Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SOS induction in Escherichia coli and Salmonella mutagenicity: a comparison using 330 compounds.

To examine the concordance of two microbial genotoxicity short-term assays, 330 experimental results for the SOS chromotest using tester strain Escherichia coli PQ37 were compared with the results of the Salmonella/mammalian microsome mutagenicity assay with Salmonella typhimurium TA97, TA98, TA100, TA102, TA104, TA1535, TA1537 and/or TA1538. With respect to qualitative features, the concordance between SOS chromotest and Salmonella mutagenicity test results was 86.4% (sensitivity, 78.6%; specificity, 100%; chi 2 = 188.6). None of the non-mutagens (N = 120) were able to induce the SOS system. Additionally, 45 of the 210 S.typhimurium mutagens (21.5%) did not induce the SOS repair system. On closer examination, the majority of these 45 compounds (84%) were mutagens with activities between 0.001 and 10 rev/nmol. Even though the experimental protocols of both systems were not standardized, the correlation coefficient for the experimental results of the two test systems was 0.7 for the 330 chemicals. Except for aliphatic epoxides (r = 0.47), the mutagenicity/SOS induction correlations for congeneric data sets (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitroarenes, nitroarenofurans, mycotins) were even better (r = 0.72-0.95). Additionally, computer automated structure evaluation (CASE) analyses of the nature of the structural determinants associated with each endpoint indicate extensive homologies. The data can be taken to indicate that the two phenomena reflect common mechanisms of action.
IP-10 predicts the first phase decline of HCV RNA and overall viral response to therapy in patients co-infected with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and HIV

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of baseline plasma interferon-gamma inducible protein-10 (IP-10) levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients. Baseline IP-10 was monitored during HCV combination therapy in 21 HIV–HCV co-infected patients (HCV genotype 1 (n = 16), 2 (n = 2), and 3 (n = 3)). Lower baseline IP-10 was significantly associated with a rapid decline in HCV RNA, in particular with the first phase reduction, and similar cut-off levels (<150 and >600 pg/ml) as in HCV mono-infected patients apply. In conclusion, baseline IP-10 <150 pg/ml is predictive of a favourable viral response to HCV therapy in HIV–HCV co-infected patients, and may thus be useful in encouraging such difficult-to-treat patients to initiate therapy.
Activity and Thermosensitivity of Canine Cutaneous Veins after Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase and Catechol‐O‐Methyl Transferase

The lateral saphenous vein of the dog was perfused with homologous blood at constant flow. Changes in driving pressure were used to measure active changes in venous tone. Administration of tranylcypromine greatly reduced the activity of monoamine oxidase in the vein and increased its response to electric stimulation of the lumbar sympathetic chain and to norepinephrine infusions. Administration of pyrogallol (a catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor) also increased the response of the vein to adrenergic stimulation. These chemicals did not alter the increase in the sensitivity of the venous smooth muscle to sympathetic nerve impulses and infused norepinephrine produced by cooling the perfusate. Thus, the potentiating effect of local cooling on the response of the cutaneous veins to adrenergic stimulation cannot be explained by interference with the local enzymatic inactivation of catecholamines.
Serum CA19-9 in patients with solid pancreatic mass

Aim This study evaluated the results and efficacy of serum CA 19-9 in determining the nature of a pancreatic solid mass in patients referred for investigation of possible malignancy. Background A wide variety of tumor markers have been proposed for pancreatic cancer but currently the only one with any practical usefulness for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment is “CA 19-9”. Patients and methods This present study is a single center 2 year descriptive, prospective and case series studying patients with a pancreatic solid mass. Results Serum CA 19-9 was checked in 159 patients. The majority of patients were male (68%) and 81% had mass in the head of pancreas. Pathologic assessment revealed 131 adenocarcinomas (82%), 10 other malignancies (6%), 7 benign lesion (4%) and was non-diagnostic in 11 cases (7%). Mean level of this tumor marker in patients with adenocarcinoma, non-adenocarcinoma malignancy, benign and non-diagnostic pathology was 1094, 1004, 120, 259 U/ML respectively. With regarding 58 U/ML as a cutoff point; sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of this tumor marker for diagnosing the adenocarcinoma were 85%, 67%, 88%, 60% and 81% respectively. Conclusion There was no significant relationship between Serum CA 19-9 value and histopathology of solid pancreatic mass. This marker has limited sensitivity and specificity and cannot be used as a definite diagnostic test. So the use of CA 19-9 for the differentiation of pancreatic cancer should be applied on an individual case basis, depending on the clinical situation and imaging findings.
Why Should I Trust You? Predictors of Interpersonal Trust in a Knowledge Transfer Context

Prior research has demonstrated that interpersonal trust is critical to knowledge transfer in organizational settings. Yet there has been only limited systematic empirical work examining factors that promote a knowledge seekers trust in a knowledge source. We propose three categories of variables that affect interpersonal trust in this context: attributes of the relationship between the knowledge seeker and source; attributes of the knowledge source; and attributes of the knowledge seeker. We analyzed these multilevel data simultaneously with hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) using survey data from three companies in different industries and countries. We found that (1) variables in all three categories were statistically significant, with the biggest effect coming from more malleable features such as the cognitive dimension of social capital (i.e., shared vision and shared language), and little or no effect from more stable and visible features such as formal structure and demographic similarity; (2) benevolence-based trust was easier to predict than competence-based trust, both in terms of the number of significant predictors and the variance accounted for; and (3) knowledge seekers reliance on knowledgesource behaviors in determining how much to trust a sources competencethe so-called clues for competencewere relied on even more heavily by knowledge seekers with more division tenure, suggesting that certain attitudes in the trust realm may solidify over time.
Serum levels of procollagen type I carboxyterminal extension peptide in cancer patients with bone metastases

Serum levels of procollagen type I carboxy-terminal extension peptide (PICP) reflect the synthesis of type I collagen. As PICP is produced by osteoblasts and is not incorporated into bone matrix, serum PICP levels have been suggested as a marker of bone formation. In 37 cancer patients (21 men and 16 women; age: 72.4±8.6 (mean±SD) years) with bone metastases and 23 women (age: 77.3+6.64 years) as controls, the following biochemical variables were measured: serum PICP, calcium (Ca), phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and urinary hydroxyproline and calcium corrected for creatinine excretion. Higher serum levels of PICP were observed in cancer patients than in controls (245±177 μg/l vs 121.7±36 μg/l, p<0.01). Cancer patients also had higher AP levels than controls (704±755 U/l vs 216.5±56 U/l, p<0.01). Abnormal PICP and AP serum concentrations (above the mean+2SD of controls) were found in 46% and 51% of patients, respectively. Moreover, patients showed significantly lower serum calcium concentrations (p<0.001), and higher TRAP and hydroxyproline levels although statistical significance was not reached. In the patients, PICP was correlated directly with AP (r=0.50, p<0.01) and TRAP (r=0.34, p<0.05). In conclusion, patients with bone metastases have increased bone turnover as shown by serum markers. Serum PICP may be used as an adjunctive, non-invasive index to assess bone metabolism. However, the clinical usefulness of PICP in cancer patients needs further evaluation.
Voltage-gated Sodium Channel Activity Promotes Cysteine Cathepsin-dependent Invasiveness and Colony Growth of Human Cancer Cells*

Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) are functionally expressed in highly metastatic cancer cells derived from nonexcitable epithelial tissues (breast, prostate, lung, and cervix). MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells express functional sodium channel complexes, consisting of NaV1.5 and associated auxiliary β-subunits, that are responsible for a sustained inward sodium current at the membrane potential. Although these channels do not regulate cellular multiplication or migration, their inhibition by the specific blocker tetrodotoxin impairs both the extracellular gelatinolytic activity (monitored with DQ-gelatin) and cell invasiveness leading to the attenuation of colony growth and cell spreading in three-dimensional Matrigel®-composed matrices. MDA-MB-231 cells express functional cysteine cathepsins, which we found play a predominant role (∼65%) in cancer invasiveness. Matrigel® invasion is significantly decreased in the presence of specific inhibitors of cathepsins B and S (CA-074 and Z-FL-COCHO, respectively), and co-application of tetrodotoxin does not further reduce cell invasion. This suggests that cathepsins B and S are involved in invasiveness and that their proteolytic activity partly depends on NaV function. Inhibiting NaV has no consequence for cathepsins at the transcription, translation, and secretion levels. However, NaV activity leads to an intracellular alkalinization and a perimembrane acidification favorable for the extracellular activity of these acidic proteases. We propose that Nav enhance the invasiveness of cancer cells by favoring the pH-dependent activity of cysteine cathepsins. This general mechanism could lead to the identification of new targets allowing the therapeutic prevention of metastases.
Matrix metalloproteinases MMP-3 and MMP-1 levels in sera and synovial fluids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3, stromelysin) and (MMP-1, collagenase) are specifically elevated in joint disease as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to osteoarthritis (OA), and to assess how these markers reflect the clinical activity of RA compared to circulating cytokine as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as well as established variables as [C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)]. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This study included 22 patients with RA, 10 patients with OA and 10 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex. Patients with superimposed infection were excluded. Serum levels of MMP-3, MMP-1, TNF-alpha and CRP were assayed. Synovial fluid (SF) levels of MMP-3 and MMP-1 were also assayed. RESULTS Serum levels of TNF-alpha and CRP in RA patients were significantly higher than normal subjects. Serum MMP-1 was significantly elevated in patients with RA and OA, compared to healthy controls but there were no significant differences between patients with RA and those with OA. Serum MMP-3 levels did not differ between OA patients and normal sera. However, RA patients displayed significantly elevated levels of this enzyme, compared to OA and control sera. Levels of MMP-3 and MMP-1 in the SF of RA patients were significantly higher than in OA fluids. CRP, ESR, TNF-alpha and MMP-3 correlated significantly with the swollen joint count. The strongest positive correlations existed between rheumatoid activity as assessed by the levels of CRP and circulating levels of MMP-3. Similar correlations between TNF-alpha concentration and CRP, MMP-1 and MMP-3 were observed in RA patients. Serum levels of MMP-3 correlated significantly with serum concentrations of MMP-1 in RA patients (r = 0.487, p < 0.05). There was close correlation between serum and SF concentrations of MMP-3 in RA patients (r = 0.619, p < 0.01). In the same patients there was highly significant correlation between SF concentrations of MMP-3 and MMP-1 (r = 0.732, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggested that elevated MMP-3 levels reflected disease activity of RA better than cytokine levels. However, MMP-3 levels do not exceed the association of CRP with clinical activity.
Application of differential display, with in situ hybridization verification, to microscopic samples of breast cancer tissue

Summary. The technique of differential display (DD) has been used widely to identify potentially interesting overexpressed or repressed genes in a variety of compared samples. When used in studying tissue samples, it inevitably confronts problems of limited amount of input material and cell‐type heterogeneity. We report here the application of in situ hybridization as a method of confirmatory test for DD as well as definition of cell type expressing differential cDNA. This procedure employed material derived from a single case of human mammary, grade III, infiltrating ductal carcinoma, using free‐hand microdissection, where we have compared gene expression profiles in invasive tumour with those in adjacent normal tissue. A total of 21 cDNAs were found to be differentially expressed between the two tissue types; 11 upregulated in the tumour sample and 10 upregulated in the normal sample. Six cDNAs were utilized as probes for in situ hybridization analysis of a further five cases of comparably staged breast cancer. One of these clones, 11AT1, which was found to be homologous to Hsc70, was shown to be overexpressed in tumour cells relative to adjacent normal stroma and to benign glandular epithelium in all five cases; an increase in expression was further confirmed at protein level by immunohistochemistry. The study demonstrated the applicability of in situ hybridization as a screening test in DD strategy for studying tissue material and a reasonable technique combination of identifying changes in gene expression associated with tumour development.
Data sharing as social dilemma: Influence of the researcher’s personality

It is widely acknowledged that data sharing has great potential for scientific progress. However, so far making data available has little impact on a researcher’s reputation. Thus, data sharing can be conceptualized as a social dilemma. In the presented study we investigated the influence of the researcher's personality within the social dilemma of data sharing. The theoretical background was the appropriateness framework. We conducted a survey among 1564 researchers about data sharing, which also included standardized questions on selected personality factors, namely the so-called Big Five, Machiavellianism and social desirability. Using regression analysis, we investigated how these personality domains relate to four groups of dependent variables: attitudes towards data sharing, the importance of factors that might foster or hinder data sharing, the willingness to share data, and actual data sharing. Our analyses showed the predictive value of personality for all four groups of dependent variables. However, there was not a global consistent pattern of influence, but rather different compositions of effects. Our results indicate that the implications of data sharing are dependent on age, gender, and personality. In order to foster data sharing, it seems advantageous to provide more personal incentives and to address the researchers’ individual responsibility.
Cardiopulmonary responses, muscle soreness, and injury during the one repetition maximum assessment in pulmonary rehabilitation patients.

PURPOSE The safety of one repetition maximum (1RM) testing for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been determined. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of abnormal cardiopulmonary responses, muscle soreness, and muscle injury of patients with moderate to severe COPD in response to 1RM testing. METHODS Twenty pulmonary rehabilitation patients (11 women and 9 men) with moderate or severe COPD participated in this investigation. The 1RM testing was performed using the parallel squat and incline press. Blood pressure, heart rate dyspnea ratings, and oxygen saturation responses were measured immediately following the 1RM procedure. Ratings of muscle soreness and injury were measured immediately after 1RM testing and on days 2 and 7. RESULTS No injury, significant muscle soreness, or abnormal cardiopulmonary responses occurred as a result of 1RM testing. No gender differences were found for any variable measured in response to 1RM testing. CONCLUSIONS A properly supervised and screened pulmonary rehabilitation population can be 1RM tested without significant muscle soreness, injury, or abnormal cardiopulmonary responses.
In vitro activities of ramoplanin and four glycopeptide antibiotics against clinical isolates of Clostridium difficile

Seventy strains of Clostridium difficile, all isolated from symptomatic patients, were found to be uniformly susceptible to ramoplanin, a new glycolipodepsipeptide antibiotic, and to four glycopeptides (vancomycin, teicoplanin, and two semisynthetic teicoplanin derivatives). Ramoplanin is recommended for further evaluation in the treatment of C. difficile-associated disease.
Intraocular Detection of Bartonella henselae in a Patient with HLA-B27 Uveitis

ABSTRACT Bartonella henselae uveitis was diagnosed in a 40-year-old woman with underlying HLA-B27 uveitis on the basis of immunodetection and molecular detection of the organism, a Marseilles genogroup and a CAL-1 genotype strain, in the vitreous fluid. This case illustrates that B. henselae should be included in the differential diagnosis of uveitis and the usefulness of immunodetection for rapid and specific diagnosis.
Vitamin D: too soon to turn out the lights?

The interest level among practitioners and investigators alike in linking vitamin D deficiency with cardiovascular outcomes has hardly subsided, despite the consistent lack of clear evidence supporting the relationship. Why does there continue to be such feverish interest in the subject matter? Despite our best efforts during the past half century to understand and modify known risk factors, cardiovascular disease remains one of the most common causes of death among women and men worldwide.1 The major outcomes of interest, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, have substantial morbidity, and the number of individuals newly affected by these conditions is not likely to diminish. As with the outcomes, the exposure of interest is easily quantified although with various cut points that constitute normal and abnormal levels. Circulating levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), unlike biomarkers for most other vitamins, can be measured routinely using widely accessible automated platforms. Global population studies would argue that vitamin D deficiency has reached almost epidemic proportions.2 Furthermore, and most importantly, correcting vitamin D deficiency is not only possible (and quantifiable) but also fairly inexpensive. Finally, experimental studies strongly suggest a myriad of biological pathways linking cardiovascular disease and vitamin D deficiency, thus supporting the plausibility that treatment with vitamin D would improve cardiac structure, prevent plaque development, and lower blood pressure, among a host of other cardiovascular-related end points.3–8 The combination of these and possibly other factors have fueled the perfect storm, yet studies attempting to establish a causal relationship between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease are unlikely to be completed soon.9 See accompanying articles on pages 2633, 2639 Defining the level of circulating 25OHD below which replacement is necessary continues to …
Neural correlates of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improvement in post-stroke non-fluent aphasia: A case study

Damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus (lIFG) affects language and can cause aphasia in stroke. Following left hemisphere damage it has been suggested that the homologue area in the right hemisphere compensates for lost functions. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that inhibitory 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the right IFG can be useful for enhancing recovery in aphasic patients. In the present study we applied activating high frequency (10-Hz) rTMS, which increases cortical excitability, to the damaged lIFG daily for 3 weeks. Pre- and post-TMS EEG are performed, as well as language function assessments with the Aachener Aphasia Test Battery. Results demonstrate a decrease in rIFG activity post rTMS and normalization for the lIFG for beta3 frequency band. Also increased activity was in the right supplementary motor area for beta3 frequency band. In comparison to pre-TMS the aphasic patient improved on repetition tests, for naming and comprehension. After rTMS increased functional connectivity was shown in comparison to before between the lIFG and the rIFG for theta and beta3 frequency band. This case report suggests that 10 Hz rTMS of the lIFG can normalize activity in the lIFG and right IFG possibly mediated via altered functional connectivity.
Carcinoma of the thyroid at a young age—a review of 23 patients

Twenty‐three children and adolescents with thyroid carcinoma who were 20 years old or younger at the time of initial treatment were followed for a mean time of 9.5 years. Of the tumours, 21 were papillary and two follicular carcinomas. The majority (91%) of the 23 cases showed extra‐thyroidal extension of the tumour. An association with chronic thyroiditis was observed in 30% of the cases. There was no history of irradiation of the head and neck in any patients. Relapse occurred in eight patients, lung metastases in two and local recurrences in six; one patient died from lung metastases 3 months after initial treatment. Male patients, advanced stage of tumour, less differentiated histological features and DNA aneuploidy were associated with a higher frequency of relapse. The prognosis of thyroid carcinomas in children and adolescents is not so good as is generally believed.
Characterization of a Newly Identified Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma orale Type 3) from the Human Oropharynx

Six mycoplasma strains, isolated under anaerobic conditions from the human oropharynx, were studied by biologic and serologic means. The strains produced nippled colonies with weak hemolytic activity for guinea pig erythrocytes on agar medium. In addition, the strains metabolized arginine with a concomitant alkaline shift in the pH of the medium but did not produce a pH shift when grown in the presence of glucose or urea. The strains failed to reduce 2–3–5 triphenyl tetrazolium and were inhibited by 0.001% methylene blue. In addition, they required fresh yeast extract for growth. When compared by several serologic methods, the strains were found to be related to each other but distinct from 23 serotypes of human, animal, and avian origin. However, one-way serologic relationships between one of the new strains and Mycoplasma orale type 1 and M. salivarium were observed when they were tested by complement fixation. Furthermore, partial relationship of one of the new strains to all of the arginine-utilizing mycoplasma species of human origin was demonstrated with the agar gel diffusion technique. Thus, the new strains appear to constitute a new mycoplasma species, for which the name M. orale type 3 is tentatively proposed. M. orale type 3 accounted for 1.4% of 437 mycoplasma isolates from the oropharynx of adults. The new species probably is a rare member of the normal mycoplasmal flora of man.