Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reactions of Oligodendrocytes to Spinal Cord Injury: Cell Survival and Myelin Repair

The aim of this study was to elucidate whether oligodendrocytes die in fiber tracts that are spared by a spinal cord injury but are in close vicinity of inflammatory cells. Adult rat spinal cords were studied histologically 1 day to 2 weeks after a contusion lesion that left the ventral white matter largely intact. Massive oligodendrocyte death occurred in the lesion center, along with the death of neurons, microglia, and astrocytes. Oligodendrocytes, specifically positive for proteolipid protein (PLP) mRNA, were counted in the ventral white matter where axons at the rostral and caudal edges of the lesion were histologically intact. Although these regions contained many macrophages and neutrophils hypothesized to contribute to secondary tissue loss, there was no significant loss of oligodendrocytes. In the ventral funiculus, 3 and 6 mm rostral and caudal to the lesion, oligodendrocyte numbers were also unchanged, in spite of the presence of many activated microglial cells. From day 7 on, oligodendrocytes in close vicinity to the lesion increased their expression of PLP mRNA. We conclude that, at least within the first 2 weeks after a spinal cord contusion lesion, there is no major devastating influence of inflammatory cells or their mediators on oligodendrocytes. When death occurs, it may be due to mechanical trauma, ischemia, or excitotoxicity within the lesion or it may occur as a result of axonal degeneration.
Peripheral arterial disease - epidemiological aspects

As many as 10 million people in the USA have peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with a prevalence over 10% in people aged more than 60 years old. Generally, men have a higher prevalence of PAD than women. The risk factors for PAD are similar to those for coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (CBVD), but diabetes and cigarette smoking have a particularly strong association with PAD. Patients with PAD also have CAD and CBVD as comorbidities, although the extent of co-morbidity depends on the sensitivity of assessment. The risk of mortality is proportional to the severity of PAD, and the relative risk of all-cause mortality due to PAD is unaltered by the presence of CAD or CBVD. PAD is under-recognized and under-treated, even though it should be regarded as a severe disease leading to significant death and disability from stroke and myocardial infarction (MI). Thus, accurate diagnosis of PAD could provide an early indication of the need for intervention and help prevent future morbidity and mortality.
Arginine‐vasopressin and the regulation of aggression in female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Arginine‐vasopressin (AVP) is critical for the expression of a variety of social behaviors in many species. Previous studies have demonstrated that AVP regulates behaviors such as social communication and aggression in Syrian hamsters through the V1a receptor subtype. In male hamsters, AVP injected into the anterior hypothalamus (AH) stimulates aggression, while injection of a V1a receptor antagonist inhibits the behavior. The purpose of the present studies was to determine whether AVP influences aggression by its action in the AH in female hamsters. In the first experiment, we were surprised to find that injection of the V1a receptor antagonist, Manning compound, into the AH of intact female hamsters increased aggression. The second experiment confirmed the ability of the V1a receptor antagonist to increase aggression and found that the largest effects of the antagonist occurred at intermediate concentrations of the compound. The next experiment found that injection of AVP into the AH significantly reduced the latency to attack and the duration of aggression. Finally, we examined whether the effects of AVP and the V1a receptor antagonist on aggression differed in hamsters exposed to long ‘summer‐like’ photoperiods or short ‘winter‐like’ photoperiods, and found that their effects on aggression were not photoperiod dependent. In summary, contrary to what is observed in males, these data suggest that AVP in the AH may play an inhibitory role on aggression in female Syrian hamsters.
Comparison of endoscopic sphincterotomy and laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct

Laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct is becoming more popular, although endoscopic sphincterotomy remains the usual treatment for bile duct stones. However, loss of the biliary sphincter causes permanent duodenobiliary reflux, and recurrent stone disease and biliary neoplasia may be a consequence.
Two-Year Outcomes of Surgical Treatment of Moderate Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND In a trial comparing coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) alone with CABG plus mitral-valve repair in patients with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation, we found no significant difference in the left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) or survival after 1 year. Concomitant mitral-valve repair was associated with a reduced prevalence of moderate or severe mitral regurgitation, but patients had more adverse events. We now report 2-year outcomes. METHODS We randomly assigned 301 patients to undergo either CABG alone or the combined procedure. Patients were followed for 2 years for clinical and echocardiographic outcomes. RESULTS At 2 years, the mean (±SD) LVESVI was 41.2±20.0 ml per square meter of body-surface area in the CABG-alone group and 43.2±20.6 ml per square meter in the combined-procedure group (mean improvement over baseline, -14.1 ml per square meter and -14.6 ml per square meter, respectively). The rate of death was 10.6% in the CABG-alone group and 10.0% in the combined-procedure group (hazard ratio in the combined-procedure group, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.45 to 1.83; P=0.78). There was no significant between-group difference in the rank-based assessment of the LVESVI (including death) at 2 years (z score, 0.38; P=0.71). The 2-year rate of moderate or severe residual mitral regurgitation was higher in the CABG-alone group than in the combined-procedure group (32.3% vs. 11.2%, P<0.001). Overall rates of hospital readmission and serious adverse events were similar in the two groups, but neurologic events and supraventricular arrhythmias remained more frequent in the combined-procedure group. CONCLUSIONS In patients with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation undergoing CABG, the addition of mitral-valve repair did not lead to significant differences in left ventricular reverse remodeling at 2 years. Mitral-valve repair provided a more durable correction of mitral regurgitation but did not significantly improve survival or reduce overall adverse events or readmissions and was associated with an early hazard of increased neurologic events and supraventricular arrhythmias. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and Canadian Institutes of Health Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00806988.).
Polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein E gene and severity of coronary artery disease defined by angiography.

In a recent study, we could account for only about 50% of the variance in angiographically determined severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) with use of lipid and clinical variables as predictors. To explore the possible contribution of the apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphisms to the severity of CAD (rather than to its occurrence), we studied 424 white patients aged 65 years or less consecutively referred for coronary angiography. Among the 304 male and 120 female patients, there were 110 with no significant CAD and 118 with one, 96 with two, and 100 with three significantly diseased major coronary arteries (> 50% luminal obstruction). The allele frequencies were 0.068 for E2, 0.759 for E3, and 0.172 for E4. The E2 frequency was slightly lower and E4 higher than the frequencies reported for healthy white populations (E2: 0.072 to 0.130; E4: 0.136 to 0.160). There was a clear association between the apo E genotype and the number of significantly diseased vessels (regression coefficient = .12, P = .008). The frequency of the E4 allele increased linearly with the increase in CAD severity in both sexes (for none, one, two, and three significantly diseased vessels; female patients: 0.136, 0.161, 0.200, and 0.324; male patients: 0.136, 0.167, 0.132, and 0.229, respectively, P < .01). The frequencies of the E2 allele, on the other hand, decreased with increasing severity (for none, one, two, and three significantly diseased vessels; female patients: 0.091, 0.018, 0.050, and 0.029; male patients: 0.073, 0.089, 0.072, and 0.054, respectively, P < .05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Inter-layer intra mode prediction for scalable extension of HEVC

This paper introduces a novel inter-layer intra mode prediction method for scalable extension of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, which is being developed by the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC). In HEVC and its scalable extension, thirty-five intra prediction modes are adopted to reduce the spatial redundancy of luma texture within one frame, which may introduce noticeable overhead of delivering the intra mode information in the scalable bit-stream. In this paper, the correlation of intra modes between different layers is exploited to improve the efficiency of intra mode coding in enhancement layer. The intra modes in enhancement layer are mainly predicted with the ones of collocated blocks at base layer. Two techniques are presented in this paper with some differences in terms of the derivation of intra mode predictor from base layer and the selection of three most probable modes at enhancement layer. Compared to Test Model version 1.0 of HEVC scalable extension, 0.4% and 0.1% bit-rate reductions can be achieved with technique 2 in All Intra 2x spatial scalability and All Intra 1.5x spatial scalability respectively, while technique 1 can achieve 0.2% and 0.1% reductions. There is no obvious running time increase for both encoder and decoder.
Mutations in PMR1 suppress oxidative damage in yeast cells lacking superoxide dismutase

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking a functional SOD1 gene encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) are sensitive to atmospheric levels of oxygen and are auxotrophic for lysine and methionine when grown in air. We have previously shown that these defects of SOD-deficient yeast cells can be overcome through mutations in either the BSD1 or BSD2 (bypass SOD defects) gene. In this study, the wild-type allele of BSD1 was cloned by functional complementation and was physically mapped to the left arm of chromosome VII. BSD1 is identical to PMR1, encoding a member of the P-type ATPase family that localizes to the Golgi apparatus. PMR1 is thought to function in calcium metabolism, and we provide evidence that PMR1 also participates in the homeostasis of manganese ions. Cells lacking a functional PMR1 gene accumulate elevated levels of intracellular manganese and are also extremely sensitive to manganese ion toxicity. We demonstrate that mutations in PMR1 bypass SOD deficiency through a mechanism that depends on extracellular manganese. Collectively, these findings indicate that oxidative damage in a eukaryotic cell can be prevented through alterations in manganese homeostasis.
[Serum albumin level and activities of daily living in centenarians].

The relationship between serum albumin level and activities of daily living was studied in 95 centenarians. There were 73 women (12 rank J: free-living, 18 rank A: unable to go outside without help, 20 rank B: bedridden but able to sit on the bed, 23 rank C: completely bedridden) and 22 men (9 rank J, 7 rank A, 6 rank B or C). The serum albumin level (mean +/- S.D. 4.0 +/- 0.4 g/dl) of the rank J women was at the lower limit of normal for young adults. The albumin levels of rank A, rank B, and rank C were 3.7 +/- 0.4 g/dl, 3.5 +/- 0.3 g/dl, and 3.4 +/- 0.4 g/dl, respectively. The levels of rank B and rank C women were significantly lower than that of rank J women. The albumin level of rank J men (3.9 +/- 0.3 g/dl) was lower than that of young adults. The albumin level of ranks B and C men (3.1 +/- 0.3 g/dl) was significantly lower than that of rank J men. The A/G ratio or albumin fraction (%) measured by serum electrophoresis was similar to that of the serum albumin level of centenarians of both sexes. There were no significant differences in the serum protein level or in the peripheral hemoglobin level between rank J centenarians and those of other ranks, for both sexes. The serum albumin level is a valuable indicator of the ability to perform activities of daily living and may be a useful prognostic index in centenarians.
Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oil of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.

Hydrodistilled oils of the fresh aerial parts of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. cultivated in Egypt were prepared from samples collected along the four seasons. The percentage yields of these essential oils were 0.50%, 0.52%, 0.60%, and 0.47% of the dry weight for winter, spring, summer, and autumn samples. GC/MS analyses of all samples revealed a qualitative and quantitative variability in the oil composition. The total number of compounds identified was 46 among which 15 were common in all samples. The oxygenated compounds constituted about 45%, 46%, 63%, and 44% of the total composition of the oils for winter, spring, summer, and autumn samples, respectively. Carvone was the major constituent in spring, summer, and autumn samples (about 31%, 56%, and 35%, respectively), while limonene (ca. 26%) was the major constituent of the winter sample followed by carvone (ca. 25%). The essential oil of the highest yield (full-fl owering summer sample), with the highest oxygenated constituents and carvone contents, was screened for certain biological activities. It exhibited analgesic and acute anti-inflammatory activities (75% and 82% relative to indomethacin). It also showed a potent in vivo antioxidant activity (96% relative to vitamin E). In addition, it exerted moderate cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, and in vitro antioxidant activities. Moreover, the oil had a potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans (MIC = 4 μg/ml), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MIC = 5.2 μg/ml), and Aspergillus niger (MIC = 6.8 μg/ml).
IgE-binding components of staphylococcal enterotoxins in patients with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND The exacerbation of atopic dermatitis may be associated with infection of the skin with Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus). S. aureus isolated from the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis secretes enterotoxin A, B, and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1. This is of interest because these patients may develop specific IgE antibodies against components from staphylococci. OBJECTIVE The objective was to demonstrate IgE-sensitization to components of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins A and B (purified and partially purified), toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, and the bacterial cell component lipoteichoic acid, in patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS Blood samples from 34 patients with atopic dermatitis and 10 controls were tested by leukocyte histamine release to the enterotoxins and lipoteichoic acid. The toxins were separated by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analyzed by IgE-immunoblotting with sera from the same patients. RESULTS The majority of patients (96%) with clinical signs of skin infection produced specific IgE-antibodies to all three toxins. Nearly half of the patients produced IgE to enterotoxin A and B. Only 63% of the patients with atopic dermatitis showed cellular response judged by the release of histamine from patient basophils when challenged in vitro with the toxins. This may indicate clinically unimportant sensitization in a number of patients. The immunoblotting revealed that the major allergens of the toxins were 24 and 28 kD proteins. Partially purified toxins showed a higher frequency of leukocyte histamine release responses than purified toxin. The only obvious difference was a difference in the content of pure toxin of the two preparations. Lipoteichoic acid showed nonspecific activity. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that staphylococcal enterotoxins may act as specific allergens and induce IgE-antibodies to enterotoxins that may exacerbate the skin inflammation in some patients with atopic dermatitis.
Active tuberculosis in Africa is associated with reduced Th1 and increased Th2 activity in vivo

Activation of Th1 lymphocytes, IFN‐γ production and macrophage activation are crucial in defense against Mycobacteria. In developing countries, Th2 activation and IL‐4 production have been associated in vitro with tuberculosis and with poor clinical outcome after treatment. Serological markers of Th1 [soluble lymphocyte activation gene (LAG)‐3] and Th2 (IgE, solubleCD30, and CCL22/macrophage‐derived chemokine) activity were measured in 414 HIV‐negative tuberculosis patients from The Gambia and Guinée and in 414 healthy household and community controls. Measurements were repeated during treatment to assess the effect of therapy on Th1/Th2 ratio. At diagnosis, sLAG‐3 levels were lower in patients than in community controls (p<0.0001), but were higher in household controls exposed to contact with patients than in community controls (p<0.0001). In comparison with community controls, patients had consistently higher levels of IgE, sCD30, and CCL22 (p<0.0001), whereas household controls had lower levels of indicators of Th2 activity (p<0.0001). After treatment, cured patients had higher levels of Th1 (p<0.0001) and lower levels of Th2 (p<0.0001) activity than patients who were not successfully treated or interrupted therapy. In Africa, tuberculosis is associated with low Th1 and high Th2 activity in vivo, whereas close exposure to tuberculosis is associated with a high Th1/Th2 ratio. Patients with favorable outcome after treatment exhibit a higher Th1/Th2 ratio compared to patients with poor clinical outcome.
The Maize Viviparous8 Locus, Encoding a Putative ALTERED MERISTEM PROGRAM1-Like Peptidase, Regulates Abscisic Acid Accumulation and Coordinates Embryo and Endosperm Development1[W]

We describe a mutant of Zea mays isolated from a W22 inbred transposon population, widow's peak mutant1 (wpk1), with an altered pattern of anthocyanin synthesis and aleurone cell differentiation in endosperm. In addition, a failure of the developing mutant embryo to form leaf initials is associated with decreased expression of a subset of meristem regulatory genes that includes Abphyl1 and Td1. We show that the viviparous8 (vp8) mutant has a similar pleiotropic phenotype in the W22 inbred background in contrast to the viviparous embryo phenotype exhibited in the standard genetic background, and we confirmed that wpk1 is allelic to vp8. Further genetic analysis revealed that the standard vp8 stock contains an unlinked, partially dominant suppressor of the vp8 mutation that is not present in W22. Consistent with the early-onset viviparous phenotype of vp8, expression of several embryonic regulators, including LEC1/B3 domain transcription factors, was reduced in the mutant embryo. Moreover, reduced abscisic acid (ABA) content of vp8/wpk1 embryos was correlated with altered regulation of ABA biosynthesis, as well as ABA catabolic pathways. The ABA biosynthetic gene Vp14 was down-regulated in the nonsuppressed background, whereas the ZmABA8′oxA1a ABA 8′-hydroxylase gene was strongly up-regulated in both genetic backgrounds. Molecular analysis revealed that Vp8 encodes a putative peptidase closely related to Arabidopsis thaliana ALTERED MERISTEM PROGRAM1. Because the Vp8 regulates meristem development as well as seed maturation processes, including ABA accumulation, we propose that VP8 is required for synthesis of an unidentified signal that integrates meristem and embryo formation in seeds.
Interannual variation in effective number of breeders and estimation of effective population size in long‐lived iteroparous lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)

Quantifying interannual variation in effective adult breeding number (Nb) and relationships between Nb, effective population size (Ne), adult census size (N) and population demographic characteristics are important to predict genetic changes in populations of conservation concern. Such relationships are rarely available for long‐lived iteroparous species like lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). We estimated annual Nb and generational Ne using genotypes from 12 microsatellite loci for lake sturgeon adults (n = 796) captured during ten spawning seasons and offspring (n = 3925) collected during larval dispersal in a closed population over 8 years. Inbreeding and variance Nb estimated using mean and variance in individual reproductive success derived from genetically identified parentage and using linkage disequilibrium (LD) were similar within and among years (interannual range of Nb across estimators: 41–205). Variance in reproductive success and unequal sex ratios reduced Nb relative to N on average 36.8% and 16.3%, respectively. Interannual variation in Nb/N ratios (0.27–0.86) resulted from stable N and low standardized variance in reproductive success due to high proportions of adults breeding and the species' polygamous mating system, despite a 40‐fold difference in annual larval production across years (437–16 417). Results indicated environmental conditions and features of the species' reproductive ecology interact to affect demographic parameters and Nb/N. Estimates of Ne based on three single‐sample estimators, including LD, approximate Bayesian computation and sibship assignment, were similar to annual estimates of Nb. Findings have important implications concerning applications of genetic monitoring in conservation planning for lake sturgeon and other species with similar life histories and mating systems.
Postprandial lipoprotein lipase, insulin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide responses to test meals of different fatty acid composition: comparison of saturated, n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

OBJECTIVE The present study was carried out to investigate effects of meals, rich in either saturated fatty acids (SFA), or n-6 or n-3 fatty acids, on postprandial plasma lipid and hormone concentrations as well as post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. DESIGN The study was a randomized single-blind study comparing responses to three test meals. SETTING The volunteers attended the Clinical Investigation Unit of the Royal Surrey County Hospital on three separate occasions in order to consume the meals. SUBJECTS Twelve male volunteers with an average age of 22.5 +/- 1.4 years (mean +/- SD), were selected from the University of Surrey student population; one subject dropped out of the study because he found the test meal unpalatable. INTERVENTIONS Three meals were given in the early evening and postprandial responses were followed overnight for 11h. The oils used to prepare each of the three test meals were: a mixed oil rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA) which mimicked the fatty acid composition of the current UK diet, corn oil, rich in n-6 fatty acids and a fish oil concentrate (MaxEPA) rich in n-3 fatty acids. The oil under investigation (40 g) was incorporated into the test meals which were otherwise identical [208 g carbohydrates, 35 g protein, 5.65 MJ (1350 kcal) energy]. Postprandial plasma triacylglycerol (TAG), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and insulin responses, as well as post-heparin LPL activity (measured at 12 h postprandially only) were investigated. RESULTS Fatty acids of the n-3 series significantly reduced plasma TAG responses compared to the mixed oil meal (P < 0.05) and increased post-heparin LPL activity 15 min after the injection of heparin (P < 0.01). A biphasic response was observed in TAG, with peak responses occurring at 1 h and between 3-7 h postprandially. GIP and insulin showed similar responses to the three test meals and no significant differences were observed. CONCLUSION We conclude that fish oils can decrease postprandial plasma TAG levels partly through an increase in post-heparin LPL activity, which however, is not due to increased GIP or insulin concentrations.