Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Herbal Medicines, Sairei‐to and Tokishakuyaku‐san, Differently Modulate the Release of Cytokines from Decidual Versus Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

PROBLEM AND METHOD OF STUDY: We have shown that Tokishakuyaku‐san (Toki) and Sairei‐to (Sai) enhance T helper‐1 (Th1) cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); thereby, they could be a therapeutic means in the treatment of autoimmunity related recurrent abortion in which T helper‐2 (Th2) polarization is exaggerated, the condition purported to benefit from these herbal medicines. However, an open question is whether these medicines might enhance Th1 cytokine release in decidual tissues and thereby stimulate the killer activity, thus, working counterproductively by accelerating maternal alloimmune reactions toward fetal tissues. To address this, we examined the effects of these medicines on the release of cytokines from decidual mononuclear cells (DMCs) in comparison with PBMCs on the assumption that they might act differently on these cell types. The effects of these medicines were investigated as related to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐G, a nonclassical HLA class I antigen expressed on trophoblasts and a putative crucial player involved in fetomaternal immune interplay. RESULTS: Regarding Th1 cytokines, Toki marginally increased the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, but not interferon (IFN)‐γ from DMCs while Sai did not affect the release of both. Both Toki and Sai were without effect in modulating the release of interleukin (IL)‐4, a member of Th2 cytokines. Interestingly, the presence of HLA‐G reduced the release of Th1 cytokines from DMCs regardless of the addition of Toki, Sai or none. These findings are in sharp contrast with PBMCs on which these medicines seem to act so as to enhance Th1 polarization and attenuate Th2 polarization. CONCLUSION: Differential effects of Toki and Sai on the release of Th1/Th2 cytokines between DMCs and PBMCs may afford the rationale of these medicines in the treatment of autoimmunity‐related recurrent abortion.
Finite Frequency $L_{2}{-}L_{\infty }$ Filtering of T-S Fuzzy Systems With Unknown Membership Functions

This paper is concerned with the problem of finite frequency <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${L}_{{2}}{-}{L}_{\infty }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> filtering for Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems with unknown membership functions. An <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${L}_{{2}}{-}{L}_{\infty }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> performance index is first defined in finite frequency domain from the signal’s point of view. By using matrix trace calculations, a new result based on <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${L}_{{2}}{-}{L}_{\infty }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> performance analysis is derived in finite frequency range. Moreover, a design criterion of the desired finite frequency filter with varying gains is given in terms of a set of linear matrix inequalities and switching laws. It is shown that the proposed finite frequency filtering method can achieve better filtering performance than the existing full frequency ones. Finally, two simulation examples are introduced to verify the theoretical results.
Molecular and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus in Korea

Korea is an endemic area of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection but very little is known about the molecular characteristics of HBV isolates from Korean patients or the association with disease progression. The complete HBV genome sequences from 53 Korean patients with chronic hepatitis B, advanced cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were analyzed to identify (i) subgenotype distribution and genetic diversity and (ii) signature mutations associated with liver disease progression. With the exception of 1 patient infected with HBV/B, all 52 patients (98.1%) were infected with HBV/C, subgenotype C2. These strains were 98.4% identical and the frequency of amino acid substitutions occurring within key immunological epitopes increased with disease severity. A number of amino acid/nucleotide substitutions were associated with HCC, namely sR24K (HBsAg), SI126T (HBsAg), and pcA1846T (precore gene) mutations (P = 0.029, 0.001, and 0.008, respectively). HBV harboring deletions in the pre‐S region were also associated with increased liver disease severity (chronic hepatitis B vs. cirrhosis, P = 0.040; chronic hepatitis B vs. HCC, P = 0.040). Despite the high degree of sequence conservation, several key HBV mutations were associated with disease progression. Prospective studies with larger cohorts of patients are required to evaluate further the clinical manifestation of HBV/C2 in Korea. J. Med. Virol. 82: 1126–1134, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Santé mentale des femmes enceintes et développement de l'enfant

Les objectifs ont ete de decrire le bien-etre psychologique des femmes enceintes en France et le recours a un professionnel de sante en cas de probleme. Puis, d'etudier les relations entre la depression, l'anxiete des femmes enceintes d'une part et le devenir neonatal et le developpement precoce de l'enfant d'autre part.Les donnees se sont basees sur l'Enquete nationale perinatale de 2010 qui comprend un echantillon representatif des femmes enceintes en France, et sur l'etude EDEN, qui comprend une cohorte de femmes enceintes recrutees pendant la grossesse et suivies avec leur conjoint et leur enfant jusqu'a l'âge de 3 ansEn France, la prevalence d'un mal-etre psychologique des femmes au cours de la grossesse a ete estimee a environ 9% en 2010. Ces troubles etaient le plus souvent non depistes et non traites. Des caracteristiques sociales differentes etaient associees a ces troubles et au recours a un professionnel de sante pour ces difficultes psychologiques. Cette etude a egalement apporte des arguments en faveur d'un lien entre la presence de symptomes depressifs et anxieux moderes chez les femmes enceintes et la survenue d'une prematurite spontanee d'une part, et d'un lien entre une anxiete maternelle prenatale et des retards de developpement cognitif precoce de l'enfant d'autre part.Les femmes enceintes pourraient probablement beneficier d'une approche globale associant une evaluation medicale, psychosociale et environnementale des le debut de la grossesse. Un soutien approprie aux femmes enceintes pourrait permettre un meilleur vecu de la grossesse et possiblement une reduction des complications neonatales et postnatales.
Cloning and Expression of Glycolipid Transfer Protein from Bovine and Porcine Brain*

Glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) is a small (23–24 kDa), basic protein (pI ≅ 9.0) that accelerates the intermembrane transfer of various glycolipids. Here, we report the first cloning of cDNAs that encode the bovine and porcine GLTPs. The cDNA open reading frame for bovine GLTP was constructed by bridge-overlapping extension polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after obtaining partial coding cDNA clones by hot start, seminested, and rapid amplification of cDNA ends-PCR. The cDNA open reading frame for porcine GLTP was constructed by reverse transcriptase-PCR. The encoded amino acid sequences in the full-length bovine and porcine cDNAs were identical, consisting of 209 amino acid residues, and were nearly the same as the published sequence determined by Edman degradation. The cDNA encoded one additional amino acid at the N terminus (methionine), arginine at positions 10 and 200 instead of lysine, and threonine at position 65 instead of alanine. Expression of GLTP-cDNA in Escherichia coli using pGEX-6P-1 vector resulted in glutathione S-transferase (GST)-GLTP fusion protein. Regulation of growth and induction conditions led to ∼50% of expressed fusion protein being soluble and active. Proteolytic cleavage of GST-GLTP fusion protein (bound to GST-Sepharose) and affinity purification resulted in fully active GLTP. Northern blot analyses of bovine tissues showed a single transcript of ∼2.2 kilobases and the following hierarchy of mRNA levels: cerebrum > kidney > spleen ≅ lung ≅ cerebellum > liver > heart muscle. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analyses of mRNA levels supported the Northern blot results.
Oral bacterial DNA differ in their ability to induce inflammatory responses in human monocytic cell lines.

BACKGROUND Deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) of periodontal pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Tannerella forsythia, stimulate cytokine production in human monocytic cells (THP-1) through Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) and nuclear factor-κB signaling. Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is one of the most frequently isolated bacteria in periodontally diseased tissues and is reported to synergize with Pg, enhancing the pathogenicity. We investigate inflammatory mediator production in THP-1 cells challenged with Fn and Streptococcus sanguinis (Ss) DNA, a non-pathogenic oral bacteria, and further assess whether cytokines triggered by whole pathogens or Pg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are affected by TLR-9 signaling inhibitors (chloroquine). METHODS THP-1 cells were stimulated with Pg-DNA (100 ng/μL), Fn-DNA (100 ng/μL), Ss-DNA (100 ng/μL), Pg-LPS (10 ng/μL), and heat-killed whole bacteria (multiplicity of infection, 1:100) for 16 hours with or without chloroquine pretreatment (10 μg/mL). Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance with multiple comparisons using Dunnett or Tukey methods and paired t test. A value of P <0.05 was significant. RESULTS Inflammatory mediator levels were increased in response to all the stimuli with the exception of Ss-DNA (P <0.05). Chloroquine pretreatment significantly decreased cytokine production from THP-1 cells with the exception of IL-6 production triggered by whole Fn and Ss (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Differences exist among oral bacterial DNA in inducing immune responses. By altering the conditions in cytosolic compartments, we can interfere with cellular responses triggered by extracellular receptor activation. Thus, alternative treatment approaches targeted to intracellular receptors might be of benefit in controlling periodontal inflammation.
Cardiovascular effects of the novel dual inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme BMS-182657 in experimental hypertension and heart failure.

Combined neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition produces greater acute hemodynamic effects than either treatment alone. We investigated whether BMS-182657 (BMS), which bears inhibitory activities against both NEP and ACE, elicited similar enhanced effects. BMS inhibited NEP and ACE, in vitro (IC50 = 6 and 12 nM, respectively) and the pressor response to Ang I in rats. In deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats sensitive to NEP inhibition but not to ACE inhibition, BMS at 100 mumol/kg i.v. lowered mean arterial pressure (MAP) from 180 +/- 6 to 151 +/- 5 mm Hg. In sodium-depleted, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) sensitive to ACE inhibition but not to NEP inhibition, BMS at 100 mumol/kg p.o. lowered MAP from 151 +/- 4 to 123 +/- 5 mm Hg. Cardiomyopathic hamsters with heart failure were administered vehicle or one of the following (30 mumol/kg i.v.): the ACE inhibitor enalaprilat; the NEP inhibitor SQ-28603; or BMS. Enalaprilat and SQ-28603 had minimal hemodynamic effects. BMS decreased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure by 12 +/- 2 and 10 +/- 1 mm Hg and left ventricular systolic pressure by 27 +/- 2 and 23 +/- 3 mm Hg at 30 and 60 min, respectively (P < .05 vs. each other group). These changes were associated with a 40% increase in cardiac output, a 47% decrease in peripheral vascular resistance and a lowering of MAP by 21 +/- 3 mm Hg at 60 min (P < .05 vs. each other group). There were no significant differences in the changes in heart rate or left ventricular stroke work index among the four groups. Hence, BMS-182657 is a dual inhibitor of NEP and ACE, is antihypertensive irrespective of the activity of the renin-angiotensin system and has acute hemodynamic effects in hamsters with heart failure greater than those produced by selective inhibition of NEP or ACE. The NEP and ACE inhibitory activities of BMS-182657 act synergistically and mimic the interaction resulting from combining selective inhibitors of these enzymes.
Sequence editing by Apolipoprotein B RNA-editing catalytic component-B and epidemiological surveillance of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance

Design:Promiscuous guanine (G) to adenine (A) substitutions catalysed by apolipoprotein B RNA-editing catalytic component (APOBEC) enzymes are observed in a proportion of HIV-1 sequences in vivo and can introduce artifacts into some genetic analyses. The potential impact of undetected lethal editing on genotypic estimation of transmitted drug resistance was assessed. Methods:Classifiers of lethal, APOBEC-mediated editing were developed by analysis of lentiviral pol gene sequence variation and evaluated using control sets of HIV-1 sequences. The potential impact of sequence editing on genotypic estimation of drug resistance was assessed in sets of sequences obtained from 77 studies of 25 or more therapy-naive individuals, using mixture modelling approaches to determine the maximum likelihood classification of sequences as lethally edited as opposed to viable. Results:Analysis of 6437 protease and reverse transcriptase sequences from therapy-naive individuals using a novel classifier of lethal, APOBEC3G-mediated sequence editing, the polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G)-mediated defectives (A3GD) index', detected lethal editing in association with spurious ‘transmitted drug resistance’ in nearly 3% of proviral sequences obtained from whole blood and 0.2% of samples obtained from plasma. Conclusion:Screening for lethally edited sequences in datasets containing a proportion of proviral DNA, such as those likely to be obtained for epidemiological surveillance of transmitted drug resistance in the developing world, can eliminate rare but potentially significant errors in genotypic estimation of transmitted drug resistance.
Spoligotype Profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Strains from HIV-Positive and -Negative Patients in Nigeria: a Comparative Analysis

ABSTRACT We ran a comparative analysis of all patients for whom a positive culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was available between April 2004 and October 2005 and whose HIV serology results were known, with spoligotyping results (n = 163) split into 49 HIV-positive patients and 114 HIV-negative patients. Spoligotype international type 373 (SIT373) (T1 lineage), which was highly prevalent among the HIV+ patients, was totally absent from the HIV− population, suggesting that we had a specific clone affecting nearly 1/3 of all HIV-tuberculosis (TB)-coinfected patients. Among the LAM10-CAM sublineage strains, we had only a single strain of SIT403 among HIV− patients (0.88%), as opposed to 12.25% of the HIV+ population (χ2 = 10.77; P < 0.01), indicating a strong association between the strain and the HIV+ population. The LAM10-CAM lineage spoligotype SIT61 was prevalent among the 2 subsets (37.72% in HIV− versus 12.24% in HIV+ populations), though, with a significant difference between the 2 groups (χ2 = 10.53; P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference for SIT53 (T1 lineage) in the 2 subsets: 6.14 versus 8.2% (χ2 = 0.22; P > 0.05). A total of 7/49, or 14.3%, other SITs among HIV+ patients were not found among the HIV− patients. When added to the most prevalent SIT among HIV+ patients (SIT373; n = 16), 23/49, or 47%, isolates among HIV-TB-coinfected patients were unique. We conclude that further studies should be carried out to investigate the evolution of these genotypes and others in the emergence of multidrug resistance and control of tuberculosis in Nigeria.
Analytical expressions of the concentrations of substrate and product in enzyme inhibition process

The initial and boundary value problem in enzyme reactions mechanism for inhabitation process is discussed. Approximate analytical expressions for the concentrations of substrate and product are presented. Approximate analytical solutions of non-linear reaction equations containing non-linear terms related to enzymatic reaction mechanism are solved using Homotopy perturbation method. The relevant analytical expression for the substrate and product concentration profiles is discussed in terms of dimensionless reaction diffusion parameters α, β, γE, and γS. Numerical solution is also obtained using Matlab program. Our analytical expression compared with numerical estimation and good agreement is noted.
The survival of Escherichia coli in an aerosol at air temperatures of 15 and 30 degrees C and a range of humidities.

The survival of Escherichia coli in an aerosol was studied at several temperatures and over a range of relative humidities using a Henderson apparatus. Death occurred in two phases, the first lasting approximately 1 min; in the second the number of viable microorganisms declined exponentially. E. coli was robust and remained viable for many hours. Death was most rapid at low humidities (less than 50% r.h.) at 15 and 30 degrees C, with half-lives of 14 and 3 min respectively. In humid conditions the half-lives were much longer, approximately 83 and 14 min respectively. Based on this work, preliminary recommendations for the climate of livestock buildings can now be given to control the airborne spread of E. coli.
Pulmonary Arterial Remodeling in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is Lobe Dependent

Pulmonary arterial remodeling has been demonstrated in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it is not known whether lobar heterogeneity of remodeling occurs. Furthermore, the relationship between pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary arterial remodeling in COPD has not been established. Muscular pulmonary arterial remodeling in arteries 0.10–0.25 mm in diameter was assessed in COPD-explanted lungs and autopsy controls. Remodeling was quantified as the percentage wall thickness to vessel diameter (%WT) using digital image analysis. Repeat measures mixed-effects remodeling for %WT was performed according to lobar origin (upper and lower), muscular pulmonary arterial size (small, medium, and large), and echocardiography-based pulmonary arterial pressure (no PH, mild PH, and moderate-to-severe PH). Lobar perfusion and emphysema indices were determined from ventilation-perfusion and computed tomography scans, respectively. Overall, %WT was greater in 42 subjects with COPD than in 5 control subjects (P < 0.0001). Within the COPD group, %WT was greater in the upper lobes (P < 0.0001) and in the small muscular pulmonary arteries (P < 0.0001). Lobar differences were most pronounced in medium and large arteries. Lobar emphysema index was not associated with arterial remodeling. However, there was a significant positive relationship between the lobar perfusion index and pulmonary arterial remodeling (P = 0.024). The presence of PH on echocardiography showed only a trend to a small effect on lower lobe remodeling. The pattern of pulmonary arterial remodeling in COPD is complicated and lobe dependent. Differences in regional blood flow partially account for the lobar heterogeneity of pulmonary arterial remodeling in COPD.
Clergy as collaborators in the delivery of mental health care: An exploratory survey from Benin City, Nigeria

The paucity of skilled manpower in sub-Saharan Africa limits the delivery of effective interventions for the mentally ill. Individuals with mental disorders and their caregivers frequently consult clergy when mental symptoms cause distress. There is an urgent need for collaboration with nonprofessionals in order to improve mental health care delivery and close the widening treatment gap. Using a cross-sectional descriptive method, we explored clergy’s (Christian and Muslim) aetiological attributions for common mental illness (schizophrenia and depression) from Benin City, Nigeria, as well as their willingness to collaborate with mainstream mental health services. We observed that a majority of clergy surveyed were able to correctly identify mental illnesses depicted in vignettes, embraced a multifactorial model of disease causation, and expressed willingness to collaborate with mental health care workers to deliver care. Clergy with a longer duration of formal education, prior mental health training, and Catholic/Protestant denomination expressed a greater willingness to collaborate. Educational interventions are urgently required to facilitate this partnership.
Adolescents, leisure time physical activity and the virtual world of Internet in Tehran.

The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes of adolescents towards leisure time physical activity in the virtual world of Internet, and examined the reason why some students are able to maintain regular participation in leisure time physical activity whereas others fail. This study investigated high school students’ positive and negative outcome belief, normative belief, and constrains towards internet-use and LTPA participation. Qualitative research method, which included semi-structured interviews, was used for this study. The sample included 40 high school students who have an internet-use habit in Tehran. They answered the questions from the investigators and expressed their own feeling about their leisure experiences. The data analysis was done by using the constant comparison technique using interview method and typed in Excel. The results showed that, there were both positive and negative attitudes of students towards leisure time physical activity participation (p<0.050).
Assessment of the production performance and economic efficiencies of available chicken breeds (Gallus domesticus L.) in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Production performance and economic efficiencies of broiler of Cobb 500, cockerel of ISA Brown, Fayoumi, and RIR (Rhode Island Red) and Sonali (derived from RIR♂ × Fayoumi♀) available in Rajshahi were investigated. Identical care and management practices were provided to chickens of all genetic groups reared for meat and egg production. Performance of four meat purpose chickens viz. , Cobb 500, ISA Brown, Fayoumi and Sonali were evaluated in terms of such important parameters as initial body weight (IBW), 5-wk rearing period (RP), achieved body weight (ABW), feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Performance of three egg purpose chickens viz . Fayoumi, RIR and Sonali included weight of day-old chick (WDOC), growth rate (GR), death rate (DR), fertility (FR), hatchability (HT), first laying age (FLA) and monthly egg production (MEP). Economic efficiency parameters viz . , total cost (TC), gross return (GRR), net return (NR) and cost-benefit ratio (CBR) were calculated for both types. In terms of FI, FCR and BWG values, broiler of Cobb 500 was the best preferred and cockerel of ISA Brown the least preferred chicken. Conversely, in terms of the CBR values for meat producers, the cockerel of ISA White (1.58) was the best and the broiler of Cobb 500 (1.15) the worst. Taking the FLA and MEP into account, RIR topped the list (19.1 wks and 23 eggs per month) whereas Cobb 500 ranked at the bottom (25.2 wks and 16 eggs per month). CBR for egg productivity, on the other hand, was highest in Sonali (1.11) followed by RIR and Fayoumi (1.10 each) and Cobb 500 (1.09). As regards the meat productivity, significant correlations existed between TC and NR for all chickens except Sonali , which exhibited a negative correlation between the traits. Negative and non-significant associations prevailed for egg productivity in all the chickens. Although broiler of Cobb 500 was found to be the most popular for meat and RIR for egg, the cockerel of ISA Brown was the chicken that earned the maximum CBR. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/ujzru.v31i0. 15374 Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 31, 2012 pp. 13-18