Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
USPIO‐enhanced dynamic MRI: Evaluation of normal and transplanted rat kidneys

To evaluate first‐pass renal perfusion with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particles by MRI, 40 normal rats (20 Dark Agouti (DA) rats and 20 Brown Norway (BN) rats) and 16 transplanted rats (12 allografts and four isografts) were studied on day 4 post‐transplantation with different USPIO doses (3.0–18.1 mg Fe/kg/body weight). All animals underwent 128 consecutive snapshot fast low‐angle shot (FLASH) coronal dynamic studies in 43 s. In the normal rats, a larger maximum signal decrease (MSD) in the cortex and the outer medulla is observed with an increasing dose of USPIO particles (P < 0.01). No significant differences were observed between the right and left kidneys at all doses studied. Higher MSD, time of occurrence of MSD (tMSD), and wash‐in slope appear with higher doses of USPIO particles. The dynamic curves for DA rats show similar shapes when compared to those for BN rats. In the transplanted rats, allograft kidneys show lower MSD, longer tMSD, and lower wash‐in slope compared to those in the normal kidneys. Isograft kidneys show perfusion patterns similar to those of normal kidneys in the cortex and the outer medulla. Histopathology indicates acute vascular rejection in all allografts and normal kidney architecture in all isografts. The results clearly show good agreement between the renal graft perfusion measurements and histopathological changes associated with rejection. This work also introduces a new signal analysis methodology for the automatic detection of transplanted organ rejection. This method compares the dynamics of the intrarenal signal intensities for native and transplanted kidneys. A quantitative measurement to detect significant differences between these signals was developed, and showed that this technique exhibits good performance in identifying renal rejection. Magn Reson Med 46:1152–1163, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vitamin D level in patients with pterygium.

Purpose: To evaluate blood vitamin D level in patients with pterygium. Methods: This prospective study, compared 58 eyes of 58 healthy individuals (control group) with 63 eyes of 63 patients with pterygium (study group). Subjects were stratified by time spent indoors or outdoors. Participants were given comprehensive ophthalmic examinations; blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (nmol/L) was assayed. Results: Vitamin D level was significantly higher in men with pterygium than without it (p=0.020), but the difference was not significant in women (p=0.86). In the pterygium group, vitamin D level was significantly increased in participants with outdoor activity (p=0.010). In the control group, vitamin D levels did not differ significantly with indoor and outdoor activity (p=0.126). Conclusion: Vitamin D level in participants with pterygium was significantly increased only in men and in those with more outdoor activity.
Three distinct muscarinic signalling pathways for cationic channel activation in mouse gut smooth muscle cells

Using mutant mice genetically lacking certain subtypes of muscarinic receptor, we have studied muscarinic signal pathways mediating cationic channel activation in intestinal smooth muscle cells. In cells from M2 subtype‐knockout (M2‐KO) or M3‐KO mice, carbachol (100 μm) evoked a muscarinic cationic current (mICat) as small as ∼10% of mICat in wild‐type (WT) cells. No appreciable current was evoked in M2/M3 double‐KO cells. All mutant type cells preserved normal G‐protein–cationic channel coupling. The M3‐KO and WT mICat each showed a U‐shaped current–voltage (I–V) relationship, whereas the M2‐KO mICat displayed a linear I–V relationship. Channel analysis in outside‐out patches recognized 70‐pS and 120‐pS channels as the major muscarinic cationic channels. Active patches of M2‐KO cells exhibited both 70‐pS and 120‐pS channel activity usually together, either of which consisted of brief openings (the respective mean open times Oτ= 0.55 and 0.23 ms). In contrast, active M3‐KO patches showed only 70‐pS channel activity, which had three open states (Oτ= 0.55, 3.1 and 17.4 ms). In WT patches, besides the M2‐KO and M3‐KO types, another type of channel activity was also observed that consisted of 70‐pS channel openings with four open states (Oτ= 0.62, 2.7, 16.9 and 121.1 ms), and patch current of this channel activity showed a U‐shaped I–V curve similar to the WT mICat. The present results demonstrate that intestinal myocytes are endowed with three distinct muscarinic pathways mediating cationic channel activation and that the M2/M3 pathway targeting 70‐pS channels, serves as the major contributor to mICat generation. The delineation of this pathway is consistent with the formation of a functional unit by the M2‐Go protein and the M3‐PLC systems predicted to control cationic channels.
Serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in childhood malignancy.

Levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were measured in serum samples taken at diagnosis from pediatric patients with Hodgkin's disease (n = 69), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 28), Wilms' tumor (n = 20), osteosarcoma (n = 17), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 18), or Ewing's sarcoma (n = 15). Median levels of serum ICAM-1 were significantly higher in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Hodgkin's disease than in controls and other malignancies. Levels were positively correlated with disease stage for patients with Hodgkin's disease, Ewing's sarcoma or Wilms' tumor, and with the frequency of relapse in Hodgkin's disease (P = .016). Serum levels were normal in all of 76 patients tested in remission. It remains to be determined whether increased serum ICAM-1 levels simply reflect a greater tumor burden or whether this molecule contributes directly to the progression of childhood malignancies.
Taking Stock of Networks and Organizations: A Multilevel Perspective

The central argument of network research is that actors are embedded in networks of interconnected social relationships that offer opportunities for and constraints on behavior. We review research on the antecedents and consequences of networks at the interpersonal, interunit, and interorganizational levels of analysis, evaluate recent theoretical and empirical trends, and give directions for future research, highlighting the importance of investigating cross-level network phenomena.
Inter Annual Variability of the Acoustic Propagation in the Yellow Sea Identified from a Synoptic Monthly Gridded Database as Compared with GDEM

Abstract : This research investigates the inter-annual acoustic variability in the Yellow Sea identified from the Synoptic Monthly Gridded-World Ocean Database (SMG-WOD) as compared with the Navys Global Digital Environmental Model (GDEM). The SMG-WOD has a horizontal resolution of 1o, 28 vertical levels from the surface to 3000 m depth and one-month temporal increments allowing individual years of acoustic data to be analyzed, whereas GDEM is a climatological database with a horizontal resolution of 1/4o and 78 vertical levels. The Yellow Sea is a semi-enclosed basin located between China and Korea with a mean depth of 40m; acoustics are driven by shallow water dynamics and interaction with the bottom. Seven distinct locations were selected for acoustic comparison based on various depths and bottom types. Composite analysis of the sound speed profiles reveals evident inter-annual variability at all locations, superimposed into a strong seasonal variability. Overall, SMG-WOD produces longer propagation ranges than GDEM in the winter, while ranges in the summer are similar within the two datasets, as modeled in BELLHOP. The most reflective bottom sediment (gravel) produced the longest ranges in both summer and winter, in contrast to other locations, which presented higher attenuation values and produced extremely limited ranges in the summer. Inter-annual variability, as expressed by extended acoustic ranges in SMG-WOD, indicates the need for a dataset with temporal resolution but optimally with higher vertical and horizontal resolution.
Pulmonary exposure to metallic nanomaterials during pregnancy irreversibly impairs lung development of the offspring

Abstract Due to the growing commercial applications of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs), toxicological studies on NPs, especially during the critical window of development, are of major importance. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of respiratory exposure to metallic and metal oxide NPs during pregnancy on lung development of the offspring and to determine the key parameters involved in lung alterations. Pregnant mice were exposed to weekly doses of 100 μg (total dose 300 μg) of titanium dioxide (TiO2), cerium oxide (CeO2), silver (Ag) NPs or saline solution by nonsurgical intratracheal instillation. The offspring lungs were analyzed at different stages of lung development: fetal stage (gestational day 17.5), pulmonary alveolarization (post-delivery day 14.5) and lung maturity (post-delivery day 49.5). Regardless of the type of NP, maternal exposure during gestation induced long-lasting impairment of lung development of the offspring. This effect was accompanied by: i) decreased placental efficiency together with the presence of NPs in placenta, ii) no increase of inflammatory mediators present in amniotic fluid, placenta or offspring lungs and iii) decreased pulmonary expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-α (VEGF-α) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) at the fetal stage, and fibroblast growth factor-18 (FGF-18) at the alveolarization stage. Respiratory exposure to metallic NPs during pregnancy induces stereotyped impairment of lung development with a lasting effect in adult mice, independently of the chemical nature of the NP.
Low-risk percutaneous coronary interventions without on-site cardiac surgery: two years' observational experience and follow-up.

BACKGROUND We studied the safety and efficacy of performing low-risk elective and acute infarct percutaneous coronary interventions at a community hospital without cardiac surgical capability. METHODS Immanuel St Joseph's Hospital is located 85 miles from St Mary's Hospital, which is the nearest center with on-site cardiac surgery. All components of the Mayo Clinic percutaneous coronary intervention program were replicated at Immanuel St Joseph's Hospital, including a telemedicine system to enable real-time consultation with interventional and cardiac surgical colleagues during procedures. RESULTS From March 1999 to June 2001, 196 patients underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention at Immanuel St Joseph's Hospital. Procedural success was achieved in 195 (99.5%) patients, with 1 (0.5%) inhospital death. At mean follow-up of 8.2 months, 2 (1.0%) additional patients died of noncardiac causes and 15 (7.7%) patients required target vessel revascularization. From March 2000 to June 2001, 89 patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction. Procedural success was achieved in 83 (93.3%) patients, with 3 (3.4%) inhospital deaths. At 30-day follow up, no additional patients died, had recurrent myocardial infarction, or required target vessel revascularization. No patients required transfer to another facility for emergent cardiac surgery for a procedure-related complication. CONCLUSIONS Low-risk elective and acute infarct percutaneous coronary interventions can be performed with safety and efficacy at a community hospital without cardiac surgical capability by following rigorous standards.
Hepatocellular carcinoma in the cirrhotic liver: gadolinium-enhanced 3D T1-weighted MR imaging as a stand-alone sequence for diagnosis.

PURPOSE To retrospectively assess the usefulness of contrast material-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging alone and with T2-weighted MR imaging in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS A waiver of informed consent and institutional review board approval for this retrospective study were granted. The study was HIPAA compliant. Twenty-eight men (mean age, 49 years; range, 23-70 years) and 10 women (mean age, 53 years; range, 42-72 years) with cirrhosis underwent T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging at 1.5 T within 90 days of liver transplantation. Three readers reviewed the T1-weighted images alone and then the T2-weighted and T1-weighted images together. Lesion detection, characterization, and reader confidence levels were recorded. RESULTS At liver explantation, 57 lesions were present in 18 patients: 19 HCCs, 33 dysplastic nodules, and five cysts. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging depicted 13 of 19 HCCs with an overall sensitivity of 68.4% (13 of 19) and specificity of 65.7% (23 of 35). The sensitivity and specificity for detection of dysplastic nodules (sensitivity, 9%; specificity, 68.4%) and HCCs (sensitivity, 68.4%; specificity, 65.7%) were nearly identical for T1-weighted images read alone or read with T2-weighted images. The only difference was the specificity for T1-weighted images read alone (65.7%) and read with T2-weighted images (62.9%). The addition of T2-weighted images altered the diagnosis in one of 90 (1.1%) cases and provided an increase in diagnostic confidence in four of 258 (1.6%) cases for independent readers and three of 90 (3.3%) cases at consensus reading. CONCLUSION Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging can be used as a stand-alone sequence for the diagnosis of HCC in patients with cirrhosis prior to liver transplantation.
Dynamics of DNA Binding of Replication Initiation Proteins during de Novo Formation of Pre-replicative Complexes in Xenopus Egg Extracts*

We investigated the dynamics of DNA binding of replication initiation proteins during formation of the pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) on plasmids in Xenopus egg extracts. The pre-RC was efficiently formed on plasmids at 23 °C, with one or a few origin recognition complex (ORC) molecules and ∼10–20 mini-chromosome maintenance 2 (MCM2) molecules loaded onto each plasmid. Although geminin inhibited MCM loading, MCM interacted weakly but stoichiometrically with the plasmid in an ORC-dependent manner, even in the presence of geminin (with ∼10 MCM2 molecules per plasmid). Interestingly, DNA binding of ORC, CDC6, and CDT1 was significantly stabilized in the presence of geminin, under which conditions ∼10–20 molecules each of ORC and CDC6 were bound. Moreover, a similarly stable ORC-CDC6-CDT1 complex rapidly formed on DNA at lower temperature (0 °C) without geminin, with ∼10–20 molecules each of ORC and CDC6 bound to the plasmid, but almost no binding of MCM. However, upon shifting the temperature to 23 °C, most ORC, CDC6, and CDT1 molecules were displaced from the DNA, leaving about one ORC molecule on the plasmid, whereas ∼10 MCM2 molecules were loaded onto each plasmid. Furthermore, it was possible to load MCM onto DNA when the isolated ORC-CDC6-CDT1-DNA complex was mixed with purified MCM proteins. These results suggest that an ORC-CDC6-CDT1 complex pre-formed on DNA is directly involved in MCM loading and imply that each DNA-bound ORC molecule loads only one or a few MCM2–7 complexes during metazoan pre-RC formation.
Megacystis‐Microcolon‐Intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome

Objective. The purpose of this report is to describe the in utero sonographic appearance of megacystis‐microcolon‐intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) and examine the role of vesicocentesis. Methods. Two cases of the sonographic appearance of MMIHS were reviewed. We performed vesicocentesis in 2 fetuses with MMIHS and performed vesicoamniotic shunting in 1 of them. The sonographic findings after these procedures were compared with those before puncture. Results. In both cases, ultrasound examination showed a massively enlarged fetal bladder and bilateral hydroureteronephrosis with a normal amount of amniotic fluid. Fetal urinary sodium and chloride concentrations were within normal limits in both cases; this suggested normal fetal renal function. Generally, it is difficult to detect the dilated fetal bowel in MMIHS, probably because of the disturbance caused by a large bladder. In our cases, however, the ultrasound examination clearly showed fetal bowel dilatation after these procedures; this made the antenatal diagnosis of MMIHS more definite. Conclusions. The sonographic features after vesicocentesis may be helpful in confirming the antenatal diagnosis of MMIHS.
Recognized Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Associated With Improved In‐Hospital Outcomes After ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for many cardiovascular conditions such as coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, systemic hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, and stroke. However, the association of OSA with outcomes in patients hospitalized for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction remains controversial. Methods and Results We used the nation‐wide inpatient sample between 2003 and 2011 to identify patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of ST‐elevation myocardial infarction and then used the International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification code 327.23 to identify a group of patients with OSA. The primary outcome of interest was in‐hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were in‐hospital cardiac arrest, length of stay and hospital charges. Our cohort included 1 850 625 patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, of which 1.3% (24 623) had documented OSA. OSA patients were younger and more likely to be male, smokers, and have chronic pulmonary disease, depression, hypertension, known history of coronary artery disease, dyslipidemia, obesity, and renal failure (P<0.001 for all). Patients with OSA had significantly decreased in‐hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.73–0.84]), longer hospital stay (5.00±4.68 versus 4.85±5.96 days), and incurred greater hospital charges ($79 460.12±70 621.91 versus $62 889.91±69 124.15). There was no difference in incidence of in‐hospital cardiac arrest (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.84–1.03]) between these 2 groups. Conclusion ST‐elevation myocardial infarction patients with recognized OSA had significantly decreased mortality compared with patients without OSA. Although patients with OSA had longer hospital stays and incurred greater hospital charges, there was no difference in incidence of in‐hospital cardiac arrest.
The dorsal hippocampal commissure: when functionality matters.

To the Editor: The human hippocampal phylogeny is manifested by near or total disappearance of ventral hippocampal commissure. In contrast, the dorsal hippocampal commissure, although considered controversial and vehemently disputed by some groups, is believed to present a functional pathway in the human brain. We report an unusual case of a patient with refractory temporal epilepsy (TLE) with several seizure types who underwent a comprehensive presurgical evaluation because of nonconcordant results between various investigative modalities. It is postulated here that repeated false lateralization of seizure onset by extracranial EEG recordings in our patient might have been instigated by the distinct patterns of seizure spread utilizing the dorsal hippocampal commissure.
Electrode-electrolyte interface model of tripolar concentric ring electrode and electrode paste

Electrodes are used to transform ionic currents to electrical currents in biological systems. Modeling the electrode-electrolyte interface could help to optimize the performance of the electrode interface to achieve higher signal to noise ratios. There are previous reports of accurate models for single-element biomedical electrodes. In this paper we develop a model for the electrode-electrolyte interface for tripolar concentric ring electrodes (TCRE) that are used to record brain signals.
Super-Resolution With Sparse Mixing Estimators

We introduce a class of inverse problem estimators computed by mixing adaptively a family of linear estimators corresponding to different priors. Sparse mixing weights are calculated over blocks of coefficients in a frame providing a sparse signal representation. They minimize an l1 norm taking into account the signal regularity in each block. Adaptive directional image interpolations are computed over a wavelet frame with an O(N log N) algorithm, providing state-of-the-art numerical results.
Predictive Levels of CD24 in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes for the Early Detection of Colorectal Adenomas and Adenocarcinomas

CD24 is expressed in 90% of colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas. Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be mostly prevented but average risk population screening by stool testing or colonoscopy faces many hurdles. Blood testing is clinically needed. We aimed to evaluate the utility of CD24 expression in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). Two independent case studies were conducted in eligible individuals undergoing colonoscopy. Protein extracted from PBLs was subjected to immunoblotting using anti-CD24 monoclonal antibodies. CD24 sensitivity and specificity were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Initially, 150 subjects were examined: 63 had CRC, 19 had adenomas, and 68 had normal colonoscopies. The sensitivity and specificity of CD24 for distinguishing CRC from normal subjects were 70.5% (95% CI, 54.8–83.2%) and 83.8% (95% CI, 74.6–92.7%) and for adenomas 84.2% (95% CI, 60.4–96.4%) and 73.5% (95% CI, 61.4–83.5%), respectively. In the second trial (n = 149), a similar specificity but higher sensitivity was achieved: 80.0% (95% CI, 63.1–91.6%) for CRC and 89.2% (95% CI, 74.6–97%) for adenomas. A simple noninvasive blood test evaluating CD24 levels has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting colorectal adenomas and cancer in patients undergoing colonoscopy at an urban medical center. Larger multicenter studies are warranted to establish the potential of this promising test.
Fast, Non-Competitive and Reversible Inhibition of NMDA-Activated Currents by 2-BFI Confers Neuroprotection

Excessive activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) causes excitotoxicity, a process important in stroke-induced neuronal death. Drugs that inhibit NMDA receptor-mediated [Ca2+]i influx are potential leads for development to treat excitotoxicity-induced brain damage. Our previous studies showed that 2-(2-benzofu-ranyl)-2-imidazoline (2-BFI), an immidazoline receptor ligand, dose-dependently protects rodent brains from cerebral ischemia injury. However, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found that 2-BFI transiently and reversibly inhibits NMDA, but not AMPA currents, in a dose-dependent manner in cultured rat cortical neurons. The mechanism of 2-BFI inhibition of NMDAR is through a noncompetitive fashion with a faster on (Kon = 2.19±0.33×10−9 M−1 sec−1) and off rate (Koff = 0.67±0.02 sec−1) than those of memantine, a gold standard for therapeutic inhibition NMDAR-induced excitotoxicity. 2-BFI also transiently and reversibly blocked NMDA receptor-mediated calcium entry to cultured neurons and provided long-term neuroprotection against NMDA toxicity in vitro. Collectively, these studies demonstrated a potential mechanism of 2-BFI-mediated neuroprotection and indicated that 2-BFI is an excellent candidate for repositioning as a drug for stroke treatment.