gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Risk Models for Predicting Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia (2005)

Neutropenia and its complications, including febrile neutropenia, are major dose-limiting toxicities of systemic cancer chemotherapy. A number of studies have attempted to identify risk factors for neutropenia and its consequences to develop predictive models capable of identifying patients at greater risk for such complications and to guide more effective and cost-effective applications of the colony-stimulating factors. A systematic review of the literature showed that age, performance status, nutritional status, chemotherapy dose intensity, and low baseline blood cell counts were associated with the risk of severe and febrile neutropenia or reduced chemotherapy dose intensity in multivariate analysis in two or more studies. Similarly, age, diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma, high temperature or low blood pressure at admission, and i.v. site infection along with low blood cell counts and organ dysfunction were associated with serious medical complications of febrile neutropenia, including bacteremia and death. The available risk model studies, however, had several limitations, including retrospective analyses of small study populations lacking independent validation, frequent missing values, and differences in the predictive factors considered. To overcome the limitations of previous studies, efforts are under way to develop and validate risk models based on large prospective studies in representative populations of patients receiving systemic chemotherapy.
RUNX3 copy number predicts the development of UC-associated colorectal cancer (2010)

RUNX3 is a tumour suppressor gene that plays an important role in the development of various cancers. The present study aimed to compare RUNX3 mRNA expression levels and DNA copy numbers in the non-neoplastic rectal mucosa between ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with and without UC-associated colorectal cancer (UC-Ca). We further aimed to build a predictive model of the development of UC-Ca based on the RUNX3 DNA copy number. RUNX3 mRNA expression levels were quantified by RT-PCR. The hypermethylation and DNA copy number of RUNX3 were also determined. Thirty-five UC patients were examined, 17 of whom had UC-Ca (UC-Ca group) and 18 who did not (UC-NonCa group). The UC-Ca group had significantly lower mRUNX3 expression levels and smaller DNA copy numbers than the UC-NonCa group (p=0.04, p=0.0016, respectively). RUNX3 expression levels correlated with DNA copy numbers. Classification of the UC-Ca and UC-NonCa group based on DNA copy number gave an accuracy of 82.9%. RUNX3 expression levels in the non-neoplastic rectal mucosa was significantly decreased in the UC-Ca group and it is suggested that this was attributable to the decrease in RUNX3 DNA copy number. The present predictive model may be useful in the selection of high risk UC-Ca patients and to improve the efficacy of surveillance colonoscopy. The present study suggests that RUNX3 might play an important role in the development of UC-Ca.
Personalization in distributed e-learning environments (2004)

Personalized support for learners becomes even more important, when e-Learning takes place in open and dynamic learning and information networks. This paper shows how to realize personalized learning support in distributed learning environments based on Semantic Web technologies. Our approach fills the existing gap between current adaptive educational systems with well-established personalization functionality, and open, dynamic learning repository networks. We propose a service-based architecture for establishing personalized e-Learning, where personalization functionality is provided by various web-services. A Personal Learning Assistant integrates personalization services and other supporting services, and provides the personalized access to learning resources in an e-Learning network.
The Aerobic Oxidation of a Pd(II) Dimethyl Complex Leads to Selective Ethane Elimination from a Pd(III) Intermediate (2011)

Oxidation of the Pd(II) complex (N4)Pd(II)Me(2) (N4 = N,N'-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane) with O(2) or ROOH (R = H, tert-butyl, cumyl) produces the Pd(III) species [(N4)Pd(III)Me(2)](+), followed by selective formation of ethane and the monomethyl complex (N4)Pd(II)Me(OH). Cyclic voltammetry studies and use of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap suggest an inner-sphere mechanism for (N4)Pd(II)Me(2) oxidation by O(2) to generate a Pd(III)-superoxide intermediate. In addition, reaction of (N4)Pd(II)Me(2) with cumene hydroperoxide involves a heterolytic O-O bond cleavage, implying a two-electron oxidation of the Pd(II) precursor and formation of a transient Pd(IV) intermediate. Mechanistic studies of the C-C bond formation steps and crossover experiments are consistent with a nonradical mechanism that involves methyl group transfer and transient formation of a Pd(IV) species. Moreover, the (N4)Pd(II)Me(OH) complex formed upon ethane elimination reacts with weakly acidic C-H bonds of acetone and terminal alkynes, leading to formation of a new Pd(II)-C bond. Overall, this study represents the first example of C-C bond formation upon aerobic oxidation of a Pd(II) dimethyl complex, with implications in the development of Pd catalysts for aerobic oxidative coupling of C-H bonds.
Novel solar cell power supply system using the multiple-input DC-DC converter (2002)

Recently, clean electric power generation systems have attracted a great deal of social attention to exploit clean energy resources such as solar arrays, wind generators, fuel cells, etc. In this case, the multiple-input DC-DC power converter is useful to combine the several input power sources and to supply the regulated output voltage for the load. The novel solar cell power supply system using the buck-boost type two-input DC-DC converter is proposed, in which the solar array and the commercial AC line are exploited as power sources and they are combined by the two input windings of the energy-storage reactor. Also, its operation principle and performance characteristics are discussed. Furthermore, the solar cell optimum operating point tracker is proposed and examined. It is confirmed by the experiment that the proposed solar cell power supply system has the excellent performance characteristics.
4-Hydroxytamoxifen Is an Isoform-Specific Inhibitor of Orphan Estrogen-Receptor-Related (ERR) Nuclear Receptors β and γ (2001)

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are synthetic molecules that exhibit tissue-specific activities. 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) is a first generation SERM that functions as an antagonist in breast cancer cells but displays estrogen-like activities in the uterus and bone. The estrogen-receptor-related receptors (ERR) alpha, beta and gamma are orphan members of the superfamily of nuclear receptors. While the ERRs do not respond to natural estrogens, these receptors recognize the estrogen response element and have been shown to activate and repress gene expression in the absence of exogenously added ligand. Here we show that OHT disrupts the interaction between the orphan estrogen-receptor-related (ERR) receptors beta and gamma and a coregulator protein and abolishes the constitutive transcriptional activity of these receptors in transient transfection assays. In contrast, OHT has no effect on coregulator/ERR alpha interaction or its transcriptional activity. These results demonstrate the existence of a novel nuclear receptor-based pharmacological pathway that may contribute to the tissue-specific activities of OHT.
Imaging and clinical features of patients with 2019 novel coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2: A systematic review and meta‐analysis (2020)

COVID-19 is a new clinical infectious disease that mainly causes bilateral pneumonia and lung function deteriorates rapidly. Nearly a third of patients need to be admitted to the ICU, and patients are likely to present respiratory failure or even death.
Unusually stable helix formation in short alanine-based peptides. (1989)

Short, 16-residue, alanine-based peptides show stable alpha-helix formation in H2O. This result is surprising when contrasted with the classical view that regards the alpha-helix as a marginally stable structure in H2O and considers short helices unstable. The alanine-based peptides are solubilized by insertion of three or more residues of a single charge type, lysine (+) or glutamic acid (-). The results cannot be explained by helix stabilization resulting from concentration-dependent association or by the interaction of charged residues with the helix dipole. Our results are not predicted by the parameters for alanine and lysine that have been determined by the "host-guest" method: these parameters predict that a 16-residue peptide should not show measurable alpha-helix formation. Analysis of the role of the hydrophobic interaction in alpha-helix formation [Richards, F.M. & Richmond, T. (1978) in Molecular Interactions and Activity in Proteins, Ciba Foundation Symposium 60, ed. Wolstenholme, G.E. (Excepta Medica Amsterdam), pp. 23-25] does not show an unusually strong hydrophobic interaction in a helical block of alanine residues. The likely explanation for our results is, therefore, that individual alanine residues have a high helical potential. It is not yet known whether any other amino acids show this property, and the origin of this property is also unknown.
Motor response complications and the function of striatal efferent systems. (1993)

Motor response complications eventually appear in most patients with advanced Parkinson's disease being treated with levodopa. The interval between onset of parkinsonism and emergence of these adverse events appears independent of the dose or the duration of therapy. Current evidence suggests that "wearing-off" fluctuations largely reflect the loss of normally functioning dopaminergic terminals, although postsynaptic alterations contribute somewhat to the underlying decline in the duration of levodopa's antiparkinsonian action. "On-off" fluctuations and peak-dose dyskinesias, on the other hand, appear to arise mainly as a consequence of postjunctional alterations that follow exposure to nonphysiologic intrasynaptic dopamine fluctuations in patients who have lost the buffering afforded by dopaminergic terminals. Studies in rats with 6-hydroxydopamine lesions indicate that striking functional alterations occur in striatal dopaminoceptive systems as a result of dopaminergic denervation and that levodopa replacement, particularly when given intermittently, fails to normalize these changes. To the extent that similar alterations contribute to the appearance of motor complications, the successful symptomatic therapy of Parkinson's disease may require continuous dopaminergic stimulation, as well as direct pharmacologic targeting of striatal dopaminoceptive systems.
Extravillous trophoblast and decidual natural killer cells: a remodelling partnership (2012)

The combined role that dNK cells and EVT play in SA remodelling suggests that these interactions could be described as a partnership. The investigation of pregnancy as a multicellular system involving both fetal and maternal components, as well as comparisons to similar examples of tissue remodelling, will further identify the key mechanisms in SA remodelling that are required for a successful pregnancy.
Microbial Conversion of Olive Oil Mill Wastewaters into Lipids Suitable for Biodiesel Production (2010)

Lipomyces starkey were able to survive and proliferate in the presence of olive oil mill wastewaters (OMW), a medium difficult to process by biological treatments, due to the antimicrobial activities of their phenolic components. The microorganisms were grown in the presence of undiluted OMW, without external organic supplements, producing a significant reduction of both the total organic carbon (TOC) and the total phenols content. The OMW treated by L. starkey showed a significant increase of the germination index. The preliminary dilution of OMW enhanced the reduction of polluting components of OMW, leading to a complete TOC removal, as well as to lower levels of residual phenols. The activities of extracellular lipases and esterases significantly increased in the course of the OMW fermentation. A significant increase in lipid yield was observed in L. starkey in the course of the OMW treatment, particularly enhanced when the feedstock was preliminarily diluted. The fatty acid distribution showed a prevalence of oleic acid, demonstrating the potential of L. starkeyi as a source of lipids to be used as a feedstock for the synthesis of II generation biodiesel.
Interaction of Ascorbate and α‐Tocopherol (1987)

Vitamins C and E function as water-soluble and lipid-soluble chain-breaking antioxidants, respectively, and protect lipids, proteins, and membranes from oxidative damage. Vitamin C scavenges oxygen radicals in the aqueous phase, whereas vitamin E scavenges oxygen radicals within the membranes. Vitamin C regenerates vitamin E by reducing vitamin E radicals formed when vitamin E scavenges the oxygen radicals. This interaction between vitamin C and vitamin E radicals can take place not only in homogeneous solutions but also in liposomal membrane systems where vitamins C and E reside separately outside and within the membranes respectively, and vitamin C can act as a synergist.
Direct evidence for the importance of endothelium-derived nitric oxide in vascular remodeling. (1998)

The vascular endothelium mediates the ability of blood vessels to alter their architecture in response to hemodynamic changes; however, the specific endothelial-derived factors that are responsible for vascular remodeling are poorly understood. Here we show that endothelial-derived nitric oxide (NO) is a major endothelial-derived mediator controlling vascular remodeling. In response to external carotid artery ligation, mice with targeted disruption of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS) did not remodel their ipsilateral common carotid arteries whereas wild-type mice did. Rather, the eNOS mutant mice displayed a paradoxical increase in wall thickness accompanied by a hyperplastic response of the arterial wall. These findings demonstrate a critical role for endogenous NO as a negative regulator of vascular smooth muscle proliferation in response to a remodeling stimulus. Furthermore, our data suggests that a primary defect in the NOS/NO pathway can promote abnormal remodeling and may facilitate pathological changes in vessel wall morphology associated with complex diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Thin, Flexible Secondary Li-Ion Paper Batteries (2010)

There is a strong interest in thin, flexible energy storage devices to meet modern society needs for applications such as interactive packaging, radio frequency sensing, and consumer products. In this article, we report a new structure of thin, flexible Li-ion batteries using paper as separators and free-standing carbon nanotube thin films as both current collectors. The current collectors and Li-ion battery materials are integrated onto a single sheet of paper through a lamination process. The paper functions as both a mechanical substrate and separator membrane with lower impedance than commercial separators. The CNT film functions as a current collector for both the anode and the cathode with a low sheet resistance (∼5 Ohm/sq), lightweight (∼0.2 mg/cm(2)), and excellent flexibility. After packaging, the rechargeable Li-ion paper battery, despite being thin (∼300 μm), exhibits robust mechanical flexibility (capable of bending down to <6 mm) and a high energy density (108 mWh/g).
Identification and characterization of the herpes simplex virus type 2 gene encoding the essential capsid protein ICP32/VP19c (1990)

We describe the characterization of the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) gene encoding infected cell protein 32 (ICP32) and virion protein 19c (VP19c). We also demonstrate that the HSV-1 UL38/ORF.553 open reading frame (ORF), which has been shown to specify a viral protein essential for capsid formation (B. Pertuiset, M. Boccara, J. Cebrian, N. Berthelot, S. Chousterman, F. Puvian-Dutilleul, J. Sisman, and P. Sheldrick, J. Virol. 63: 2169-2179, 1989), must encode the cognate HSV type 1 (HSV-1) ICP32/VP19c protein. The region of the HSV-2 genome deduced to contain the gene specifying ICP32/VP19c was isolated and subcloned, and the nucleotide sequence of 2,158 base pairs of HSV-2 DNA mapping immediately upstream of the gene encoding the large subunit of the viral ribonucleotide reductase was determined. This region of the HSV-2 genome contains a large ORF capable of encoding two related 50,538- and 49,472-molecular-weight polypeptides. Direct evidence that this ORF encodes HSV-2 ICP32/VP19c was provided by immunoblotting experiments that utilized antisera directed against synthetic oligopeptides corresponding to internal portions of the predicted polypeptides encoded by the HSV-2 ORF or antisera directed against a TrpE/HSV-2 ORF fusion protein. The type-common immunoreactivity of the two antisera and comparison of the primary amino acid sequences of the predicted products of the HSV-2 ORF and the equivalent genomic region of HSV-1 provided evidence that the HSV-1 UL38 ORF encodes the HSV-1 ICP32/VP19c. Analysis of the expression of the HSV-1 and HSV-2 ICP32/VP19c cognate proteins indicated that there may be differences in their modes of synthesis. Comparison of the predicted structure of the HSV-2 ICP32/VP19c protein with the structures of related proteins encoded by other herpes viruses suggested that the internal capsid architecture of the herpes family of viruses varies substantially.
Antisense Therapy for Angioplasty Restenosis (1995)

The high affinity of even relatively short sequences of DNA for their target mRNA suggests that antisense agents represent an ideal method of suppressing specific gene products both in vitro and in vivo. In experiments performed thus far, an effect on the target mRNA in cultured vascular cells and in the vessel wall can be documented. The in vitro activity, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic data of antisense oligonucleotides are encouraging, and the in vivo animal experiments demonstrating suppression of neointimal formation are very promising. If animals trials presently under way show continued suppression not only of intimal formation but also of loss of lumen caliber after a single application, then effective delivery of antisense oligonucleotides is a realistic possibility. Nevertheless, some words of caution regarding the use of antisense oligonucleotides are warranted. Potential nonspecific effects of antisense oligonucleotides should be carefully considered in studies in which antisense agents are used to define biological functions of specific genes. In particular, demonstration that the target mRNA has been suppressed does not prove that other sequences within the mRNA pool have not also been suppressed. Critical control measures include adding back the target mRNA or protein and demonstrating similar biological effects with antisense sequences, which also suppress target gene expression directed at different regions of the target mRNA. At the clinical level, the systemic effects of antisense oligonucleotides, the dosage required, the timing of administration compared with mechanical intervention, and the toxicity of breakdown products all need to be established. In addition, the most appropriate targets for antisense use in restenosis remain largely obscure. Indiscriminate suppression of cell-cycle genes or proto-oncogenes may be as acutely toxic as current anticancer chemotherapy if the site delivery is not completely localized. Furthermore, much of the clinical evidence suggests that restenosis is a chronic process, continuing to develop weeks to months after the procedure. If this is the case, then the current approaches that rely on a transient, local application of an antisense agent may fail. If, however, a target gene is identified that is specific to vascular tissue, then repeated administration of an antisense agent may be tolerated via a systemic route. This approach has proved successful in targeting mutated genes with little suppression of closely related genes and with minimal systemic toxicity. An alternative approach is to transfect the target tissue with a gene that makes it susceptible to systemic delivery of a drug that is not normally toxic to mammalian cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Multiplex Staining by Sequential Immunostaining and Antibody Removal on Routine Tissue Sections (2017)

Multiplexing, labeling for multiple immunostains in the very same cell or tissue section in situ, has raised considerable interest. The methods proposed include the use of labeled primary antibodies, spectral separation of fluorochromes, bleaching of the fluorophores or chromogens, blocking of previous antibody layers, all in various combinations. The major obstacles to the diffusion of this technique are high costs in custom antibodies and instruments, low throughput, and scarcity of specialized skills or facilities. We have validated a method based on common primary and secondary antibodies and diffusely available fluorescent image scanners. It entails rounds of four-color indirect immunofluorescence, image acquisition, and removal (stripping) of the antibodies, before another stain is applied. The images are digitally registered and the autofluorescence is subtracted. Removal of antibodies is accomplished by disulfide cleavage and a detergent or by a chaotropic salt treatment, this latter followed by antigen refolding. More than 30 different antibody stains can be applied to one single section from routinely fixed and embedded tissue. This method requires a modest investment in hardware and materials and uses freeware image analysis software. Multiplexing on routine tissue sections is a high throughput tool for in situ characterization of neoplastic, reactive, inflammatory, and normal cells.
Ellagic acid inhibits IL-1β-induced cell adhesion molecule expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (2007)

Expression of cell adhesion molecules by endothelium and the attachment of monocytes to endothelium may play a major role in atherosclerosis. Ellagic acid (EA) is a phenolic compound found in fruits and nuts including raspberries, strawberries, grapes and walnuts. Previous studies have indicated that EA possesses antioxidant activity in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the effects of EA on the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, the translocation of NFkappaB and expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule (E-selectin) induced by IL-1beta in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We found that EA significantly reduced the binding of human monocytic cell line, U937, to IL-1beta-treated HUVEC. The production of reactive oxygen species by IL-1beta was dose-dependently suppressed by EA. Supplementation with increasing doses of EA up to 50 micromol/l was most effective in inhibiting the expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin. Furthermore, the inhibition of IL-1beta-induced adhesion molecule expression by EA was manifested by the suppression of nuclear translocation of p65 and p50. In conclusion, EA inhibits IL-1beta-induced nuclear translocation of p65 and p50, thereby suppressing the expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin, resulting in decreased monocyte adhesion. Thus, EA has anti-inflammatory properties and may play an important role in the prevention of atherosclerosis.