gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
MCBS Highlights: Diabetes in the Medicare Aged Population, 2004 (2007)

The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) contains a wealth of information on the health status of Medicare beneficiaries. In particular, the 2004 MCBS included a series of questions about diabetes care for those who reported they had the condition, and diabetes screening for those who said they did not. This highlight reviews some of the characteristics of the diabetic population compared to the non-diabetic population.
Non-linear alignment dynamics in suspensions of platelets under rotating magnetic fields (2012)

Under rotating magnetic fields, micron-sized platelets suspended in a fluid and decorated with magnetic nanoparticles are found to shift from a rotating motion to a biaxially-aligned state above a given frequency of the applied field.
Resonant forward-biased guard-ring diodesfor suppression of substrate noisein mixed-mode CMOS circuits (1995)

Substrate noise is a serious concern and a limitation in mixed-mode, analogue-digital, CMOS integrated circuits. The use of forward-biased n+p– guard-ring diodes which resonate with substrate lead inductance is demonstrated by simulations to be effective in reducing this substrate noise by an order of magnitude.
Electromechanical Actuator Ribbons Driven by Electrically Conducting Spring‐Like Fibers (2015)

Electrically conducting fibers are woven into polymer ribbons to prepare electromechanical actuators. The ribbons generate a strain rate of more than 10(3) times that of typical electrochemical actuators, accompanied by a lower operating voltage and faster responsiveness compared to electrostatic and electrothermal actuators. Programmable actuation including bending, contraction, elongation, and rotation are shown with a high reversibility.
Rectus Fascial Sling Suspension of the Vesicourethral Anastomosis After Radical Prostatectomy (1997)

Fascial sling suspension resulted in an earlier return and more complete recovery of urinary continence in men undergoing radical prostatectomy.
Regulation of c-myc transcription and mRNA abundance by serum growth factors and cell contact. (1986)

We describe effects of serum insufficiency and cell contact on the transcription and abundance of the c-myc proto-oncogene mRNA in BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts. In exponentially growing cells, withdrawal of serum caused a 10-fold decline in c-myc mRNA within 90 min. At least part of this decline was due to a decrease in the level of myc gene transcription. These cells became quiescent at subconfluence after 36-40 h. Cells made quiescent at subconfluence or confluence contained low levels of c-myc mRNA which rose more than 20-fold 2 h after stimulation of growth by fresh serum. Thereafter, the mRNA level declined. In subconfluent cells, it declined to the level in exponentially growing cells, i.e. nearly 10-fold over the level in quiescent cells. In confluent cells, by contrast, the mRNA returned to near-quiescent levels within 18 h (by mid-S phase). However, c-myc gene transcription was regulated identically in subconfluent and confluent cultures; quiescent cells transcribed c-myc at detectable levels, and stimulation by serum caused a 5-fold increase in 1 h, followed by a decline to about 2-fold over the quiescent level within 18 h. Thus, confluence affected steady state mRNA levels without affecting the level of transcription. Our results suggest that extracellular conditions that modulate cell proliferation (serum and cell contact) exert strong and rapid control over c-myc mRNA by post-transcriptional and transcriptional mechanisms.
Calcium ion currents mediating oocyte maturation events (2006)

During maturation, the last phase of oogenesis, the oocyte undergoes several changes which prepare it to be ovulated and fertilized. Immature oocytes are arrested in the first meiotic process prophase, that is morphologically identified by a germinal vesicle. The removal of the first meiotic block marks the initiation of maturation. Although a large number of molecules are involved in complex sequences of events, there is evidence that a calcium increase plays a pivotal role in meiosis re-initiation. It is well established that, during this process, calcium is released from the intracellular stores, whereas less is known on the role of external calcium entering the cell through the plasma membrane ion channels. This review is focused on the functional role of calcium currents during oocyte maturation in all the species, from invertebrates to mammals. The emerging role of specific L-type calcium channels will be discussed.
A Case of Hypothyroid Graves' Disease with Extremely High Titers of TSAb (2003)

Graves' ophthalmopathy in hypothyroid state is called Hypothyroid Graves' Disease, which is a comparatively rare disease. We experienced a case of a 57 year old man with severe exophthalmos and diplopia, which are typical symptoms of Graves' opthalmopathy, and with an extremely high thyroid-stimulating antibody(TSAb) level. He also had a firm diffuse goiter and hypothyroidism with positive anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid microsomal antigen. These findings suggested Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Severity of ophthalmopathy and TSAb level were improved during replacement therapy with T4. Although a thyroid stimulation-blocking antibody was also detected in this patient, we thought that hypothyroidism in this case was based on destructive change in the thyroid with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Therefore, we should be aware of the fact that there are cases of hypothyroidism with Graves' ophthalmopathy and a high level of TSAb.
Transfer of Cloned Human Class I Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes into HLA Mutant Human Lymphoblastoid Cells (1986)

Three new kinds of recombinant DNA constructs were used to transfer cloned human class I HLA genes (A2 and B8) into unique HLA mutant lymphoblastoid cells: pHeBo(x): a class I gene, "x," in plasmid vector pHeBo, which contains a hygromycin resistance gene and Epstein-Barr virus oriP element that sustains extrachromosomal replication; pHPT(x): gene x in a vector with a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene; pHPTe(x): gene x in a vector with the HPRT gene and oriP element. Cell surface class I antigen expression was strong in transferents made with class I-deficient lymphoblastoid cell line mutants .144 (A-null), .53 (B-null), and .184 (A-null, B-null). Transferents expressing HLA-A2 were recognized specifically by HLA-A2-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. When introduced on either of the vectors with the Epstein-Barr virus oriP element, the class I gene replicated extrachromosomally and was lost at rates of 0.2 to 0.3 per cell division. When introduced with vector pHPT (lacking Epstein-Barr virus oriP), the B8 gene was inserted at different chromosomal locations. Introduction of the HLA-B8 gene failed to restore antigen expression by HLA-B-null mutant .174, providing evidence that, unlike mutants exemplified by .53, .144, and .184, some HLA antigen loss mutants are deficient in a trans-acting function needed for class I antigen expression. Of more general interest, the results obtained with HLA class I genes in vectors that replicate extrachromosomally suggest ways of relating genic expression to chromatin structure and function and of attempting to clone functional human centromeres.
Dental Disease, Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke, and Inflammatory Markers (2004)

In addition to “classical” risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, “emerging” risk predictors (which may also play roles in pathogenesis) include measures of chronic infections and of chronic, low-grade activation of inflammation and of hemostasis.1,2 As all dental healthcare professionals know (but probably fewer medical practitioners and their patients), the oral cavity is a major site of chronic infection and inflammation, particularly periodontal disease. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the “periodontal-systemic connection” between dental health parameters and the risks of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.3 Given that poor oral health, coronary heart disease, and stroke are major worldwide health problems, their associations are potentially important. In particular, two practical questions are of mutual interest to dental and medical healthcare practitioners and their patients. First, should dental health scores be used (in addition to classical risk factors) to predict an individual’s risk of CHD and stroke? Second, does treatment of poor dental health reduce such risk?
Collagen hydrolysate intake improves the loss of epidermal barrier function and skin elasticity induced by UVB irradiation in hairless mice (2013)

Collagen hydrolysate administration affects epidermal barrier function and dermal skin elasticity.
Neutrophil Proteinase 3-Mediated Induction of Bioactive IL-18 Secretion by Human Oral Epithelial Cells (2001)

IL-18, a potent IFN-gamma-inducing cytokine, is expressed by various nonimmune cells as well as macrophages, suggesting that it has important physiological and immunological roles. The present study focused on the mechanism of active IL-18 induction from human oral epithelial cells. The epithelial cells and the cell lines constitutively express IL-18 mRNA and the 24-kDa precursor form of IL-18. Bioactive IL-18 exhibiting IFN-gamma-inducing activity was detected in the supernatant of the cells on costimulation with neutrophil proteinase 3 (PR3) and LPS for 24 h after IFN-gamma-priming for 3 days. An active 18-kDa form of IL-18 was detected in lysate and supernatant of the cells only after the above treatment and the induction was inhibited by cycloheximide and by serine proteinase inhibitors. After the treatment, lactate dehydrogenase activity was not detected in the cell culture supernatant, and PR3 was detected only in the membrane and not in cytoplasm fractions of the cells. Caspase-1 was not detected in the cells even after the treatment and the IL-18 induction was not inhibited by a caspase-1 inhibitor. These results suggest that the PR3-mediated induction of bioactive IL-18 secretion from oral epithelial cells in combination with LPS after IFN-gamma-priming occurred via a caspase-1-independent pathway, and provide new insight into the possible involvement of a neutrophil proteinase in the induction of bioactive IL-18 in oral inflammation such as periodontitis.
Identification of a Gene Cluster EnablingLactobacillus caseiBL23 To Utilizemyo-Inositol (2007)

Genome analysis of Lactobacillus casei BL23 revealed that, compared to L. casei ATCC 334, it carries a 12.8-kb DNA insertion containing genes involved in the catabolism of the cyclic polyol myo-inositol (MI). Indeed, L. casei ATCC 334 does not ferment MI, whereas strain BL23 is able to utilize this carbon source. The inserted DNA consists of an iolR gene encoding a DeoR family transcriptional repressor and a divergently transcribed iolTABCDG1G2EJK operon, encoding a complete MI catabolic pathway, in which the iolK gene probably codes for a malonate semialdehyde decarboxylase. The presence of iolK suggests that L. casei has two alternative pathways for the metabolism of malonic semialdehyde: (i) the classical MI catabolic pathway in which IolA (malonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase) catalyzes the formation of acetyl-coenzyme A from malonic semialdehyde and (ii) the conversion of malonic semialdehyde to acetaldehyde catalyzed by the product of iolK. The function of the iol genes was verified by the disruption of iolA, iolT, and iolD, which provided MI-negative strains. By contrast, the disruption of iolK resulted in a strain with no obvious defect in MI utilization. Transcriptional analyses conducted with different mutant strains showed that the iolTABCDG1G2EJK cluster is regulated by substrate-specific induction mediated by the inactivation of the transcriptional repressor IolR and by carbon catabolite repression mediated by the catabolite control protein A (CcpA). This is the first example of an operon for MI utilization in lactic acid bacteria and illustrates the versatility of carbohydrate utilization in L. casei BL23.
Detection of SARS Coronavirus RNA in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Patient with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (2003)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently emerged disease caused by a novel coronavirus, the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) (1)(2). Although the respiratory manifestations of SARS are well recognized, the neurologic manifestations have been much less studied (1). Here we report a SARS patient with clinical and laboratory evidence of neurologic involvement.

A 59-year-old woman with IgA nephropathy was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong in early May 2003 because of swinging fever, chills, productive cough, and diarrhea. She was previously admitted in April with fungal peritonitis related to her peritoneal dialysis. Despite antifungal and antibiotic therapy, her respiratory function deteriorated. She became increasingly dyspneic and required supplemental oxygen. High-resolution computer tomography …
[Separation of peptides using off-line pH gradient-strong cation exchange chromatography]. (2007)

On the basis of theoretical pH calculation for buffer systems, an off-line linear pH gradient-strong cation exchange chromatographic method was developed for peptides separation. For the acetate buffer system, the peptides from tryptic digest of BSA were eluted by the linear pH gradient (pH 3.7-6.0) with a low concentration of ammonium acetate salt gradient, whose salt is volatile and can be easily removed by lyophilization. As for the citrate buffer system, the peptides were eluted by a wider range of linear pH gradient (pH 3.0-8.5) with a even lower concentration of ammonium citrate salt gradient. Both methods are effective for the peptides separation and before mass spectrometric detection can simplify the desalting step, which is labor-intensive and may incur significant sample loss for the routine strong cation exchange chromatography.
Veno-occlusive Disease of the Liver and Multiorgan Failure after Bone Marrow Transplantation: A Cohort Study of 355 Patients (1993)

Veno-occlusive disease, which developed in 54% of bone marrow transplant recipients, is frequently associated with renal and cardiopulmonary failure. Pretransplant transaminase elevations, use of high-dose cytoreductive therapy, and persistent fever during cytoreductive therapy are independent predictors of severe VOD.
A Logic-Gated Nanorobot for Targeted Transport of Molecular Payloads (2012)

We describe an autonomous DNA nanorobot capable of transporting molecular payloads to cells, sensing cell surface inputs for conditional, triggered activation, and reconfiguring its structure for payload delivery. The device can be loaded with a variety of materials in a highly organized fashion and is controlled by an aptamer-encoded logic gate, enabling it to respond to a wide array of cues. We implemented several different logical AND gates and demonstrate their efficacy in selective regulation of nanorobot function. As a proof of principle, nanorobots loaded with combinations of antibody fragments were used in two different types of cell-signaling stimulation in tissue culture. Our prototype could inspire new designs with different selectivities and biologically active payloads for cell-targeting tasks.
Direct measurement of the impact of impaired erythrocyte deformability on microvascular network perfusion in a microfluidic device (2006)

The ability of red blood cells (RBCs, erythrocytes) to deform and pass through capillaries is essential for continual flow of blood in the microvasculature, which ensures an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients, prompt removal of metabolic waste products, transport of drugs and hormones, and traffic of circulating cells to and from all living tissues. This paper presents a novel tool for evaluating the impact of impaired deformability of RBCs on the flow of blood in the microvasculature by directly measuring perfusion of a test microchannel network with dimensions and topology similar to the real microcirculation. The measurement of microchannel network perfusion is compared with RBC filtration -- a conventional assay of RBC deformability. In contrast to RBC filterability, network perfusion depends linearly on RBC deformability modulated by graded exposure to glutaraldehyde, showing a higher sensitivity to small changes of deformability. The direct measurement of microchannel network perfusion represents a new concept for the field of blood rheology and should prove beneficial for basic science and clinical applications.
LED Light Source: Major Advance in Fluorescence Microscopy (2007)

Fluorescence microscopy requires an intense light source at the specifi c wavelength that will excite fl uorescent dyes and proteins. The traditional method employs a white light, typically from a mercury or xenon arc lamp. Although such broad spectrum lamps can generate ample light at desired wavelengths, only a small percentage of the projected light is useful in any particular application. The other wavelengths need to be suppressed to avoid background noise that reduces image contrast and obscures the fl uorescent light emissions. This process of subtraction is complex, expensive, and only partially effective. Even after decades of refi nements, the best fi lters are not 100% successful at blocking the bleedthrough of non-specifi c photons. Some mitigation techniques end up not only suppressing peripheral light, but also signifi cantly diminishing the intensity of the desired wavelengths. To address the root cause of the problem—the presence of non-specifi c photons—a radically different approach is coming to light. In theory, a design that only introduces specifi c photons is preferable to one that requires subsequent mitigation. In other words, an ideal light source would start with a baseline that contributes zero peripheral light and would allow the user to precisely control the addition of only those selective wavelengths of light that match the particular excitation wavelengths of the fl uorochromes. The user should also be able to control the intensity and duration of the light to achieve the highest possible image quality while protecting the sample against bleaching and phototoxicity. Recent advances in high performance Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology have enabled the practical implementation of this theoretical model. High-intensity monochromatic LEDs are now available in a variety of colors that match the excitation bandwidth of many commonly used fl uorescent dyes and proteins. This new LED technology uses specifi c wavelength windows with much less need to suppress unwanted peripheral wavelengths from a white light arc lamp. One such system has up to four LEDs, each individually and instantly controlled by electrical current without any of the mechanical switching devices like fi lterwheels or shutters required by traditional illumination systems. LEDs of different colors can be used in combination, giving users the option of seeing multiple fl uorochromes simultaneously or rapidly capturing sequential images of each fl uorochrome.
Role of hlx1 in zebrafish brain morphogenesis (2002)

hlx1 is a related homeobox gene expressed in a dynamic spatiotemporal expression pattern during development of the zebrafish brain. The homologues of hlx1, mouse dbx1 and Xenopus Xdbx, are known to play a role in the specification of neurons in the spinal cord. However, the role of these molecules in the brain is less well known. We have used two different approaches to elucidate a putative function for hlx1 in the developing zebrafish brain. Blastomeres were injected with either synthetic hlx1 mRNA in gain-of-function experiments or with antisense morpholino oligonucleotides directed against hlx1 in loss-of-function experiments. Mis-expression of hlx1 produced severe defects in brain morphogenesis as a result of abnormal ventricle formation, a phenotype we referred to as "fused-brain". These animals also showed a reduction in the size of forebrain neuronal clusters as well as abnormal axon pathfinding. hlx1 antisense morpholinos specifically perturbed hindbrain morphogenesis leading to defects in the integrity of the neuroepithelium. While hindbrain patterning was in the most part unaffected there were select disruptions to the expression pattern of the neurogenic gene Zash1B in specific rhombomeres. Our results indicate multiple roles for hlx1 during zebrafish brain morphogenesis.
Cardiovascular Disease-Related Lifestyle Factors and Longevity (2011)

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the developed world. Understanding trends in cardiovascular disease prevalence and identifying factors associated with its development are important, since they provide information to define the burden and the mechanisms of the disease, which is the first step before population-based interventions. This special issue is devoted to highlight lifestyle factors and behaviors associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. According to the World Health Organization, sedentary lifestyle, smoking habits, and unhealthy dietary habits, are the most important factors associated with the development of cardiac diseases; and the main reason for classifying these factors as the most significant is because they can be prevented.
A role for glycosphingolipid accumulation in the renal hypertrophy of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. (1993)

Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and related glycosphingolipids have been implicated as causal elements in both the growth of cells and in the regulation of hormonal signaling. We therefore studied whether the renal hypertrophy induced by diabetes was associated with enhanced synthesis of glycosphingolipids. 16 d after the induction of diabetes, increases in renal size and concentration of glucocerebroside and ganglioside GM3 were observed paralleling an increase in UDP-Glc concentration. GlcCer synthase and beta-glucosidase-specific activities were no different between control and diabetic kidneys. The apparent Km of the GlcCer synthase with respect to UDP-Glc was 250 microM and was unchanged in the diabetic kidneys. The observed concentrations of UDP-Glc were 149 and 237 microM in control and diabetic kidneys, respectively. The UDP-Glc level is thus rate limiting with regard to GlcCer synthesis. To determine whether the changes in glycolipid content were functionally significant, diabetic and control groups were treated with the GlcCer synthase inhibitor, D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoyl-amino-3-morpholino-1- propanol, 2 wk after the induction of diabetes. Kidney weights in the diabetic rats treated with D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol were no different than the control groups. Morphometric analysis of glomerular volumes paralleled changes in renal growth. Glycosphingolipid formation may therefore represent a significant pathway for glucose utilization in early diabetic nephropathy.
MB109 as bioactive human bone morphogenetic protein-9 refolded and purified from E. coli inclusion bodies (2014)

MB109 is prone to be refolded as non-functional dimer and higher order multimers in most of the conditions tested, but bioactive MB109 dimer can be refolded with high efficiency in a narrow window, which is strongly dependent on the pH, refolding duration, the presence of aggregation suppressors and the concentrations of protein, salt and detergent. These results add to the current understanding of producing recombinant TGF-β superfamily ligands in the microbial E. coli system. An application of the technique to produce a large number of synthetic TGF-β chimeras for activity screen is also discussed.