Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Growth and Proliferation in B Cell Subpopulations

The activation of B lymphocyte subpopulations by anti-immunoglobulin and by LPS has been examined. All resting B cells were stimulated to grow larger (i.e. to go from G0 phase to mid G1 phase of the cell cycle) by the continuous presence of anti-mu antibodies. A subpopulation oif these B cells, 30-50% in normal mouse strains, entered S phase in response to large doses of anti-mu. This subpopulation, probably Lyb5+, was completely absent in mice with the xid-determined immune defect. Another, apparently distinct subpopulation, comprising about 25% of the cells, and probably present in xid mice, was sensitive to a proliferative signal delivered by LPS, if the cells had first been cultured for 24 h in the presence of a dose of anti-mu that was sufficient to cause cell enlargement. The fraction of B cells responding to LPS in this way was significantly larger than the fraction responding to LPS alone, suggesting that anti-mu is superior to LPS at inducing the G0 to G1 transition. Based on these results we propose a model of the control of B cell growth and proliferation. Anti-Ig antibodies, or epitopes on conventional antigens, combine with and cross-link B cell receptors, causing the cells to enter G1 and to develop sensitivity to late G1 stimuli, which determine whether they will then enter S phase. These stimuli are provided either by a high dose of anti-mu or by LPS. These agents may work directly or may stimulate other cells to produce B cell Growth Factor (BCGF) and/or related regulatory molecules which may be the actual late G1 stimuli. Distinct B cell types are sensitive to distinct mechanisms for control of proliferation. A new monoclonal antibody, 14G8, which recognizes only a fraction of B cells (30% in normal mice and about 65% in xid mice), was used to separate B cell subpopulations based on the presence or absence of the cell surface antigen recognized by this antibody. The results suggest that 14G8 expression is negatively correlated with Lyb5 expression, although not absolutely. Indeed 14G8+ B cells respond quite well to anti-mu (32% the cells enter S phase). Since Lyb5- B cells are believed not to proliferate in response to anti-mu, this would suggest that a sizeable fraction of the 14G8+ B cells are also Lyb5+. The 14G8+ and 14G8- B cell subpopulations were found to be functionally distinct in that the former responded very well to LPS, whereas the latter responded very poorly. Models of B cell development based on expression of these membrane antigens are presented.
Differences in Infarct Size with Lidocaine as Compared with Bretylium Tosylate in Acute Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion in Pigs

Summary: The effects of the antiarrhythmic drugs lidocaine and bretylium tosylate on myocardial necrosis were studied in anesthetized pigs subjected to 60-min coronary occlusion followed by 3-h reperfusion. Group A (n = 7) received lidocaine (average dose × SD = 1,828 × 515 mg) before and during coronary occlusion and after reperfusion; the other series (group B, n = 7) received bretylium tosylate (3,457 × 1,323 mg). Infarct size was 16.3 × 14.7% in the lidocaine group as compared with 68.6 × 12.6% (p < 0.01) in the bretylium group. In vitro release of superoxide anion from porcine granulocytes was studied using the lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence technique. Lidocaine significantly reduced the peak chemiluminescence response to zymosan from 3.34 × 0.44 without lidocaine to 2.23 × 0.46 (p < 0.01) and 1.06 × 0.17 mV (p < 0.001), with lidocaine concentrations of 20 and 200 μg/ml, respectively. Bretylium had no effect on the chemiluminescence response. Adherence of porcine granulocytes to plastic was also reduced from 332 × 32 cells/mm2 (no lidocaine) to 247 × 35 and 206 × 26 cells/mm2 with lidocaine concentrations of 20 and 200 μg/ml, respectively (p < 0.001). Bretylium had no significant effect. Eight additional bretylium-treated pigs received either rabbit antiporcine granulocyte serum (group C, n = 4) to reduce circulating granulocytes or nonimmune serum (group D, n = 4). Infarct size in the granulocyte-depleted pigs was 26.6 × 5.6% as compared with 51.4 × 5.5% in pigs that received nonimmune serum (p < 0.01). Smaller infarct size with lidocaine as compared with bretylium tosylate therapy is associated with decreased adherence of granulocytes to vascular endothelium in the ischemic myocardium and inhibition of superoxide anion release.
Chronic Hepatitis C and Crohn’s Disease: Nosocomial Infection Treatment with PEG-Interferon plus Ribavirin

We describe the case of a patient with a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and accidental infection during abdominal surgery by hepatitis C virus (HCV) who received combination therapy with pegylated interferon-α2b (1.5 µg/kg weekly) plus ribavirin (10.6 mg/kg daily) for histologically demonstrated chronic hepatitis C. After 48 weeks treatment, serum transaminase levels were normal and viremia (HCV RNA) was negative (end-of-treatment response); 24 weeks later (follow-up period), a sustained virological response was demonstrated. The tolerance to combination antiviral therapy was good, without intestinal symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease recurrence. We conclude that current antiviral therapies with immunomodulatory effects may be helpful and safe for patients with inflammatory bowel disease infected by hepatitis C virus.
An innovative long final year assistantship in general practice: description and evaluation

Abstract We describe and evaluate an innovative immersive 15 week final year assistantship in general practice. Evaluation data was taken from five years of routinely collected School data and available national comparative data. The assistantship aims to enable students to consolidate knowledge and hone their skills through central participation in the care of large numbers of patients with acute and long term conditions. We estimate that most students consulted with over 450 patients during the assistantship. Students report that they became useful to their practice teams, had multiple episodes of feedback on their performance which they found useful and, in the school exit survey, reported that they were highly prepared for practice. 9.4 per cent of students reported that the assistantship was ‘too long’ and, especially those who completed the assistantship in the second semester, they were out of hospital for too long before F1. Some described a learning ‘plateau’ after the 10th week which was addressed by modifications to the assistantship. Nevertheless, in national surveys, our graduates’ self-reported preparedness for practice is high, a perception shared by their F1 supervisors. General practice can make a valuable contribution to the education of senior medical students and contribute to their preparedness for practice.
Autonomy in Stroke Rehabilitation: the perceptions of care providers in nursing homes

Twenty-seven health care providers from three nursing homes were interviewed about the autonomy of stroke patients in rehabilitation wards. Data were analysed using the grounded theory method for concept development recommended by Strauss and Corbin. The core category ‘changing autonomy’ was developed, which identifies the process of stroke patients regaining their autonomy (dimensions: self-determination, independence and self-care), and the factors affecting this process (conditions (i.e. circumstances) and strategies of patients; strategies of care providers and families; and the nursing home). Teamwork on increasing patient autonomy is recommended, which can be stimulated by multidisciplinary guidelines and education, and by co-ordination of the process of changing autonomy.
Assessment of environmental tobacco smoke exposure of Finnish restaurant workers, using 3-ethenylpyridine as marker.

UNLABELLED Exposure of restaurant personnel to environmental tobacco smoke was assessed in 23 restaurants in 2002-2003 after the Finnish Tobacco Act--including restrictions on smoking at bar desks and demands on non-smoking sections--had been extended to restaurants. Air samples were collected using passive samplers from the breathing zone of non-smoking workers during entire work shifts. 3-ethenylpyridine (3-EP) was used as a tobacco-specific vapour-phase marker. The overall median concentration of airborne 3-EP for 97 workers was 1.2 microg/m3, the individual concentrations ranging from <0.06 to 9.4 microg/m3 (n=292). Higher concentrations were measured for staff working in smoking areas or at bar counters than that recorded for those working in non-smoking areas or across different areas. Area samples were collected by passive sampling of 3-EP on organic vapour monitors and by active sampling of 3-EP and nicotine in charcoal tubes. The median concentrations of 3-EP and nicotine were 1.5 microg/m3 (n=292) and 11 microg/m3 (n=92), respectively. In non-smoking areas and at the bar, 3-EP concentrations were 41% and 69% of those measured in smoking areas, with a third of the restaurants having concentrations below 20% in their non-smoking areas. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The method applied here--based on diffusive sampling of 3-ethenylpyridine--proved adequate even at low environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) levels. The easy-to-use sampler is thus well suited to detect whether a non-smoking room or area is actually smoke-free or contaminated by smoke drifting from a smoking area. Only a third of the restaurants participating in this study achieved low concentrations of 3-ethenylpyridine in their non-smoking areas. In these cases, the non-smoking area was usually strictly separated from the smoking area. Despite the ban on smoking at bar counters in most restaurants, the drifting smoke was usually a problem if the counter was located in the middle of the smoking area. However, exposure to ETS behind the bar desk was reduced if the counter was located in a non-smoking area.
Determination of the mercury complexation characteristics of dissolved organic matter in natural waters with "reducible Hg" titrations.

A new method for the determination of the concentration and conditional stability constant of dissolved organic matter that binds mercury (Hg) has been developed using an in vitro assay of reducible Hg. The technique is a wet chemical analogue to electrochemical approaches now in use for ligand studies of many other trace transition metals in natural waters. Ligand characteristics are obtained from additions of ionic Hg to buffered lake, river water, and seawater and determination of the wet chemically reducible fraction following equilibration of the spike. This approach is robust, as demonstrated by (i) analysis using three reducing agents of varying strengths, (ii) replicate analyses, (iii) comparison to well-characterized complexing species (chloride and EDTA) using a competitive ion-exchange resin, and (iv) kinetic studies. Results indicate that Hg-complexing equivalents are present in the dissolved phase (<0.2 microm) ranging from <1 to >60 nN concentrations and with log conditional stability constants (log K') in the range of 21-24. Only one ligand class was found in the natural waters analyzed. There was indirect evidence for a class of organic ligands that formed reducible complexes with Hg in freshwater. Such ligand characteristics indicate that the vast majority of ionic inorganic Hg dissolved in freshwater and coastal saltwaters is associated with organic complexes. Concentrations, affinities, and kinetics implicate multidentate chelation sites as the principal complexing moieties for Hg and discourage the use of humic carboxylic acids as a proxy for the ligands/functional groups.
Infancy weight gain predicts childhood body fat and age at menarche in girls.

CONTEXT Rapid postnatal weight gain has been associated with subsequent increased childhood adiposity. However, the contribution of rapid weight gain during specific infancy periods is not clear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine which periods of infancy weight gain are related to childhood adiposity and also to age at menarche in UK girls. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 2715 girls from a prospective UK birth cohort study participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Routinely measured weights and lengths at ages 2, 9, and 19 months were extracted from the local child health computer database. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at age 10 yr, and age at menarche was assessed by questionnaire (categorized into three groups: <12.0, 12.0-13.0, and >13.0 yr). RESULTS Faster early infancy weight gain between 0 and 2 months and also 2 to 9 months were associated with increased body fat mass relative to lean mass at age 10 yr and also with earlier age at menarche. Each +1 unit gain in weight sd score between 0 and 9 months was associated with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.48 (1.27-1.60) for overweight (body mass index > 85th centile) at 10 yr, and 1.34 (1.21-1.49) for menarche at less than 12 yr. In contrast, subsequent weight gain between 9 and 19 months was not associated with later adiposity or age at menarche. CONCLUSIONS In developed settings, rapid weight gain during the first 9 months of life is a risk factor for both increased childhood adiposity and early menarche in girls.
Social and Environmental Accounting: A Reflection of Indonesian Firms’ Involvement

The economic crisis in Indonesia prolonged since 1997 has boosted the nation in the position of multi-dimensional crisis in almost all aspects of life. The increasing number of victims of layoffs, high unemployment, declining per capita income and purchasing power and ultimately it leads to the increase number of society that is below the poverty line. The Government efforts to convince the international investor should be focused on the social and political stability, and security that may assure investors. The economic crisis and social crisis in Indonesia are still into two sides that cannot be separated, and the effect on the business world is very significant, so that companies that want to run business operations in Indonesia cannot escape from social problems faced by this nation. Social problems for companies is not the main target, because many other factors such as investment, financing, production, marketing directly related to the normal activity of a company, but a consequence of the interaction between the company and the environment which is undergoing a social crisis becomes unavoidable. Social Accounting is still the pros and cons in the accounting world Indonesia, until now given the presence of pros and cons about the extent to which the company should be accountable to their social environment. The practice of social disclosure firms in Indonesia is still very low because the company allegedly oriented to the Shareholder and debt holders only. The role and application of social accounting need to be developed in Indonesia in order to encourage the creation of corporate social responsibility that are expected to minimize the social problems faced by business entities in Indonesia, so that the healthy investment climate and enduring economic stability.
Growth Factor Osteogenic Protein-1: Differing Effects on Cells from Three Distinct Zones in the Bovine Intervertebral Disc

Zhang Y, An HS, Song S, Toofanfard M, Masuda K, Andersson GBJ, Thonar EJMA: Growth factor osteogenic protein-1: Differing effects on cells from three distinct zones in the bovine intervertebral disc. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2004;83:515–521. Objective:The objective of this study was to determine if cells isolated from three distinct zones in the bovine intervertebral disc (IVD) differ in their response to growth factor osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) because of inherent biological differences. The new knowledge gained will help determine if treatment of degenerative disc disease with purified growth factors is effective and will provide guidance in terms of the injection technique and frequency of treatments required. Design:This was an in vitro study measuring the effects of OP-1 on proteoglycan accumulation and synthesis by cells from the nucleus pulposus, inner–annulus fibrosus (inner-AF), and outer–annulus fibrosus (outer-AF) in the bovine IVD. Results:Growth factor OP-1, at 100 ng/ml, stimulated proteoglycan accumulation and resulted in a statistically significant increase in the proteoglycan content of cells derived from three zones of the bovine IVD: 97% in the nucleus pulposus, 40% in the inner-AF, and 75% in the outer-AF. To elucidate the mechanism of enhanced proteoglycan accumulation in response to OP-1, we studied the rate of proteoglycan synthesis and cell proliferation. OP-1 stimulation resulted in a statistically significant increase in the DNA content in cultures containing cells from all three zones of the IVDs: 79% in the nucleus pulposus, 100% in the inner-AF, and 73% in the outer-AF. After dividing by DNA content, OP-1 resulted in a statistically significant increase in the rate of proteoglycan synthesis in the nucleus pulposus (78%) and outer-AF (17%) cells, but the increase in inner-AF cells (23%) did not achieve statistical significance. Conclusions:OP-1 stimulates proteoglycan accumulation by bovine IVD cells isolated from all three zones of the bovine IVDs. Cells from all three zones proliferated significantly. Individual cells derived from nucleus pulposus and outer-AF, but not those from the inner-AF, synthesized proteoglycans at a significantly faster rate with OP-1 stimulation.
Origin of Endogenous DNA Abasic Sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Abasic (AP) sites are among the most frequent endogenous lesions in DNA and present a strong block to replication. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an apn1 apn2 rad1 triple mutant is inviable because of its incapacity to repair AP sites and related 3′-blocked single-strand breaks (M. Guillet and S. Boiteux, EMBO J. 21:2833, 2002). Here, we investigated the origin of endogenous AP sites in yeast. Our results show that the deletion of the UNG1 gene encoding the uracil DNA glycosylase suppresses the lethality of the apn1 apn2 rad1 mutant. In contrast, inactivation of the MAG1, OGG1, or NTG1 and NTG2 genes encoding DNA glycosylases involved in the repair of alkylation or oxidation damages does not suppress lethality. Although viable, the apn1 apn2 rad1 ung1 mutant presents growth delay due to a G2/M checkpoint. These results point to uracil as a critical source of the formation of endogenous AP sites in DNA. Uracil can arise in DNA by cytosine deamination or by the incorporation of dUMP during replication. Here, we show that the overexpression of the DUT1 gene encoding the dUTP pyrophosphatase (Dut1) suppresses the lethality of the apn1 apn2 rad1 mutant. Therefore, this result points to the dUTP pool as an important source of the formation of endogenous AP sites in eukaryotes.
Reduction of the periplasmic disulfide bond isomerase, DsbC, occurs by passage of electrons from cytoplasmic thioredoxin

The Escherichia coli periplasmic protein DsbC is active both in vivo and in vitro as a protein disulfide isomerase. For DsbC to attack incorrectly formed disulfide bonds in substrate proteins, its two active-site cysteines should be in the reduced form. Here we present evidence that, in wild-type cells, these two cysteines are reduced. Further, we show that a pathway involving the cytoplasmic proteins thioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin and the cytoplasmic membrane protein DsbD is responsible for the reduction of these cysteines. Thus, reducing potential is passed from cytoplasmic electron donors through the cytoplasmic membrane to DsbC. This pathway does not appear to utilize the cytoplasmic glutathione-glutaredoxin pathway. The redox state of the active-site cysteines of DsbC correlates quite closely with its ability to assist in the folding of proteins with multiple disulfide bonds. Analysis of the activity of mutant forms of DsbC in which either or both of these cysteines have been altered further supports the role of DsbC as a disulfide bond isomerase.
Digital communications among homeless people: Anomaly or necessity?

ABSTRACT This study investigates how homeless people in downtown Atlanta access and use cell phones, internet, and email. The findings include the following: (1) over 60% of homeless people in this study owned a cell phone, used the internet, or had email access; (2) number of times homelessness was related to cell phone ownership and frequency of use; (3) age group was related to computer knowledge, internet frequency, and having an email account; and (4) age group and homeless locations were related to some uses of cell phone, whereas age group, homeless locations, and length of time homeless were related to some uses of email. The findings suggest that providing the homeless with better access to cell phones may enable social service agencies to maintain closer ties to the homeless and improve outreach services.
Religiosity and Sexual Risk Behavior among Croatian College Students, 1998–2008

A substantial increase in religious identification has been observed in most European post-communist countries. As religiosity has been associated with sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV vulnerability among young people, this article examined the impact of religious upbringing and personal religiosity (religiousness) on sexual risks among University of Zagreb first-year undergraduate students, using data collected in 1998, 2003, and 2008. Female participants who reported strict religious upbringing were less knowledgeable about human sexuality than other women. Religiousness was negatively correlated with basic knowledge of human sexuality, but again only among women. Contrary to expectations, no significant associations were found between religious upbringing or religiousness and condom use. Both measures of religiosity, however, were related to decreased odds of sexual debut among young women. In the case of male participants, the impact of religiosity was marginal. Religious upbringing was associated (negatively) with sexual literacy and sexual debut—but only at the beginning of the observed period. Overall, religiosity does not seem to substantially reduce STI- and HIV-related risk-taking, particularly among men. Since the observed increase in the proportion of sexually active students during the 1998 through 2008 period was not matched by an increase in condom use, reducing STI and HIV vulnerability among Croatian youth remains an essential task.
Low rates of hydrogen peroxide production by isolated heart mitochondria associate with long maximum lifespan in vertebrate homeotherms

An inverse correlation between free radical production by isolated mitochondria and longevity in homeotherms has been reported, but previous comparative studies ignored possible confounding effects of body mass and phylogeny. We investigated this correlation by comparing rates of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by heart mitochondria isolated from groups or pairs of species selected to have very different maximum lifespans but similar body masses (small mammals, medium‐sized mammals, birds). During succinate oxidation, H2O2 production rates were generally lower in the longer‐lived species; the differences arose at complex I of the electron transport chain during reverse electron transport. Additional data were obtained from large species and the final dataset comprised mouse, rat, white‐footed mouse, naked mole‐rat, Damara mole‐rat, guinea pig, baboon, little brown bat, Brazilian free‐tailed bat, ox, pigeon and quail. In this dataset, maximum lifespan was negatively correlated with H2O2 production at complex I during reverse electron transport. Analysis of residual maximum lifespan and residual H2O2 production revealed that this correlation was even more significant after correction for effects of body mass. To remove effects of phylogeny, independent phylogenetic contrasts were obtained from the residuals. These revealed an inverse association between maximum lifespan and H2O2 production that was significant by sign test, but fell short of significance by regression analysis. These findings indicate that enhanced longevity may be causally associated with low free radical production by mitochondria across species over two classes of vertebrate homeotherms.