gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Comparison of several methods for semiquantitative determination of urinary protein. (1977)

Two types of urine protein dipsticks and the sulfosalicylic acid method were compared for their accuracy and specificity, with use of urine samples supplemented with various proteins. Dipsticks yield accurate results when the protein under consideration is restricted to albumin; the sulfosalicylic acid method accurately determines many kinds of proteins in addition to albumin. Detergents affect each of the methods, but changes in salt concentration only affect results by dipstick procedures. Dipsticks, which are based on the protein-error principle for indicators, are subject to some of the conditions that apply to the bromcresol green method for serum albumin determination.
Reinforcement of a self‐setting calcium phosphate cement with different fibers (2000)

A water-based calcium phosphate cement (CPC) has been used in a number of medical and dental procedures due to its excellent osteoconductivity and bone replacement capability. However, the low tensile strength of CPC prohibits its use in many unsupported defects and stress-bearing locations. Little investigation has been carried out on the fiber reinforcement of CPC. The aims of the present study, therefore, were to examine whether fibers would strengthen CPC, and to investigate the effects of fiber type, fiber length, and volume fraction. Four different fibers were used: aramid, carbon, E-glass, and polyglactin. Fiber length ranged from 3–200 mm, and fiber volume fraction ranged from 1.9–9.5%. The fibers were mixed with CPC paste and placed into molds of 3 × 4 × 25 mm. A flexural test was used to fracture the set specimens and to measure the ultimate strength, work-of-fracture, and elastic modulus. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine specimen fracture surfaces. Fiber type had significant effects on composite properties. The composite ultimate strength in MPa (mean ± SD; n = 6) was (62 ± 16) for aramid, (59 ± 11) for carbon, (29 ± 8) for E-glass, and (24 ± 4) for polyglactin, with 5.7% volume fraction and 75 mm fiber length. In comparison, the strength of unreinforced CPC was (13 ± 3). Fiber length also played an important role. For composites containing 5.7% aramid fibers, the ultimate strength was (24 ± 3) for 3 mm fibers, (36 ± 13) for 8 mm fibers, (48 ± 14) for 25 mm fibers, and (62 ± 16) for 75 mm fibers. At 25 mm fiber length, the ultimate strength of CPC composite was found to be linearly proportional to fiber strength. In conclusion, a self-setting calcium phosphate cement was substantially strengthened via fiber reinforcement. Fiber length, fiber volume fraction, and fiber strength were found to be key microstructural parameters that controlled the mechanical properties of CPC composites. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 52, 107–114, 2000.
DNA Methylation in Serum and Tumors of Cervical Cancer Patients (2004)

To the best of our knowledge, this is, thus far, the largest study investigating aberrant promoter hypermethylation in serum samples from cancer patients and the first study investigating methylation patterns in sera of cervical cancer patients. Our results suggest that serological detection of MYOD1 promoter hypermethylation may be of potential use as a prognostic marker for discriminating cervical cancer patients at high risk for lymph node metastasis or relapse. Additional studies, including a panel of additional genes, are necessary to elucidate the role of aberrant methylation in serum as a tool for surveillance of cervical cancer.
Brimonidine formulation in polyacrylic acid nanoparticles for ophthalmic delivery (2003)

In ocular drug delivery, a major problem is providing an adequate concentration of a therapeutic agent in the precorneal area. Mucoadhesive carriers such as polyacrylic acid in sub-colloidal, nanoparticulate form, have a strong potential for ophthalmic drug delivery. A formulation of brimonidine loaded in polyacrylic acid nanoparticles has been prepared for potential delivery in ophthalmic therapy. The particles were prepared by a reverse microemulsion polymerization technique and their sizes were in the range of 50 nm. In a preliminary biocompatibility test, Caco-2 cells (human primary colonic tumour adenocarcinoma) and human corneal epithelial cells incubated with polyacrylic acid nanoparticles were found to retain their viability over varying times. The loading efficiency of the drug brimonidine in the particles was shown to be between 80–85% and pH dependent. The bioadhesive polyacrylic hydrogel nanoparticles, used in the present study, exhibited superior loading properties for brimonidine, and the formulation was stable for more than 5 weeks. When the drug-loaded nanoparticles were dispersed in a phosphate buffer saline (pH = 7.4), the drug was slowly released over several hours. Two-photon laser scanning microscopic studies of dye-conjugated polyacrylic acid nanoparticles demonstrated the accumulation of the particles on the surface and intercellular spaces of Caco-2 cells.
Anomalous Zero-Bias Conductance Peak in a Nb–InSb Nanowire–Nb Hybrid Device (2012)

Semiconductor InSb nanowires are expected to provide an excellent material platform for the study of Majorana fermions in solid state systems. Here, we report on the realization of a Nb-InSb nanowire-Nb hybrid quantum device and the observation of a zero-bias conductance peak structure in the device. An InSb nanowire quantum dot is formed in the device between the two Nb contacts. Due to the proximity effect, the InSb nanowire segments covered by the superconductor Nb contacts turn to superconductors with a superconducting energy gap Δ(InSb) ∼ 0.25 meV. A tunable critical supercurrent is observed in the device in high back gate voltage regions in which the Fermi level in the InSb nanowire is located above the tunneling barriers of the quantum dot and the device is open to conduction. When a perpendicular magnetic field is applied to the devices, the critical supercurrent is seen to decrease as the magnetic field increases. However, at sufficiently low back gate voltages, the device shows the quasi-particle Coulomb blockade characteristics and the supercurrent is strongly suppressed even at zero magnetic field. This transport characteristic changes when a perpendicular magnetic field stronger than a critical value, at which the Zeeman energy in the InSb nanowire is E(z) ∼ Δ(InSb), is applied to the device. In this case, the transport measurements show a conductance peak at the zero bias voltage and the entire InSb nanowire in the device behaves as in a topological superconductor phase. We also show that this zero-bias conductance peak structure can persist over a large range of applied magnetic fields and could be interpreted as a transport signature of Majorana fermions in the InSb nanowire.
Storage and long-distance distribution of telecommunications-band polarization entanglement generated in an optical fiber (2005)

We demonstrate storage of polarization-entangled photons for 125 micros, a record storage time to date, in a 25-km-long fiber spool, using a telecommunications-band fiber-based source of entanglement. With this source we also demonstrate distribution of polarization entanglement over 50 km by separating the two photons of an entangled pair and transmitting them individually over separate 25-km fibers. The measured two-photon fringe visibilities were 82% in the storage experiment and 86% in the distribution experiment. Preservation of polarization entanglement over such long-distance transmission demonstrates the viability of all-fiber sources for use in quantum memories and quantum logic gates.
Processing of C3b-Opsonized Immune Complexes Bound to Non-Complement Receptor 1 (CR1) Sites on Red Cells: Phagocytosis, Transfer, and Associations with CR1 (2005)

Severe anemia is a lethal complication of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, particularly in children. Recent studies in children with severe P. falciparum anemia have demonstrated elevated levels of E-bound Abs, reduced E-associated complement receptor 1 (CR1) and decay-accelerating factor (DAF), and pronounced splenic enlargement, suggesting a mechanism for E loss involving Abs, complement, and phagocytosis. Motivated by these reports, we have developed an in vitro model in which human E with Abs and complement bound to CR1, DAF, or glycophorin A are incubated with model human macrophages (the THP-1 cell line). Previous work has demonstrated that immune complex (IC) substrates bound to E CR1, either by an Ab or via C3b, are transferred to macrophages with loss of CR1. In this study, we report that IC bound to DAF or glycophorin A by an Ab linkage are also transferred to macrophages. DAF is lost from the E during the transfer of DAF-bound IC, but the transfer of CR1-bound IC does not lead to a significant loss of DAF. Using glycophorin A-bound IC, we observe competition between transfer of IC and phagocytosis of the E: a fraction (</=15%) of the E was phagocytosed, while the remaining E were stripped of IC. We also examined the organization of CR1 and DAF in the presence of E-bound Ab/complement. We find that CR1, but not DAF, colocalizes with IgM mAb-C3b and IC-C3b substrates attached to glycophorin A. We observe that the binding of the IgM mAb-C3b to glycophorin A induces a novel unclustering of CR1.
Antigenic Diversity of Hepatitis B Virus Strains of Genotype F in Amerindians and Other Population Groups from Venezuela (1998)

The adw4 subtype of hepatitis B virus (HBV) belongs to a unique genomic group (genotype F) representing the original HBV strains from the New World. Data regarding the prevalence of this subtype among HBV carriers in South America are, however, scarce, and those concerning HBV genotype F are based on only a few samples from Latin America. In this study, serum samples were obtained from 141 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers from Amerindians and urban populations from Venezuela. The HBsAg subtype was identified with monoclonal antibodies in 105 samples, and the HBV genotype was identified by reverse-phase hybridization with DNA fragments in 58 samples. The adw4 subtype was highly prevalent in the population studied (75%); among the Amerindians, the prevalence was 97%. The adw2 subtype was also present (10%), while other subtypes (ayw3 and ayw4) were only occasionally found. The HBV subtype was associated with the expected genotype in most cases (80%), and thus genotype F was highly prevalent. Sequencing of viral strains that gave genotypes unpredicted by the HBsAg subtyping confirmed seven of them as belonging to not previously described genotype-subtype associations: namely, adw2 and ayw4 within genotype F.
Ric-8B promotes functional expression of odorant receptors (2006)

Odorants are detected by a large family of odorant receptors (ORs) expressed in the nose. The information provided by the ORs is transmitted to specific regions of the brain, leading to odorant perception. The determination of the odorant specificities of the different ORs will contribute to the understanding of how odorants are discriminated by the olfactory system. However, to date only a few ORs have been linked to odorants they recognize, because ORs are poorly expressed on the cell surface of heterologous cells. Here we show that Ric-8B, a putative guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Galphaolf, promotes efficient heterologous expression of ORs. Our results also show that Ric-8B enhances accumulation of Galphaolf at the cell periphery, indicating that it promotes functional OR expression by improving the efficiency of OR coupling to Galphaolf. Expression systems containing Galphaolf and Ric-8B should contribute to the functional characterization of ORs.
Type 2 Cytokines Predominate in the Human CD4+T-Lymphocyte Response to Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1 (2000)

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus that persistently infects 85% of the adult population worldwide. In this report, we examine the proliferative response and cytokine secretion profile of CD4(+) T lymphocytes from a panel of unrelated EBV-positive donors against two EBV latent antigens, EBNA1 and EBNA3C. Substantial proliferative responses by CD4(+) lymphocytes were demonstrated to both antigens in multiple, randomly selected donors. Surprisingly, we observed a striking and consistent difference in cytokine response to EBNA1 and EBNA3C. EBNA1-specific CD4(+) T lymphocytes from multiple unrelated donors preferentially produced type 2-like cytokines in response to antigenic stimulation, while the response to EBNA3C was a characteristic type 1 response. The implications of these findings for EBV persistence and the development of EBV-associated malignancies are discussed.
Congenital Protein C Deficiency and Venous Thromboembolism (1983)

Protein C is the zymogen of a vitamin K-dependent serine protease involved in blood coagulation. In the absence of protein C the inactivation of activated factors V and VIIIC is impaired, and the fibrinolytic capacity of the circulating blood is reduced. These conditions promote excessive fibrin formation and thus constitute a risk factor for thrombosis. Using an immunologic assay for protein C, we identified 18 patients (11 male and 7 female) in three unrelated Dutch families as fulfilling the criteria for an isolated protein C deficiency. In 12 patients who were not receiving oral anticoagulant treatment the mean protein C antigen concentration was 0.48 +/- 0.09 U per milliliter (+/- S.D.), and in 6 patients who were receiving adjusted doses of oral anticoagulants and had stable anticoagulation, the mean value was 0.17 +/- 0.05 U per milliliter. (The value in healthy subjects is 0.98 +/- 0.19 U per milliliter.) Fourteen of the 18 patients had a history of venous thromboembolism, with superficial thrombophlebitis as the hallmark of this condition (in 13 patients). These data are consistent with an autosomal dominant trait with variable expressivity.
An update on respiratory syncytial virus antiviral agents (2001)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the most common cause of lower respiratory tract disease in infants and young children, is a ubiquitous respiratory pathogen, infecting or reinfecting much of the population every year and causing severe, sometimes fatal disease in high-risk populations of infants and adults, particularly in developing countries. Spurred by the medical and economic burdens of RSV disease and enticed by the economic potential of therapeutic drugs, particularly in the absence to date of a safe and effective RSV vaccine, scientists in many industrial, academic and government laboratories have developed a wide variety of candidate RSV antiviral agents. Most of these have been screened thus far only in cell culture, a few in animal models. Aside from ribavirin, however, none has proven effective in therapeutic clinical trials and even ribavirin usage has declined precipitously in recent years due to concerns over efficacy, safety, ease of use and cost. All of the antiviral compounds discussed in this review were evaluated primarily for their ability to reduce viral load, with little or no attention paid to the role of host inflammation in the pathogenesis of RSV disease. Recent research has highlighted the prominent role of inflammatory mediators and an increasing number of reports suggest that a therapeutic strategy that combines antiviral and anti-inflammatory components will be the most effective way of treating RSV disease.
Highly Efficient Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of α-Galactosyl Epitopes with a Recombinant α(1→3)-Galactosyltransferase (1998)

α-Galactosyl epitopes are carbohydrate structures bearing a Galα1-3Galβ terminus. The interaction of these epitopes on the surface of animal cells with anti-α-galactosyl antibodies in human serum is believed to be the main cause in antibody-mediated hyperacute rejection in xenotransplantation. This report describes an efficient chemoenzymatic approach based on the use of recombinant α(1→3)-galactosyltransferase (α1,3-GalT) for the synthesis of xenoactive α-galactosyl epitopes, which are highly desired in the research of xenotransplantation and immunotherapy. A truncated bovine α1,3-GalT (80−368) was cloned into the pET15b vector and subsequently transformed into E. coli BL21 strain. This expression system efficiently produced the soluble recombinant enzyme on a large scale with highly specific activity. A variety of α(1→3)-galactosylated epitopes were synthesized using such a recombinant enzyme. In a unique fashion, α-galactosyl pentasaccharide was synthesized via a one-pot, two-step enzymatic synthesis with in situ cofactor regeneration.
Propionic Acid Production by a Propionic Acid-Tolerant Strain of Propionibacterium acidipropionici in Batch and Semicontinuous Fermentation (1991)

A propionic acid-tolerant derivative of Propionibacterium acidipropionici P9 was obtained by serially transferring strain P9 through broth that contained increasing amounts of propionic acid. After 1 year of repeated transfers, a strain (designed P200910) capable of growth at higher propionic acid concentrations than P9 was obtained. An increase in the proportion of cellular straight-chain fatty acids and uncoupling of propionic acid production from growth were observed for strain P200910. Growth rate, sugar utilization, and acid production were monitored during batch and semicontinuous fermentations of semidefined medium and during batch fermentation of whey permeate for both strain P200910 and strain P9. The highest propionic acid concentration (47 g/liter) was produced by P200910 in a semicontinuous fermentation. Strain P200910 produced a higher ratio of propionic acid to acetic acid, utilized sugar more efficiently, and produced more propionic acid per gram of biomass than did its parent in all fermentations.
Resistance of Cultivated Tomato to Cell Content-Feeding Herbivores Is Regulated by the Octadecanoid-Signaling Pathway (2002)

The octadecanoid signaling pathway has been shown to play an important role in plant defense against various chewing insects and some pathogenic fungi. Here, we examined the interaction of a cell-content feeding arachnid herbivore, the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch), with cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and an isogenic mutant line (defenseless-1 [def-1]) that is deficient in the biosynthesis of the octadecanoid pathway-derived signal, jasmonic acid (JA). Spider mite feeding and fecundity on def-1 plants was significantly greater than on wild-type plants. Decreased resistance of def-1 plants was correlated with reduced JA accumulation and expression of defensive proteinase inhibitor (PI) genes, which were induced in mite-damaged wild-type leaves. Treatment of def-1 plants with methyl-JA restored resistance to spider mite feeding and reduced the fecundity of female mites. Plants expressing a 35S::prosystemin transgene that constitutively activates the octadecanoid pathway in a Def-1-dependent manner were highly resistant to attack by spider mites and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), another cell-content feeder of economic importance. These findings indicate that activation of the octadecanoid signaling pathway promotes resistance of tomato to a broad spectrum of herbivores. The techniques of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and bulk segregant analysis were used to map the Def-1 gene to a region on the long arm of chromosome 3 that is genetically separable from the map position of known JA biosynthetic genes. Tight linkage of Def-1 to a T-DNA insertion harboring the maize (Zea mays) Dissociation transposable element suggests a strategy for directed transposon tagging of the gene.
Pharmaceutical Cocrystals of Niclosamide (2012)

Niclosamide (NCL) is an anthelmintic BCS class II drug of low solubility and high permeability. Pharmaceutical cocrystals of NCL were prepared with GRAS molecules, such as caffeine (CAF), urea (URE), p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), theophylline (THPH), nicotinamide (NCT), and isonicotinamide (INA), to improve drug solubility. Neat grinding, wet granulation, and slow evaporation methods were successful to make niclosamide cocrystals. All new crystalline forms were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and IR-Raman spectroscopy to confirm their purity and homogeneity. X-ray crystal structures provided details of hydrogen bonding, molecular packing, and drug···coformer interactions. The intermolecular O–H···O hydrogen bond from the hydroxyl donor to the carbonyl acceptor in the niclosamide crystal structure was replaced by an acceptor atom of the coformer in cocrystal structures. Cocrystals with nicotinamide and isonicotinamide were characterized by 13C ss-NMR spectroscopy because their single crystals could not be obtained. All cocrystals, except NCL–PABA, showed a faster powder dissolution rate than the reference active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Niclosamide–theophylline acetonitrile solvate showed the highest solubility (6 times compared to the API) among all the crystalline forms. NCL–THPH cocrystals showed comparably good dissolution (5 times faster than the drug) up to 90 min. The solubility advantage of the cocrystal was diminished by transformation to insoluble niclosamide monohydrate within 1 h of the dissolution experiment in 40% i-PrOH–water. Equilibrium solubility experiments showed that all cocrystals as well as the pure API transformed to NCL monohydrate within 24 h in 40% i-PrOH–water slurry medium. Among the cocrystals studied, NCL–NCT and NCL–INA exhibited better stability under accelerated humidity conditions (75% RH, 40 °C), but they did not have the same solubility advantage as the fast dissolving species NCL–THPH.
Aberrant methylation of p16 INK4a is an early event in lung cancer and a potential biomarker for early diagnosis (1998)

The p16(INK4a) (p16) tumor suppressor gene can be inactivated by promoter region hypermethylation in many tumor types including lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. We have determined the timing of this event in an animal model of lung carcinogenesis and in human squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). In the rat, 94% of adenocarcinomas induced by the tobacco specific carcinogen 4-methylnitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone were hypermethylated at the p16 gene promoter; most important, this methylation change was frequently detected in precursor lesions to the tumors: adenomas, and hyperplastic lesions. The timing for p16 methylation was recapitulated in human SCCs where the p16 gene was coordinately methylated in 75% of carcinoma in situ lesions adjacent to SCCs harboring this change. Moreover, the frequency of this event increased during disease progression from basal cell hyperplasia (17%) to squamous metaplasia (24%) to carcinoma in situ (50%) lesions. Methylation of p16 was associated with loss of expression in both tumors and precursor lesions indicating that both alleles were functionally inactivated. The potential of using assays for aberrant p16 methylation to identify disease and/or risk was validated by detection of this change in sputum from three of seven patients with cancer and 5 of 26 cancer-free individuals at high risk. These studies show for the first time that an epigenetic alteration, aberrant methylation of the p16 gene, can be an early event in lung cancer and may constitute a new biomarker for early detection and monitoring of prevention trials.
PLASMAPHERESIS AND INTRAVENOUS IMMUNE GLOBULIN PROVIDES EFFECTIVE RESCUE THERAPY FOR REFRACTORY HUMORAL REJECTION AND ALLOWS KIDNEYS TO BE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSPLANTED INTO CROSS-MATCH-POSITIVE RECIPIENTS (2000)

In this study, we present seven patients for whom the combined therapies of PP/IVIG were successful in reversing AHR mediated by Ab specific for donor HLA antigens. Furthermore, this protocol shows promise for eliminating DSA preemptively among patients with low-titer positive antihuman globulin-enhanced, complement-dependent cytotoxicity (AHG-CDC) cross-matches, allowing the successful transplantation of these patients using a live donor without any cases of HAR.