Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cell-death by apoptosis following anticancer drug-treatment in-vitro.

The mechanism of cell death, apoptosis or necrosis, was determined morphologically and by DNA gel electrophoresis in 3 human leukaemic T-cell lines (CCRF-CEM.f2, CCRF-HSB and MOLT.4) after treatment with cytotoxic drugs. These include one hormone, dexamethasone (DXM); the DNA damaging agents, melphalan, cisplatin, bleomycin, mitomycin C and mithramycin; inhibitors of DNA synthesis, aphidicolin, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUdR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); and other metabolic inhibitors, bromo-2'-deoxy-2'-uridine (BUdR), actinomycin D, 5-azacytidine (5-AC), cycloheximide, vincristine, etoposide and adriamycin. When cell death was assessed morphologically apoptotic cell death was apparent in the three cell lines 48 hours after all drug treatments. However, a distinct pattern of DNA breakdown was observed for each cell line. A smear of DNA on agarose gels was seen for CCRF-CEM.f2 with 5-FU and mithramycin treatments whilst CCRF-HSB cells showed a similar DNA profile after 5-FU and MTX treatments. All drug treatments of MOLT.4 cells produced a necrotic pattern of DNA degradation. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis reduced DNA fragmentation of CCRF-CEM.f2 cells treated with DXM, MTX and FUdR indicating that protein synthesis is required for cytotoxicity by apoptosis. However, the extent of DNA fragmentation caused by 5-FU was not significantly affected by cycloheximide. These results indicate that at least morphological and electrophoretic criteria should be used to avoid differing conclusions about modes of cell death.
Abstract: Juvederm Volbella for Use in Periorbital Volumization

METHODS: Thirty Caucasian females (40–65 years) with moderate to severe, bilateral wrinkles in the lower face were treated with HA fillers (20mg/ mL with XpresHAn TechnologyTM) and followed 4 weeks post-optimal correction. Subjective, dynamic assessments evaluated preversus postexpressions in motion (2D videos), using a series of standardized expressions. Facial dynamics were objectively evaluated and quantified using 3-D stereophotogrammetry (Canfield Scientific, Inc), including a younger, untreated Caucasian female cohort (N=20; 25–35 years). Satisfaction of treated subjects was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale.
Business models and leadership styles in small medical device and bio-science businesses - examples in a region and their implications

This paper reviews the leadership styles and business models found in small technologically based businesses operating in the healthcare sector within one of the UK regions, the East Midlands. The most frequently encountered business model strands were 1) mixed economies: that fund development with service income; cross-sectoral product portfolios; and decoupled business portfolios led by a single entrepreneur and 2) scale sensitive "stay small" models including the avoidance of venture capital; "early exit"; and virtual business strands. There was found to be little correlation between leadership style and business model for the small number of businesses surveyed. The avoidance of venture capital is in direct contrast to adjacent regions.
Biochemical and Histomorphometric Studies on the Liver Rats Administrated With Glycyrrhiza glabra Extracts

It had been demonstrated that Glycyrrhiza glabra extract has biological capabilities include detoxication, antioxidation and antiinfection properties, although there is little data available about its probable side effects on the liver integrity. So, the effects of G. glabra administration on the livers histology and some biochemical parameters were investigated in the rats. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n=8). Experimental groups were injected intra-peritoneally with aqueous extract of G. glabra at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively, for 30 consecutive days while control group was injected with tap water only. At the end of the experiments, tissue and blood samples were taken for histologic evaluation and serum biochemical parameters assay, separately. The obtained results showed a decrease in diameter of hepatocytes and hepatocytes nuclear diameter and also an increase of sinusoids volume (P<0.05) in the liver of treated animals. Furthermore, hepatic necrosis, local mononuclear leukocyte infiltration and centrilobular hepatic congestion were observed in the liver of experimental animals. In addition, serum levels of ALP, AST and ALT showed a significant increase in 200 mg/kg extract received animals in comparison with control (P<0.05). These findings showed that G. glabra could cause harmful impacts on the liver integrity, so caution should be paid to popular consumption of this plant. The present investigation also needs more histomorphometric studies to know the exact ultra structural changes occurred in rat liver by using electron microscopy technique.
High Specificity of Quantitative Excision Repair Cross-Complementing 1 Messenger RNA Expression for Prediction of Minor Histopathological Response to Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy in Esophageal Cancer

Purpose: The excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) gene is coding for a nucleotide excision repair protein involved in the repair of radiation- and chemotherapy-induced DNA damage. We examined the potential of quantitative ERCC1 mRNA expression to predict minor or major histopathological response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and 36 Gy of radiation) followed by transthoracic en bloc esophagectomy in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (cT2–4, Nx, M0). Experimental Design: Tissue samples were collected by endoscopic biopsy before treatment. RNA was isolated from biopsies, and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assays were performed to determine ERCC1 mRNA expression. Relative mRNA levels (tumor/normal ratios) were calculated as (ERCC1/β-actin in tumor)/(ERCC1/β-actin in paired normal tissue). ERCC1 expression levels were correlated with the objective histopathological response in resected specimens. Histomorphological regression was defined as major response when resected specimens contained <10% of residual vital tumor cells or in case a pathologically complete response was achieved. Results: Twelve of 36 tumors showed a major histopathological response, and 24 of 36 showed a minor histopathological response. Relative expression levels of ERCC1 of >1.09 were not associated with a major histopathological response (sensitivity, 62.5%; specificity, 100%) and 15 of 24 patients with minor histopathological response to the delivered neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy could be unequivocally identified. This association of dichotomized relative ERCC1 mRNA expression and histopathological response was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Relative expression levels of ERCC1 mRNA determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR appear highly specific to predict minor response to our neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy protocol in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer and could be applied to prevent expensive, noneffective, and potentially harmful therapies in a substantial number (42%) of patients.
Identification of environmentally stable QTLs controlling Saponin content in Glycine max

Saponins are secondary metabolites that are widely distributed in plants. There are two major saponin precursors in soybean: soyasapogenol A, contributing to the undesirable taste, and soyasapogenol B, some of which have health benefits. It is important to control the ratio and content of the two major saponin groups to enhance the appeal of soybean as a health food. The structural diversity of saponin in the sugar chain composition makes it hard to quantify the saponin content. We measured the saponin content in soybean by removing the sugar chain from the saponin using acidic hydrolysis and detected novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for saponin content. Major QTLs in the hypocotyl were identified on chromosome 5 near the SSR marker, Satt 384, while those in the cotyledon were on chromosome 6 near Sat_312, which is linked to the T and E1 loci. Our results suggest that saponin contents in the hypocotyl and cotyledon are controlled by different genes and that it is difficult to increase the beneficial group B saponin and to decrease the undesirable group A saponin at the same time.
'txtN is ez f u no h2 rd': the relation between reading ability and text-messaging behaviour

A study was carried out to explore whether or not there is a relationship between children's reading ability and text-messaging behaviour. The aims of this study were to compare good and poor readers on their amount of usage of mobile phones, the frequency and type of text devices they used, and the speed at which they could read messages in 'text' versus those written in formal English. Ten- and 11-year-olds completed three assessments: a questionnaire, two writing tasks and a reading task. The results showed that, overall, poor readers spent more minutes per day using their phones. Despite their less frequent use of phones, the good readers used more textisms in their written text message and were faster at reading all the messages. 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Electrochemistry of nucleic acids.

Publisher Summary The electroactivity of nucleic acids was discovered several years ago. It was shown that at mercury electrodes, adenine and cytosine were reduced in ssDNA while guanine produced an anodic signal due to the oxidation of guanine reduction product. The DNA signals at mercury electrodes are highly sensitive to changes in DNA structure due to DNA denaturation and renaturation, as well as to minor structural changes resulting from DNA premelting and DNA damage. The changes in DNA structure are reflected not only by the DNA faradaic responses but also by non-faradaic signals due to adsorption/desorption of DNA. Several interesting principles have been used in the development of the DNA sensors—such as amplified electrochemical analysis, investigation of charge transport, and tracing of changes in conformation of DNA. The s ensors for DNA hybridization and DNA damage lead the field of the electrochemistry of nucleic acids. The chapter briefly summarizes some properties of the elimination voltammetry with linear scan (EVLS) method. Oscillographic polarography, at controlled alternating current, was used in the electrochemical analysis of nucleic acids.
Cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic-guided dosing of phenprocoumon in atrial fibrillation.

AIM To investigate the cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic-guided phenprocoumon dosing versus standard anticoagulation care in Dutch patients with atrial fibrillation. MATERIALS & METHODS Using a decision-analytic Markov model, cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic-guided therapy versus standard care was estimated. RESULTS Compared with standard care, the pharmacogenetic-guided dosing strategy increased quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) only very slightly and increased costs by €15. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €2658 per QALY gained. In sensitivity analyses, the cost of genotyping had the largest influence on the cost-effectiveness ratio. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the incremental costs of genotype-guided dosing were less than €20,000 per QALY gained in 75.6% of the simulations. CONCLUSION Pharmacogenetic-guided dosing of phenprocoumon has the potential to increase health slightly and may be able to achieve this in a cost-effective way. Owing to the many uncertainties it is too early to conclude whether or not patients starting phenprocoumon should be genotyped.
Eicosanoids and Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Retinopathy

Oxidative stress is an important factor to cause the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) because the retina has high vascularization and long-time light exposition. Cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes can convert arachidonic acid (AA) into eicosanoids, which are important lipid mediators to regulate DR development. COX-derived metabolites appear to be significant factors causative to oxidative stress and retinal microvascular dysfunction. Several elegant studies have unraveled the importance of LOX-derived eicosanoids, including LTs and HETEs, to oxidative stress and retinal microvascular dysfunction. The role of CYP eicosanoids in DR is yet to be explored. There is clear evidence that CYP-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) have detrimental effects on the retina. Our recent study showed that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation augments retinal soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), a crucial enzyme degrading EETs. Our findings suggest that EETs blockade can enhance the ability of RAS blockade to prevent or mitigate microvascular damage in DR. This review will focus on the critical information related the function of these eicosanoids in the retina, the interaction between eicosanoids and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the involvement of eicosanoids in DR. We also identify potential targets for the treatment of DR.
Battery size optimization for energy harvesting wireless nodes

In this paper, we determine the optimal battery capacity for an energy harvesting wireless node. The goal is to achieve transmission performances similar to an identical system, but with infinitely large battery. In our previous work, addressing a node without any energy storage constraints, we proposed a policy to optimize instantaneous transmission rate in order to maximize the average transmission rate. Extending this idea we now minimize the capacity of the storage unit whilst maintaining the optimal instantaneous transmission rate as in the case with infinite battery capacity. A mathematical formulation to derive such optimal capacity is in turn presented and verified.
The Genetic and Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mediated Molecular Mechanisms of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a heterogenous, chronic, progressive group of eye diseases, which results in irreversible loss of vision. There are several types of glaucoma, whereas the primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) constitutes the most common type of glaucoma, accounting for three-quarters of all glaucoma cases. The pathological mechanisms leading to POAG pathogenesis are multifactorial and still poorly understood, but it is commonly known that significantly elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) plays a crucial role in POAG pathogenesis. Besides, genetic predisposition and aggregation of abrogated proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen and subsequent activation of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)-dependent unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathway may also constitute important factors for POAG pathogenesis at the molecular level. Glaucoma is commonly known as a ‘silent thief of sight’, as it remains asymptomatic until later stages, and thus its diagnosis is frequently delayed. Thereby, detailed knowledge about the glaucoma pathophysiology is necessary to develop both biochemical and genetic tests to improve its early diagnosis as well as develop a novel, ground-breaking treatment strategy, as currently used medical therapies against glaucoma are limited and may evoke numerous adverse side-effects in patients.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary dissection in breast cancer: results in a large series.

BACKGROUND Axillary lymph node dissection is an established component of the surgical treatment of breast cancer, and is an important procedure in cancer staging; however, it is associated with unpleasant side effects. We have investigated a radioactive tracer-guided procedure that facilitates identification, removal, and pathologic examination of the sentinel lymph node (i.e., the lymph node first receiving lymphatic fluid from the area of the breast containing the tumor) to predict the status of the axilla and to assess the safety of foregoing axillary dissection if the sentinel lymph node shows no involvement. METHODS We injected 5-10 MBq of 99mTc-labeled colloidal particles of human albumin peritumorally in 376 consecutive patients with breast cancer who were enrolled at the European Institute of Oncology during the period from March 1996 through March 1998. The sentinel lymph node in each case was visualized by lymphoscintigraphy, and its general location was marked on the overlying skin. During breast surgery, the sentinel lymph node was identified for removal by monitoring the acoustic signal from a hand-held gamma ray-detecting probe. Total axillary dissection was then carried out. The pathologic status of the sentinel lymph node was compared with that of the whole axilla. RESULTS The sentinel lymph node was identified in 371 (98.7%) of the 376 patients and accurately predicted the state of the axilla in 359 (95.5%) of the patients, with 12 false-negative findings (6.7%; 95% confidence interval = 3.5%-11.4%) among a total of 180 patients with positive axillary lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS Sentinel lymph node biopsy using a gamma ray-detecting probe allows staging of the axilla with high accuracy in patients with primary breast cancer. A randomized trial is necessary to determine whether axillary dissection may be avoided in those patients with an uninvolved sentinel lymph node.
Texton segregation by associated differences in global and local luminance distribution

Perceptual segregation of visual textures has been attributed to certain features (‘textons’) such as (elongated) blobs of given size and orientation, line crossings, and line ends. Differences in the spatial distribution of these features were assumed to be detected pre-attentively and to provide the instantaneous impression of segregating texture areas and of borders between them. This paper questions the validity of this general view and, in particular, the role of some of these features in texture discrimination. It is demonstrated that for some textons, perceptual segregation is independent of detection and discrimination of the texton itself. In addition, segregation can be strongly affected by positional or luminance jitter of texture elements or by other modifications that change the luminance distribution in the pattern but do not affect the supposed texton differences. From the textons reported in the literature, only differences in orientation were found to be fairly robust against such modifications.
Differences in nucleotide excision repair capacity between newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls.

DNA damage and nucleotide excision repair capacity (NER-DRC) were assessed in association with sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). Both parameters were quantiﬁed by comet assay in blood cells of 70 untreated incident patients and 70 age-matched healthy controls. mRNA expression and polymorphisms in relevant NER genes were concurrently analyzed. The aim of this study was to characterize incident CRC patients for NER-DRC and to clarify possible relations between investigated variables. Comet assay and mRNA expression analysis showed that CRC patients differ in repair capacity as compared to controls. Patients had a lower NER-DRC and simultaneously they exhibited higher endogenous DNA damage (for both P < 0.001). Accumulation of DNA damage and decreasing NER-DRC behaved as independent modulating parameters strongly associated with CRC. Expression levels of 6 out of 9 studied genes differed between groups ( P £ 0.001), but none of them was related to DRC or to any of the studied NER polymorphisms. However, in patients only, XPC Ala499Val modulated expression levels of XPC , XPB and XPD gene, whereas XPC Lys939Gln was associated with XPA expression level in controls (for all P < 0.05). This study provides evidence on altered DRC and DNA damage levels in sporadic CRC and proposes the relevance of the NER pathway in this malignancy. Further, alterations in a complex multigene process like DNA repair may be better characterized by functional quantiﬁcation of repair capacity than by quantiﬁcation of individual genes transcripts or gene variants alone.
Religion, faith, and spirituality influences on HIV prevention activities: A scoping review

Introduction Strategies to increase uptake of next-generation biomedical prevention technologies (e.g., long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)) can benefit from understanding associations between religion, faith, and spirituality (RFS) and current primary HIV prevention activities (e.g., condoms and oral PrEP) along with the mechanisms which underlie these associations. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Academic Search Premier, Web of Science, and Sociological Abstracts for empirical articles that investigated and quantified relationships between RFS and primary HIV prevention activities outlined by the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services: condom use, HIV and STI testing, number of sexual partners, injection drug use treatment, medical male circumcision, and PrEP. We included articles in English language published between 2000 and 2020. We coded and analyzed studies based on a conceptual model. We then developed summary tables to describe the relation between RFS variables and the HIV prevention activities and any underlying mechanisms. We used CiteNetExplorer to analyze citation patterns. Results We identified 2881 unique manuscripts and reviewed 29. The earliest eligible study was published in 2001, 41% were from Africa and 48% were from the U.S. RFS measures included attendance at religious services or interventions in religious settings; religious and/or spirituality scales, and measures that represent the influence of religion on behaviors. Twelve studies included multiple RFS measures. Twenty-one studies examined RFS in association with condom use, ten with HIV testing, nine with number of sexual partners, and one with PrEP. Fourteen (48%) documented a positive or protective association between all RFS factors examined and one or more HIV prevention activities. Among studies reporting a positive association, beliefs and values related to sexuality was the most frequently observed mechanism. Among studies reporting negative associations, behavioral norms, social influence, and beliefs and values related to sexuality were observed equally. Studies infrequently cited each other. Conclusion More than half of the studies in this review reported a positive/protective association between RFS and HIV prevention activities, with condom use being the most frequently studied, and all having some protective association with HIV testing behaviors. Beliefs and values related to sexuality are possible mechanisms that could underpin RFS-related HIV prevention interventions. More studies are needed on PrEP and spirituality/subjective religiosity.
Early and Late Efficacy on Wound Healing of Silver Nanoparticle Gel in Males after Circumcision

We evaluate the early and late safety and efficacy of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) in wound healing after circumcision. This multicenter prospective comparative non-randomized observational study compares wound dressing with AgNPs (group A) vs. gentamicin cream (group B). Follow-up included objective evaluation at 10 and 30 days by the Southampton Scoring System (SSS) and Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES). We enrolled 392 males: 194 in group A, and 198 in group B. At 10 days follow-up, in group A, the SSS scale was grade 1 in 49.5% and grade 2 in the remaining; meanwhile, in group B, grade 1 was in 58%, grade 2 in 34.3%, and grade 4 in 7.6%. At 30 days follow-up, grade 1 healing was 97.4% and 98.4% in group A and B, respectively. At 10 days follow-up, the mean SBSES score was 3.58 and 3.69 in group A and B, respectively; while at 30 days follow-up, 4.81 and 4.76 in group A and B, respectively. Only in group B did 7.6% of males have antibiotic therapy due to pus discharge. No patients needed surgical wound revision. AgNPs led to a late but safer healing, they were non-inferior to the antibiotic cream wound dressing efficacy, and they avoided pus discharge and the need for oral antibiotics due to their polymer material.