Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathogenesis of Hepatitis E Virus and Hepatitis C Virus in Chimpanzees: Similarities and Differences

ABSTRACT The chimpanzee is the only animal model for investigating the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis types A through E in humans. Studies of the host response, including microarray analyses, have relied on the close relationship between these two primate species: chimpanzee samples are commonly tested with human-based reagents. In this study, the host responses to two dissimilar viruses, hepatitis E virus (HEV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), were compared in multiple experimentally infected chimpanzees. Affymetrix U133 + 2.0 human microarray chips were used to assess the entire transcriptome in serial liver biopsies obtained over the course of the infections. Respecting the limitations of microarray probes designed for human target transcripts to effectively assay chimpanzee transcripts, we conducted probe-level analysis of the microarray data in conjunction with a custom mapping of the probe sequences to the most recent human and chimpanzee genome sequences. Time points for statistical comparison were chosen based on independently measured viremia levels. Regardless of the viral infection, the alignment of differentially expressed genes to the human genome sequence resulted in a larger number of genes being identified when compared with alignment to the chimpanzee genome sequence. This probably reflects the lesser refinement of gene annotation for chimpanzees. In general, the two viruses demonstrated very distinct temporal changes in host response genes, although both RNA viruses induced genes that were involved in many of the same biological systems, including interferon-induced genes. The host response to HCV infection was more robust in the magnitude and number of differentially expressed genes compared to HEV infection.
Transcriptional auxin–brassinosteroid crosstalk: Who's talking?

The plant hormones auxin and brassinosteroid are both essential regulators of plant growth and known to influence both cell division and cell elongation in various developmental contexts. These physiological effects of auxin and brassinosteroid have been known for many years. Based on observations from external simultaneous application of both hormones to plant tissues, it has been suggested that they act in an interdependent and possibly synergistic manner. Recent work in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana suggests that, at the molecular level, auxin–brassinosteroid synergism manifests itself in the regulation of the expression of common target genes. However, whether this reflects genuine hormone pathway‐dependent crosstalk modulation of the transcription machinery or rather indirect effects of hormone action on other cellular activities, such as hormone biosynthesis or the polar transport of auxin, is not entirely clear. This article reviews the evidence for transcriptional crosstalk between auxin and brassinosteroid and its molecular basis. BioEssays 29:1115–1123, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polymorphisms in the estrogen synthesis and metabolism pathways and symptoms during the menopausal transition: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in the estrogen synthesis and metabolism pathways are associated with women's vasomotor symptom experiences during the menopausal transition. Design: In 2002, a subset of women enrolled in the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study since 1990 (N = 174) provided a buccal smear for genotyping. Women were recruited by complete ascertainment of selected multiethnic neighborhoods in 1990. Participants were midlife women with a mean age of 53 years in 2005, well educated, employed, married, and represented a multiethnic population. Genotyping was done for the following polymorphisms: CYP1A1m2; CYP1B1*2 and CYP1B1*3; CYP17 5&vprime;UTR; CYP19 3&vprime;UTR; CYP19 (TTTA)n; including CYP19 7r and CYP19 7(r-3); CYP19 8r and CYP19 11r; and ESR1PvuII and ESR1XbaI. Women rated their vasomotor symptom severity in diaries on days 5, 6, and 7 of the menstrual cycle or on a constant date each month for women skipping periods. Menopausal transition stage was determined from daily menstrual calendars. First voided urine specimens provided several times each year were assayed for estrone glucuronide. Results: Women with the CYP19 11r polymorphism reported more severe and frequent hot flashes during the middle and late menopausal transition stages and postmenopause and higher E1G levels during middle and late stages. None of the other polymorphisms studied were related to hot flashes or to estrone glucuronide levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest a possible role for CYP19 polymorphisms in estrogen levels and in vasomotor symptoms during the menopausal transition that warrants further study in larger and more diverse populations of women.
DHX33 Transcriptionally Controls Genes Involved in the Cell Cycle

ABSTRACT The RNA helicase DHX33 has been shown to be a critical regulator of cell proliferation and growth. However, the underlying mechanisms behind DHX33 function remain incompletely understood. We present original evidence in multiple cell lines that DHX33 transcriptionally controls the expression of genes involved in the cell cycle, notably cyclin, E2F1, cell division cycle (CDC), and minichromosome maintenance (MCM) genes. DHX33 physically associates with the promoters of these genes and controls the loading of active RNA polymerase II onto these promoters. DHX33 deficiency abrogates cell cycle progression and DNA replication and leads to cell apoptosis. In zebrafish, CRISPR-mediated knockout of DHX33 results in downregulation of cyclin A2, cyclin B2, cyclin D1, cyclin E2, cdc6, cdc20, E2F1, and MCM complexes in DHX33 knockout embryos. Additionally, we found the overexpression of DHX33 in a subset of non-small-cell lung cancers and in Ras-mutated human lung cancer cell lines. Forced reduction of DHX33 in these cancer cells abolished tumor formation in vivo. Our study demonstrates for the first time that DHX33 acts as a direct transcriptional regulator to promote cell cycle progression and plays an important role in driving cell proliferation during both embryo development and tumorigenesis.
Sexuality attitudes: The impact of trauma

This study examines the relationship between traumatic events and attitudes toward sexuality. Our results show that suffering trauma is related to more accepting attitudes concerning sexuality. Generally, people who suffer negative events, many of which are traumatic, are more likely to see both pornography and having a homosexual friend or family member as acceptable. Traumatic events that are sex‐related or related to other physical assault proved to be most significant in the prediction of sexuality attitudes for women only. The results are specified by gender: Trauma predicts attitudes toward pornography for women but not for men, and traumatic events are associated with attitudes concerning homosexuality for women. These results are discussed in light of the previous research, and suggestions for future research made.
Pentoxifylline and Ciprofloxacin in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Phase II Trial

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibits hematopoietic cell proliferation. The combination of pentoxifylline (PTX) and ciprofloxacin (Cipro) has been previously shown to reduce circulating serum levels of TNF. In this Phase II trial 14 patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome were treated with PTX (2,000 mg/day) and Cipro (1,000 mg/day) in order to determine tolerability and effect on peripheral blood cell counts, progenitor cell responsiveness to cytokines and circulating serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL6) and TNF. Toxicity attributed to PTX and Cipro were limited to nausea in 4 patients. Peripheral blood cell counts, platelet transfusion requirements and red blood cell transfusion requirements did not change during administration of PTX and Cipro (daily for 28 days). Marrow progenitor cells of patients entered into trial were less responsive to stimulation with cytokines in vitro at baseline and during the trial compared to normal volunteers. Eight patients had elevated IL6 levels before treatment with PTX and Cipro these levels did not change during therapy. Five patients had elevated TNF levels at baseline. There was a suggestion of decreased TNF levels during treatment with PTX and Cipro (P = .09). In conclusion, PTX and Cipro was well tolerated but no evidence of efficacy was observed.
Preliminary Support for Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care in Reducing Substance Use in Delinquent Boys

Although effective outpatient treatments have been identified for the well-documented negative outcomes associated with delinquency and substance use, effective treatments for youths in out-of-home care are rare. In this study, 12- and 18-month substance use outcomes were examined for a sample of 79 boys who were randomly assigned to Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (experimental condition) or to group care (comparison condition). The boys in the experimental condition had lower levels of self-reported drug use at 12 months, and lower levels of tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use at 18 months. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
[Protective effects of n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserina on acute myocardial ischemic injury in mice].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effects of the n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserina L. (NP) on pituitrin-induced acute myocardial ischemic injury in mice. METHODS Ninety healthy female mice were randomly divided into normal control group, untreated group, Salvia miltiorrhiza group and low-, medium- and high-dose NP groups. Except for the normal control group, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with pituitrin (20 U/kg) to induce acute myocardial ischemic injury. Thirty minutes after induction, electrocardiogram was monitored, and height of the J spot was measured also. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum of the mice were detected. The degree of myocardial ischemic injury in mice was observed by Nagar-Olsen staining. RESULTS The moving up of J spots in the treated groups was significantly inhibited when comparing with the untreated group (P<0.01). Compared with untreated group, high- and medium-dose NP and Salvia miltiorrhiza could significantly decrease the activities of LDH, CK (P<0.01, P<0.05), increase the SOD activity (P<0.01) and decrease the content of MDA (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between low-dose NP group and untreated group (P>0.05). Nagar-Olsen staining showed that high- and medium-dose NP and Salvia miltiorrhiza could significantly diminish the areas of cardiac muscles injured by ischemia, but low-dose NP had no effect on that. CONCLUSION NP has a remarkable protective effect on acute myocardial ischemic injury in mice.
Current Perspectives in Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia, or chronic vulvar pain, is a common but poorly understood condition. Although its etiology is not well understood, it appears to be multifactorial. As such, treatment options are targeted to reduce singular symptoms in a piecemeal fashion. A number of randomized, controlled trials have been conducted and at least one paper on combination therapy has been published; however, further systematic research is needed in order to more fully inform clinical practice.
Local Bias in Google Search and the Market Response Around Earnings Announcements

ABSTRACT: We examine the impact of distance on internet search, and the effect of the “local bias” in search on the stock market response around earnings announcements. We find significant local bias in search behavior. Motivated by theories explaining local bias, local information advantage, and familiarity bias, we predict and find that firms with higher local bias in search experience higher bid-ask spreads, lower trading volumes, and lower earnings response coefficients at the time of earnings announcements, consistent with non-local investors relying more than locals on public information announcements. Consistent with local information advantage, we find that in the week prior to the announcement, firms with higher local bias have higher bid-ask spreads, higher trading volumes, and returns that are more predictive of the coming earnings surprise. Consistent with familiarity bias, firms with higher local bias in search experience stronger post-earnings announcement drift. We use unique predictions, p.
Comparison of United States and Korean dental hygiene students using the Hiroshima university-dental behavioural inventory(HU-DBI).

OBJECTIVE To compare cross-national differences of dental health behaviour among dental hygiene students. DESIGN Cross-cultural differences. SETTING United States (USA) and Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS One hundred and twenty-six dental hygiene students in USA and 246 in Korea were surveyed using the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) (in English and Korean versions respectively). RESULTS There were considerable differences in oral health behaviour between USA and Korean dental hygiene students. Of great significance were findings that while only a small proportion of the USA students (1%) reported gum bleeding when they brushed their teeth, 37% of the Korean students did so (P<0.001). Furthermore, only 19% of the Korean students had been told by their dentist that they were performing a high level of plaque control, contrasted with 76% of the USA students. Logistic regression model showed that it was possible to distinguish USA students from Korean peers with a probability of more than 90% by using the HU-DBI. CONCLUSIONS There were considerable differences in dental health attitudes/behaviour among dental hygiene students in the two countries. The variation in the favourable attitudes/behaviour toward oral health appeared to reflect the students' clinical training experience in Korea.
Sleep in Relation to Age, Sex, and Chronotype in Japanese Workers

The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and Life Habits Inventory were administered to 622 Japanese workers matched for sex and age. We investigated the distributions of the scores on the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and sleep-wake habits by age and sex. Subjects were classified into five age groups and three chronotypes. The distributions and mean scores on the questionnaire advanced slightly toward the Morning type from the young to the aged group. The habitual bedtimes and waking times were significantly earlier in all the chronotypes from the young to the aged group, and the preferred bedtimes and waking times were also clearly earlier from the young to the aged group. The length of sleep was shorter for the Evening than the Morning types, especially in the group below 24 yr. The differences in habitual and preferred sleep length were greater than 1 hour for all age groups, especially the two groups under 34 yr. The number of awakenings during night sleep increased from the young to the aged group for all chronotypes. The older Evening type tended mote toward frequent napping and longer naptime. The variabilities of bedtime and sleep length were larger for the young and Evening type than for the old group and Morning types. Further, the mood upon waking and satisfaction with sleep length were better in the aged Evening type than the young Morning type. The women under 44 yr. woke up earlier than the men of the same age, and the women of the 35–54 yr. groups had a shorter length of sleep than others. These may be related to childcare and housework. These results indicated that the phase of circadian rhythms had moved forward from the young to the aged group, and the individual's rhythm, of those that were aged Morning types, showed better agreement with sleep-wake rhythms than did others.
Environmental and population dependency of genetic variability‐fitness correlations in Rana temporaria

Considerable effort has been invested in studying the relationship between fitness and genetic variability. While evidence exists both for and against positive genetic variability–fitness correlations (GFC), the possible environment and population‐dependency of GFCs has seldom been tested. We investigated GFCs in common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles reared under different temperatures and feeding regimes in four replicate populations. Genetic variability in eight microsatellite loci in 238 parents was used to estimate heterozygosity (H) and mean expected d2 in 158‐sibships (4515 offspring). Generalized linear mixed model analyses of offspring fitness traits (survival to metamorphosis, developmental and growth rate) revealed that offspring survival probability was positively correlated with H, and that relationships were similar in all four populations tested. However, significant interaction between other genetic variability measures (d2, relatedness) and treatment conditions indicated that GFCs were detectable in some, but not in all environments. Interestingly, GFCs between survival and both heterozygosity and relatedness were most pronounced in stressful environments (i.e. limited food). Developmental and growth rates were significantly associated with d2 but less with H and relatedness. Furthermore, many of these GFCs were population‐specific. These results suggest — in line with the contention that expression of inbreeding depression can be environment dependent — that GFCs can also be highly sensitive to the environmental conditions under which they are measured. The results further suggest that the observed positive correlation between H and survival probability is likely to be explainable by the ‘general’, rather than by the ‘local’ or ‘direct’ effect hypotheses.
Evidence That Glutathione Depletion Is a Mechanism Responsible for the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ethyl Pyruvate in Cultured Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells

Ethyl pyruvate (EP), an effective scavenger of reactive oxygen species, is also an anti-inflammatory agent in a variety of in vivo and in vitro model systems. To gain a better understanding of the molecular basis for the anti-inflammatory effects of EP, we compared the pharmacological properties of EP andN-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a well studied scavenger of reactive oxygen species and a precursor for the endogenous antioxidant glutathione (GSH). The studies were performed using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage-like cells that were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although EP and NAC both inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide and interleukin (IL)-6 secretion, the former compound was considerably more potent than the latter. EP markedly inhibited inducible nitric-oxide synthase, IL-6, and IL-10 mRNA induction, whereas the effects of NAC were minimal. EP inhibited LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB DNA binding to a much greater extent than did NAC. Both compounds inhibited LPS-induced lipid peroxidation, but the two compounds had qualitatively different effects on cellular levels of GSH. Although NAC increased GSH levels, EP had the opposite effect. The anti-inflammatory effects of EP were partially reversed when RAW 264.7 cells were treated with a cell-permeable GSH analog, glutathione ethyl ester. These data support the view that the anti-inflammatory effects of EP are mediated, at least in part, by the ability of EP to deplete cellular GSH stores. Moreover, the findings presented here suggest that an unusual combination of biochemical effects (inhibition of lipid peroxidation and GSH depletion) might account for the anti-inflammatory effects of EP.
Molecular Characterization of the DDX3Y Gene and Its Homologs in Cattle

DDX3Y (also known as DBY) is a member of the DEAD box protein family, which is involved in ATP-dependent RNA unwinding, needed in a variety of cellular processes including splicing, ribosome biogenesis and RNA degradation. In the human, DDX3Y is located in the AZFa interval in the Y chromosome. Deletion of the AZFa region has been shown to disrupt spermatogenesis, causing subfertility and infertility in otherwise healthy men. Here, we report the characterization of the bovine (b) DDX3Y gene and its homologs DDX3X and PL10. We found 2 transcripts for the bDDX3Y (bDDX3Y-L and -S), which correspond to the long and short transcripts of the human DDX3Y and mouse Ddx3y gene. The 2 transcripts are identical except for a 3-bp (AGT) insertion at the position of nt 2025 and an expanded 3′UTR (nt 2155–2769) in bDDX3Y-L. The bDDX3Y-S encodes a peptide of 660 amino acids (aa), while the bDDX3Y-L encodes a peptide of 661 aa as the result of an additional serine (S) insertion at the position of aa 634. Both bDDX3Y isoforms contain the conserved DEAD-box motif. The bDDX3Y is composed of 17 exons. The homologous gene on the X chromosome, bDDX3X, is highly conserved to the Y-copy at mRNA (83%) and protein (88%) levels as well as in the genomic structure. The autosomal copy, bPL10, mapped on BTA15, is a processed pseudogene with a similarity of 88.1% to bDDX3Y and 93.7% to bDDX3X mRNA, suggesting that PL10 is a retroposon of DDX3X. RT-PCR analyses showed that bDDX3Y-L, -S, bDDX3X and bPL10 were all widely expressed with predominant expression in testis and brain. Testicular section in situ hybridization revealed that sense and anti-sense RNAs of bDDX3Y-L, -S, and bDDX3X were expressed in interstitial cells. These results together with the finding that the pseudogene bPL10 is transcriptionally active in this study provide a basis for further investigating the DDX3 gene function in spermatogenesis, male fertility and gene evolution in mammals.
Oxidative stress-related factors in Bartter's and Gitelman's syndromes: relevance for angiotensin II signalling.

BACKGROUND Bartter's and Gitelman's syndromes (BS/GS) have a blunted Gq protein-mediated cell signalling despite high circulating angiotensin II (Ang II) levels. This is associated with reduced Galphaq gene expression, intracellular inositol trisphosphate and Ca(++) release, PKC activity and cell reactivity. Ang II is a powerful stimulator of vascular oxidases but BS/GS patients show reduced total volatile LDL oxidation products and reduced LDL susceptibility to oxidation suggesting low level of oxidative stress. Therefore, we evaluated oxidative stress-related proteins in plasma and monocytes of patients with BS/GS, at baseline and after Ang II stimulation. METHODS In two BS and seven GS patients, biochemically and genetically characterized, and in 10 age- and sex-matched control subjects, we measured total plasma antioxidant power (AOP), plasma peroxynitrite level and gene expression of the NADH/NADPH oxidase subunit p22(phox), TGFbeta and haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in circulating monocytes in basal condition and after stimulation with Ang II. Furthermore, we investigated the C(242)T polymorphism of p22(phox), whose topography in a potential haeme-binding site suggests a role in the regulation of oxidative stress. RESULTS AOP was higher in BS/GS patients than in controls (3.27 +/- 0.95 mmol/l vs 1.05 +/- 0.16, P = 0.002), together with higher plasma renin activity and aldosterone level (9.88 +/- 4.64 vs 0.95 +/- 0.08 nmol Ang I/h/ml, P < 0.0001; and 0.73 +/- 0.13 vs 0.18 +/- 0.01 nmol/l, P < 0.0001, respectively). The plasma peroxynitrite level was undetectable both in patients and controls. mRNA expression of p22(phox) and TGFbeta was reduced in BS/GS patients compared to controls [0.35 +/- 0.08 vs 0.53+/-0.05 densitometric units (d.u.), P = 0.005, and 0.82 +/- 0.07 vs 1.15 +/- 0.25 d.u. , P = 0.006, respectively]. HO-1 mRNA was increased in BS/GS patients in comparison to controls (0.88 +/- 0.07 vs 0.78 +/- 0.11 d.u., P = 0.037). After acute Ang II exposure, p22(phox), TGFbeta and HO-1 gene expression significantly increased only in controls (from 0.59 +/- 0.12 to 0.96 +/- 0.11, P < 0.001, from 0.97 +/- 0.1 to 1.27 +/- 0.22, P < 0.008, and from 0.62 +/- 0.1 to 0.82 +/- 0.09, P < 0.001, respectively). Finally, C(242)T polymorphism of p22(phox) was undetectable. CONCLUSIONS The intracellular responses to Ang II mediated by reactive oxygen species are reduced in BS/GS patients. This may contribute to their vascular hyporeactivity.