Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
N‐Methyl‐d‐Aspartic Acid/Glycine Interactions on the Control of 5‐Hydroxytryptamine Release in Raphe Primary Cultures

Abstract: Glutamic acid and glycine were quantified in cells and medium of cultured rostral rhombencephalic neurons derived from fetal rats. In the presence of 1 mM Mg2+, NMDA (50 μM) significantly stimulated (by 69%) release of newly synthesized 5‐[3H]hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5‐HT). d‐2‐Amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoate (AP‐5; 50 μM) blocked the stimulatory effect of NMDA. AP‐5 by itself inhibited [3H]5‐HT release (by 25%), suggesting a tonic control of 5‐HT by glutamate. In the absence of Mg2+, basal [3H]5‐HT release was 60% higher as compared with release with Mg2+. AP‐5 blocked the increased [3H]5‐HT release observed without Mg2+, suggesting that this effect was due to the stimulation of NMDA receptors by endogenous glutamate. Glycine (100 μM) inhibited [3H]5‐HT release in the absence of Mg2+. Strychnine (50 μM) blocked the inhibitory effect of glycine, indicating an action through strychnine‐sensitive inhibitory glycine receptors. The [3H]5‐HT release stimulated by NMDA was unaffected by glycine. In contrast, when tested in the presence of strychnine, glycine increased NMDA‐evoked [3H]5‐HT release (by 22%), and this effect was prevented by a selective antagonist of the NMDA‐associated glycine receptor, 7‐chlorokynurenate (100 μM). 7‐Chlorokynuren‐ate by itself induced a drastic decrease in [3H]5‐HT release, indicating that under basal conditions these sites were stimulated by endogenous glycine. These results indicate that NMDA stimulated [3H]5‐HT release in both the presence or absence of Mg2+. Use of selective antagonists allowed differentiation of a strychnine‐sensitive glycine response (inhibition of [3H]5‐HT release) from a 7‐chlorokynurenate‐sensitive response (potentiation of NMDA‐evoked [3H]5‐HT release).
African archaeology in broader context

informed that its ‘authenticity has been confirmed by several specialists’. A balanced approach would have added: ‘but it is regarded with the utmost suspicion by the vast majority of German archaeologists’, and is much more likely to be a forgery. Other finds should be treated with similar caution: it is true that Bernhard Hänsel views the site of Monkodonja in Istria, and the nearby ‘tholos tomb’ at Maklavan (again unnamed here), as being of Mycenaean inspiration, but his view is not widely shared. The excavator of Spišský Štvrtok in Slovakia did indeed suggest that the architecture of that site, and others like it, indicated an imitation of Minoan or Mycenaean architecture (p. 162), but given the quality of the excavation and the lack of a proper report, such a finding is premature, to say the least. The references to Silvia Penner (p. 182) make no mention of the devastating critique that Wolfgang David has made of her work. The discussion of the Perşinari gold sword (p. 130) omits Alexandru Vulpe’s analysis that clearly showed how it had been modified and in its original form was quite different. Do Kristiansen and Larsson not know of it? Or do they wish to ignore it? Almost certainly the latter, in view of their acceptance of Bader’s naı̈ve views on ‘Mycenaean’ rapiers (p. 216), a fact which is all the more remarkable given that there really are Mycenaean swords in the southern Balkans – which, however, are not mentioned here.
The Bone‐Anchored Hearing Aid: Reference Quantities and Functional Gain

&NA; One of the most important parameters of a hearing aid is its gain characteristics. Under ideal circumstances, the gain and the functional gain(FG) are the same for an air conduction device. This is not the case, however, with bone conduction devices, e.g., the bone‐anchored hearing aid(BAHA). In this article, the relation between the gain and the FG is derived for bone conduction devices including the BAHA. Reference quantities used when measuring bone conduction devices also are presented.
The effect of a clinical posting in psychiatry on the attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry and mental illness in a Malaysian medical school.

INTRODUCTION The stigma attached to mental illness and the mentally ill is a universal phenomenon and a major barrier to the provision of mental health services. Stigmatising attitudes among doctors themselves can result in compromised patient care. The aim of this research project is to study the impact of a clinical posting in psychiatry on the attitudes of medical students to mental illness and to psychiatry. This paper reports the results of the first phase of a longitudinal study. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 122 year 4 medical students responded to this study. The Attitudes Towards Mental Illness (AMI) and Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP) questionnaires were administered before and after an 8-week attachment in psychiatry. RESULTS We found that students had somewhat favourable attitudes towards psychiatry and mental illness at the start of their attachment, with a mean score of 108.34 on ATP (neutral score, 90) and 68.24 on AMI (neutral score, 60). There was a significant increase in the mean scores of both scales following the psychiatric attachment for female students (ATP: P = 0.003; AMI: P <0.0005), but not male students (ATP: P = 0.435; AMI: P = 0.283). CONCLUSIONS An 8-week clinical posting of fourth-year medical students in psychiatry was associated with an increase in positive attitudes to mental illness and to psychiatry among female students but not among male students.
Aloe‐emodin inhibits adipocyte differentiation and maturation during in vitro human mesenchymal stem cell adipogenesis

In this study, we examined the effects of Aloe‐emodin (AE) on the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation during 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine (IBMX)‐induced adipocyte differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). AE treatment (5, 10, and 20 µM) of preadipocyte cells resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase and triglyceride levels as well as an increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity and attenuated lipid accumulation compared with untreated differentiated adipocytes. Using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we studied the mRNA expression levels of resistin, adiponectin, aP2, lipoprotein lipase, PPARγ, and tumor necrosis factor‐α in hMSCs undergoing adipocyte differentiation; treatment with AE decreased the expression of these adipogenic genes and decreased adipocyte differentiation. In addition, AE suppresses the differentiation of hMSCs into adipocytes by downregulating PPARγ and C/EBPα expressions. AE significantly inhibited hMSCs proliferation and preadipocyte differentiation within the first 2 days of treatment, indicating that the antiadipogenic effect. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 26:291–300, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/jbt.21415
Evaluation of a Monthly Coverage Maximum (Drug-Specific Quantity Limit) on the 5-HT1 Agonists (Triptans) and Dihydroergotamine Nasal Spray

BACKGROUND: Ensuring the appropriate use of migraine therapies is an important consideration for care providers, patients, employers, and managed care organizations (MCOs) because of the high cost of treatment for this fairly prevalent disabling disease. A review of utilization of serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists (triptans) in an MCO determined that about 24% of the patients who received triptan therapy exceeded the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the maximum daily dose and safe treatment guidelines in a 30-day period. An initiative was designed to manage the coverage of migraine abortive therapies with the anticipated outcome of decreasing potential misuse or overuse of the medications. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this retrospective, observational study was to determine the impact of a monthly drug-specific milligram coverage maximum (quantity limit) on serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists (triptans) and dihydroergotamine (DHE) nasal spray on the utilization and costs of migraine care in an MCO with approximately 600,000 covered members. METHODS: A longitudinal, retrospective cohort analysis was conducted. All migraine-related services were analyzed, including outpatient medical visits, emergency department utilization, inpatient hospitalizations, and outpatient prescription drug use. The analysis was conducted using medical and pharmacy administrative claims. Analysis of data was performed for the period 12 months prior (October 1999 to September 2000) and 18 months post implementation of the monthly drug-specific milligram coverage maximum (October 2000 through March 2002). RESULTS: Imposition of a monthly coverage maximum for migraine-abortive therapies was associated with a 26.1% reduction in overall per- patient-per-month (PPPM) medical costs for migraine care, from $55.52 PPPM to $41.02 PPPM (P less than 0.01). Utilization of serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists and DHE nasal spray declined by 16.7%, from 0.18 prescriptions PPPM to 0.15 prescriptions PPPM (P=0.039), and direct drug costs declined by 28.8%, from $29.18 PPPM to $20.78 PPPM (P less than 0.001). Utilization and costs of outpatient and inpatient migraine-related medical services declined by 40% from $16.58 PPPM in the pre period to $9.94 PPPM in the post period (P less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A monthly drug-specific milligram coverage maximum was associated with significant reduction in drug costs and utilization of serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists (triptans) and DHE nasal spray. Utilization and costs of migraine-related medical services also declined after implementation of the coverage maximum for triptans and DHE nasal spray. The monthly drug-specific milligram coverage maximum appeared to have been successful in managing utilization of triptans and DHE nasal spray, including reduction of overall costs of migraine-related medical services and direct drug costs.
A New Pathway of Nitric Oxide/Cyclic GMP Signaling InvolvingS-Nitrosoglutathione*

Nitric oxide (NO), a physiologically important activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), is synthesized from l-arginine and O2 in a reaction catalyzed by NO synthases (NOS). Previous studies with purified NOS failed to detect formation of free NO, presumably due to a fast inactivation of NO by simultaneously produced superoxide (O·̄2). To characterize the products involved in NOS-induced sGC activation, we measured the formation of cyclic 3′,5′-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) by purified sGC incubated in the absence and presence of GSH (1 mm) with drugs releasing different NO-related species or with purified neuronal NOS. Basal sGC activity was 0.04 ± 0.01 and 0.19 ± 0.06 μmol of cGMP × mg−1 × min−1 without and with 1 mm GSH, respectively. The NO donor DEA/NO activated sGC in a GSH-independent manner. Peroxynitrite had no effect in the absence of GSH but significantly stimulated the enzyme in the presence of the thiol (3.45 ± 0.60 μmol of cGMP × mg−1 × min−1). The NO/O·̄2 donor SIN-1 caused only a slight accumulation of cGMP in the absence of GSH but was almost as effective as DEA/NO in the presence of the thiol. The profile of sGC activation by Ca2+/calmodulin-activated NOS resembled that of SIN-1; at a maximally active concentration of 200 ng/0.1 ml, NOS increased sGC activity to 1.22 ± 0.12 and 8.51 ± 0.88 μmol of cGMP × mg−1 × min−1 in the absence and presence of GSH, respectively. The product of NOS and GSH was identified as the thionitrite GSNO, which activated sGC through Cu+-catalyzed release of free NO. In contrast to S-nitrosation by peroxynitrite, the novel NO/O·̄2-triggered pathway was very efficient (25–45% GSNO) and insensitive to CO2. Cu+-specific chelators inhibited bradykinin-induced cGMP release from rat isolated hearts but did not interfere with the direct activation of cardiac sGC, suggesting that thionitrites may occur as intermediates of NO/cGMP signaling in mammalian tissues.
Altered ParA partition proteins of plasmid P1 act via the partition site to block plasmid propagation

The partition system of the P1 plasmid, P1parconsists of the ParA and ParB proteins and a cis‐acting site, parS. It is responsible for the orderly segregation of plasmid copies to daughter cells. Plasmids with null mutations in parA or parB replicate normally, but missegregate. ParB binds specifically to the parS site, but the role of ParA and its ATPase activity in partition is unclear. We describe a novel class of parA mutants that cannot be established or maintained as plasmids unless complemented by the wild‐type gene. One, parAM314I, is conditional: it can be maintained in cells in minimal medium but cannot be established in cells growing in L broth. The lack of plasmid propagation in L broth‐grown cells was shown to be caused by a ParB‐dependent activity of the mutant ParA protein that blocks plasmid propagation by an interaction at the parS site. Thus, ParA acts to modify the ParB–parS complex, probably by binding to it. Partition is thought to involve selection of pairs of plasmids before segregation, either by physical pairing of copies or by binding of copies to paired host sites. We suggest that ParA is involved in this reaction and that the mutant ParA protein forms paired complexes that cannot unpair.
Prevalence, incidence and progression of hand osteoarthritis in the general population: the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study

Objectives To describe the prevalence and longitudinal course of radiographic, erosive and symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (HOA) in the general population. Methods Framingham osteoarthritis (OA) study participants obtained bilateral hand radiographs at baseline and 9-year follow-up. The authors defined radiographic HOA at joint level as Kellgren–Lawrence grade (KLG)≥2, erosive HOA as KLG≥2 plus erosion and symptomatic HOA as KLG≥2 plus pain/aching/stiffness. Presence of HOA at individual level was defined as ≥1 affected joint. The prevalence was age-standardised (US 2000 Population 40–84 years). Results Mean (SD) baseline age was 58.9 (9.9) years (56.5% women). The age-standardised prevalence of HOA was only modestly higher in women (44.2%) than men (37.7%), whereas the age-standardised prevalence of erosive and symptomatic OA was much higher in women (9.9% vs 3.3%, and 15.9% vs 8.2%). The crude incidence of HOA over 9-year follow-up was similar in women (34.6%) and men (33.7%), whereas the majority of those women (96.4%) and men (91.4%) with HOA at baseline showed progression during follow-up. Incident metacarpophalangeal and wrist OA were rare, but occurred more frequently and from an earlier age in men than women. Development of erosive disease occurred mainly in those with non-erosive HOA at baseline (as opposed to those without HOA), and was more frequent in women (17.3%) than men (9.6%). Conclusions The usual female predominance of prevalent and incident HOA was less clear for radiographic HOA than for symptomatic and erosive HOA. With an ageing population, the impact of HOA will further increase.
Statistical Inference Under Multiterminal Data Compression

This paper presents a survey of the literature on the information-theoretic problems of statistical inference under multiterminal data compression with rate constraints. Significant emphasis is put on problems: (1) multiterminal hypothesis testing, (2) multiterminal parameter estimation and (3) multiterminal pattern classification, in either case of positive rates or zero rates. In addition, the paper includes three new results, i.e., the converse theorems for all problems of multiterminal hypothesis testing, multiterminal parameter estimation, and multiterminal pattern classification at the zero rate.
The Role of PET in the Diagnosis of Epilepsies *

Nach einem Überblick über die modernen bildgebenden Techniken für das Aufspüren von strukturellen und funktionellen Abnormitäten bei Lokalisations-bezogenen Epilepsien beschreiben wir die Befunde, die mit diesen Techniken beim Syndrom der mesialen Temporallappenepilepsie gefunden werden. Mit Beispielen illustrieren wir den hohen Stellenwert von interiktalen und iktalen PET-Untersuchungen in der Lokalisationsdiagnostik von Epilepsien. * Acknowledgements: Parts of this review have been published in previous articles and/or are taken from the cited references. In particular: The survey on structural and functional imaging techniques to investigate localization-related epilepsies was compiled by Thomas R. Henry, who chaired the Group of imaging experts (Sait Albayram, Fernando Cendes, Nadia Colombo, Graeme D. Jackson, Robert C. Knowlton, Susan S. Spencer, Hermann Stefan, Wim Van Paesschen) in the Istanbul Meeting. The conclusions of this meeting were recently published in Epilepsia (Wieser HG for the ILAE Commission on Neurosurgery, 2004). The section on tumorassociated epilepsies: Imaging gliomas with PET is from the survey of Bénard et al. (2003). Other sources are referenced and gratefully acknowledged, too. I am particularly grateful to Prof. Alfred Buck, M.D., M.S., Chief PET Research, Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and his team, and to Dr. Katharina Henke, PD Dr. Marketa Hajek and PD Dr. Nadia Khan, who conducted or collaborated in several PET studies.
Application of data mining on the design of intrusion detection system

In order to decrease the number of misclassification of attacks, the application of data mining technology on the intrusion detection was studied in depth. Firstly, the study background was introduced, and then the basic theory of intrusion detection system was analyzed, and then the basic theory of data mining technology was discussed and the mode of data mining was established, and the algorithm was designed, and finally the simulation analysis was carried out, and the results showed that this method had a good precious.
Formation of Actin Stress Fibers and Focal Adhesions Enhanced by Rho-Kinase

The small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Rho is implicated in the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions in fibroblasts stimulated by extracellular signals such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Rho-kinase is activated by Rho and may mediate some biological effects of Rho. Microinjection of the catalytic domain of Rho-kinase into serum-starved Swiss 3T3 cells induced the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions, whereas microinjection of the inactive catalytic domain, the Rho-binding domain, or the pleckstrin-homology domain inhibited the LPA-induced formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions. Thus, Rho-kinase appears to mediate signals from Rho and to induce the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions.
Voriconazole inhibits biofilm formation in different species of the genus Candida.

OBJECTIVES To determine the ability of voriconazole to inhibit the formation of biofilms. METHODS A total of 38 blood isolates of Candida spp. (8 Candida albicans, 10 Candida tropicalis, 10 Candida glabrata, 7 Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto and 3 Candida orthopsilosis) and C. albicans ATCC 90028 and ATCC 64548 were assessed. Biofilm formation was quantified using XTT reduction assays. The inhibition of biofilm formation was determined (i) in the presence of 0.06 and 0.25 mg/L voriconazole, and (ii) on surfaces previously coated with 0.06, 0.25, 1, 4 and 16 mg/L voriconazole. RESULTS Voriconazole reduced biofilm formation under both conditions, the extent depending on the species, isolate and drug concentration. In the presence of 0.25 mg/L, the highest reduction was found for C. parapsilosis (79% ± 8.6%), followed by C. albicans (64.5% ± 6.3%), C. tropicalis (53.3% ± 13.1%) and C. glabrata (23.8% ± 11.2%). This reduction was significant (P < 0.05) for all isolates tested. After coating the wells with voriconazole, biofilm formation was reduced in all Candida spp. examined, C. albicans being the species with the highest reduction (68.8% with 16 mg/L) and C. parapsilosis complex and C. glabrata the lowest. CONCLUSIONS As voriconazole reduces biofilm formation it may be a good candidate for the prevention of Candida biofilm-related infections although further studies using voriconazole-impregnated catheter tubing or prostheses are required to confirm these results.
IL-8 concentrations in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and cord blood in relation to different pathogens within the amniotic cavity

Abstract Objective: The association between elevated interleukin (IL)-8 concentrations in amniotic fluid and preterm delivery is well described. Little consideration has been given to the impact of different groups of microorganisms within the amniotic cavity on IL-8 concentration. Methods: We collected amniotic fluid, placental tissue and amniotic membranes during preterm cesarean sections for bacterial culture. In addition, we determined IL-8 concentrations in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and cord blood and correlated them with the various intra-amniotic pathogens isolated by bacterial culture. Results: IL-8 concentrations were determined in amniotic fluid in 107 cases, in cord blood in 185 cases and in maternal blood in 158 cases. Women with intra-amniotic Ureaplasma urealyticum infection had significantly higher amniotic fluid concentrations of IL-8 than those without (P<0.001). In cord blood, we found significantly elevated IL-8 concentrations due to intra-amniotic infection with U. urealyticum (P=0.045) and other pathogens (P=0.04). In maternal sera, we found no significant elevation of maternal IL-8 in any of the groups. Conclusion: Intrauterine infection with U. urealyticum seems to play a profound role in the cascade of inflammation and increases IL-8 concentrations in amniotic fluid and cord blood.
The cytolytic protein of human lymphocytes related to the ninth component (C9) of human complement: isolation from anti-CD3-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

A 70-kDa channel-forming protein has recently been isolated from human large granular lymphocytes maintained in interleukin-2-dependent culture. The protein was shown to be immunochemically related to the ninth component of complement (C9) and was therefore designated C9-related protein (C9RP). Using the procedure that was developed for the isolation of C9RP from large granular lymphocytes--i.e., affinity chromatography employing anti-human C9 linked to Sepharose, a cytolytic protein has now been isolated from OKT3-activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Nineteen to 40 micrograms of active protein was obtained from 1 X 10(9) human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after the cells were cultured for 3 days with OKT3 (monoclonal antibody to cell surface antigen T3). During this period, a marked increment occurred in the amount of the cytotoxic protein contained per cell, indicating that OKT3 induced de novo synthesis of the protein. By NaDodSO4/PAGE the molecular mass was determined to be 70 kDa. By ELISA the isolated protein and C9RP of large granular lymphocytes reacted to the same extent with anti-C9RP. Using K-562 or M21 human melanoma cells as targets, the cytotoxic activity of the isolated protein, in the presence of 5 mM Ca2+, was comparable to that of C9RP. The same cytolytic protein was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were depleted of CD16+ cells prior to OKT3 activation and that consisted primarily of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. These results suggest that the cytolytic protein of OKT3-activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes is identical with C9RP of interleukin-2-stimulated large granular lymphocytes.