Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uvaria chamae (Annonaceae) Plant Extract Neutralizes Some Biological Effects of Naja nigricollis Snake Venom in Rats

Uvaria chamae is a well known medicinal plant in Nigerian traditional medicine for the management of many diseases, but investigations concerning its pharmacological characteristics are rare. In this study, we evaluate its venom neutralizing properties against Naja nigricollis venom in rats. Freshly collected Uvaria chamae leaves were air dried, powdered and extracted in methanol. To study the antivenom properties, albino rats were orally administered with a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight and 1 h later, the venom was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.08 mg/kg body weight of rats. Albino rats (male) weighing between 180-200 g were randomly divided into five (5) groups of three (3). Groups 1-5 received water, normal saline, venom, Uvareia chamae and venom, Uvaria chamae, respectively. Blood clothing time, bleeding time, antipyretic activity, haemoglobin, RBC, WBC, creatine kinase, AST, ALP and ALT activities total protein antioxidant activity and some blood electrolytes, plasma urea and uric acid were measured. Our results showed that Uvaria chamae methanol extract neutralized some biological effects of Naja nigricollis venom. The venom increased the rectal temperature, enzyme activities, bleeding time and other blood parameters. The plant extract was able to reduce these parameters in the extract treated groups. Details of the results are discussed. From this study, it is clear that U. chamae leaf extract had antivenom activity in animal models. The above results indicate that the plant extract possess potent snake venom neutralizing capacity and could potentially be used for therapeutic purpose in case of snake bite envenomation.
Risk factor analysis for thrombotic microangiopathy after reduced‐intensity or myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) impairs long‐term survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). As the allogeneic HSCT procedure has developed, addressing risk factors for TMA has become more complicated. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of transplant‐associated factors on TMA incidence in patients who have undergone HSCT in various settings. One hundred twenty‐three consecutive allogeneic HSCT patients with hematologic diseases receiving myeloablative and reduced‐intensity conditioning were evaluated retrospectively. Of 123 patients, 22 (17.9%) developed TMA after HSCT. Multivariate analysis showed the significance of GVHD grade II–IV, and the use of FK506 and the use of high‐dose busulfan (Bu) (16 mg/kg) persisted. The hazard ratios of the use of FK506, the use of high‐dose Bu (16 mg/kg), and GVHD grade II–IV for TMA were 8.7 (95% CI 2.0–37), 5.7 (95% CI 1.5–21), and 3.4 (95% CI 1.3–9.1), respectively. In the present study, reduced‐intensity conditioning did not have an advantage over myeloablative conditioning in decreasing the incidence of TMA after HSCT. Our results also showed that high‐dose Bu (16 mg/kg) for the conditioning and FK506 for the prophylaxis of GVHD might contribute more significantly to TMA onset after HSCT than other agents. Am. J. Hematol. 81:525–531, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of Dietary Inositol on Growth, Feed Utilization and Blood Biochemical Parameters for Juvenile Barramundi (Lates calcarifer Bloch)

Problem statement: The utilization of inositol was detected for growth performance and erum biochemical parameters of juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer). Approach: A 56 day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of inositol on growth, feed utilization and serum biochemical parameters for juvenile barramundi Lates calcarifer (initial size 5.51Â±0.07g). Six experimental fish meal-based isonitrogenous (42% crude protein) and isolipidic (10% crude lipid) diets containing levels of inositol (350, 364, 458, 507, 720, 1050 mg kg-1 diet) were formulated. Results: Fish fed diet containing inositol 507 mg kg-1 diet had the significantly highest weight gain (WG, %) among all the groups (p 0.05). However, significantly lower Viscerasomatic Index (VSI) was found in fish fed diet without supplemental inositol (p 0.05). Total protein and triacylglycerol in serum increased with increasing dietary inositol levels up to 507 mg kg-1 diet (p<0.05). The significantly lowest blood urea nitrogen was found in fish fed dietary inositol 458 mg kg-1 diet among all groups except for 720 mg kg-1 diet. Total Cholesterol (TC) of fish fed dietary inositol 507-1050 mg kg-1 diet was higher than those of fish fed dietary inositol 350-458 mg kg-1 diet. Conclusion: Results of the present investigation demonstrated significant improvement of growth and feed utilization of juvenile barramundi can be achieved by inositol supplementation at 507 mg kg-1 diet.
POSSUM: A scoring system for surgical audit

POSSUM, a Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity, is described. This system has been devised from both a retrospective and prospective analysis and the present paper attempts to validate it prospectively. Logistic regression analysis yielded statistically significant equations for both mortality and morbidity (P < 0.001). When displayed graphically zones of increasing morbidity and mortality rates could be defined which could be of value in surgical audit. The scoring system produced assessments for morbidity and mortality rates which did not significantly differ from observed rates.
5q11, 8p11, and 10q22 are recurrent chromosomal breakpoints in prostate cancer cell lines

Prostate cancer cell lines have been widely used as model systems characterizing pathogenetic, functional, and therapeutic aspects of prostate cancer development. However, their chromosomal compositions are poorly characterized. In this study, five prostate cancer cell lines—TSU‐Pr1, JCA‐1, NCI‐H660, ALVA‐31, and PPC‐1—were investigated by G‐banding, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and spectral karyotyping. The results were combined with our previous findings in the prostate cancer cell lines PC‐3, DU145, and LNCaP. By comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), the most frequent losses were observed at 13q, 8p, 9p, and 4q, whereas gains were most commonly seen at 8q, 10q, and 18p. The composite karyotypes were characterized by multiple numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations. Recurrent breakpoints at 5q11, 8p11, and 10q22 were observed to participate in deletion and translocation events in five of the cell lines, suggesting the importance of tumor suppressor and/or oncogenes in these regions. ALVA‐31 and PPC‐1 shared nine identical derivative chromosomes, two of which have also been detected in PC‐3. In addition, the identification of the same homozygous deletion at D10S541 and of an identical TP53 gene mutation in all three cell lines suggests a common origin of these cell lines. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effects of Perceived Value, Website Trust and Hotel Trust on Online Hotel Booking Intention

With the rapid development of information technology in hotel booking context, it is no doubt that many hotels consequently enhance the needs of integrating information technologies into their overall business operations. In this study, we developed a research model which consists of perceived value, trust toward a third party online booking site, and trust toward hotels, and tested it by using partial least square techniques. Survey data were collected from 307 individuals who have prior experiences on making a reservation using third-party online booking sites. Based upon our findings, we found that the perceived value, which was affected by both price and quality, was positively related to individuals’ intention to book. We also found that both trust toward third-party online booking sites and trust toward hotels, which was influenced by online review, have positive impacts on individuals’ intention to book. The implications of these findings for both research and practice are discussed.
Immune dysfunction in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract There is increasing evidence for involvement of the immune system in functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), including onset after acute gastrointestinal infections, genotypes resulting in altered cytokine expression and abnormal presence of immune cells. Our aim was to assess cellular and humoral immune responses in (i) FGIDs, compared to healthy subjects and (ii) acute vs unspecified onset FGIDs. Lymphocytic [interleukin (IL)‐5, IL‐10, IL‐13 and interferon γ (IFN‐γ)] and monocytic [IL‐10, IL‐12, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α] cytokine production was characterized at baseline and after stimulation with phytohemagglutinine and anti‐CD28 or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in controls (n = 32), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (n = 30), functional dyspepsia (FD) (n = 23) and non‐cardiac chest pain (NCCP) (n = 15). Serum IL‐6 and IL‐10 concentrations were compared, and the immunophenotype was assessed using fluorescent‐activated cell sorter. Findings were compared for acute vs unspecified onset FGID. Compared to controls, stimulated lymphocyte expression of IL‐5 and IL‐13 was enhanced in IBS, FD and NCCP (all P < 0.05). Conversely, the stimulated monocytic IL‐12 and lymphocytic IL‐10 expression were reduced in IBS and FD, while IFN‐γ expression was also reduced in FD patients. Except for an increase in the numbers of CD3+CD45RA+CD45RO+ cells, no distinct cellular profile was detected. Patients with a presumed acute onset of their symptoms had higher serum IL‐10 levels and more CD3+CD45RA+CD45RO+ cells, while TNF‐α levels following stimulation with LPS were higher in FD patients reporting an acute onset. A shift towards a Th2 cytokine profile is present in FGID, while the cellular immunophenotype remains largely unchanged. Further research is indicated and could provide new therapeutic strategies for these disorders.
Low temperature cure of BCB and the influence on the mechanical stress

Thin film polymers play an essential role in system integration. The curing temperature and the mechanical stress of the polymers are crucial for 3D-Integration. Low temperature cure is beneficial because the risks of damaging parts of integrated components like MEMS/MOEMS and memory chips or interconnections based on low temperature solders are reduced. A high mechanical stress in the polymer layer on top of a Si wafer can result in a large wafer/chip bow. This is a very important aspect if the wafers are thinned to less than 150 μm for the application of Si interposer or other 3D-integration techniques. In contrast to most of the PIs and PBOs BCB can be cured below 250°C. In this paper low temperature curing profiles similar to Epoxy cure have been performed. The degree of cure was measured by FT-IR-spectroscopy to guarantee the stability of the films for further processing. An 80% degree of polymerization was set as a minimum value. The curing mechanism was controlled by DSC. Based on this result a new BCB curing model can be postulated which helps to predict the degree of cure for different curing profiles. In contrast to the literature published the last 15 years this model is based on a 2-step polymerization mechanism which is much more accurate for the polymerization above 80%. Curing BCB at lower temperature helps to reduce the mechanical stress in the film. The stress was measured by wafer bow for different curing profiles. Tensile tests using 13 μm free-standing BCB-films which have been cured using different curing profiles were performed to measure the elongation to break, tensile strength and the Young's Modulus. Additionally, there was a viscoelastic stress relaxation process in the BCB layer explored, which until today has never been described in literature. This relaxation is an important aspect of the simulation of BCB-based buildups. This paper is therefore a comprehensive study of the mechanical properties of BCB in relation to the curing process with a focus on a temperature range below 200°C.
Preoperative chemotherapy for osteogenic sarcoma: Selection of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy based on the response of the primary tumor to preoperative chemotherapy

Since June 1978, 57 patients with primary osteogenic sarcoma of an extremity were treated with high‐dose methotrexate (HDMTX) and citrovorum factor rescue (CFR), Adriamycin, and the combination of bleomycin, cyclophosphamide and dactinomycin (BCD) given for 4–16 weeks prior to definitive surgery. Histologic examination of the resected primary tumor determined the effect of preoperative chemotherapy with many primary tumors showing greater than 90% tumor necrosis attributable to preoperative chemotherapy. All patients having this favorable effect of chemotherapy on the primary tumor were continued on the same chemotherapy regimen postoperatively (regimen B). However, in those patients not having a good effect of preoperative chemotherapy on the primary tumor, HDMTX with CFR was subsequently deleted from their postoperative chemotherapy and they were placed on a regimen containing cisplatinum at the dose of 120mg/M2 with mannitol diuresis combined with Adriamycin in addition to BCD (regimen A). In the current study, 35 of the 57 patients did not demonstrate a good effect of chemotherapy on the primary tumor and were assigned to regimen A postoperatively. Of these 35 patients, 32 (91%) have remained continuously free of recurrent or metastatic disease from 6–34 months following the start of therapy. Among the 22 remaining patients having a good histologic response and treated with regimen B postoperatively, there has been only one relapse in a patient who had a local recurrence in the area of an inadequately resected primary tumor three months after the cessation of chemotherapy. Thus, 53 of 57 patients (93%) are continuously with no evidence of recurrent or metastatic disease from 6–35 months (median, 20 months) from the start of treatment. This study demonstrates the value of thorough histologic examination in predicting survival in responding patients and in helping identify patients whose disease‐free survival rate can be substantially increased if they are given alternative postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy after failing to have a good response to preoperative chemotherapy. This individualized chemotherapeutic strategy has yielded the highest disease‐free survival rate reported to date for osteogenic sarcoma.
Clinical profile and frequency of delta f508 mutation in Indian children with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE To document clinical profile of cystic fibrosis (CF) in Indian children and the prevalence of delta F508 mutation in these patients. DESIGN Observational study. SETTING Pediatric chest clinic in an urban tertiary care center in north India. PERIOD OF STUDY July 1995 to June 2002. METHODS Clinical features of 120 children diagnosed as CF by quantitative pilocarpine iontophoresis were recorded. A polymerase chain reaction based test for identification of delta F 508 mutation was performed on all children. RESULTS Out of 3500 new cases registered in Pediatric Chest Clinic during this period 120, (3.5%) children were diagnosed as CF. Origin of parents of patients traced from almost all the States of north India. Family history suggestive of CF was present in 41 (34%) and consanguinity in 19 (61%) patients. Common clinical manifestations at the time of presentation included recurrent or persistent pneumonia in 118 (98%), failure to thrive in 108 (90%), malabsorption in 96 (80%), history of meconium ileus in 10 (8%), and rectal prolapse was present in 16 (13%). History of salt craving, salty taste on kissing and skin rashes was present in 5 patients each. 49(41%) patients were severely malnourished. Nasal polyposis was present in 5 (4%) patients. Examination of chest revealed evidence of hyperinflation in 100 (83%), kyphosis 20 (17%), crepitations 110 (92%), wheezing 40 (25%) and bronchial breathing in 20 (17%) patients. Average clinical CF scores were 51 (95%; CI 20-80). 48 (40%) patients had a CF score of LT40. Pseudomonas spp was cultured from respiratory secretions of 51 (42%), Staphylococcus spp in 18 (15%), Klebsiella spp in 8 (7%) and Hemophilus influenzae in 2 (2%) patients. Delta F508 mutation was positive in 45 chromosomes out of 240 tested. Patients originated from Pakistan had more frequency of delta F508 mutations. CONCLUSIONS Cystic fibrosis does occur in Indian children; clinical features are classical. Diagnosis is often delayed and the disease is advanced in most patients at the time of diagnosis. Frequency of Delta F508 mutation is 19% i.e., less than that seen in Caucasian population. There is need to create awareness about occurrence of CF in Indian children.
Expression of multiple neuregulin transcripts in postnatal rat brains

The distribution of neuregulin transcripts in rat brains was studied by both RNA blotting and in situ hybridization. Our data demonstrate that multiple neuregulin transcripts are expressed in neurons of the basal forebrain, the hippocampus, the diencephalon, the cerebellum, the brainstem, and the spinal cord. Developmental changes in the distribution of neuregulin transcripts were observed only in the cerebellum and the hippocampus. The intense neuregulin hybridization signals in the brainstem motor and sensory nuclei and the spinal motor neurons are suggestive of a functional involvement of neuregulins in motor and sensory systems. The expression of neuregulins in other parts of the brain also indicates that these factors are involved in a variety of central nervous system functions. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evolutionary relationships of Metazoa within the eukaryotes based on molecular data from Porifera

Recent molecular data provide strong support for the view that all metazoan phyla, including Porifera, are of monophyletic origin. The relationship of Metazoa, including the Porifera, to Plantae, Fungi and unicellular eukaryotes has only rarely been studied by using cDNAs coding for proteins. Sequence data from rDNA suggested a relationship of Porifera to unicellular eukaryotes (choanoflagellates). However, ultrastructural studies of choanocytes did not support these findings. In the present study, we compared amino acid sequences that are found in a variety of metazoans (including sponges) with those of Plantae, Fungi and unicellular eukaryotes, to obtain an answer to this question. We used the four sequences from 70 kDa heat–shock proteins, the serine–threonine kinase domain found in protein kinases, β–tubulin and calmodulin. The latter two sequences were deduced from cDNAs, isolated from the sponge Geodia cydonium for the phylogenetic analyses presented. These revealed that the sponge molecules were grouped into the same branch as the Metazoa, which is statistically (significantly) separated from those branches that comprise the sequences from Fungi, Plantae and unicellular eukaryotes. From our molecular data it seems evident that the unicellular eukaryotes existed at an earlier stage of evolution, and the Plantae and especially the Fungi and the Metazoa only appeared later.
SPATIAL ASPECTS OF Ca 2 + SIGNALLING IN PANCREATIC ACINAR CELLS

Secretory cells do not only respond to an agonist with a simple rise in [Ca2+]i. It is now clear that complex patterns of [Ca2+]i elevation in terms of space and time are observed in many cell types and that these patterns may be a cellular mechanism for the regulation of different responses. Ca2+ signalling in exocrine cells of the pancreas promotes the secretion of digestive enzymes and fluid. It has been shown that at high concentrations of agonist (acetylcholine or cholecystokinin) the [Ca2+]i response is initiated in the secretory pole of the cell before spreading across the whole cell. This site of initiation of the [Ca2+]i elevation is in the region where exocytotic release of enzymes occurs and is also the site of a Ca2+-dependent chloride channel thought to be crucially important for fluid secretion. Lower concentrations of agonist elicit [Ca2+]i oscillations with complex repetitive patterns characteristic of each agonist. At physiological agonist concentrations, we have recently described repetitive short-lasting Ca2+ spikes that are spatially restricted to the secretory pole of the cell. In addition to these spikes, cholecystokinin also promotes slow transient Ca2+ rises that result in a global rise in Ca2+. The inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor plays a crucial role in all of these various agonist responses, most of which can be reproduced by the infusion of InsP3 into the cell. The high InsP3-sensitivity of the secretory pole is postulated to be due to a localization of high-affinity InsP3 receptors. We speculate that in response to cholecystokinin the short-lasting spikes elicit exocytosis from a small ‘available pool’ of vesicles and that the broader oscillations induce both exocytosis and cell changes that involve movement of vesicles into this ‘available pool’.
Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover and the Volume and the Density of Bone in Children at Different Stages of Sexual Development

Bone mass and biochemical markers of bone turnover increase significantly during puberty. We studied the possible relationships between markers of bone formation and bone resorption and increases in skeletal size, bone volume, and bone density in healthy children at different stages of sexual development. Serum concentrations of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and osteocalcin (bone Gla protein, BGP), urinary levels of pyridinoline (Pyr) and deoxypyridinoline (Dpyr) and computed tomography (CT) measurements of the cross‐sectional areas of the vertebrae and the femurs, the apparent density of cancellous bone in the vertebrae, and the volume and the material density of cortical bone in the femurs were determined in 126 boys and 143 girls, ages 7–18 years. Serum levels of BALP and BGP and urinary concentrations of Pyr and Dpyr peaked in early puberty and were lowest in the later stages of puberty. CT measurements for the cross‐sectional areas of the vertebrae and the femurs, the femoral cortical bone areas, and the apparent density of cancellous bone increased in all children during puberty, while values for material bone density did not change significantly with the stage of sexual development. BALP and BGP showed significant inverse correlations with the material density of bone (r = –0.23 and –0.24, respectively), but no association with bone volume in the appendicular or axial skeleton. In contrast, Pyr and Dpyr correlated with femoral cross‐sectional area (r = –0.24 and –0.33, respectively) and cortical bone area (r = –0.29 and –0.33, respectively), and with the apparent density of vertebral cancellous bone (r = –0.26 and –0.19, respectively), but not with the material density of bone. We conclude that, during puberty, there is a differential association between the two components of bone mass and the markers of bone formation and bone resorption; while markers of bone formation are related to the material density of bone, markers of bone resorption are related to the volume of bone.