gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Regulation of house dust mite responses by intranasally administered peptide: transient activation of CD4+ T cells precedes the development of tolerance in vivo (1996)

We have previously demonstrated that intranasal (i.n.) administration of an immunodominant peptide (p1-111-139) derived from the house dust mite (HDM) allergen Der p 1 inhibits antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses in H-2b mice. Here we report that i.n. peptide induced a rapid but transient activation of MHC class II restricted CD4+ T cells that peaked 4 days after peptide treatment and was of similar magnitude to that induced by parenteral immunization with antigen in adjuvant. During the early phase of the response lymph node and splenic T cells secreted a range of lymphokines when re-stimulated in vitro with p1 111-139; however, by day 14 IL-2 and IFN-gamma secretion by T cells were down-regulated. Mice deficient in CD8+ T cells became tolerant by i.n. treatment with peptide, suggesting that CD8+ T cells are not involved in down-regulating the CD4+ T cell response. Rechallenging mice with a single dose of p1 111-139 21 days after the initial treatment elicited a further transient T cell response, which was subsequently down-regulated over time. Although the i.n. peptide induced a strong transient CD4+ T cell response, only low levels of peptide-specific antibodies were detected either after the initial or subsequent i.n. exposures to p1 111-139. Our findings address the mechanisms underlying peripheral T cell tolerance following i.n. administration of a high dose of immunogenic peptide and have implications for understanding the consequences of peptide immunothearapy.
Anti-inflammatory drugs for controlling asthma (1998)

Anti-inflammatory agents are the first-line treatment for controlling mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent asthma. The choice of drug and dosage must be individualized to the patient. In general, the glucocorticoids are widely accepted as the most potent and preferred asthma treatment in most adults and some children. Cromolyn, because of its safety and availability in a nebulized form, is the first-line treatment in most young children. The leukotriene inhibitors appear to be effective in mild asthma, but further clinical studies are needed to determine their role more precisely. As the mechanisms of inflammation in asthma are further defined, new pharmaceutical products will be developed to aid in arresting this process.
Nutrients, via the Tor proteins, stimulate the association of Tap42 with type 2A phosphatases. (1996)

We identified an essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, Tap42, that associates with Sit4, a type 2A-related protein phosphatase, and with the type 2A phosphatase catalytic subunits. The association of Tap42 with the phosphatases does not require the previously identified phosphatase subunits. Genetic analysis suggests that Tap42 functions positively with both phosphatases. Mutations in TAP42 can confer almost complete rapamycin resistance. In addition, Tap42/Sit4 and Tap42/PP2A complex formation is regulated by nutrient growth signals and the rapamycin-sensitive Tor signaling pathway. These findings, combined with the defect in translation of the tap42-11 mutant at the nonpermissive temperature, suggest that Tap42, Sit4, and PP2A are components of the Tor signaling pathway.
Langage, musique et plasticité cérébrale : perspectives pour la rééducation (2008)

Cet article resume les principales preuves acquises a ce jour concernant les liens entre le cerveau et la musique, en tant qu’aptitude humaine mais aussi en tant que activite mentale apte a modifier l’organe qui la cree. L’expertise musicale, necessairement liee a un apprentissage le plus souvent precoce et intensif, est associee a des particularites neuroanatomiques qui ont pu etre revelees grâce aux moyens modernes de neuroimagerie, en particulier l’IRM. Ces particularites concernent plusieurs regions toutes impliquees soit dans le controle moteur du geste (donc probablement en rapport avec la pratique instrumentale) soit dans les fonctions auditivo-perceptives. Tout laisse egalement a penser que l’apprentissage de la musique possede des effets plus generaux sur la plasticite cerebrale, comme le demontrent des travaux retrouvant des capacites d’apprentissage accrues chez des musiciens. Une notion importante a cet egard est l’existence d’une probable “periode critique” autour de l’âge de 7 ans, au-dela de laquelle a la fois les modifications structurelles induites par la musique sont moins visibles et les effets d’apprentissage moins prononces. Les implications de ces donnees sont discutees avec comme perspective l’utilisation de l’entrainement musical chez des enfants souffrant de troubles specifiques d’apprentissage du langage et de la lecture.
Pancreatic and extrapancreatic galanin release during sympathetic neural activation (1990)

To address the hypothesis that the neutropeptide, galanin, functions as a sympathetic neurotransmitter in the endocrine pancreas, we sought to determine if galanin is released from pancreatic sympathetic nerves during their direct electrical stimulation in halothane-anesthetized dogs. During bilateral thoracic splanchnic nerve stimulation (BTSNS), both peripheral arterial and pancreatic venous levels of galanin-like immunoreactivity (GLIR) increased (delta at 10 min = +92 +/- 31 and +88 +/- 25 fmol/ml, respectively). Systemic infusions of synthetic galanin demonstrated that 1) the increment of arterial GLIR observed during BTSNS was sufficient to modestly restrain basal insulin secretion and 2) only 25% of any given increment of arterial GLIR appears in the pancreatic vein, suggesting that the pancreas extracts galanin, as it does other neurotransmitters. By use of 75% for pancreatic extraction of circulating galanin, it was calculated that pancreatic galanin spillover (output) increased by 410 +/- 110 fmol/min during BTSNS. To reinforce the conclusion that pancreatic sympathetic nerves release galanin, GLIR spillover was next measured during direct local stimulation of the pancreatic sympathetic input produced by electrical stimulation of the mixed autonomic pancreatic nerves (MPNS) in the presence of the ganglionic blocker, hexamethonium. During this local pancreatic sympathetic nerve stimulation, arterial GLIR remained unchanged, but pancreatic venous GLIR increased by 123 +/- 34 fmol/ml. Thus pancreatic GLIR spillover increased by 420 +/- 110 fmol/min during MPNS in the presence of hexamethonium. We conclude that galanin is released from both pancreatic and extrapancreatic sources during sympathetic neural activation in dogs.
Effect of Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Interictal Epileptiform Discharges: A Scalp EEG Study (2002)

Short-term VNS reduces IEDs significantly. The reduction is most prominent during the SP (i.e., when the pulse generator is active). The value of reduction of IEDs is higher in patients who respond to VNS and in patients with positive experiences with magnetic extrastimulation. These results can be useful in predicting the effect of VNS.
Implantable, multifunctional, bioresorbable optics (2012)

Advances in personalized medicine are symbiotic with the development of novel technologies for biomedical devices. We present an approach that combines enhanced imaging of malignancies, therapeutics, and feedback about therapeutics in a single implantable, biocompatible, and resorbable device. This confluence of form and function is accomplished by capitalizing on the unique properties of silk proteins as a mechanically robust, biocompatible, optically clear biomaterial matrix that can house, stabilize, and retain the function of therapeutic components. By developing a form of high-quality microstructured optical elements, improved imaging of malignancies and of treatment monitoring can be achieved. The results demonstrate a unique family of devices for in vitro and in vivo use that provide functional biomaterials with built-in optical signal and contrast enhancement, demonstrated here with simultaneous drug delivery and feedback about drug delivery with no adverse biological effects, all while slowly degrading to regenerate native tissue.
Techniques for information retrieval from voice messages (1991)

The components of a speech message information retrieval system include an acoustic front end which provides an incomplete transcription of a spoken message, and a message classifier that interprets the incomplete transcription and classifies the message according to message category. The techniques and experiments described are concerned with the integration of these components and represent the first demonstration of a complete system that accepts speech messages as input and produces as estimated message class as output. The complete system has been implemented on special-purpose digital signal processing hardware and demonstrated using live speech input. The results obtained on a conversational speech task have demonstrated the feasibility of the technology and also illustrate the need for further work. Even with a perfect acoustic front end, a message classification accuracy of only 78% was obtained with a 126 keyword vocabulary.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group (1994)

<h3>Objective.</h3> —To evaluate the relationships between dietary intake of carotenoids and vitamins A, C, and E and the risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness among adults. <h3>Design.</h3> —The multicenter Eye Disease Case-Control Study. <h3>Setting.</h3> —Five ophthalmology centers in the United States. <h3>Patients.</h3> —A total of 356 case subjects who were diagnosed with the advanced stage of AMD within 1 year prior to their enrollment, aged 55 to 80 years, and residing near a participating clinical center. The 520 control subjects were from the same geographic areas as case subjects, had other ocular diseases, and were frequency-matched to cases according to age and sex. <h3>Main Outcome Measures.</h3> —The relative risk for AMD was estimated according to dietary indicators of antioxidant status, controlling for smoking and other risk factors, by using multiple logistic-regression analyses. <h3>Results.</h3> —A higher dietary intake of carotenoids was associated with a lower risk for AMD. Adjusting for other risk factors for AMD, we found that those in the highest quintile of carotenoid intake had a 43% lower risk for AMD compared with those in the lowest quintile (odds ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.35 to 0.92;<i>P</i>for trend=.02). Among the specific carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are primarily obtained from dark green, leafy vegetables, were most strongly associated with a reduced risk for AMD (<i>P</i>for trend=.001). Several food items rich in carotenoids were inversely associated with AMD. In particular, a higher frequency of intake of spinach or collard greens was associated with a substantially lower risk for AMD (<i>P</i>for trend&lt;.001). The intake of preformed vitamin A (retinol) was not appreciably related to AMD. Neither vitamin E nor total vitamin C consumption was associated with a statistically significant reduced risk for AMD, although a possibly lower risk for AMD was suggested among those with higher intake of vitamin C, particularly from foods. <h3>Conclusion.</h3> —Increasing the consumption of foods rich in certain carotenoids, in particular dark green, leafy vegetables, may decrease the risk of developing advanced or exudative AMD, the most visually disabling form of macular degeneration among older people. These findings support the need for further studies of this relationship. (<i>JAMA</i>. 1994;272:1413-1420)
Down-regulation of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor by antisense RNA can reverse the transformed phenotype of human cervical cancer cell lines. (2000)

The insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) plays an essential role in the establishment and maintenance of transformed phenotype, and interference with the IGF-IR pathway by antisense or dominant-negative mutants causes reversal of the transformed phenotype in many rodent and human tumor cell lines. We stably transfected an IGF-IR antisense mRNA expression plasmid into human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative C33a cell line, HPV-16-positive SiHa cell line, and HPV-18-positive HeLa S3 cell line to determine whether the IGF-IR could be a target for cervical cancer cells, especially in the presence of HPV. Approximately 30-80% down-regulation of IGF-IR expression was observed by Western blot in antisense transfected clones. There was a little inhibition in monolayer growth in all cell lines. In C33a cells, wild-type and sense clones formed 92-146 colonies in soft agar after 3 weeks; antisense clones formed <12 colonies. In SiHa cells, wild-type and sense clones formed approximately 60 colonies after 5 weeks; antisense clones formed 0-3 colonies. In HeLa S3 cells, wild-type and sense clones formed 218-291 colonies in soft agar after 2 weeks; antisense clones formed 14-160 colonies. There was a good correlation between IGF-IR down-regulation level and inhibition of transformation in soft agar. Tumorigenesis in nude mice was strongly inhibited in HeLa S3 and SiHa clones transfected with the antisense. These results indicate that down-regulation of IGF-IR by antisense RNA can reverse the transformed phenotype of human cervical cancer cells, even when harboring malignant type HPVs.
β-GLUCURONIDASE MUTANTS OF THE NEMATODE CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS (1986)

Using a screening procedure that is based on a histochemical stain for the enzyme beta-glucuronidase, we have isolated several mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans affected in beta-glucuronidase activity. All of the mutations fall into one complementation group and identify a new gene, gus-1, which has been mapped on the right arm of linkage group I (LG I), 1.1 map units to the left of unc-54. The mutants have no visible phenotype, and their viabilities and fertilities are unaffected. Linked revertants of two of the mutations have been isolated. They restore enzyme activity to almost wild-type levels; the beta-glucuronidase that one of the revertants produces differs from that of the wild type. We propose that gus-1 is the structural locus for beta-glucuronidase.
Miniature stick-packaging – an industrial technology for pre-storage and release of reagents in lab-on-a-chip systems (2013)

Stick-packaging of goods in tubular-shaped composite-foil pouches has become a popular technology for food and drug packaging. We miniaturized stick-packaging for use in lab-on-a-chip (LOAC) systems to pre-store and on-demand release the liquid and dry reagents in a volume range of 80-500 μl. An integrated frangible seal enables the pressure-controlled release of reagents and simplifies the layout of LOAC systems, thereby making the package a functional microfluidic release unit. The frangible seal is adjusted to defined burst pressures ranging from 20 to 140 kPa. The applied ultrasonic welding process allows the packaging of temperature sensitive reagents. Stick-packs have been successfully tested applying recovery tests (where 99% (STDV = 1%) of 250 μl pre-stored liquid is released), long-term storage tests (where there is loss of only <0.5% for simulated 2 years) and air transport simulation tests. The developed technology enables the storage of a combination of liquid and dry reagents. It is a scalable technology suitable for rapid prototyping and low-cost mass production.
Docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids in plasma phospholipids are divergently associated with high density lipoprotein in humans. (1992)

The effect of fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids on serum lipoprotein concentrations is not clear, and it is not known whether EPA and DHA are similarly related to serum lipid or lipoprotein levels. We conducted a randomized, 10-week, dietary supplementation trial in which the effects of 6 g per day of 85% EPA and DHA were compared with 6 g per day of corn oil in 156 men and women. Multivariate analyses were used to assess independent relations between plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA and serum lipoprotein levels. In the fish oil group triglycerides fell 21% (p less than 0.001) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) rose 3.8% (p less than 0.05). In the corn oil group triglycerides did not change, but HDL-C rose 6.1% (p less than 0.01). Compared with fish oil, apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) rose 5.1% after corn oil intake (p less than 0.05). Plasma EPA and DHA levels rose after fish oil intake and fell after corn oil intake (all p less than 0.001). The change (delta) in EPA was inversely correlated with delta triglycerides (p = 0.035) and positively correlated with delta HDL-C and delta apo A-I (both p less than 0.001) in the multivariate analyses. In contrast, delta DHA was not correlated with delta triglycerides but was inversely correlated with delta HDL-C and delta apo A-I (both p less than 0.001). Standardizing for DHA removed the difference in apo A-I levels between groups. This study suggests that EPA and DHA are divergently associated with HDL, possibly through different mechanisms.
Microbial lipases: their characteristics, role in food spoilage and industrial uses (1986)

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The characteristics of blood-borne radiolabels and the effect of anti-mouse IgG antibodies on localization of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody in cancer patients. (1985)

Quantitative and qualitative aspects of the blood survival of 131I and 111In-labeled monoclonal antibody 791T/36 have been examined in patients with colo-rectal carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma and osteogenic sarcoma who were receiving labeled antibody in diagnostic immunoscintigraphy trials. The blood clearance of intact antibody radiolabeled with either 131I or 111In was similar. A bi-phasic decline of both radiolabeled preparations was measured with initial half-lives 0.62 and 0.42 days for 131I and 111In labels and then with 1.85 and 1.40 day half-lives, respectively. The Fab fragment of the antibody was lost more rapidly (initial half-life 0.20 days and then 0.78 days). Blood-borne radioactivity was associated predominantly with plasma rather than cellular elements. Radioactivity was still attached to undegraded, uncomplexed, and immunologically active antibody as demonstrated by molecular filtration, immune precipitation, and antigen binding assays. However, anti-mouse-IgG antibody detected within 7 days of administration of radiolabeled antibody was present for at least 10 mo and has implications for the efficiency of repeated image studies.
Targeting HER-2/neu for active-specific immunotherapy in a mouse model of spontaneous breast cancer (1999)

The identification of tumor-associated antigens has led to increased interest in vaccination strategies to treat and/or prevent cancer. This study examined the feasibility of active-specific immunotherapy against the breast-tumor antigen HER-2/neu using a HER-2/neu transgenic (rNeu-TG) mouse model. rNeu-TG mice develop spontaneous breast tumors after pregnancy, indicating that they fail to mount an effective immune response against rNeu. Allogeneic fibroblasts expressing HER-2/neu were used as a cell-based vaccine. Vaccination induced a rNeu-specific anti-tumor immune response that prevented tumor formation of transplanted breast-tumor cells, and also protected mice from spontaneous tumor formation. Both T-cell-mediated and humoral immune responses were detectable in vaccinated mice. Vaccination also protected tumor-bearing mice from a challenge with cell suspensions isolated from spontaneous tumors, indicating that rNeu-TG mice are not tolerant to rNeu, even after spontaneous tumor formation. However, established spontaneous tumors themselves were never affected. This observation correlated with T-cell infiltrations in the injected but not in the established spontaneous tumor. Thus, allogeneic fibroblasts are efficient vaccine vectors to prime a specific immune response against an over-expressed tumor antigen. Moreover, our results suggest striking differences in the immunological requirements for the rejection of an established vs. a transplanted tumor.
Oxidative damage in murine tumor cells treated in vitro by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor. (1989)

Treatment of three murine tumor cell lines, L929, P388, and Pan-02, in vitro with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rhTNF) produced evidence of oxidative damage as measured by (a) increases in intracellular glutathione levels, (b) the formation of intracellular oxidized glutathione and (c) the formation of thymine glycols in DNA. L929, the most sensitive of the three cell lines to the cytotoxic activity of rhTNF, had the lowest total glutathione content and was observed to have the highest levels of oxidized glutathione and thymine glycol formation. In addition, the radical buffering capacity of these cells was significantly compromised within 7 h of treatment with rhTNF. The P388 and Pan-02 cell lines, with total glutathione levels about 50-fold higher than L929, also showed evidence of oxidative attack, although to a lesser extent than L929. The radical buffering capacity of these cell lines was not altered by rhTNF treatment. A rhTNF-resistant subline of L929 (L929r), produced by successive passaging in vitro in the presence of TNF, increased its glutathione and oxidized glutathione levels in response to a subsequent rhTNF challenge. Meth A, a cell line resistant to rhTNF in vitro but not in vivo, showed no evidence of oxidative damage following rhTNF treatment, despite having a low radical scavenging capacity and a sensitivity to H2O2. The results with Meth A suggest that the interaction of rhTNF with this cell line does not occur in the same manner as the other cell lines, perhaps due to receptor differences or to some type of "uncoupling" of the signal-response network between the TNF receptor and a putative secondary messenger(s). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that: (a) the mechanism of action of rhTNF involves the production of oxidative damage, including damage to the DNA; (b) the sensitivity to rhTNF in vitro is related to the radical scavenging capacity of the cell; and (c) cells can respond to rhTNF challenge by increasing their free radical scavenging capacity.
Gasification of Cellulose, Xylan, and Lignin Mixtures in Supercritical Water (2001)

We examined the gasification of cellulose, xylan, and lignin mixtures in supercritical water at 623 K and 25 MPa. Our results indicate that the lignin content significantly affects the amount and composition of the product gas. Thus, we surmised that cellulose or xylan is likely to function as a hydrogen donor to lignin. A set of equations developed to estimate the amount and composition of the product gas accurately predicted the actual results using only the lignin fraction as a parameter. This confirmed the importance of the lignin fraction effect on supercritical water gasification characteristics.