Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alteration of murine immune response by Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A

Pseudomonas exotoxin A has been implicated as a possible virulence factor in Pseudomonas infections. This toxin has a direct cytotoxic effect on a number of cell types, including macrophages and their precursors, and therefore may affect other cells of the immune system. NFR/N(H-2q) (+/nu or nu/nu) mice were immunized with either T-dependent or T-independent antigens along with various doses of exotoxin A. The immune response was then assayed by a modification of the Jerne plaque assay. Exotoxin A induced a dose-dependent suppression of the in vitro and in vivo immune responses to T-dependent and T-independent antigens in immunocompetent +/nu mice. However, in NFR/N nu/nu mice, suppression of the immune response to the T-independent antigen trinitrophenylated-Ficoll was not observed. Instead, a marked enhancement of the response was observed at doses of 100 and 10 ng of exotoxin A. Removal of T-cells with anti-Thy 1.2 antiserum plus complement before antigen and exotoxin A stimulation in +/nu mice results in abrogation of the suppression. These data suggest that Pseudomonas exotoxin A exerts an effect on both B- and T-lymphocyte populations to modulate the immune response and that this activity may be one facet of the pathogenic effects of this toxin.
Early-onset versus late-onset HIV-related secondary mania in Uganda.

BACKGROUND First-episode secondary mania in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been described among samples of predominantly Caucasian, HIV-positive male patients in developed countries. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of HIV-positive patients with early-onset and late-onset first-episode secondary mania in HIV infection. There were previous findings of an association between late-onset mania and severe cognitive impairment. METHOD Subjects were HIV inpatients with clinically-confirmed mania, who received standard demographic, psychiatric, physical, and laboratory assessments. Early-onset patients had CD4 cell counts > 200 mm(3); late-onset patients had CD4 cell counts < or = 200 mm(3). RESULTS There were no demographic or cognitive differences between early-onset and late-onset mania patients, and high rates of psychotic symptoms in both groups. However, late-onset patients had more manic symptoms. CONCLUSION Late-onset HIV mania patients had more severe psychopathology and, thus, demonstrated a greater need for highly active retroviral therapy.
The Effect of a Gender Difference in the Apolipoprotein E Gene DNA Polymorphism on Serum Lipid Levels in a Serbian Healthy Population

Abstract To date, no data have been available on relationship between apolipoprotein E polymorphism and lipid levels in Serbian populations. Blood samples were obtained from 591 healthy normal individuals (193 women and 398 men). A 244 bp sequence of the apolipoprotein E gene including the two polymorphic sites was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. After digestion with Hhal, DNA fragments were visualized by microplate array diagonal gel electrophoresis. In men, levels of both total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among the three apolipoprotein E genotype groups differed significantly (p <0.05). The ε2 allele was associated with lower concentrations of both total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, where the ε4 allele had the opposite effects. No significant effects of apolipoprotein E polymorphism on serum lipid levels were observed in women. The presented data could be taken into consideration in any future disease risk evaluation in this population.
The emotional paradox : Dissociation between explicit and implicit processing of emotional prosody in schizophrenia

People with schizophrenia show well-replicated deficits on tasks of explicit recognition of emotional prosody. However it remains unclear whether they are still sensitive to the implicit cues of emotional prosody, particularly when they exhibit high levels of social anhedonia. A dual processing model suggesting a dissociation between the neural networks involved in explicit and implicit recognition of emotional prosody has yet to be validated. 21 participants with schizophrenia and 21 controls were recruited. In the explicit recognition task, individuals listened to semantically neutral words pronounced with two different emotions and judged their emotional prosody. In the vocal emotional Stroop task, patients and controls listened to words with a positive or negative emotional valence pronounced with congruent or incongruent emotional prosody and judged their emotional content. Patients were also assessed with the Chapman Anhedonia Questionnaire and the Schizophrenic Communication Disorders scale. Individuals with schizophrenia were impaired in their explicit recognition of emotional prosody related to controls. In contrast, they showed a vocal emotional Stroop effect that was identical to controls for reaction time and greater for accuracy: patients were still sensitive to implicit emotional prosody. In addition the vocal emotional Stroop score increased with social anhedonia but was unrelated to communication
Takayasu Arteritis and Pregnancy from the Point of View of the Internist

To the Editor: Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) usually affects young women of childbearing age, sometimes coinciding with pregnancy. Both incidence and clinical expression are different depending on the geographic area, probably because of different HLA antigens associated1,2. Some observational studies attribute a better prognosis in Western patients3. Only a few Caucasian cases of TA and pregnancy have been published. We describe the clinical and epidemiological features of 4 successful deliveries in 3 patients with TA, underlining the most important data from the internist’s point of view. ### Case 1 A 22-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted because of malaise during the last 4 months and inflammatory back pain. At examination, blood pressure was 125/80 mm Hg, all pulses were symmetrically palpable, and an epigastric bruit was heard. Routine blood components showed hemoglobin 9’4 g/dl, mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (MCV) 76, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 150 mm/h. An arteriography demonstrated stenosis of abdominal aorta, including both renal arteries as well as mesenteric artery. Carotid artery was also affected (Figure 1A). She was diagnosed with TA, and prednisone (1 mg/kg) was started and then progressively tapered, with a progressive extinction of the symptoms and normalization of acute reactants. Figure 1. A. Case 1: arteriography showing affected carotid artery. B. Case 2: CT: aorta aneurysm. C: Case 3: DIVAS scan showing stenosis … Address reprint requests to Dr. Gasch. E-mail: urigasch{at}hotmail.com
Analysis of mice with targeted deletion of AQP9 gene provides conclusive evidence for expression of AQP9 in neurons

AQP9 is an aquaglyceroporin that serves important functions in peripheral organs, including the liver. Reflecting the lack of AQP9 knockout mice, uncertainties still prevail regarding the localization and roles of AQP9 in the central nervous system. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of AQP9 gene expression in brain, based on a quantitative and multipronged approach that includes the use of animals with targeted deletion of the AQP9 gene. We show by real‐time PCR that AQP9 mRNA concentration in rat and mouse brain is ∼3% and ∼0.5%, respectively, of that in rat and mouse liver, the organ with the highest level of AQP9. By blue native gel analysis it could be demonstrated that the brain contains tetrameric AQP9, corresponding to the functional form of AQP9. The band corresponding to the AQP9 tetramer was absent in AQP9 knockout brain and liver. Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization analyses with AQP9 knockout controls show that subpopulations of nigral neurons express AQP9 both at the mRNA and at the protein levels and that populations of cortical cells (including hilar neurons in the hippocampus) contain AQP9 mRNA but no detectable AQP9 immunosignal. The present data provide conclusive evidence for the presence of tetrameric AQP9 in brain and for the expression of AQP9 in neurons. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transfer of entomopathogenic fungi among formosan subterranean termites and subsequent mortality

Strains of the entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin were screened for effectiveness against the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki). Biological control methods are being considered to augment current integrated pest management schemes that involve chemical baits and nonrepellent termiticides. In this study Formosan subterranean termites selected from four colonies in the field were exposed in the laboratory to three strains of Beauveria bassiana and two strains of Metarhizium anisopliae. The exposed termites were then allowed to mingle with an equal number of unexposed termites from the same nest and mortality of the combined group was determined. One week after exposure, B. bassiana strains, ATCC 26037 and ATCC 90519, had caused significantly higher mortality than the two M. anisopliae strains, ESC 1 and II B and the remaining strain of B. bassiana, ATCC 90518. The LT50 measurement for strains 26037 and 90519 was comparable at 1.8 and 2.0 days, respectively. Strains ESC 1 and 90518 caused 50% mortality at 6.5 and 11.0 days, respectively. Termites exposed to strain II B and the control group of termites did not reach 50% mortality during the 21 day experimental period. Exposure of termites to all fungal strains resulted in mortality in excess of that seen in the control groups of unexposed termites.
BDNF, relative preference, and reward circuitry responses to emotional communication

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neural development and synaptic transmission. We have tested the hypothesis that functional variation in the BDNF gene (Val66Met polymorphism, rs6265) affects brain reward circuitry encoding human judgment and decision‐making regarding relative preference. We quantified relative preference among faces with emotional expressions (angry, fearful, sad, neutral, and happy) by a keypress procedure performed offline to measure effort traded for viewing time. Keypress‐based relative preferences across the ensemble of faces were mirrored significantly by fMRI signal in the orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus when passively viewing these faces. For these three brain regions, there was also a statistically significant group difference by BDNF genotype in the fMRI responses to the emotional expressions. In comparison with Val/Met heterozygotes, Val/Val individuals preferentially sought exposure to positive emotions (e.g., happy faces) and had stronger regional fMRI activation to aversive stimuli (e.g., angry, fearful, and sad faces). BDNF genotype accounted for ∼30% of the variance in fMRI signal that mirrors keypress responses to these stimuli. This study demonstrates that functional allelic variation in BDNF modulates human brain circuits processing reward/aversion information and relative preference transactions. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vitamin D Nutritional Status of Exclusively Breast Fed Infants and Their Mothers

BACKGROUND Vitamin D nutrition has a profound effect on the development of an infant. Vitamin D status of mothers and their infants are closely correlated. While hypovitaminosis D has emerged as a significant public health problem across all age groups, there is limited information of this condition in lactating mothers and their breast fed infants. AIM To evaluate the vitamin D status of lactating mothers and their breast fed infants. SUBJECTS AND METHODS 180 healthy lactating mothers and exclusively breast fed infants, 2-24 weeks old, were recruited for the study. The mother-infant pairs underwent concurrent clinical, biochemical and hormonal evaluation for calcium-vitamin D-PTH axis. RESULTS The mean serum 25(OH)D values in lactating mothers was 27.2 +/- 14.6 nmol/l (10.9 +/- 5.8 ng/ml), while that of their infants was 28.9 +/- 20.8 nmol/l (11.6 +/- 8.3 ng/ml). Serum 25(OH)D levels <25 nmol/l (10 ng/ml) were found in 47.8% of the mothers and 43.2% of the infants. Among these, elevated PTH levels (>54 pg/ml) were seen in 59.3% of the mothers and 69.6% of the infants. A highly significant negative correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D and PTH in mothers (r = -0.480, p = 0.01) and their infants (r = -0.431, p = 0.01). A strong positive correlation was seen of 25(OH)D levels in mother-infant pairs (r = 0.324, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in lactating mothers and their exclusively breast fed infants. Infants born to mothers with hypovitaminosis D had 3.8 times higher risk of developing hypovitaminosis D as compared to those born to mothers with normal vitamin D levels.
HIV infection and sexual behaviour among infertile women in southeastern Nigeria

This prospective study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the risk factors for HIV infection in women undergoing laparoscopy evaluation for infertility. Of 1906 women evaluated between January 1995 and December 2000, 130 (6·82%) tested positive for HIV infection. Husbands of 58·5% of the HIV positive women also tested positive. Analysis of their sexual behaviour within the duration of the marriage revealed that the HIV positive infertile women had more sexual partners [86·2% (112/130) average of five partners vs. 38% (675/1776) average of two partners; P <0·001] and previous sexually transmitted infections [73·1% (95/130) vs. 56·8% (1009/1776); P <0·001] than the HIV negative infertile women. Previous history of induced abortion and blood transfusion was not significantly different for HIV positive and negative women (42·3% vs. 39·3%) and (1·5% vs. 1·0%), respectively, P >0·20. In conclusion, infertile women are exposed to a higher risk of HIV infection due to their promiscuous sexual behaviour in search of pregnancy.
Characterization of a transposon Tn916-generated mutant of Haemophilus ducreyi 35000 defective in lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis

To define the role of the surface lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of Haemophilus ducreyi in the pathogenesis of chancroid, Tn916 mutants of H. ducreyi 35000 defective in expression of the murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3F11 epitope on H. ducreyi LOS were identified by immunologic screening. One mutant, designated 1381, has an LOS which lacks the MAb 3F11 epitope and migrates with an increased mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The gene disrupted by the Tn916 element in strain 1381 was identified by cloning the sequences flanking the Tn916 element. The sequences were then used to probe a lambda DASHII genomic library. In strain 1381, Tn916 interrupts a gene which encodes an open reading frame (ORF) with an Mr of 40,246. This ORF has homology to the product of the rfaK gene of Escherichia coli. The major LOS glycoform produced by strain 1381 was analyzed by using a combination of mass spectrometry, linkage and composition analysis, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The major LOS species was found to terminate in a single glucose attached to the heptose (L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, or Hep) trisaccharide core. In the wild-type strain 35000, glucose serves as the acceptor for the addition of the D-glycero-D-manno-heptose (or DDHep), which extends to form the mature branch of the H. ducreyi LOS. This mature oligosaccharide is in turn partially capped by the addition of sialic acid (NeuAc), i.e., NeuAc2 alpha-->3Gal beta1-->4GlcNAc beta1-->3Gal beta1-->4DDHep alpha1-->6Glc beta1 (W. Melaugh et al., Biochemistry 33:13070-13078, 1994). Since this LOS terminates prior to the addition of the branch DD-heptose, this gene is likely to encode the D-glycero-D-manno-heptosyltransferase. Strain 1381 exhibits a significant reduction in adherence to and invasion of primary human keratinocytes. This defect was complemented by the cloned heptosyltransferase gene, indicating that the terminal portion of the LOS oligosaccharide plays an important role in adherence to human keratinocytes.
Effect of Certain Factors on Pheromone Trap Moth Catches of Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee

The pheromone trap efficiency studies on brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee were conducted to find out the suitable trap type, optimum height, effective lure concentration and frequency of replacement of the lures. The sleeve traps installed at crop canopy level with 3 mg lure concentration replaced at every 15 days were found effective in trapping the maximum number of moths.
Enzymatic properties of phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in rabbit gingiva.

Introduction Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.44), a member of enzyme consisting of pentose phosphate pathway catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of 6-phosphogluconate, with NADP being reduced to NADPH, to yield ribulose 5phosphate and CO2. Many papers have been published on the enzymatic properties of phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in the liver of rat[l,2], sheep[3,4], and pig[5], and in bacteria[6-12]. On oral tissues, ROSETT et al.[13] and SimPsoN[14,15] assayed the activity levels of the enzyme in bovine and rat gingiva respectively. SIMPON[14] has reported on the optimal pH and Mg2+ ion requirement of the enzyme activity. To investigate glucose metabolic pathway related to periodontal disease in human gingiva, it is necessary to be informed in detail about the enzymatic properties of each enzyme involved. In the present paper, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from rabbit gingiva is partially purified by column chromatography on DEAE-cellulosea, and the enzymatic properties are described.
Replication Origin Recognition and Deformation by a Heterodimeric Archaeal Orc1 Complex

The faithful duplication of genetic material depends on essential DNA replication initiation factors. Cellular initiators form higher-order assemblies on replication origins, using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to locally remodel duplex DNA and facilitate proper loading of synthetic replisomal components. To better understand initiator function, we determined the 3.4 angstrom–resolution structure of an archaeal Cdc6/Orc1 heterodimer bound to origin DNA. The structure demonstrates that, in addition to conventional DNA binding elements, initiators use their AAA+ ATPase domains to recognize origin DNA. Together these interactions establish the polarity of initiator assembly on the origin and induce substantial distortions into origin DNA strands. Biochemical and comparative analyses indicate that AAA+/DNA contacts observed in the structure are dynamic and evolutionarily conserved, suggesting that the complex forms a core component of the basal initiation machinery.
Viral Etiology of Acute Respiratory Infections in Hospitalized and Outpatient Children in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Objectives: To determine and compare the viral frequency, seasonality and clinical-demographic features in 2 groups of children (hospitalized versus outpatients) with acute respiratory infections. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed from 2008 to 2010 in 620 children <6 years of age with acute respiratory infection. Respiratory samples were studied for classical respiratory viruses by immunofluorescence and for human rhinoviruses (HRV) by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinical and demographic data were recorded. Results: Viral detection by immunofluorescence was 48% in 434 inpatients and 37% in 186 outpatients. Viral diagnosis increased to 83% and 62%, respectively, when testing for HRV. HRV (41%) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (27%) were most common viruses identified, followed by metapneumovirus (9%), influenza A and parainfluenza (3%), adenovirus and influenza B (2%). HRV frequency was significantly higher in hospitalized patients (47%) than in outpatients (27%) (P < 0.001). Coinfection was detected in 12% of hospitalized and 4% of outpatients (P < 0.031). HRV and adenovirus circulated throughout the entire year. RSV, influenza A and B predominated in winter, whereas metapneumovirus and parainfluenza predominated in spring. Of 362 patients with bronchiolitis, 84% had a virus identified; HRV (42%) and RSV (38%) were predominant. Of 77 patients with pneumonia, 84% had a virus detected with HRV (43%) and RSV (29%) predominating. Conclusions: HRV were significant pathogens associated with bronchiolitis and pneumonia, especially in hospitalized patients. Both, HRV and coinfections, were risk factors for hospitalization. These findings support the importance of including HRV detection in children with acute respiratory infection.
Glucocorticoid‐induced impairment of declarative memory retrieval is associated with reduced blood flow in the medial temporal lobe

Previous work indicates that stress levels of circulating glucocorticoids can impair retrieval of declarative memory in human subjects. Several studies have reported that declarative memory retrieval relies on the medial temporal lobe. The present study used \mathrm{H}^{15}_{2}O‐positron emission tomography to investigate whether acutely elevated glucocorticoid levels affect regional cerebral blood flow in the medial temporal lobe, as well as in other brain regions, during declarative memory retrieval in healthy male human subjects. When measured over four different declarative memory retrieval tasks, a single, stress‐level dose of cortisone (25 mg) administered orally 1 h before retention testing, induced a large decrease in regional cerebral blood flow in the right posterior medial temporal lobe, the left visual cortex and the cerebellum. The decrease in the right posterior medial temporal lobe was maximal in the parahippocampal gyrus, a region associated with successful verbal memory retrieval. Cortisone administration also significantly impaired cued recall of word pairs learned 24 h earlier, while drug effects on performance in the other tasks (verbal recognition, semantic generation and categorization) were not significant. The present results provide further evidence that acutely elevated glucocorticoid levels can impair declarative memory retrieval processes and suggest that such impairments may be related to a disturbance of medial temporal lobe function.
Involvement of CD14, Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4, and MyD88 in the Host Response to the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans In Vivo

ABSTRACT The major capsular polysaccharide of Cryptococcus neoformans, glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), is recognized by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, and CD14. In these studies, mice deficient in CD14, TLR2, TLR4, and the TLR-associated adaptor protein, MyD88, were utilized to investigate the contribution of TLRs and CD14 to in vivo host defenses against C. neoformans. MyD88−/− mice had significantly reduced survival compared with wild-type C57BL/6 mice after intranasal (i.n.) and intravenous (i.v.) infection with live C. neoformans. CD14−/− mice had reduced survival when infected i.v. , while TLR2−/− mice died significantly earlier after i.n. infection. Mortality was similar comparing TLR4 mutant C3H/HeJ mice and control C3H/HeOuJ mice following i.v. or i.n. challenge with C. neoformans. The course of pulmonary cryptococcosis was studied in more detail in the CD14−/−, TLR2−/−, and MyD88−/− mice. MyD88−/− mice infected i.n. had higher numbers of CFU in the lungs as well as higher GXM levels in the sera and lungs 7 days after infection than wild-type mice did. Surprisingly, there were no major differences in the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, IL-12p70, or gamma interferon in the lungs of C. neoformans-infected knockout mice compared with wild-type mice. Histopathologic analysis of the lungs on day 7 postinfection revealed minimal inflammation in all mouse groups. These studies demonstrate a major role for MyD88 and relatively minor roles for CD14 and TLR2 in the response to cryptococcal infection, with the decreased survival of MyD88−/− mice correlating with increased numbers of lung CFU and serum and lung GXM levels.