Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative evaluation of liver function by the methionine and aminopyrine breath tests in the early stages of liver transplantation

Objective The early phase after liver transplant is considered the period of greatest risk for graft failure. In recent years breath tests have been proposed as a noninvasive method to assess liver function. In particular, the aminopyrine breath test is useful for evaluating the liver viable mass, and the methionine breath test could be used to evaluate oxidative capacity of liver mitochondria. We aimed to perform these tests in the early phase following liver transplant in order to correlate the time course of these tests to the outcome of transplantation. Methods Twenty‐three patients undergoing liver transplant were enrolled. The methionine and aminopyrine breath tests were performed on the days 1, 3 and 5, and 2, 4 and 6, respectively, after transplant. Results were expressed as the percentage of administered 13C recovered per hour and as the cumulative percentage of the 13C dose recovered over the test period. Results All but two transplants were successful in the short term and the cumulative percentage of the dose of 13C progressively increased after transplantation, reaching values not significantly different from controls (methionine at day 5). In two patients, primary non‐function occurred: in these patients the cumulative percentage of the 13C dose did not increase after orthotopic liver transplant and the results of both breath tests indicated that it always remained significantly lower compared to that of other patients. Conclusions A combination of breath tests, exploring both mitochondrial and microsomal function, could be useful in the early phase after liver transplant in order to evaluate the graft outcome. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 15: 727‐732 © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Neuroprotective effect of magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone on intrauterine ischemia in the fetal rat brain: ultrastructural evaluation.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone on oxidative damage in intrauterine ischemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, 19-day pregnant rats were divided into five groups. Fetal brain ischemia was achieved in the ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) group by bilaterally closing the utero-ovarian artery with aneurysm clips for 30 min and subsequently removing the aneurysm clips for 60 min for reperfusion. Mg (600 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg) were administered 20 min before the I/R insult. The lipid peroxidation in the brain tissue was determined by the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The mitochondrial score was calculated after an evaluation with electron microscopy. RESULTS Both the electron microscope and TBARS data showed a significant difference between the control and I/R groups. The Mg and dexamethasone treatment groups exhibited significantly lower TBARS values compared to the IR group. Similarly, the mitochondrial scores in the Mg and dexamethasone treatment groups were significantly lower than those in the I/R group. CONCLUSION Result showed that magnesium sulfate and dexamethasone prevent lipid peroxidation and reduce mitochondrial injury thus suggests neuroprotective effects in fetal rat brain in intrauterine ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.
Wild Ungulate Decision-Making and the Role of Tiny Refuges in Human-Dominated Landscapes

Wildlife conservation in human-dominated landscapes requires that we understand how animals, when making habitat-use decisions, obtain diverse and dynamically occurring resources while avoiding risks, induced by both natural predators and anthropogenic threats. Little is known about the underlying processes that enable wild animals to persist in densely populated human-dominated landscapes, particularly in developing countries. In a complex, semi-arid, fragmented, human-dominated agricultural landscape, we analyzed the habitat-use of blackbuck, a large herbivore endemic to the Indian sub-continent. We hypothesized that blackbuck would show flexible habitat-use behaviour and be risk averse when resource quality in the landscape is high, and less sensitive to risk otherwise. Overall, blackbuck appeared to be strongly influenced by human activity and they offset risks by using small protected patches (~3 km2) when they could afford to do so. Blackbuck habitat use varied dynamically corresponding with seasonally-changing levels of resources and risks, with protected habitats registering maximum use. The findings show that human activities can strongly influence and perhaps limit ungulate habitat-use and behaviour, but spatial heterogeneity in risk, particularly the presence of refuges, can allow ungulates to persist in landscapes with high human and livestock densities.
The Tennessee study of class size in the early school grades.

The Tennessee class size project is a three-phase study designed to determine the effect of smaller class size in the earliest grades on short-term and long-term pupil performance. The first phase of this project, termed Project STAR (for Student-Teacher Achievement Ratio), was begun in 1985, when Lamar Alexander was governor of Tennessee. Governor Alexander, who later served as secretary of education in the cabinet of President George Bush, had made education a top priority for his second term. The legislature and the educational community of Tennessee were mindful of a promising study of the benefits of small class size carried out in nearby Indiana, but were also aware of the costs associated with additional classrooms and teachers. Wishing to obtain data on the effectiveness of reduced class size before committing additional funds, the Tennessee legislature authorized this four-year study in which results obtained in kindergarten, first, second, and third grade classrooms of 13 to 17 pupils were compared with those obtained in classrooms of 22 to 25 pupils and in classrooms of this larger size where the teacher was assisted by a paid aide. Both standardized and curriculum-based tests were used to assess and compare the performance of some 6,500 pupils in about 330 classrooms at approximately 80 schools in the areas of reading, mathematics, and basic study skills. After four years, it was clear that smaller classes did produce substantial improvement in early learning and cognitive studies and that the effect of small class size on the achievement of minority children was initially about double that observed for majority children, but in later years, it was about the same. The second phase of the project, called the Lasting Benefits Study, was begun in 1989 to determine whether these perceived benefits persisted. Observations made as a part of this phase confirmed that the children who were originally enrolled in smaller classes continued to perform better than their grade-mates (whose school experience had begun in larger classes) when they were returned to regular-sized classes in later grades. Under the third phase, Project Challenge, the 17 economically poorest school districts were given small classes in kindergarten, first, second, and third grades. These districts improved their end-of-year standing in rank among the 139 districts from well below average to above average in reading and mathematics. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Human milk oligosaccharide concentration and risk of postnatal transmission of HIV through breastfeeding.

BACKGROUND The inefficiency of HIV breast-milk transmission may be caused by the presence of immunologically active factors, including human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). OBJECTIVE We investigated whether HMO concentrations are associated with a reduced risk of postnatal HIV transmission. DESIGN A nested case-control study was conducted within a larger cohort study of HIV-infected women and their infants followed from birth to 24 mo in Lusaka, Zambia. Breast-milk samples collected at 1 mo from 81 HIV-infected women who transmitted via breastfeeding, a random sample of 86 HIV-infected women who did not transmit despite breastfeeding, and 36 uninfected breastfeeding women were selected. Total and specific HMO concentrations were measured by HPLC and compared between groups with adjustment for confounders by using logistic regression. RESULTS HIV-infected women with total HMOs above the median (1.87 g/L) were less likely to transmit via breastfeeding (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.97; P = 0.04) after adjustment for CD4 count and breast-milk HIV RNA concentrations; a trend toward higher concentrations of lacto-N-neotetraose being associated with reduced transmission (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.23, 1.04; P = 0.06) was also observed. The proportion of 3'-sialyllactose (3'-SL) per total HMOs was higher among transmitting than among nontransmitting women (P = 0.003) and correlated with higher plasma and breast-milk HIV RNA and lower CD4 counts. Neither Secretor nor Lewis status distinguished between transmitting and nontransmitting women. CONCLUSIONS Higher concentrations of non-3'-SL HMOs were associated with protection against postnatal HIV transmission independent of other known risk factors. Further study of these novel, potentially anti-HIV components of breast milk is warranted.
Small square-shaped slot antenna for wearable passive UHF RFID tags

We present a slot antenna with the footprint size of 4 × 4 cm2 (0.12λ × 0.12λ at 915 MHz) for wearable passive UHF RFID tags. In addition to the main radiating slot, cuts made into the surrounding conductor increase the antenna radiation efficiency and help to self-match the antenna impedance with the RFID microchip in the body-worn configuration. Antenna structure is uniplanar and optimised for a low-permittivity textile substrate. The measured attainable read range of the tag is 2.5 metres when affixed to the upper back of a test subject.
The Continual Reassessment Method for Multiple Toxicity Grades: A Bayesian Quasi‐Likelihood Approach

Summary We consider the case of phase I trials for treatment of cancer or other severe diseases in which grade information is available about the severity of toxicity. Most dose allocation procedures dichotomize toxicity grades based on being dose limiting, which may not work well for severe and possibly irreversible toxicities such as renal, liver, and neurological toxicities, or toxicities with long duration. We propose a simple extension to the continual reassessment method (CRM), called the Quasi‐CRM, to incorporate grade information. Toxicity grades are first converted to numeric scores that reflect their impacts on the dose allocation procedure, and then incorporated into the CRM using the quasi‐Bernoulli likelihood. A simulation study demonstrates that the Quasi‐CRM is superior to the standard CRM and comparable to a univariate version of the Bekele and Thall method (2004, Journal of the American Statistical Association99, 26–35). We also present sensitivity analysis of the new method with respect to toxicity scores, and discuss practical issues such as extending the simple algorithmic up‐and‐down designs.
Fastigial efferent projections in the monkey: An autoradiographic study

Because fastigial efferent fibers partially decussate within the cerebellum and cerebellar corticovestibular projections pass near, or through, the fastigial nucleus (FN), degeneration studies based on lesions in the nucleus leave unresolved questions concerning fastigial projections. Attempts were made to determine fastigial projections in the monkey using autoradiographic tracing technics. Cells in rostral, caudal and all parts of the FN were labeled with [3H] amino acids.
Relationship Marketing in the Banking Industry

After few-decade absence being as a main financial pillar due to the prolonged past civil war, nowadays the banking system in Cambodia has dramatically drawn back public attention as well as trust and that is the reasons why the banking environment has been enhanced significantly. Basically, this book focuses strongly on the customer relationship programmes believed to be the core banking business strategy. In essence, it is obvious that ANZ Royal Bank has been the origin of the problem and the main interest of the research regarding its fabulous achievements as well as its relationship programmes implemented in place. The research is conducted through in-depth interviews with some selective key people in the Bank plus the secondary data refined from Company's annual reports, textbooks, journals and business magazines. The research's framework and its analysis should be a light for practitioners wishing to deepen their understanding on the relationship concepts being applied in the banking industry in particular in developing countries i.e. Cambodia.
The Claudin Megatrachea Protein Complex*

Background: Claudins mediate the trans-epithelial barrier function of epithelial tissues in vertebrates and invertebrates. Results: Proteomic and in vivo analyses of the claudin Megatrachea protein complex identify novel Megatrachea interacting factors. Conclusion: The claudin Megatrachea interacting factors include members of the clathrin-mediated endocytosis and a novel putative scavenger receptor. Significance: This is a comprehensive analysis of a claudin interactome. Claudins are integral transmembrane components of the tight junctions forming trans-epithelial barriers in many organs, such as the nervous system, lung, and epidermis. In Drosophila three claudins have been identified that are required for forming the tight junctions analogous structure, the septate junctions (SJs). The lack of claudins results in a disruption of SJ integrity leading to a breakdown of the trans-epithelial barrier and to disturbed epithelial morphogenesis. However, little is known about claudin partners for transport mechanisms and membrane organization. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of the claudin proteome in Drosophila by combining biochemical and physiological approaches. Using specific antibodies against the claudin Megatrachea for immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we identified 142 proteins associated with Megatrachea in embryos. The Megatrachea interacting proteins were analyzed in vivo by tissue-specific knockdown of the corresponding genes using RNA interference. We identified known and novel putative SJ components, such as the gene product of CG3921. Furthermore, our data suggest that the control of secretion processes specific to SJs and dependent on Sec61p may involve Megatrachea interaction with Sec61 subunits. Also, our findings suggest that clathrin-coated vesicles may regulate Megatrachea turnover at the plasma membrane similar to human claudins. As claudins are conserved both in structure and function, our findings offer novel candidate proteins involved in the claudin interactome of vertebrates and invertebrates.
Genetic markers in a multi-ethnic sample for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk

Abstract Genome-wide association studies have identified multiple risk loci for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but mostly in European/White populations, despite Hispanics having a greater risk. We re-examined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of known associations with childhood ALL and known human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region lymphoma risk markers in a multi-ethnic population. Significant associations were found in two ARID5B variants (rs7089424 and rs10821936). We replicated a strong risk association in non-Hispanic White males with rs2395185, a protective marker for lymphoma. Another HLA region marker, rs2647012, showed a risk association among Hispanics only, while a strong protective association was found with rs1048456, a follicular lymphoma risk marker. Our study validated this new case–control sample by confirming genetic markers associated with childhood ALL, and yielded new associations with lymphoma markers. Despite positive results, our study did not provide any clues as to why Hispanics have a higher susceptibility to childhood leukemia, suggesting that environmental factors may have a strong contribution.
Immunological detection of in vitro formed phosphatidylethanol--an alcohol biomarker--with monoclonal antibodies.

BACKGROUND Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a promising new marker for detecting long-term alcohol abuse with excellent sensitivity and specificity. Current methods are based on the high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method and therefore require high levels of expertise and expensive instrumentation. This study was designed to generate PEth-specific monoclonal antibodies for PEth immunoassay development. METHODS C57/BL6 mice were immunized with PEth in 3 different carriers, mouse serum albumin, mouse high-density lipoproteins, and human low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Mouse splenocytes were fused with a mouse myeloma cell line using the hybridoma technique. Mouse IgM-producing cell lines were selected by limiting dilutions. Binding characteristics of the anti-PEth antibodies were studied using luminometric immunoassays and sequence analysis of the variable region mRNA sequences of the antibodies. Produced antibodies were purified by chromatographic methods. PEth was detected with these antibodies in fluorescence immunoassay and flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS We generated monoclonal cell lines (2B1 and 2E9) that produce IgM antibodies binding specifically to PEth but not to structurally or chemically similar phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, and cardiolipin. We show here that these anti-PEth antibodies can be used to detect PEth in a fluorescent PEth assay and FACS analysis of human red blood cell samples spiked with PEth. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that PEth-specific monoclonal antibodies can be generated using traditional hybridoma technique. Immunogenicity of PEth was enhanced using human LDL as an immunization carrier. The generated monoclonal anti-PEth antibodies, 2B1 and 2E9 bind to PEth in fluid phase and in biological membranes.
Regulation of neovascularization by human neutrophil peptides (α‐defensins): a link between inflammation and angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is a complex biological process that is orchestrated by several growth factors and components of the extracellular matrix, including fibronectin (FN) and its receptor the integrin α5β1. Angiogenesis is a critical part of inflammation and wound repair, but the mechanism by which vascular proliferation and migration is regulated by inflammatory cells is not completely understood. We have previously shown that human neutrophil peptides (HNPs), also known as α‐defensins, which are secreted in high concentrations when neutrophils are activated, bind specifically to FN in the extracellular matrix and inhibit plasminogen activation. Therefore, we asked whether HNPs act as a link between inflammation and angiogenesis. α5β1‐Mediated endothelial cell adhesion and migration to FN, both under control conditions and under stimulation by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were inhibited specifically and in a dose‐dependent manner by HNPs, whereas endothelial cell adhesion and migration to other components of the extracellular matrix, such as vitronectin, collagen, or fibrinogen/fibrin were not. Consistent with this finding, HNPs bound to and promoted the binding of fibronectin to α5β1 integrin in arginine‐ glycine‐aspartic acid (RGD)‐independent manner. HNPs also completely inhibited VEGF‐induced proliferation and induced apoptosis of endothelial cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, HNPs inhibited capillary tube formation in three‐dimensional fibrin‐matrices as well as neovascularization in vivo in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay. Taken together, these data indicate that HNPs can regulate angiogenesis by affecting endothelial cell adhesion and migration in an FN‐dependent manner as well as endothelial cell proliferation. These findings provide new insight into the role of inflammatory cells in angiogenesis and might provide a platform for developing a novel class of anti‐angiogenesis drugs.
Effect of Topical Administration of Fractions and Isolated Molecules from Plant Extracts on Skin Wound Healing: A Systematic Review of Murine Experimental Models

Background and Purpose. Skin wound healing is a dynamic process driven by molecular events responsible for the morphofunctional repair of the injured tissue. In a systematic review, we analyzed the relevance of plant fractions and isolates on skin wound healing. By revising preclinical investigations with murine models, we investigated if the current evidence could support clinical trials. Methods. Studies were selected in the MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases according to the PRISMA statement. All 32 identified studies were submitted to data extraction and the methodological bias was investigated according to ARRIVE strategy. Results. The studies demonstrated that plant fractions and isolates are able to modulate the inflammatory process during skin wound healing, being also effective in attenuating the oxidative tissue damage in the scar tissue and stimulating cell proliferation, neoangiogenesis, collagen synthesis, granulation tissue expansion, reepithelialization, and the wound closure rate. However, we identified serious methodological flaws in all studies, such as the high level of reporting bias and absence of standardized experimental designs, analytical methods, and outcome measures. Conclusion. Considering these limitations, the current evidence generated from flawed methodological animal studies makes it difficult to determine the relevance of herbal medicines to treat skin wounds and derails conducting clinical studies.
Regulation kinetics of Na+‐Ca2+ exchange current in guinea‐pig ventricular myocytes

1 To investigate the regulation of native cardiac Na+‐Ca2+ exchange by cytoplasmic Na+ (Na+i) and Ca2+ (Ca2+i), we recorded the Na+‐Ca2+ exchange current (INa‐Ca) from inside‐out ‘macro patches’ excised from intact guinea‐pig ventricular cells. 2 The half‐maximal concentration (Kh) of Ca2+i required to induce an inward INa‐Ca was 7 μM. The Kh of Na+i required to induce an outward INa‐Ca was 21 mM, and tended to decrease at the steady state of Na+‐dependent inactivation. 3 The time constant (τ) of Na+‐dependent inactivation was ≈1.5 s at 100 mM Na+i and 1 μM Ca2+i. The Kh for Na+i was 14 mM. 4 Ca2+i augmented the peak outward INa‐Ca (Kh= 0.2 μM) and attenuated Na+‐dependent inactivation (Kh= 2.2 μM). The outward INa‐Ca was activated by 5 μM Ca2+i with a half‐time to reach steady state (t½) of ≈0.4 s. This activation was composed of two exponential processes. Deactivation of the current upon Ca2+i removal also consisted of two exponential processes and had a t½ of ≈0.5 s. 5 A Na+‐Ca2+ exchange model, consisting of one consecutive 4Na+:1Ca2+ exchange cycle and two inactive states, well mimicked the experimental data with regard to ion dependencies and regulation kinetics. 6 These data provide detailed information on the kinetics of the Na+i‐ and Ca2+i‐dependent regulation of native Na+‐Ca2+ exchange. They also indicate that the regulation kinetics operate faster in macro patches than in the giant membrane patch from cardiac ‘blebs’, or in Xenopus oocytes expressing a cloned exchanger (NCX1.1).