gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an Immunocapture-Agglutination Test (Brucellacapt) for Serodiagnosis of Human Brucellosis (2000)

We evaluated the validity and the usefulness of a new test for the diagnosis of human brucellosis based on an immunocapture-agglutination technique. A total of 315 sera from 82 patients with a diagnosis of brucellosis, 157 sera from patients in whom brucellosis was suspected but not confirmed, and 412 sera from people living in rural areas with endemic brucellosis were studied. The seroagglutination test (SAT), Coombs anti-Brucella test, and Brucellacapt test were evaluated. All the initial sera from the 82 patients proved to be positive in Brucellacapt and Coombs tests, while only 75 (91.4%) were positive in the SAT. If a >/=1/160 diagnostic threshold titer was defined for the Brucellacapt test, Coombs test, and SAT, the sensitivities were 95.1, 91.5, and 65.8%, respectively. Taking the same diagnostic threshold titer for the 157 sera from the unconfirmed but suspected patients, the specificities of the Brucellacapt, Coombs, and SAT were 81.5, 96.2, and 100%, respectively; for the 412 control sera, the specificities were 99.0, 99.8, and 100%. The diagnostic efficiency (area below the receiver operating characteristic curve) of Brucellacapt was 0.987852 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95109 to 0.99286), very similar to the diagnostic efficiency of the Coombs test (0.97611; 95% CI, 0.94781 to 0.99146) and higher than that of SAT (0.91013; 95% CI, 0.86649 to 0.94317). The results of the Brucellacapt test were compared with those of the Coombs test (correlation coefficient, 0.956; P = 0.000) and SAT (correlation coefficient, 0.866; P = 0.000). The study shows very good correlation between the Brucellacapt and Coombs tests, with a high concordance between titers obtained in the two tests. Nevertheless, lower correlation and concordance were found between the Brucellacapt and Coombs tests when the results for titers of >/=1/160 were compared (0.692; P = 0.000). In acute brucellosis, the Brucellacapt and Coombs tests render positive titers of >/=1/160. When the titers are lower, they increase significantly in the following 30 days, despite the evolution of SAT titers. In contrast, Brucellacapt and Coombs titers are always high (>/=1/640) in brucellosis with long evolution, whether SAT titers are higher or lower than 1/160.
Neuraminidase assays. (2003)

Anti-neuraminidase (NA) antibodies (Ab) play a role in protection against influenza and in combination with anti-HA Ab they increase the protection in mice. To control the NA content of vaccines, which should improve vaccine standardisation and may benefit vaccine efficacy, a series of questions must be addressed: 1) The antigenic characterization of NA in vaccine strains and seed lots is based on the measurement of the enzymatic (E) activity using fetuin as substrate. The antigenic profile is established by inhibiting the E activity with post infectious ferret antisera. Overnight incubation ensures sensitivity, and fetuin substrate gives specificity by detection of variant specific antibodies. Several difficulties have to be overcome, such as the low level of E activity in MDCK grown viruses, and the lability of N1. 2) The NA protein content of the vaccines (in bulk or final product) can be measured by an ELISA capture test but the lability of the NA proteins at 4 degrees C must be checked. 3) The anti NA Ab response can be measured using a neuraminidase inhibition test. --The steric hindrance by HI antibodies does not exceed a titre of 20 in human sera. --Triton treatment of viruses reduces the steric hindrance in polyclonal sera and monoclonal antibodies but unmasks epitopes. 4) The correlations between neuraminidase inhibition, neutralization and protection, has been established in the mouse model, but remains to be shown in humans. 5) The use of a small fluorescent (MUN) or chemiluminescent (NA-STAR) substrate can be used for the rapid differentiation of N1 from N2 and NB, but not for the titration of protective NI antibodies.
High-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) for non-thermal ablation without muscle contraction (2011)

H-FIRE is a feasible technique for non-thermal tissue ablation that eliminates muscle contractions seen in IRE treatments performed with unipolar electric pulses. Therefore, it has the potential to be performed clinically without the administration of paralytic agents.
Working with the “Unthinkable” – a Trainers' Manual on the Sexual Abuse of Adults with Learning Difficulties. by Hilary Brown and Ann Craft. FPA (Family Planning Association), 27–35 Mortimer Street, London W1N 7RJ. 1992. 68 pp. £14.99. (1993)

Working with the “Unthinkable” – a Trainers' Manual on the Sexual Abuse of Adults with Learning Difficulties. by Hilary Brown and Ann Craft. FPA (Family Planning Association), 27–35 Mortimer Street, London W1N 7RJ. 1992. 68 pp. £14.99. - Volume 17 Issue 3
On Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenases and Their Inhibitors and Uses (2013)

Proper nucleosides availability is crucial for the proliferation of living entities (eukaryotic cells, parasites, bacteria, and virus). Accordingly, the uses of inhibitors of the de novo nucleosides biosynthetic pathways have been investigated in the past. In the following we have focused on dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), the fourth enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine nucleosides biosynthetic pathway. We first described the different types of enzyme in terms of sequence, structure, and biochemistry, including the reported bioassays. In a second part, the series of inhibitors of this enzyme along with a description of their potential or actual uses were reviewed. These inhibitors are indeed used in medicine to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis (leflunomide and teriflunomide) and have been investigated in treatments of cancer, virus, and parasite infections (i.e., malaria) as well as in crop science.
Results of a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Safety of Intramuscular Injection of Hepatocyte Growth Factor Plasmid to Improve Limb Perfusion in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia (2008)

Intramuscular injection of HGF plasmid was safe and well tolerated. Larger studies to determine whether HGF plasmid can improve wound healing and limb salvage in patients with CLI are warranted.
Future Trends in Spark Ignition Engines (2001)

&lt;div class="htmlview paragraph"&gt;The spark ignition engines offer a remarkable potential of improvement – from performances to consumption and pollution – which begins to be better exploited than in the past. This survival process is imposed by the increasing demand for performances, by the drastical limitation of pollutant emission, as well as by noticeable competitors such as the fuel cell. The improvement base for SI engines consists in the accurate control and adaptation of the thermodynamic process stages – scavenging, mixture formation and combustion – for every load, speed and surrounding conditions.&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div class="htmlview paragraph"&gt;The classical process itself offers a substantial improvement reserve when applying a load and speed adapted process management. The higher level of improvement is given by internal mixture formation using direct injection, by fully variable valve control as well as by generally higher load operation using super- or turbocharging. All these elements can be combined in an advantageous down sizing concept. The next improvement level is allowed when tuning SI engines for restricted operation windows – in hybrid propulsion scenarios. The future of SI engines is furthermore ensured by their adaptability for alternative fuels such as CNG or LPG and much more for renewable energetic sources – ethanol, methanol and their blends.&lt;/div&gt;
6‐Deoxyerythronolide‐B synthase 2 from Saccharopolyspora erythraea (1992)

Sequencing of the eryA region of the erythromycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Saccharopolyspora erythraea has revealed another structural gene (ORF B), in addition to the previously characterised ORF A, which appears to encode a component of 6-deoxyerythronolide-B synthase, the enzyme that catalyses the first stage in the biosynthesis of the polyketide antibiotic erythromycin A. The nucleotide sequence of ORF B, which lies immediately adjacent to ORF A, has been determined. The predicted gene product of ORF B is a polypeptide of 374417 Da (3568 amino acids), which is highly similar to the product of ORF A and which likewise contains a number of separate domains, each with substantial amino acid sequence similarity to components of known fatty-acid synthases and polyketide synthases. The order of the predicted active sites along the chain from the N-terminus is 3-oxoacyl-synthase--acyltransferase--acyl-carrier-protein-- 3-oxoacyl-synthase--acyltransferase--dehydratase--enoylreductase-- oxoreductase--acyl-carrier-protein. The position of the dehydratase active site has been pinpointed for the first time for any polyketide synthase or vertebrate fatty-acid synthase. The predicted domain structure of 6-deoxyerythronolide-B synthase is strikingly similar to that previously established for vertebrate fatty-acid synthases. This analysis of the sequence supports the view that the erythromycin-producing polyketide synthase contains three multienzyme polypeptides, each of which accomplishes two successive cycles of polyketide chain extension. In this scheme, the role of the ORF B gene product is to accomplish extension cycles 3 and 4.
Multiple biotin-containing proteins in 3T3-L1 cells (1986)

Extracts of 3T3-L1 cells prepared after labelling the monolayer cultures with [3H]biotin contained numerous protein bands that were detected by fluorography of dried SDS/polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels. All labelled proteins in the extracts could be removed by avidin affinity chromatography. The biotin-containing subunits of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, pyruvate carboxylase, methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase, with molecular masses of approx. 220, 120, 75 and 72 kDa respectively, were detected together with minor bands at 100, 85 and 37 kDa that did not appear to be partial degradation products. Additional labelled bands increased in amount during incubation of cell extracts or did not occur in extracts prepared with trichloroacetic acid, 9.5 M-urea or proteolytic inhibitors, and were tentatively classified as partial degradation products. The unknown bands were not removed by incubation of cell monolayers for 24 h, a treatment that gave degradation rate constants of 0.47 day-1 for acetyl-CoA carboxylase and 0.28 day-1 for pyruvate carboxylase. Upon two-dimensional electrophoresis, pyruvate carboxylase, methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase had isoelectric points of 6.4, 7.2 and 6.4 respectively. Several additional discrete spots with isoelectric points below 6.2 were also present. All the unknown biotin-containing proteins banded with intact mitochondria during density-gradient centrifugation. We conclude that several unknown biotin-containing proteins are present in the mitochondria of 3T3-L1 cells, whereas others are partial breakdown products of mitochondrial proteolysis.
Expression of Mesothelin mRNA in Pure Pancreatic Juice From Patients With Pancreatic Carcinoma, Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas, and Chronic Pancreatitis (2005)

Expression of mesothelin mRNA in PPJ was not strictly specific to PCa and was apt to be stronger in PCa than in IPMN. Quantitative detection of mesothelin mRNA in PPJ may have potential diagnostic implications for pancreatic tumors.
Design Issues in Clinical Studies of the in Vivo Volumetric Wear Rate of Polyethylene Bearing Components* (2000)

The issue of wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene bearing surfaces in total hip and knee replacements is, without doubt, one of the dominant themes in contemporary orthopaedics. Thus, an array of relevant facets of this topic have been extensively and intensively researched, spawning, in the process, a very large volume of literature.

The main topics that have been studied are the place of wear in the hierarchy of degradation modes of polyethylene bearing surfaces, the role of polyethylene wear particles in the in vivo longevity of the prosthesis, the methods of determining the extent of wear of polyethylene bearing components (for example, the acetabular cup, acetabular cup liner, or tibial insert), the magnitude of the volumetric wear rate, the relationship between the results of in vitro wear-testing of polyethylene specimens or components and the clinical performance of polyethylene components, and the key factors influencing the clinical wear of polyethylene components.

It is widely acknowledged that wear is one of many degradation modes that affect polyethylene bearing surfaces in vivo (other modes include creep, delamination, and burnishing) and that, under certain circumstances, it is not the predominant one. For example, polyethylene creep of the liner predominates during the initial stages of penetration of the femoral head into the acetabular cup, but additional penetration after the first twelve to eighteen months in situ is due to wear24.

A consensus has emerged that wear of polyethylene bearing components is implicated in the aseptic loosening of hip and knee implants, and in the development of osteolysis around those implants, through resorption of the periprosthetic bone initiated by a foreign-body-giant-cell granulomatous tissue reaction. This biological reaction arises in response to the polyethylene and other wear particles (such as acrylic cement and metal) that are released into the periprosthetic bone. Furthermore, in the …
Inflammatory Cytokines in Cystic Fibrosis Lungs (1995)

Chronic pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa continues to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). Several characteristics of CF, including the excessive influx of neutrophils into the airways, cachexia, and hyperglobulinemia, could reflect the effects of cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha). We hypothesized that these pro-inflammatory cytokines, produced by alveolar macrophages in response to pseudomonas and/or other microorganisms, promote the destructive inflammatory process in the lung. We evaluated bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and BAL macrophages from 22 CF patients and 13 healthy control (HC) subjects, measuring soluble TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8 and the regulatory molecules TNF soluble receptor (TNF-sR), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and IL-10 (cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor). Levels of the proinflammatory cytokines were higher in CF versus HC BAL (p < or = 0.05 for IL-1, TNF, and IL-8; p = 0.06 for IL-6). In contrast, HC BAL contained significantly more IL-10 than CF BAL (p < 0.05), but TNF-sR and IL-1Ra were similar. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated a higher percentage of CF than control BAL macrophages expressing intracellular cytokines (p < 0.05). Thus, enhanced macrophage production of proinflammatory cytokines and decreased production of the regulatory molecule IL-10 may have important roles in the pathogenesis of CF lung disease.
AMINOPEPTIDASE A IS A CONSTITUENT OF ACTIVATED PERICYTES IN ANGIOGENESIS (1996)

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) RC38 recognizes a human renal antigen of 160 kD recently identified as human aminopeptidase A (APA; EC 3.4.11.7). This ectoenzyme is able to hydrolyse selectively N-terminal glutamyl and aspartyl residues from oligopeptides. By enzyme histochemistry, APA activity has also been localized in the microvessels of all organs in animals and man. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of human APA as recognized by MAb RC38 in the microvasculature of normal human tissues and pathological conditions associated with neovascularization. Unexpectedly, in normal tissues vascular staining with MAb RC38 was generally weak and often absent, while in tumours, granulation tissue, and chronic synovitis, marked microvascular staining was demonstrated. By immuno-electron microscopy, the antigen was found on the cell membrane of activated pericytes and their processes in the tumour vasculature. RC38 expression could not be detected on cultured human endothelial cells or pericytes. These observations suggest that pericyte expression of a subtype of APA (as recognized by MAb RC38) is markedly enhanced in the vasculature of tumours and wound healing tissue as compared with normal resting tissues. This provides further evidence of the altered state of pericytes in these conditions. Pericyte APA may be involved in the metabolism of biologically active oligopeptides during neovascularization, supporting a regulatory role of pericytes in this process. In addition, MAb RC38 may be useful as a marker of pericyte activation in tissue sections.
Association Between Plasma Genotyping and Outcomes of Treatment With Osimertinib (AZD9291) in Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer (2016)

In this retrospective analysis, patients positive for T790M in plasma have outcomes with osimertinib that are equivalent to patients positive by a tissue-based assay. This study suggests that, upon availability of validated plasma T790M assays, some patients could avoid a tumor biopsy for T790M genotyping. As a result of the 30% false-negative rate of plasma genotyping, those with T790M-negative plasma results still need a tumor biopsy to determine presence or absence of T790M.
General anesthetic potencies of a series of propofol analogs correlate with potency for potentiation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) current at the GABA(A) receptor but not with lipid solubility. (2001)

A series of 27 analogs of the general anesthetic propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) were examined for general anesthetic activity in Xenopus laevis tadpoles and for the ability to produce enhancement of submaximal GABA responses and/or direct activation at recombinant GABA(A) receptors. Fourteen of the propofol analogs produced loss of righting reflex in the tadpoles, whereas 13 were inactive as anesthetics. The same pattern of activity was noted with the actions of the compounds at the GABA(A) alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2s) receptor. The potencies of the analogs as general anesthetics in tadpoles correlated better with potentiation of GABA responses than direct activation at the GABA(A) alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2s) receptor. The calculated octanol/water partition coefficients for the analogs did not explain the lack of activity exhibited by the 13 nonanesthetic analogs, although this physicochemical parameter did correlate modestly with in vivo anesthetic potency. The actions of one nonanesthetic analog, 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, were examined in detail. 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol was inactive at GABA(A) receptors, did not function as an anesthetic in the tadpoles, and did not antagonize any of the actions of propofol at GABA(A) receptors or in tadpoles. A key influence on the potency of propofol analogs appears to be the size and shape of the alkyl groups at positions 2 and 6 of the aromatic ring relative to the substituent at position 1. These data suggest steric constraints for the binding site for propofol on the GABA(A) receptor.
Secretory IgA-Mediated Neutralization of Shigella flexneri Prevents Intestinal Tissue Destruction by Down-Regulating Inflammatory Circuits (2009)

Shigella, a Gram-negative invasive enteropathogenic bacterium responsible for bacillary dysentery, causes the rupture, invasion, and inflammatory destruction of the human colonic mucosa. We explored the mechanisms of protection mediated by Shigella LPS-specific secretory IgA (SIgA), the major mucosal Ab induced upon natural infection. Bacteria, SIgA, or SIgA-S. flexneri immune complexes were administered into rabbit ligated intestinal loops containing a Peyer's patch. After 8 h, localizations of bacteria, SIgA, and SIgA-S. flexneri immune complexes were examined by immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy imaging. We found that anti-Shigella LPS SIgA, mainly via immune exclusion, prevented Shigella-induced inflammation responsible for the destruction of the intestinal barrier. Besides this luminal trapping, a small proportion of SIgA-S. flexneri immune complexes were shown to enter the rabbit Peyer's patch and were internalized by dendritic cells of the subepithelial dome region. Local inflammatory status was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR using newly designed primers for rabbit pro- and anti-inflammatory mediator genes. In Peyer's patches exposed to immune complexes, limited up-regulation of the expression of proinflammatory genes, including TNF-alpha, IL-6, Cox-2, and IFN-gamma, was observed, consistent with preserved morphology. In contrast, in Peyer's patches exposed to Shigella alone, high expression of the same mediators was measured, indicating that neutralizing SIgA dampens the proinflammatory properties of Shigella. These results show that in the form of immune complexes, SIgA guarantees both immune exclusion and neutralization of translocated bacteria, thus preserving the intestinal barrier integrity by preventing bacterial-induced inflammation. These findings add to the multiple facets of the noninflammatory properties of SIgA.
Hematopoietic cytokines in the sera of patients with pancreatic cancer (2005)

Hematopoietic cytokines (HCs) can affect the growth and spread of cancer. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated in pancreatic cancer patients the serum levels of selected HCs, such as stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin 3 (IL-3), granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) in relation to a control group and to a group of patients with chronic pancreatitis. Classical tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) were also tested. We compared the serum level of cytokines with the tumor stage. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve for cytokines and classical tumor markers were defined. The cytokines were measured in 48 patients with pancreatic cancer, in 23 patients with chronic pancreatitis and in 40 healthy subjects. HCs were determined using ELISA. CEA and CA 19-9 were measured by microparticle enzyme immunoassay. There were significant differences in the levels of circulating SCF, IL-3, GM-CSF, M-CSF, CEA and CA 19-9 in the pancreatic cancer patients compared to the control group. The serum levels of M-CSF and tumor markers were significantly higher in pancreatic cancer patients compared to the pancreatitis group. The levels of SCF, M-CSF and tumor markers were higher in patients with a more advanced tumor stage. The M-CSF serum levels in the pancreatitis group correlated positively with the tumor markers tested--CEA and CA 19-9. The diagnostic sensitivity of SCF and specificity of M-CSF and tumor markers were the highest. The SCF and M-CSF areas under the ROC curve were greater than the areas for other cytokines. These results suggest the potential usefulness of HCs in pancreatic cancer detection; however, further investigations of early-stage pancreatic cancer patients and confirmation by a prospective study are necessary.