Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Distribution of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Coreceptors: CXCR4, CCR3, and CCR5

ABSTRACT We have evaluated the in vivo distribution of the major human immunodeficiency virus/simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV/SIV) coreceptors, CXCR4, CCR3, and CCR5, in both rhesus macaques and humans. T lymphocytes and macrophages in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues are the major cell populations expressing HIV/SIV coreceptors, reaffirming that these cells are the major targets of HIV/SIV infection in vivo. In lymphoid tissues such as the lymph node and the thymus, approximately 1 to 10% of the T lymphocytes and macrophages are coreceptor positive. However, coreceptor expression was not detected on follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in lymph nodes, suggesting that the ability of FDC to trap extracellular virions is unlikely to be mediated by a coreceptor-specific mechanism. In the thymus, a large number of immature and mature T lymphocytes express CXCR4, which may render these cells susceptible to infection by syncytium-inducing viral variants that use this coreceptor for entry. In addition, various degrees of coreceptor expression are found among different tissues and also among different cells within the same tissues. Coreceptor-positive cells are more frequently identified in the colon than in the rectum and more frequently identified in the cervix than in the vagina, suggesting that the expression levels of coreceptors are differentially regulated at different anatomic sites. Furthermore, extremely high levels of CXCR4 and CCR3 expression are found on the neurons from both the central and peripheral nervous systems. These findings may be helpful in understanding certain aspects of HIV and SIV pathogenesis and transmission.
P2X7/P2Z Purinoreceptor-mediated Activation of Transcription Factor NFAT in Microglial Cells*

ATP is released from neurons and other cell types during several physiological and stress conditions under which it exerts various biological effects upon binding to purinoreceptors. A rather peculiar purinoreceptor called P2X7/P2Z is expressed on microglial and other myeloic cells. Although increasing evidence implicates an important role for P2Z in inflammatory processes, little information exists about underlying signaling pathways. Here, we report that in N9 microglial cells, extracellular ATP potently activates nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), a central transcription factor involved in cytokine gene expression. ATP activated NFAT rapidly (within 1 min), whereas activation of nuclear factor κB was much delayed, with strikingly distinct kinetics. During ATP stimulation, both NFAT-1 and NFAT-2 were activated by a calcineurin-dependent pathway that required the influx of extracellular calcium ions. Based on the pharmacological profile, NFAT activation was specifically mediated by P2Z and not by other purinoreceptors. N9 cells that lacked P2Z but still expressed P2Y purinoreceptors failed to respond to NFAT activation. We conclude that P2Z-mediated NFAT activation may represent a novel mechanism by which extracellular ATP can modulate early inflammatory gene expression within the nervous and immune system.
Turnover and Storage of Newly Synthesized Adenine Nucleotides in Bovine Adrenal Medullary Cell Cultures

Abstract: The adenine nucleotide stores of cultured adrenal medullary cells were radiolabeled by incubating the cells with 32Pi and [3H]adenosine and the turnover, subcellular distribution, and secretion of the nucleotides were examined. ATP represented 84–88% of the labeled adenine nucleotides, ADP 11–13%, and AMP 1–3%. The turnover of 32P‐adenine nucleotides and 3H‐nucleotides was biphasic and virtually identical; there was an initial fast phase with a t½ of 3.5–4.5 h and a slow phase with a half‐life varying from 7 to 17 days, depending upon the particular cell preparation. The t½ of the slow phase for labeled adenine nucleotides was the same as that for the turnover of labeled catecholamines. The subcellular distribution of labeled adenine nucleotides provides evidence that there are at least two pools of adenine nucleotides which make up the component with the long half‐life. One pool, which contains the bulk of endogenous nucleotides (75% of the total), is present within the chromaffin vesicles; the subcellular localization of the second pool has not been identified. The studies also show that [3H]ATP and [32P]ATP are distributed differently within the cell; 3 days after labeling 75% of the [32P]ATP was present in chromaffin vesicles while only 35% of the [3H]ATP was present in chromaffin vesicles. Evidence for two pools of ATP with long half‐lives and for the differential distribution of [32P]ATP and [3H]ATP was also obtained from secretion studies. Stimulation of cell cultures with nicotine or scorpion venom 24 h after labeling with [3H]adenosine and 32Pi released relatively twice as much catecholamine as 32P‐labeled compounds and relatively three times as much catecholamine as 3H‐labeled compounds.
Iron fortification of rice seeds through activation of the nicotianamine synthase gene

The most widespread dietary problem in the world is mineral deficiency. We used the nicotianamine synthase (NAS) gene to increase mineral contents in rice grains. Nicotianamine (NA) is a chelator of metals and a key component of metal homeostasis. We isolated activation-tagged mutant lines in which expression of a rice NAS gene, OsNAS3, was increased by introducing 35S enhancer elements. Shoots and roots of the OsNAS3 activation-tagged plants (OsNAS3-D1) accumulated more Fe and Zn. Seeds from our OsNAS3-D1 plants grown on a paddy field contained elevated amounts of Fe (2.9-fold), Zn (2.2-fold), and Cu (1.7-fold). The NA level was increased 9.6-fold in OsNAS3-D1 seeds. Analysis by size exclusion chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy showed that WT and OsNAS3-D1 seeds contained equal amounts of Fe bound to IP6, whereas OsNAS3-D1 had 7-fold more Fe bound to a low molecular mass, which was likely NA. Furthermore, this activation led to increased tolerance to Fe and Zn deficiencies and to excess metal (Zn, Cu, and Ni) toxicities. In contrast, disruption of OsNAS3 caused an opposite phenotype. To test the bioavailability of Fe, we fed anemic mice with either engineered or WT seeds for 4 weeks and measured their concentrations of hemoglobin and hematocrit. Mice fed with engineered seeds recovered to normal levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit within 2 weeks, whereas those that ate WT seeds remained anemic. Our results suggest that an increase in bioavailable mineral content in rice grains can be achieved by enhancing NAS expression.
Analysis of human tumor associated Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen.

The Thomsen-Friedenrich (TF) antigen is a precursor structure of MN blood group antigens and is also expressed by about 90% of human carcinomas. The immunodominant group of TF antigen [beta-galactosyl(1-3)-alpha-N-acetylglactosamine] is present in cryptic form in normal RBC and is revealed by neuraminidase treatment. A murine monoclonal antibody (Mab 49H.8) developed against neuraminidase treated human RBC was reactive against a variety of human tumors. We have characterized the human tumor associated TF antigen detected by this antibody from a human transitional bladder carcinoma cell line (647V), a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (LS174T), and a pleural effusion fluid of a breast adenocarcinoma patient (PE 89). A heterologous sandwich radioimmunoassay for TF antigen was developed using Mab 49H.8 as the catcher and 125I-peanut agglutinin as the probe. Detergent extracts of 647V and LS174T cells, media conditioned by culturing these cells, and PE 89 were shown to contain the antigen by this assay. The specificity of the antigen capture by Mab 49H.8 in this assay was demonstrated by its selective inhibition by nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside, phenyl-beta-D-galactoside, and a TF hapten. Preliminary studies on TF antigen in serum samples using this assay showed that about 53.7% of the carcinoma samples contained an antigen concentration greater than 200 units/ml whereas for 90.9% of the normal samples the antigen concentration was below 200 units/ml. These studies demonstrated that the TF antigen is shed by the tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. The TF antigen was sensitive to treatment with alkali (0.1 M NaOH for 5 h at 37 degrees C) and periodate (10 mM sodium periodate for 1 h at room temperature), was resistant to acidic pH (50 mM acetate buffer, pH 4.5, for 5 h at 37 degrees C), and could be extracted with perchloric acid (0.6 M for 1 h at 4 degrees C). The antigen was shown to be a high molecular weight glycoprotein (Mr greater than 1,000,000) by gel filtration chromatography. The density of the antigen was estimated to be about 1.35 g/ml by cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation. The antigen could be isolated from conditioned media by a combination of affinity chromatography and gel filtration with an overall purification of about 61,432-fold and a final recovery of 53.2%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
In vitro evidence for the brain glutamate efflux hypothesis: Brain endothelial cells cocultured with astrocytes display a polarized brain‐to‐blood transport of glutamate

The concentration of the excitotoxic amino acid, L‐glutamate, in brain interstitial fluid is tightly regulated by uptake transporters and metabolism in astrocytes and neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of the blood‐brain barrier endothelium in brain L‐glutamate homeostasis. Transendothelial transport‐ and accumulation studies of 3H‐L‐glutamate, 3H‐L‐aspartate, and 3H‐D‐aspartate in an electrically tight bovine endothelial/rat astrocyte blood‐brain barrier coculture model were performed. After 6 days in culture, the endothelium displayed transendothelial resistance values of 1014 ± 70 Ω cm2, and 14C‐D‐mannitol permeability values of 0.88 ± 0.13 × 10−6 cm s−1. Unidirectional flux studies showed that L‐aspartate and L‐glutamate, but not D‐aspartate, displayed polarized transport in the brain‐to‐blood direction, however, all three amino acids accumulated in the cocultures when applied from the abluminal side. The transcellular transport kinetics were characterized with a Km of 69 ± 15 μM and a Jmax of 44 ± 3.1 pmol min−1 cm−2 for L‐aspartate and a Km of 138 ± 49 μM and Jmax of 28 ± 3.1 pmol min−1 cm−2 for L‐glutamate. The EAAT inhibitor, DL‐threo‐ß‐Benzyloxyaspartate, inhibited transendothelial brain‐to‐blood fluxes of L‐glutamate and L‐aspartate. Expression of EAAT‐1 (Slc1a3), −2 (Slc1a2), and −3 (Slc1a1) mRNA in the endothelial cells was confirmed by conventional PCR and localization of EAAT‐1 and −3 in endothelial cells was shown with immunofluorescence. Overall, the findings suggest that the blood‐brain barrier itself may participate in regulating brain L‐glutamate concentrations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Backhaul Design—Analysis and Optimization

With the foreseeable explosive growth of small cell deployment, backhaul has become the next big challenge in the next generation wireless networks. Heterogeneous backhaul deployment using different wired and wireless technologies may be a potential solution to meet this challenge. Therefore, it is of cardinal importance to evaluate and compare the performance characteristics of various backhaul technologies to understand their effect on the network aggregate performance. In this paper, we propose relevant backhaul models and study the delay performance of various backhaul technologies with different capabilities and characteristics, including fiber, xDSL, millimeter wave (mmWave), and sub-6 GHz. Using these models, we aim at optimizing the base station (BS) association so as to minimize the mean network packet delay in a macrocell network overlaid with small cells. Numerical results are presented to show the delay performance characteristics of different backhaul solutions. Comparisons between the proposed and traditional BS association policies show the significant effect of backhaul on the network performance, which demonstrates the importance of joint system design for radio access and backhaul networks.
UV Illumination Technique for Leakage Current Reduction in a-Si:H Thin-Film Transistors

The high photoconductivity of hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistors (a-Si:H TFTs) is responsible for the leakage current under illumination-particularly in projectors and displays with high-intensity backlight illumination. This work investigates a leakage current reduction approach, in which the inverted staggered a-Si:H TFTs are exposed to the ultraviolet (UV) laser. An 85% reduction in the leakage current in a-Si:H TFTs is experimentally observed. The general SPICE model (such as the RPI model) lacks the proper term to capture the photo-induced phenomena; therefore, the physical mechanisms that are associated with the illumination of a-Si:H TFTs under UV, including the energy state and the density of traps, are analyzed using device simulation. The I-V characteristics of the inverted staggered a-Si:H TFTs under different magnitudes of UV exposure are calibrated with experimentally measured data. The preliminary results show the change of trap states in amorphous silicon film and a shift of the Fermi level with UV illumination. UV illumination may induce traps in the active layer of the device and thereby reduce the OFF-state leakage current.
Prevalence of human papillomavirus, Epstein‐Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus in fine needle aspirates from lung carcinoma: A case–control study with review of literature

Oncogenic viruses have recently been allied with lung carcinoma, however, the causal association has not been established till date. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of high‐risk Human papillomavirus (HPV; subtypes 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45), Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in lung carcinoma using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on fine needle aspirates.
The effect of age and gender on heart rate variability after endurance training.

PURPOSE This research investigated the age and gender differences in cardiovascular adaptation to a standardized/quantified endurance-training program that included two taper periods. METHODS The latter was analyzed from spectral analysis of electrocardiogram records of heart rate variability (HRV) at rest in groups of young (19-21 yr) and middle aged (40-45 yr), mixed gender groups (6 males and 6 females), pre- and poststandardized training. All subjects were recreational runners who completed the same 12-wk running program. Before, and subsequent to training, HRV was measured during supine rest and submaximal cycling. RESULTS There was a significant decrease in heart rate both at rest (2.7 +/- 0.45 beats x min-1) and during submaximal exercise (8.1 +/- 0.67 beats x min-1) in both age groups after training. After training, total spectral power increased (560.7 +/- 308.9 ms2), as well as high-frequency power (362.3 +/- 405.5 ms2), in both age groups at rest. The young group showed a greater increase in total power (849.0 +/- 308.7 ms2) after the training program. CONCLUSION It is concluded that a well-designed 12-wk endurance-training program will decrease resting and submaximal heart rate in both younger and older adults. The significant increase in HRV, total power, and high-frequency power in all groups after endurance training indicates that HRV measurement appears to provide an effective, noninvasive assessment of cardiovascular adaptation to aerobic training.
Transcriptional activation by TFIIB mutants that are severely impaired in interaction with promoter DNA and acidic activation domains

Biochemical experiments indicate that the general transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) can interact directly with acidic activation domains and that activators can stimulate transcription by increasing recruitment of TFIIB to promoters. For promoters at which recruitment of TFIIB to promoters is limiting in vivo, one would predict that transcriptional activity should be particularly sensitive to TFIIB mutations that decrease the association of TFIIB with promoter DNA and/or with activation domains; i.e., such TFIIB mutations should exacerbate a limiting step that occurs in wild-type cells. Here, we describe mutations on the DNA-binding surface of TFIIB that severely affect both TATA-binding protein (TBP)-TFIIB-TATA complex formation and interaction with the VP16 activation domain in vitro. These TFIIB mutations affect the stability of the TBP-TFIIB-TATA complex in vivo because they are synthetically lethal in combination with TBP mutants impaired for TFIIB binding. Interestingly, these TFIIB derivatives support viability, and they efficiently respond to Gal4-VP16 and natural acidic activators in different promoter contexts. These results suggest that in vivo, recruitment of TFIIB is not generally a limiting step for acidic activators. However, one TFIIB derivative shows reduced transcription of GAL4, suggesting that TFIIB may be limiting at a subset of promoters in vivo.
Infantile Overnutrition in the First Year of Life: A Field Study in Dudley, Worcestershire

A survey of feeding patterns and nutrient intake in relation to the growth of 300 normal infants up to 1 year of age in Dudley, Worcestershire, highlights a problem of overnutrition in the group; 50 (16·7%) were found to be suffering from infantile obesity and a further 83 (27·7%) were overweight. During the first three months of life the daily energy intakes of 136 cal/kg body weight for boys and 149 for girls were markedly greater than the level of 120/kg recommended by the Department of Health and Social Security. This coincided with the early addition of solid foods to a full milk intake. 119 babies (39·7%) were offered solids before they were 4 weeks old and 280 (93·3%) before 13 weeks of age. Some babies had solids from the first week after birth. Protein intake was persistently high throughout the first year, and the mean intake of 32·7 g/day was much greater than the intake of 20 g for infants aged up to 1 year recommended by the Department of Health. Standards for fat and carbohydrate intake are not available but in comparison with the levels reported in breast-fed babies intake of fat and carbohydrate was high in the first three months and came closer to the desired level for the former and remained slightly high for the latter in the subsequent age quarters. The relation of childhood and subsequent adult obesity to infant feeding patterns is not yet clear, but there is a high correlation between obese parents and obese and overweight babies; had these babies not been overfed the condition might have been prevented.
In vitro effects of simultaneous exposure to platinum and cadmium on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and DNA damage and potential protective effects of selenium and zinc

Abstract Circulating platinum (Pt) is detectable in the blood of Pt-treated cancer patients for over a decade after the treatment. Prolonged exposure to Pt, in combination with adverse compounds from nutrition and lifestyle, such as cadmium (Cd), could increase the risk from second cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of simultaneous exposure to Cd- and Pt-compounds on oxidative and DNA damage and the possible protective effects of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se). The aqueous solutions of PtCl4, CdCl2 × H2O, ZnCl2 and Na2SeO3 were added, alone or in combination, to whole blood and isolated erythrocytes to produce the final concentrations of 2000 μg/L of Pt, 8 μg/L of Cd, 100 μg/L of Se, and 1000 μg/L of Zn. The activity of copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione in whole blood was determined after 1 h exposure in in vitro conditions. The induction of DNA strand-breaks in human peripheral blood leukocytes was determined with the alkaline comet assay after 24 h exposure. Exposure to Pt and/or Cd decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes and elevated DNA damage compared to control. A statistically significant change in the activity of both enzymes and in the induction of DNA strand-breaks was observed in the cells treated with Pt + Cd combination, while the addition of Se and/or Zn resulted in partial recovery of these effects. The results indicate that combined exposure to Pt and Cd could disrupt antioxidant protection of the organism and increase DNA damage, whereas Se and Zn could partially ameliorate these harmful effects.
Liver copper concentration in Wilson‘s disease: Effect of treatment with ‘anti‐copper’ agents

Serial copper determinations have been made on the livers of 10 patients with Wilson's disease. Two were studied before and eight after the start of treatment in order to assess the effect, if any, on the concentration of the metal. In two patients who were receiving no therapy and in one in whom it had been discontinued, the level of copper rose. In the latter patient, resumption of treatment then resulted in a fall in the level of copper in the liver. A similar fall was seen in seven patients on continuous therapy. In one patient, a very poor complier, there was a tendency for the liver copper concentration to rise over a 5‐year period.
Dual time point 18F-FDG PET for the evaluation of pulmonary nodules.

UNLABELLED 18F-FDG PET has reached widespread application in the assessment of pulmonary nodules. This study compares the diagnostic accuracy of standard 18F-FDG PET scanning with those of dual time point 18F-FDG PET scanning. METHODS Thirty-six patients (21 women, 15 men; mean age, 67 y; range, 36-88 y) with 38 known or suspected malignant pulmonary nodules underwent PET of the thorax at 2 time points: scan 1 at 70 min (range, 56-110 min) and scan 2 at 123 min (range, 100-163 min) after the intravenous injection of 2.5 MBq 18F-FDG per kilogram of body weight. All scanning was performed on a dedicated C-PET scanner. The mean interval between the scans was 56 min (range, 49-64 min). Regions of interest were overlaid onto each fully corrected image in the areas of the radiographically known lung densities. The standardized uptake values (SUVs) were calculated for both time points. RESULTS Surgical pathology and follow-up revealed 19 patients with 20 malignant tumors, whereas 16 patients had benign lesions. The tumor SUVs (mean +/- SD) were 3.66 +/- 1.95 (scan 1) and 4.43 +/- 2.43 (scan 2) (20.5% +/- 8.1% increase; P < 0.01). Four of 20 malignant tumors had SUVs of <2.5 on scan 1 (range, 1.12-1.69). Benign lesions had SUVs of 1.14 +/- 0.64 (scan 1) and 1.11 +/- 0.70 (scan 2) (P = not significant). Standard PET scanning (single time point) with a threshold SUV of 2.5 (at time point 1) reached a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 94%; dual time point scanning with a threshold value of 10% increase between scan 1 and scan 2 reached a sensitivity of 100% with a specificity of 89%. CONCLUSION Dual time point 18F-FDG PET results in a very high sensitivity and specificity for detection of malignant lung tumors.