gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Effects of Renal Sympathetic Denervation on Blood Pressure, Sleep Apnea Course, and Glycemic Control in Patients With Resistant Hypertension and Sleep Apnea (2011)

Percutaneous renal sympathetic denervation by radiofrequency energy has been reported to reduce blood pressure (BP) by the reduction of renal sympathetic efferent and afferent signaling. We evaluated the effects of this procedure on BP and sleep apnea severity in patients with resistant hypertension and sleep apnea. We studied 10 patients with refractory hypertension and sleep apnea (7 men and 3 women; median age: 49.5 years) who underwent renal denervation and completed 3-month and 6-month follow-up evaluations, including polysomnography and selected blood chemistries, and BP measurements. Antihypertensive regimens were not changed during the 6 months of follow-up. Three and 6 months after the denervation, decreases in office systolic and diastolic BPs were observed (median: -34/-13 mm Hg for systolic and diastolic BPs at 6 months; both P<0.01). Significant decreases were also observed in plasma glucose concentration 2 hours after glucose administration (median: 7.0 versus 6.4 mmol/L; P=0.05) and in hemoglobin A1C level (median: 6.1% versus 5.6%; P<0.05) at 6 months, as well as a decrease in apnea-hypopnea index at 6 months after renal denervation (median: 16.3 versus 4.5 events per hour; P=0.059). In conclusion, catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation lowered BP in patients with refractory hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, which was accompanied by improvement of sleep apnea severity. Interestingly, there are also accompanying improvements in glucose tolerance. Renal sympathetic denervation may conceivably be a potentially useful option for patients with comorbid refractory hypertension, glucose intolerance, and obstructive sleep apnea, although further studies are needed to confirm these proof-of-concept data.
In vivo pharmacokinetics and metabolism of anti-human immunodeficiency virus agent D4T-5'-[p-bromophenyl methoxyalaninyl phosphate] (SAMPIDINE) in mice. (2001)

d4T-5'-[p-Sampidine, bromophenyl methoxyalaninyl phosphate] (HI-113), a novel aryl phosphate derivative of stavudine (d4T), exhibits substantially more potent anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity than d4T. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vivo pharmacokinetics and metabolism of this promising new anti-HIV agent in mice. Here, we report that HI-113 forms two active metabolites with favorable pharmacokinetics after systemic administration. Plasma HI-113 concentrations were measured by analytical high-performance liquid chromatography and the pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using the WinNonlin program. After intravenous administration, the elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of HI-113 was 3.6 min with a systemic clearance of 174.5 ml/min/kg. HI-113 was converted to the active metabolites alaninyl-d4T-monophosphate (ala-d4T-MP) and d4T. The T(max) values for ala-d4T-MP and d4T derived from intravenously administered HI-113 were 5.1 and 17.4 min, respectively. The elimination half-life for synthetic ala-d4T-MP was 38.9 min after intravenous administration. Ala-d4T-MP was metabolized to form d4T (T(max) = 5.0 min). The elimination half-life of d4T derived from intravenously administered ala-d4T-MP (32.4 min) was similar to the elimination half-life of intravenously administered d4T (26.6 min). In contrast, the elimination half-life of d4T derived from HI-113 was substantially longer (116.2 min). Similarly, the elimination half-life of ala-d4T-MP derived from HI-113 (138.8 min) was markedly longer than the elimination half-life of ala-d4T-MP given intravenously (38.9 min). Following oral administration of HI-113, the elimination half-lives of ala-d4T-MP (56.1 min) and d4T (102.6 min) were also prolonged.
Multiple-query optimization (1988)

Some recently proposed extensions to relational database systems, as well as to deductive database systems, require support for multiple-query processing. For example, in a database system enhanced with inference capabilities, a simple query involving a rule with multiple definitions may expand to more than one actual query that has to be run over the database. It is an interesting problem then to come up with algorithms that process these queries together instead of one query at a time. The main motivation for performing such an interquery optimization lies in the fact that queries may share common data. We examine the problem of multiple-query optimization in this paper. The first major contribution of the paper is a systematic look at the problem, along with the presentation and analysis of algorithms that can be used for multiple-query optimization. The second contribution lies in the presentation of experimental results. Our results show that using multiple-query processing algorithms may reduce execution cost considerably.
Comparison of the low level laser therapy effects on cultured human gingival fibroblasts proliferation using different irradiance and same fluence* (2001)

The LLLT acts by improving the in vitro fibroblast proliferation and a smaller laser exposure time results in higher proliferation.
Intravenous Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Enhances Poststroke Sensorimotor Recovery and Stimulates Neurogenesis (2007)

These findings consolidate the role of BDNF as a modulator of neurogenesis in the brain and as an enhancer of long-term functional neurological outcome after cerebral ischemia.
A practical pressure sensitive computer keyboard (2009)

A pressure sensitive computer keyboard is presented that independently senses the force level on every depressed key. The design leverages existing membrane technologies and is suitable for low-cost, high-volume manufacturing. A number of representative applications are discussed.
Imaging of polydiacetylene on graphite by scanning tunneling microscopy (1991)

Scanning tunneling microscopy has been applied to obtain atomically resolved images of polydiacetylene on graphite and to observe hydrogen bonding between polymers directly. Polydiacetylenes have a pseudo-one-dimensional conjugated pi-electron system which gives rise to nonlinear optical behavior of both fundamental and practical significance. Under low surface coverage, the images show a single polymer of CH3(CH2)11—C≡C—C≡C—(CH2)8—COOH. At high coverage, the images show a well-ordered monolayer of polymers with the nonpolar side groups pointing toward the hydrophobic graphite surface. The spatial electron distribution indicates substantial hydrogen bonding between polymers in the plane containing the polar side groups.
Measurements of beat length and perturbation length in long single-mode fibers (2000)

Experimental results of measurement of the beat length and the differential group delay of several types of long single-mode fiber are presented. The proposed measurement technique is based on a polarization-sensitive analysis of the backscattered signal and allows one to calculate the correlation length of the random birefringence affecting the fiber.
Liposomes and Liposome-like Vesicles for Drug and DNA Delivery to Mitochondria (2006)

Mitochondrial research is presently one of the fastest growing disciplines in biomedicine. Since the early 1990s, it has become increasingly evident that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to a large variety of human disorders, ranging from neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, obesity, and diabetes to ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer. Most remarkably, mitochondria, the "power house" of the cell, have also become accepted as the "motor of cell death" reflecting their recognized key role during apoptosis. Based on these recent exciting developments in mitochondrial research, increasing pharmacological efforts have been made leading to the emergence of "Mitochondrial Medicine" as a whole new field of biomedical research. The identification of molecular mitochondrial drug targets in combination with the development of methods for selectively delivering biologically active molecules to the site of mitochondria will eventually launch a multitude of new therapies for the treatment of mitochondria-related diseases, which are based either on the selective protection, repair, or eradication of cells. Yet, while tremendous efforts are being undertaken to identify new mitochondrial drugs and drug targets, the development of mitochondria-specific drug carrier systems is lagging behind. To ensure a high efficiency of current and future mitochondrial therapeutics, colloidal vectors, i.e., delivery systems, need to be developed able to selectively transport biologically active molecules to and into mitochondria within living human cells. Here we review ongoing efforts in our laboratory directed toward the development of different phospholipid- and non-phospholipid-based mitochondriotropic drug carrier systems.
Structural and immunological characterization of a linear virus-neutralizing epitope of the rabies virus glycoprotein and its possible use in a synthetic vaccine (1990)

We have mapped a linear epitope recognized by the virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibody 6-15C4 within the primary sequence of the G protein from the Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth strain of rabies virus. This was accomplished by using fragments of the rabies virus G protein and deduced amino acid sequences of neutralization-resistant variant rabies viruses. The monoclonal antibody 6-15C4 specifically recognized a synthetic peptide (peptide G5-24) which resembles the 6-15C4 epitope in structure. In addition, a tandem peptide constructed from the G5-24 peptide and a dominant TH cell epitope of the rabies virus N protein induced protective immunity against lethal rabies virus challenge infection in mice.
Recognizing death: liver phagocytosis of apoptotic cells (2009)

Apoptosis impacts on nearly all areas of cell biology and continues to draw increasing numbers of investigators to join in the multifaceted race to understand it. Within the study of cell death the area that has less benefited from the fast advances has been the study of the phagocytic process of apoptotic cells. But finally this field is now converging the attention and the studies of an increasing number of researchers that are highlighting its importance. This review deals with removal of apoptotic cells; in particular, the liver cell mediated removal of apoptotic blood cells will be considered. The involvement of carbohydrate-specific receptors of liver cells in the recognition and engulfment of apoptotic cells has been tested using three different experimental approaches: i- in vivo induction of apoptosis; ii- in vitro phagocytosis; iii- in situ adhesion experiments. All three main cell liver types are able to recognize and internalize apoptotic cells mainly by means of carbohydrate-specific receptors (galactose and mannose). By up-regulating the cell surface expression of mannose receptors of the endothelial cells, the recognition and the internalization of apoptotic lymphocytes can be increased. Of note is the discrimination in the recognition of apoptotic lymphocytes by the sinusoidal cells: only homologous cells are rapidly and efficiently deleted from the circulation.
SEROLOGICALLY ACTIVE GLYCOLIPID FAMILIES FROM MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS BCG (1974)

Glycolipids were extracted from mycobacteria with methanol and chloroform and purified by silicic acid chromatography. These glycolipids were studied for their serologic activity by direct and indirect (Coomb's) passive hemagglutination, and by inhibition methods. Three families of serologically active glycolipids called A, B and C, plus cardiolipin, were isolated. The B and C families of glycolipids were reactive with sera from BCG immunized rabbits and also with sera from patients with tuberculosis and leprosy; the A family was reactive only with the human sera. None of the serologically active glycolipids was able to protect rabbits against tuberculosis.
Analysis of ovarian borderline tumors using comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization (1999)

It is unclear whether ovarian borderline tumors (tumors of low malignant potential) are independent entities or whether they are part of a continuum of tumor progression that culminates in ovarian carcinoma. Little is known about genetic abnormalities in borderline tumors because of the difficulty of growing them in culture for chromosome studies, and because the low ratio of tumor to nontumor cells can interfere with molecular genetic examination. To circumvent these problems, we performed comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on 10 serous borderline tumors from nine patients, using microdissection to enrich the samples for tumor DNA and reduce contamination from stromal and inflammatory cells. CGH analysis revealed that three of the tumors had detectable chromosomal imbalances, whereas seven were in a balanced state. In those tumors with imbalances, the number of abnormalities ranged from 3–6 per tumor. Additional studies by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on disaggregated nuclei confirmed the imbalances detected by CGH, revealed one tumor to be hypertriploid, and indicated that the remaining tumors were diploid and in a balanced state. All abnormalities observed in the aneuploid cases are consistent with chromosomal aberrations previously reported for ovarian carinomas, providing further evidence that some borderline tumors are part of a continuum of tumor progression. These results also suggest that there may be different mechanisms leading to borderline tumor formation, including one associated with multiple chromosomal imbalances, and others that do not involve imbalances detectable by CGH. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 25:307–315, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Autologous collagen vocal fold injection: A preliminary clinical study (1995)

This preliminary study reports the first use of injectable autologous collagen for vocal fold augmentation. In previous studies, the authors showed cross-linked bovine collagen to be effective in more than 150 patients with glottic incompetence, particularly those with focal defects or scarred or atrophic vocal folds. However, concerns about possible adverse immunologic responses to the bovine material have limited its use. The authors studied eight patients with difficult vocal fold pathology, including sulcus vocalis, atrophy, and scarring secondary to trauma and cordectomy. Skin was harvested under local anesthesia, processed into a naturally cross-linked injectable form (Autologen), and injected using indirect laryngoscopy. Voice production was evaluated prior to the injection and at intervals after the injection, using subjective, perceptual, aerodynamic, acoustic, and videostroboscopic assessments. The results indicate that autologous collagen is comparable to injectable bovine collagen in the management of several difficult glottic insufficiency problems and that the likelihood of a hypersensitivity response is negligible. Unlike bovine collagen preparations, Autologen does not require breakdown of the natural collagen molecule, so it is anticipated that this material will be better tolerated and more stable over time.
New Onto-Tools: Promoter-Express, nsSNPCounter and Onto-Translate (2006)

The Onto-Tools suite is composed of an annotation database and eight complementary, web-accessible data mining tools: Onto-Express, Onto-Compare, Onto-Design, Onto-Translate, Onto-Miner, Pathway-Express, Promoter-Express and nsSNPCounter. Promoter-Express is a new tool added to the Onto-Tools ensemble that facilitates the identification of transcription factor binding sites active in specific conditions. nsSNPCounter is another new tool that allows computation and analysis of synonymous and non-synonymous codon substitutions for studying evolutionary rates of protein coding genes. Onto-Translate has also been enhanced to expand its scope and accuracy by fully utilizing the capabilities of the Onto-Tools database. Currently, Onto-Translate allows arbitrary mappings between 28 types of IDs for 53 organisms. Onto-Tools are freely available at http://vortex.cs.wayne.edu/Projects.html.
Chemosensitivity testing of human malignant melanoma. A retrospective analysis of clinical response and in vitro drug sensitivity (1994)

These results support the concept that in vitro drug testing promises to help avoid treatment with ineffective drugs and their associated toxic side effects. Furthermore, it may increase the likelihood of obtaining a clinical response in the treatment of disseminated malignant melanoma. The major limitation in the treatment of malignant melanoma is the lack of availability of effective agents for treatment.
Effects of inefficient cleavage of the signal sequence of HIV-1 gp 120 on its association with calnexin, folding, and intracellular transport. (1996)

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 displays inefficient intracellular transport, which is caused by its retention in the endoplasmic reticulum. Coexpression in insect cells (Sf9) of HIV-1 gp120 with calnexin has shown that their interaction was modulated by the signal sequence of HIV-1 gp120. gp120, with its natural signal sequence, showed a prolonged association with calnexin with a t1/2 of greater than 20 min. Replacement of the natural signal sequence with the signal sequence from mellitin led to a decreased time of association of gp120 with calnexin (t1/2 < 10 min). These different times of calnexin association coincided both with the folding of gp120 as measured by the ability of bind CD4 and with endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport as analyzed by the acquisition of partial endoglycosidase H resistance. Using a monospecific antibody to the HIV-1 gp120 natural signal peptide, we showed that calnexin associated with N-glycosylated but uncleaved gp120. Only after dissociation from calnexin was gp120 cleaved, but very inefficiently. Only the small proportion of signal-cleaved gp120 molecules acquired transport competence and were secreted. This is the first report demonstrating the effect of the signal sequence on calnexin association.
A reevaluation of the validity of unrestrained plethysmography in mice (2002)

Presently, unrestrained plethysmography is widely used to assess bronchial responsiveness in mice. An empirical quantity known as enhanced pause is derived from the plethysmographic box pressure [P(b)(t), where t is time] and assumed to be an index of bronchoconstriction. We show that P(b)(t) is determined largely by gas conditioning when normal mice breathe spontaneously inside a closed chamber in which the air is at ambient conditions. When the air in the chamber is heated and humidified to body conditions, the changes in P(b)(t) are reduced by about two-thirds. The remaining changes are thus due to gas compression and expansion within the lung and are amplified when the animals breathe through increased resistances. We show that the time integral of P(b)(t) over inspiration is accurately predicted by a term containing airway resistance, functional residual capacity, and tidal volume. We conclude that unrestrained plethysmography can be used to accurately characterize changes in airway resistance only if functional residual capacity and tidal volume are measured independently and the chamber gas is preconditioned to body temperature and humidity.
Mechanisms of lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones. Lytic activity and gene expression in cloned antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes (1991)

Cloned murine Th having properties of either Th1 or Th2 cells as well as CD8+ CTL were tested for the capacity to lyse: 1) nucleated target cells bearing Ag or coated with anti-CD3 mAb, or 2) SRBC target cells coated with anti-CD3 mAb in a short term 51Cr-release assay. The lysis of SRBC occurs by a mechanism that does not involve nuclear degradation but presumably does involve membrane damage. Three patterns were observed: CTL and some Th2 cells lysed efficiently nucleated target cells and SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. Th1 and some Th2 T cells lysed nucleated target cells but did not lyse efficiently the SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. Finally, some Th2 cells failed to lyse efficiently either nucleated or SRBC targets. We also examined these clones for their expression of N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysin thiobenzyl esterase activity, and for the expression of perforin or CTLA-1 (granzyme B) mRNA. Total N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysin thiobenzyl esterase activity expressed by CTL and Th2 clones tended to be higher than that of Th1 cells. Perforin mRNA and CTLA-1 mRNA were readily detectable in CTL and some Th2 clones. Expression of perforin and CLTA-1 mRNA correlated well with the capacity of these clones to lyse SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. Our results show that some but not all Th2 clones have lytic characteristics similar to those of CD8+ CTL. Two mechanisms appear to contribute to their lytic process, one mechanism of lysis involves membrane damage that correlates with the expression of perforin mRNA; a second mechanism involves the induction of DNA degradation in the target cells. In contrast, some CD4+ effector cells appear to lack the capacity to lyse efficiently via the mechanism involving membrane damage and may only have the lytic activity associated with the capacity to induce DNA degradation.
Up-Regulation of PD-L1, IDO, and T regs in the Melanoma Tumor Microenvironment Is Driven by CD8 + T Cells (2013)

Tumor escape from immune-mediated destruction has been associated with immunosuppressive mechanisms that inhibit T cell activation. Although evidence for an active immune response, including infiltration with CD8(+) T cells, can be found in a subset of patients, those tumors are nonetheless not immunologically rejected. In the current report, we show that it is the subset of T cell-inflamed tumors that showed high expression of three defined immunosuppressive mechanisms: indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), PD-L1/B7-H1, and FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (T(regs)), suggesting that these inhibitory pathways might serve as negative feedback mechanisms that followed, rather than preceded, CD8(+) T cell infiltration. Mechanistic studies in mice revealed that up-regulated expression of IDO and PD-L1, as well as recruitment of T(regs), in the tumor microenvironment depended on the presence of CD8(+) T cells. The former was driven by interferon-γ and the latter by a production of CCR4-binding chemokines along with a component of induced proliferation. Our results argue that these major immunosuppressive pathways are intrinsically driven by the immune system rather than being orchestrated by cancer cells, and imply that cancer immunotherapy approaches targeting negative regulatory immune checkpoints might be preferentially beneficial for patients with a preexisting T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment.