Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Ontogeny of Apomorphine‐Induced Alterations of Neostriatal Dopamine Release: Effects on Spontaneous Release

The effects of apomorphine (0.05, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) on the extracellular levels of dopamine and the dopamine metabolite 3, 4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were studied through the use of in vivo microdialysis in the neostriatum of developing and adult rats. Fifteen‐minute samples were collected from urethane‐anesthetized rats 5, 10–11, 21–22, and 35–36 days old and adults and quantified by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Apomorphine attenuated extracellular levels of dopamine in all age groups, suggesting that the dopamine autoreceptor modulating release in the neostriatum is functional by 5 days of age. A dose‐response effect of apomorphine on extracellular dopamine was observed in all age groups except at 10–11 days of age. Extracellular levels of 3, 4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were also significantly decreased in all age groups, consistent with the hypothesis that synthesis‐modulating dopamine autoreceptors in the neostriatum are functional by 5 days of age. Apomorphine had a significantly greater effect on extracellular 3, 4‐dihydrpxyphenylacetic acid levels at the 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg doses in the 5‐ and 10–11‐day‐old age groups compared with the other ages. Absolute levels of extracellular dopamine were significantly attenuated at 5 days of age compared with the other ages, and absolute levels of extracellular 3, 4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid monotonically increased with age.
Effects of astragaloside IV on myocardial calcium transport and cardiac function in ischemic rats.

AIM To explore the effects of astragaloside IV (XGA) on myocardial calcium transport and cardiac function in ischemic rats. METHODS Eighty-four Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control group (n=12); ischemic group (n=12) was given isoprenaline injection sc at a dose of 30 mg/kg; and XGA group (n=60) was given XGA after isoprenaline administration. The changes of the parameters of hemodynamics, cardiac function, and intra- and extracellular calcium concentration of the myocardial cells were determined. The dose- and time-effect relationship of XGA on myocardial calcium transport and cardiac function were observed. RESULTS After XGA administration, there was significant improvement in cardiac function and hemodynamics in ischemic rats. The cardiac output, heart rate, stroke volume, mean aortic pressure, systolic aortic pressure, the stroke work of left ventricule, the right and left ventricle systolic pressure, and +dp/dt of the right ventricle of ischemic rats gradually recovered to the level of the control group with increasing the dose of XGA and prolongation of the action of XGA. The ionized calcium of the myocardium and the total amount of calcium of the myocardial tissue decreased markedly compared to those in ischemic group, and the activity of calcium pump of erythrocyte membrane increased significantly in comparison to that of ischemic group, but their changes had no trend of increase with increasing dose of the XGA. However, there was a gradual decrease of the ionized calcium of the myocardium with the prolongation of acting time of XGA. CONCLUSION XGA improves the cardiac function in ischemic rats, and the reduction of excessive accumulation of intracellular calcium within myocardial cells plays an important role.
Gait Variability in Chronic Back Pain Sufferers With Experimentally Diminished Visual Feedback: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Increased gait variability is common in chronic low back pain patients, which is a sign of their diminished proprioceptive feedback. When proprioceptive information is reduced, vision partly takes over the role of proprioception. Therefore, a loss of visual feedback would have a more negative effect in individuals with diminished proprioception. To test this hypothesis, 14 healthy individuals and 14 chronic low back pain patients walked with and without impairment goggles manipulating visual feedback. The variability of stride time, stride length, and minimum foot clearance was evaluated. The authors observed an interaction effect regarding minimum foot clearance variability indicating that pain patients showed higher gait variability with manipulated visual feedback. Reduced vision may cause exceeded tripping risk in individuals with diminished proprioception.
Calidad en la producción cartográfica

La Produccion Cartografica engloba cualquier proceso de gestion y manipulacion de bases de datos geograficos orientado a la obtencion de productos, segun unas especificaciones. Por tanto, en el ambito de la ingenieria cartografica, como en cualquier otra ingenieria, se han de controlar los procesos, tanto de gestion como de produccion.
Phase II Study of Docetaxel and Gemcitabine Combination Chemotherapy in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Failing Previous Chemotherapy

We conducted a phase II study of docetaxel and gemcitabine chemotherapy in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had not responded to previous chemotherapy, to assess the response to and toxicity of this combination chemotherapy. Thirty-six patients were enrolled from June 1999 to December 1999. Treatment consisted of docetaxel 30 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 intravenous infusion on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks. One hundred forty-six cycles of treatment were given, with a median of four cycles (range, 1–8 cycles). All patients were evaluable for toxicity profile and response rate. The major toxicity was myelosuppression. Grade III or IV neutropenia occurred in 9 patients (25%) during treatment. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 2 patients (5.6%). Grade III or IV thrombocytopenia occurred in 6 patients (16.7%). Reversible fluid retention occurred in 9 patients (25%). Grade IV pulmonary toxicity (interstitial pneumonitis) occurred in two patients, and both died. Other toxicities were few and mild in severity. After two cycles of treatment, 13 patients (36.1%) had a partial response (95% CI 20.3–51.9%). There was no significant difference in the response rate among patients who had responded to previous chemotherapy or not. The median time to disease progression was 3.8 months, and the median survival was 6.9 months. Median survival was 7.1 and 4.9 months in patients receiving docetaxel and gemcitabine as second-line and greater than or equal to third-line chemotherapy, respectively. In conclusion, docetaxel and gemcitabine salvage chemotherapy produces a high response rate and a relatively mild toxicity profile in NSCLC. However, the issue of interstitial pneumonitis should be of concern.
The relation of pulsatile pressure to flow in arteries

This paper is concerned with the recording of the phasic changes in arterial flow during each cardiac cycle, and the investigation of the pressure oscillations generating this flow. The relation of pressure to flow is 'the central problem in haemodynamics' (Burton, 1952), and has never been satisfactorily resolved for arterial flow, as its oscillatory nature makes the application of Poiseuille's law invalid. The study has been confined here to the femoral artery of the dog. Direct measurements of flow have been made by following the movement of injected bubbles of oxygen recorded by high-speed cinematography (McDonald, 1952 a). Pressure gradients have been measured by simultaneous recording of arterial pressure at two points in the artery and also by electrical differentiation of the output of a capacitance manometer. Flow curves have been calculated from the gradients using equations derived by Womersley (1954), the theory of which is presented in his accompanying paper (Womersley, 1955). General agreement between observed and calculated flow curves has been found and so establishes the validity of the theoretical derivation based on general hydrodynamic principles and also justifies the method of recording flows. Preliminary accounts have been presented to the Physiological Society both of the flow curves (Helps & McDonald, 1953) and of the derivation of flow from the pressure gradients (Helps & McDonald, 1954).
Epidermal Growth Factor-induced Proliferation Requires Down-regulation of Pax6 in Corneal Epithelial Cells*

Growth factors play important roles in regulating corneal epithelial cell proliferation/differentiation during wound healing. It is suggested that PAX6 involves corneal epithelium lineage-specific differentiation (Liu, J. J., Kao, W. W., and Wilson, S. E. (1999) Exp. Eye Res. 68, 295–301); however, the regulatory mechanism and function of Pax6 in growth factor-induced corneal epithelial responses is still unknown. In the present study, we found that the mitogenic effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in corneal epithelial cells required suppression of PAX6 activity through cellular mechanisms involving Erk-signaling pathway-mediated increase in CTCF expression. EGF-induced CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) activation subsequently inhibited Pax6 expression by interacting with a CTCF-specific region upstream of the pax6 P0 promoter. Suppression of EGF-induced Erk activation by specific inhibitor or by the dominant expression of a silent Erk mutant effectively abolished the effects of EGF stimulation on regulations of CTCF and pax6. Apparently, down-regulation of Pax6 expression induced by EGF is required for corneal epithelial proliferation, because overexpression of pax6 in these cells attenuated EGF-induced proliferation. In contrast, knockdown of mRNA expression with pax6- or CTCF-specific small interfering RNA in corneal epithelial cells significantly promoted or attenuated EGF-induced proliferation, respectively. Thus, our results revealed a new regulatory mechanism that involves cellular signaling events and pax6 transcription regulation in growth factor-mediated proliferation. In corneal epithelial cells, this suggests that inhibition of pax6 expression is a prerequisite for EGF to elicit controls of cell growth and fate.
Immunity against influenza A(H1N1) infections is determined by age at the time of initial strain circulation

SUMMARY We explored age-dependent patterns in haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre to seasonal [1956 A(H1N1), 1977 A(H1N1), 2007 A(H1N1)] and pandemic [A(H1N1)pdm09] influenza strains using serological data collected from an adult French influenza cohort. Subjects were recruited by their general practitioners from 2008 to 2009 and followed until 2010. We explored age-related differences between strain-specific HI titres using 1053 serological samples collected over the study period from 398 unvaccinated subjects. HI titres against the tested seasonal and pandemic strains were determined using the HI technique. Geometric mean titres (GMTs) were estimated using regression models for interval-censored data. Generalized additive mixed models were fit to log-transformed HI estimates to study the relationship between HI titre and age (age at inclusion and/or age at initial strain circulation). GMT against one strain was consistently highest in the birth cohort exposed to that strain during childhood, with peak titres observed in subjects aged 7–8 years at the time of initial strain circulation. Our results complete previous findings on influenza A(H3N2) strains and identify a strain-dependent relationship between HI titre and age at initial strain circulation.
[Lumboperitoneal shunt in persistent or recurrent fistulae of the base of skull. Apropos of 20 cases].

The authors describe the use of the lumbo peritoneal shunt (L.P.S.) in 20 cases of C.S. F. rhinorrhea following either cranial injury [13] basal skull surgery [2] or of unknown etiology [5]. 16 patients had previously undergone an attempt at direct closure of their fistula and are therefore cases in which the direct approach failed. 4 patients underwent the L.P.S. straightaway. In 17 cases the fistula was healed by the L.P.S. without any recurrence, though a shunt removal was necessary in 5 cases. The method was unsuccessful in only 3 cases.
The role of B7 molecules in the cell contact‐mediated suppression of T cell mitogenesis by immunosuppressive macrophages induced with mycobacterial infection

We found previously that immunosuppressive macrophages (Mφs) induced by Mycobacterium intracellulare infection (MI‐Mφs) transmitted their suppressor signals to target T cells through cell contact with target T cells. In this study, we examined what kinds of Mφ surface molecules are required for such cell–to–cell interaction. First, it was found that a B7‐1‐like molecule (B7–1LM) recognizable with one of three test clones of anti‐B7‐1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was required for expression of the Mφ suppressor activity. Neither anti‐B7‐2, anti‐ICAM‐1, nor anti‐VCAM‐1 mAb blocked the Mφ suppressor activity. Second, MI‐Mφs increased the expression of B7–1LM in parallel with the acquisition of the suppressor activity. Moreover, MI‐Mφs bound with target T cells in a B7–1LM‐dependent fashion. Third, mAb blocking of CTLA‐4 on target T cells did not reduce the suppressor activity of MI‐Mφs, suggesting the role of a putative molecule on target T cells other than CTLA‐4 as the receptor for B7–1LM of MI‐Mφs. Fourth, concanavalin A (Con A) stimulation of MI‐Mφs was needed for effective cell contact with target T cells and subsequent expression of the suppressor activity of MI‐Mφs. Fifth, the Con A‐induced increase in the suppressor activity of MI‐Mφs was inhibited by KN‐62 but not by herbimycin A, H‐7, nor H‐88, indicating that Con A‐induced up‐regulation of MI‐Mφ function is mediated by calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II or ATP/P2Z receptors, but independent of protein tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C, and protein kinase A. These findings indicate that a B7/CTLA‐4‐independent mechanism is needed for the transmission of the suppressor signals from MI‐Mφs to target T cells.
Soy infant formula: is it that bad?

The objective of this study is to review the indications of soy infant formula (SIF). Structured review of publications is made available through standard search engines (Pubmed,…). The medical indications for SIF are limited to galactosaemia and hereditary lactase deficiency. In the treatment of cow’s milk allergy, SIF is used for economic reasons, as extensive hydrolysates are expensive. SIF is dissuaded mainly because of its phytooestrogen content. Isoflavone serum levels are much higher in SIF‐fed infants than in breastfed or cow milk formula–fed infants. Administration of pure isoflavones to animals causes decreased fertility, but clinically relevant adverse effects of SIF in infants are not reported.
In vitro evaluation of HR810, a new wide-spectrum aminothiazolyl alpha-methoxyimino cephalosporin

HR810 (Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals Inc., Somerville, N.J.) is a new, cyclical-pyridinium cephalosporin that appeared superior to numerous comparison drugs against 658 strains of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria. Seventeen Enterobacteriaceae spp. were tested by broth microdilution methods, and the 50% MICs (MIC50S) and 90% MICs (MIC90s) were 0.03 to 0.12 and 0.03 to 2.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. Only one strain had an MIC greater than 8.0 micrograms/ml (99.6% is considered susceptible). HR810 inhibited 98% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates at less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml, and the MIC90 for Acinetobacter spp. was 4.0 micrograms/ml. It was also very active against Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC90, 0.5 micrograms/ml) but marginally active against methicillin-resistant staphylococcal strains (MIC90, 16 micrograms/ml) and enterococcus (MIC90, 32 micrograms/ml). Non-enterococcal streptococci had MIC50s ranging from 0.008 micrograms/ml for Streptococcus pyogenes to 0.12 micrograms/ml for pneumococci. All MICs of HR810 against Haemophilus and Neisseria spp. were less than or equal to 0.03 micrograms/ml (MIC50, 0.002 to 0.008 micrograms/ml). HR810 poorly inhibited beta-lactamases and was very stable against 11 tested beta-lactamases of plasmid (TEM, OXA, SHV-1, and PSE) and chromosomal (K1, K14, P99) types.
The effect of antigen deprivation on thymus-dependent and thymus-independent lymphocytes in the small intestine of the mouse.

Isografts of foetal small intestine, implanted under the kidney capsules of adult mice grow normally and, despite the lack of intraluminal antigenic stimulation, are populated by thymus-dependent and thymus-independent lymphocytes. The Peyer's patches in these grafts are very small, lack germinal centres and can be shown to have small thymus-dependent areas. Quantitative intraepithelial lymphocyte counts were carried out in normally sited small intestine of immunologically intact and thymus-deprived mice, and in grafts implanted in intact and thymus-deprived mice. Counts were also performed in a group of neonatally thymectomized and control mice. The results show a significant depletion of intraepithelial lymphocytes in neonatally thymectomized mice, and a profound reduction in numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes in grafts, deprived of antigen, when compared with normally sited intestine of the same age.
Accelerometers and pedometers: methodology and clinical application

Purpose of reviewThe relationship between physical activity and health varies considerably, partly due to the difficulty of assessing physical activity accurately. This review examines recent literature on the validation of movement sensors to assess habitual physical activity. Recommendations are given for the use of movement sensors during free-living conditions and methods of data analysis and interpretation are discussed. Recent findingsRecent progress in physical-activity research includes detailed comparative studies of different monitor brands. The move away from using linear-regression equations and the use of novel data-analysis strategies is increasing the accuracy with which energy expenditure can be estimated from accelerometry. New technologies, including the combination of accelerometry with the measurement of physiological parameters, have great potential for the increased accuracy of physical-activity assessment. SummaryAccelerometry is able to adequately assess physical activity and its association with health outcomes but currently methods have limited accuracy for the estimation of free-living energy expenditure. Pedometers provide an inexpensive overall measure of physical activity but are unable to assess intensity, frequency and duration of activity or to estimate energy expenditure. Interpretation of monitor output is best kept as close to the measurement domain as possible.
Cycloartane Triterpenes from Dikamali, the Gum Resin of Gardenia gummifera and Gardenia lucida

We report on the chemical investigation of dikamali gum, which is the resin of Gardenia gummifera and G. lucida (Rubiaceae). Six new cycloartane triterpenes, dikamaliartanes A–F (1–6, resp.), together with a known flavonoid (7), were isolated and identified by NMR spectroscopy. All six cycloartanes are characterized by an open A‐ring with a free COOH group at C(3). In four of them, the C‐atoms C(23)–C(27) form a 4‐methylfuran‐2‐yl moiety. Bacterial assays using Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Mycobacteria have been carried out but did not reveal significant activity.
Computer vision system approach in colour measurements of foods: Part II. validation of methodology with real foods

The colour of food is one of the most important factors affecting consumers’ purchasing decision. Although there are many colour spaces, the most widely used colour space in the food industry is L*a*b* colour space. Conventionally, the colour of foods is analysed with a colorimeter that measures small and non-representative areas of the food and the measurements usually vary depending on the point where the measurement is taken. This leads to the development of alternative colour analysis techniques. In this work, a simple and alternative method to measure the colour of foods known as “computer vision system” is presented and justified. With the aid of the computer vision system, foods that are homogenous and uniform in colour and shape could be classified with regard to their colours in a fast, inexpensive and simple way. This system could also be used to distinguish the defectives from the non-defectives. Quality parameters of meat and dairy products could be monitored without any physical contact, which causes contamination during sampling.
Erythroid Expression of the Human α-Spectrin Gene Promoter Is Mediated by GATA-1- and NF-E2-binding Proteins*

α-Spectrin is a highly expressed membrane protein critical for the flexibility and stability of the erythrocyte. Qualitative and quantitative defects of α-spectrin are present in the erythrocytes of many patients with abnormalities of red blood cell shape including hereditary spherocytosis and elliptocytosis. We wished to determine the regulatory elements that determine the erythroid-specific expression of the α-spectrin gene. We mapped the 5′ end of the α-spectrin erythroid cDNA and cloned the 5′ flanking genomic DNA containing the putative α-spectrin gene promoter. Using transfection of promoter/reporter plasmids in human tissue culture cell lines, in vitro DNase I footprinting analyses, and gel mobility shift assays, an α-spectrin gene erythroid promoter with binding sites for GATA-1- and NF-E2-related proteins was identified. Both binding sites were required for full promoter activity. In transgenic mice, a reporter gene directed by the α-spectrin promoter was expressed in yolk sac, fetal liver, and erythroid cells of bone marrow but not adult reticulocytes. No expression of the reporter gene was detected in nonerythroid tissues. We conclude that this α-spectrin gene promoter contains the sequences necessary for low level expression in erythroid progenitor cells.
Zeros of random functions in Bergman spaces

© Annales de l’institut Fourier, 1979, tous droits réservés. L’accès aux archives de la revue « Annales de l’institut Fourier » (http://annalif.ujf-grenoble.fr/) implique l’accord avec les conditions générales d’utilisation (http://www.numdam.org/conditions). Toute utilisation commerciale ou impression systématique est constitutive d’une infraction pénale. Toute copie ou impression de ce fichier doit contenir la présente mention de copyright.
Reproductive response of fat-tailed Barbarine ewes subjected to short-term nutritional treatments including spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica f. inermis) cladodes.

Reproductive outputs in fat-tailed Barbarine sheep in central Tunisia are often low because of feed shortage and the low nutritive value of diets. Supplementation with conventional concentrates is economically unsuitable in central Tunisia, so more cost-effective and sustainable alternative feeding strategies need to be developed. We tested effects of short-term nutritional treatments including cactus cladodes during the induction of 'male effect' on fertility and prolificacy parameters (follicular growth, ovulatory response and early embryo losses). One hundred and twenty ewes were distributed in 4 equal groups balanced for live weight grazed natural pastures and were supplemented for 21 days, starting day 10 after introduction of rams, with cactus cladodes (CA), cactus cladodes and soybean meal (CAS), concentrate (CC) or only soybean meal (S). Nutritional treatment did not affect live weight in this experiment. Ewes receiving cactus had higher number of large pre-ovulatory follicles (≥6 mm; 1.08 ± 0.05), between days 14 and 19 after introduction of rams, than females in the CC and S ewes (0.64 ± 0.06; p < 0.05). However, there were no differences in the onset of oestrous behaviour in response to 'male effect' or in the number of corpora lutea. Average ovulation rates were 1.42 ± 0.16 for CC, 1.47 ± 0.13 for CAS, 1.31 ± 0.15 for CA and 1.31 ± 0.13 for S groups respectively. Finally, reproductive wastages at day 35 after mating were not different between groups being 0.33 ± 0.19 for CC, 0.60 ± 0.17 for CAS, 0.43 ± 0.16 for CA and 0.31 ± 0.15 for S groups respectively. It is concluded that Barbarine ewes fed nutritional treatments including cactus performed similarly to those receiving diets including conventional concentrate feeds.