gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory Effect of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP) on Cultured Cardiac Myocyte Hypertrophy: Interference between CNP and Endothelin-1 Signaling Pathways (2004)

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is known to play a role in the local regulation of vascular tone. We recently found that CNP is also produced by cardiac ventricular cells. However, its local effect on myocyte hypertrophy remains to be elucidated. The present study investigated the effects of CNP on cultured cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and the interaction between CNP and endothelin-1 (ET-1) signaling pathways. CNP attenuated basal and ET-1-augumented protein synthesis, atrial natriuretic peptide secretion, hypertrophy-related gene expression, GATA-4 and MEF-2 DNA binding activities, Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II activity, and ERK phosphorylation. CNP also inhibited ET-1-induced increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. These effects of CNP were mimicked by a cGMP analog, 8-bromo cGMP. However, the inhibitory effects of CNP on the hypertrophic response of myocytes were significantly diminished at high concentrations of ET-1. Although CNP increased intracellular cGMP levels in myocytes, ET-1 suppressed CNP-induced cellular cGMP accumulation. A protein kinase C activator and Ca(2+) ionophore mimicked this suppressive effect of ET-1. We further examined the effect of CNP on the paracrine action of ET-1 secreted from cardiac nonmyocytes. CNP and 8-bromo cGMP significantly inhibited ET-1 secretion from nonmyocytes. Although nonmyocyte-conditioned medium increased the protein synthesis in myocytes through endogenous ET-1 action, this increase was significantly attenuated by pretreatment of nonmyocytes with CNP and 8-bromo cGMP. These findings demonstrate that CNP inhibits ET-1-induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy via a cGMP-dependent mechanism, and conversely, ET-1 inhibits CNP signaling by a protein kinase C- and Ca(2+)-dependent mechanism, suggesting mutual interference between CNP and ET-1 signaling pathways.
An in vitro amplification approach for the expression of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells (1994)

A method for the expression of recombinant DNA products in mammalian cells based on in vitro amplification of gene units is described. Gene cassettes containing either a selectable marker or the gene of interest are mixed at different molar ratios, and linear polymers are formed using forced head-to-tail ligation. After introduction of the polymers into mammalian cells, transformants with various amounts of the amplified gene unit are obtained. For a first characterization of the system, the gene coding for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) has been used to produce polymers containing a single neomycin-resistance gene ligated to different numbers of CAT gene units and used for transfection into HeLa cells. All isolated G418 (gentamycin)-resistant cell transformants which received in vitro amplified DNA were found to express high levels of CAT activity in a stable manner. Southern-blot analysis of individual clones revealed multiple copies of the gene integrated head-to-tail in the genome. This system allowed us to express the gene coding for human prepro-endothelin-1 in A617 human vascular-smooth-muscle cells. The recombinant protein was shown to be correctly processed and biologically active endothelin-1.
Gold nanoparticles-based protease assay (2006)

We describe here a simple assay that allows the visual detection of a protease. The method takes advantage of the high molar absorptivity of the plasmon band of gold colloids and is based on the color change of their solution when treated with dithiols. We used C- and N-terminal cysteinyl derivatives of a peptide substrate exploiting its selective recognition and cleavage by a specific protease. Contrary to the native ones, cleaved peptides are unable to induce nanoparticles aggregation; hence, the color of the solution does not change. The detection of two proteases is reported: thrombin (involved in blood coagulation and thrombosis) and lethal factor (an enzyme component of the toxin produced by Bacillus anthracis). The sensitivity of this nanoparticle-based assay is in the low nanomolar range.
Thymocyte development is normal in CTLA-4-deficient mice (1997)

Recent studies indicate that CTLA-4 interaction with B7 ligands transduces an inhibitory signal to T lymphocytes. Mice homozygous for a null mutation in CTLA-4 have provided the most dramatic example of the functional importance of CTLA-4 in vivo. These animals develop a fatal lymphoproliferative disorder and were reported to have an increase in CD4(+) and CD8(+) thymocytes and CD4(-)CD8(-) thymocytes, and a decrease in CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes. Based on these observations, it was proposed that CTLA-4 is necessary for normal thymocyte development. In this study, CTLA-4-deficient mice carrying an insertional mutation into exon 3 of the ctla-4 gene were generated. Although these mice display a lymphoproliferative disorder similar to previous reports, there was no alteration in the thymocyte profiles when the parathymic lymph nodes were excluded from the thymi. Further, thymocyte development was normal throughout ontogeny and in neonates, and there was no increase in thymocyte production. Finally, T cell antigen receptor signaling, as assessed by proximal and distal events, was not altered in thymocytes from CTLA-4(-/-) animals. Collectively, these results clearly demonstrate that the abnormal T cell expansion in the CTLA-4-deficient mice is not due to altered thymocyte development and suggest that the apparent altered thymic phenotype previously described was due to the inclusion of parathymic lymph nodes and, in visibly ill animals, to the infiltration of the thymus by activated peripheral T cells. Thus it appears that CTLA-4 is primarily involved in the regulation of peripheral T cell activation.
Neuraminidase Inhibitor-Resistant Recombinant A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) Influenza Viruses Retain Their Replication Efficiency and Pathogenicity In Vitro and In Vivo (2007)

Effective antiviral drugs are essential for early control of an influenza pandemic. It is therefore crucial to evaluate the possible threat posed by neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor-resistant influenza viruses with pandemic potential. Four NA mutations (E119G, H274Y, R292K, and N294S) that have been reported to confer resistance to NA inhibitors were each introduced into recombinant A/Vietnam/1203/04 (VN1203) H5N1 influenza virus. For comparison, the same mutations were introduced into recombinant A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) H1N1 influenza virus. The E119G and R292K mutations significantly compromised viral growth in vitro, but the H274Y and N294S mutations were stably maintained in VN1203 and PR8 viruses. In both backgrounds, the H274Y and N294S mutations conferred resistance to oseltamivir carboxylate (50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)] increases, >250-fold and >20-fold, respectively), and the N294S mutation reduced susceptibility to zanamivir (IC(50) increase, >3.0-fold). Although the H274Y and N294S mutations did not compromise the replication efficiency of VN1203 or PR8 viruses in vitro, these mutations slightly reduced the lethality of PR8 virus in mice. However, the VN1203 virus carrying either the H274Y or N294S mutation exhibited lethality similar to that of the wild-type VN1203 virus. The different enzyme kinetic parameters (V(max) and K(m)) of avian-like VN1203 NA and human-like PR8 NA suggest that resistance-associated NA mutations can cause different levels of functional loss in NA glycoproteins of the same subtype. Our results suggest that NA inhibitor-resistant H5N1 variants may retain the high pathogenicity of the wild-type virus in mammalian species. Patients receiving NA inhibitors for H5N1 influenza virus infection should be closely monitored for the emergence of resistant variants.
Further experimental tests of relativistic gravity using the binary pulsar PSR 1913 + 16 (1989)

Fourteen-year observations of the binary pulsar PSR 1913 + 16 provided data consistent with a straightforward model allowing for the motion of the earth, special and general relativistic effects within the solar system, dispersive propagation in the interstellar medium, relativistic motion of the pulsar in its orbit, and deterministic spin-down behavior of the pulsar itself. The results indicate that at the present level of precision, the PSR 1913 + 16 can be modeled dynamically as a pair of orbiting point masses. Five Keplerian and five post-Keplerian orbital parameters are therefore mostly determined with remarkably high precision. The masses of the pulsar and its companion are determined to be m1 = 1.442 + or - 0.003 and m2 = 1.386 + or - 0.003 times the mass of the sun, respectively, and the orbit is found to be decaying at a rate equal to 1.01 + or - 0.01 times the general relativistic prediction for gravitational damping. The results represent the first experimental tests of gravitation theory not restricted to the weak-field, slow-motion limit in which nonlinearities and radiation effects are negligible. Excellent agreement between observation and theory indicates conclusively that gravitational radiation exists, at the level predicted by general relativity.
Single-nanowire Si solar cells (2008)

Solar cells based on arrays of CVD-grown Si nano- or micro-wires are being considered as a potentially low-cost route to implementing a vertical multijunction cell design via radial p-n junctions. This geometry has been predicted to enable efficiencies competitive with planar multicrystalline Si designs, while reducing the materials and processing costs of solar cell fabrication [1]. To further assess the potential efficiency of cells based on this design, we present here experimental measurements of minority carrier diffusion lengths and surface recombination rates within nanowires via fabrication and characterization of single-wire solar cell devices. Furthermore, we consider a potential Si wire array-based solar cell design, and present device physics modeling of single-wire photovoltaic efficiency. Based on experimentally observed diffusion lengths within our wires, we model a radial junction wire solar cell capable of 17% photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency.
The Scientific Challenge of Hepatitis C (1999)

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects some 170 million people worldwide--more than four times as many as HIV--and is causing rising rates of liver disease. Like HIV, it is a wily foe for researchers developing drugs and vaccines, because HCV also mutates rapidly, creating a swarm of different viruses in each infected person that can thwart antibodies easily. But progress is beginning to be made: Although to date no one has been able to grow HCV reliably in a laboratory culture of cells, on page
 110, researchers describe a new system for culturing HCV9s RNA. And a study on page
 107
 offers one possible explanation for why some HCV strains are more resistant to interferon, the standard treatment for HCV, than others.
Bifidobacterium infantis35624 modulates host inflammatory processes beyond the gut (2013)

Certain therapeutic microbes, including Bifidobacteria infantis (B. infantis) 35624 exert beneficial immunoregulatory effects by mimicking commensal-immune interactions; however, the value of these effects in patients with non-gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions remains unclear. In this study, we assessed the impact of oral administration of B. infantis 35624, for 6‒8 weeks on inflammatory biomarker and plasma cytokine levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 22), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (n = 48) and psoriasis (n = 26) in three separate randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled interventions. Additionally, the effect of B. infantis 35624 on immunological biomarkers in healthy subjects (n = 22) was assessed. At baseline, both gastrointestinal (UC) and non-gastrointestinal (CFS and psoriasis) patients had significantly increased plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared with healthy volunteers. B. infantis 35624 feeding resulted in reduced plasma CRP levels in all three inflammatory disorders compared with placebo. Interestingly, plasma TNF-α was reduced in CFS and psoriasis while IL-6 was reduced in UC and CFS. Furthermore, in healthy subjects, LPS-stimulated TNF-α and IL-6 secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was significantly reduced in the B. infantis 35624-treated groups compared with placebo following eight weeks of feeding. These results demonstrate the ability of this microbe to reduce systemic pro-inflammatory biomarkers in both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal conditions. In conclusion, these data show that the immunomodulatory effects of the microbiota in humans are not limited to the mucosal immune system but extend to the systemic immune system.
Reactive Oxygen Species and 12/15-Lipoxygenase Contribute to the Antiproliferative Capacity of Alternatively Activated Myeloid Cells Elicited during Helminth Infection (2005)

Understanding the role of CD11b(+)GR-1(+) myeloid suppressor cells in the immune suppression and immunoregulation associated with a variety of diseases may provide therapeutic opportunities. In this article, we show, in a model of helminth infection, that CD11b(+)GR-1(+) myeloid suppressor cells but not CD11b(+)F4/80(high) mature macrophages expanded in the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice implanted with Taenia crassiceps. Peritoneal cell populations from early stage-infected animals impaired T cell proliferation by secreting NO. Yet, they lost their ability to secrete NO in the late stage of infection. Concomitantly, their capacity to exert arginase activity and to express mRNAs coding for FIZZ1 (found in inflammatory zone 1), Ym, and macrophage galactose-type C-type lectin increased. Furthermore, cells from early stage-infected mice triggered T cells to secrete IFN-gamma and IL-4, whereas in the late stage of infection, they only induced IL-4 production. These data suggest that CD11b(+)GR-1(+) myeloid suppressor cells displaying an alternative activation phenotype emerged gradually as T. crassiceps infection progressed. Corroborating the alternative activation status in the late stage of infection, the suppressive activity relied on arginase activity, which facilitated the production of reactive oxygen species including H(2)O(2) and superoxide. We also document that the suppressive activity of alternative myeloid suppressor cells depended on 12/15-lipoxygenase activation generating lipid mediators, which triggered peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma. IL-4 and IL-13 signaling contributed to the expansion of myeloid suppressor cells in the peritoneal cavity of T. crassiceps-infected animals and to their antiproliferative activity by allowing arginase and 12/15-lipoxygenase gene expression.
Treatment of Depression (1983)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Dr Ostow's letter (1983;249:1825) concerning the use of dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate hydrochloride in the treatment of depression fails to justify rationally their routine use, even just for induction of antidepressant relief until the effect of another antidepressant agent (tricyclic or monoamine oxidate inhibitor drugs) occurs. While there is some evidence that some CNS stimulants may be helpful in some depressive conditions,<sup>1</sup>more studies have shown that many types of depressed patients do<i>not</i>experience any more benefit from either of these drugs than from a placebo.<sup>2-4</sup>Both of these medications, even in lower doses, can cause worsening of the primary symptoms of depression, ie, anorexia, weight loss, anxiety, and agitation.<sup>4,5</sup>True, in some cases there is improvement when methylphenidate is used with a tricyclic, but the mechanism for this improvement in these cases has not been carefully elucidated. This may be the result of
Davis's laboratory and diagnostic test handbook (1997)

How to use this book laboratory and diagnostic test monographs. Appendices: obtaining blood specimens obtaining urine specimens OSHA precautions tests organized by classification laboratory test values.
Data fusion for compliant motion tasks based on human skills (2003)

The paper discusses new developments of the data fusion paradigm due to Cortesao and Koeppe (1999, 2000). A bank of Kalman filters is analyzed in the fusion process. Experiments for a robotic compliant motion task (peg-in-hole) emerged from human skills are reported. Stereo vision and pose sense are fused to execute the task. Feedforward artificial neural networks (ANNs) are trained to transfer human skills to robotic manipulators.
Effects of surface topography on organization of cells and extracellular matrix (2009)

The long-term success of an implant is governed to a large extent by its surface properties that will influence cell behaviour reflected in their migration, attachment, morphology, and proliferation. Also, the integration of the surrounding tissue around the implant is dependent on the reorganization of the surrounding E C M in a morphogenetic manner. It is of great importance to understand the interactions of cells with the implant surface, with the E C M , and with other cells so that failure of implanted devices can be avoided. This thesis examined the in vitro process of connective tissue reorganization and how it was affected by the topography of substratum using the following techniques: substrata micromachining, collagen gels as substrata, Light Microscopy, Polarized Light Microscopy (PSR stained collagen), Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (PI stained nuclei), and Time Lapse Video Microscopy. This thesis measured the cell orientation on 6 types of surfaces: T C dish, smooth titanium, 30IP175S, 3G30P, 30G40P, and 30G175P grooved titanium. The effect of collagen matrix on cell orientation under three conditions (Control, CellGel, and Gel) was determined. Also, the effects of cell distribution within a gel on the gel contraction was examined. The distribution of cells between collagen and titanium surface under the CellGel and Gel conditions was compared. Gel penetration into grooves was determined. The following observations and conclusions were made. It appeared that collagen gel did not penetrate into the grooves of a grooved surface. In the absence of collagen gel, cells formed patchworks of parallel arrays on TC dish, smooth, and pitted surfaces. Cells aligned with the grooves on grooved surfaces. The presence of collagen matrix atop a stable culture (CellGel) disrupted the orientation of cells leading to a lesser alignment. The presence of collagen matrix around the cells (Gel), resulted in lowest level of alignment. The collagen fibers seemed to conform with the orientation of cells and also become aligned with the grooves. Orientation of cells within the three dimensional matrix was not affected by either the surface topography or the collagen fibers. Cells were found to be essential for the gel contraction. When most cells were found at the bottom of the gel throughout the experiments (CellGel) a thin sheet of "orthogonally" arranged fibers was formed after a period of 3-4 weeks. When cells were distributed throughout a matrix (Gel) a "Ring" of fibers was created. Cells were not only able to leave titanium surface and make new attachments with the overlaying matrix (CellGel) but also to leave a collagenous matrix and settle on titanium surface (Gel). The CellGel condition that leads to a production of a continuous sheet of "tissue" can be used to coat a device prior to implantation to improve a long term success of such a device.
Relationship Between Periodontal Disease and C-Reactive Protein Among Adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (2003)

Extensive periodontal disease and BMI are jointly associated with increased CRP levels in otherwise healthy, middle-aged adults, suggesting the need for medical and dental diagnoses when evaluating sources of acute-phase response in some patients.
Atomic structure of a nanobody-trapped domain-swapped dimer of an amyloidogenic β2-microglobulin variant (2011)

Atomic-level structural investigation of the key conformational intermediates of amyloidogenesis remains a challenge. Here we demonstrate the utility of nanobodies to trap and characterize intermediates of β2-microglobulin (β2m) amyloidogenesis by X-ray crystallography. For this purpose, we selected five single domain antibodies that block the fibrillogenesis of a proteolytic amyloidogenic fragment of β2m (ΔN6β2m). The crystal structure of ΔN6β2m in complex with one of these nanobodies (Nb24) identifies domain swapping as a plausible mechanism of self-association of this amyloidogenic protein. In the swapped dimer, two extended hinge loops--corresponding to the heptapetide NHVTLSQ that forms amyloid in isolation--are unmasked and fold into a new two-stranded antiparallel β-sheet. The β-strands of this sheet are prone to self-associate and stack perpendicular to the direction of the strands to build large intermolecular β-sheets that run parallel to the axis of growing oligomers, providing an elongation mechanism by self-templated growth.
[Fetal surgery: state of the art]. (1995)

After a major search of the more recent literature, the Authors present a critical examination of guidelines now in use for the surgical treatment in utero of numerous fetal abnormalities. Specifically, they underline not only ethical and deontological but also technical principles relating to this particular surgery. They are also involved in examining the depth all the more common surgical procedures used in different pathologies and in suggesting new lines of future development.
Chemical Constituents of Corchorus capsuJaris and C. olitorius (Jute Plant), III. Structure of Corosin (1974)

Corosin (8; R = R 1 = H) has been reisolated through a modified procedure, as its acetate (8; R=H, R 1 = Ac), in an overall yield of 0.2% from jute roots. On pyrolysis in vacuo, corosin gave pyro corosin (1a; R 1 = OH, R 2 = COOH, R 3 = R 5 = H, R 4 = R 6 = Me), shown to have a 12:18 (17) di-ene formed by elimination of the 19-OH and the angular C-28 carboxyl in the molecule. On rearrangement with concentrated sulphuric acid in acetic acid, corosin acetate gave corosin anhydro lactone acetate (7; R 1 = Ac, R = H), having a 13(18) double bond and a lactone bridge between the 28-carboxyl and the 20-carbon atom. Corosin acetate ester (8; R = Me, R 1 = Ac), on treatment with sulphuric-acetic acid reagent, gave as the main product anhydro corosin acetate ester (7; R = Me, R 1 = A c), with a 12:18(19)-diene. The structure of corosin is proposed to be urs-12-ene-2α, 3β, 19α-trihydroxy-24, 28-dioic acid (8; R = R 1 = H).
Normotensive Ischemic Acute Renal Failure (2007)

Prerenal azotemia and acute tubular necrosis, the two forms of ischemic acute renal failure, account for more than half the cases of renal failure in hospitalized patients. Yet the contribution of ischemia is initially unrecognized in many patients with acute renal failure. This article reviews the renal response to ischemia and the clinical features of and risk factors for normotensive ischemic acute renal failure.