Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Compound C150 Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cell Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Tumor Growth in Mice

Pancreatic cancer cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important contributor to cell invasion and tumor progression. Therefore, targeting EMT may be beneficial for pancreatic cancer treatment. The aim of the present study was to report on the inhibitory effect of the novel compound C150 on the EMT of pancreatic cancer cells. C150 inhibited cell proliferation in multiple pancreatic cancer cells with IC50 values of 1-2.5 μM, while in an non-cancerous pancreatic epithelial cell line hTERT-HPNE the IC50 value was >12.5 μM. C150 significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer cell migration and invasion, as demonstrated by 3-dimensional cell invasion, wound healing and Boyden chamber Transwell migration-invasion assays. Moreover, C150 treatment decreased MMP-2 gene expression in PANC-1 cells and reduced MMP-2 activity in gelatin zymography assay. In an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer, C150 significantly reduced tumor growth at the dose of 15 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection three times per week. Furthermore, C150 enhanced protein degradation of Snail, an important EMT-promoting transcription factor, and decreased the expression of the mesenchymal marker N-cadherin, while it increased the expression of the epithelial markers zonula occludens-1 and claudin-1. The findings of the present study suggested that C150 is a novel EMT inhibitor that may be promising for inhibiting pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis.
Lessons learned from implementing multidisciplinary health professions educational models in community settings

This article addresses sustainability elements for multidisciplinary health professions education in communities. The results are based on a 5 year program involving multiple health professions education institutions in seven states within the USA. We offer observations and suggestions to others who plan and implement multidisciplinary programs for health professions educators. Our findings are based on the outcomes of the Community Partnerships in Health Professions Education (CPHPE) initiative funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Data sources included pre and post surveys of students and faculty, site visits, published evaluations and site reports, and a 2 year follow-up evaluation after the external funding phase. Elements of the partnership that facilitated the sustainability of the models were: leadership, complementary missions, curriculum that mirrors clinical community practice, change from outside in, partnership boards, and faculty development. Those elements that were barriers to sustaining the efforts were: professional identities and territorial boundaries, structural differences, costs, and unclear goals. The multidisciplinary components of the community partnership initiative were the most challenging. However, in most programs, they did succeed and are currently in place. By paying attention to the elements that enhance and detract from teaming, one can plan for more successful multidisciplinary education.
Pedicle Fat Grafts for the Prevention of Scar Formation After Laminectomy: An Experimental Study in Dogs

The formation of scar tissue always follows lumbar disc surgery and usually causes no difficulty. Reoperation may be necessary because of disc reherniation or because of the scar tissue itself. Reoperation is tedious and dangerous because of the presence of scar formation. Beginning in February 1975, the authors performed laminotomies in 107 dogs in an attempt to study the possibility of prevention of scar tissue formation about the dural sac and nerve roots. Gelfoam and Gelfilm were found to increase scar formation. Micropore tape and plastics such as polyethylene, mylar, and woven and smooth silastic were tried without complete success. Free fat grafts gave better protection than other substances, but it was found that pedicle grafts of fat gave more complete prevention of scar. The living pedicle fat grafts also prevented the usual closure of the laminotomy. The technique of pedicle fat grafts has also been used with success in 36 human patients to date.
[Study on extraction and isolation of active constituents from Sorbaria sorbifolia and antitumor effect of the constituents in vivo].

OBJECTIVE To study the constituents from Sorbaria sorbifolia and their antitumor activities. METHODS The constituents were isolated with silia gel column chromatography and identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. Thirty six mice were inoculated with sarcocarcinoma 180 according to the standard method, Sorbaria sorbifolia ethyl acetate etract was administrated for 10 days, tumor and body weight, the activities of NK cell and the contents of TNF-alpha, IL-2 in serum were detected. RESULTS Three compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract and identified as 5,2',4'-trihydroxy-6,7,5'-trimethoxyflavone(I), succinic acid(II) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid(III). The tumor of the test groups were lighter than that of control group(P < 0.05). There was no remarkable difference between the control and test groups in body weight (P > 0.05). The activity of NK cell and the contents of TNF-alpha, IL-2 in serum were higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Compounds I and II were isolated from Sorbaria sorbifolia ethyl acetate extract for the first time. The ethyl acetate extract could improve immune function and strengthen antitumor effect in sarcocarcinoma 180.
[Ca 2 1 ] i homeostasis and cyclic nucleotide relaxation in aorta of phospholamban-deﬁcient mice

i homeostasis and cyclic nucleotide relaxation in aorta of phospholamban-deﬁcient mice. Am. J. Physiol. 277 ( Heart Circ. Physiol. 46): H963–H970, 1999. —Phospholamban (PLB), a protein localized in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), inhib-its the SR Ca 2 1 -ATPase; phosphorylation of PLB relieves this inhibition. We previously reported signiﬁcant differences in contractility in aorta from mice in which the gene for PLB was ablated (PLB 2 ). In this study, we measured intracellular Ca 2 1 concentration ([Ca 2 1 ] i ) with fura 2 in the intact mouse aorta to more directly test the hypothesis that these changes are ascribable to altered SR function in vivo. Ten micromoles per liter of the a -agonist phenylephrine (PE) increased [Ca 2 1 ] i monotonically to a steady state in the wild-type aorta. In contrast, in PLB 2 aorta there was an initial rapid increase to a peak [Ca 2 1 ] i , which then decreased to a steady state that was lower than that in the wild type. Upon removal of the stimulus (either PE or KCl), the decrease in [Ca 2 1 ] i was two times as fast in the PLB 2 as in the wild-type aorta. There were no signiﬁcant differences between PLB 2 and wild-type aortas in the concentration vs. force relations or the time courses of relaxation in response to forskolin or sodium nitroprusside. Interestingly, stimulation of the cAMP path- way before cGMP pathway activation resulted in a signiﬁcant increase in sensitivity and a difference in relaxation param- eters between PLB 2 and wild-type aortas. Western blot analysis indicated that the PLB-to-sarcoendoplasmic reticu- lum Ca 2 1 ATPase ratio in the mouse aorta was similar to that in the heart; 20-fold more aortic than heart homogenate was required to achieve a similar level of immunoreactivity. Our data indicate that PLB can play a major role in modulating smooth muscle [Ca 2 1 ] i but only a minor role, if any, in cyclic nucleotide-mediated relaxation.
Biliverdin administration ameliorates cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats and is associated with proinflammatory factor downregulation

Biliverdin (BV), one of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) catalytic products, has been demonstrated to have protective effects in liver ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). The present study aimed to explore the effects of BV on cerebral IRI, and to investigate the potential mechanisms thereof. Adult male SD rats, weighing 200–240 g, were randomly divided into sham (group S), cerebral ischemia reperfusion control (group C) and BV (group BV) groups. Rats in group C underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and received 2 ml normal saline; rats in group BV received BV (35 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 15 min prior to reperfusion and 4 h after reperfusion, then twice a day thereafter for 5 days. Group S served as the control. Neurological Severity Scores (NSS) were evaluated at days 1–5 following reperfusion. Staining with 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride was performed to determine the cerebral infarction at 48 h post reperfusion. mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and HO-1 in the ischemic cerebral cortex were detected via reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction at 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after reperfusion. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels at 3 h after reperfusion. Compared with group S, the NSS, cerebral infarct volume, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS and HO-1 of Group C were significantly increased (P<0.05). However, BV administration significantly improved and reduced these expression levels (P<0.01). The present study indicates that BV is able to ameliorate cerebral IRI in rats and that the mechanism may be associated with the downregulation of proinflammatory factors.
Host plant shifts affect a major defense enzyme in Chrysomela lapponica

Chrysomelid leaf beetles use chemical defenses to overcome predatory attack and microbial infestation. Larvae of Chrysomela lapponica that feed on willow sequester plant-derived salicin and other leaf alcohol glucosides, which are modified in their defensive glands to bioactive compounds. Salicin is converted into salicylaldehyde by a consecutive action of a β-glucosidase and salicyl alcohol oxidase (SAO). The other leaf alcohol glucosides are not oxidized, but are deglucosylated and esterified with isobutyric- and 2-methylbutyric acid. Like some other closely related Chrysomela species, certain populations of C. lapponica shift host plants from willow to salicin-free birch. The only striking difference between willow feeders and birch feeders in terms of chemical defense is the lack of salicylaldehyde formation. To clarify the impact of host plant shifts on SAO activity, we identified and compared this enzyme by cloning, expression, and functional testing in a willow-feeding and birch-feeding population of C. lapponica. Although the birch feeders still demonstrated defensive gland-specific expression, their SAO mRNA levels were 1,000-fold lower, and the SAO enzyme was nonfunctional. Obviously, the loss of catalytic function of the SAO of birch-adapted larvae is fixed at the transcriptional, translational, and enzyme levels, thus avoiding costly expression of a highly abundant protein that is not required in the birch feeders.
Effects of frequency and voltage on the output of CMOS-MEMS device

This research work focuses on performance analysis of a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor-Microelectromechanical System (CMOS-MEMS) device which has been designed and fabricated for humidity sensing purpose. The sensor was designed following the standard 0.35 μm CMOS technology. The device is working using electrothermal principle. Alternative current is supplied to its embedded heater which results in moving the thin film. The sensing principle is based on the change in amplitude of the device due to adsorption or absorption of humidity on the active material layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles deposited on the moving plate, which results in changing the mass of the device. Although the sensor showed a response to the increase and decrease of humidity, its output signal was nonlinear. To investigate the factors that lead to nonlinear output, the sensor has to be investigated before it is deposited to determine the base output of the sensor. In this paper, the device was tested at low frequency range of 1 Hz to 5 Hz, and the applied voltage was in range of 1 Vrms to 4 Vrms. Wheatstone quarter and half bridge configurations were used to carry out the experimental process. It is observed that the best linear output of the device was achieved at 3 Vrms and 3.5 Vrms. Furthermore, the linearity has improved using Wheatstone half bridge configuration by 6.6% and 11.14% at 3 Vrms and at 3.5 Vrms, respectively.
Bantu and European Y‐lineages in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Ancient diversity in Sub‐Saharan Africa is known to have been re‐modulated to a large extent by Bantu migrations in the sub‐Sahel region, in two southwards waves of advance through both the west and east coasts. Haplotype matching performed for Y‐STR haplotypes in several sub‐Saharan populations, both inside and outside the migration path, allowed the confirmation of a putative founder haplotype, and its one‐step neighbours, of Bantu origin, and detected an increasing drift towards the south, with a stronger reduction of diversity along the western coast. A mixed frequency distribution for the Bantu haplotype core in South Africa, relative to the western and eastern pools, seems to provide evidence for the intermingling between both Bantu waves in that region. The proportion of male lineages considered as predating the Bantu expansion reached 8.8% in Mozambique. Further influence on sub‐Saharan diversity may have occurred during the colonial period; in Mozambique, the European genetic impact in the male component was estimated to be around 5.9%, in significant contrast with the female counterpart where no European lineages were detected.
Growth, Bone Mineral Accretion, and Adrenal Function in Glucocorticoid‐Treated Infants with Hemangiomas – A Retrospective Study

Abstract: Hemangiomas, common proliferative vascular tumors, can grow rapidly in the first months of life. Although therapy with high‐dose oral glucocorticoids is standard for lesions that threaten vital functions or are disfiguring, little is known about the endocrine consequences of this treatment. Using retrospective data, we examined growth velocity, changes in bone mineral density, and adrenal function in infants with hemangiomas treated with systemic glucocorticoids. Treatment consisted of oral prednisolone 2 to 4 mg/kg/day or dexamethasone 1 mg/kg/day. Mean growth velocity Z score on glucocorticoid therapy was −1.41 standard deviations in 13 patients. In four infants with adequate follow‐up, growth velocity increased to +1.90 standard deviations after glucocorticoid treatment (Δ growth velocity +3.31 standard deviations). Mean lumbar spine bone mineral density Z score was −2.46 standard deviations before glucocorticoid treatment and −1.08 standard deviations at the end of treatment in six infants. Adrenal function after glucocorticoid therapy was assessed by low‐dose adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test in 10 infants. Eight had a normal cortisol response, and one had a borderline response. One infant, who had been treated with dexamethasone, had an abnormal test result. In conclusion, systemic glucocorticoid treatment in infants with hemangiomas slowed linear growth, but “catch‐up” growth was observed after treatment ceased. Glucocorticoids did not affect bone mineralization adversely. Only 1 of 10 glucocorticoid‐treated infants had clear evidence of adrenal insufficiency after therapy was stopped.
Effects of feeding synthetic zeolite A and sodium bicarbonate on milk production, nutrient digestion, and rate of digesta passage in dairy cows.

Four rumen-cannulated Holstein cows were fed synthetic zeolite A and NaHCO3 to evaluate their affect on milk production, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and rate of digesta passage. Treatments were allocated in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement within a 4 x 4 Latin-square design. Treatments consisted of control; 1.0% NaHCO3; 2.0% zeolite; and 1.0% NaHCO3 plus 2.0% zeolite. A total mixed ration with 50:50 concentrate to forage (80% corn silage, 20% haylage) DM was fed. Intake of DM was lower for cows receiving zeolite (18.7 vs. 20.7 kg/d). Decreases were noted in daily milk (26.3 vs. 28.9 kg/d). 4% FCM (23.6 vs. 25.6 kg/d); milk fat yield (.86 vs. .93 kg/d); milk protein yield (.85 vs. .95 kg/d); and milk protein percent (3.21 vs. 3.34) with zeolite. Digestibilities of DM, organic matter, and crude protein were also decreased by zeolite but ADF digestion was unaffected. Rumen pH was increased, ruminal propionate decreased, and acetate:propionate ratio increased by zeolite. All other VFA plus rumen NH3 were not affected by treatment. Decreases due to zeolite were observed in liquid fractional rate of passage and liquid flow rate when measured by Cr-EDTA in the feces. No treatment differences were found in fractional rate of passage of feed particles. Addition of NaHCO3 had no significant effects.
Sodium arsenite inhibited genomic estrogen signaling but induced pERα (Ser118) via MAPK pathway in breast cancer cells

Arsenic (As) is considered a major environmental health threat worldwide due to its widespread contamination in drinking water. Recent studies reported that arsenic is a potential xenoestrogen as it interfered with the action of estrogen (E2) and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling. The present study investigated the effects of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) on estrogen signaling in human breast cancer cells. The results demonstrated that NaAsO2 dose‐dependently increased viability of hormone‐dependent breast cancer MCF‐7 and T47D cells expressing both ERα and ERβ but not hormone‐independent MDA‐MB‐231 cells expressing ERβ. These suggested ERα contribution to NaAsO2‐stimulated breast cancer cells growth. NaAsO2 induced down‐regulation of ERα but up‐regulation of ERβ protein expressions in T47D cells. Moreover, NaAsO2 dose‐dependently inhibited E2‐induced ER transcriptional activity as it decreased E2‐mediated ERE‐luciferase transcription activation and PgR mRNA transcription but increased pS2 mRNA transcription. However, NaAsO2 induced both rapid and sustained activation of ERK1/2 and increased in phosphorylation of ERα at serine 118 residue, c‐fos and c‐myc protein expressions. These results indicated that NaAsO2 interferes the genomic estrogen‐signaling pathway but induces activation of a rapid nongenomic signal transduction through ERK1/2 pathway which may contribute to its proliferative effect on hormone‐dependent breast cancer cells. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1133–1146, 2016.
Mechano‐ and metabosensitive alterations after injection of botulinum toxin into gastrocnemius muscle

This study was designed to investigate effects of motor denervation by Clostridium botulinum toxin serotype A (BoNT/A) on the afferent activity of fibers originating from the gastrocnemius muscle of rats. Animals were randomized in two groups, 1) untreated animals acting as control and 2) treated animals in which the toxin was injected in the left muscle. Locomotor activity was evaluated once per day during 12 days with a test based on footprint measurements of walking rats (sciatic functional index). At the end of the functional assessment period, electrophysiological tests were used to measure muscle properties, metabosensitive afferent fiber responses to chemical (KCl and lactic acid) injections, electrically induced fatigue (EIF), and mechanosensitive responses to tendon vibrations. Additionally, ventilatory response was recorded during repetitive muscle contractions. Then, rats were sacrificed, and the BoNT/A‐injected muscles were weighed. Twelve days postinjection we observed a complete motor denervation associated with a significant muscle atrophy and loss of force to direct muscle stimulation. In the BoNT/A group, the metabosensitive responses to KCl injections were unaltered. However, we observed alterations in responses to EIF and to 1 mM of lactic acid (which induces the greatest activation). The ventilatory adjustments during repetitive muscle activation were abolished, and the mechanosensitive fiber responses to tendon vibrations were reduced. These results indicate that BoNT/A alters the sensorimotor loop and may induce insufficient motor and physiological adjustments in patients in whom a motor denervation with BoNT/A was performed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simple skin effect compensation in cylindrical shunts

This paper proposes a new design solution for high-current shunt resistors aiming at optimizing the frequency response in a specified frequency range. It is based on a solid cylindrical shunt, whose sensing circuit runs through a straight hole drilled in the shunt itself. Compared to other solutions proposed in the literature, typically based on coaxial or cage configurations, this approach allows a more compact size, a simple mathematical modeling of the current distribution due to skin effect (therefore less complex mathematical solution of the optimization problem) and a cost-effective manufacturing process. Experimental results obtained from a shunt prototype are reported, which confirm the validity of the proposed approach.
Viral antibody screening system that uses a standardized single dilution immunoglobulin G enzyme immunoassay with multiple antigens

We present an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for the simultaneous determination of immunoglobulin G antibodies directed against several viruses. Antibodies to up to eight different viruses could be determined for three different sera on one microtitration plate. After subtraction of the absorbance values obtained with the control antigens, the viral antigen absorbancies were expressed as percentages of the absorbance obtained with a pooled immunoglobulin standard. This value, the relative antibody activity, was rapidly calculated by means of a computer directly connected to the ELISA photometer and was stored on magnetic disks, thereby facilitating seroepidemiological studies. The reproducibility of the relative antibody activity was calculated to at best +/- 3.6% (standard deviation) in an intraassay test and to at worst +/- 20.4% (standard deviation) in an interassay test. Each serum was analyzed only at a dilution of 1/75. The sensitivity of this single-dilution ELISA (SD-ELISA) method for the detection of titer rises was compared with those of conventional methods, mostly complement fixation but also hemagglutination inhibition. A total of 142 of 155 (92%) paired sera showing fourfold complement fixation or hemagglutination inhibition rises also showed significant results in SD-ELISA. A total of 22 of 57 (39%) significant relative antibody activity rises were significant in complement fixation or hemagglutination inhibition. Overall, up to twice as many significant titer rises could be detected with SD-ELISA. Most of these seemed to have a sound correlation with clinical data. The specificity of SD-ELISA was found to be similar to that of complement fixation, with some cross-reactions occurring between herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus antigens and between parainfluenza viruses. We have found SD-ELISA to be a valuable clinical virological tool that supplements conventional serology.