Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin II Induces Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α in PC 12 Cells through a Posttranscriptional Mechanism: Role of AT2 Receptors

Background: Angiotensin II (ANG II) inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation in PC 12 cells via AT2 receptor activation. Using differential display analysis, we previously isolated SM-20/PHD3 as a key factor, which is downregulated by ANG II treatment. Subsequently, it turned out that SM-20/PHD3 is a rat homologue of PHD3, a key prolyl hydroxylase involved in the initial steps fostering the degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). The present study was undertaken to investigate whether the ANG-II-mediated suppression of SM-20/PHD3/PHD3 may be associated with an increase in HIF-1α. Methods: HIF-1α protein expression was assessed by Western blots. mRNA levels for HIF-1α were measured by real-time PCR and for SM-20/PHD3 by Northern blots. Binding of HIF-1α to consensus oligonucleotides in vitro was determined with gel shift analysis. SM-20/PHD3 was transiently overexpressed in PC 12 cells using an inducible expression system. Results: ANG II stimulated HIF-1α protein expression. This effect was already detected after 30 min and peaked at 6 h, but was not detectable anymore after 24– 48 h of stimulation. PD 123177, but not losartan, antagonized this effect, indicating transduction through AT2 receptors. Real-time PCR failed to show a significant increase in HIF-1α transcripts after ANG II challenge at any time point. Gel shift analysis revealed that ANG-II-induced nuclear HIF-1α protein binds to consensus sites. A reduction in SM-20/PHD3 mRNA expression paralleled the increase in HIF-1α. Overexpression of SM-20/PHD3 transiently resulted in a decrease in HIF-1α protein concentrations under basal conditions as well as after stimulation with ANG II. Conclusion: ANG II stimulates HIF-1α expression by a posttranscriptional mechanism via AT2 receptors. This increase is likely caused by a downregulation of SM-20/PHD3. The ANG-II-mediated increase in HIF-1α expression could be potentially involved in physiological as well as pathophysiological processes such as differentiation, growth inhibition, and remodeling.
A quantitative and morphological study of projection neurons in lamina I of the rat lumbar spinal cord

In the rat lumbar spinal cord the major supraspinal targets for lamina I projection neurons are the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM), lateral parabrachial area (LPb) and periaqueductal grey matter (PAG). In this study we have estimated the number of lamina I neurons retrogradely labelled from each of these sites in the L4 segment, as well as the proportion that can be labelled by injecting different tracers into two separate sites. Our results suggest that this segment contains approximately 400 lamina I projection neurons on each side, and that approximately 85% of these can be labelled from either the CVLM or the LPb on the contralateral side. Around 120 lamina I cells in L4 project to the PAG, and over 90% of these cells can also be labelled from the CVLM or LPb. Most lamina I neurons projecting to CVLM or LPb are located in the contralateral dorsal horn, but in each case some cells were found to have bilateral projections. We also examined horizontal sections to investigate morphology and the expression of the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor in cells labelled from CVLM, LPb or PAG. There were no consistent morphological differences between these groups, however, while cells with strong or moderate NK1 receptor‐immunostaining were labelled from LPb or CVLM, they seldom projected to the PAG. These results suggest that many lamina I cells project to more than one site in the brain and that those projecting to PAG may represent a distinct subclass of lamina I projection neuron.
Routine Analysis of Lipase in Cyst Fluid Is Unnecessary and Does Not Help Discriminate Between Nonneoplastic and Neoplastic Cystic Pancreatic Lesions.

and duodenal papilla revealed infiltration and fibrosis of lymphocytes and IgG4positive plasmacytes. Pancreatic and bile duct findings rapidly improved with prednisolone therapy, confirming a diagnosis of type 1 AIP (Fig. 1D–F). No recurrence was observed after initiation of prednisolone therapy. Type 1 AIP is characterized by pancreatic enlargement and irregular MPD narrowing without marked upstream dilation. Because severe MPD restriction is rare, type 1 AIP does not easily cause AOSPD; however, stagnation of pancreatic juice can occur.With the patient's history of severe DM and heavy alcohol consumption, the presence of CP was suggested, especially because pancreatic atrophy was noted after prednisolone therapy. Because pancreatic juice in CP shows impaired antibacterial activity and an immunocompromised state, including DM, is considered a risk factor for AOSPD, our patient likely had AOSPD. On pancreatic juice culture, Lactobacillus species were noted. Although Lactobacillus is a normal bacterial inhabitant of humans, it can occasionally cause serious infections in immunocompromised patients. Although associated biliary infection and liver abscess have been reported, there are no reports linking Lactobacillus and AOSPD. Although contamination cannot be excluded, his severe DM might have resulted in the Lactobacillus infection. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of AOSPD associated with type 1 AIP. When AOSPD is suspected, AIP should be considered in the differential diagnosis; thus, measuring the serum IgG4 is relevant.
Discriminative validity and test–retest reliability of the Dellon‐modified Moberg pick‐up test in carpal tunnel syndrome patients

There is a scarcity of validated hand performance tests with proven reliability for quantifying functional deficits in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The Dellon‐modified Moberg pick‐up test (DMMPUT), composed of commonly used daily objects, is potentially well suited for that purpose. This study was designed to evaluate the test–retest reliability and discriminative validity of the DMMPUT in CTS patients. We compared 162 CTS patients with 116 age‐matched controls. CTS severity was determined based on electrophysiological parameters and Levine's Self‐Assessment Questionnaire. The mean time to complete each subset of the DMMPUT by the CTS patients was compared with that by the healthy subjects. Test–retest reliability was examined in 46 CTS patients. Discriminative validity was demonstrated through a significant difference in test completion time between the CTS subjects and their age‐matched controls. With few exceptions, the test scores declined with increasing severity of electrophysiological abnormalities and subjective symptom severity. Test–retest reliability of the DMMPUT was high with an intra‐class correlation coefficient of 0.91. The DMMPUT has discriminative validity and high test–retest reliability in patients with CTS. It can be a useful standardized outcome measure to gauge disease severity.
Reciprocal Ia inhibition between ankle flexors and extensors in man.

1. Reciprocal inhibition between antagonist muscle groups at the ankle has been investigated in sixty healthy subjects. Hoffmann reflexes (H reflexes) in the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles were used to assess changes in reciprocal inhibition evoked by electrical stimulation of antagonist muscle nerves. 2. Inhibition of the soleus H reflex was evoked by a single conditioning stimulus to the common peroneal nerve, and inhibition of the tibialis anterior H reflex was elicited by one conditioning stimulus to the posterior tibial nerve. Symmetrical central connections between the antagonist flexors and extensors were assumed and under this assumption the central delay for the inhibition, in addition to the delay for monosynaptic Ia excitation, was calculated to be about 1 ms. The inhibition was evoked by weak stimuli to the nerves from antagonist muscle groups; the threshold for the inhibition was around 0.6 X threshold for a direct motor response (M‐threshold). Furthermore, tendon taps to the Achilles tendon facilitated the soleus H reflex and inhibited the tibialis anterior reflex at short latencies. The short central delay, the low electrical threshold and the.actions of Achilles tendon taps strongly suggest that the early reciprocal inhibition is homologous to the disynaptic Ia inhibition previously studied in animal experiments. 3. With the test soleus H reflex kept at 15‐25% of the maximum directly evoked motor response (M‐response) and the strength of the conditioning peroneal nerve stimulation kept at 1.0 X M‐threshold, the inhibition from the peroneal nerve ranged between 0 and 40% (mean, 14.9%) at rest. 4. Changes in the amount of reciprocal inhibition from the peroneal nerve were studied both during tonic and dynamic dorsi‐ and plantarflexion. During tonic dorsiflexion there was no significant change of inhibition as compared to rest, while inhibition decreased during tonic plantarflexion. However, during ramp‐and‐hold dorsiflexion there was a transient increase in reciprocal inhibition of the soleus H reflex. This increase in inhibition from the peroneal nerve could be seen 50 ms prior to the onset of contraction. The increase in inhibition before and at the very beginning of the contraction cannot be due to sensory feed‐back during contraction, but must depend on a supraspinal control of the spinal cord. 5. At conditioning‐test intervals of 4‐6 ms, the inhibition of the soleus H reflex from the peroneal nerve was considerably larger during tonic dorsiflexion than at rest. Thus, tonic dorsiflexion revealed an inhibition with long latency from the peroneal nerve, which was not seen at rest. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Combination of topical garlic gel and betamethasone valerate cream in the treatment of localized alopecia areata: a double-blind randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND Alopecia areata is a recurrent, nonscarring type of hair loss. Different modalities of treatment have been used to induce hair re-growth. AIMS To determine the efficacy of topical garlic gel in the treatment of alopecia areata. METHODS Patients were randomly divided into two groups of garlic gel and placebo. The two groups were advised to follow the treatment twice daily, for three months. Both groups received topical application of corticosteroid (betamethasone cream 0.1% in isopropyl alcohol) twice daily. Baseline demographic characteristics and the size of patches, total number of grown hair and number of terminal hair at the end of each month were recorded. Effectiveness was assessed by scoring the results. Statistical analysis was done by means of chi-square and t test. RESULTS Forty patients met the inclusion criteria and enrolled for the study. The first group (garlic treated) consisted of 20 patients (12 males, 60% and eight females, 40%). The second group (control) consisted of 20 patients (10 males, 50% and 10 females, 50%). At the end of the treatment, good and moderate responses were observed in 19 (95%) and one (5%) patients of the case group respectively, which was significantly better than the control group (P = 0.001). No complication was observed in the patients under study. CONCLUSION The present study showed that the use of garlic gel significantly added to the therapeutic efficacy of topical betamethasone valerate in alopecia areata and that it can be an effective adjunctive topical therapy for alopecia areata.
Translations of the humerus in persons with shoulder impingement symptoms.

STUDY DESIGN Two-group mixed-model analysis of covariance and correlation analysis. OBJECTIVES To determine whether differences in humeral translations exist between patients with shoulder impingement symptoms and an asymptomatic comparison group, and if so, to determine if shoulder range-of-motion (ROM) measures are associated with abnormal translations. BACKGROUND Abnormal translations of the humeral head are believed to reduce the available subacromial space and to contribute to the development or progression of shoulder impingement symptoms. These abnormal translations have also been theorized to be related to tightness of the posterior capsule and decreased shoulder ROM. METHODS AND MEASURES Three-dimensional humeral translations were tracked in symptomatic construction workers and an asymptomatic comparison group while elevating the arm in the scapular plane under no-load, 2.3-kg, and 4.6-kg hand-load conditions. Between-group comparisons were made across 3 phases of motion (30 degrees-60 degrees, 60 degrees-90 degrees, and 90 degrees-120 degrees) and the association between humeral translations and cross-body adduction and shoulder internal rotation ROM measures were determined by Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS Persons with shoulder symptoms demonstrated small but significant changes in anterior-posterior translations of the humerus. These changes for the 90 degrees-120 degrees phase of humeral elevation were moderately negatively associated with available cross-body adduction ROM. CONCLUSIONS The identified kinematic deviations are consistent with possible reductions of the subacromial space. Further study of relationships between posterior capsule tightness, rotator cuff function, and abnormal humeral translations is warranted to better delineate underlying kinematic mechanisms that may contribute to shoulder impingement symptoms and to refine rehabilitation techniques.
Regulation of RANKL promoter activity is associated with histone remodeling in murine bone stromal cells

Receptor activator of NFκ‐B ligand (RANKL) is essential for osteoclast formation, function, and survival. Although RANKL mRNA and protein levels are modulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 and other osteoactive factors, regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we show that 2 kb or 2 kb plus exon 1 of a RANKL promoter sequence conferred neither 1,25(OH)2D3 response nor tissue specificity. The histone deacetylase inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA) and sodium butyrate (SB), however, strongly increased RANKL promoter activity. A series of 5′‐deleted RANKL promoter constructs from 2,020 to 110 bp showed fourfold increased activity after TSA treatment. TSA also dose dependently enhanced endogenous RANKL mRNA expression with 50 μM of TSA treatment causing equivalent RANKL expression to that seen with 1 nM 1,25(OH)2D3. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay we showed that TSA significantly enhanced association of both acetylated histone H3 and H4 on the RANKL promoter, with H4 > H3. A similar increase in acetylated histone H4 on the RANKL gene locus was seen after 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment, but ChIP assay did not reveal localization of VDR/RXR heterodimers on the putative VDRE of the RANKL promoter. To explore the role of H4 acetylation of 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulated RANKL, we added both TSA and 1,25(OH)2D3 together. While the combination further increased acetylation of H4 on the RANKL locus, surprisingly, TSA inhibited 1,25(OH)2D3‐induced RANKL mRNA expression by 70% at all doses of 1,25(OH)2D3 studied. These results suggest that TSA increases of endogenous expression of RANKL involve enhanced acetylation of histones on the proximal RANKL promoter. Preventing deacetylation, however, blocks 1,25(OH)2D3 action on this gene. Chromatin remodeling is therefore involved in RANKL expression. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Growth curves of Rauscher and Friend murine leukemia viruses in JLS-V9 tissue culture.

Continuous replication of the Rauscher and Friend murine leukemia viruses in tissue culture has been described (3, 8, 12, 13, 16â€”18). However, except for the work of Osato et at. (12) and Chopra and Shibley (2), little has been done to demon strate in vitro growth curves of these viruses analogous to the in vivo work described by Rauscher and Allen (14). This corn munication describes studies in which an attempt was made to develop such in vitro growth curves using an established mouse bone marrow cell line (JJ.S-V9) . These cells were used since they were previously shown to be free of contaminating agents, as well as susceptible to infection with the Rauscher virus (18). Both Rauscher (10@5 ID50/ml) and Friend (1O@@8 1D50/ml) mouse plasma viruses were each concentrated to 10 gm equiv alents according to Moloney's method (11) and diluted 1:10 in Eagle's minimum essential medium containing 10% calf serum (E@C10) . One ml of each cell-free virus inoculum was separately incubated with an equal volume of a JLS-V9 cell suspension containing 1.2 X 10@cells per ml. Virus attachment was allowed to proceed in a 37Â°Cwater bath for two hours. The cells were kept in suspension by gentle agitation every 15 minutes. After adsorption the residual virus and infected cells were diluted to 10 ml and the cells sedimented by low speed centrifugation (1300 rpm for 5 minutes). This was followed by a series of five washes, two with E@C10, then one contain ing 2.5% Rauscher virus immune rabbit serum, and finally two more washes with E@C10. The immune serum was used in an effort to neutralize residual unadsorbed virus from the infected cells. This serum was shown previously to have virus neutralizing activity (B. S. Wright, unpublished data) and could provide 100% protection in mice inoculated with a 10_i dilution of the Rauscher mouse plasma virus. Although the neutralizing activity of this serum for the Friend virus was not determined, the cross-reaction between the two viruses has been well established (4, 5, 10). The third wash of the control noninfected V9 cells contained 2.5% normal rabbit serum. Although residual virus was not expected, the supernatants from the final wash of the infected cells were concentrated 20-fold by centrifugation at 40,000 x g
Blind Rush? Shale Gas Boom Proceeds Amid Human Health Questions

In 2003 Range Resources, a natural gas company based in Fort Worth, Texas, was among the first of its competitors working on what appeared to be a promising deposit in Pennsylvania called the Marcellus Shale. Geologists had long believed the Marcellus was full of gas trapped in shale pores deep underground, like bubbles in fossilized soda. Range Resources was hoping to tap it with a method called hydraulic fracturing (or fracking for short) in which a high-volume mixture of water, sand, and chemicals is pumped into the shale under pressure. Several companies had used this approach to liberate natural gas from the Barnett Shale, a similar formation in Texas. When Range Resources fracked the Marcellus Shale, the yields were at first modest. So the company shifted its approach; instead of drilling vertical wells straight into the shale, they drilled wells that could also turn sideways thousands of feet below the surface and then probe horizontally for miles in any direction. With horizontal drilling, the yields got steadily better, until Range Resources hit a jackpot in 2006: a gas-rich formation that might generate 50 years of profits for the company, according to spokesman Matt Pitzarella. That discovery helped confirm that the Marcellus—which cuts across portions of at least eight eastern states from New York to Tennessee—is one of the largest shale gas deposits in the world. A $400 million company in 2003, Range Resources is now valued at more than $8 billion, largely because of its Marcellus lease holdings.1 Meanwhile, the combination of fracking and horizontal drilling has sent potentially recoverable amounts of natural gas nationwide soaring. The Energy Information Administration estimates that technically recoverable shale gas reserves have the potential to satisfy domestic consumption in the United States (based on 2010 figures2) for more than 30 years.3 But for shale gas to meet its potential, millions of Americans will have to live with drill rigs in or near their own neighborhoods. And that opens the door to a range of potential environmental health problems: pipelines and wellheads can explode, the process produces toxic air emissions, and fracking generates liquid wastes that can contaminate surface and drinking water supplies. The fact that many gas companies—citing confidential business practices—won’t readily disclose their fracking chemicals has also become a public relations issue for the industry. According to an April 2011 report for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, oil and gas service companies use 750 chemicals during fracking,4 some of them—for instance, salt, citric acid, and coffee—fairly innocuous as far as adverse human health effects are concerned, and some not. Naphthalene, xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and formaldehyde, for example, each used in a number of proprietary fracking solutions, are known or suspected human carcinogens.5 On 17 June 2011 Texas became the first state to require that drillers publicly disclose their fracking chemicals.6
Organization of the auditory brainstem in a lizard, Gekko gecko. I. Auditory nerve, cochlear nuclei, and superior olivary nuclei

We used tract tracing to reveal the connections of the auditory brainstem in the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko). The auditory nerve has two divisions, a rostroventrally directed projection of mid‐ to high best‐frequency fibers to the nucleus angularis (NA) and a more dorsal and caudal projection of low to middle best‐frequency fibers that bifurcate to project to both the NA and the nucleus magnocellularis (NM). The projection to NM formed large somatic terminals and bouton terminals. NM projected bilaterally to the second‐order nucleus laminaris (NL), such that the ipsilateral projection innervated the dorsal NL neuropil, whereas the contralateral projection crossed the midline and innervated the ventral dendrites of NL neurons. Neurons in NL were generally bitufted, with dorsoventrally oriented dendrites. NL projected to the contralateral torus semicircularis and to the contralateral ventral superior olive (SOv). NA projected to ipsilateral dorsal superior olive (SOd), sent a major projection to the contralateral SOv, and projected to torus semicircularis. The SOd projected to the contralateral SOv, which projected back to the ipsilateral NM, NL, and NA. These results suggest homologous patterns of auditory connections in lizards and archosaurs but also different processing of low‐ and high‐frequency information in the brainstem. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:1784–1799, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Factors Impacting Sense of Community Among Adults With Brain Injury

Purpose: Despite increasing interest in examining community outcomes following disability, sense of community (SOC) has received relatively no attention in the rehabilitation literature. SOC refers to feelings of belonging and attachment one has for a community and is of particular relevance for people with brain injury who are at increased risk of social isolation. The aim of this study was to investigate factors contributing to SOC for individuals with brain injury. Method: Members from 2 brain injury associations (n = 98) participated in this survey-based study. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to explore demographic, disability-related, community and social participation variables’ impact on SOC with regard to one’s town or city. Follow-up mediation analyses were conducted to explore relationships among social self-efficacy, support network, neighboring behavior, and SOC. Results: Findings indicated that disability-related and community variables accounted for over 40% of the variance in SOC. Size of social support network was the only significant independent contributor to SOC variance. Follow-up analyses provided support for (a) the partial mediating effect of social support network size on the relationship between social self-efficacy and SOC, and (b) the mediating effect of neighboring behavior on the relationship between social self-efficacy and social support network size. Conclusions: Findings from this study highlight the particular importance of self-efficacy, social support, and neighboring behaviors in promoting SOC for people with brain injury. Recommendations are provided to advance research efforts and inform intervention approaches to improve the felt experience of community among people with brain injury.