Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A decade of aerobic endurance training: histological evidence for fibre type transformation.

BACKGROUND Researchers employing a variety of training methods have demonstrated a fast-to-slow fibre transformation in animal skeletal muscle. The observation as to whether this occurs in exercise trained humans is limited and equivocal. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN to examine this issue, skeletal muscle from seven subjects who had participated in a decade or more of high intensity aerobic training (DT) and six nontrained (NT) subjects was obtained by muscle biopsy from the vastus lateralis muscle (VL) and subjected to a modified myofibrillar ATPase technique to identify muscle fibre types. Muscle tissue was histochemically treated by exposure to an alkaline preincubation (pH 9.9), an acid preincubation (pH 4.3 or 4.6) and the formate-KCI preincubation buffer (pH 4.54), previously employed in animal studies. RESULTS The formate-KCl preincubation medium identified all major fibre types at a single pH in human subjects. The percentage of type I fibres in DT was 70.9% vs 37.7% in NT (p<0.01), while the type IIa fibres in DT (25.3%) was much lower (p<0.01) than NT (51.8%). Surprisingly, type IIa fibres in the DT group displayed lesser oxidative staining intensity (p<0.01) than type IIa fibres from the NT group. Mean cross-sectional area of type I fibres for DT (6233.9+/-1421.7 microm2) was greater (p<0.05) than either type I (5746.8+/-1135.2 microm2) or II (5693.5+/-1214.6 microm2) from NT. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that endurance training may promote a transition from type II to type I muscle fibre types and occurs at the expense of the type II fibre population.
K2- or K3-EDTA: the anticoagulant of choice in routine haematology?

The choice of K2- or K3-EDTA as the preferred anticoagulant for blood count remains controversial. We compared the effect of different concentrations of both anticoagulants on normal blood. In optimal conditions (appropriate anticoagulant concentration and measurements done between 1 and 4 h after phlebotomy), no marked differences are seen between either EDTA salt. Important discrepancies appear, however, in less optimal conditions, as often happens in day to day practice. The packed cell volume, when measured on centrifuged blood, decreases with increasing anticoagulant concentrations and this is most pronounced with the K3 salt. This phenomenon has been reported by different authors and is ascribed to shrinking of erythrocytes in an hypertonic medium. Automated instruments react in a different way, their MCV is not influenced by K3-EDTA concentrations up to ten times normal, while K2-EDTA, at high concentrations, results in a slight increase in MCV, as measured with three of the instruments. With most instruments, the accuracy of the white cell count is not markedly influenced. However, when measured with the Unipath CD 3000 all tested blood samples, taken in high K3 (but not in K2) concentrations, showed an appreciable decrease in the leucocyte count (to less than 50% of the original value, at a concentration of 15 g/l, 24 h after blood collection). Measurement of RDW and automated differentials is also influenced by the choice of anticoagulant when determinations are done in less than optimal conditions. We conclude that the choice of anticoagulant, its use at an appropriate concentration and the age of the blood sample are important matters and should be given due consideration. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparative Chromosome Mapping of U2 snRNA and 5S rRNA Genes in Gymnotus Species (Gymnotiformes, Gymnotidae): Evolutionary Dynamics and Sex Chromosome Linkage in G. pantanal

A comparative mapping of U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes was performed in 6 Gymnotus species. All species analyzed presented the U2 snDNA organized in conspicuous blocks and not co-located with rRNA genes. In addition, 5 species showed the U2 snDNA located in a single pair of chromosomes, which seems to be a conserved trait in this genus. Conversely, G. pantanal was the only species displaying several terminal signals in different chromosome pairs, including the X1 sex chromosome but not the Y chromosome. This is the first report of U2 snRNA genes in sex chromosomes of fishes. The absence of sites in the Y chromosome of G. pantanal indicates a possible loss of terminal segments of the chromosomes involved in the Y formation.
Calcium-Dependent Regulation of NEMO Nuclear Export in Response to Genotoxic Stimuli

ABSTRACT The mechanisms involved in activation of the transcription factor NF-κB by genotoxic agents are not well understood. Previously, we provided evidence that a regulatory subunit of the IκB kinase (IKK) complex, NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO)/IKKγ, is a component of a nuclear signal that is generated after DNA damage to mediate NF-κB activation. Here, we found that etoposide (VP16) and camptothecin induced increases in intracellular free calcium levels at 60 min after stimulation of CEM T leukemic cells. Inhibition of calcium increases by calcium chelators, BAPTA-AM and EGTA-AM, abrogated NF-κB activation by these agents in several cell types examined. Conversely, thapsigargin and ionomycin attenuated the BAPTA-AM effects and promoted NF-κB activation by the genotoxic stimuli. Analyses of nuclear NEMO levels in VP16-treated cells suggested that calcium was required for nuclear export of NEMO. Inhibition of the nuclear exporter CRM1 by leptomycin B did not interfere with NEMO nuclear export. Similarly, deficiency of a plausible calcium-dependent nuclear export receptor, calreticulin, failed to prevent NF-κB activation by VP16. However, temperature inactivation of the Ran guanine nucleotide exchange factor RCC1 in the tsBN2 cell line harboring a temperature-sensitive mutant of RCC1 blocked NF-κB activation induced by genotoxic stimuli. Overexpression of Ran in this cell model showed that DNA damage stimuli induced formation of a complex between Ran and NEMO, suggesting that RCC1 regulated NF-κB activation through the modulation of RanGTP. Indeed, evidence for VP16-inducible interaction between Ran-GTP and NEMO could be obtained by means of glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays using GST fused to the Ran binding domain of RanBP2, which specifically interacts with the GTP-bound form of Ran. BAPTA-AM did not alter these interactions, suggesting that calcium is a necessary step beyond the formation of a Ran-GTP-NEMO complex in the nucleus. These results suggest that calcium has a unique role in genotoxic stress-induced NF-κB signaling by regulating nuclear export of NEMO subsequent to the formation of a nuclear export complex composed of Ran-GTP, NEMO, and presumably, an undefined nuclear export receptor.
Basiliximab lowers the cyclosporine therapeutic threshold in the early post‐kidney transplant period

Abstract: Early adequate cyclosporine exposure has been shown to predict low acute rejection rate in kidney transplantation. The aim of this study is to determine the importance of exceeding the early cyclosporine therapeutic exposure threshold with basiliximab induction. A retrospective analysis of 166 first cadaveric and non‐identical live donor transplant recipients treated with or without basiliximab induction, Neoral, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone, was performed. Adequate exposure was defined as a 2‐h post‐Neoral dose cyclosporine level (C2) >1700 ng/mL at day 3. The primary outcome was acute rejection within the first 6 months. In the no basiliximab (control) group (n = 74), rejection occurred in 23% (17 of 74) of recipients and was strongly associated with low cyclosporine exposure on day 3. Acute rejection occurred in 38% (11 of 29) with C2 <1700 ng/mL compared with 13% (six of 45) with C2 ≥1700 ng/mL (p = 0.014). In the basiliximab group (n = 92), rejection occurred in only 11% (10 of 92) of recipients and did not correlate with cyclosporine exposure. Acute rejection occurred in 10% (four of 40) with C2 <1700 ng/mL compared with 12% (six of 52) with C2 ≥1700 ng/mL (p = 0.81). Therefore achieving cyclosporine therapeutic targets by day 3 may not be required when anti‐IL2 receptor antibody induction is used.
Sustained release ophthalmic formulations of pilocarpine

Abstract— The bioavailability of drugs from conventional ophthalmic formulations is low. To optimize the therapy, sustained release ophthalmic dosage forms are warranted. Hydrogels such as sodium‐carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, Carbopol‐940, Carbopol‐941 and Lutrol‐FC‐127 increase the duration of action of various drugs. Gels containing pilocarpine were prepared and evaluated by measuring the intensity and duration of miotic response in albino rabbits. Carbopol‐940 gels, being the best of those used, were studied further for the effect of its concentration and of additives (benzalkonium chloride, phenylmercuric nitrate, chlorbutol and disodium edetate), autoclaving at 121°C for 30 min and irradiation with gamma rays (2·5 Mrad), on the end product.
Expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D as Significant Markers for Assessment of Lymphangiogenesis and Lymph Node Metastasis in Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C and VEGF‐D induce lymphangiogenesis through activation of VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR‐3) and have been implicated in tumor spread to the lymphatic system. Lymph node dissemination critically determines clinical outcome and therapeutic options of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the relationship of VEGF‐C, VEGF‐D, and lymph node metastasis in cancers, including NSCLC, is still controversial. To evaluate the relationship between lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis, the expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D in NSCLC tumors were detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (QRT‐PCR). QRT‐PCR revealed that in marginal region VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D mRNA was significantly higher than in tumor center, and VEGF‐D mRNA was also higher than that in peritumoral lung tissue. Immunohistochemically, we observed the same heterogeneous expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D proteins. The group with high expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D in marginal region had a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis compared with the group with low expression. Furthermore, the group with high expression of VEGF‐D in marginal region had a higher incidence of lymphatic invasion. The group with high peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) had higher expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D mRNA compared with the group with low peritumoral LVD. Our studies suggested that the expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D at invasive edge was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis or lymphatic invasion in patients with NSCLC and may be involved in regulation of lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rove Beetles ( Coleoptera : Staphylinidae ) Biosynthesize Their Unique Hemolymph Toxin Pederin ?

Rupert L. L. Kellner Lehrstuhl für Tierökologie II, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany Z. Naturforsch. 53c, 1081-1086 (1998); received May 25/July 2, 1998 Pederin, Hemolymph Toxin, Paederus riparius, Biosynthesis, Sequestration Pederin analyses of single Paederus riparius specimens reared from the egg and kept for prolonged periods of time show that only the females are able to biosynthesize the substance. Preimaginal stages efficiently store pederin transferred by the females into their eggs and the males’ pederin content decreases slowly over time. Only males with access to eggs con­ taining the substance moderately increase their pederin load. The females begin to accumu­ late the toxin a few weeks after imaginal eclosion and build up reserves for the egg laying period within 60 days. This is discussed with regard to the life cycle of P. riparius. During reproduction, when the females loose pederin due to maternal transfer, they must replenish their pederin reserves. This biosynthesis is not reflected in the amount found per individual.
Aperture-Coupled Patch Antenna for Integration Into Wearable Textile Systems

The emergence of wearable textile systems in recent years exhibited the need for wireless communication tools integratable into garments. In literature, several planar antenna designs based on textile materials have been presented, however, without an adapted feeding structure for wearable applications. An aperture-coupled patch antenna (ACPA) meets this requirement since the rigid coaxial feed is replaced by a microstrip feed line that couples its power into the antenna through an aperture in the ground plane. This letter presents the first ACPA entirely made out of textile material. The result is a highly efficient, fully flexible, and wearable antenna that is integratable into garments.
Coordinate down‐regulation of cartilage matrix gene expression in Bcl‐2 deficient chondrocytes is associated with decreased SOX9 expression and decreased mRNA stability

The anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐2 has been shown to function in roles unrelated to apoptosis in a variety of cell types. We have previously reported that loss of Bcl‐2 expression alters chondrocyte morphology and modulates aggrecan expression via an apoptosis‐independent pathway. Here we show that Bcl‐2 is required for chondrocytes to maintain expression of a variety of cartilage‐specific matrix proteins. Using quantitative, real‐time PCR, we demonstrate that Bcl‐2‐deficient chondrocytes coordinately down‐regulate genes coding for hyaline cartilage matrix proteins including collagen II, collagen IX, aggrecan, and link protein. The decrease in steady‐state level of these mRNA transcripts results, in part, from decreased mRNA stability in Bcl‐2‐deficient chondrocytes. Transcriptional regulation is also likely involved because chondrocytes with decreased Bcl‐2 levels show decreased expression of SOX9, a transcription factor necessary for expressing the major cartilage matrix proteins. In contrast, chondrocytes constitutively expressing Bcl‐2 have a stable phenotype when subjected to loss of serum factor signaling. These cells maintain high levels of SOX9, as well as the SOX9 targets collagen II and aggrecan. These results suggest that Bcl‐2 is involved in a pathway important for maintaining a stable chondrocyte phenotype. J. Cell. Biochem. 88: 941–953, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
LONG TERM EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE DURING YOUTH : EVIDENCE FROM CONSUMPTIONS IN CHINA

We test for the long-term effects of experience during youth on consumption in nontraditional taste-forming categories. A unique dataset that tracks individuals over twenty years from 1992-2011, residing in nine Chinese provinces that vary widely in both income levels and rate of economic growth, helps us identify cohort and intra-cohort “prosperity-inyouth” (PIY) effects on consumption. We first demonstrate that non-traditional category consumption increases strongly among cohorts that entered adulthood during China’s boom years. We then show evidence of the intra-cohort PIY effect, controlling for individual level experience by leveraging the heterogeneity in the timing and rate of growth in prosperity across Chinese provinces. We find that the PIY effect has two dimensions-a direct effect of one’s own prosperity and an indirect effect of the prosperity of one’s province during youth. The indirect effects suggest that norms and aspirations created by the consumption of nontraditional categories by the surrounding rich during one’s youth have significant impact on long-term consumption—almost the same magnitude as the direct effect. We conduct a large number of robustness checks; in particular, we rule out potential supply side and attitude based explanations for the PIY effect. Our results imply that segmentation and consumption forecasts based on birth cohorts and experience of prosperity can be effective for taste forming non-traditional products in emerging markets.
Multiple organochlorine pollution and the thyroid.

OBJECTIVE Although the biological effects of major persistent organochlorinated pollutants (POPs) appear to be essentially similar, some effects which would be specific for certain substance cannot be excluded. We attempted to study the thyroid volume and thyrotropin level in the population living in the area with multiple pollution by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides (DDE and hexachlorobenzene - HCB). METHODS A total of 454 adults was examined within the pilot field survey in 1998. Among them were 237 males (age range 19-78 years, median 47) and 227 females (age range 19-78 years, median 48). Fifteen environmentally prevalent congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls and also p,p-DDE (2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene), p,p-DDT (2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)- 1,1,1-trichloro-ethane), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) as well as alpha-, beta- and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were determined in serum by high resolution gas chromatography using microelectron capture detector and microcapillary column. Thyroid volume (ThV) was measured by real time sonography using the ellipsoid method with the aid of sonographic instrument Sonoline SI-400 (Siemens, Germany). The level of TSH was estimated by supersensitive immunoradiometric method using commercial kits by Immunotech (Marseille, France). Pearsons correlation coefficients after logarithmic transformation of values and Spearmans correlation coefficients were used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS Significant positive association (p<0.01) was found between DDE and PCB, DDE and HCB, while that between PCB and HCB was not significant. Similar positive association (p<0.01) was also found between each individual organochlorine and their sum. Significant negative association (p<0.01) was found between ThV and TSH. When using categorical PCB values either >2000 (N=208) or >3000 (N=127) ng/g lipid, significant positive association (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) was found between the sum of all organochlorines (PCB+DDE+HCB) and ThV, while that between PCB and ThV (p<0.01) was found only at the PCB levels >3000 ng/g lipid. When using Spearmans correlation coefficients, significant negative association appeared between PCB and TSH (p<0.05), sum of organochlorines and TSH (p<0.05) and ThV and TSH (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Although several significant positive and negative associations were found, this study, like several others, could not exactly define the participation level of individual POPs in their common toxic effects, but possibly contributed to the recognition and elucidation of some problems related to this task.
Peroxisomal biogenesis disorder biomarkers.

BACKGROUND The pathological mechanisms underlying peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (PBD) are not fully understood and the available therapies are not sufficient. This stresses the importance of identifying biochemical markers that reflect the extent of peroxisomal dysfunction in plasma of PBD patients. METHODS Very long chain fatty acids VLCFAs, Phytanic acid, inflammatory markers: tumor necrosis-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-2 (TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-2), lipid peroxidation parameter malonedialdhyde (MDA), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and catalase activity were measured. RESULTS Significant increases in LDL-C, VLCFAs (C26:0, C26:0/C22:0 and C24:0/C22:0), Phytanic acid, MDA, and Catalase were observed along with significant decreases in Plasmalogen and HDL-C level. No significant difference could be found between male and female patients regarding the biochemical parameters. Both cholesterol and triglycerides showed no significant difference between patients and controls. The characteristic curve (ROC) showed that VLCFAs were the most significant diagnostic markers for PBD followed by TNF-alpha, IL2, IL6, MDA, and plasmalogens. CONCLUSIONS PBD patients have impaired anti-oxidative defense together with increased inflammatory markers. We provide biomarkers that could guide therapies and prevention strategies. Based on our results we suggest clinical trials to investigate the role of dietary supplementation of antioxidants such as vitamin C and E as an adjuvant therapy for PBD patients.
FREE THYROXINE SOLID-ANALOG IMMUNOASSAYS. INVESTIGATION OF THE ALBUMIN EFFECT ON THE ANTIBODY BINDING TO IMMOBILIZED THYROXINE-PROTEIN CONJUGATES

ABSTRACT A reliable one-step, analog-based FT4 immunoassay should be characterized by minimal binding of the serum thyroxine-binding proteins to thyroxine-analogs, used either as liquid-phase tracers or as solid-phase reagents. In this work, we investigated the effect of serum albumin concentration on the anti-T4 antibody binding to immobilized T4-protein conjugates with respect to the molecular weight (MW) and the T4-to-protein molar ratio of the conjugates. It was found that the presence of albumin in the serum sample, at concentrations up to 120 g/L, slightly decreased the antibody binding to the immobilized conjugates (less than 10%). In addition, this decrease was independent of both the MW and the T4-to-protein molar ratio of the conjugates. On the other hand, using the same conjugates as liquid-phase labeled analogs, the observed decrease ranged between 2 and 33%, depending on the MW of the conjugate. These findings indicate that the use of immobilized T4-protein conjugates may improve FT4 immunoassay reliability, concerning, especially, the issues of serum albumin concentration and/or affinity alterations.
Persistent Current Mode Operation of A 2G HTS Coil With A Flux Pump

A flux pump is a kind of power source that energizes superconducting magnets usually embedded in the cryogenic system. Therefore, heat loss through current leads is eliminated, allowing for more efficient cooling design. A winding technique, the so-called “wind-and-flip,” had been proposed by the authors to realize a jointless HTS coil for a perfect resistanceless closed loop, which may enable to induce a persistent current in an HTS coil wound with second-generation HTS tape. In this paper, we investigated charging/discharging characteristics and a possibility of persistent current operation of a jointless HTS coil with a flux pump. Results are discussed with regard to current capacity and temporal stability with a prototype jointless HTS coil.
On the remainder of Gaussian quadrature formulas for Bernstein-Szego

We give an explicit expression for the kernel of the error functional for Gaussian quadrature formulas with respect to weight functions of BernsteinSzego type, i.e., weight functions of the form (1 x)a(l + x)f8/p(x), x e (-1, 1), where a, fi E {-2-, '} and p is a polynomial of arbitrary degree which is positive on [1, 1 ] . With the help of this result the norm of the error functional can easily be calculated explicitly for a wide subclass of these weight functions.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A vascular cause? Analysis of prothrombotic risk factors in head and neck

Abstract Objective: This aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thrombophilic risk factors in sudden sensorineural hearing loss, central retinal vein occlusion, and stroke associated with small vessel disease, with the purpose of investigating and reinforcing the vascular hypothesis in the pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Design: Case-control study. Genetic and acquired risk factors of these three groups were compared with healthy controls. Study sample: Forty-nine, 60, and 101 patients affected respectively by sudden sensorineural hearing loss, central retinal vein occlusion, or stroke associated with small vessel disease, enrolled during a three-year period were compared with 210 healthy controls. Results: The frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia (homocysteine ≥ 15 μmol/L) was higher in each disease group than in controls. A statically significant, albeit weak, correlation between the MTHFR C677T mutation and hyperhomocysteinemia was found in all three diseases. Conclusions: Hyperhomocysteinemia proved to be a risk factor for sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Based on these results, we propose to analyse homocysteine in sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients and, if its values are high, to evaluate the presence of MTHFR C677T mutation.