Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHARACTERIZATION OF RAD4 GENE REQUIRED FOR ULTRAVIOLET‐INDUCED EXCISION REPAIR OF Saccharomyces cerevisiae PROPAGATED IN Escherichia coli WITHOUT INACTIVATION

The previously isolated RAD4 gene designated as pPCl from the genomic library of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Yoon et al., 1985, Korean J. Genetics 7, 97–104) appeared to propagate in Escherichia coli and yet retained its complementing activity to rad4 mutants without inactivation. The subcloned RAD4 gene was found to be localized within a 2.5 kb DNA fragment flanking Bg/II and Bam HI sites in the insert DNA, and was shown to have the same restriction map as a yeast chromosomal DNA, as determined by Southern hybridization. Tetrad analysis and pulse‐field chromosome mapping have revealed that the cloned RAD4 gene can be mapped and integrated into the yeast chromosome V, the actual site of this gene. DNA‐tRNA hybridization has shown that the isolated RAD4 gene did not contain a suppressor tRNA gene. These results have indicated that the pPCl is a functional RAD4 gene playing a unique role involved in the nucleotide excision repair of yeast without any genetic change during amplification in E. coli.
Administration of a single low dose of recombinant human thyrotropin significantly enhances thyroid radioiodide uptake in nontoxic nodular goiter.

Radioiodine (131I) is increasingly used as treatment for volume reduction of nontoxic, nodular goiter. A high dose of 131I is often needed because of low thyroid radioiodide uptake (RAIU). We investigated whether pretreatment with a single, low dose of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH; Thyrogen, Genzyme Transgenics Corp.) enhances RAIU in 15 patients with nontoxic, nodular goiter (14 women and 1 man; aged 61+/-11 yr). Four patients were studied twice, and 1 patient was studied 3 times. RAIU was measured both under basal conditions and after pretreatment (im) with rhTSH, given either 2 h (0.01 mg; n = 7) or 24 h [0.01 mg (n = 7) or 0.03 mg (n = 7)] before 131I administration (20-40 microCi). Serum levels of TSH, free T4 (FT4), and total T3 were measured at 2, 5, 8, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 192 h after rhTSH administration. After administration of 0.01 mg rhTSH, serum TSH rose from 0.7+/-0.5 to a peaklevel of 4.4+/-1.1 mU/L (P < 0.0001), FT4 rose from 16.0+/-2.6 to 18.5+/-3.7 pmol/L (P < 0.0001), and T3 rose from 2.10+/-0.41 to 2.63 - 0.66 nmol/L (P < 0.0001). After administration of 0.03 mg rhTSH, TSH rose from 0.6+/-0.4 to 15.8+/-2.3 mU/L (P < 0.0001), FT4 rose from 15.2+/-1.5 to 21.7+/-2.9 pmol/L (P < 0.0001), and T3 rose from 1.90+/-0.43 to 3.19+/-0.61 nmol/L (P < 0.0001). Peak TSH levels were reached at 5-8 h and peak FT4 and T3 levels at 8-96 h after rhTSH administration. Administration of 0.01 mg rhTSH 2 h before 131I increased 24-h RAIU from 30+/-11% to 42+/-10% (P < 0.02), 0.01 mg rhTSH administered 24 h before 131I increased 24-h RAIU from 29+/-10% to 51+/-10% (P < 0.0001), and 0.03 mg rhTSH administered 24 h before 131I increased 24-h RAIU from 33+/-11% to 63+/-9% (P < 0.0001). After administration of 0.01 mg rhTSH 2 h before 131I, 24-h RAIU did not increase in 1 patient, whereas the increase in 24-h RAIU was less than 10% in 2 other patients. In contrast, administration of rhTSH 24 h before 131I increased 24-h RAIU by more than 10% in all 14 patients (by >20% in 10 and by >30% in 6). In conclusion, pretreatment with a single, low dose of rhTSH in patients with nontoxic, nodular goiter increased RAIU considerably. Our observations hold promise that administration of rhTSH before 131I therapy for nontoxic, nodular goiter will allow treatment with lower doses of 131I in these patients.
Preserved Cross-modal Priming and Aging: A Summary of Current Thoughts

Research on within-modal repetition priming suggests that this form of implicit memory is preserved in older adults not only for visual stimuli but also for stimuli presented to other perceptual modalities (e.g., touch, audition, and olfaction). Fewer studies, however, have examined whether priming is modality specific. Studies conducted with young adults have shown that cross-modal (vision-to-touch and touch-to-vision) transfer was similar in magnitude than within-modal transfer (vision-to-vision and touch-to-touch). A recent study further investigated whether cross-modal priming between these perceptual modalities is preserved in older adults. The results suggest that cross-modal priming between vision and touch is preserved and symmetric in both, young adults and older adults. Moreover, within-modal and cross-modal priming for ecological sounds and pictures is preserved with age. These behavioural findings and other recent neuroscience results suggest that cross-modal priming occurs in posterior extrastriate occipital areas that are preserved in aging. Future directions for research in this area include the performance of well designed cross-modal priming studies conducted in normal elderly and Alzheimers disease patients using different perceptual modalities, familiar and novel stimuli combining behavioural and brain imaging measures, and the inclusion of well designed priming tasks in programs directed to improving memory functions in the elderly.
Effect of Topical Antiinflammatory Drugs on Mechanical Behavior of Rabbit Cornea

Background A variety of antiinflammatory therapies are employed to promote corneal wound healing. The effects of steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on the biomechanical properties of rabbit cornea were investigated over time using tensile tests. Methods Full-thickness incisions were made and used to analyze the effects of dexamethasone sodium phosphate 0.1% and diclofenac sodium 0.1% on corneal biomechanical properties during wound healing at 7, 14 and 21 days after surgery. Results The full-thickness incision deeply modified all of the mechanical properties. At 3 weeks after incision, regardless of the drug therapy, the tensile modulus was about 70% of the value for the intact cornea. Conclusions Topical treatment with dexamethasone was particularly effective during the first week after surgery; the second week after surgery, a similar result was observed in the corneas treated with diclofenac. Low doses of steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs would seem to have the potential to improve biomechanical properties only during the early stage of the healing process of the cornea.
&agr;-Lipoic acid prevents p53 degradation in colon cancer cells by blocking NF-&kgr;B induction of RPS6KA4

&agr;-Lipoic acid (&agr;-LA) is a biogenic antioxidant that has been used successfully in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy and its application to many oxidative stress-associated chronic diseases has increased. In this study, we investigated the effect of &agr;-LA on colorectal cancer cell growth and its underlying mechanism. &agr;-LA treatment resulted in a marked reduction in the growth of HCT116 colon cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner through the G1 arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis induction. &agr;-LA treatment significantly increased tumor cell response to various apoptotic stresses, such as etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, UVC, &ggr;-irradiation, hypoxia, and tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF&agr;). Interestingly, &agr;-LA increased p53 protein stability and its apoptosis-enhancing effect was more evident in wild-type p53-carrying cells compared with p53-deficient cells, suggesting that the proapoptotic role of &agr;-LA is associated with its p53-stabilizing function. On the basis of our microarray data showing &agr;-LA downregulation of the ribosomal protein p90S6K (RPS6KA4), which has been reported to inhibit p53 function, we tested whether &agr;-LA regulation of RPS6KA4 is associated with its proapoptotic function. &agr;-LA treatment led to a marked reduction in the RPS6KA4 mRNA level in multiple colorectal cancer cells and restoration of RPS6KA4 expression markedly attenuated &agr;-LA induction of apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner. In addition, we observed that RPS6KA4 expression is activated by TNF&agr; whereas both basal and TNF&agr; induction of RPS6KA4 are inhibited by the nuclear factor-&kgr;B (NF-&kgr;B) inhibitor BAY11-7082 or transfection of a dominant-negative mutant of NF-&kgr;B, indicating that NF-&kgr;B plays a crucial role in RPS6KA4 gene expression. Finally, we found that &agr;-LA exerts an inhibitory effect on the nuclear translocation of NF-&kgr;B triggered by TNF&agr;. Collectively, our study shows that &agr;-LA suppresses colorectal tumor cell growth at least partially by preventing RPS6KA4-mediated p53 inhibition through blockade of NF-&kgr;B signaling.
Ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence as a predictor of distant disease: implications for systemic therapy at the time of local relapse.

PURPOSE To evaluate the prognostic significance of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) with respect to the subsequent development of distant metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 1970 and December 1989, 973 patients with invasive breast cancer were treated with conservative surgery and radiation therapy at Yale-New Haven Hospital. The median follow-up time as of December 1993 was 8.6 years. A number of prognostic factors were tested as possible predictors of distant metastases, including whether a patient experienced IBTR. IBTRs were broken down by time to recurrence to determine whether the breast recurrence-free interval had any prognostic relevance with respect to the development of distant metastasis. RESULTS As of December 1993, out of the entire population of 973 patients, 73 patients had developed IBTR and 134 had developed distant metastases. The overall actuarial survival rate at 10 years was . 71 +/- . 02, with a 10-year actuarial breast recurrence-free rate of . 84 +/- . 02 and a 10-year distant metastasis-free rate of . 77 +/- . 02. The overall distant metastasis rate was higher in patients who experienced IBTR compared with patients who had never experienced IBTR. Furthermore, the time to IBTR had a significant effect on distant metastases. Of 32 patients who developed an IBTR within 4 years of original diagnosis, 16 (50%) developed distant metastases. In contrast, of 41 patients who developed later breast relapses (> 4 years from original diagnosis), only seven (17%) developed distant metastases (P < .01). Of 32 patients who developed early breast relapse, the 5-year survival rate following breast relapse was . 50 +/- . 01, compared with a 5-year post-breast relapse survival rate of . 78 +/- . 10 among 41 patients with later breast relapses (P < .05). CONCLUSION It appears that early IBTR is a significant predictor for distant metastases. Whether early breast tumor relapse is a marker for or cause of distant metastases remains a controversial and unresolved issue. Implications for adjuvant systemic therapy at the time of breast relapse are discussed.
Extraction de programmes dans le calcul des constructions

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Extraction de programmes dans le Calcul des Constructions Christine Paulin-Mohring
Different Loci of Semantic Interference in Picture Naming vs. Word-Picture Matching Tasks

Naming pictures and matching words to pictures belonging to the same semantic category impairs performance relative to when stimuli come from different semantic categories (i.e., semantic interference). Despite similar semantic interference phenomena in both picture naming and word-picture matching tasks, the locus of interference has been attributed to different levels of the language system – lexical in naming and semantic in word-picture matching. Although both tasks involve access to shared semantic representations, the extent to which interference originates and/or has its locus at a shared level remains unclear, as these effects are often investigated in isolation. We manipulated semantic context in cyclical picture naming and word-picture matching tasks, and tested whether factors tapping semantic-level (generalization of interference to novel category items) and lexical-level processes (interactions with lexical frequency) affected the magnitude of interference, while also assessing whether interference occurs at a shared processing level(s) (transfer of interference across tasks). We found that semantic interference in naming was sensitive to both semantic- and lexical-level processes (i.e., larger interference for novel vs. old and low- vs. high-frequency stimuli), consistent with a semantically mediated lexical locus. Interference in word-picture matching exhibited stable interference for old and novel stimuli and did not interact with lexical frequency. Further, interference transferred from word-picture matching to naming. Together, these experiments provide evidence to suggest that semantic interference in both tasks originates at a shared processing stage (presumably at the semantic level), but that it exerts its effect at different loci when naming pictures vs. matching words to pictures.
Prospective endoscopic follow-up results of reconstructed gastric tube.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Recent advances in the treatment of esophageal cancer have afforded better prognosis for patients. Despite the increased need to monitor the progress of patients with reconstructed digestive tracts over the long-term, no reliable prospective studies have yet been conducted. This prospective study determined secondary disease of the reconstructed gastric tube after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. METHODOLOGY One hundred and fourteen patients who underwent esophagectomy and reconstructed gastric tube via the posterior mediastinal route between April 1992 and March 1999 at Akita University Hospital, were followed up. Follow-up endoscopy was carried out once a year to determine the incidence and characteristics of secondary disease of the reconstructed gastric tube. RESULTS Fifty-four (47%) patients were found to have secondary gastric abnormalities. Of these, 4 patients (3.5%) had carcinoma of the gastric tube, 12 patients (10.5%) had benign gastric tumor, 7 patients (6.1%) had gastric ulcers, and 40 patients (35.1%) had erosive or hemorrhagic gastritis. Three patients found to have early gastric cancer upon periodic follow-up endoscopy underwent successful complete resections. CONCLUSIONS Annual follow-up endoscopy is vital to the detection of early, curative secondary gastric cancer and ulceration in patients following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.
Differential infectivity and immunopathology in murine experimental infections by two natural clones belonging to the Trypanosoma cruzi I lineage

Immunopathology of Chagas' disease in Balb/c mice infected with 2 Trypanosoma cruzi clones, belonging to the T. cruzi I lineage and presenting different in vitro virulence (P/209 cl1>SO34 cl4) was compared. In the acute phase, evading mechanisms such as parasite-induced lymphocyte polyclonal activation and T cell immunosuppression were higher in mice infected with the clone giving a higher parasitaemia (P/209 cl1). A similar increase of non-specific isotypes was observed in both infections with IgG2a prevalence. Interestingly, CD8+ cell hypercellularity and lymphocyte immunosuppression were observed during the chronic phase (245 days post-infection) in mice infected by the most virulent clone. In the same way, the parasite-specific antibody response was more intense in P/209 cl1-infected mice over the acute phase. During the chronic phase this response remarkably dropped down in SO34 cl4-infected mice exclusively. Finally, P/209 cl1-infected mice presented a more severe inflammation and tissue damage in heart and quadriceps than SO34 cl4-infected mice. This comparative study showed differences between the two clones: a higher virulence in vivo being clearly associated with a greater ability to induce evasion mechanisms and severe tissue damage.
Fault Coverage and Test Length Estimation for Random Pattern Testing

Fault coverage and test length estimation in circuits under random test is the subject of this paper. Testing by a sequence of random input patterns is viewed as sequential sampling of faults from a given fault universe. Based on this model, the probability mass function (pmf) of fault coverage and expressions for all its moments are derived. This provides a means for computing estimates of fault coverage as well as determining the accuracy of the estimates. Test length, viewed as waiting time on fault coverage, is analyzed next. We derive expressions for its pmf and its probability generating function (pgf). This allows computation of all the higher order moments. In particular, expressions for mean and variance of test length for any specified fault coverage are derived. This is a considerable enhancement of the state of the art in techniques for predicting test length as a function of fault coverage. It is shown that any moment of test length requires knowledge of all the moments of fault coverage, and hence, its pmf. For this reason, expressions for approximating its expected value and variance, for user specified error bounds, are also given. A methodology based on these results is outlined. Experiments carried out on several circuits demonstrate that this technique is capable of providing excellent predictions of test length. Furthermore it is shown, as with fault coverage prediction, that estimates of variances can be used to bound average test length quite effectively. >
Optimization of ordered plasmid assembly by gap repair in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Combinatorial genetic libraries are powerful tools for diversifying and optimizing biomolecules. The process of library assembly is a major limiting factor for library complexity and quality. Gap repair by homologous recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can facilitate in vivo assembly of DNA fragments sharing short patches of sequence homology, thereby supporting generation of high‐complexity libraries without compromising fidelity. In this study, we have optimized the ordered assembly of three DNA fragments into a gapped vector by in vivo homologous recombination. Assembly is achieved by co‐transformation of the DNA fragments and the gapped vector, using a modified lithium acetate protocol. The optimal gap‐repair efficiency is found at a 1:80 molar ratio of gapped vector to each of the three fragments. We measured gap‐repair efficiency in different genetic backgrounds and observed increased efficiency in mutants carrying a deletion of the SGS1 helicase‐encoding gene. Using our experimental conditions, a gap‐repair efficiency of > 106 plasmid‐harbouring colonies/µg gapped vector DNA is obtained in a single transformation, with a recombination fidelity > 90%. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combination of ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation and radioiodine therapy in benign thyroid diseases

Summary Aim: Goiters and thyroid nodules are an ongoing problem in healthcare. There has not been any treatment of goiters and thyroid nodules based on the combined therapy of microwave ablation (MWA) and radioiodine therapy (RIT) until now. In this study the potential benefit of a combined therapy versus single RIT is evaluated in order to achieve improvements concerning 131I-dose and hospitalization time. Patients, material, methods: Ten patients with goiter and benign thyroid nodules or Graves' disease were included. Pre-ablation assessments included sonographical imaging, functional imaging with 99mTc and FNAB to collect data of nodules and total thyroid volume and to exclude malignancy. Prior to treatment, radioiodine uptake test was performed. MWA was operated under local anesthesia with a system working in a wavelength field 902–928 MHz. Post-MWA, thyroid volume was recalculated ultrasonically. Due to reduced vital volume, changes of 131I-dose and hospitalization time could be monitored. Results: Mean absolute thyroid volume reduction by MWA before applying RIT was 22 ± 11 ml, meaning a relative reduction of 24 ± 6% (p < 0.05). Thereby, administered activity could be reduced by 393 ± 188 MBq using the combined therapy, reflecting a relative reduction of 24 ± 6% (p < 0.05). Additionally, mean hospitalization time was decreased by 2.1 ± 0.8 days using MWA prior to RIT, implying a relative reduction of 28 ± 6% (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Depending on ablated volume by MWA, RITmonotherapy requires on average 31.2% more 131I-activity than the combined therapy. The combined therapy remarkably decreases 131I-dose and hospitalization time. The combined MWA and RIT therapy is a considerable, effective and safer alternative to surgery for the treatment of very large benign nodular goiters.
Transverse susceptibility of a fine particle system

The reversible transverse susceptibility of particulate systems has been studied theoretically. The study concentrated on a nonlinear susceptibility which is shown to provide a useful singular-point detection technique for the determination of anisotropy fields and the orientational texture of the system. Typical calculations for longitudinal particulate media and perpendicular thin films are given. >
Eosinophils Preserve Parasitic Nematode Larvae by Regulating Local Immunity

Eosinophils play important roles in regulation of cellular responses under conditions of homeostasis or infection. Intestinal infection with the parasitic nematode, Trichinella spiralis, induces a pronounced eosinophilia that coincides with establishment of larval stages in skeletal muscle. We have shown previously that in mouse strains in which the eosinophil lineage is ablated, large numbers of T. spiralis larvae are killed by NO, implicating the eosinophil as an immune regulator. In this report, we show that parasite death in eosinophil-ablated mice correlates with reduced recruitment of IL-4+ T cells and enhanced recruitment of inducible NO synthase (iNOS)-producing neutrophils to infected muscle, as well as increased iNOS in local F4/80+CD11b+Ly6C+ macrophages. Actively growing T. spiralis larvae were susceptible to killing by NO in vitro, whereas mature larvae were highly resistant. Growth of larvae was impaired in eosinophil-ablated mice, potentially extending the period of susceptibility to the effects of NO and enhancing parasite clearance. Transfer of eosinophils into eosinophil-ablated ΔdblGATA mice restored larval growth and survival. Regulation of immunity was not dependent upon eosinophil peroxidase or major basic protein 1 and did not correlate with activity of the IDO pathway. Our results suggest that eosinophils support parasite growth and survival by promoting accumulation of Th2 cells and preventing induction of iNOS in macrophages and neutrophils. These findings begin to define the cellular interactions that occur at an extraintestinal site of nematode infection in which the eosinophil functions as a pivotal regulator of immunity.