gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Benefit of Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients with Symptomatic Moderate or Severe Stenosis (1998)

Endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic moderate carotid stenosis of 50 to 69 percent yielded only a moderate reduction in the risk of stroke. Decisions about treatment for patients in this category must take into account recognized risk factors, and exceptional surgical skill is obligatory if carotid endarterectomy is to be performed. Patients with stenosis of less than 50 percent did not benefit from surgery. Patients with severe stenosis (> or =70 percent) had a durable benefit from endarterectomy at eight years of follow-up.
Transcription of the Lung-specific Surfactant Protein C Gene Is Mediated by Thyroid Transcription Factor 1 (1996)

Surfactant protein C (SP-C) is expressed in alveolar Type II epithelial cells of the lung. In order to determine the mechanism(s) that regulate gene transcription, we have analyzed the activation of the murine SP-C promoter in mouse lung epithelial cells (MLE cells) and in HeLa cells after co-transfection with a vector expressing rat thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1). TTF-1 transactivated SP-C-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs containing -13 kilobase pairs to -320 base pairs (bp) of the 5 flanking region of the SP-C gene. Essential cis-acting elements were functionally localized to between -320 and -180 bp from the start of transcription by transfection analysis. Five DNase-protected regions, indicating multiple protein-DNA interactions within the -320 bp TTF-1-responsive region of the SP-C gene, were identified by DNase footprint analysis. A 40-bp segment of SP-C DNA from -197 to -158 linked to a heterologous promoter-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct activated expression after co-transfection with CMV-TTF-1 in HeLa and MLE cells. The -197 to -158 segment contained two consensus TTF-1 sites, which were specifically identified as TTF-1 binding sites by gel retardation and antibody supershift with MLE cell nuclear extracts and purified TTF-1 homeodomain protein. Site-specific mutagenesis of either of the TTF-1 binding sites completely blocked activation by TTF-1, indicating both sites are required for TTF stimulation of SP-C transcription.
Functional properties of membrane cofactor protein of complement (1989)

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP or gp45-70) of the complement system is a cofactor for factor I-mediated cleavage of fluid-phase C3b and C3b-like C3, which opens the thioester bond. In the present study the activity of MCP was further characterized. Unexpectedly, in the absence of factor I, MCP stabilized the alternative- and, to a lesser extent, the classical-pathway cell-bound C3 convertases and thereby enhanced C3b deposition. Soluble MCP, if added exogenously, hardly functioned as cofactor for the cleavage of erythrocyte-bound C3b to iC3b; i.e. its activity, compared with the cofactor activity of factor H, was inefficient, since less than 10% of the bound C3b was MCP-sensitive. Further, exogenously added soluble MCP was also a weak cofactor for the cleavage of C3b bound to zymosan. Likewise, factor I, in the presence of cells bearing MCP, cleaved fluid-phase C3b inefficiently. These results imply that MCP has very little extrinsic cofactor activity for factor I. In contrast, exogenously added MCP and factor I mediated efficient cleavage of erythrocyte-bound C3b if the concentration of Nonidet P40 was sufficient to solubilize the cells. Interestingly, soluble MCP and factor I degraded C3b attached to certain solubilized acceptor membrane molecules more readily than others. The cleavage reaction of fluid-phase and cell-bound C3b by soluble MCP and factor I produced iC3b, but no C3c and C3dg. These and prior data indicate that soluble MCP has potent cofactor activity for fluid-phase C3b or C3b bound to solubilized molecules, but acts inefficiently towards C3b on other cells. This functional profile is unique for a C3b/C4b binding protein and, taken together with its wide tissue distribution, suggests an important role for MCP in the regulation of the complement system.
Synthesis of cephalotaxine esters and correlation of their structures with antitumor activity (1977)

Twenty-two new esters of natural (-)-cephalotaxine with synthetic acids possessing widely divergent structural features have been synthesized. Murinichloroethyl carbonate (27) esters of cephalotaxine are the most active of this group; this activity is less than that of harringtonine and other naturally occurring cephalotaxine esters. Other synthetic esters exhibiting activity are methyl cephalotaxylfumarate (4) and the trichloroethyl carbonate of cephalotaxyl-L-mandelate (21). The specificity of this experimental tumor system apparently requires esters of (-)-cephalotaxine for tumor inhibition because methyl cephalotaxylitaconate (7b) prepared from the synthetic (+) enantiomer of cephalotaxine is inactive.
Methods for antagonizing glutamate neurotoxicity. (1990)

Recent evidence suggests that glutamate-induced neuronal damage may contribute importantly to neuronal death in several neurological diseases, including cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. This review outlines a range of measures that might be used to protect neurons from such excitotoxic damage. The organizing thesis is a speculative consideration of glutamate neurotoxicity as a sequential three-stage process--induction, amplification, and expression--each perhaps specifically amenable to therapeutic interference. Overstimulation of glutamate receptors likely induces the intracellular accumulation of several substances, including Ca2+, Na+, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, and diacylglycerol. Blockade of this induction might be accomplished most easily by antagonizing postsynaptic glutamate receptors, but also might be accomplished by reducing glutamate release from presynaptic terminals, or improving glutamate clearance from synaptic clefts. Following induction, several steps may importantly amplify the resultant rise in intracellular free Ca2+, and promote the spread of excessive excitation to other circuit neurons. Protective strategies operative at this level might include blockade of additional Ca2+ influx, blockade of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, and interference with the mechanisms coupling glutamate receptor stimulation to lasting enhancements of excitatory synaptic efficacy. Following amplification, toxic levels of intracellular free Ca2+ might trigger destructive cascades bearing direct responsibility for resultant neuronal degeneration--the expression of excitotoxicity. The most important cascades to block may be those related to the activation of catabolic enzymes, and the generation of free radicals. Broad consideration of possible methods for antagonizing glutamate neurotoxicity may be needed to develop therapies with the greatest efficacy, and least adverse consequences for brain function.
Development of Antibody Against Epitope of Lipoprotein(a) Modified by Oxidation (2000)

We developed a new antibody against an epitope in Lp(a) as a result of oxidation treatment but not in native Lp(a). The present data demonstrated in vivo the presence of oxidized Lp(a) in the atherosclerotic tissue and its elevation in hypertensive patients. The presence of oxidized Lp(a) may be important in understanding the role of Lp(a) in cardiovascular disease.
Detection of glyco‐mucin profiles improves specificity of MUC16 and MUC1 biomarkers in ovarian serous tumours (2014)

The CA125 assay detects circulating MUC16 and is one of the most widely used cancer biomarkers for the follow-up of ovarian cancer. We previously demonstrated that detection of aberrant cancer-associated glycoforms of MUC16 as well as MUC1 in circulation could improve the yield of these serum assays. Our aim was to refine ovarian cancer biomarkers by detection of aberrant glycoforms (Tn, STn, and T) of MUC16 and MUC1 in ovarian cancer tissue using Proximity Ligation Assays (PLA). We studied two series of serous ovarian tumours, a pilot series of 66 ovarian tumours (27 cystadenomas, 16 borderline tumours and 23 adenocarcinomas) from Centro Hospitalar S. João, Porto and a validation series of 89 ovarian tumours (17 cystadenomas, 25 borderline tumours and 47 adenocarcinomas) from the Portuguese Institute of Oncology Francisco Gentil, Lisbon. PLA reactions for MUC16/Tn, MUC16/STn, MUC1/Tn and MUC1/STn were negative in benign lesions but often positive in borderline and malignant lesions, in both series. An even better yield was obtained based on positivity for any of the four glyco-mucin profiles, further increasing sensitivity to 72% and 83% in the two series, respectively, with 100% specificity. The strategy is designated glyco-mucin profiling and provides strong support for development of PLA-based serum assays for early diagnosis.
Comparison of promoter strengths on gene delivery into mammalian brain cells using AAV vectors. (1996)

Recent reports have suggested that delivery of genes flanked by AAV ITRs may be useful for gene therapy of diseases that involve the brain. We have compared the efficiency of gene expression in vitro in CNS-derived cells from four different promoters when the transgene is flanked by AAV ITRs, using both transfection via cationic liposomes, and infection via rAAV. The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early enhancer/promoter, the SV40 early enhancer/promoter, the JC polymovirus promoter, and the chicken beta-actin promoter coupled to the CMV enhancer were able to drive expression of the reporter gene beta-galactosidase in all tumor and primary brain cell cultures tested. Although the relative order of efficiency differed between cell types, the CMV promoter was always the strongest, generally by at least one order of magnitude. A comparison of the relative levels of expression seen between different cell types on transfection and infection suggest that not all CNS-derived cells are infected equally efficiently by rAAVs. High level of expression were seen within 24 h of transgene delivery by either transfection or infection, dropping dramatically within days. All cell types and promoters showed the same decline, suggesting that transient expression by rep-rAAVs may be efficient, but stable expression as detected in this system is a low frequency event. In vivo studies using the CMV promoter also suggest that although rep-rAAVs are able to infect efficiently CNS cells and produce high levels of gene expression shortly after transduction, the majority of such infections do not lead to stable high-level expression of transgenes.
Degree of branching in hyperbranched polymers (1997)

Abstract Topological considerations concerning the ratio of linear, imperfectly branched, dendritic and terminal units in hyperbranched polymers based on AB 2 , AB 3 and AB m (m≥2) type monomers are summarized. The reaction of AB 2 monomers with a core molecule of the structure B f is also treated. For larger hyperbranched polymers based on AB 2 monomers the fraction of terminal units has to be equal to the number of dendritic units. A general expression for the degree of branching (DB) is derived for AB 2 systems, which is based on the number of dendritic and linear units. The expression is valid for low molecular weight as well as high molecular weight hyperbranched polymers in contrast to the commonly used expression based on dendritic, linear and terminal units. DB may not exceed 0.5 in hyperbranched polymers based on AB 2 systems (0.44 in AB 3 systems). Furthermore, a general expression for DB in hyperbranched polymers based on AB m monomers is derived. Consequences for signal ratios in NMR‐spectra of hyperbranched polymers are discussed. The expressions presented allow verification of NMR‐integration ratios obtained experimentally on the basis of model compounds.
Structure Dependence of Cholesteric Mesophases II (1971)

Abstract To find a correlation between mesomorphic character and the position of double bonds in ring A, we investigated the octadecanoates of 5α-cholest-1-en-3β-ol and cholest-4-en-3β-ol, neither of which was mesomorphic. We attribute this to a change in polarizability. The influence of chain length and substituents at the 17β-position on the mesomorphic behavior was studied with alkanoates of various substituted androst-5-en-3β-ols. Monotropic cholesteric mesophases were exhibited by the octadecanoates of methyl 3β-hydroxychol-5-en-24-oate and 20β-carbomethoxypregn-5-en-3β-ol, and by methyl 3β-acetoxy-24-norchol-5-en-23-oate. This proves that the 17β-side chain of cholesterol can be shortened considerably without destroying mesomorphic characteristics. However, with the introduction of polar substituents in the 17β-position and simultaneous loss of the optically active center at C-20 cholesteric mesophases could no longer be obtained. The octadecanoates of pregn-5-en-3β-ol-20-one, androst-5-en-3β-ol-17-one, 17β-carbomethoxyandrost-5-en-3β-ol, and androst-5-en-3β, 17β-diol were not mesomorphic.
The Design of SMART: A Scheduler for Multimedia Applications (1996)

We have created SMART, a Scheduler for Multimedia And Real-Time applications. SMART supports both real-time and conventional computations and provides flexible and accurate control over the sharing of processor time. SMART is able to satisfy real-time constraints in an optimal manner and provide proportional sharing across all real-time and conventional tasks. Furthermore, when not all real-time constraints can be met, SMART satisfies each real-time task&amp;apos;s proportional share of deadlines, and adjusts its execution rate dynamically. This technique is especially important for multimedia applications that can operate at different rates depending on the loading condition. This paper presents the design of SMART and provides measured performance results of its effectiveness based on a prototype implementation in the Solarisâoperating system. 1 Introduction Processor schedulers for multiprogrammed systems must multiplex shared resources in order to service the resource requests of concurre...
Total Synthesis of (+)-11,11'-Dideoxyverticillin A (2009)

The fungal metabolite (+)-11,11'-dideoxyverticillin A, a cytotoxic alkaloid isolated from a marine Penicillium sp., belongs to a fascinating family of densely functionalized, stereochemically complex, and intricate dimeric epidithiodiketopiperazine natural products. Although the dimeric epidithiodiketopiperazines have been known for nearly 4 decades, none has succumbed to total synthesis. We report a concise enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-11,11'-dideoxyverticillin A via a strategy inspired by our biosynthetic hypothesis for this alkaloid. Highly stereo- and chemoselective advanced-stage tetrahydroxylation and tetrathiolation reactions, as well as a mild strategy for the introduction of the epidithiodiketopiperazine core in the final step, were developed to address this highly sensitive substructure. Our rapid functionalization of the advanced molecular framework aims to mimic plausible biosynthetic steps and offers an effective strategy for the chemical synthesis of other members of this family of alkaloids.
The tyrosine kinase network regulating mast cell activation (2009)

Mast cell mediator release represents a pivotal event in the initiation of inflammatory reactions associated with allergic disorders. These responses follow antigen-mediated aggregation of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-occupied high-affinity receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) on the mast cell surface, a response which can be further enhanced following stem cell factor-induced ligation of the mast cell growth factor receptor KIT (CD117). Activation of tyrosine kinases is central to the ability of both Fc epsilon RI and KIT to transmit downstream signaling events required for the regulation of mast cell activation. Whereas KIT possesses inherent tyrosine kinase activity, Fc epsilon RI requires the recruitment of Src family tyrosine kinases and Syk to control the early receptor-proximal signaling events. The signaling pathways propagated by these tyrosine kinases can be further upregulated by the Tec kinase Bruton's tyrosine kinase and downregulated by the actions of the tyrosine Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) and SHP-2. In this review, we discuss the regulation and role of specific members of this tyrosine kinase network in KIT and Fc epsilon RI-mediated mast cell activation.
A performance comparison of contemporary DRAM architectures (1999)

In response to the growing gap between memory access time and processor speed, DRAM manufacturers have created several new DRAM architectures. This paper presents a simulation-based performance study of a representative group, each evaluated in a small system organization. These small-system organizations correspond to workstation-class computers and use on the order of 10 DRAM chips. The study covers Fast Page Mode, Extended Data Out, Synchronous, Enhanced Synchronous, Synchronous Link, Rambus, and Direct Rambus designs. Our simulations reveal several things: (a) current advanced DRAM technologies are attacking the memory bandwidth problem but not the latency problem; (b) bus transmission speed will soon become a primary factor limiting memory-system performance; (c) the post-L2 address stream still contains significant locality, though it varies from application to application; and (d) as we move to wider buses, row access time becomes more prominent, making it important to investigate techniques to exploit the available locality to decrease access time.
Comparative Analysis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Bone Marrow, Cartilage, and Adipose Tissue (2008)

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from bone marrow (BM), cartilage, and adipose tissue (AT) possess the capacity for self-renewal and the potential for multilineage differentiation, and are therefore perceived as attractive sources of stem cells for cell therapy. However, MSCs from these different sources have different characteristics. We compared MSCs of adult Sprague Dawley rats derived from these three sources in terms of their immunophenotypic characterization, proliferation capacity, differentiation ability, expression of angiogenic cytokines, and anti-apoptotic ability. According to growth curve, cell cycle, and telomerase activity analyses, MSCs derived from adipose tissue (AT-MSCs) possess the highest proliferation potential, followed by MSCs derived from BM and cartilage (BM-MSCs and C-MSCs). In terms of multilineage differentiation, MSCs from all three sources displayed osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation potential. The result of realtime RT-PCR indicated that these cells all expressed angiogenic cytokines, with some differences in expression level. Flow cytometry and MTT analysis showed that C-MSCs possess the highest resistance toward hydrogen peroxide -induced apoptosis, while AT-MSCs exhibited high tolerance to serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. Both AT and cartilage are attractive alternatives to BM as sources for isolating MSCs, but these differences must be considered when choosing a stem cell source for clinical application.
On-Chip Thermopneumatic Pressure for Discrete Drop Pumping (2001)

A class of "lab-on-a-chip" devices use external air pressure for pumping discrete drops in a microchannel network. External air connectors can be cumbersome and are real-estate intensive. We have developed an on-chip technique to generate pressures required for metering and pumping of nanoliter-volume discrete drops. This is achieved by heating of trapped air in a pressure-generating chamber. The pressure-generating chamber is connected to the point of pressure application in the liquid-conveying microchannel through an air-delivery channel. The trapped air volume on the order of 100 nL is heated by resistive metal heaters by tens of degrees celcius to generate air pressures on the order of 7.5 kN/m2. The rate of discrete drop pumping is electronically controlled in the microchannel device by controlling the rate of air heating. Flow rates on the order of 20 nL/s are obtained in the microchannel (300 microns x 30 microns) by heating the air chamber at the rate of approximately 6 degrees C/s. In this paper, we describe the design, fabrication, and operation of this new technique of generating on-chip air pressure, used for metering and pumping nanoliter discrete drops in microchannels.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic basis for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (1984)

Postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (Clinovir) in dosages between 500 and 1500 mg orally per day. The relation of MPA plasma concentrations and endocrine effects were studied in a longitudinal fashion. MPA exerted suppressive effects on the basal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulated gonadotropin secretion, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and estradiol (E2) in a dose-dependent manner leading to a complete suppression with 1500 mg orally per day. The depression of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) coincided with a depression of the thyroxine-binding index (TBI). MPA did not affect human growth hormone (hGH), basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and aldosterone. Basal and TRH-stimulated prolactin (PRL) secretion showed a slight but distinct elevation. From these data it is concluded that in postmenopausal patients MPA exerts its antitumor activity by an interference with the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis in the sense of a selective pharmacologic hypophysectomy leading to complete suppression of adrenal steroid secretion. Additionally, MPA inhibits tumor cell growth through the progesterone receptor. A dual mechanism for the antitumor activity of high dose is postulated MPA: ablative through suppression of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and subsequent estrogen deprivation, and additive via the progesterone receptor directly on the tumor cell. The significance of gonadotropin suppression in the postmenopause for breast cancer growth is unclear. The depression of T3 and T4 is due to a depression of thyroid hormone-binding proteins. The elevation of PRL secretion may be explained by a slight estrogenic activity of MPA metabolites.
Crystal Structure of the Ligand-bound Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Extracellular Domain (2008)

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) belongs to Family B1 of the seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors, and its natural agonist ligand is the peptide hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is involved in glucose homeostasis, and activation of GLP-1R in the plasma membrane of pancreatic beta-cells potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The N-terminal extracellular domain (nGLP-1R) is an important ligand binding domain that binds GLP-1 and the homologous peptide Exendin-4 with differential affinity. Exendin-4 has a C-terminal extension of nine amino acid residues known as the "Trp cage", which is absent in GLP-1. The Trp cage was believed to interact with nGLP-1R and thereby explain the superior affinity of Exendin-4. However, the molecular details that govern ligand binding and specificity of nGLP-1R remain undefined. Here we report the crystal structure of human nGLP-1R in complex with the antagonist Exendin-4(9-39) solved by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method to 2.2A resolution. The structure reveals that Exendin-4(9-39) is an amphipathic alpha-helix forming both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions with nGLP-1R. The Trp cage of Exendin-4 is not involved in binding to nGLP-1R. The hydrophobic binding site of nGLP-1R is defined by discontinuous segments including primarily a well defined alpha-helix in the N terminus of nGLP-1R and a loop between two antiparallel beta-strands. The structure provides for the first time detailed molecular insight into ligand binding of the human GLP-1 receptor, an established target for treatment of type 2 diabetes.