Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CCR2+ Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells and Exudate Macrophages Produce Influenza-Induced Pulmonary Immune Pathology and Mortality1

Infection with pathogenic influenza virus induces severe pulmonary immune pathology, but the specific cell types that cause this have not been determined. We characterized inflammatory cell types in mice that overexpress MCP-1 (CCL2) in the lungs, then examined those cells during influenza infection of wild-type (WT) mice. Lungs of both naive surfactant protein C-MCP mice and influenza-infected WT mice contain increased numbers of CCR2+ monocytes, monocyte-derived DC (moDC), and exudate macrophages (exMACs). Adoptively transferred Gr-1+ monocytes give rise to both moDC and exMACs in influenza-infected lungs. MoDC, the most common inflammatory cell type in infected lungs, induce robust naive T cell proliferation and produce NO synthase 2 (NOS2), whereas exMACs produce high levels of TNF-α and NOS2 and stimulate the proliferation of memory T cells. Relative to WT mice, influenza-infected CCR2-deficient mice display marked reductions in the accumulation of monocyte-derived inflammatory cells, cells producing NOS2, the expression of costimulatory molecules, markers of lung injury, weight loss, and mortality. We conclude that CCR2+ monocyte-derived cells are the predominant cause of immune pathology during influenza infection and that such pathology is markedly abrogated in the absence of CCR2.
The driven eigenproblem computation with the Brent method acceleration

The driven eigenproblem computation is an efficient method to solve the eigenproblems of periodic structures like substrate integrated waveguides (SIWs) or metamaterials by treating the unit cell of the structure as a resonator. The analogy between the eigenproblem and the resonance opens up the possibility to convert the eigenproblem into a driven resonator problem by providing an excitation. The dispersion and attenuation curves of periodic structures are obtained by monitoring the resonance behavior, e.g. based on the electric field or the transmitted power. The speed of resonance allocation determines the speed of the eigenproblem solving procedure. In this paper, the Brent's extremum searching procedure is utilized to accelerate the driven eigenproblem computation in the hybrid finite element boundary integral (FEBI) method.
Phylogeography of the invasive seaweed Asparagopsis (Bonnemaisoniales, Rhodophyta) reveals cryptic diversity

The rhodophyte seaweed Asparagopsis armata Harvey is distributed in the northern and southern temperate zones, and its congener Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan abounds throughout the tropics and subtropics. Here, we determine intraspecific phylogeographic patterns to compare potential causes of the disjunctions in the distributions of both species. We obtained specimens throughout their ranges and inferred phylogenies from the hypervariable domains D1‐D3 of the nuclear rDNA LSU, the plastid spacer between the large and small subunits of RuBisCo and the mitochondrial cox 2–3 intergenic spacer. The cox spacer acquired base changes the fastest and the RuBisCo spacer the slowest. Median‐joining networks inferred from the sequences revealed the absence of phylogeographic structure in the introduced range of A. armata, corroborating the species’ reported recent introduction. A. taxiformis consisted of three nuclear, three plastid and four mitochondrial genetically distinct, lineages (1–4). Mitochondrial lineage 3 is found in the western Atlantic, the Canary Islands and the eastern Mediterranean. Mitochondrial lineages 1, 2, and 4 occur in the Indo‐Pacific, but one of them (lineage 2) is also found in the central Mediterranean and southern Portugal. Phylogeographic results suggest separation of Atlantic and Indo‐Pacific lineages resulted from the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama, as well as from dispersal events postdating the closure event, such as the invasion of the Mediterranean Sea by mitochondrial lineages 2 and 3. Molecular clock estimates using the Panama closure event as a calibration for the split of lineages 3 and 4 suggest that A. taxiformis diverged into two main cryptic species (1 + 2 and 3 + 4) about 3.2–5.5 million years ago (Ma), and that the separation of the mitochondrial lineages 1 and 2 occurred 1–2.3 Ma.
The Promise of Genomics for Beef Improvement

Long before genomics found its way into livestock breeding, most of the excitement pertaining to research into livestock improvement via selection involved developments in the BLUP mixed model equations, methods to construct the inverse of the pedigree relationship matrix recursively (Henderson, 1976; Quaas, 1988), parameter estimation and development of new, measureable traits of economic importance. In particular for several decades (1970’s through the early 2000’s), lots of resources were invested in finding the most useful evaluation model for various traits. Since the American Simmental Association published the first sire summary in 1971, the use of pedigree and phenotypic information has been the major contributing factor to the large amount of genetic progress in beef industry.
Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in active inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), increased amounts of prostaglandins correlate to disease activity. Prostaglandins are produced via the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway and exhibit both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Whereas COX-1 is a constitutive enzyme present at all times and is thought to produce the cytoprotective prostaglandins, COX-2 represents the inducible form of cyclooxygenase leading to production of proinflammatory prostaglandins. In inflammatory bowel disease it is yet unclear whether COX-2 plays a role in the inflammatory response. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of COX-2 in inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS Of the 44 individuals included in the study, 22 had ulcerative colitis, 11 had Crohn's disease, and 11 were healthy controls. Standard rigid rectoscopy was performed. The degree of inflammation was assessed using a semiquantitative scale. A biopsy was taken from the most affected area. mRNAs for COX-1 and COX-2 were detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The fraction of patients demonstrating COX-2 mRNA significantly increased with increasing disease activity (p < 0.005), whereas the fraction of patients demonstrating COX-1 mRNA remained unchanged (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates a clear relationship between endoscopic activity and relative presence of mRNA for COX-2. In contrast mRNA for COX-1 is detected equally often. This indicates that COX-2 is involved in the acute inflammatory response of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Two- and Three-Year-Olds Track a Single Meaning During Word Learning: Evidence for Propose-but-Verify

ABSTRACT A child word-learning experiment is reported that examines 2- and 3-year-olds’ ability to learn the meanings of novel words across multiple, referentially ambiguous, word occurrences. Children were told they were going on an animal safari in which they would learn the names of unfamiliar animals. Critical trial sequences began with hearing a novel word (e.g., “I see a dax! Point to the dax! ”) while seeing photos of two unfamiliar animals. After responding and performing on two filler trials with known animals, participants encountered the novel word again (“I see another dax! Point to the dax! ”) in one of two experimental conditions. In the Same condition, participants saw the animal they pointed to previously when hearing “dax” alongside another unfamiliar animal that had been seen before but not paired with “dax”. In the Switch condition, participants saw the animal they had not pointed to previously alongside the unfamiliar animal. Children were well above chance on Same trials, but at chance on Switch trials. Thus, although children could remember a previously selected referent and use it to inform later referent selection (Same condition), a potential referent that was not previously selected and merely co-occurred with the target word (Switch condition) was either not remembered, or simply deemed irrelevant to word meaning. This finding suggests young children do not store multiple possible meanings from a single word occurrence, but rather restrict learning to what they deemed to be the unique referent of the novel word in the moment, testing that word-meaning hypothesis on the next occurrence.
Toric orthokeratology: a case report

Spherical reverse geometry lens (RGL) designs used in orthokeratology (ortho-k) have been shown to be effective in correcting low to moderate levels of myopia, however, they are ineffective for the correction of astigmatism, although there are reports of some effect. Lens decentration is the most common problem with spherical ortho-k lenses on patients with corneal astigmatism, as poor lens centration can lead to induced astigmatism, glare and poor vision. The number of ortho-k wearers, most of whom are children, has been increasing in Hong Kong in recent years due to the promising results in retarding myopic progression. Ortho-k is particularly popular in Hong Kong, where the prevalence of myopia is high in children. Most children undergo this treatment for control of myopia and this is mainly restricted to those with low to moderate corneal toricity (less than 1.50 D, with-the-rule). High corneal toricity (greater than 1.50 D, with-therule) is considered to be a contraindication for the treatment. Toric RGL designs (toric reverse and/or alignment zone) have been developed for patients with high corneal toricity and promising results have been reported. The current report presents the case of a young female subject whose parents were concerned about her myopic progression. She also had high corneal astigmatism and was successfully prescribed a pair of toric peripheral design RGL (toric alignment zone). The tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki as revised in 2002 were followed and ethics approval was obtained from the Departmental Research Committee of the School of Optometry of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University before commencing the treatment.
The role of menopause in the development of chronic mountain sickness.

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of menopause in the appearance of the physiopathological sequence that leads to chronic mountain sickness (CMS) in a high-altitude female population. The females studied are 30-54 yr old (n = 152) and have permanent residence in Cerro de Pasco (Pasco, Peru; 4,300 m). The sample was divided into postmenopausal and premenopausal groups for comparison. Blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), excessive erythrocytosis [EE, measured by the level of hematocrit (Het)], peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), and a score that represents the main signs and symptoms of CMS (CMSscore) were measured. Postmenopausal women had higher Het (50.2 +/- 4.04 vs. 47.4 +/- 4.13%, P < 0.001), lower SaO2 (81.9 +/- 4.12 vs. 84.7 +/- 3.14%, P < 0.001) and PEFR values (489 +/- 101 vs. 534 +/- 90 l/min, P < 0.02), and slightly higher CMSscore (19.1 +/- 3.37 vs. 17.9 +/- 3.48, P < 0.06) than premenopausal women. The prevalence of women with EE (EE = Hct > 56%) was found to be 8.8%. Forty-five percent of the postmenopausal subjects presented a high CMSscore (> 21), whereas only 22% of the premenopausal subjects presented this high value (P < 0.02). We can therefore conclude that menopause may represent a contributing factor for the development of CMS.
Independent Validation of the Prolonged Length of Stay Score

Background: The prolonged length of stay (PLOS) score has recently been derived and validated in 2 independent national cohorts of acute stroke patients in Israel. The present study aimed to determine the performance of the PLOS score in an independent population-based cohort of stroke patients in a health care system considerably different from that in which the score was derived. Methods: The study was performed on all 434 patients with ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage hospitalized during the first 5 years of the population-based Oxford Vascular Study (OXVASC) in Oxfordshire, UK. Median (interquartile range) length of stay (LOS) and rates of LOS ≧7 days and LOS ≧30 days by the PLOS score were calculated. Model discrimination was assessed by the c-statistic and goodness of fit was evaluated with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results: Median LOS and rates of LOS ≧7 days increased with the increase in PLOS score among all inpatients and hospital survivors. In the analysis of LOS ≧7 days, the PLOS c-statistic (95% CI) was 0.676 (0.618–0.734) for all inpatients and 0.722 (0.664–0.779) for hospital survivors. Findings were similar for LOS ≧30 days. The Hosmer-Lemeshow showed good calibration. Conclusions: The PLOS score successfully predicted PLOS in the OXVASC population of acute stroke patients. Although the score was originally derived for the prediction of prolonged acute hospitalization, it successfully predicted prolonged total LOS.
1,2-Dichloroethane poisoning.

An adolescent drank a few milliliters of a volatile hydrocarbon in the expectation of getting “high. ” Despite deceptively few symptoms and signs on admission and sophisticated therapy later, his condition ran a rapid, downhill course and he died after five days. Two prominent clinical features were hypoglycemia and hypercalcemia. At autopsy, the major findings were florid liver necrosis, renal tubular necrosis, and focal adrenal degeneration and necrosis. The pathologic findings are correlated with the clinical features except for hypercalcemia. The reasons for this and many similar tragedies lie not only in personality problems, but also in the failure to provide aeleqyate warning on the product labels.
[Rituximab in cold agglutinin disease].

PURPOSE Cold agglutinin disease is a chronic auto-immune hemolytic anemia related to a lymphoproliferative disorder with a degenerative potential and no codified treatment. This rare affection is related to the production of anti-erythrocytes immunoglobulins M. They are responsible of hemolytic crises sometimes severe and vascular acrosyndrom when submitted to cold temperature. Before rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeted against the B lymphocyte CD20 antigen, no treatment was really efficient. METHODS We present 5 patients who have been treated with 4 weekly rituximab perfusions, and then we proceed to a review of the literature concerning the other 23 similar cases. RESULTS With a good tolerance, the treatment allowed a remission in all the cases (4 partial, 1 complete). Among the 23 observations published, the rate of answer was 21/23 (of which 14 gave completes). CONCLUSION Rituximab is an alternative treatment of cold agglutinin disease.
Cardiovascular Fitness Is Unrelated to Mobility Limitations in Ambulant People With Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mobility, activity levels, and cardiovascular fitness in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) currently undergoing rehabilitation, and to determine whether mobility and cardiovascular fitness differs between people with TBI and matched healthy controls (HCs). Design:Cross-sectional cohort study. Participants:Twenty-eight people with TBI and 28 matched HCs. Outcome Measures:The primary outcome measure for mobility was the high-level mobility assessment tool. Steps per day was the outcome measure for activity level, and the physical work capacity at 130 (PWC130) submaximal VO2 Monark bike test was the primary outcome measure for cardiovascular fitness. Results:Results revealed no relationship (P > .05) between mobility, activity levels, and cardiovascular fitness in the TBI cohort. Participants with TBI had significantly reduced capacity for mobility (P < .001) and performed less physical activity (P = .002) than matched HCs; however, there was no significant difference in cardiovascular fitness (P = .094) between groups. Conclusions:Despite reduced physical activity and a wide range in capacity to mobilize, no relationship was identified between mobility and cardiovascular fitness following TBI.
Higher Incidence of Gastrospirillum sp. in Swine with Gastric Ulcer of the Pars oesophagea

Gastric ulcer in swine is characterized by an area of acid-peptic digestion, occurs usually in the pars oesophagea of the stomach, and has unknown etiopathogenesis. The present work was carried out to investigate the prevalence of the newly described spiral-shaped microorganism Gastrospirillum sp. (“Gastrospirillum suis”) in stomachs of abattoir pigs with and without gastric ulcer. Stomachs were removed from 32 consecutive pigs presenting apparently normal mucosa and from 32 additional consecutive pigs presenting frank, chronic gastric ulcer of the pars oesophagea. Fragments of antral, oxyntic, cardiac and pars oesophagea regions were taken from each stomach and processed for histology and for identification of Gastrospirillum sp. in tissue sections. The microorganisms were identified mainly in the mucous layer and in gastric foveolas of the antral and oxyntic mucosa. Forty pigs (62.5%) were positive for Gastrospirillum sp. ; among them, 27 (67.5%) had gastric ulcer, and 13 (32.5%) had no ulcer. Twenty-four pigs (37.5%) were negative for Gastrospirillum sp. ; among them, five (20.8%) presented with gastric ulcer, and 19 (79.2%) had no ulcer. There was a significant difference between pigs with and without gastric ulcer in regard to the presence of Gastrospirillum sp. (P < 0.01). The spiral-shaped microorganism Gastrospirillum sp. that inhabits the stomach of pigs should be considered a possible factor connected with the etiopathogenesis of swine gastric ulcer.
In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of IGF-1 Delivery Strategies on Tendon Healing: A Review

Tendon injuries suffer from a slow healing, often ending up in fibrovascular scar formation, leading to inferior mechanical properties and even re-rupture upon resumption of daily work or sports. Strategies including the application of growth factors have been under view for decades. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is one of the used growth factors and has been applied to tenocyte in vitro cultures as well as in animal preclinical models and to human patients due to its anabolic and matrix stimulating effects. In this narrative review, we cover the current literature on IGF-1, its mechanism of action, in vitro cell cultures (tenocytes and mesenchymal stem cells), as well as in vivo experiments. We conclude from this overview that IGF-1 is a potent stimulus for improving tendon healing due to its inherent support of cell proliferation, DNA and matrix synthesis, particularly collagen I, which is the main component of tendon tissue. Nevertheless, more in vivo studies have to be performed in order to pave the way for an IGF-1 application in orthopedic clinics.
Renal Pathology in a Nontraditional Aging Model

The naked mole-rat (NMR; Heterocephalus glaber) is growing in popularity as a model for aging research due to its extreme longevity (up to 30 years), highly adapted physiology, and resistance to cancer, particularly when compared with traditional aging models such as laboratory mice and rats. Despite the NMR’s seemingly lengthy health span, several age-related lesions have been documented. During a 15-year retrospective evaluation of a zoo-housed population, histologic changes in the kidneys were reported in 127 of 138 (92%) adult NMRs. Of these, renal tubular mineralization was very common (115 of 127; 90.6%) and found in NMRs without concurrent renal lesions (36 of 127; 28.3%). Many of the other described lesions were considered progressive stages of a single process, generally referred to as chronic nephritis or nephropathy, and diagnosed in 73 of 127 (57.5%), while end-stage renal disease was reported in only 12 (9.4%) NMRs. Renal lesions of these NMRs were comparable to disease entities reported in laboratory rats and certain strains of inbred and noninbred mice. Although many lesions of NMR kidneys were similar to those found in aged laboratory rodents, some common urinary diseases were not represented in the examined colonies. The goal of this study was to describe renal lesions in NMRs from a zoologic setting to familiarize investigators and pathologists with an apparently common and presumably age-related disease in this nontraditional model.
Regulation of integrin‐mediated adhesion during cell migration

Migrating cells form dynamic and highly regulated adhesive interactions with their environment. In particular, integrin‐mediated adhesions to the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a central role in cell migration. This review focuses on recent advances in understanding the adhesive mechanisms that regulate cell detachment at the rear of migrating fibroblasts and neutrophils. The contribution of several key adhesive regulators is discussed, including myosin mediated cell contractility, tyrosine phosphorylation, rho, calcium fluxes, and calpain. A challenge for future investigation will be to determine how adhesive events are spatially and temporally coordinated to promote productive directional cell movements. Microsc. Res. Tech. 43:412–419, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Involvement of the serotonergic type 1A (5‐HT 1A ) receptor in the agranular insular cortex in the consolidation of memory for inhibitory avoidance in rats

Adult male Wistar rats were bilaterally implanted with indwelling cannulae in the agranular insular cortex of the prefrontal cortex. After recovery, animals were trained in a step‐down inhibitory avoidance task (3.0‐s, 0.4‐mA footshock) and received, immediately after training, a 0.5‐μl infusion of the serotonergic type 1A (5‐HT 1A ) receptor agonist dipropylamino‐8‐hydroxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene hydrobromide (8‐OH‐DPAT) or of the 5‐ HT 1A receptor antagonist 1‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐4‐[4‐(2‐phthalimido)butyl] piperazine hydrobromide (NAN‐190), or of vehicle alone (20% DMSO). Retention testing was carried out 24 h after training. 8‐OH‐DPAT (1.25 and 6.25 μg but not 0.0125 or 0.125 μg) was amnesic. NAN‐190 was not effective at 0.125 or 1.25 μg any dose but reversed amnesia when given at 1.250 μg simultaneously with both effective doses of 8‐OH‐DPAT. These results show that an overactivation of 5‐HT 1A receptors in the agranular insular cortex impairs memory consolidation of inhibitory avoidance, in rats, immediately after training. This suggests that these receptors of the insular cortex may modulate memory consolidation.
New antiarrhythmic agents for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and is a frequent reason for antiarrhythmic therapy. Existing antiarrhythmic drugs have important side effects and presently the therapy to maintain sinus rhythm is not superior to a strategy of controlling excessive heart rate. This review summarises current strategies to improve antiarrhythmic therapy for atrial fibrillation. The most important strategies are: i) to develop drugs without proarrhythmic effects – development of drugs devoid of QT prolonging potential is the main strategy; ii) multiple channel-blocking drugs – inspired by the efficacy of amiodarone, several drugs are being developed that have similar electrophysiological properties as amiodarone, but without the extracardiac side effects; iii) drugs that act exclusively in the atria – the atria contain specific potassium channels, and several drugs that act only on these channels are in development; and iv) antiarrhythmic therapy without effects on ion channels – inhibition of the renin–angiotensin system and steroid therapy has been shown to have some effect in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Many drugs are in development and the therapeutic scenario for treatment of atrial fibrillation may change quickly.