Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping Brain Response to Social Stress in Rodents With c-fos Expression: A Review

Social defeat is an important event in the life of many animals, and forms part of the process of social control. Adapting to social defeat is thus an intrinsic part of social "homeostasis", and mal-adaptation may have pathological sequelae. Experimental models of social defeat (e.g. inter-male aggression) have existed for many years. However, very few studies have investigated the changes in brain activity in male animals exposed to the social stress of being defeated by another conspecific male, and in all these studies the expression of the immediate-early gene c-fos has been used as the marker of neuronal activity. In general, the results obtained inform that many areas of the brain, especially those involved in the general stress response, increase their activity when animals are exposed to an acute defeat. However, when animals are defeated repeatedly over many consecutive days, the level of activation of the brain shows different patterns of adaptation depending on the brain areas (varying from complete habituation to persistent activation). Discrepancies between studies may be due to differences in the experimental procedure. On the other hand, further research has to be conducted in order to understand what these changes in the brain activity mean in relation to the other stress responses to social defeat. Furthermore, knowing that the corresponding protein products of many immediate-early genes are transcription factors that can promote or inhibit the expression of target genes, research following this approach is also necessary.
Omalizumab treatment in asthma-COPD overlap syndrome

Abstract Introduction: Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS) is a poorly understood disease with an increasing morbidity and mortality. Currently, the most effective treatment for ACOS is unknown and omalizumab for ACOS has not yet been reported. Methods: We report our experience with anti-IgE, omalizumab treatment on 3 patients with ACOS as a retrospective case study. Results: After 1 year of omalizumab treatment, patients experienced significantly lower rates of asthma exacerbation and hospitalization and better asthma control test results. Conclusion: Our study shows that omalizumab may be an effective and safe therapy for patients with ACOS. However larger randomized trials are needed.
THE GM AND INV GROUPS OF INDIANS FROM SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL.

THE GENETICALLY DETERMINED human gamma globulin serum types are de-ternined by alleles at two loci, Gm and Inv (reviews in Steinberg, 1962; Ropartz, 1963). At least seven factors have been identified in the first of these systems, and they are now known as Gm(a), Gm(b), Gm(c) or Gm-lilce, Gm(x), Gm(r), Gm(e), and Gm(p). In the Inv system, three factors have been described so far: Inv(a), Inv(b), and Inv(1). Although numerous studies of the distribution of the Gm(a) factor among various populations of the world have been reported, only relatively few studies of the distribution of the other gamma globulin factors are available. None has been published on the Inv groups among the native populations of the New World. We there-fore investigated this distribution in the Indian populations of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. These same groups have already been studied in relation to genetic aspects of their demography (Salzano, 1964a) and the distribution of the following genetic traits: secretion of ABH and Le, (Salzano, 1964b), blood groups (Salzano, 1964c), and colorblindness (Salzano, 1964d). These investigations are related to a long-term project involving Brazilian Indian populations. For references to early work in the Southern Brazilian groups see Salzano (1963). The populations sampled live in Duque de Caxias and Xapec6, in the Southern Brazilian State of Santa Catarina. Information about the geographi-cal location, past history, demographic structure, and genetic characteristics of these populations was presented in previous papers. In Duque de Caxias, the majority of the individuals are Aweikoma, who are
Posttraumatic growth in prostate cancer survivors and their partners

We examined posttraumatic growth (PTG) in men treated for prostate cancer and their partners 1 year after surgery. Levels of PTG in prostate cancer survivors and their partners were similar and modest. For survivors, higher levels of presurgery negative affect, and coping by using positive reframing and emotional support were associated with higher levels of PTG 1 year following surgery. For partners, PTG 1 year after the patient's surgery was higher in partners who were partnered to employed patients, were less educated, endorsed higher cancer‐specific avoidance symptoms of stress at presurgery, and used positive reframing coping. Quality of life was largely unrelated to PTG in survivors or partners. Findings suggest that psychological disruption associated with the cancer experience and coping are related to PTG in prostate cancer survivors and their partners. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NF-κB-Dependent Regulation of the Timing of Activation-Induced Cell Death of T Lymphocytes1

One of the mechanisms by which activated T cells die is activation-induced cell death (AICD). This pathway requires persistent stimulation via the TCR and engagement of death receptors. We found that TCR stimulation led to transient nuclear accumulation of the NF-κB component p65/RelA. In contrast, nuclear c-Rel levels remained high even after extended periods of activation. Loss of nuclear p65/RelA correlated with the onset of AICD, suggesting that p65/RelA target genes may maintain cell viability. Quantitative RNA analyses showed that three of several putative NF-κB-dependent antiapoptotic genes were expressed with kinetics that paralleled nuclear expression of p65/RelA. Of these three, ectopic expression only of Gadd45β protected significantly against AICD, whereas IEX-1 and Bcl-xL were much less effective. We propose that the timing of AICD, and thus the length of the effector phase, are regulated by transient expression of a subset of p65/RelA-dependent antiapoptotic genes.
Role of natural interferon-producing cells and T lymphocytes in porcine monocyte-derived dendritic cell maturation

Maturation of dendritic cells (DC) is a key immunological process regulating immune responses to pathogens and vaccines, as well as tolerance and autoimmune processes. Consequently, the regulation of DC maturation should reflect these multifaceted immunological processes. In the present study, we have defined the role of particular cytokines, Toll‐like receptor (TLR) ligands and T lymphocytes in the porcine monocyte‐derived DC (MoDC). Interferon‐α (IFN‐α) alone was a poor inducer of MoDC maturation, but in association with tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), or TLR ligands such as lipopolysaccharide and polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid I:C, an up‐regulation of major histocompatibility complex II and CD80/86 expression was noted, along with reduced endocytic activity. In contrast, TNF‐α alone or in combination with the TLR ligands was a poor inducer of DC maturation, but co‐operated with T‐lymphocytes in the presence of antigen to induce DC maturation. Natural interferon producing cells (NIPC, or plasmacytoid DCs) represent a danger‐recognition system of the immune defences, and can respond to viruses not otherwise recognized as posing a danger. Indeed, MoDC did not respond to transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), whereas NIPC produced high levels of IFN‐α and TNF‐α after TGEV stimulation. Moreover, supernatants from the stimulated NIPC induced maturation in MoDCs. These matured MoDCs displayed an enhanced ability to present antigen to and thus stimulate T cells. Taken together, the present work demonstrates that maturation of MoDC not only results from TLR signalling, but can require co‐operation with various cell types – principally NIPC and activated T cells – which would reflect the particular immunological situation.
CD28 Promotes CD4+ T Cell Clonal Expansion during Infection Independently of Its YMNM and PYAP Motifs

CD28 is required for maximal proliferation of CD4+ T cells stimulated through their TCRs. Two sites within the cytoplasmic tail of CD28, a YMNM sequence that recruits PI3K and activates NF-κB and a PYAP sequence that recruits Lck, are candidates as transducers of the signals responsible for these biological effects. We tested this proposition by tracking polyclonal peptide:MHCII-specific CD4+ T cells in vivo in mice with mutations in these sites. Mice lacking CD28 or its cytoplasmic tail had the same number of naive T cells specific for a peptide:MHCII ligand as wild-type mice. However, the mutant cells produced one tenth as many effector and memory cells as wild-type T cells after infection with bacteria expressing the antigenic peptide. Remarkably, T cells with a mutated PI3K binding site, a mutated PYAP site, or both mutations proliferated to the same extent as wild-type T cells. The only observed defect was that T cells with a mutated PYAP or Y170F site proliferated even more weakly in response to peptide without adjuvant than wild-type T cells. These results show that CD28 enhances T cell proliferation during bacterial infection by signals emanating from undiscovered sites in the cytoplasmic tail.
Atypical thrombotic and septic complications of totally implantable venous access devices in patients with cystic fibrosis

The use of vascular access systems in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is well accepted, with lower overall complications and maintenance costs than percutaneous silastic catheters. We report our 6 year experience with 22 infusaports in 15 CF patients. Our patients had indwelling catheters for an average of 539 days per catheter (range, 142,224 days). These infusaports were used for home antibiotic therapy, blood sampling, and total parenteral nutrition. The overall complication rate was relatively low, 1 in every 1,483 catheter days. Infectious complications were extremely infrequent at a rate of 1 in 5,929 catheter days. The rate of mechanical complications was 1 in 1,976 catheter days. However, superior vena caval syndrome or deep venous thrombosis was associated with 3 of 22 catheters (13.6%). Due to this high incidence of major thrombotic events with the attendant risk of pulmonary embolism, all patients with CF using infusaports and without evidence of liver disease or bleeding problems receive aspirin prophylaxis. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Channel estimation and equalization for space-time block coded systems in frequency selective fading channels

As an effective technique to combat adverse effects of fading, provide diversity and increase the transmission rate, space-time coding (STC) has been gaining more and more attention. This paper presents efficient zero-forcing (ZF) and minimum mean-square error (MMSE) equalization schemes to combat intersymbol interference (ISI) and obtain diversity gain in a system using symbol-level space-time block coding. General linear and decision feedback equalizers are derived with two transmit antennas and M receive antennas. The conditions are explored under which FIR channels can be equalized perfectly in noise-free environments. In order to estimate the system performance, upper bounds of bit error rate (BER) are derived. A training-aided method are proposed as well to estimate the channel state information (CSI) utilizing training sequences. Numerical results of the proposed techniques show significant performance improvement compared to the case without equalization, and show the tightness of the upper bounds along with the effectiveness of the channel estimation scheme.
Long-term cause-specific mortality of patients treated for Hodgkin's disease.

PURPOSE To assess long-term cause-specific mortality of young Hodgkin's disease (HD) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study population consisted of 1,261 patients treated for HD before age 41 between 1965 and 1987. Follow-up was complete until October 2000. For 95% of deaths, the cause was known. Long-term cause-specific mortality was compared with general population rates to assess relative risk (RR) and absolute excess risk (AER) of death. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 17.8 years, 534 patients had died (55% of HD). The RR of death from all causes other than HD was 6.8 times that of the general population, and still amounted to 5.1 after more than 30 years. RRs of death resulting from solid tumors (STs) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were increased overall (RR = 6.6 and 6.3, respectively), but especially in patients treated before age 21 (RR = 14.8 and 13.6, respectively). When these patients grew older, this elevated mortality decreased. The overall AER of death from causes other than HD increased throughout follow-up. Patients receiving salvage chemotherapy had a significantly increased RR of death from STs, compared to patients receiving initial therapy only. CONCLUSION The main cause of death among HD patients was lymphoma, but after 20 years, HD mortality was negligible. The RRs and AERs of death from second primary cancers (SCs) and CVDs continued to increase after 10 years. Even more than 30 years after diagnosis, HD patients experienced elevated risk of death from all causes other than HD. Increased risk of death from SCs and CVDs was found especially in patients treated before age 21, but these risks seemed to abate with age.
Genitourinary cancers: Summary of Indian data

Abstract Tumors of the genitourinary system are one of the most common tumors encountered in clinical practice. The associated morbidity and mortality and the significant proportion of affected middle-age individuals have a major bearing on the death-adjusted life years compared to other malignancies. Genitourinary system tumors encompass a very broad spectrum with regard to age, location, histology, and clinical outcomes. Advances in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, radiotherapy equipment, and generation of newer chemotherapeutic and targeted agents over the past few years have helped improving treatment outcome. Several focused groups within India have been working on a range of topics related to genitourinary system tumors, and a significant body of work from India in the recent years is being increasingly recognized throughout the world. The present article summarizes the key published work related to the epidemiology of genitourinary system tumors in the Indian setting. A PubMed search was made for locating and selecting articles relevant to the topic.
pgaE encodes a fourth member of the endopolygalacturonase gene family from Aspergillus niger.

In the present study, the molecular and basic biochemical characterization of endopolygalacturonase E, the fourth Aspergillus niger N400 endopolygalacturonase, is reported. The entire endopolygalacturonase E gene consists of 1293 bp interrupted by three short introns (50, 50, and 59 bp, respectively) as concluded from the cDNA sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence comprises 378 residues that include 39 N-terminal amino acids of the prepropeptide. The calculated Mr and pI of the mature protein are 35,584 and 3.6, respectively. Compared with other endopolygalacturonases from A. niger N400, the mature protein endopolygalacturonase E has the highest sequence identity with endopolygalacturonase C (77.6%) followed by endopolygalacturonase I (57.6%) and endopolygalacturonase II (54.3%). For overproduction of endopolygalacturonase E, an A. niger multicopy strain was used that was transformed with a promoter gene fusion construct that directs expression from the glycolytic A. niger pyruvate kinase promoter. The enzyme was purified and characterized as an endopolygalacturonase based on product analysis after polygalacturonate hydrolysis and on bond cleavage frequencies of oligogalacturonates of different degree of polymerisation (n = 2-7). The pH optimum was 3.8. The Km and Vmax for polygalacturonate hydrolysis were 2.5 +/- 0.4 mg x ml(-1) and 1.3 +/- 0.2 microkat x mg(-1), respectively. A subsite map was calculated by the combination of the methods of Suganuma et al. [Suganuma, T. , Matsuno, R. , Ohnishi, M. & Hiromi, K. (1978) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 84, 293-316] and Nitta et al. [Nitta, Y. , Mizushima, M. , Hiromi, K. & Ono, S. (1971) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 69, 567-576]. This indicated that the enzyme was composed of at least five subsites.
Immunogenicity and Immunologic Memory of Meningococcal C Conjugate Vaccine in Premature Infants

Background: Protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C were introduced into the U.K. routine immunization schedule in 1999. This study is the first to describe both persistence of antibody and evidence for induction of immune memory using meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine in preterm infants. Methods: Immunogenicity and induction of immunologic memory by as MCC vaccine was assessed in premature infants; 62 preterm and 60 term controls received MCC at the accelerated schedule (2, 3 and 4 months of age). A meningococcal C polysaccharide challenge was administered at 12 months of age. Results: Both groups achieved similar protective titers after primary immunization that then waned significantly by 1 year of age. Postchallenge serum bactericidal activity was significantly lower in preterm infants (P = 0.03); 73% of preterm versus 88% of term controls achieved a 4-fold rise in serum bactericidal activity (P = 0.07). Conclusions: MCC vaccine is immunogenic and primes for immunologic memory in preterm infants. The decreased memory responses in these preterm infants in conjunction with waning clinical efficacy data for all U.K. infants suggest a role for a routine booster dose of vaccine in all infants receiving MCC, especially those born preterm.
Dissecting the Factors Involved in the Locomotion Mode of Neuronal Migration in the Developing Cerebral Cortex*

Neuronal migration is essential for proper cortical layer formation and brain function, because migration defects result in neurological disorders such as mental retardation and epilepsy. Neuronal migration is divided into several contiguous steps: early phase (multipolar mode), locomotion mode, and terminal translocation mode. The locomotion mode covers most of the migration route and thereby is the main contributor to cortical layer formation. However, analysis of the molecular mechanisms regulating this mode is difficult due to the secondary effects of defects at the early phase of migration. In this study, we established an ex vivo chemical inhibitor screening, allowing us to directly analyze the locomotion mode of migration. Roscovitine and PP2, inhibitors for Cdk5 and Src family kinases, respectively, suppressed the locomotion mode of migration. In line with this, a small percentage of Cdk5- or Src family kinase (Fyn)-knockdown cells exhibited locomoting morphology but retarded migration, although the majority of cells were stalled at the early phase of migration. We also showed that rottlerin, widely used as a specific inhibitor for protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ), suppressed the locomotion mode. Unexpectedly, however, the dominant-negative form as well as RNA interference for PKCδ hardly affected the locomotion, whereas they may disturb terminal translocation. In addition, we found JNK to be a potential downstream target of rottlerin. Taken together, our novel chemical inhibitor screening provides evidence that Cdk5 and Src family kinases regulate the locomotion mode of neuronal migration. It also uncovered roles for Fyn and PKCδ in the early and final phases of migration, respectively.
Uncovering information literacy’s disciplinary differences through students’ attitudes: An empirical study

This paper uses a self-assessment questionnaire (IL-HUMASS) with a wide sample of university students. The questionnaire puts forward a scale of attitudes that aim to measure ‘belief in importance’ and ‘skills self-assessment’ regarding diverse information competences. We use a group of 26 information sub-competences gathered in four categories (searching, evaluation, processing and communication-dissemination). The results show some considerable differences in these categories when statistically comparing 17 university degrees related to five branches of knowledge. It is proved that attitudes appreciably vary between branches, in reverse relation to the interdisciplinary differences we have found. An improvement regarding students’ informational attitudes will help reduce the interdisciplinary differences. The results of this study suggest the feasibility of shared training actions for some information competences in the branches of Sciences, Engineering & Architecture, and Health Sciences. The branches of Arts & Humanities and Social & Legal Sciences show considerable widespread attitudinal differences that advise against that shared training.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Should be Used with Caution in Critically Ill Patients to Prevent the Risk of Clostridium difficile Infection

The incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), which is the most important cause of nosocomial diarrhea, have increased globally.1–4 In North America and Europe, CDI has been well established for decades, becoming a particular issue after 2000.1 A recent nationwide study conducted in South Korea involving 17 hospitals indicated that the incidence of CDI is significantly increasing, from 1.7 cases/1,000 adult admissions in 2004 to 2.7 cases/1,000 adult admissions in 2008 (p=0.028). 2 In addition, the recurrence of CDI after successful treatment is observed in approximately 20% of patients.5 Therefore, even in Asia, the emergence and considerable burden associated with CDI should not be underestimated.
Characterization of the desmosomal cadherin gene family: Genomic organization of two desmoglein genes on human chromosome 18q12

Abstract: The human desmoglein genes, desmogleins 1–3, are members of the desmosomal cadherin superfamily, and encode critical components of the desmosome. These genes are tightly clustered within 150–200 kb of chromosome 18q12.1 and represent excellent candidate genes for genetic disorders of the epidermis linked to this region of the genome. Mutations in desmoglein 1 have already been implicated in the genetic disorder striate palmoplantar keratoderma. Similarly, a mutation in desmoglein 3 underlies the balding mouse phenotype, although no human mutations in desmoglein 3 have been identified to date. In this study, we have characterized the genomic organization of two of the three desmoglein genes mapped to chromosome 18q12. Comparison of their exon–intron structure reveals the high level of evolutionary conservation expected from these related genes. The identification of the genomic structure of the desmoglein genes will facilitate mutation detection in genodermatoses with desmosomal abnormalities resulting from underlying defects in these genes.