Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Childhood Socioeconomic Status and the Occurrence of Recent Negative Life Events as Predictors of Circulating and Stimulated Levels of Interleukin-6

Objectives Evidence supports an inverse association of childhood socioeconomic status (SES) with systemic inflammation in adulthood. However, it remains to be determined whether this association is dependent on exposure to stressful life experiences. Methods We predicted that the combination of a high number of recent negative life events and low childhood SES would be associated with the highest levels of both circulating interleukin (IL)-6 and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of IL-6. We tested this prediction among a community sample of 459 adults (47% male, mean [standard deviation] age = 42.8 [7.3] years). Results Inverse associations were found between childhood and adult SES indices with circulating IL-6 levels (r values between −0.07 and −0.16, p < .05) but not stimulated IL-6 levels (r values between −0.007 and 0.07, p > .05). The number of recent negative life events (mean [standard deviation] = 2.43 [2.34]) was not significantly related to subjective childhood SES and other SES indices (r values < 0.06, p > .10). Multivariate linear regression analyses revealed a significant association between the interaction of subjective childhood SES and recent negative life events and circulating IL-6 (&bgr; = −0.09, t(404) = −1.98, p = . 049) and a marginally significant association with stimulated levels of IL-6 (&bgr; = −0.10, t(365) = −1.94, p = . 054), whereas these covariate-adjusted models revealed no main effects for subjective SES or recent negative life events. Conclusions The relationship between childhood SES and IL-6 seems to be moderated by recent life events, such that individuals with a relatively low childhood SES exhibit an inflammatory phenotype in the context of a high number of recent negative life events.
HIV‐1 can be recovered from a variety of cells including peripheral blood monocytes of patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy: a further obstacle to eradication

During highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV‐1 can still persist in circulating, resting CD4+ T lymphocytes, lymph node mononuclear cells, and seminal cells of patients despite sustained suppression of plasma viremia to undetectable levels. Sanctuary sites where antiretroviral drug penetration is not optimal may allow local HIV‐1 infection of cells within and passing through these tissues. Factors such as imperfect drug adherence due to complicated drug regimens may also result in tissue compartments with suboptimal drug concentrations allowing viral replication. We have examined blood monocytes from HIV‐1‐infected subjects being effectively treated with HAART to determine virus carriage in these cells. Monocytes were purified from peripheral blood of patients with plasma HIV‐1 RNA below 50 copies/mL and who had maintained levels of plasma RNA below detection for 3 months or more. Replication‐competent virus could be recovered from the majority of monocyte populations by co‐culture with CD8‐depleted, PHA‐activated, peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Sequencing of the reverse transcriptase and protease genes of the recovered viruses did not reveal resistance to both reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors. Continued new infection of this transitory, circulating population of cells even during prolonged, effective HAART most likely reflects ongoing, low‐level HIV‐1 replication within cellular reservoirs and sanctuary sites in the body.
Transferrin dependence of Ga(NO3)3 inhibition of growth in human‐derived small cell lung cancer cells

The effect of a combination of anti‐transferrin receptor (TFR) antibody, 42/6, and Ga(No3)3 on cell growth was examined in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines: classic, NCl‐H209, NCl‐H345, NCl‐H510; and variant, NCl‐H82 and NCl‐N417. The role of TFR and transferrin(TF) in Ga(No3)3 cellular uptake was also tested. Exogenous TF did not enhance the cytotoxicity of Ga. At > 3 μg/mL, Ga(No3)3 inhibited growth in all cell lines in TF‐supplemented or deficient media. At < 3 μg/mL, Ga stimulated growth for all cells but this effect was eliminated by TF or 42/6. Classic SCLC lines required 3–4‐fold less exogenous gallium than variant lines to reduce cell number by 50%. The mean Ga uptake (ng/106 cells) in H345 and H209 cell lines was 4–5‐fold compared to H82 and N417 uptake (P < 0.001). 42/6 reduced exogenous TF‐stimulated growth. Antibody plus Ga(No3)3 caused a slight further cell number decline in all cell lines in TF‐supplemented or deficient media. These results suggest that the addition of 42/6 antibody treatment would not increase the effectiveness of Ga(No3)3 in patients. Both exogenous and endogenous TF and TFR play an important role in Ga uptake in these cells. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cryptosporidium infections in inbred strains of mice.

Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite of man and animals, is an important etiological agent of diarrhea throughout the world, particularly in children and immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients. Unfortunately, because of the lack of both in vivo laboratory models and reliable in vitro parasite culture systems, virtually nothing is known about the immunological events occurring during disease. In order to identify reliable animal models for infection, we studied C. parvum infections in 19 different strains of mice representing 12 H-2 haplotypes: A/J, AKR/J, B10.D2/J, B10.M/J, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/65, C57BL/6J-bgJ, CBA/NJ, DBA/1J, DBA/2J, HRS/J, HTG/J, NZB/B1NJ, NZW/J, P/J, RIII/J, SJL/J, SWR/J, and WB/ReJ, and in one gerbil: Meriones unguiculatus. Fecal samples and histological sections of the intestine taken on day 7 post-Cryptosporidium inoculation indicated that only the beige mouse (C57BL/6J-bgJ) harbored significant numbers of parasites compared to the other strains. The numbers of parasites harbored in these NK cell-deficient beige mice were, however, considerably lower than those seen in neonatal mice. Adult inbred mouse strains susceptible to Cryptosporidium infections are discussed.
Impact of Joint National Committee VII recommendations on diabetic microvascular complications.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee recommendations on microvascular complications in South Indian type 2 diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, 457 type 2 diabetic patients and 500 age-matched healthy control subjects, with no history of hypertension were enrolled. Based on blood pressure measurements, they were assigned as Group I: Normal (SBP < 120 and DBP < 80 mmHg); Group II: Prehypertension (SBP 120-139 or DBP 80-89 mmHg); Group III: Stage I hypertension (SBP 140-159 or DBP 90-99 mmHg) and Group IV: Stage II hypertension (SBP > or = 160 or DBP > or = 100). RESULTS Blood pressure readings in controls and diabetics were: normal in 46.8% and 16.2% (chi2 = 101.1, p < 0.0001), prehypertension in 33.2% and 52.5% (chi2 = 35.7, p < 0.0001), stage I hypertension in 15.2% and 26.3% (chi2 = 17.3, p < 0.0001), stage II hypertension in 4.8% and 5% respectively. Prevalence of retinopathy increased with increasing incidence of hypertension (trend chi2 = 10.7, p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, cholesterol was associated with prehypertension, and cholesterol and family history of hypertension were associated with stage I hypertension. Albuminuria, family history of hypertension and serum triglycerides were associated with stage II hypertension. CONCLUSION More than half of the diabetic subjects were prehypertensives. As expected prevalence of other complications increased with increasing levels of blood pressure. This emphasizes the need to have regular check up for hypertension to reduce the morbidity from other complications.
Regulation of Ca(2+)-activated K+ currents by ciglitazone in rat pituitary GH3 cells.

BACKGROUND Ciglitazone, an antidiabetic agent of the thiazolidinedione family, is known to be an activator of the peroxisome-proliferator activator receptor (PPAR)-gamma. The underlying mechanism of ciglitazone actions on ionic currents in neuroendocrine cells remains unclear. METHODS The effects of ciglitazone on ionic currents were investigated in rat pituitary GH3 cells using the whole-cell and inside-out configurations of the patch-clamp technique. RESULTS In GH3 cells, ciglitazone at 3-300 mumol/L caused a reversible increase in the amplitude of the Ca(2+)-activated K+ current (IK(Ca)) with a half-maximal concentration of 16 mumol/L. Under the inside-out patch recording mode, ciglitazone applied intracellularly increased the activity of the large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ (BKCa) channels, but did not affect their single-channel conductance. However, troglitazone (30 mumol/L) caused a reduction in the channel activity. The ciglitazone-induced change in the kinetic behavior of BKCa channels is due to an increase in mean open time and a decrease in mean closed time, whereas the troglitazone-induced decrease in the channel activity is related to a decrease in mean open time and an increase in mean closed time. Ciglitazone caused a left shift in the midpoint for voltage-dependent opening. The ciglitazone-stimulated activity of BKCa channels is independent of internal Ca2+. Under the current clamp mode, ciglitazone (30 mumol/L) hyperpolarized the membrane potential. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that in addition to its activation of PPAR-gamma, ciglitazone can stimulate the activity of BKCa channels expressed in GH3 cells. These effects may affect membrane potentials and contribute to the ciglitazone-induced change in the functional activity of neurons or neuroendocrine cells.
Phenotypic variation including retinitis pigmentosa, pattern dystrophy, and fundus flavimaculatus in a single family with a deletion of codon 153 or 154 of the peripherin/RDS gene.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Mutations of the peripherin/RDS gene have been reported in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, pattern macular dystrophy, and retinitis punctata albescens. We report herein the occurrence of three separate phenotypes within a single family with a novel 3-base pair deletion of codon 153 or 154 of the peripherin/RDS gene. DESIGN Case reports with clinical features, fluorescein angiography, kinetic perimetry, electrophysiological studies, and molecular genetics. SETTING University medical centers. PATIENTS A 75-year-old woman, her two daughters (aged 44 and 50 years), and her 49-year-old son were screened for peripherin/RDS mutations because of the presence of multiple phenotypes within the same family. RESULTS The mother presented at age 63 years with a profoundly abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) and adult-onset retinitis pigmentosa that progressed dramatically over 12 years, with marked loss of peripheral visual field. One daughter developed pattern macular dystrophy at age 31 years. At age 44 years, her ERG was moderately abnormal but her clinical disease was limited to the macula. Another daughter presented at age 42 years with macular degeneration and over 10 years developed the clinical picture of fundus flavimaculatus. Her peripheral visual field was preserved but her ERG was moderately abnormal. The son had onset of macular degeneration at age 44 years. Pericentral scotomas were present and the ERG was markedly abnormal. Fluorescein angiography revealed punctate pigment epithelial transmission defects. CONCLUSIONS A 3-base pair deletion of codon 153 or 154 of the peripherin/RDS gene can produce clinically disparate phenotypes even within the same family.
PROTEASE-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR 2 BLOCKING PEPTIDE COUNTERACTS ENDOTOXIN-INDUCED INFLAMMATION AND COAGULATION AND AMELIORATES RENAL FIBRIN DEPOSITION IN A RAT MODEL OF ACUTE RENAL FAILURE

ABSTRACT Glomerular and microvascular thrombosis due to the activation of inflammation and coagulation pathway contribute to the occurrence of acute renal failure in sepsis. The protease-activated receptors (PARs) have been shown to play an important role in the interplay between inflammation and coagulation. We hypothesized that PAR-2 blocking would improve glomerular and vascular thrombosis by attenuating inflammation and coagulation, leading to the prevention of acute renal failure, and assessed the effects of the PAR-2 blocking peptide (PAR-2 BP) in a rat model of LPS-induced acute renal failure. Levels of TNF-&agr; were significantly expressed 1 h after LPS administration, followed by 1) an increase in levels of tissue factor, factor VIIa, factor Xa, thrombin and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1; 2) unchanged levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor; and 3) subsequent deposition of fibrin in kidney tissues, which led to the elevation of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Time-dependent PAR-2 expression was observed at both the gene and protein levels. Immunoreactivities of PAR-2 and fibrin were observed in the glomerulus and small arteries. Protease-activated receptor blocking peptide suppressed TNF-&agr; elevation and attenuated activation of the coagulation, thus leading to a decrease in fibrin formation and its deposition in the glomerulus. However, the levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen remained unchanged. These results show that PAR-2 plays a key role in the inflammatory and coagulation process of LPS-induced renal failure; however, PAR-2 inhibition alone does not affect improvement in the renal function.
Epicardial Reflection as a Cause of Incessant Ventricular Bigeminy

Incessant monomorphic ventricular bigeminy was studied in a young patient with no organic heart disease. The arrhythmia could not be controlled by drug therapy. Spontaneous and artificial variation of the heart rate showed that reentry was the most likely arrhythmogenic mechanism. Peroperative epicardial and transmural mapping revealed an epicardial focal origin which was cryoablated. Reflected reentry occurring in a small area of working myocardial cells appeared to be the most likely explanation for this arrhythmia.
Obesity and neurological disorders: Dietary perspective of a global menace

ABSTRACT Obesity is considered a major public health concern throughout the world among children, adolescents, as well as adults and several therapeutic, preventive and dietary interventions are available. In addition to life style changes and medical interventions, significant milestones have been achieved in the past decades in the development of several functional foods and dietary regimens to reduce this menace. Being a multifactorial phenomenon and related to increased fat mass that adversely affects health, obesity has been associated with the development of several other co-morbidities. A great body of research and strong scientific evidence identifies obesity as an important risk factor for onset and progression of several neurological disorders. Obesity induced dyslipidaemia, metabolic dysfunction, and inflammation are attributable to the development of a variety of effects on central nervous system (CNS). Evidence suggests that neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease could be initiated by various metabolic changes, related to CNS damage, caused by obesity. These metabolic changes could alter the synaptic plasticity of the neurons and lead to neural death, affecting the normal physiology of CNS. Dietary intervention in combination with exercise can affect the molecular events involved in energy metabolism and synaptic plasticity and are considered effective non-invasive strategy to counteract cognitive and neurological disorders. The present review gives an overview of the obesity and related neurological disorders and the possible dietary interventions.
Improvement of locomotive performance of capsular microrobot moving in GI tract using position based feedback control

The position based feedback control system is proposed in order to improve the locomotive performance of the paddling based capsular microrobot moving in gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. The miniaturized optical encoder is designed and fabricated for the positional feedback of the mobile in the microrobot, which results in the precise positioning with the resolution of 0.1 mm. Moreover, the stroke of the mobile is optimized to increase the forwarding velocity of the microrobot. The control performance is verified by comparing the targeted displacement with the measured one under various loading conditions. The velocity of the microrobot is evaluated according to the various strokes and driving voltages under visco-elastically deformable and rare deformable conditions. The control system works properly with high resolution and accuracy and the velocity of the microrobot is maximized under the optimized stroke. In the in-vitro test, the velocity of the microrobot controlled by the position based feedback is increased by 73 % when the optimized stroke is applied, compared with the velocity by the time based control.
Nuclear Functions for Plasma Membrane‐Associated Proteins?

There are a growing number of observations that proteins, which were initially thought to perform a specific function in a given subcellular compartment, may also play additional roles in different locations within the cell. Proteins found in adhesion and endocytic structures of the plasma membrane and which also traffic to the nucleus perhaps represent the more spectacular examples of this phenomenon. The mechanisms involved in the transport of these molecules through the nuclear pores and their potential nuclear functions are discussed.
Identification of NOL8, a nucleolar protein containing an RNA recognition motif (RRM), which was overexpressed in diffuse‐type gastric cancer

In an attempt to identify novel therapeutic targets for diffusetype gastric cancer, we had previously compared expression profiles of 20 diffuse‐type gastric‐cancer tissues with corresponding non‐cancerous mucosae by means of a cDNA microarray consisting of 23,040 genes. Among 153 genes whose expression levels were elevated in cancers compared to non‐cancerous mucosae, we focused on a gene termed NOL8 that encodes a putative 150‐kDa protein with an RNA‐recognition motif (RRM) domain in its amino‐acid terminal region. Comparison of expression profiles between diffuse‐type and intestinal‐type gastric cancers showed that NOL8 was specifically up‐regulated in diffuse‐type cancers. Northern blot analysis revealed that NOL8 was expressed in skeletal muscle, but not expressed or hardly detectable in 22 other tissues examined. Immunocytochemical staining of NOL8 showed specific localization in the nucleolus. Subsequent protein phosphatase analysis coupled with western analysis revealed the presence of the phosphorylated form. Furthermore, transfection of short‐interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to NOL8 into three diffuse‐type gastric cancer cells, St‐4, MKN45 and TMK‐1, effectively reduced expression of this gene and induced apoptosis in these cells. These findings provide a new insight into diffuse‐type gastric carcinogenesis and may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for diffuse‐type gastric cancer.
Wireless monitoring system design based on embedded uclinux system

In this paper, ZigBee technology is used to build a home network, µClinux system platform is used to build an embedded Web server, Boa, so that the remote PC can access to the embedded Web through a browser, to achieve remote monitoring. This paper is mainly to achieve the software design of home monitoring system, including the operating system migration, the embedded Web server configuration, HTTP protocol design, and CGI technology implementation.
Primary endpoints in cancer trials.

There is an ongoing discussion about the selection of the most appropriate primary endpoint in cancer trials. Most papers are comparing progression-free survival (PFS) with overall survival (OS). Alternatives could be disease-free survival (DFS) or time to treatment failure (TTF). Another option could be the quality of life.
Trapping, care, and laboratory management of the silvered leaf monkey (Presbytis cristatus).

The silvered leaf monkey (Presbytis cristatus) from South Kalimantan ( Borneo ), Indonesia is a natural host for a variety of filarial nematodes including Brugia malayi and Wuchereria kalimantani . Experimental studies show that it is host for W. bancrofti, a filarial nematode causing elephantiasis in man. Presbytis cristatus is a gregarious primate of primary and secondary forests, roaming in troops of 20-30 members. Primarily a fruit and leaf eater under natural conditions, this monkey can adapt to a laboratory diet of commercial monkey chow supplemented with fruits and vegetables. Troops, led by an alpha male, immediately respond to protect their young during stressful or dangerous situations. Infants are born singly and are bright orange. Transition to the adult grey and black coloration begins three to five months after birth. Silvered leaf monkeys can be readily trapped. Initially they are aggressive and will attack but become tractable several days after capture. Reaching upward is an important feeding behavior of the silvered leaf monkey and they will not feed from the floor of the cage. In the laboratory they are nonaggressive and lend themselves to various procedures such as blood drawing and examination. Silvered leaf monkeys travel well in commercial animal transport cages. In the United Stages they are not an endangered species and can be readily imported. In Indonesia they are not protected by law and can be exported.
Comparing cost benefit and multi-criteria analysis : the evaluation of neighbourhoods ’ sustainable mobility

The paper focuses on the methodology for assessing Sustainable Mobility (SM) at the neighbourhood scale. For this purpose, two different ex-ante evaluation approaches are considered: Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA). If the MCA is an acknowledged technique for the assessment of sustainability at neighbourhood level, CBA is mainly used for infrastructure and large transformation projects. Besides, the two methodologies present strengths and weaknesses; MCA, for instance, does not evaluate public expense efficiency, but only its effectiveness towards the goals to achieve. On the contrary, CBA appears less effective in managing some intangible benefits (and costs), which are very relevant, especially at this scale, for achieving sustainable mobility and urban quality of life. The joint use of the two methodologies could overcome the weaknesses above mentioned, providing a coherent methodology for assessing both efficiency and effectiveness of policies and projects. The aim of this paper is twofold: (i) analyse the two methodologies when applied at the neighbourhood scale, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of both, (ii) propose an integrated approach, considering both the methodologies, in order to overcome their weaknesses and to reach the goal of assessing SM in the neighbourhoods. The paper is structured into five sections. The Introduction is followed by the description of the MCA (section 2) and the CBA (section 3), with specific emphasis on the SM assessments. Section 4 is dedicated to the investigation of strengths and weaknesses of MCA and CBA, while in section 5 a joint approach is proposed and discussed to evaluate SM at neighbourhood level, in order to overcome some weaknesses of the two methodologies. Follows the framing of further research questions.