Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative autoradiography of mu-opioid receptors in the CNS of high-alcohol-drinking (HAD) and low-alcohol-drinking (LAD) rats.

BACKGROUND The binding of [3H]DAMGO to mu-opioid sites was measured in the CNS of selectively bred high-alcohol-drinking (HAD) and low-alcohol-drinking (LAD) rats to test the hypothesis that high alcohol preference is associated with higher densities of mu-opioid receptors. METHODS Adult, alcohol-naïve male HAD and LAD rats from replicate line 1 were decapitated and their brains frozen in isopentane. Brain sections were incubated with 5 nM [3H]DAMGO, and nonspecific binding was determined in the presence of unlabeled DAMGO. Films were exposed for 60 days, then analyzed using quantitative autoradiography. RESULTS The densities of [3H]DAMGO binding sites were measured within subregions of neocortex, limbic system, basal ganglia, diencephalon, and brainstem. LAD rats had significantly higher [3H]DAMGO binding (10-30%) than HAD rats within the anterior dorsal hippocampus (CA2), posterior hippocampus (dorsal CA1, and ventral CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus), thalamus (medial dorsal, lateral, medial dorsal, central, ventral lateral, ventral medial, and ventral medial geniculate nuclei), habenula, and amygdala. No significant interline differences were found in the prefrontal, cingulate, frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital or entorhinal cortices, olfactory tubercle, nucleus accumbens, lateral septum, ventral tegmental area, hypothalamus, caudate-putamen, substantia nigra, claustrum, central gray, or superior colliculus. CONCLUSIONS The present findings with the HAD and LAD lines do not support the hypothesis that high alcohol preference is associated with higher densities of CNS mu-opioid receptors. Instead, the present results, in combination with previously published findings, suggest that the mu-opioid system may play a complex role in regulating high-alcohol-drinking behavior.
Exfoliation syndrome in enucleated haemorrhagic and absolute glaucoma

Abstract. Occurrence of exfoliation syndrome was studied in 172 eyes enucleated for haemorrhagic and absolute glaucoma in 1962–82, using histopathological techniques. Exfoliation was found in 33% of haemorrhagic glaucoma cases and in 22% of absolute glaucoma. In patients over 70, exfoliation was found in 53% of the haemorrhagic cases and in 46% of the absolute glaucoma cases. Capsular glaucoma may provoke haemorrhagic glaucoma and may lead to blindness and enucleation of eye with or without vascular catastrophe.
Nigrostriatal cell firing action on the dopamine transporter

The influence of nigrostriatal cell firing on the dopamine transporter (DAT) activity of the rat striatum was studied in vivo with amperometric methods. Data were obtained after preventing dopamine (DA) release with α‐methyl‐l‐tyrosine and replenishing extracellular DA with local injections. The DA cell stimulation, which under basal conditions increased extracellular DA, decreased DA after this pre‐treatment, suggesting that firing activity facilitates the DA cell uptake of DA under these circumstances (drain response). Cocaine and GBR13069 markedly decreased the drain response, suggesting that it is dependent on DAT activation. Data obtained after haloperidol and apomorphine administration showed that the drain response was facilitated by pre‐synaptic DA receptor stimulation but that receptors are not a necessary requirement. Two components in the drain response were observed, one with a short latency and duration that needed high‐frequency stimuli, and the other with a long latency and duration that was even induced by low‐frequency stimuli. This is the first evidence showing that DAT can be activated by the firing activity in nigrostriatal cells in a direct way and without the participation of pre‐synaptic DA receptors.
Recovery of injured Campylobacter jejuni cells after animal passage

Sixteen freeze-thaw-injured nonculturable stocks of Campylobacter jejuni were passed through rat gut, and seven were reisolated. These reisolated strains were converted to toxin producers, as they were before preservation, following consecutive passages through rat gut. This observation indicated the existence of an injured, viable, but nonresuscitated form of C. jejuni which can be resuscitated to a culturable and fully virulent form by passaging the organism through a susceptible host.
Standardizing the monitoring of outcome measures: imaging in psoriatic arthritis

The wide spectrum of manifestations of musculoskeletal inflammation in psoriatic arthritis makes standardized assessment of joint damage in psoriatic arthritis a challenge. Assessment of erosions and joint space narrowing on plain radiographs of the hands and feet has remained the benchmark for assessing damage in psoriatic arthritis. The methods used to assess damage have been mostly borrowed from those used in rheumatoid arthritis. Axial joint involvement has not been systematically addressed. Methods to assess spinal disease have been borrowed from those used in ankylosing spondylitis. Both ultrasound and MRI have demonstrated promise in the assessment of psoriatic arthritis. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) group is involved in the development of valid, reliable and feasible methods for assessment of joint involvement in psoriatic arthritis.
Monocyte/macrophage differentiation in early multiple sclerosis lesions

Monocyte/macrophage differentiation was studied in biopsy samples of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions obtained in the early course of the disease. Macrophages were identified by immunocytochemistry using a panel of antibodies recognizing different macrophage‐activation antigens. The number of cells stained with each antibody was related to the demyelinating activity of the lesions as detected by the presence of myelin degradation products. The pan‐macrophage Marchker Ki‐M1P revealed the highest numbers of macrophages in early and late active lesions. Lower numbers were encountered in inactive, demyelinated, or remyelinated lesions. The acute stage inflammatory macrophage Marchkers MRP14 and 27E10 were expressed in either only early active (MRP14) or early and late active (27E10) lesions, thus allowing the identification of actively demyelinating lesions. The chronic stage inflammatory macrophage Marchker 25F9, in contrast, showed increasing expression with decreasing lesional activity. These findings indicate a differentiated pattern of macrophage activation in MS lesions and allow the staging of demyelinating lesions in routinely fixed and paraffin‐embedded tissue.
Insecticide resistance in house flies from caged-layer poultry facilities

The frequency of resistance of eight strains of house flies, Musca domestica L. , collected from caged-layer poultry facilities across New York state, to nine insecticides (dimethoate, tetrachlorvinphos, permethrin, cyfluthrin, pyrethrins, methomyl, fipronil, spinosad and cyromazine) was measured relative to a laboratory susceptible strain. Percentage survival was evaluated at five diagnostic concentrations: susceptible strain LC99, 3 × LC99, 10 × LC99, 30 × LC99 and 100 × LC99. The highest levels of resistance were noted for tetrachlorvinphos, permethrin and cyfluthrin. There was substantial variation in the levels of resistance to the different insecticides from one facility to another, independent of their geographical location. There was very little cross-resistance detected in these populations to either fipronil or spinosad. Overall, there was a good correlation between insecticide use histories and the levels of resistance. The apparent isolation of fly populations within poultry facilities suggests that there are good opportunities for the implementation of successful resistance management strategies at these facilities. Differences between these results and those of a resistance survey on New York dairy farms in 1987 are discussed. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
Involvement of Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 in Mammary Tumor Metastasis

ABSTRACT The insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins are adaptor molecules that integrate signals generated by receptors that are implicated in human breast cancer. We investigated the specific contribution of IRS-2 to mammary tumor progression using transgenic mice that express the polyoma virus middle T antigen (PyV-MT) in the mammary gland and IRS-2-null (IRS-2−/−) mice. PyV-MT-induced tumor initiation and growth were similar in wild-type (WT) and IRS-2−/− mice. However, the latency and incidence of metastasis were significantly decreased in the absence of IRS-2 expression. The contribution of IRS-2 to metastasis is intrinsic to the tumor cells, because IRS-2−/− mammary tumor cells did not metastasize when grown orthotopically in the mammary fat pads of WT mice. WT and IRS-2−/− tumors contained similar numbers of mitotic cells, but IRS-2−/− tumors had a higher incidence of apoptosis than did WT tumors. In vitro, IRS-2−/− mammary tumor cells were less invasive and more apoptotic in response to growth factor deprivation than their WT counterparts. In contrast, IRS-1−/− tumor cells, which express only IRS-2, were highly invasive and were resistant to apoptotic stimuli. Collectively, our findings reveal an important contribution of IRS-2 to breast cancer metastasis.
Tropisetron inhibits high glucose‐induced calcineurin/NFAT hypertrophic pathway in H9c2 myocardial cells

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is an important structural feature of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T‐cell (NFAT) pathway plays a central role in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tropisetron, a novel calcineurin inhibitor, on high glucose (HG)‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and its underlying mechanism.
Experimental verification of light electric vehicle charger multiport topology

This paper describes a multiport topology based charging station for light electric vehicles, like electric-motor assisted bicycles (pedelec). The multiport topology allows energy flow control between the charging ports, alternative energy ports and the grid port. Every port can act bidirectionally, enabling easy integration of additional energy storages. Power flow regulation in a wide range with the multiport topology is not preferred due to high losses at phase shifts that exceed 40 deg. The topology is well suited for battery charging, as the required charging voltage change will be less than 30%. To evaluate the multiport topology in the proposed application, a low power 250 W prototype charging station was designed, built and tested.
Associations between single-leg postural control and drop-landing mechanics in healthy women.

CONTEXT Impaired postural control in single-limb stance and aberrant drop-landing mechanics have been implicated separately as risk factors for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, but associations between these variables has not been reported. OBJECTIVE To determine whether there are associations between single-limb postural control and drop-landing mechanics. SETTING University motion-analysis laboratory. DESIGN Single-leg-landing kinematic and kinetic data were collected after participants dropped from a hang bar. Postural-control variables COP excursion and velocity were assessed during single-leg barefoot standing on a force platform. PARTICIPANTS A convenience sample of 24 healthy women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. RESULTS Strong associations were measured between maximal knee-abduction moment and COP excursion (r = .529, P = .003) and average COP velocity (r = .529, P = .003). Strong inverse associations were measured between minimum hip-flexion angle and COP excursion (r = -.521, P = .003) and average COP velocity (r = -.519, P = .003). CONCLUSIONS Participants with decreased postural control had higher knee-abduction moments and a more extended hip on landing, which have been implicated separately as risk factors for ACL injury. A longitudinal prospective analysis is needed to determine whether force-platform postural-control measures can identify athletes at risk for ACL injury.
Survival and prognostic factors of early childhood medulloblastoma: an international meta-analysis.

PURPOSE To assess the prognostic role of clinical parameters and histology in early childhood medulloblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical and histologic data from 270 children younger than age 5 years diagnosed with medulloblastoma between March 1987 and July 2004 and treated within prospective trials of five national study groups were centrally analyzed. RESULTS Two hundred sixty children with medulloblastoma and specified histologic subtype were eligible for analysis (median age, 1.89 years; median follow-up, 8.0 years). Rates for 8-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 55% and 76%, respectively, in 108 children with desmoplastic/nodular medulloblastoma (DNMB) or medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity (MBEN); 27% and 42%, respectively, in 145 children with classic medulloblastoma (CMB); and 14% and 14%, respectively, in seven children with large-cell/anaplastic (LC/A) medulloblastoma (P < .001). Histology (DNMB/MBEN: hazard ratio [HR], 0.44; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.64; LC/A medulloblastoma: HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 0.95 to 5.54; P < .001 compared with CMB), incomplete resection and metastases (M0R1: HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.80; M+: HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.50 to 3.46; P < .001 compared with M0R0), and national group were independent prognostic factors for EFS, and OS. The HRs for OS ranged from 0.14 for localized M0 and DNMB/MBEN to 13.67 for metastatic LC/A medulloblastoma in different national groups. CONCLUSION Our results confirm the high frequency of desmoplastic variants of medulloblastomas in early childhood and histopathology as a strong independent prognostic factor. A controlled de-escalation of treatment may be appropriate for young children with DNMB and MBEN in future clinical trials.
Congenital Formation of an Intraspinal Osseous Vertebral Ring Causing Spinal Cord Compression

Study Design. A unique case of the congenital formation of an intraspinal osseous vertebral ring causing spinal cord compression is reported. Objectives. To our knowledge, such an osseous ring has not yet been described. The authors detail the clinical presentation, imaging, and treatment of the intraspinal osseous ring. Summary of Background Data. There are two traditional categories of congenital vertebral anomalies, that of failure of formation and of segmentation. The authors propose that this ring may not fit into either of these categories and may represent a new category of failure of migration. Methods and Results. Surgical decompression using a costotransversectomy approach was performed. Adequate decompression the spinal cord was achieved. Anterior and posterior fusions with instrumentation were used to stabilize the spinal cord. Conclusions. An intraspinal osseous vertebral ring is a unique anomaly that, to our knowledge, has not been reported to date. The authors discuss the pathology, imaging, and treatment of this unique condition.
Results of Biceps Tenotomy in The Treatment of Shoulder Impingement and Rotator Cuff Tears

Objective: Outcomes of biceps tenotomy with surgical treatment of rotator cuff tears and subacromial impingement was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three shoulders were evaluated. Average age was 55.1 and patients were followed up meanly for 32.6 months. Patients were randomized into 4 groups according to their diagnosis and surgical treatment. Group 1 had 5 shoulders subacromial decompression performed alone, group 2 had 7 shoulders with additional biceps tenotomy. Group 3 had 5 shoulders subacromial decompression and rotator cuff repair performed, group 4 had 6 shoulders with additional biceps tonotomy. Group 2 was compared with group 1 as a control group and group 4 with group 3. Groups were compared according to their own preoperative and postoperative Constant and UCLA rating scales. The level of significance was set at p
Charge collection mechanism in MEMS capacitive switches

The present paper investigates the effect of stressing bias magnitude and stressing time on the discharging process in MEMS capacitive switches. The calculation of discharge current through the dielectric film is based on monitoring the rate of shift of bias for up-state minimum capacitance. The data analysis shows that the discharge current lies in the range of femto-Amperes and the calculated discharge time constant depends directly on the time window of observation and on the stressing conditions. Moreover the analysis reveals an increase of trapped charge that remains in the bulk of the dielectric film for very long time as the stressing bias increases. The dominant discharge process, taking place under an intrinsic field of about 103 V/cm, is found to be the hopping effect.
Getting to hear the voices of the unwed mothers: their decisions to keep their babies for lone motherhood

Abstract Drawing upon interview data from a study investigating the experiences of 20 unwed mothers in Hong Kong, this article explores the narratives of the participants, especially their decisions in keeping their babies and to taking up the responsibilities of lone motherhood. Specific focus is given to the importance of their narratives so that their voices are heard – how they positioned themselves in relation to dominant cultural scripts surrounding lone motherhood. Their voices have relevance for helping professionals working with young people who play a useful role in facilitating and supporting unwed mothers within their locality, as well as for the general public who play an important role in “breaking” the labels and isolations of unwed mothers.
Systematic review of outcomes following observational and operative endoscopic middle ear surgery

Middle ear surgery increasingly employs endoscopes as an adjunct to or replacement for the operative microscope. We provide a systematic review of endoscope applications in middle ear surgery with an emphasis on outcomes, including the need for conversion to microscope, audiometric findings, length of follow‐up, as well as disease‐specific outcomes.
The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) in Human Caries

The objective of this review is to summarize our understanding of the role of host matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the caries process and to discuss new therapeutic avenues. MMPs hydrolyze components of the extracellular matrix and play a central role in many biological and pathological processes. MMPs have been suggested to play an important role in the destruction of dentin organic matrix following demineralization by bacterial acids and, therefore, in the control or progression of carious decay. Host-derived MMPs can originate both from saliva and from dentin. They may be activated by an acidic pH brought about by lactate release from cariogenic bacteria. Once activated, they are able to digest demineralized dentin matrix after pH neutralization by salivary buffers. Furthermore, the degradation of SIBLINGs (Small Integrin-binding Ligand N-linked Glycoproteins) by the caries process may potentially enhance the release of MMPs and their activation. This review also explores the different available MMP inhibitors, natural or synthetic, and suggests that MMP inhibition by several inhibitors, particularly by natural substances, could provide a potential therapeutic pathway to limit caries progression in dentin.
Activation of Presynaptic GABAB(1a,2) Receptors Inhibits Synaptic Transmission at Mammalian Inhibitory Cholinergic Olivocochlear–Hair Cell Synapses

The synapse between olivocochlear (OC) neurons and cochlear mechanosensory hair cells is cholinergic, fast, and inhibitory. The inhibitory sign of this cholinergic synapse is accounted for by the activation of Ca2+-permeable postsynaptic α9α10 nicotinic receptors coupled to the opening of hyperpolarizing Ca2+-activated small-conductance type 2 (SK2)K+ channels. Acetylcholine (ACh) release at this synapse is supported by both P/Q- and N-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). Although the OC synapse is cholinergic, an abundant OC GABA innervation is present along the mammalian cochlea. The role of this neurotransmitter at the OC efferent innervation, however, is for the most part unknown. We show that GABA fails to evoke fast postsynaptic inhibitory currents in apical developing inner and outer hair cells. However, electrical stimulation of OC efferent fibers activates presynaptic GABAB(1a,2) receptors [GABAB(1a,2)Rs] that downregulate the amount of ACh released at the OC–hair cell synapse, by inhibiting P/Q-type VGCCs. We confirmed the expression of GABABRs at OC terminals contacting the hair cells by coimmunostaining for GFP and synaptophysin in transgenic mice expressing GABAB1–GFP fusion proteins. Moreover, coimmunostaining with antibodies against the GABA synthetic enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase and synaptophysin support the idea that GABA is directly synthesized at OC terminals contacting the hair cells during development. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time a physiological role for GABA in cochlear synaptic function. In addition, our data suggest that the GABAB1a isoform selectively inhibits release at efferent cholinergic synapses.
Comparison of splice sites reveals that long noncoding RNAs are evolutionarily well conserved

Large-scale RNA sequencing has revealed a large number of long mRNA-like transcripts (lncRNAs) that do not code for proteins. The evolutionary history of these lncRNAs has been notoriously hard to study systematically due to their low level of sequence conservation that precludes comprehensive homology-based surveys and makes them nearly impossible to align. An increasing number of special cases, however, has been shown to be at least as old as the vertebrate lineage. Here we use the conservation of splice sites to trace the evolution of lncRNAs. We show that >85% of the human GENCODE lncRNAs were already present at the divergence of placental mammals and many hundreds of these RNAs date back even further. Nevertheless, we observe a fast turnover of intron/exon structures. We conclude that lncRNA genes are evolutionary ancient components of vertebrate genomes that show an unexpected and unprecedented evolutionary plasticity. We offer a public web service (http://splicemap.bioinf.uni-leipzig.de) that allows to retrieve sets of orthologous splice sites and to produce overview maps of evolutionarily conserved splice sites for visualization and further analysis. An electronic supplement containing the ncRNA data sets used in this study is available at http://www.bioinf. uni-leipzig.de/publications/supplements/12-001.
Determination of CFTR densities in erythrocyte plasma membranes using recognition imaging

CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) is a cAMP-regulated chloride (Cl−) channel that plays an important role in salt and fluid movement across epithelia. Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common genetic disease among Caucasians, is caused by mutations in the gene encoding CFTR. The most predominant mutation, F508del, disturbs CFTR protein trafficking, resulting in a reduced number of CFTR in the plasma membrane. Recent studies indicate that CFTR is not only found in epithelia but also in human erythrocytes. Although considerable attempts have been made to quantify CFTR in cells, conclusions on numbers of CFTR molecules localized in the plasma membrane have been drawn indirectly. AFM has the power to provide the needed information, since both sub-molecular spatial resolution and direct protein recognition via antibody–antigen interaction can be observed. We performed a quantification study of the CFTR copies in erythrocyte membranes at the single molecule level, and compared the difference between healthy donors and CF patients. We detected that the number of CFTR molecules is reduced by 70% in erythrocytes of cystic fibrosis patients.