Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemopreventive Activity of Systemically Administered Curcumin on Oral Cancer in the 4‐Nitroquinoline 1‐Oxide Model

Curcumin has therapeutic potential in preventing several types of cancer, including colon, liver, prostate, and breast. The goal of this study was to evaluate the chemopreventive activity of systemically administered curcumin on oral carcinogenesis induced by 4‐nitroquinolone‐1‐oxide (4‐NQO). A total of 50 male albino rats, Rattus norvegicus, (Holtzman), were divided into five groups (n = 10 per group). Four of these groups were exposed to 50 ppm 4‐NQO in their drinking water ad libitum for 8 or 12 weeks, two groups were treated with curcumin by oral gavage at 30 or 100 mg/kg per day, and one group was treated with corn oil (vehicle) only. The negative control group was euthanized at baseline. Tongues of all animals were removed after euthanasia and used in the subsequent analysis because the tongue is the primary site of carcinogenesis in this model. Descriptive histological analysis and immunohistochemistry for PCNA, Bcl‐2, SOCS1 e‐3, and STAT3 were performed to assess the oncogenic process. The gene expression of Vimentin, E‐cadherin, N‐cadherin, or TWIST1 was assessed using RT‐qPCR as a representative of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) events. The administration of curcumin at 100 mg/kg during the 12 weeks markedly decreased the expression of PCNA, Bcl‐2, SOCS1 e ‐3, and STAT3. Curcumin also minimized the cellular atypia under microscopic analysis and diminished the expression of the genes associated with EMT. These findings demonstrate that the systemic administration of curcumin has chemopreventive activity during oral carcinogenesis induced by 4‐NQO. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 787–796, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
[Analysis of hepatofugal flow in portal venous system using ultrasonic Doppler duplex system].

Blood flow directions of the portal trunk, splenic vein, and superior mesenteric vein were studied using an ultrasonic Doppler duplex system in 146 healthy adults, 132 patients with liver cirrhosis, 76 with hepatocellular carcinoma, 32 with idiopathic portal hypertension, 134 with chronic hepatitis, 18 with acute hepatitis, and 142 with other diseases. Spontaneous hepatofugal flow in one or more of the three vessels examined was detected in 14 patients. Spontaneous hepatofugal flow in the portal trunk was detected in three patients with liver cirrhosis. In two of these three patients, the hepatofugal flow in the portal trunk disappeared after medication. This is interesting, since hepatofugal flow may, in fact, be more common than we suspected in patients who, because of the severity of their disease, are not able to undergo invasive examination. Postoperative hepatofugal flow in the portal system was detected in 20 of 71 cases: 15/17 patients after interposition mesocaval shunting, 2/17 after distal splenorenal shunting, 2/31 after splenectomy, and 1/6 after splenic artery occlusion with steel coils. In more than half the cases of interposition mesocaval shunting (9/17 patients), blood flow in the portal trunk was hepatofugal. However, hepatopetal blood flow in the portal trunk was maintained in most cases of distal splenorenal shunting (13/17), showing the merits of this technique as a selective portosystemic shunt operation.
Nitric oxide in the airways

Purpose of reviewThis review briefly explains the basic facts about nitric oxide, which is entering clinical practice as a measure of lower airways inflammation and is likely also to be employed in otorhinolaryngological practice. Recent findingsThese include the validity of nasal nitric oxide in diagnosing primary ciliary dyskinesia and in monitoring the response to chronic rhinosinusitis therapy. The nasal nitric oxide value combined with a humming manoeuvre, which increases the passage of nitric oxide from the sinuses to the nose if the ostiomeatal complex is patent, could reduce the need for computed tomography scans. The link between nitric oxide production and ciliary beating requires further exploration. Therapeutic adjustments to nitric oxide production are under investigation. SummaryNitric oxide is likely to prove highly relevant to airways defence, as well as being an inflammatory mediator. Nasal nitric oxide probably explains some of the benefit of nasal rather than mouth breathing.
The nitrate‐reduction gene cluster components exert lineage‐dependent contributions to optimization of Sinorhizobium symbiosis with soybeans

Receiving nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes does not guarantee rhizobia an effective symbiosis with legumes. Here, variations in gene content were determined for three Sinorhizobium species showing contrasting symbiotic efficiency on soybeans. A nitrate-reduction gene cluster absent in S. sojae was found to be essential for symbiotic adaptations of S. fredii and S. sp. III. In S. fredii, the deletion mutation of the nap (nitrate reductase), instead of nir (nitrite reductase) and nor (nitric oxide reductase), led to defects in nitrogen-fixation (Fix- ). By contrast, none of these core nitrate-reduction genes were required for the symbiosis of S. sp. III. However, within the same gene cluster, the deletion of hemN1 (encoding oxygen-independent coproporphyrinogen III oxidase) in both S. fredii and S. sp. III led to the formation of nitrogen-fixing (Fix+ ) but ineffective (Eff- ) nodules. These Fix+ /Eff- nodules were characterized by significantly lower enzyme activity of glutamine synthetase indicating rhizobial modulation of nitrogen-assimilation by plants. A distant homologue of HemN1 from S. sojae can complement this defect in S. fredii and S. sp. III, but exhibited a more pleotropic role in symbiosis establishment. These findings highlighted the lineage-dependent optimization of symbiotic functions in different rhizobial species associated with the same host.
Chronic myeloid leukaemia occurring in a patient with hairy cell leukaemia

Occurrences of second malignancies in hairy cell leukaemia are well recognised. Most of these malignancies are either solid tumours or lymphoproliferative disorders. The association of myeloproliferative disorders with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is very rare. This report describes a case of a patient with HCL who after remaining in remission developed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), which rapidly transformed to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with further cytogenetic abnormalities.
Social Media in an Alternative Marketing Communication Model

While current literature has sufficiently profiled word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing, customer relationship management, brand communities, search engine optimization, viral marketing, guerilla marketing, events-based marketing, and social media each on an isolated, individual basis, there is no comprehensive model that effectively incorporates all of these elements. The first purpose of this paper is to therefore profile the current literature landscape surrounding WOM marketing, alternative marketing communications, and social media as viable components of integrated marketing communications. Additionally, this paper aims to develop an integrated alternative marketing communication conceptual model that can be applied by industrial practitioners to help them achieve their marketing objectives.
Gender-specific alterations in fibrin structure function in type 2 diabetes: associations with cardiometabolic and vascular markers.

CONTEXT Diabetes is associated with increased incidence of atherothrombotic disease. The fibrin network forms the backbone of the arterial thrombus, and fibrin clot structure determines predisposition to cardiovascular events. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate fibrin clot structure/fibrinolysis in the largest type 2 diabetes cohort and analyze associations with cardiometabolic risk factors and vascular pathology. DESIGN Clot structure/fibrinolysis was assessed in 875 participants of the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study [age, 68 (range, 60-75) yr; 450 males] by turbidimetric assays, and clots were visualized by confocal microscopy. Four parameters of clot structure/fibrinolysis were analyzed, and plasma levels of fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were studied by Clauss assay and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS Clot maximum absorbance was increased in females compared with males (0.37 ± 0.005 and 0.34 ± 0.005 arbitrary unit, respectively; P < 0.001), and took longer to lyse (803 ± 20 and 665 ± 12 sec, respectively; P < 0.001). These gender differences in clot structure and fibrinolysis were still evident after correcting for fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 plasma levels. A prothrombotic fibrin structure profile was associated with increased body mass index and low levels of high-density lipoprotein in women and with inadequate diabetes control in men. Clot formation time was related to previous cardiac ischemic events in both men and women after adjusting for traditional risk factors [odds ratio, 1.22 (95% confidence interval, 1.07, 1.38); and 1.33 (1.15, 1.50), respectively], and prothrombotic clots were associated with low ankle brachial index, renal impairment, and smoking, regardless of gender. CONCLUSIONS Women with type 2 diabetes have compact clots with compromised fibrinolysis compared with men. There are gender-specific associations between clotting parameters and cardiometabolic risk factors in this population, whereas vascular abnormalities, impaired renal function, and smoking are associated with prothrombotic clot structure profile regardless of gender.
Regression test selection based on intermediate code for virtual machines

Regression testing is testing applied to software that has been modified. It basically entails re-testing the software with previous test cases to confirm that the modifications made to the software do not have an adverse effect. But re-executing all test cases is normally cost prohibitive, and thus much research has been done on selecting test cases from a test suite without compromising the reliability of the software. These regression test selection techniques find test cases that will not detect any bugs in the modified software, and delete those from the next regression test suite. However, these techniques are based on analysis of source code. Recent programming environments have seen a proliferation of virtual machines. For example, programs written in Java and with the Microsoft . Net Framework are compiled into a platform-independent intermediate code which is executed. Such code could also be used for regression test selection. This especially holds for the Microsoft . Net Framework which handles various programming languages, such as Visual Basic and C++. Thus, this paper presents a safe regression test selection technique for virtual machine based programs. We especially target the Microsoft . Net Framework. Evaluation on 10 different examples resulted in an average of a 40.4% decrease in the cost of regression testing.
Does Multilevel Lumbar Stenosis Lead to Poorer Outcomes?: A Subanalysis of the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) Lumbar Stenosis Study

Study Design. A subanalysis study. Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of multilevel lumbar stenosis with or without degenerative spondylolisthesis compared to single level disease on patients' baseline symptoms and clinical outcomes over time. Summary of Background Data. Previous studies have demonstrated better clinical outcomes with surgery than nonoperative treatment in patients with spinal stenosis with or without degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, the impact of multilevel stenosis has not been studied in these patients. Methods. The results from a multicenter randomized and observational study, the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) comparing surgical versus nonoperative treatment for spinal stenosis with or without spondylolisthesis, were analyzed. The primary outcomes measures were the Bodily Pain and Physical Function scales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) and the modified Oswestry Disability Index at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Secondary outcome measures included the stenosis bothersomeness index, leg pain bothersomeness, low back pain bothersomeness, and patient satisfaction. Results. In this subanalysis of SPORT data, multilevel spinal stenosis did not demonstrate worse baseline symptoms or worse treatment outcomes in isolated spinal stenosis; however, if concomitant degenerative spondylolisthesis existed, patients with only single level stenosis tended to improve more than those with multilevel stenosis, particularly after surgery. Conclusion. Patients with spinal stenosis without associated degenerative spondylolisthesis or scoliosis can be managed nonoperatively irrespective of the number of levels involved. If surgery is performed, the number of levels treated does not predict outcome. In contrast, patients with concomitant degenerative spondylolisthesis and single level stenosis do better surgically than those with additional levels of stenosis. This study emphasizes the importance of shared decision-making between the physician and patient when considering treatment for spinal stenosis.
Neuromuscular Training Improves Lower Extremity Biomechanics Associated with Knee Injury during Landing in 11–13 Year Old Female Netball Athletes: A Randomized Control Study

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a neuromuscular training (NMT) program on lower-extremity biomechanics in youth female netball athletes. The hypothesis was that significant improvements would be found in landing biomechanics of the lower-extremities, commonly associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, following NMT. Twenty-three athletes (age = 12.2 ± 0.9 years; height = 1.63 ± 0.08 m; mass = 51.8 ± 8.5 kg) completed two testing sessions separated by 7-weeks and were randomly assigned to either a experimental or control group. Thirteen athletes underwent 6-weeks of NMT, while the remaining 10 served as controls and continued their regular netball training. Three-dimensional lower-extremity kinematics and vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) were measured during two landing tasks, a drop vertical jump and a double leg broad jump with a single leg landing. The experimental group significantly increased bilateral knee marker distance during the bilateral landing task at maximum knee-flexion range of motion. Knee internal rotation angle during the unilateral landing task at maximum knee flexion-extension range of motion was significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05, g > 1.00). The experimental group showed large, significant decreases in peak vertical ground reaction force in both landing tasks (p ≤ 0.05, g > −1.30). Control participants did not demonstrate any significant pre-to-post-test changes in response to the 6-week study period. Results of the study affirm the hypothesis that a 6-week NMT program can enhance landing biomechanics associated with ACL injury in 11–13 year old female netball athletes.
Parkin‐independent mitophagy requires Drp1 and maintains the integrity of mammalian heart and brain

Mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy have been linked to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we demonstrate that the mitochondrial division dynamin Drp1 and the Parkinson's disease‐associated E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin synergistically maintain the integrity of mitochondrial structure and function in mouse heart and brain. Mice lacking cardiac Drp1 exhibited lethal heart defects. In Drp1KO cardiomyocytes, mitochondria increased their connectivity, accumulated ubiquitinated proteins, and decreased their respiration. In contrast to the current views of the role of parkin in ubiquitination of mitochondrial proteins, mitochondrial ubiquitination was independent of parkin in Drp1KO hearts, and simultaneous loss of Drp1 and parkin worsened cardiac defects. Drp1 and parkin also play synergistic roles in neuronal mitochondrial homeostasis and survival. Mitochondrial degradation was further decreased by combination of Drp1 and parkin deficiency, compared with their single loss. Thus, the physiological importance of parkin in mitochondrial homeostasis is revealed in the absence of mitochondrial division in mammals.
Why Do Male House Mice Have Such Small Testes?

We studied testes size in free-living and laboratory-born commensal and non-commensal populations of various Mus species (M. musculus musculus, M. m. domesticus, M. spicilegus, M. spretus, M. macedonicus, and laboratory mice). We found no apparent differences between wild-caught and laboratory-born individuals, or among commensal, non-commensal, and laboratory populations of M. musculus. There were, however, considerable differences among the species studied. The highest values of relative testes size were found in the aboriginal species M. spicilegus (4.4% and 2.9% for wild and laboratory populations, respectively), followed by those of M. macedonicus (from 1.7% to 0.9% for various samples) and M. spretus (1.5%). All thirteen samples representing various populations of Mus musculus exhibited smaller testes (0.7–1.0%), and finally the three lowest mean values came from laboratory mice (0.5–0.7%). It is very surprising that aboriginal species, in particular M. spicilegus, which is widely considered to be monogamous, have relatively larger testes than the polygynous/promiscuous M. musculus. This result is in apparent contradiction to the current views on evolutionary forces affecting testes size, and suggests that there could be another uncontrolled factor obscuring the relationship between testes size and multiple paternity. This raises a question concerning the proper interpretation of social organisation in the genus Mus.
A study of peak expiratory flow rate in normal healthy children of

IJMDS ● www.ijmds. org ● January 2016; 5(1) 1042 Original Article A study of peak expiratory flow rate in normal healthy children of Punjab Bedi U, Dang BK ABSTRACT Background: Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) recording is an essential measure in the management and evaluation of asthmatic children. Objective: The present study was undertaken to establish normal reference values for PEFR in normal healthy children of Punjab and to study the influence of height, age, weight and gender on PEFR. Method:-The study was carried out at various schools in the Patiala, Punjab. A total number of 250 children aged between 5-17 yrs were taken. The study included information about the socio demographic characteristics and General Physical Examination was done along with Systemic Examination. PEFR was measured with Mini-Wright Peak Flow Meter. Result: PEFR had highly significant positive co-relation with age , height and weight both in male and female children . PEFR increased with increasing age with highest at the age range of 14-17 yrs (p<0.001). These findings were attributed to the rapid growth of airway passages and expiratory muscle effort . PEFR in males was more than females, the difference was non significant in age group 5-9 yrs (p>0.05), significant(p<0.05) in the age group 10-13 yrs and highly significant (p<0.01) in the age group of 14-17 yrs. These changes may be attributed in males to the better height , weight, and possibly because of more expiratory effort.
POSITIONAL FIRING PROPERTIES OF POSTRHINAL CORTEX NEURONS

Hippocampal cell firing in awake, behaving rats is often spatially selective, and such cells have been called place cells. Similar spatial correlates have also been described for neurons in the medial entorhinal and perirhinal cortices. All three regions receive sensory associational input from postrhinal cortex, which, in turn, is heavily interconnected with visuospatial neocortical regions. The spatial selectivity of postrhinal cells, however, has never been examined. Here, we report the activity of neurons in postrhinal cortex of freely moving rats performing a spatial task on a four-arm radial maze. Data are also reported for visual association cortex neurons. The four-arm radial maze was defined by multisensory cues on the surfaces of the maze arms (proximal) and complex visual cues at the surround (distal). On each recording day, rats were run in three conditions: baseline, double cue rotation (proximal 90°; distal 90°), and baseline. In this task, hippocampal place field activity is robust and can be controlled by proximal or distal cues. The majority of postrhinal neurons (64%) exhibited positional correlates during performance on the task; however, characteristics of these postrhinal cells were substantially different from those previously described for hippocampal place cells. Most postrhinal cells with firing fields exhibited split or multiple subfields (93%). Unlike hippocampal place fields, the large majority of postrhinal firing fields (84%) adopted new spatial correlates when experimental cues were rotated, but did so neither predictably nor concordantly. This is the first report of positional firing correlates in the postrhinal cortex. The data are consistent with the idea that postrhinal cortex participates in visuospatial functions by monitoring changes in environmental stimuli rather than encoding stable spatial cues. Thus, postrhinal neurons appear to participate in higher-level perceptual functions rather than mnemonic functions. We propose that the response properties of postrhinal neurons represent an early step in a spatial pathway that culminates in the specific and stable place fields of the hippocampus. © 2003 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A phase I study of sunitinib in combination with FOLFIRI in patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND This study evaluated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of sunitinib, a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, combined with FOLFIRI (irinotecan 180 mg/m2 given over 90 min i.v. and l-leucovorin 200 mg/m2 given over 120 min on day 1, followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m2 bolus and then 2400 mg/m2 infused over 46 h) in untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS In this multicentre, phase I, open-label, dose-finding trial, FOLFIRI was administered every 2 weeks. Two sunitinib regimens were explored: Schedule 4/2 (4 weeks on, 2 weeks off; 37.5 and 50 mg/day) and continuous daily dosing (CDD; 37.5 and 25 mg/day). Dose-limiting toxic toxicities (DLTs) were evaluated during weeks 1-6. Efficacy was a secondary objective. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients were enrolled. The 37.5 mg/day Schedule 4/2 cohort had zero of six DLTs, was expanded by 15 patients and declared the MTD. The MTD was exceeded at all other sunitinib doses and schedules; DLTs included febrile neutropenia (n=1), grade 4 neutropenia (n=4) and grade 3 deep vein thrombosis with grade 4 neutropenia (n=1). At the MTD, non-haematologic grade 3/4 adverse events with a frequency of >10% were diarrhoea, vomiting and lethargy, and the objective response rate was 57.9% (95% confidence interval 33.5-79.7). CONCLUSIONS The MTD of sunitinib combined with FOLFIRI in chemotherapy-naive mCRC was 37.5 mg/day on Schedule 4/2. CDD of sunitinib at 37.5 or 25 mg/day plus FOLFIRI was not feasible.