Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-dimensional electrophoresis with immobilized pH gradients: current state.

Two-dimensional (2-D) electrophoresis as it was introduced by O’Farrell in 1975 [ 11 is unsurpassed by any other technique for simultaneously resolving hundreds of polypeptides. The usefulness of this method has been documented in thousands of publications. However, 2-D electrophoresis is still a demanding procedure with respect to performance and required expertise [2-41. Because of the large number of proteins, routine comparison of multiple 2-D patterns is carried out preferably using a computer program. However, automatic comparison is difficult when, for methodological reasons, protein migration varies. Computer-assisted pattern matching programmes can be highly accurate for similar, high-quality gels, although this accuracy decreases with decreasing quality and similarity of gels so that many spots may be mismatched. Also, when a mismatch has occurred even more unrelated spots are brought together [ 51. Additionally, for establishing collective databases by evaluating results not only from one laboratory but also from different laboratories, the importance of achieving maximum reproducibility in spot positions in 2-D patterns cannot be overemphasized. In spite of methodological improvements and the availability of sophisticated instrumentation, problems of pattern reproducibility remain when using isoelectric focusing (IEF) with carrier ampholytes. Equilibrium IEF with carrier ampholytes cannot be achieved because of pH gradient instability with time. As a result of electroendosmotic effects, the pH gradient moves to the cathode (cathodic drift) and flattens in the centre (plateau phenomenon) [6, 71. Consequently, time-dependent, not stationary protein patterns are obtained. In addition, the reproducibility of pH gradient profiles is limited by batch-to-batch variability of carrier ampholyte preparations. The storage of large amounts of one batch of carrier ampholytes or the blending of new batches in order to maintain a defined pH gradient for long-term studies will help; however, this is a tedious procedure. With the introduction of immobilized pH gradients (IPG), the problems of pH gradient stability and reproducibility have been overcome
A sequential histological study of bone marrow fibrosis in idiopathic myelofibrosis

Abstract: A sequential histological study of bone marrow biopsies from 36 patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis was performed to investigate the accumulation of connective tissue in the bone marrow during the course of the disease and the influence of therapy on this process. The degree of bone marrow fibrosis was graded semiquantitatively from 0 (normal) to + 5 (extensive collagen fibrosis and ostemyelosclerosis). The median interval between the first and final biopsy was 25 months (range 3 to 103) in patients with chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis and 2 months (range 1 to 14) in patients with a syndrome of acute myelofibrosis. In most patients with chronic IMF the bone marrow fibrosis remained unchanged. Regression of bone marrow fibrosis in 9 patients with chronic IMF was associated with immunosuppressive/‐cytotoxic treatment or splenectomy. Severe bone marrow fibrosis completely resolved during intensive chemotherapy of a patient with acute myelofibrosis. No relationship existed between spleen size and the degree of bone marrow fibrosis.
Long‐term loading inhibits ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increases FGFR3 expression in MC3T3‐E1 osteoblast cells

Bone tissue homeostasis relies upon the ability of cells to detect and interpret extracellular signals that direct changes in tissue architecture. This study utilized a four‐point bending model to create both fluid shear and strain forces (loading) during the time‐dependent progression of MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblasts along the osteogenic lineage. Loading was shown to increase cell number, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen synthesis, and the mRNA expression levels of Runx2, osteocalcin (OC), osteopontin, and cyclo‐oxygenase‐2. However, mineralization in these cultures was inhibited, despite an increase in calcium accumulation, suggesting that loading may inhibit mineralization in order to increase matrix deposition. Loading also increased fibroblast growth factor receptor‐3 (FGFR3) expression coincident with an inhibition of FGFR1, FGFR4, FGF1, and extracellular signal‐related kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation. To examine whether these loading‐induced changes in cell phenotype and FGFR expression could be attributed to the inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, cells were grown for 25 days in the presence of the MEK1/2 inhibitor, U0126. Significant increases in the expression of FGFR3, ALP, and OC were observed, as well as the inhibition of FGFR1, FGFR4, and FGF1. However, U0126 also increased matrix mineralization, demonstrating that inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation cannot fully account for the changes observed in response to loading. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that preosteoblasts are mechanoresponsive, and that long‐term loading, whilst increasing proliferation and differentiation of preosteoblasts, inhibits matrix mineralization. In addition, the increase in FGFR3 expression suggests that it may have a role in osteoblast differentiation. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 894–904, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Treatment Options for Patellar Tendinopathy: Critical Review

Patellar tendinopathy is a painful knee injury due to overuse common among jumping athletes. Because rest from sport is neither a feasible nor an effective treatment for patellar tendinopathy in elite athletes, active treatment options are needed. Treatment may be conservative, injection-based, or surgical. This review synthesizes findings from 32 studies of varying quality published between 2001 and 2011. Painful eccentric squats using a 25°-decline board is supported as a first-line treatment. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is no more effective than placebo. Sclerosing injections seem to be effective, but the evidence is not definitive. Shaving of abnormal tissue via arthroscopic surgery with real-time ultrasound guidance is superior to sclerosing injections. Steroid injections are inferior to exercise interventions and are not recommended. Injections of autologous blood, platelet-rich plasma, and hyperosmolar dextrose are unproven and experimental. Clinicians need to have a comprehensive knowledge of the evidence in the literature, as well as training and experience, when treating patellar tendinopathy.
Several methods to assess improvement in risk prediction models: Extension to survival analysis

Risk prediction models have been widely applied for the prediction of long‐term incidence of disease. Several parameters have been identified and estimators developed to quantify the predictive ability of models and to compare new models with traditional models. These estimators have not generally accounted for censoring in the survival data normally available for fitting the models. This paper remedies that problem. The primary parameters considered are net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). We have previously similarly considered a primary measure of concordance, area under the ROC curve (AUC), also called the c‐statistic. We also include here consideration of population attributable risk (PAR) and ratio of predicted risk in the top quintile of risk to that in the bottom quintile. We evaluated estimators of these various parameters both with simulation studies and also as applied to a prospective study of coronary heart disease (CHD). Our simulation studies showed that in general our estimators had little bias, and less bias and smaller variances than the traditional estimators. We have applied our methods to assessing improvement in risk prediction for each traditional CHD risk factor compared to a model without that factor. These traditional risk factors are considered valuable, yet when adding any of them to a risk prediction model that has omitted the one factor, the improvement is generally small for any of the parameters. This experience should prepare us to not expect large values of the risk prediction improvement evaluation parameters for any new risk factor to be discovered. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Successful Allotransplantation of Encapsulated Islets in Pancreatectomized Canines for Diabetic Management Without the Use of Immunosuppression

Background. Pancreatic islet transplantation has shown great success in the treatment of diabetic patients. However, the required immunosuppressive therapy exposes patients to serious side effects. Methods. We have designed a novel five-component/three-membrane capsule and encapsulation system to protect the transplanted islet cells from immune system attack while allowing the influx of molecules and nutrients necessary for cell function/survival and efflux of the desired cellular product, specifically insulin, for making recipients healthy. Results. We transplanted encapsulated canine pancreatic islets into the peritoneal cavity of pancreatectomized canines. Transplantation normalized fasting blood glucose levels in nine out of nine dogs for up to 214 days with a single transplantation. Retransplantation was assessed in three animals and encapsulated islets were effective in providing fasting glycemic control after the initial transplantation had run its course. No immunosuppression or anti-inflammatory therapy was used. Conclusion. This advancement in transplantation may lead to an alternative approach for islet transplantation treatment for diabetic patients. This approach may also benefit patients suffering from other hormone deficiency diseases including liver disease and Parkinson’s disease.
How Does Guanxi Affect Intention to Share Knowledge in the US? A Replication Study

We undertake a replication of research conducted in China, The Impact of Trust, Guanxi Orientation and Face on the Intention of Chinese Employees and Managers to Engage in Peer-To-Peer Tacit and Explicit Knowledge Sharing, originally published in Information Systems Journal. The study explores how aspects of Guanxi affect the intention to share knowledge. Guanxi is the Chinese phenomenon of a tight network or relationship, and the original research found that it influences the intention to share both tacit and explicit knowledge. The original study explored Cognitive, Affect, Face-Saving, and Face-Gaining constructs in explaining the influences on the intention to share knowledge. We look at how this study translates to a US business school to find out if any of the original constructs apply outside of Chinese culture in regards to sharing knowledge. Our study did not demonstrate any relationship with the FaceSaving or Face-Gaining aspects of Guanxi on the intention to share knowledge. On the other hand, we did find that the Cognitive construct (skills) had a positive relationship with knowledge sharing, unlike the original. Last, both studies demonstrate a relationship between Affect and knowledge sharing, as well as Guanxi (or relationship) and knowledge sharing, indicating that people who get along well and like each other are more likely to share knowledge, regardless of Chinese or US cultural background.
The impact of tumor location on prognosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

PURPOSE We assessed the impact of traditional prognostic factors and tumor location on the survival of patients treated for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the data on 86 patients with upper tract TCC who underwent nephroureterectomy with a bladder cuff (95%) or parenchymal sparing surgery (5%). Mean patient age was 59.5 years and median followup was 43.8 months. The influence of traditional prognostic factors such as age, gender, tumor stage, grade and location on 5-year disease specific and recurrence-free (local recurrence or distant metastasis) survival rates was analyzed. The difference in survival rates between renal 45 pelvis and 41 ureteral cases was analyzed according to the respective T stage and grade. RESULTS Overall 5-year disease specific and recurrence-free survival rates were 83% and 72%, respectively. The significant prognostic factors for survival rates by univariate analysis were T stage, grade and location. N stage was significant for 5-year recurrence-free survival. On multivariate analysis tumor location was the only independent prognostic factor for the 2 survival rates, while N stage was significant for 5-year recurrence-free survival. Patients with ureteral tumor had a worse prognosis than those with pelvis tumor at the same stage or grade (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS Pelvis and ureteral TCC are not the same disease in terms of invasion and prognosis. Ureteral TCC is associated with a higher local or distant failure rate than renal pelvis TCC. A radical surgical approach including meticulous lymphadenectomy may be therapeutic in patients with invasive ureteral TCC.
Assessment of early post-operative pain following septorhinoplasty

Abstract Objective: To evaluate pain incidence and intensity in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty, and to assess analgesic treatment effectiveness, in the first 7 days after surgery. Design: Prospective outcomes analysis using visual analogue scale assessment of pain intensity in the first 7 post-operative days. Subjects: Fifty-seven patients were enrolled in the study, 29 women and 28 men, aged 18 to 51 years. All were treated for post-traumatic deformity of the external nose and/or nasal septum, with either septorhinoplasty or septoplasty. Results: In the first 3 days after septorhinoplasty, patients' mean visual analogue scale pain score exceeded the range denoting ‘analgesic success’, and showed considerable exacerbation in the evening. Patients' pain decreased to a mean score of 15.4 one hour after administration of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (metamizole). Conclusion: Analgesia is recommended for all patients in the first 3 days after septorhinoplasty, especially in the early evening.
Antifungal therapy decreases sensitivity of the Aspergillus galactomannan enzyme immunoassay.

BACKGROUND Reported sensitivity of the galactomannan enzyme immunoassay as an early diagnostic test for invasive aspergillosis (IA) has been widely variable, ranging from 29% to 100% in earlier clinical studies. METHODS Studies performed to date have analyzed performance using per-patient calculations, limiting their ability to measure the impact of clinical variables that change over time, such as receipt of preventive antifungal therapy. In our study, performance of the test was calculated in per-patient and per-test analyses in a large cohort of patients at high risk for IA from 2 North American centers. A total of 272 serum samples obtained from 46 patients with IA and 3005 serum samples obtained from 269 control patients were analyzed using multiple index cutoff values to define positivity. RESULTS Per-patient calculations yielded sensitivities of 43% and 70% using index cutoff values of 1.5 and 0.5, respectively; specificity decreased from 93% with use of the 1.5 index cutoff to 70% with use of the 0.5 index cutoff. Per-test calculations yielded sensitivities of 31% and 59% and specificities of 99% and 92% using index cutoff values of 1.5 and 0.5, respectively. Receipt of mold-active antifungal drugs on the day of testing decreased sensitivity; samples obtained from patients not receiving prophylactic or empirical antifungal drugs yielded a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 92% (with use of an index cutoff value of 0.5). CONCLUSIONS These findings have direct implications for preventive strategies, because the diagnostic utility of the antigen assay is compromised during receipt of prophylactic or empirical antifungal therapies.
Leptin, adiponectin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in relation to the metabolic syndrome in urban South African blacks with and without coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease (CAD) are increasing in urban black South Africans during their transition from a rural to a western lifestyle. Inflammation is frequently associated with metabolic syndrome and CAD. This study evaluated markers of inflammation in black CAD patients, some of whom had metabolic syndrome. METHODS Metabolic syndrome was defined according to International Diabetes Federation criteria. Inflammatory markers leptin, adiponectin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured in 40 patients and 20 control subjects. RESULTS Metabolic syndrome was present in 23 patients and absent in 17 patients. Leptin was the only significantly higher marker in patients with metabolic syndrome compared to patients without metabolic syndrome (P < 0.01). Leptin was higher in women than men (P < 0.01) and higher in both genders with metabolic syndrome (P < 0.03 and P < 0.04, respectively). Leptin levels rose significantly with increasing metabolic syndrome criteria (P < 0.05). hs-CRP concentrations were elevated in both patient groups. Positive correlations were found between leptin and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.7107; P < 0.0001), waist circumference (WC) (r = 0.4981; P <0.002), and hs-CRP (r = 0.3886; P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Leptin differentiated between CAD patients with and without metabolic syndrome and determined metabolic syndrome status in women and men. Leptin was the only marker that increased with additional metabolic syndrome criteria. Elevated hs-CRP concentrations may indicate a low-grade inflammatory state in CAD patients. Association of leptin with BMI, WC, and hs-CRP revealed a close link with metabolic syndrome, obesity, and inflammation in urban black South African CAD patients.
Increased Immunogenicity and Induction of Class Switching by Conjugation of Complement C3d to Pneumococcal Serotype 14 Capsular Polysaccharide

ABSTRACT Previous studies have demonstrated an adjuvant effect for the C3d fragment of complement C3 when coupled to T-dependent protein antigens. In this study, we examined the antibody response to covalent conjugates of C3d and a T-independent antigen, the capsular polysaccharide of serotype 14 Streptococcus pneumoniae (PPS14). We prepared a conjugate of mouse C3d and PPS14 and compared its immunogenicity with that of a conjugate of PPS14 and ovalbumin (OVA). When BALB/c mice were immunized with PPS14-C3d, there was a significant increase in serum anti-PPS14 concentrations compared with either native PPS14 or control PPS14-glycine conjugates. This was accompanied by a switch in anti-PPS14 from predominantly immunoglobulin M (IgM) to IgG1 by day 25 following primary immunization. Following secondary immunization with PPS14-C3d, there was a marked booster response and a further increase in the ratio of IgG1 to IgM anti-PPS14. Although the primary antibody response to the PPS14-OVA conjugate exceeded that induced by immunization with PPS14-C3d, serum anti-PPS14 concentrations after a second injection of PPS14-C3d were nearly identical to those induced by secondary immunization with PPS14-OVA. Experiments with athymic nude mice suggested that T cells were not required for the adjuvant effect of C3d on the primary immune response to PPS14 but were necessary for enhancement of the memory response after a second injection of PPS14-C3d. These studies show that the adjuvant effects of C3d extend to T-independent antigens as well as T-dependent antigens. As a means of harnessing the adjuvant potential of the innate immune system, C3d conjugates may prove useful as a component of vaccines against encapsulated bacteria.
Predictability of tympanoplasty results. Preoperative eustachian tube function and size of mastoid air cell system.

In a retrospective study of 63 ears, good eustachian tube function (ETF) was accompanied in 66.7% of cases by mastoid air cell systems (MACS) larger than 10 sq cm while poor ETF was accompanied by MACS smaller than 5.0 sq cm in 40.6%. In 81.1%, ears with good tubal function had an aerated middle ear and intact tympanic membrane 11 months or more following tympanoplasty. Surgical success was attained in 87.5% of ears with MACS larger than 10 sq cm. If good ETF and large-sized MACS are present together, surgical success rate is better than 85%. A high incidence of surgical success was found in ears with good ETF and small-sized MACS. In ears with other combinations of ETF and different sizes of MACS, distinct trends in surgical outcome could not be detected but the results are not as good as in the two others groups.
What are the Antioxidant Status Predictors’ Factors among Male Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients?

Imbalance between antioxidant and oxidative stress is a major risk factor for pathogenesis of some chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to determine antioxidant and oxidative stress status, and also theirs association with respiratory function of male COPD patients to find the antioxidant predictors’ factors. A total of 149 subjects were involved in a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at two medical centers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Results of the study showed that plasma vitamin C was low in most of the subjects (86.6%). Total antioxidant capacity was the lowest in COPD stage IV compare to other stages (p < 0.05). Level of plasma vitamin A (p= 0.012) and vitamin C (p= 0.007) were low in malnourished subjects. The predictors for total antioxidant capacity were forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted and intake of β-carotene (R2= 0.104, p= 0.002). Number of cigarette (pack/year) and smoking index (number/year) were not associated with total antioxidant capacity of this COPD population. Plasma oxidative stress as assessed plasma lipid peroxidation (LPO) was only positively correlated with plasma glutathione (p= 0.002). It might be a need to evaluate antioxidant status especially in older COPD patients to treat antioxidant deficiency which is leading to prevent COPD progression.
Partial Separation of the Mammary Tumor Milk Agent and a Comparison of Various Sources of the Agent

The spontaneous deve lopment of m a m m a r y tumors in mice is dependen t m a i n l y upon three factors (3): genetic suscept ibi l i ty , hormones, and the mi lk agent, which the young ob ta in from their mothers dur ing nursing. The milk agent has been shown to pass through bacter ia l filters (1, 3, 4), to be des t royed at 60 ~ C. (1, 2), to be s table for 1 to 2 hours at p H values between 5 and 10 (2), to survive through 10 transp lan t genera t ions in mice tha t did not or iginal ly conta in the agent (7), and to survive (or proliferate) when carried as a cell-free fi l trate through 9 passages in eggs (7, 10). Fur thermore , it has been shown tha t it can be sedimented f rom ext racts of m a m m a r y glands at 110,000 t imes g rav i ty (20) and from mouse milk at 60,000 t imes g rav i ty (11). In these exper iments the agent was assayed in test a n i m a l s by in ject ing or feeding f rac t ions obta ined from 0.2 cc. of mi lk or f rom 0.33 to 1 gin. of m a m m a r y tumor tissue or l ac ta t ing glands. More recent work (8) has shown tha t the agent can be demons t r a t ed in an extract of l ac ta t ing m a m m a r y g lands represent ing 2 X 10 -4 gin. of g land tissue. The presence of the agent has also been demons t ra ted in whole blood, spleen and t h y m u s (5), and in l iver (10). The present work was unde r t aken in an effort to s t udy more q u a n t i t a t i v e l y the cy top lasmic dist r ibu t ion of the agent by combin ing the technics of different ial cent r i fugat ion with those of serial di lut ion, and also, to a t t e m p t to find the most po ten t source of the agent.