Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The HSP90 inhibitor onalespib potentiates 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy in neuroendocrine tumor cells

177Lu-DOTATATE was recently approved for the treatment of somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positive neuroen-docrine tumors (NETs). However, despite impressive response rates, complete responses are rare. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors have been suggested as suitable therapeutic agents for NETs, as well as a potential radiosensitizers. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the HSP90-inhibitor onalespib could reduce NET cell growth and act as a radiosensitizer when used in combination with 177Lu-DOTATATE. The NET cell lines BON, NCI-H727 and NCI-H460, were first characterized with regards to 177Lu-DOTATATE uptake and sensitivity to onalespib treatment in monolayer cell assays. The growth inhibitory effects of the monotherapies and combination treatments were then examined in three-dimensional multicellular tumor spheroids. Lastly, the molecular effects of the treatments were assessed. 177Lu-DOTATATE uptake was observed in the BON and NCI-H727 cells, while the NCI-H460 cells exhibited no detectable uptake. Accordingly, 177Lu-DOTATATE reduced the growth of BON and NCI-H727 spheroids, while no effect was observed in the NCI-H460 spheroids. Onalespib reduced cell viability and spheroid growth in all three cell lines. Furthermore, the combination of onalespib and 177Lu-DOTATATE exerted synergistic therapeutic effects on the BON and NCI-H727 spheroids. Western blot analysis of BON spheroids revealed the downregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the upregulation of γ H2A histone family member X (γH2AX) following combined treatment with onalespib and 177Lu-DOTATATE. Moreover, flow cytometric analyses revealed a two-fold increase in caspase 3/7 activity in the combination group. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that onalespib exerts antitumorigenic effects on NET cells and may thus be a feasible treatment option for NETs. Furthermore, onalespib was able to synergistically potentiate 177Lu-DOTATATE treatment in a SSTR-specific manner. The radiosensitizing mechanisms of onalespib involved the downregulation of EGFR expression and the induction of apoptosis. Consequently, the combination of onalespib and 177Lu-DOTATATE may prove to be a promising strategy with which to improve therapeutic responses in patients with NETs. Further studies investigating this strategy in vivo regarding the therapeutic effects and potential toxicities are warranted to expand these promising findings.
Consommation d'alcool en milieu urbain chez les élèves du secondaire en Côte d'Ivoire

Introduction : la consommation d’alcool est un facteur de risque sanitaire et social. Peu d’etudes ont ete realisees sur l’alcool en milieu scolaire, en Cote d’Ivoire. Cette etude a pour but de determiner les facteurs favorisant la consommation d’alcool chez les eleves du secondaire en milieu urbain.Methodes : une etude transversale a ete menee en mai 2011, parmi les eleves du secondaire d’un etablissement public d’Abidjan. Une classe par niveau d’etude etait choisie a la suite d’un tirage aleatoire simple. Une analyse multi-variee a servi a etudier l’association entre la variable dependante et les variables explicatives.Resultats : au total, 316 eleves ont participe a l’enquete. L’âge moyen des enquetes etait de 16,1 ans avec un ecart type de 2,7 ans. Cent quatorze enquetes (36,1 %) ont declare avoir deja consomme de l’alcool. L’âge de la premiere consommation d’alcool se situait en majorite entre 10-14 ans (48,8 %) chez les filles et entre 15-19 ans (49,3 %) chez les garcons. La regression logistique a indique comme facteurs associes a la consommation d’alcool chez les eleves ; la religion chretienne, avoir une allocation hebdomadaire de plus de 5 000 F CFA (7,62 €), vivre avec des parents qui consomment de l’alcool, et la consideration de l’alcool comme une boisson desalterante ou ayant un effet antidepresseur.Conclusion : au vu des determinants de la consommation d’alcool et des suggestions enumerees par les eleves dans notre etude, il parait essentiel de les impliquer dans les actions de lutte contre l’usage nocif de l’alcool.
Men selling sex in Cairo and Alexandria: perspectives on male sex work and AIDS in Egypt

APA Citation Hamada, S. (2008). Men selling sex in Cairo and Alexandria: perspectives on male sex work and AIDS in Egypt [Master’s thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt. edu/retro_etds/2352 MLA Citation Hamada, Souad. Men selling sex in Cairo and Alexandria: perspectives on male sex work and AIDS in Egypt. 2008. American University in Cairo, Master's thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt. edu/retro_etds/2352
Correlation of the protein expression of GRP78 and BIK/NBK with prognostic markers in patients with breast cancer and neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of expression of GRP78 and BIK/NBK proteins, as well as to evaluate their correlation with prognostic factors for clinical use in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) or preoperative chemotherapy (PC). An observational, analytical and retrospective study that evaluated the expression of BIK/NBK and GRP78 by means of immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tumour tissue samples obtained before the start of PC was executed. GRP78 was positive in 93.3% and BIK/NBK was positive in 40% of the samples analysed. Correlation of GRP78 expression with Ki67 expression (Rho = 0.732, p = .039), and of BIK/NBK expression with Ki67 expression (Rho = 0.777, p = .023) and number of residual lymph nodes (Rho = 0.619, p = .014) was observed. Given the correlation observed, association studies of the expression of GRP78 and BIK/NBK with clinical and pathological response, recurrence and survival should be carried out in a greater number of patients with LABC or PC. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? There are reports of the overexpression of GRP78 in various types of cancer cell lines and tumour biopsies, including breast cancer, with participation in resistance to adjuvant chemotherapeutic agents (topoisomerase inhibitors including Adriamycin). On the other hand, BIK/NBK has been observed expressed associated with poor outcomes in breast cancer. There are no studies of the expression of both biomarkers in patients with preoperative chemotherapy, including locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) or their correlation with prognosis markers of clinical use. What the results of this study add? We observed a correlation of higher expression percentage of GRP78 and BIK/NBK with higher expression of Ki67, a marker of poor prognosis in breast cancer, in addition to a significant correlation of higher percentage of BIK/NBK expression with a greater number of residual nodes in patients with LABC or PC. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? There is a potential prognostic value of GRP78 and BIK/NBK in the pathological response that merits further study addressing their interaction with other proteins, their cellular location in relation to the clinical stages of breast cancer, and their association with prognosis (clinical and pathological response, recurrence, disease free period and survival) in a greater number of patients with LABC or PC.
Green Tea: Just a Drink or Nutraceutical

Brewed tea has been the most widely consumed beverage throughout history. Attractively, this is attributed to its present taste, aromatic odor and healthful effects to the human body. Tea (Camellia sinensis) is used for the production of green tea, oolong tea and black tea, depending on the fermentation process. Without fermentation, green tea can be made from fresh tea shoots at a high temperature, thereby inactivating the oxidizing enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and leaving the intact polyphenols. Many ingredients persisting in green tea products are flavonols, flavanols, chlorogenic acid, coumarylquinic acid, theogallin (3-galloylquinic acid), vitamin P (flavonoids), alkaloids, caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, theanine, volatile compounds, fluoride, minerals (e.g. aluminium and magnesium), trace elements and other unidentified compounds. During fermentation, these polyphenolic compounds undergo PPO-catalyzed oxidative polymerization giving rise to the formation of theaflavins and thearubigins which are the major antioxidants in black tea [1]. Besides being a world-wide, well-known beverage, green tea has many benefits for health, including antioxidative, free radical scavenging, iron-chelating, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-diabetic, weight-lowering, anti-aging, neuro-protective and rescue, thrombosis-inhibitory, antiinflammatory, exercise-endurating, hepatoprotective, hepatic phase II enzyme activityinducing, cardioprotective, neoangioprotective, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic and cancerpreventive, anti-microbial, as well as immunomodulatory activities. Tea products generally provide refreshment and diuretic benefits, as well as contributing to feelings of alertness; however; green tea extraordinarily exhibits such biological and pharmacological properties depending on several specific active phytochemical constituents; particularly catechins. Nowadays, crude extracts, purified catechin fractions and synthetic catechin derivatives of green tea are applicable in alternative and complementary medicines for the prevention, treatment and co-treatment of many diseases and disorders.
Antibiotics and Kidney Stones: Perturbation of the Gut-Kidney Axis.

The cumulative incidence of kidney stone disease in the United States has doubled over 15 years, and its prevalence is now equivalent to that of diabetes.1,2 This dramatic and unexplained increase in incidence has disproportionately affected children and young women.1,3 Nephrolithiasis is a disorder of mineral metabolism that is associated with increased risk for chronic kidney disease,4,5 fracture,6 and hypertension.5,7 Individuals with nephrolithiasis also have a high risk for recurrent painful kidney stone events,8,9 some of which require surgery and are associated with increased risk for kidney failure and death.10
Causes of Fatalities in Older Farmers vs. Perception of Risk

ABSTRACT This study looks at the relationship between causes of fatal farm injuries in older farmers and their concerns about farm safety. Nebraska farm fatality data were recorded over a 10 year period. Injuries involving tractors were the most common cause of death in farmers ≥55 years of age, with the rate being highest in those ≥75. Data on cause of death were compared with results from a telephone survey in which farmers rated their concern about risk associated with various farming activities. The analysis indicated that there was a discrepancy between where farmers ≥55 perceive danger and where the greatest risk actually lies.
IL-1β increases the expression of inflammatory factors in synovial fluid-derived fibroblast-like synoviocytes via activation of the NF-κB-mediated ERK-STAT1 signaling pathway

Interleukin (IL)-1β serves a crucial role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Previous studies have indicated that the ERK/STAT1 signaling pathway may be involved in the inflammatory response in synovial fluid-derived fibroblast-like synoviocytes (sfd-FLSs). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathological effects of the inflammatory factors induced by IL-1β in sfd-FLSs remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the IL-1β-mediated signaling pathways involved in the expression of inflammatory factors in sfd-FLSs and in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the role of IL-1β in the rat model of rheumatoid arthritis. The results suggested that IL-1β administration exacerbated rheumatoid arthritis, bone injury and increased the expression levels of inflammatory factors, such as IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), whereas treatment with anti-IL-1β exhibited opposite effects. In vitro experiments in sfd-FLSs further suggested that treatment with IL-1β influenced the expression levels of various inflammatory factors. In specific, IL-1β increased the expression of IL-17 and TNF-α, and decreased the expression of IL-6 and IL-10 in sfd-FLSs. Additionally, treatment with IL-1β increased the mRNA expression and protein phosphorylation of NF-κB, ERK and STAT1 in sfd-FLSs. Treatment with anti-IL-1β exhibited opposite effects on the expression levels of inflammatory factors and suppressed the NF-κB-mediated ERK-STAT1 signaling pathway activation in sfd-FLSs. Finally, treatment with a NF-κB inhibitor suppressed the effects of IL-1β, and NF-κB overexpression reversed the effects of anti-IL-1β on the expression levels of IL-17, TNF-α, NF-κB, ERK and STAT1. In conclusion, the present results demonstrated that treatment with IL-1β increased the expression levels of inflammatory factors in sfd-FLSs via the regulation of the NF-κB-mediated ERK/STAT1 signaling pathway in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the NF-κB/ERK/STAT1 signaling pathway may represent a potential target for the development of novel treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.
Phenolic Composition of Hydrophilic Extract of Manna from Sicilian Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl and its Reducing, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Vitro

Manna, a very singular vegetable product derived from the spontaneous solidification of the sap of some Fraxinus species, has long been known for its mild laxative and emollient properties. In this work, a hydro-alcoholic extract of manna (HME) from Sicilian Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl was investigated using HPLC-DAD to find phenol components and using chemical and biological in vitro assays to determine its reducing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. We identified elenolic acid, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, catechin, fraxetin, verbascoside, gallic acid, procyanidin-B1, and luteolin 3,7 glucoside, in order of abundance. Measurements of total antioxidant activity by Folin-Ciocalteu reaction and ferric reducing ability (FRAP), as well as of scavenger activity towards ABTS•+, DPPH•, and perferryl-myoglobin radicals, showed that the phytocomplex effectively reduced oxidants with different standard potentials. When compared with vitamin E, HME also behaved as an efficient chain-breaking antioxidant against lipoperoxyl radicals from methyl linoleate. In cellular models for oxidative stress, HME counteracted membrane lipid oxidation of human erythrocytes stimulated by tert-butyl hydroperoxide and prevented the generation of reactive oxygen species, as well as the GSH decay in IL-1β–activated intestinal normal-like cells. Moreover, in this in vitro intestinal bowel disease model, HME reduced the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. These findings may suggest that manna acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory natural product in humans, beyond its well-known effects against constipation.
Efeito da perda de peso sobre a hemodinâmica renal em portadores da síndrome metabólica

Danielle Guedes Andrade Ezequiel Fundacao IMEPEN Rua Jose Lourenco Kelmer, 1.300/SL – Sao Pedro Juiz de Fora – MG – Brazil Zip code 36036-330 E-mail: daniezequiel@hotmail.comThis study was undertaken at Nucleo Interdisciplinar de Estudos e Pesquisas em Nefrologia – NIEPEN of UFJF.The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Wearable Millimeter-Wave Device for Contactless Measurement of Arterial Pulses

Wearable monitors for measuring vital signs such as blood pressure will greatly impact the medical field. This work presents a millimeter-wave, radar-based system for performing accurate measurements of arterial pulse waveforms without contacting the region that is pulsing. Electromagnetic and radar-system simulation models are utilized to demonstrate the viability and safety of this approach. This is followed by hardware/software implementation and a study on 12 human subjects. Measured radial arterial waveforms exhibit signal strengths that are well above the noise floor of the system and a morphology that would be expected in an arterial pulse. Finally, comparison of the radar-based signals with a reference tonometer indicates a strong correlation between waveforms, as well as similar spectral signatures. The results observed suggest a millimeter-wave based approach for arterial pulse detection is very promising for future applications in pulse wave analysis and pulse transit time measurement for blood pressure tracking.
Microcirculatory Changes in Experimental Models of Stroke and CNS-Injury Induced Immunodepression

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death globally and the leading cause of disability in adults. Medical complications after stroke, especially infections such as pneumonia, are the leading cause of death in stroke survivors. Systemic immunodepression is considered to contribute to increased susceptibility to infections after stroke. Different experimental models have contributed significantly to the current knowledge of stroke pathophysiology and its consequences. Each model causes different changes in the cerebral microcirculation and local inflammatory responses after ischemia. The vast majority of studies which focused on the peripheral immune response to stroke employed the middle cerebral artery occlusion method. We review various experimental stroke models with regard to microcirculatory changes and discuss the impact on local and peripheral immune response for studies of CNS-injury (central nervous system injury) induced immunodepression.
An update on brain plasticity for physical therapists

The understanding that the human brain is capable of structural and functional change throughout life has significant implications for the future of physical therapy. Cortical plasticity impacts on many areas of physical therapy including clinical practice, research and education. Although the principles of plasticity underpin developments in neurological physical therapy, relevance to musculoskeletal physical therapy is still emerging. How will key areas of musculoskeletal physical therapy change as our understanding of plasticity advances? If cortical plasticity can be harnessed, new plasticity-based therapies, that enhance performance in healthy individuals and improve pain and function in patient populations, have the potential to become the cornerstone of musculoskeletal physical therapy. In addition, common physical therapy techniques, such as electrical stimulation, require reconsideration of their clinical efficacy and application in light of new discoveries in neuroscience. The aim of this appraisal is to provide an update on brain plasticity for physical therapists in relation to clinical practice, research and education.
Programmable Non-Epipolar Indirect Light Transport: Capture and Analysis

The decomposition of light transport into direct and global components, diffuse and specular interreflections, and subsurface scattering allows for new visualizations of light in everyday scenes. In particular, indirect light contains a myriad of information about the complex appearance of materials useful for computer vision and inverse rendering applications. In this paper, we present a new imaging technique that captures and analyzes components of indirect light via light transport using a synchronized projector-camera system. The rectified system illuminates the scene with epipolar planes corresponding to projector rows, and we vary two key parameters to capture plane-to-ray light transport between projector row and camera pixel: (1) the offset between projector row and camera row in the rolling shutter (implemented as synchronization delay), and (2) the exposure of the camera row. We describe how this synchronized rolling shutter performs illumination multiplexing, and develop a nonlinear optimization algorithm to demultiplex the resulting 3D light transport operator. Using our system, we are able to capture live short and long-range non-epipolar indirect light transport, disambiguate subsurface scattering, diffuse and specular interreflections, and distinguish materials according to their subsurface scattering properties. In particular, we show the utility of indirect imaging for capturing and analyzing the hidden structure of veins in human skin.
Intracrine Endorphinergic Systems in Modulation of Myocardial Differentiation

A wide variety of peptides not only interact with the cell surface, but govern complex signaling from inside the cell. This has been referred to as an “intracrine” action, and the orchestrating molecules as “intracrines”. Here, we review the intracrine action of dynorphin B, a bioactive end-product of the prodynorphin gene, on nuclear opioid receptors and nuclear protein kinase C signaling to stimulate the transcription of a gene program of cardiogenesis. The ability of intracrine dynorphin B to prime the transcription of its own coding gene in isolated nuclei is discussed as a feed-forward loop of gene expression amplification and synchronization. We describe the role of hyaluronan mixed esters of butyric and retinoic acids as synthetic intracrines, controlling prodynorphin gene expression, cardiogenesis, and cardiac repair. We also discuss the increase in prodynorphin gene transcription and intracellular dynorphin B afforded by electromagnetic fields in stem cells, as a mechanism of cardiogenic signaling and enhancement in the yield of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. We underline the possibility of using the diffusive features of physical energies to modulate intracrinergic systems without the needs of viral vector-mediated gene transfer technologies, and prompt the exploration of this hypothesis in the near future.
Identification of immunoreactive linear epitopes of Borrelia miyamotoi

Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging tick-borne spirochete transmitted by Ixodid ticks. Current serologic assays for B. miyamotoi are impacted by genetic similarities to other Borrelia and limited understanding of optimal antigenic targets. In this study, we employed the TBD-Serochip, a peptide array platform, to identify new linear targets for serologic detection of B. miyamotoi. We examined a wide range of suspected B. miyamotoi antigens and identified 352 IgM and 91 IgG reactive peptides, with the majority mapping to variable membrane proteins. These included peptides within conserved fragments of variable membrane proteins that may have greater potential for differential diagnosis. We also identified reactive regions on FlaB, and demonstrate crossreactivity of B. burgdorferi C6 with a B. miyamotoi C6-like peptide. The panel of linear peptides identified in this study can be used to enhance serodiagnosis of B. miyamotoi.
“Cheese: Technology, Compositional, Physical and Biofunctional Properties:” A Special Issue

The objective of the present editorial to critical synopsize articles that make up the Special Issue “Cheese: Technology, Compositional, Physical and Biofunctional Properties. ” The published research papers are multidisciplinary studies which refer to some of the most important sub-topics of Cheese Science and Technology. They present the results of experimental studies and analyses that can be further exploited by academia and cheese producers.