Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic value of various biochemical parameters for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in patients with adrenal mass.

OBJECTIVE Pheochromocytomas are neoplasms generally characterized by the autonomous production of catecholamines. This study compared various biochemical parameters for the diagnosis of adrenal pheochromocytoma in patients with adrenal mass. DESIGN One hundred and fifty subjects were studied, including 24 histologically proven pheochromocytomas, 17 aldosterone-secreting and 21 cortisol-secreting adrenal adenomas and 30 nonfunctioning adrenal masses, 16 patients with essential hypertension and 42 healthy normotensive volunteers. Spontaneous blood samples and 24-h urine samples were collected prospectively. METHODS Plasma and urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography, whereas plasma and urinary metanephrine and normetanephrine levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Putative ratio thresholds were calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to balance between sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS Plasma normetanephrine was found to be the best single parameter with the highest sensitivity (91.7%) and specificity (95.6%) using a threshold of 126 pg/ml. In combination, plasma normetanephrine and metanephrine had a higher sensitivity of 95.8% with lower specificity (79.4%). All other combinations of plasma and/or urinary parameters demonstrated a lower accuracy. CONCLUSION Plasma metanephrines measured by RIA are reliable screening parameters for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
Management of Lateral Epicondylitis: Current Concepts

Abstract Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a common cause of elbow pain in the general population. Traditionally, lateral epicondylitis has been attributed to degeneration of the extensor carpi radialis brevis origin, although the underlying collateral ligamentous complex and joint capsule also have been implicated. Nonsurgical treatment, the mainstay of management, involves a myriad of options, including rest, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, cortisone, blood and botulinum toxin injections, supportive forearm bracing, and local modalities. For patients with recalcitrant disease, the traditional open débridement technique has been modified by multiple surgeons, with others relying on arthroscopic or even percutaneous procedures. Without a standard protocol (nonsurgical or surgical), surgeons need to keep abreast of established and evolving treatment options to effectively treat patients with lateral epicondylitis.
Similarities of Genetic (Spontaneous) Hypertension: Man and Rat

IN 1963, Okamoto and Aoki introduced a new model of experimental hypertension that required no physiological, pharmacological, or surgical intervention. This spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) was developed by meticulous genetic (brother-to-sister) inbreeding that uniformly resulted in 100% of the progeny having naturally occurring hypertensive disease (Okamoto and Aoki, 1963; Okamoto et al., 1966a). Since then, several expert panels have reported that the SHR is an excellent model of experimental hypertension that could serve as a counterpart for clinical essential hypertension (Undenfriend and Spector, 1972; ILAR, 1976). In this discourse we take the affirmative position that the SHR is, indeed, an excellent model for the study of essential hypertension. We do so, however, with four important caveats. First, we recognize that it is unlikely that both forms of naturally occurring hypertension (man and rat) are identical expressions of genetically determined hypertensive disease. Second, we take the position that both forms of hypertension are polygenic in origin and that both are influenced by environmental factors. Thirdly, since the control of normal arterial pressure in both man and rat is multifactorial, it follows that certain pressor mechanisms might well operate in one form of genetic hypertension that do not necessarily occur in the other (although in both, some similar factors could be involved). This same reasoning also may be applied to hypertensive in-
Animal models of Huntington's disease for translation to the clinic: Best practices

Mouse models of Huntington's disease (HD) recapitulate many aspects of the human disease. These genetically modified mice are powerful tools that are used not only to examine the pathogenesis of the disease, but also to assess the efficacy of potential new treatments. Disappointingly, in the past few years we have seen the success of potential therapies in animal studies, subsequently followed by failure in clinical trials. We discuss here a number of factors that influence the translatability of findings from the preclinical to the clinical realm. In particular, we discuss issues related to sample size, reporting of information regarding experimental protocols and mouse models, assignment to experimental groups, incorporation of cognitive measures for early phases of the disease, environmental enrichment, surrogate measures for survival, and the use of more than one HD mouse model. Although it is reasonable to question the appropriateness of the animal models used, we argue that it is more parsimonious to assume that improvements in experimental design and publication of negative results will lead to improved translatability to the clinic and insights about HD pathophysiology. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Del éxodo rural y del éxodo urbano: ocaso y renacimiento de los asentamientos rurales en España

ESTA TESIS ES UNA REFLEXION SOBRE EL CARACTER DE LAS SOCIEDADES RURALES EN LA ESPANA POSTINDUSTRIAL. A PARTIR DEL ANALISIS DETALLADO DE LOS MOVIMIENTOS MIGRATORIOS ENTRE ESPACIOS RURALES Y URBANOS SE CONSTATA LA EXISTENCIA DE UNA SITUACION DE INTERCAMBIO POBLACIONAL (SALDO CERO) ENTRE AMBOS MEDIOS. DICHA SITUACION ES RESULTADO DE LA ANULACION DE LAS CORRIENTES DE EXODO RURAL JUVENIL POR LA APARICION DE CONTRACORRIENTES DE INMIGRACION RURAL DE POBLACION INACTIVA. ESTE PROCESO ES EXPRESION DE LA NUEVA CARACTERIZACION DEL MEDIO RURAL POSTINDUSTRIAL YA NO COMO ESPACIO DE LA PRODUCCION SINO PARA LA REPRODUCCION SOCIAL. LAS TENDENCIAS DE DESURBANIZACION, CONTRAURBANIZACION Y DISPERSION ESPACIAL DE LO URBANO, SON MOTORES DE UN RENACIMIENTO RURAL, RENACIMIENTO QUE ES SELECTIVO Y QUE NO DEPENDE DE LA POTENCIALIDAD Y CAPACIDAD AGROLOGICA SINO DE LAS CONDICIONES MEDIOAMBIENTALES QUE DEMANDAN LAS SOCIEDADES POSTINDUSTRIALES.
Analysis of Hepatitis C Virus Superinfection Exclusion by Using Novel Fluorochrome Gene-Tagged Viral Genomes

ABSTRACT Studies of the complete hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle have become possible with the development of an infectious cell culture system using the genotype 2a isolate JFH-1. Taking advantage of this system in the present study, we investigated whether HCV infection leads to superinfection exclusion, a state in which HCV-infected cells are resistant to secondary HCV infection. To discriminate between viral genomes, we inserted genes encoding fluorescent proteins in frame into the 3′-terminal NS5A coding region. These genomes replicated to wild-type levels and supported the production of infectious virus particles. Upon simultaneous infection of Huh-7 cells, coreplication of both viral genomes in the same cell was detected. However, when infections were performed sequentially, secondary infection was severely impaired. This superinfection exclusion was neither due to a reduction of cell surface expression of CD81 and scavenger receptor BI, two molecules implicated in HCV entry, nor due to a functional block at the level of virus entry. Instead, superinfection exclusion was mediated primarily by interference at the level of HCV RNA translation and, presumably, also replication. In summary, our results describe the construction and characterization of viable monocistronic HCV reporter genomes allowing detection of viral replication in infected living cells. By using these genomes, we found that HCV induces superinfection exclusion, which is primarily due to interference at a postentry step.
All-trans-retinoic acid and polyriboinosinoic : polyribocytidylic acid cooperate to elevate anti-tetanus immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M responses in vitamin A-deficient Lewis rats and Balb/c mice

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency compromises antibody responses to T-cell-dependent antigens such as tetanus toxoid, but this effect can be reversed through administration of retinol or retinoic acid (RA). To test whether RA and polyriboinosinioc : polyribocytidylic acid (PIC), a known inducer of several forms of interferon (IFN), can cooperate to increase specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM production during VA deficiency, rats and mice were made VA-deficient, immunized with TT and treated with all-trans-RA, PIC or their combination. VA-deficient rats produced low primary and secondary anti-tetanus IgG responses (VA-deficient controls v. VA-sufficient controls P < 0·001), although total IgG was slightly elevated when compared with VA-sufficient control rats. Although RA administered alone elevated antibody production during VA deficiency to control levels, RA combined with PIC synergistically enhanced these responses (RA and PIC group v. all other groups P < 0·0001). In contrast, Balb/c mice maintained on a VA-deficient diet and immunized in a similar fashion showed no impairment in antigen-specific IgG levels, but treatment with a combination of RA and PIC still evoked an additive enhancement in antigen-specific antibody production. Additionally, RA and PIC administration to VA-sufficient mice resulted in elevated antibody responses, suggesting that this combination should be evaluated further for its immuno-stimulatory effects.
Novel observer design method for Lur'e differential inclusion systems

This paper proposes a new method to design observers for Lur'e differential inclusion systems. The feature of this method is that the designed observers do not contain any set-valued functions. single-input-single-output (SISO) systems are considered firstly, then the results are extended to multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems. For MIMO systems, the form of reduced-order observers is also presented. Simulations are given to show these observers work well.
Process and outcome during early inpatient rehabilitation after brain injury.

PURPOSE To describe aspects of process and outcome during early inpatient rehabilitation of younger adults after single incident brain injury. METHOD Analysis of a database of 290 patients discharged from an inner-city hospital based inpatient unit for younger adults after single incident neurological events, over a 5-year period. RESULTS Analysis showed a stable case-mix of patients over the 5 years surveyed with a preponderance of young male patients after traumatic brain injury. Improvements in patients' disability and dependency, measured by the Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure, were recorded in the majority of patients. The ethnic diversity of the patients, reflecting the multi-cultural nature of the catchment population, did not appear to affect rehabilitation outcome. Failure to record improvement in 15% of patients was related to the floor and ceiling effects of the instruments. A useful regression equation was produced relating length of stay to Barthel score on admission. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate the changes that occur during early inpatient rehabilitation after single incident brain injury. They explore clinical indicators of dependency and outcome, and aspects of resource utilization that characterize our service. Publication of data of this sort, from this and other units, should encourage the development and improvement of current rehabilitation service delivery after brain injury.
High‐resolution genomic analysis of the 11q13 amplicon in breast cancers identifies synergy with 8p12 amplification, involving the mTOR targets S6K2 and 4EBP1

The chromosomal region 11q13 is amplified in 15–20% of breast cancers; an event not only associated with estrogen receptor (ER) expression but also implicated in resistance to endocrine therapy. Coamplifications of the 11q13 and 8p12 regions are common, suggesting synergy between the amplicons. The aim was to identify candidate oncogenes in the 11q13 region based on recurrent amplification patterns and correlations to mRNA expression levels. Furthermore, the 11q13/8p12 coamplification and its prognostic value, was evaluated at the DNA and the mRNA levels. Affymetrix 250K NspI arrays were used for whole‐genome screening of DNA copy number changes in 29 breast tumors. To identify amplicon cores at 11q13 and 8p12, genomic identification of significant targets in cancer (GISTIC) was applied. The mRNA expression levels of candidate oncogenes in the amplicons [RAD9A, RPS6KB2 (S6K2), CCND1, FGF19, FGF4, FGF3, PAK1, GAB2 (11q13); EIF4EBP1 (4EBP1), PPAPDC1B, and FGFR1 (8p12)] were evaluated using real‐time PCR. Resulting data revealed three main amplification cores at 11q13. ER expression was associated with the central 11q13 amplification core, encompassing CCND1, whereas 8p12 amplification/gene expression correlated to S6K2 in a proximal 11q13 core. Amplification of 8p12 and high expression of 4EBP1 or FGFR1 was associated with a poor outcome in the group. In conclusion, single nucleotide polymorphism arrays have enabled mapping of the 11q13 amplicon in breast tumors with high resolution. A proximal 11q13 core including S6K2 was identified as involved in the coamplification/coexpression with 8p12, suggesting synergy between the mTOR targets S6K2 and 4EBP1 in breast cancer development and progression. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Seed borne fungi of rice from South Tamil Nadu

Fungi associated with seeds of five cultivars of rice were isolated by agar and blotter paper methods. The fungus was isolated from the contaminated surface of unmilled rice grain and identified based on their typical structure and basic characters as suggested by Barnett and Hunter (1972). Five pathogenic fungi, namely Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium citrinum, Alternaria padwickii and Rhizopus oryzae were isolated and identified from different varieties of rice seeds. The findings suggest that there is a need for proper storage of rice seed to minimize the fungal infestation and their mycotoxin production. This study also reveals that the presence of diverse mycoflora of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi in rice seeds in ruling varieties and hybrids in Tamil Nadu.
Reflections as near‐peer facilitators of an inquiry project for undergraduate anatomy: Successes and challenges from a term of trial‐and‐error

Near‐peer facilitators (senior students serving as facilitators to their more junior peers) bring a unique student‐based perspective to teaching. With fewer years of teaching experience however, students who become involved in a facilitator role typically develop related skills quickly through a process of trial‐and‐error within the classroom. The aim of this paper is to report on the authors' own experiences and reflections as student near‐peer facilitators for an inquiry‐based project in an undergraduate anatomy course. Three areas of the facilitator experience are explored: (1) offering adequate guidance as facilitators of inquiry, (2) motivating students to engage in the inquiry process, and (3) fostering creativity in learning. A practical framework for providing guidance to students is discussed which offers facilitators a scaffold for asking questions and assisting students through the inquiry process. Considerations for stimulating intrinsic motivations toward inquiry learning are made, paying attention to ways in which facilitators might influence feelings of motivation towards learning. Also, the role of creativity in inquiry learning is explored by highlighting the actions facilitators can take to foster a creative learning environment. Finally, recommendations are made for the development of formalized training programs that aid near‐peer facilitators in the acquisition of facilitation skills before entering into a process of trial‐and‐error within the classroom. Anat Sci Educ. 7: 64–70. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.
Sox17 and chordin are required for formation of Kupffer's vesicle and left‐right asymmetry determination in zebrafish

Kupffer's vesicle (KV), a ciliated fluid‐filled sphere in the zebrafish embryo with a critical role in laterality determination, is derived from a group of superficial cells in the organizer region of the gastrula named the dorsal forerunner cells (DFC). We have examined the role of the expression of sox17 and chordin (chd) in the DFC in KV formation and laterality determination. Whereas sox17 was known to be expressed in DFC, its function in these cells was not studied before. Further, expression of chd in these cells has not been reported previously. Targeted knockdown of Sox17 and Chd in DFC led to aberrant Left‐Right (L‐R) asymmetry establishment, as visualized by the expression of southpaw and lefty, and heart and pancreas placement in the embryo. These defects correlated with the formation of small KVs with apparently diminished cilia, consistent with the known requirement for ciliary function in the laterality organ for the establishment of L‐R asymmetry. Developmental Dynamics 239:2980–2988, 2010. Published 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterizing the impact of network latency on cloud-based applications’ performance

Businesses and individuals run increasing numbers of applications in the cloud. The performance of an application running in the cloud depends on the data center conditions and upon the resources committed to an application. Small network delays may lead to a signiﬁcant performance degradation, which affects both the user’s cost and the service provider’s resource usage, power consumption and data center efﬁciency. In this work, we quantify the effect of network latency on several typical cloud workloads, varying in complexity and use cases. Our results show that different applications are affected by ﬁxed and variable latency to differing amounts. These insights into the effect of network latency on different applications have ramiﬁcations for workload placement and physical host sharing when trying to reach performance targets.
The role of fat and cholecystokinin in functional dyspepsia

The main factors involved in the pathophysiology of fat induced dyspepsia were investigated by reviewing a series of controlled double blind randomised studies which sought to determine the role of nutrient fat and the postprandial release of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the development of dyspeptic symptoms in healthy volunteers and in patients with functional dyspepsia. The studies showed that during distension of the stomach, lipids are a major trigger of dyspeptic symptoms such as nausea, bloating, pain, and fullness, and that they modulate upper gastrointestinal sensations and symptoms in a dose related fashion. CCK is a major mediator of the sensitisation of gastric perception by lipids in patients with functional dyspepsia as the CCK-A receptor antagonist dexloxiglumide markedly diminishes this effect. The studies provide important insights into the mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal perception in response to fat and the role of CCK in patients with functional dyspepsia.
KASL clinical practice guidelines: Management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

AGREE II, Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; AUC, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; BMI, body mass index; CAP, controlled attenuation parameter; CKD, chronic kidney disease; CT, computed tomography; CVD, cardiovascular disease; ELF, enhanced liver fibrosis; FIB-4, fibrosis-4 index; FLI, fatty liver index; GLP-1, glucagon-like peptide-1; GRADE, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation; GREACE, GREek Atorvastatin and Coronary-heart-disease Evaluation; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HIS, hepatic steatosis index; KASL, the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; LT, liver transplantation; MAFLD, metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease; METs, metabolic equivalents of task; MRE, magnetic resonance elastography; MRI-PDFF, MRI proton density fat fraction; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MRS, MR spectroscopy; NAFL, nonalcoholic fatty liver; NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NAS, NAFLD activity score; NASH, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NFS, NAFLD fibrosis score; NLFS, NAFLD liver fat score; PIVENS, Pioglitazone versus Vitamin E versus Placebo for the Treatment of Nondiabetic Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis; PNPLA3, the patatin-like phospholipase domain–containing 3; PPAR-γ, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma; SAMM50, sorting and assembly machinery component 50; SWE, shear wave elastography; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; TM6SF2, transmembrane 6 superfamily, member 2
The Metabolism of Normal and Tumor Tissue. XX. A Comparison of the Metabolism of Tumors of Liver and Skin with That of the Tissue of Origin

Since the discovery by Warburg (60) of the glycolytic metabolism of tumors, and the observation by Dickens and Simer ( i I , i3) of a lowered respiratory quotient in tumors, it has widely been assumed that they possess a metabolism differing from normal tissue, inasmuch as they combine high aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis with an R.Q. below unity. Doubt on the significance of the aerobic glycolysis in tumors first arose when Murphy and Hawkins (44), and later Crabtree (8), found that certain new growths of the mouse had little or no aerobic glycolysis. Thus aerobic glycolysis is not invariably associated with neoplasia. At first it was thought that with certain exceptions, which could be explained on the basis of damage caused by the conditions of measurement, normal and particularly "stationary" tissues did not glycolyze aerobically to any appreciable extent. Later, however, it was found that there are some few normal tissues which glycolyze aerobically to an extent comparable with that of the "typical" transplanted animal tumors, and therefore are much more glycolytically active thafi those neoplasms having little aerobic glycolysis. The retina was early recognized as such a tissue (62). Later, the medulla of the kidney, unlike its cortex, was found (28, i4) to have a glycolytic metabolism comparable in activity with the most vigorous type of tumor metabolism, and contrary to the observations of Gy6rgy, Keller, and Brehme (28) we found ( 'M) that the same metabolism wa~ shown eye,a" in"the serum of the same species; evidence that th iswas 'not a case of damage due to unphysiological mediufn, such
The Effects of Different Titanium Surfaces on the Behaviour of Osteoblast-Like Cells

This study investigated the influence of different titanium surfaces on the differentiation of rat osteoblast-like cells (osteo-1). Osteo-1 cells were cultured on the following titanium surfaces: 1) pretreated, smooth surface (PT); 2) sandblasted and acid etched surface (SLA); and 3) sandblasted and acid-etched surface rinsed under nitrogen protection to prevent exposure to air and preserved in isotonic saline solution (modSLA). Cell metabolism, total protein content, collagen content and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and the formation of calcified nodules were analyzed. The titanium surface did not influence cell metabolism, total protein content and collagen content. The SLA surface influenced cell differentiation, with the observation of a significant reduction of AP activity and formation of calcified nodules after 21 days compared to the PT surface. No difference was observed between the PT and modSLA surfaces. All titanium surfaces tested permitted the full expression of the osteoblast phenotype by osteo-1 cells, including matrix mineralization.