Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Papulonecrotic tuberculids of the glans penis: case report.

SUMMARY A case of papulonecrotic tuberculids on the glans penis alone is reported, and relevant reports published on this subject are reviewed. Tuberculid results from an intense necrotising reaction caused by an extreme tissue response to isolated circulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis or its products in patients with a high level of immunity and sensitisation. The various types of tuberculids are: micropapular (lichen scrofulosorum), papular (papulonecrotic tuberculides), nodular (erythema induratum), and atypical nodular tuberculid. Papulonecrotic tuberculids are common in young white people. They are chronic, recurrent, more or less symmetrically distributed, discrete, dusky red, inflammatory, papular eruptions leading to crust formation, ulceration, and scarring. They are neither painful nor pruritic. They occur in crops affecting the elbows, knees, legs, hands and feet, face and ears, buttocks, and penis. Patients with nodular tuberculid generally have erythrocyanotic circulation. Spontaneous resolution of the individual lesions occur with scarring. With effective antituberculous treatment, the crops of new lesions cease and the condition resolves. The basic diagnostic criteria for papulonecrotic tuberculid are: a strongly positive Mantroux test result; chronic recurrent papular eruptions occurring in crops, with necrosis, ulceration, and scarring; a tuberculoid histology with endarteritis and thrombosis of the dermal vessels; and regression in response to antituberculous treatment.
Upregulation of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Porcine Macula Densa With Chronic Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the macula densa (MD) of swine, as well as the effects on expression of related proteins. Adult female Yucatan swine were given either tap water (control, n = 6) or water with N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 mg/liter, n = 5) for a minimum of 30 days. Duplicate samples of kidney were fixed or snap frozen. There was a significant (P = .0082) upregulation of COX-2 mRNA expression in the MD of L-NAME, as well as an apparent increase in COX-2 protein. Plasma renin activity also increased with L-NAME treatment (control, 0.34 ± 0.08 ng/ml; L-NAME, 1.26 ± 0.03 ng/ml; P = .00000003). There were no differences between groups in expression of either inducible NOS or renin protein or in serum electrolyte concentrations. In conclusion, with chronic inhibition of NOS, COX-2 in MD is upregulated, perhaps to compensate for loss of nitric oxide. Increases in COX-2 products may counteract renal arteriolar constriction and sustain renin release.
MHC Class II Presentation of gp100 Epitopes in Melanoma Cells Requires the Function of Conventional Endosomes and Is Influenced by Melanosomes1

Many human solid tumors express MHC class II (MHC-II) molecules, and proteins normally localized to melanosomes give rise to MHC-II-restricted epitopes in melanoma. However, the pathways by which this response occurs have not been defined. We analyzed the processing of one such epitope, gp10044–59, derived from gp100/Pmel17. In melanomas that have down-regulated components of the melanosomal pathway, but constitutively express HLA-DR*0401, the majority of gp100 is sorted to LAMP-1high/MHC-II+ late endosomes. Using mutant gp100 molecules with altered intracellular trafficking, we demonstrate that endosomal localization is necessary for gp10044–59 presentation. By depletion of the AP-2 adaptor protein using small interfering RNA, we demonstrate that gp100 protein internalized from the plasma membrane to such endosomes is a major source for gp10044–59 epitope production. The gp100 trapped in early endosomes gives rise to epitopes that are indistinguishable from those produced in late endosomes but their production is less sensitive to inhibition of lysosomal proteases. In melanomas containing melanosomes, gp100 is underrepresented in late endosomes, and accumulates in stage II melanosomes devoid of MHC-II molecules. The gp10044–59 presentation is dramatically reduced, and processing occurs entirely in early endosomes or stage I melanosomes. This occurrence suggests that melanosomes are inefficient Ag-processing compartments. Thus, melanoma de-differentiation may be accompanied by increased presentation of MHC-II restricted epitopes from gp100 and other melanosome-localized proteins, leading to enhanced immune recognition.
Attitudes and habits as predictors of human behavior

"Planned behavior" is a widely-known paradigm used to predict individual behavior. Basing on a competing paradigm called “goal-directed automaticity”, research addressed the mutual support of both paradigms – thus the importance of habits for the continued usage. A versus between both paradigms – thus the inhibiting effect of habits on the adoption of a new system was thematized in 2012 by Polites and Karahanna. Within this research, both concepts are brought face to face by examining the results of an empirical survey of 378 County employees who were separated into adopter and non-adopter groups. Given this opposing behavioral outcome, the moderating effect of habit on the relationship between affect/cognition and intention was examined by means of a group-based regression approach. The results show opposing patterns for both groups which holds the implication that the directional impact of habit strength on this relationship is likewise opposing.
Solubilization and partial characterization of homogalacturonan-methyltransferase from microsomal membranes of suspension-cultured tobacco cells.

The transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine onto the carboxyl group of alpha-1,4-linked-galactosyluronic acid residues in the pectic polysaccharide homogalacturonan (HGA) is catalyzed by an enzyme commonly referred to as pectin methyltransferase. A pectin methyltransferase from microsomal membranes of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) was previously characterized (F. Goubet, L.N. Council, D. Mohnen [1998] Plant Physiol 116: 337-347) and named HGA methyltransferase (HGA-MT). We report the solubilization of HGA-MT from tobacco membranes. Approximately 22% of the HGA-MT activity in total membranes was solubilized by 0.65% (w/v) 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic acid containing 1 mM dithioerythritol. The addition of phosphatidylcholine and the methyl acceptors HGA or pectin (30% degree of esterification) to solubilized enzyme increased HGA-MT activity to 35% of total membrane-bound HGA-MT activity. Solubilized HGA-MT has a pH optimum of 7.8, an apparent K(m) for S-adenosyl-L-methionine of 18 microM, and an apparent V(max) of 0. 121 pkat mg(-1) of protein. The apparent K(m) for HGA and for pectin is 0.1 to 0.2 mg mL(-1). Methylated product was solubilized with boiling water and ammonium oxalate, two conditions used to solubilize pectin from the cell wall. The release of 75% to 90% of the radioactivity from the product pellet by mild base treatment showed that the methyl group was incorporated as a methyl ester rather than a methyl ether. The fragmentation of at least 55% to 70% of the radiolabeled product by endopolygalacturonase, and the loss of radioactivity from the product by treatment with pectin methylesterase, demonstrated that the bulk of the methylated product produced by the solubilized enzyme was pectin.
Nosocomial colonization and infection by Achromobacter xylosoxidans

Achromobacter xylosoxidans, a bacterial species named in 1971, is often isolated from aqueous environments, but little has been reported about its pathogenicity in humans, its epidemiological pattern, and its susceptibility to antibiotics and antiseptics. We were faced with an epidemic caused by this microorganism for 18 months in an intensive care unit. Two patients had fatal infections and 37 others were colonized. The source was the deionized water of the hemodialysis system. The 46 isolates were identified by comparison with the reference strain A. xylosoxidans ATCC 27061. The characteristic cellular fatty acids of this species were demonstrated by gas-liquid chromatography. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of 27 antibiotics were determined. The isolates were susceptible to only two: moxalactam at 4 micrograms/ml and ceftazidime at 8 micrograms/ml. The minimal bactericidal concentrations of one disinfectant and three antiseptics were: sodium hypochloride, 109 micrograms/ml; chlorhexidine digluconate in ethanol solution, 15 to 125 micrograms/ml; polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine, 750 micrograms/ml; and iodine ethanol, 312 to 625 micrograms/ml.
Direct health care costs after traumatic spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND The objective was to quantify direct health care costs attributable to traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS This population-based cohort study followed individuals with SCI from date of injury to 6 years postinjury. SCI cases were matched to a comparison group randomly selected from the general population. Administrative data from a Canadian province with a universal publicly funded health care system and centralized health databases were used. Costs included hospitalizations, physician services, home care, and long-term care. RESULTS Attributable costs in the first year were $121,600 (2002 $CDN) per person with a complete SCI, and $42,100 per person with an incomplete injury. In the subsequent 5 years, annual costs were $5,400 and $2,800 for persons with complete and incomplete SCIs, respectively. CONCLUSION Direct costs in the first year after SCI are substantial. In the subsequent 5 years, individuals with SCI will continue to accrue greater costs than the general public.
Somatotopographic organization in the second somatosensory area of M. fascicularis

The second somatosensory area (SII) of awake, untrained cynomolgus monkeys was surveyed with recordings from nearly 1,000 single neurons. A detailed somatotopographic organization could be demonstrated in SII because the majority of these neurons had contralateral, moderate to well‐defined receptive fields of < 10cm2, and because neighboring neurons possessed receptive fields that were only slightly displaced from one another. Different body regions were represented in successive anterior to posterior strips that were oriented across the parietal operculum with an anterolateral to posteromedial slant. Neurons with trigeminal receptive fields were found in the anterior portion of SII; these neurons were the only ones in SII with predominantly bilateral receptive fields (r.f.'s). Neurons with digit or hand r.f. 's form the largest component of the map, and were located posterior to those with face r.f. s. Most of these neurons had only contralateral activation. The hand and digit region was followed in turn by the arm, the upper and lower trunk, and the hindlimb regions. Although the overall SII orientation was along an anterior‐posterior gradient, recordings at individual coronal planes often demonstrated isolated sequences of receptive fields that exhibited a medial‐lateral progression. The principle example of this latter gradient was seen in the forelimb region where digits one through five were represented in an overlapping sequence across the parietal operculum. Except for portions of the digit representation, neighboring sequences of neurons in SII do not form a precise topologic map of the body that is comparable to the somatotopic maps observed in areas 3b and 1. The present findings contrast with previous physiological studies of SII in the primate. These discrepancies are discussed in relation to methodological differences and in terms of distinctions used to define the boundaries of SII.
Anthocyanins in aged blueberry-fed rats are found centrally and may enhance memory

Abstract Research has shown that fruits and vegetables containing high levels of polyphenolics (flavonoids) display high total antioxidant activity. Our laboratory found that various fruit and vegetable extracts, particularly blueberry (BB), were effective in reversing age-related deficits in neuronal signaling and behavioral parameters following 8 weeks of feeding, possibly due to their polyphenolic content. However, it was unclear if these phytonutrients were able to directly access the brain from dietary BB supplementation (BBS). The present study examined whether different classes of polyphenols could be found in brain areas associated with cognitive performance following BBS. Thus, 19 month old F344 rats were fed a control or 2% BB diet for 8–10 weeks and tested in the Morris water maze (MWM), a measure of spatial learning and memory. LC–MS analyses of anthocyanins in the diet and subsequently in different brain regions of BBS and control rats were carried out. Several anthocyanins (cyanidin-3- O -ß-galactoside, cyanidin-3- O -ß-glucoside, cyanidin-3- O -ß-arabinose, malvidin-3- O -ß-galactoside, malvidin-3- O -ß-glucoside, malvidin-3- O -ß-arabinose, peonidin-3- O -ß-arabinose and delphinidin-3- O -ß-galactoside) were found in the cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus or striatum of the BBS rats, but not the controls. These findings are the first to suggest that polyphenolic compounds are able to cross the blood brain barrier and localize in various brain regions important for learning and memory. Correlational analyses revealed a relationship between MWM performance in BBS rats and the total number of anthocyanin compounds found in the cortex. These findings suggest that these compounds may deliver their antioxidant and signaling modifying capabilities centrally.
Doping golden buckyballs:Cu@Au16- and Cu@Au17- cluster anions.

The discovery of the unique catalytic effects of gold nanoparticles on oxide substrates has stimulated a flurry of research into the structures and properties of free gold nanoclusters, which may hold the key to elucidating the catalytic mechanisms of supported gold clusters. One of the most remarkable results has been the discovery of planar gold cluster anions (Aun_) of up to twelve gold atoms and the 2D to 3D transition for clusters with n larger than 12. Among larger gold clusters, Au20 has been found to be a perfect tetrahedron. A more recent study of the structures of Aun_ cluster anions in the medium size range (n=15–19) has shown that clusters with n=16–18 possess unprecedented empty cage structures. In particular, the Au16_ cluster anion has an interesting tetrahedral structure with an inner diameter of about 5.5 0 and can be compared to the fullerenes (buckyballs). Although Au32 was first suggested to be a “24- carat golden fullerene”, subsequent studies showed that the Au32_ ion is in fact a low-symmetry compact 3D structure. Other larger gold cage clusters have also been proposed computationally, but none has been observed or is expected to be the global minimum. The cage structures of themore » cluster anions Au16_ and Au17_ have recently been confirmed by electron diffraction and thus they are the first experimentally confirmed and the smallest possible gold cages. The large empty space inside these cage clusters immediately suggested that they can be doped with a foreign atom to produce a new class of endohedral gold cages analogous to endohedral fullerenes. « less
Management of Septic Skin Necroses

Abstract Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and purpura fulminans (PF) are conditions with extensive septic skin necroses that are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. NF is caused by fulminant bacterial spread on the superficial muscle fascia, Group A streptococcus being the main microorganism responsible for it. The major challenge NF poses is timely recognition. Although crucial for patient survival, early diagnosis is difficult because paucity of specific early findings does not allow setting NF apart from other, less severe, differential diagnoses. Surgical therapy consists of early and aggressive debridement of all affected tissue, even if large disfiguring wounds are left back. The responsible microorganism for PF in children is predominantly Neisseira meningitidis. Endotoxin triggered misbalance of anticoagulant and procoagulant activities of endothelial cells leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) followed by microvascular thrombosis and bleeding, resulting in hemorrhagic skin infarction and limb ischemia. Although survival in PF is not dependent on surgery, and surgery plays not a key role in the early phase of the disease, early surgical consult to assess if limb perfusion can be improved to achieve limb salvage is still absolutely necessary. Debridement should be postponed until clear demarcation has established. Large defects after NF and PF can be successfully reconstructed with vacuum-assisted fixation of Integra (Integra LifeSciences Corporation, Plainsboro, New Jersey, United States) artificial skin before split-thickness skin grafting. This provides good functional and cosmetic results as well as good stump coverage in case of amputation in PF.
Glycosaminoglycans in scleroderma and scleredema.

Skin from 6 patients with scleroderma, 3 with scleredema and 5 normal controls were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis of glycosaminoglycans. Glycosaminoglycans were identified by cetylpyridinium chloride-salt fractionation and by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Our data suggest that in scleredema there may be an increase in hyaluronic acid while the concentration of dermatan sulfate is normal. All scleroderma specimens revealed a marked increase in dermatan sulfate.
Stimulation of survival capacity in heat shocked cells by subsequent exposure to minute amounts of chemical stressors; role of similarity in hsp-inducing effects

1 A brief and moderate heat shock to Reuber H35 hepatoma cells causes a rapid increase in the synthesis of heat shock proteins (hsp) and initiates the development of thermotolerance, which results in an increased ability to survive exposure to otherwise lethal temperatures. 2 We now demonstrate that low doses of various chemical stressors (arsenite, cadmium, mercury, lead, copper, menadione and diethyldithiocarbamate (ddtc)), at concentrations that do not exert any effect in control cultures, are able to enhance the synthesis of hsps and to stimulate the development of thermotolerance when applied to cultures which were pretreated with a mild heat shock. 3 The degree of stimulation appears to be stressorspecific, which is not only observed in the ensuing development of thermotolerance but also in the enhancement of the heat shock-induced synthesis of stress proteins. 4 The different hsps that show an enhanced induction when heat shocked cultures are exposed to the various secondary applied low doses of chemical stressors, were found to resemble the hsp pattern that is characteristic for the secondary stressor and not for the initial heat shock. In other words, the nature of the post-treatment determines the observed pattern of enhanced synthesis of hsps. 5 In order to analyze the origin of the stimulation of survival capacity by low doses of the mentioned stressors, we studied whether the degree of stimulation is determined by the degree of similarity between the overall stress response to heat shock and to the second stress condition when applied singly. 6 The degree in which low doses of chemical stressors stimulate tolerance development and enhance the synthesis of hsps in cells that were previously heat shocked, appears to be related to the degree of similarity in the hsp pattern induced by both stressors. 7 Our results support the notion that low doses of toxic compounds may, under certain conditions, have beneficial effects related to a stimulation of endogenous cytoprotective mechanisms.
Deactivation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate/Akt signaling mediates neutrophil spontaneous death

Neutrophil spontaneous death plays essential roles in neutrophil homeostasis and resolution of inflammation, whereas the underlying molecular mechanisms are still ill-defined. Neutrophils die because of programmed cell death or apoptosis. However, treatment with inhibitor of caspases, which are responsible for the majority of apoptotic cell deaths, does not prevent the spontaneous death of neutrophils. PKB/Akt possesses prosurvival and antiapoptotic activities in a variety of cells. In this study, we show that Akt activity decreases dramatically during the course of neutrophil death. Both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt inhibitors enhance neutrophil death. Conditions delaying neutrophil death, such as treatment with granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, or IFN-γ, restore Akt activity. Finally, we demonstrate that neutrophils depleted of PTEN, a phosphatidylinositol 3′-phosphatase that negatively regulates Akt activity, live much longer than WT neutrophils. Thus, we establish Akt deactivation as a causal mediator of neutrophil spontaneous death.
Peripheral arterial occlusive disease is more prevalent in patients with hemodialysis: comparison with the findings of multidetector-row computed tomography.

BACKGROUND Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) influences the mortality of patients on hemodialysis therapy. Although the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) is used widely to detect PAOD, it yields false-negative results because of calcifications of vascular walls. To more accurately assess the prevalence of PAOD, we investigated which noninvasive method, among ABI, toe-brachial pressure index, transcutaneous Po(2), and skin perfusion pressure (SPP), had superior sensitivity and specificity to the others. METHODS Multidetector-row computed tomography was performed in 36 hemodialysis patients. We then compared the 4 noninvasive methods with findings of multidetector-row computed tomography and calculated the sensitivity and specificity of each method by means of receiver operating characteristic analysis. Irrespective of symptoms, PAOD is defined as the presence of complete obstruction in the case of lesions below the knee or more than 75% stenosis for lesions above the knee. RESULTS Seven of 36 patients (19.4%) had an ABI less than 0.9. Sensitivity of the ABI was only 29.9%, whereas an SPP set at 50 mm Hg was more accurate, with sensitivity of 84.9% and specificity of 76.9%. A total of 41.4% of patients had an SPP less than 50 mm Hg. For lesions located above the knee, toe-brachial pressure index provided sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 86.7%. CONCLUSION SPP is the most useful tool for detecting PAOD in hemodialysis patients, with accuracy of 84.9%. There is a strong possibility that more patients than previously expected have early PAOD.
Quality of life in patients with oropharynx carcinomas: Assessment after accelerated radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy versus radical surgery and postoperative radiotherapy

In oropharyngeal carcinomas, it is assumed that the effectiveness of the different treatment approaches is roughly equivalent, whereas the functional outcome after radical radiotherapy (RT) is superior to that associated with primary surgery. The aim of this study is to assess quality of life (QoL) outcomes of patients after two treatment strategies: radical surgery with postoperative RT and accelerated concomitant boost RT with or without chemotherapy.