Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gastric Cancer Susceptibility Is Not Linked to Pro-and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms in Whites: A Nationwide Multicenter Study in Spain

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Recent studies have reported an association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and GC risk. However, results are inconsistent among studies from different geographic regions and ethnic groups. Our goal was to evaluate the influence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and host genetic factors on GC susceptibility in a population of Spanish white GC patients.METHODS: DNA from 404 unrelated patients with GC and 404 sex- and age-matched healthy controls was typed for several functional polymorphisms in pro- (IL-1B, TNFA, LTA, IL-12p40) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-1RN, IL-10, TGFB1) genes by PCR, RFLP, and TaqMan assays. H. pylori infection and CagA/VacA antibody status were also determined by western blot serology.RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis identified H. pylori infection with cagA strains (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.77–3.66), smoking habit (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.25–2.93), and positive family history of GC (OR 3.67, 95% CI 2.01–6.71) as independent risk factors for GC. None of the cytokine gene polymorphisms analyzed in this study were associated with susceptibility to GC development, whether GC patients were analyzed as a group or categorized according to anatomic location or histological subtype. Some simultaneous combinations of proinflammatory genotypes reportedly associated with greater GC risk yielded no significant differences between patients and controls.CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that, at least in some white populations, the contribution of the cytokine gene polymorphisms evaluated in this study (IL-1B, IL-1RN, IL-12p40, LTA, IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-B1) to GC susceptibility may be less relevant than previously reported.
Stress-sensitivity of wafer-level packaged SAW delay lines

This paper presents the investigation of the influence of wafer-level packaging (WLP) on the stress-sensitivity of 100 and 200 MHz delay lines aimed to wireless sensing of stresses. The devices were fabricated on YXl/128° cut of lithium niobate. The investigated WLP achieves the assembly of two wafers by a 50μm-thick layer of SU-8 photoresist. The delay line is micro-machined on top of the first wafer while the second wafer realizes the function of protective cap in a way that should not be detrimental to the stress-sensitivity of the device. The paper gives a comparison between the theoretical and experimental phase sensitivity of both packaged and raw devices submitted to a three-points bending test.
Review of Roy Adaptation Model-Based Qualitative Research

The aim of this paper is to examine the role of qualitative research in the development of the Roy adaptation model. An exploration of the findings from qualitative research using Roy's adaptation model from 1995 to 2005 is compared with the findings and recommendations from a previous review over a 25-year period (1970-1995). The usefulness of qualitative methods in furthering nursing theory is highlighted. Findings from both reviews support the assumptions of the model while generating new information and demonstrating the valuable place of qualitative research in promoting nursing science.
Intra-M Phase-promoting Factor Phosphorylation of Cyclin B at the Prophase/Metaphase Transition*

Activation of Cdc2-cyclin B (or M phase-promoting factor (MPF)) at the prophase/metaphase transition proceeds in two steps: dephosphorylation of Cdc2 and phosphorylation of cyclin B. We here investigated the regulation of cyclin B phosphorylation using the starfish oocyte model. Cyclin B phosphorylation is not required for Cdc2 kinase activity; both the prophase complex dephosphorylated on Cdc2 with Cdc25 and the metaphase complex dephosphorylated on cyclin B with protein phosphatase 2A display high kinase activities. An in vitro assay of cyclin B kinase activity closely mimics in vivo phosphorylation as shown by phosphopeptide maps of in vivo and in vitro phosphorylated cyclin B. We demonstrate that Cdc2 itself is the cyclin B kinase; cyclin B phosphorylation requires Cdc2 activity both in vivo(sensitivity to vitamin K3, a Cdc25 inhibitor) and in vitro (copurification with Cdc2-cyclin B, requirement of Cdc2 dephosphorylation, and sensitivity to chemical inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases). Furthermore, cyclin B phosphorylation occurs as an intra-M phase-promoting factor reaction as shown by the following: 1) active Cdc2 is unable to phosphorylate cyclin B associated to phosphorylated Cdc2, and 2) cyclin B phosphorylation is insensitive to enzyme/substrate dilution. We conclude that, at the prophase/metaphase transition, cyclin B is mostly phosphorylated by its own associated Cdc2 subunit.
Paternal and Maternal Testosterone in Parents of NICU Infants Transitioning Home

Lower testosterone during the transition to new parenthood is considered beneficial to help parents better engage with their infants. No data currently exist studying salivary testosterone of parents with infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) during the transition to home. We examine testosterone levels for parents of very low-birth-weight infants, including links between salivary testosterone and infant factors (such as breast-feeding), psychosocial stress, and changes over time. Testosterone salivary samples were assayed after self-collection by 86 parents (43 fathers and 43 mothers) with NICU infants at wakeup and bedtime prior to discharge and at 3 additional times at home. Self-reported survey measures, including psychosocial reports, were also collected at these times. Using multilevel modeling approaches, we report significant associations between paternal testosterone by time and psychosocial adjustment and between both paternal and maternal testosterone and infant feeding mode (P < .05). Results were significant after accounting for covariates. Our study is the first to examine the time course of diurnal testosterone for parents of premature infants over the transition home; as such, we suggest further research into better understanding parental physiology in this vulnerable parent population.
Spatially resolved measurements of plasmonic eigenstates in complex-shaped, asymmetric nanoparticles: gold nanostars

We report on spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy studies of optical modes in individual star-shaped gold nanoparticles. We studied different morphologies, ranging from a spheroid to well-developed nanostars. For each shape, essentially two groups of modes are appearing: the first one is localized around the core of the nanostars and has an energy slightly less than the quasi-static dipolar mode of a gold sphere (about 2.2 eV); in the second group, the modes are localized at the end of the nanostar tips, with varying energies depending on the geometry of each tip and with energy down to 1.2 eV. The localization of the tip modes is interpreted with the help of boundary element methods simulations.
Insecticidal Effect of Fruit Extracts from Xylopia aethiopica and Dennettia tripetala (Annonaceae) against Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The insecticidal and repellent activities of fruit extracts of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. and Dennettia tripetala (Baker f.) G.E. Schatz belonging to the family Annonaceae was studied against Sitophilus oryzae (L.), an economic, primary post-harvest pest of rice, and other cereal products. Infested rice grains (100 g) treated with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% (w/w) powders of both plants were evaluated for toxicity against S. oryzae every 24 h for 3 d, and during F1 progeny emergence. The essential oils of both plants were also applied at 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg cm-2 filter paper in Petri dishes for toxicity bioassays at 24 h exposure. Repellence bioassay with 10 μL solution of essential oils on filter paper was performed in a Y-Tube airflow olfactometer. Results indicate that powders of both plants significantly (P < 0.001) caused adult weevil mortality and a reduction in F1 progeny emergence than the control. Essential oils were also significantly (P < 0.001) adulticidal to S. oryzae after 24 h with the highest dose (2 mg cm-2) producing 100% mortality respectively. Similarly, both male and female weevils significantly avoided the test arm compared to the control arm in the Y-Tube olfactometer repellence tests. These results suggest that X. aethiopica and D. tripetala natural extracts have potential for use as part of integrated pest management of stored product protection against S. oryzae.
Resectable gastric carcinoma. An evaluation of preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy

Patients with locoregional gastric carcinoma often die because of the low rates of curative resection and frequent appearance of distant metastases (mainly peritoneal and hepatic). To evaluate the feasibility of preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy, 25 consecutive previously untreated patients with potentially resectable locoregional gastric carcinoma received two preoperative and three postoperative courses of etoposide, 5‐fluorouracil, and cisplatin (EFP). Ninety‐eight courses (median, five courses; range, two to five courses) were administered. Six patients had major responses to EFP. Eighteen patients (72%) had curative resections, and three specimens (12%) contained only microscopic carcinoma. At a median follow‐up of 25 months, the median survival of 25 patients was 15 months (range, 4 to 32+ months). Peritoneal carcinomatosis was the most common indication of failure. One patient died of postoperative complications, but there were no deaths due to chemotherapy. EFP‐induced toxic reactions were moderate. Preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy for locoregional gastric carcinoma is feasible, and additional studies to develop regimens that could result in 5% to 10% complete pathologic responses may be warranted.
' s personal copy Tubes in dynamical systems

Important concepts concerning tubes in dynamical systems are defined in details. In the cases of a homoclinic tube and a heteroclinically tubular cycle in autonomous systems, existence of tubular chaos is established. The main goal of this article is to stress the importance of tubes in high dimensional dynamical systems. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Second cancers after Hodgkin's disease in childhood.

The treatment of Hodgkin's disease is a model of successful therapy for childhood cancer, with cure rates of over 90 percent expected from chemotherapy regimens and low-dose radiation (15 to 25 Gy) to involved regions.1 The current therapy evolved to minimize previously recognized late effects of treatment, such as growth retardation and secondary malignant tumors. In this issue of the Journal, Bhatia et al.,2 representing the Late Effects Study Group, report that second cancers developed 18 times more often in patients who received treatment for Hodgkin's disease before the age of 16 years than would be expected in the general .
[Life style and adherence to the recommended treatments after cardiac transplantation].

BACKGROUND All the previous studies showed an increase in survival after cardiac transplantation. Nevertheless, a certain number of patients persist, in the short- and long-term period, in leading an incorrect lifestyle. Owing to this high-risk behavioral profile clinical, psychological and social problems could arise. METHODS We have analyzed the quality of life and adherence to the recommended treatments in 107 patients at least 6 months (range 6-132 months) after they had been submitted to heart transplant and returned to their preoperative social and family environments. RESULTS Data analysis has shown, in these patients, the return to their previous high-risk lifestyle habits: 18.4% of them did not adhere to the suggested diet, 13.2% did not perform physical activity, and 36.7% of the smokers took up the habit again after the transplant. Perceptions of emotional distress were still there: anxiety in 10.3% of cases and depression in 13.1%. An unsatisfactory sexuality was reported by 27.1% and only 27% returned to their previous job. Their outlook towards their self-efficacy seems to be predictive of the quality of life as perceived by the patient after the heart transplant: the better their outlook towards their self-efficacy, the better the quality of life. CONCLUSIONS These data show that following heart transplant, before implementing postoperative preparation and rehabilitation programs one must carefully study those problem areas that unfortunately still exist.
TOL plasmid transcription factor XylS binds specifically to the Pm operator sequence

XylS, an AraC family transcription factor, positively regulates transcription of Pseudomonas putida TOL plasmid meta operon from the Pm promoter. A tandem of 15 bp homologous direct repeats, separated by 6 bp and overlapping with the −35 hexamer of the promoter, is required for the activation of Pm by XylS in vivo. In this study we have characterized specific binding of XylS to the Pm operator Om. XylS was overexpressed with an epitope tag in its N‐terminus Tagged XylS (N‐XylS) was immunopurified and was shown to specifically bind to Om. We have used matrix‐bound N‐XylS in DNA footprinting and methylation interference experiments. Binding of N‐XylS protects 44 bp in the Om region on both strands from DNase I digestion and generates hypersensitive sites (within the protected area) which lie on the same face of the DNA helix. Results of hydroxyl radical footprinting and methylation interference assays indicate that XylS binds along one side of the DNA and covers four helical turns. The protein has base‐specific contacts in four adjacent major groove regions on the same helical face. Our data are in accord with the prediction of the presence of two separate DNA‐binding units in an XylS molecule which are involved in base‐specific contacts in two adjacent major‐groove regions of a half‐site. The direct repeat arrangement of the binding site and the mode of DNA binding of XylS are similar to the arrangement of recognition sites and the DNA contact pattern of AraC protein from Escherichia coli
Gastric intramucosal pH, tissue oxygenation and acid-base balance.

It is widely accepted that global measurements of oxygen delivery, consumption and extraction do not provide reliable information on the adequacy of tissue oxygenation in patients who are, by all conventional clinical criteria, adequately resuscitated [13, 17, 29, 39, 51, 60, 103]. The indirect measurement of gastric intramucosal pH (pH,m) is being widely evaluated as a minimally invasive and sensitive means of assessing the adequacy of tissue oxygenation in these circumstances. Tissue acid-base balance is determined primarily by the balance between the protons released during the release of energy by ATP hydrolysis and consumed by the resynthesis of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation [64]. When the delivery of oxygen fails to resynthesize the ATP necessary to meet the energy demands of the tissue, the rate of ATP hydrolysis exceeds the rate of synthesis and pH decreases in proportion with the degree of unreversed ATP hydrolysis or dysoxia present [50, 91]. Measurement of gastric intramucosal pH provides a measure of tissue acid-base balance in a region of the body that is among the first to develop dysoxia in shock [25,28,59,71,79,85,88,92]. Use of the measurement suggests that approximately 50-60% of patients undergoing major surgery and 80 % of ICU patients [22, 35, 56, 75] may develop transient and sometimes sustained episodes of dysoxia despite the conventional appearances of being adequately resuscitated.
The discordance between subjectively and objectively measured physical function in women with fibromyalgia: association with catastrophizing and self-efficacy cognitions. The al-Ándalus project

Abstract Purpose: People with fibromyalgia experience a disagreement between patient-reported (i.e., subjective) and performance-based (i.e., objective) status. This study aimed to (i) corroborate the discordance between subjectively and objectively measured physical function and (ii) examine whether catastrophizing (worrying, pain magnifying, and helpless cognitions) and self-efficacy (believing capable to manage pain) are independently associated with this discordance. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study included 405 women with fibromyalgia and 193 age-matched female controls. Participants completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Chronic Pain Self-efficacy Scale, and physical functioning subscales of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey. Objective physical function was measured with the Senior Fitness Test battery. Subjective and objective physical functions were expressed as deviation from the general population in standard deviation (SD) units using means and SD of the control group. Results: In fibromyalgia, subjective physical function was worse than objective physical function (p < 0.001). Higher catastrophizing was consistently associated with greater discordance between subjective and objective physical function, while self-efficacy was only significantly associated with this discordance when subjective physical function was assessed by means of the SF-36. Conclusions: Subjective physical function is more impaired than objective physical function in fibromyalgia, yet both are markedly impaired. Catastrophizing cognitions are associated with this discordance. In particular, high catastrophizing may promote a feeling of reduced ability to do meaningful activities of daily living (i.e., restrictions) that people with fibromyalgia are actually able to. Therefore, catastrophizing should be assessed and potentially targeted when focusing on improving physical function in fibromyalgia. Implications for rehabilitation Rehabilitation should focus on physical exercise programs to help women with fibromyalgia to improve their reduced physical function. In rehabilitation settings, physical function of people with fibromyalgia should be evaluated by both subjective and objective assessments to fully understand physical functioning and to test the existence of discordance between both assessments. In case of a large discordance between subjective and objective physical function, a physical exercise program might be better complemented with cognitive management techniques to reduce catastrophizing and subjective physical dysfunction. When people with fibromyalgia experience high levels of catastrophizing, subjective assessments seem to be poor indicators of physical function.
The affective component of pain in rodents: Direct evidence for a contribution of the anterior cingulate cortex

Numerous human and animal studies indirectly implicate neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the encoding of the affective consequences of nociceptor stimulation. No causal evidence, however, has been put forth linking the ACC specifically to this function. Using a rodent pain assay that combines the hind-paw formalin model with the place-conditioning paradigm, we measured a learned behavior that directly reflects the affective component of pain in the rat (formalin-induced conditioned place avoidance) concomitantly with “acute” formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors (paw lifting, licking, and flinching) that reflect the intensity and localization of the nociceptive stimulus. Destruction of neurons originating from the rostral, but not caudal, ACC reduced formalin-induced conditioned place avoidance without reducing acute pain-related behaviors. These results provide evidence indicating that neurons in the ACC are necessary for the “aversiveness” of nociceptor stimulation.
Extra calcium on shortening in barnacle muscle. Is the decrease in calcium binding related to decreased cross-bridge attachment, force, or length?

Barnacle single muscle fibers were microinjected with the calcium- specific photoprotein aequorin. We have previously shown (Ridgway, E. B., and A. M. Gordon, 1984, Journal of General Physiology, 83:75-104) that when barnacle fibers are stimulated under voltage clamp and length control and allowed to shorten during the declining phase of the calcium transient, extra myoplasmic calcium is observed. The time course of the extra calcium for shortening steps at different times during the calcium transient is intermediate between those of free calcium and muscle force. Furthermore, the amplitude increases with an increased stimulus, calcium transient, and force. Therefore, the extra calcium probably comes from the activating sites on the myofilaments, possibly as a result of changes in calcium binding by the activating sites. The change in calcium binding may be due, in turn, to the change in muscle length and/or muscle force and/or cross-bridge attachment per se. In the present article, we show that the amount of the extra calcium depends on the initial muscle length, declining at shorter lengths. This suggests length-dependent calcium binding. The relation between initial length and extra calcium, however, parallels that between initial length and peak active force. The ratio of extra calcium to active force is therefore virtually independent of initial length. These data do not distinguish between a direct effect of length on calcium binding and an indirect effect owing to changes in cross- bridge attachment and force through some geometrical factor. The amount of extra calcium increases with the size of the shortening step, tending toward saturation for steps of greater than or equal to 10%. This experiment suggests that calcium binding depends on muscle force or cross-bridge attachment, not just length (if at all). There is much less extra calcium seen with shortening steps at high force when the high force results from stretch of the active muscle than when it results from increased stimulation of muscle. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Signal design for transmitter diversity wireless communication systems over Rayleigh fading channels

We study signal design for transmitter diversity wireless communication over Rayleigh fading channels using pilot symbol assisted modulation (PSAM). As an alternative to the commonly used intentional frequency offset method, which requires an interleaver, we show that by using appropriately designed pilot symbol sequences and coded modulation schemes, similar performance can be obtained without an interleaver.
Protection against mammary tumor growth by vaccination with full‐length, modified human ErbB‐2 DNA

ErbB‐2 is overexpressed in several human cancers and conveys a transforming activity that is dependent on tyrosine kinase activity. Antibodies and T cells to ErbB‐2 have been isolated from cancer patients, indicating ErbB‐2 as a potential target of active vaccination. In this study, 3 mutant ErbB‐2 DNA constructs encoding full‐length, ErbB‐2 proteins were tested as tumor vaccines. To eliminate tyrosine kinase activity, the ATP binding lysine residue 753 was substituted with alanine by replacing codon AAA with GCA in mutant ErbB‐2A. To direct recombinant ErbB‐2 to the cytoplasm where major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I peptide processing takes place, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signal sequence was deleted in cyt ErbB‐2. The third construct cyt ErbB‐2A contained cytoplasmic ErbB‐2 with the K to A mutation. Expression of recombinant proteins was measured by flow cytometry in transfected murine mammary tumor cell line D2F2. Transmembrane ErbB‐2 and ErbB‐2A were readily detected. Cytoplasmic ErbB‐2 and ErbB‐2A were detected only after the transfected cells were incubated overnight with a proteasome inhibitor, indicating prompt degradation upon synthesis. ErbB‐2 autophosphorylation was eliminated by the K to A mutation as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. Growth of ErbB‐2‐positive tumor in BALB/c mice was inhibited after vaccination with ErbB‐2 or ErbB‐2A, but not with cyt ErbB‐2 or cyt ErbB‐2A. ErbB‐2A that is free of tyrosine kinase activity is a potential candidate for anticancer vaccination. The 3 mutant constructs should be useful tools to delineate the role of individual immune effector cell in ErbB‐2‐specific antitumor immunity and to develop strategies for enhancing such immunity. Int. J. Cancer 81:748–754, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.