Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mitogenically uncoupled insulin and IGF-I receptors of differentiated human neuroblastoma cells are functional and mediate ligand-induced signals.

The SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line is differentiated in vitro with nanomolar concentrations of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Untreated cells express insulin receptors, and both type I and type II insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptors, as has been shown by agonist binding and immunoprecipitation studies. Via interaction with its own receptor and the IGF-I receptor, insulin induced a mitogenic response in these cells. IGF-I and IGF-II are also mitogens for SH-SY5Y cells, as shown by a transient increase of the c-fos mRNA level, ornithin decarboxylase activity, thymidine incorporation, and, finally, cell division. TPA-differentiated cells do not respond mitogenically to any of these factors, although insulin and IGF-I receptors are still present on the cell surface and remain functional, as demonstrated by ligand-stimulated autophosphorylation, actin reorganization, and c-fos induction. However, other prereplicative responses, i.e., increased ornithin decarboxylase activity and c-myc mRNA levels, cannot be induced. These phenomena, may be part of a receptor uncoupling mechanism(s). The findings are discussed in terms of differentiation stage-dependent signaling of growth factor receptors. We suggest that these receptors switch from controlling cell division in replicative neuronal cells to mediating externally controlled functions related to the differentiated neuronal phenotype.
Tuberculin reactivity among California Hispanic migrant farm workers.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of tuberculin reactivity among residents of two northern California migrant-farm-worker housing centers. Participants completed a brief health questionnaire and were offered tuberculin skin testing with radiologic and medical follow-up. Four hundred and sixty-nine persons (estimated participation rate: 70%) completed questionnaires. All but one were Hispanic. Two hundred and ninety-six (63%) participants completed tuberculin skin testing and 49 (16.6%) showed reactivity (> or = 10 mm induration at 48-72 hours). Increased prevalence was seen for the 15-39-year age group (vs. persons younger than 15: OR 2.59; 95% CI 0.79-8.47), former smokers (vs. never smokers: OR 3.11; 95% CI 1.20-8.09), and persons born outside the U.S. (OR 2.09; 95% CI 0.66-6.61). Prophylaxis with isoniazid was recommended for 23 persons; nine (39%) completed therapy. No cases of active tuberculosis were found. Prevalence of tuberculin reactivity in this population is lower than reported among Hispanic farm workers in the eastern and midwestern U.S. Higher prevalence may obtain among California farm workers not included in the study population, including homeless, single, and highly mobile persons. Public-health efforts in this population should focus on ever-smokers, young adults, and persons born outside the U.S.
Prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in surgeons in Lagos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in surgeons in a major city in Nigeria. DESIGN A cross-sectional, descriptive study. SETTING Three major hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. SUBJECTS One hundred and sixty seven surgeons (study group) and 193 administrative staff (controls). INTERVENTIONS Blood samples were taken from subjects and analysed for hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, antiHBs and antiHBc) using the ELISA technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Hepatitis B virus marker sero-positivity. RESULTS The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the surgeons was found to be 25.7% as compared to 15% in the control group (p=0.01). The frequency of antibody to the surface antigen (antiHBs) was 22.2% among the surgeons and 4.1% in the control group (p<0.001) and that of antibody to the core antigen (antiHBc) was 61.7% in the surgeons as compared to 53.4% in the control (p=0.11). At least one HBV marker was found in 76.6% of the surgeons as compared to 57% in the control group (p=0.0009). CONCLUSION Health care workers should be immunised against HBV. In Nigeria, HBV immunisation should be considered for inclusion in the EPI.
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 gN Partners with gM To Modulate the Viral Fusion Machinery

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) capsids are assembled in the nucleus, where they incorporate the viral genome. They then transit through the two nuclear membranes and are wrapped by a host-derived envelope. In the process, several HSV-1 proteins are targeted to the nuclear membranes, but their roles in viral nuclear egress are unclear. Among them, glycoprotein M (gM), a known modulator of virus-induced membrane fusion, is distributed on both the inner and outer nuclear membranes at the early stages of the infection, when no other viral glycoproteins are yet present there. Later on, it is found on perinuclear virions and ultimately redirected to the trans-Golgi network (TGN), where it cycles with the cell surface. In contrast, transfected gM is found only at the TGN and cell surface, hinting at an interaction with other viral proteins. Interestingly, many herpesvirus gM analogs interact with their gN counterparts, which typically alters their intracellular localization. To better understand how HSV-1 gM localization is regulated, we evaluated its ability to bind gN and discovered it does so in both transfected and infected cells, an interaction strongly weakened by the deletion of the gM amino terminus. Functionally, while gN had no impact on gM localization, gM redirected gN from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the TGN. Most interestingly, gN overexpression stimulated the formation of syncytia in the context of an infection by a nonsyncytial strain, indicating that gM and gN not only physically but also functionally interact and that gN modulates gM's activity on membrane fusion. IMPORTANCE HSV-1 gM is an important modulator of virally induced cell-cell fusion and viral entry, a process that is likely finely modulated in time and space. Until now, little was known of the proteins that regulate gM's activity. In parallel, gM is found in various intracellular locations at different moments, ranging from nuclear membranes, perinuclear virions, the TGN, cell surface, and mature extracellular virions. In transfected cells, however, it is found only on the TGN and cell surface, hinting that its localization is modulated by other viral proteins. The present study identifies HSV-1 gN as a binding partner for gM, in agreement with their analogs in other herpesviruses, but most excitingly shows that gN modulates gM's impact on HSV-1-induced membrane fusion. These findings open up new research avenues on the viral fusion machinery.
TASER X26 discharges in swine produce potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias.

OBJECTIVES Data from the authors and others suggest that TASER X26 stun devices can acutely alter cardiac function in swine. The authors hypothesized that TASER discharges degrade cardiac performance through a mechanism not involving concurrent acidosis. METHODS Using an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)-approved protocol, Yorkshire pigs (25-71 kg) were anesthetized, paralyzed with succinylcholine (SCh; 2 mg/kg), and then exposed to two 40-second discharges from a TASER X26 with a transcardiac vector. Vital signs, blood chemistry, and electrolyte levels were obtained before exposure and periodically for 48 hours postdischarge. Electrocardiograms and echocardiography (echo) were performed before, during, and after the discharges. p-Values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS Electrocardiograms were unreadable during the discharges due to electrical interference, but echo images showed unmistakably that cardiac rhythm was captured immediately at a rate of 301 +/- 18 beats/min (n = 8) in all animals tested. Capture continued for the duration of the discharge and in one animal degenerated into fatal ventricular fibrillation (VF). In the remaining animals, ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred postdischarge for 1-17 seconds, whereupon sinus rhythm was regained spontaneously. Blood chemistry values and vital signs were minimally altered postdischarge and no significant acidosis was seen. CONCLUSIONS Extreme acid-base disturbances usually seen after lengthy TASER discharges were absent with SCh, but TASER X26 discharges immediately and invariably produced myocardial capture. This usually reverted spontaneously to sinus rhythm postdischarge, but fatal VF was seen in one animal. Thus, in the absence of systemic acidosis, lengthy transcardiac TASER X26 discharges (2 x 40 seconds) captured myocardial rhythm, potentially resulting in VT or VF in swine.
An Epithelial Cell Line That Can Stimulate Alloproliferation of Resting CD4+ T Cells, But Not After IFN-γ Stimulation1

It has previously been shown that IFN-γ-induced up-regulation of HLA class II on the surface of epithelial cells is not sufficient to induce proliferation of allospecific CD4+ T cells in vitro. To further investigate this phenomenon, a human epithelial bladder carcinoma, T24, was induced to constitutively express HLA class II without IFN-γ stimulation, by permanent transfection with the full-length class II transactivator (CIITA) gene. Proliferation of allospecific T cells to transfected and wild-type cells with and without prior activation with saturating levels of IFN-γ for 4 days was examined. IFN-γ-activated T24 did not induce any response from CD4+ T cells. However, T24.CIITA induced significant levels of alloproliferation, which could be abrogated by pretreatment of T24.CIITA with a mAb to LFA-3. Prestimulation of T24.CIITA with saturating levels of IFN-γ for 4 days also prevented allospecific CD4+ T cell proliferation. These findings suggest that epithelial cells may be intrinsically able to process and present alloantigen and provide adequate costimulation. We propose that IFN-γ has a secondary, as yet unidentified, effect that acts to negatively regulate this response, at least in some epithelial cells.
Antibody responses of periodontitis patients to gingipains of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

BACKGROUND Arginine- and lysine-specific cysteine proteinases (arg-gingipain: Rgp, lys-gingipain: Kgp) are major virulence factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis. Recent reports have suggested that antibodies against gingipains can play a protective role against infection by P. gingivalis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the IgG responses of patients with periodontitis to functional domains of gingipains. METHODS A group of 29 periodontitis patients and 10 periodontally healthy subjects (control group) were recruited into this study. We prepared three recombinant fragments of rgp A (catalytic domain; r-Rgp CAT) and two hemagglutinin domains (r-Rgp 44, and r-Rgps 15-27) corresponding to amino acid residues 228 to 719, 720 to 1136, and 1137 to 1704, respectively. One fragment of the Kgp catalytic domain (r-Kgp CAT) corresponding to amino acid residues 229 to 737 and expressed in Escherichia coli was also used. IgG antibody levels to these recombinant proteins in sera from the subjects were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS We found that IgG levels against r-Rgp 44 and r-Rgps 15-27 in sera obtained from the patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy group (P<0.01). In contrast, no significant differences in IgG levels against r-Rgp CAT and r-Kgp CAT were found between the control and patient groups. The IgG responses to P. gingivalis sonic extracts, r-Rgp 44 and r-Rgps 15-27, were related to probing depth in sera from patients, but those to r-Rgp CAT and r-Kgp CAT were not. CONCLUSION The present findings suggest that the low responsiveness of IgG antibody against the catalytic domains of gingipain, r-Rgp CAT, and r-Kgp CAT is a key factor in infection by P. gingivalis.
The distribution of PSA, cathepsin‐D, and pS2 in BPH and cancer of the prostate

In view of the limitations associated with the present tumor markers for prostate cancer, we have examined the potential expression of two further markers, Cathepsin‐D and pS2, in human prostate and attempted to link their concentrations with the histopathology of the tissue, the PSA levels and the androgenic status of the gland. Cathepsin‐D and pS2 were measured in cytosol fractions obtained from 22 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 20 patients with prostate cancer (CaP) employing itnmunoassays specific for these markers. The concentrations of Cathepsin‐D (BPH: mean ±SEM = 18.50 ±1.88 nmol/g protein; CaP = 19.75 ±2.49 nmol/g protein) and pS2 (BPH = 1,024.7 ±348.06 ng/g protein; CaP = 1,513.88 ±268.60 ng/g protein) were not different in the two tissue types, whereas PSA in BPH tissue (1,952.27 ±249.93 μg/g protein) was significantly higher than the measurements in CaP (583.75 ±104.33 μg/g protein). However, none of the tumor marker concentrations correlated with the degree of differentiation of the tumors, and we were unable to establish any correlation with the levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the tissue. In conclusion, although Cathepsin‐D and pS2 are expressed in prostate tissue, it is doubtful whether they will have an active role in the management of prostate cancer.
Nonlinear behavior of the reversed field pinch with nonideal boundary conditions.

The effect of a resistive boundary and/or a distant conducting wall on a reversed field pinch is investigated with a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics code. Fluctuations rise with increasing distance between the conducting wall and the plasma. The enhanced fluctuation-induced v x b electric field primarily opposes toroidal current; hence loop voltage must increase to sustain the current. This increases the helicity injection rate, which is balanced by an enhanced surface loss.
Control-Oriented Thermal Modeling of Multizone Buildings: Methods and Issues: Intelligent Control of a Building System

The residential and commercial building sector is known to use around 40% of the total end-use energy and, hence, is considered to be the largest energy consumer sector in the world [1]. Approximately half of this energy is used for heating/cooling, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), and this usage is increasing 0.5? 5% per year in developed countries [2]. The distribution of energy use percentages within the building for the United States is shown in Figure 1. This trend is similar for the rest of the world.
Basic Anthropometry and Health Status of Elderly: Findings of the Maracaibo Aging Study

Objective: Determine basic anthropometry for elderly participants in a Venezuelan community and compare results for subgroups with different health status. Method: Standardized anthropometric, nutritional, neurological, neuropsychiatric, and cardiovascular assessments generated data on weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) by sex and age for the total sample, for normative groups without health problems that might impact anthropometry, and for reference groups with no major health problems. Centile curves of anthropometric measurements versus age are determined for women and men in the normative group. Results : Mean weight and height are significantly different between sexes, but not BMI. All three parameters show gradual declines with age. The mean 90% central interval for BMI in the normative and reference groups is 20-29 kg/m2. Conclusion: The anthropometric data for healthy elderly Venezuelans can be used in monitoring anthropometric changes and disease risk analysis for this population and possibly for other Latin American populations.
Uterine tumor resembling ovarian sex cord tumors in a patient using tamoxifen: report of a case and review of literature

Increasing number of uterine malignancies have been reported in breast cancer patients using tamoxifen. Most of these are endometrial adenocarcinomas. However, only a few cases of endometrial stromal sarcomas have been reported to be linked with tamoxifen usage. A 58-year-old postmenopausal women who had been using tamoxifen for 4 years after a surgery for breast cancer is presented with chronic pelvic pain. Preoperative investigations were indicative of a uterine myoma so that a standard total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. Postoperative histologic diagnosis was a uterine tumor resembling ovarian sex cord tumors, which is an exceedingly rare entity itself. The present case is the first designated diagnosis of this rare tumor, with a possible association of tamoxifen usage.
Speed of onset of sensory block for elective extradural caesarean section.

scoring, placement was only superior with the cuff semi-inflated when cricoid pressure was applied (P < 0.02). Without cricoid pressure, placement was significantly superior with the cuff fully deflated and the tip curved posteriorly (P < 0.01). There were also fewer functional failures with the cuff fully deflated compared with semi-inflated (6% vs 11%). They also suggested that optimal positioning of the LMA in our group decreased with experience. There was no difference in fibreoptic scoring between the 1991 and 1993 studies when cricoid pressure was not applied (P < 0.5) [6, 7, 10]. The 1993 study used three operators working individually with the same technicians applying cricoid pressure and there was no difference between different anaesthetists in terms of fibreoptic scoring. We deliberately chose to use more than one anaesthetist to reduce operator bias. Finally, Asai and colleagues asked for an explanation of how the glottis is visible when tilted anteriorly by 40° during application of cricoid pressure with the LMA in situ. Figure 1 may help in the interpretation of this.
Age and gender trends in long-term opioid analgesic use for noncancer pain.

OBJECTIVES We describe age and gender trends in long-term use of prescribed opioids for chronic noncancer pain in 2 large health plans. METHODS Age- and gender-standardized incident (beginning in each year) and prevalent (ongoing) opioid use episodes were estimated with automated health care data from 1997 to 2005. Profiles of opioid use in 2005 by age and gender were also compared. RESULTS From 1997 to 2005, age-gender groups exhibited a total percentage increase ranging from 16% to 87% for incident long-term opioid use and from 61% to 135% for prevalent long-term opioid use. Women had higher opioid use than did men. Older women had the highest prevalence of long-term opioid use (8%-9% in 2005). Concurrent use of sedative-hypnotic drugs and opioids was common, particularly among women. CONCLUSIONS Risks and benefits of long-term opioid use are poorly understood, particularly among older adults. Increased surveillance of the safety of long-term opioid use is needed in community practice settings.
Restricted Daytime Feeding Attenuates Reentrainment of the Circadian Melatonin Rhythm after an 8-h Phase Advance of the Light-Dark Cycle

It is well established that in the absence of photic cues, the circadian rhythms of rodents can be readily phase-shifted and entrained by various nonphotic stimuli that induce increased levels of locomotor activity (i.e., benzodiazepines, a new running wheel, and limited food access). In the presence of an entraining light-dark (LD) cycle, however, the entraining effects of nonphotic stimuli on (parts of) the circadian oscillator are far less clear. Yet, an interesting finding is that appropriately timed exercise after a phase shift can accelerate the entrainment of circadian rhythms to the new LD cycle in both rodents and humans. The present study investigated whether restricted daytime feeding (RF) (1) induces a phase shift of the melatonin rhythm under entrained LD conditions and (2) accelerates resynchronization of circadian rhythms after an 8-h phase advance. Animals were adapted to RF with 2-h food access at the projected time of the new dark onset. Before and at several time points after the 8-h phase advance, nocturnal melatonin profiles were measured in RF animals and animals on ad libitum feeding (AL). In LD-entrained conditions, RF did not cause any significant changes in the nocturnal melatonin profile as compared to AL. Unexpectedly, after the 8-h phase advance, RF animals resynchronized more slowly to the new LD cycle than AL animals. These results indicate that prior entrainment to a nonphotic stimulus such as RF may “phase lock” the circadian oscillator and in that way hinder resynchronization after a phase shift.
Dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography Analyses of the Anterior Maxillary Bone Thickness for Immediate Implant Placement

Objective:We evaluated the thickness of the facial alveolar bone wall at the maxillary incisors based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods:The CBCT images of 60 patients were collected. We measured the distance between the cemento-enamel junction to alveolar bone crest (CEJ-ABC) and the facial alveolar bone width at levels 1 (P1), 2 (P2) and 5 (P3) mm apical to the bone crest. Results:The P2 and P3 scores had a statistically significant negative relationship with age, and the CEJ-ABC scores had a statistically significant positive relationship with age for all samples. Regarding the CEJ-ABC scores, there were no statistically significant differences between genders. However, the P1 values of tooth 11 and 21 were statistically significantly greater for female patients, and the P2 value of tooth 22 was statistically significantly greater for male patients. Conclusion:The bone in the anterior maxillary area is very thin, only rarely meeting the minimum of 2 mm necessary for optimal aesthetic and functional results. Thus, for most patients, adjunctive augmentation procedures may be needed for implant treatment.
Sperm Chromatin Remodeling after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Differs from That of In Vitro Fertilization1

Abstract Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a popular method used in assisted conception, and live offspring have been born from a variety of species, including humans. In ICSI, sperm chromatin is introduced into the oocyte together with the acrosome, a structure that does not enter the oocyte during normal fertilization. We compared sperm chromatin remodeling, the potential of embryos to develop in vitro, and DNA synthesis in mouse embryos obtained from in vitro fertilization (IVF) and ICSI. We also tested whether sperm pretreatment prior to ICSI (i.e., capacitation, acrosome reaction, membrane removal, and reduction of disulfide bonds in protamines) facilitates chromatin remodeling and affects embryo development. Sperm chromatin was examined on air-dried, Giemsa-stained preparations at 30-min intervals for up to 4.5 h postfertilization. In all experimental groups, the oocytes underwent activation and formed pronuclei with similar rates. However, the dynamics of sperm chromatin remodeling in ICSI and IVF embryos varied. In ICSI, chromatin remodeling was more asynchronous than in IVF. Sperm capacitation prior to injection enhanced remodeling asynchrony and resulted in delayed pronuclei formation and DNA synthesis. The removal of the acrosome prior to injection with calcium ionophore A23187 but not with detergent Triton X-100 allowed more synchronous chromatin remodeling, timely DNA synthesis, and good embryo development. Our data have significance for the refinement of the molecular and biologic mechanisms associated with ICSI for current and future applications.