Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia potentiates transforming growth factor‐β expression of hepatocyte during the cirrhotic condition in rat liver

Abstract: Background/Aims: Many studies have reported that hypoxia might be associated with angiogenesis and fibrogenesis, and the level of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) was increased in fibrotic liver and maximal at cirrhosis. Therefore, we examined the expression of TGF‐β1, phosphorylated‐Smad2/3 (p‐Smad2/3) of the TGF‐β immediate down stream signaling system and hypoxic status during hepatic fibrogenesis.
Head and Neck Primary Mucosal Melanoma: Report of 17 Cases

Introduction: Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a rare disease, accounting for 1.7% - 3% of all melanomas and 8% of all head and neck melanomas. It’s a rare cancer with a very poor prognosis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 17 patients with primary mucosal melanomas of the head and neck who were diagnosed between January 2007 and December 2012. Results: Our patient population included 9 women and 8 men. The age ranged from 61 to 75 years. The primary site of disease was in the sinonasal cavity for 12 patients (70%) and oral cavity for 5 patients. Treatment modalities for mucosal melanoma include surgical resection with or without neck dissection, immunochemotherapy, and radiation therapy (RT). 15 patients had attempted curative resections. Two patients received palliative radiation therapy as the primary treatment and chemotherapy as the adjuvant treatment. Discussion: Primary mucosal melanoma is a rare cancer and represents only 1.7% - 3% of all primary melanomas [1]-[3]. Mucosal melanoma must always be considered for multimodality therapy: surgical excision, medical oncology, and radiation therapy. Despite its radioresistant nature of tumor, the role of radiation therapy following surgical intervention has typically been advocated.
A Data Skew Oriented Reduce Placement Algorithm Based on Sampling

For frequent disk I/O and large data transmissions among different racks and physical nodes, intermediate data communication has become the most important performance bottle-neck in most running Hadoop systems. This paper proposes a reduce placement algorithm called CORP to schedule related map and reduce tasks on the near nodes of clusters or racks for data locality. Because the number of keys cannot be counted until the input data are processed by map tasks, this paper applies a reservoir algorithm for sampling the input data, which can bring the distribution of keys/values closer to the overall situation of original data. Based on the distribution matrix of the intermediate results in each partition, by calculating the distance and cost matrices among the cross node communication, the related map and reduce tasks can be scheduled to relatively nearby physical nodes for data locality. We implement CORP in Hadoop 2.4. 0 and evaluate its performance using three widely used benchmarks: Sort, Grep, and Join. In these experiments, an evaluation model is proposed for selecting the appropriate sample rates, which can comprehensively consider the importance of cost, effect, and variance in sampling. Experimental results show that CORP can not only improve the balance of reduces tasks effectively but also decreases the job execution time for the lower inner data communication. Compared with some other reduce scheduling algorithms, the average data transmission of the entire system on the core switch has been reduced substantially.
A dynamic evaluation of factors determining the quality of service perceived by clients: an empirical analysis focused on the consultancy sector

The buyer–seller relation has become an integral part of business strategy in the service sector. This study begins from the importance of quality of service in the buyer-seller relation and adds evidence concerning an issue missing in other studies performed: the importance that clients attribute to dimensions of perceived quality varies as a function of the length of their relation to the firm. We identify which dimensions of quality of service should at any given moment be the primary concern of management and which should have secondary significance. To do this, we contacted an experienced national consultancy in order to learn, by means of a multiple linear regression model, the value attributed on the part of its clients to the quality of service and its dimensions. The study shows how buyers value some dimensions of perceived quality as a function of the length of their relation to the organisation.
Serum concentrations of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in patients with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and vulvar cancer

Our aim was to evaluate whether serum concentrations of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC‐Ag) are an independent prognostic factor in patients with vulvar cancer. We measured SCC‐Ag in pretreatment serum samples of 55 patients with squamous cell vulvar cancer, 30 patients with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) grade III and 50 healthy female controls. The results were compared with clinical data. Median serum concentrations of SCC‐Ag in healthy female controls, patients with VIN III, and patients with invasive vulvar cancer were 0.5 (range 0.1 to 3.8) ng/mL, 0.5 (range 0 to 4.1) ng/mL and 1.6 (range 0.3 to 65) ng/mL, respectively (Mann‐Whitney U test, p<0.001). The 75% quantile of serum concentrations of SCC‐Ag in patients with vulvar cancer was defined as cut‐off level. Elevated pre‐treatment serum concentrations of SCC‐Ag were significantly correlated with a shorter disease‐free and overall survival (log‐rank test, p=0.002; and p<0.001, respectively). A multivariate Cox regression model showed that serum concentrations of SCC‐Ag are a prognostic factor of disease‐free and overall survival independent of tumour stage (multivariate Cox regression model, p=0.03; and p=0.048, respectively). Pre‐treatment serum concentrations of SCC‐Ag were not correlated with tumour stage, histological grade and patients' age. In summary, our data indicate that serum concentrations of SCC‐Ag may be an additional independent prognostic factor of disease‐free and overall survival in patients with vulvar cancer. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 84:299–303, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of the dopamine D3 receptor in reactivity to cocaine‐associated cues in mice

Environmental stimuli previously associated with drug effects can acquire secondary reinforcing properties, able to maintain drug‐seeking behaviour or induce relapse. We have used a classical Pavlovian conditioning procedure to assess the role of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) in the expression of drug‐conditioned responses. Mice repeatedly receiving cocaine in a particular environment distinct from home‐cages displayed hyperlocomotion after subsequent exposure to the drug‐paired environment. Cocaine‐conditioned hyperactivity was inhibited by BP 897 or SB‐277011‐A, D3R‐selective partial agonist and antagonist, respectively. D3R gene‐targeted mice showed a trend towards an increase in cocaine cue‐conditioned hyperactivity. BP 897 had no effect on reactivity to neutral or aversive cues. Cocaine‐conditioned mice had increased levels of D3R mRNA and binding in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and transcripts of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a factor controlling D3R expression, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Cocaine had no effects on D3R or BDNF genes when administered in home‐cages. Cocaine cue‐conditioned c‐fos expression was found in cortical areas, notably in the somatosensory cortex, where it was inhibited by BP 897, and in several regions belonging or linked to the limbic system. In conditioned mice, BP 897 inhibited c‐fos expression in VTA and activated it in amygdala. These results demonstrate a modulation of reactivity to cocaine cues by the D3R, the expression of which is elevated in the NAc by the repeated association of drug effects with a particular context, through a BDNF‐dependent mechanism. D3R‐selective partial agonist or antagonist inhibit cocaine cue‐conditioned activity possibly by normalizing exacerbated D3R function in the NAc, but our results also point to a possible participation of a pathway involving the VTA, amygdala and somatosensory cortex.
Nutritionally induced enteropathy in the growing rabbit: impact on caecal microbial activity and blood metabolic profile

SUMMARY Caecal microbial activity and blood metabolic profiles were assessed according to the health status (diarrhoeic vs. healthy) in growing rabbits after induction of a nutritional enteropathy. Rabbits were fed ad libitum from weaning (28 days) to 70 days of age with a standard fibre content diet (n = 150) or with a deficient fibre diet (n = 209) known to induce non specific enteropathy. The reduction of fibre intake caused a significantly delayed weight growth and markedly increased the health risk index (mortality + morbidity). In diarrhoeic rabbits, dry matter and total volatile fatty acid (tVFAs) concentrations in the caecum dramatically decreased by 27 and 40%, respectively whereas the caecal ammonia concentration, minor VFA proportions and pH markedly increased by 2 and 8.5 times and by 0.7 unit, respectively. In parallel, the C3:C4 ratio increased fourfold and the pectinase activity was significantly depressed. Blood plasma glucose, potassium and albumin concentrations significantly decreased in diseased animals compared to the healthy ones while urea and total cholesterol concentrations showed a two-fold increase suggesting preferential metabolical utilisation of lipids and proteins. These results show that the caecal function and blood metabolic profiles were greatly affected during nutritionally induced enteropathy and that the observed changes were globally similar to those induced by coccidiosis or colibacillosis.
Endoscopic Vacuum-assisted Closure With Sponge for Esophagotracheal Fistula After Esophagectomy

We experienced a case of endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure with sponge for esophagotracheal fistula diagnosed after esophagectomy due to squamous cell esophageal cancer. The patient, who had undergone a robotic-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy and esophageal reconstruction of the stomach, was referred for the management of esophagotracheal fistula. Diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy and imaging studies were performed, and they indicated anastomotic leakage with esophagotracheal fistula. The patient was treated by the endoscopic placement of full-covered self-expanding metal stents, but the fistula persisted. Then, we applied a size-adjusted sponge endoscopically with continuous suction by a vacuum system in the fistula lesion. Complete closure was achieved without any procedure-related complications. After 40 days, symptomatic esophageal stricture was detected and treated successfully with endoscopic balloon dilation. Endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure with a sponge might be an adequate alternative treatment option for esophageal stenting for esophagotracheal fistula after esophagectomy.
Responding to Intimate Partner Violence: Challenges Faced Among Service Providers in Northern Communities

The current study examined the needs of women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) in a profiled northern community in Saskatchewan, Canada. A focus group was conducted with eight knowledgeable and experienced service providers to gain an increased understanding of the needs of women IPV survivors in northern regions of Canada. The discussion was guided by the question of “What do you see as the needs of women coming through your services with regard to intimate partner violence? ” Qualitative analyses highlighted important findings pertaining to the unique needs of women experiencing IPV and the challenges service providers face in northern regions. Suggestions for improvement among resources and services were discussed. The findings will enhance the ability of government representatives and community service providers to decipher the effectiveness of support services and resources for women living in geographically diverse areas.
Studying online support communities : investigating network patterns and characteristics of social support

People’s activities on the internet have expanded from mainly retrieving information to communicating with each other in virtual settings. Thus, research investigating social interactions in online communities is becoming more and more important. However, the multi-faceted approaches of existing studies for the analysis of online communities make it difficult to combine the findings into a comprehensive understanding. This shows the need for holistic investigations of online communities. This thesis provides such a holistic approach by investigating a combination of different aspects of a selected online support community for older people. MOSuC (Model of Online Support Communities), a model describing the key aspects of online support communities was developed based on existing theories of computer-mediated communication (CMC) as well as theoretical perspectives on social support. Five studies were conducted, each addressing one of the different aspects of the case study community: (i) the message content, (ii) the conversations structure, (iii) the social network of related community members, (iv) the roles that online community members take on, and (vi) the taget population’s needs concerning the exchange of social support in online communities. The findings of these individual studies were then combined in context of MOSuC in order to provide a holistic description of the community. As a result, this thesis provides detailed insight into the characteristics of the case study community as well as the interplay and dependencies between different aspects of the community. Based on the integration of multiple studies, the thesis sheds light on two main issues: the characteristics of the individual aspects of the community as well as how these aspects are related to and affect each other. In addition to the findings of the studies, the thesis also contributes MOSuC, which serves both as a theoretical framework of the aspects of online support communities, as well as a practical tool for integrating the individual studies. In addition, the application, modification and integration of multiple methods in this thesis provide a novel methodological way for an integrative analysis of online support communities.
Antimicrobial action of calcium hydroxide, chlorhexidine and their combination on endodontic pathogens.

BACKGROUND The common recovery of Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis from failed root canals of teeth in which previous treatment has failed is notable. These organisms have been shown to be resistant to antimicrobial action of calcium hydroxide but are sensitive to chlorhexidine gluconate. The aim of the present in vitro study was to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of calcium hydroxide paste, 2% chlorhexidine gel and their combination against Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis. METHODS Inoculae of these organisms were used to make lawn cultures on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and blood agar plates. Wells were prepared with these lawn cultures and filled with calcium hydroxide paste, 2% chlorhexidine gel and their combination. The agar plates were kept overnight for incubation at 37 degrees C and the zone of inhibition was examined after 24 and 72 hours. RESULTS The results suggest that 2% chlorhexidine gel alone is more effective at 72 hours than calcium hydroxide paste alone or in combination with 2% chlorhexidine gel against both the organisms, even though calcium hydroxide showed better antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans at 24 hours. CONCLUSION In failed root canal treatments, 2% chlorhexidine gel may be a more effective intracanal medicament than calcium hydroxide paste or their combination against Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis.
Physicochemical Properties That Enhance Discriminative Antibacterial Activity of Short Dermaseptin Derivatives

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial peptides are widely believed to exert their effects by nonspecific mechanisms. We assessed the extent to which physicochemical properties can be exploited to promote discriminative activity by manipulating the N-terminal sequence of the 13-mer dermaseptin derivative K4-S4(1-13) (P). Inhibitory activity determined in culture media against 16 strains of bacteria showed that when its hydrophobicity and charge were changed, P became predominantly active against either gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria. Thus, conjugation of various aminoacyl-lysin moieties (e.g., aminohexyl-K-P) led to inactivity against gram-positive bacteria (MIC50 > 50 μM) but potent activity against gram-negative bacteria (MIC50, 6.2 μM). Conversely, conjugation of equivalent acyls to the substituted analog M4-S4(1-13) (e.g., hexyl-M4-P) led to inactivity against gram-negative bacteria (MIC50 > 50 μM) but potent activity against gram-positive bacteria (MIC50, 3.1 μM). Surface plasmon resonance experiments, used to investigate peptides' binding properties to lipopolysaccharide-containing idealized phospholipid membranes, suggest that although the acylated derivatives have increased lipophilic properties with parallel antibacterial behavior, hydrophobic derivatives are prevented from reaching the cytoplasmic membranes of gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, unlike modifications that enhanced the activity against gram-positive bacteria, which also enhanced hemolysis, we found that modifications that enhanced activity against gram-negative bacteria generally reduced hemolysis. Thus, compared with the clinically tested peptides MSI-78 and IB-367, the dermaseptin derivative aminohexyl-K-P performed similarly in terms of potency and bactericidal kinetics but was significantly more selective in terms of discrimination between bacteria and human erythrocytes. Overall, the data suggest that similar strategies maybe useful to derive potent and safe compounds from known antimicrobial peptides.
Knowledge of periconceptional folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. The missing links. Northeastern Ontario Primary Care Research Group.

BACKGROUND Periconceptional folic acid supplementation is effective in preventing primary and secondary neural tube defects (NTDs) and other congenital defects. However, debate exists regarding the effectiveness of public and physician education on patient knowledge and compliance. OBJECTIVE To examine the level of knowledge about the usefulness of periconceptional folic acid supplementation in a sample of patients from primary care practices. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. A confidential, anonymous questionnaire was completed by patients before physician encounters. A maximum of 20 consecutive female patients from each of 3 age groups (16-24, 25-32, and 33-40 years) were recruited from each primary care practice. SETTINGS Twenty-two Canadian teaching practices affiliated with the Northeastern Ontario Primary Care Research Group. OUTCOME Women's knowledge of periconceptional folic acid supplementation for the prevention of NTDs. RESULTS Of 1125 eligible female patients between the ages of 16 and 40 years visiting their family physician in 1996, 1124 (99.9%) completed the questionnaire. General awareness of NTDs was high (62.7%); however, knowledge that these defects were preventable was lower (22.5%). Only 7.8% of the women made the association between folic acid intake and NTDs. The specific knowledge that NTDs could be prevented with folic acid supplementation before conception was identified by 1.8% of the sample. Pregnant participants were at least twice as likely to be informed about the link. Interpractice variability existed with respect to knowledge of folic acid supplementation. CONCLUSION Knowledge of periconceptional folic acid supplementation for the prevention of NTDs was low in this sample and is likely to be reflected in missed opportunities to prevent an important class of congenital malformations.
H‐2RIIBP (RXR beta) heterodimerization provides a mechanism for combinatorial diversity in the regulation of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone responsive genes.

H‐2RIIBP (RXR beta) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that activates transcription of MHC class I genes in response to retinoic acid (RA). Using chemical cross‐linking, co‐immunoprecipitation, gel mobility shift and streptavidin‐biotin DNA precipitation assays, we show that H‐2RIIBP formed heterodimers with thyroid hormone (T3) and RA receptors (T3R alpha and RAR alpha). H‐2RIIBP heterodimer formation required a conserved sub‐domain of its C‐terminal region, occurred independently of target DNA and was much more efficient than either T3R alpha/RAR alpha heterodimer or H‐2RIIBP homodimer formation. Heterodimers displayed enhanced binding to target DNA elements and contacted DNA in a manner distinct from that of homodimers. A functional role for heterodimers in vivo was demonstrated by synergistic enhancement of MHC class I transcription following co‐transfection of H‐2RIIBP with T3R alpha or RAR alpha. We provide biochemical evidence that H‐2RIIBP formed heterodimers with several naturally occurring nuclear proteins. The results suggest that H‐2RIIBP, by virtue of its ability to heterodimerize, enhances combinatorial diversity and versatility in gene regulation mediated by nuclear hormone receptors.
ELEVATED SERUM LEVELS OF EPITHELIAL CELL APOPTOSIS-SPECIFIC CYTOKERATIN 18 NEOEPITOPE M30 IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS

Apoptosis of the epithelium is deemed to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. A neoepitope in cytokeratin 18 (CK18), termed M30 neoantigen, becomes available at an early caspase cleavage event during apoptosis of epithelium-derived cells and is not detectable in vital or necrotic epithelial cells. A monoclonal antibody, M30, specifically recognizes a fragment of CK18 cleaved at Asp396 (M30 neoantigen). We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure M30 antigen levels in the sera of 15 septic patients. Healthy humans and critical ill patients suffering from severe trauma served as controls. Mann-Whitney U test was used to calculate significance, and a P value of <0.01 was considered to be statistically significant. Serum levels of the CK18 neoepitope M30 were significantly increased in septic patients (236.88 ± 47.4 U/L) versus trauma (97.2 ± 17.1 U/L) and healthy controls (66.9 ± 9.2 U/L) (P < 0.01 and P < 0.008, respectively). The increased serum level of the CK18 neoepitope in septic patients indicates a heightened apoptotic turnover in epithelial cells as compared with trauma patients and healthy controls. Interestingly, nonsurviving trauma patients exhibited a significant increase in the M30 neoantigen as compared with survivors and healthy controls (P < 0.003 and P < 0.002, respectively). The detection of CK18 neoepitope M30 in the serum might be a useful marker in tracing apoptotic epithelium in septic patients.