Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Localization of actin during differentiation of the ameloblast, its related epithelial cells and odontoblasts in the rat incisor using NBD-phallacidin.

Using NBD-phallacidin, which specifically binds to F-actin, we investigated changes in the localization of actin during the differentiation of ameloblasts, related epithelial cells and odontoblasts in rat incisors. In cryosections treated with NBD-phallacidin, intense fluorescence was observed in undifferentiated epithelial cells in the apical loop and at the proximal extremity of undifferentiated inner enamel epithelial cells. During differentiation, the distal extremity began to exhibit strong fluorescence. In cross-sections of secretory ameloblasts, the fluorescence took the form of polygons of uniform intensity at the proximal end, and of rectangles of non-uniform intensity at the distal end. At the distal end, the fluorescence was more intense at right angles to the long axis of the incisor. At the distal end, this pattern was established just before the appearance of the enamel layer. These patterns were maintained during the secretory stage of ameloblasts. The location, pattern and time of appearance of these sites were identical to those of the terminal webs in ameloblasts. NBD-phallacidin weakly labelled the peripheral cytoplasm of the cell body of ameloblasts, and also labelled Tomes' process. The cells forming the stratum intermedium were mainly labelled at their periphery (i.e. forming larger polygons), while the overlying epithelial cells exhibited labelling throughout their cytoplasm. Except for the terminal webs, the cell bodies of odontoblasts were weakly labelled throughout the period of differentiation. Young odontoblasts secreting predentin were first labelled on the terminal web, with the fluorescence becoming gradually more intense as the thickness of the dentin increased. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Tuberculous spondylitis--analysis of 22 cases.

UNLABELLED Tuberculous spondylitis (TS) frequently poses both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The clinical symptoms, radiological imaging studies and laboratory tests are quite often inconclusive in the early stages of the disease. GOAL To identify early clinical symptoms, review results from radiological imaging studies and laboratory tests to establish their diagnostic value and determine the effect of conservative therapy in patients with early TS. RESULTS Twenty two (22) patients with TS subjected to conservative therapy were studied. Medullary compression syndrome was found in 10 patients. The highest diagnostic value was established by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data for discitis engaging two adjacent vertebrae and QuantiFERON TB Gold and T SPOT.TB tests. The effect of the disease on 12 patients, whose treatment had started before the collapse of the bodies of the vertebrae was non-occurrence of any residual deformity of the spinal column. The effect on 9 patients, whose therapy started at a later stage was a recovery of the neurological deficiency and deformity occurrence of various degrees. CONCLUSION Repetitive lateral plain radiographs, MRI and QuantiFERON TB Gold test have proven of highest diagnostic value at this stage of the disease in our patients. The presence of clinical data, accelerated ESR levels, plain radiography and MRI evidence of an inflammatory process preceding the occurrence of bone destruction and the formation of paravertebral soft tissue collection provide sufficient reasons to conduct QuantiFERON TB Gold or T SPOT.TB testing and start an antituberculous therapy. In the frequent cases when the diagnosis cannot be sufficiently proven, we recommend empirical anti-tuberculous therapy.
Determination of regional VA/Q by hyperpolarized 3He MRI

Alveolar ventilation/perfusion ratio (VA/Q) is a key parameter in functional imaging of the lung. Herein, regional VA/Q was calculated from regional values of alveolar partial pressure of oxygen (PAO2) measured by hyperpolarized 3He gas MRI (HP 3He MRI). Yorkshire pigs (n = 7, mean weight = 25 kg) were paralyzed and maintained under isoflurane anesthesia. Animals were placed into a birdcage coil, then transferred to the bore of a 1.5 T MRI unit. Prior to imaging, animals were manually ventilated with room air for 5 min, then a 3He gas mixture was administered during breathhold and imaging performed. PAO2 was measured based on the decay rate of 3He signal. Subjects' blood gas concentrations were measured and these values and PAO2 values entered into a system of four equations with four unknowns. Calculated VA/Q values were analyzed by preparing frequency distributions for the entire lung and compared to VA/Q frequency distributions previously established in the literature as normal using other diagnostic techniques. Distributions were consistent with those in the literature, indicating that HP 3He MRI may be an accurate, quantitative, noninvasive, and nonradioactive method for acquiring VA/Q for small regions of the lung. Magn Reson Med 52:65–72, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Membrane architecture of mitochondria in neurons of the central nervous system

Electron tomography was used to help redefine the membrane architecture of mitochondria in neurons of the brain. Investigations were conducted on unexplored questions of structural homogeneity between mitochondria in the four intensely studied regions of the brain and in the functionally distinct neuronal sub‐compartments. These mitochondria have the majority of cristae composed of both tubular and lamellar segments with the tubes arranged more peripherally and the lamellae more centrally located. Cristae that are entirely tubular were not commonly seen and those that are entirely lamellar were rare. It was determined that cristae connect through narrow, sometimes very long tubular regions to the peripheral surface of the inner membrane. A structurally distinct type of contact site was revealed in brain mitochondria, which we named the bridge contact site. These bridges may play a role in the structural integrity of the outer and inner membrane systems. It was found that the membrane architecture in the various brain regions and neuronal compartments was strikingly uniform, including consistently tubular crista junctions. The functional consequences of this junctional architecture are discussed in relation to the segregation of proteins between the inner boundary membrane and the cristae membranes, and in relation to the model of microcompartmentation of macromolecules inside cristae. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Change of Zinc, Copper, and Metallothionein Concentrations and the Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Patients With Pancreatitis

Objectives: The aims of the present studies were to measure the concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and metallothionein and the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity as elements engaged in an essential manner in the prooxidative and antioxidative balance of organism and to demonstrate the degree to which metallothionein and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase are involved in the inflammatory processes occurring in the pancreas. Methods: The concentration of metallothionein was measured by immunoenzymatic method. Serum Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity was determined using a commercial test. The measurements of Zn and Cu concentrations in serum were assessed with the use of flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: Lowered serum Zn concentration and higher Cu level were observed in the serum of patients with chronic exacerbated pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. The significant increase of metallothionein concentration and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity was observed in the blood of patients with chronic exacerbated pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. In slices of the pancreas during pancreatitis, we observed in immunohistochemical reaction the variable involvement of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and metallothionein. Conclusions: The results presented in these studies indicate an essential and variable involvement of antioxidants such Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and metallothionein and disordered Cu and Zn homeostasis depending on the progression of inflammatory processes in patients with pancreatitis.
Improved Performance of GaN-Based Blue LEDs With the InGaN Insertion Layer Between the MQW Active Layer and the n-GaN Cladding Layer

In this study, we demonstrate the effect of GaN-based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), using an InGaN layer inserted between the n-type GaN cladding layer and the active layer (InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well), on improving device performances. With a 20-mA current injection, the results indicate that the typical output power (or forward voltage) of light-emitting diodes grown with, and without, the InGaN insertion layer are approximately 18.1 (3.1) and 15.3(3.5) mW (V), respectively. This corresponds to an enhancement in output power (wall-plug efficiency) of around 18% (33%), with the use of the InGaN insertion layer. In addition, the electrostatic discharge (ESD) endurance voltages increased from 1000 V to 6000 V when the InGaN insertion layer was applied to the GaN/sapphire-based LEDs. The improvement of output power and ESD endurance voltage could be mainly due to the fact that the Si-doped InGaN insertion layer played the role of a current-spreading layer, which led to a lower possibility of junctions suffering a large current density in specific local sites.
Automated segmentation and quantification of liver and spleen from CT images using normalized probabilistic atlases and enhancement estimation.

PURPOSE To investigate the potential of the normalized probabilistic atlases and computer-aided medical image analysis to automatically segment and quantify livers and spleens for extracting imaging biomarkers (volume and height). METHODS A clinical tool was developed to segment livers and spleen from 257 abdominal contrast-enhanced CT studies. There were 51 normal livers, 44 normal spleens, 128 splenomegaly, 59 hepatomegaly, and 23 partial hepatectomy cases. 20 more contrast-enhanced CT scans from a public site with manual segmentations of mainly pathological livers were used to test the method. Data were acquired on a variety of scanners from different manufacturers and at varying resolution. Probabilistic atlases of livers and spleens were created using manually segmented data from ten noncontrast CT scans (five male and five female). The organ locations were modeled in the physical space and normalized to the position of an anatomical landmark, the xiphoid. The construction and exploitation of liver and spleen atlases enabled the automated quantifications of liver/spleen volumes and heights (midhepatic liver height and cephalocaudal spleen height) from abdominal CT data. The quantification was improved incrementally by a geodesic active contour, patient specific contrast-enhancement characteristics passed to an adaptive convolution, and correction for shape and location errors. RESULTS The livers and spleens were robustly segmented from normal and pathological cases. For the liver, the Dice/Tanimoto volume overlaps were 96.2%/92.7%, the volume/height errors were 2.2%/2.8%, the root-mean-squared error (RMSE) was 2.3 mm, and the average surface distance (ASD) was 1.2 mm. The spleen quantification led to 95.2%/91% Dice/Tanimoto overlaps, 3.3%/ 1.7% volume/height errors, 1.1 mm RMSE, and 0.7 ASD. The correlations (R2) with clinical/manual height measurements were 0.97 and 0.93 for the spleen and liver, respectively (p < 0.0001). No significant difference (p > 0.2) was found comparing interobserver and automatic-manual volume/height errors for liver and spleen. CONCLUSIONS The algorithm is robust to segmenting normal and enlarged spleens and livers, and in the presence of tumors and large morphological changes due to partial hepatectomy. Imaging biomarkers of the liver and spleen from automated computer-assisted tools have the potential to assist the diagnosis of abdominal disorders from routine analysis of clinical data and guide clinical management.
Midterm Results of Radiofrequency Ablation for Incompetent Small Saphenous Vein in Terms of Recanalization and Sural Neuritis

BACKGROUND Safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation for incompetent small saphenous vein is not established. OBJECTIVE To report midterm clinical and ultrasonograhic results of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for small saphenous vein (SSV) in terms of recanalization and sural neuritis. METHODS AND MATERIALS We examined 39 patients (46 limbs) who had been examined using a duplex scan more than 1 year after RFA of SSV. Postoperative clinical results, risk factors for SSV recanalization, and sural neuritis were analyzed. RESULTS CEAP score and CIVIQ2 score improved significantly in all patients (CEAP: 2.45 to 1.43 (p = .03); CIVIQ2: 25.34 to 13.21 (p = .01). SSV obliteration rate was 93.4% at 1 year and 89.1% at 2 years. Preoperative peak reflux velocity in the recanalization group (54.9 cm/s) was significantly higher (p < .01) than in the obliteration group (29.8 cm/s). Sural neuritis were detected in 12 limbs (26.1%), and median symptom duration was 3 months. The total length of RFA ablation was not different between the groups with and without postablation sural neuritis. CONCLUSION RFA is an effective and safe treatment modality for incompetent SSV. Peak reflux velocity can be a risk factor for recanalization. Length of RFA segment in SSV does not affect recanalization and postablation sural neuritis.
A Time Resolution Study of a Continuous Crystal Detector for TOF PET

The majority of current Positron Emission Tomography (PET) systems are based on block-detectors consisting of many scintillating pixels read by a smaller number of photomultipliers (PMTs). An improvement of the time resolution, using a common light readout from a cluster of PMTs, was proposed by Kuhn et al., and tested by us earlier with LSO crystals. This, triggered an idea to design a new PET detector optimized for Time of Flight (TOF) systems, based on continuous crystals. In the present u work, we report on optimization of timing with a 20 × 20 × 20 mm3 LYSO crystal coupled to a 16-channel photomultiplier -a H8711-200MOD from Hamamatsu. First, measurements were =¿ performed of the transit time jitter, the number of photoelectrons and the time resolution using a small 10 × 10 × 5 mm3 LSO crystal coupled to a H8711-200MOD PMT. Results were compared with data collected from fast timing photomultipliers like Photonis XP1020, XP3060, XP20D0 or Hamamatsu R9800. In the second part of the study, the time resolution measurements and the optimization of the system were made with a continuous LYSO crystal. The final results are discussed in terms of the measured photoelectron number and the requirements for the TOF-PET scanners.
Contact Between Police and People With Mental Disorders: A Review of Rates.

OBJECTIVE There is widespread belief that people with mental disorders are overrepresented in police encounters. The prevalence of such interactions is used as evidence of extensive problems in our health care and social support systems. The goal of this study was to estimate the rates of police arrests among people with mental disorders, police involvement in pathways to mental health care, and police calls for service involving persons with mental disorders. METHODS A systematic review was performed with seven multidisciplinary databases. Additional studies were identified by reviewing the reference lists of all included records and by using the "related articles" and "cited articles" tools in the Web of Science database. Studies were included if they were published in peer-reviewed journals, reported primary research findings, and were written in English. RESULTS Eighty-five unique studies covering 329,461 cases met inclusion criteria. Data reported in 21 studies indicated that one in four people with mental disorders have histories of police arrest. Data from 48 studies indicated that about one in ten individuals have police involved in their pathway to mental health care. Data reported in 13 studies indicated that one in 100 police dispatches and encounters involve people with mental disorders. CONCLUSIONS These estimates illuminate the magnitude of the issue and supply an empirically based reference point to scholars and practitioners in this area. The findings are useful for understanding how local trends regarding police involvement in the lives of people with mental disorders compare with rates in the broader research literature.
Broadly neutralizing epitopes in the Plasmodium vivax vaccine candidate Duffy Binding Protein

Significance Plasmodium vivax is a causative agent of malaria that results in high morbidity and mortality. P. vivax Duffy Binding Protein (PvDBP) is a leading vaccine candidate for P. vivax; however, PvDBP is highly variable, which prevents a strain transcending immune response, complicating vaccine design. Here we report the first, to our knowledge, broadly neutralizing antibody epitopes within PvDBP, and expand the known repertoire of neutralizing epitopes for this protein. The identification of broadly conserved inhibitory epitopes provides critical new motifs that should be retained in the next generation of P. vivax malaria vaccines and serve as a basis for rational structure-based vaccine design. Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein (PvDBP) is the most promising vaccine candidate for P. vivax malaria. The polymorphic nature of PvDBP induces strain-specific immune responses, however, and the epitopes of broadly neutralizing antibodies are unknown. These features hamper the rational design of potent DBP-based vaccines and necessitate the identification of globally conserved epitopes. Using X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray scattering, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, and mutational mapping, we have defined epitopes for three inhibitory mAbs (mAbs 2D10, 2H2, and 2C6) and one noninhibitory mAb (3D10) that engage DBP. These studies expand the currently known inhibitory epitope repertoire by establishing protective motifs in subdomain three outside the receptor-binding and dimerization residues of DBP, and introduce globally conserved protective targets. All of the epitopes are highly conserved among DBP alleles. The identification of broadly conserved epitopes of inhibitory antibodies provides critical motifs that should be retained in the next generation of potent vaccines for P. vivax malaria.
Intratesticular Islet Allografts in the Spontaneously Diabetic BB/W Rat

Thirty-three male BB/W rats with diabetes of 11–145 days duration were divided into 3 groups: (1) six received abdominal, intratesticular islet a I log rafts and no immunosuppression posttransplantation; (2) 15 were similarly grafted and in addition were given four injections of ALS regularly at 10-day intervals for 30 days after transplantation; and (3) 12 rats received scrotal, intratesticular islet allografts and four injections of ALS. The results: (1) in the absence of immunosuppression all six of the rats with abdominal, intratesticular islet allografts became normoglycemic within 2 days after transplantation but in none did graft survival exceed 17 days; (2) a marked prolongation of graft survival of >65–441 days occurred in 13 of the 15 animals with identical intratesticular allografts; (3) sustained immunosuppression was not needed for prolonged islet allograft survival in rats with cryptorchid islet allografts; and (4) only one of the 12 rats with scrotal, intratesticular allografts became normoglycemic whereas 11 remained severely glycosuric. However, on surgical translocation of the grafted testes from the scrotum into the abdominal cavity, the rats promptly became normoglycemic in the absence of any additional therapy.
Interval training at VO2max: effects on aerobic performance and overtraining markers.

PURPOSE Between inefficient training and overtraining, an appropriate training stimulus (in terms of intensity and duration) has to be determined in accordance with individual capacities. Interval training at the minimal velocity associated with VO2max (vVO2max) allows an athlete to run for as long as possible at VO2max. Nevertheless, we don't know the influence of a defined increase in training volume at vVO2max on aerobic performance, noradrenaline, and heart rate. METHODS Eight subjects performed 4 wk of normal training (NT) with one session per week at vVO2max, i.e., five repetitions run at 50% of the time limit at vVO2max, with recovery of the same duration at 60% vVO2max. They then performed 4 wk of overload training (OT) with three interval training sessions at vVO2max. RESULTS Normal training significantly improved their velocity associated with VO2max (20.5+/-0.7 vs 21.1+/-0.8 km x h(-1), P = 0.02). As a result of improved running economy (50.6+/-3.5 vs 47.5+/-2.4 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1), P = 0.02), VO2max was not significantly different (71.6+/-4.8 vs 72.7+/-4.8 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1)). Time to exhaustion at vVO2max was not significantly different (301+/-56 vs 283+/-41 s) as was performance (i.e., distance limit run at vVO2max: 2052.2+/-331 vs 1986.2+/-252.9 m). Heart rate at 14 km x h(-1) decreased significantly after NT (162+/-16 vs 155+/-18 bpm, P < 0.01). Lactate threshold remained the same after normal training (84.1+/-4.8% vVO2max). Overload training changed neither the performance nor the factors concerning performance. However, the submaximal heart rate measured at 14 km x h(-1) decreased after overload training (155+/-18 vs 150+/-15 bpm). The maximal heart rate was not significantly different after NT and OT (199+/-9.5, 198+/-11, 194+/-10.4, P = 0.1). Resting plasma norepinephrine (veinous blood sample measured by high pressure liquid chromatography), was unchanged (2.6 vs 2.4 nm x L(-1), P = 0.8). However, plasma norepinephrine measured at the end of the vVO2max test increased significantly (11.1 vs 26.0 nm x L(-1), P = 0.002). CONCLUSION Performance and aerobic factors associated with the performance were not altered by the 4 wk of intensive training at vVO2max despite the increase of plasma noradrenaline.
Dysphagia in Duchenne muscular dystrophy assessed by validated questionnaire.

BACKGROUND Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) leads to progressive muscular weakness and death, most typically from respiratory complications. Dysphagia is common in DMD; however, the most appropriate swallowing assessments have not been universally agreed and the symptoms of dysphagia remain under-reported. AIMS To investigate symptoms of dysphagia in DMD and to determine the potential of the validated Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ) to diagnose dysphagia in this patient group. METHODS & PROCEDURES Three participant groups completed the SSQ and the results were compared: nine DMD participants with dysphagia, six DMD participants without dysphagia and 12 healthy controls. OUTCOMES & RESULTS The questionnaire scores for dysphagic DMD participants were significantly higher than for non-dysphagic DMD participants (p = 0.039) and for healthy controls (p ≤ 0.001). The diagnostic ability of the questionnaire was good for detecting dysphagia in participants with DMD (receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve = 0.89, p = 0.013), with a cut-off score of 224.5 (13.2%) giving a sensitivity of 0.78 and a specificity of 0.83 for determining dysphagia. Dysphagic participants rated time to eat a meal, swallowing hard food, swallowing thick liquids and needing to cough up or spit during meals with the highest severity of all questionnaire items. Results of the questionnaire by item are presented to inform the clinician of the symptoms of dysphagia in DMD. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS DMD leads to pervasive symptoms of dysphagia. The simple SSQ is a clinically informative assessment tool for patients with DMD.