Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer disease with cerebrovascular disease and vascular dementia: clinical features and course compared with Alzheimer disease

Objective: Vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer disease with cerebrovascular disease (AD+CVD) are the leading causes of dementia after Alzheimer disease alone (AD). Little is known about the progression of either VaD or AD+CVD. The aim of this study was to compare demographic features, cognitive decline and survival of patients with VaD, AD+CVD and AD alone attending a memory clinic. Methods: This study included 970 patients who were followed at the Lille-Bailleul memory clinic, France. Cognitive functions were measured with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS). Survival rate was analysed with a left-truncated Cox model. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, hypertension, diabetes and baseline MMSE and DRS. Results: Of 970 patients, 141 had VaD, 663 AD alone and 166 AD+CVD. The latter were significantly older than AD or VaD patients at onset (71 (SD 7) vs 69 (9) and 68 (9) years, p = 0.01) and at first visit (75 (6) vs 73 (8) and 72 (8) years, p = 0.0002). Baseline MMSE and DRS evaluations were highest for VaD compared with AD alone or AD+CVD patients (p<0.006). Cognitive decline during follow-up was slowest for VaD, intermediate for AD+CVD and fastest for AD alone (p = 0.03). After adjustment, compared with AD patients, mortality risk was similar for those with VaD (relative mortality risk (RR) = 0.7 (0.5 to 1.1)) and tended to be lower for AD+CVD (RR = 0.7 (0.5 to 1.0)). The shorter the delay between first symptoms and first visit, the longer patients survived. Conclusion: This clinical cohort study shows that patients with VaD, AD+CVD and AD present different characteristics at baseline and during follow-up, and underlines the need to distinguish between them.
LAAPD low temperature performance in X-ray and visible-light detection

The performance of a large area avalanche photodiode (LAAPD) has been investigated for X-ray and visible-light detection as a function of temperature. Energy resolution improves significantly with decreasing temperature down to 0/spl deg/C and, below that value, at a much slower rate, achieving 9.6% for 5.9 keV X-rays at 0/spl deg/C and for a gain of 60. The gain drift with temperature increases with the reverse bias voltage and is almost constant for temperatures above -15/spl deg/C, reaching rates higher than -5% per degrees Celsius, for a bias voltage of 1770 V. Similar results were obtained for X-ray and visible-light detection. LAAPD nonlinearity between X-ray and light gains is less than 2%, even for gains around 300, and decreases with temperature, being less than 0.5% at 0/spl deg/C, for gains up to 200. For X-rays, the minimum detectable energy is about 0.7 keV at operation temperatures around 16/spl deg/C, for gains above 100, decreasing to about 0.3 keV at temperatures less than 0/spl deg/C, for gains above 200.
Deterministic learning of nonlinear dynamical systems

In this paper, we present an approach for neural networks (NN) based identification of unknown nonlinear dynamical systems undergoing periodic or periodic-like (recurrent) motions. Among various types of NN architectures, we use a dynamical version of the localized RBF neural network, which is shown to be particularly suitable for identification in a dynamical framework. With the associated properties of localized RBF networks, especially the one concerning the persistent excitation (PE) condition for periodic trajectories, the proposed approach achieves sufficiently accurate identification of system dynamics in a local region along the experienced system trajectory. In particular, for neurons whose centers are close to the trajectories, the neural weights converge to a small neighborhood of a set of optimal values; while for other neurons with centers far away from the trajectories, the neural weights are not updated and are almost unchanged. The proposed approach implements a sort of "deterministic learning" in the sense that deterministic features of nonlinear dynamical systems are learned not by algorithms from statistical principles, but in a dynamical, deterministic manner, utilizing results from adaptive systems theory. The nature of this deterministic learning is closely related to the exponentially stability of a class of nonlinear adaptive systems. Simulation studies are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
From ashes to ashes: time for cigarettes to hit the dust

Fifty years have elapsed since publication of the landmark Royal College of Physicians' Report ‘Smoking and health’, which was instrumental in raising public awareness of the adverse health effects of smoking. In spite of the passage of time, smoking remains a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Unsurprisingly, the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO was the ‘Framework convention on tobacco control’. Following adoption by the World Health Assembly in 2003, it acquired 168 signatories, making it one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in the United Nations. The framework outlined a list of complementary recommendations that included protection from exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. Cardiovascular disease is only one of the conditions to which secondhand smoke exposure predisposes. However, the relationship between secondhand smoke and cardiovascular disease is of particular concern because the risk is disproportionately high at relatively low levels of exposure. Side stream smoke contains high levels of toxins and small respirable …
p38MAPK Signaling and Desmoglein-3 Internalization Are Linked Events in Pemphigus Acantholysis*

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease in which antibodies against the desmosomal cadherin, DSG3 (desmoglein-3), cause acantholysis. It has become increasingly clear that loss of cell-cell adhesion in PV is a complex and active process involving multiple signaling events such as activation of p38MAPK. It has also been demonstrated that incubating keratinocytes with PV IgG causes a redistribution of DSG3 from the cell surface to endosomes, which target these proteins for degradation. This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between p38MAPK and DSG3 endocytosis in pemphigus. In this work, we confirm that PV IgG causes internalization of cell-surface DSG3 into endosomes (as early as 4 h), which are then depleted from both detergent-soluble and detergent-insoluble pools. Cell-surface DSG3 internalization and depletion from both the detergent-soluble and detergent-insoluble fractions were blocked by the p38MAPK inhibitor SB202190. These data suggest that p38MAPK is capable of regulating PV IgG-mediated DSG3 internalization and that previously isolated mechanistic observations may be linked to a common pathway by which pemphigus autoantibodies lead to acantholysis.
Assessing reserve adequacy : the colombian case

Las reservas internacionales son muy importantes para las economias emergentes, ya que permiten amortiguar las posibles vulnerabilidades de liquidez que se puedan presentar en la balanza de pagos. En consecuencia, la cuestion de cuantas reservas debe acumular cada pais es un tema relevante para la politica economica. La literatura ha identificado dos enfoques metodologicos diferentes para hacer frente a este problema, a saber, nivel optimo de reservas e indicadores de nivel adecuado, que son revisados cuidadosamente en este trabajo para determinar cual es el mas conveniente para orientar las decisiones de politica en el caso Colombiano. Se adopto el indicador propuesto por el FMI en 2011 para encontrar el nivel adecuado que se debe tener calibrando datos historicos para Colombia. Este nuevo indice conservador sugiere que los niveles de acumulacion de reservas han sido adecuados en los ultimos anos y que solo en casos muy extremos hay espacio para adquirir reservas adicionales. Por ultimo, cabe destacar que la metodologia desarrollada en este trabajo es un complemento a las medidas ya existentes para evaluar los niveles de reservas internacionales que Colombia debe acumular con el fin de reducir su vulnerabilidad a los choques externos.
Sensory Cortical Activity Is Related to the Selection of a Rhythmic Motor Action Pattern

Rats produce robust, highly distinctive orofacial rhythms in response to taste stimuli—responses that aid in the consumption of palatable tastes and the ejection of aversive tastes, and that are sourced in a multifunctional brainstem central pattern generator. Several pieces of indirect evidence suggest that primary gustatory cortex (GC) may be a part of a distributed forebrain circuit involved in the selection of particular consumption-related rhythms, although not in the production of individual mouth movements per se. Here, we performed a series of tests of this hypothesis. We first examined the temporal relationship between GC activity and orofacial behaviors by performing paired single-neuron and electromyographic recordings in awake rats. Using a trial-by-trial analysis, we found that a subset of GC neurons shows a burst of activity beginning before the transition between nondistinct and taste-specific (i.e., consumption-related) orofacial rhythms. We further showed that shifting the latency of consumption-related behavior by selective cueing has an analogous impact on the timing of GC activity. Finally, we showed the complementary result, demonstrating that optogenetic perturbation of GC activity has a modest but significant impact on the probability that a specific rhythm will be produced in response to a strongly aversive taste. GC appears to be a part of a distributed circuit that governs the selection of taste-induced orofacial rhythms. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In many well studied (typically invertebrate) sensorimotor systems, top-down modulation helps motor-control regions “select” movement patterns. Here, we provide evidence that gustatory cortex (GC) may be part of the forebrain circuit that performs this function in relation to oral behaviors (“gapes”) whereby a substance in the mouth is rejected as unpalatable. We show that GC palatability coding is well timed to play this role, and that the latency of these codes changes as the latency of gaping shifts with learning. We go on to show that by silencing these neurons, we can change the likelihood of gaping. These data help to break down the sensory/motor divide by showing a role for sensory cortex in the selection of motor behavior.
Transport of divalent cations: cation exchange capacity of intact xylem vessels.

The cation exchange capacity of the intact xylem vessels in cut shoots of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus spec.) has been determined. The cation exchange capacity is independent of the cation concentration in the transpiration stream, and is equal for Ca and Co. The high value of the cation exchange capacity (0.6 to 1 x 10(-7) equivalents per square centimeter vessel wall surface) leads to the hypothesis that the porous structure of the vessel wall, and not only the inner vessel wall surface, acts as a cation exchanger.Differences between anion ([(32)P]phosphate, [(45)Ca]EDTA(2-), [(115)Cd(m)]-EDTA(2-)), and cation ([(45)Ca](2+), [(115)Cd(m)](2+)) movement are explained in terms of transport with the transpiration flux or by exchange reactions. The competition between exchange sites and natural or synthetic ligands for the divalent cations is discussed.
Sensibilidade precoce às combinações ortográficas entre crianças falantes do português europeu

O objetivo deste estudo e contribuir para o conhecimento do desenvolvimento da sensibilidade das criancas portuguesas para as sequencias grafemicas na fase inicial de aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita. Trata-se de uma competencia sublexical de particular importância na aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita (Apel, Thomas-Tate, Wilson-Fowler e Brimo, 2012), constituindo-se como um forte aliado na escrita, ja que permite uma alternativa muito menos custosa para a memoria do que a memorizacao da forma inteira da representacao ortografica da palavra (Deacon et al., 2012). A investigacao sugere que esta sensibilidade surge tao precocemente quanto o 1o ano de escolaridade (Danjon e Pacton, 2009). Apresentamos os resultados de um estudo longitudinal com quatro momentos de avaliacao ao longo do 1o ano de escolaridade, realizado com 23 criancas falantes nativas do portugues europeu.
Pathogenic Pseudorabies Virus, China, 2012

In 2012, an unprecedented large-scale outbreak of disease in pigs in China caused great economic losses to the swine industry. Isolates from pseudorabies virus epidemics in swine herds were characterized. Evidence confirmed that the pathogenic pseudorabies virus was the etiologic agent of this epidemic.
AN IN VITRO AssessmeNT Of The mARgINAl leAkAge Of COmpOmeR , AmAlgAm AND BONDeD AmAlgAm ResTORATION

Dental caries continues to be a major problem in dentistry and should receive significant attention in every day practice. Removal of dental caries and restoration of the tooth should be done as early as possible to avoid extensive tooth destruction and subsequent pulp involvement. The ideal goal of restorative dentistry in primary teeth is to maintain space length, preserve masticatory function, and prevent infection and chronic inflammation in the oral cavity. (1)
A community-based cohort of 201 consecutive patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome in Israel: Ashkenazi patients compared with those of Sephardic descent.

OBJECTIVE To determine the spectrum and prevalence of the varied manifestations, associated conditions and laboratory abnormalities of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome in Israel and compare them between individuals of Sephardic and Ashkenazi descent and with data from the literature. METHODS A retrospective study of a cohort of 201 consecutive patients diagnosed and followed at a single academic medical center. All cases were diagnosed using stringent criteria according to the American European Concensus Group including a labial minor salivary gland biopsy in all cases. RESULTS Patients' mean age was 57 years and 84% were women. Overall, more than 98% of patients had sicca symptoms of dry eyes and mouth. About 35% of the cohort had hematological manifestations--primarily immune cytopenias, protein immunoelectrophoresis abnormalities and lymphoma. About 20% had associated neurological conditions (not only peripheral but often central nervous system) and 15% had pulmonary involvement. In addition, thyroid disease, liver disease, vascular or cutaneous manifestations, synovitis, ocular and renal disease could be found. In fact, the presenting manifestation was extraglandular or an abnormal test result in 39% of the patients. CONCLUSION No significant differences were found in glandular or extraglandular manifestations or laboratory test results between Ashkenazi and Sephardic patients, despite their genetic differences. A negative history of sicca symptoms effectively rules out primary Sjögren's syndrome in this cohort. These symptoms may not be volunteered by patients and the large variety of extraglandular involvement patterns and associated conditions observed may dominate the patient's presentation, and mandate physicians' awareness and a high index of suspicion for a timely diagnosis.
Constitutive activation of STAT3 in breast cancer cells: A review

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is constitutively activated in numerous cancer types, including more than 40% of breast cancers. In contrast to tight regulation of STAT3 as a latent transcription factor in normal cells, its signaling in breast cancer oncogenesis is multifaceted. Signaling through the IL‐6/JAK/STAT3 pathway initiated by the binding of IL‐6 family of cytokines (i.e., IL‐6 and IL‐11) to their receptors have been implicated in breast cancer development. Receptors with intrinsic kinase activity such as EGFR and VEGFR directly or indirectly induce STAT3 activation in various breast cancer types. Aberrant STAT3 signaling promotes breast tumor progression through deregulation of the expression of downstream target genes which control proliferation (Bcl‐2, Bcl‐xL, Survivin, Cyclin D1, c‐Myc and Mcl‐1), angiogenesis (Hif1α and VEGF) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (Vimentin, TWIST, MMP‐9 and MMP‐7). These multiple modes of STAT3 regulation therefore make it a central linking point for a multitude of signaling processes. Extensive efforts to target STAT3 activation in breast cancer had no remarkable success in the past because the highly interconnected nature of STAT3 signaling introduces lack of selectivity in pathway identification for STAT3 targeted molecular therapies or because its role in tumorigenesis may not be as critical as it was thought. This review provides a full spectrum of STAT3's involvement in breast cancer by consolidating the knowledge about its role in breast cancer development at multiple levels: its differential regulation by different receptor signaling pathways, its downstream target genes, and modification of its transcriptional activity by its coregulatory transcription factors.
Histologic evidence for a toxic polyneuropathy due to exposure to 2,3,7,8 — tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) in rats

2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) is a considerable environmental hazard in industrial societies. Its toxic effects on animals and humans are numerous, but little is known about its neurotoxicity. We studied the neurotoxic effects of TCDD in 80 male, adult Wistar rats. The substance was dissolved in corn oil and a single dose injected intraperitoneally (8.8 μg, 6.6 μg, 4.4μg or 2.2μg/kg). Neurophysiological examinations proved a dose‐related, statistically significant slowing of sensory and motor conduction velocities. Ten months after the application of TCDD peripheral nerves showed a progressive, and proximally accentuated neuropathy. The extent of changes, however, differed remarkably between individual animals. Our data indicate that TCDD caused a toxic polyneuropathy in rats.
Vinorelbine (navelbine) as a salvage treatment for advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Vinorelbine (Navelbine), a new vinca alkaloid, is an effective drug in breast cancer. Our study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and tolerance of Navelbine in refractory advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer (AMBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred heavily pretreated patients with AMBC entered the study and were scheduled to receive 30 mg/m2 of Navelbine weekly by a 20 min i.v. infusion with dose adjustments according to tolerance. All patients had previously received at least one chemotherapy regimen including an anthracycline for advanced disease. RESULTS Sixteen of the 100 assessable patients responded (1 complete response and 15 partial responses), for an overall response rate of 16% (IC 95: 8%-23%). The median duration of response was 5 months (3-18). Responses were seen in lymph nodes (13/27), breast (11/34), soft tissue and skin (13/36), lung (3/14) and liver (2/25), but not in bone metastases. The main toxicities (WHO grade > or = 3) were granulocytopenia and anemia in, respectively, 51% and 9% of all 100 eligible patients. Thrombocytopenia and other non-haematological toxicities consisting of peripheral neuropathy, constipation, nausea/vomiting, alopecia and phlebitis were rare and mild. CONCLUSION Vinorelbine is an active drug in AMBC, particularly in breast, lymph nodes and skin/soft tissue sites, with an excellent tolerance. Since the mean dose intensity was 19.7 mg/m2/week, a dose of 20 mg/m2/week is recommended for heavily pretreated patients (radiotherapy and chemotherapy).
Intravascular Coagulation in Autopsy Cases with Liver Diseases

Summary 184 autopsy cases with liver diseases were examined clinicopathologically with special reference to the incidence and distribution of microthrombi and classic thrombi in various organs. Microthrombi and/or classic thrombi were found in one or more organs in 50.0% to 59.4% of the patients with various liver diseases. But only 4 among 184 patients had many microthrombi in more than three organs and the incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation seemed to be low in autopsy cases with liver diseases. Incidence of microthrombi showed no significant difference in the groups with and without portal vein thrombosis. Hemorrhage in the upper alimentary tracts of the patients with liver cirrhosis did not seem to develop by disseminated intravascular coagulation. Consumption of clotting factors in liver diseases seemed to occur by thrombus formation in portal vein and esophageal varices and by hemorrhage in various organs.
Silenced B-cell receptor response to autoantigen in a poor-prognostic subset of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells express auto/xeno antigen-reactive antibodies that bind to self-epitopes and resemble natural IgM antibodies in their repertoire. One of the antigenic structures recognized is oxidation-induced malonedialdehyde that is present on low-density lipoprotein, apoptotic blebs, and on certain microbes. The poor-prognostic stereotyped subset #1 (Clan I IGHV genes-IGKV1(D)-39) express IgM B-cell receptors that bind oxidized low-density lipoprotein. In this study, we have used for the first time this authentic cognate antigen for analysis of downstream B-cell receptor-signal transduction events, since it is more faithful to B-cell physiology than anti-IgM. Multivalent oxidized low-density lipoprotein showed specific binding to subset #1 IgM/IgD B-cell receptors, whereas native low-density lipoprotein did not. The antigen binding induced prompt receptor clustering followed by internalization. However, the receptor-signal transduction was silenced, revealing no Ca2+ mobilization or cell-cycle entry, while phosphorylated extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 basal levels were high and could not be elevated further by oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Interestingly, B-cell receptor responsiveness was recovered after 48-h culture in the absence of antigen in half of the cases. Toll-like receptor 9-ligand was found to breach the B-cell receptor-signaling incompetence in 5 of 12 cases pointing to intra-subset heterogeneity. Altogether, this study supports B-cell receptor unresponsiveness to cognate self-antigen on its own in poor-prognostic subset #1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, indicating that these cells proliferate by other mechanisms that may override B-cell receptor silencing brought about in a context of self-tolerance/anergy. These novel findings have implications for the understanding of chronic lymphocytic leukemia pathobiology and therapy.
Viral hepatitis in a Canadian street-involved population.

BACKGROUND Data on the prevalence and compliance with management of viral hepatitis in the street-involved population are limited. METHOD Hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV) and C (HCV) serology and compliance with HBV vaccination were documented in 533 street-involved individuals. RESULTS The mean age of the study population was 25.7 years (range: 11-65) and 53% were female. Serologic evidence of HAV infection was present in 53%; HBV, 12% (3% ongoing infection); and HCV, 17%. HAV infections were associated with Aboriginal/Metis ethnicity and age over 25 years; HBV with injection drug use (IDU); and HCV with IDU, sex trade work and age over 25 years. Compliance with three-step HBV vaccination was 98%, 77% and 63%. CONCLUSIONS HAV, HBV and HCV are common infections in urban street-involved persons. Successful HBV (and presumably HAV) vaccination can be achieved in the majority of this population, but concerns exist regarding compliance with more long-term, parenterally-based antiviral therapies.