Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential regulation of protein expression, growth and apoptosis by natural and synthetic retinoids

All‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can down regulate the anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐2 and the cell cycle proteins cyclin D1 and cdk2 in estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer cells. We show here that retinoids can also reduce expression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein, survivin. Here we have compared the regulation of these proteins in MCF‐7 and ZR‐75 breast cancer cells by natural and synthetic retinoids selective for the RA receptors (RARs) α, β, and γ then correlated these with growth inhibition, induction of apoptosis and chemosensitization to Taxol. In both cell lines ATRA and 9‐cis RA induced the most profound decreases in cyclin D1 and cdk2 expression and also mediated the largest growth inhibition. The RARα agonist, Ro 40‐6055 also strongly downregulated these proteins although did not produce an equivalent decrease in S‐phase cells. Only ATRA induced RARβ expression. ATRA, 9‐cis RA and 4‐HPR initiated the highest level of apoptosis as determined by mitochondrial Bax translocation, while only ATRA and 9‐cis RA strongly reduced Bcl‐2 and survivin protein expression. Enumeration of dead cells over 96 h correlated well with downregulation of both survivin and Bcl‐2. Simultaneous retinoid‐mediated reduction of both these proteins also predicted optimal Taxol sensitization. 4‐HPR was much weaker than the natural retinoids with respect to Taxol sensitization, consistent with the proposed requirement for reduced Bcl‐2 in this synergy. Neither the extent of cell cycle protein regulation nor AP‐1 inhibition fully predicted the antiproliferative effect of the synthetic retinoids suggesting that growth inhibition requires regulation of a spectrum of RAR‐regulated gene products in addition even to pivotal cell cycle proteins. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fluorescent in situ hybridization in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring of chronic myeloid leukemia

The unique molecular characteristic of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the disease-causing ABL (9q34) to BCR (22q11) translocation, has provided an invaluable tool for disease diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response. The traditional standard in this regard is bone marrow karyotype, also known as conventional cytogenetics (CC), which reveals a shortened chromosome 22, the Philadelphia chromosome, t(9;22)(q34;q11). CC in CML has also been effectively used for monitoring the response to drug therapy. However, this particular laboratory test misses submicroscopic BCR/ABL translocations and is suboptimal for minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment. Both fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) feature higher sensitivity in terms of both diagnosis and MRD assessment in CML, compared to CC. Another advantage of these alternative tests is their effective applicability to peripheral blood specimens. The current review highlights the practical literature with respect to the use of FISH for CML whereas the use of RT-PCR has been extensively covered in recent communications.
Impact of freezing on nutritional composition of some less known selected fresh fishes in Iran

The study was designed to investigate the effect of duration of frozen storage on the proximate profile of fishes lizadussmieri, sparidae, sciaenide and platycephalidae. The fishes were subjected to sixty days of frozen storage. Protein decreases with increasing duration of frozen storage; with the fresh samples (not frozen) having the highest protein content (13.02 ± 0.09%). while the least (10.13 ± 0.06) was recorded for fish samples that were frozen for sixty days. Similar results were obtained for the fat content where the highest fat content (0.25 ± 0.20%) was recorded for the fresh samples and the least value was recorded for those stored for sixty days. Ash content and moisture content also decreased during storage. The most susceptible fish to protein loss during frozen storage was fish sparidae (13.02% - 12.74%) respectively. Frozen storage lead to a loss of nutrient quality in Iranian fishes during the processing.
Target contact regulates GAP‐43 and α‐tubulin mRNA levels in regenerating retinal ganglion cells

Axotomy of vertebrate neurons leads to the transient upregulation of GAP‐43 and α‐tubulin. In adult zebrafish retina, mRNA levels of both genes were increased in retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve lesion following a similar time course. At 5 days after crush, the mRNA level of GAP‐43 was increased nearly 20 times, whereas a 6‐fold increase was observed for α‐tubulin. Subsequently, upon target reinnervation, mRNA levels of both genes were downregulated and were 2‐fold higher than normal at 25 days after crush. Stretching the optic nerve that results in diffuse axonal lesions led to the expression of both genes in identical subsets of retinal ganglion cells. When regeneration was prevented by removing a piece of the optic nerve, mRNA levels remained elevated. Disruption of axonal transport by colchicine and vinblastine led to the induction of both genes in normal retina. Blocking electrical activity with tetrodotoxin had no effect. This indicates that retrogradely transported signals induced by target contact regulate GAP‐43 and α‐tubulin transcription. Furthermore, the joint regulation of GAP‐43 and α‐tubulin mRNA levels after different kinds of lesion suggests that a common pathway underlies the regulation of neuronal GAP‐43 and α‐tubulin gene expression. In contrast, distinct mechanisms may control the extent and maintenance of increased mRNA levels of these genes. J. Neurosci. Res. 52:405–419, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as an Adjunct to Outpatient Psychotherapy

Background: Research on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has supported the utility of the technique in a number of clinical settings. This study explored whether MBSR, used as an adjunct to individual psychotherapy, would result in more rapid alleviation of symptoms, increased achievement of therapeutic goals, and a decrease in number of therapy sessions sought by clients. Methods: A group undergoing psychotherapy coupled with training in MBSR was compared with a group undergoing psychotherapy alone. Results: At the conclusion of MBSR training, the groups showed a comparable significant decrease in psychological distress. However, the MBSR group’s gains on a novel measure of goal achievement were significantly greater than those of the comparison group. In addition, the MBSR group terminated therapy at a significantly greater rate than the comparison group. Conclusion: The effects of introducing MBSR early in psychotherapy, as well as its effect on self-directed goal attainment in non-psychotherapy contexts, deserve further attention.
Fundamental Analysis and the Cross-Section of Stock Returns: A Data-Mining Approach

We construct a “universe” of over 18,000 fundamental signals from financial statements and use a bootstrap approach to evaluate the impact of data mining on fundamental-based anomalies. We find that many fundamental signals are significant predictors of cross-sectional stock returns even after accounting for data mining. This predictive ability is more pronounced following high-sentiment periods and among stocks with greater limits to arbitrage. Our evidence suggests that fundamental-based anomalies, including those newly discovered in this study, cannot be attributed to random chance, and they are better explained by mispricing. Our approach is general and we also apply it to past return–based anomalies.
Prenatal Transmission of Subtype C HIV‐1 in Zimbabwe: HIV‐1 RNA and DNA in Maternal and Cord Blood

&NA;Maternal and cord samples from HIV‐seropositive women and their infants in Zimbabwe, where subtype C is the predominant strain of HIV, were analyzed to determine the frequency of detection of HIV RNA and DNA. HIV RNA was detected in 90% of maternal and in 38% of cord plasma at levels at least 25% of maternal plasma. Heteroduplex mobility assays and sequencing of virus envelope (C2‐V5) demonstrated closely related, but unique, subtype C viruses in maternal and cord RNA, and a significantly greater frequency of cord viremia among women with homogenous, compared with heterogeneous viral envelope RNA. Quantification of RNA, measures of envelope viral diversity, and phylogenetic analysis of maternal and cord plasma RNA provide evidence for the frequent exposure and potential transmission of HIV from mother to infant before birth.
Suppression of Plasminogen Activators and the MMP-2/-9 Pathway by a Zanthoxylum avicennae Extract to Inhibit the HA22T Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Migration and Invasion Effects in Vitro and in Vivo via Phosphatase 2A Activation

This study shows that the ECM degradation-associated pathway, including uPA and tPA and the downstream MMP-2/-9 protein, was significantly suppressed in HA22T cells treated with a Zanthoxylum avicennae extract (YBBE). The endogenous inhibitors, including TIMP-1/-2 and PAI-1, were enhanced in HA22T cells by the YBBE treatment. The expression of MMP-2/-9 and TIMP-1/-2 was respectively assessed by using RT-PCR and a zymography assay. The mRNA levels and enzymatic activity of MMP-2/-9 were down-regulated by the YBBE treatment in a dose-dependent manner, while the TIMP-1/-2 levels were conversely markedly increased. The PP2A siRNA or PP2A inhibitor totally reversed the YBBE effects, confirming the essential role of PP2A in YBBE inhibiting the HA22T cell migration and invasion effects. Xenografted animal experiments on nude mice demonstrated similiar results to the in vitro system. Both the in vitro and in vivo models clearly demonstrate that YBBE inhibited the highly metastatic HA22T liver cancer cell migration and invasion effects through PP2A activation.
Admission for tuberculosis to a university hospital

Patients with active tuberculosis (Tb) may be admitted to a hospital for different conditions, and not have Tb as their main diagnosis. In this study, 141 inpatient Tb cases are analyzed, which were notified to the São Paulo Hospital Central Control of Infectious Diseases from August, 1999, through April, 2001, with identification of causes, risk factors, and hospitalization time. Sixty-three percent of the patients were males, and 37% were females, with a mean age of 38.1 years. Twenty-eight percent of them were smokers, 23% were alcoholics, and 17% were drug addicts. Previous tuberculosis was reported by 23% of the patients. Forty-two of them were HIV-positive. Fifty-four point six percent had pulmonary Tb, 67.5% of which were sputum-positive. Twenty-two percent of the patients presented side effects to the Tb treatment during hospitalization, the most frequent of which were drug-induced hepatitis (65.7%), and gastric intolerance (25.7%). Eight point five percent of the patients required intensive care for an average of 11 days, and 54% stayed in a ward with respiratory isolation. Death occurred in 17.7% of cases, in 52% of them as a consequence of Tb. On the average, the patients stayed at the hospital for 29 days, and in isolation (when necessary) for 18 days. Drug addicted and smoking patients had longer hospitalization times. This was not the case of HIV-positive or sputum-positive patients. (J Pneumol 2003;29(1): 9-14)
Vision Evaluation of Eccentric Refractive Correction

Purpose. This study investigates the benefits of eccentric refractive correction to resolution and detection thresholds in different contrasts for seven subjects with central visual field loss (CFL) and for four healthy control subjects with normal vision. Methods. Refractive correction in eccentric viewing angles, i.e., the preferred retinal location for the CFL subjects and 20° off-axis for the control subjects, was assessed by photorefraction with the PowerRefractor instrument and by wavefront analysis using the Hartmann-Shack principle. The visual function with both eccentric and central corrections was evaluated using number identification and grating detection. Results. For the CFL subjects, the resolution and detection thresholds varied between individuals because of different preferred retinal locations and cause of visual field loss. However, all seven CFL subjects showed improved visual function for resolution and detection tasks with eccentric correction compared with central correction. No improvements in high-contrast resolution were found for the control subjects. Conclusions. These results imply that optical eccentric correction can improve the resolution acuity for subjects with CFL in situations where healthy eyes do not show any improvements.
Lemierre Syndrome: A Case Report

life-threatening disease that occurs after an episode of pharyngotonsilitis. It consists of septic thrombosis of the internal jugular vein and bacteremia, and this can lead to septic pulmonary emboli and metastatic abscesses. In the preantibiotic era, Lemierre syndrome was common and it often followed a fulminant course with a mortality rate of 90% (1). The incidence of Lemierre syndrome has significantly decreased and the outcomes have improved with the wide spread use of antibiotics (2). The prognosis of Lemierre syndrome depends on the early recognition of this syndrome and adequate treatment. We report here on a case of Lemierre syndrome in young healthy female adolescent who developed septic pulmonary embolism.
Leukotriene B4 in atopic dermatitis: increased skin levels and altered sensitivity of peripheral blood T‐cells

Employing a radioimmunoassay, de‐proteinated suction blister fluid from 12 patients with active atopic dermatitis appeared to contain higher levels of the pro‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory mediator leukotriene B4 (LTB4) than suction blister fluid from 12 non‐atopic individuals. Indirect support for the identity of the mediator was obtained by HPLC of pooled samples. Nylon wool enriched T cells from six patients with atopic dermatitis and six non‐atopic people preincubated with LTB4 (10−10 M−10−8 M) expressed no statistically significant suppression in co‐culture with mitogen stimulated autologous mononuclear cells, and there was no difference between atopic and non‐atopic T cells in this respect. In contrast, LTB4 induced a dose‐dependent reduction in the percentage of phenotypic Leu 2a (suppressor) cells leading to an increased helper/suppressor ratio in five atopic patients that was not observed in five non‐atopics. Elevated skin levels of LTB4 may initiate or amplify dermal inflammation, and abnormal T cell response to the mediator may account for the increased helper/suppressor ratio characteristic of patients with atopic dermatitis.
Elders and patient participation revisited - a discourse analytic approach to older persons' reflections on patient participation.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE This study focuses on how older persons' accounts of participation might be framed and constructed based on their social and historical situatedness. BACKGROUND The picture emerging from contemporary research tends to portray older people as a group who prefer to leave decisions to the professionals during a hospital stay. Through an approach that sought to contextualise the respondents' accounts of participation, different features of patient participation became visible. DESIGN The study is based on a postmodern framework using a discursive approach, informed by the works of Foucault and on works that have been developed in line with his main ideas. METHOD Eighteen individual in-depth interviews with older people (age 80+) were conducted between one to two weeks after discharge from hospital. RESULTS Findings indicate that older people actively position themselves in relation to various discourses at play in the hospital, and display a wide variety of strategies aimed at gaining influence. To the older persons in this study, participation was practised in a subtle and discreet way, as a matter of choosing a good strategy to interact with the personnel. Participation was also seen as a matter of balancing their own needs against the needs of others and as a behaviour that required self-confidence. CONCLUSION The accounts of patient participation given by the older persons differed from the dominant and taken-for-granted discourse of patient participation as a right. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE As the older persons' understanding and practice of patient participation do not 'fit' the contemporary idea of participation, it is in danger of being ignored or overlooked by care-givers as well as by researchers. To identify older patients' wish to participate, one must actively search for it.
Job satisfaction and importance for intensive care unit research coordinators: results from binational survey.

OBJECTIVE To measure Intensive Care Unit Research coordinator job satisfaction and importance and to identify priorities for role development. BACKGROUND Research coordinator numbers are growing internationally in response to increasing clinical research activity. In Australia, 1% of registered nurses work principally in research, many as Research coordinators. Internationally, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals currently has 6536 certified Research coordinators in 13 countries, with likely additional large numbers practicing without the voluntary certification. Research coordinators are almost always nurses, but little is know about this emerging specialty. Design. Cross-sectional study using anonymous self-report questionnaire. METHODS After ethics approval, the McCloskey-Mueller Satisfaction Scale and McCloskey-Mueller Importance Scale were administered via the Internet. The sample was 49 (response rate 71%) Research coordinators from the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Unit Research coordinators' Interest Group. RESULTS Research coordinators were satisfied with structural aspects of the position working business hours; flexibility of working hours; high levels of responsibility and control over their work. Dissatisfaction was expressed regarding: remuneration and recognition; compensation for weekend work; salary package; career advancement opportunities; and childcare facilities. CONCLUSIONS High priorities for role development are those rated highly important but with much lower satisfaction. These are: compensation for weekend call-out work; salary and remuneration package; recognition by management and clinicians; career advancement opportunities; departmental research processes; encouragement and feedback; and number of working hours. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Increasing numbers of nurses have been attracted to this clinically based research position. These data contribute to the understanding and development of the role.
The WaterPolo Intermittent Shuttle Test : A Match-Fitness Test for WaterPolo Players

Purpose: To develop and validate an intermittent match-fitness test for water-polo players. Methods: Eight male junior players performed the Water Polo Intermittent Shuttle Test (WIST) twice to assess test reliability. To assess test sensitivity and validity, 104 male and female players from different competition standards and playing positions were tested. Eighteen players performed the WIST 5 times throughout a season to track fitness changes. Twelve players performed the WIST 48 hours before 4 consecutive National League games, and coaches awarded individual match-fitness scores based on game performances to assess the relationship between match fitness and test results. Heart rate (HR) and blood lactate (La blood ) were measured during and after each test, respectively. Results: Test–retest performance values were 216 ± 90 vs 229 ± 96 m (r = .98, P = .0001, coefficient of variation [CV] = 5.4%), peak HR 190 ± 8 vs 192 ± 10 bpm (r = .96, P = .0002, CV = 1.2%), and La blood 7.0 ± 1.8 vs 6.4 ± 1.6 mmol/L (r = .84, P = .0092, CV = 8.8%). Significant differences were observed among different standards of play (range junior regional females 102 ± 10 m, senior international males 401 ± 30 m) and playing positions (field players 305 ± 154 m, center forwards 255 ± 118, goal keepers 203 ± 135 m). Test performance was lower in the early season (344 ± 118 m) than the remainder of the season (range 459 ± 138 to 550 ± 176 m). WIST performance and match-fitness scores correlated for all field players (r = .57, P = .054) but more highly for field players other than center forwards (r = .83, P = .0027). Conclusions: The WIST is a reliable, sensitive, and valid match-fitness test for water-polo players. It could become a useful tool to assess the effects of different interventions on match fitness.
Undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia: a population-based study.

AIMS To assess the level of undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia in the general population, taking intra-person variability in serum cholesterol concentrations into account, and to identify determinants of undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, data from two population-based surveys on cardiovascular disease risk factors conducted between 1987 and 1997 in the Netherlands were used. For all 64 757 respondents aged 20-59 years, treatment eligibility for lipid-lowering drug use was established according to the Dutch Cholesterol Consensus. Multivariate logistic models were used to identify determinants of undertreatment. RESULTS During the study period, 56.8% of the study population had undesirable cholesterol concentrations (serum total cholesterol> 5 mmol l(-1)) and 5.5% of those were eligible for pharmacological treatment based on their absolute risk of coronary heart disease. Of those eligible for pharmacological treatment, 16.3% were treated, and 19.6% of those treated had their serum total cholesterol concentration controlled. Only 3.2% of those eligible for pharmacological treatment were both treated and controlled. We identified several determinants for undertreatment, e.g. male gender and younger age for primary prevention and female gender and older age for secondary prevention. Treatment has improved slightly in more recent years. CONCLUSIONS Over 95% of the population eligible for the pharmacological treatment of hypercholesterolaemia was either untreated or was uncontrolled. To decrease undertreatment, identification of high-risk patients should be increased. Those who are treated with lipid-lowering medication could further benefit from more aggressive treatment, especially with statins.
Accumulation and distribution characteristics of platinum group elements in roadside dusts in Beijing, China

The concentrations, distribution, and accumulation of platinum group elements (PGEs) were investigated in roadside dusts collected in four different foundational areas in Beijing during February to May 2010. The results showed that PGE levels in all samples were above the average upper crust values, with mean concentrations of 57.5 ng · g−1 Pd, 28.2 ng · g−1 Pt, and 9.8 ng · g−1 Rh, respectively. Palladium concentration has increased rapidly in recent years. The rank of PGE levels in four different functional regions for roadside dusts was: heavy density traffic area > residential area > educational area > tourism area. Palladium, Pt, and Rh concentrations in dusts showed strong positive correlations, indicating a common traffic‐related source of these metals. Meanwhile, PGEs in these samples were not correlated with other traffic‐related metals except for Cr. The average PGE ratios of road dusts from Beijing were consistent with those in Gemany and Western Australia, but lower than those in the United States and Mexico, indicating that various catalyst productions were used in different countries. In addition, grain‐size partitioning of PGEs in dusts indicated that concentrations of PGEs differed from one particle size to another. The coarse fraction had higher PGE concentrations than the fine fraction in roadside dusts. These results showed that autocatalyst PGE contamination estimates in the environment would be significantly underestimated if only a fine‐grain size fraction (<0.063 mm) is analyzed. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:1231–1238. © 2012 SETAC