Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exercise training program based on minimum weekly frequencies: effects on blood pressure and physical fitness in elderly hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND Exercise training (ET) can reduce blood pressure (BP) and prevent functional disability. However, the effects of low volumes of training have been poorly studied, especially in elderly hypertensive patients. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of a multi-component ET program (aerobic training, strength, flexibility, and balance) on BP, physical fitness, and functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. METHODS Thirty-six elderly hypertensive patients with optimal clinical treatment underwent a multi-component ET program: two 60-minute sessions a week for 12 weeks at a Basic Health Unit. RESULTS Compared to pre-training values, systolic and diastolic BP were reduced by 3.6% and 1.2%, respectively (p<0.001), body mass index was reduced by 1.1% (p<0.001), and peripheral blood glucose was reduced by 2.5% (p=0.002). There were improvements in all physical fitness domains: muscle strength (chair-stand test and elbow flexor test; p<0.001), static balance test (unipedal stance test; p<0.029), aerobic capacity (stationary gait test; p<0.001), except for flexibility (sit and reach test). Moreover, there was a reduction in the time required to perform two functional ability tests: "put on sock" and "sit down, stand up, and move around the house" (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Lower volumes of ET improved BP, metabolic parameters, and physical fitness and reflected in the functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. Trial Registration RBR-2xgjh3.
Regulation of the Human P-selectin Promoter by Bcl-3 and Specific Homodimeric Members of the NF-κB/Rel Family (*)

P-selectin, an adhesion receptor for leukocytes, is constitutively expressed by megakaryocytes and endothelial cells. Synthesis of P-selectin is also increased by some inflammatory mediators. We characterized a previously identified κB site (GGGGGTGACCCC) in the promoter of the human P-selectin gene. The κB site was unique in that it bound constitutive nuclear protein complexes containing p50 or p52, but not inducible nuclear protein complexes containing p65. Furthermore, the element bound recombinant p50 or p52 homodimers, but not p65 homodimers. Methylation interference analysis indicated that p50 or p52 homodimers contacted the guanines at positions −218 to −214 on the coding strand and at −210 to −207 on the noncoding strand. Changes in the three central residues at −213 to −211 altered binding specificity for members of the NF-κB/Rel family. Mutations that eliminated binding to NF-κB/Rel proteins reduced by 40% the expression of a reporter gene driven by the P-selectin promoter in transfected bovine aortic endothelial cells. Overexpression of p52 enhanced P-selectin promoter activity, and co-overexpression of Bcl-3 further induced promoter activity in a κB site-dependent manner. In contrast, overexpression of p50 repressed promoter activity; this repression was prevented by co-overexpression of Bcl-3. Similar phenomena were observed with reporter gene constructs driven by two tandem P-selectin κB sequences linked to the SV40 minimal promoter. These data suggest that Bcl-3 differentially regulates the effects of p50 and p52 homodimers bound to the κB site of the P-selectin promoter. This site may be a prototype for κB elements in other genes that bind specifically to p50 and/or p52 homodimers.
Long-Distance Signaling in Nodulation Directed by a CLAVATA1-Like Receptor Kinase

Proliferation of legume nodule primordia is controlled by shoot-root signaling known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON). Mutants defective in AON show supernodulation and increased numbers of lateral roots. Here, we demonstrate that AON in soybean is controlled by the receptor-like protein kinase GmNARK (Glycine maxnodule autoregulation receptor kinase), similar toArabidopsis CLAVATA1 (CLV1). Whereas CLV1 functions in a protein complex controlling stem cell proliferation by short-distance signaling in shoot apices, GmNARK expression in the leaf has a major role in long-distance communication with nodule and lateral root primordia.
Performance of the joint reduced rank model-based demodulator for asynchronous co-channel GMSK signals

Cellular communications systems suffer from co-channel interference (CCI), due to signals from adjacent cells interfering with each other. Conventional demodulation techniques have relied on interference rejection to extract only the highest power signal. Recently, a joint reduced rank model-based demodulator (J-RRMBD) was presented that extracts two or more co-channel signals using continuous phase modulation (CPM) simultaneously. The technique is based upon a root selection algorithm using forward-backward linear prediction (FBLP), whereby multiple unequal powered signals are extracted by choosing the highest powered roots. Using synchronous continuous phase frequency shift keying (CPFSK) signals, the algorithm has been shown to provide up to 5 dB improvement over the conventional quadrature demodulator (QD) and single user model-based demodulator (MBD), which extracts only the highest powered user. In this paper, we apply the technique to received asynchronous Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) signals with unknown frequency offsets, encountered in terrestrial GSM networks. We compare performance to a joint Viterbi demodulator when two co-channel signals are present and show that the new technique provides an order of magnitude reduction in bit error rate (BER), and can more reliably demodulate signals with few samples as long as the carrier-to-interference ratio (CIR) ≥ 3 dB. When CIR ≪ 5 dB, a single user version of the algorithm provides performance improvement up to 7 dB over the Viterbi algorithm.
Adjuvant Effects for Oral Immunization Provided by Recombinant Lactobacillus casei Secreting Biologically Active Murine Interleukin-1β

ABSTRACT Vaccine delivery systems using lactic acid bacteria are under development, but their efficiency is insufficient. Autologous cytokines, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), are potential adjuvants for mucosal vaccines and can be provided by recombinant lactic acid bacteria. The aim of this study was the construction and evaluation of recombinant Lactobacillus casei producing IL-1β as an adjuvant delivery agent. The recombinant strain was constructed using an expression/secretion vector plasmid, including a mature IL-1β gene from mouse. The biological activity of the cytokine was confirmed by IL-8 production from Caco-2 cells. In response to the recombinant L. casei secreting IL-1β, expression of IL-6 was detected in vivo using a ligated-intestinal-loop assay. The release of IL-6 from Peyer's patch cells was also detected in vitro. Intragastric immunization with heat-killed Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) in combination with IL-1β-secreting lactobacilli resulted in relatively high SE-specific antibody production. In this study, it was demonstrated that recombinant L. casei secreting bioactive murine IL-1β provided adjuvant effects for intragastric immunization.
RESSOURCES ÉLECTRONIQUES ET BIBLIOTHÈQUES JURIDIQUES

Ce memoire examine l'integration des ressources electroniques en bibliotheque juridique. Il se nourrit de plusieurs etudes, tant sur la progression de la documentation electronique dans diverses bibliotheques, que sur l'evolution de l'offre editoriale et l'evolution des usages et des pratiques induits par l'electronique dans les bibliotheques. Afin de degager des tendances et des enjeux propres aux bibliotheques juridiques, cette etude se complete par une enquete de terrain a travers l'observation de quatre bibliotheques juridiques : la bibliotheque du Service juridique de la Commission europeenne, la bibliotheque de la Cour de justice de l'Union europeenne, la bibliotheque du Service juridique du Conseil de l'Union europeenne et la bibliotheque de Droit de l'Universite Libre de Bruxelles. Si l'electronique est en forte progression, l'abandon du format papier ne semble ni realiste ni souhaitable. Les pratiques des usagers confirment la necessite des deux formats. La perennite des collections electroniques pose encore probleme, et l'approche des bibliotheques varie entre solutions contractuelles et acquisition continue du papier. La place du bibliothecaire et la bibliotheque en tant que lieu sont egalement remises en question par cette evolution. Les visions des bibliotheques universitaires de droit et celles des bibliotheques juridiques professionnelles peuvent differer. Le volume de l'information juridique ne cesse d'augmenter, et les modes d'acces aux ressources documentaires se multiplient, avec pour resultat une impression de perte de reperes pour l'usager. Suite a ce constat, cette etude examine egalement les solutions envisagees par les bibliotheques pour canaliser ces ressources.
Development of a tissue-engineered human oral mucosa equivalent based on an acellular allogeneic dermal matrix: A preliminary report of clinical application to burn wounds

Tissue-engineered skin equivalents composed of epidermal and dermal components have been widely investigated for coverage of full-thickness skin defects. We developed a tissue-engineered oral mucosa equivalent based on an acellular allogeneic dermal matrix and investigated its characteristics. We also tried and assessed its preliminary clinical application. Human oral mucosal keratinocytes were separated from a piece of oral mucosa and cultured in a chemically-defined medium. The keratinocytes were seeded on to the acellular allogeneic dermal matrix and cultured. Histologically, the mucosa equivalent had a well-stratified epithelial layer. Immunohistochemical study showed that it was similar to normal oral mucosa. We applied this equivalent in one case with an extensive burn wound. The equivalent was transplanted three weeks after the harvest of the patient's oral mucosa and about 30% of the graft finally survived. We conclude that this new oral mucosa equivalent could become a therapeutic option for the treatment of extensive burns.
A median filter for 3D FAST spin echo black blood images of cerebral vessels

High‐resolution black‐blood MRA images of intracranial vascular anatomy can be obtained using 3D fast spin‐echo techniques. Although these images demonstrate excellent contrast between vessels and surrounding soft tissues, the dark signal from air and bone can obscure the desired vascular information when a minimum intensity projection image is created. In this paper, we describe an image processing technique based upon a median filter that is effective for detecting narrow vessel‐like structures. Minimum intensity projection images of the filtered MRA volume can be obtained in any orientation without prior segmentation of the skull or surrounding air spaces. The filter is very effective for detecting and visualizing small vessels, but is much less effective for detecting vessels and vascular pathology larger than the filter detection width. The filtering technique is demonstrated on black‐blood MRA images from a volunteer study. Magn Reson Med 43:310–313, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Curdlan sulfate (CRDS) in a 21-day intravenous tolerance study in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infected patients: indication of anti-CMV activity with low toxicity.

This study evaluated tolerance (and possible efficacy) for 21 days of i.v. administration at three dose levels of curdlan sulfate (CRDS) (a semisynthetic sulfated polysaccharide), administered over 30 minutes, in HIV and CMV (in some cases) infected individuals with CD4 levels < 500 cells/mm3. Half of the subjects were previously treated with reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTI) (which were continued during the CRDS administration) and half the patients had no prior RTI treatment. Evaluation of other sulfated polysaccharides in HIV had been discontinued due to side effects and lack of activity. Three groups of HIV patients (also including subsets with CMV infection) were treated separately with 50 mg/70 Kg, 100 mg/70 Kg and 200 mg/70 Kg of CRDS infused i.v. over thirty minutes daily for 21 days. In each dose group, half of the patients selected were being treated with a RTI and half were on no RTI. Patients were monitored for CD4 cell levels, viral load in some cases, and safety parameters in blood. Samples of urine and semen were additionally taken for CMV by culture and for PCR assay in subsets of participants. CRDS in this 21 day study was well-tolerated and produced few reportable side effects. Systematic decreases in platelets and increases in p24 antigen previously seen with dextran sulfate were not observed in this study with CRDS. In the 21 patients testing positive for CMV at the start of the study, 12 were CMV negative at the end of 21 days. In an untreated historical control group, 0/36 went from CMV positive to negative over a period of 13-15 years. The anti-CMV activity of CRDS in this study, therefore, had a p value < 0.001, based on these historical controls. The marked temporary increases in CD4 levels seen in the single dose and the seven-day CRDS studies on HIV patients were also seen for 21 days in the current study (p = 0.0001). Treatment with CRDS seems promising against CMV in HIV infected patients, even with once daily dosing of this two-hour half-life drug. CRDS was well tolerated and its lack of toxicity makes it an attractive candidate for CMV-infected HIV patients. Multiple daily dosing, or the continuous infusion of CRDS, could lead to increased effectiveness against both HIV and CMV, especially in combination with other agents. Given the toxicity of existing anti-CMV agents, and considering the emerging importance of CMV in atherosclerotic disease, further studies on CRDS are warranted.
Decreased expression of GRIM-19 and its association with high-risk HPV infection in cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasias and cancer.

PURPOSE GRIM-19 has been shown to be down-regulated in cervical cancers. This study investigated the expression of GRIM-19 in cervical intra-epithelial neoplasias and its association with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. METHODS The expression of GRIM-19 was assessed in cervical exfoliated cells and cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia tissues by immunohistochemistry, and the level of GRIM-19 was also evaluated by Western blotting using cervical exfoliated cells. HR-HPV infection of cervical exfoliated cells was detected by HC II. RESULTS GRIM-19 is predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm of the middle layer of normal cervical epithelial cells, whereas the surface layer cells of the normal cervix showed no GRIM-19 expression. The expression of GRIM-19 gradually decreased from atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); a pattern which was also observed in cervical intra-epithelial neoplasias tissues. The reduced expression of GRIM-19 was correlated with HR-HPV infection. CONCLUSION GRIM-19 may regulate the differentiation of normal cervical tissue, and a decrease in GRIM-19 may be the result of HR-HPV infection, which in turn leads to the malignant transformation of the cells.
Expression pattern of glypican‐4 suggests multiple roles during mouse development

Glypicans are glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored heparan sulphate proteoglycans, which are thought to modulate signalling by growth factors, including fibroblast growth factors and Wnts. Studies in Xenopus have implicated glypicans, in particular glypican‐4, in the process of convergent extension, which is essential for neural tube closure in Xenopus and mouse. Expression of glypican‐4 has been reported in the mouse brain at embryonic day 10 and later stages, whereas expression during the developmental stages encompassing initiation and progression of neural tube closure has not been reported. Analysis by in situ hybridization reveals a complex pattern of glypican‐4 mRNA localization at embryonic days 7–10.5, including sites in the anterior forebrain neuroepithelium, branchial arches, optic and otic vesicles, limb buds and somites. Glypican‐4 expression is not detected in the midline of the embryo at the stage of initiation of neural tube closure, suggesting that glypican‐4 is unlikely to play an essential role in convergent extension in the mouse. Developmental Dynamics 233:1013–1017, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Image‐based EPI ghost correction using an algorithm based on projection onto convex sets (POCS)

This work describes the use of a method, based on the projection onto convex sets (POCS) algorithm, for reduction of the N/2 ghost in echo‐planar imaging (EPI). In this method, ghosts outside the parent image are set to zero and a model k‐space is obtained from the Fourier transform (FT) of the resulting image. The zeroth‐ and first‐order phase corrections for each line of the original k‐space are estimated by comparison with the corresponding line in the model k‐space. To overcome problems of phase wrapping, the first‐order phase corrections for the lines of the original k‐space are estimated by registration with the corresponding lines in the model k‐space. It is shown that applying these corrections will result in a reduction of the ghost, and that iterating the process will result in a convergence towards an image in which the ghost is minimized. The method is tested on spin‐echo EPI data. The results show that the method is robust and remarkably effective, reducing the N/2 ghost to a level nearly comparable to that achieved with reference scans. Magn Reson Med 47:812–817, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of chlordecone (Kepone) on calcium transport mechanisms in rat heart sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Previous studies from our laboratory have indicated that chlordecone (Kepone CD), an organochlorine insecticide, inhibited cardiac sodium pump activity and catecholamine uptake suggesting that CD may interfere with cardiac function. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium pump has an important role in myocardial contraction and relaxation, besides Na+ transport. Since CD interferes with cardiac Na+ ion translocases, we have studied CD effects on cardiac SR calcium pump activity. Experiments were carried out both in vitro and in vivo. SR was isolated from heart ventricles of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Cardiac SR Ca2(+)-ATPase. 45Ca-uptake and cAMP as well as calmodulin (CaM) dependent protein phosphorylation were measured. Ca2(+)-ATPase was differentiated into low affinity and high affinity forms by measuring the activity using 50 and 0.7 microM free Ca2(+)-respectively. CD in vitro inhibited 45Ca-uptake by SR in a concentration dependent manner with an IC50 value of 7 microM and SR 45Ca-uptake was totally inhibited at 20-30 microM CD. In agreement with this, both high affinity and low affinity Ca2(+)-ATPases, which are involved in Ca2+ transport across membranes, were also inhibited by CD in a concentration dependent manner with IC50 values of 0.7 and 3.2 microM respectively. Both Ca2(+)-ATPase and 45Ca-uptake by cardiac SR were significantly lower in rats treated with CD (25, 50 or 75 mg/kg) when compared to control rats. cAMP as well as CaM significantly elevated the 32P-binding to SR proteins in vitro to about 70-80%. In the presence of CD, this 32P-binding was reduced, however, not concentration dependent. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor genes in Roma from Republic of Macedonia

The aim of this study was to analyze Killer Ig‐Like Receptor (KIR) gene polymorphisms in Roma people from Republic of Macedonia. The studied sample consists of 103 healthy unrelated individuals, aged 20–45 years. All individuals are of Roma origin, residents of different geographical regions (Gostivar, Skopje, and Kochani). The population genetics analysis package, Arlequin, was used for analysis of the data. We found that all 16 KIR genes were observed in the Roma individuals and framework genes (KIR3DL3, KIR3DP1, KIR‐ 2DL4, and KIR3DL2) were present in all individuals. The frequencies of other KIR genes were: KIR2DP1 (1), KIR2DL1 (0.961), KIR2DL2 (0.544), KIR2DL3 (0.874), KIR2DL5 (0.311), KIR3DL1 (0.990), KIR‐ 2DS1 (0.330), KIR2DS2 (0.553), KIR2DS3 (0.359), KIR2DS4 (0.981), KIR2DS5 (0.291), and KIR3DS1 (0.379). The results of tested linkage disequilibrium (LD) among KIR genes demonstrated that KIR genes present a wide range of linkage disequilibrium. The obtained results for KIR genes and genotype frequencies in Macedonian Roma individuals can be used for anthropological comparisons.
The novel human endogenous retrovirus‐related gene, psiTPTE22‐HERV, is silenced by DNA methylation in cancers

The psiTPTE22 gene has been designated as a TPTE pseudogene. Our study found that the 5′ part of psiTPTE22 has no sequence similarity to TPTE and contains a 3.8‐kb human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) element. Because of the HERV element, the 5′ part of psiTPTE22 (psiTPTE22‐HERV) expresses independently as a gene. Comparison between the DNA sequences of humans and chimps indicated that psiTPTE22‐HERV is human specific. We identified 3 alternatively spliced transcript variants from psiTPTE22‐HERV by a PCR‐based strategy, which use the transcriptional termination signal contained in the HERV element. A 402‐nt ORF was contained in the 2 longer transcripts. Western blotting using antibodies produced with chemically synthesized peptide confirmed that a 15‐kDa protein was translated from this ORF. RT‐PCR results indicated that the ORF‐containing transcripts were mainly expressed in psiTPTE22‐HERV‐expressing samples. Real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR results showed that expression of the 402‐nt ORF was upregulated in normal tissues of kidney, liver, stomach, and lung but downregulated in corresponding tumor tissues. This gene is located near the centromere of chromosome 22 and has a high GC content around the promoter region. Bisulfite sequencing PCR results indicated that it is silenced in cancers by DNA methylation. The expression of psiTPTE22‐HERV can be recovered in cancer cells using DNA methylation and histone deacetylase inhibitors. These results suggest psiTPTE22‐HERV is regulated epigenetically by DNA methylation. Our study paved the way for further study on an interesting HERV‐related human‐specific gene, which is silenced in cancers by DNA methylation.
Development of Push–Pull Osmotic Tablets Using Chitosan–Poly(Acrylic Acid) Interpolymer Complex as an Osmopolymer

The objectives of this study were to prepare push–pull osmotic tablets (PPOT) of felodipine using an interpolymer complex of chitosan (CS) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as an osmopolymer, and to study the mechanisms of drug release from these tablets. The interpolymer complexes were prepared with different weight ratios of CS to PAA. Preparation of PPOT involved the fabrication of bilayered tablets with the drug layer, containing felodipine, polyethylene oxide, and the polymeric expansion layer, containing the CS–PAA complex. The effects of polymer ratios, type of plasticizers, and compression forces on release characteristics were investigated. It was found that drug release from PPOT exhibited zero-order kinetics and could be prolonged up to 12 or 24 h depending on the plasticizer used. PPOT using dibutyl sebacate showed a longer lag time and slower drug release than that using polyethylene glycol 400. In the case of polyethylene glycol 400, an increase in the CS proportion resulted in an increase in the drug release rate. The compression force had no effect on drug release from PPOT. Drug release was controlled by two consecutive mechanisms: an osmotic pump effect resulting in the extrusion of the drug layer from the tablet and subsequent erosion and dissolution of the extruded drug layer in the dissolution medium. The mathematical model (zero-order) related to extrusion and erosion rates for describing the mechanism of drug release showed a good correlation between predicted and observed values.