gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Spermatid injection into human oocytes. I. Laboratory techniques and special features of zygote development (1996)

Spermatid injection into the oocyte cytoplasm has been shown recently to yield viable human embryos developing to term after transfer to the mother. This study provides details of the laboratory techniques related to round spermatid injection (ROSI) and elongated spermatid injection (ELSI) and focuses on some special features of zygote development associated with the use of these types of sperm precursor cells for fertilization. A spermatid-enriched fraction was obtained by centrifugation of cells from azoospermic ejaculates through a discontinuous Percoll gradient column. Individual round or elongated spermatids were identified in this fraction and injected deep into oocytes. Oocyte activation was boosted by a vigorous aspiration of the ooplasm at the time of injection. The fertilization rates after ROSI and ELSI were 45 and 44% respectively. A single large syngamy nucleus was detected in 36% of the zygotes that previously showed two normal-sized pronuclei. This condition did not appear to delay the first cleavage division. These observations underscore the importance of distinguishing the syngamy nucleus of diploid zygotes from the female pronucleus of haploid, parthenogenetically activated eggs.
A simple volumenometer (1961)

A volumenometer is described which utilizes the linear expansion of an oil-filled metal bellows to measure the volume expansion of solid materials.
Liposomal enhancement of the immunogenicity of adenovirus type 5 hexon and fiber vaccines (1979)

Immunogenicity of adenovirus capsid proteins carried in liposomes was comparable to that with equivalent doses administered in Freund adjuvant, and both forms were more potent than aqueous vaccines.
An oncolytic adenovirus expressing soluble transforming growth factor-β type II receptor for targeting breast cancer:<i>in vitro</i>evaluation (2006)

In recent years, adenoviruses that selectively replicate in tumor cells have been developed. However, there is a tremendous need to improve their anticancer efficacy. We wish to investigate whether a strategy that combines the oncolytic effects of an adenoviral vector with simultaneous expression of soluble form of transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor (sTGFbetaRII) offers a therapeutic advantage. We chose to target TGF-betas because they play a pivotal role in late-stage tumorigenesis by enhancing tumor invasion and metastasis. A sTGFbetaRII cDNA was cloned in conditionally replicating adenoviral vector rAd-sTRII and in a replication-deficient adenovirus Ad-sTRII. Infection of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells with rAd-sTRII or Ad-sTRII followed by Western blot analysis indicated the expression of diffused glycosylated forms of sTGFbetaRII that were also secreted into the extracellular medium. The secreted proteins were shown to bind with TGF-beta and antagonize TGF-beta-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. However, marked differences in the replication potential of rAd-sTRII and Ad-sTRII were observed in breast tumor cells. Infection of MDA-MB-231 cells with rAd-sTRII resulted in cytotoxicity and significant increase in the adenoviral titers that were comparable with a wild-type adenovirus dl309. However, Ad-sTRII was much less toxic to the tumor cells, and the viral titers of Ad-sTRII remained relatively unchanged. These results suggest that the infection of breast tumor cells with conditionally replicating adenoviral vector rAd-sTRII produced sTGFbetaRII that can abrogate TGF-beta signaling while maintaining the replication potential of the virus, indicating that rAd-sTRII could be a potential anticancer agent.
Zero-field splittings in metHb and metMb with aquo and fluoro ligands: a FD-FT THz-EPR study (2013)

A combined X-band and frequency-domain Fourier-transform THz electron paramagnetic resonance (FD-FT THz-EPR) approach has been employed to determine heme Fe(III) S = 5/2 zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters of frozen metHb and metMb solutions, both with fluoro and aquo ligands. Frequency-domain EPR measurements have been carried out by an improved synchrotron-based FD-FT THz-EPR spectrometer. ZFS has been determined by field dependence of spin transitions within the mS = ±1/2 manifold, for all four protein systems, and by zero-field spin transitions between mS = ±1/2 and mS = ±3/2 levels, for metHb and metMb flouro-states. FD-FT THz-EPR data were simulated with a novel numerical routine based on Easyspin, which allows now for direct comparison of EPR spectra in field and frequency domain. We found purely axial ZFSs of D = 5.0(1) cm−1 (flouro-metMb), D = 9.2(4) cm−1 (aquo-metMb), D = 5.1(1) cm−1 (flouro-metHB) and D = 10.4(2) cm−1 (aquo-metHb).
Epigenetic biomarkers of T-cells in human glioma (2012)

Foxp3, forkhead box P3 transcription factor; Treg, CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T-cell; qMSP, quantitative methylation specific polymerase chain reaction of immunosuppression may also help in characterizing patient tumors. An immunosuppressive environment in glioma is also suggested by the accumulation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) displaying markers of Tregs (i.e., cell membrane CD4 and CD25 and intracellular staining of the FOXP3 protein). Using these conventional markers investigators have reported that Tregs are increased in high-grade GBM tissues but not in lower grade tumors and are associated with the astrocytic compared with oligodendroglial or ependymal histologies. he etiologic and prognostic significance of T-cell alterations in glioma is unknown. In one study examining glioma tissues and outcomes no association of Treg accumulation with survival was observed 12 whereas an adverse influence of Tregs on glioma survival was reported in a second study. A potential issue in these discordant results is the lack of robust markers of Tregs. For example, while FOXP3 is a recognized essential differentiation 2012 Landes Bioscience. Do not distribute.
Deformable contour-based method for medical image segmentation (2002)

: In this paper we present a method for segmentation of medical images based on a deformable contour paradigm. The deformable contour is a novel approach in image segmentation and has some advantages over classical segmentation methods such as region basedoredge mased methods. We are using the level set inplementation of the deformable contour paradigm. The graphical user interface for the algorithm is also developed. Images we are segmenting are computed tomography #CT# scans of the abdominal region of the human body and our region of interest is aorta #blood vessel#. For one of the volumes results are visualized in 3-D. Keywords: image segmentation, active contour, computed tomography 1. Introduction In this work we present a method for segmentation of computer tomography #CT# images of the human abdominal region. Typical CT image is shown in Figure 1. Data set for each patient consists of forty to #fty such images taken with di#erent values of height coordinate so all images toge...
Purification of Human Brain Tissue Factor (1988)

Tissue factor (thromboplastin or Factor III), a glycoprotein cofactor, is required for Factor VII to express its catalytic activity, thereby initiating the extrinsic as well as intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. Human brain tissue factor was purified 2,500-fold to 98% homogeneity from 2% Triton X-100 extraction of acetone dried brain powder with an overall yield of 36%. The method was based upon affinity chromatography utilizing the high affinity binding of tissue factor to Factor VII noncovalently complexed to immobilized anti-Factor VII-agarose beads. The apparent molecular weight of the purified tissue factor is 45,000 as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and its isoelectric point is 4.8-5.1 by column chromatofocussing and flat bed agarose isoelectric focussing.
Association of elevated plasma total homocysteine levels with hypertension (2003)

Elevated levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is toxic to the vascular smooth muscle and endothelium, which may affect the vasoregulatory function of the endothelium. We sought to determine if elevated levels of tHcy is associated with hypertension in a cohort of patients with and without known coronary artery disease. Between 1996 and 2002, 3767 subjects were referred to our preventive cardiology clinic (mean age 56±12, 1282 (32%) females, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 129 ±20 and 78 ±11 mmHg respectively, 1958 (52%) with known coronary artery disease, 2246 (60%) on antihypertensive therapy, 1876 (50%) on lipid lowering therapy, 721 (19%) diabetics and 354 (9%) smokers). Patients had tHcy levels drawn on the initial entry visit. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/90 mm of Hg or use of anti-hypertensive medications. A multiple logistic regression model was used to study the association of tHcy with hypertension. Of the 3767 subjects, 1901 (50%) had hypertension. tHcy levels were higher in hypertensives with and without coronary artery disease (p<0.001) (see Table). After adjusting for age, gender, medications including lipid lowering and antihypertensive therapy and serum creatinine, elevated tHcy levels remained significantly associated with hypertension (p=0.004). tHcy Levels in Hypertensive and Normotensive Subjects With and Without Known Coronary Artery Disease tHcy Levels in Hypertensive and Normotensive Subjects With and Without Known Coronary Artery Disease Subjects with hypertension have higher levels of tHcy. This may enhance the atherosclerotic risk burden and/or promote progression of cardiovascular disease in hypertensive subjects. tHcy Levels in Hypertensive and Normotensive Subjects With and Without Known Coronary Artery Disease.
Voltage‐dependent magnesium block of adenosine‐triphosphate‐sensitive potassium channel in guinea‐pig ventricular cells. (1987)

1. The adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channel of guinea-pig ventricular cells was examined in the presence and absence of internal Mg2+ or Na+ using an open cell-attached configuration of the patch-clamp technique. 2. Millimolar concentrations of internal Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i) produced marked fluctuations in the outward current, and the amplitude of the open-channel current was reduced with increasing [Mg2+]i. Millimolar Na+ applied internally also decreased the mean amplitude of the outward current, but the increase in current noise was not obvious. These effects became larger when the membrane potential was shifted to be more positive from the K+ equilibrium potential (EK). At potentials negative to EK the inward current was affected by neither internal Mg2+ nor Na+. 3. The external application of Na+, Mg2+ or Ca2+, however, failed to affect the single-channel current. 4. After removal of both internal Mg2+ and Na+, the mean open-channel current-voltage relationship became virtually linear. Referring to these unblocked values, relative amplitudes were determined at different levels of [Mg2+]i or [Na+]i. The dose-response relations gave a Hill coefficient of approximately 1 for Mg2+ block and approximately 2 for Na+ block. The half-maximum concentrations (Kh) for both Mg2+ and Na+ block were shifted to lower values with increasing positive potentials. 5. The power-density spectrum of the open-channel current noise induced by internal Mg2+ showed a Lorentzian function with a corner frequency above 1 kHz, suggesting that the current noise is due to rapid fluctuations of open-channel current between blocked and unblocked states. The corner frequencies gave Mg2+ block and unblock rate constants which were of the order of 10(7) M-1 s-1 and 10(4) s-1, respectively. 6. With increasing external K+ concentration ([K+]o) from 0 to 140 mM the current fluctuations became less prominent, and Kh for Mg2+ block was shifted to higher values. Raising [K+]o enhanced the unblock rate derived from the noise analysis while the block rate was not significantly altered. 7. The above findings could be explained by assuming a binding site for one Mg2+ or two Na+ located 30-35% of the electrical drop across the membrane from the inner mouth of the channel, thereby resulting in the ionic block of K+ passage. An apparent inward rectification observed in the single-channel current-voltage relation is attributable to the blockade of the channel by intracellular Mg2+ and/or Na+.
Successful treatment of Diamond‐Blackfan anemia with metoclopramide (2005)

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a congenital anemia characterized by a low reticulocyte count, the absence or severe reduction of hemoglobin-containing cells in the bone marrow, and normal megakaryocytic and granulocytic differentiation. Although the anemia may initially respond to corticosteroid therapy, many patients require lifelong red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, leading to infectious complications and iron overload. Metoclopramide has recently been used to treat DBA. Treatment with metoclopramide induces the release of prolactin from the pituitary and stimulates erythropoiesis. For these reasons, we used metoclopramide to treat a 20-year-old man with DBA refractory to low and high doses of corticosteroids, cyclosporin A, and tacrolimus (FK506). The hemoglobin and hematocrit slowly increased, and he has remained asymptomatic and transfusion-independent for 8 months. Metoclopramide therapy should be considered in patients with refractory DBA before treatment-related complications develop.
Ontology versus Database (2015)

The goal of this paper is to clarify the differences between ontologies and databases. The article describes, in a step-by-step manner, the parts in which differences occur. However, there are also similarities proving that ontologies and databases are not completely different. Based on these aspects, this paper presents various approaches to transforming a database to ontology. The conclusion summarizes and highlights the most important similarities and differences.
Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis‐Dutch Type (HCHWA‐D): I ‐ A Review of Clinical, Radiologic and Genetic Aspects (1996)

Hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type (HCHWA-D) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by deposition of beta-amyloid in the leptomeningeal arteries and cortical arterioles, in addition to preamyloid deposits and amyloid plaques in the brain parenchyma. The disease is due to a point mutation at codon 693 of the amyloid precursor protein (beta PP) gene at chromosome 21. Since this point mutation is diagnostic for HCHWA-D, presymptomatic testing is feasible and offered, together with genetic counselling and psychological support, to subjects at risk. HCHWA-D is clinically characterized by recurrent strokes, in addition to dementia, which can occur after the first stroke but also preceding it. Radiological studies revealed focal lesions (hemorrhages, hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic infarctions) and diffuse white matter damage. Diffuse white matter hyperintensities on MRI are an early symptom of HCHWA-D since they have been found on MRI scans of subjects who had not suffered a stroke. The presence of the diagnostic point mutation makes HCHWA-D a useful model to study the effects of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in vivo. The characteristic pathological abnormalities and its implications for Alzheimer's disease will be discussed in Part II of this article.
Barriers to pilot mobile teleophthalmology in a rural hospital in Southern Malawi (2014)

INTRODUCTION: Malawi has one of the highest HIV prevalences in Sub-Saharan Africa. The rate of eligible HIV-infected people being initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and retained in HIV-care is currently far from adequate. Consequently, many people continue present with advanced immunosuppression at public health facilities, often with undiagnosed opportunistic infections (OIs).
Flame-Made WO<sub>3</sub>/CeO<sub><i>x</i></sub>-TiO<sub>2</sub> Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> by NH<sub>3</sub> (2015)

Materials based on a combination of cerium–tungsten−titanium are potentially durable catalysts for selective catalytic NOx reduction using NH3 (NH3–SCR). Flame-spray synthesis is used here to produce WO3/CeOx-TiO2 nanoparticles, which are characterized with respect to their phase composition, morphology, and acidic properties and are evaluated by NH3–SCR. HR-TEM and XRD revealed that flame-made WO3/CeOx-TiO2 consists of mainly rutile TiO2, brannerite CeTi2O6, cubic CeO2, and a minor fraction of anatase TiO2. These phases coexist with a large portion of amorphous mixed Ce–Ti phase. The lack of crystallinity and the presence of brannerite together with the evident high fraction of Ce3+ are taken as evidence that cerium is also present as a dopant in TiO2 and is well dispersed on the surface of the nanoparticles. Clusters of amorphous WO3 homogeneously cover all particles as observed by STEM. Such morphology and phase composition guarantee short-range Ce–O–Ti and Ce–O–W interactions and thus the high surface concentration of Ce3+. The presence of the WO3 layer and the close Ce–O–W interaction further increased the Ce3+ content compared to binary Ce–Ti materials, as shown by XPS and XANES. The acidity of the materials and the nature of the acid sites were determined by NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) and DRIFT spectroscopy, respectively. TiO2 possesses mainly strong Lewis acidity; addition of cerium, especially the presence of surface Ce3+ in close contact with titanium and tungsten, induces Brønsted acid sites that are considerably increased by the amorphous WO3 clusters. As a result of this peculiar element arrangement and phase composition, 10 wt % WO3/10 mol % CeOx-90 mol % TiO2 exhibits the highest NOx reduction efficiency, which matches that of a V2O5–WO3/TiO2 catalyst. Preliminary activity data indicate that the flame-made catalyst demonstrates much higher performance after thermal and hydrothermal aging at 700 °C than the V-based analogue despite the presence of the rutile phase. Ce3+ remains the dominating surface cerium species after both aging treatments, thus confirming its crucial role in NH3–SCR by Ce–W–Ti-based catalysts.
Structure–activity analysis of the potentiation by aminothiols of the chromosome‐damaging effect of bleomycin in G<sub>0</sub> human lymphocytes (2001)

The radioprotective aminothiols 2-[(aminopropyl)amino] ethanethiol (WR-1065) and cysteamine (CSM) potentiate the induction of chromosomal damage by the radiomimetic compound bleomycin (BLM) in G0 human lymphocytes. To investigate the mechanism of potentiation, we measured the clastogenic activity of BLM in the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay in the presence and absence of amines, thiols, and aminothiols. The hydroxy analog of WR-1065, 2-(3-aminopropylamino) ethanol (WR-OH), potentiates BLM only slightly, indicating the critical nature of the thiol group. As thiols, WR-1065 and CSM may donate electrons for the activation of Fe(+2)-BLM or for the regeneration of Fe(+2)-BLM from inactive Fe(+3)-BLM. The amines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine all potentiate BLM, but they are weaker potentiators than the aminothiols, and they are effective only at high concentrations. Their activity, like that of WR-OH, is probably a consequence of conformational alteration of DNA. Dithioerythritol (DTE) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), thiols lacking an amino group, are less effective potentiators of BLM than are the aminothiols. The thiol group of WR-1065 and CSM is therefore essential, but insufficient, for explaining the strong enhancement of BLM activity. The cationic nature of CSM and WR-1065, conferred by the amino groups, evidently concentrates the active thiol function at the site of BLM action on DNA. As expected on this basis, the diamine WR-1065 is a more effective potentiator of BLM than is the monoamine CSM, whereas cysteine and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which lack a net positive charge, potentiate BLM only weakly. These studies suggest that potentiation of the clastogenic action of BLM by aminothiols can be explained by the combination of a thiol-mediated redox mechanism and an amine-mediated targeting of the thiol function to DNA.
Spike Timing Amplifies the Effect of Electric Fields on Neurons: Implications for Endogenous Field Effects (2007)

Despite compelling phenomenological evidence that small electric fields (<5 mV/mm) can affect brain function, a quantitative and experimentally verified theory is currently lacking. Here we demonstrate a novel mechanism by which the nonlinear properties of single neurons "amplify" the effect of small electric fields: when concurrent to suprathreshold synaptic input, small electric fields can have significant effects on spike timing. For low-frequency fields, our theory predicts a linear dependency of spike timing changes on field strength. For high-frequency fields (relative to the synaptic input), the theory predicts coherent firing, with mean firing phase and coherence each increasing monotonically with field strength. Importantly, in both cases, the effects of fields on spike timing are amplified with decreasing synaptic input slope and increased cell susceptibility (millivolt membrane polarization per field amplitude). We confirmed these predictions experimentally using CA1 hippocampal neurons in vitro exposed to static (direct current) and oscillating (alternating current) uniform electric fields. In addition, we develop a robust method to quantify cell susceptibility using spike timing. Our results provide a precise mechanism for a functional role of endogenous field oscillations (e.g., gamma) in brain function and introduce a framework for considering the effects of environmental fields and design of low-intensity therapeutic neurostimulation technologies.
Activated Spinal Cord Ependymal Stem Cells Rescue Neurological Function (2009)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major cause of paralysis. Currently, there are no effective therapies to reverse this disabling condition. The presence of ependymal stem/progenitor cells (epSPCs) in the adult spinal cord suggests that endogenous stem cell-associated mechanisms might be exploited to repair spinal cord lesions. epSPC cells that proliferate after SCI are recruited by the injured zone, and can be modulated by innate and adaptive immune responses. Here we demonstrate that when epSPCs are cultured from rats with a SCI (ependymal stem/progenitor cells injury [epSPCi]), these cells proliferate 10 times faster in vitro than epSPC derived from control animals and display enhanced self renewal. Genetic profile analysis revealed an important influence of inflammation on signaling pathways in epSPCi after injury, including the upregulation of Jak/Stat and mitogen activated protein kinase pathways. Although neurospheres derived from either epSPCs or epSPCi differentiated efficiently to oligodendrocites and functional spinal motoneurons, a better yield of differentiated cells was consistently obtained from epSPCi cultures. Acute transplantation of undifferentiated epSPCi or the resulting oligodendrocyte precursor cells into a rat model of severe spinal cord contusion produced a significant recovery of motor activity 1 week after injury. These transplanted cells migrated long distances from the rostral and caudal regions of the transplant to the neurofilament-labeled axons in and around the lesion zone. Our findings demonstrate that modulation of endogenous epSPCs represents a viable cell-based strategy for restoring neuronal dysfunction in patients with spinal cord damage.