Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of abdominal sonography in the preoperative diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia in infants younger than 90 days.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to prospectively assess the role of abdominal sonography in the preoperative diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) in infants younger than 90 days. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Sonography was performed in 99 infants younger than 90 days with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia (total bilirubin > 3 mg/dL, conjugated bilirubin > 20% of total) after 4 hours of fasting. They were evaluated for the "triangular cord" sign, the presence and morphology of the gallbladder, gallbladder contraction after oral feeding, the presence and diameter of the common bile duct (CBD), liver size and echotexture, spleen size, caliber of the right branch of the hepatic artery, and caliber of the right branch of the portal vein. The final diagnosis of EHBA was made on basis of surgery. The performance of sonography in the diagnosis of EHBA was evaluated. RESULTS The study group was composed of 68 boys and 31 girls (age range, 13-89 days); of the 99 infants, 30 had EHBA. The triangular cord sign had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 23.3%, 97.1%, 77.8%, and 74.4%, respectively. The gallbladder was not visualized in seven infants, all of whom had EHBA. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of an abnormal gallbladder were 83.3%%, 82.6%, 67.6%, and 91.9%, respectively, and for noncontraction of the gallbladder were 87%, 72.5%, 51.3%, and 94.3%, respectively. A nonvisualized CBD had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 93.3%, 47.8%, 43.8%, and 94.3%, respectively. A negative triangular cord sign with normal gallbladder morphology had an NPV of 91.9% for excluding EHBA. CONCLUSION Comprehensive sonographic evaluation can help in segregating infants at high risk of EHBA from those at low risk.
Clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and Ets-1 gene expression in patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is a member of the MMP family and has a wide variety of substrate spectra. Ets domain transcription factors are reported to play an important role in carcinoma invasion and metastasis. The regulatory role of Ets-1 has been shown in several MMPs. We have hypothesized that MMP-7 and Ets-1 mRNA levels could be predictors of the development and invasion of lung cancer. METHODS The study included 73 lung cancer cases. The mRNA levels were quantified by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a LightCycler. RESULTS No significant difference in MMP-7 and Ets-1 mRNA levels was found among gender, age, and pathological subtype. The MMP-7 mRNA levels were elevated in tumor tissues from stage II-IV lung cancer (1.629 +/- 2.267) compared to those from stage I lung cancer (0.762 +/- 1.463) (P = 0.0290). There was a tendency toward higher MMP-7 mRNA expression levels in tumors with lymph node metastasis (1.728 +/- 2.432) compared to those without lymph node metastasis (1.141 +/- 1.838) (P = 0.1076). Thus, MMP-7 mRNA levels may serve as a marker of higher stages in lung cancer. No significant difference in Ets-1 mRNA levels was found among clinical stages and T-status. The Ets-1 mRNA levels were elevated in tumors from N2 patients (7.512 +/- 13.306) compared to those from N0 patients (2.525 +/- 4.719) (P = 0.0209). Ets-1 mRNA levels showed a positive correlation with MMP-7 expression (P = 0.0042). CONCLUSIONS Using the LightCycler RT-PCR assay, the determination of MMP-7 and Ets-1 mRNA levels might provide a potential marker for advanced lung cancer. However, further studies and a longer follow-up are needed to confirm the impact of MMP-7 in the biological behavior of the tumor.
Police contact within 3 months of suicide and associated health service contact

Summary We evaluated police contact with individuals prior to suicide, using a systematic study of suicides within County Durham and Darlington over a 3-year period and analysis of police computer records covering the same area. Atotal of 205 cases of suicide were identified. A fifth of these (n=41) had a documented contact with police within 3 months prior to the suicide, there was an equal mixture of victims and alleged perpetrators of crime, and a significant number of those with police contact had also seen a health professional recently. As many people see a police officer in the 3 months prior to their suicide as see a mental health professional within 12 months prior to suicide. Our findings have implications for suicide prevention.
Preparation of 14C-Spiro Ethers by Chamomile and their Use by an Investigation of Absorption

Chamomile is used as antiphlogistic, spasmolytic and ulcus protective remedy. The spasmolytic action is concerned to the flavonoids (1) and Spiro ethers (2,3). The spiro ethers are unstable compounds, therefore it is unknown how long these substances remain in an intact form in the stomach and intestine and whether they are absorbed. To answer this question, '4Clabelled spiro ethers are prepared and applicated on mice. The labelling was done by injecting of the precursor "C-acetate into the flowers of a polyploid Chamomile (4). After an incubation time of 3 days the spiro ethers were isolated from the essential oil or dichlormethane extract by preparative thin layer chromatography. For investigation of absorption, litCi '4C-spiro ether, emulsified in 300 tl milk with 6 mg epicuron, was applicated per mouse. 3 hours later the total radioactivity content in stomach, intestine, organs and different tissues was measured after combustion of an aliquot. Another aliquot tissue was extracted by dichlormethane —methanole (2:1) and the extract was analysed by thin layer and autoradiography. By these investigations it could be demonstrated that 3 hours after application, about 50% of the radioactivity still remained in stomach and intestine. The other part was distributed in tissues and organs. Liver, fat tissue, skin and muscle contained a relatively high radioactivity. With the aid of autoradiography, intact spiro ether could be domonstrated in the stomach and intestine. The radioactivity in the tissues and organs partially descendet from metabolites. These results indicate that the spasmolytic spiro ethers have a long action in the stomach and intestine, and are absorbed and distributed in organs and tissues.
Localization of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs-2, 8, 9 and 20) in normal and carious dentine.

BACKGROUND Dentine matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may participate in the destruction of dentine following demineralization by bacterial acids. This study investigated the localization of MMPs in carious dentine. METHODS Frozen sections of dentine caries were prepared without demineralization and immersed in monoclonal antibody against MMP-2, -8, -9 and -20. The sections were labelled by IgG conjugated with gold colloidal particles, and observed under FE-SEM. Labelling indexes (number of gold particles/mum(2)) of outer and inner carious dentine, respectively, with and without bacterial infection, were compared with that of normal dentine. RESULTS MMP-2 was distributed in both carious and normal dentine; the level of MMP-2 showed no significant difference among the outer caries, inner caries, and normal dentine. The labelling indexes of MMP-8 and MMP-9 both significantly decreased at the inner carious dentine compared with the level of normal dentine, but intensified again at the outer caries region. The labelling index of MMP-20 was the highest at normal dentine. CONCLUSIONS The localization of MMPs was visibly detected using immunogold labelling. The localization of MMP-2 showed no significant difference among the three regions, while MMP-8 and MMP-9 showed significant reduction at the inner caries layer, and MMP-20 reduced toward the outer caries.
Energy Depletion Inhibits Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling and Induces Apoptosis via AMP-activated Protein Kinase-dependent Phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser-794*

Energy depletion activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibits cell growth via TSC2-dependent suppression of mTORC1 signaling. Long term energy depletion also induces apoptosis by mechanisms that are not well understood to date. Here we show that AMPK, activated by energy depletion, inhibited cell survival by binding to and phosphorylating IRS-1 at Ser-794. Phosphorylation of IRS-1 at this site inhibited phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling, suppressed the mitochondrial membrane potential, and promoted apoptosis. Of the treatments promoting energy depletion, glucose deprivation, hypoxia, and inhibition of ATP synthesis in the mitochondria stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser-794 via an LKB1/AMPK-dependent manner, whereas oxidative stress and 2-deoxyglucose stimulated phosphorylation at this site via a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β/AMPK axis. These data define a novel pathway that cooperates with other adaptive mechanisms to formulate the cellular response to energy depletion.
Resveratrol induces Fas signalling‐independent apoptosis in THP‐1 human monocytic leukaemia cells

Resveratrol, a natural product present in wine, has recently been shown to inhibit the growth of a number of cancer cell lines in vitro. In the current study, we have demonstrated that resveratrol inhibits the growth of THP‐1 human monocytic leukaemia cells in a dose‐dependent manner with a median effective dose of 12 μm. It did not induce differentiation of THP‐1 cells and had no toxic effect on THP‐1 cells that had been induced to differentiate into monocytes/macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate. A significant fraction of resveratrol‐treated cells underwent apoptosis as judged by flow cytometric analysis of DNA content, DNA fragmentation and caspase‐specific cleavage of poly(ADP‐ribosyl) polymerase. Resveratrol treatment had no effect on the expression of Fas receptor or Fas ligand (FasL) in THP‐1 cells, nor did it induce clustering of Fas receptors. In addition, THP‐1 cells were resistant to activating anti‐Fas antibody, and neutralizing anti‐Fas and/or anti‐FasL antibodies had no protective effect against resveratrol‐induced inhibition of THP‐1 cell growth. The effect of resveratrol on THP‐1 cells was reversible after its removal from the culture medium. These results suggest that (1) resveratrol inhibits the growth of THP‐1 cells, at least in part, by inducing apoptosis, (2) resveratrol‐induced apoptosis of THP‐1 cells is independent of the Fas/FasL signalling pathway and (3) resveratrol does not induce differentation of THP‐1 cells and has no toxic effect on differentiated THP‐1 cells. Thus, resveratrol may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of acute monocytic leukaemia.
CD133+ cells from human peripheral blood promote corticospinal axon regeneration

To assess the effect of endothelial progenitor cells on the axon growth of cortex neurons, we transplanted CD133+ cells derived from human peripheral blood to an organotypic coculture system consisting of spinal cord and cortex from neonatal rats. The axon growth from cortex to spinal cord was significantly promoted in cultures after CD133+ cells transplantation compared with that of the control cultures. In addition, real-time reverse transcription-PCR showed a significant upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in the spinal cord of the cultures containing CD133+ cells. In contrast, the transplanted cells did not differentiate into endothelial cells. These data suggest that CD133+ cells may promote axonal regeneration by upregulating vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in spinal cord tissues.
Expression of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: relationship with tumor dissemination and prognostic importance.

PURPOSE To study the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and to assess its correlation with disease extension and prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS ICAM-1 (CD54-IOL54) expression was studied in 70 patients (35 male/35 female; median age, 56 years) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from a single institution. Immunostaining was performed using a streptavidine-biotin alkaline phosphatase method and ICAM-1 expression was evaluated in a semiquantitative manner. The histologic distribution of the cases was the following: small lymphocytic, five cases; follicular, 14; mantle cell, five; diffuse large cell, 41; and T lymphoblastic, five. Forty patients (57%) were in stage IV, bulky disease was observed in 25 patients (36%), and extranodal involvement in 48 patients (69%). RESULTS ICAM-1 expression was negative (-) in 14 patients (20%), weak (+) in 21 (30%), positive (++) in 30 (43%), and strongly positive ( ) in five (7%). No significant relationship was found between ICAM-1 expression and the lymphoma histologic subtype. Patients with negative or weak ICAM-1 expression had more frequently disseminated (stage IV) disease (74% v 40%; P = .007), extranodal involvement (86% v 51%; P = .004), and bone marrow infiltration (57% v 26%; P = .015) than the remainders. Positive ICAM-1 patients had survival rates significantly better than those in whom ICAM-1 was negative or weakly expressed [2-year overall survival: 77% v 50%, respectively; P < . 025]. In a multivariate study, ICAM-1 (P = .005) maintained, along with histologic subtype (P = .001) and the international prognostic index (IPI) (P = .056), its importance for predicting survival. Finally, when the group of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients was analyzed, ICAM-1 expression inversely correlated with advanced stage (P = .025), extranodal involvement (P = .01), and bone marrow infiltration (P = .01), complete response (CR) achievement (65% v 32%; P = .025), and overall survival (70% v 26% at 2 years; P < .005). CONCLUSION In lymphoma patients, ICAM-1 expression correlates with lymphoma dissemination and is useful to assess prognosis.
On the Confluence of Self-Esteem Maintenance Mechanisms

A case is made for the substitutability of self-esteem regulation mechanisms such as cognitive dissonance reduction, self-affirmation, and social comparison. For example, a threat to self via cognitive dissonance might be reduced by a favorable social comparison outcome. To explain substitution, it is suggested that self-esteem regulation mechanisms inevitably produce affect and that affect mediates the completion of various self-esteem regulation processes. Substitution can be understood in terms of the transfer of affect from the initial mechanism to the substitute mechanism. To be effective, this transfer must take place without awareness. Also discussed is the substitution of self-esteem regulation mechanisms across different self-domains versus within a single self-domain. Current theory suggests that substitution might be more effective within domain; that is, it is better to bolster the aspect of self that has been threatened. It is suggested here, however, that substitution across self-domain might be relatively resilient and easier to accomplish.
Contraintes d'intégrité pour XML. Visite guidée par une syntaxe homogène

The XML format is used to represent real-world data, which must respect certain integrity constraints. These constraints are defined to ensure accuracy and consistency of data. Within the framework of relational databases, integrity constraints have been extensively studied and since the beginning of 2000 's, their XML equivalents are explored by several researches, which focused their attention on a type or another of constraint. This article aims to be a survey on XML integrity constraints by providing a homogeneous formalism and by clarifying the semantics of each type of constraint.
Effects of a community-based, professionally supervised intervention on physical activity levels among residents of Recife, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES We evaluated the effects of a community-based intervention, the Academia da Cidade program (ACP), on increasing leisure-time physical activity among residents of Recife, Brazil. METHODS We used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess leisure-time physical activity and transport physical activity (i.e., activities involved in traveling from place to place) levels in a random sample of 2047 Recife residents surveyed in 2007. We also examined factors related to exposure to ACP (participation in the intervention, residing near an intervention site, hearing about or seeing intervention activities). We estimated prevalence odds ratios (ORs) of moderate to high leisure-time and transport physical activity levels via intervention exposures adjusted for sociodemographic, health, and environmental variables. RESULTS Prevalence ORs for moderate to high levels of leisure-time physical activity were higher among former (prevalence OR=2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.0, 3.9) and current (prevalence OR=11.3; 95% CI=3.5, 35.9) intervention participants and those who had heard about or seen an intervention activity (prevalence OR=1.8; 95% CI=1.3, 2.5). Transport physical activity levels were inversely associated with residing near an ACP site. CONCLUSIONS The ACP program appears to be an effective public health strategy to increase population-level physical activity in urban developing settings.
Cross-cultural comparison of depressive symptoms in Europe does not support stereotypes of ageing

Background Stereotypes of older people suggest that they are depressed. Aims To examine depression symptoms among people aged ⩾65 in the general population and to ask the following questions. Are there high proportions of depressive symptoms among otherwise well people? Do these levels reflect the prevalence of depression? Do key symptoms vary with age and do they confirm stereotypes? Method Nine centres contributed data from community-based random samples, using standardised methods (GMS–AGECAT package) Results Proportions of depressive symptoms varied between centres. Some often associated with ageing were rare. Many were more common in women. Low-prevalence centres tended to have fewer symptoms among ‘well’ people, but there were inconsistencies. Low levels of symptoms among the well population of a centre did not necessarily predict lower levels in the depressed. Conclusions Variations in the prevalence of depressive symptoms occurred between centres, not always related to levels of illness. There was no consistent relationship between proportions of symptoms in well persons and cases for all centres. Few symptoms were present in > 60% of the older population – stereotypes of old age were not upheld.
Treatment of radiation induced hemorrhagic cystitis with hyperbaric oxygen.

PURPOSE Hemorrhagic cystitis can occur 6 months to 10 years after pelvic radiation therapy with moderate to severe persistent rates of hematuria as 3% to 5% after radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies. Current treatment modalities for hemorrhagic cystitis include oral and intravenous agents, intravesical therapy and selective embolization of the hypogastric arteries. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is now a widely accepted treatment option for radiation induced hemorrhagic cystitis. We assess the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen for treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS From May 1988 through March 2001, 62 patients with radiation induced hemorrhagic cystitis were treated with hyperbaric oxygen at our institution. Followup ranged from 10 to 120 months. The primary pathological conditions were prostate cancer (81%) and bladder cancer (10%). Mean patient age was 70 years (range 15 to 88). Mean time between completion of radiation therapy and onset of hematuria was 48 months (range 0 to 355). Patients received an average of 33 hyperbaric oxygen treatments (range 9 to 68). RESULTS Of the 62 patients treated information on 57 was available for analysis. Of the 57 patients (86%) 49 experienced complete resolution or marked improvement of hematuria following hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Of the 8 patients who did not improve 4 received fewer than 40 hyperbaric oxygen treatments and 7 prematurely terminated treatment (medical co-morbidities 4, claustrophobia 2, temporary resolution of symptoms 1). CONCLUSIONS Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation induced hemorrhagic cystitis is an efficacious treatment modality for patients in whom other forms of management have failed.
Analysis of genetic diversity and structure in Ethiopian populations of Phytolacca dodecandra using RAPD.

The genetic diversity and structure in 17 wild populations (249 individuals) of Phytolacca dodecandra (endod) sampled along altitudinal gradients of 1600-3000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.) in Ethiopia was studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). A total of 70 polymorphic loci (P) scored from 12 RAPD primers were used to calculate different diversity indices within and between populations, habitats, geographical regions, climatic zones and altitude groups. The number of polymorphic loci and overall Shannon information measure (H) in the populations varied from 30 to 55 and from 0.228 to 0.418, respectively. In general, differences in population variability were found significantly correlated to effective population size. Both P and H were significantly higher in an undisturbed than in a disturbed habitat, and in the lowland and central-highland than in the highland altitude group. However, for both parameters the differences were not statistically significant between regions and climatic zones. Genetic distance between populations varied from 0.301 to 0.628. Cluster analysis performed using the genetic distance matrix revealed a clear separation of the highland populations (2501-3000 m.a.s.l.) from those of the lowland/central-highlands (1600-2500 m.a.s.l.) irrespective of their geographical regions and climatic zones. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that differences in habitat, geographical regions and climatic zones explained 4.6%, 2.5% and 4.6%, respectively. But none of these differences were significant. Altitude explained 17.2% of the total variance and was highly significant. The data, therefore, clearly indicated the association of genetic structure in endod with altitude. The proportion of RAPD variation found among populations (21.2-35.0%) was somewhat intermediate between values reported for selfing and outcrossing species. The fixation index (FST) values (0.350 to 0.384) indicated very high genetic differentiation among populations.
sar Genetic determinants necessary for transcription of RNAII and RNAIII in the agr locus of Staphylococcus aureus

The temporal expression of most virulence factors in Staphylococcus aureus is regulated by pleiotropic loci such as agr and sar. We have previously shown that the sar locus affects hemolysin production because it is required for agr transcription. To delineate the sar genetic determinant required for agr transcription, single copies of fragments from the sar locus, encompassing the individual sar transcripts (sarA, sarC, and sarB), were introduced into a sar mutant via the integration vector pCL84. Although a DNA fragment encompassing the sarA transcript plus a 189-bp upstream region was sufficient for agr expression, complementation analysis revealed that the sarB transcript was the most effective in augmenting agr transcription as determined by RNAII and RNAIII transcription and gel retardation assays with the P2 and P3 promoters of agr. As the region upstream of the sarA transcript encodes a 39-amino-acid open reading frame, ORF3, it is possible that posttranslational cooperation between the sarA gene product and ORF3 may be necessary for optimal agr expression. Deletion studies demonstrated that an intact sarA gene is essential for agr transcription. However, mutagenesis and in vitro translation studies revealed that unlike the agr locus, the required element is the SarA protein and not the RNA molecule. Taken together, these results indicate that the sarA-encoded protein, possibly in conjunction with peptides encoded in the upstream region, regulates hemolysin production by controlling agr P2 and P3 transcription.