Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recombinant expression of polymeric IgA: incorporation of J chain and secretory component of human origin

Mucosal J (joining) chain‐expressing IgA immunocytes produce dimeric IgA that is actively transported by the epithelial polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR) to exocrine secretions. Release of secretory IgA (SIgA) occurs by cleavage of the covalently linked pIgR ectodomain, also known as bound secretory component. We have identified the human J‐chain cDNA sequence through database screening, and isolated it from B cells for recombinant expression. Co‐expression of this cDNA with an α heavy chain and a λ light chain in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells resulted in a mixture of recombinant monomeric and dimeric IgA in culture supernatants. This dimeric IgA was transported by the pIgR‐mediated mechanism in vitro. Furthermore, expression of the human pIgR ectodomain together with the dimeric IgA, resulted in production of complete SlgA by the CHO cells. These results demonstrated that co‐expression of the necessary polypeptide components allows a single mammalian cell to produce SlgA. Development of production systems for human antigen‐specific recombinant SIgA may be important for applications in passive mucosal vaccination.
Experimental Infection of Crickets (Gryllus Bimaculatus) with an Invertebrate Iridovirus Isolated from a High-Casqued Chameleon (Chamaeleo Hoehnelii)

Invertebrate iridoviruses (IIV) have been a regular problem for insect breeders. They have also recently been isolated from various lizard species. An iridovirus isolated from several tissues of a high-casqued chameleon (Chamaeleo hoehnelii) was identified as an IIV on the basis of electron microscopy (EM), sequencing of a portion of the major capsid protein (MCP) gene, and restriction endonuclease analysis of viral DNA. The pathogenicity of this isolate for crickets of the species Gryllus bimaculatus was tested by using 3 experimental infection studies. The mortality rates in the infected crickets ranged between 20% and 35%. The fat bodies of the crickets were examined on cell culture, with a nested PCR targeting the MCP gene, histologically, with in situ hybridization and by EM. Nested PCR was the most sensitive method for detecting IIV in the fat-body samples. Virus was re-isolated from several fat-body samples. In some fat bodies of infected crickets, massive arrays of viruses could be detected by EM. These findings support the hypothesis that IIV from insects are able to infect reptiles.
Lack of de novo Sensitization to Tropomyosin in a Group of Mite-Allergic Patients Treated by House Dust Mite-Specific Immunotherapy

Background: There is some evidence that specific immunotherapy may induce de novo sensitization to proteins contained in the allergen extract. This raises the possibility that the novel sensitization to cross-reacting allergens may cause food allergies. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether injection of mite-specific immunotherapy (SIT) may induce sensitization to shrimp tropomyosin. Methods: Seventy mite-allergic subjects who did not show any shrimp sensitization at baseline were followed up for at least 3 years. Thirty-one of them underwent a 3-year SIT course, 39 served as controls. At the follow-up visit, SPTs with both fresh shrimp and commercial extract were performed, and patients underwent an open oral challenge with shrimp. Results: Neither patient nor control had become sensitized to shrimp allergens at the end of the study period. Both patients and controls reported the regular intake of crustaceans and/or molluscs. Conclusion: Injection SIT with house dust mite extracts does not seem to induce de novo tropomyosin sensitization in mite-allergic patients.
Time Poverty in Brazil : Measurement and Analysis of its Determinants

This article analyzes well-being on an individual level, through the allocation of work hours done by adults and children and thus it measures time poverty in Brazil. In order to achieve such measurement, poverty indicators such as Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) were adapted into a time poverty mode. Additionally, an analysis of its determinants was also conducted. Among other findings, the fact that women (either children and adult ones) are the time-poorest individuals in urban or rural areas. Another unfortunate finding is that the high rate of time poverty among children, numerically 16,1% is not far from the adult rate which is of 19,7%. The overall composite time poor individual profile is of an African-Brazilian adult woman of little education, not necessarily income poor and residing in an urban area of the northeast region, living in a household of few people, she is the mother of children who are younger than 14 years old.
First Detection of Leishmania infantum in Phlebotomus (Larroussius) major (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Iran

Abstract Ghir-Karzin district is one of the most important endemic foci of visceral leishmaniaisis (VL) in Fars province of southern Iran. To identify the vector(s) of Leishmania in this focus, a total of 2,539 sand flies were collected during June to September 2005. Eleven species (six Phlebotomus and five Sergentomyia) were identified, of which Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli and Phlebotomus major Annandale were the first (37.4%) and third (11.2%) most common species, respectively. Natural leptomonad infections were observed in two P. papatasi (4.25%) and three P. major (6.65%) specimens on dissection and microscopic examination. Using a Leishmania genus–specific standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR; primers RV1-RV2) and a species-specific nested-PCR (primers LINR4, LIN17, and LIN 19), Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major kinetoplast minicircle DNA was detected in 6 of 72 P. major (8.3%) and 4 of 65 P. papatasi (6.1%), respectively. This is the first detection of L. infantum in P. major, implicating this sand fly as a probable vector of VL in Iran.
Stability of Vortex Pairs over Slender Conical Bodies: Analysis and Numerical Computation

DOI: 10.2514/1.33498 Analytical studies and computational fluid dynamics simulations are presented to study the formation and stability of stationary symmetric and asymmetric vortex pairs over slender conical bodies in an inviscid incompressible flow at high angles of attack. The analytical method is based on an eigenvalue analysis on the motion of the vortices under small perturbations. A three-dimensional time-accurate Euler code is used to compute five typical flowsstudiedbythe analytical methodon extraordinarily finegrids withstrict convergence criteria. Both the theory and the computation show that the vortices over a delta wing are stable and those over a wing–body configuration at the low angle of attack are symmetric and stable, but become asymmetric and bistable at higher angles of attack; that is, the vortices shift to one of two stable mirror-imaged asymmetric configurations. The computational results agree well with the analytical predictions, demonstrating the existence of a global inviscid hydrodynamic instability mechanism responsible for the asymmetry of separation vortices over slender conical bodies.
The effect of scorpion venoms on the sodium currents of the squid giant axon.

1. The effect of externally applied scorpion venoms (0.1‐‐0.5 mg/ml., species Leiurus quinquestriatus and Centruroides sculpturatus) on the Na currents of intracellularly perfused squid giant axons has been studied with the voltage‐clamp method. 2. The venoms from the two species had the same effect. They reduced the size of the peak conductance but had little effect on its kinetics (time to peak, time constant of inactivation) and on its steady‐state inactivation. The venoms increased markedly, however, the maintained conductance and the time constants of its turning‐on and turning‐off. 3. The voltage dependence of the maintained conductance was determined (a) by fitting a modified Hodgkin‐‐Huxley equation to the Na currents and (b) by measuring the tail currents at the end of depolarizing pulses. The maintained conductance rose with increasing depolarization from a minimum at ‐20 mV to a maximum at 40 mV. The peak conductance, by contrast, was constant in the positive potential range. 4. The ratio maintained conductance in venom to maintained conductance in control varied between 2 and 7 (depending on the venom concentration and the time of treatment) and was not significantly dependent on membrane potential. 5. Peak current and maintained current reversed sign at the same potential and were both blocked by tetrodotoxin. 6. During a pulse to ‐2 mV preceded by a pre‐pulse to ‐42 mV the Na conductance showed a rapid initial increase followed by a slower decay and a subsequent slow increase, reflecting the activation and inactivation of the peak conductance and the slow development of the maintained conductance. 7. Many of the observations are compatible with the idea that scorpion venoms increase the number of channels which go from the peak conductance state into the maintained conductance state (open in equilibrium or formed from closed in equilibrium or formed from open transition of the inactivation gate, see Chandler & Meves (1970 a, b)). But the alternative hypothesis that peak conductance and maintained conductance reflect two separate populations of Na channels cannot be ruled out.
The histone deacetylase inhibitor, romidepsin, suppresses cellular immune functions of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma patients

Romidepsin is the second histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) approved for the treatment of advanced stages of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL). Recent in vitro data suggest that HDACis suppress immune function although these findings have not been confirmed in patients. Thus, we serially examined the cellular immune function of eight CTCL patients undergoing treatment with three cycles of romidepsin. We measured the patients' natural killer (NK) and dendritic cell (DC) function and performed an in vitro terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay to measure cellular apoptosis. Patients' NK cell cytolytic activity decreased from baseline to the third cycle of treatment (P = 0.018) but stimulation with a toll‐like receptor (TLR) agonist increased this activity (P = 0.018). At baseline, a TLR agonist could both activate patients' DC (P = 0.043) and stimulate interleukin‐12 protein production (P = 0.043) but both were suppressed after the first cycle of romidepsin. Finally, we observed increased specificity for romidepsin‐induced CD4+ tumor cell apoptosis and dose‐dependent increases in cellular apoptosis of healthy cells in multiple lineages (P < 0.05). These findings raise concern that HDACis suppress immune function in CTCL patients and they support the concurrent use of multiple immune stimulatory agents to preserve the host immune response. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structure of DSM-5 and ICD-11 personality domains in Iranian community sample.

AIM Personality disorders (PD) have been deemed the most problematic diagnostic grouping in terms of validity and utility, which particularly applies to non-Western societies. The current study evaluated the structural validity of PD trait domains in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) Section III and the proposed International Classification of Diseases-11 (ICD-11) in the Iranian population. METHODS Community-dwelling adults (n = 285; 66% women) were administered the Personality Inventory for DSM-5, whereas the proposed ICD-11 trait domains were delineated using an algorithm for Personality Inventory for DSM-5 trait facets. The five-factor organization and higher-order hierarchical structure of both models were examined using exploratory structural equation modelling analyses. RESULTS The five-factor exploratory structural equation modelling loadings overall resembled international findings on DSM-5 Section III traits (including Psychoticism), whereas the ICD-11 five-factor structure aligned with the proposed ICD-11 domain features (including Anankastia). Additionally, we identified a hierarchical structure from one to five factors for both models that conceptually aligned with established models of personality and psychopathology. CONCLUSIONS This study provided initial support for the structural validity of DSM-5 and ICD-11 PD trait models in Iranian culture. Future research warrants replication in larger samples and clinical populations. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fitossociologia da vegetação arbustivo-arborea em quatro areas de caatinga em Pernambuco

Objetivando comparar a composicao floristica, arquitetura, estrutura de abundancia e tamanho e analisar algumas das relacoes entre solo e vegetacao de 4 fitocenoses da caatinga do sertao de Pernambuco, realizaram-se levantamentos fitossociologicos nas Fazenda Boa Vista, municipio de Custodia. Em cada dia fitocenose adotou-se uma amostragem sistematica com 25 parcelas interespacadas de 20 m e distribuidas em 5 linhas equidistantes de 20 m. Todos os individuos lenhosos, inclusive os mortos ainda em pe, registrados com 3 ou mais cm de diâmetro do caule ao nivel do solo e pelo menos 1 m de altura foram amostrados, com excecao dos cipos e bromeliaceas. No centro de cada parcela foi retirada uma amostra de solo nas profundidades de 0 a 20 cm e 20 a 40 com, quando possivel. Nos 10000 ? m POT 2? amostrados foi realizada a identificacao, medindo o diâmetro ao nivel do solo e estimada a altura de 1748 individuos pertencentes a 56 especies, distribuidas po 33 generos e 23 familias. Fasa, Poco do Ferro, Boa Vista, amrgem esquerda e direita apresentaram 24, 25, 22 e 28 especies, 1876, 2172, 1076 e 1872 ind. /ha e 15,84, 15,62, 34,29 e 20,82 ? m POT. 2? /ha de dominância, respectivamente . Observacao: O resumo, na integra, podera ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital Abstract
House Dust Mite Allergy and Associated Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy in Allergic Asthma

Allergic asthma, an important subtype of asthma endotypes, is characterized by allergen-specific and Th2 cellmediated airway inflammation. Except for pharmacologic treatment, Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) has also been considered as a potential therapy for allergic asthma. House dust mite (HDM) is a common airborne allergen among patients with allergic asthma. This review is focused on the relationship between HDM allergy and allergic asthma, underlying mechanism of ASIT, and current evidence of HDM-specific immunotherapy for allergic asthma. It was demonstrated that HDM allergy is a risk factor associated with disease development of allergic asthma. The induction of immune tolerance by regulatory T cells was proved to play a pivotal role in the immunological mechanisms of ASIT. Experimental studies in murine models of allergic asthma reveal that HDM-specific immunotherapy has not only therapeutic efficacy but also preventive potential for disease development. The clinical trials also demonstrated the efficacy of HDM-specific immunotherapy in reducing asthma symptoms and medication use. Today, the clinical application of ASIT in allergic asthma has limitation when considering the extent of benefit and systemic adverse reactions. Although sublingual immunotherapy with HDM extract was demonstrated to have better safety profile when comparing with subcutaneous immunotherapy. To make HDM-specific immunotherapy more practicable in clinical application, further advances in the development of immunotherapy and clinical trials are needed.
Epistaxis in geriatric patients.

AIM Epistaxis is a common emergency in otolaryngology. The aim of this study is to analyze the etiology, management, and accompanying disorders of epistaxis in geriatric patients by reviewing the literature MATERIALS AND METHODS Data of 117 patients 65 years old and older who presented to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology with active epistaxis between 2004 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Records were evaluated for age, sex, accompanying disorders, drug medication, detailed otorhinolaryngological findings, and management of epistaxis. RESULTS There were 67 women (57.26%) and 50 men (42.74%) with a mean age of 73.51 years (range: 65-90). Ninety-four (80.34%) patients had accompanying disorders such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, sinusitis, chronic obstructive lung disease, nasal polyp, and drug treatment. The bleeding site was anterior in 90 patients (76.92%) and posterior in 16 (13.67%). In 11 patients (9.4%), the bleeding site was not identified. Fifty-seven patients (48.71%) were treated with cauterization, 17 patients (14.52%) with nasal packing, 12 patients (10.25%) with medical treatment, 1 patient (0.85%) with mass excision and nasal packing, and 19 patients (16.23%) with more than 1 treatment method. Six patients (5.12%) were untreated because of the unidentified bleeding point. Bleeding control was performed under local anesthesia in 113 patients (96.58%) and under general anesthesia in 4 patients (3.41%). Twenty-one patients (17.94%) were hospitalized and 3 patients (2.56%) required a blood transfusion. CONCLUSION Epistaxis is the most common otorhinolaryngological emergency. It must be evaluated carefully to avoid the potential complications resulting from both epistaxis and its associated disorders, especially in geriatric patients.
Insulin secretion, clearance and action before and after gastroplasty in severely obese subjects.

This study investigated the effects of a drastic weight reduction on insulin secretion rate (ISR), insulin metabolic clearance rate (MCRI) and insulin sensitivity (SI) in severely obese subjects. A frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT, 0.3 g/kg) was performed before and 8 +/- 1 months after a vertical ring gastroplasty in 12 overnight-fasted obese non-diabetic subjects; the results were compared to those obtained in 12 lean controls matched for age and sex. ISR was derived by deconvolution of plasma C-peptide levels; MCRI was obtained by dividing the area under the curve (AUC180 min) of ISR by the corresponding AUC of plasma insulin levels (IRI); the SI and the glucose effectiveness index (SG) were calculated by Bergman's minimal model. Before gastroplasty, obese subjects showed significantly higher ISR (P < 0.02), lower MCRI (P < 0.001), lower SI (P < 0.001) but similar SG when compared to lean controls. After gastroplasty (reduction of body weight from 104.8 +/- 3.8 to 73.4 +/- 3.6 kg and of BMI from 37.9 +/- 0.8 to 26.5 +/- 0.9 kg/m2; P < 0.001), ISR only decreased from 53,125 +/- 7968 to 42,302 +/- 3716 pmol/180 min (not significant) while AUC-IRI dramatically fell from 53,626 +/- 6378 to 21,111 +/- 2584 pmol.min/l; P < 0.001); consequently, MCRI markedly increased from 526 +/- 96 to 1257 +/- 150 ml/min/m2; P < 0.01). SI significantly rose from 3.12 +/- 0.45 to 7.10 +/- 1.20 x 10(-4) l/mU/min (P < 0.005) while SG remained unchanged. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DJ‐1/PARK7 Impairs Bacterial Clearance in Sepsis

Rationale: Effective and rapid bacterial clearance is a fundamental determinant of outcomes in sepsis. DJ‐1 is a well‐established reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. Objectives: Because cellular ROS status is pivotal to inflammation and bacterial killing, we determined the role of DJ‐1 in bacterial sepsis. Methods: We used cell and murine models with gain‐ and loss‐of‐function experiments, plasma, and cells from patients with sepsis. Measurements and Main Results: Stimulation of bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMMs) with endotoxin resulted in increased DJ‐1 mRNA and protein expression. Cellular and mitochondrial ROS was increased in DJ‐1‐deficient (−/−) BMMs compared with wild‐type. In a clinically relevant model of polymicrobial sepsis (cecal ligation and puncture), DJ‐1−/− mice had improved survival and bacterial clearance. DJ‐1−/− macrophages exhibited enhanced phagocytosis and bactericidal activity in vitro, and adoptive transfer of DJ‐1−/− bone marrow‐derived mononuclear cells rescued wild‐type mice from cecal ligation and puncture‐induced mortality. In stimulated BMMs, DJ‐1 inhibited ROS production by binding to p47phox, a critical component of the NADPH oxidase complex, disrupting the complex and facilitating Nox2 (gp91phox) ubiquitination and degradation. Knocking down DJ‐1 (siRNA) in THP‐1 (human monocytic cell line) and polymorphonuclear cells from patients with sepsis enhanced bacterial killing and respiratory burst. DJ‐1 protein levels were elevated in plasma from patients with sepsis. Higher levels of circulating DJ‐1 were associated with increased organ failure and death. Conclusions: These novel findings reveal DJ‐1 impairs optimal ROS production for bacterial killing with important implications for host survival in sepsis.
Analysis of the 14;18 translocation in cutaneous lymphomas using the polymerase chain reaction

A series of 25 cutaneous B‐cell lymphoid proliferations was analyzed for the presence of the (14;18) translocation using the polymerase chain reaction, functional sequences of rearranged chromosomes 14 and 18 were amplified in vitro, and t (14;18) specific sequences were detected in 1 of 14 primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas, in 1 of 14 primary nodal B‐cell lymphomas and in none of 3 B‐cell pseudolymphomas. These results indicate that the t (14;18) may occur in a small subset of primary cutaneous lymphoma. However, the difference in incidence of the t (14;18) between primary nodal and primary cutaneous lymphomas suggests that different molecular mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of these lymphomas.
Worsening renal function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure treated with ultrafiltration: predictors and outcomes.

BACKGROUND Ultrafiltration (UF) is used to treat patients with diuretic-resistant acute decompensated heart failure. The aim of this study was to identify predictors and the effect of worsening renal failure(WRF) on mortality in patients treated with UF. METHODS AND RESULTS Based on changes in serum creatinine, 99 patients treated with UF were divided into WRF and control groups. Overall creatinine increased from 1.9 ± 0.7 to 1.2 ± 1.0 mg/dL (P! .001),and WRF developed in 41% of the subjects. The peak UF rate was higher in the WRF group in univariate analysis (174 ± 75 vs 144 ± 52 mL/h; P = .03). Based on multivariate analysis, aldosterone antagonist treatment (odds ratio [OR] 3.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-13.46, P = .04), heart rate ≤65 beats/min (OR 6.03, 95% CI 1.48-48.42; P = .03), and E/E0 ≥ 15 (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.26-17.55; P 5 .04) at hospital admission were associated with WRF. Patients with baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≤60mg/dL who developed WRF during UF had a 75% 1-year mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS WRF occurred frequently during UF. Increased LV filling pressures, lower heart rate, and treatment with aldosterone antagonist at hospital admission can identify patients at increased risk for WRF. Patients with baseline GFR ≤60 mg/dL and WRF during UF have an extremely high 1-year mortality rate.