Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased IL-6 in Supernatant of Rat Mesangial Cell Cultures Treated with Erythrogenic Toxin Type B and Its Precursor Isolated from Nephritogenic Streptococci

Background/Aims: Previous reports have shown the presence of streptococcal erythrogenic toxin type B (ETB), IL-8, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and glomerular proliferation in renal biopsies from patients with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). In addition, increased levels of plasma IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and urinary IL-6 have also been reported in this disease. To determine the effect of ETB in mesangial cell cytokine production and proliferation, the concentration of several cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-10, IL-4, RANTES), soluble TNF receptor I (STNFR-I), soluble TNF receptor II (STNFR-II) and proliferation were measured in rat mesangial cells cultures after treatment with ETB or its precursor (ETBP). Methods: To analyze the levels of cytokines and production of soluble receptors as well as proliferation, rat mesangial cells were cultured with ETB or ETBP (50 µg/ml). After 24, 48 and 96 h of incubation, culture supernatants were assessed for cytokines and receptors by ELISA and for proliferation by incorporation of radioactive thymidine. Results: A significant increase in IL-6 levels was found in mesangial cell cultures treated with either ETBP or ETB when compared with controls. Streptococcal proteins treated mesangial cells also showed elevated levels of proliferation at 96 h. Increased production of IL-6 was not correlated with proliferation. A polyclonal anti-ETB antibody abolished the IL-6 stimulatory effect of ETB on mesangial cells. ETB/ETBP failed to increase the levels of other cytokines and cytokine soluble receptors. Conclusion: Streptococcal ETB/ETBP is capable of inducing increased production of IL-6 and proliferation on mesangial cells. These findings could be relevant in a possible early interaction of streptococcal proteins with mesangial cells and during the course of APSGN.
Essays on behavior and extreme events

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Impact of professionalism on injuries in rugby union

Objectives—To measure the frequency and nature of injuries occurring in competitive matches since professionalism was introduced in rugby union. Methods—The cohort study previously conducted in players from senior rugby clubs in the Scottish Borders in 1993–1994 when rugby union was an entirely amateur sport was repeated in 1997–1998. The same injury definition, outcome criteria, and method of calculating playing hours were used. In total, 803 (84%) of 960 eligible players participated, including all 30 adult players who played professionally for the Scottish Rugby Union or Border Reivers District. The 576 injury episodes in 381 of these players in competitive matches were compared with the 373 injuries in 266 players out of 975 (94 %) who were eligible and registered with the same senior rugby clubs in 1993–1994. Outcomes were the occurrence of injury episodes, days away from playing or training for rugby, and time lost to employment or attendance at school/college as a consequence of being injured. Results—The proportion of players who were injured almost doubled from 1993–1994 to 1997–1998, despite an overall reduction of 7% of the playing strength of participating clubs. Period prevalence injury rates rose in all age specific groups, particularly in younger players. This translated into an injury episode every 3.4 matches in 1993–94, rising to one in every 2.0 matches in 1997–1998. An injury episode occurred in a professional team for every 59 minutes of competitive play. Professional players sustained a higher proportion of recurrent injuries, particularly in the early part of the season. Some 56% of all their days lost to the game were caused by injuries to the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the knee, hip, and thigh. Conclusions—The introduction of professionalism in rugby union has coincided with an increase in injuries to both professional and amateur players. To reduce this, attention should be focused on the tackle, where many injuries occur. The International Rugby Board should place a moratorium on the use of protective equipment in competitive matches until its contribution to player morbidity has been fully assessed.
Cyclooxygenase expression in the early stages of equine laminitis: a cytologic study.

BACKGROUND Recent reports indicate increased amounts of mRNA from inflammation-related genes in the prodromal stage of laminitis. HYPOTHESIS Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) undergo distinct patterns of expression in equine laminae in the developmental stage (DEV) and acute clinical stage (LAM) of laminitis. ANIMALS Horses selected from an outbred population were placed into 1 of 4 groups: DEV (n = 5), CON-3h (control group for DEV, n = 5), LAM (n = 5) and CON-10h (control group for LAM, n = 5). METHODS Laminar and skin samples were obtained from (1) animals either undergoing leukopenia (DEV) or the onset of clinical signs of laminitis (LAM) after black walnut extract (BWE) administration and (2) animals either 3 (CON-3h) or 10 (CON-10h) hours after administration of water. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analysis were performed for COX-1 and COX-2. RESULTS Upon immunohistochemical analysis of all 4 groups, COX-2 was expressed by most viable epithelial cells in both laminae and skin. COX-1 exhibited similar epithelial expression to COX-2 in skin epidermis, but was expressed exclusively in the basal layer of laminar epidermis. COX-1 protein was not detectable in dermal vasculature of equine skin or laminae, whereas COX-2 was present in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells of dermal vasculature in both skin and laminae in all groups. A marked increase in laminar COX-2 protein concentrations was detected on immunoblotting in the DEV group, although a lesser increase was observed in the LAM group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE COX-2 protein expression is markedly increased in the resident laminar cell types in the developmental stage of BWE-induced laminitis.
interruptions adversely affect local control and survival with hyperfractionated radiation therapy of carcinomas of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts new evidence for accelerated proliferation from radiation therapy oncology group protocol 8313

Hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HFX) attempts to overcome tumor proliferation during treatment by permitting higher total doses in the same overall time as standard fractionation. Whereas interruptions, including splits, reduce local control with standard fractionation in carcinoma of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts, HFX might compensate for interruptions. Patients were randomized to receive total doses of 6720, 7200, 7680, and 8160 cGy, using 120 cGy twice daily, 5 days per week. Those analyzed received ± 4% of assigned total dose and lived 90 days or more. Treatment was completed within 5 days of the time specified for each treatment arm in 233 patients; 48, 80, and 131 patients had delays 14, 10, and 5 days or more, respectively. Locoregional control and survival were significantly (P ≤ 0.03) reduced with delays of 5 days or more when corrected for prognostic factors. Late effects of radiation therapy were not affected by interruptions. These data support the hypothesis that proliferation (possibly accelerated) of tumor clonogens during treatment influences the outcome. Cancer 1992; 69:2744‐2748.
Lactate dehydrogenase mutants of Streptococcus mutans: isolation and preliminary characterization

Mutants of Streptococcus mutans were isolated which lack the enzyme activity L (+)-lactate dehydrogenase. Reversion studies indicate that the genetic defects are in the structural gene for the enzyme. The mutants produce less titratable acid from glucose, adhere better to hydroxyapatite, and accumulate more plaque when grown in the presence of sucrose than does the parent strain. These findings suggest a possible use for the mutants as effector strains in the replacement therapy of dental caries.
Do Geographical Distance and Diversification Really Matter for a Bank’s Market Power?

Using a large sample of Italian banks over the period 2006-2009, this paper provides new evidence for the effect of the geographic distance between bank’s headquarters and its branches; and furthermore for firm’s characteristics, such as diversification strategies, risk exposure, ability to control the internal costs on competition and market’s characteristics, such as GDP, market share, and the number of foreign-owned branches. Working from the translog cost function, we employ the Lerner Index as a measurement of a bank’s market power. Our findings suggest that cost efficiency, geographical distance, and diversification strategies are crucial to explain differences in the monopoly market power. Focusing on the market characteristics, the Lerner Index seems to be related to the number of potential foreigner competitors, and finally by macroeconomic variables, such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Effects of bone cement loaded with teicoplanin, N-acetylcysteine or their combination on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to demonstrate the antibiofilm effects of teicoplanin alone, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) alone, or combination of both compounds when mixed with bone cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of four groups were formed by using six cement samples in each, prepared with bone cement having different contents in each group. Group 1 (control group): cement alone without any drugs added. Group 2: 40 g cement, 400 mg teicoplanin. Group 3: 40 g cement, 6 g NAC. Group 4: 40 g cement, 6 g NAC, 400 mg teicoplanin. All cement samples were infected with Staphylococcus aureus for 48 hours at 36.5 °C. Bacterial colonies were then counted by serial dilution method. Bacteria were counted using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images. RESULTS Counts of bacteria colonies were 5.83±1.60 [mean colony forming unit (cfu) x 105±standard deviation (SD)] in group 1, 0.12±0.56 in group 2, 0.11±0.65 in group 3, and 0.01±0.001 in group 4. Significant difference was found between group 1 and all other groups (p<0.05), and between group 4 and all other groups (p<0.05). According to SEM analysis, counts of bacteria (mean±SD) were 1.88±0.45, 0.75±0.26, 0.21±0.22, and 0.13±0.25 in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Significant difference was found between group 1 and all other groups (p<0.05), and between group 4 and all other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION N-acetyl cysteine, teicoplanin, and their combination significantly reduced formation of biofilm compared to the control group. Also, combination of NAC and teicoplanin had the highest antibiofilm effect.
Measuring the Impact of Prudential Policy on the Macroeconomy: A Practical Application to Basel III and Other Responses to the Financial Crisis

When financial regulators require banks to hold a higher ratio of equity capital to debt funding, banks incur short-term costs as they adjust their balance sheets and lose some of the advantages associated with their existing funding mix. They then seek to maintain post-tax income by, for example, raising lending margins. Higher lending margins tend to lower the volumes of borrowing. This creates a trade-off between the greater stability associated with a higher ratio of equity capital to debt funding and the level of economic activity in the short to medium term. While the benefits of greater stability are obviously very large, and the reduction in economic activity is very unlikely to be on a comparable scale, exploring the trade-off is not straightforward. Past work on this did not solve all of the modelling problems, nor does this paper. We do, however, report some useful developments, which may assist in calibrating policy or monitoring the impacts of judgements already made.
Is there a specific trauma precipitating anorexia nervosa?

Background. The aims of this study were to explore the role of life events and difficulties in the onset of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and to find out whether events and difficulties with a specific meaning, i.e. those of a certain sexual nature, are important in the onset of anorexia nervosa. Methods. Seventy-two patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 29 with bulimia nervosa (BN) were assessed with the life events and difficulties schedule (Brown & Harris, 1978), the year before onset was studied. A new dimension to measure specific meaning of life events and difficulties called ‘pudicity’ was developed. Subjects from two community cohorts were used as comparison groups (Brown & Harris, 1978; Andrews et al. 1990). Results. Anorexic patients, bulimic patients and community controls did not differ in the proportion of patients with at least one severe event; however, significantly more AN and BN patients than community controls had experienced a major difficulty. Sixty-seven per cent of anorexics and 76% of bulimia nervosa patients had either a severe event or a marked difficulty during the year before onset. In AN and BN the most common serious life stresses before onset concerned close relationships with family and friends with BN patients being significantly more often than AN patients directly involved in the problem (interpersonal events). Patients with anorexia nervosa had significantly more pudicity events before onset than BN patients or community controls. Conclusion. While serious life stresses commonly precede the onset of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, problems with sexuality seem to be specific in triggering the onset of anorexia nervosa.
Multiple double-stranded RNA segments are associated with virus particles infecting Trichomonas vaginalis

Previous studies demonstrated that some isolates of the sexually transmitted protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis are infected with a nonsegmented, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus. A reexamination of the total dsRNA extracted from several virus-harboring isolates indicated the presence of at least three dsRNAs with sizes ranging from 4.8 to 4.3 kbp. The double-stranded nature of each of the three segments was determined by hybridization experiments using riboprobes of opposite polarities obtained from cDNA generated to each of the segments. All three segments were present in agar clones originating from single organisms of T. vaginalis isolates, suggesting that the three segments were not the result of a mixed population of trichomonads harboring different sizes of dsRNA. The three segments were associated with CsCl-purified virus particles, as evidenced by electron microscopy, and RNAse treatment of the preparation containing virus particles did not destroy the dsRNAs. Finally, the individual dsRNA segments were purified for use as probes to determine whether the three dsRNAs shared any sequence homology. Each end-labeled dsRNA segment did not cross-hybridize to any of the other two segments, a finding consistent with the hybridization of labeled cDNAs to only the segments from which they were derived. These results show that the coding capacity of the dsRNA virus may be at least three times greater than that estimated earlier and illustrates further the complexity of this virus-parasite interrelationship.
The role of the source versus the collisionality in predicting a reactor density profile as observed on ASDEX Upgrade discharges

The design and optimization of a future tokamak fusion reactor, from the point of view of the plasma performance and output fusion power, requires the understanding of the underlying physics and the validation on present experiments of the theory-based tools used for the predictions. Present experimental efforts are devoted to approach reactor-relevant parameters (collisionality, , normalized heat fluxes and sources, temperatures ratio) as much as possible. In this work a series of discharges performed on ASDEX Upgrade are presented, where plasma density and auxiliary power levels are scanned to cover a parameter space that moves towards reactor relevant parameters. On this dedicated discharge dataset, a first-principle-based model is then applied for validation. The degree of agreement between code results and experimental measurements is shown and discussed. In cases where discrepancy is found, possible causes are identified. It is shown that the employed modeling tool can predict the overall trend, consistent with more fundamental theoretical considerations, although quantitative extrapolation still has to be performed with care. Key results of this work show that the density peaking is mainly sustained by turbulence, with a minor role for the fueling source, and how this experimental demonstration is important to predict future reactor density profiles. Moreover, the role of electromagnetic effects is also pointed out.
Abnormal cervicovaginal smears due to endometriosis: A continuing problem

Endometriosis may be challenging when identified on cervicovaginal smears (CVS), leading to an incorrect interpretation of high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), or atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) including adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). Awareness of cervical endometriosis, particularly in predisposed patients, is crucial for a correct diagnosis. While cervical endometriosis has been reported to be a diagnostic pitfall of glandular abnormalities, its characteristic features are still not well‐established. This may partially be attributed to the varied cytomorphologic features endometriosis shows, depending on menstrual cycle hormonal changes. We describe our experience with three examples where CVS were interpreted as either AGUS or HSIL, which led to a hysterectomy in 2 of 3 patients. Cervical endometriosis needs to be considered with other well‐known benign conditions that mimic glandular abnormalities, including cervicitis, tubal metaplasia, lower uterine segment sampling, and microglandular hyperplasia. Published series and our own experience lead us to suggest that these smears will continue to present diagnostic difficulties. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;26:35–40. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sutural Expansion Osteogenesis for Management of the Bony-Tissue Defect in Cleft Palate Repair: Experimental Studies in Dogs

A series of experimental studies on sutural expansion osteogenesis for management of the bony-tissue defect in cleft palate repair was performed between 1995 and 1997. Forty-five young dogs in weaning were used in four experiments that were divided into two parts. Part I probed the possibility of closing the surgically constructed hard palate cleft not only with mucoperiosteum but also with bony tissue by the technique of sutural expansion of lateral palatine sutures. Part II explored the possibility of pushing the palatine bone posteriorly and advancing the maxillary segment anteriorly by transverse palatine suture expansion. In Part I, a ring-shaped suture expander made of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy was used to expand the lateral suture of palatine bones. Expansion forces of 200 G, 360 G, and 480 G were used for the first experiment. A force of 360 G was chosen for two other experiments; this force is equivalent to the distraction rate of 0.5 mm per day of a jackscrew device. The ring-shaped suture expander was opened and its two feet were fixed in the medial sides of residual horizontal plates of the palatine bones immediately after a hard palate cleft was constructed surgically under endotracheal general anesthesia. At the eighth postoperative day, under the traction of 360 G, the two sides of the 8-mm-wide hard palate cleft were brought into contact with each other, and 8 or 9 days later the closed palatal cleft had healed completely with mucosal tissue. This experiment was repeated twice and yielded the same results. Sutural expansion osteogenesis was evaluated physically, fluorescently, histologically, and ultrastructurally to examine the deposition of the regenerated bone in the suture areas. Additionally, the influence of sutural expansion osteogenesis of the palatal bones on other facial bones was also studied cephalometrically. In Part II, a bow-shaped suture expander made of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy was applied to expand either the left or the right side of the transverse palatal suture of each of the experimental dogs. At the postoperative week 4 to 6, the maxillary segment was moved forward 5 to 6 mm on the expanded side, and the palatal bone was pushed backward 5 mm. The changes of bone position were assessed radiographically and cephalometrically. Tissue response of circum-maxillary sutures was examined histologically. These experiments led to the following conclusions: (1) Bony closure of the surgically constructed hard palate cleft with a ring-shaped suture expander made of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy is possible. (2) Anterior advancement of the maxillary segment and posterior lengthening of the hard palate using a bow-shaped suture expander made of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy applied at the palatomaxillary suture (transverse palatal suture) of the hard palate are also possible. Thus, in humans, a new approach for cleft palate repair may be a worthwhile investigation. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 105: 2012, 2000.)
Seasonal variation in suicides: diminished or vanished. Experience from England and Wales, 1982-1996.

BACKGROUND Seasonal variation in suicidal death has been observed in many countries. In particular, a cyclic variation was found for both men and women in England and Wales in the 1960s and 1970s. Men showed a single 12-month cycle whereas women showed two cycles. AIMS To re-examine the seasonal variation in suicides in England and Wales for the period 1982-1996. METHOD A harmonic analysis was used to detect the seasonality of the suicide data. RESULTS The seasonal effect on suicide is greatly diminished in England and Wales. This is shown by the reduced amplitude and smaller proportion of variance accounted for by the season. CONCLUSIONS The seasonal effect on suicide has either diminished or vanished.