Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of the combination of N-acetylcysteine and desferrioxamine in the prevention and treatment of gentamicin-induced acute renal failure in male Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress and the formation of aminoglycoside-iron complexes through iron-dependent Fenton reaction have been proposed to be the major mechanisms in the development of GM-induced acute renal failure (ARF); however, the efficacy of the combination of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and desferrioxamine (DFX) in the prevention and the treatment of GM-induced ARF has not previously been investigated. METHODS In the prevention protocol, adult male Wistar rats received gentamicin (GM) [70 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p), each 12 h for 7 days], NAC (20 mg/kg, sc, each 8 h for 7 days) and/or DFX (20 mg/kg, sc, at first, fourth and seventh days). In the treatment protocol animals received GM for 7 days. Additionally, animals received NAC and or DFX starting in the fourth day after GM administration. Parameters of renal function had been evaluated 24 h, 4 and 8 days after the beginning of GM administration in the prevention protocol and in Days 5 and 8 in the treatment protocol. At the end of experiment, lipid peroxidation (TBARS assay) and protein oxidation (protein carbonyls levels) formation were evaluated in kidney tissue as oxidative damage parameters. RESULTS In the prevention protocol, GM-induced ARF was prevented by the NAC and DFX association. Lipid peroxidation was attenuated by both antioxidant treatments, but the effects of NAC plus DFX were of greater magnitude. In the treatment protocol, plasma markers of renal injury were improved only in the NAC group, despite the similar antioxidant effect of both NAC, DFX and NAC plus DFX. CONCLUSION Although the combination of NAC and DFX was more effective in the prevention protocol, the use of NAC alone seemed to be superior to NAC-DFX combination, in the treatment of GM-induced ARF in adult male Wistar rats.
Characterizing the mechanics of cultured cell monolayers

One-cell-thick monolayers are the simplest tissues in multicellular organisms, yet they fulfill critical roles in development and normal physiology. In early development, embryonic morphogenesis results largely from monolayer rearrangement and deformation due to internally generated forces. Later, monolayers act as physical barriers separating the internal environment from the exterior and must withstand externally applied forces. Though resisting and generating mechanical forces is an essential part of monolayer function, simple experimental methods to characterize monolayer mechanical properties are lacking. Here, we describe a system for tensile testing of freely suspended cultured monolayers that enables the examination of their mechanical behavior at multi-, uni-, and subcellular scales. Using this system, we provide measurements of monolayer elasticity and show that this is two orders of magnitude larger than the elasticity of their isolated cellular components. Monolayers could withstand more than a doubling in length before failing through rupture of intercellular junctions. Measurement of stress at fracture enabled a first estimation of the average force needed to separate cells within truly mature monolayers, approximately ninefold larger than measured in pairs of isolated cells. As in single cells, monolayer mechanical properties were strongly dependent on the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton, myosin, and intercellular adhesions interfacing adjacent cells. High magnification imaging revealed that keratin filaments became progressively stretched during extension, suggesting they participate in monolayer mechanics. This multiscale study of monolayer response to deformation enabled by our device provides the first quantitative investigation of the link between monolayer biology and mechanics.
Midlatitude cooling caused by geomagnetic field minimum during polarity reversal

The climatic effects of cloud formation induced by galactic cosmic rays (CRs) has recently become a topic of much discussion. The CR–cloud connection suggests that variations in geomagnetic field intensity could change climate through modulation of CR flux. This hypothesis, however, is not well-tested using robust geological evidence. Here we present paleoclimate and paleoenvironment records of five interglacial periods that include two geomagnetic polarity reversals. Marine oxygen isotope stages 19 and 31 contain both anomalous cooling intervals during the sea-level highstands and the Matuyama–Brunhes and Lower Jaramillo reversals, respectively. This contrasts strongly with the typical interglacial climate that has the temperature maximum at the sea-level peak. The cooling occurred when the field intensity dropped to <40% of its present value, for which we estimate >40% increase in CR flux. The climate warmed rapidly when field intensity recovered. We suggest that geomagnetic field intensity can influence global climate through the modulation of CR flux.
Differential effects of immunosuppressive drugs on COX-2 activity in vitro and in kidney transplant patients in vivo.

BACKGROUND It was hypothesized that calcineurin inhibitors suppress vascular cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and exert a reciprocal influence on in vivo prostacyclin and thromboxane. This could contribute to cardiovascular morbidity in transplanted patients. METHODS The ability of immunosuppressives to suppress vascular COX-2 expression in vitro was studied in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells. Blood and urine samples were collected from 28 renal transplant patients before and 2, 4 and 6 h after intake of immunosuppressives and from 11 controls. ELISA was used to measure (1) plasma 6-keto-PGF1alpha and TxB2; (2) urine excretion of PGI-M and TxB(2); (3) 6-keto-PGF1alpha in the whole-blood COX-2 assay; and (4) TxB2 in the whole-blood COX-1 assay. Platelet aggregation was measured optically. RESULTS COX-2 in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells was suppressed by cyclosporine A (CsA); tacrolimus and rapamycin had no effect. Human renal arteries and vascular smooth muscle expressed calcineurin Abeta and Agamma isoforms. CsA had no effect on plasma 6-keto-PGF1alpha, whole-blood COX-2 activity or PGI-M urine excretion; after rapamycin intake, the former two increased. Plasma TxB2 did not change after drug intake. TxB2 in the COX-1 assay and urine excretion of TxB2 was significantly lower in tacrolimus- and rapamycin-treated patients compared to the CsA group. Platelet aggregation was increased significantly in the CsA group. CONCLUSIONS Although CsA suppressed COX-2 in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, systemic prostacyclin was not suppressed by either CsA or tacrolimus in vivo. Rapamycin and tacrolimus may actively suppress platelet and renal thromboxane formation. Differential changes in prostanoids may have implications for long-term cardiovascular hazard in patients treated with immunosuppressives.
The value of post-biopsy ultrasound in predicting complications after percutaneous renal biopsy of native kidneys.

BACKGROUND Clinically significant bleeding complications occur in >30% of patients undergoing percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) of native kidneys and can be severe in up to 10% of patients. A noninvasive measure that would reliably predict which patients will do well with an uncomplicated post-biopsy course or which patients may be at risk of developing a clinically significant complication is in great demand. METHODS PRB of native kidneys was performed in 162 adult patients from February 2002 through February 2007 using real-time ultrasound and automated needle. Renal ultrasound (US) was performed at 1-h post-PRB to assess biopsy-related bleeding. Patients were observed for 24 h post-PRB to monitor clinically apparent biopsy-related complications. The value of the post-biopsy ultrasound in predicting complications was assessed. RESULTS A clinically apparent complication was observed in 26 (16%) patients post-PRB (13 minor not requiring any intervention and 13 major requiring intervention). In patients with complicated courses, a haematoma at 1 h was seen in 77% (69% with minor and 87% with major complications). However, only 27 (20%) of 136 patients without complications (P < 0.0001) had a haematoma at 1 h. The presence of a haematoma 1-h post-PRB had a sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value of 43% but a negative predictive value of 95% for predicting clinical complications. CONCLUSIONS We find that with the use of renal ultrasound 1-h post-PRB, the absence of perinephric bleeding is predictive of an uncomplicated course while the presence of a perinephric haematoma is not reliably predictive of a clinically significant complication post-renal biopsy.
The Effect of Hepatic Plexus Vagectomy on the Sphincter of Oddi in Hummans

Right upper quadrant billary type pain is classified in three types. Biliary group lll patients have only biliary type pain that is due to sphincter of Oddi dyskinesia and without any abnormalities. In these patients, endoscopic sphincterotomy is a current treatment method that is performed to decrease the choledochal pressure and to facilitate bile flow into the duodenum. In this prospective study, the effect of hepatic plexus vagectomy as an adjunct to cholecystectomy on the sphincter of Oddi was investigated in biliary group lll patients who were potential sufferers of postcholecystectomy syndrome. Common bile duct pressures in 62 cholelithiasis patients were recorded by means of a catheter introduced through the cystic duct after open cholecystectomy. The upper limit of normal choledochal pressure was hypothesized to be 15cm H 2 O. The perfusion pressures were above this limit in 15 patients. The first 7 patients formed the study group and the subsequent 8 patients were the controls. Hepatic plexus vagectomy was performed on the patients in the study group. The mean decrease of common bile duct pressure was 31.6% after hepatic plexus vagectomy and was significant (p<0.001). Neither right upper quadrant pain nor the pathologic symptoms due to vagectomy were reported in the study group during the follow up. Resisting right upper quadrant pain without an organic disorder was determined in 3 of the 8 patients in the control group and in 1 of the 47 remaining patients. Hepatic plexus vagectomy performed as an adjunct to cholecystectomy in biliary group lll patients eliminates the sphincter spasm that is the cause of biliary tract pain and it may be an alternative treatment to sphincterotomy.
Postgraduate peer support programme: enhancing community

This paper reports on research conducted in relation to a Postgraduate peer support programme for Applied Psychology (Business) at Griffith University. The Peer Support Programme, funded by a Griffith University grant, was designed on principles of collaboration, adult learning and peer-assisted learning in a student community in order to counter the isolation that has been described as being endemic to the postgraduate experience. The purpose of the research was to assess the effectiveness of the peer support mechanism in terms of the degree to which it successfully embodied the principles on which it was based: peer-assisted learning in a student community, collaboration, and adult learning. We found that, while these principles did indeed appear to have been applied effectively, we needed to think more broadly about the 'student community' and to apply more vigorously the notions of peer-assisted learning and adult learning.
Calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A modulates mucin secretion and airway smooth muscle contraction

Mucous cell hyperplasia and airway smooth muscle (ASM) hyperresponsiveness are hallmark features of inflammatory airway diseases, including asthma. Here, we show that the recently identified calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC) TMEM16A is expressed in the adult airway surface epithelium and ASM. The epithelial expression is increased in asthmatics, particularly in secretory cells. Based on this and the proposed functions of CaCC, we hypothesized that TMEM16A inhibitors would negatively regulate both epithelial mucin secretion and ASM contraction. We used a high-throughput screen to identify small-molecule blockers of TMEM16A-CaCC channels. We show that inhibition of TMEM16A-CaCC significantly impairs mucus secretion in primary human airway surface epithelial cells. Furthermore, inhibition of TMEM16A-CaCC significantly reduces mouse and human ASM contraction in response to cholinergic agonists. TMEM16A-CaCC blockers, including those identified here, may positively impact multiple causes of asthma symptoms.
A study of nutrient foramina of the dry adult human femur bones

The Femur bone is a highly vascular structure with unique features in its blood supply via numerous foramina located over its different segments, being named as vascular foramina. Among vascular foramina, nutrient foramen is an important one which gives way to the nutrient artery. Knowledge of vascular anatomy is helpful in early identification of vascular interruptions leading to osteonecrosis. The present study was undertaken on 100 dry adult human Femur bones of both sides, irrespective of sex. The bones were obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Shamanur Shivashankarappa Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka, India. In the present study, among foramina of 100 dry adult human Femora, 62 Femora had single nutrient foramen, 37 had two nutrient foramina and 1 had three nutrient foramina. The medial lip of linea aspera of Femur depicted the presence of nutrient foramina in majority of bones suggesting the entry zone for nourishment of shaft by perforating arteries. Size of nutrient foramina were ranging from size ? 0.55 mm to size ? 1.27 mm. Direction of nutrient foramina of all the Femora were directed upwards. This study may help orthopaedic surgeons in planning the surgical treatment of fracture of Femur with a possible reduction in post-operative complications. Combined periosteal and medullary blood supply to the bone cortex helps to explain the success of intramedullary reaming of long bone fractures particularly in the weight bearing Femur.
Induction of nephrin gene expression by selective cooperation of the retinoic acid receptor and the vitamin D receptor.

BACKGROUND Nephrin is a key molecule involved in the structure and function of the slit diaphragm in the glomerulus. We previously reported that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] induced expression of nephrin in murine podocytes. In this report, we investigated roles of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR), the retinoid X receptor (RXR) and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the regulation of the nephrin gene. METHODS Reporter podocytes were treated with agonists and/or antagonists of RAR, RXR or VDR, and activities of the nephrin gene promoter, the retinoic acid response element (RARE) and the vitamin D response element (VDRE) were evaluated. RESULTS Expression of nephrin in podocytes was up-regulated by ATRA and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). The nephrin gene promoter was also activated by these agents, which was mediated by RAR and VDR, but unexpectedly, not by RXR. ATRA-triggered, RAR-mediated activation of the nephrin gene promoter was not suppressed by the VDR antagonist. Similarly, ATRA-induced activation of RARE was not inhibited by the VDR antagonist. In contrast, the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-triggered, VDR-mediated activation of the nephrin gene promoter was significantly suppressed by the RAR antagonist, but not by RXR antagonists. Interestingly, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced activation of VDRE was not inhibited by the RAR antagonist. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested selective cooperation of RAR and VDR in the regulation of the nephrin gene, i.e. (1) ATRA induces nephrin gene expression via RAR independently of RXR and VDR and (2) 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) induces nephrin gene expression via selective cooperation of RAR and VDR, which is independent of RXR.
Impairment of O-antigen production confers resistance to grazing in a model amoeba–cyanobacterium predator–prey system

The grazing activity of predators on photosynthetic organisms is a major mechanism of mortality and population restructuring in natural environments. Grazing is also one of the primary difficulties in growing cyanobacteria and other microalgae in large, open ponds for the production of biofuels, as contaminants destroy valuable biomass and prevent stable, continuous production of biofuel crops. To address this problem, we have isolated a heterolobosean amoeba, HGG1, that grazes upon unicellular and filamentous freshwater cyanobacterial species. We have established a model predator–prey system using this amoeba and Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Application of amoebae to a library of mutants of S. elongatus led to the identification of a grazer-resistant knockout mutant of the wzm ABC O-antigen transporter gene, SynPCC7942_1126. Mutations in three other genes involved in O-antigen synthesis and transport also prevented the expression of O-antigen and conferred resistance to HGG1. Complementation of these rough mutants returned O-antigen expression and susceptibility to amoebae. Rough mutants are easily identifiable by appearance, are capable of autoflocculation, and do not display growth defects under standard laboratory growth conditions, all of which are desired traits for a biofuel production strain. Thus, preventing the production of O-antigen is a pathway for producing resistance to grazing by certain amoebae.
Spatial mismatch between the Na+ flux and spike initiation in axon initial segment

It is widely believed that, in cortical pyramidal cells, action potentials (APs) initiate in the distal portion of axon initial segment (AIS) because that is where Na+ channel density is highest. To investigate the relationship between the density of Na+ channels and the spatiotemporal pattern of AP initiation, we simultaneously recorded Na+ flux and action currents along the proximal axonal length. We found that functional Na+ channel density is approximately four times lower in the AP trigger zone than in the middle of the AIS, where it is highest. Computational analysis of AP initiation revealed a paradoxical mismatch between the AP threshold and Na+ channel density, which could be explained by the lopsided capacitive load imposed on the proximal end of the AIS by the somatodendritic compartment. Favorable conditions for AP initiation are therefore achieved in the distal AIS portion, close to the edge of myelin, where the current source–load ratio is highest. Our findings suggest that cable properties play a central role in determining where the AP starts, such that small plastic changes in the local AIS Na+ channel density could have a large influence on neuronal excitability as a whole.
Does Attendance Affect Academic Performance? Evidence from 'G. D’Annunzio' University

This paper presents new evidence on the effects of class attendance on academic performance. We analyze survey data collected for an Introductory Macroeconomics course at “G. D’Annunzio” University of Chieti and Pescara (Italy) in the academic year 2004-2005, matched to administrative data. Using OLS "proxy variables" regressions to capture the effect of unobservable student factors correlated with attendance, we still find a positive and significant effect of attendance on academic performance. However, while the bias correction goes in the expected direction, when using panel data estimators to eliminate time-invariant individual specific unobservables, the attendance effect disappears.
Feature attention evokes task-specific pattern selectivity in V4 neurons

A hallmark of visual cortical neurons is their selectivity for stimulus pattern features, such as color, orientation, or shape. In most cases this feature selectivity is hard-wired, with selectivity manifest from the beginning of the response. Here we show that when a task requires that a monkey distinguish between patterns, V4 develops a selectivity for the sought-after pattern, which it does not manifest in a task that does not require the monkey to distinguish between patterns. When a monkey looks for a target object among an array of distractors, V4 neurons become selective for the target ∼50 ms after the visual latency independent of the impending saccade direction. However, when the monkey has to only make a saccade to the spatial location of the same objects without discriminating their pattern, V4 neurons do not distinguish the search target from the distractors. This selectivity for stimulus pattern develops roughly 40 ms after the same neurons’ selectivity for basic pattern features like orientation or color. We suggest that this late-developing selectivity is related to the phenomenon of feature attention and may contribute to the mechanisms by which the brain finds the target in visual search.
Zebrafish model for congenital myasthenic syndrome reveals mechanisms causal to developmental recovery

Mutations in muscle ACh receptors cause slow-channel syndrome (SCS) and Escobar syndrome, two forms of congenital myasthenia. SCS is a dominant disorder with mutations reported for all receptor subunits except γ. Escobar syndrome is distinct, with mutations located exclusively in γ, and characterized by developmental improvement of muscle function. The zebrafish mutant line, twister, models SCS in terms of a dominant mutation in the α subunit (αtwi) but shows the behavioral improvement associated with Escobar syndrome. Here, we present a unique electrophysiological study into developmental improvement for a myasthenic syndrome. The embryonic αtwiβδγ receptor isoform produces slowly decaying synaptic currents typical of SCS that transit to a much faster decay upon the appearance of adult ε, despite the αtwi mutation. Thus, the continued expression of αtwi into adulthood is tolerated because of the ε expression and associated recovery, raising the likelihood of unappreciated myasthenic cases that benefit from the γ−ε switch.
Long‐term efficacy and respective potencies of botulinum toxin A and B: a randomized, double‐blind study

Background Mouse units (mU) are used for quantification of the biological activity of botulinum A and B toxin preparations. However, in human tissue, mU values between preparations are not equivalent and lack of clarity concerning efficacy and safety remains with regard to their respective potencies, duration of drug effect and diffusion qualities.