Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Up-regulation of cell adhesion molecule genes in human endothelial cells stimulated by lymphotoxin alpha: DNA microarray analysis.

BACKGROUND We recently reported that the A252G polymorphism of the Lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) gene, a member of the tumor necrosis factor family, is strongly related with the onset of acute myocardial infarction; however, the roles of LTA in the development of atherosclerosis remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS Changes in gene expression profile in cultured human umbilical vein (HUVEC) and coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) treated with LTA were analyzed with high density oligonucleotide arrays comprised of 8,500 genes. LTA stimulation at 10 ng/mL for 2 hours profoundly induced gene expression associated with signal transduction, cell adhesion and chemoattraction, such as the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells (NFkB), endothelial adhesion molecule 1 (E-Selectin), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1) (2.6, 55.7, 45.3 and 2.8 fold in HUVEC, and 2.6, 137.2, 64.0 and 13.0 fold in HCAEC, respectively). Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that LTA increased the expressions of E-Selectin and VCAM1 in a dose-dependent manner both in HUVEC and HCAEC. CONCLUSION LTA increased the expression of various genes involved in the process of atherosclerosis or inflammation in human endothelial cells, suggesting the roles of LTA in the development of atherosclerosis.
Effect of vitamin E therapy on oxidative stress and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in patients on peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND Several medications have been tested with the aim of decreasing oxidative stress and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in patients on dialysis. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of vitamin E therapy on oxidative stress and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in patients on hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS This was a placebo-controlled study. The study was performed on 34 HD patients, 13 PD patients and 22 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 45.57 +/- 8.54 years. HD patients were divided into 2 groups: treatment (n=19) and control (n=15). Vitamin E was administered, 300 mg/day, to the HD treatment group and PD patients for 20 weeks. Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant condition and erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) were examined before and after treatment. RESULTS Before the treatment, the levels of EOF (p<0.001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.001) were significantly lower, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p=0.001) and vitamin E levels (p<0.001) were significantly higher in the healthy group than PD and HD groups. Serum vitamin E increased from 0.93 +/- 0.16 to 1.09 +/- 0.14 mg/dL (p=0.001), EOF decreased from 0.49% +/- 0.03% to 0.42% +/- 0.04% NaCl (p<0.001), and plasma MDA values decreased from 2.77 +/- 0.87 to 2.20 +/- 0.767 nmol/mL (p=0.018) in the HD treatment group after vitamin E treatment. Levels of EOF decreased from 0.51% +/- 0.09% to 0.43% +/- 0.03% NaCl in the PD treatment group after vitamin E treatment (p=0.021). CONCLUSION Vitamin E therapy is effective in decreasing the levels of EOF in patients on HD and PD, and it is also effective in decreasing lipid peroxidation in patients on HD.
Human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K(HML-2) Rec expression and transcriptional activities in normal and rheumatoid arthritis synovia.

OBJECTIVE Despite abundance in the genome, the possible functions of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) sequences are not well understood. The involvement of HERV in various disease conditions, such as germ cell tumors or autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), has been suggested. We investigated expression of HERV-K(HML-2) env-derived transcripts in normal and RA synovia. METHODS We analyzed HERV-K(HML-2) expression on the mRNA and protein level by RT-PCR analysis and immunofluorescence labeling of the HERV-K(HML-2) Rec (formerly cORF) protein. We examined synovial cell cultures from normal synovia (n = 9), from patients with RA (n = 26), and osteoarthritis (OA, n = 4), and uncultured synovial tissues (RA, n = 12; normal synovia, n = 1). RESULTS HERV-K Rec protein was expressed in all normal synovial specimens, and in the majority of RA and OA cases. We demonstrate for the first time expression of HERV-K protein in synovial tissue. RT-PCR and sequence analysis of cloned RT-PCR products confirmed expression of spliced HERV-K(HML-2) env transcripts in normal and in arthritic synovia. In addition to rec mRNA, several alternatively spliced transcripts, including np9, were identified. However, different amounts of the various RT-PCR products indicate different expression levels of HERV-K(HML-2) env-derived transcripts in RA compared to normal synovia, with apparently lower expression levels in arthritic synovia. CONCLUSION These findings imply a physiological role of HERV-K(HML-2) Rec in synovial tissue. Differences in the expression of HERV-K env-derived transcripts in RA synovia may be caused by disease-specific changes in the general expression pattern.
Mobile ad hoc network routing protocol analysis and its application to a programmable modular communication system

The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) is a wireless network of programmable modular radios. A mobile ad hoc network (MANET), it aims to enable communication between military users using a single software defined radio to emulate any of several current military radio systems. This paper investigates the strengths and weaknesses of the zone routing protocol (ZRP), one of several routing protocols under consideration by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for a new mobile network standard and its application to the JTRS ad hoc network. Simulation results using OPNET 7.0 network simulation software are presented.
Cladielloides A and B: New Eunicellin-Type Diterpenoids from an Indonesian Octocoral Cladiella sp

Two new eunicellin-type diterpenoids, cladielloides A (1) and B (2), which were found to possess a 2-hydroxybutyroxy group in their structures, were isolated from an Indonesian octocoral identified as Cladiella sp. The structures of eunicellins 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Cladielloide B (2) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward CCRF-CEM tumor cells and this compound displayed significant inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils.
Differential Control of Thrombospondin over Synaptic Glycine and AMPA Receptors in Spinal Cord Neurons

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a large extracellular matrix protein secreted by astrocytes during development and inflammation. In the developing CNS, TSP-1 is involved in neuronal migration and adhesion, neurite outgrowth, and synaptogenesis. We investigated the effects of TSP-1 on neurons with mature synapses using immunocytochemistry, single-particle tracking, surface biotinylation, and calcium imaging. We show that in cultured rat spinal cord neurons TSP-1 decreased neuronal excitability by reducing the accumulation of excitatory AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and increasing that of inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyRs) in synapses. The effects of TSP-1 on GlyRs were dependent on the activation of excitatory receptors. These changes were abolished by blocking β1-integrins and mimicked by blocking β3-integrins. In the presence of TSP-1, AMPARs were less stabilized at synapses, increasing their lateral diffusion and endocytosis. Interestingly, TSP-1 counteracted the increased neuronal excitability and neuronal death induced by TNFα. These results suggest a role of TSP-1 in controlling the balance between excitation and inhibition which could help the recovery of normal synaptic activity after injury responses.
Role of Intratympanic Steroids in the Management of Idiopathic Sudden Sensori Neural Hearing Loss— Our Experience of 67 Cases

Objective: To assess the outcomes of intratympanic steroids in the management of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Academic tertiary care medical centre. Materials and Methods: A total of 67 patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were included in our study. Pre- and post-injection audiograms were taken to assess the outcomes in improvement in hearing. Hearing outcomes were assessed with respect to duration of onset of treatment and age of the patient. Improvement in the speech discrimination score was also assessed. Results: A total of 67 patients were included in our study of which unilateral cases were 59 and bilateral cases were 8. Subjectively 35 patients reported improvement in hearing after the therapy while objectively we found 44 ears [41 patients] had improvement. The mean PTA pre ITS was 62.7 and after ITS it was 56.3. Maximum improvement was noted at 2000 Hz and 1000 Hz. Conclusion: Intratympanic steroids can be offered as a first line therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss as it is minimally invasive, and can be performed as an office based procedure with no systemic side effects. No major complications have been reported in our study and results have been satisfactory.
Intra-arterial therapies for acute ischemic stroke

Background: There are no randomized trials comparing intra-arterial (IA) therapy with best medical treatment for acute ischemic stroke. To assess potential benefit from this therapeutic approach, we performed a systematic review of published IA series. Because outcome from stroke is highly dependent on baseline characteristics, we compared results against prognostic models adjusted for admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and age. Methods: We selected articles from MEDLINE and Cochrane Databases based on specified criteria that included 3-month clinical follow-up. Outcome functions from prognostic models were generated and difference from prediction calculated for each study. Best and worst mortality performers were identified and assessed for factors that distinguished them. Results: We identified 27 reports with 30 treatment series representing 1,117 patients. Percent difference from predicted outcomes varied from −51 to +24.6% for mortality and −30.3 to +28.7% for good functional outcome. A mean overall difference in the percent that died compared with prediction was 0.25% (SD: ±3.5%; 95% CI: ±0.53) and in the percentage of those that achieved a good functional outcome compared with prediction was −0.15% (SD: ±2.7%; 95% CI: ±0.44). The quartile of better mortality performers relative to worst performers had a 4.8-point more severe NIHSS score at baseline (p = 0.028) and employed 50% lower doses of the most frequently used thrombolytic urokinase (p = 0.0034). Conclusion: We found considerable variability and lack of evidence for a net improvement in outcome after intra-arterial therapy relative to predicted natural history, substantiating the need for a prospective comparison with best medical therapy. The features associated with better performers identified here may be useful in designing such a trial.
Home Environmental Factors Associated With Poor Asthma Control in Montreal Children: A Population-Based Study

Background. Home environmental exposures may aggravate asthma. Few population-based studies have investigated the relationship between asthma control in children and home environmental exposures. Objective: Identify home environmental exposures associated with poor control of asthma among asthmatic children less than 12 years of age in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). Methods. This cross-sectional population-based study used data from a respiratory health survey of Montreal children aged 6 months to 12 years conducted in 2006 (n = 7980). Asthma control was assessed (n = 980) using an adaptation of the Canadian asthma consensus report clinical parameters. Using log-binomial regression models, prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated to explore the relationship between inadequate control of asthma and environmental home exposures, including allergens, irritants, mold, and dampness indicators. Subjects with acceptable asthma control were compared with those with inadequate disease control. Results. Of 980 children with active asthma in the year prior to the survey, 36% met at least one of the five criteria as to poor control of their disease. The population's characteristics found to be related with a lack of asthma control were younger age, history of parental atopy, low maternal education level, foreign-born mothers, and tenant occupancy. After adjustments, children living along high-traffic density streets (PR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.00–1.81) and those with their bedroom or residence at the basement level (PR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.01–1.66) were found to be at increased risk of poor asthma control. Conclusions. Suboptimal asthma control appears to be mostly associated with traffic, along with mold and moisture conditions, the latter being a more frequent exposure and therefore having a greater public health impact.
Influence of stocking density on the performance, carcass characteristics and selected welfare indicators of broiler chickens

Abstract AIM: To compare the effects of four stocking densities (5, 10, 15 or 20 birds per m2) on the performance, carcass characteristics and selected welfare indicators of broiler chickens. METHODS: A total of 756 day-old male broiler chicks were assigned as six replicates of 13, 25, 38 and 50 birds per pen, to stocking densities of 2,000, 1,000, 667 and 500 cm2 floor space per bird, respectively. The birds were housed in floor pens in an environmentally controlled room. Normal commercial diets were fed ad libitum and fresh water was freely available throughout the 5-week study period. Liveweights of birds and feed intake were recorded at weekly intervals. Data on carcass parameters and welfare indicators (moisture, gait scores, feather scores, breast and hip lesions, and foot pad and hock burns) were obtained on Day 35. Adrenal glands were removed at slaughter, weighed and examined histologically to determine the total proportion of cortical and medullary tissues. RESULTS: During the study, the birds at the lowest density grew faster (p<0.001−0.01) and consumed more (p<0.001− 0.01) feed than those at the other three stocking densities. The liveweight gains and feed intake of birds reared at densities of 10, 15 and 20 birds per m2 were similar (p=0.11−0.83 and p=0.17−0.57, respectively). Stocking density had no influence on the feed/weight gain, mortality or carcass characteristics. No breast or hip lesions were observed in carcasses from any of the groups. The weight and structure of the adrenal glands were similar across all groups although the staining of medullary tissue of birds was most intense in the highest stocking density group. As stocking density increased, so did moisture and gait score, hock and foot pad burn scores, and the feather score was adversely affected. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that the relationship between stocking density and productivity traits was not linear in nature, in accordance with other studies. Under the conditions of the current study, the performance, mortality and carcass characteristics of broilers grown at densities of 10, 15 and 20 birds per m2 were similar. There were some welfare implications at high population densities as indicated by adverse effects on litter quality, gait scores and the incidence of hock and foot pad burns.
THE CFHTLS-DEEP CATALOG OF INTERACTING GALAXIES. I. MERGER RATE EVOLUTION TO z = 1.2

We present the rest-frame optical galaxy merger fraction between 0.2 < z < 1.2, as a function of stellar mass and optical luminosity, as observed by the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Deep Survey (CFHTLS-Deep). We developed a new classification scheme to identify major galaxy–galaxy mergers based on the presence of tidal tails and bridges. These morphological features are signposts of recent and ongoing merger activity. Through the visual classification of all galaxies, down to ivega ⩽ 22.2 (≈27,000 galaxies) over 2 square degrees, we have compiled the CFHTLS-Deep Catalog of Interacting Galaxies, with ≈ 1600 merging galaxies. We find the merger fraction to be 4.3% ± 0.3% at z ∼ 0.3 and 19.0% ± 2.5% at z ∼ 1, implying evolution of the merger fraction going as (1 + z)m, with m = 2.25 ± 0.24. This result is inconsistent with a mild or non-evolving (m < 1.5) scenario at a ≳4σ level of confidence. A mild trend, where by massive galaxies with M*>1010.7 M☉ are undergoing fewer mergers than less massive systems (M* ∼ 1010 M☉), consistent with the expectations of galaxy assembly downsizing is observed. Our results also show that interacting galaxies have on average SFRs double that found in non-interacting field galaxies. We conclude that (1) the optical galaxy merger fraction does evolve with redshift, (2) the merger fraction depends mildly on stellar mass, with lower mass galaxies having higher merger fractions at z < 1, and (3) star formation is triggered at all phases of a merger, with larger enhancements at later stages, consistent with N-body simulations.
Bi-compartmental modelling of tumor and supporting vasculature growth dynamics for cancer treatment optimization purpose

We introduce a nonlinear bi-compartmental dynamic tumor cell and supporting vasculature volume growth model which takes into account nutrient and cell proliferation, necrosis and angiogenesis. Validation of the model requires measurement data on tumor volume during the therapy; for explicit identification of vasculature growth dynamic, in vivo measurement data on vasculature volume during the therapy are required as well. We show that the model can be used for the evaluation of drug dosage protocols.
Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in cattle in Korea

PARATUBERCULOSIS (Johne’s disease), a chronic and debilitating disease of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is a major cause of economic loss in cattle. MAP infection is also believed to be associated with Crohn’s disease in human beings, but this association is controversial (Turenne and others 2007). Studies of the prevalence of MAP have been reported in many countries, with rates found to be more than 50 per cent at herd level (Nielsen and Toft 2008). Although national monitoring of purebred breeding cattle for MAP has been implemented in Korea, limited data are available on paratuberculosis in beef and dairy cattle. Studies are therefore needed to determine the status and infection rates of MAP. This short communication reports the results of a preliminary study to determine the seroprevalence of MAP in beef and dairy cattle in GyeongNam province, Korea. Serum samples were collected from 590 cattle in 147 beef herds and 444 cattle in 48 dairy herds in GyeongNam province. The samples were obtained by a two-stage sampling process, involving an initial sample of herds followed by a sample of animals from each herd. The herds were randomly selected using computer-generated random numbers from all herds registered in GyeongNam. GyeongNam ranks second in Korea for the number of beef herds and sixth for the number of dairy herds (Agriculture Statistics 2006). The cattle were at least two years of age (mean [sd] age 3·32 [1·44] years for beef cattle and 3·39 [1·48] years for dairy cattle). The mean number of cattle sampled per herd was 4·0 (3·9) for beef cattle and 9·3 (5·1) for dairy cattle. The sample size employed in this study provided a 95 per cent confidence level for an expected prevalence at individual animal level of 4·7 (1·7) per cent for beef cattle and 5·0 (2·0) per cent for dairy cattle, and a 90 per cent confidence level for a herd-level prevalence of 16·0 (5·0) per cent for beef herds and 30·0 (10·5) per cent for dairy herds (Win Episcope 2.0; CLIVE, Royal [Dick] School of Veterinary Studies). All samples were subjected to a commercially available ELISA (HerdChek MPT Antibody Test Kit; IDEXX Laboratories) as recommended by the manufacturer. Herds with at least one MAP-seropositive animal were denoted as MAP-sero positive herds. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the apparent prevalence of MAP at the individual animal and herd levels. Confidence intervals (CI) at 95 per cent were also calculated. The chi-squared test was used to analyse the proportion of MAP-positive cattle by age between and
Association of the promoter polymorphism −1438G/A of the 5‐HT2A receptor gene with behavioral impulsiveness and serotonin function in women with bulimia nervosa

Separate lines of research suggest that the functional alterations in the serotonin (5‐HT) 2A receptor are associated with 5‐HT tone, behavioral impulsiveness, and bulimia nervosa (BN). We explored the effect of allelic variations within the 5‐HT2A receptor gene promoter polymorphism −1438G/A on trait impulsiveness and serotonin function in women with BN. Participants included women with BN having the A allele (i.e., AA homozygotes and AG heterozygotes, BNA+, N = 21); women with BN but without the A allele (i.e., GG homozygotes, BNGG, N = 12), and normal eater control women having the A allele (NEA+, N = 19) or without the A allele (NEGG; N = 9). The women were assessed for psychopathological tendencies and eating disorder symptoms, and provided blood samples for measurement of serial prolactin responses following oral administration of the post‐synaptic partial 5‐HT agonist meta‐chlorophenylpiperazine (m‐CPP). The BNGG group had higher scores than the other groups on self‐report measures of non‐planning and overall impulsiveness and had blunted prolactin response following m‐CPP. The bulimic groups did not differ from each other on current eating symptoms or on frequencies of other Axis I mental disorders. Findings indicate that women with BN who are GG homozygotes on the −1438G/A promoter polymorphism are characterized by increased impulsiveness and lower sensitivity to post‐synaptic serotonin activation. These findings implicate the GG genotype in the co‐aggregation of impulsive behaviors and alterations of post‐synaptic 5‐HT functioning in women with BN. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.