Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxidative Stress in Young Subjects With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Evaluation at the Initial Stage and After 12 Months

In 105 subjects (97 men and 8 women) aged <46 years (mean age 39.6 ± 5.5 years), with recent acute myocardial infarction (T1), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total antioxidant status were determined; NO production was evaluated by measuring the nitrite and nitrate (NOx) concentration. The patients with acute myocardial infarction were subdivided according to the main risk factors, number of risk factors, and extent of coronary lesions. The evaluation was repeated after 12 months (T2). In these subjects, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and NOx were significantly increased and total antioxidant status was significantly decreased at T1. In single risk factor, only NO metabolites were significantly lower in acute myocardial infarction subjects who smoke than in subjects who do not. Subdividing the subjects according to the number of risk factors and number of stenosed coronary vessels, there were no significant differences between the subgroups. At T2, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and NOx were decreased and total antioxidant status was increased, but all parameters were still altered.
Thrombin regulates CD40 expression in microglial cells

Microglial cells are the innate immune cells of the central nervous system and quickly respond to injury by proliferation, cytokine release, and increased cell surface antigen expression. Thrombin is a multifunctional serine proteinase, which has the capability to activate microglial cells. Here, we report that pharmaceutical-grade thrombin dose-dependently increases the expression of CD40 in N9 microglial cells. This effect is blocked by a thrombin inhibitor, mimicked by thrombin receptor-activating peptide and modified by mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitors. Thrombin-induced CD40 regulation might play a role in diseases with breakdown of the blood–brain barrier such as multiple sclerosis or stroke.
Impaired α-TTP-PIPs Interaction Underlies Familial Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E Out Familial vitamin E deficiency is caused by mutations in the α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) gene. Kono et al. (p. 1106, published online 18 April; see the Perspective by Mesmin and Antonny) studied natural mutations in α-TTP. α-TTP bound phosphatidylinositol polyphosphates (PIPs), especially PI(4,5)P2, and a disease-related missense mutation abolished PIP binding but not α-tocopherol binding. The x-ray crystal structure of the α-TTP–PIP complex suggested that PIP binding opens the lid of the α-tocopherol–binding pocket to facilitate the release of α-tocopherol. Thus, PIP binding to α-TTP at the target membrane may facilitate the release of α-tocopherol in the hydrophobic pocket of α-TTP to the lipid bilayer of the target membrane, providing a mechanism for the transfer of lipids from the lipid-transfer protein to the target membrane. Phosphatidylinositol phosphates may play a role in lipid-transfer protein–mediated vitamin E efflux from hepatocytes. [Also see Perspective by Mesmin and Antonny] α-Tocopherol (vitamin E) transfer protein (α-TTP) regulates the secretion of α-tocopherol from liver cells. Missense mutations of some arginine residues at the surface of α-TTP cause severe vitamin E deficiency in humans, but the role of these residues is unclear. Here, we found that wild-type α-TTP bound phosphatidylinositol phosphates (PIPs), whereas the arginine mutants did not. In addition, PIPs in the target membrane promoted the intermembrane transfer of α-tocopherol by α-TTP. The crystal structure of the α-TTP–PIPs complex revealed that the disease-related arginine residues interacted with phosphate groups of the PIPs and that the PIPs binding caused the lid of the α-tocopherol–binding pocket to open. Thus, PIPs have a role in promoting the release of a ligand from a lipid-transfer protein.
Ligand-Based Molecular Modeling Study on a Chemically Diverse Series of Cholecystokinin-B/Gastrin Receptor Antagonists: Generation of Predictive Model

Pharmacophore hypotheses were developed for six structurally diverse series of cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor (CCK-BR) antagonists. A training set consisting of 33 compounds was carefully selected. The activity spread of the training set molecules was from 0.1 to 2100 nM. The most predictive pharmacophore model (hypothesis 1), consisting of four features, namely, two hydrogen bond donors, one hydrophobic aliphatic, and one hydrophobic aromatic feature, had a correlation (r) of 0.884 and a root-mean-square deviation of 1.1526, and the cost difference between null cost and fixed cost was 81.5 bits. The model was validated on a test set consisting of six different series of 27 structurally diverse compounds and performed well in classifying active and inactive molecules correctly. This validation approach provides confidence in the utility of the predictive pharmacophore model developed in this work as a 3D query tool in the virtual screening of drug-like molecules to retrieve new chemical entities as potent CCK-BR antagonists. The model can also be used to predict the biological activities of compounds prior to their costly and time-consuming synthesis.
Translating research into clinical practice: critical interpretation of clinical trials in schizophrenia

Translating research into clinical practice has in part been hampered by practitioners' difficulties in interpreting statistical measures. The main part of this article aims to bridge the gap between research and practice by describing frequently occurring problems in the methodology and reporting of clinical trials. Basic methodological concepts and statistical measures, such as different trial designs, randomization, blinding, case numbers, eligibility criteria, internal and external validity, efficacy versus effectiveness, the meaning of rating scales, choice of comparators, effect size versus P-value and the interpretation of risk measures, are explained and their use illustrated. The text further presents the outcome from a workshop on ‘Translating Clinical Studies into Practice’ held at an international conference on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in June 2005. The participants suggested more emphasis on additional secondary endpoints in clinical trials such as patients' self assessments and indicators of well-being. Better training of clinicians in the interpretation of scientific results and the use of more meaningful clinical outcomes are both needed to effectively translate research into clinical practice.
Çocuklarda yüksekten düşme sonucu oluşan travmaların değerlendirilmesi

Amac: Cocukluk cagi travmalarinin en sik nedeni yuksekten dusme olup travma sonrasi morbidite ve mortalite halen onemini korumaktadir. Bu calisma yuksekten dusmeye bagli yaralanma tiplerini, yaslara gore olusan travmayi, travma sonrasi takip ve tedavi sekillerini incelemeyi amaclamaktadir. Yontem : Cocuk acil servise yuksekten dusme nedeni ile gelen ve cocuk cerrahi bolumunce takip edilen 0-18 yas arasi 56 cocuk hastanin dosyalari hastane bilgi islem sistemi kullanilarak geriye donuk olarak incelendi. Hastalara ait demografik veriler ve her hasta icin hesaplanan pediatrik travma skoru, yas, yukseklik, travma sonucu gelisen yaralanmanin turu ve tedavi yontemleri icin tanimlayici istatistikler yapildi. Bulgular: Calismaya 56 cocuk hasta (n:39 erkek, n:17 kiz) alindi. Olgularin yas ortalamasi 7.9 ± 5.1 idi. Travmanin en sik goruldugu yas; 9 (n:6, %10.1) idi. En sik yuksekten dusulen yer apartman balkonu (n:36, %64), ikinci siklikla agac dali (n:10, %17) idi. En dusuk 1 metre ve en yuksek 52 metreden dusme goruldu. Ortalama yukseklik 8 metre (median:4) idi. Olusan travmalar arasinda en sik bas boyun yaralanmalari (n:27, %48), ikinci siklikta ekstremite kiriklari (n:16, %28) saptandi. 21 (%37.5) olguya cerrahi mudahale yapilirken, 35 (%62.5) olguya sadece tibbi tedavi uygulanmistir. Yuksekten dusme sonrasinda iki hastada ise olum gerceklesmistir (%3.5). Sonuc: Yuksekten dusme sonucunda cocuklarda ciddi yaralanmalar olabilmektedir. Yuksekten dusme olgularinin azaltilmasi icin toplumsal egitim verilmesi, ozellikle cok katli apartmanlarda oturan ailelere balkon ve pencerelerden cocuklarin dusmemesi icin alinmasi gereken tedbirlerin anlatilmasi gerekmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Dusme, cocuk, travma
Creating Infrastructure for Tool-Independent Querying and Exploration of Scientific Workflows

Many scientific experiments produce an enormous amount of data that needs to be explored. Scientific workflows and tools for managing workflows have been designed to streamline the computational processes that manipulate this data, from acquisition to analysis. However, the fact that each system has its own workflow format has greatly hampered efficient sharing and re-use. To address this problem, we propose a general model for workflows, based on OPM, which combines features from popular scientific workflow systems. We use this model to build infrastructure that supports system-agnostic workflow repositories. We describe the implementation of the infrastructure and present an experimental evaluation of its performance. We show that the proposed model and its implementation provide efficient support for queries over large repositories.
Significant Correlation Between Maternal Body Mass Index at Delivery and in the Second Trimester, and Second Trimester Circulating Total Cell-free DNA Levels

Objectives: The use of cell-free fetal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) requires the knowledge of variables that may influence the levels of cell-free DNA, such as maternal body mass index (BMI). Material and methods: In this study, using 406 maternal blood samples from the second trimester of pregnancy, cell-free fetal DNA specific for the SRY and DYS14 loci and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase sequence were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: No significant correlation was seen between the levels of cell-free fetal DNA and maternal BMI, whereas total cell-free DNA was significantly associated with maternal BMI at 20 to 21 weeks of gestation (P = .034) and at the end of pregnancy (R2 regression: 0.016, P = .014). Conclusion: Quantitative levels of cell-free fetal DNA are not affected by maternal BMI, whereas total DNA levels in the second trimester significantly correlate with maternal BMI at the moment of blood drawing and at delivery.
Homeowner-Entrepreneurs, Housing Capital Gains, and Self-Employment

Using individual-level data from the 1985-2011 American Housing Survey panel, this paper confirms that housing capital gains encourage transitions into self-employment. Additional findings suggest that this occurs at least in part because homeownership provides an accessible source of potential financing that serves as a form of insurance for aspiring homeownerentrepreneurs. The link between homeownership and self-employment is also stronger for older homeowners who are wealthier and typically have more latitude to take on discretionary mortgage debt to finance an investment. Overall, our results provide support for arguments in previous studies that personal wealth and access to credit are important drivers of selfemployment. Our findings also provide a new justification for longstanding government support for homeownership: homeownership encourages self-employment. JEL Codes: J2, R2, M2
Consideration of steroids for endodontic pain

Up to 80% of endodontic patients who report with preoperative pain continue to experience some level of pain following the endodontic procedure. Since endodontic pain is often associated with chronic inflammation, the presence of bacterial by-products, influx of primed immune cells and activation of the cytokine network and other inflammatory mediators, pain may be reduced by administration of glucocorticoid steroids. This review will include the pharmacology, pharmacodynamics and purported mechanisms of actions of steroids as well as their indications for endodontics, contraindications, dosages and side-effects.
Correlation between postoperative 3-[(123)I]iodo-L-alpha-methyltyrosine uptake and survival in patients with gliomas.

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of SPECT imaging using the amino acid analog 3-[(123)I]iodo-L-alpha-methyltyrosine (IMT) in patients with gliomas. METHODS One hundred fourteen consecutive patients with newly diagnosed gliomas were examined by IMT SPECT (low-grade glioma, n = 12; anaplastic astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma, n = 46; glioblastoma, n = 56). Seventy-one of these patients had undergone tumor resection 4-6 wk before SPECT imaging (group A). Forty-three patients with unresectable tumors were examined after stereotactic biopsy (group B). IMT uptake at the site of the tumor was assessed visually and quantified relative to a contralateral reference region (IMT uptake ratio). After IMT SPECT, all patients were treated with conformal radiotherapy. The median follow-up time was 27 mo. RESULTS In group A, focal IMT uptake at the resection site was visible in 52 of 71 patients (73%). Median survival was only 13 mo in these patients, whereas median survival was reached in patients without focal IMT uptake (P = 0.02). Furthermore, the intensity of IMT uptake significantly correlated with survival: patients with an IMT uptake ratio > 1.7 were at a 4.6 times higher risk of death than were patients with a lower IMT uptake (P < 0.001). The IMT uptake ratio remained a significant prognostic factor when age and grading were included in a multivariate model. In contrast, IMT uptake did not correlate with survival in group B (P = 0.95). CONCLUSION In patients with unresectable high-grade gliomas, IMT uptake appears not to correlate with the biologic aggressiveness of tumor cells. Nevertheless, the clear association between focal IMT uptake after tumor resection and poor survival suggests that IMT is a specific marker for residual tumor tissue. Therefore, IMT SPECT is expected to become a valuable tool for the planning and monitoring of local therapeutic modalities.
Genetic algorithm optimization for codewords correction in MIMO broadcast channels

This paper presents a novel precoding approach for MIMO broadcast channels, in which is performed on both sides of the wireless link. The aim of the proposed approach is to avoid the same precoding vectors choice when all users use a common codebook. In the proposal approach, firstly, we focus on the brute codeword selection at the transmitter side, thus there is zero probability to choose the same vector for more than one user. However, this solution leads an exhaustive search, especially when the number of user and the codebook size increase. To overcome this issue, secondly, we adopt the genetic algorithm in order to reduce the codeword search complexity. Compared with zero-forcing beamforming (ZFBF), the conducted simulation results for the critical scenario of low SNR, show that our scheme is better than ZFBF with the assumption of both perfect and partial channel state information at the transmitter.
Identification of a highly cross-reactive outer surface protein B epitope among diverse geographic isolates of Borrelia spp. causing Lyme disease

The outer surface lipoprotein B (OspB) of Borrelia burgdorferi is a major component of the borrelial protein profile and has been shown to be highly immunogenic in experimentally immunized and infected mammals. However, the ospB loci of different strains show considerable heterology at the nucleic acid sequence level, and the progeny of a clonal strain of B. burgdorferi exhibited OspB polymorphisms with respect to apparent molecular weights and reactivities with monoclonal antibodies. These data suggest that OspB is not a good candidate for vaccination or diagnostic purposes. The present study describes a monoclonal antibody, designated 84C, directed against a very highly conserved domain of the OspB lipoprotein. Western immunoblot analysis with 84C demonstrated reactivity in 84.2% of human, tick, and other vertebrate isolate strains examined from widely diverse geographic regions, including strains of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and two closely related species, B. garinii and B. afzelii. The 84C-binding region was delimited to a highly conserved 11-amino-acid region in the carboxyl terminus of OspB as demonstrated by (i) DNA sequence analysis of wild-type and 84C-resistant mutant ospB alleles and (ii) deletion mutagenesis of a recombinant ospB gene in Escherichia coli. Finally, the 84C epitope was demonstrated to be exposed on the borrelial surface in situ as (i) the monoclonal antibody 84C was able to agglutinate borrelias in culture and (ii) 84C-resistant escape variants were isolated. These data suggest that the potential value of OspB as a vaccine candidate or diagnostic tool be examined more closely, in the context of the 84C-reactive domain.
Direct Interaction of α-Synuclein and AKT Regulates IGF-1 Signaling: Implication of Parkinson Disease

Genetic mutation of α-synuclein (α-SYN) is clearly verified as the causal factor of human and mouse Parkinson’s disease. However, biological function of α-SYN has not been clearly demonstrated until now. In this investigation, we reveal that α-SYN is a co-regulator of growth factor-induced AKT activation. Elimination of SYN reduces the IGF-1-mediated AKT activation. Similarly, mutant SYN suppresses the IGF-1-induced AKT activation. Wild-type SYN can interact with AKT and enhance the solubility and plasma localization of AKT in response to IGF-1, whereas mutant α-SYNs do not interact with AKT. In addition, elevated expression of SYN blocks the AKT activation. We also find that si-RNA against α-SYN abolished the protective effect of IGF-1 against DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Our result strongly indicates that Parkinson’s disease, induced by α-SYN mutation, is evoked by deregulation of the AKT-signaling cascade.
Detection of Antisperm Antibodies in Relation to Inhibin B in Infertile Men

Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) was considered as an immunological cause of male infertility. Serum inhbin B has a strong relationship with spermatogenesis and can be considered as a cause of infertility. The aims of the study are to: 1Detect the presence of antisperm antibodies in both sera and seminal plasma of infertile patients and control group. 2Find the effect of antisperm antibodies in seminal fluid parameters. 3Exclude other male sex hormones as a cause of infertility. 4Estimate serum level of inhbin B in the studied groups. 5Determine the relationship between serum inhbin B and total sperm count in infertile males. A total number of (90) individual, in which 70 infertile male patients with period of infertility more than one year and 20 fertile males as control group. The study was carried out on patients attending infertility care in a period of one year from June 2011 to June 2012, 90 semen samples were studied for semen analysis and for serological (ASAs) test and 90 serum samples for serological (ASA) study by using micro agglutination test and for hormonal assay (Latinizing hormone (LH), Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, prolactin) and inhibin B by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). There was no significant difference between patients and controls according to the serum level of (LH, FSH ,testosterone, and prolactin), antisperm antibodies found positive in sera and semen of 15 (21.42%) of patients with titer 1/32 on semen and 1/64 in serum. The remainder 55 (78.57%) patients, showed negative results for (ASAs). There was a significant difference between mean % of total motility, mean % of normal sperm morphology and mean of total sperm counts of patients with positive ASAs results when compared to its mean in the control group. Mean concentration of serum inhibin B in patients with negative (ASAs) result was (32.24) pg/ml, while of control group was (73.55) pg/ml. The difference was considered highly significant. There was significant correlation between total sperm count of patients with negative ASAs results and mean concentration of serum inhibin B. This study suggests that the detection of ASAs in semen and sera of patients decrease in normal seminal fluid parameters especially the motility and (ASAs) can be considered as a cause of infertility in those patients, while low serum inhibin B in the reminder patients can be considered as a cause of infertility, then inhibin B can be considered as a marker for spermatogenesis.
The efficacy and tolerability of frovatriptan and dexketoprofen for the treatment of acute migraine attacks

Frovatriptan is a triptan characterized by a high affinity for 5-HT1B/1D receptors and a long half-life contributing to a more sustained and prolonged action than other triptans. Dexketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a relatively short half-life and rapid onset of action, blocking the action of cyclo-oxygenase, which is involved in prostaglandins’ production, thus reducing inflammation and pain. Both drugs have been successfully employed as monotherapies for the treatment of acute migraine attacks. The combination of these two drugs (frovatriptan 2.5 mg plus dexketoprofen 25 or 37.5 mg) has been tested in migraine sufferers, showing a rapid and good initial efficacy, with 2-h pain free rates of 51%, and a high persistence in the 48-h following the onset of pain: recurrence occurred in only 29% of attacks and sustained pain free rates were 43% at 24- and 33% at 48-h.
Crosstalk between neutrophils and dendritic cells: a context‐dependent process

Neutrophils are massively and rapidly recruited following infection. They migrate to the site of acute infection and also transiently to dLNs. In addition to their well‐established role as microbial killers, accumulating evidence shows that neutrophils can play an immunoregulatory role. Neutrophils were recently shown to influence the activation of different leukocyte types including NK cells, B cells, and DCs. DCs are professional APCs playing a key role to the launching and regulation of the immune response; thus, crosstalk between neutrophils and resident or newly recruited DCs may have a direct impact on the development of the antigen‐specific immune response and thereby, on the outcome of infection. Neutrophils may regulate DC recruitment and/or activation. We will review here recent progress in the field, including those presented during the first international symposium on “Neutrophil in Immunity”, held in Québec, Canada, in June 2012, and discuss how neutrophil regulatory action on DCs may differ depending on the type of invading microorganism and local host factors.