Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advanced glycosylation end-products in experimental murine diabetic nephropathy: effect of islet isografting and of aminoguanidine.

The effects of islet isografting and of aminoguanidine on the accumulation of advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE) in renal basement membranes were studied in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus in female BALB/c mice. The characteristic autofluorescence of glycosylated collagen was used to quantitate AGE. We studied the effect of islet isografting using 3 groups of mice, sacrificed at age 13 to 15 months: group A, untreated diabetes (STZ 250 mg/kg intravenously at age 6 to 8 weeks); group B, untreated diabetes for 7 months, then successfully grafted with cultured islet cells; and group C, age-matched normal control animals. At sacrifice, AGE were measured in digests of renal basement membranes as collagen-linked fluorescence/unit of hydroxyproline. Group A animals had significantly greater renal basement membrane glycosylation than did the other 2 groups, (group A median 88.0 arbitrary units/mumol hydroxyproline, range 30.2 to 127.5; group B median 19.4, range 5.1 to 56.8; group C median 2.9 range 0-13.5; p = .001 A versus B). To study the effect of aminoguanidine, 4 groups of animals were used: group 1, untreated diabetics (STZ 250 mg/kg intravenously at age 6 to 8 weeks); group 2, diabetics treated with aminoguanidine 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally daily; group 3, age-matched control animals, and group 4, age-matched controls treated with aminoguanidine. At sacrifice after 7 months, AGE were measured in digests of renal basement membranes as collagen-linked fluorescence/unit of hydroxyproline. Aminoguanidine significantly attenuated the accumulation of AGE in diabetic mice (group 1 median 47.2 arbitrary units/mumol hydroxyproline, range 16.1 to 56.0; group 2 median 24.4, range 5.0 to 37.7; group 3 median 13.6, range 0 to 30.3; group 4 median 10.8, range 2.1 to 17.2; p less than 0.01, groups 1 versus 2). These results indicate that further basement membrane glycosylation is prevented by restoration of euglycemia by islet grafting after a significant duration of diabetes, and that aminoguanidine prevents AGE accumulation despite hyperglycemia.
Effects of Different Suture Materials Used for the Repair of Hypospadias: A Stereological Study in a Rat Model

Introduction: Repair of the penile urethra in hypospadias is done with different suture materials. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of different suture threads on histological parameters of the penis and urethra following hypospadias repair in rats. Materials and Methods: Six groups of the rats, except for the control group, underwent incision and repair of the penis and urethra in the ventral line using different suture materials including Chromic, Vicryl (polyglactic acid), PDS (polydioxanone), Rapid Vicryl (polyglactin 910), Monocryl (poliglecaprone 25) and control groups. After 3 weeks the body of the penis was excised and histological sections were studied using stereological methods. Results: Monocryl (poliglecaprone 25) was associated with a higher percentage of vessel density, higher volume of urethral lumen and lower lymphocyte infiltration. Volume of urethral epithelium was highest in the PDS group compared to the other operated groups. There was no significant difference regarding collagen deposition and fibroblast infiltration among the operated groups. Conclusions: The Monocryl and PDS groups showed better results.
Occupational Licensing in the European Union: Coverage and Wage Effects

We present the first EU-wide study on the prevalence and labour market impact of occupational regulation in the EU. Drawing on a new EU Survey of Regulated Occupations, we find that licensing affects about 22 percent of workers in the EU, although there is significant variability across member states and occupations. On average, licensing is associated with a 4 percent higher hourly wages. Using decomposition techniques we show that rent capture accounts for one third of this effect and the remaining is attributed to signalling. We find considerable heterogeneity in the wage gains by occupation and level of educational attainment. Finally, occupational licensing increases wage inequality. After accounting for composition effects, licensing increases the standard deviation of wages by about 0.02 log points.
Plasma levels of soluble CD105 correlate with metastasis in patients with breast cancer

CD105 (endoglin), a receptor for transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 and β3 in vascular endothelial cells, is highly up‐regulated in blood vessels of tissues where neovascularisation occurs. It modulates endothelial‐mesenchymal signalling and is essential for angiogenesis. Indeed, CD105 knock‐out mice die from malvascularisation by 11.5 day p.c. In the present study CD105, TGFβ1 and CD105/TGFβ1 complexes were quantified in plasma samples from 77 healthy individuals and 92 patients with early stage breast cancer prior to any treatment. When compared with normal controls, both CD105 and CD105/TGFβ1 complex levels were significantly elevated in breast cancer patients, whereas TGFβ1 levels were lower in cancer patients. The most important finding to emerge was that CD105 levels were significantly increased in patients who developed distant metastasis compared with disease‐free patients. While there was no significant difference between CD105 levels in controls compared to disease‐free patients, it was significantly higher in patients with metastatic disease. Thus patients who had died following local relapse or distant metastases possessed the highest levels of CD105. Neither CD105/TGFβ1 complex nor TGFβ1 levels correlated with tumour progression. Our data indicate that CD105 might be a valuable novel angiogenic marker for identifying breast cancer patients who are at high risk of developing metastasis. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 89:122–126, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Cargo in Vacuolar Storage Protein Transport Vesicles is Stratified

Developing pea seeds contain two functionally distinct vacuoles – lytic vacuoles and protein storage vacuoles (PSV). The Golgi apparatus of these cells has to discriminate between proteins destined for these vacuolar compartments. Whereas it is known that sorting into the lytic vacuole is performed via the conserved clathrin‐coated vesicle pathway, sorting of proteins into the protein storage vacuole remains enigmatic. In developing pea cotyledons, the major storage proteins are sorted via ‘dense vesicles’. In this report we examined the sorting of a minor protein of the protein storage vacuole, the sucrose‐binding‐protein homolog (SBP), along the secretory pathway employing immunoelectron microscopy on cryosectioned pea cotyledons. SBP follows the same vesicular route into the PSV as the main storage proteins legumin and vicilin, via the dense‐vesicles. Furthermore, legumin and SBP are sorted together into the same dense vesicle population at the stack. Although soluble cargo proteins of the dense vesicles, they show a stratified distribution in the lumen of the dense vesicles. Whereas the legumin label is equally distributed across the lumen, the SBP label is concentrated at the membrane of the vesicle. This observation is discussed with respect to a putative receptor‐mediated sorting of the proteins into the dense vesicles.
Songwriting and Digital Video Production Interventions for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation, Part I: An Analysis of Depression and Anxiety Levels According to Phase of Treatment

Purposes of this exploratory case study were: (1) to examine how anxiety and depression levels vary with phase of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and (2) to examine the effect of the proposed music therapy treatment protocol on anxiety and depression levels. Six pediatric BMT patients participated in the study. Three participants experienced the music condition and three participants experienced the no-music contact condition. Both conditions consisted of six, one-hour sessions that occurred over a three week period. The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) was administered at the conclusion of each session to examine changes in depression levels across each phase of treatment. The State Trait Anxiety Inven tory for Children (STAIC) served as a pre-/post-session measure of state anxiety. Graphic analysis of scores from the CDI and STAIC indicated a consistent trend in depression and anxiety levels according to phase of treatment for all participants. Four participants (3 music; 1 no-music) experienced decreased anxiety following a majority of sessions.
Performance of a RBSN under the RCP Scenarios: A Case Study in South Korea

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report, the amount of precipitation in South Korea would increase regardless of the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. However, at the same time, it is expected that the temporal and spatial rainfall variation would also increase. Due to the impact from typhoons, 90% of the annual precipitation in Korea occurs in July, August, and September. Moreover, the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) scenario projected that the average precipitation in this period is expected to increase markedly, especially over the next 100 years. These predictions imply an increased variability of available water resources. In this study, we assessed a RBSN (rain barrel sharing network) as an efficient way to respond to the future climate change projections under the RCP scenarios when compared to the historical data. We proposed an evaluation procedure for the reliability, resilience, and vulnerability of RBSN based on a storage-reliability-yield (SRY) relationship. The result shows that the reliability and resiliency of a RBSN will improve but be more vulnerable compared to the results from the historical rainfall data. However, even in the climate change condition, the results showed that a RBSN still contributes to reduce vulnerability. The results of this study imply that a RBSN is an effective and alternative measure that can deal with the impacts of climate change in the future.
Prevalence of Endoscopic Findings of Erosive Esophagitis in Children: A Population-based Study

Purpose: Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occur in 2% to 7% of children. The manifestations of GERD can be limited to symptoms (eg, heartburn, regurgitation) or can be more complicated, such as erosive esophagitis, esophageal strictures, or Barrett esophagus. The prevalence of such GERD complications in children is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of endoscopic findings of erosive esophagitis in children. Patients and Methods: All children ages 0 to 17 years, 11 months who underwent upper endoscopy that was recorded in the Pediatric Endoscopic Database System-Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative between 1999 and 2002 were included. Endoscopic reports that were incomplete or that did not include demographic features, indications for endoscopy, or endoscopic findings were excluded. Erosive esophagitis was defined either descriptively or by the Los Angeles classification. Esophageal biopsy was not evaluated. Results: A total of 7188 children who underwent upper endoscopy fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of those, 888 (12.4%) had erosive esophagitis. The median age of children with erosive esophagitis was 12.7 ± 4.9 years versus 10.0 ± 5.1 years in those without erosive esophagitis (P ≤ 0.0001). Of those with erosive esophagitis, 55.2% (490/888) were male, compared with 48.2% (3040/6300) in those without erosive esophagitis (P = 0.0001). Erosive esophagitis was found in 29 of 531 (5.5%) children ages 0 to 1 years and progressively increased to 106 in 542 individuals (19.6%) by age 17. Hiatal hernia was found in 68 (7.7%) of children with erosive esophagitis, compared with 157 (2.5%) without erosive esophagitis (P ≤ 0.0001. The prevalence of Barrett esophagus, esophageal stricture, ulcer, previous surgery, nodules, foreign body or retained food, and anatomic abnormalities was not significantly different between children with erosive esophagitis and those without. Conclusions: The frequency of erosive esophagitis is slightly higher in male children and increases with age. In contrast to erosive esophagitis in adults, there were no significant variations according to race or ethnicity. Hiatal hernia is the only endoscopic observation that predicts erosive esophagitis.
A New Evaluation System to Predict the Sequelae of Late Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy

&NA; Obstetric brachial plexus palsy has two distinct categories: (1) early obstetric brachial plexus palsy (or obstetric brachial plexus palsy in an infant) and (2) late obstetric brachial plexus palsy with deformity (or obstetric brachial plexus palsy in a child). Both early and late obstetric brachial plexus palsy lack a uniform evaluation system, and this makes correlation between them difficult. Clinical evaluation of obstetric brachial plexus palsy in infants is difficult, but in children it is easier. Here, we utilized a new evaluation system, called “Score of 10,” to evaluate 121 late obstetric brachial plexus palsy patients based on patient's functional ability and surgeon's feasibility for reconstruction. “Score of 10” is a method combining the Erb and Klumpke scores. The Erb score gives points for upper plexus functions including shoulder abduction, shoulder external rotation, elbow flexion, elbow extension, forearm supination, forearm pronation, and trumpet sign. The Klumpke score gives points for lower plexus functions including wrist extension, wrist flexion, metacarpophalangeal joint extension, interphalangeal joint extension, finger flexion, thumb adduction, and thumb abduction. The aims of this evaluation system are to determine the relationships between early and late obstetric brachial plexus palsy, to predict the progressive changes that take place with aging, and to propose the possible operation procedures to reconstruct. However, this evaluation system may differ by time and may not be suitable for comparisons between pre‐ and postreconstruction.
Epigenome-Wide Association Study of Cognitive Functioning in Middle-Aged Monozygotic Twins

As the world's population ages, the age-related cognitive decline presents a great challenge to world's healthcare systems. One of the molecular mechanisms implicated in cognitive ageing is DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification known to be a key player in memory formation, maintenance, and synaptic plasticity. Using the twin design we performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) in a population of 486 middle-aged monozygotic twins (mean age at follow-up 65.9, SD = 6.1) and correlated their blood DNA methylation to their level (cross-sectional analysis) and change in cognitive abilities over 10 years (longitudinal analysis). We identified several CpG sites where cross-sectional cognitive functioning was associated with DNA methylation levels. The top identified loci were located in ZBTB46 (p = 5.84 × 10−7), and TAF12 (p = 4.91 × 10−7). KEGG's enrichment analyses of the most associated findings identified “Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction” as the most enriched pathway (p = 0.0098). Change in cognitive functioning over 10 years was associated with DNA methylation levels in AGBL4 (p = 9.01 × 10−7) and SORBS1 (p = 5.28 × 10−6), with the first gene playing an important role in neuronal survival and the latter gene implicated before in Alzheimer's disease and ischemic stroke. Our findings point to an association between changes in DNA methylation of genes related to neuronal survival and change of cognitive functioning in aging individuals.
Early Childcare and Cognitive Development: Evidence from an Assignment Lottery

Young children are thought to be vulnerable to separation from their primary caregiver. This raises concern about whether early childcare enrollment may harm child development. We use childcare assignment lotteries to estimate the effect of enrollment at age 1–2 on cognitive development in Norway. Estimates show significant gains in language and mathematics at age 6–7 and a substantial drop in scores below publicly set thresholds for low performance. Across subsamples, we find a pattern of stronger effects on underperforming groups. We find little support for childcare quality or family income as drivers of our results.
[3H]AL‐5848 ([3H]9β‐(+)‐Fluprostenol). Carboxylic Acid of Travoprost (AL‐6221), a Novel FP Prostaglandin o study the Pharmacology and Autoradiographic Localization of the FP Receptor

AL‐5848 (5Z,13E)‐(9 S,11R,15S)‐9,11,15‐trihydroxy‐5,13‐prostadienoic acid) is the carboxylic acid of travoprost (AL‐6221), a single (+)‐isomer of (±)‐fluprostenol, an FP‐class prostaglandin agonist which lowers intraocular pressure. We have prepared a radioligand from this selective prostaglandin and demonstrated its utility for studying the pharmacology and autoradiographic location of the FP‐receptor. Specific [3H]AL‐5848 binding (84% of total) was linearly related to bovine corpus luteum tissue concentration and reached equilibrium within 275 min at 23°C. Scatchard analysis of saturation isotherms indicated interaction of [3H]AL‐5848 with a single class of high‐affinity (dissociation constant, Kd, = 33.8 ± 2.9 nM, n = 4) and saturable (Bmax = 37.3 ± 3.0 pmol (g wet weight tissue)−1) FP receptor‐binding sites in bovine corpus luteum. Specific [3H]AL‐5848 binding was potently inhibited by the FP‐receptor ligands 16‐phenoxyPGF2α (inhibition constant Ki = 17.3 nM); cloprostenol (Ki = 56.8 nM); 17‐phenyl PGF2α (Ki = 87.0 nM); AL‐5848 (Ki = 52.1 nM); PGF2α (Ki = 195 nM); PHXA85 (Ki = 223 nM); (n = 3–11) but very weakly by PGD2, ZK118182, BW245C, PGE2, PGI2 and U‐46619. The pharmacology of specific [3H]AL‐5848 binding correlated well with the pharmacology of [3H]PGF2α binding in the bovine corpus luteum preparation (r = 0–98, n = 14, P < 0.0001) and also with functional responses in Swiss 3T3 and rat vascular smooth muscle cells (A7r5) (r = 0.96) expressing FP receptors. Autoradiographic studies revealed high levels of specific FP‐receptor binding with [3H]AL‐5848 on granulosa cells in the bovine corpus luteum sections, and on longitudinal ciliary muscle, the ciliary process, the iris sphincter and the retina in eye sections from man.
Effects of ginger on motion sickness susceptibility and gastric function.

This study was designed to evaluate the antimotion sickness activity of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) and to characterize the effects of ginger on gastric function. Twenty-eight human volunteers participated in the project. Subjects made timed head movements in a rotating chair until they reached an endpoint of motion sickness short of vomiting (malaise III or M-III). Each subject was tested with either ginger or scopolamine and a placebo. A substance was judged to possess antimotion sickness activity if it allowed a greater number of head movements compared to placebo control. Gastric emptying of a liquid was measured by nuclear medicine techniques in normal and motion sick subjects. Gastric electrical activity was monitored by cutaneous (surface) electrodes positioned over the abdominal area. Powder ginger (whole root, 500 or 1,000 mg) or fresh ginger root (1,000 mg) provided no protection against motion sickness. In contrast, subjects performed an average of 147.5 more head movements (p less than 0.01) after scopolamine (0.6 mg p.o.) than after placebo. The rate of gastric emptying was significantly (p less than 0.05) slowed when tested immediately after M-III but was inhibited less when tested 15 min after M-III. Powdered ginger (500 mg) had no effect on gastric emptying in normal or motion-sick subjects. Gastric motility was also changed during motion sickness. The frequency of the electrogastrogram (EGG) was increased after M-III (tachygastria) and the normal increase in EGG amplitude after liquid ingestion was reduced in motion sick subjects. Although powdered ginger (500 mg) partially inhibited tachygastria in motion sickness, it did not enhance the EGG amplitude in motion sick subjects. We conclude that ginger does not possess antimotion sickness activity, nor does it significantly alter gastric function during motion sickness.
Host-Derived Interleukin-1α Is Important in Determining the Immunogenicity of 3-Methylcholantrene Tumor Cells1

Using IL-1/IL-1Ra knockout BALB/c mice, we showed that 3-methylcholatrene (3-MCA)-induced carcinogenesis is dependent on IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses. Patterns of local inflammation and tumorigenicity were similar in wild-type (WT) and IL-1α−/− mice, while in IL-1β−/− mice, tumorigenicity was attenuated and in IL-1Ra−/− mice accentuated. 3-MCA-induced fibrosarcoma cell lines from WT mice developed into progressive tumors in WT mice, while surprisingly, lines from IL-1α−/− mice formed tumors only in immunocompromized mice. 3-MCA-induced fibrosarcoma cell lines from IL-1α−/− mice, compared with lines from WT mice, manifested higher expression levels of “global” surface molecules related to Ag presentation and interactions with immune surveillance cells (MHC class I, B7.1, B7.2, L-selectin, and NKG2D ligands) and were eradicated mainly by CD4+- and CD8+-dependent T cell responses. Concomitantly, at the injection site of 3-MCA-induced fibrosarcoma cells derived from IL-1α−/− mice, a leukocyte infiltrate, subsequently replaced by a scar-like tissue, was observed. Immune aberrations in NK cell maturation, antitumor specific immunity and killing capacity of effector cells were observed in IL-1α−/− mice, in contrast to WT mice. Thus, we demonstrate in this study the significance of host-derived IL-1α in cancer immunoediting, by affecting innate and specific immunosurveillance mechanisms. Overall, the results presented in this study, together with our previous studies, attest to differential involvement of IL-1α and IL-1β in tumorigenesis; host-derived IL-1β mainly controls inflammation, while concomitantly, IL-1α controls immunosurveillance of the arising malignant cells. Elucidation of the involvement of the IL-1 molecules in the malignant process will hopefully lead to the development of novel approaches for chemoprevention and immunotherapy.
Maximum reach envelope for the seated and standing male and female for industrial workstation design

Maximum reach envelopes for the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile reach lengths of males and females in seated and standing work positions were determined. The use of a computerized potentiometric measurement system permitted functional reach measurement in 15 min for each subject. The measurement system captured reach endpoints in a dynamic mode while the subjects were describing their maximum reach envelopes. An unbiased estimate of the true reach distances was made through a systematic computerized data averaging process. The maximum reach envelope for the standing position was significantly (p < 0.05) larger than the corresponding measure in the seated position for both the males and females. The average reach length of the female was 13.5% smaller than that for the corresponding male. Potential applications of this research include designs of industrial workstations, equipment, tools and products.