Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A k2A-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae causes liver and brain abscess in a Saint Kitt's man

Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated in community-acquired pneumonia is increasingly found in primary pyogenic liver abscesses. The presence of magA in K. pneumoniae has been implicated in hypermucoviscosity and virulence of liver abscess isolates. The K2 serotype has also been strongly associated with hypervirulence. We report the isolation of non-magA, K2 K. pneumoniae strain from a liver abscess of a Saint Kitt's man who survived the invasive syndrome.
Temporal Association of the Herpes Simplex Virus Genome with Histone Proteins during a Lytic Infection

ABSTRACT Previous work has determined that there are nucleosomes on the herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome during a lytic infection but that they are not arranged in an equally spaced array like in cellular DNA. However, like in cellular DNA, the promoter regions of several viral genes have been shown to be associated with nucleosomes containing modified histone proteins that are generally found associated with actively transcribed genes. Furthermore, it has been found that the association of modified histones with the HSV genome can be detected at the earliest times postinfection (1 h postinfection) and increases up to 3 h postinfection. However from 3 h to 6 h postinfection (the late phase of the replication cycle), the association decreases. In this study we have examined histone association with promoter regions of all kinetic classes of genes. This was done over the time course of an infection in Sy5y cells using sucrose gradient sedimentation, bromodeoxyuridine labeling, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, Western blot analysis, trypsin and DNase digestion, and quantitative real-time PCR. Because no histones were detected inside HSV type 1 capsids, the viral genome probably starts to associate with histones after being transported from infecting virions into the host nucleus. Promoter regions of all gene classes (immediate early, early, and late) bind with histone proteins at the start of viral gene expression. However, after viral DNA replication initiates, histones appear not to associate with newly synthesized viral genomes.
Heart rate variability: Highlights from hidden signals

The heart rate variability (HRV), which can provide information about the balance between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic system, is accepted as an indicator of autonomic tone, which is effective on the heart. Neural remodeling developing in hearts that are affected by various diseases leads to imbalance in the autonomic activity. These changes that may occur in the autonomic nervous system may lead to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death through negatively affecting the cardiac rhythm. HRV has been evaluated in many cardiac, neurological and rheumatological diseases in recent years and has come into the foreground as an important marker of mortality. In this review, we aimed to introduce the parameters used in HRV measurements and analyze the conditions that could influence these measurements (maneuver, diseases or drugs, etc). *Correspondence to: Mücahid Yılmaz, Elazığ Education and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Turkey, E-mail: mucahid.yilmaz@mynet.com
IP Fast ReRoute: Lightweight Not-Via without Additional Addresses

In order for IP to become a full-fledged carrier-grade transport technology, a native IP failure-recovery scheme is necessary that can correct failures in the order of milliseconds. IP Fast ReRoute (IPFRR) intends to fill this gap, providing fast, local and proactive handling of failures right in the IP layer. Building on experiences and extensive measurement results collected with a prototype implementation of the prevailing IPFRR technique, Not-via, in this paper we identify high address management burden and computational complexity as the major causes of why commercial IPFRR deployment still lags behind, and we present a lightweight Not-via scheme, which, according to our measurements, improves these issues.
Adjuvant Therapy for a Microscopically Incomplete Resection Margin after an Esophagectomy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: To investigate the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with a microscopically incomplete (R1) resection margin following an esophagectomy, as well as the impact of adjuvant treatment on survival. Methods: Data obtained from 124 patients with R1-resected ESCC were reviewed. The impact of clinicopathological factors and adjuvant treatment on the overall survival, locoregional recurrence, and distant recurrence were explored. Results: For a median follow-up time of 16.8 months, the median overall survival of 124 patients was 25.6 months. The 1, 3, and 5-year overall survival rates were 75.6%±4.0%, 35.9%±5.1%, and 23.2%±5.0%, respectively. Adjuvant therapy was administered in 78 patients. In the univariate analyses, patients with a pN0 stage (log rank, p=0.028) and adjuvant chemotherapy (log rank, p=0.032) exhibited more favorable overall survival. In the multivariate analyses, the pN stage (HR=2.192, p=0.004) and adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=0.032, p=0.004) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Locoregional recurrence was the main failure pattern after R1 resection. The pN stage (HR=2.567, p=0.009) and adjuvant radiotherapy (HR=0.278, p=0.000) were independent prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence. Conclusion: In R1-resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, adjuvant radiotherapy reduced locoregional recurrence; however, it did not improve overall survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy demonstrated benefits for overall survival. The pN stage was an independent prognostic factor for locoregional recurrence and overall survival.
Making the transition from pilot to scale: examining sustainability and scalability issues in a public–private telecenter partnership in Sri Lanka

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly the vehicles of choice for the implementation of information and communications technology in the developing world. This is particularly true with regard to locally appropriate, shared-access models such as the telecenter franchise. However, the sustainability and the scalability of such initiatives remain in question. This article examines an innovative PPP project at a crucial developmental point: the period of transition from pilot to scaling stage. It identifies challenges and success factors seldom covered in the literature on such projects, then addresses the question(s) of sustainability and scalability, and explores the advantages of focussing on sub-urban areas and the small-and-medium-enterprise sector of emerging economies.
Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subtype in Murine Ophthalmic Arteries After Endothelial Removal

Citation: Gericke A, Steege A, Manicam C, Böhmer T, Wess J, Pfeiffer N. Role of the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype in murine ophthalmic arteries after endothelial removal. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014;55:625–631. DOI:10.1167/ iovs.13-13549 PURPOSE. We tested the hypothesis that the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype mediates cholinergic responses in murine ophthalmic arteries after endothelial removal.
Clinical Tests of Standing Balance in the Knee Osteoarthritis Population: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background People with knee osteoarthritis (OA) have a high prevalence of falls. Poor standing balance is one risk factor, but the extent of standing balance deficits in people with knee OA is unknown. Purpose The primary purpose of this study was to summarize available data on standing balance in people with knee OA compared with people without knee OA. A secondary purpose was to establish the extent of balance impairment across disease severity. Data Sources A literature search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases through November 19, 2014, was conducted. Study Selection Studies on individuals with knee OA containing clinical, quantifiable measures of standing balance were included. Methodological quality was assessed by 2 reviewers using a 16-item quality index developed for nonrandomized studies. Studies scoring >50% on the index were included. Data Extraction Participant characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, OA severity, compartment involvement, unilateral versus bilateral disease) and balance outcomes were extracted by 2 reviewers. Standardized mean differences were pooled using a random-effects model. Data Synthesis The search yielded 2,716 articles; 8 met selection and quality assessment criteria. The median score on the quality index was 13/17. People with knee OA consistently performed worse than healthy controls on the Step Test, Single-Leg Stance Test, Functional Reach Test, Tandem Stance Test, and Community Balance and Mobility Scale. The pooled standardized mean difference was −1.64 (95% confidence interval=−2.58, −0.69). No differences were observed between varying degrees of malalignment, or between unilateral versus bilateral disease. Limitations No studies compared between-knee OA severities. Thus, expected changes in balance as the disease progresses remain unknown. Conclusions Few studies compared people with knee OA and healthy controls, but those that did showed that people with knee OA performed significantly worse. More research is needed to understand the extent of balance impairments in people with knee OA using easy-to-administer, clinically available tests.
Development of a minimally invasive epidermal abrasion device for clinical skin sampling and its applications in molecular biology

A new abrasion tool (US patent US7087063 B2) has been developed for collecting skin epidermal samples. This device includes a central shaft that holds the probe in a split chuck. Of the variety of probe designs tested, the laser‐cut hollow tube (HT) probe abraded the basal layer of the epidermis most consistently, resulting in representative epidermal skin samples. Compared with traditional clinical methods, the abrasion method allows for high‐throughput epidermal skin collection with minimal invasiveness to the volunteer subjects. A large number of abrasion samples have been collected in various clinical studies with no adverse effects observed. Epidermal abrasion, when used appropriately and with the optimized probes, can yield high quality tissue samples that are representative of the epidermis. A sufficient quantity of RNA and protein can be obtained for many subsequent molecular and biochemical applications. Because of its minimal invasiveness and high‐throughput nature, the abrasion method can be a valuable tool used to investigate the efficacy of topical applications of skin care products.
Variation of telencephalon morphology of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in relation to inferred ecology

We tested the hypothesis that increased telencephalon size has evolved in threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from structurally complex habitats using field‐caught samples from one sea‐run (ancestral) and 18 ecologically diverse freshwater (descendant) populations. Freshwater habitats ranged from shallow, structurally complex lakes with benthic‐foraging stickleback (benthics), to deeper, structurally simple lakes in which stickleback depend more heavily on plankton for prey (generalists). Contrary to our expectations, benthics had smaller telencephala than generalists, but the shape of the telencephalon of the sea‐run and benthic populations were more convex laterally. Convex telencephalon shape may indicate enlargement of the dorsolateral region, which is homologous with the tetrapod hippocampus. Telencephalon morphology is also sexually dimorphic, with larger, less convex telencephala in males. Freshwater stickleback from structurally complex habitats have retained the ancestral telencephalon morphology, but populations that feed more in open habitats on plankton have evolved larger, laterally concave telencephala.
Spectrum Aware On-Demand Routing in Cognitive Radio Networks

Routing in multi-hop cognitive radio net- works(CRN) should consider how to dynamically switch frequency band for either per flow throughput guarantee or global spectrum utilization. Previous research have offered both centralized and distributed solutions on combining the two, but since different nodes may sense different spectrum availability, efficiently sharing this information in the dynamic spectrum environment still remains challenging. In this paper, we propose an approach to reactively initiate route computing and frequency band selection. We further present a novel multi-flow multi-frequency scheduling scheme for single node to relief the multi-flow interference and frequent switching delay. We use cumulative delay along the path for evaluation, simulation results show that, comparing to other typical approaches, our protocol provides better adaptability to the dynamic spectrum and multi-flow environment, and incurs much lower cumulative delay.
Thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy: progress, practice, and pitfalls.

OBJECTIVE To provide an updated review of the current progress in, and the practice and pitfalls of, thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. METHODS The medical literature on the topic was reviewed, and the current methods, advantages, and controversies concerning FNA biopsy of thyroid nodules are summarized. RESULTS Thyroid nodules are a common clinical problem, with an estimated prevalence ranging from 19 to 35%. Most thyroid cancers manifest as thyroid nodules; however, only a small fraction of all thyroid nodules harbor malignant disease. Certain clinical features increase the likelihood of malignant involvement, but the absence of such features does not exclude the possibility of cancer. Of all currently available methods of evaluating nodular thyroid disease, FNA biopsy has been found to have the greatest diagnostic accuracy, approaching 95%, and its widespread use has resulted in substantial cost savings and has allowed a much better selection of patients in need of surgical treatment. The procedure, however, has two major limitations: nondiagnostic yield and indeterminate results. The approach to the management of patients with thyroid nodules is summarized. CONCLUSION FNA is the most reliable and cost-effective method of distinguishing benign from suspicious or malignant thyroid nodules.
Interactions between valproic acid and quetiapine/olanzapine in the treatment of bipolar disorder and the role of therapeutic drug monitoring

The anticonvulsant valproic acid and the atypical antipsychotics olanzapine and quetiapine provide synergistic mood‐stabilising, antidepressant and antipsychotic activities in the treatment of bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. Existing literature shows that pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics drug–drug interactions (DDIs) possibly occur with the use of such a combination. Clinical reports of a possible interaction between the drugs leading to an increased risk of adverse drug reactions have also emerged. The main objective of this paper is to review the incidence of DDIs between the anticonvulsant and the antipsychotics, to postulate the possible mechanisms of the interaction and to establish whether certain target populations are at an increased susceptibility to such interactions. The usefulness of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of the antipsychotics to monitor for an interaction was also assessed. A systematic database search was carried out using the search engine provided by PubMed using the following key words: olanzapine, quetiapine, valproic acid, pharmacokinetic drug–drug interaction, bipolar disorder, therapeutic drug monitoring.
Beyond Bar and Line Graphs: Time for a New Data Presentation Paradigm

Figures in scientific publications are critically important because they often show the data supporting key findings. Our systematic review of research articles published in top physiology journals (n = 703) suggests that, as scientists, we urgently need to change our practices for presenting continuous data in small sample size studies. Papers rarely included scatterplots, box plots, and histograms that allow readers to critically evaluate continuous data. Most papers presented continuous data in bar and line graphs. This is problematic, as many different data distributions can lead to the same bar or line graph. The full data may suggest different conclusions from the summary statistics. We recommend training investigators in data presentation, encouraging a more complete presentation of data, and changing journal editorial policies. Investigators can quickly make univariate scatterplots for small sample size studies using our Excel templates.
Inhibition of cell migration by ouabain in the A549 human lung cancer cell line

The Na+/K+-ATPase α subunit is highly expressed in malignant cells. Ouabain, a cardioactive glycoside, binds to the Na+/K+-ATPase α subunit and inhibits the activity of Na+/K+-ATPase. In the present study, the effect of ouabain on the migration of A549 cells was analyzed using the wound healing and transwell chamber migration assays. The impact of ouabain on the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 was also evaluated. Ouabain treatment not only inhibited the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-enhanced migration of A549 cells, but also inhibited the basal migration of A549 cells in the absence of EGF. Ouabain decreased the overexpression of N-cadherin and vimentin induced by EGF, and decreased the expression of MMP-2 and -9 in the presence or absence of EGF. Na+/K+-ATPase is a potent therapeutic target in lung cancer and these observations indicated that the Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor, ouabain, retards the invasion of lung cancer cells.
The conservation status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras in the Arabian Sea and adjacent waters

This report provides an overview of the conservation status of chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) in the Arabian Seas Region (ASR) and describes the results of a regional Red List workshop held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in February 2017. It identifies those species that are threatened with extinction at the regional level, so that appropriate conservation action can be taken to improve their status. A regional overview of chondrichthyan fisheries, management and conservation is also presented.
Environmental cues to UV radiation and personal sun protection in outdoor winter recreation.

OBJECTIVE To predict the prevalence of UV radiation (hereinafter, UV) at North American ski resorts using temporal, seasonal, altitudinal, and meteorological factors and associate UV with a set of adult sun protection behaviors. DESIGN Ultraviolet radiation observations and cross-sectional survey of adults on sun protection were collected. SETTING Data were collected at 32 high-altitude ski areas located in western North America from 2001 through 2003. PARTICIPANTS The sample consisted of 3937 adult skiers or snowboarders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Measurements of direct, reflected, and diffuse UV were performed at 487 measurement points using handheld meters and combined with self-reported and observed sun protection assessed for adults interviewed on chairlifts. RESULTS The strongest predictors of UV were temporal proximity to noon, deviation from winter solstice, and clear skies. By contrast, altitude and latitude had more modest associations with UV and temperature had a small positive relationship with UV. Guest sun safety was inconsistently associated with UV: UV was positively related to adults wearing more sunscreen, reapplying it after 2 hours, and wearing protective eyewear, but fewer adults exhibited many of the other sun protection behaviors, such as wearing hats and protective clothing or using lip balm, on days when UV was elevated. Guests took more sun safety precautions on clear-sky days but took steps to maintain body warmth on inclement days. CONCLUSIONS In future sun safety promotions, adults should be encouraged to wear sunscreen on cloudy days because UV is still high and conditions can change rapidly. They need reminders to rely more on season and time of day when judging UV and the need for sun safety.
Deleted in Liver Cancer 2 (DLC2) Was Dispensable for Development and Its Deficiency Did Not Aggravate Hepatocarcinogenesis

DLC2 (deleted in liver cancer 2), a Rho GTPase-activating protein, was previously shown to be underexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma and has tumor suppressor functions in cell culture models. We generated DLC2-deficient mice to investigate the tumor suppressor role of DLC2 in hepatocarcinogenesis and the function of DLC2 in vivo. In this study, we found that, unlike homologous DLC1, which is essential for embryonic development, DLC2 was dispensable for embryonic development and DLC2-deficient mice could survive to adulthood. We also did not observe a higher incidence of liver tumor formation or diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in DLC2-deficient mice. However, we observed that DLC2-deficient mice were smaller and had less adipose tissue than the wild type mice. These phenotypes were not due to reduction of cell size or defect in adipogenesis, as observed in the 190B RhoGAP-deficient mouse model. Together, these results suggest that deficiency in DLC2 alone does not enhance hepatocarcinogenesis.
Estrogen Reduces Angiotensin II-Induced Acceleration of Senescence in Endothelial Progenitor Cells

The interaction among estrogen, angiotensin II (Ang II), and oxidative stress in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) remains unknown. We therefore investigated the potential effect of estrogen on Ang II-induced EPC oxidative stress and senescence in EPCs. EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood and characterized. Both reverse transcription (RT)−polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting were used to assess gp91phox and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression. Immunofluorescence of nitrotyrosine provided evidence of peroxynitrite formation. Our data indicate that Ang II increased the expression of gp91phox mRNA and protein, and these effects were attenuated by 17β-estradiol (E2). The exposure of cultured EPCs to Ang II (100 nmol/l) significantly accelerated the rate of senescence compared to that in control cells during 14 days in culture as determined by acidic β-galactosidase staining, and this effect was significantly inhibited by E2 (p<0.01). Because cellular senescence is critically influenced by telomerase, which elongates telomeres, we measured telomerase activity by using a PCR-ELISA-based assay. Ang II significantly diminished telomerase activity, although the effect was significantly reduced by pre-treatment with E2 (p<0.01). Because we previously demonstrated that both the up-regulation of gp91phox and the acceleration of cellular senescence in Ang II-stimulated EPCs could be abolished by pre-treatment with the AT1R-specific antagonist, valsartan, we also explored the effect of estrogen on AT1R expression. Ang II increased AT1R mRNA and protein expression, and these increases were prevented by E2, suggesting that AT1R may at least partially mediate the inhibitory effect of E2 on Ang II-induced acceleration of senescence in EPCs. In conclusion, estrogen reduces Ang II-induced acceleration of senescence in EPCs partially through down-regulation of AT1R expression.