Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of oral carvacrol treatment against H2O2 induced injury on isolated pancreas islet cells of rats

Pancreatic islet transplantation is an alternative treatment of insulin replacement therapy in diabetes mellitus, but the islets are exposed to many chemical, mechanical damages, and oxidative stress before transplantation. Carvacrol is a well-known essential oil for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiinflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of carvacrol against H2O2 induced cellular injury on isolated pancreas islets. After carvacrol (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg/day) treatment, the pancreas islets were isolated by enzyme digestion. The isolated islets were incubated within 0, 150 and 300 µM H2O2 containing medium at +4°C for 15 min. Then, the islets were examined with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide mixture stains for viability. A number of islets were stored for lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and DNA fragmentation analysis. The cell viability ratio of Carvacrol 20 mg/kg/day group was increased in comparison to control and vehicle (DMSO) groups. Additionally, carvacrol application protected the cells from lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation induced by H2O2. H2O2 caused tissue injury and DNA fragmentation. There was only one DNA fragmentation band from islet cells of 20 mg/kg/day carvacrol treated group, however there were more than one bands from control and DMSO groups. In conclusion, carvacrol treatment ameliorates islet cell injury induced by H2O2. However, the dose of carvacrol is important and our results suggest that 20 mg/kg/day dose is more effective than doses of 40 or 80 mg/kg/day.
The optimal pharmacological formula for percutaneous coronary intervention

Introduction: Adjunctive pharmacotherapy is of key importance in determining the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In parallel, there has been an increasing body of evidence indicating that the aggressive management of coronary risk factors and changes in lifestyle behavior yield additional positive results in morbidity and mortality reductions. A stream of new data from randomized clinical trials has recently prompted the release of a focused update of the PCI guidelines, endorsing new recommendations on the use of antiplatelet drugs and parenteral anticoagulants. Areas covered: The aim of this manuscript is to provide an up-to-date overview of the current evidence on the use of adjunctive pharmacological therapy in patients undergoing revascularization, with focus on results of recent trials and future directions. Expert opinion: Given the availability of several pharmacological agents with different mechanisms of action, understanding whether a drug should or should not be prescribed, as well as individualizing the pharmacological formula to the patient's need and risk category, is pivotal to balance the safety and efficacy of adjunctive therapies for PCI. Studies on new antiplatelet agents and selective inhibitors of specific coagulation factors are likely to characterize the next years of research on interventional pharmacology.
[The methylation and mRNA expression of SLC5A8 and TMS1/ASC genes in human glioma].

OBJECTIVE To study the methylation status of the SLC5A8 and TMS1/ASC genes, candidate tumor-inhibiting genes closely related to the central nervous system, in the promoter regions, the mRNA expression of these 2 genes, and their correlation with the clinical characteristics in human glioma. METHODS The methylation status of SLC5A8 and TMS1/ASC genes in the promoter regions was studied by methylation specific PCR (MSP) in the specimens of primary astrocytoma from 88 patients, 55 males and 33 females, aged 12 - 81, and 10 specimens of normal brain tissue, all obtained during operation, and in the human glioma cells of the lines U251 and SHG-44. The mRNA expression levels of SLC5A8 and TMS1/ASC genes in 30 specimens of primary glioma and 10 specimens of normal brain tissue were determined by conventional RT-PCR and real-time PCR. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR), a demethylating agent, was added into the culture fluid of the U251 and SHG-44 cells, and then real-time PCR was used to the methylation status and mRNA expression levels of the SLC5A8 and TMS1/ASC genes. RESULTS MSP showed that the SLC5A8 promoter region was hypermethylated in 62 of the 88 specimens of astrocytoma (70.45%) and the TMS1/ASC promoter region was hypermethylated in 51 of the88 specimens of astrocytoma (57.95%). But no methylation of SLC5A8 and TMS1/ASC promoter was detected in the 10 specimens of normal brain tissue. The mRNA expression of SLC5A8 gene and the mRNA expression of TMS1/ASC gene in the specimens of astrocytoma of different pathological grades were all significantly decreased compared to the specimens of normal brain tissue (all P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of SLC5A8 gene was not significantly related to the age and sex, however, the mRNA expression of TMS1/ASC was significantly higher in the age group > 60 than in other age groups (all P < 0.05). Both U251 and SHG-44 glioma cells showed methylation of SLC5A8 and TMS1/ASC genes and after the treatment of 5-Aza-CdR both genes showed reactivated mRNA expression. CONCLUSION Hypermethylation of SLC5A8 and TMS1/ASC genes in the promoter regions may play an important role in the down-regulation of their mRNA levels in glioma. The methylation frequency and mRNA levels of SLC5A8 or TMS1/ASC genes are closely related to the malignant development of glioma.
Aberrant phenotype of plasmacytoid monocytesin acute myeloid leukemia

Report A 63-year-old man, who had been treated with methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, was admitted to our Hema-tological Department, with fever not responsive to antibiotic therapy, with anemia (hemoglobin 8.6 g/dL), thrombocytosis (platelet 890 3 10 9 /L), and leukopenia (white blood cell 3.150 3 10 9 /L); peripheral blood showed 34% of myeloid blasts (CD34 1 , CD117 1 , CD13 1 , CD33 1 , HLA-DR 1 , TdT 1 / 2 , CD7 1 / 2 , CD10 1 / 2 , MPO 2 , CD19 2 , CD3 2 , CD41 2 , CD61 2 , CD68 2 at ﬂow cytometry), which is consistent with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Orthostatic intolerance--an expression of autonomic disfunction in Parkinson's disease.

UNLABELLED Orthostatic intolerance syndrome is an important issue, having multiple etiologies and being the result of an inadequate response to changing in body position, namely the transition from supine to standing, a process that causes a series of responses regulated by the autonomic nervous system. AIM The aim of this study was to create a profile of patients with Parkinson's disease and orthostatic hypotension, a form of orthostatic intolerance, identifying the risk factors for this condition. MATERIAL AND METHODS We conducted a study on 41 patients with Parkinson's disease selected from 200 consecutive patients with orthostatic hypotension, hospitalized in Cardiology Clinic of Colentina Clinic Hospital which met the diagnosis criteria for orthostatic hypotension. In order to meet the inclusion criteria, all patients were evaluated according to a preset protocol: medical history, clinical and paraclinical examination, including neuro-psychiatric assessment and the orthostatic tolerance test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The decline in standing blood pressure was related to the presence of hypotensive neurological drugs, especially Levodopa, in chronic treatment, but it was not influenced by age or cardiovascular co morbidities. There is an improvement in blood pressure both in supine and upright position at discharge when compared to admission values. CONCLUSION The degree of decrease in the standing blood pressure values was correlated with the presence of potentially hypotensive neurological drugs, particularly Levodopa treatment, with a favorable effect of administration of non-pharmacological treatment and changes made in chronic neurological treatment.
Interexperimental and Interindividual Variations of DNA Repair Capacities After UV-B and UV-C Irradiations of Human Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts

Abstract DNA repair plays a central role in the cellular response to UV. In this work we have studied the response of skin cells (i.e. fibroblasts and keratinocytes) from the same or from different individuals after both ultraviolet-B (UV-B) and ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiations using the comet assay to characterize the specific cellular response to UV-induced DNA damage. Cells were irradiated with increasing doses of UV-B or UV-C. To study the UV dose dependency of initial steps of DNA repair, namely recognition and incision at DNA damage level, the comet assay was performed, under alkaline conditions, 60 min after UV irradiation to allow detection of DNA strand breaks. Comparative analysis of tail moment values after UV exposure of cells from the same or from different individuals showed interexperimental and interindividual variations, implying that repeated assays are necessary to characterize the individual DNA repair capacity. With increasing doses of UV in keratinocytes, a plateau was rapidly reached after irradiation, whereas in fibroblasts a linear dose–effect relationship was observed. These interindividual variations associated with cellular specificity in DNA response may be of significance in skin cell and individual susceptibility toward UV-induced carcinogenesis.
Hepatitis E Virus of Subtype 3a in a Pig Farm, South‐Eastern France

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has emerged during the past decade as a causative agent of autochthonous hepatitis and is a clinical concern in Western developed countries. It has been increasingly recognized that pigs are a major reservoir of HEV of genotypes 3 and 4 worldwide and pig‐derived food items represent a potential source of infections by these viruses in humans. Hepatitis E virus RNA testing was performed here on faeces from rectal swabs sampled in 2012 from 50 3‐month‐old farm pigs from the same farm located in south‐eastern France than in a previous work conducted in 2007. Pig HEV sequences corresponding to genomic fragments of ORF2 and ORF1 genes were obtained after RT‐PCR amplification with in‐house protocols. Hepatitis E virus genotype was determined by phylogenetic analysis. Prevalence was similar to that determined 5 years earlier (68% versus 62%). Two robust phylogenetic clusters of HEV subtypes 3a and 3f were identified, and these sequences obtained in 2012 largely differ compared with those obtained in 2007. Notably, HEV sequences obtained in 2012 from a majority (62%) of the infected pigs belonged to subtype 3a, which was not previously described in France, including not being found in any of humans, pigs or wild boars. Further studies are needed to assess the circulation of HEV‐3a in pigs and humans in this country. In addition, along with previous findings, this study supports the need for increased information to the public on the risk of HEV infection through contacts with pigs or consumption of pig‐derived products in France.
Specific cortisol binding protein in porcine follicular fluid.

A specific cortisol binding protein has been demonstrated in the follicular fluid of the porcine ovary. The binding of cortisol, progesterone, testosterone, i� -androstenedione and estradiol-1 7j3 was studied by equilibrium dialysis at 4#{176}C in follicular fluid obtained from ovaries of mature pigs (6-12-months-old). The binding capacity of the follicular fluid protein with each steroid was variable. Cortisol demonstrated a specific binding to follicular fluid. The mean association constants of cortisol binding to follicular fluid from large, medium and small follicles were 1.99 ± 0.64 (SE) X iO9M’ (N = 8), and 1.30 ± 0.62 (SE) X 109M’ (N = 6) and 2.05 X 109M’ (N = 2), respectively and were not significantly different from each other. The corresponding binding capacities were 0.60 ± 019 (SD) X 10�, 1.06 ± 0.45 (SD) X 10’ and 0.83 X 10’ moles/I of undiluted follicular fluid. Tritiated cortisol bound to follicular fluid protein was displaced by corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, progesterone and testosterone with relative affinities compared to cortisol (100%) of corticosterone 24%, deoxycorticosterone 20%, progesterone 11% and testosterone <1%. Dexamethasone did not bind to either follicular fluid or porcine serum at the concentrations of protein used for cortisol binding. Tritiated progesterone, testosterone and estradiol-1 7� did bind to follicular fluid, but were not displaced by 200 times the concentration of the respective unlabeled steroids with the experimental conditions used. The nonspecific binding properties of these steroids were similar to those of porcine serum except the serum had a lower binding capacity than that of follicular fluid. Calcium (0.05M Ca�), magnesium (0.05M Mg��), thioglycerol (0.O1M), L-cysteine (0.O1M) and dithiothreitol (0.O1M) did not alter the cortisol binding properties. The follicular fluid was incubated with tritiated steroids and fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The radioactive peak of cortisol was completely displaced by the addition of 700 times the concentration of unlabeled cortisol. The cortisol binding protein had a sedimentation of a 4.1 S fraction as determined by sucrose gradient centrifugation. These results suggest that porcine follicular fluid contains a specific cortisol binding cm�-globulin fraction and, after stripping of the indigenous steroids, it appears to be similar to, but present in twice the concentration of that in serum. The cortisol concentration in follicular fluid (167 ± 29 (SE); 188 ± 43 (SE) and 181 ± 15 (SE) ng/ml in small, medium and large follicles, respectively) was also shown to be higher than the plasma (102 ± 14 (SE) ng/ml), (P<0.05), which may be partly bound to specific cortisol binding protein in the follicular fluid.
Technology, Humanness, and Trust: Rethinking Trust in Technology

Information systems (IS) research has demonstrated that humans can and do trust technology. The current trust in technology literature employs two different types of trust in technology constructs. Some researchers use human-like trust constructs (e.g., benevolence, integrity, and ability), while other researchers use system-like trust constructs (e.g., helpfulness, reliability, and functionality). Interestingly, past research shows that both sets of measures influence important dependent variables, but the literature does not explain when one type should be used instead of the other type. In this paper, we use trust, social presence, and affordance theories to shed light on this research problem. We report on two studies. In study 1, we argue first that technologies vary in their perceived “humanness”. Second, we argue that, because users perceive two technologies to differ in humanness, they will develop trust in each technology differently (i.e., along more human-like criteria or more system-like criteria). We study two technologies that vary in humanness to explore these differences theoretically and empirically. We demonstrate that, when the trust construct used aligns well with how human the technology is, it produces stronger effects on selected outcome variables than does a misaligned trust construct. In study 2, we assess whether these technologies differ in humanness based on social presence, social affordances, and affordances for sociality. We find that these factors do distinguish whether technology is more human-like or system-like. We provide implications for trust-in-technology research.
Mills' syndrome: ascending (or descending) progressive hemiplegia: a hemiplegic form of primary lateral sclerosis?

patient. His pupillary inequality might be due to disordered autonomic tone resulting from damage to the sympathetic fibres that accompany the intracranial vessels. Limited CT with contrast showed a large aneurysm of the basilar artery. An MRI scan showed this lesion as well as a second large fusiform aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery as it passed from the petrous bone to the cavernous sinus. Digital subtraction venous angiography and MRI angiography confirmed the presence of these aneurysms and showed a third lesion,
Strabismus in infants of opiate‐dependent mothers

Aim: At a follow‐up clinic for infants of opiate‐dependent mothers it was noted that more infants than expected developed strabismus. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of strabismus and the need for active strabismus surveillance in this population. Methods: Consecutive infants of opiate‐dependent mothers born over an 18 mo period were recalled for ophthalmological assessment by an ophthalmologist and orthoptist. Those unable to attend were surveyed by telephone using a questionnaire. Results: 49 (69%) of the 71 eligible infants were recalled at a mean age of 21 mo (range 6–39); 29 had a full ophthalmological examination and the remaining 20 completed the questionnaire only. Seven (14%) of the 49 recalled infants had strabismus on examination; 4 needed glasses or patching. A further seven (14%) had a history of intermittent strabismus but declined formal examination. Another child had significant hypermetropia without strabismus. The mean age at which strabismus was observed was 8.3 mo (range birth to 19 mo). The presence of strabismus was not significantly influenced by conditions at birth, maternal drug doses, family history or need for or duration of abstinence treatment.
Application Development by Reusing Object-Oriented Frameworks

Object-oriented frameworks are an important form of reuse that can help to decrease significantly the application development time and cost. Although widely known, there are still some difficulties associated with them that are critical to its success. These problems have to be alleviated to make the framework reuse an attractive alternative to application development. We focus on the issues regarding the framework reuse process, more specifically, framework architecture description, its adaptation with application specific components, and final application instantiation. This paper discusses our position on these subjects and, based on previous work, we propose a different approach and appropriate tool support
Guideline on Uses of Serum Tumor Markers in Adult Males With Germ Cell Tumors

Purpose To provide recommendations on appropriate uses for serum markers of germ cell tumors (GCTs). Methods Searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE identified relevant studies published in English. Primary outcomes included marker accuracy to predict the impact of marker-based decisions on outcomes. Secondary outcomes included proportions with elevated markers and statistical tests of elevations as prognostic factors. An expert panel developed consensus guidelines based on data from 82 reports. Results No studies directly compared outcomes of decisions with versus without marker assays. The search identified few prospective studies and no randomized controlled trials; most were retrospective series. Because date were lacking on primary outcomes, most Panel recommendations are based on secondary outcomes (relapse rates and time to relapse). Recommendations The Panel recommended against using markers to screen for GCTs, to decide whether orchiectomy is indicated, or to select treatment for patients with cancer of unknown primary. To stage patients with testicular nonseminomas, the Panel recommended measuring three markers ( -fetoprotein [AFP], human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG], and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]) before and after orchiectomy and before chemotherapy for those with extragonadal nonseminomas. They also recommended measuring AFP and hCG shortly before retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and at the start of each chemotherapy cycle for nonseminoma, and periodically to monitor for relapse. The Panel recommended measuring postorchiectomy hCG and LDH for patients with seminoma and preorchiectomy elevations. They recommended against using markers to guide or monitor treatment for seminoma or to detect relapse in those treated for stage I. However, they recommended measuring hCG and AFP to monitor for relapse in patients treated for advanced seminoma.
Do Tax Incentives for Research Increase Firm Innovation? An Rd Design for R&D

We present the first evidence showing causal impact of research and development (R&D) tax incentives on innovation outcomes. We exploit a change in the asset-based size thresholds for eligibility for R&D tax subsidies and implement a Regression Discontinuity Design using administrative tax data on the population of UK firms. There are statistically and economically significant effects of the tax change on both R&D and patenting, with no evidence of a decline in the quality of innovation. R&D tax price elasticities are large at about 2.6, probably because the treated group is from a sub-population subject to financial constraints. There does not appear to be pre-policy manipulation of assets around the thresholds that could undermine our design, but firms do adjust assets to take advantage of the subsidy post-policy. We estimate that over 2006-11 business R&D would be around 10% lower in the absence of the tax relief scheme.
Endosonography of Groove Pancreatitis

Groove pancreatitis is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis. Distinction between pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma is often difficult. Two cases of groove pancreatitis diagnosed by endosonography are described. A hypoechoic pattern between the duodenal wall and pancreas was clearly imaged in both patients. Narrowing of the second part of the duodenum and evidence of bile duct obstruction were also found. The endosonographic diagnosis was confirmed either by surgery or follow-up examination.
The role of azacitidine in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of hematopoietic disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and potential transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. Supportive care including transfusions and growth factors remained the mainstay of treatment for decades; however, further understanding of the biology behind these diseases led to the investigation of novel agents. As hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes, such as p15, was believed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of these diseases, hypomethylating agents were investigated. Azacitidine is one of two hypomethylating agents used in the treatment of MDS, and the first approved by US FDA. In preclinical studies, azacitidine demonstrated hypomethylating/differentiating activity with low concentration, whereas high concentration was associated with cytotoxic effects. In clinical trials, azacitidine not only improved the cytopenias associated with MDS but also delayed leukemic transformation, improved quality of life and improved overall survival in many patients so treated. Azacitidine was the first agent noted to change the natural history of the disease. Further studies are underway evaluating the role of azacitidine pre- and post-transplantation, in combination with other agents, as well as in treatment of acute myeloid leukemia patients who are not good candidates for intensive chemotherapy. Azacitidine is also likely to be studied in the treatment of other malignant conditions. Although both subcutaneous and intravenous administrations have been approved, oral azacitidine is presently under investigation.