Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Glutathione Peroxidase Enzyme Activity in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Plasma selenium (Se) concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Pxs) enzyme activity of the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are usually lower than healthy individuals; however, the effect of Se supplementation on the GSH-Pxs activity in those patients remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of Se supplementation on plasma Se concentration and red blood cell (RBC) GSH-Pxs activity in patients with different stages of CKD. Patients and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, forty-five patients with CKD who attended in a nephrology clinic were recruited. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups according to their creatinine clearance rate and were supplemented with daily Se 200 mcg for three months. Plasma Se concentration and RBC GSH-Pxs activity were measured in each patient at the beginning and at the end of the study. This clinical trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (www.irct.ir) with registration number ID of IRCT201305318501N2. Results: Plasma Se concentration and RBC GSH-Pxs activity increased significantly in all three groups of patients with CKD (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between three groups regarding baseline plasma Se (P = 0.268) and RBC GSH-Pxs activity (P = 0.741). Conclusions: Se supplementation can increase plasma Se concentration and RBC GSH-Pxs activity in patients with different stages of CKD.
An analysis of the costs of ischemic stroke in an Italian stroke unit

Objective: To determine the direct costs of hospital care of acute ischemic stroke in a large Italian hospital, and to identify the main components of such costs. Background: Cost containment in stroke care requires an up-to-date assessment of expenditures in the different areas of stroke management. However, costs may vary among countries because of different health system organizations. Methods: All patients with ischemic stroke admitted during 1996 were considered. Total cost was the sum of a daily component, reflecting personnel wages and general care, and an ancillary component, reflecting mostly investigations and treatments. The real costs were used, not fixed charges. Results: We included 245 patients, with a mean length of stay (LOS) of 13.1 ± 7.0 days, and an in-hospital case fatality rate of 8.2%. The mean total cost per patient was 5,087,000 ± 2,536,000 Italian Lira (LIT; $3,289 ± $1,640), with a mean cost per day of 388,000 LIT ($251). Approximately 80% of total costs were due to the daily component and 20% to the ancillary component. A multiple linear regression model of length of stay, which determines the daily cost, showed that the Rankin score at entry, the clinical syndrome type, and the destination at discharge independently contributed to LOS. A second linear regression model showed that younger age and longer LOS significantly increased ancillary costs. Conclusions: The containment of hospital costs of ischemic stroke may be achieved mostly through measures that reduce LOS, such as effective treatments and a quicker deployment.
Novel Antimicrobial Peptide of Human Epididymal Duct Origin1

Abstract HE2, a gene expressed specifically in human epididymis, gives rise to multiple mRNAs that encode a group of small cationic secretory peptides. Localization of HE2 within the defensin gene cluster and prediction that β-defensin-like modules exist suggest that these peptides have antimicrobial activity and represent components of the innate epithelial defense system of the epididymal duct. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed the occurrence of eight human HE2-derived transcripts, including minor mRNA variants, that had previously been shown only in animal species. Employing isoform-specific antibodies against the predicted HE2 products, multiple 4- to 8-kDa peptides were detected in human epididymal epithelium, epididymal fluid, and ejaculate. N-terminal microsequencing has suggested a proteolytic processing of these peptides by a furin-like proprotein convertase, which cleaves a propiece from the longer precursor peptides. HE2α and HE2β1, representing major peptide isoforms in the human epididymis, were recombinantly expressed, and their susceptibility to furin cleavage was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Processed recombinant peptides and chemosynthetic fragments were included in antimicrobial tests. In addition to the β-defensin-like HE2β1 with its expected antibacterial function, HE2α C-terminal fragments showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, although it showed no significant similarity to β-defensins nor to any other known protein family.
Using the Second-Generation ALK Inhibitor AP 26113 in Human NPM-ALK – Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

ALK is a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in a broad range of solid and hematologic tumors. Among 70% to 80% of ALKþ anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL) are caused by the aberrant oncogenic fusion protein NPM-ALK. Crizotinib was the first clinically relevant ALK inhibitor, now approved for the treatment of late-stage and metastatic cases of lung cancer. However, patients frequently develop drug resistance to Crizotinib, mainly due to the appearance of point mutations located in the ALK kinase domain. Fortunately, other inhibitors are available and in clinical trial, suggesting the potential for second-line therapies to overcome Crizotinib resistance. This study focuses on the ongoing phase I/II trial small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) AP26113, by Ariad Pharmaceuticals, which targets both ALK and EGFR. Two NPM-ALKþ human cell lines, KARPAS-299 and SUP-M2, were grown in the presence of increasing concentrations of AP26113, and eight lines were selected that demonstrated resistance. All lines show IC50 values higher (130 to 1,000-fold) than the parental line. Mechanistically, KARPAS-299 populations resistant to AP26113 show NPM-ALK overexpression, whereas SUP-M2– resistant cells harbor several point mutations spanning the entire ALK kinase domain. In particular, amino acid substitutions: L1196M, S1206C, the double F1174VþL1198F and L1122VþL1196M mutations were identified. The knowledge of the possible appearance of new clinically relevant mechanisms of drug resistance is a useful tool for the management of new TKI-resistant cases. Implications: This work defines reliable ALCL model systems of AP26113 resistance and provides a valuable tool in the management of all cases of relapse upon NPM-ALK–targeted therapy.Mol Cancer Res; 13(4); 1–9. 2014 AACR.
An Analytic Solution for Low-Frequency Scattering by Two Soft Spheres

A plane wave is scattered by two small spheres of not necessarily equal radii. Low-frequency theory reduces this scattering problem to a sequence of potential problems which can be solved iteratively. It is shown that there exists exactly one bispherical coordinate system that fits the given geometry. Then R-separation is utilized to solve analytically the potential problems governing the leading two low-frequency approximations. It is shown that the Rayleigh approximation is azimuthal independent, while the first-order approximation involves the azimuthal angle explicitly. The leading two nonvanishing approximations of the normalized scattering amplitude as well as the scattering cross-section are also provided. The Rayleigh approximations for the amplitude and for the cross-section involve only a monopole term, while their next order approximations are expressed in terms of a monopole as well as a dipole term. The dipole term disappears whenever the two spheres become equal, and this observation provide.
Reduced Expression of HLA Class II Molecules and Interleukin-10- and Transforming Growth Factor β1-Independent Suppression of T-Cell Proliferation in Human Cytomegalovirus-Infected Macrophage Cultures

ABSTRACT After a primary infection, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) establishes lifelong latency in myeloid lineage cells, and the virus has developed several mechanisms to avoid immune recognition and destruction of infected cells. In this study, we show that HCMV utilizes two different strategies to reduce the constitutive expression of HLA-DR, -DP, and -DQ on infected macrophages and that infected macrophages are unable to stimulate a specific CD4+ T-cell response. Downregulation of the HLA class II molecules was observed in 90% of the donor samples and occurred in two phases: at an early (1 day postinfection [dpi]) time point postinfection and at a late (4 dpi) time point postinfection. The early inhibition of HLA class II expression and antigen presentation was not dependent on active virus replication, since UV-inactivated virus induced downregulation of HLA-DR and inhibition of T-cell proliferation at 1 dpi. In contrast, the late effect required virus replication and was dependent on the expression of the HCMV unique short (US) genes US1 to -9 or US11 in 77% of the samples. HCMV-treated macrophages were completely devoid of T-cell stimulation capacity at 1 and 4 dpi. However, while downregulation of HLA class II expression was rather mild, a 66 to 90% reduction in proliferative T-cell response was observed. This discrepancy was due to undefined soluble factors produced in HCMV-infected cell cultures, which did not include interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor β1. These results suggest that HCMV reduces expression of HLA class II molecules on HCMV-infected macrophages and inhibits T-cell proliferation by different distinct pathways.
The Informal Economy as a Path to Expanding Opportunities

The informal economy a help or a hindrance to expanding the opportunities of the poor? Conventionally, it has been deemed a hindrance; an unproductive sphere that is deleterious to wider economic development and growth. Recently, however, a more positive depiction has emerged viewing it as a useful means of expanding the opportunities of the poor. This report reviews the arguments and evidence for viewing it more positively and how it might be harnessed in order to help expand the opportunities of the poor.
Neighborhood Life Cycles and Social Status

clearly indicated that older metropolitan areas are most apt to have higher suburban than central city status and have distance from the CBD covarying positively with census tract status. Age of metropolitan areas has been melasured several ways, including the census year that the central city reached 50,000 population [18; 9] and the amount of metropolitan population growth in various historical-transportation periods such as the electric streetcar era and the automobile era [10]. Most of this research has been cross-sectional as opposed to longitudinal in design. These studies have been interpreted by Schnore [18; 16] as indicative of a current "evolutionary" or life cycle pattern of metropolitan development, in which central, older sections of metropolitan areas decline in status over time. Older metropolitan areas, it is alleged, have lower status in their central dis-
A Structure-Aware Global Optimization Method for Reconstructing 3-D Tree Models From Terrestrial Laser Scanning Data

A 3-D tree structure plays an important role in many scientific fields, including forestry and agriculture. For example, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) can efficiently capture high-precision 3-D spatial arrangements and structure of trees as a point cloud. In the past, several methods to reconstruct 3-D trees from the TLS point cloud were proposed. However, in general, they fail to process incomplete TLS data. To address such incomplete TLS data sets, a new method that is based on a structure-aware global optimization approach (SAGO) is proposed. The SAGO first obtains the approximate tree skeleton from a distance minimum spanning tree (DMst) and then defines the stretching directions of the branches on the tree skeleton. Based on these stretching directions, the SAGO recovers missing data in the incomplete TLS point cloud. The DMst is applied again to obtain the refined tree skeleton from the optimized data, and the tree skeleton is smoothed by employing a Laplacian function. To reconstruct 3-D tree models, the radius of each branch section is estimated, and leaves are added to form the crown geometry. The developed methodology has been extensively evaluated by employing a dozen TLS point clouds of various types of trees. Both qualitative and quantitative performance evaluation results have indicated that the SAGO is capable of effectively reconstructing 3-D tree models from grossly incomplete TLS point clouds with significant amounts of missing data.
Normal values and thresholds for the clinical interpretation of exhaled nitric oxide levels in the US general population: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010.

BACKGROUND Elevated fractional excretion of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) reflects airway inflammation, but few studies have established its normal values. This study aims to establish the normal values and thresholds for the clinical interpretation of FENO in the US general population. METHODS Thirteen thousand two hundred seventy-five subjects aged 6 to 80 years sampled for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010 underwent interviews, physical examination, and FENO analysis at 50 mL/s using an online chemiluminescence device according to American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidelines. After excluding subjects with self-reported asthma and subjects with wheeze in the prior 12 months, prediction equations for the natural logarithm (ln) of FENO were constructed using age, sex, ethnicity, height, BMI, active/passive smoke exposure, and hay fever episodes as covariates. RESULTS The fifth to 95th percentile values of FENO were 3.5 to 36.5 parts per billion (ppb) for children < 12 years of age and 3.5 to 39 ppb for subjects 12 to 80 years of age. Using multiple linear regression, prediction equations explained only 10.3% to 15.7% of the variation in the general population. In the general population, 39% to 45% had ln(FENO) levels > 2 SD of the predicted means. When applied to the general population inclusive of subjects who reported asthma but who did not have attacks within the past year, nearly identical results were obtained. CONCLUSIONS Assuming 95% of the healthy US general population had no clinically significant airway inflammation as assessed by FENO, values exceeding the 95th percentiles indicated abnormality and a high risk of airway inflammation. A large variation of normal FENO values existed in the general population, which was poorly predicted by multiple linear regression models.
Secreted phosphoprotein mrna is induced during multi‐stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin and correlates with the metastatic potential of murine fibroblasts

Secreted phosphoprotein I (SPP), also known as 2ar, osteopontin, 44‐kDa bone phosphoprotein, bone sialoprotein I, and transformation‐related phosphoprotein, is a 41.5‐kDa glycosylated phosphoprotein secreted by many mammalian cell lines and expressed in a limited set of tissues. Using a cDNA probe, we found that SPP mRNA, which is barely detectable in normal mouse epidermis, was expressed at moderate‐to‐high levels in 2 of 3 epidermal papillomas and at consistently high levels in 7 of 7 squamous‐cell carcinomas induced by an initiation‐promotion regimen. This contrasts with the transient induction we had previously observed after a single application of the tumor promoter 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA). In a set of 5 independently isolated T24‐H‐ras‐transfected mouse C3H 10T1/2 cell lines, the levels of SPP mRNA correlated well with ras mRNA levels and with both experimental and spontaneous metastatic ability. SPP mRNA expression was also elevated in a derivative of mouse LTA cells transfected with genomic DNA from Bl6FI melanoma cells and selected for increased experimental metastatic ability in the chick embryo. This apparent association of SPP expression with invasion, progression and metastasis, along with the presence of a functional ArgGlyAsp (RGD) cell adhesion site in SPP (osteopontin), leads us to propose that SPP may act as an autocrine adhesion factor for tumor cells.
Neuronal regulation of bone metabolism and anabolism: Calcitonin gene‐related peptide‐, substance P‐, and tyrosine hydroxylase‐containing nerves and the bone

Bone alters its metabolic and anabolic activities in response to the variety of systemic and local factors such as hormones and growth factors. Classical observations describing abundance of the nerves fibers in bone also predict a paradigm that the nervous system influences bone metabolism and anabolism. Identification of the nerve‐derived signaling molecules, capable of modulating cellular activities of the bone cells, facilitates a novel approach to study the biology of skeletal innervation. Many of the signaling molecules that may act as efferent agents on the bone cells fall into the category of neuropeptides. The present article reviews current understanding of the skeletal innervation and their proposed physiological effects on bone metabolism, with a special interest to calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP)‐containing nerves fibers. CGRP is abundantly distributed in bone via sensory nerves, especially in the epiphyseal trabecular bones. Its in vitro actions to the cultured osteoblasts and osteoclasts, together with its in vivo localization, strongly support the paradigm that the nervous system influences bone metabolism. In addition, CGRP is recently shown to be expressed endogenously by the osteoblasts. Transgenic mice with osteoblasts overexpressing CGRP are characterized by increased bone formation rate and enhanced bone volume, suggesting that CGRP indeed acts on bone metabolism not only via nervous route but also via autocrine loop. The current article also reviews the distribution of nerve fibers containing substance P (SP), another sensory nerve‐specific neuropeptide, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate‐limiting enzyme of catecholamine. The distinct effects of SP and catecholamines on the bone cells together with their in vivo influences manifested by experimental denervation studies suggest that the sensory and sympathetic nerves play important roles in bone metabolism. Microsc. Res. Tech. 58:61–69, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nationwide outbreak of human salmonellosis in Germany due to contaminated paprika and paprika-powdered potato chips

Summary Between April and September 1993, a nationwide outbreak of salmonellosis occurred in Germany which was traced to contaminated paprika and paprika-powdered potato chips. Of the estimated 1000 cases, children below 14 years were principally affected. Levels of 0·04–0·45 organisms per gram were found in the snacks. The infective dose was estimated at 4–45 organisms with an attack rate of 1 in 10000 exposed persons. The unique feature of the outbreak was the variety of serovars involved. S. saintpaul, S. rubislaw and S. javiana were isolated during the same time period from paprika powder, spice mixtures, snacks and patients. Their clonal identity was confirmed by molecular typing methods. Furthermore, monophasic and non-motile strains of rare salmonella O-groups were isolated from both paprika products and patients. This is the largest documented outbreak due to contaminated spices which proved that even extremely low numbers of salmonellae adapted to the dry state were able to cause illness.
The Relationship of Antiphospholipid Antibodies to Thromboembolic Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Summary In order to determine whether an association exists between antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) and thromboembolic events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we performed a cross-sectional study of consecutive unselected SLE patients. The occurrence of previous thromboembolic events was determined by investigators blinded to the APLA status of the patients by critical review of objective tests that had been performed at the time of symptomatic presentation and by performing venous Doppler ultrasound of the legs to elicit venous reflux as an indication of previous venous thrombosis. The presence of APLA was determined by coagulation assays for the lupus anticoagulant (LA) using five tests with well-defined control ranges and by ELISA assay for anticardiolipin antibodies (ACLA). These tests were measured on two separate occasions. The results of the study demonstrate a statistically significant association between persistently abnormal ACLA assays and thromboembolic events and a non-significant trend between persistently abnormal LA and thromboembolic events. Transient abnormalities of LA and ACLA were less strongly associated with thromboembolic events. We conclude that in patients with SLE, there is a significant association between thromboembolism and APLA.
Prediction of adherence to antiretroviral therapy: A one-year longitudinal study

The aim of this longitudinal study was to identify the determinants of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV patients over a period of 12 months. A total of 376 individuals living with HIV treated with ART participated in the study. Data were collected at baseline and at three, six, nine and 12 months. Variables assessed were adherence, attitude, outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, patient satisfaction with the relationship with their physician, provision of social support, optimism, CD4 cell count, viral load and side effects. Predictors of adherence in the Generalized Estimated Equation (GEE) were: high perception of self-efficacy (OR=1.68; 95%CI 1.27–2.22), positive attitude towards taking medication (OR=1.56; 95%CI 1.18–2.06), not living alone (OR=1.47; 95%CI 1.04–2.08) and being a male (OR=2.81; 95%CI 1.47–5.34). Subsequent analysis showed that a positive attitude towards taking medication was associated with a high level of patient satisfaction with their physician, high perceived social support, being optimistic, living with HIV for five years or less and experiencing no side effects. Also, a strong sense of self-efficacy was associated with positive perception of social support, high level of patient satisfaction with their physician and not living alone. These results suggest that interventions aimed at improving adherence to ART should focus on reinforcing self-efficacy and developing a positive attitude towards taking medication.
When Are Strong Arguments Stronger Than Weak Arguments?

The present experiment examined how the lack of individuating information affects message elaboration and conformity to group norms in text-based computer-mediated communication. Participants made decisions about choice dilemma scenarios and exchanged their arguments with three ostensible partners via computer. Consistent with the social identity model of deindividuation effects, those who had exchanged personal profiles with their partners prior to the discussion were better able to differentiate between strong and weak arguments and were more likely to make conformity decisions based on the message content than those who had not. On the other hand, those who had no identity cues were more likely to factor in group identification for their conformity decisions. Results suggest that less systematic message processing and greater reliance on normative considerations account for how deindividuation moderates the effects of argument strength on group conformity.