Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dendritic Cell-Mediated Regulation of Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Liver Transplant Rejection

Liver allograft recipients are more likely to develop transplantation tolerance than those that receive other types of organ graft. Experimental studies suggest that immune cells and other non-parenchymal cells in the unique liver microenvironment play critical roles in promoting liver tolerogenicity. Of these, liver interstitial dendritic cells (DCs) are heterogeneous, innate immune cells that appear to play pivotal roles in the instigation, integration and regulation of inflammatory responses after liver transplantation. Interstitial liver DCs (recruited in situ or derived from circulating precursors) have been implicated in regulation of both ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and anti-donor immunity. Thus, livers transplanted from mice constitutively lacking DCs into syngeneic, wild-type recipients, display increased tissue injury, indicating a protective role of liver-resident donor DCs against transplant IRI. Also, donor DC depletion before transplant prevents mouse spontaneous liver allograft tolerance across major histocompatibility complex (MHC) barriers. On the other hand, mouse liver graft-infiltrating host DCs that acquire donor MHC antigen via “cross-dressing”, regulate anti-donor T cell reactivity in association with exhaustion of graft-infiltrating T cells and promote allograft tolerance. In an early phase clinical trial, infusion of donor-derived regulatory DCs (DCreg) before living donor liver transplantation can induce alterations in host T cell populations that may be conducive to attenuation of anti-donor immune reactivity. We discuss the role of DCs in regulation of warm and liver transplant IRI and the induction of liver allograft tolerance. We also address design of cell therapies using DCreg to reduce the immunosuppressive drug burden and promote clinical liver allograft tolerance.
Gender Differences in Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: From Lipids to Clinical Outcomes

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the main reasons of death and morbidity in the world. Both women and men have high rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, although gender-related differences in mortality and morbidity rates are observed in different age groups of the population. In the large cohort of cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), systemic hypertension, and valvular heart disease are particularly common in the population. CVDs caused by atherosclerosis are in the first place in terms of frequency, that is why society is particularly interested in this problem. The development and course of atherosclerotic processes associated with lipid and other metabolic changes are characterized by a long latent period, the clinical manifestation is often an acute vascular catastrophe, which can lead to human disability and death. Differences associated with sex are observed in the clinical course and manifestations, which raises the suspicion that gender influences processes related to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACD) includes two main most dangerous clinical manifestations: IHD and cerebrovascular disease (mainly ischemic stroke). Other less common clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis include aortic atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease. Gender-related differences were also identified concerning these diseases. The present review discusses the effects of gender and age on atherosclerotic processes, disease development, and clinical manifestations. The metabolic basis for the development of atherosclerosis appears to be related to sex hormones. Thus this issue is interesting and useful for doctors of different specialties.
Factor VIII-Fc Activates Natural Killer Cells via Fc-Mediated Interactions With CD16

The most challenging complication associated with Factor VIII (FVIII) replacement therapy is the development of neutralizing anti-drug antibodies, or inhibitors, which occur in 23-35% of severe (FVIII level <1%) hemophilia A (HA) patients and are a serious hindrance to effective management of HA. Consequently, strategies that can either prevent anti-FVIII inhibitors from developing or “tolerize” individuals who develop such antibodies represent a clinically important unmet need. One intervention for patients with high-titer inhibitors is immune tolerance induction (ITI) therapy. Although ITI therapy is the only clinically proven strategy to eradicate anti-FVIII inhibitors, mechanisms of inhibitor reduction remain unknown. Factor VIII Fc-fusion (rFVIIIFc) is an enhanced half-life antihemophilic factor used in replacement therapy for HA. Fc-fusion is a successful protein bio-engineering platform technology. In addition to enhancement of plasma half-life via neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) binding, other Fc-mediated interactions, including engagement with Fc gamma receptors (FcγR), may have immunological consequences. Several case reports and retrospective analyses suggest that rFVIIIFc offers superior outcomes with respect to ITI compared to other FVIII products. Previously we and others demonstrated rFVIIIFc interactions with activating FcγRIIIA/CD16. Here, we investigated if rFVIIIFc activates natural killer (NK) cells via CD16. We demonstrated rFVIIIFc signaling via CD16 independent of Von Willebrand Factor (VWF):FVIII complex formation. We established that rFVIIIFc potently activated NK cells in a CD16-dependent fashion resulting in IFNγ secretion and cytolytic perforin and granzyme B release. We also demonstrated an association between rFVIIIFc-mediated NK cell IFNγ secretion levels and the high-affinity (158V) CD16 genotype. Furthermore, we show that rFVIIIFc-activated CD16+ NK cells were able to lyse a B-cell clone (BO2C11) bearing an anti-FVIII B-cell receptor in an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay. These in vitro findings provide an underlying molecular mechanism that may help explain clinical case reports and retrospective studies suggesting rFVIIIFc may be more effective in tolerizing HA patients with anti-FVIII inhibitors compared to FVIII not linked to Fc. Our in vitro findings suggest a potential use of Fc-fusion proteins acting via NK cells to target antigen-specific B-cells, in the management of unwanted immune responses directed against immunogenic self-antigens or therapeutic protein products.
Analysis of Age-Related Circular RNA Expression Profiles in Mesenchymal Stem Cells of Rat Bone Marrow

As multicellular organisms age, they undergo a reduction in tissue and organ function. Researchers have put forward a theory that stem cell aging is the main factor responsible for decreased tissue and organ function. The adult stem cells guarantee the maintenance and repair of adult tissues and organs. Among adult stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as hopeful candidates for cell-based therapy of numerous diseases. In recent years, high-throughput sequencing technologies have evolved to identify circular RNAs (circRNAs) associated with an increasing number of diseases, such as cancer and age-related diseases. It has been reported that circRNAs can compete with microRNAs (miRNAs) to affect the stability or translation of target RNAs and further regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level. However, the role of circRNAs expressed in MSCs in aging mechanisms has not yet been deciphered. The aim of this study was to explore and analyze the expression profiles of age-related circRNAs in MSCs. In this study, bone marrow MSCs were extracted from aged and young rats and analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. The reliability of high-throughput RNA sequencing was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The most important circRNA functions and pathways were further selected by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (KEGG) analysis. Age-related circRNAs were found in the circrNA–miRNA–mRNA interaction network. The results of high-throughput sequencing showed that 4,229 circRNAs were involved in age-related senescence of MSCs. Compared with the young group, there were 29 differentially expressed circRNAs in the aged group, of which four were upregulated and 25 were downregulated. GO analysis covered three domains: biological process (BP), cellular component (CC), and molecular function (MF). The terms assigned to the BP domain were cellular metabolic processes and cellular macromolecule metabolic processes. The identified CC terms were intracellular and intracellular part, and the identified MF terms were binding and protein binding. The top five KEGG pathways were mitophagy–animal–Rattus norvegicus, prostate cancer–Rattus norvegicus, pathways in cancer–Rattus norvegicus, lysosome–Rattus norvegicus, and autophagy–animal–Rattus norvegicus. Altogether, circRNAs may play a major role in age-related MSC senescence. This study provides new mechanistic insights into MSC senescence, possibly leading to novel therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.
Holey Graphene–Enabled Solvent-Free Preparation of Ultrahigh Mass Loading Selenium Cathodes for High Areal Capacity Lithium–Selenium Batteries

Solvents and binders are typical requirements in conventional lithium ion battery electrode fabrication to enable intimate material mixing, mechanical robustness, and reproducibility. However, for high energy density conversion chemistry cathodes such as sulfur (S) and selenium (Se), the time-consuming solvent-based methods are proven unreliable to achieve high mass loading cathodes with sufficient quality. Here, we report a facile solvent-free and binder-free method to prepare high mass loading composite Se cathodes that is enabled by the use of holey graphene (hG) as a lightweight conductive scaffold. Holey graphene is a derivative of graphene and can be dry-pressed into robust discs by itself. It can also serve as a matrix to host materials such as Se for composite disc preparation in a mix-and-press process free of solvent and binder. The method allows the preparation of ultrahigh Se content cathodes (up to 90 wt% Se) and ultrahigh Se mass loading (up to 15.6 mg cm−2 in this work). These cathodes exhibit excellent Se utilization, high areal capacity (up to 9 mAh cm−2), and good rate performance. The dry-press approach also allows for the preparation of a layered composite cathode architecture, where a thin hG layer is inserted between the composite and the current collector to improve the electrical contact. A solvent-free approach is also used to prepare hG-based hybrids with metal sulfides to be incorporated into a composite cathode to help entrap soluble polyselenide intermediates. The hybrid material is compatible with the solvent-free mix-and-press electrode fabrication approach and shows promise in improving the Se retention. While further improvements are still required, this work demonstrates the outstanding potential of using this facile, solvent-free approach enabled by hG for fabrication of high-performance, high mass loading conversion chemistry cathodes.
The effects of regular aerobic exercise on hippocampal structure and function

Engaging in regular exercise has numerous benefits for brain health. In particular, a number of studies have associated exercise with improvements to the structure and function of the hippocampus, especially in older adults. This region plays a critical role in memory function, and is altered in a number of psychiatric disorders associated with memory impairments (e.g. depression and schizophrenia), as well as healthy ageing. Thus, exercise may provide an effective method of enhancing / ameliorating hippocampal integrity; however, an improved understanding of exercise-related effects in young to middle-aged adults is required. We assessed the effects of regular exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on hippocampal structure and function in young to middle-aged adults. We recruited a sample of 40 healthy adults, comprised of individuals who self-reported as engaging in high (regular exercisers) or low (sedentary) levels of physical activity (PA) according to World Health Organisation guidelines (high PA n=20; low PA n=20). A multi-modal assessment of hippocampal structure and function was conducted using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, and hippocampal-dependent memory tasks. We observed evidence of increased N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) concentration and associative memory performance in high PA individuals. However, no differences in hippocampal volume or pattern separation capacity were observed between groups. We found that cardiorespiratory fitness was positively associated with (left, right, and bilateral) hippocampal volume, NAA concentration, and pattern separation, but not associative memory. Therefore, we provide evidence that engaging in higher levels of exercise has demonstrable benefits for hippocampal integrity and function. Given that young and middle-aged adults are overrepresented in the diagnosis of psychiatric illnesses which affect hippocampal integrity (e.g. depression and schizophrenia), it is possible that exercise may provide a low-risk, effective method of remediating this dysfunction.
Electrochemical Preparation of Ni-Sn Active Cathode and Its Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Mechanisms in Alkaline Solution

A simple galvanostatic electrodeposition method was used to synthesize an active Ni-Sn electrode on a Cu foil substrate. Characterization by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the crystal structures of the deposited films transformed from amorphous structures composed of Ni crystal embryos and amorphous Ni-Sn to Ni3Sn4 /Ni3Sn2 mixed crystals with increasing Sn content. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicated that the amorphous Ni-Sn electrode possessed a smooth surface with uniform distribution of small particles, whereas the Ni3Sn4/Ni3Sn2 mixed crystalline electrode exhibited a rough surface composed of lamellar structures. The polarization curves measured in 1 mol · L -1 NaOH solution at 25℃ indicated that the amorphous Ni-Sn electrode showed a smaller overpotential (85 mV) and better electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution than the mixed crystalline electrode. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that the hydrogen evolution reaction occurs on the Ni-Sn alloy electrode under a mixture of Volmer and Heyrovsky control. The higher activity of the amorphous Ni-Sn electrode was attributed to the faster charge transfer and electrochemical adsorption and desorption rates of hydrogen atoms compared with those on the mixed crystalline electrode.
UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO INSTITUTO DE QUÍMICA Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Bioquímica)

PATRICIO, E. S. Evaluation of the interaction of urate hydroperoxide with protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in inflammatory processes. 2014. 99 p. M. Sc. Dissertation – Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo. The oxidation of the uric acid (7,9-dihidro-1H-purine-2,6,8(3H)-trione) by myeloperoxidase (MPO) generates the urate radical. In inflammatory conditions the superoxide reacts with urate radical to form the urate hydroperoxide (HOOU). Taking into account the high amount of MPO, urate and superoxide in the atheroma plaque, it is likely that HOOU is being formed in this inflammatory environment. The HOOU is a strong oxidizing agent and can react with thiol groups from proteins, like the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). As a consequence of its oxidation, PDI positively modulates NADPH oxidase (Nox) and increases superoxide production by neutrophils. Therefore, the formation of HOOU in the vascular sheet would contribute to tissue damage and would explain the positive correlation between hyperuricemia and the risk for cardiovascular disease. To investigate the interaction of HOOU with PDI, we performed the chemical synthesis of the compound by the Type I photooxidation, using UVA irradiation and riboflavin as a photosensitizer. Initially, we standardized the irradiation light and the time of the reaction that produced the highest income. The HOOU and its reduced product 5hydroxiisourate were separate, identified and characterized by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC/MS). We also determine the molar extinction coefficient of HOOU at 308 nm (ɛ308 = 6537 ± 377 M -1 .cm -1 ). The half-life of the compound was 41 min at 22 o C. The HOOU selectively oxidized methionine and glutathione. The reaction of HOOU with glutathione did not form any stable adducts. Thus, all consumed glutathione generated glutathione disulfide. When incubated with PDI (10 μM), 70 and 100% of the total amount of HOOU (3 μM) was consumed within 30 and 120 seconds, respectively. Besides, the PDI (23 μM) had its thiol groups oxidized after incubation with 140 μM HOOU for 30 min at 22oC. The HOOU oxidized the cysteine residues from the catalytical sites of PDI with a second order rate constant of 1.5 ± 0.04 x 10 3 M 1 . s -1 . This result suggests a favorable interaction of HOOU with this protein in the biological system, as well as a possible modulatory role of HOOU on the PDI-Nox pathway. Interestingly, urate increased superoxide production and oxygen consumption by neutrophil-like cells (differentiated HL-60 cells). This effect could be mediated by the formation of HOOU during the neutrophil oxidative burst, followed by the oxidation of PDI, a positive regulation of Nox and an increase in superoxide production.
Potential of Dyospirus khaki Baverage as Sources of Natural Antioxidant

Dyospirus kaki is fruit belongs to the Ebenaceae family. Its beneficial properties are considered to be related to the various antioxidants, including vitamins, phenolic compounds and carotenoids, contained in this kind of fruit. Methanolic and ethanolic extract of Dyospirus kaki baverage were evaluated for their phenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant activities by using DPPH and bleacing of beta-carotene method. Correlation between phenol and flavonoid content with pearson correlation. The result showed that methanolic extract of Dyospirus kaki baverage has higher phenol and flavonoid content than ethanolic extract of Dyospirus kaki baverage. Antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Dyospirus kaki baverage was higher than that of ethanolic extract of Dyospirus kaki baverage based on DPPH and bleacing beta-carotene. There were significant and positive correlation between antioxidant activity based on DPPH and bleacing betacarotene and phenol and flavonoid content on baverage from methanolic and ethanolic extract of Dyospirus kaki. These results indicated that methanolic extract and ethanolic extract of Dyopsirus kaki baverage might be used as potential source of natural antioxidants.
Consumer's satisfaction with integrated maternal, neonatal and child health (IMNCH) services in model primary health care centers in Najaf District, Iraq

The integrated program of maternal and child health is promoting, preventing, therapeutic and rehabilitative care for the mother and child. They aim to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity. In most countries, the maternal and child health program is a part of the general health services provided by the government. In many developed countries, very few mothers or babies die during the delivery process, unless there are pathological events beyond medical control, such as congenital malformations or rare unpredictable complications. However, in many developing countries, progress has not been so impressive [1]. The primary health care elements were suggested in Alma-Ata conference in 1978. Maternal and child health services include integrated management of neonatal and child health services and dispensaries. Primary health care(PHC) services provide both curative and preventive aspect of care. In 1986, Iraq started expanded program of immunization (EPI) and the number of centers increased rapidly [2] . The expansion in the PHC creates a need for various types of evaluation to measure the quality of the services provided, and to determine the extent to which their objectives have been achieved [3].
Survey of Carbon Dioxide Capture in Phosphonium-Based Ionic Liquids and End-Capped Polyethylene Glycol Using DETA (DETA = Diethylenetriamine) as a Model Absorbent§

We have performed a survey of carbon dioxide capture in phosphonium-based ionic liquids and end-capped polyethylene glycol using DETA (DETA = diethylenetriamine) as a model absorbent. The carbon dioxide adduct of DETA is zwitterionic and forms readily in both ionic and polymeric media. Crystals of the adduct have been isolated, and its X-ray crystal structure is reported. The adduct is hygroscopic and decomposes with heating, with the onset of decomposition occurring at ∼85 °C. Computational studies were performed examining possible structures for the adducts formed between DETA and CO2 in the gas phase. Also described is a study of the thermal stability of phosphonium ionic liquids and selected polymeric solvents under neutral and oxidizing conditions. Heat capacity measurements were also performed on a number of ionic liquids.
Genome-Wide SNP Markers for Genotypic and Phenotypic Differentiation of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Varieties Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically important horticultural crop with abundant morphological and genetic variability. Complex genetic variations exist even among melon varieties and remain unclear to date. Therefore, unraveling the genetic variability among the three different melon varieties, muskmelon (C. melo subsp. melo), makuwa (C. melo L. var. makuwa), and cantaloupes (C. melo subsp. melo var. cantalupensis), could provide a basis for evolutionary research. In this study, we attempted a systematic approach with genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS)-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to reveal the genetic structure and diversity, haplotype differences, and marker-based varieties differentiation. A total of 6406 GBS-derived SNPs were selected for the diversity analysis, in which the muskmelon varieties showed higher heterozygote SNPs. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay varied significantly among the three melon varieties, in which more rapid LD decay was observed in muskmelon (r2 = 0.25) varieties. The Bayesian phylogenetic tree provided the intraspecific relationships among the three melon varieties that formed, as expected, individual clusters exhibiting the greatest genetic distance based on the posterior probability. The haplotype analysis also supported the phylogeny result by generating three major networks for 48 haplotypes. Further investigation for varieties discrimination allowed us to detect a total of 52 SNP markers that discriminated muskmelon from makuwa varieties, of which two SNPs were converted into cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers for practical use. In addition to these markers, the genome-wide association study identified two SNPs located in the genes on chromosome 6, which were significantly associated with the phenotypic traits of melon seed. This study demonstrated that a systematic approach using GBS-derived SNPs could serve to efficiently classify and manage the melon varieties in the genebank.