Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial localization of DJ‐1 leads to enhanced neuroprotection

Mutations in DJ‐1 (PARK7) cause recessively inherited Parkinson's disease. DJ‐1 is a multifunctional protein with antioxidant and transcription modulatory activity. Its localization in cytoplasm, mitochondria, and nucleus is recognized, but the relevance of this subcellular compartmentalization to its cytoprotective activity is not fully understood. Here we report that under basal conditions DJ‐1 is present mostly in the cytoplasm and to a lesser extent in mitochondria and nucleus of dopaminergic neuroblastoma SK‐N‐BE(2)C cells. Upon oxidant challenge, more DJ‐1 translocates to mitochondria within 3 hr and subsequently to the nucleus by 12 hr. The predominant DJ‐1 species in both mitochondria and nucleus is a dimer believed to be the functional form. Mutating cysteine 106, 53, or 46 had no impact on the translocation of DJ‐1 to mitochondria. To study the relative neuroprotective activity of DJ‐1 in mitochondria and nucleus, DJ‐1 cDNA constructs fused to the appropriate localization signal were transfected into cells. Compared with 30% protection against oxidant‐induced cell death in wild‐type DJ‐1‐transfected cells, mitochondrial targeting of DJ‐1 provided a significantly stronger (55%) cytoprotection based on lactate dehydrogenase release. Nuclear targeting of DJ‐1 preserved cells equally as well as the wild‐type protein. These observations suggest that the time frame for the translocation of DJ‐1 from the cytoplasm to mitochondria and to the nucleus following oxidative stress is quite different and that dimerized DJ‐1 in mitochondria is functional as an antioxidant not related to cysteine modification. These findings further highlight the multifaceted functions of DJ‐1 as a cytoprotector in different cellular compartments. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficacy of Ampicillin plus Ceftriaxone in Treatment of Experimental Endocarditis Due to Enterococcus faecalis Strains Highly Resistant to Aminoglycosides

ABSTRACT The purpose of this work was to evaluate the in vitro possibilities of ampicillin-ceftriaxone combinations for 10 Enterococcus faecalis strains with high-level resistance to aminoglycosides (HLRAg) and to assess the efficacy of ampicillin plus ceftriaxone, both administered with humanlike pharmacokinetics, for the treatment of experimental endocarditis due to HLRAg E. faecalis. A reduction of 1 to 4 dilutions in MICs of ampicillin was obtained when ampicillin was combined with a fixed subinhibitory ceftriaxone concentration of 4 μg/ml. This potentiating effect was also observed by the double disk method with all 10 strains. Time-kill studies performed with 1 and 2 μg of ampicillin alone per ml or in combination with 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 μg of ceftriaxone per ml showed a ≥2 log10 reduction in CFU per milliliter with respect to ampicillin alone and to the initial inoculum for all 10E. faecalis strains studied. This effect was obtained for seven strains with the combination of 2 μg of ampicillin per ml plus 10 μg of ceftriaxone per ml and for six strains with 5 μg of ceftriaxone per ml. Animals with catheter-induced endocarditis were infected intravenously with 108 CFU of E. faecalis V48 or 105 CFU of E. faecalisV45 and were treated for 3 days with humanlike pharmacokinetics of 2 g of ampicillin every 4 h, alone or combined with 2 g of ceftriaxone every 12 h. The levels in serum and the pharmacokinetic parameters of the humanlike pharmacokinetics of ampicillin or ceftriaxone in rabbits were similar to those found in humans treated with 2 g of ampicillin or ceftriaxone intravenously. Results of the therapy for experimental endocarditis caused by E. faecalis V48 or V45 showed that the residual bacterial titers in aortic valve vegetations were significantly lower in the animals treated with the combinations of ampicillin plus ceftriaxone than in those treated with ampicillin alone (P < 0.001). The combination of ampicillin and ceftriaxone showed in vitro and in vivo synergism against HLRAgE. faecalis.
Evaluation of the Nd/YAG laser for treatment of amateur and professional tattoos

Summary Two hundred and twenty‐one amateur tattoos and 27 professional tattoos were treated with a Nd/YAG laser (X 1064nm and 532nm). The response was expressed as the percentage area cleared of tattoo. Seventy‐nine per cent of amateur black tattoos were 75% clear after one to five treatments (mean 2) at 1064 nm. The response of professional tattoos was slower and less complete. Seventyfour per cent of black professional tattoos were 75% clear after one to 11 treatments (mean 6·3) at 1064nm. Red tattoos responded well to 532 nm and were 75% clear after one to five treatments. Yellow, orange blue and green tattoos were resistant to treatment. Side‐effects included minor scarring in 1·2% of tattoos and transient pigmentary changes in 77% of patients.
Artificial activation of bovine and equine oocytes with cycloheximide, roscovitine, strontium, or 6-dimethylaminopurine in low or high calcium concentrations

Summary Knowledge on parthenogenetic activation of oocytes is important to improve the efficiency of nuclear transfer (NT) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) because artificial activation of oocyte (AOA) is an essential step to achieve embryo production. Although different procedures for AOA have been established, the efficiency of in vitro production of embryos remains low, especially in equines and Bos taurus bovines. In an attempt to improve the techniques of NT and ICSI in bovine and equine species, we tested different combinations of drugs that had different mechanisms of action for the parthenogenetic activation of oocytes in these animals. The oocytes were collected, in vitro matured for 24 to 30 h and activated artificially, in the presence of low or high concentrations of calcium, with combinations of calcium ionophore (ionomycin) with cycloheximide, roscovitine, strontium, or 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP). For assessment of activation rates, oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 and observed under an inverted microscope. We showed that all combinations of drugs were equally efficient in activating bovine oocytes, with the best results obtained when high concentrations of calcium were adopted. For equine oocytes, high concentrations of calcium were not beneficial for the parthenogenetic activation and the combination of ionomycin with either 6-DMAP or roscovitine was effective in inducing artificial activation of oocytes. We believe that our preliminary findings provide some clues for the development of a better AOA protocol to be used with these species.
Light and calcium interactions in chlorella inhibited by sodium chloride.

Analysis of NaCl toxicity in Chlorella sorokiniana showed decreased growth rates, increased dry weight per cell, increased intracellular Na(+) and Cl(-), more total chlorophyll per cell, a decreased chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b ratio, increased rates of O(2) evolution, and decreased rates of CO(2) fixation when the extracellular concentration of NaCl was increased from zero to 0.3 m. Cultures did not grow at concentrations greater than 0.3 m NaCl unless 10 mm calcium salts were present. Inclusion of that concentration of Ca(2+) extended the tolerance to 0.5 m NaCl before growth stopped. Increasing the light intensity from 1.2 to 9.4 mw/cm(2) increased growth rates for cultures in 0.10 to 0.45 m NaCl. At 14 mw/cm(2) added Ca(2+) reduced growth rates of cultures in 0.3 m NaCl compared to controls without added Ca(2+). Maximal growth rates for cultures in NaCl media were achieved by addition of 10 mm CaSO(4) and maintenance of the light intensity at 9.4 mw/cm(2). The maximal growth rate of the organism was 9.6 doublings/day achieved at 2.7 mw/cm(2) for control cultures. In 0.3 m NaCl the growth rate was 4.3 doublings/day at 2.7 mw/cm(2) and 8.2 doublings/day at 9.4 mw/cm(2) with 10 mm CaSO(4) added.Increasing light intensities from 2.7 to 9.4 to 14 mw/cm(2) decreased intracellular Na(+) in cells cultured in 0.3 m NaCl medium without added Ca(2+) and increased Cl(-) uptake in cells cultured in 0.3 m NaCl medium with and without added Ca(2+). For cells cultured in 0.3 m NaCl medium at 14 mw/cm(2) intracellular Na(+) was 0.68 meq/g dry weight with Ca(2+) added and 0.81 meq/g dry weight without Ca(2+) added. Addition of Ca(2+) at 2.7 mw/cm(2) reduced intracellular Na(+) to similar values. It is postulated that energy requirements for active Na(+) exclusion were reduced by addition of Ca(2+) allowing more energy to be used for cell growth resulting in increased growth rates.O(2) evolution and CO(2) fixation studies indicated that increased photosynthetic energy, probably actuated by a high proton gradient accompanying Cl(-) influx and uncoupled from CO(2) fixation, was available for maintenance of cellular integrity and active control of intracellular ionic ratios. The O(2) evolving capacity was destroyed at 12 and 29 mw/cm(2) for cells cultured in 0.3 m NaCl medium respectively with and without the addition of Ca(2+). Control cultures continued producing O(2) at light intensities up to 115 mw/cm(2).
Clinical efficacy of peramivir in adult patients with seasonal influenza during the winter of 2012 in Japan

Peramivir is an intravenously administered neuraminidase inhibitor for influenza. The clinical efficacy of peramivir remains unclear because it is used in a limited number of countries. We compared the clinical efficacy of peramivir with that of oseltamivir in influenza patients during the 2012–2013 season.
cquired prosopagnosia as a face-specific disorder : Ruling out the general visual imilarity account

Prosopagnosia is classically defined as a disorder of visual recognition specific to faces, following brain damage. However, according to a long-standing alternative view, these patients would rather be generally impaired in recognizing objects belonging to visually homogenous categories, including faces. We tested this alternative hypothesis stringently with a well-documented brain-damaged prosopagnosic patient (PS) in three delayed forced-choice recognition experiments in which visual similarity between a target and its distractor was manipulated parametrically: novel 3D geometric shapes, morphed pictures of common objects, and morphed photographs of a highly homogenous familiar category (cars). In all experiments, PS showed normal performance and speed, and there was no evidence of a steeper increase of error rates and RTs with increasing levels of visual similarity, compared to controls. These data rule out an account of acquired prosopagnosia in terms of a more general impairment in recognizing objects from visually homogenous categories. An additional experiment with morphed faces confirmed that PS was specifically impaired at individual face recognition. However, in stark contrast to the alternative view of prosopagnosia, PS was relatively more impaired at the easiest levels of discrimination, i.e. when individual faces differ clearly in global shape rather than when faces were highly similar and had to be discriminated based on fine-grained details. Overall, these observations as well as a review of previous evidence, lead us to conclude that this alternative view of prosopagnosia does not hold. Rather, it seems that brain damage in adulthood may lead to selective recognition impairment for faces, perhaps the only category of visual stimuli for which holistic/configural perception is not only potentially at play, but is idua strictly necessary to indiv
Experimental Infection with Schistosoma mansoni in CCR5-Deficient Mice Is Associated with Increased Disease Severity, as CCR5 Plays a Role in Controlling Granulomatous Inflammation

ABSTRACT The plasma level of the chemokine CCL3 is elevated in patients with chronic severe schistosomiasis mansoni. We have previously shown that CCL3−/− mice with experimental infection showed diminished pathology and worm burden compared to those of wild-type (WT) mice. To elucidate further the role of CC chemokines during schistosomiasis mansoni infection, we evaluated the course of infection in C57BL/6J mice deficient in CCR5, one of the receptors for CCL3. The CCR5 deficiency proved to be remarkably deleterious to the host, since mortality rates reached 70% at 14 weeks postinfection in CCR5−/− mice and 19% in WT mice. The increased lethality was not associated with an increased parasite burden, since similar numbers of eggs and adult worms were found in mice from both groups. Liver granulomas of chronically infected CCR5−/− mice were larger and showed greater numbers of cells and collagen deposition than liver granulomas from WT mice. This was associated with higher levels of production of intereleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-13, CCL3, and CCL5 in infected CCR5−/− mice than in infected WT mice. Moreover, at 8 weeks after infection, just before changes in pathology and mortality, the numbers of FoxP3-positive cells were lower in liver granulomas of CCR5−/− mice than in WT mice. In conclusion, the CCR5 deletion is deleterious to mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni, and this is associated with enhanced fibrosis and granulomatous inflammation.
Serum C-reactive protein in Normal Pregnancy and Preeclampsia-a Comparative Study

The aim and objective of the study is to find out the correlation between C reactive protein (CRP) in normal pregnancy with that of preeclampsia as well as to study the level of C reactive protein in relation to the severity of the preeclampsia and its pregnancy outcome. A Hospital based prospective comparative study was performed on 100 singleton pregnant women after 20 weeks of gestation include 50 preeclamptic (25 mild and 25 severe) patients and 50 normotensive pregnant women as controls were selected for the study in the department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Assam Medical College and Hospital for a period of one year. After initial assessment of every patient, blood sample was collected in a sterile empty vial. Serum CRP levels were measured by high CRP sensitivity kit using Particle Enhanced Turbimetric Immunoassay (PETIA) Technique. Clinical outcome were evaluated. Statistical analysis was done using Student’s t-test. The mean level of serum CRP in preeclamptic patients was 2.1 + 1.36 mg/dl and that in normotensive pregnant women was 0.39 + 0.09 mg/dl ( p-value < 0.0001). And mean level of serum CRP in mild preeclamptic patients was 1.08 + 0.53 mg/dl and severe preeclamptic patients was 3.12 + 1.16 mg/dl ( p < 0.001 ). We therefore conclude that CRP level is raised in preeclampsia than normal pregnancy and also these results suggests that CRP levels are increased more in severe preeclampsia than mild preeclampsia. Thus, CRP can be used as a useful parameter for the assessment of preeclampsia.
High prevalence of international ESBL CTX-M-15-producing Enterobacter cloacae ST114 clone in animals.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to characterize ESBL-producing Enterobacter cloacae isolated from animals and to compare their clonal distribution with that of human-related isolates. METHODS Among 635 clinical E. cloacae from horses, dogs and cats collected in France between 2010 and 2013, 36 were resistant to ceftiofur as determined by disc diffusion. ESBL genes were identified by sequencing. Plasmids carrying ESBL-encoding genes were characterized by PCR-based replicon typing, S1-PFGE and Southern blotting. IncHI2 plasmids were subtyped using the plasmid double-locus sequence typing scheme and multiplex amplification of the hipA, smr0092 and smr0183 genes. All E. cloacae were typed by PFGE and MLST. ST clustering was analysed by eBURST. RESULTS All 36 ceftiofur-resistant E. cloacae produced an ESBL. Their PFGE patterns formed 23 clusters of high similarity and 13 STs and were isolated from epidemiologically unrelated animals (14 horses, 11 dogs and 11 cats) distributed throughout France. ST114, the most prevalent clone in humans, was over-represented in animals (16/36) compared with other human-related clones detected here. The blaCTX-M-15 gene was dominant (66.7%) and mostly carried on IncHI2 plasmids (ST1 subtype). ST114 isolates always produced CTX-M-15. CONCLUSIONS Most ESBL-producing E. cloacae from animals studied here (69.4%) belonged to potentially high-risk clones in humans, in particular ST114 (44.4%). These data raise questions and potential concerns about the transfer of E. cloacae between animals and humans.
SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS JULY, 1972 TOWARD A MORE COMPLETE COMPARISON OF FARM AND NONFARM PROPRIETORSHIP INCOME

Several methods are available to agricultural economists for appraising the income position of farm proprietors. However, most analyses concentrate on a single measure and give little attention to alternative techniques. We suggest that a better understanding of the income situation of a group can be gained by using a combination of techniques. Income of farm proprietors is often compared with that of other broad industrial groups. Such a procedure can partly mask differences and similarities that exist between the farm sector and other businesses. In this paper we compare farm proprietor incomes with those of nonfarm proprietors.
Relational–Developmental Therapy Group for Postnatal Depression

Abstract Postnatal depression has been estimated to affect as many as 30% of childbearing women. Emerging evidence offers reason to believe that psychoanalytically-oriented group treatment may be beneficial for some women with postnatal depression. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of one model of analytic group therapy for this clinical population. Our findings suggest that the women had a positive response to the group treatment. The particulars of the psychoanalytic group approach, here referred to as relational–developmental, are described in detail and an analysis is offered about why this approach may be beneficial. Also discussed are limitations of the research design and suggestions for studying a relational–developmental group–centered prevention program for children at–risk from postnatal depression.
Neurological Status of Combat Veterans and Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse PTSD a

We found higher levels of positive soft neurological signs in PTSD participants than in participants who also experienced similar trauma but did not develop PTSD. This finding was replicated in two samples, that is, Vietnam combat veterans and adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse, despite differences in gender, age, nature of trauma, and period of life when the trauma occurred. Past developmental history of participants and a substance abuse history of first-degree relatives also differentiated PTSD from non-PTSD groups in both combat and sexual abuse samples. Evidence for neurological impairment and compromised developmental history raises the possibility of pretrauma impairment as a risk factor for the development of PTSD.
Good results after endonasal cartilage closure of nasal septal perforations.

INTRODUCTION Surgical closure of nasal septal perforations is a challenging procedure. Several approaches and techniques have been described with different levels of success. We report our experience in nasal septal perforation surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS We reviewed a sample of 19 patients who underwent surgical closure of nasal septal perforations. The perforations varied in size from 3 mm to 25 mm (mean 13 mm). Outcome was assessed on the basis of a comparison of the preoperative and final follow-up assessment of perforation size and symptoms. The surgical technique is based on an endonasal approach with dissection of bilateral bipedicled mucoperichondrial/-periosteal advancement flaps and interposition of a septal or conchal cartilage graft. RESULTS Symptomatic resolution was documented for 18 of the 19 patients (95%). Complete closure was accomplished in 16 patients (84%) without major complications. We observed no graft donor site morbidity. CONCLUSION The technique described uses recognized surgical principles to reconstruct the original nasal architecture and physiology. The results achieved sustain that the method offers both durability and strength. The endonasal approach leaves no scars, reduces risk of tip-rotation and offers sufficient view and space for instrumentation. We conclude that this method is suitable for treatment of perforations up to a vertical height of at least 25 mm.
Preoperative small-dose ketamine has no preemptive analgesic effect in patients undergoing total mastectomy.

UNLABELLED We evaluated the preemptive analgesic effect of a small dose of ketamine given before or immediately after surgery in a randomized, double-blinded study performed in 128 women undergoing total mastectomy. Group 1 patients received ketamine 0.15 mg/kg as a 5-mL i.v. injection 5 min before surgery and isotonic saline 5 mL i.v. at the time of skin closure. Group 2 received 5 mL i.v. of isotonic saline, then 0.15 mg/kg i.v. ketamine. A standard general anesthesia procedure including sufentanil was used. In the recovery room, patient-controlled analgesia i.v. morphine was used for postoperative analgesia. Postoperative pain was assessed by measuring morphine consumption and visual analog scale pain scores. No significant intergroup differences were seen in the pain scores. Patient-controlled analgesia morphine consumption was lower during the first 2 h after surgery in patients given ketamine at the time of skin closure. No patient complained of hallucinations or nightmares. The incidence of adverse effects was not different between the two groups. In conclusion, administering ketamine at the end of surgery is more effective in reducing morphine consumption than it is when given before surgery. IMPLICATIONS We administered the same small dose of ketamine before or after surgery. The preoperative administration of 0.15 mg/kg ketamine in patients undergoing total mastectomy did not elicit a preemptive analgesic effect. Ketamine given at closure reduced the patient-controlled analgesia morphine requirement in the first 2 h after surgery.
Genetic clues on the evolution of anaerobic catabolism of aromatic compounds.

This work was supported by Grants 07M/0076/2002 and 07M/0127/2000 from the Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid and by Grants BIO2000-1076, BIO2003-01482 and VEM2003-20075-C02-02 from the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia. M. J. L. B. is a recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Plan Nacional de Formacion de Personal Investigador-MCYT, and M. C. is a holder of the Ramon y Cajal Program of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia
A new culture medium for in vitro rhizogenesis of grapevine (Vitis spp.) genotypes

A modified culture medium is presented that promotes in vitro rooting of grapevine rootstocks and Vitis vinifera L. cultivars even in the absence of plant growth regulators. Study of 15 Vitis genotypes indicated a strong genotype-dependent response to culture medium and growth regulators with respect to formation of roots in one-node shoot segments (.)