Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Clinical-Grade Maturation Factor for Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DC) are essential for the generation of primary adaptive immune responses, but their full immunostimulatory capacities are only reached upon maturation. The authors compared several clinical-grade adjuvants of bacterial origin to determine their ability to induce phenotypic and functional maturation of monocyte-derived DC (Dendritophages, D&phis;; IDM, Paris, France) differentiated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-13 in single-use cell processors (VacCell; IDM, Paris, France). Monophosphoryl lipid A, Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin, and Ribomunyl (Pierre Fabre Medicament, Boulogne, France) all appeared able to provide the signal necessary to initiate D&phis; maturation. However, only Ribomunyl (Pierre Fabre Medicament) (containing membrane and ribosomal fractions from four bacterial strains) allowed the authors to obtain a significant enhancement of allostimulatory abilities and cytokine production by D&phis; in the absence of active cellular infection. Addition of interferon-gamma (IFN-&ggr;) to Ribomunyl resulted in more pronounced upregulation of CD83, major histocompatibility complex class I, and B7 molecules by D&phis;. Moreover, the IFN-&ggr; addition modulated their cytokine secretion, allowing higher levels of bioactive interleukin-12 concomitant with lower levels of interleukin-10. In kinetic studies, D&phis; contact with Ribomunyl and IFN-&ggr; for 6 hours was sufficient to trigger a maturation process that completed spontaneously. Thus, Ribomunyl in association with IFN-&ggr; represents a suitable agent for the ex vivo production of mature monocyte-derived DC that can be used as cellular vaccines to promote a potent type 1 immune response.
Determinants of urinary methylmalonic acid concentration in an elderly population in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND An age-related deterioration of vitamin B-12 status has been well documented. The early detection of deficiency may prevent the development of serious clinical symptoms, but plasma vitamin B-12 concentration is known to be an imperfect measure of vitamin B-12 status. Urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) may be a more informative biomarker of vitamin B-12 status; however, biochemical, dietary, and other lifestyle determinants are not known. OBJECTIVE We identified determinants of urinary MMA concentrations in free-living men and women aged ≥65 y in the United Kingdom. DESIGN A cross-sectional study in 591 men and women aged 65-85 y, with no clinical evidence of vitamin B-12 deficiency, was conducted to determine the demographic, clinical, and lifestyle determinants of urinary MMA concentration expressed as the ratio of micromoles of MMA to millimoles of creatinine (uMMA ratio). RESULTS Twenty percent of subjects had plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations <200 pmol/L. Seventeen percent of the variation in the uMMA ratio could be explained by plasma holotranscobalamin and sex; total vitamin B-12 intake and measures of renal function and gastric function made only a small contribution to the model. The uMMA ratio was lower in people with moderately impaired renal function. CONCLUSIONS Plasma holotranscobalamin and sex were the most important determinants of uMMA ratio in elderly people with no clinical diagnosis of renal impairment. This biomarker might underestimate vitamin B-12 deficiency in a population in which renal impairment is prevalent. This trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCJN83921062.
Structures of the O-Glycans on P-selectin Glycoprotein Ligand-1 from HL-60 Cells*

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is a disulfide-bonded homodimeric mucin-like glycoprotein on leukocytes that interacts with both P- and E-selectin. In this report we describe the structures of the Ser/Thr-linked O-glycans of PSGL-1 synthesized by HL-60 cells metabolically radiolabeled with 3H-sugar precursors. In control studies, the O-glycans on CD43 (leukosialin), a mucin-like glycoprotein also expressed by HL-60 cells, were analyzed and compared to those of PSGL-1. O-Glycans were released from Ser/Thr residues by mild base/borohydride treatment of purified glycoproteins, and glycan structures were determined by a combination of techniques. In contrast to expectations, PSGL-1 is not heavily fucosylated; a majority of the O-glycans are disialylated or neutral forms of the core-2 tetrasaccharide Galβ1→4GlcNAcβ1→6(Galβ1→3)GalNAcOH. A minority of the O-glycans are α-1,3-fucosylated that occur as two major species containing the sialyl Lewis x antigen; one species is a disialylated, monofucosylated glycan, and the other is a monosialylated, trifucosylated glycan having a polylactosamine backbone. CD43 lacks the fucosylated glycans found on PSGL-1 and is enriched for the nonfucosylated, disialylated core-2 hexasaccharide. These results demonstrate that PSGL-1 contains unique fucosylated O-glycans that are predicted to be critical for high affinity interactions between PSGL-1 and selectins.
Resveratrol Protects Mitochondria against Oxidative Stress through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase-Mediated Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Inhibition Downstream of Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-LKB1 Pathway

Arachidonic acid (AA, a proinflammatory fatty acid) in combination with iron promotes excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and exerts a deleterious effect on mitochondria. We have shown previously that activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protects hepatocytes from AA + iron-induced apoptosis. Resveratrol, a polyphenol in grapes, has beneficial effects mediated through SIRT1, LKB1, and AMPK. This study investigated the potential of resveratrol to protect against the mitochondrial impairment induced by AA + iron and the underlying mechanism for this cytoprotection. Resveratrol treatment inhibited apoptosis, ROS production, and glutathione depletion elicited by AA + iron in HepG2 cells. In addition, resveratrol attenuated superoxide generation in mitochondria and inhibited mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AA + iron. Overall, AMPK activation by resveratrol contributed to cell survival, as supported by the reversal of its restoration of mitochondrial membrane potential by either overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of AMPKα or compound C treatment. Resveratrol increased inhibitory phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) downstream of AMPK, which contributed to mitochondrial protection and cell survival. Likewise, small interfering RNA knockdown of LKB1, an upstream kinase of AMPK, reduced the ability of resveratrol to protect cells from mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, this LKB1-dependent mitochondrial protection resulted from resveratrol's poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activation, but not SIRT1 activation, as supported by the experiment using 3-aminobenzamide, a poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase inhibitor. Other polyphenols, such as apigenin, genistein, and daidzein, did not activate AMPK or protect mitochondria against AA + iron. Thus, resveratrol protects cells from AA + iron-induced ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction through AMPK-mediated inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β downstream of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-LKB1 pathway.
The influence of a compatibilizer on the thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of PEEK/carbon nanotube composites

The effect of polyetherimide (PEI) as a compatibilizing agent on the morphology, thermal, electrical and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK)/single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) nanocomposites, has been investigated for different CNT loadings. After a pre-processing step based on ball milling and pre-mixing under mechanical treatment in ethanol, the samples were prepared by melt extrusion. A more homogeneous distribution of the CNTs throughout the matrix is found for composites containing PEI, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrates an increase in the matrix degradation temperatures under dry air and nitrogen atmospheres with the addition of SWCNTs; the level of thermal stability of these nanocomposites is maintained when PEI is incorporated. Both differential scanning calorimetry and synchrotron x-ray scattering studies indicate a slight decrease in the crystallization temperatures of the compatibilized samples, and suggest the existence of reorganization phenomena during the heating, which are favoured in the composites incorporating the compatibilizer, due to their smaller crystal size. Dynamic mechanical studies show an increase in the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites upon the addition of PEI. Furthermore, the presence of PEI causes an enhancement in the storage modulus, and hence in the rigidity of these systems, attributed to an improved interfacial adhesion between the reinforcement and the matrix. The electrical and thermal conductivities of these composites decrease with the incorporation of PEI. Overall, the compatibilized samples exhibit improved properties and are promising for their use in industrial applications.
Spatial and non-spatial analyses of insect counts in bulk-stored barley

Abstract Stored grain insect species in bulk-stored barley were sampled during 15 consecutive weeks in two ways: direct sampling based on grain trier samples and indirect sampling based on probe trap captures. A total number of 22 insect taxa were found; this study focused on the six most abundant species and their natural enemies. Four aspects were addressed: (i) differences in insect counts when based on either probe trap captures or grain trier samples, (ii) usefulness of grain temperature and moisture content as explanatory variables for insect densities, (iii) density-dependent relationships between natural enemies and their hosts, and (iv) spatial and non-spatial analyses of insect counts. Both total captures and frequencies of insect taxa were consistently higher in captures with probe traps than insect numbers obtained from grain samples. Regression analysis with abiotic conditions and probe trap captures as explanatory variables provided good fits to insect counts in grain samples for four of the six insect species (R2-values>0.40). Using multi-regression analyses, we showed that: (i) the occurrence of natural enemies was only weakly associated with the abundance of hosts; (ii) grain moisture content and temperature appeared to be at least as important variables as host availability; and (iii) the predictive strengths of regression models were similar when based on either data from grain samples or probe traps. Spatial analyses (SADIE) of both sampling data suggested that all data sets followed a spatially random distribution; re-arrangement of the data provided insight into important aspects of SADIE analyses of small data sets. Non-spatial analysis (Lloyd's aggregation index) showed significant differences among species and that the level of non-spatial aggregation was quite sensitive to sampling method used.
Role of isolated locoregional recurrence of breast cancer: results of four prospective studies.

PURPOSE We evaluated the effect on future prognosis of an isolated locoregional recurrence (ILRR) after the primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Using data from four prospective studies of the German Breast Cancer Study Group, we investigated factors influencing prognosis after ILRR and defined a simple classification of patients into groups with different prognoses. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 1983 to 1989, 2,746 patients were recruited into four studies comparing different treatments in primary breast cancer. After a median follow-up time of 8 years, 337 patients developed an ILRR as the first event. The influence of ILRRs on disease progression was examined. The effects of different prognostic factors on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival after ILRR were analyzed after a median follow-up time of 4.5 years. RESULTS ILRRs increased the risk with respect to distant recurrence and death. After ILRR, 185 events occurred with respect to the PFS end point, and 171 patients died. Primary nodal status, tumor grade, estrogen receptor status of the primary tumor, and length of the disease-free interval (DFI) until the time of the ILRR had a significant prognostic impact. CONCLUSION Determinants of prognosis after the ILRR should be taken into account for designing future risk-adapted clinical studies for these patients. Risk strata can be defined by a simple classification scheme based on primary nodal status and DFI.
Independent Al2O3/SiNx:H and SiO2/SiN x:H Passivation of p+ and n+ Silicon Surfaces for High-Performance Interdigitated Back Contact Solar Cells

In order to improve interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cell efficiencies, the entire solar cell surface must be well passivated. Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/SiN<sub>x</sub>:H and SiO<sub>2</sub>/SiN<sub>x</sub>:H passivation stacks have been widely adopted for high-efficiency silicon solar cells. We explored IBC solar cells with 1) only SiO<sub>2</sub>/SiN<sub>x</sub>:H; 2) only Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/SiN<sub>x</sub>:H passivating both diffused surfaces; or 3) independent p<sup>+</sup> emitter and n<sup>+</sup> back surface field (BSF) passivation with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/SiN<sub>x</sub>:H and SiO<sub>2</sub>/SiN<sub>x</sub>:H respectively. First, stacks were optimized through simulation (using a device model in 3D Quokka) by varying the recombination parameter Jo. Second, solar cells were fabricated with a low-cost high-throughput screen-printing technique. Third, simulated J<sub>sc</sub>, V<sub>oc</sub>, F F , and η values closely matched the experimental results for passivation schemes 1 and 2. Passivation scheme 3 could not be realized experimentally due to fabrication difficulties, while its simulated values were 688 mV, 41.4 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, 80.8%, and 23.0%, respectively. It is clear that independent passivation captures material advantages for each diffused region for enhanced solar cell performance compared with conventional passivation of both diffused regions with a single passivation stack.
On the Industrial Spatial Structure of the Western China

The problems of industrial structure are the key factors leading to the lowliness of regional economic developmental quality in the West. Judging by the situation of regional industrial spatial structure and its evolutive process in China, the West is always in the trough of Chinese industrialization process, and also, the upgrading speed of industrial structure lags behind the East and the whole country. As a result the economic developmental level of the West goes behind the East and the whole country and the gap is broadening ceaselessly. The characteristics of industrial structure of the West are based on the condition of natural resources, while the impacts of national macro strategy of regional development are the leading motive power which makes the West the regional type of industrial structure with both higher ratio of state economy and lower level of technology. At the same time, the impacts of national macro regional policies lead to the differences of economic levels among provinces and between cities and countries. Based on analyses above, the authors put forward the key notes of adjustment of industrial structure in the West: it is difficult for state devotion to change the status of the West in national macro regional industrial structure and the situation of its industrial structure evolution; the superiority of resources should be understood renewedly and the limit of environment to economic development should be paid much attention to; the strategy of industrial economic development must transfer from "richening region" to "richening residents", from enlarging of quantity to improving of capability of economic sustainable development, and from reducing the gap of economic developmental level to slackening the broadening of the gap of economic developmental level as well as reducing the gap of social developmental level; the state should distinguish different regions to support and should especially lay much stress on the development of country economy, etc.
Complications of bariatric surgery: presentation and emergency management--a review.

INTRODUCTION The prevalence of obesity surgery is increasing rapidly in the UK as demand rises. Consequently, general surgeons on-call may be faced with the complications of such surgery and need to have an understanding about how to manage them, at least initially. Obesity surgery is mainly offered in tertiary centres but patients may present with problems to their local district hospital. This review summarises the main complications that may be encountered. MATERIALS AND METHODS A full literature search was carried out looking at articles published in the last 10 years. Keywords for search purposes included bariatric, surgery, complications, emergency and management. CONCLUSIONS Complications of bariatric surgery have been extensively written about but never in a format that is designed to aid the on-call surgeon. The intricate details and rare complications have been excluded to concentrate on those symptoms and signs that are likely to be encountered by the emergency team.
The Oligo(A) Tail on Histone mRNA Plays an Active Role in Translational Silencing of Histone mRNA during Xenopus Oogenesis

ABSTRACT Metazoan replication-dependent histone mRNAs end in a stem-loop sequence. The one known exception is the histone mRNA in amphibian oocytes, which has a short oligo(A) tail attached to the stem-loop sequence. Amphibian oocytes also contain two proteins that bind the 3′ end of histone mRNA: xSLBP1, the homologue of the mammalian SLBP, and xSLBP2, which is present only in oocytes. xSLBP2 is an inhibitor of histone mRNA translation, while xSLBP1 activates translation. The short A tail on histone mRNAs appears at stage II to III of oogenesis and is present on histone mRNAs throughout the rest of oogenesis. At oocyte maturation, the oligo(A) tail is removed and the xSLBP2 is degraded, resulting in the activation of translation of histone mRNA. Both SLBPs bind to the stem-loop with the oligo(A) tail with similar affinities. Reporter mRNAs ending in the stem-loop with or without the oligo(A) tail are translated equally well in a reticulocyte lysate, and their translation is stimulated by the presence of xSLBP1. In contrast, translation of the reporter mRNA with an oligo(A) tail is not activated in frog oocytes in response to the presence of xSLBP1. These results suggest that the oligo(A) tail is an active part of the translation repression mechanism that silences histone mRNA during oogenesis and that its removal is part of the mechanism that activates translation.
Living with Amputation: Anxiety and Depression Correlates.

INTRODUCTION Trauma accounts for 16% of the total burden of disease in the world, making it a leading cause of morbidity and mortality especially in the developing nations. India represents about 10% (225million) of the total world workforce in agriculture. With the evolution of new machinery and better techniques of agriculture, there has been a substantial increase in the associated injuries. Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress are among the predictors of poor quality of life (QOL). AIM This study was aimed to assess and correlate of traumatic amputation on the patient's mental health in the Northern Indian rural setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study included subjects who had undergone traumatic amputations. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered to each study participant after an informed verbal consent. The questionnaire had two parts. The first part gathered socio-personal and the disability related information from the patient and the second part included a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS The mean anxiety and depression scores were 9.10±5.7 and 3.44±3.42, respectively. The length of original inpatient stay, people at hand for help, number of hospitalizations, number of follow ups per year, type of family (nuclear versus joint), pain perception, optimism, rehabilitation satisfaction and lower limb amputations correlated significantly with anxiety levels in the patients. The depression levels correlated significantly only with perception of pain. CONCLUSION The amputees have a large number of psychosocial concerns which need to be addressed to provide a holistic care and a better QOL. It is essential to sensitize the community, the health care providers and the patient's family to the additional psychosocial needs of the amputee.
Rosiglitazone-Associated Fractures in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to examine possible factors associated with the increased risk of fractures observed with rosiglitazone in A Diabetes Outcome Progression Trial (ADOPT). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Data from the 1,840 women and 2,511 men randomly assigned in ADOPT to rosiglitazone, metformin, or glyburide for a median of 4.0 years were examined with respect to time to first fracture, rates of occurrence, and sites of fractures. RESULTS—In men, fracture rates did not differ between treatment groups. In women, at least one fracture was reported with rosiglitazone in 60 patients (9.3% of patients, 2.74 per 100 patient-years), metformin in 30 patients (5.1%, 1.54 per 100 patient-years), and glyburide in 21 patients (3.5%, 1.29 per 100 patient-years). The cumulative incidence (95% CI) of fractures in women at 5 years was 15.1% (11.2–19.1) with rosiglitazone, 7.3% (4.4–10.1) with metformin, and 7.7% (3.7–11.7) with glyburide, representing hazard ratios (95% CI) of 1.81 (1.17–2.80) and 2.13 (1.30–3.51) for rosiglitazone compared with metformin and glyburide, respectively. The increase in fractures with rosiglitazone occurred in pre- and postmenopausal women, and fractures were seen predominantly in the lower and upper limbs. No particular risk factor underlying the increased fractures in female patients who received rosiglitazone therapy was identified. CONCLUSIONS—Further investigation into the risk factors and underlying pathophysiology for the increased fracture rate in women taking rosiglitazone is required to relate them to preclinical data and better understand the clinical implications of and possible interventions for these findings.
Mechanism of microRNA-146a-mediated IL-6/STAT3 signaling in lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration

The aim of the study was to investigate the mechanism of microRNA (miR)-146a-mediated activation of interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (IL-6/STAT3) in lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. To obtain intervertebral tissue, we recruited 5 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (experimental group) and 5 patients with lumbar burst fracture (control group). Nucleus pulposus tissue was extracted by surgery and cultured. miR-146a empty vector, mimic, and inhibitor were transfected into the two groups of cells for 24 h and the levels of IL-6, type II collagen (Col II), aggrecan, STAT3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type I motifs (ADAMTS) were detected. We found no differences in the levels of IL-6, Col II, aggrecan, STAT3, MMP-3, and ADAMTS before and after treatment in the control group. However, the levels of miR-146a, IL-6, STAT3, MMP-3, and ADAMTS were significantly elevated, whereas Col II and aggrecan levels were lower in the experimental group before treatment. The levels of IL-6, STAT3, MMP-3, and ADAMTS were elevated after treatment with miR-146a mimic when compared with the miR-146a empty vector in the experimental group, and Col II and aggrecan levels were decreased. However, the cells treated with miR-146a inhibitor had the opposite result. Thus, the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway can be mediated by a high expression of miR-146a to regulate the occurrence of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.