Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiomyocyte Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Sympathetic Ganglion Conditioned Medium

Introduction: The cardiac muscle cell, also called the cardiomyocyte, has specialized functions, playing a fundamental role in maintaining life, since it is responsible for the electrical and contractile activity of the heart. Like other specialized cells, it does not have an effective capacity for regeneration and its death or apoptosis is always an undesirable event, with sometimes catastrophic consequences, such as in Heart Failure (HF), which is known as the “final path” of heart diseases. HoweConditioned medium of sympathetic ganglia with addition of fibroblast growth factor 2 promotes plasticity of cardiomyocytes in culture Vol.: 1(1). pp.86-110, July-Aug DOI: 10.36619/2674886x.2019. 1.86. 110 ISSN: 2674-886X Copyright © 2019 Journal of Pharmacological, Chemistry and Biological Sciences Conditioned medium of sympathetic ganglia with addition of fibroblast growth factor 2 promotes plasticity of cardiomyocytes in culture 87 ver, any cardiac disease in which cardiomyocyte apoptosis is implicated will develop, at some point in time, the HF syndrome. Evidence shows the influence of several substances as strong components responsible for inducing cardioprotection after tissue damage. Objective: In this perspective, this study aimed to analyze the plasticity of cardiomyocytes in the presence or absence of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF-2) in the presence of sympathetic ganglia conditioned medium (MCGS). Method: For this, the behavior of the sympathetic ganglion in culture was analyzed, morphologically mapping the population and the ganglionar migratory profile, the growth and the morphology of the cardiomyocytes over 72 hours through the phase contrast microscopy, protocol number 006/15. Results: A statistically significant increase was observed both in the area and the cell perimeter in the groups treated with MCGS and MCGS with addition of FGF-2 (p = 0.0001) in relation to the control group. Conclusion: It is concluded, therefore, that there is an important plastic effect of MCGS, potentiated by FGF-2 in cultured
Towards a person-centred approach by

The function of this book is to elaborate on social work as a practice that is based on service user’s or client’s own views on what they need or want. The book deals with the concept of person-centred support as a basic tool for ideal social work. It is a question of an approach where clients are treated in a way that their own comprehension of their life situation and need for support is valued and respected. At the same time the client is offered more possibilities to influence the arranging his services, since the need for personal support will be assessed with the service-user himself involved in all stages of the process. The idea of personal-centred support is introduced as a new way of thinking, which has a considerable impact in quality of services, working practices and cultures and most importantly, on client’s position as a service user. Within such an approach it should be possible to avoid uniformity in treating clients and planning their services. The book has been written in collaboration with developers and researchers, who have carried out a long-term development project ‘Standards we expect’ during the years 2005 2009 in UK. The aim for the project has been to reinforce practices of person-centred support in social work for example with people with disabilities, mental health service users and elderly people. The authors define person-centred support as an approach where the traditional idea of caring for people should be displaced with the idea of supporting them. This conceptual change contributes to the principle of self-determination and people’s rights to have more influence on their services. The book consists of four parts, where the approach of person-centred support is widely discussed in the light of large amount of qualitative data. According to the authors, the aim of the book is to clarify what ‘person-centred support’ really means, what the main barriers are to such an approach in social work and how these barriers can be overcome. The aim and motives of the book are interestingly and properly justified, as the authors insist that social work should meet the challenges of contemporary society, where living conditions and environments are under constant social and cultural changes. Qualitative data has been collected from managers, workers and their clients from different service sectors in UK. The interview data used in the book is valuable in itself for this kind of research work, but unfortunately such methodological apparatus that would validate the interpretations derived from data are not provided in the book. Every now and then the reader gets confused with the amount of interview extracts, which as yet are not properly analyzed. Sometimes the reader gets Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research Vol. 14, No. 2, 2012, 195 197
Interaction of Cobalt(II) Tetraarylporphyrins with a Ag(111) Surface Studied with Photoelectron Spectroscopy

The interaction of cobalt(II) tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP) and cobalt(II) tetrakis-(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin (CoTTBPP) with a Ag(111) surface has been investigated with photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/UPS). It is demonstrated that these adsorbed metal complexes are excellent model systems for studying the electronic interaction between a coordinated metal ion and a metal surface. The photoelectron spectra and work function data provide evidence that the electronic interaction between the cobalt ion and the silver surface results in a transfer of electron density from the surface to the ion. The presence of an additional electronic state located ∼1 eV above the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) of the metalloporphyrins is consistent with a molecular orbital (MO) model of the Co−Ag interaction as is the fact that the energetic position of this state depends on the distance between the Co ion and the Ag surface. The adsorbate-induced work function changes for the saturated monolayers amount t.
NMDA receptor–BK channel coupling regulates synaptic plasticity in the barrel cortex

Significance N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are critical triggers for neuronal plasticity. We show that large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-gated K+ (BK) channels serve as feedback regulators of NMDA receptor–mediated calcium influx to shape NMDA receptor–mediated synaptic potentials and consequently elevate the threshold for triggering plasticity at a subset of synapses. Postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are crucial mediators of synaptic plasticity due to their ability to act as coincidence detectors of presynaptic and postsynaptic neuronal activity. However, NMDARs exist within the molecular context of a variety of postsynaptic signaling proteins, which can fine-tune their function. Here, we describe a form of NMDAR suppression by large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-gated K+ (BK) channels in the basal dendrites of a subset of barrel cortex layer 5 pyramidal neurons. We show that NMDAR activation increases intracellular Ca2+ in the vicinity of BK channels, thus activating K+ efflux and strong negative feedback inhibition. We further show that neurons exhibiting such NMDAR–BK coupling serve as high-pass filters for incoming synaptic inputs, precluding the induction of spike timing–dependent plasticity. Together, these data suggest that NMDAR-localized BK channels regulate synaptic integration and provide input-specific synaptic diversity to a thalamocortical circuit.
Herpes simplex virus co-infection facilitates rolling circle replication of the adeno-associated virus genome

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) genome replication only occurs in the presence of a co-infecting helper virus such as adenovirus type 5 (AdV5) or herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). AdV5-supported replication of the AAV genome has been described to occur in a strand-displacement rolling hairpin replication (RHR) mechanism initiated at the AAV 3’ inverted terminal repeat (ITR) end. It has been assumed that the same mechanism applies to HSV-1-supported AAV genome replication. Using nanopore sequencing as a novel, high-throughput approach to study viral genome replication we demonstrate the formation of double-stranded head-to-tail concatemers of AAV genomes in the presence of HSV-1, thus providing evidence for an unequivocal rolling circle replication (RCR) mechanism. This stands in contrast to the textbook model of AAV genome replication when HSV-1 is the helper virus. SIGNIFICANCE Efficient adeno-associated virus (AAV) replication requires the presence of helper factors, which can be provided by co-infecting helper viruses such as adenoviruses or herpesviruses. AAV replication has been described to occur as a rolling hairpin replication mechanism. However, we show that during a herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) supported replication, AAV rolling circle-like replication intermediates are formed. Thus, this study stands in contrast to the textbook model of AAV genome replication. Additionally, we introduce nanopore sequencing as a novel, high-throughput approach to study viral genome replication in unprecedented detail.
Visual Neuroscience Methods for Marmosets: Efficient Receptive Field Mapping and Head-Free Eye Tracking

Abstract The marmoset has emerged as a promising primate model system, in particular for visual neuroscience. Many common experimental paradigms rely on head fixation and an extended period of eye fixation during the presentation of salient visual stimuli. Both of these behavioral requirements can be challenging for marmosets. Here, we present two methodological developments, each addressing one of these difficulties. First, we show that it is possible to use a standard eye-tracking system without head fixation to assess visual behavior in the marmoset. Eye-tracking quality from head-free animals is sufficient to obtain precise psychometric functions from a visual acuity task. Second, we introduce a novel method for efficient receptive field (RF) mapping that does not rely on moving stimuli but uses fast flashing annuli and wedges. We present data recorded during head-fixation in areas V1 and V6 and show that RF locations are readily obtained within a short period of recording time. Thus, the methodological advancements presented in this work will contribute to establish the marmoset as a valuable model in neuroscience.
Epidemiological Approach to Indoor Air Problems

Abstract Complaints about discomfort and effects on health are commonly reported from homes, workplaces, schools and daycare centres in various countries. Despite difficulties in relating these problems to specific agents in the indoor environment, it is often possible in practice to initiate efficient remedial actions by using a strategy involving structured information from the occupants and various technical measurements. In this presentation, a practical approach to indoor air problems is discussed, based mainly on experience from studies using the standardized MM questionnaires. By using suitable reference values, one can deal with the complex situation arising from multiple low-level exposures of physical and biological origin, psychosocial and socioeconomic factors and variations in susceptibility of the occupants.
Evidence for a very slow transformation in ice VI at low temperatures

The high‐frequency permittivity of ice VI decreases steadily at 123.1 K and increases again when warmed to 127.8 K. There is therefore a new transformation occurring slowly in this region. The transformation of samples of H2O, D2O, and 1% D2O in H2O was followed for 252 days, and it was not yet completed. The experimental conditions were within the region of stability of ice VI, so the transformation is not to a known phase of ice. It was too slow to be an ordering transformation determined by the dielectric relaxation time, and it is likely that a wholly new phase was being produced.
Characterization of Fine Metallic Soap Particles by X-Ray Diffraction, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and Specific Surface Area Analysis

Fine metallic soap particles synthesized by jet mixing process have a much narrower particle size distribution and more homogeneous surface structure than metallic soap particles prepared by the method of pulverizing and classifying. With jet mixing, reaction conditions can be adjusted so as to control particle sizes while maintaining the above characteristics unchanged. With these particles it is possible to examine in detail the relationship between the particle size and condition and the crystalline condition and other physical properties, which has been considered impossible to perform using metallic soaps prepared by the conventional method of pulverizing and classifying. So, using fine particles of fatty acid zinc salt as a model of metallic soap for structure analysis, the influence of average particle size and fatty acid composition were examined on crystallinity, heat characteristics and other properties of the particles. Diffraction intensities, half-band widths, and long spacings of Miller index (003) peaks were analyzed from X-Ray Diffraction chart and compared with average particle size and fatty acid composition for fine particles of fatty acid zinc salt. Furthermore, Crystallinity of fine particles of fatty acid zinc salt were examined by these results, and were compared with results of differential scanning calorimetry and specific surface area analysis. The results are described in the present report.
Multi-Night Validation of a Sleep Tracking Ring in Adolescents Compared with a Research Actigraph and Polysomnography

Background Wearable devices have tremendous potential for large-scale longitudinal measurement of sleep, but their accuracy needs to be validated. We compared the performance of the multisensor Oura ring (Oura Health Oy, Oulu, Finland) to polysomnography (PSG) and a research actigraph in healthy adolescents. Methods Fifty-three adolescents (28 females; aged 15–19 years) underwent overnight PSG monitoring while wearing both an Oura ring and Actiwatch 2 (Philips Respironics, USA). Measurements were made over multiple nights and across three levels of sleep opportunity (5 nights with either 6.5 or 8h, and 3 nights with 9h). Actiwatch data at two sensitivity settings were analyzed. Discrepancies in estimated sleep measures as well as sleep-wake, and sleep stage agreements were evaluated using Bland–Altman plots and epoch-by-epoch (EBE) analyses. Results Compared with PSG, Oura consistently underestimated TST by an average of 32.8 to 47.3 minutes (Ps < 0.001) across the different TIB conditions; Actiwatch 2 at its default setting underestimated TST by 25.8 to 33.9 minutes. Oura significantly overestimated WASO by an average of 30.7 to 46.3 minutes. It was comparable to Actiwatch 2 at default sensitivity in the 6.5, and 8h TIB conditions. Relative to PSG, Oura significantly underestimated REM sleep (12.8 to 19.5 minutes) and light sleep (51.1 to 81.2 minutes) but overestimated N3 by 31.5 to 46.8 minutes (Ps < 0.01). EBE analyses demonstrated excellent sleep-wake accuracies, specificities, and sensitivities – between 0.88 and 0.89 across all TIBs. Conclusion The Oura ring yielded comparable sleep measurement to research grade actigraphy at the latter’s default settings. Sleep staging needs improvement. However, the device appears adequate for characterizing the effect of sleep duration manipulation on adolescent sleep macro-architecture.
The Slavcleft: a three-center study of the outcome of treatment of cleft lip and palate. Nasolabial appearance

Background There is a multitude of protocols of treatment of cleft lip and palate (CLP) worldwide differing in number of operations, surgical techniques, and timings of surgeries. Despite, facial appearance in subjects with CLP is rarely ideal and residual stigmata are easy to notice in many patients irrespective of the protocol. The prospective controlled investigations are optimal for comparing effectiveness of treatment protocols. Because prospective studies are very challenging to perform in CLP field, it is reasonable to retrospectively assess different surgical protocols to identify the promising ones and then to test them in a prospective way. Methods Our objective was to assess the nasolabial appearance in a preadolescent Slavic population with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) by using the 0–200 numeric scale with reference photographs. Patients treated in Warsaw, Poland (n = 32), Prague, Czech Republic (n = 26) and Bratislava, Slovakia (n = 17) were included in this retrospective study. Each cleft center used a unique surgical protocol. Two panels of professional raters (n = 7) and laypeople (n = 10) scored blindly the nasolabial esthetics on cropped frontal and profile images with cropped reference photograph present on the same slide. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients, t-tests, and Bland–Altman plots. Inter-group differences were evaluated with one-way ANOVA and regression analysis. Results The agreement within and between raters was acceptable. We found that patients treated in Warsaw, Prague, and Bratislava showed comparable nasolabial appearance on frontal and profile photographs when judged by both professional raters (p > 0.05) and laypeople (p > 0.05). Regression analysis did not identify influence of gender, group (i.e., Warsaw, Prague, and Bratislava), age at lip repair, surgeon, and age at photographic assessment on esthetic outcome (p > 0.05). Conclusion This study showed that none of the surgical protocols showed superiority to produce good nasolabial appearance.
Sex difference in pulmonary hypertension in the evaluation by exercise echocardiography

Male patients with pulmonary hypertension have poor survival than their female counterparts. Poor right ventricular function in men may be one of the major determinants of poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the difference in hemodynamics during exercise between men and women by exercise echocardiography. Consecutive patients with pulmonary hypertension who underwent right heart catheterization were enrolled, and survival was analyzed. In patients who underwent exercise echocardiography, the change in tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient during exercise was calculated at multiple stages (low-, moderate-, and high-load exercise), and the mortality was also recorded. In a total of 93 patients, although there were no differences in pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance between sexes, male patients showed poor survival. In patients with exercise echocardiography, change in tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient at low-load (25 W) exercise was significantly lower in men, although that at maximum-load exercise was not different between men and women. In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, in a median follow-up duration of 1760 days, male patients and those with lower change in tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient at low-load exercise showed poorer survival (P = 0.002 and 0.026, respectively). In the Cox proportional hazards analysis, the change in tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient at low-load exercise was independently associated with poor survival after adjustment for age and sex. In conclusion, a lower change in tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient at low-load exercise was observed in male patients and was a prognostic marker, which may be associated, at least in part, with poorer prognosis in male patients with pulmonary hypertension.
ITGB1 enhances the Radioresistance of human Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by modulating the DNA damage response and YAP1-induced Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition

Objectives: Radiotherapy has played a limited role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) due to the risk of tumour radioresistance. We previously established the radioresistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line H460R. In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes between these radioresistant H460R cells and their radiosensitive parent line. We further evaluated the role of a differentially expressed gene, ITGB1, in NSCLC cell radioresistance and as a potential target for improving radiosensitivity. Materials and Methods: The radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells was evaluated by flow cytometry, colony formation assays, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. Bioinformatics assay was used to identify the effect of ITGB1 and YAP1 expression in NSCLC tissues. Results: ITGB1 mRNA and protein expression levels were higher in H460R than in the parental H460 cells. We observed lower clonogenic survival and cell viability and a higher rate of apoptosis of ITGB1-knockdown A549 and H460R cells than of wild type cells post-irradiation. Transfection with an ITGB1 short hairpin (sh) RNA enhanced radiation-induced DNA damage and G2/M phase arrest. Moreover, ITGB1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of NSCLC cells. Silencing ITGB1 suppressed the expression and intracellular translocation of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a downstream effector of ITGB1. Conclusions: ITGB1 may induce radioresistance via affecting DNA repair and YAP1-induced EMT. Taken together, our data suggest that ITGB1 is an attractive therapeutic target to overcome NSCLC cell radioresistance.
Human Papilloma Virus: Current Knowledge and Focus on Oral Health

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is responsible for different pathological manifestations in humans. This agent gives rise to lesions of different types and in different areas of the organism, including the oral cavity. The aim of this study is to show which are the main diseases for which HPV is responsible and to bring to light some of the interceptive and therapeutic strategies. The analysis was conducted by consulting the major scientific databases with the aim of obtaining information on the characteristics of oral HPV and its management; furthermore, the literature was supported by some clinical cases proposed by the authors. The role of dentistry is essential in the early diagnosis of this type of pathologies and above all in knowing how to direct patients towards a path that can lead to patient management, especially in the event that these lesions have a malignant potential. Enhancing the knowledge and role of dentistry can lead to early diagnosis of this type of injury, intercepting a pathology that could have multiorgan implications.
In Vivo Antitumor Effect against Murine Cells of CT26 Colon Cancer and EL4 Lymphoma by Autologous Whole Tumor Dead Cells

Active immunotherapy against cancer is based on immune system stimulation, triggering efficient and long-lasting antigen-specific immune responses. Immunization strategies using whole dead cells from tumor tissue, containing specific antigens inside, have become a promising approach, providing efficient lymphocyte activation through dendritic cells (DCs). In this work, we generate whole dead tumor cells from CT26, E.G7, and EL4 live tumor cells as antigen sources, which termed immunogenic cell bodies (ICBs), generated by a simple and cost-efficient starvation-protocol, in order to determine whether are capable of inducing a transversal anticancer response regardless of the tumor type, in a similar way to what we describe previously with B16 melanoma. We evaluated the anticancer effects of immunization with doses of ICBs in syngeneic murine tumor models. Our results showed that mice's immunization with ICBs-E.G7 and ICBs-CT26 generate 18% and 25% of tumor-free animals, respectively. On the other hand, all carrying tumor-animals and immunized with ICBs, including ICBs-EL4, showed a significant delay in their growth compared to not immunized animals. These effects relate to DCs maturation, cytokine production, increase in CD4+T-bet+ and CD4+ROR-γt+ population, and decrease of T regulatory lymphocytes in the spleen. Altogether, our data suggest that whole dead tumor cell-based cancer immunotherapy generated by a simple starvation protocol is a promising way to develop complementary, innovative, and affordable antitumor therapies in a broad spectrum of tumors.