Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of hormone replacement therapy on insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-1 to IGFBP-4: Implications for cardiovascular risk

Objective. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women is controversial, with an elevated cardiovascular event rate for combined estrogen–progestogen but no adverse cardiovascular effect and possible cumulative benefit for estrogen alone. Here we measured the effects of differing estrogen/progestogen combinations on the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)/IGF binding protein (IGFBP) system which has been implicated in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease, higher IGFBP-1 levels having been linked with a reduced cardiovascular risk. Design. Oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) alone, or in combination with the increasingly androgenic progestogens medroxyprogesterone acetate, desogestrel or norethisterone, were given in a randomized triple crossover fashion to 35 healthy postmenopausal women. Serum concentrations of IGFs and the principal circulating IGFBPs were measured. Results. Circulating IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and IGF-I/IGFBP-3 molar ratio were significantly reduced by CEE. These effects were reversed by progestogens according to their androgenicity. Plasma IGFBP-1 concentration increased from baseline to CEE alone. This rise was opposed by progestogens of increasing androgenicity. IGFBP-2 levels fell and IGFBP-4 increased with CEE, with no further change with addition of progestogens. CEE increased the proportional contribution of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-4 to total IGFBP binding and decreased the IGFBP-3 contribution. This was reversed by progestogens. Conclusion. There are marked changes in molar ratios of the IGFBPs in relation to estrogen/progestogens in HRT. The effect of progestogens on IGF bioavailability could be an important determinant of the longer-term risks of specific HRT preparations by opposing the potentially beneficial effects of CEE alone on cardiovascular risk.
HtpG, the prokaryotic homologue of Hsp90, stabilizes a phycobilisome protein in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942

HtpG, a homologue of HSP90, is essential for thermotolerance in cyanobacteria. It is not known how it plays this important role. We obtained evidence that HtpG interacts with linker polypeptides of phycobilisome in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. In an htpG mutant, the 30 kDa rod linker polypeptide was reduced. In vitro studies with purified HtpG and phycobilisome showed that HtpG interacts with the linker polypeptide as well as other linker polypeptides to suppress their thermal aggregation with a stoichiometry of one linker polypeptide/HtpG dimer. We constructed various domain‐truncated derivatives of HtpG to identify putative chaperone sites at which HtpG binds linker polypeptides. The middle domain and the N‐terminal domain, although less efficiently, prevented the aggregation of denatured polypeptides, while the C‐terminal domain did not. Truncation of the C‐terminal domain that is involved in the dimerization of HtpG led to decrease in the anti‐aggregation activity, while fusion of the N‐terminal domain to the middle domain lowered the activity. In vitro studies with HtpG and the isolated 30 kDa rod linker polypeptide provided basically similar results to those with HtpG and phycobilisome. ADP inhibited the anti‐aggregation activity, indicating that a compact ADP conformational state provides weaker aggregation protection compared with the others.
Antioxidant Activities and Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents in Three Indigenous Medicinal Vegetables of North-east India

Antioxidant activities of the n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of three indigenous leafy vegetables of North East India viz., Polygonum microcephallum, Oxalis corniculata and Portulaca oleraceae were measured by spectroscopic methods using the 1, 1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical assay and xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay. The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of each extract were also measured to assess their effect on the antioxidant activity. It was observed that the methanol extracts of all the species showed the highest antioxidant activities and high values for total phenolic and flavonoid contents. A strong correlation between the antioxidant activities and the total phenolic content was observed for the three vegetables. It indicates that phenolics are one of the main components responsible for the antioxidant behavior of vegetables. HPLC analysis showed the presence of a number of identified phenolic compounds.
Detection of EBV DNA in post‐nasal space biopsy tissue from asymptomatic EBV‐seropositive individuals

The association between EBV and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been well documented although the precise role of the virus in the genesis of the tumour is not understood. We undertook this study to examine the prevalence of EBV infection in nasopharyngeal tissue obtained from 33 healthy individuals not considered to be at risk of developing NPC. Using polymerase chain amplification (PCR) and in situ hybridization we have identified EBV DNA in 70% (23/33) of the tissues examined. Our data demonstrate that EBV is present at the site of tumour development in the low‐risk population and by inference that the virus is also present before the onset of disease in the high‐risk group. This survey supports the concept of NPC pathogenesis as a multifactorial process. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is Adiponectin Involved in the Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis?: A Preliminary Human Study

Background: Animal studies have suggested that adiponectin may play a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Studies are limited that evaluated the role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods: To further our understanding of the role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of NASH, the following studies were conducted. Serum adiponectin was measured and correlated with anthropometric and nutritional variables in 21 patients with biopsy-proven NASH and 19 age-, gender-, body mass index-, and body fat-matched controls. The effect of a mixed meal on serum adiponectin levels in a subgroup of patients (n = 24) with NASH and controls was assessed. In a separate cohort, liver samples belonging to healthy (n = 11), steatotic (n = 12), and NASH (n = 12) patients were used to further explore the role of adiponectin by measuring the expression of adiponectin and adiponectin receptor (AdipoR2) mRNA. Results: Patients with NASH had significantly lower levels of serum adiponectin than controls (4.9 ± 2.7 vs. 7.3 ± 3.5 μg/mL, P = 0.02). While no significant correlation existed between serum adiponectin and anthropometric or nutritional variables, it was independently associated with age, high density lipoprotein, and triglycerides. Mixed meal had no effect on serum adiponectin either in patients with NASH or in controls. There was no expression of adiponectin mRNA in any of liver samples studied. However, AdipoR2 mRNA expression was higher in NASH than in steatotic and normal liver tissue. Conclusion: These data show that adiponectin may have a role in the pathogenesis of human NASH and should be investigated further.
BALB/c mice resistant to Toxoplasma gondii infection proved to be highly susceptible when previously infected with Myocoptes musculinus fur mites

The immune response induced by Toxoplasma gondii is characterized by Th1 immune mechanisms. We previously demonstrated that C57BL/6 mice infested with Myocoptes musculinus and infected with T. gondii by intraperitoneal route undergo accelerated mortality according to Th2 immune mechanisms induced by the acarian. To evaluate whether infection with M. musculinus influences T. gondii‐induced Th1 response in a resistant mouse lineage, BALB/c, which develops latent chronic toxoplasmosis in a way similar to that observed in immunocompetent humans, this study was done. The animals were infected with T. gondii ME‐49 strain 1 month after M. musculinus infestation, being the survival and the immune response monitored. The double‐infected displayed higher mortality rate if compared with the mono‐infected mice. In addition, infection with M. musculinus changed the T. gondii‐specific immune response, converting BALB/c host to a susceptible phenotype. Spleen cells had increased the levels of IL‐4 in double‐infected mice. This alteration was associated with severe pneumonia, encephalitis and wasting condition. In addition, a higher tissue parasitism was observed in double‐infected animals. It can be concluded that infection with these two contrasting parasites, M. musculinus and T. gondii, may convert an immunocompetent host into a susceptible one, and such a host will develop severe toxoplasmosis.
Shigella Spa32 Is an Essential Secretory Protein for Functional Type III Secretion Machinery and Uniformity of Its Needle Length

ABSTRACT The Shigella type III secretion machinery is responsible for delivering to host cells the set of effectors required for invasion. The type III secretion complex comprises a needle composed of MxiH and MxiI and a basal body made up of MxiD, MxiG, and MxiJ. In S. flexneri, the needle length has a narrow range, with a mean of approximately 45 nm, suggesting that it is strictly regulated. Here we show that Spa32, encoded by one of the spa genes, is an essential protein translocated via the type III secretion system and is involved in the control of needle length as well as type III secretion activity. When the spa32 gene was mutated, the type III secretion complexes possessed needles of various lengths, ranging from 40 to 1,150 nm. Upon introduction of a cloned spa32 into the spa32 mutant, the bacteria produced needles of wild-type length. The spa32 mutant overexpressing MxiH produced extremely long (>5 μm) needles. Spa32 was secreted into the medium via the type III secretion system, but secretion did not depend on activation of the system. The spa32 mutant and the mutant overexpressing MxiH did not secrete effectors such as Ipa proteins into the medium or invade HeLa cells. Upon introduction of Salmonella invJ, encoding InvJ, which has 15.4% amino acid identity with Spa32, into the spa32 mutant, the bacteria produced type III needles of wild-type length and efficiently entered HeLa cells. These findings suggest that Spa32 is an essential secreted protein for a functional type III secretion system in Shigella spp. and is involved in the control of needle length. Furthermore, its function is interchangeable with that of Salmonella InvJ.
Changes in Splanchnic Circulation During an Alveolar Recruitment Maneuver in Healthy Porcine Lungs

Recruitment maneuvers (RM) are advocated as a complement to mechanical ventilation during anesthesia and in acute lung injury. However, they produce high intrathoracic pressures and volumes that may compromise hemodynamics. Our aim was to analyze the effect of a RM on hemodynamics in 10 anesthetized pigs. We assessed carotid, pulmonary, femoral, and hepatic arterial pressures, hepatic and portal venous pressures, total splanchnic (celiac trunk + superior mesenteric artery), hepatic, splenic, renal, and carotid arterial flows, and portal venous flow. We recorded hemodynamics, respiratory mechanics and blood gases before and at 8 min after RM (sustained inflation to 40 cm H2O of airway pressure lasting 20 s). Hemodynamics were also measured during RM, and at 1, 3, and 5 min after RM. All flows (P = 0.030) and arterial pressures (P ≤ 0.048) decreased during RM, whereas venous pressures increased (P = 0.030). Flows and pressures returned to 75%–109% of baseline immediately after RM. Total splanchnic, renal and portal flows remained decreased at 8 min after RM (P ≤ 0.042). Oxygenation did not change, and respiratory mechanics improved after the RM. RM produced a marked, though transitory, impairment of blood flow in all studied vessels. Despite prompt partial recovery, total splanchnic circulation remained reduced at 8 min after RM. This residual decrease may present a risk in conditions with markedly compromised circulatory reserves.
Prognostic determinants in extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The understanding of histopathological prognostic factors is critical to improving surgical outcome. This study investigated the microscopic features of cancer of the extrahepatic bile duct in order to clarify the prognostic determinants affecting surgical outcome. METHODOLOGY In 90 cancers of the extrahepatic bile duct, the correlation between several microscopic parameters and survival was investigated. Lymphatic, venous, and perineural invasion, and the surgical margin (tumor-free or tumor-positive) were examined with serial step-wise sectioned specimens. RESULTS Seven pT1-tumors showed no venous or perineural invasion and no lymph node involvement and were associated with prolonged survival (5 year survival, 86%) compared with pT2,3 tumors (23%). In pT2,3 tumors, lymphatic, venous, and perineural invasion was found in 80%, 47%, and 88%, respectively, with no significant differences in occurrence of these parameters according to the origin of the primary tumor. As for survival with pT2,3 tumors, lymph node involvement (58%) and status of the surgical margin were significant parameters (p=.0330 and p=.0309, respectively). In addition, these latter parameters differed significantly according to the origin of the primary tumor. CONCLUSION In cancer of the extrahepatic bile duct, lymph node involvement and status of the surgical margin were the most important microscopic parameters affecting prognosis.
BRAF Mutation Analysis of Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsies of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Impact on Diagnosis and Prognosis

Objective: The BRAF V600E mutation has been associated with aggressive disease in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Molecular testing has been proposed as a useful adjunct to cytology in the diagnosis of malignancy and for tailoring clinical management. The aims of our study were to evaluate the BRAF mutational status using archived fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) material from patients with long-term follow-up and to correlate it with the original cytology diagnosis, clinicopathological stage at surgery, and prognosis. Study Design: FNAB material from 52 cases of PTC, with a mean follow-up of 8.4 years, was used in this study. DNA was extracted from archival cytology slides. Mutation analysis was performed by standard sequencing and locked nucleic acid-PCR/sequencing. Results: The BRAF V600E mutation was present in 46% of cases, but it was absent in all FNABs diagnosed originally as atypical and in 14 of 17 suspicious cases. Recurrence was significantly more frequent (p = 0.006) in cases with BRAF mutations and 54% of these cases presented with stage 2 or higher. Conclusion: The BRAF V600E mutation is associated with a higher pathological stage at surgery and a higher rate of recurrence. BRAF mutation analysis did not provide a significant increase in the accuracy of thyroid FNABs diagnosed as suspicious or atypical in our institution.
Organ‐wide telomeric status in diseased and disease‐free prostatic tissues

Telomere attrition occurs early in the development of prostatic adenocarcinoma. However, little is known about either telomere status in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or the spatial and organ‐wide distribution of potential telomere aberrations throughout all areas of prostatic glands affected by cancer or BPH.
Melatonin Improves Mitochondrial Respiration in Syncytiotrophoblasts From Placentas of Obese Women

Maternal obesity is associated with increased oxidative stress but decreased placental mitochondrial respiration and expression of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes I to V. Melatonin acts as an antioxidant and prevents oxidative stress-induced changes in cytotrophoblasts. Placentas were collected at term by cesarean delivery from obese (first trimester body mass index [BMI] ≥30, n = 10) or lean (BMI < 25, n = 6) women. Cytotrophoblasts were isolated and allowed to syncytialize for 72 hours with or without melatonin (0.1-100 µM) for the last 24 hours. Mitochondrial respiratory parameters were measured in a Seahorse XF24. Expression of ETC complexes I to V and antioxidant enzymes was measured by Western blot. Maternal clinical characteristics of patients were similar except for BMI. No significant improvement in mitochondrial respiration occurred with addition of melatonin to trophoblasts of lean women. However, in trophoblasts from obese women, melatonin (10 and 100 µmol/L) significantly increased maximal respiration (P = .01 and P = .009, respectively) and spare capacity (P = .02 and P = .003, respectively) compared to the untreated control. No differences were detected in the expression of ETC complexes and superoxide dismutase 1 or 2 in trophoblasts treated with melatonin. The expression of glutathione peroxidase, which was significantly greater in trophoblast of obese compared to lean women (P < .05), was decreased back to the level seen in trophoblast of lean women with addition of melatonin (P = .02). Improved spare respiratory capacity, the cellular reserve, could impart a protective effect to the placenta and fetus in an adverse intrauterine environment or in response to additional stressors.
Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography of prostate and testes of  healthy dogs: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVES To describe the use of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography to evaluate the prostate and testes in healthy dogs and establish reference values for these organs. METHODS Thirty dogs were divided into three groups according to their age: juvenile, adult and senior. Echotexture, size, contours and margins of prostate and testes were assessed via ultrasound. The presence of deformities and tissue stiffness (greyscale and homogeneous or heterogeneous) were evaluated by qualitative acoustic radiation force impulse. The shear velocity was evaluated quantitatively. RESULTS The B mode findings were normal. The qualitative elastography demonstrated that the testes and prostate tissues were hard, homogeneous and not pliable. The shear velocity values were: left testes - juveniles: 1·28 m/s, adults: 1·23 m/s and seniors: 1·23 m/s; right testes - juveniles: 1·28 m/s, adults: 1·28 m/s and seniors: 1·28 m/s; left prostatic lobe - juveniles: 1·74 m/s, adults: 2·03 m/s and seniors: 1·82 m/s; right prostatic lobe - juvenile: 1·62 m/s, adults: 1·87 m/s and seniors: 1·90 m/s with no significant differences between groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography of the testes and prostate in dogs was easily implemented. This study provides baseline data for these organs.
Carrier-Based Discontinuous PWM Method for Vienna Rectifiers

Vienna rectifiers, which are nongenerative-boost types of rectifiers, are used in grid-connected applications with a unity power factor such as telecommunication systems and wind turbine systems. These rectifiers are advantageous in that they have low total harmonic distortion and efficiency. There are many switching methods, which are different from those of threelevel topologies, for Vienna rectifiers. In this paper, we propose a carrier-based discontinuous pulse width modulation (CB-DPWM) method. This method is simple compared to the discontinuous PWM (DPWM) method for Vienna rectifiers based on space vectors and guarantees normal rectifier operation for all modulation index (Ma) values. We perform experiments to verify the suitability and performance of the proposed CB-DPWM method.
Dynamic Relationship between Crude Oil Price, Exchange Rate and Stock Market Performance in Nigeria

This study employed a multivariate Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) that uses the Granger causality test and generalized variance decomposition analysis to study the relationship between crude oil prices, exchange rate and stock market performance in Nigeria from January 1995 to December 2014. As expected from an oil exporting country, a short-run positive relationship is observed between the Nigerian stock market and crude oil prices and the direction is from crude oil prices to the Nigerian stock market but not the other way round. The short run relationship between exchange rate and Nigerian stock market is observed to be positive and the direction is from the exchange rate to the Nigerian stock market. Exchange rate is also observed to be positively related to the movements in the crude oil prices in the short run with the direction of causality running from crude oil prices to exchange rate. However, the results of a multi-variate Johansen cointegration test suggest the existence negative relationship among the three variables in long run. The Variance Decomposition analysis shows that the Nigerian stock market performance and Exchange rate behaviour are strongly influenced by the movements in Crude Oil prices. Key Words : Crude Oil Price, Exchange Rate, Nigerian Stock Market, Vector Error Correction Model
Family Economics and Macro Behavior

In this 1987 presidential address to the American Economic Association the author explores the contributions of the field of family economics to macroeconomic analysis. The focus is on family behavior as an active endogenous factor that both affects and is affected by the evolution of the economy. "Much of the time is spent on long-term economic growth although I also discuss short and long cycles in economic activity and the interaction between overlapping generations through Social Security transmission of inequality and in other ways.Many conclusions in these and presumably other macro areas change radically when family choices get the attention they deserve. " (EXCERPT)
Importance of Recrudescent Avian Infection in West Nile Virus Overwintering: Incomplete Antibody Neutralization of Virus Allows Infrequent Vector Infection

ABSTRACT After the acute infection period, birds persistently infected with West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) occasionally shed virus into the bloodstream, but these virions normally are inactivated by neutralizing antibody. The current work tested the hypothesis that these host neutralizing antibodies protect mosquito vectors from WNV infection and reevaluated the minimum WNV infectious dose necessary to infect Culex tarsalis Coquillett. To determine whether host antibodies protect mosquitoes from infection, Cx. tarsalis and Culex stigmatosoma Dyar were fed bloodmeals containing avian blood, WNV, and sera with or without WNV-specific neutralizing antibodies. When viral particles were completely bound by antibody, mosquitoes were protected from infection; however, when incompletely bound, WNV titers as low as 102.3 plaque-forming units (pfu)/ml resulted in 5% infection. These data indicated that avian antibodies were protective to mosquito vectors and were not dissociated during digestion. Because recrudescent viremias may not attain the same magnitude as initial acute viremias, Cx. tarsalis vector competence was reevaluated focusing on the fate of low-titered bloodmeals. Females were evaluated for vector competence after ingesting bloodmeals containing 102.2, 103.4, 104.5,105.5, or 106.5 WNV pfu/ml. Infection increased with bloodmeal titer, with 1% of the mosquitoes ingesting 103.4 pfu/ml and 45% of the mosquitoes ingesting 106.5 pfu/ml developing disseminated infections. The incomplete neutralization of recrudescent virus may be sufficient to infect a low proportion of competent blood-feeding Culex mosquitoes and perhaps allow persistently infected birds to provide a mechanism for arbovirus overwintering.