Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lupus nephritis combined with renal injury due to thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura-haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura-haemolytic uraemic syndrome (TTP-HUS) in SLE was reported mainly in isolated case reports. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and pathological features, outcome and possible pathogenesis of TTP-HUS in patients with lupus nephritis. METHODS Clinical and renal histopathological data of patients with lupus nephritis were reviewed for clinical and pathological evidence of both TTP-HUS and renal thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Serum ADAMTS-13 activity and ADAMTS-13 autoantibodies were further studied. RESULTS Seven patients with evidence of both TTP-HUS and renal TMA were identified in 353 patients with lupus nephritis. In comparison with 55 patients with lupus nephritis without TTP-HUS, those with TTP-HUS had a higher prevalence of acute renal failure and worse renal outcome. The serum ADAMTS-13 activity was significantly lower in patients with both lupus nephritis and TTP-HUS than in patients with lupus nephritis only and in normal control (40% versus 69%, P = 0.012; 40% versus 81%, P < 0.001, respectively). The prevalence of ADAMTS-13 autoantibodies was significantly higher in patients with both lupus nephritis and TTP-HUS than in patients with lupus nephritis only and in normal control (6/7, 86% versus 10/55, 18%, P < 0.001; 6/7, 86% versus 0, P < 0.001, respectively). After clinical remission, the serum ADAMTS-13 activity of the seven patients with TTP-HUS increased significantly (40% versus 63%, P < 0.001) and five out of the six patients with positive ADAMTS-13 autoantibodies turned negative. CONCLUSIONS ADAMTS-13 autoantibodies might play an important role in the pathogenesis of TTP-HUS associated with lupus nephritis. The long-term outcome seems to be worse in patients with both TTP-HUS and lupus nephritis than in patients with lupus nephritis alone.
Influence of bovine growth hormone on growth rate, appetite, and food conversion of yearling coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) fed two diets of different composition.

Paired groups of yearling coho salmon at 10 °C and on a natural photoperiod were fed twice daily either Oregon moist pellets (OMP) or a diet with poultry offal (PO) as the main protein source. The fish were fed either 0.8% body weight per day (dry weight of food (g)/wet weight of fish (g)) or to satiation. Coho in one of the groups for each diet–ration combination received, by intramuscular injection, 10 μg (0.0092 IU) of bovine growth hormone (bGH) per gram body weight one time per week for 56 days. Those in the other group were not treated.Administration of bGH significantly enhanced growth and improved food and protein conversion. Ration level altered the effect of bGH on food and protein conversion as did diet formulation at satiation. The voluntary food intake of bGH-treated fish fed OMP was higher but not significantly different from that of the controls. Diet formulation differences did not significantly affect the growth rate of either bGH-treated or untreated coho at each ration level. Irrespecti.
Events as Precipitators to Treatment: Important for Both Well-Integrated and Marginalized Alcohol and Drug Users of a Swedish Treatment System

“Women and Men in Swedish Alcohol and Drug Treatment” studies how people with alcohol and drug problems come to treatment. The focus is on different alcohol- and drug-related life events in the year prior to treatment and whether or not these events contributed to treatment entry. The importance of these events is also studied in relation to level of marginalization. The representative cross-sectional sample includes 1865 clients (71% men) interviewed inperson when entering inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities. Most respondents reported events in the year prior to treatment and these were also perceived as contributors to treatment. Events related to significant others and health workers seem to be of greatest importance for treatment entry. These events happen to a lot of the problematic alcohol and drug users and are viewed as strong contributing factors by the respondents. More marginalized people and misusers with more severe addiction problems experience more events. A curvilinear relationship (somewhat U-shaped) was found between level of marginalization and events as contributors to treatment: the least marginalized people are most likely to report events as contributors, people in between are the least likely and the most marginalized people are likely to report events as contributors to treatment, given that they have experienced the event.
In vitro activities of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, pipemidic acid, cinoxacin, and nalidixic acid against Chlamydia trachomatis

The in vitro activities of five quinolinecarboxylic acids against two laboratory strains of Chlamydia trachomatis were compared. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of nalidixic acid, cinoxacin, and pipemidic acid were all greater than or equal to 50 micrograms/ml; the activity of norfloxacin was intermediate (minimal inhibitory concentration, 8 to 16 micrograms/ml). Ciprofloxacin was the most active of these drugs (minimal inhibitory concentration, 0.5 to 1 microgram/ml).
Attractant and Disruptant Semiochemicals for Dendroctonus jeffreyi (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

ABSTRACT Jeffrey pine, Pinusjeffreyi Greville and Balfour, is a dominant yellow pine and important overstory component of forests growing on diverse sites from southwestern Oregon to Baja California to western Nevada. The Jeffrey pine beetle, Dendroctonus jeffreyi Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is monophagous on Jeffrey pine and its primary insect pest. Despite the importance of P. jeffreyi, difficult terrain, environmental concerns, and lack of roads can constrain pest management activities. Semiochemicals are often easier to apply and more environmentally acceptable than other options, but they are lacking in this system. Attractants have been identified, but field bioassays have been limited because of infrequent or short duration outbreaks and a lack of beetles during nonoutbreak periods. Disruptant semiochemicals have not been assessed for D. jeffreyi during outbreak conditions; however, commercially available semiochemicals have been implicated as disruptants for this bark beetle. The objective of this study was to identify the most effective commercially available attractant and disruptant semiochemicals for D. jeffreyi. Our highest observed catch occurred with the blend of 5% 1-heptanol and 95% n-heptane. When this was used to challenge potential disruptant semiochemicals, the combination of S-(-)-verbenone and the green leaf volatile blend (cis-3-Hexenol and 1-Hexanol) reduced trap catch by ≈80%. However, frontalin was most effective, reducing the number of D. jeffreyi caught by >96%. Within each year of the study, the percentage female of D. jeffreyi caught with our attractant decreased from start to end of the experimental period. On average, our first collection in a year (mid-June to early July) was 59% female, whereas our last (mid-August) was 34%. Frontalin was equally or more effective against females (the pioneering sex) than males, providing optimism that semiochemical disruption may be possible for protecting Jeffrey pines from D. jeffreyi.
Melanopsin-Mediated Post-Illumination Pupil Response in Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE To determine whether melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell (ipRGC) inputs to the pupil light reflex (PLR) are affected in early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS The PLR was measured in 40 participants (20 early AMD and 20 age-matched controls) using a custom-built Maxwellian view pupillometer. Sinusoidal stimuli (0.5 Hz, 11.9 seconds duration, 35.6° diameter) were presented to the study eye and the consensual pupil response was measured to lights with high melanopsin excitation (464 nm [blue]) and with low melanopsin excitation (638 nm [red]) that biased activation to the outer retina. Two melanopsin PLR metrics were quantified: the phase amplitude percentage (PAP) during the sinusoidal stimulus presentation and the post-illumination pupil response (PIPR). The PLR during stimulus presentation was analyzed using latency to constriction, the transient pupil response and maximum pupil constriction metrics. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS The blue PIPR was significantly less sustained in the early AMD group (P < 0.001). The red PIPR was not significantly different between groups (P > 0.05). The PAP and blue stimulus constriction amplitude were significantly lower in the early AMD group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups in the latency or transient amplitude for both stimuli (P > 0.05). ROC analysis showed excellent diagnostic accuracy for the blue PIPR metrics (area under the curve > 0.9). CONCLUSIONS This is the initial report that the melanopsin-controlled PIPR is dysfunctional in early AMD. The noninvasive, objective measurement of the ipRGC controlled PIPR has excellent diagnostic accuracy for early AMD.
Proinvasive Properties of Ovarian Cancer Ascites-Derived Membrane Vesicles

Malignant ovarian ascites are rich in cellular components, membrane-bound vesicles, and soluble proteins. This study focused on the structure of membrane-bound vesicles and their ability to promote invasion in cultured malignant ovarian epithelium. Membrane vesicles were derived from women with stage I–IV malignant ovarian ascites and from nonmalignant gynecologic ascites. Isolated vesicles were characterized by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Using gel zymography for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) detection and a colorimetric assay for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) analysis, we analyzed the proteinase activities of MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA from the prepared vesicles, whole cells isolated from ascites, and the cell-free ultracentrifuged supernatant. The invasiveness of established cultured malignant ovarian epithelium on addition of ascites-derived vesicles was tested using a Matrigel-based invasion assay. Fractionation of malignant ascites revealed that extracellular matrix-degrading proteinases including MMPs and uPA are localized preferentially in membrane vesicles. All malignant vesicles tested, regardless of cancer stage, stimulated invasion. Furthermore, the combination of ovarian cancer cells and membrane vesicles resulted in greater uPA activation than that of cells or vesicles alone. Membrane vesicles from malignant ascites were also found to contain activated MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA. Our data suggest that vesicle-stimulated proteinase activation leads to increased extracellular matrix degradation, which may facilitate tumor cell invasion and metastasis.
An efficient self-stabilizing vertex coloring algorithm

A system with the property of self-stabilization can have the advantages of fault tolerance, robustness for dynamic topologies, and straightforward initialization. This paper propose a new self-stabilizing algorithm for the proper coloring of edges using a maximum Δ + 1 colors and convergence time O (m (n + Δ)).
Identification and functional analysis of three distinct mutations in the human galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase gene associated with galactosemia in a single family.

We have identified three mutations associated with transferase-deficiency galactosemia in a three-generation family including affected members in two generations and have modeled all three mutations in a yeast-expression system. A sequence of pedigree, biochemical, and molecular analyses of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) enzyme and genetic locus in both affected and carrier individuals revealed three distinct base substitutions in this family, two (Q188R and S135L) that had been reported previously and one (V151A) that was novel. Biochemical analyses of red-blood-cell lysates from the relevant family members suggested that each of these mutations was associated with dramatic impairment of GALT activity in these cells. While this observation was consistent with our previous findings concerning the Q188R mutation expressed both in humans and in a yeast-model system, it was at odds with a report by Reichardt and colleagues, indicating that in their COS cell-expression system the S135L substitution behaved as a neural polymorphism. To address this apparent paradox, as well as to investigate the functional significance of the newly identified V151A substitution, all three mutations were recreated by site-directed mutagenesis of the otherwise wild-type human GALT sequence and were expressed both individually and in the appropriate allelic combinations in a GALT-deficient strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effect of Open versus Closed Endotracheal Suctioning System on Vital Signs among Mechanically Ventilated Patients in ICU .

Background:-Endotracheal suction is a recurrent and essential procedure in patients with mechanical ventilation. Suction airway leads to mucosal stimulation and mucus production. Cardiovascular disorder and sever hypoxia are significant complications of suction. Therefore, selecting the least dangerous way of endotracheal tube suction can reduce severe complications. Aim of the study: this study aimed to determine the effects of open versus closed endotracheal suctioning system on vital signs among mechanical ventilated patients in ICU. Materials and methods: Quasi experimental design was used in this study. This study was conducted in anesthetic ICU at Tanta Emergency Hospital. Forty patients on mechanical ventilation attending from the previous setting were included in the study. Tools of the study: one tool was divided into three parts used in this study, data were obtained firstly by using a socio-demographic data form of patients, the second is the clinical patient's data and the third part is an assessment tool for vital signs and O2 saturation in three consecutive times. Results: Regarding the mean scores of vital signs among the studied sample before and after suctioning ,it was observed that there was a significant differences in the closed suction method in relation to respiratory rate before, after two and five minutes of suctioning. The difference was not significant in relation to O2 saturation, heart rate and blood pressure. Conclusion and recommendations: Open and closed suction were effective methods on heart rate and arterial blood oxygen saturation stability, where the closed suction method causes less changes in patient’s vital signs than open one.
Muscle wasting and adipose tissue browning in infantile nephropathic cystinosis

Muscle wasting is a common complication in patients with infantile nephropathic cystinosis, but its mechanism and association with energy metabolism is not known. We define the metabolic phenotype in Ctns−/− mice, an established murine model of infantile nephropathic cystinosis, with focus on muscle wasting and energy homeostasis.
LDPC code ensembles that universally achieve capacity under BP decoding: A simple derivation

A long-standing question in coding theory is whether code ensembles having a low-density parity check (LDPC) matrix can attain capacity under belief propagation (BP) decoding. An affirmative answer to this problem was recently given by the special class of spatially-coupled LDPC code ensemble. In this work, we provide a simple derivation of a different LDPC code ensemble that approaches capacity under BP decoding, following the classical approach of serial concatenation. This LDPC code ensemble is constructed by concatenating a high-rate outer LDPC code with an inner random convolutional one. The analysis of the concatenated-coding framework takes a particularly simple - “black box” - form. Specifically, the joint effect of the particular inner code and the binary-input memoryless output-symmetric (BMS) channel is encapsulated in a single parameter - the Bhattacharyya parameter, which is maximal for the binary symmetric channel (BSC). This implies that an inner convolutional code designed for the BSC achieves good performance over all BMS channels with a given capacity. Moreover, the performance guarantee of the outer LDPC code under BP decoding is dictated solely by this parameter. This, in turn, implies that the overall concatenated code approaches capacity under BP decoding for all BMS channels with a given capacity, simultaneously.
Follicle-stimulating hormone as a predictor for sperm retrieval rate in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Noninvasive parameters for predicating sperm retrieval rate (SRR) are desirables. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has been an important predictor since the first years of testicular sperm extraction. Recent studies showed continuous interests in FSH, with both pros and cons. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic value of FSH as a predictor for patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) taking testicular sperm retrieval. Eligible diagnosis tests were identified from electronic databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, and EMBASE) without language restrictions. The database search, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. The reference standard was the sperm retrieval result. Diagnostic value of FSH were explored by area under receiver operation characteristics (ROC) curve using Review Manager, version 5.1. 0 (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK) and Meta-DiSc, version 1.4. Meta regression will be done if there is heterogeneity. Then, we find 11 tests including a total of 1350 patients met the inclusion criteria. Our pooled analysis showed that the area under ROC curve of FSH was 0.72 ± 0.04. Meta regression analyses showed that region and average age have an influence on the diagnostic value. FSH showed more diagnostic value with patients in East Asia and with younger patients. We concluded that FSH had moderate value in independently predicating SRR in men with NOA (area under curve >0.7). More detailed diagnosis tests should be anticipated in the future to confirm the diagnostic value of other noninvasive parameters.
Virion incorporation of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 Vif is determined by intracellular expression level and may not be necessary for function.

The viral infectivity factor (Vif) of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) functions at a late stage of the viral life cycle to confer infectivity on progeny virions. Although Vif is present in HIV-1 particles, both the relevance of incorporation for function and the mechanism that underlies incorporation remain unresolved. Using matched T cell systems that express high or low levels of Vif, we demonstrate that the extent of Vif incorporation into virions varies in relation to cellular expression levels. Because viral infectivity is not affected by these variations, we suggest that the packaging of Vif is neither specific nor necessary for function.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: An Emerging Pathogen in Paediatric Population.

INTRODUCTION Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (formerly Pseudomonas maltophilia/Xanthomonas maltophilia), a Gram- negative, non-fermenting bacillus, is being increasingly recognized as a threatening nosocomial pathogen, associated with significant mortality. AIM To determine the prevalence of infection, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and clinical outcome of S. maltophilia in a paediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective study conducted over a period of eight months, i.e., October 2015 to May 2016. All clinical samples received in the microbiology laboratory during the study period were processed using standard microbiological procedures. S. maltophilia isolates were selected. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed for levofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole by Vitek 2C system (Biomerieux, France). Average length of stay and mortality caused by S. maltophilia infection was compared with age and sex matched controls without S. maltophilia infection. RESULTS A total of 16,234 clinical specimens were received in the microbiology laboratory in the study period, with 2,734 pathogenic bacteria isolated. A total of 1,339 (1.7% of total isolates) Gram-negative bacteria were isolated, out of which 414 were non-fermenters. Among the non-fermenters, 23 (5.5%) were S. maltophilia. Out of the 23 isolates, 15 (65.2%) were isolated from blood, 4 (17.3%) were isolated from urine and tracheal aspirate each. A total of 91.3% of strains were susceptible and 8.6% were resistant to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. Total 80% of strains were sensitive and 20% had intermediate susceptibility for levofloxacin. None of the strains were resistant to levofloxacin. Average length of stay of patients with S. maltophilia infection was found out to be 23.3 days as compared to 44.8 days in controls. The average mortality of patients with S. maltophilia infection was found to be same as that of controls (35.2%). CONCLUSION S. maltophilia is becoming an important nosocomial pathogen and its isolation rate is reported to be increasing. Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole still remains the drug of choice but resistance has been reported for this drug as well. As its isolation is increasing, it is important to study the epidemiology, antimicrobial susceptibility profile and clinical outcomes of these isolates.
Reading Based IQ Estimates and Actual Premorbid Cognitive Performance: Discrepancies in a College Athlete Sample

Abstract The present study sought to evaluate the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR) Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) estimate as an index of premorbid ability in a sample 574 of healthy college athletes participating in a sports concussion management program. We compared baseline neuropsychological test performance with the WTAR FSIQ estimate obtained at baseline. Results revealed that the discrepancy between actual neuropsychological test scores and the WTAR FSIQ estimate was greatest for those with estimated FSIQs greater than 107. The clinical implication of this finding was evaluated in the 51 participants who went on to sustain a concussion. For individuals with higher IQ estimates, the WTAR estimate obtained post-concussion suggested greater post-concussion decline than that indicated by comparison with actual baseline neuropsychological performance. (JINS, 2012, 18, 139–143)