Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparing the Chondrogenic Potential in vivo of Autogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Different Tissues

Abstract Objective: To compare the chondrogenic ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from different tissues in rabbits’ full-thickness articular cartilage defects. Methods: Sixty New Zealand white rabbits of ordinary grade with a body weight of 2.5∼3.5kg were selected for this study. Six were sacrificed for preparation of deminerized bone matrix (DBM) as scaffold. Fifty-four were used for cartilage defects model. Full-thickness cartilage defect of knee joint was created on trochlear groove at two sides of the femur with a diameter of 4 mm and thickness of 3 mm. All 54 rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups and treated by autogeneic MSCs isolated from bone marrow, periosteum, synovium, adipose tissue and muscle, respectively. The 6th group was a control group with nothing plugged into the defects. Every three rabbits were killed at three time points, which were 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the operation in each group. The reparative tissue samples were evaluated grossly, histologically, immunohistochemically, and graded according to gross and histological scales 12 weeks postoperatively. We input the scores into SPSS 11.5 software and the analysis of variance (one-way-ANOVA) and student-newman-keuls (SNK-q) test were used to process statistical analysis and find out if the differences between each group had statistical significance. Results: Fifty-four rabbits are included in the final analysis. The defects are all repaired by hyaline-like tissue except the control group. The bone-marrow-MSCs produced much more cartilage matrix than that of other groups. Gross and histological grading scale indicates that the defects repaired by MSCs isolated from bone marrow are superior to that repaired by MSCs isolated from periosteum, synovium, adipose tissue, and muscle (p < 0.05). In adipose-MSCs and muscle-MSCs group, some defects are even repaired by fibrous tissue. Conclusion: Bone-marrow-MSCs have greater in vivo chondrogenic potential than periosteum-, synovium-, adipose- and muscle-MSCs.
Elevated serum chemokine CXC ligand 5 levels are associated with hypercholesterolemia but not a worsening of insulin resistance in Chinese people.

OBJECTIVE Recent study showed high chemokine CXC ligand 5 (CXCL5) is thought to be associated with insulin resistance in humans. However, evidence from large-scale populations about the relationship between serum CXCL5 level and metabolic phenotypes is scarce. Here we sought to evaluate serum CXCL5 distribution and its association with metabolic phenotypes among middle-aged and older Chinese. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We evaluated serum CXCL5 in a cross-sectional sample of 3225 Chinese aged from 50 to 88 yr in a Shanghai downtown district by ELISA. Glucose, insulin, lipid profile, inflammatory marker, and adipokine were also measured. RESULTS The crude mean of serum CXCL5 concentrations were 1493.31 pg/ml for men and 2059.42 pg/ml for women (P<0.001), respectively. After multiple adjustment, the odds ratios were substantially higher for hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio 3.26, 95% confidence interval 2.36-4.51) in the highest CXCL5 quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile. These associations remained significant after further adjustment for body mass index, body fat, inflammatory marker, and adipokine. However, serum resistin CXCL5 was not associated with body mass index, percent body fat, fasting glucose, insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment index-insulin resistance (r=0.01, 0.01, 0.01, 0.04, and 0.03, respectively; all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Elevated circulating CXCL5 concentrations were associated with higher risk of hypercholesterolemia in middle-aged and elderly Chinese independent of obesity, inflammation, adipokines, and other risk factors but not insulin resistance.
Advances in glucose metabolism research in colorectal cancer

Cancer cells uptake glucose at a higher rate and produce lactic acid rather than metabolizing pyruvate through the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This adaptive metabolic shift is termed the Warburg effect. Recently progress had been made regarding the mechanistic understanding of glucose metabolism and associated diagnostic and therapeutic methods, which have been investigated in colorectal cancer. The majority of novel mechanisms involve important glucose metabolism associated genes and miRNA regulation. The present review discusses the contribution of these research results to facilitate with the development of novel diagnosis and anticancer treatment options.
Dual neural peptidase/endothelin-converting enzyme inhibition improves endothelial function in mesenteric resistance arteries of young spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background: Endothelin-1 (ET1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide with pro-mitogenic and pro-inflammatory properties and is therefore of interest in the development of endothelial dysfunction, endothelium-dependent flow-related remodeling, and hypertension-related remodeling. ET1 can be formed through cleavage of big ET1 by endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP). Method: We investigated whether the dual NEP/ECE inhibitor SOL1 improves resistance artery function and structure in 12 weeks old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and whether arterial structural responses to decreased (−90%) or increased (+100%) blood flow are impaired in young SHRs. To this end two groups of SHRs received chronic 4-week treatment at two different time points (4–8 and 8–12 weeks) prior to the experiment. We compared in-vitro effects of cyclo-oxygenase inhibition (1 &mgr;mol/l indomethacine), nitric oxide synthase inhibition (100 &mgr;mol/l N&ohgr;-L-nitro arginine methyl ester), and stimulation of the endothelium by 0.001–10 &mgr;mol/l acetylcholine (ACh) in isolated third-order mesenteric arteries of SHRs and aged-matched Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats. Results: SOL1 had no effect on blood pressure in SHRs or WKY rats. ACh caused biphasic effects in mesenteric arteries of SHRs. The contractile component (endothelium-derived contractile factor) was absent in WKY and abolished by acute indomethacin administration or chronic SOL1 treatment. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide-type responses did not differ in both strains and were not influenced by SOL1 treatment. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-type responses were severely impaired in SHRs as compared to WKY rats and were normalized by chronic SOL1 treatment. In first-order mesenteric arteries, outward flow-induced remodeling was impaired in SHRs. Chronic SOL1 treatment did not restore this response. Conclusion: Thus chronic SOL1 treatment during the development of hypertension in SHRs has no effect on blood pressure but improves several aspects of endothelium-dependent vasomotor responses but not arterial remodeling.
Laboratory simulation of heavy-ion cosmic-ray interaction with condensed CO

Context. Within dense interstellar clouds, from their periphery to regions deep inside, ice mantles on dust grains are exposed to cosmic-ray irradiation. Various swift ions contribute from protons to iron in the keV to TeV energy range. Observations show that in some lines of sight condensed CO molecules are an important component of the ice. Aims. We irradiate CO ices with Ni ions of relatively high energy (50 and 537 MeV) to simulate the effects produced by fast heavy cosmic-ray ions in interstellar grain mantles. Methods. CO gas is condensed on a CsI substrate at 13 K and irradiated by 50 MeV 58Ni13+ and 537 MeV 64Ni24+ ions up to a final fluence of ≈1 × 1013 cm−2, at a flux of 1 × 109 cm−2 s−1. The sputtering yields, the destruction rate of CO, and the rate of formation of new molecular species are measured in situ by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results. The measured CO destruction cross-sections and sputtering yields induced by Ni ions are, respectively, (i) for 50 MeV, σd = 1.0×10−13 cm2 and Y = 7×104 molecules/impact; (ii) for 537 MeV, σd = 3.0×10−14 cm2 and Y = 5.85×104 molecules/impact. Based on the present and previous results, the desorption rates induced by H, Ni, and Fe ions are estimated for a wide range of energies. The contribution of the heavy ions is found to dominate over that of protons in the interstellar medium.
Influence of Immediate Coronal Restoration on Microhardness of CEM Cement: An In Vitro Study

Introduction: Coronal restoration could affect the setting reaction of the underlying CEM cement. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of immediate coronal restoration placement on the subsurface microhardness of CEM cement. Methods and Materials: In 50 extracted human mandibular molars, access cavities were prepared and CEM cement was placed in the pulp chamber at a 3-mm thickness. Samples were divided into ten groups (n=5). CEM cement was placed and after 10 min, two groups were restored with Zonalin temporary restoration and eight groups were restored with glass ionomer cement (GIC), resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI), resin based composite and amalgam respectively. Vickers microhardness number (VHN) of CEM cement was measured in two time intervals (7- and 21-days). Data was analyzed with SPSS and two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni tests. Level of significance was set at the 5%. Results: The mean VHN of CEM cement showed statistically significant differences only between Zonalin and amalgam groups (P=0.021). There were also significant differences considering the effect of time (P=0.042) and material (P=0.046). Although the effect of time-material on the microhardness values showed no statistically significant differences (P=0.636). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, immediate placement of final restorations affects the setting reaction in underlying CEM cement. Therefore, sufficient moist curing and hydration should be guaranteed before placement of the coronal restoration.
Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship Working Paper Series Number 3 CROSS-BUSINESS SYNERGY : SOURCES , PROCESSES AND THE CAPTURE OF CORPORATE VALUE

An earlier version of this paper appears in the 2001 Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings under the title " Exploring Cross-Business synergies ". ABSTRACT The pursuit of synergy is at the heart of corporate strategy in the multi-business firm. Indeed, the promise of synergy is one of the key rationales for the existence of multi-business firms, as well as a primary reason for strategic moves like acquisitions, diversification and alliances. However, despite the enormous attention that management focuses on different means to achieve cross-business synergies, the realization of cross-business synergies remains an elusive goal for many organizations. Moreover, as the pace of change increases, difficulties in realizing cross-business synergies become even more acute as the sources of synergies within corporations may frequently change. Observations from the literature are that: 1) cross-business synergies exist; 2) the three major sources of synergies are economies of scope, market power, and internal governance advantages; 3) the realization of potential synergies depends on the relatedness of resources, managerial action, and organizational fit; 4) cross-business synergies become more knowledge and process dependent in dynamic markets; 5) the literature is clear on the first two points but vague on the latter two which emphasize the processes by which synergies are actually achieved. Our contributions are: 1) a comprehensive review and integration of a vast literature on cross-business synergies; 2) the identification of three business-unit/corporate level processes that become particularly salient to synergies as market dynamics increase: knowledge transfer, coevolving, and patching. 1 While the literature that is related to cross-business synergies is large and diverse, it has yet to generate a set of reasonably consistent and generalizable findings questions remain with respect to the definition, existence, sources and processes of cross-business synergy. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive review and integration of the extent research to help answer these questions. Our intended contributions are: First, we clarify three sources of cross business synergy: economies of scope, market power, and internal governance advantages. Second, we add a fourth source of synergy, recombinative processes. In particular, we describe three business-unit/corporate level processes that become particularly salient to synergies as market dynamics increase: knowledge transfer, recoupling, and patching. The latter two processes, with few exceptions, remain relatively unexplored empirically. Moreover, these processes, which facilitate the transfer and recombination of resources, become especially important in knowledge-based industries and dynamic markets. Finally, we conclude with several avenues …
A Clinical Translation of the Research Article Titled “Major Depressive Disorder in Persons Exposed to Trauma: Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Social Support”

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been shown to have significant consequences, including high risk of suicide, health-related complications, high rates of recurrence, and subsequent elevated medical costs. A key risk factor for chronic depression in adults is exposure to trauma, and rates of trauma exposure in the United States reach 90% by some estimates (Breslau et al., 1998). Therefore, it is important to better understand how protective resources may differ in groups of trauma exposed–MDD individuals when compared with healthy individuals. This study looks at two potential protective resources, emotional intelligence (EI) and social support (SS). Specifically, the authors compare the levels of EI and SS between a group of trauma victims suffering from MDD and a group of participants with no history of trauma or psychiatric diagnoses.
The power and the promise of restimulation‐induced cell death in human immune diseases

Summary: Controlled expansion and contraction of lymphocytes both during and after an adaptive immune response are imperative to sustain a healthy immune system. Both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of lymphocyte apoptosis are programmed to eliminate cells at the proper time to ensure immune homeostasis. Genetic disorders of apoptosis described in mice and humans have established Fas and Bim as critical pro‐apoptotic molecules responsible for T‐cell death in response to T‐cell receptor restimulation and cytokine withdrawal, respectively. Emerging evidence prompts revision of this classic paradigm, especially for our understanding of restimulation‐induced cell death (RICD) and its physiological purpose. Recent work indicates that RICD employs both Fas and Bim for T‐cell deletion, dispelling the notion that these molecules are assigned to mutually exclusive apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, new mouse model data combined with our discovery of defective RICD in X‐linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP) patient T cells suggest that RICD is essential for precluding excess T‐cell accumulation and associated immunopathology during the course of certain infections. Here, we review how these advances offer a refreshing new perspective on the phenomenon of T‐cell apoptosis induced through antigen restimulation, including its relevance to immune homeostasis and potential for therapeutic interventions.
Door-to-balloon time and mortality among patients undergoing primary PCI.

BACKGROUND Current guidelines for the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction recommend a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less for patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Door-to-balloon time has become a performance measure and is the focus of regional and national quality-improvement initiatives. However, it is not known whether national improvements in door-to-balloon times have been accompanied by a decline in mortality. METHODS We analyzed annual trends in door-to-balloon times and in-hospital mortality using data from 96,738 admissions for patients undergoing primary PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction from July 2005 through June 2009 at 515 hospitals participating in the CathPCI Registry. In a subgroup analysis using a linked Medicare data set, we assessed 30-day mortality. RESULTS Median door-to-balloon times declined significantly, from 83 minutes in the 12 months from July 2005 through June 2006 to 67 minutes in the 12 months from July 2008 through June 2009 (P<0.001). Similarly, the percentage of patients for whom the door-to-balloon time was 90 minutes or less increased from 59.7% in the first year to 83.1% in the last year (P<0.001). Despite improvements in door-to-balloon times, there was no significant overall change in unadjusted in-hospital mortality (4.8% in 2005-2006 and 4.7% in 2008-2009, P=0.43 for trend) or in risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality (5.0% in 2005-2006 and 4.7% in 2008-2009, P=0.34), nor was a significant difference observed in unadjusted 30-day mortality (P=0.64). CONCLUSIONS Although national door-to-balloon times have improved significantly for patients undergoing primary PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, in-hospital mortality has remained virtually unchanged. These data suggest that additional strategies are needed to reduce in-hospital mortality in this population. (Funded by the National Cardiovascular Data Registry of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.).
Agrin Can Mediate Acetylcholine Receptor Gene Expression in Muscle by Aggregation of Muscle-derived Neuregulins

The neural isoforms of agrin can stimulate transcription of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) epsilon subunit gene in electrically active muscle fibers, as does the motor neuron upon the formation of a neuromuscular junction. It is not clear, however, whether this induction involves neuregulins (NRGs), which stimulate AChR subunit gene transcription in vitro by activating ErbB receptors. In this study, we show that agrin- induced induction of AChR epsilon subunit gene transcription is inhibited in cultured myotubes overexpressing an inactive mutant of the ErbB2 receptor, demonstrating involvement of the NRG/ErbB pathway in agrin- induced AChR expression. Furthermore, salt extracts from the surface of cultured myotubes induce tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB2 receptors, indicating that muscle cells express biological NRG-like activity on their surface. We further demonstrate by RT-PCR analysis that muscle NRGs have Ig-like domains required for their immobilization at heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) of the extracellular matrix. In extrasynaptic regions of innervated muscle fibers in vivo, ectopically expressed neural agrin induces the colocalized accumulation of AChRs, muscle-derived NRGs, and HSPGs. By using overlay and radioligand-binding assays we show that the Ig domain of NRGs bind to the HSPGs agrin and perlecan. These findings show that neural agrin can induce AChR subunit gene transcription by aggregating muscle HSPGs on the muscle fiber surface that then serve as a local sink for focal binding of muscle-derived NRGs to regulate AChR gene expression at the neuromuscular junction.
Women and Tobacco

The presented book we offer here is not kind of usual book. You know, reading now doesn't mean to handle the printed book in your hand. You can get the soft file of women and tobacco in your gadget. Well, we mean that the book that we proffer is the soft file of the book. The content and all things are same. The difference is only the forms of the book, whereas, this condition will precisely be profitable.
Metabolic Disease Risk in Children by Salivary Biomarker Analysis

Objective The study of obesity-related metabolic syndrome or Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children is particularly difficult because of fear of needles. We tested a non-invasive approach to study inflammatory parameters in an at-risk population of children to provide proof-of-principle for future investigations of vulnerable subjects. Design and Methods We evaluated metabolic differences in 744, 11-year old children selected from underweight, normal healthy weight, overweight and obese categories by analyzing fasting saliva samples for 20 biomarkers. Saliva supernatants were obtained following centrifugation and used for analyses. Results Salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) was 6 times higher, salivary insulin and leptin were 3 times higher, and adiponectin was 30% lower in obese children compared to healthy normal weight children (all P<0.0001). Categorical analysis suggested that there might be three types of obesity in children. Distinctly inflammatory characteristics appeared in 76% of obese children while in 13%, salivary insulin was high but not associated with inflammatory mediators. The remaining 11% of obese children had high insulin and reduced adiponectin. Forty percent of the non-obese children were found in groups which, based on biomarker characteristics, may be at risk for becoming obese. Conclusions Significantly altered levels of salivary biomarkers in obese children from a high-risk population, suggest the potential for developing non-invasive screening procedures to identify T2D-vulnerable individuals and a means to test preventative strategies.
Mortality of employees of a perfluorooctanesulphonyl fluoride manufacturing facility

Aim: To evaluate the mortality experience of a cohort of employees of a perfluorooctanesulphonyl fluoride (POSF) based fluorochemical production facility. Methods: A retrospective cohort mortality study followed all workers with at least one year of cumulative employment at the facility. The jobs held by cohort members were assigned to one of three exposure subgroups; high exposed, low exposed, and non-exposed, based on biological monitoring data for perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS). Results: A total of 145 deaths were identified in the 2083 cohort members. Sixty five deaths occurred among workers ever employed in high exposed jobs. The overall mortality rates for the cohort and the exposure subcohorts were lower than expected in the general population. Two deaths from liver cancer were observed in the workers with at least one year of high or low exposure (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) 3.08, 95% CI 0.37 to 11.10). The risk of death from bladder cancer was increased for the entire cohort (three observed, SMR 4.81, 95% CI 0.99 to 14.06). All three bladder cancers occurred among workers who held a high exposure job (SMR 12.77, 95% CI 2.63 to 37.35). The bladder cancer cases primarily worked in non-production jobs, including maintenance and incinerator and wastewater treatment plant operations. Conclusion: Workers employed in high exposure jobs had an increased number of deaths from bladder cancer; however it is not clear whether these three cases can be attributed to fluorochemical exposure, an unknown bladder carcinogen encountered during the course of maintenance work, and/or non-occupational exposures. With only three observed cases the possibility of a chance finding cannot be ruled out.
Issues in applying a model driven approach to reconfigurations of satellite software

Satellite software has to deal with specific needs including high integrity and dynamic updates. In order to deal with these requirements, we propose working at a higher level of abstraction thanks to model-driven engineering. Doing so involves many technologies including model manipulation, code generation and verification. Before we can implement the approach, there is a need for further research in these areas, e.g., about meta-transformations in order to maintain several consistent related code generators. We highlight such issues in regard to the current state of the art.