Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surgery for Crohn's disease in Greece: a follow-up study of 79 cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of this prospective study was to elucidate the clinical features, indications for surgery and long-term outcome of a series of 79 Greek patients operated on for Crohn's disease. METHODOLOGY The clinical features and follow-up of 79 out of 155 patients with definite diagnosis of Crohn's disease (51%), who were operated on at least once during the course of their disease, are analyzed. Three main locations of the disease were identified (small bowel, large bowel and small and large bowel). The need for surgery, indications for surgery and outcome of patients were analyzed and compared separately for these three main locations. The mean follow-up period after the first operation was 8.8 +/- 6.5 years. RESULTS The proportion of men to women was 1.55:1 (P = 0.068). The main indication for surgery was poor response to conservative treatment, followed by obstructive ileus, erroneous diagnosis of acute appendicitis and development of fistulae or abscesses. Statistically significant differences between the three main locations of the disease were found for obstructive ileus (P < 0.01), and bowel perforation (P < 0.0297). Enterectomy and end-to-end anastomosis was the most frequently performed operation. Minor surgical procedures were performed mainly for drainage of perianal abscess. Differences in the number of operations required (one, two and three or more) according to the three main locations of the disease were statistically significant (P < 0.044). Emergency operation was required in 17.3%. Most of the urgently operated patients had only small bowel involvement. Twenty-six percent of patients required a surgical procedure for perianal disease. One or more, major or minor, perioperative complications occurred in 13 out of 79 operated patients (16.4%). No perioperative deaths were noticed. Evolution to cancer was observed in 2% (3 patients). The outcome of patients after the operation was characterized by exacerbations and remissions. A mortality rate of 11.6% was noticed in the follow-up period. However, most deaths were unrelated to the underlying Crohn's disease. CONCLUSIONS The clinicoepidemiological characteristics of patients with Crohn's disease of Greek origin operated-on for their disease do not differ significantly from those reported from other Western or neighboring Mediterranean countries. However, other parameters such as the relatively low incidence of overall surgical need, the low incidence of colorectal cancer and the low incidence of surgery for perianal disease, all underline the importance of various genetic and environmental factors on the evolution and behavior of the disease in different parts of the world.
Molecular Basis for Bcl-2 Homology 3 Domain Recognition in the Bcl-2 Protein Family

The proteins of the Bcl-2 family are important regulators of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. These proteins regulate this fundamental biological process via the formation of heterodimers involving both pro- and anti-apoptotic family members. Disruption of the balance between anti- and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins is the cause of numerous pathologies. Bcl-xl, an anti-apoptotic protein of this family, is known to form heterodimers with multiple pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bad, Bim, Bak, and Bid. To elucidate the molecular basis of this recognition process, we used molecular dynamics simulations coupled with the Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area approach to identify the amino acids that make significant energetic contributions to the binding free energy of four complexes formed between Bcl-xl and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 homology 3 peptides. A fifth protein-peptide complex composed of another anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-w, in complex with the peptide from Bim was also studied. The results identified amino acids of both the anti-apoptotic proteins as well as the Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domains of the pro-apoptotic proteins that make strong, recurrent interactions in the protein complexes. The calculations show that the two anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-xl and Bcl-w, share a similar recognition mechanism. Our results provide insight into the molecular basis for the promiscuous nature of this molecular recognition process by members of the Bcl-2 protein family. These amino acids could be targeted in the design of new mimetics that serve as scaffolds for new antitumoral molecules.
Signal Transduction Involving the Dmp1 Transcription Factor and its Alteration in Human Cancer

Summary Dmp1 (cyclin D-interacting myb-like protein 1; also called Dmtf1) is a transcription factor that has been isolated in a yeast two-hybrid screen through its binding property to cyclin D2. Dmp1 directly binds to and activates the Arf promoter and induces Arf-p53-dependent cell cycle arrest in primary cells. D-type cyclins usually inhibit Dmp1-mediated transcription in a Cdk-independent fashion; however, Dmp1 shows synergistic effects with D-cyclins on the Arf promoter. Ras or Myc oncogene-induced tumor formation is accelerated in both Dmp1+/- and Dmp1-/- mice with no significant differences between Dmp1+/- and Dmp1-/-. Thus, Dmp1 is haplo-insufficient for tumor suppression. Tumors from Dmp1-/- or Dmp1+/- mice often retain wild-type Arf and p53, suggesting that Dmp1 is a physiological regulator of the Arf-p53 pathway. The Dmp1 promoter is activated by oncogenic Ras-Raf signaling, while it is repressed by physiological mitogenic stimuli, overexpression of E2F proteins, and genotoxic stimuli mediated by NF-κB. The human DMP1 gene (hDMP1) is located on chromosome 7q21 and is hemizygously deleted in approximately 40% of human lung cancers, especially those that retain normal INK4a/ARF and P53 loci. Thus, hDMP1 is clearly involved in human carcinogenesis, and tumors with hDMP1 deletion may constitute a discrete disease entity.
Burden of Proof

The burden of proof is a central feature of all systems of adjudication, yet one that has been subject to little normative analysis. This Article examines how strong evidence should have to be in order to assign liability when the objective is to maximize social welfare. In basic settings, there is a tradeoff between deterrence benefits and chilling costs, and the optimal proof requirement is determined by factors that are almost entirely distinct from those underlying the preponderance of the evidence rule and other traditional standards. As a consequence, these familiar burden of proof rules have some surprising properties, as do alternative criteria that have been advanced. The Article also considers how setting the proof burden interacts with other features of legal system design, such as the determination of enforcement effort and the degree of accuracy of adjudication. It compares and contrasts a variety of legal environments and methods of enforcement, explaining how the appropriate evidence requirements differ qualitatively across contexts. Most of the questions raised and answers presented differ in kind — as well as in result — from those in prior literature.
Two Saccharomyces cerevisiae kinesin-related gene products required for mitotic spindle assembly

Two Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes, CIN8 and KIP1 (a.k.a. CIN9), were identified by their requirement for normal chromosome segregation. Both genes encode polypeptides related to the heavy chain of the microtubule- based force-generating enzyme kinesin. Cin8p was found to be required for pole separation during mitotic spindle assembly at 37 degrees C, although overproduced Kip1p could substitute. At lower temperatures, the activity of at least one of these proteins was required for cell viability, indicating that they perform an essential but redundant function. Cin8p was observed to be a component of the mitotic spindle, colocalizing with the microtubules that lie between the poles. Taken together, these findings suggest that these proteins interact with spindle microtubules to produce an outwardly directed force acting upon the poles.
Acute Kidney Injury in Pregnancy-specific Disorders

The incidence of acute kidney injury in pregnancy (P-AKI) has declined significantly over the last three decades in developing countries. However, it is still associated with significant fetomaternal mortality and morbidity. The diagnosis of P-AKI is based on the serum creatinine increase. The usual formulas for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are not validated in this population. The incidence of P-AKI with respect to total AKI cases has decreased in the last three decades from 25% in 1980s to 9% in 2000s at our centre. During the first trimester of gestation, AKI develops most often due to septic abortion or hyperemesis gravidarum. Septic abortion related AKI with respect to total AKI decreased from 9% to 5% in our study. Prevention of unwanted pregnancy and avoidance of septic abortion are keys to eliminate abortion associated AKI in early pregnancy. However, we have not seen AKI on account of hyperemesis gravidarum over a period of 33 years at our center. In the third trimester, the differential diagnosis of AKI in association with pregnancy specific conditions namely preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome, acute fatty liver of pregnancy and thrombotic microangiopathies of pregnancy (P-TMA) is more challenging, because these 3 conditions share several clinical features of thrombotic microangiopathy which makes the diagnosis very difficult on clinical grounds. It is imperative to distinguish these conditions to make appropriate therapeutic decisions. Typically, AFLP and HELLP syndrome improve after delivery of the fetus, whereas plasma exchange is the first-line treatment for pregnancy associated thrombotic microangioathies (P-TMA). We observed that preclampsia/eclampsia is the most common cause of AKI in late third trimester and postpartum periods followed by puerperal sepsis and postpartum hemorrhage. Pregnancy-associated thrombotic microangiopathies (aHUS/TTP) and AFLP are rare causes of AKI during pregnancy in developing countries.
Psychopathology associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To identify the independent and differential diagnostic and symptom correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and determine whether there are gender- and age-specific diagnostic profiles. METHOD The relationships between suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and psychiatric disorders were examined among 1,285 randomly selected children and adolescents, aged 9 to 17 years, of whom 42 had attempted suicide and 67 had expressed suicidal ideation only. Youths and their parents were interviewed as part of the Methods for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders (MECA) Study, using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.3 (DISC-2.3). RESULTS Logistic regression analyses indicated that mood, anxiety, and substance abuse/dependence disorders independently increased the risk of suicide attempts, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. There was no significant independent contribution of disruptive disorders to suicide attempts, although its association with suicidal ideation was significant. Substance abuse/dependence independently differentiated suicide attempters from ideators. Noncriterion symptoms that remained significant predictors of suicide risk, after adjusting for psychiatric disorder, included panic attacks and aggressiveness. Perfectionism did not significantly increase suicide risk after adjusting for psychiatric disorder. The association of specific disorders and noncriterion symptoms with suicidality varied as a function of gender and age. CONCLUSION A monolithic diagnostic risk profile for suicidality, ignoring gender- and age-specific risks, is inadequate. The contribution of substance abuse/dependence in the escalation from suicidal thoughts to suicide attempts is underscored.
Prevalence of Mycobacterium avium in Slaughter Pigs in The Netherlands and Comparison of IS1245Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Patterns of Porcine and Human Isolates

ABSTRACT A significant increase in the incidence of caseous lesions in the lymph nodes of slaughter pigs prompted a large-scale investigation in five slaughterhouses in The Netherlands. In total, 158,763 pigs from 2,899 groups underwent gross examination. At least one pig with caseous lesions in the submaxillary and/or mesenteric lymph nodes was observed in each of 154 of the 2,899 groups examined (5%). In total, 856 pigs (0.5%) were affected. As many as five pigs in each of 141 of the 154 positive groups (91.5%) had lymph node lesions. Greater numbers of pigs with affected lymph nodes were found in 13 groups (8.5%). Four pigs had lesions in the kidneys, liver, or spleen. Acid-fast bacteria were detected by microscopic examination of 121 of 292 Ziehl-Neelsen-stained smears of caseous lesions (41%). In a follow-up study, Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteria were isolated from 219 of 402 affected lymph nodes (54.2%). Ninety-one of the isolated strains were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing with insertion sequence IS1245as a probe. All but 1 of these 91 strains contained IS1245DNA, indicating that pigs in The Netherlands carried almost exclusivelyM. avium bacteria and no other bacteria of MAC. Only one pig isolate exhibited the bird-type RFLP pattern. MAC isolates from 191 human patients in The Netherlands in 1996 were also typed by RFLP analysis. Computer-assisted analysis showed that the RFLP patterns of 61% of the human isolates and 59% of the porcine isolates were at least 75% similar to the RFLP patterns of the other group of strains. This indicates that pigs may be an important vehicle for M. avium infections in humans or that pigs and humans share common sources of infection.
Applying propositional learning algorithms to multi-instance data

Multi-instance learning is commonly tackled using special-purpose algorithms. Development of these algorithms has started because early experiments with standard propositional learners have failed to produce satisfactory results on multi-instance data—more specifically, the Musk data. In this paper we present evidence that this is not necessarily the case. We introduce a simple wrapper for applying standard propositional learners to multi-instance problems and present empirical results for the Musk data that are competitive with genuine multi-instance algorithms. The key features of our new wrapper technique are: (1) it discards the standard multi-instance assumption that there is some inherent difference between positive and negative bags, and (2) it introduces weights to treat instances from different bags differently. We show that these two modifications are essential for producing good results on the Musk benchmark
Wave-Induced Mean Magnitudes in Permeable Submerged Breakwaters

The influence of wave reflection and energy dissipation by breaking and by porous flow induced by a permeable submerged structure on second-order mean quantities such as mass flux, energy flux, radiation stress, and mean water level is analyzed. For this purpose, analytical expressions for those mean quantities in terms of the shape functions are obtained. The dependence of those quantities on the incident wave characteristics, structure geometry, and permeable material characteristics is modeled, extending the writers' previous work including wave breaking. Two models for regular waves are presented: a 2D model to be applied to submerged trapezoidal breakwaters and a 3D model for submerged permeable rectangular breakwaters. Both models are able to reproduce experimental wave height transformation as well as mean water level variations along the wave flume with reasonable accuracy. Results give useful information for engineering applications of wave height evolution and set-up and set-down evolution in th.
Power and Time Dependent Microwave Assisted Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles Decorated Cotton (SNDC) Fibers for Bacterial Decontamination

Plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) such as silver and gold have fascinating optical properties due to their enhanced optical sensitivity at a wavelength corresponding to their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption. Present work deals with the fabrication of silver nanoparticles decorated cotton (SNDC) fibers as a cheap and efficient point of contact disinfectant. SNDC fibers were fabricated by a simple microwave assisted route. The microwave power and irradiation time were controlled to optimize size and density of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) on textile fibers. As prepared cotton fabric was characterized for ATR-FTIR, UV-VIS diffuse reflectance, SEM and TEM investigations. Size of SNPs as well as total density of silver atoms on fabric gets increased with the increase of microwave power from 100 W to 600 W. The antibacterial efficacy of SNPs extracted from SNDC fibers was found to be more effective against Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria with MIC 38.5 ± 0.93 μg/mL against Salmonella typhimurium MTCC-98 and 125 ± 2.12 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus MTCC-737, a linear correlation coefficient with R2 ranging from ∼0.928–0.935 was also observed. About >50% death cells were observed through Propidium Iodide (PI) internalization after treatment of SNPs extracted from SNDC fibers with concentration 31.25 μg/mL. Generation of ROS and free radical has also been observed which leads to cell death. Excellent Escherichia coli deactivation efficacy suggested that SNDC fibers could be used as potentially safe disinfectants for cleaning of medical equipment, hand, wound, water and preservation of food and beverages.
An overview of the emerging warm mix asphalt technology

The asphalt industry is constantly attempting to reduce its emissions as concerns are growing on global warming. This is done by decreasing the mixing and compaction temperatures of asphalt mixtures without affecting the properties of the mix which is possible through numerous available technologies in the industry. The production of asphalt mix is done by warm mix asphalt (WMA) technology at considerably lower temperatures (120°C or lower). Less energy consumption, lower mixing and compaction temperatures, early site opening, reduced ageing, fewer emissions, cool weather paving, better workability and, finally, an extended paving window could be mentioned as some of the benefits obtained by using the WMA. This paper presents the WMA techniques and technologies such as foaming techniques, wax and chemical additives techniques. Additionally, the performance of WMA popular technologies such as Sasobit®, WAM®-Foam, Evotherm®, Low energy asphalt, Rediset® WMX and REVIX™ are fully described.
Antifouling and antibacterial compounds from the gorgonians Subergorgia suberosa and Scripearia gracillis

In this study, we investigated the potential antilarval and antibacterial activity of secondary metabolites of the gorgonians Subergorgia suberosa and Scripearia gracillis from the South China Sea. Fresh specimens of these two gorgonian corals were collected from a shallow reef in Sanya Bay of Hainan Island and extracted with different solvents. Antilarval activity of the chemical extracts and pure compounds was evaluated in settlement inhibition assays with laboratory-reared Balanus amphitrite and Bugula neritina larvae, while antibacterial activity was assessed with disc diffusion bioassay on growth inhibition of 15 marine bacterial species. Using bioassay-guided procedures, we purified and identified nine compounds. The most potent metabolites produced by these gorgonian corals were subergorgic acid and pregn-4-ene-3, 20-dione extracted from S. suberosa. Our results show that the gorgonian coral S. suberosa and S. gracillis can produce potent anti-fouling compounds that deserve further exploration.
Effects of β4 integrin expression on microRNA patterns in breast cancer

Summary The integrin &agr;6&bgr;4 is defined as an adhesion receptor for laminins. Referred to as ‘&bgr;4’, this integrin plays a key role in the progression of various carcinomas through its ability to orchestrate key signal transduction events and promote cell motility. To identify novel downstream effectors of &bgr;4 function in breast cancer, microRNAs (miRNAs) were examined because of their extensive links to tumorigenesis and their ability to regulate gene expression globally. Two breast carcinoma cell lines and a collection of invasive breast carcinomas with varying &bgr;4 expression were used to assess the effect of this integrin on miRNA expression. A novel miRNA microarray analysis termed quantitative Nuclease Protection Assay (qNPA) revealed that &bgr;4 expression can significantly alter miRNA expression and identified two miRNA families, miR-25/32/92abc/363/363-3p/367 and miR-99ab/100, that are consistently downregulated by expression of this integrin. Analysis of published Affymetrix GeneChip data identified 54 common targets of miR-92ab and miR-99ab/100 within the subset of &bgr;4-regulated mRNAs, revealing several genes known to be key components of &bgr;4-regulated signaling cascades and effectors of cell motility. Gene ontology classification identified an enrichment in genes associated with cell migration within this population. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis of all &bgr;4-regulated mRNAs revealed an enrichment in targets belonging to distinct miRNA families, including miR-92ab and others identified by our initial array analyses. The results obtained in this study provide the first example of an integrin globally impacting miRNA expression and provide evidence that select miRNA families collectively target genes important in executing &bgr;4-mediated cell motility.