Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Between‐systems memory interference during retrieval

Context memories normally depend on the hippocampus (HPC) but, in the absence of the HPC, other memory systems are capable of acquiring and supporting these memories. This suggests that the HPC can interfere with other systems during memory acquisition. Here we ask whether the HPC can also interfere with the retrieval of a context memory that was independently acquired by a non‐HPC system. Specifically, we assess whether the HPC can impair the retrieval of a contextual fear‐conditioning memory that was acquired while the HPC was temporarily inactive. Rats were infused with the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor agonist muscimol in the dorsal and ventral HPC either before acquisition, retrieval, or prior to both acquisition and retrieval, consistent with the effects of permanent HPC lesions on contextual fear conditioning, if the HPC was inactive at the time of acquisition and retention memory was intact. Thus, non‐HPC systems acquired and supported this memory in absence of the HPC. However, if the HPC was inactive during acquisition but active thereafter, rats displayed severe deficits during the retention test. Moreover, when the same rats received a second retention test but with the HPC inactive at this time, the memory was recovered, suggesting that removal of a form of interference allowed the memory to be expressed. Combined, these findings imply that the HPC competes and/or interferes with retrieval of a long‐term memory that was established in non‐HPC systems.
NADH→NAD+ Transhydrogenation in Adult Ascaris suum Mitochondria

Abstract: Although lacking an NADPH→NAD+ transhydrogenase system, the essentially energetically anaerobic mitochondria of the adult intestinal nematode Ascaris suum display an inner membrane-associated NADH→NAD+ transhydrogenation reaction. This reaction is considered to be reflective of a mechanism(s) that acts in catalyzing a transmembrane translocation of reducing equivalents from NADH in the intermembrane space to matrix NAD+, thereby forming matrix NADH that would serve in electron transport. Ascarid mitochondrial lipoamide dehydrogenase rather than an NADH→NAD+ transhydrogenase system has been viewed as the predominant source of inner membrane-associated NADH→NAD+ transhydrogenation activity. However, the present study made apparent yet another source of mitochondrial, inner membrane–associated NADH→NAD+ activity in A. suum, viz., NADH dehydrogenase. This was made evident via comparisons of the A. suum mitochondrial NADH→NAD+ transhydrogenation, NADH dehydrogenase, and lipoamide dehydrogenase activities in terms of pH effects, thermal labilities, the involvement of NADH dehydrogenase in the activities of mitochondrial, membrane-associated rotenone-insensitive and rotenone-sensitive NADH-dependent cytochrome c reductases, and mitochondrial membrane versus mitochondrial soluble localizations. Studies of the responses of the NADH→NAD+ transhydrogenation, rotenone-insensitive and rotenone-sensitive cytochrome c reductases, and lipoamide dehydrogenase activities to inhibition by copper and cadmium lent additional support to the catalysis of an NADH→NAD+ transhydrogenation activity by NADH dehydrogenase. Collectively, the data presented are consistent with an additional physiological catalysis of an NADH→NAD+ transhydrogenation in A. suum mitochondria by an inner membrane NADH dehydrogenase component of the rotenone-sensitive cytochrome c reductase system, i.e., the NADH dehydrogenase component of the electron transport system. Comparisons of the A. suum data with those from other essentially anaerobic helminth parasites as well as free-living eukaryotic mitochondrial systems are noted.
Cost analysis of different screening strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the findings of a survey in Tehran, Iran, to determine the screening method for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) best suited to the local population. METHODS In four university teaching hospitals in Tehran, 2,416 pregnant women were classified into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups, on the basis of criteria established by the American Diabetes Association, and then screened for GDM. A two-step approach was implemented, with use of blood glucose thresholds of 130 mg/dL and 140 mg/dL and the previously advocated diagnostic criteria of two or more abnormal results of an oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS The prevalence of GDM is increasing globally, and the major determinants of screening programs for GDM are the cost-to-benefit ratio and the prevalence in the target population. The prevalence of GDM in our study sample was 4.7%. Changing from the 130 mg/dL to the 140 mg/dL blood glucose threshold decreased case-detection sensitivity by 12%, to 88%. With this approach, however, the cost of screening for GDM per pregnancy decreased from US dollars 3.80 to US dollars 3.21 (-15.5%), and the cost per detected case of GDM declined from US dollars 80.56 to US dollars 77.44 (-3.9%). CONCLUSION We recommend universal screening for GDM in populations, such as ours, that have a substantial baseline prevalence of GDM and variable health-care coverage. In such a setting, a considerable proportion of cases of GDM may be missed. Moreover, universal screening is less expensive in developing countries than in more developed economies and leads to clearer long-term savings for a health service stretched to the limit.
Co-Consumption of Methanol and Succinate by Methylobacterium extorquens AM1

Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 is a facultative methylotrophic Alphaproteobacterium and has been subject to intense study under pure methylotrophic as well as pure heterotrophic growth conditions in the past. Here, we investigated the metabolism of M. extorquens AM1 under mixed substrate conditions, i.e., in the presence of methanol plus succinate. We found that both substrates were co-consumed, and the carbon conversion was two-thirds from succinate and one-third from methanol relative to mol carbon. 13C-methanol labeling and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analyses revealed the different fates of the carbon from the two substrates. Methanol was primarily oxidized to CO2 for energy generation. However, a portion of the methanol entered biosynthetic reactions via reactions specific to the one-carbon carrier tetrahydrofolate. In contrast, succinate was primarily used to provide precursor metabolites for bulk biomass production. This work opens new perspectives on the role of methylotrophy when substrates are simultaneously available, a situation prevailing under environmental conditions.
Genitopatellar syndrome: Expanding the phenotype

Genitopatellar syndrome is a recently described disorder with characteristic facies, genital anomalies, absent patella, flexion contractures, microcephaly, renal anomalies, and mental retardation. The presence of affected siblings in two of the original families suggests autosomal recessive inheritance. We report a new patient that exhibits all of these cardinal features and is also the second case to have additional, more severe findings including a congenital heart defect, anal anomalies, and features of an ectodermal dysplasia, thus expanding the phenotype to include these manifestations. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Microleakage of Class I and II Composite Resin Restorations Using a Sonic-resin Placement System.

OBJECTIVES To determine microleakage of posterior Class I and II restorations using the SonicFill composite resin system. METHODS AND MATERIALS Eighty previously extracted third molars were randomly assigned to four preparation/restoration groups (n=20): Group A: Class I preparations restored with SonicFill system/bulk fill; Group B: Class II preparations restored with SonicFill system/bulk fill; Group C: Class I preparations restored with Herculite Ultra composite resin/incremental technique; and Group D: Class II preparations restored with Herculite Ultra composite resin/incremental technique. Class I preparations were approximately 3.0 mm in width buccolingually and 3.0 mm in depth. Class II preparations were approximately 3.0 mm in width buccolingually, 1.5 mm in axial depth, and 4.0 mm in gingival depth. In all groups, the enamel and dentin surfaces were conditioned with Kerr 37.5% phosphoric acid, followed by application of Optibond Solo Plus adhesive system. Following restoration, the specimens were thermocycled, immersed in methylene blue dye, and embedded in acrylic resin. Specimen blocks were sectioned in the mesiodistal direction, with marginal dye penetration (microleakage) examined using a 20× binocular microscope. Class I and II restoration microleakage was scored separately using a 0-3 ordinal ranking system. Statistical analyses were conducted using nonparametric testing at the p < 0.05 level of significance. RESULTS Significantly less microleakage was associated with both Class I restorative groups (A and C), SonicFill bulk fill and Herculite Ultra incremental fill, compared to the Class II restorative groups (B and D), SonicFill/bulk fill and Herculite Ultra/incremental fill. CONCLUSIONS According to the results of this study, the materials (SonicFill vs Herculite Ultra), C-factors, and insertion techniques (bulk vs incremental) did not appear to be significant influences with regard to marginal microleakage; however, the type of preparation cavity (Class I vs Class II) and the subsequent bonding surface (enamel vs dentin [cementum]) proved to be significant factors.
Endothelial Microparticles From Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Induce Premature Coronary Artery Endothelial Cell Aging and Thrombogenicity: Role of the Ang II/AT1 Receptor/NADPH Oxidase-Mediated Activation of MAPKs and PI3-Kinase Pathways

Background: Microparticles (MPs) have emerged as a surrogate marker of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. This study examined the potential of MPs from senescent endothelial cells (ECs) or from patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to promote premature EC aging and thrombogenicity. Methods: Primary porcine coronary ECs were isolated from the left circumflex coronary artery. MPs were prepared from ECs and venous blood from patients with ACS (n=30) and from healthy volunteers (n=4) by sequential centrifugation. The level of endothelial senescence was assessed as senescence-associated &bgr;-galactosidase activity using flow cytometry, oxidative stress using the redox-sensitive probe dihydroethidium, tissue factor activity using an enzymatic Tenase assay, the level of target protein expression by Western blot analysis, platelet aggregation using an aggregometer, and shear stress using a cone-and-plate viscometer. Results: Senescence, as assessed by senescence-associated &bgr;-galactosidase activity, was induced by the passaging of porcine coronary artery ECs from passage P1 to P4, and was associated with a progressive shedding of procoagulant MPs. Exposure of P1 ECs to MPs shed from senescent P3 cells or circulating MPs from ACS patients induced increased senescence-associated &bgr;-galactosidase activity, oxidative stress, early phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and Akt, and upregulation of p53, p21, and p16. Ex vivo, the prosenescent effect of circulating MPs from ACS patients was evidenced only under conditions of low shear stress. Depletion of endothelial-derived MPs from ACS patients reduced the induction of senescence. Prosenescent MPs promoted EC thrombogenicity through tissue factor upregulation, shedding of procoagulant MPs, endothelial nitric oxide synthase downregulation, and reduced nitric oxide–mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation. These MPs exhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and upregulated AT1 receptors and angiotensin-converting enzyme in P1 ECs. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, and inhibitors of either mitogen-activated protein kinases or phosphoinositide 3-kinase prevented the MP-induced endothelial senescence. Conclusions: These findings indicate that endothelial-derived MPs from ACS patients induce premature endothelial senescence under atheroprone low shear stress and thrombogenicity through angiotensin II–induced redox-sensitive activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt. They further suggest that targeting endothelial-derived MP shedding and their bioactivity may be a promising therapeutic strategy to limit the development of an endothelial dysfunction post-ACS.
Could a cycloplegic agent be replaced by a fogging or a corrective lens in the biometric measurement of the crystalline lens?

This study investigated whether a fogging or a corrective lens could be used to replace a cycloplegic agent in the ultrasonic measurement of crystalline lens thickness in myopia. A group of 28 Hong Kong Chinese adults with myopia was recruited. The crystalline lens thickness of the examined eye was measured by A‐scan ultrasonography while the fixating eye was in one of three conditions: fog (+2.00 D fogging lens), full corrective lens, or cycloplegia (50 minutes after instillation of 1% cyclopentolate HCl). We found that the mean lens thickness was significantly different between the three conditions in our myopic subjects. The mean crystalline lens thickness under fogging and corrective lens conditions was significantly greater than the cycloplegic condition by 0.09 mm and 0.11 mm, respectively. The 95% limits of agreement compared to cycloplegia (fogging: −0.32 to +0.14; corrective: −0.35 to +0.13) showed marked intersubject variability, indicating that there is a risk of overestimating the lens thickness when substituting cycloplegia with either a fogging or a corrective lens.
Análisis económico de las explotaciones de ganado ovino y caprino en la Región de Murcia

Se realiza el analisis economico en explotaciones tipo de ovino y caprino de diferentes zonas de la Region de Murcia, para comprobar su rentabilidad y como paso previo y herramienta imprescindible para la toma de decisiones en materia de Politica Sectorial, reordenacion sectorial y criterio a la hora de seleccionar las ayudas, porque independientemente de su rentabilidad siguen siendo dos sectores estrategicos en el aprovechamiento de recursos de zonas marginales, empleo agrario y fi jacion de poblacion. Se observa como ambos sectores son dependientes de las subvenciones en su rentabilidad, a pesar de que el sector caprino ha evolucionado con mucho mas dinamismo.
The Role of Autoreactive T-cells in the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease mediated by antiplatelet autoantibodies.The major target of these autoantibodies is a platelet membrane glycoprotein, GPIIb-IIIa, which is a receptor for fibrinogen and other ligands. We recently identified CD4+ T-cells autoreactive to GPIIb-IIIa in ITP patients.These T-cells are considered pathogenic because they help B-cells produce antibodies that bind to normal platelet surfaces. GPIIb-IIIa-reactive T-cells respond to chemically reduced and tryptic peptides of GPIIb-IIIa but not to native GPIIb-IIIa, indicating that the epitopes they recognize are “cryptic” determinants generated at a subthreshold level by the processing of native GPIIb-IIIa under normal circumstances. Although GPIIb-IIIa-reactive T-cells are also detected in healthy individuals, they are activated in vivo only in ITP patients.Activation of GPIIb-IIIa-specific T-cells and the subsequent production of pathogenic anti-GPIIb-IIIa antibodies can be induced by functional antigen-presenting cells in the spleen that present cryptic GPIIb-IIIa peptides to these T-cells.The pathogenic process of ITP can be explained as a continuous loop in which B-cells produce antiplatelet autoantibodies, splenic macrophages phagocytose antibody-coated platelets and present GPIIb-IIIa-derived cryptic peptides, and GPIIb-IIIa-reactive CD4+ T-cells exert their helper activity. Further studies examining the mechanisms that induce the processing and presentation of cryptic peptides derived from the platelet antigen at disease onset will clarify how the pathogenic autoantibody response in ITP is initiated.
Differential protein analysis of serum exosomes post-intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in patients with Kawasaki disease

Abstract Background Kawasaki disease, which is characterised by systemic vasculitides accompanied by acute fever, is regularly treated by intravenous immunoglobulin to avoid lesion formation in the coronary artery; however, the mechanism of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy is unclear. Hence, we aimed to analyse the global expression profile of serum exosomal proteins before and after administering intravenous immunoglobulin. Methods Two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify the differentially expressed proteome of serum exosomes in patients with Kawasaki disease before and after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Results Our analysis revealed 69 differential protein spots in the Kawasaki disease group with changes larger than 1.5-fold and 59 differential ones in patients after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy compared with the control group. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the acute-phase response disappeared, the functions of the complement system and innate immune response were enhanced, and the antibacterial humoral response pathway of corticosteroids and cardioprotection emerged after administration of intravenous immunoglobulin. Further, we showed that complement C3 and apolipoprotein A-IV levels increased before and decreased after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy and that the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein complex acid labile subunit displayed reverse alteration before and after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. These observations might be potential indicators of intravenous immunoglobulin function. Conclusions Our results show the differential proteomic profile of serum exosomes of patients with Kawasaki disease before and after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, such as complement C3, apolipoprotein A-IV, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein complex acid labile subunit. These results may be useful in the identification of markers for monitoring intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in patients with Kawasaki disease.
A genetic analysis of feed conversion efficiency and associated traits in swine.

Performance records were analyzed for 1,869 purebred Duroc and Yorkshire gilts tested in littermate groups of two to four pigs in 703 pens. Traits studied were average daily gain during a standard test period from 56 d of age to 90.7 kg (ADG), average daily feed consumption during the test period (ADF), average backfat thickness (ABF) measured from polaroid photos of ultrasonic scans at 90.7 kg and efficiency of feed conversion for the whole test period (feed conversion efficiency, FCE). The main objectives were: 1) to estimate pertinent genetic and phenotypic parameters and 2) to discuss applications of the findings to the swine industry in the United States. A balanced 16% crude protein diet in pelleted form was provided ad libitum during the entire test period. Nested analyses of variance were computed with both the individual and pen mean records. Sire components of variance and covariance, adjusted for level of inbreeding, were used to estimate heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic variances, covariances and correlations. Heritabilities estimated from individual records were . 098 for ADG and . 423 for ABF. Estimates from pen means were . 105 for ADF and . 061 for FCE. Genetic correlations of FCE with ADG, ADF and ABF were estimated as -. 520, -. 520 and . 694, respectively, while phenotypic correlations for the same traits were -. 240, . 570 and . 212, respectively, all from pen means. Genetic and phenotypic correlations of ADG with ABF from individual records were . 176 and . 254, respectively. Implications for swine testing programs were discussed, including a proposal that would include FCE indirectly in an index with ADG and ABF, based on genetic covariances of FCE with ADG and ABF, thereby removing the need to measure FCE directly.
Risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Thai reproductive aged female: King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital experience.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the risk factors of VTE focusing on oral pill use, alcohol intake and smoking among women who attended at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2004. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study design was case-control study. A Case was defined as the female inpatient who was diagnosed with VTE and a control was defined as the healthy female patient who attended gynecological clinic for annual check up. The questionnaires were developed to interview both cases and controls. The ratio of case per control was 1:2. The data was analyzed with SPSS/PC+ version 12.0. The statistic uses were mean, standard deviation, t-test, Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. RESULTS Seventy of cases and one hundred and forty of controls were recruited into the study. The mean +/- SD of age of case was 37.2 +/- 9.3 years and the control was 35.6 +/- 9.9 years. There were no significant difference in term of age, parity, weight, height and BMI between cases and controls. The Odds ratio of oral contraceptive pill use, smoking and alcohol consumption were 0.94, 4.28, and 2.62, respectively. However, no statistical significance difference of Odds ratio in oral contraceptive pill use, and alcohol consumption were demonstrated. CONCLUSION Smoking and alcohol consumption increased risk of VTE in this study. Oral contraceptive pill use did not demonstrate increasing risk. However, there was no statistical significance of odds ratio in alcohol consumption. This result may be due to the small sample of cases. The further study should be recruited with more cases in order to demonstrated the risk factors of these female patients.