Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tyrosine hydroxylase expression is affected by sexual vigor and social environment in male Cnemidophorus inornatus

Although the distribution of catecholamine‐synthesizing cells has been described for a variety of taxa, less is known about the functional significance of particular populations in nonmammalian species, especially reptiles. To understand the role of these populations in the display of social behaviors in lizards, we studied the interactive effects of sexual vigor (sexually vigorous vs. sluggish) and social condition (housing in isolation vs. with females) on the number and somal areas of cells expressing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate‐limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis, in male whiptail lizards, Cnemidophorus inornatus. We found that, regardless of social condition, sexually vigorous males had more TH‐immunoreactive (TH‐ir) cells in the dorsal hypothalamus (DH) relative to sluggish males. Sexually vigorous males also had more TH‐ir cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), but this difference was significant only among males housed with females. Sexually vigorous males that had been housed with females had smaller TH‐ir cells in the preoptic area (POA) than vigorous males housed in isolation. On the other hand, no significant differences were found in the anterior hypothalamus. These results highlight the regional heterogeneity in the plasticity of TH expression and suggest that, just as in other species, the DH, SNpc, and POA might be involved in the expression of social behaviors and in behavioral plasticity following social experiences in lizards. J. Comp. Neurol. 476:429–439, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antioxidation of melatonin against spinal cord injury in rats.

BACKGROUND The iron catalyzed lipid peroxidation plays an important role in the autodestruction of the injured spinal cord. This study was to detect the antioxidation of melatonin against spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. METHODS Sity Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A (n = 15) for laminectomyanly, group B (n = 15) for laminectomy with SCI, group C (n = 15) for SCI and intraperitoneal injection of a bolus of 100 mg/kg melatonin, and group D (n = 15) for SCI and intraperitoneal injection of saline containing 5% ethanol. The SCI of animal model was made using modified Allen's method on T12. Six rats of each group were sacrificed 4 hours after injury, and the levels of free iron and malondialdehyde (MDA) of the involved spinal cord segments were measured by the bleomycin assay and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) separately. Functional recovery of the spinal cord was assessed by Modified Tarlov's scale and the inclined plane method at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 days after SCI. The histologic changes of the damaged spinal cord were also examined at 7 days after SCI. RESULTS After SCI, the levels of free iron and MDA were increased significantly and the modified Tarlov's score and inclined plane angle decreased significantly in groups B and D. In group C, the Tarlov's score and inclined plane angle were increased significantly at 7, 14 and 21 days, with histological improvement. CONCLUSION Melatonin can reduce the level of lipid peroxidation and prevent damage to the spinal cord of rat.
Occupational exposures associated with work-related asthma and work-related wheezing among U.S. workers.

BACKGROUND National estimates of occupational asthma (OA) in the United States are sparse. METHODS Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) 1988-1994, we analyzed associations between occupation and work-related asthma and work-related wheezing among U.S. workers. RESULTS This study identified several occupations that were at risk of developing work-related asthma and/or wheezing, with cleaners and equipment cleaners showing the highest risks. Other major occupations identified were farm and agriculture; entertainment; protective services; construction; mechanics and repairers; textile; fabricators and assemblers; other transportation and material moving occupations; freight, stock, and material movers; and motor vehicle operators. The population attributable risks for work-related asthma and work-related wheezing were 26% and 27%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study adds evidence to the literature that identifies work-related asthma as an important public health problem. Several occupations are targeted for additional evaluation and study. Of particular interest are cleaners, which are being increasingly reported as a risk group for asthma. Future intervention strategies need to be developed for effective control and prevention of asthma in the workplace.
Identifying residues in natural organic matter through spectral prediction and pattern matching of 2D NMR datasets

This paper describes procedures for the generation of 2D NMR databases containing spectra predicted from chemical structures. These databases allow flexible searching via chemical structure, substructure or similarity of structure as well as spectral features. In this paper we use the biopolymer lignin as an example. Lignin is an important and relatively recalcitrant structural biopolymer present in the majority of plant biomass. We demonstrate how an accurate 2D NMR database of ∼600 2D spectra of lignin fragments can be easily constructed, in ∼2 days, and then subsequently show how some of these fragments can be identified in soil extracts through the use of various search tools and pattern recognition techniques. We demonstrate that once identified in one sample, similar residues are easily determined in other soil extracts. In theory, such an approach can be used for the analysis of any organic mixtures. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationship of Histoplasmin Agar-Gel Bands and Complement-Fixation Titers in Histoplasmosis

Wiggins, Geraldine L. (Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Ga.), and Joseph H. Schubert. Relationship of histoplasmin agar-gel bands and complement-fixation titers in histoplasmosis. J. Bacteriol. 89:589–596. 1965. —Culture filtrates of various strains of Histoplasma capsulatum were studied with sera from patients with histoplasmosis, by use of the agar-gel and complement-fixation tests. It was found that the filtrates represented three types: those containing H and M components, those with H only, and those with neither H nor M. The same strain of H. capsulatum often produced culture filtrates of more than one type. Complement fixation showed that only the filtrates having both the H and M components were sufficiently sensitive as diagnostic antigens to detect the antibodies in histoplasmosis. H and M fractions prepared by ion-exchange chromatography were found to produce more than one band; therefore, it was concluded that the available fractions were not pure. The formation and identification of bands were affected by the concentration of the antigen and the arrangement of the wells containing the antigen and serum. The optimal concentration of the antigen varied, depending on the position of these reagents. The method found most practical for the identification of bands in unknown sera consisted of selecting the optimal concentration of the components with a box titration, by use of antigen having both the H and M components, placing known positive sera in wells adjacent to the unknown sera, and studying the sera for lines of identity. The M band was usually closest to the antigen well, and the H was nearest the serum well. These bands could be reversed by dilution, adjusting the H antibodies so that they equalled or exceeded the M antibodies. One human serum in which the bands were reversed showed the H bands at a higher serum dilution than that obtained with the M band. Patients with culturally proven histoplasmosis had the M band in their serum regardless of the stage of disease or length of duration; only 4 of 10 patients in the active stage of histoplasmosis also had the H band. The low prevalence of the H band would eliminate it as a diagnostic tool for detecting the active stage of the disease. Other bands obtained with histoplasmin antigen in the sera from proven cases were of no assistance in determining the clinical status of the patient.
Puddles, Parties, and Professors: Linking Word Categorization to Neural Patterns of Visuospatial Coding

Behavioral evidence suggests that during word processing people spontaneously map object, valence, and power information to locations in vertical space. Specifically, whereas “overhead” (e.g., attic), positive (e.g., party), and powerful nouns (e.g., professor) are associated with “up,” “underfoot” (e.g., carpet), negative (e.g., accident), and powerless nouns (e.g., assistant) are associated with “down. ” What has yet to be elucidated, however, is the precise nature of these effects. To explore this issue, an fMRI experiment was undertaken, during which participants were required to categorize the position in which geometrical shapes appeared on a computer screen (i.e., upper or lower part of the display). In addition, they also judged a series of words with regard to location (i.e., up vs. down), valence (i.e., good vs. bad), and power (i.e., powerful vs. powerless). Using multivoxel pattern analysis, it was found that classifiers that successfully distinguished between the positions of shapes in subregions of the inferior parietal lobe also provided discriminatory information to separate location and valence, but not power word judgments. Correlational analyses further revealed that, for location words, pattern transfer was more successful the stronger was participants' propensity to use visual imagery. These findings indicate that visual coding and conceptual processing can elicit common representations of verticality but that divergent mechanisms may support the reported effects.
Human Dendritic Cells following Aspergillus fumigatus Infection Express the CCR7 Receptor and a Differential Pattern of Interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-23, and IL-27 Cytokines, Which Lead to a Th1 Response

ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent airborne fungal pathogen and causes fatal invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. Given the essential role of dendritic cells (DC) in initiating and regulating immune responses, we investigated the impact of A. fumigatus conidial infection on human DC. A. fumigatus conidia were rapidly internalized and induced the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha within the first 8 h. After A. fumigatus infection, the majority of DC underwent full maturation, although CCR7 expression was observed only in DC that had internalized the conidia. Additionally, the analysis of regulatory cytokines showed that infected DC simultaneously produced interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70) and significant amounts of IL-10. IL-10 neutralization was not able to further increase IL-12p70 production from infected DC. Whereas the central role of IL-12 in the generation of Th1 cells has long been appreciated, recently two other members of the IL-12 family, IL-23 and IL-27, were reported to play important roles in the regulation of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production from naïve and memory T cells. A. fumigatus-infected DC were also able to express high levels of IL-23p19 and low levels of IL-27p28 at later stages of infection. According to this expression pattern, A. fumigatus-infected DC were able to prime IFN-γ production of naïve T cells. Thus, this study on the expression of the new IL-12 family members controlling the Th1 response sheds light on a novel aspect of the contribution of DC to anti-Aspergillus immunity.
A survey of enteric bacteria and protozoans in fresh bovine faeces on New Zealand dairy farms

Aims: To determine the counts and/or prevalence in fresh bovine faeces of Escherichia coli, enterococci, Campylobacter, Salmonella, shiga toxin‐producing E. coli (STEC), Giardia and Cryptosporidium, as inputs to numerical models designed to estimate microbial loadings on pasture grazed by cattle in New Zealand.
Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Unexpected Uterine Sarcoma After Hysterectomy for Presumed Myoma With and Without Transvaginal Scalpel Morcellation

Objective To identify the prevalence of unexpected uterine sarcoma after total laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomy for presumed leiomyoma and compare clinical consequences after hysterectomy with and without transvaginal scalpel morcellation (TVSM). Methods In this retrospective study, the medical records of patients who had unexpected uterine sarcoma after total laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomy for presumed leiomyoma between 2009 and 2013 were reviewed. Results Among 3021 patients who underwent total hysterectomy for presumed leiomyoma, 18 (1/168, 0.60%) had unexpected uterine sarcoma (5 [1/604, 0.17%] had leiomyosarcoma and 13 [1/232, 0.43%] had low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma). The risk of unexpected leiomyosarcoma increased steadily in ages from the 40s to the 50s, whereas the risk of unexpected endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) decreased steadily in the same period. The unexpected sarcoma was identified in 7 (1/158, 0.63%) of 1104 patients treated by laparoscopy and 11 (1/174, 0.57%) of 1917 patients by laparotomy. Transvaginal scalpel morcellation was performed to extract the uterus in majority (78.53%) of the patients with total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Sixteen (88.89%) cases were low grade, and 2 (11.11%) were high grade: 17 at stage I and 1 at stage II. Nine patients underwent a secondary operation, and 11 patients received adjuvant therapy postoperatively. Except for 1 patient with additional power morcellation, all patients with unexpected ESS survived without recurrence after total hysterectomy with and without TVSM, with mean follow-ups of 25.20 (16–36) months and 32.57 (21–50) months, respectively. Conclusions The overall incidence of unexpected uterine sarcoma after total hysterectomy for presumed leiomyoma was low. Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma was the dominant subtype of unexpected uterine sarcoma in the present study. Currently, incidental TVSM of unexpected ESS during total laparoscopic hysterectomy seemed to cause no additional increase in sarcoma dissemination in the short-term.
Clinical characteristics of a group of adults with nodular lymphoid hyperplasia: a single center experience.

AIM To describe the clinical and histological characteristics of a group of adults with small-bowel nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH). METHODS Patients were searched for five years in pathology records of our institution. The biopsy material was reassessed using strict histopathological criteria. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. RESULTS Small-bowel NLH was diagnosed in 18 cases. The female: male ratio was 2:1. The most frequent symptoms were diarrhea (72%), involuntary weight loss (72%) and abdominal pain (61%). Nine patients (50%) had immunodeficiency. Small-bowel bacterial overgrowth was found in three (17%) cases. At small-bowel NLH diagnosis, three (17%) had associated lymphoma: two intestinal and one extra-intestinal lymphomas. In two patients with villous atrophy and anti-endomysial antibodies the diagnosis of celiac disease was established. Giardia lamblia infection was found in only one patient with hypogammaglobulinemia (Herman's syndrome). CONCLUSIONS NLH is uncommon in adult patients. Associated diseases are immunodeficiency and lymphoid tissue malignancies.
Angiotensin II enhances insulin sensitivity in healthy volunteers under euglycemic conditions

Objective: It has been postulated that vasoconstrictors cause insulin resistance. This effect has been documented for epinephrine but not for angiotensin II (Ang II). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the latter on insulin sensitivity. Design: In order to study the influence of subpressor doses of Ang II on insulin-mediated glucose uptake under euglycemic conditions, eight healthy volunteers were allocated in random order to sham infusion or infusion of Ang II (first 0.75 ng/kg per min and subsequently 1.5 ng/kg per min). In addition, in seven of the subjects Ang II was infused after 3 days of indomethacin pretreatment (150mg/day). Methods: Insulin-mediated glucose uptake (expressed as M value) was measured with the euglycemic clamp technique. Insulin levels were measured enzymatically, plasma renin activity, Ang II, aldosterone and C-peptide levels by radioimmunoassay, blood pressure by Dinamap and muscle blood flow by plethysmography. Results: The M value after sham infusion was 7.81 ± 1.52mg/kg per min and after 1.5 ng/kg Ang II per min was 9.76 ± 1.26mg/kg per min (P<0.001). Indomethacin pretreatment did not abolish the Ang ll-induced rise in the M value. Mean arterial blood pressure during the euglycemic clamp was unchanged with sham infusion and the low dose of Ang II. It increased slightly with the higher dose of Ang II. Inferior limb muscle perfusion was higher after infusion of Ang II than after sham infusion; this effect was not obliterated by indomethacin pretreatment. Conclusions: Ang II increases insulin-mediated glucose uptake: that is, it enhances insulin sensitivity by mechanisms independent of prostaglandins. The observations are of potential relevance to the changes in insulin sensitivity in some forms of hypertension.
Differential distribution of cAMP‐specific phosphodiesterase 7A mRNA in rat brain and peripheral organs

We investigated the regional distribution and cellular localization of mRNA coding for the cAMP‐specific phosphodiesterase 7A (PDE7A) in rat brain and several peripheral organs by in situ hybridization histochemistry. The regional expression of two splice variants, PDE7A1 and PDE7A2, was examined by RT‐PCR using RNA extracted from several brain regions. PDE7A mRNA was found to be widely distributed in rat brain in both neuronal and nonneuronal cell populations. The highest levels of hybridization were observed in the olfactory bulb, olfactory tubercle, hippocampus, cerebellum, medial habenula nucleus, pineal gland, area postrema, and choroid plexus. Positive hybridization signals were also detected in other areas, such as raphe nuclei, temporal and entorhinal cortex, pontine nuclei, and some cranial nerve motor nuclei. Both mRNA splice forms were differentially distributed in several areas of the brain with the striatum expressing only PDE7A1 and the olfactory bulb and spinal cord expressing PDE7A2 exclusively. In peripheral organs the highest levels of PDE7A hybridization were seen in kidney medulla, although testis, liver, adrenal glands, thymus, and spleen also presented high hybridization signal. These results are consistent with PDE7A being involved in the regulation of cAMP signaling in many brain functions. The consistent colocalization with PDE4 mRNAs suggests that PDE7A could have an effect on memory, depression, and emesis. The results offer clear anatomical and functional systems in which to investigate future specific PDE7 inhibitors. Synapse 40:201–214, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Objective Tests of Symptom Exaggeration in Independent Medical Examinations

Objective: This study used the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT) to examine exaggeration of memory impairment in disability claimants. Methods: The MSVT was administered to patients with soft tissue injuries undergoing an independent medical examination (IME). Their results were compared with those from groups of volunteers who were either trying their best on the test or simulating memory impairment. Results: Non-French-speaking volunteers, who were tested in French, showed near perfect performance on the effort subtests, but 42% of IME patients failed the effort tests in English. Their overall results were very similar to those of simulators. Conclusion: This study suggests that exaggeration of cognitive symptoms is widespread in disability-related evaluations. It would be unwise to accept self-reported memory complaints at face value. Criteria-normed symptom validity testing should be done to rule out symptom exaggeration.
Evidence for further genetic locus heterogeneity and confirmation of RLS‐1 in restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS; MIM 102300) is a common neurological disorder characterized by dysesthesias and an urge to move the lower limbs. The symptoms predominantly occur at rest, in the evening, and improve with movement. There is a high familial aggregation but gene mutations have not yet been found. Three loci for RLS on chromosomes 12q, 14q, and 9p (RLS‐1, RLS‐2, and RLS‐3) have been reported with a recessive (RLS‐1) and autosomal dominant (RLS‐2, RLS‐3) mode of inheritance, respectively. The overall contribution of these loci to this disorder is not known. To evaluate the significance of these loci, we investigated 12 RLS families for possible linkage to these chromosomal regions. Genotyping was carried out in 70 affected family members using 26 polymorphic microsatellite markers (chromosome 12: 7; chromosome 14: 7, chromosome 9: 12). Linkage analysis was carried out using the published parameters applied in the original studies (chromosome 12: q = 0.25, f0 = 0.005, f1 = 0.005, f2 = 0.8; chromosome 14: q = 0.003, f0 = 0.005, f1 = f2 = 0.95; chromosome 9: q = 0.001, f0 = 0.005, f1 = f2 = 0.95; affected individuals only). In addition, transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) analyses were done. We found evidence for linkage on chromosome 12 using the TDT. Linkage to RLS‐2 and RLS‐3 was excluded in 1 of 12 families. This supports the existence of RLS‐1 and provides evidence for the likelihood of further genetic locus heterogeneity of RLS. Investigations in additional RLS families are required to confirm the known loci and further genome wide linkage analyses have the potential to identify additional RLS loci. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society