Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unique epitopes of common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen detected by new monoclonal antibodies.

In the present study we have generated four new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), termed SN5, SN5a, SN5b, and SN5c, which are directed toward the human common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA). SN5 and SN5c were generated separately by immunizing two mice with a leukemia antigen preparation isolated from uncultured non-T-/non-B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells whereas SN5a and SN5b were generated by immunizing a third mouse with intact KM-3 (a cultured non-T-/non-B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line) cells. It was found that the binding activities of mAbs SN5 and SN5c generated by using an isolated leukemia antigen preparation were approximately twice as large as those of mAbs SN5a and SN5b generated by using intact leukemia cells. All four of the present mAbs induced antigenic modulation of CALLA on the leukemia cells in vitro; subclasses of mAbs appear to be an important factor which influences the kinetics of antigenic modulation. SN5, SN5a, and SN5c immunoprecipitated a distinct Mr 100,000 component from detergent-solubilized cell membrane antigens but SN5b failed to do so. These four mAbs together with J5, another anti-CALLA mAb, were individually tested in a solid phase radioimmunoassay for reactivity with the detergent extracts of various human tissues, i.e., kidney, lymph node, spleen, brain, liver, pancreas, lung, and heart. SN5, SN5a, SN5c, and J5 showed reaction only with kidney whereas SN5b did not show significant reaction with any tissues including kidney. However, SN5b as well as SN5 showed a significant reaction with kidney in an immunoperoxidase-staining test. These results indicate that the interaction of SN5b with a unique epitope on the CALLA moleucle is strongly disturbed by relatively mild detergents (deoxycholate, taurocholate, and Nonidet P-450). These detergents did not significantly disturb the reaction between other mAbs (SN5, SN5a, and SN5c) and the corresponding epitopes on the CALLA molecule. Competitive binding experiments show that the three epitopes recognized by SN5, SN5b, and SN5c are sufficiently close to each other to allow complete or nearly complete reciprocal inhibition of binding to CALLA present on leukemia cells. Peculiar inhibition patterns, however, were observed between SN5a and the other three mAbs. SN5, SN5b, and SN5c inhibited only partially the subsequent binding of SN5a to the leukemia cells. Conversely, SN5a inhibited nearly fully the subsequent bindings of SN5, SN5b, and SN5c. These results suggest another unique epitope defined by SN5a. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Author's Response to Reviews the Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Anxiety and Depression in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Bypass Graft Surgery in Iran

Title: The effect of cardiac rehabilitation on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing cardiac bypass graft surgery in Iran Abstract Objectives Many patients experience anxiety and depression after cardiac bypass surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in southern Iran. Methods For this randomized controlled trial, 80 patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and randomly assigned to case and control groups. Anxiety was measured with the Spielberger Anxiety Scale and depression was measured using Beck's Depression Inventory at three points in time: on discharge from the hospital, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after cardiac rehabilitation. After measuring anxiety and depression in both groups upon discharge, the experimental group participated in 8 cardiac rehabilitation sessions over a 4-week period. The control group received only the routine follow-up care. Results There was a statistically significant difference in depression scores between groups at all three time-points (Mean score from 19.6 to 10 in the case group and from 19.5 to 14 in the control group,P=0.0014). However, no significant difference was seen in anxiety scores between the groups (Mean score from 37 to 28 in the case group and from 38 to 32 in the control group, P=0.079). Conclusions Cardiac rehabilitation was effective in reducing depression 2 months after surgery in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
Genome screening for linkage disequilibrium in a Costa Rican sample of patients with bipolar-I disorder: a follow-up study on chromosome 18.

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) methods offer great promise for mapping complex traits, but have thus far been applied sparingly. In this paper we describe an LD mapping study of severe bipolar disorder (BP-I) in the genetically isolated population of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. This study provides the first complete screen of a chromosome for a complex trait using LD mapping and presents the first application of a new LD mapping statistic (ancestral haplotype reconstruction (AHR)) that evaluates haplotype sharing among affected individuals. The results of this chromosome-wide analysis are instructive for genome-wide LD mapping in isolated populations. Furthermore, the analysis continues to support a possible BP-I locus on 18pter, suggested by previous analyses in this population. Evidence for a possible BP-I locus on 18q12.2 is also described.
Influence of Experience on Postural Control: Effect of Expertise in Gymnastics

The authors investigated how expertise in motor skills that require fine postural control, such as gymnastics, influences postural regulation. Gymnasts and nongymnasts performed a postural stabilization task after anterior-posterior destabilization while looking at a target in front of them. The authors recorded and analyzed the center of pressure and the ankle, knee, and hip displacements. Gymnasts were able to react rapidly after destabilization to decrease their center of pressure and the angular movements. Moreover, they used their knees to stabilize posture, whereas the nongymnasts used their hips. These findings suggest that specific postural experience modifies the ability to coordinate and regulate posture. The authors discuss these results from an ecological perspective.
Disparities and Trends in Birth Outcomes, Perinatal and Infant Mortality in Aboriginal vs. Non-Aboriginal Populations: A Population-Based Study in Quebec, Canada 1996–2010

Background Aboriginal populations are at substantially higher risks of adverse birth outcomes, perinatal and infant mortality than their non-Aboriginal counterparts even in developed countries including Australia, U.S. and Canada. There is a lack of data on recent trends in Canada. Methods We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study (n = 254,410) using the linked vital events registry databases for singleton births in Quebec 1996–2010. Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit) births were identified by mother tongue, place of residence and Indian Registration System membership. Outcomes included preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age, large-for-gestational-age, low birth weight, high birth weight, stillbirth, neonatal death, postneonatal death, perinatal death and infant death. Results Perinatal and infant mortality rates were 1.47 and 1.80 times higher in First Nations (10.1 and 7.3 per 1000, respectively), and 2.37 and 4.46 times higher in Inuit (16.3 and 18.1 per 1000, respectively) relative to non-Aboriginal (6.9 and 4.1 per 1000, respectively) births (all p<0.001). Compared to non-Aboriginal births, preterm birth rates were persistently (1.7–1.8 times) higher in Inuit, large-for-gestational-age birth rates were persistently (2.7–3.0 times) higher in First Nations births over the study period. Between 1996–2000 and 2006–2010, as compared to non-Aboriginal infants, the relative risk disparities increased for infant mortality (from 4.10 to 5.19 times) in Inuit, and for postneonatal mortality in Inuit (from 6.97 to 12.33 times) or First Nations (from 3.76 to 4.25 times) infants. Adjusting for maternal characteristics (age, marital status, parity, education and rural vs. urban residence) attenuated the risk differences, but significantly elevated risks remained in both Inuit and First Nations births for the risks of perinatal mortality (1.70 and 1.28 times, respectively), infant mortality (3.66 and 1.47 times, respectively) and postneonatal mortality (6.01 and 2.28 times, respectively) in Inuit and First Nations infants (all p<0.001). Conclusions Aboriginal vs. non-Aboriginal disparities in adverse birth outcomes, perinatal and infant mortality are persistent or worsening over the recent decade in Quebec, strongly suggesting the needs for interventions to improve perinatal and infant health in Aboriginal populations, and for monitoring the trends in other regions in Canada.
Failure to escape traumatic shock.

Dogs which had 1st learned to panel press in a harness in order to escape shock subsequently showed normal acquisition of escape/ avoidance behavior in a shuttle box. In contrast, yoked, inescapable shock in the harness produced profound interference with subsequent escape responding in the shuttle box. Initial experience with escape in the shuttle box led to enhanced panel pressing during inescapable shock in the harness and prevented interference with later responding in the shuttle box. Inescapable shock in the harness and failure to escape in the shuttle box produced interference with escape responding after a 7-day rest. These results were interpreted as supporting a learned "helplessness" explanation of interference with escape responding: Ss failed to escape shock in the shuttle box following inescapable shock in the harness because they had learned that shock termination was independent of responding. Overmier and Seligman (1967) have shown that the prior exposure of dogs to inescapable shock in a Pavlovian harness reliably results in interference with subsequent escape/avoidance
The Gist of Instructional Leadership Practised in Swaziland Primary Schools

A growing body of scholarship links instructional leadership to effective teaching and learning. This article looks at the ‘what’ of instructional leadership as practised in Swaziland primary schools. A qualitative investigation was undertaken based on individual and focus group interviews conducted at eight primary schools in the Hhohho region of Swaziland. The findings show that demonstrative leadership accompanied by collaborative support and recognition for achievement are important features of an effective instructional leadership programme. The main limitations to optimal learning are the collection of school fees during school hours and balancing English as the language of instruction with preserving the indigenous language. The findings emphasize the importance of mutual effort as the main component of effective teaching and learning.
IL-10 Prevents Liver Necrosis During Murine Infection with Trichinella spiralis 1

Infection with Trichinella spiralis rarely leads to significant morbidity. In this study, we show that IL-10 knockout mice infected with this parasite develop extensive areas of coagulative necrosis in the liver, and newborn larvae are required for lesion formation. Histopathological examination revealed that the hepatic inflammatory infiltrate was mixed but dominated by eosinophils. Accordingly, infected IL-10 knockout mice displayed a marked eosinophilia. IL-10 was expressed during infection in mesenteric lymph node populations and liver tissue. Analysis of cytokine profiles revealed a codominant expression of type 1 and 2 mediators that was enhanced in the absence of IL-10. Additionally, CD11c+ MHC class II+ cells were increased in mesenteric lymph nodes of IL-10 knockout mice, suggesting a possible link between IL-10 and dendritic cell trafficking. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in mortality or parasite burdens between the strains of mice, indicating that IL-10 is necessary to control the host’s inflammatory response but does not impact establishment of the parasite. Expression of IL-10 appears to be an adaptation used by the liver to protect itself from damage caused by migrating newborn larvae.
Accuracy and reproducibility of CT right-to-left ventricular diameter measurement in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

Background Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction caused by acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with poor short- and long-term prognosis. RV dilatation as a proxy for RV dysfunction can be assessed by calculating the right-to-left ventricle diameter (RV/LV) ratio on standard computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) images. It is unknown whether dedicated training is required to accurately and reproducibly measure RV/LV ratio therefore we aimed to assess these parameters in residents in internal medicine without experience in CTPA reading. Methods CTPA images of 100 patients with PE were assessed by three residents after single instruction, and one experienced thoracic radiologist. Maximum diameters were evaluated in the axial view by measuring the distance between the ventricular endocardium and the interventricular septum, perpendicular to the long axis of the heart. RV dilatation was defined as a ratio of ≥1.0. Interobserver accuracy and reproducibility was determined using Kappa statistics, Bland-Altman analysis and Spearman's rank correlation. Results The kappa statistic for the presence of RV dilatation of the residents compared to the experienced radiologist ranged from 0.83–0.94. The average interobserver difference in calculated RV/LV ratio’s (±SD) between the three residents was: -0.01 (SD0.11), 0.07 (SD0.14) and 0.06 (SD0.18) with an overall mean RV/LV diameter ratio of 1.04. In line with this, Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were 0.92, 0.88 and 0.85 respectively indicating very good correlation (p<0.01 for all). Conclusion After simple instruction, RV/LV diameter ratio assessment on CTPA images by clinical residents is accurate and reproducible, which is of help in identifying PE patients at risk.
A systematic review of barriers to early presentation and diagnosis with breast cancer among black women

Objective To explore barriers to early presentation and diagnosis with breast cancer among black women. Design Systematic review. Methods We searched multiple bibliographic databases (January 1991–February 2013) for primary research, published in English, conducted in developed countries and investigating barriers to early presentation and diagnosis with symptomatic breast cancer among black women (≥18 years). Studies were excluded if they did not report separate findings by ethnic group or gender, only reported differences in time to presentation/diagnosis, or reported on interventions and barriers to cancer screening. We followed Cochrane and PRISMA guidance to identify relevant research. Findings were integrated through thematic synthesis. Designs of quantitative studies made meta-analysis impossible. Results We identified 18 studies (6183 participants). Delay was multifactorial, individual and complex. Factors contributing to delay included: poor symptom and risk factor knowledge; fear of detecting breast abnormality; fear of cancer treatments; fear of partner abandonment; embarrassment disclosing symptoms to healthcare professionals; taboo and stigmatism. Presentation appears quicker following disclosure. Influence of fatalism and religiosity on delay is unclear from evidence in these studies. We compared older studies (≥10 years) with newer ones (<10 years) to determine changes over time. In older studies, delaying factors included: inaccessibility of healthcare services; competing priorities and concerns about partner abandonment. Partner abandonment was studied in older studies but not in newer ones. Comparisons of healthy women and cancer populations revealed differences between how people perceive they would behave, and actually behave, on finding breast abnormality. Conclusions Strategies to improve early presentation and diagnosis with breast cancer among black women need to address symptom recognition and interpretation of risk, as well as fears of the consequences of cancer. The review is limited by the paucity of studies conducted outside the USA and limited detail reported by published studies preventing comparison between ethnic groups.
Differences in Game-Related Statistics of Basketball Performance by Game Location for Men's Winning and Losing Teams

The aim of the present study was to identify game-related statistics that differentiate winning and losing teams according to game location. The sample included 306 games of the 2004–2005 regular season of the Spanish professional men's league (ACB League). The independent variables were game location (home or away) and game result (win or loss). The game-related statistics registered were free throws (successful and unsuccessful), 2- and 3-point field goals (successful and unsuccessful), offensive and defensive rebounds, blocks, assists, fouls, steals, and turnovers. Descriptive and inferential analyses were done (one-way analysis of variance and discriminate analysis). The multivariate analysis showed that winning teams differ from losing teams in defensive rebounds (SC = .42) and in assists (SC = .38). Similarly, winning teams differ from losing teams when they play at home in defensive rebounds (SC = .40) and in assists (SC = .41). On the other hand, winning teams differ from losing teams when they play away in defensive rebounds (SC = .44), assists (SC = .30), successful 2-point field goals (SC = .31), and unsuccessful 3-point field goals (SC = –.35). Defensive rebounds and assists were the only game-related statistics common to all three analyses.
Characterization of an Importin α/β‐recognized nuclear localization signal in β‐dystroglycan

β‐dystroglycan (β‐DG) is a widely expressed transmembrane protein that plays important roles in connecting the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton, and thereby contributing to plasma membrane integrity and signal transduction. We previously observed nuclear localization of β‐DG in cultured cell lines, implying the existence of a nuclear targeting mechanism that directs it to the nucleus instead of the plasma membrane. In this study, we delineate the nuclear import pathway of β‐DG, characterizing a functional nuclear localization signal (NLS) in the β‐DG cytoplasmic domain, within amino acids 776–782. The NLS either alone or in the context of the whole β‐DG protein was able to target the heterologous GFP protein to the nucleus, with site‐directed mutagenesis indicating that amino acids R779 and K780 are critical for NLS functionality. The nuclear transport molecules Importin (Imp)α and Impβ bound with high affinity to the NLS of β‐DG and were found to be essential for NLS‐dependent nuclear import in an in vitro reconstituted nuclear transport assay; cotransfection experiments confirmed the dependence on Ran for nuclear accumulation. Intriguingly, experiments suggested that tyrosine phosphorylation of β‐DG may result in cytoplasmic retention, with Y892 playing a key role. β‐DG thus follows a conventional Impα/β‐dependent nuclear import pathway, with important implications for its potential function in the nucleus. J. Cell. Biochem. 110: 706–717, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Atorvastatin and fluvastatin are associated with dose‐dependent reductions in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, among patients with hepatitis C virus: Results from ERCHIVES

Statins are associated with delayed fibrosis progression and a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Limited data exist regarding the most effective type and dose of statin in this population. We sought to determine the impact of statin type and dose upon fibrosis progression and HCC in patients with HCV. Using the Electronically Retrieved Cohort of HCV Infected Veterans (ERCHIVES) database, we identified all subjects initiated on HCV antibody (anti‐HCV) therapy from 2001 to 2014, and all incident cases of cirrhosis and HCC. Statin use was measured using cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD). Multivariable Cox's proportional hazard regression models were used to examine the relationship between statin use and development of cirrhosis and HCC. Among 9,135 eligible subjects, 1,649 developed cirrhosis and 239 developed incident HCC. Statin use was associated with a 44% reduction in development of cirrhosis (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53, 0.68). The adjusted HRs (95% CI) of fibrosis progression with statin cDDD 28‐89, 89‐180, and >180 were 0.74 (0.59, 0.93), 0.71 (0.59, 0.88), and 0.6 (0.53, 0.68), respectively. Mean change in FIB‐4 score with atorvastatin (n = 944) and fluvastatin (n = 34) was ‐0.17 and ‐0.13, respectively (P = 0.04), after adjustment for baseline FIB‐4 score and established predictors of cirrhosis. Statin use was also associated with a 49% reduction in incident HCC (adjusted HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.72). A similar dose‐response relationship was observed. Conclusion: In patients with chronic HCV, statin use was associated with a dose‐dependent reduction in incident cirrhosis and HCC. Atorvastatin and fluvastatin were associated with the most significant antifibrotic effects, compared with other statins. (Hepatology 2016;64:47–57)
Distant metastasis from oral cancer: A review and molecular biologic aspects

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been estimated to be the sixth most common cancer worldwide. The distant metastasis plays a critical role in the management and prognosis in oral cancer patients. Regarding the distant metastasis from the oral cancer, the hypopharynx is the most common primary site, followed by the base of tongue and anterior tongue. The present review article analyzes the characteristics of the distant metastases from the oral cavity from 1937 to 2015.
Exercise in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: What are the Benefits and how does it Work?

Abstract In this article, we examine the results from meta-analyses of studies that have focused on the effects of supervised exercise in patients with established type 2 diabetes mellitus. Exercise has been clearly demonstrated to have benefits on blood glucose control (average reduction of glycated hemoglobin, 0.6%) and cardiovascular risk factors. These benefits are observed independently of any change in body mass index and fat mass, and are also seen in older populations. Multiple mechanisms are involved, and the improved insulin-sensitizing effect of exercise training is not restricted to muscle but extends to hepatic and adipose tissue. However, while the benefits of exercise in type 2 diabetes management are undisputable, it is not as easy to draw correlations between clinical benefit and the amount of physical activity included in daily life. Recent studies have shown encouraging results with moderate increases in physical activity, which are feasible for most patients and are sufficient to induce sustained positive changes for 2 years. Thus, the benefits of structured and supervised exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes have been consistently demonstrated. Currently, the primary challenge is to determine how long-term increased physical activity can be durably implemented in a patient's daily life.