Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Recombinant UDP- and ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylases and Glycogen Synthase To Elucidate Glucose-1-Phosphate Partitioning into Oligo- and Polysaccharides in Streptomyces coelicolor

ABSTRACT Streptomyces coelicolor exhibits a major secondary metabolism, deriving important amounts of glucose to synthesize pigmented antibiotics. Understanding the pathways occurring in the bacterium with respect to synthesis of oligo- and polysaccharides is of relevance to determine a plausible scenario for the partitioning of glucose-1-phosphate into different metabolic fates. We report the molecular cloning of the genes coding for UDP- and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases as well as for glycogen synthase from genomic DNA of S. coelicolor A3(2). Each gene was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli cells to produce and purify to electrophoretic homogeneity the respective enzymes. UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDP-Glc PPase) was characterized as a dimer exhibiting a relatively high Vmax in catalyzing UDP-glucose synthesis (270 units/mg) and with respect to dTDP-glucose (94 units/mg). ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADP-Glc PPase) was found to be tetrameric in structure and specific in utilizing ATP as a substrate, reaching similar activities in the directions of ADP-glucose synthesis or pyrophosphorolysis (Vmax of 0.15 and 0.27 units/mg, respectively). Glycogen synthase was arranged as a dimer and exhibited specificity in the use of ADP-glucose to elongate α-1,4-glucan chains in the polysaccharide. ADP-Glc PPase was the only of the three enzymes exhibiting sensitivity to allosteric regulation by different metabolites. Mannose-6-phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, fructose-6-phosphate, and glucose-6-phosphate behaved as major activators, whereas NADPH was a main inhibitor of ADP-Glc PPase. The results support a metabolic picture where glycogen synthesis occurs via ADP-glucose in S. coelicolor, with the pathway being strictly regulated in connection with other routes involved with oligo- and polysaccharides, as well as with antibiotic synthesis in the bacterium.
Neurointermediate pituitary lobe cells synthesize and release interleukin-6 in vitro: effects of lipopolysaccharide and interleukin-1 beta.

The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced by a variety of cells, including macrophages, T-cells, and B-cells. Recent studies have confirmed a neuroendocrine role for IL-6 in the regulation of anterior pituitary (AP) hormone release. Because the neurointermediate pituitary lobe (NIL) may modulate AP hormone release, we investigated the production of IL-6 by NIL cells in vitro. NIL tissue removed from pituitary glands of male Long-Evans rats was enzymatically and mechanically dispersed, and the cells were subsequently cultured in 96-well tissue culture plates for 4-6 days in 10% serum-containing RPMI-1640. Test incubations were performed in serum-free RPMI-1640, and IL-6 concentrations were determined using the 7TD1 cell bioassay. Preliminary studies revealed a cell-dependent release of IL-6: increasing the number of NIL cells per well from 6.25 to 50 x 10(3) revealed detectable basal release of IL-6 between 25-50 x 10(3) cells/well. The endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 ng/ml) and IL-1 beta (100 ng/ml) stimulated IL-6 release at 25 and 50 x 10(3) cells/well. Subsequent studies used a cell density of 50 x 10(3) cells/well and demonstrated time-dependent 3- to 6-fold inductions of IL-6 release by 100 ng/ml IL-1 beta and LPS. Concentration-response studies revealed maximal stimulation of IL-6 release by 1 ng/ml and a minimally effective concentration of 1 pg/ml for both IL-1 beta and LPS. Treatment of NIL cells with 1-10 mM (Bu)2cAMP increased IL-6 release by 7- to 14-fold. Endotoxin and IL-1 beta also enhanced the accumulation of IL-6 messenger RNA in these cells. Vasopressin and oxytocin (1 microM) inhibited LPS and IL-1 beta stimulation of IL-6 release from NIL cells, but did not inhibit IL-6 release from AP cells. Immunofluorescent dual labeling of NIL cells for flow cytometry revealed that greater than 95% of the cells did not stain for CD11b/c (common epitope found on monocytes, granulocytes, and macrophages) or CD45 (leukocyte common antigen). These results demonstrate for the first time the synthesis and release of IL-6 from cultured NIL cells. Agents that enhance IL-6 release [LPS, IL-1 beta, and (Bu)2cAMP] from other cell types also increase IL-6 release from NIL cells. Vasopressin and oxytocin inhibition of IL-6 release suggests a role for these neuropeptides in feedback inhibition in vivo. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Deficits in sustained attention in schizophrenia and affective disorders: stable versus state-dependent markers.

OBJECTIVE The authors compared sustained attention deficits measured by the Continuous Performance Test in patients with various affective disorders and patients with schizophrenia and examined whether Continuous Performance Test deficits in patients with affective disorders improve with remission of affective disorder symptoms. METHOD Patients with schizophrenia (N=41), major depression without psychotic features (N=22), bipolar disorder without psychotic features (N=22), and bipolar disorder with psychotic features (N=46) completed Continuous Performance Test sessions with an undegraded version of the test and a 25% degraded version in which the stimulus images were visually distorted. Subjects were also interviewed with the Chinese version of the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies. All inpatients with schizophrenia (N=41) and bipolar disorder (N=15) were assessed both at admission and discharge. Subjects' Continuous Performance Test scores were standardized in comparison with scores for a community sample of 345 subjects, with adjustment for age, sex, and level of education. RESULTS Compared with the general population, all patient groups except the group with nonpsychotic major depression were significantly impaired in their ability to discriminate target stimuli from nontarget stimuli on the Continuous Performance Test. Patients with schizophrenia had the severest impairment, followed by patients with bipolar disorder with psychotic features and those with bipolar disorder without psychotic features. From admission to discharge, Continuous Performance Test deficits in schizophrenia remained unchanged, but inpatients with bipolar disorder showed significant improvement on the degraded Continuous Performance Test. All patients adopted a similar response criterion (the amount of perceptual evidence the person requires to decide that a stimulus is a target) to that in the general population, except that the patients with schizophrenia had a less stringent response criterion during the degraded Continuous Performance Test. CONCLUSIONS Continuous Performance Test deficits are stable vulnerability indicators for schizophrenia, mediating indicators for bipolar disorder, and state-dependent indicators for major depression.
Role of adipose-derived stem cells in chronic cutaneous wound healing.

AIM Adipose tissue represent an alternative source of multipotent stem cells with characteristics similar to bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), easier to isolate and effective in wound healing enhancement. MATERIAL OF STUDY Each patient being considered for stem cells graft was subjected to a conventional liposuction procedure (local anaesthesia, aspirated volume about 80cc), in order to isolate a pellet of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), which was then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) previously collected, in order to obtain an enhanced-ASCs- PRP (e-PRP), now ready for grafting in the context of skin edges as well as at the bottom of the lesion itself. RESULTS Flow cytometric analysis performed on the pellet obtained with our isolation process, showed that a mean of 5 x 105 ASCs (range: 4,0-6,0 x 105, SD: ± 1 x 105) were collected from 80 ml of adipose tissue, harvested with standard wet liposuction procedure. It represented the 5% of all sample cells (1 x 107), while the others 95% were mostly being blood-derived and endothelial cells. DISCUSSION By now, the most used isolation protocols take about two hours due to the complex isolation procedure, requiring both animal-derived reagents and collagenase. The amount of ASCs obtained with our isolation process is sufficient to be directly engrafted in the wound without the need of in vitro expansion but, neither serum nor animalderived reagents are used, and it takes only 15' minutes. CONCLUSION ASCs application is an innovative, effective approach in the treatment of chronic wounds.
Transcultural perception of maxillary midline diastema.

PURPOSE Perception of maxillary midline diastema as an esthetic trait varies in relation to culture, age group, and racial background. Although midline diastema is accepted in Africa, there are few reports on interethnic perception of midline diastema among Nigerians. METHODS Participants aged 19 to 45 years were selected from six geographical zones of Nigeria; one state was randomly selected from each zone, and a local government area (LGA) selected from each state. A structured questionnaire including a set of color smile photographs with varying sizes of maxillary midline diastema (narrowest=2 mm; widest=6 mm) was administered. Information sought was age, gender, socioeconomic group, tribe, presence of a midline diastema, and grading of attractiveness of smile. This information was evaluated using a Likert scale. RESULTS A total of 402 subjects aged 19 to 45 years and a mean age of 36.3 years (±0.714) took part in this study. The highest proportion of subjects with midline diastema was aged 21 to 30 years (33.9%), females (29.8%), from the Hausa ethnic group (35%), and from the class II socioeconomic group (31.9%). Among the ethnic groups, Hausa had the highest (65%) preference for midline diastema. Females (58.8%) and those in the class II socioeconomic group (68.1%) also had the highest preference for midline diastema. There was a strong relationship between incidence of and preference for midline diastema (P=0.000). All ethnic groups rated maxillary midline diastema as attractive, especially when the width was within 2 to 3 mm (P=0.02). CONCLUSION All ethnic groups perceived maxillary midline diastema to be an esthetic attribute, provided the width was within 2 to 3 mm.
Acute Aortic Occlusion. A 40-year Experience

Objective: To review a large experience with acute aortic occlusion (AAO) to better define the cause, clinical presentation, treatment, prognostic variables, and outcome. Design: Retrospective review of 46 consecutive patients with AAO during a 40-year period. Setting: A large urban tertiary care referral center in Detroit, Mich. Patients: Adult patients with arteriographic and/or operative confirmation of acute occlusion of the abdominal aorta plus signs and symptoms of acute ischemia. Intervention: Operative and nonoperative treatment of AAO. Main Outcome Measures: Mortality, morbidity, and long-term survival. Other variables measured included cause, risk factors, and effects of duration and severity of ischemia and treatment methods on outcome. Results: Two primary causes were identified—embolism (65%) and thrombosis (35%). Heart disease and female gender were risk factors for embolism, while smoking and diabetes were risk factors for thrombosis. Severity of ischemia on presentation correlated better with outcome than duration of ischemia. The hospital mortality rate was 35% and morbidity, 74%, with no difference between the two groups. Recurrent arterial embolism occurred in 43% of patients with embolic AAO. Seventy-two percent of AAO survivors were alive 5 years after therapy. Conclusions: Acute aortic occlusion remains a serious vascular surgical emergency with significant morbidity and mortality, even when recognized promptly and treated appropriately. Nevertheless, survivors have a reasonable long-term outcome. Permanent anticoagulation is suggested in patients with embolic AAO to minimize a high incidence of recurrent arterial embolism. (Arch Surg. 1994;129:603-608)
Linking Childhood and Adult Criminality: Using a Life Course Framework to Examine Childhood Abuse and Neglect, Substance Use and Adult Partner Violence

Child abuse and neglect, considered criminal acts under the Criminal Code of Canada, play an important role in substance use, violence, and other criminal behaviour in adulthood. We adopted the life course perspective to identify modifiable contextual influences and co-occurring individual, social, and familial determinants associated with adult criminality. Using in-depth interview data, a sub-sample of 13 women who had recently experienced intimate partner violence, recounted their experiences of childhood abuse, their own substance use or criminality, as well as implications of these factors on their children’s life trajectories. For the purposes of this paper criminality was defined as child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, illegal substance use and underage alcohol use. Our objective was to explore, in our data: (1) patterns and trajectories of criminality from childhood to adulthood among women who were victims of violence, and (2) cumulative effects of early life exposures on experiences of criminality; with the aim of describing the life course perspective as a useful framework to understand criminality along the life trajectory. The analysis was not designed to demonstrate causal connections between early childhood and adulthood experiences of criminality. Rather we generated qualitative and quantitative hypotheses to guide future research in the field. Implications for research and interventions are discussed.
Hydrogenation impairs the hypolipidemic effect of corn oil in humans. Hydrogenation, trans fatty acids, and plasma lipids.

The effects of plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins of replacing corn oil with corn-oil margarine in stick form as two thirds of the fat in the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step 2 diet were assessed in 14 middle-aged and elderly women and men (age range, 44-78 years) with moderate hypercholesterolemia (low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] range, 133-219 mg/dl [3.45-5.67 mmol/l] at screening). During each 32-day study phase, subjects received all their food and drink from a metabolic kitchen. Subjects were first studied while being fed a diet approximating the composition of the current US diet (baseline), which contained 35% of calories as fat (13% saturated fatty acids [SFAs], 12% monounsaturated fatty acids [MUFAs; 0.8% 18:1n-9 trans], and 8% polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs]) and 128 mg cholesterol/1,000 kcal. This baseline phase was followed by a corn oil-enriched diet containing 30% fat (6% SFA, 11% MUFA [0.4% 18:1n-9 trans], and 10% PUFA) and 83 mg cholesterol/1,000 kcal, and then a corn-oil margarine-enriched diet containing 30% fat (8% SFA, 12% MUFA [4.2% 18:1n-9 trans], and 8% PUFA) and 77 mg cholesterol/1,000 kcal. All diets were isocaloric. Mean fasting LDL-C and apolipoprotein (apo) B levels were 153 mg/dl (3.96 mmol/l) and 101 mg/dl on the baseline diet, 17% and 20% lower (both p < 0.001) on the corn oil-enriched diet, and 10% and 10% lower (both p < 0.01) on the margarine-enriched diet. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Planococcus maritimus sp. nov., isolated from sea water of a tidal flat in Korea.

Two Gram-positive, motile cocci, strains TF-9(T) and TF-16, were isolated from sea water of a tidal flat in Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequences showed that the strains fall within the radiation of the cluster comprising Planococcus citreus and Planococcus kocurii, and this cluster joined the clade comprising Planomicrobium species and Planococcus alkanoclasticus and Planococcus psychrophilus with a high bootstrap resampling value. Strains TF-9(T) and TF-16 contained MK-8, MK-7 and MK-6 as the predominant menaquinones. The major fatty acid was anteiso-C(15 : 0). The DNA G+C contents of strains TF-9(T) and TF-16 were respectively 48 and 49 mol%. The level of 16S rDNA identity between strains TF-9(T) and TF-16 was 98.9 %. Strain TF-9(T) and TF-16 respectively exhibited levels of 16S rDNA identity of 97.2-98.4 and 96.9-99.5 % to the type strains of Planococcus kocurii, Planococcus citreus and Planococcus antarcticus. The mean level of DNA-DNA relatedness between strains TF-9(T) and TF-16 was 36.7 %. Strains TF-9(T) and TF-16 respectively exhibited levels of DNA-DNA relatedness of 7.1-43.4 and 3.5-80.9 % to Planococcus citreus DSM 20549(T), Planococcus kocurii DSM 20747(T) and Planococcus antarcticus DSM 14505(T). On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic data, strain TF-9(T) (=KCCM 41587(T)=JCM 11543(T)) should be placed as a novel species of the genus Planococcus, for which the name Planococcus maritimus sp. nov. is proposed, and strain TF-16 should be classified as a member of Planococcus citreus.
Taste disturbance following tonsillectomy–a prospective study

Persistent taste disturbance is a rare complication after tonsillectomy and mainly documented by case reports or a few retrospective and prospective trials with a limited number of patients. None could clarify frequency, time course, or prognosis of long‐lasting dysgeusia after tonsillectomy. The aim of the study was to provide a symptom‐based follow‐up after tonsillectomy to assess postoperative taste disorders.
Slow Oscillations (≤1 Hz) Mediated by GABAergic Interneuronal Networks in Rat Hippocampus

Perfusion of rat brain slices with low millimole CsCl elicits slow oscillations of ≤1 Hz in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. These oscillations are GABAA receptor-mediated hyperpolarizations that permit a coherent fire–pause pattern in a population of CA1 neurons. They can persist without the activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors but require adenosine-dependent inhibition of glutamate transmission. In response to external Cs+, multiple interneurons in the CA1 region display rhythmic discharges that correlate with the slow oscillations in CA1 pyramidal neurons. The interneuronal discharges arise spontaneously from the resting potential, and their rhythmicity is regulated by periodic, GABAA receptor-mediated hyperpolarizations. In addition, interneurons show periodic partial spikes and neurobiotin coupling, and applications of known gap junctional uncouplers interrupt the Cs+-induced slow rhythm in both CA1 pyramidal neurons and interneurons. We propose that these slow oscillations originate from a GABAergic interneuronal network that interacts through reciprocal inhibition and possibly gap junctional connection.
Updated meta‐analysis of clinical trials of Serenoa repens extract in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia

To determine, by analysing all available clinical trial data, the clinical efficacy against placebo of an extract from the fruit of the American dwarf palm tree, Serenoa repens (Permixon®, Pierre Fabre Médicament, Castres, France), as there is controversy about the use of phytotherapeutic agents in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Replication of R-factor R1 in Scherichia coli K-12 at different growth rates

The R-factor R1drd-19 mediates resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics via a beta-lactamase. A strain of Escherichia coli K-12 carrying R1drd-19 was grown at different growth rates by using different carbon sources. The specific rate of production of the R1 beta-lactamase increased linearly with the growth rate and with the gene dosage. The content of R1 deoxyribonucleic acid was estimated by alkaline sucrose gradient centrifugation and by analysis of the specific rate of beta-lactamase synthesis in nutritional shift-up experiments and was found to decrease fivefold when the growth rate was increased from 0.4 to 1.8 doublings per h. The number of R1 molecules per cell decreased from six to two in the same growth range. The presence of the plasmid affected the mean cell size significantly; at a growth rate of 0.4 doublings per h the R-+ cells were on the average 50% bigger than the R-minus cells, whereas the effect was less than 10% at a growth rate of 1.8 doublings per h. Several reports in the leterature state that the initiation mass of chromosome replication is constant. In this paper it is shown that the initiation mass of R1 replication is proportional to the growth rate. Thus, the replication of the plasmid R1 and of the chromosome are independently regulated processes. It is argued that plasmid replication is under negative control.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α mRNA: a new target for destabilization by tristetraprolin in endothelial cells

The study provides new evidence that the mRNA-destabilizing protein Tristetraprolin is a modulator of HIF-1α mRNA turnover and may contribute to the control of HIF-1α and HIF-1α target gene expression during the adaptive response of endothelial cells to hypoxia.
Daclizumab Versus Rabbit Antithymocyte Globulin in High‐Risk Renal Transplants: Five‐Year Follow‐up of a Randomized Study

We previously reported a randomized controlled trial in which 227 de novo deceased‐donor kidney transplant recipients were randomized to rabbit antithymocyte (rATG, Thymoglobulin) or daclizumab if they were considered to be at high immunological risk, defined as high panel reactive antibodies (PRA), loss of a first kidney graft through rejection within 2 years of transplantation, or third or fourth transplantation. Patients treated with rATG had lower incidences of biopsy‐proven acute rejection (BPAR) and steroid‐resistant rejection at 1 year. Patients were followed to 5 years posttransplant in an observational study; findings are described here. Treatment with rATG was associated with a lower rate of BPAR at 5 years (14.2% vs. 26.0% with daclizumab; p = 0.035). Only one rATG‐treated patient (0.9%) and one daclizumab‐treated patient (1.0%) developed BPAR after 1 year. Five‐year graft and patient survival rates, and renal function, were similar between the two groups. Overall graft survival at 5 years was significantly higher in patients without BPAR (81.0% vs. 54.8%; p < 0.001). In conclusion, rATG is superior to daclizumab for the prevention of BPAR among high‐immunological‐risk renal transplant recipients. Overall graft survival at 5 years was approximately 70% with either induction therapy, which compares favorably to low‐risk cohorts.
Functional alteration patterns of default mode networks: comparisons of normal aging, amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Most default mode network (DMN) studies in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are based on the comparison of only two groups, namely patients and controls. Information derived from comparing three groups, normal, aMCI and AD, simultaneously may lead us to better understand the progression of dementia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate functional connectivity of DMN in the continuum from normal through aMCI to AD. Differences in functional connectivity were compared between the three groups using independent component analysis. The relationship between functional connectivity and disease progression was investigated using multiple regression analysis with Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. The results revealed differences throughout the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and bilateral parahippocampal gyrus (PHG). Both patients with aMCI and those with AD showed decreased connectivity in the left PCC and left PHG compared with healthy subjects. Furthermore, patients with AD also showed decreased connectivity in the left MTG and right PHG. Increased functional connectivity was observed in the right MFG of patients with AD compared with other groups. MMSE scores exhibited significant positive and negative correlations with functional connectivity in PCC, MTG and MFG regions. Taken together, increased functional connectivity in the MFG for AD patients might compensate for the loss of function in the PCC and MTG via compensatory mechanisms in corticocortical connections.