gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Results of a study to correlate serum prostate specific antigen and reproductive hormone levels in patients with localized prostate cancer. (1995)

This cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine whether serum hormones (free testosterone, androstenedione, luteinizing hormone, or prolactin) have any influence on serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with stage A-C prostate cancer. Blood samples were collected prior to any treatment in 36 patients; in 19 (group 1), three blood samples were collected 10 minutes apart between 9:00 AM and 9:30 AM for each patient and pooled together to avoid diurnal and episodic variation in serum testosterone values. In the remaining patients, only one sample could be collected (group 2). Free testosterone, androstenedione, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and PSA levels were determined with appropriate radioimmunoassay techniques. Statistical analyses were performed separately for groups 1 and 2, and then with pooled data. None of the hormones in any of the analyses showed any association to serum PSA values except for prolactin for the pooled data and for group 2. This statistical significance for prolactin disappeared on multivariate analysis. There were 21 African-American men and 15 whites in the study; no racial differences in hormonal levels were found except for lower luteinizing hormone levels in African Americans in group 2 and pooled data. No differences were found between group 1 and group 2 in the mean serum prolactin and luteinizing hormone values. Serum free testosterone, androstenedione, and luteinizing hormone appeared to have no influence on serum PSA values in nonmetastatic cancer patients. Serum prolactin values were inversely associated with PSA values in univariate analysis for the pooled data; this disappeared in multivariate analysis. Unlike other studies that found higher serum testosterone levels in African-American college students than whites, no such differences were seen in this age group. Luteinizing hormone was lower in African-American men than in whites in the pooled study population. Further studies are needed to clarify our findings.
Motoneuron differentiation of immortalized human spinal cord cell lines (2000)

Human motoneuron cell lines will be valuable tools for spinal cord research and drug discovery. To create such cell lines, we immortalized NCAM(+)/neurofilament(+) precursors from human embryonic spinal cord with a tetracycline repressible v-myc oncogene. Clonal NCAM(+)/neurofilament(+) cell lines differentiated exclusively into neurons within 1 week. These neurons displayed extensive processes, exhibited immunoreactivity for mature neuron-specific markers such as tau and synaptophysin, and fired action potentials upon current injection. Moreover, a clonal precursor cell line gave rise to multiple types of spinal cord neurons, including ChAT(+)/Lhx3(+)/Lhx4(+) motoneurons and GABA(+) interneurons. These neuronal restricted precursor cell lines will expedite the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that regulate the differentiation, maturation and survival of specific subsets of spinal cord neurons, and the identification and validation of novel drug targets for motoneuron diseases and spinal cord injury.
A regulatory loop involving Dies1 and miR‐125a controls BMP4 signaling in mouse embryonic stem cells (2012)

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) plays an important role in maintaining embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in the undifferentiated state and in the regulation of lineage commitment. We recently identified a transmembrane protein, named Dies1, the suppression of which by RNA interference blocks mouse ESC differentiation by interfering with the BMP4 signaling. We asked whether modulation of Dies1 levels could be a physiological mechanism to regulate ESC pluripotency and/or differentiation. We demonstrated that miR‐125a targets Dies1 and regulates its expression in ESCs. The overexpression of miR‐125a impairs differentiation, and this effect is specifically mediated by Dies1 down‐regulation and accompanied by a decrease of BMP4 signaling. We also found that Dies1 is associated with BMP4 receptor complex and that BMP4 activates the transcription of miR‐125a gene. Therefore, a feedback loop exists that sets ESC sensitivity to BMP4. The analysis of this regulatory mechanism revealed that miR‐125a overexpression and the consequent inhibition of the BMP4 signaling arrest the cells in the epiblast stem cell (epiSC) status, due to the concomitant activation of the Nodal/Activin pathway.—Parisi, S., Battista, M., Musto, A., Navarra, A., Tarantino, C., Russo, T. A regulatory loop involving Dies1 and miR‐125a controls BMP4 signaling in mouse embryonic stem cells. FASEB J. 26, 3957–3968 (2012). www.fasebj.org
Hydrophobicity, Adhesion, and Friction Properties of Nanopatterned Polymers and Scale Dependence for Micro- and Nanoelectromechanical Systems (2005)

Applications in micro/nanoelectromechanical systems generally require low adhesion and friction values between two materials of interest. By alteration of the material combinations and surface roughness, including nanopatterning, adhesion and friction can be tailored to meet a specific requirement. Surfaces found in nature, such as hydrophobic lotus leaves, provide a good example of this optimization. Recent models of hydrophobic leaf surfaces show a correlation between roughness and hydrophobicity, which can be mimicked by the presence of nanopatterned asperities on a polymer surface. In addition, by introducing nanopatterns on the polymer surface, the real area of contact decreases when another surface comes into contact with the patterned surface, which reduces adhesion and friction. This study explores the effect of nanopatterning on hydrophobicity, adhesion, and friction for two different hydrophilic polymers, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polyurethane acrylate (MINS), with two types of patterned asperities, low aspect ratio and high aspect ratio, investigated by use of an atomic/friction force microscope (AFM/FFM). In addition to the polymers, a hydrophobic coating was deposited on the surface of the patterned PMMA to study the effect of roughness on the contact angle, along with adhesion and friction. Relative contribution due to change in contact angle and real area of contact are explored. Scale dependence on adhesion and friction was also studied using AFM tips of various radii. Since applications of these surfaces will require operation in varying environments, the effect of relative humidity is investigated.
Integrated salinity reduction and water recovery in an osmotic microbial desalination cell (2012)

The concept of a novel osmotic microbial desalination cell (OsMDC) was presented and experimentally demonstrated. The OsMDC reduced salinity better than forward osmosis because of the combined water flux and electricity generation, and it recovered more water than a conventional microbial desalination cell. The integrated functions of wastewater treatment, water desalination, and water recovery in an OsMDC will create environmental, energy, and economical benefits.
Pharmacoepigenetics of the Role of DNA Methylation in μ-Opioid Receptor Expression in Different Human Brain Regions (2016)

While high or low μ-opioid receptor expression significantly correlated with local OPRM1 mRNA levels, there was no corresponding association with OPRM1 methylation status. Additional experiments in human cell lines showed that changes in DNA methylation associated with changes in μ-opioid expression were an order of magnitude greater than differences in brain. Hence, different degrees of DNA methylation associated with chronic opioid exposure are unlikely to exert a major role in the region-specificity of μ-opioid receptor expression in the human brain.
Improved flow cytometric sorting of X- and Y-chromosome bearing sperm: Substantial increase in yield of sexed semen (1999)

The yield of flow cytometric sorted X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm in a given time period is an important factor in the strategies used for fertilization and the production of sex-preselected offspring. This yield is dependent on the efficiency with which the modified flow cytometer/cell sorter analyzes the DNA of spermatozoa. The efficiency is directly related to the number of sperm with the correct orientation during DNA analysis. Currently, the efficiency of flow cytometric sperm sorting is low since orientation of the sperm head to laser excitation is rate limiting. To overcome this problem, a new nozzle was designed to enhance sperm orientation and tested under flow cytometric sorting conditions. The degree of orientation improvement was determined with different sample rates using viable sperm and dead sperm of several different species. There was at minimum, a two-fold increase in the proportion of oriented sperm when comparing the new nozzle with the currently used modified flow cytometer/cell sorter employing a beveled needle. More than 60% of intact bull sperm and boar sperm were correctly oriented compared with 25% to 30% using the beveled needle system. A unique characteristic of the novel nozzle was that the proportion of oriented sperm was independent of sample rate and of sperm motility. The accuracy of DNA measurement together with high purity sorting was tested using the novel nozzle. The novel nozzle was unique in that accuracy of measurement and sorting performance were not diminished. Using the new nozzle, samples of 88% purity of sorted X-sperm and Y-sperm were obtained for viable bull and boar sperm. The yield of flow cytometric sorted X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm using the novel nozzle was, on average, twice that obtained by using the beveled needle system in conjunction with a standard equipment nozzle for orientation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 52:50–56, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Berechnung und Meßmethode zur Bestimmung des Temperaturgefälles und des Wärmeübergangskoeffizienten bei der direkten Kühlung von Stahldraht (1983)

Direkte Wasserkühlung von Stahldraht nach dem Ziehvorgang. Berechnung des Temperaturgefälles in einem dem Ziehhol nachgeschalteten Kühlrohr. Messung der Drahttemperaturdifferenz zwischen Kühlrohrein- und -austritt mit der Infrarotthermometrie zur Bestimmung des Wärmeübergangskoeffizienten an der Drahtoberfläche. Ermittlung des Emissionsgrades. Direct water cooling of steel wire immediately after drawing. Calculation of the temperature drop in a cooling unit placed behind the die. Measuring of the difference of the wire temperature between the inlet and the outlet of the cooling unit by use of the infrared thermometry for calculating the heat transfer coefficient at the surface of the wire. Determination of the emissivity. Refroidissement à l'eau direct du fil d'acier après l'étirage. Calcul de la chute de température dans un tube de refroidissement placé en aval du trou de la filière. Mesure de la différence de la température du fil entre l'entrée et la sortie dans le tube de refroidissement en utilisant la thermométrie à infrarouge pour la détermination du coefficient de transfert thermique à la surface du fil. Détermination du pouvoir émissif.
Comparison of BRCT domains of BRCA1 and 53BP1: A biophysical analysis (2004)

53BP1 interacts with the DNA-binding core domain of the tumor suppressor p53 and enhances p53-mediated transcriptional activation. The p53-binding region of 53BP1 maps to the C-terminal BRCT domains, which are homologous to those found in the breast cancer protein BRCA1 and in other proteins involved in DNA repair. Here we compare the thermodynamic behavior of the BRCT domains of 53BP1 and BRCA1 and examine their ability to interact with the p53 core domain. The free energies of unfolding are of similar magnitude, although slightly higher for 53BP1-BRCT, and both populate an aggregation-prone partly folded intermediate. Interaction studies performed in vitro by analytical size-exclusion chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation, and isothermal titration calorimetry reveal that 53BP1-BRCT interacts with p53 with a K(d) in the low micromolar range. Despite their homology with 53BP1-BRCT domains, the BRCT domains of BRCA1 did not bind p53 with any detectable affinity. In summary, although other studies have indicated that the BRCT domains of both BRCA1 and 53BP1 interact with p53 core domain, the quantitative biophysical measurements performed here indicate that only 53BP1 can bind. Although both proteins may be involved in the same DNA repair pathways, our study indicates that a direct role in p53 function is unique to 53BP1.
Hemoglobin and Hematocrit (1990)

Hemoglobin (Hb) is the protein contained in red blood cells that is responsible for delivery of oxygen to the tissues. To ensure adequate tissue oxygenation, a sufficient hemoglobin level must be maintained. The amount of hemoglobin in whole blood is expressed in grams per deciliter (g/dl). The normal Hb level for males is 14 to 18 g/dl; that for females is 12 to 16 g/dl. When the hemoglobin level is low, the patient has anemia. An erythrocytosis is the consequence of too many red cells; this results in hemoglobin levels above normal.The hematocrit measures the volume of red blood cells compared to the total blood volume (red blood cells and plasma). The normal hematocrit for men is 40 to 54%; for women it is 36 to 48%. This value can be determined directly by microhematocrit centrifugation or calculated indirectly. Automated cell counters calculate the hematocrit by multiplying the red cell number (in millions/mm3) by the mean cell volume (MCV, in femtoliters). When so assayed, it is subject to the vagaries inherent in obtaining an accurate measurement of the MCV (see Chapter 152).Both the hemoglobin and the hematocrit are based on whole blood and are therefore dependent on plasma volume. If a patient is severely dehydrated, the hemoglobin and hematocrit will appear higher than if the patient were normovolemic; if the patient is fluid overloaded, they will be lower than their actual level. To assess true red cell mass, independent radionuclide evaluation of the red cells and plasma (by 51Cr and 131I respectively) must be performed.
High-power high-efficiency 0.98-μm wavelength InGaAs-(In)GaAs(P)-InGaP broadened waveguide lasers grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy (1997)

We describe the design and experimental results for high-power, high-efficiency, low threshold current, 0.98-/spl mu/m wavelength, broadened waveguide (BW) aluminum-free InGaAs-(In)GaAs(P)-InGaP lasers. The decrease in the internal losses with an increase in the width of the waveguide layer for a separate-confinement heterostructure multiple-quantum-well (SCW-MQW) structure is attributed to lower free-carrier absorption due to the reduced overlap of the optical mode with the highly doped cladding regions. The BW lasers grown with both InGaAsP and GaAs waveguides show lower internal losses and similar threshold currents than those designed for an optimum optical confinement factor within the QW region. We report a record-low internal loss of 1.8/spl plusmn/0.2 cm/sup -2/ for (In)GaAs(P)-InGaP lasers grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy (GSMBE). The temperature dependence of internal loss suggests that optical loss from free-carrier absorption in the waveguide dominates at T>40/spl deg/C, while near room temperature, the residual loss is attributed to scattering and free-carrier absorption in the QW's. The relative insensitivity of internal loss near room temperature has enabled the use of a simplified InGaAs-GaAs-InGaP BW structure to achieve very high CW and quasi-CW (QCW) power operation. We report the highest CW output power of 6.8 W for a GaAs-InGaP laser, and the highest quasi-continuous output power of 13.3 W measured for a single 100-/spl mu/m-wide aperture, 0.8-0.98-/spl mu/m wavelength Al-free laser diode grown by GSMBE.
Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Essential Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis (2018)

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for patients with hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Wan-fang Data Database from inception through 29 April 2017. Randomized controlled trials investigating acupuncture therapy for hypertension were included. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the data analysis. RESULTS A total of 30 RCTs involving 2107 patients were included. The overall methodological quality of the included studies was low. Pooled results demonstrate that acupuncture plus anti-hypertensive drugs is better than anti-hypertensive drugs alone at reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP). The same result was observed for pooled data from experiments that compared acupuncture plus medication to sham acupuncture plus medication at reducing SBP and DBP. However, studies reveal that using acupuncture alone or anti-hypertensive drugs alone do not differ in the effect on lowering blood pressure. Similarly, acupuncture alone also did not differ from sham acupuncture alone, and electroacupuncture versus anti-hypertensive drugs was not significantly different at reducing SBP and DBP. CONCLUSIONS Our systematic review indicates there is inadequate high quality evidence that acupuncture therapy is useful in treating hypertension, as the exact effect and safety of acupuncture therapy for hypertension is still unclear. Therefore, research with larger sample sizes and higher-quality RCTs is still needed.
Sensitization of sarcoma cells to doxorubicin treatment by concomitant wild-type adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) infection (2002)

Doxorubicin-based chemotherapy is used in the treatment of sarcomas. Toxic side effects and poor response rates underline the demand for an improvement in current chemotherapeutic protocols. Recently, it has been reported that parvoviruses confer various antineoplastic properties to infected cells, and that adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) infection sensitizes malignant epithelial cells to radiation- or chemotherapy-based genotoxic treatment. Thus, we analyzed whether AAV-2 infection leads to an improved efficacy of doxorubicin chemotherapy in malignant mesenchymal cells, using 13 human sarcoma cell lines. Therapeutic effects were analyzed by measuring cell viability and proliferation (WST-1, colony forming, and propidium iodide assays). Additionally, permissivity for AAV-2 infection was determined by Southern dot blot analysis. AAV-2 infection strongly increased the efficacy of doxorubicin treatment in rhabdomyo-, fibro-, osteo- and chondrosarcoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was not observed in liposarcoma and synovial sarcoma cells, although a susceptability to AAV-2 infection was documented. Our results indicate that the sensitization effects towards genotoxic treatment exerted by non-pathogenic AAV-2 infection are not restricted to epithelial malignancies but may also be exploited for the improvement of chemotherapy in patients suffering from rhabdomyo-, fibro-, osteo-, or chondrosarcomas.
Mutations within the P2 Domain of Norovirus Capsid Affect Binding to Human Histo-Blood Group Antigens: Evidence for a Binding Pocket (2003)

Noroviruses (NORs) are an important cause of acute gastroenteritis. Recent studies of NOR receptors showed that different NORs bind to different histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs), and at least four distinct binding patterns were observed. To determine the structure-function relationship for NORs and their receptors, two strains representing two of the four binding patterns were studied. Strain VA387 binds to HBGAs of A, B, and O secretors, whereas strain MOH binds to HBGAs of A and B secretors only. Using multiple sequence alignments, homology modeling, and structural analysis of NOR capsids, we identified a plausible "pocket" in the P2 domain that may be responsible for binding to HBGA receptors. This pocket consists of a conserved RGD/K motif surrounded by three strain-specific hot spots (N(302), T(337), and Q(375) for VA387 and N(302), N(338), and E(378) for MOH). Subsequent mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that all four sites played important roles in binding. A single amino acid mutation at T(337) (to A) in VA387 or a double amino acid mutation at RN(338) (to TT) in MOH abolished binding completely. Change of the entire RGD motif to SAS abolished binding in case of VA387, whereas single amino acid mutations in that motif did not have an apparent effect on binding to A and B antigens but decreased binding to H antigen. Multiple mutations at the RGK motif of MOH (SIRGK to TFRGD) completely knocked out the binding. Mutation of N(302) or Q(375) in VA387 affected binding to type O HBGA only, while switch mutants with three amino acid changes at either site from MOH to VA387 resulted in a weak binding to type O HBGAs. A further switch mutant with three amino acid changes at E(378) from MOH to VA387 diminished the binding to type A HBGA only. Taken together, our data indicate that the binding pocket likely exists on NOR capsids. Direct evidence of this hypothesis requires crystallography studies.
Changes in the endocrine environment of the human prostate transition zone with aging: Simultaneous quantitative analysis of prostatic sex steroids and comparison with human prostatic histological composition (2000)

BACKGROUND It is well-known that the incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) increases with aging. The age-dependent changes in the ratio of serum sex steroid concentrations may play a role in BPH development. To clarify the relationship between the prostatic tissue concentrations of these steroids and age, we established a precise method of simultaneous quantitative analysis for prostatic sex steroids and used this method to investigate the tissue concentrations of three major sex steroids (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol) in the human prostate. METHODS The methodology for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of prostatic sex steroids was established using castrated rat prostatic tissue, coupled with internal standards, for androgen-deprived medium, and the validation of the method was examined. Human prostatic tissues were collected during surgery and immediately frozen at −70°C. Using our method, the steroidal fractions were extracted, purified, and quantified. The proportions of stroma, epithelium, and glandular lumen were measured on each histological specimen, using an image analyzer. RESULTS The validation tests showed that our method of quantitative analysis was precise and sensitive enough for the quantification of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol in the prostate. In humans, the prostatic dihydrotestosterone concentration decreased with age, but the concentrations of testosterone and estradiol showed no relation with age. Therefore, the ratio of estradiol to dihydrotestosterone concentration (E2/DHT) in prostate increased with age. The E2/DHT ratio showed a significant positive correlation with the proportion of stroma. CONCLUSIONS The age-dependent decrease in prostatic dihydrotestosterone and constant estradiol concentration lead to a relatively estrogen-dominant environment compared to that at younger ages. We assume that this relatively estrogen-dominant status induces stromal proliferation by some mechanism and leads to the development of BPH. Prostate 42:45–55, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.