Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Macroporous bioceramics: A remarkable material for bone regeneration

This review summarises the major developments of macroporous bioceramics used mainly for repairing bone defects. Porous bioceramics have been receiving attention ever since their larger surface area was reported to be beneficial for the formation of more rigid bonds with host tissues. The study of porous bioceramics is important to overcome the less favourable bonds formed between dense bioceramics and host tissues, especially in healing bone defects. Macroporous bioceramics, which have been studied extensively, include hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, alumina, and zirconia. The pore size and interconnections both have significant effects on the growth rate of bone tissues. The optimum pore size of hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone growth was found to be 300 µm. The existence of interconnections between pores is critical during the initial stage of tissue ingrowth on porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds. Furthermore, pore formation on β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds also allowed the impregnation of growth factors and cells to improve bone tissues growth significantly. The formation of vascularised tissues was observed on macroporous alumina but did not take place in the case of dense alumina due to its bioinert nature. A macroporous alumina coating on scaffolds was able to improve the overall mechanical properties, and it enabled the impregnation of bioactive materials that could increase the bone growth rate. Despite the bioinertness of zirconia, porous zirconia was useful in designing scaffolds with superior mechanical properties after being coated with bioactive materials. The pores in zirconia were believed to improve the bone growth on the coated system. In summary, although the formation of pores in bioceramics may adversely affect mechanical properties, the advantages provided by the pores are crucial in repairing bone defects.
Heart failure patients from hospital settings in Poland: population characteristics and treatment patterns, a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND Despite physicians' increasing knowledge regarding heart failure (HF), a significant percentage of patients still do not receive adequate treatment. The aim of this multicentre, retrospective descriptive study was to reveal the pharmacotherapy patterns in HF patients hospitalized in cardiology (CARD) and internal medicine (INT) wards in Poland. METHODS Included into the study were 800 consecutive patients who were admitted to the hospitals: 350 patients from 7 CARD wards and 450 patients from 9 INT wards. RESULTS The average age in the study group was about 70 years (youngest participant under 40 and oldest at 95 years of age). Decompensation of HF or acute HF were the most frequent causes of hospitalization (in both groups > 50%). The main etiology was coronary artery disease, either alone or together with hypertension (from about 60% in INT patients to about 78% in CARD patients, p = NS). With regard to pharmacotherapy, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors were used in 81% of cases (77% CARD and 83% INT; p = 0.05); out of this group, doses were at optimal or larger in 39.3% of patients (38% CARD patients and 39.4% INT patients). Beta-blockers were administered in 31.4% and 19.1% of patients from the CARD and INT groups respectively (p < 0.0001), but optimal dosing was negligible. CONCLUSIONS Compared with an assessment conducted several years ago, the past education initiatives have significantly improved the quality of standard-based HF treatment. However, suboptimal dosing and the use of drugs that do not improve prognosis remain an unresolved issue in this population.
Lack of association between RETN rs1862513 polymorphism and cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVES To assess the influence of the RETN rs1862513 polymorphism in the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Six hundred and sixty-eight patients fulfilling the 1987 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for RA, seen at the rheumatology outpatient clinics of Hospital Xeral-Calde, Lugo, and Hospital San Carlos, Madrid, Spain, were studied. Patients were genotyped for the RETN rs1862513 polymorphism using predesigned TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assay. Also, HLA-DRB1 genotyping was performed using molecular based methods. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), flow-mediated endothelium-dependent and endothelium independent vasodilatation, used as surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, were measured in a subgroup of patients. RESULTS No significant differences in the genotypic or in the allelic distribution between RA patients with or without CV disease were found. In this regard, we only observed a slight increased frequency of homozygous and heterozygous for the minor allele G (CG+GG genotypes) among patients who experienced CV events compared to those without CV events (53.04% vs. 52.62%, p=0.94). A higher frequency of classic CV risk factors was observed among the carriers of the minor allele G. However, in the adjusted logistic regression model no association between the RETN variant and CV disease was found (p=0.50). Also, when surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis were assessed, in the adjusted ANCOVA model only a trend towards a higher carotid IMT was found among allele G carriers (p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS RETN rs1862513 polymorphism does not seem to be a genetic risk factor for both clinically evident CV disease and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA.
Cell-contact-dependent activation of CD4+ T cells by adhesion molecules on synovial fibroblasts

Abstract Objective: To determine how cell–cell contact with synovial fibroblasts (SF) influence on the proliferation and cytokine production of CD4+ T cells. Methods: Naïve CD4+ T cells were cultured with SF from rheumatoid arthritis patients, stimulated by anti-CD3/28 antibody, and CD4+ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ/IL-17 production were analyzed. To study the role of adhesion molecules, cell contact was blocked by transwell plate or anti-intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)/vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) antibody. To study the direct role of adhesion molecules for CD4+ T cells, CD161+ or CD161- naïve CD4+ T cells were stimulated on plastic plates coated by recombinant ICAM-1 or VCAM-1, and the source of IFN-γ/IL-17 were analyzed. Results: SF enhanced naïve CD4+ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ/IL-17 production in cell-contact and in part ICAM-1-/VCAM-1-dependent manner. Plate-coated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 enhanced naïve CD4+ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ production, while VCAM-1 efficiently promoting IL-17 production. CD161+ naïve T cells upregulating LFA-1 and VLA-4 were the major source of IFN-γ/IL-17 upon interaction with ICAM-1/VCAM-1. Conclusion: CD4+ T cells rapidly expand and secrete IFN-γ/IL-17 upon cell-contact with SF via adhesion molecules. Interfering with ICAM-1-/VCAM-1 may be beneficial for inhibiting RA synovitis.
Inherited Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potentially fatal immune disorder characterized by uncontrolled lymphocyte- and macrophage-activation. The resulting hypercytokinemia and cell infiltration of organs lead to the clinical and laboratory features of HLH. Viral infections and other triggers can induce both, inherited and acquired forms of HLH. Disease-causing mutations in the genes encoding perforin (PRF1, FHL2), munc13-4 (UNC13D, FHL3), syntaxin 11 (STX11, FHL4), and munc18-2 (UNC18-2/STXBP2, FHL5) have been previously identified in Familial Hemophagocyic Lymphohistiocytosis (FHL), whereas mutation in RAB27A and LYST account for Griscelli syndome type 2 and Chediak-Higashi syndrome, respectively. These genes all encode proteins which are involved in the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes. The inability of activated cytotoxic cells to clear antigen-presenting targets results in sustained immune stimulation, likely accounting for the unremitting polyclonal CD8 T-cell activation and hyperimmune reaction which characterizes FHL. Treatment of HLH consists of elimination of the trigger and immunosuppressive treatment in order to induce remission from the uncontrolled inflammation. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be indicated in the inherited forms of HLH.
Retrospective Analysis of Sequential Dose‐Finding Designs

Summary The continual reassessment method (CRM) is a dose‐finding design using a dynamic sequential updating scheme. In common with other dynamic schemes the method estimates a current dose level corresponding to some target percentile for experimentation. The estimate is based on all included subjects. This continual reevaluation is made possible by the use of a simple model. As it stands, neither the CRM, nor any of the other dynamic schemes, allow for the correct estimation of some target percentile, based on retrospective data apart from the exceptional situation in which the simplified model exactly generates the observations. In this article we focus on the very specific issue of retrospective analysis of data generated by some arbitrary mechanism and subsequently analyzed via the continual reassessment method. We show how this can be done consistently. The proposed methodology is not restricted to that particular design and is applicable to any sequential updating scheme in which dose levels are associated with percentiles via model inversion.
Zoonotic and Foodborne Transmission of Hepatitis E Virus

Abstract Hepatitis E is an important disease in many developing countries of Asia and Africa with large explosive outbreaks and is also endemic with sporadic or cluster cases of hepatitis in many industrialized countries. The causative agent, hepatitis E virus (HEV), is currently classified in the family Hepeviridae. Thus far, four putative genera of HEV representing mammalian, avian, and fish species have been identified and characterized worldwide. Within the mammalian HEV that infects humans, genotypes 1 and 2 are associated with epidemics and restricted to humans, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic and associated with sporadic and cluster cases of hepatitis E. As a fecal–orally transmitted disease, waterborne transmission is still an important route of HEV transmission especially for large outbreaks associated with genotypes 1 and 2. However, genetic identification of numerous animal strains of HEV and the demonstrated ability of cross-species infection by these animal strains have significantly broadened the host range and diversity of HEV and raised public health concerns for zoonosis and food safety associated with genotypes 3 and 4 HEV infection. Pigs and likely other animal species serve as reservoirs for HEV. Direct contact with infected pigs and other animals and consumption of contaminated animal meat and meat products pose risks for HEV infection. In this article, the current understanding of the zoonotic and foodborne transmissions of HEV as well as strategies to prevent zoonosis and ensure food safety is discussed.
Site-specific variation in femoral head cartilage composition in dogs at high and low risk for development of osteoarthritis: insights into cartilage degeneration.

OBJECTIVE To determine which characteristics of cartilage lesion pathology are detected in dogs at high risk to develop osteoarthritis prior to diagnosis by standard radiographs or macroscopic cartilage abnormality on necropsy. METHODS Fourteen disease-free dogs were assigned to risk groups based on hip distraction index. For seven dogs, three dimensional images of hip joints from computed tomography were available. At necropsy, ligamentum capitis femoris volumes were measured and articular cartilage was harvested and analyzed for percent water, swelling, glycosaminoglycan, and fibronectin. Comparisons were made with nine dogs with macroscopic cartilage lesions (OA group). RESULTS Ligament volumes were greater in the high distraction index group (P=0.000). Water content was elevated in the lesion area in both low and high risk dogs (P=0.000); no additional increase was noted in the high risk group. Glycosaminoglycan content was slightly elevated in the surrounding area in both groups (P< 0.02) but loss was noted histologically in the lesion area of the high risk group. Fibronectin was increased in the lesion area and in the high risk group (P=0.000). The magnitude of this increase was greatest in the lesion area (P=0.000) in explants. Computed tomography indicated dorsal acetabular rim impingement on the lesion area in high risk dogs. CONCLUSIONS Water content and swelling suggest matrix structure is weaker at the site of lesion predilection in all dogs regardless of risk status. Computed tomography imaging is consistent with site specific initiation of lesions by mechanical factors.
Plasma Proteome Analysis on Cynomolgus Monkey (Macaca Fascicularis) Pedigrees with Early Onset Drusen Formation

The central region of the primate retina is called macula. The fovea is located at the center of the macula, where the photoreceptors are concentrated to create neural network adapted for high visual acuity. Damage to the fovea by macular dystrophies and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can reduce the central visual acuity. The molecular mechanisms leading to these diseases are most likely dependent on the proteins in macula differ from that in peripheral retina in expression level. Previously, we reported an early onset macular degeneration with drusen in cynomolgus monkey pedigrees. These monkeys show similar fundus findings of early stage of AMD at 2 years after birth. To elucidate mechanism of drusen formation and to find disease biomarkers for early stage of AMD, we performed plasma proteome analysis. Plasma samples were collected from four affected and control monkeys within the same pedigree. Successful fractionation of the plasma proteins by ProteoMiner and Gelfree8100 were confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Total of 245 proteins were identified from eight samples. From the results of spectral counting, we selected some proteins, Apolipoprotein E, Histidine-rich glycoprotein, and Retinol-binding protein 4 as candidate proteins that would be related with drusen formation. Candidate proteins would be potentially beneficial as biomarkers for human AMD. One of the identified proteins, Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), is structural component of drusen and also related with other neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer disease. In this plasma proteome analysis, ApoE would be one of the possible factors of early drusen formation in these cynomolgus monkey pedigrees.
Apolipoprotein E—associated risk for Alzheimer's disease in the African‐American population is genotype dependent

As a part of our ongoing study on Alzheimer's disease (AD) in elderly African Americans, we obtained clinical assessment and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype data on 288 individuals (including 60 with AD). The ApoE σ4 allele frequency was significantly increased in AD patients compared with controls. The age‐adjusted odds ratio (OR) for AD in σ4 homozygotes was 4.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71–13.64) compared with the σ3/σ3 genotype, but the OR for AD with the σ3/σ4 genotype did not reach significance (1.20; 95% CI, 0.58–2.45). These findings suggest that the association between ApoE σ4 and AD is weaker in African Americans than in whites.
Accelerated hypofractionated thoracic radiotherapy in limited disease small cell lung cancer : comparison with the results of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy.

PURPOSE To compare accelerated hypofractionated (A-HYPO) radiotherapy (RT) with conventionally fractionated (CF) thoracic RT in patients with limited-disease small-cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC). METHODS Out of 217 consecutive LD-SCLC patients, treated between 1997 and 2012, 82 received CF-RT (44-60 Gy, 2 Gy/ fraction) sequentially to 4-6 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy (CHT), and 100 received A-HYPO-RT (42 Gy, 2.8 Gy/ fraction). Forty-two patients (42%) received "early" (before the 3rd cycle of CHT) A-HYPO-RT, and 58 (58%) patients received "late" A-HYPO-RT. Overall survival (OS), locoregional failure risk (LRFR) and toxicities were retrospectively evaluated and compared between CF-RT and A-HYPO-RT groups (also separately for "early" and "late" A-HYPO-RT). RESULTS Median survival times (MST) for CF-RT and A-HYPO-RT were 18 and 24 months, respectively; 3-year OS were 19.1 and 39.4%, respectively (p=0.004). Three-year LRFR in CF-RT was 47.3% and 34.0% in the A-HYPO- RT group (p=0.12). Statistically significant difference in OS (p=0.007) and LRFR (p=0.03) was observed, favoring "early" A-HYPO-RT (MST=27 months, 3-year OS=40.0%, 3-year LRFR=28.4%) over CF-RT. Use of CF-RT (relative risk/RR=1.65, p=0.02) and poor CHT compliance (RR=1.69, p=0.03) were independent prognostic factors for poor OS; "early" start of RT was a favorable although non-significant prognostic factor for LRFR (RR=0.42, p=0.05). No difference in toxicities was observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS A-HYPO-RT results in better outcomes than CF-RT. "Early" A-HYPO-RT provides additional benefit in locoregional control and survival, without increased toxicity. These results indicate the need for a randomized study on the efficacy of A-HYPO-RT.
Cellular Uptake and Release of Two Contrasting Iron Chelators

Desferrioxamine and CP94 (1,2‐diethyl‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐one) are metal chelators used or proposed for use in the clinical treatment of iron overload. Recent data on their capacity to deplete intracellular iron led to the conjecture that the differences observed arose from the different membrane‐penetration properties of the two compounds.
Antiretroviral Drug Therapy Alters the Profile of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Specific T-Cell Responses and Shifts the Immunodominant Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Response from Gag to Pol

ABSTRACT Antiretroviral drug therapy and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) both exert selective pressures on human immunodeficiency virus type 1, which influence viral evolution. Compared to chronically infected, antiretroviral-untreated patients, most chronically infected, treated patients with detectable viremia lack a cellular immune response against the Gag 77-85(SL9) epitope but show a new immunodominant response against an epitope in protease PR 76-84. Hence, mutations induced by antiretroviral therapy likely alter the profile of epitopes presented to T cells and thus the direction of the response. The consequences of dual pressures from treatment and CTL need to be considered in monitoring of drug therapy.
Comparison of hypoxia and ouabain effects on the myocardial uptake kinetics of technetium-99m hexakis 2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile and thallium-201.

Effects of hypoxia and ouabain on transcapillary exchange of [99mTc]hexakis (2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile) [SESTAMIBI, also known as MIBI or HEXAMIBI] and 201TI were investigated with indicator-dilution studies using isolated rabbit hearts. Peak myocardial extraction (Emax), permeability-surface area products (PScap), and net myocardial extraction (Enet) were compared among serial injections during constant coronary flows. Overall, measures of transcapillary transport (Emax and PScap) for SESTAMIBI were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than those simultaneously determined for thallium, but estimates of tissue retention (Enet) for SESTAMIBI and thallium were not statistically distinguishable. Hypoxia had no significant effect on mean (+/- s.d.) Emax for SESTAMIBI (0.31 +/- 0.13) or thallium (0.59 +/- 0.11), nor on mean PScap or Enet values. Ouabain (1.5 X 10(-7) M and 1.5 X 10(-6) M) had no effect on SESTAMIBI or thallium Emax (respectively, 0.29 +/- 0.08 and 0.60 +/- 0.05) or on PScap for SESTAMIBI. Thallium PScap was depressed with higher ouabain dose (control, 1.22 +/- 0.40; high ouabain, 1.06 +/- 0.41 ml/min/g; p less than 0.01). Ouabain also caused a significant and progressive increase in average SESTAMIBI Enet (control, 0.23 +/- 0.10 to high ouabain, 0.33 +/- 0.12; p less than 0.05), but depressed thallium Enet (control, 0.38 +/- 0.14 to high ouabain, 0.32 +/- 0.18; p less than 0.01). These results suggest myocardial metabolic and/or functional status have minor influence on transcapillary transport of SESTAMIBI and thallium, but significantly affects cellular retention.
Seasonal subsidy stabilizes food web dynamics: Balance in a heterogeneous landscape

Resource subsidies from external habitats can substantially affect the food web dynamics of local habitats. In this paper, we explore a mathematical model that is tailored for a stream food web, studied by Nakano and colleagues, in which consumers, in situ prey and subsidies all show seasonal fluctuation. The model reveals that the food web dynamics are stabilized if subsidies increase in summer when in situ productivity is low. Consumer dynamics are stabilized because subsidies complement seasonal resource deficiency. In situ prey dynamics are stabilized because subsidies indirectly balance the predation pressure by consumers, with seasonal change in prey carrying capacity. In summer when prey carrying capacity is low, seasonally abundant subsidies indirectly decrease predation pressure, whereas in winter, with high prey carrying capacity, scarce subsidies increase the predation pressure. Our results suggest that temporal productivity differences between spatially linked habitats are important to promote the stability of food web dynamics in a landscape context.
Effects of muscle history on the stretch reflex in cat and man.

1. This is a report of experiments on cat and man which demonstrate effects of a muscle's previous history of contraction and length changes on the size of the stretch reflex. 2. In adult human subjects the size of the tendon jerk was measured in ankle extensor muscles by tapping the Achilles tendon. Muscle conditioning consisted of a maximum voluntary contraction with the foot dorsiflexed or plantarflexed by 30 deg from the test position, after which the subject was asked to relax while the foot was held still for several seconds before being returned to the test position and a tendon tap given. After a contraction of the lengthened muscle the tendon jerk was smaller than after a contraction of the shortened muscle. 3. The experiment was then repeated, but instead of a tendon jerk an H (Hoffmann) reflex was elicited by transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa. The reflex after a conditioning contraction of the lengthened muscle was larger than after a contraction of the shortened muscle. In other words muscle conditioning produced opposite effects on the tendon jerk and H reflex. 4. These findings were confirmed in cats anaesthetized with chloralose. After a conditioning contraction of triceps surae at a length 5 mm longer than the test length (hold‐long) a quick tendon stretch produced a smaller reflex response than following a conditioning contraction with the muscle 5 mm shorter than the test length (hold‐short). The reverse trend was seen with a reflex elicited by direct electrical stimulation of the muscle nerve, which stimulates the H reflex. 5. One consequence of a conditioning contraction is that it leads to an alteration of the level of resting discharge of muscle spindles. We propose that the larger tendon jerk after a contraction of the shortened muscle is the result of changes in stretch sensitivity of muscle spindles. The reverse effect on the H reflex we attribute to a rise in the level of resting discharge of muscle spindles, which, we propose, leads to reflex inhibition of motoneurones. 6. We support this conclusion with evidence from an experiment in which the size of the conditioning step was systematically altered. Even quite small hold‐short conditioning steps led to depression of the H reflex in man and the monosynaptic reflex in cats. Recordings from single afferents showed that such small steps were also accompanied by a detectable rise in spindle resting discharge. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)