Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transdifferentiated retinal pigment epithelial cells are immunoreactive for vascular endothelial growth factor in surgically excised age-related macular degeneration-related choroidal neovascular membranes.

PURPOSE To determine the cellular origin and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoreactivity of the nonvascular stromal cells in surgically excised age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)-associated choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs). METHODS Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on frozen sections of eight surgically excised ARMD-related CNVMs. RESULTS Cytokeratin-positive, smooth muscle actin-positive polygonal or fibroblastic (transdifferentiated RPE) cells were the principal nonvascular stromal cells detected. The polygonal cells were more commonly found in active (highly vascularized) regions and were strongly immunoreactive for VEGF. The fibroblastic cells were predominantly found in fibrotic (hypovascular) regions and were minimally immunoreactive for VEGF. CONCLUSIONS Transdifferentiated RPE cells are the principal nonvascular stromal cells of both vascular and fibrotic ARMD-related CNVMs. Preferential localization of VEGF immunoreactivity with the cytoplasm of the polygonal transdifferentiated RPE cells in the highly vascularized regions of the surgically excised CNVMs suggests an important angiogenic role of these cells and this growth factor in the progression of ARMD-related choroidal neovascularization.
Multitasking Human Endometrium: A Review of Endometrial Biopsy as a Diagnostic Tool, Therapeutic Applications, and a Source of Adult Stem Cells

The endometrium is one of the most fascinating tissues in the human body. Its sole purpose is to enable implantation of an embryo during a very short window of opportunity in the menstrual cycle. When implantation does not take place, the endometrial cells are shed, enabling growth of a new endometrial layer the following month. Recently recognized stem cells may be the source through which this physiological turnover can take place. These cells, however, may also result in pathological conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, and carcinoma when control by surrounding niche cells is lost. The methods to obtain endometrial tissue are critically reviewed, including the various catheters compared with the Pipelle. Recent advances in molecular studies of the endometrium enable researchers to define markers of implantation, and study the interaction between the embryo and the endometrium in vitro. Moreover, mechanisms by which wounding the endometrium by the biopsy catheter actually seems to improve embryo implantation are hypothesized. Finally, detection, isolation, and differentiation of adult endometrial stem cells have the potential to provide a resource for therapy of chronic conditions. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Leaning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader should be able to explain the concept of the endometrium as a multi-tasking tissue, describe the role in health and potential role in medical care of adult stem cells in the endometrium, and describe the clinical characteristics of endometrial biopsy techniques.
Effect of chronic administration of hexane extract of Byrsonima crassifolia seed on B-cell and pancreatic oxidative parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.

BACKGROUND In Mexican traditional medicine, the seeds of Byrsonima crassifolia have been used in the treatment of diabetes, rheumatism and for wound healing. The aim was to evaluate the effect of seeds of B. crassifolia on insulin release from the pancreatic beta cells in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the present study, we evaluated the beneficial effect of seeds B. crassifolia streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats. Insulin level; insulin sensitivity index, insulin content in pancreas, malonaldehyde, nitric oxide contents, oxidative stress parameters were assayed. Serum glucose levels were determined by the glucose oxidase method. To determine the insulin releasing activity, after extract treatment, the pancreas was excised. Pancreatic sections were processed for examination of insulin-releasing activity using an imunocytochemistry kit. RESULTS Administration of the hexane extract (200 and 400 mg/kg), exhibited a significant reduction in serum glucose. Administration of streptozotocin decreased the number of beta cells with insulin secretory activity in comparison with intact rats; but treatment with the B. crassifolia seed extract increased significantly the activity of the beta cells in comparison with the diabetic control rats. The extract decreased serum glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and increased insulin release from the beta cells of the pancreas. CONCLUSION These finding suggest that B. crassifolia seed has beneficial effect for diabetes through decreasing blood glucose and lipid levels, increasing insulin sensitivity index and insulin content, up-regulating antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing lipid peroxidation.
Avaliação de esperança e resiliência em pessoas em tratamento hemodialítico

Objetivo: avaliar a esperança manifestada em pessoas em tratamento hemodialítico e sua relação com a resiliência. Método: estudo transversal, em duas unidades de hemodiálise da região metropolitana de Florianópolis. Participaram 60 pessoas de janeiro a março de 2017. Utilizado instrumento de caracterização, Escala de Esperança de Herth adaptada e validada para a língua portuguesa, Escala de Resiliência de Connor – Davidson. Análise descritiva e coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. Resultados: correlação moderada significativa e positiva entre esperança e resiliência (r: 0,470; p<0,01). Sexo feminino com valores médios maiores para esperança e resiliência (M: 44,72; DP: 3,23) e (M: 84,44; DP: 10,66). Os que se encontravam em lista de espera para o transplante obtiveram menores pontuações para esperança (M:42,75; DP: 4,76) e para resiliência (M:79,33; DP: 10,54). Conclusão: as pessoas em tratamento hemodialítico apresentam disposição à esperança e resiliência, o que sugere melhor adaptação ao tratamento.
Visualization of Sensory Neurons and Their Projections in an Upper Motor Neuron Reporter Line

Visualization of peripheral nervous system axons and cell bodies is important to understand their development, target recognition, and integration into complex circuitries. Numerous studies have used protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 [a.k. a. ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1)] expression as a marker to label sensory neurons and their axons. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression, under the control of UCHL1 promoter, is stable and long lasting in the UCHL1-eGFP reporter line. In addition to the genetic labeling of corticospinal motor neurons in the motor cortex and degeneration-resistant spinal motor neurons in the spinal cord, here we report that neurons of the peripheral nervous system are also fluorescently labeled in the UCHL1-eGFP reporter line. eGFP expression is turned on at embryonic ages and lasts through adulthood, allowing detailed studies of cell bodies, axons and target innervation patterns of all sensory neurons in vivo. In addition, visualization of both the sensory and the motor neurons in the same animal offers many advantages. In this report, we used UCHL1-eGFP reporter line in two different disease paradigms: diabetes and motor neuron disease. eGFP expression in sensory axons helped determine changes in epidermal nerve fiber density in a high-fat diet induced diabetes model. Our findings corroborate previous studies, and suggest that more than five months is required for significant skin denervation. Crossing UCHL1-eGFP with hSOD1G93A mice generated hSOD1G93A-UeGFP reporter line of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and revealed sensory nervous system defects, especially towards disease end-stage. Our studies not only emphasize the complexity of the disease in ALS, but also reveal that UCHL1-eGFP reporter line would be a valuable tool to visualize and study various aspects of sensory nervous system development and degeneration in the context of numerous diseases.
Patterns of Reflection for Problem-Solving in a Mobile Learning Environment

This study explored the nature of students’ reflections on solving a given problem in a mobile technology enhanced learning environment of a computer networks course. Participants were 143 college freshmen taught by the same instructor. A process and content analysis method were employed to explore learners’ reflective patterns during and after problem-solving tasks. The results suggested 4 conclusions: (a) participants’ reflection-in-action declined slightly across lab sessions, and reflection-on-action increased slightly across lab sessions, (b) participants generated more reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action during the early stages of problem-solving with the help of mobile technology, (c) providing learners with sufficient training on the use of mobile technology prior to the tasks is critically important to enhancing learning, and (d) learners with high prior-knowledge revealed higher frequency in reflection. Finally, it was suggested to examine the relationships between participants’ flections on given problems and learning performance in a explicitly manner. Keywords—Mobile learning, Reflection pattern, Problem solving, Content analysis
Design for X (DFX): Key to competitive, profitable products

A key to competitive, profitable product realization is design for X (DFX); i.e., design for manufacturability, testability, installability, compliance, reliability, and other downstream considerations. DFX is a philosophy and practice that ensures quality products and services, reduces the time to market for a product, and minimizes life-cycle costs. Therefore, it is crucial to achieving customer satisfaction. This paper introduces DFX as a strategic concept for product realization, provides a framework and examples of techniques for supporting DFX, and gives an overview of the other papers in this issue of the AT&T Technical Journal.
Qualitative Study of Breastfeeding After Childhood Sexual Assault

Childhood sexual assault (CSA) is a common experience for women. Little research has explored the breastfeeding experience of CSA survivors who successfully breastfeed. The objective of this study is to explore the experience of successful breastfeeding with mothers with a history of CSA. Eleven women are interviewed after responding to a community-based advertisement. The women self-identify as having experienced CSA by a family member. Semistructured interviews are conducted by the author. Interviews are transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes. Four key themes are identified: enhancement of the mother— baby relationship, validation of the maternal body, splitting of the breasts' dual role as maternal and sexual objects, and exposure and control when breastfeeding in public. Healthcare professionals should be aware of these maternal issues when promoting breastfeeding and counseling breastfeeding women. J Hum Lact. 25(3):317-324.
The Effects of Dietary Sulfur Amino Acid Deficiency on Rat Brain Glutathione Concentration and Neural Damage in Global Hemispheric Hypoxia-Ischemia

Abstract Primary brain injury in stroke is followed by an excitotoxic cascade, oxidative stress and further neural damage. Glutathione is critical and depleted in oxidative stress. Since cysteine is limiting in glutathione synthesis, this study investigated the effect of dietary sulfur amino acid (SAA) deficiency on neural damage in a rat model of global hemispheric hypoxia-ischemia (GHHI). Animals were fed with SAA deficient ("deficient") or control diet for 3 days, subjected to right common carotid artery ligation and hypoxia, and diet continued for 3 more days. Histologically evaluated neural damage at 7 days post hypoxia-ischemia was greater in "deficient" rats, shown by mean (±SEM) global and hippocampal grid scores of 2.5±0.7 and 34.9±9.3%, respectively, vs. controls' scores of 0.1±0.1 and 0.1±0.1%, respectively. Mean brain (±SEM) reduced glutathione was not different between groups at 6 h post hypoxia-ischemia, but was decreased in "deficient" animals 3 days later in neocortex (1.46 μmoles/g wet weight±0.05 vs. 1.67±0.04 in controls) and thalamus (1.60 μmoles/g wet weight±0.05 vs. 1.78±0.03 in controls). Administration of a cysteine precursor to "deficient" animals did not ameliorate neural damage. These findings suggest that well-nourished but not "deficient" animals tolerate a mild brain insult. The decline in brain glutathione in the "deficient" animals may be one of several contributing mechanisms.
Detection of activated Rho in fixed Xenopus tissue

Small GTPases of the Rho family are important modulators of the cytoskeleton and regulate morphogenetic cell movements during embryonic development. In the Xenopus embryo, Rho signaling contributes to the regulation of convergent extension (CE) movements in gastrula and neurula stages as well as to tissue separation (TS). Here we describe a method that allows the detection of activated (GTP‐bound) Rho in fixed Xenopus tissue. The assay makes use of a fusion protein of Rhotekin and Green‐Fluorescent‐Protein (RBD‐GFP), which is produced in bacteria and can be purified biochemically. This technique allows a temporal and spatial analysis of Rho signaling in the developing embryo. Developmental Dynamics 238:1407–1411, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inflammatory Effects of Ex Vivo Human Th17 Cells Are Suppressed by Regulatory T Cells

Th17 cells are proinflammatory cells associated with many immune-mediated diseases. Major factors limiting the study of human Th17 cells are the lack of an accepted method for their in vitro differentiation or for isolation of a homogenous population of Th17 cells that do not cosecrete IFN-γ. To overcome these hurdles, we established a novel method to isolate in vivo differentiated Th17 cells from peripheral blood by sorting CD161+CCR4+CCR6+CXCR3−CD4+ T cells. The resulting cells produce high levels of IL-17 but not IFN-γ, express high levels of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor variant 2, and maintain this phenotype upon expansion. Ex vivo Th17 cells exhibit a low cytotoxic potential and are hyporesponsive to polyclonal anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulation. Importantly, ex vivo Th17 cells were susceptible to suppression by both naive and memory regulatory T cells (Tregs), which inhibited production of IL-17, IL-22, and CXCL8. Moreover, Tregs suppressed the antifibrotic effects of Th17 cells in a wound-healing model. These findings provide new tools for the study of normal and pathological functions of bona fide Th17 cells in humans. They also provide new insight into the cross-talk between Th17 cells and immune and nonimmune cells, and they establish the paradigm that adoptive Treg-based therapies may effectively limit Th17-mediated inflammation.
Biological and diurnal variation in glucocorticoid sensitivity detected with a sensitive in vitro dexamethasone suppression of cytokine production assay.

INTRODUCTION Glucocorticoid resistance due to mutations of the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) are rare, but reduced glucocorticoid sensitivity may play a role in steroid-resistant asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and septic shock. A rapid and sensitive functional assay to detect glucocorticoid resistance will be advantageous. METHOD We describe a rapid in vitro monocyte dexamethasone suppression of cytokine production (DSCP) assay with a 3-h incubation. The DSCP assay was compared with the reference stimulated lymphocyte proliferation method. We characterized the effect of delayed processing, time of sampling, and biological variation on the DSCP assay. RESULTS The DSCP assay clearly distinguished subjects with a known heterozygous mutation of the NR3C1 gene from control subjects, whereas the reference method failed. Decreased glucocorticoid sensitivity was demonstrated in samples collected in the afternoon. Intra-individual variation from samples collected in the morning was 13.0 and 12.7% for the IL-6 and TNF-alpha responses with the respective inter-individual variations of 9.7 and 7.9%. CONCLUSION The DSCP assay was superior to the reference method and was sufficiently sensitive to detect diurnal variation in control subjects. The biological variation data supported the use of a population-based reference interval. The assay is suitable for screening of glucocorticoid resistance phenotypes and may provide insight into cortisol metabolism in critically ill patients, asthmatics, and patients with inflammatory bowel disease provided that the variation due to delayed processing and time of collection are considered.
Immunoglobulin G profiles in different forms of periodontitis.

BACKGROUND Races and Gm(23) allotypes can modify the serum levels of IgG subclasses. The average serum levels of IgG subclasses of African-Americans have been reported to be higher than those of Caucasians in both healthy young adults and patients with aggressive periodontitis; Gm(23)-positive subjects generally had higher IgG2 levels than Gm(23)-negative subjects. OBJECTIVE We examined serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations in Taiwanese patients with different forms of periodontitis. METHODS The serum levels of four IgG subclasses were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Gm(23) allotypes were verified by radial immunodiffusion tests in 50 patients with chronic periodontitis, 30 patients with aggressive periodontitis, and 74 healthy controls. RESULTS There were no differences in the concentrations of four IgG subclasses in patients with chronic periodontitis compared with age-matched controls. However, in subjects younger than 35 years, levels of IgG2 were significantly elevated in patients with aggressive periodontitis compared with controls. We also found significant differences in IgG2 levels within the control group when stratified by age (< or = 35 years and > 35 years). Gm(23) allotypes were not correlated with the serum levels of IgG2 in either patient group. CONCLUSION Microbial challenge might not provoke significant changes in systemic IgG response in patients with chronic periodontitis. However, in patients with aggressive periodontitis, IgG2 levels were increased when compared with age-matched controls. Gm(23) allotypes had no influence on IgG2 levels in well-established generalized chronic periodontitis or aggressive periodontitis.
Observation of e+e- → γX(3872) at BESIII.

With data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring at center-of-mass energies from 4.009 to 4.420 GeV, the process e+e-→ γX(3872) is observed for the first time with a statistical significance of 6. 3σ. The measured mass of the X(3872) is (3871.9 ± 0.7s tat ± 0.2 syst) MeV/c(2), in agreement with previous measurements. Measurements of the product of the cross section σ[e+e- → γX(3872)] and the branching fraction B[X(3872)→π+π-J/ψ] at center-of-mass energies 4.009, 4.229, 4.260, and 4.360 GeV are reported. Our measurements are consistent with expectations for the radiative transition process Y(4260) → γX(3872).
A user-centered design of a web-based interface to bibliographic databases

This thesis reports results of a research study into the usefulness of a user-centred approach for designing information retrieval interfaces. The main objective of the research was to examine the usability of an existing Web-based IR system in order to design a user-centred prototype Web interface. This research used the Web of Science available at http: //wos. mimas. ac. uk. A series of usability experiments was carried out with the Web of Science. The first experiment was carried out using both novice and experienced users to see their performance and satisfaction with the interface. A set of search tasks was obtained from a user survey and was used in the study. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the time taken to complete the tasks, and the number of different search terms used between the two search groups. Novice users were significantly more satisfied with the interface than the experienced group. However, the experienced group was significantly more successful, and made fewer errors than the novice users. The second experiment was conducted on novices' learning and retention with the Web of Science using the same equipment, tasks and environment. The results of the original learning phase of the experiment showed that novices could readily pick up interface functionality when a brief training was provided. However, their retention of search skills weakened over time. Their subjective satisfaction with the interface also diminished from learning to retention. These findings suggested that the fundamental difficulties of searching IR systems still remain with the Web-based version. A heuristic evaluation was carried out to find out the usability problems in the Web of Science interface. Three human factors experts evaluate the interface. The heuristic evaluation was very helpful in identifying some interface design issues for Web IR systems. The most fundamental of these was increasing the match between system and the real world. The results of both the usability testing and the heuristic evaluations served as a baseline for designing a prototype Web interface. The prototype was designed based on a conceptual model of users' information seeking. Various usability evaluation methods were used to test the usability of the prototype system. After each round of testing, the interface was modified in accordance with the test findings. A summative evaluation of the prototype interface showed that both novice and experienced users improved their search performance. Comparative analysis with the earlier usability studies also showed significant improvements in performance and satisfaction with the prototype. These results show that user-centred methods can yield better interface design for IR systems.
Changes in UNC5C gene methylation during human gastric carcinogenesis.

BACKGROUND UNC5C, one of the netrin-1 receptors, belongs to the functional dependence receptor family, members of which share the ability to induce apoptosis in the absence of their ligands. Recently, aberrant methylation of the UNC5C gene was found in 34 out of 49 (69%) primary colon carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS The methylation status of the UNC5C gene was examined in primary carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues derived from 36 patients with gastric cancer using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, and the correlation between the methylation status and the clinicopathological findings was evaluated. RESULTS Aberrant methylation of the UNC5C gene was detected in 9 out of the 36 (25%) primary gastric carcinomas. A significant difference was observed in regard to the TNM stage (p=0.0455). CONCLUSION UNC5C methylation was observed in the course of gastric carcinogenesis and disappeared in highly advanced gastric carcinomas.