Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When may a nonuniform distribution of 131I be considered uniform? An experimental basis for multicellular dosimetry.

UNLABELLED To varying degrees, radiopharmaceuticals are distributed nonuniformly in tissue. At a macroscopic level, the radiopharmaceutical may appear to be uniformly distributed throughout the tissue. However, on closer inspection, not all cells in the tissue may be labeled with the radiopharmaceutical. Furthermore, the radioactivity in the cells may be localized only in certain compartments within the cell. This work uses a cell culture model to examine the impact of nonuniformity at the multicellular level on the lethal effects of (131)I. METHODS A 3-dimensional tissue culture model was used to investigate the biologic effects of nonuniform distributions of (131)I in a large population of mammalian cells. Chinese hamster V79 cells were labeled with (131)I-iododeoxyuridine ((131)IdU), mixed with unlabeled cells, and multicellular clusters (4 x 10(6) cells) were formed by gentle centrifugation. Thus, the labeled cells were randomly located in the cluster to achieve a uniform distribution of radioactivity at the macroscopic level, yet nonuniform at the multicellular level. The clusters were assembled as described and then maintained at 10.5 degrees C for 72 h to allow (131)I decays to accumulate. The clusters were then dismantled and the cells were plated for colony formation. RESULTS When 100% of the cells were labeled, the surviving fraction of cells in the cluster was exponentially dependent on the cluster activity down to 0.1% survival. In contrast, when 10% of the cells were labeled, it was observed that the survival fraction begins to saturate at about 1% survival. Absorbed-dose estimates reveal that the mean lethal cluster dose is 4.5, 5.7, and 6.4 Gy for 100%, 10%, and 1% labeling, respectively. CONCLUSION These data indicate that when the distribution of (131)I is uniform at the macroscopic level, but nonuniform at the multicellular level, the mean absorbed dose to a tissue element may not be a suitable quantity for use in predicting biologic effect. Rather, cellular and multicellular dosimetry approaches may be necessary to predict the biologic effects of incorporated (131)I.
Infectious microbial diseases and host defense responses in Sydney rock oysters

Aquaculture has long been seen as a sustainable solution to some of the world's growing food shortages. However, experience over the past 50 years indicates that infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotes limit the productivity of aquaculture. In extreme cases, these types of infectious agents threaten the viability of entire aquaculture industries. This article describes the threats from infectious diseases in aquaculture and then focuses on one example (QX disease in Sydney rock oysters) as a case study. QX appears to be typical of many emerging diseases in aquaculture, particularly because environmental factors seem to play a crucial role in disease outbreaks. Evidence is presented that modulation of a generic subcellular stress response pathway in oysters is responsible for both resistance and susceptibility to infectious microbes. Understanding and being able to manipulate this pathway may be the key to sustainable aquaculture.
Refeeding Hypophosphatemia in a Chronically Hyperphosphatemic Hemodialysis Patient

Accessible online at: www.karger. com/journals/nef Dear Sir, Hyperphosphatemia is a common problem in dialysis patients and is usually due to inadequate adherence to dietary phosphate restrictions and noncompliance with prescribed phosphate binders. We report an unusual case of refeeding hypophosphatemia in a dialysis patient with an eating disorder and chronic hyperphosphatemia. A 60-year-old female with end-stage renal disease due to cholesterol atheroemboli and a history of an eating disorder (which was denied by the patient) was admitted to the hospital with a suspected deep venous thrombosis. The patient had repeatedly refused referral for evaluation of a suspected eating disorder. She had a history of chronic hyperphosphatemia which was refractory to phosphate binder therapy. She had been compliant with her aluminum hydroxide phosphate binder prescription, as high aluminum levels had been detected in the past. On the 4th hospital day, tube feeding with Osmolite HN at 25 ml/h was begun, and the next day the rate was increased to 40 ml/h. On hospital days 6 and 7 the patient received 1.5 g of phosphorus supplementation through the feeding tube, in addition to the phosphate in the Osmolite HN. The patient’s serum phosphorus levels were (mmol/l): 4.6, 0.7, 0.7, and 1.4 on hospital days 4, 6, 7, and 8, respectively. Despite improvement in her nutritional status, the patient subsequently succumbed to pneumonia. Chronic poor caloric intake, interrupted by brief periods of high phosphorus intake during binge eating, might explain her chronic hyperphosphatemia. The abuse of phosphosoda enemas might result in a similar picture, in the presence of chronic malnutrition. The sudden decrease in this patient’s serum phosphorus level with refeeding is attributable to the availability of glucose as an energy source [1]. The release of insulin enhances the cellular uptake of phosphorus. Refeeding hypophosphatemia has been previously reported in chronically malnourished patients receiving enteral nutrition [2]. In these patients, the phosphorus content in the enteral formula is inadequate to maintain normal serum phosphorus levels, as a rapid intracellular shift of phosphorus occurs. Risk factors for the development of hypophosphatemia during enteral feeding include alcoholism, anorexia, and gastrointestinal malabsorption [3, 4].
Screening for Natural Inhibitors of Topoisomerases I from Rhamnus davurica by Affinity Ultrafiltration and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Topoisomerase I (Topo I) catalyzes topological interconversion of duplex DNA during DNA replication and transcription, and has been deemed as important antineoplastic targets. In this study, the fraction R.d-60 from ethyl acetate extracts of Rhamnus davurica showed higher inhibitory rates against SGC-7901 and HT-29 compared with the R.d-30 fraction in vitro. However, the specific active components of R.d-60 fraction remain elusive. To this end, a method based on bio-affinity ultrafiltration and high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC- ESI-MS/MS) was developed to rapidly screen and identify the Topo I inhibitors in this fraction. The enrichment factors (EFs) were calculated to evaluate the binding affinities between the bioactive constituents and Topo I. As a result, eight ligands were identified and six of which with higher EFs showed more potential antitumor activity. Furthermore, antiproliferative assays in vitro (IC50 values) with two representative candidates (apigenin, quercetin) against SGC-7901, HT-29 and Hep G2 cells were conducted and further validated. Finally, the structure-activity relationships revealed that flavones contain a C2-C3 double bond of C ring exhibited higher bio-affinities to Topo I than those without it. This integrated method combining Topo I ultrafiltration with HPLC-MS/MS proved to be very efficient in rapid screening and identification of potential Topo I inhibitors from the complex extracts of medicinal plants, and could be further explored as a valuable high-throughput screening platform in the early drug discovery stage.
Empirical Study of Capital Structure on Agency Costs in Chinese Listed Firms

This study examines the impact of capital structure on agency costs in 211 non-financial Chinese listed firms for the period 1999-2001. There are two main findings. (1) Firms with high debt to asset ratio have high ratio of annual sales to total assets and high ratio of return-on-equity. If a firm has a high debt to asset ratio, creditors are much more concerned about the payment of interest and repayment of principal and will have incentives to monitor the firm. Thus, a capital structure with high debt decreases agency costs. (2) Positive and significant correlation is identified between ownership concentration and the return-on-equity ratio. This is because the largest shareholders have a strong interest in firm performance and therefore a high ability to reduce agency costs. Our empirical results further illustrate that firms have inclination of refinancing through stock market and harm small shareholders' interest. (Nature and Science 2003;1(1):12-20).
Prognostic Significance of HIF-1α Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis

Aim Pilot studies have evaluated the correlation between hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) overexpression and clinical outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, the results remain inconclusive. To comprehensively and quantitatively summarize the evidence on the suitability of HIF-1α to predict the prognosis of patients with HCC, a meta-analysis was carried out. Methods Systematic literature searches were applied to PubMed, Elsevier and Web of Science databases until Feb. 2013. Seven studies (953 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled measure was calculated from the available data to evaluate the association between tissue -based HIF-1α level and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in HCC patients. The relation between HIF-1α expression and vascular invasion was also assessed. Data were synthesized with fixed or random effect model, hazard ration (HR) or odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as the effect size estimate. Result The combined data suggested that HIF-1α overexpression in HCC correlated with poor OS [HR = 1.65 (95% (CI): 1.38, 1.97)] and DFS [HR = 2.14 (95% CI: 1.39, 3.29)]. And high HIF-1α expression tended to be associated with vascular invasion [OR = 2.21 (95% CI: 1.06, 4.57)]. Conclusion HIF-1α overexpression indicates a poor prognosis for patients with HCC, it may also have predictive potential for HCC invasion and metastasis.
Direct geometrico-static problem of under-constrained cable-driven parallel robots with three cables

This paper studies under-constrained cable-driven parallel robots with three cables. A major challenge in the study of these manipulators is the intrinsic coupling between kinematics and statics, which must be tackled simultaneously. In this contribution, a general elimination procedure is provided that solves the direct geometrico-static problem, which consists in determining the platform posture and the cable tensions when the cable lengths are assigned. The problem is proven to have up to 156 complex solutions.
Autotransplantation combined with orthodontic treatment: a case involving the maxillary central incisors with root resorption after traumatic injury

Traumatic dental injury can result in avulsion of anterior teeth. In young patients, it is a challenge to the dental professional because after replantation, late complications such as ankylosis require tooth extraction. Although prosthetic and orthodontic treatment, and implant placement have been described as the options for intervention, autogenous tooth transplantation could be an effective procedure in growing patients if there is a suitable donor tooth available. This case presents the treatment of a patient who suffered a traumatic injury at 9 years old with avulsion of tooth 21, which had been replanted, and intrusion of tooth 11. Both teeth ankylosed; thus they were removed and autotransplantation of premolars was carried out. After transplantation, the tooth underwent root canal treatment because of pulpal necrosis. Orthodontic treatment began 3 months after transplantation and during 7 years' follow-up the aesthetics and function were maintained without signs of resorption.
The TP53 intron 6 G13964C polymorphism and risk of thyroid and breast cancer development in the Iranian Azeri population.

BACKGROUND TP53 mutations are the most common genetic alterations in human cancers. There are also several polymorphisms in both exons and introns of TP53 that may influence its anti-tumor functions and increase the risk of cancer development. Associations of the TP53 intron 6 G13964C polymorphism with increased risk of development of several cancers have been investigated in numerous studies, but the results were controversial and conflicting. In this study, we aimed to investigate the probable association of this polymorphism with risk of both thyroid and breast cancers among the Iranian-Azeri population. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed two separate case control studies on associations of the intron 6 polymorphism with two different kinds of cancer. In one case-control study, a total of 75 patients with thyroid carcinoma and 180 controls were analyzed and the other study included 170 patients with breast cancer and 135 healthy women. The intron 6 genotype was determined by RFLP-PCR and the SPSS 16 program was applied for data analysis. RESULTS For thyroid cancer, the frequencies of GG genotype were 96.0% in patients and 93.3% in controls. The GC genotype had a frequency of 4.0% in patients and 6.7% in controls. In the study on breast cancer, the frequency of GG and GC genotypes in patients were 95.3% and 4.7%, respectively. In breast related control group, the frequency of GG genotype was 93.3% and the frequency of GC genotype was 6.7%. None of the cases and controls had the CC genotype. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant association between the TP53 intron 6 G13964C polymorphism and risk of development of both thyroid and breast cancer in Iranian-Azeri patients.
Emergent Headaches during Pregnancy: Correlation between Neurologic Examination and Neuroimaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Emergent evaluation of the pregnant headache patient requires rational selection of acute neuroimaging studies, yet guidelines do not exist. We investigated the demographic and clinical features that are predictive of intracranial pathologic lesions on neuroimaging studies in pregnant women with emergent headaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of demographic factors, clinical features, and radiologic findings in a consecutive case series of 63 pregnant women emergently evaluated with a chief complaint of headache, including those with previous headache histories. Clinical data were abstracted from emergency department records, hospital course, and discharge summaries. Multivariate logistic regression analysis examined predictors of intracranial pathologic lesions on emergent neuroimaging studies. RESULTS: Multiparous African American women constituted 63% of the case subjects. Headaches were frequently accompanied by photophobia (59%), nausea (52%), vomiting (37%), and occasionally with fever (11%), meningismus (9%), or seizures (7%). A total of 43% of case subjects had abnormal neurologic examination findings. Emergent neuroimaging, including noncontrast head CT and MR imaging, revealed an underlying headache etiology in 27%, including cerebral venous thrombosis, reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy, pseudotumor, and intracranial hemorrhage. The odds of having intracranial pathologic lesions on neuroimaging were 2.7 times higher in patients with abnormal results on neurologic examination (P = .085). CONCLUSIONS: Emergent neuroimaging studies may reveal an underlying headache etiology in 27% of pregnant women. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to determine what clinical factors are predictive of a pathologic condition on neuroimaging studies.
Vitamin-Mediated Regulation of Intestinal Immunity

The intestine is exposed continuously to complex environments created by numerous injurious and beneficial non-self antigens. The unique mucosal immune system in the intestine maintains the immunologic homeostasis between the host and the external environment. Crosstalk between immunocompetent cells and endogenous (e.g., cytokines and chemokines) as well as exogenous factors (e.g., commensal bacteria and dietary materials) achieves the vast diversity of intestinal immune functions. In addition to their vital roles as nutrients, vitamins now also are known to have immunologically crucial functions, specifically in regulating host immune responses. In this review, we focus on the immunologic functions of vitamins in regulating intestinal immune responses and their roles in moderating the fine balance between physiologic and pathologic conditions of the intestine.
Advection-Diffusion Equations for Internal State-Mediated Random Walks

In many biological examples of biased random walks, movement statistics are determined by state dynamics that are internalto the organism or cell and that mediate responses to variable environments. Internal state dynamics are an essential element of such behaviors because they provide a "memory" mechanism for retaining effects of previous environments over multiple iterations of the random walk, and because they impose constraints on the gradient-climbing movements that can result. When spatial gradients in individual density and in environmental properties are small, the timescales characterizing redistribution of populations over large spatial scales are typically much larger than those characterizing equilibration in the internal state and in orientation. Taking advantage of this difference in timescales, an advection-diffusion equation is derived that approximates the long-term spatial redistribution of individuals performing a velocity-jump process in which turning probabilities are mediated by comp.
Regression of a Mammary Adenocarcinoma in STAT6−/− Mice Is Dependent on the Presence of STAT6-Reactive T Cells 1

Polarization of the immune response toward a type 1 cytokine profile has been posited to be associated with a therapeutic antitumor immune response. STAT6−/− mice are unable to generate a type 2 immune response, and instead mount an enhanced type 1 response. STAT6−/− mice are significantly more resistant to 4T1, a mammary adenocarinoma cell line, resisting a 10-fold higher tumor dose compared with wild-type (wt) BALB/c mice. An analysis of the T cells from tumor-bearing STAT6−/− mice revealed that they contained a population primed by a peptide (STAT6531–539) of the STAT6 protein expressed in 4T1. The adoptive transfer of T cells from STAT6531–539-vaccinated STAT6−/− mice significantly reduced the number of 4T1 pulmonary metastases in recipient mice. Additionally, the role of these STAT6531–539-reactive T cells against s.c. 4T1 tumor challenge was determined by tumor-challenging wt BALB/c mice reconstituted with STAT6−/− bone marrow, thereby assessing whether a polarized type 1 immune response in the absence of STAT6-reactive T cells was sufficient to reject a 4T1 tumor challenge. T cells from the STAT6−/− bone marrow chimeras failed to recognize the STAT6531–539, and these mice proved to be as susceptible as wt BALB/c mice to 4T1 challenge. This demonstrated that the absence of STAT6531–539-reactive T cells correlated with the inability to reject 4T1 challenge. Additionally, these data emphasize that the enhanced ability to mount a type 1-polarized immune response is inconsequential if a sufficient antitumor immune response is not primed by the tumor.
The role of the husband's religious affiliation in the economic and demographic behavior of families

L'A. cherche a decrire le role de l'affiliation religieuse de l'epoux dans le comportement economico-demographique des familles. Il met ainsi en evidence les mecanismes a travers lesquels les differences d'affiliation entre epoux influence la stabilite maritale, le travail de la femme, la fecondite du couple. L'A. s'appuie sur des donnees concretes et chiffrees datees de 1987-88
Has the Prevalence of Migraine Changed over the Last Decade (2003–2012)? A Spanish Population-Based Survey

Introduction Information on temporal trends can identify groups of people at risk for any particular condition; however information on temporal trends on migraine headache at population levels is scarce. Our aim was to estimate the time trends in the prevalence of migraine from 2003 to 2012 in Spain. Methods A population-based national study was conducted. We analyzed data using individualized information taken from national surveys conducted in 2003/4, 2006/7, 2009/10 and 2011/12. A total of 94,158 Spanish adults participated. We considered the presence of self-rated and diagnosed migraine, and we analyzed socio-demographic features, lifestyle habits, self-rated health status, and comorbid diseases using logistic regressions. Results The prevalence of migraine increased from 6.54% in 2003 to 9.69% in 2012 with significant time trends (adj. OR 1.65; 95%CI 1.50–1.81). The probability of women of suffering migraine was 3 times higher than for men (adj.OR 3.08; 2.82–3.37). There was a declining trend in migraine prevalence as age increased (adj.OR 0.42; 0.35–0.51). Demographic variables associated with migraine were lower educational level (adj.OR 1.32; 1.13–1.54) and not being an immigrant (adj.OR 1.37; 1.15–1.64). A worse self-reported health status was related to higher prevalence of migraine (adj.OR 2.83; 2.59–3.09). The prevalence of migraine also increased as the number of comorbid conditions increased (adj.OR 2.42; 2.05–2.86). Conclusion The prevalence of migraine has increased in the first decade of the 21st century in Spain. Migraine was associated with being female, mid-age, low educational level, not being an immigrant, worse self-rated health status and presence of comorbid conditions.
Twist neutrality, a zero sum rule for oriented closed space curves with applications to circular DNA

The interplay between global constraints and local material properties of chain molecules is a subject of emerging interest. Studies of molecules that are intrinsically chiral, such as doublestranded DNA, is one example. Their properties generally depend on the local geometry, i.e. on curvature and torsion, yet the paths of closed molecules are globally restricted by topology. Molecules that fulfill a twist neutrality condition, a zero sum rule for the incremental change in the rate of winding along the curve, will behave neutrally to strain. This has implications for plasmids. For small circular microDNAs it follows that there must exist a minimum length for these to be doublestranded. It also follows that all microDNAs longer than the minimum length must be concave. This counterintuitive result is consistent with the kink-like appearance which has been observed for circular DNA. A prediction for the total negative curvature of a circular microDNA is given as a function of its length.
Expression of Hepatitis C Virus Proteins Inhibits Signal Transduction through the Jak-STAT Pathway

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Alpha interferon (IFN-α) therapy of chronic hepatitis C leads to a sustained response in 10 to 20% of patients only. The mechanisms of viral persistence and the pathogenesis of hepatitis C are poorly understood. We established continuous human cell lines, allowing the tightly regulated expression of the entire HCV open reading frame under the control of a tetracycline-responsive promoter. Using this in vitro system, we analyzed the effect of HCV proteins on IFN-induced intracellular signaling. Expression of HCV proteins in these cells strongly inhibited IFN-α-induced signal transduction through the Jak-STAT pathway. Inhibition occurred downstream of STAT tyrosine phosphorylation. Inhibition of the Jak-STAT pathway was not restricted to IFN-α-induced signaling but was observed in leukemia inhibitory factor-induced signaling through Stat3 as well. By contrast, tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced activation of the transcription factor NF-κB was not affected. Interference of HCV with IFN-α-induced signaling through the Jak-STAT pathway could contribute to the resistance to IFN-α therapy observed in the majority of patients and may represent a general escape strategy of HCV contributing to viral persistence and pathogenesis of chronic liver disease.