Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ABCG2 is a High-Capacity Urate Transporter and its Genetic Impairment Increases Serum Uric Acid Levels in Humans

The ATP-binding cassette, subfamily G, member 2 (ABCG2/BCRP) gene encodes a well-known transporter, which exports various substrates including nucleotide analogs such as 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT). ABCG2 is also located in a gout-susceptibility locus (MIM 138900) on chromosome 4q, and has recently been identified by genome-wide association studies to relate to serum uric acid (SUA) and gout. Becuase urate is structurally similar to nucleotide analogs, we hypothesized that ABCG2 might be a urate exporter. To demonstrate our hypothesis, transport assays were performed with membrane vesicles prepared from ABCG2-overexpressing cells. Transport of estrone-3-sulfate (ES), a typical substrate of ABCG2, is inhibited by urate as well as AZT and ES. ATP-dependent transport of urate was then detected in ABCG2-expressing vesicles but not in control vesicles. Kinetic analysis revealed that ABCG2 is a high-capacity urate transporter that maintained its function even under high-urate concentration. The calculated parameters of ABCG2-mediated transport of urate were a Km of 8.24 ± 1.44 mM and a Vmax of 6.96 ± 0.89 nmol/min per mg of protein. Moreover, the quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis performed in 739 Japanese individuals revealed that a dysfunctional variant of ABCG2 increased SUA as the number of minor alleles of the variant increased (p = 6.60 × 10−5). Because ABCG2 is expressed on the apical membrane in several tissues, including kidney, intestine, and liver, these findings indicate that ABCG2, a high-capacity urate exporter, has a physiological role of urate homeostasis in the human body through both renal and extrarenal urate excretion.
Status of birth preparedness and complication readiness in Uttar Dinajpur District, West Bengal.

CONTEXT Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (BPCR) is crucial in averting maternal morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVES To find out awareness and practices regarding BPCR among pregnant and recently delivered women in Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional, community-based, mixed methods study. Two-stage, 40 cluster sampling technique was used to select three pregnant and six recently delivered women separately. Information on socio-demographic variables as well as awareness and practices regarding BPCR were collected through semi-structured interview. In-depth interviews with one respondent per cluster were also conducted. For statistical analysis Z test was used. RESULTS Around 50% of the respondents planned for first antenatal check-up (ANC) within 12 weeks, four or more ANCs and institutional delivery. Proportion of women aware of at least one key danger sign each of pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and newborn ranged from 12.1% to 37.2%, whereas 58.3% knew at least one key component of essential newborn care. Around two-thirds and one-third of women, respectively, especially those from backward and below poverty line (BPL) families knew about cash incentive and referral transport schemes. Proportions of women with first ANC within 12 weeks, four or more ANCs, institutional delivery, saving money, identifying transport, and blood donor were 50.4%, 33.6%, 46.2%, 40.8%, 27.3%, and 9.6%, respectively. Hindu religion, backward castes, BPL status, and education ≥ 5 years influenced the practices except for two regarding ANC. Overall BPCR index of the study population was 34.5. CONCLUSION Preparedness in health system, ensuring competence, and motivation of workers are needed for promoting BPCR among the study population.
Granulocytic Sarcoma Presenting with Severe Adenopathy (Cervical Lymph Nodes, Tonsils, and Adenoids) in a Child with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia and Successful Treatment with Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation

The occurrence of adenopathy in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome-associated extramedullary myeloid cell tumors has rarely been reported.We describe a 7-year-old girl with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia who showed the novel chromosomal abnormality t(9;12)(p22;q24.1) and who developed severe adenopathy of the cervical lymph nodes, tonsils, and adenoids that was manifested as granulocytic sarcoma. Following chemotherapy, the patient underwent a conditioning regimen of busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and total body irradiation followed by successful allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from her single HLA locus-mismatched mother at 6 months after her diagnosis. The patient continues to be well and in remission 3 years after stem cell transplantation.
The North Carolina Youth Empowerment Study (NCYES): A Participatory Research Study Examining the Impact of Youth Empowerment for Tobacco Use Prevention

This article describes the North Carolina Youth Empowerment Study (NC YES), a 3-year participatory evaluation of youth programs addressing tobacco use prevention. The study goals of NC YES were to (1) convene an advisory board comprised of lay youths and adults in a participatory research process, (2) document the characteristics of youth programs for tobacco use prevention and control in North Carolina, and (3) track the role of youth involvement in initiating and implementing 100% tobacco-free policies in local school districts. The NC YES Statewide Advisory Board helped guide the evaluation process, reviewed study protocols and data collection instruments, and helped interpret preliminary findings. Both quantitative and qualitative methods(e.g., telephone interviews and written questionnaires) were used to gather data from youth and adult leaders to achieve these aims. Lessons learned about the process of conducting participatory evaluation approaches and summary findings about the role of youths in policy advocacy efforts are presented.
Perinatal care at the borderlines of viability: a consensus statement based on a NSW and ACT consensus workshop

Perinatal care at the borderlines of viability demands a delicate balance between parents’ wishes and autonomy, biological feasibility, clinicians’ responsibilities and expectations, and the prospects of an acceptable long‐term outcome — coupled with a tolerable margin of uncertainty. A multi‐professional workshop with consumer involvement was held in February 2005 to agree on management of this issue in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Participants discussed and formulated consensus statements after an extensive consultation process. Consensus was reached that the “grey zone” is between 23 weeks’ and 25 weeks and 6 days’ gestation. While there is an increasing obligation to treat with increasing length of gestation, it is acceptable medical practice not to initiate intensive care during this period if parents so wish, after appropriate counselling. Poor condition at birth and the presence of serious congenital anomalies have an important influence on any decision not to initiate intensive care within the grey zone. Women at high risk of imminent delivery within the grey zone should receive appropriate and skilled counselling with the most relevant up‐to‐date outcome information. Management plans can thus be made before birth. Information should be simple, factual and consistent. The consensus statements developed will provide a framework to assist parents and clinicians in communication, decision making and managing these challenging situations.
Five years of experience with rituximab plus high-dose dexamethasone for relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Introduction High-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) in combination with rituximab is active in the treatment of relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but serious infections are frequent. Recently published data suggested that high-dose dexamethasone might be equally effective as HDMP despite a lower cumulative dose. Material and methods We performed retrospective analysis of 60 patients with relapsed/refractory CLL (median age: 66 years; range: 37–86) treated with rituximab plus dexamethasone (R-dex) at a single tertiary center between September 2008 and October 2012. The schedule of R-dex consisted of rituximab 500 mg/m2 i.v. day 1 (375 mg/m2 in cycle 1) and dexamethasone 40 mg orally on days 1-4 and 10-13 repeated every 3 weeks for a maximum of 8 cycles. Unfavorable prognostic features were frequent (Rai stages III/IV in 67%, unmutated IgVH 82%, del 11q 43%, TP53 mutation/deletion 23%, bulky lymphadenopathy 58% of patients). Results Overall response (OR)/complete remission (CR) was achieved in 75/3%. At the median follow-up of 21 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8 months, median time to next treatment 12.9 months and median overall survival 25.5 months. Refractoriness to fludarabine (p = 0.04) and age ≥ 65 years (p = 0.03) were significant predictors of shorter PFS. R-dex was successfully used for debulking before allogenic stem cell transplantation in 7 patients (12%). Serious (CTCAE grade III/IV) infections occurred in 27% of patients; 20% of patients developed steroid diabetes requiring temporary short-acting insulin. Conclusions Our results show that R-dex is an active and well-tolerated regimen for patients with relapsed/refractory CLL; however, major infections remain frequent despite combined antimicrobial prophylaxis.
Quasi-optimal signal demodulation with the background of narrow-band correlated non-Gaussian noise

We considered the issues of quasi-optimal signal processing with the correlated non-Gaussian narrowband noise on the background. It is shown that introducing a demodulator of blocks in the block diagram, where processing is carried out by instantaneous values and by the envelope of influencing non-Gaussian noise which range is comparable or narrower than the range of the processed signal, can improve the quality of demodulation in comparison with the demodulator, where processing is carried out only by the envelope or the instantaneous values of band-pass non-Gaussian additive noise.
Two successive outbreaks of SRSV‐associated gastroenteritis in South Africa

Two successive outbreaks of gastroenteritis in South Africa were investigated to identify the aetiological agents. Some patients were involved in both outbreaks. Enteropathogenic bacteria or parasites were not evident in either outbreak. Small round structured viruses (SRSVs) were demonstrated in both outbreaks by direct electron microscopy. SRSV UK3/Hawaii virus was identified by immune electron microscopy as the causative agent in the first outbreak. Using new recombinant Norwalk virus (rNV) immunoassays for antibodies and antigen, Norwalk virus was implicated in the second outbreak. Preexisting antibodies to Norwalk virus were not protective and there was no cross protection between Hawaii and Norwalk viruses. There was no anamnestic response to Norwalk virus following the SRSV UK3/Hawaii outbreak although those affected had preexisting antibodies to Norwalk virus. To our knowledge, this is the first definitive diagnosis of SRSV‐associated gastroenteritis in South Africa.
Use of Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA as a Means of Developing Genus- and Strain-Specific Streptomyces DNA Probes

ABSTRACT We have analyzed 20 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers against 36 Streptomyces strains, including 17 taxonomically undefined strains, 25 nonstreptomycete actinomycetes, and 12 outgroups consisting of gram-positive and -negative species. Most of the primers were useful in identifying unique DNA polymorphisms of all strains tested. We have used RAPD techniques to develop a genus-specific probe, one not necessarily targeting the ribosomal gene, for Streptomyces, and a strain-specific probe for the biological control agent Streptomyces lydicus WYEC108. In the course of these investigations, small-scale DNA isolations were also developed for efficiently isolating actinomycete DNA. Various modifications of isolation procedures for soil DNA were compared, and the reliability and specificity of the RAPD methodology were tested by specifically detecting the S. lydicus WYEC108 in DNA isolated from soil.
Adult Psychiatric Disorder and Childhood Experiences

Summary In a sample of young mothers an association was found between a depressed mood and the recall of poor parental relationships during childhood. Women who had been depressed but had recovered by the time of questioning did not recall a poor relationship. A second retrospective measure of a childhood experience, based on more factual details, was unrelated to current mental state.
Assessing the relative importance of disturbance, herbivory, diversity, and propagule pressure in exotic plant invasion

The current rate of invasive species introductions is unprecedented, and the dramatic impacts of exotic invasive plants on community and ecosystem properties have been well documented. Despite the pressing management implications, the mechanisms that control exotic plant invasion remain poorly understood. Several factors, such as disturbance, propagule pressure, species diversity, and herbivory, are widely believed to play a critical role in exotic plant invasions. However, few studies have examined the relative importance of these factors, and little is known about how propagule pressure interacts with various mechanisms of ecological resistance to determine invasion success. We quantified the relative importance of canopy disturbance, propagule pressure, species diversity, and herbivory in determining exotic plant invasion in 10 eastern hemlock forests in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (USA). Use of a maximum-likelihood estimation framework and information theoretics allowed us to quantify the strength of evidence for alternative models of the influence of these factors on changes in exotic plant abundance. In addition, we developed models to determine the importance of interactions between ecosystem properties and propagule pressure. These analyses were conducted for three abundant, aggressive exotic species that represent a range of life histories: Alliaria petiolata, Berberis thunbergii, and Microstegium vimineum. Of the four hypothesized determinants of exotic plant invasion considered in this study, canopy disturbance and propagule pressure appear to be the most important predictors of A. petiolata, B. thunbergii, and M. vimineum invasion. Herbivory was also found to be important in contributing to the invasion of some species. In addition, we found compelling evidence of an important interaction between propagule pressure and canopy disturbance. This is the first study to demonstrate the dominant role of the interaction between canopy disturbance and propagule pressure in determining forest invasibility relative to other potential controlling factors. The importance of the disturbance-propagule supply interaction, and its nonlinear functional form, has profound implications for the management of exotic plant species populations. Improving our ability to predict exotic plant invasions will require enhanced understanding of the interaction between propagule pressure and ecological resistance mechanisms.
Influence of alveolar oxygen on pulmonary vasoconstriction in newborn lambs versus sheep.

Fetal lung has vigorous hypoxic vasoconstriction and is exposed continuously to an O2 tension less than 20 mmHG, which is well below that experienced by adult lungs. We wondered if the newborn lamb, with muscular arteries similar to the fetus, might not have a different O2 tension for developing alveolar hypoxic vasoconstriction in addition to having stronger vasoconstriction than the less muscular adult lung. Therefore, regional hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in newborn lambs (mean of 5 days) and adult sheep (older than 2 yr) was compared at graded levels of alveolar oxygen tension. Animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital, and each main bronchus was cannulated to allow ventilation of one lung with N2 or other O2/N2 mixtures as a "hypoxic" challenge while ventilation of the other lung with O2 maintained systemic oxygenation. Distribution of perfusion to the 2 lungs during bilateral O2 ventilation was first determined with 13N and a positron camera. The lambs significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased the distribution of perfusion to the test lung compared with O2 control (PAO2, 620 +/- 15) by 44 +/- 1% SEM with PAO2 of 22 +/- 1 mmHg, 22 +/- 3% with PAO2 of 96 +/- 1 mmHg, and 12 +/- 2% with PAO2 of 360 +/- 3 mmHg in contrast to the sheep that significantly decreased the distribution of perfusion to the test lung compared with O2 control distribution of perfusion by only 22% at a PAO2 of 19 +/- 2 mmHg and not at higher alveolar O2 tensions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Optimal and Acceptable White-Point Settings of a Display

This study demonstrates that the preferred white-point for optimised colour rendering depends on image content. In general, people want to compensate for the average colour of the image, i.e. they choose a white-point that shifts the average colour towards a more neutral colour. The range of white-points that people tolerate was found to be extremely large. The region that was acceptable to 75% of the participants was about 0.04 wide along the daylight curve and about 0.02 perpendicular to the daylight curve (in terms of du'v'). The results suggest that, if one has to choose between the most common white-point settings of a TV, a white-point of 6500 K or 8700 K will be reasonable, whereas a white-point of 11000 K will be less optimal.
Endophytic fungi with antitumor activities: Their occurrence and anticancer compounds

Abstract Plant endophytic fungi have been recognized as an important and novel resource of natural bioactive products, especially in anticancer application. This review mainly deals with the research progress on the production of anticancer compounds by endophytic fungi between 1990 and 2013. Anticancer activity is generally associated with the cytotoxicity of the compounds present in the endophytic fungi. All strains of endophytes producing antitumor chemicals were classified taxonomically and the genera of Pestalotiopsis and Aspergillus as well as the taxol producing endophytes were focused on. Classification of endophytic fungi producing antitumor compounds has received more attention from mycologists, and it can also lead to the discovery of novel compounds with antitumor activity due to phylogenetic relationships. In this review, the structures of the anticancer compounds isolated from the newly reported endophytes between 2010 and 2013 are discussed including strategies for the efficient production of the desired compounds. The purpose of this review is to provide new directions in endophytic fungi research including integrated information relating to its anticancer compounds.
Short-term use of umbilical artery catheters may not be associated with increased risk for thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE Umbilical arterial catheters (UACs) have rare but serious complications related to thrombus formation. Two specific serum markers of thrombogenesis--prothrombin fragment (F1.2) and thrombin-antithrombin (TAT)--can be assayed and correlated with abdominal ultrasound visualization of UAC thrombosis. Levels of these markers of thrombogenesis have not been studied in infants with UACs. The objective of this study was to determine F1.2 and TAT levels longitudinally and compare the levels with platelet counts and ultrasound evidence of thrombi during the first week of life in infants with UACs. METHODS This study was conducted as a prospective, nonblinded, observational study performed between June 2001 and January 2002 at Christiana Care Hospital, a level III neonatal intensive care unit. Infants with a UAC in place in the first 24 hours of life were studied. All received equal amounts of heparin in the UAC. F1.2, TAT, platelet counts, and abdominal aorta ultrasounds were examined every other day starting within 24 hours of life. Studies were not done when the UAC was removed within the 5-day study period. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for TAT and F1.2 was performed using a commercially available kit from Enzyngost. Data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance evaluating TAT, F1.2, and platelet count over time. RESULTS Thirty-three patients were investigated (mean +/- standard deviation; gestational age: 27.4 +/- 3.5 weeks; birth weight: 1139 +/- 729 g). A total of 66 measurements of TAT, F1.2, and platelet counts were obtained. Sixty-one abdominal ultrasounds were performed; only 1 study was positive for UAC thrombus. There was no significant difference between F1.2 and TAT over time during the study period. Platelet counts seemed to fall over the 5-day study period, although this decrease did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION Indwelling UACs in sick infants may not carry an increased risk of thrombosis during the first 5 days of use.
The concept of schizophrenia: pro et contra

The year 1999 marks the centenary of the concept of schizophrenia which, as dementia praecox, was introduced by Emil Kraepelin in the sixth edition of the Textbook (Kraepelin, 1899) Within less than a decade, the diagnosis of dementia praecox became standard currency worldwide. Although certain modifications were made in the course of time, the essential characteristics of the concept did not undergo a mutation. The current ICD-10 and DSM-IV definitions and criteria of schizophrenia, which were designed to provide more rigorous standards for the diagnosis, appear to us as somewhat modernised (but less readable) versions of Kraepelin's original formulation. In contrast to the apparent immutability of the diagnostic concept, research in schizophrenia and related disorders has in the past 20 years not only increased exponentially but taken a qualitatively new turn. New research technologies, ranging from molecular genetics to functional neuroimaging, have joined ranks with clinical research and epidemiology. Following on the footsteps of recent successes in the unravelling of the molecular basis of Huntington's disease (Gusella et al., 1983; Huntington's Disease Collaborative Research Group, 1993) and current work on Alzheimer's disease (Blacker & Tanzi, 1998), new cohorts of investigators are tempted to believe that the discovery of the causes of schizophrenia is just around the corner. Yet no major breakthrough has yet occurred in key areas of schizophrenia research such as aetiology and risk factors, its genetic basis, and prevention. Some researchers and observers are beginning to feel very uncomfortable with the sense of stagnation in the field and voice the suspicion that the disease concept