AD.
Haze development after photorefractive keratectomy: mechanical vs ethanol epithelial removal in rabbits.

PURPOSE To compare mechanical and ethanol epithelial removal with respect to myofibroblast development and haze formation after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS Seventeen rabbits underwent mechanical or ethanol debridement, and the opposite eye of each rabbit served as an unwounded control. In both groups, the epithelium was removed with a spatula and discarded. A -9.00-diopter PRK was performed in each eye. The level of haze in each cornea at 4 weeks was graded at the slit-lamp microscope according to the Fantes scale. Myofibroblast generation was detected with immunocytochemistry for alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and cells were quantitatively analyzed. RESULTS No difference was noted between the two groups in alpha-SMA + myofibroblasts 4 weeks after surgery (43.6+/-2.0/400x field and 45.7+/-4.8/400x field in ethanol and mechanical groups, respectively) (P=.10). A slight difference was noted but did not reach statistical significance with regard to stromal haze between ethanol and mechanical groups (2.0+/-0.5 and 2.3+/-0.4, respectively, P=.063). The ethanol and mechanical groups were statistically different when compared to controls regarding stromal haze and alpha-SMA+ cells (P<.0001for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS No difference was noted in clinical haze or myofibroblast generation between corneas that had PRK with mechanical or ethanol epithelial debridement.
Cryptic O2–-generating NADPH oxidase in dendritic cells

All the components of the O2–-generating NADPH oxidase typically found in neutrophils, namely a membrane-bound low potential flavocytochrome b and oxidase activation factors of cytosolic origin, are immunodetectable in murine dendritic cells (DCs). However, in contrast to neutrophils, DCs challenged with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) can barely mount a significant respiratory burst. Nevertheless, DCs generate a substantial amount of O2– in the presence of PMA following preincubation with pro-inflammatory ligands such as lipopolysaccharide and pansorbin, and to a lesser extent with anti-CD40 or polyinosinic polycytidylic acid. We found that the virtual lack of the oxidase response to PMA alone is specifically controlled in DCs. Through the use of homologous and heterologous cell-free systems of oxidase activation, we showed the following: (1) a NADPH oxidase inhibitory factor is located in DC membranes; it exerts its effect on oxidase activation and not on the activated oxidase. (2) The inhibition is relieved by pretreatment of DC membranes with β-octylglucoside (β-OG). (3) The β-OG-extracted inhibitory factor prevents the activation of neutrophil oxidase. (4) The inhibitory activity is lost after treatment of DC membranes with proteinase K or heating, which points to the protein nature of the inhibitory factor. Overall, these data indicate that the O2–-generating oxidase in DCs is cryptic, owing to the presence of a membrane-bound inhibitor of protein nature that prevents oxidase activation. The inhibition is relieved under specific conditions, including a prolonged contact of DCs with pro-inflammatory ligands from microbial origin, allowing a substantial production of O2–, which may contribute to the response of DCs to a microbial exposure.
The Determinants of Return Migration: Evidence for Kosovo

Return migration represents a potentially important contributor to economic development for countries that are large exporters of labor. This paper provides an analysis of the determinants of return migration to Kosovo, a country with an especially high level of recent emigration. The findings of this investigation suggest that there is a non-linear relationship between the age of the migrant and their probability of returning. In addition, the more educated migrants and those that have acquired additional education whilst abroad are more likely to return, whereas recent migrants, those that possess permanent resident status and have their family abroad are less likely to return. As expected, the stronger the family ties of a migrant with their home country, the more likely they are to return. Finally, migrants that are expected to invest in businesses in Kosovo are more inclined to return. Together these findings suggest that return migration may be an important contributor to economic development in Kosovo and policies are outlined that could strengthen this contribution.
Human Ku Autoantigen Binds Cisplatin-damaged DNA but Fails to Stimulate Human DNA-activated Protein Kinase*

We have identified a series of proteins based on an affinity for cisplatin-damaged DNA. One protein termed DRP-1 has been purified to homogeneity and was isolated as two distinct complexes. The first complex is a heterodimer of 83- and 68-kDa subunits, while the second complex is a heterotrimer of 350-, 83-, and 68-kDa subunits in a 1:1:1 ratio. The 83- and 68-kDa subunits in each complex are identical. The 83-kDa subunit of DRP-1 was identified as the p80 subunit of Ku autoantigen by N-terminal protein sequence analysis and reactivity with a monoclonal antibody directed against human Ku p80 subunit. The 68-kDa subunit of DRP-1 cross-reacted with monoclonal antisera raised against the Ku autoantigen p70 subunit. The 350-kDa subunit was identified as DNA-PKcs, the catalytic subunit of the human DNA-activated protein kinase, DNA-PK. DRP-1/Ku DNA binding was assessed in mobility shift assays and competition binding assays using cisplatin-damaged DNA. Results indicate that DNA binding was essentially unaffected by cisplatin-DNA adducts in the presence or absence of DNA-PKcs. DNA-PK activity was only stimulated with undamaged DNA, despite the ability of Ku to bind to cisplatin-damaged DNA. The lack of DNA-PK stimulation by cisplatin-damaged DNA correlated with the extent of cisplatin-DNA adduct formation. These results demonstrate that Ku can bind cisplatin-damaged DNA but fails to activate DNA-PK. These results are discussed with respect to the repair of cisplatin-DNA adducts and the role of DNA-PK in coordinating DNA repair processes.
Nocturnal colour vision in geckos

Nocturnal animals are said to sacrifice colour vision in favour of increased absolute sensitivity. This is true for most vertebrates that possess a dual retina with a single type of rod for colour–blind night vision and multiple types of cone for diurnal colour vision. However, among the nocturnal vertebrates, geckos are unusual because they have no rods but three cone types. Here, we show that geckos use their cones for colour vision in dim light. Two specimens of the nocturnal helmet gecko Tarentola (formerly Geckonia) chazaliae were able to discriminate blue from grey patterns by colour alone. Experiments were performed at 0.002 cd m-2, a light intensity similar to dim moonlight. We conclude that nocturnal geckos can use cone–based colour vision at very dim light levels when humans rely on colour–blind rod vision.
Physical Activity Is Linked to Greater Moment-To-Moment Variability in Spontaneous Brain Activity in Older Adults

Higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) in old age are associated with greater brain structural and functional integrity, and higher cognitive functioning. However, it is not known how different aspects of lifestyle such as sedentariness, light PA (LI-PA), or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MV-PA) relate to neural activity in aging. In addition, it is not known whether the effects of PA on brain function differ or overlap with those of CRF. Here, we objectively measured CRF as oxygen consumption during a maximal exercise test and measured PA with an accelerometer worn for 7 days in 100 healthy but low active older adults (aged 60–80 years). We modeled the relationships between CRF, PA, and brain functional integrity using multivariate partial least squares analysis. As an index of functional brain integrity we used spontaneous moment-to-moment variability in the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal (SDBOLD), known to be associated with better cognitive functioning in aging. We found that older adults who engaged more in LI-PA and MV-PA had greater SDBOLD in brain regions that play a role in integrating segregated functional domains in the brain and benefit from greater CRF or PA, such as precuneus, hippocampus, medial and lateral prefrontal, and temporal cortices. Our results suggest that engaging in higher intensity PA may have protective effects on neural processing in aging. Finally, we demonstrated that older adults with greater overall WM microstructure were those showing more LI-PA and MV-PA and greater SDBOLD. We conclude that SDBOLD is a promising correlate of functional brain health in aging. Future analyses will evaluate whether SDBOLD is modifiable with interventions aimed to increase PA and CRF in older adults.