Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complement‐independent blistering mechanisms in bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease that clinically demonstrates tense blisters with widespread erythema, histologically demonstrates subepidermal blistering and immunologically demonstrates the presence of circulating autoantibodies against hemidesmosomal molecules. Complement activation has long been regarded as necessary for the generation of the BP. However, certain evidence has recently come to support non‐complemental blistering mechanisms. The story of BP blistering mechanisms is a complicated one. This review mainly focuses on a specific blistering mechanism that highlights the role of complements in BP blistering.
Hepatocarcinogenesis in Female Mice With Mosaic Expression of Connexin32

Mice deficient for connexin32 (Cx32), the major gap junction forming protein in liver, are highly susceptible to hepatocarcinogenesis. Because the Cx32 gene is located on the X‐chromosome, heterozygous females show mosaicism with respect to Cx32 expression; this enables their use in studying the effect of Cx32‐deficiency in a mixed Cx32‐plus/Cx32‐minus environment in vivo. Female C3H/He mice (Cx32+/+) were crossed with Cx32‐deficient C57BL/129Sv males (Cx32Y/‐) to yield F1 females heterozygous with respect to Cx32 (Cx32+/−). Patches of hepatocytes were observed in normal liver that either expressed Cx32 or failed to express the protein. The mean fraction of Cx32‐negative tissue in liver was about 60% and did not change significantly with age of mice. Neoplastic liver lesions, induced in weanling mice, were identified in serial liver sections by their deficiency in glucose‐6‐phosphatase staining. Parallel sections were used for immunohistochemical demonstration of Cx32 protein. Smaller lesions were either homogenously Cx32‐negative or showed unchanged to slightly elevated levels of Cx32 protein. There were no major differences in number and size distribution between lesions of these 2 phenotypes. In addition, larger lesions were mostly Cx32‐negative but often contained embedded patches of Cx32‐positive cells. Staining for the proliferation‐associated nuclear antigen Ki‐67 did not reveal significant differences between Cx32‐negative and Cx32‐positive hepatocytes in Cx32‐mosaic tumors. This suggests that expression of Cx32 within a subpopulation of tumor cells does not negatively regulate their growth nor does it seem to affect the proliferation of their directly neighboring Cx32‐negative counterparts.
Direct detection of saponins in crude extracts of soapnuts by FTIR

Direct detection of saponins in soapnuts (Sapindus mukorossi) using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is investigated in this project. Potassium bromide powder was mixed with extracted powder of soapnuts and compressed to a thin pellet for examination process. The outcome of the FTIR spectra of saponin demonstrated characteristic triterpenoid saponin absorptions of OH, C = O, C–H, and C = C, while the glycoside linkages to the sapogenins were indicated by the absorptions of C–O. The significance of this study is that saponin absorption peaks are directly detectable in crude aqueous and 95% ethanol extracts of soapnuts powder using FTIR spectroscopy, thereby eliminating the need of further expensive and exhaustive purification steps. The extracts of soapnuts were screened for saponins along with controls by phytochemical tests, and advanced spectroscopic techniques such as ultra fast liquid chromatography and ultra performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry were also implemented to validate the saponins.
Salmonella in Swedish Cattle . Epidemiology and aspects on control

In Sweden, all herds detected with salmonella are put under restrictions and measures aiming at eradication are required. The purpose of these studies was to provide a basis for decisions on how surveillance and control of salmonella in Swedish cattle can be made more cost-efficient. Results from a bulk milk screening were used to investigate seroprevalence of salmonella and to study associations between salmonella status and geographical location, local animal density, number of test positive neighbour herds, animal trade and herd size. Additional information on potential risk factors for salmonella was collected via a questionnaire sent to selected herds. The results confirmed a low prevalence of salmonella in Swedish dairy herds throughout the country, except for an island in the southeast (Öland). Test-positive salmonella status was associated with test-positive neighbours, with a stronger association for herds with indication of infection with the host-adapted S. Dublin, than for those with indication of infection with other serotypes. The results suggest local spread as an important component in transmission of salmonella between herds. Specific factors of importance in this local spread were not identified, suggesting that a broad biosecurity approach is needed in prevention of salmonella. Infection with S. Dublin was associated with herd size, and herd size was in turn associated with type of housing and many management factors, which might affect the persistence of salmonella in a herd. Costs for implementation of required measures in restricted herds during the years 1999-2013 were on average 0.49 million EUR per farm, with a median of 0.11 EUR, and a range of 1080 EUR to 4.44 million EUR. Larger herds and longer restriction periods were associated with higher costs. Efficiency of different sampling strategies was evaluated on herd level. The study highlights the importance of considering a herd’s risk of having salmonella when deciding on sampling strategies for different purposes, e.g. surveillance of pre-purchase testing.
Incidence of lateral meniscus injury in professional basketball players

We reviewed National Basketball Trainers Association data over a 6-year period to determine the incidence of lateral meniscus injury among professional basketball players. Our results indicated that 58% of all injuries involved the lateral meniscus, while 42% involved the medial meniscus. This differs from what other authors have reported for basketball players. The lateral menis cus may be vulnerable to chronic injury and subject to microtrauma from repetitive submaximal stresses as sociated with cutting or changing direction while run ning, or from pivoting. A professional player is at more risk of injury during a game than practice, and thus is exposed to injury more than a collegian because the professional season has three to four times as many games. Also, magnetic resonance imaging may aid the physician in accurately diagnosing some tears that would otherwise have gone undetected or required arthroscopy for diagnosis. In addition, injury to the lateral meniscus could produce secondary symptoms such as instability or patellofemoral pain to structures other than the lateral meniscus.
Guidelines for using proton MR spectroscopy in multicenter clinical MS studies

Proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) allows noninvasive characterization of chemical-pathologic changes in the brain. In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), proton MRS reveals chemical pathology in focal inflammatory lesions as well as in regions of the brain that are not associated with structural abnormalities on conventional MRI. In MS studies, it has been particularly useful as a method for the assessment of neurodegeneration based on decreases in the levels of the neuro-axonal marker compound, N-acetylaspartate. Also, MRS has provided evidence of chemical pathology and repair involving non-neuronal brain cells based on changes in metabolites, including choline, myo-inositol, glutamate, and GABA. Despite its greater pathologic specificity for axonal integrity compared to conventional MRI, MRS has been used only infrequently in clinical trials. This prompted us to review current MRS clinical applications in MS, discuss the potential and limitations of the technique, and suggest recommendations for the application of MRS to clinical trials. GLOSSARY: ap = anterior-posterior; cc = cranio-caudal; Cho = choline-containing compounds; Cr = creatine; Lac = lactate; lr = left-right; MI = myo-inositol; MRS = proton MR spectroscopy; MS = multiple sclerosis; NAA = N-acetylaspartate; PRESS = point-resolved spectroscopy; STEAM = stimulated echo acquisition mode; TE= echo time; TR = repetition time; VOI = volume of interest.
Assessment of Donor-Site Morbidity Using Balance and Gait Tests After Bilateral Fibula Osteoseptocutaneous Free Flap Transfer

The donor-site morbidity from harvesting unilateral free fibular osteoseptocutaneous flaps has been previously evaluated and is considered minimal. The purpose of this study was to investigate functional deficits after bilateral fibular osteoseptocutaneous flap harvest. Between 1990 and 2004, 7 consecutive patients undergoing mandible reconstruction utilizing bilateral autogenous free fibular osteoseptocutaneous flaps were included in the study. They were evaluated for the following subjective symptoms on the donor leg: pain, paresthesia, walking ability, restriction in activity, gait alteration, and aesthetic result. In addition, balance test and gait analysis were used to quantitatively assess functional outcomes. The results of this objective assessment were compared with those of 8 age-matched control subjects. Most patients had few subjective symptoms. The most common complaints were pain after prolonged walking (14%), slight difficulty in squatting (28%), and minimal paresthesia on 1 of the donor legs (14%). There were no significant differences in reaction time and movement velocity on either the balance test or gait analysis between the study and control groups (P > 0.05). However, there were significant differences with regard to right backward directional control, maximum stability with eye closing, sway referenced support, and ankle strategy (P < 0.05). Long-term follow-up revealed minimal donor-site morbidity after bilateral fibular osteoseptocutaneous free flap harvests. The functional deficits could only be found under the most unfavorable sensory feedback conditions.
Isokinetic assessment of the effects of botulinum toxin injection on spasticity and voluntary strength in patients with spastic hemiparesis.

BACKGROUND Peak knee flexion during swing phase is frequently reduced following stroke. The main treatment is botulinum toxin injection (BoNT-A) of the Rectus Femoris (RF) muscle. BoNT-A injections have been shown to decrease spasticity (assessed using the modified Ashworth scale) and to improve peak knee flexion during swing phase. Although the effect of BoNT-A has been clearly demonstrated on kinematic parameters during gait, the direct effects on spasticity and strength have been little studied using objective and sensitive outcome measures. AIM The aim of this study was to use an isokinetic dynamometer to assess the effects of BoNT-A injection in the RF on stretch reflex-related torque at the knee joint and peak voluntary knee flexor and extensor torque and to evaluate the effect on functional capacity. DESIGN Before-after trial: Assessments were carried out pre and post (four weeks) RF BoNT-A injection. Clinical and isokinetic evaluations were carried out. SETTING Ambulatory care in a hospital setting. Participants. Population-based sample of fourteen chronic spastic hemiparetic patients with stiff knee gait. METHODS Primary outcome measurements were stretch reflex-related torque at the knee joint and peak voluntary knee flexor and extensor torque. Secondary outcomes were knee angle at peak torque, the slope of the torque velocity curve, stiffness and functional outcomes. RESULTS Peak knee extensor torque was significantly decreased and peak knee flexor torque was significantly increased during maximal voluntary concentric and isometric contractions following BoNT-A injection of the RF. Stretch reflex-related torque evaluated during passive stretching movements was reduced and the angle of occurrence of the peak was greater. Functional outcomes did not change. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: The results of this study indicate that BoNT-A injection reduced RF spasticity but also reduced quadriceps strength. In contrast, knee flexor strength increased. These changes did not, however, lead to functional gait changes.
Quantitative Study of Germinal Center Area in Normal and Diseased Tonsils Using Image Analysis

The aim of this study was to measure the germinal center area of secondary follicles in a consistent and unbiased manner using image analysis. Tonsil specimens were obtained from children with clinical evidence of recurrent tonsillitis and/or idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy. Normal control biopsy specimens were obtained from children with no history of ear, nose, or throat infections. The results show a significant increase in the germinal center area in tonsils exhibiting hypertrophy when compared to normal controls (p < .002). Image analysis is an important tool for making quantitative size comparisons in lymphoid tissues.
Stromal regulation of human gastric dendritic cells restricts the Th1 response to Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Mucosal dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in initiating the T-helper (Th)1 response to Helicobacter pylori. To further elucidate the mucosal response to H pylori, we examined whether gastric stromal factors condition DCs to support tolerance to H pylori, analogous to intestinal stromal factor-driven macrophage tolerance to commensal bacteria. METHODS To model mucosal DC development, we isolated and cultured cell-depleted human stroma/extracellular matrix from fresh gastric and intestinal mucosa to generate stroma-conditioned media. We then analyzed the capacity of stroma-conditioned media-treated monocyte-derived DCs and primary human gastric and intestinal DCs pulsed in vitro with H pylori to induce T-cell proliferation and interferon gamma secretion. RESULTS Stromal factors in gastric mucosa suppressed H pylori-stimulated DC activation and the ability of DCs to drive a Th1 proliferative and cytokine response to H pylori. The ability of gastric stromal factors to down-regulate DC function was similar to that of intestinal stromal factors and was independent of transforming growth factor β, prostaglandin E₂, interleukin (IL)-10, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Stroma-conditioned media-induced reduction in DC-stimulated Th1 responses was associated with reduced DC release of IL-12. CONCLUSIONS Gastric stromal factors down-regulate DC responsiveness to H pylori, resulting in a dampened gastric Th1 response. We speculate that stroma-induced down-regulation of DC function contributes to the permissiveness of both gastric and intestinal mucosa to colonization by persistent residential microbes.
Mathematical Models of the Complete Course of HIV Infection and AIDS

Mathematical models of HIV infection are important to our understanding of AIDS. However, most models do not predict both the decrease in CD4+ T cells and the increase in viral load seen over the course of infection. By including terms for continuous loss of CD4+ T cells and incorporating alteration in viral clearance and viral production, two new models have been created that accurately predict the dynamics of the disease. The first model is a clearance rate reduction model and is based on a 10% per year decrease in both viral clearance and CD4+ T cell levels. A macrophage reservoir model incorporating the observation that macrophage viral production increases up to 1000 fold in the presence of opportunistic infections that become increasingly common as disease progresses. Both viral clearance and macrophage reservoir models predict the expected decrease in T cell levels and rise in viral load observed at the onset of AIDS.
Clinical anatomy of the G‐spot

The existence of the G‐Spot has never been unequivocally confirmed. With increased public exposure and a trend towards sexual gratification, however, the impetus to elucidate this structure is greater than ever. This review will focus on research that has been conducted on the clinical anatomy of the G‐Spot. Ultimately this review will show that while the distal area of the anterior vaginal wall appears to be the most sensitive region of the vagina, the existence of an anatomical “G‐spot” remains to be demonstrated. Clin. Anat. 28:363–367, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Number and Distribution of Eosinophils in the Adult Human Gastrointestinal Tract: A Study and Comparison of Racial and Environmental Factors

There are surprisingly limited data regarding normal counts or distribution of eosinophils in the gastrointestinal tract, despite the increasing incidence of eosinophilic gastrointestinal tract diseases. Moreover, there are no published reports on the eosinophil number throughout the gastrointestinal tract of adults or Asian populations, or those investigating the effect of race on eosinophil count. First, in our study, the number of eosinophils from each portion of the gastrointestinal mucosa was quantified on biopsy slides from a Japanese adult population (132 samples). Next, the surgical resections from Japanese (110 samples), Japanese Americans (64), and Caucasians (57) were used to investigate the racial and environmental effects. Our results with the Japanese biopsy samples showed a significant increase in the number of eosinophils from the esophagus to the right colon (mean±SD/mm2: 0.07±0.43 for the esophagus, 12.18±11.39 for the stomach, and 36.59±15.50 for the right colon), compared with a decrease in the left colon (8.53±7.83). Investigation using surgical samples showed that the distribution patterns in the gastrointestinal tract were very similar among the 3 ethnic groups, and there were no significant differences in the number of eosinophils among these groups, except in the esophageal epithelium. This study is the first report on the normal numbers and distribution of eosinophils throughout the gastrointestinal tract not only of an Asian population but also of adults. Our data suggest that a cutoff value for eosinophil counts, when rendering a diagnosis of eosinophilic gastrointestinal tract disease, should be individualized to the different biopsy sites. Interestingly, race and environmental factors did not seem to have a significant effect on eosinophil densities and distributions.
Localization and Subcellular Distribution of N‐Copine in Mouse Brain

Abstract : N‐Copine is a novel protein with two C2 domains. Its expression is brain specific and up‐regulated by neuronal activity such as kainate stimulation and tetanus stimulation evoking hippocampal CA1 long‐term potentiation. We examined the localization and subcellular distribution of N‐copine in mouse brain. In situ hybridization analysis showed that N‐copine mRNA was expressed exclusively in neurons of the hippocampus and in the main and accessory olfactory bulb, where various forms of synaptic plasticity and memory formation are known to occur. In immunohistochemical analyses, N‐copine was detected mainly in the cell bodies and dendrites in the neurons, whereas presynaptic proteins such as synaptotagmin I and rab3A were detected in the regions where axons pass through. In fractionation experiments of brain homogenate, N‐copine was associated with the membrane fraction in the presence of Ca2+ but not in its absence. As a GST‐fusion protein with the second C2 domain of N‐copine showed Ca2+ ‐dependent binding to phosphatidylserine, this domain was considered to be responsible for the Ca2+ ‐dependent association of N‐copine with the membrane. Thus, N‐copine may have a role as a Ca2+ sensor in postsynaptic events, in contrast to the known roles of “double C2 domain‐containing proteins,” including synaptotagmin I, in presynaptic events.
Turbulence Structure of the Hurricane Boundary Layer between the Outer Rainbands

Abstract As part of the Coupled Boundary Layers Air–Sea Transfer (CBLAST)-Hurricane program, flights were conducted to directly measure turbulent fluxes and turbulence properties in the high-wind boundary layer of hurricanes between the outer rainbands. For the first time, vertical profiles of normalized momentum fluxes, sensible heat and humidity fluxes, and variances of three-dimensional wind velocities and specific humidity are presented for the hurricane boundary layer with surface wind speeds ranging from 20 to 30 m s−1. The turbulent kinetic energy budget is estimated, indicating that the shear production and dissipation are the major source and sink terms, respectively. The imbalance in the turbulent kinetic energy budget indicates that the unmeasured terms, such as horizontal advection, may be important in hurricane boundary layer structure and dynamics. Finally, the thermodynamic boundary layer height, estimated based on the virtual potential temperature profiles, is roughly half of the boundary .
Tamoxifen attenuates inflammatory‐mediated damage and improves functional outcome after spinal cord injury in rats

Tamoxifen has been found to be neuroprotective in both transient and permanent experimental ischemic stroke. However, it remains unknown whether this agent shows a similar beneficial effect after spinal cord injury (SCI), and what are its underlying mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of tamoxifen treatment in attenuating SCI‐induced pathology. Blood–spinal cord barrier (BSCB) permeability, tissue edema formation, microglial activation, neuronal cell death and myelin loss were determined in rats subjected to spinal cord contusion. The results showed that tamoxifen, administered at 30 min post‐injury, significantly decreased interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) production induced by microglial activation, alleviated the amount of Evans blue leakage and edema formation. In addition, tamoxifen treatment clearly reduced the number of apoptotic neurons post‐SCI. The myelin loss and the increase in production of myelin‐associated axonal growth inhibitors were also found to be significantly attenuated at day 3 post‐injury. Furthermore, rats treated with tamoxifen scored much higher on the locomotor rating scale after SCI than did vehicle‐treated rats, suggesting improved functional outcome after SCI. Together, these results demonstrate that tamoxifen provides neuroprotective effects for treatment of SCI‐related pathology and disability, and is therefore a potential neuroprotectant for human spinal cord injury therapy.
Spatiotemporal characterization of rhythmic activity in rat spinal cord slice cultures

Rat spinal networks generate a spontaneous rhythmic output directed to motoneurons under conditions of increased excitation or of disinhibition. It is not known whether these differently induced rhythms are produced by a common rhythm generator. To investigate the generation and the propagation of rhythmic activity in spinal networks, recordings need to be made from many neurons simultaneously. Therefore extracellular multisite recording was performed in slice cultures of embryonic rat spinal cords grown on multielectrode arrays. In these organotypic cultures most of the spontaneous neural activity was nearly synchronized. Waves of activity spread from a source to most of the network within 35–85 ms and died out after a further 30–400 ms. Such activity waves induced the contraction of cocultured muscle fibres. Several activity waves could be grouped into aperiodic bursts. Disinhibition with bicuculline and strychnine or increased excitability with high K+ or low Mg2+ solutions could induce periodic bursting with bursts consisting of one or several activity waves. Whilst the duration and period of activity waves were similar for all protocols, the duration and period of bursts were longer during disinhibition than during increased excitation. The sources of bursting activity were mainly situated ventrally on both sides of the central fissure. The pathways of network recruitment from one source were variable between bursts, but they showed on average no systematic differences between the protocols. These spatiotemporal similarities under conditions of increased excitation and of disinhibition suggest a common spinal network for both types of rhythmic activity.