Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring donors' and recipients' attitudes about living donor kidney transplantation.

CONTEXT There is a growing interest in living donor kidney transplantation because of its potential to reduce the current kidney shortage. OBJECTIVE To explore the experience of potential recipients, recipients, potential donors, and donors with regard to living donor kidney transplantation and laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy. METHOD Twenty-five patients participated in a series of focus group interviews. The interviews were tape-recorded and a content analysis was performed. RESULTS All participants had a positive attitude toward living donor kidney transplantation and laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy, though this procedure was not a factor that influenced potential donors' decision to donate a kidney. None of the potential donors and donors felt coerced into giving a kidney; they were motivated by a desire to help a loved one who was suffering. The main perceived impediment to donate a kidney was the potential recipients' reluctance to accept the offer. Potential recipients and recipients found it difficult to ask for a kidney and worried about the consequences of a kidney removal on their donor's health. A potential barrier to living donor kidney transplantation was that recipients would never have accepted a kidney if their donor had to pay for the kidney removal. In addition, recipients believed that a kidney from a non-blood-related donor was not as a good a match as a kidney from a blood-related donor. CONCLUSION This exploratory study reveals that donors, potential donors, recipients, and potential recipients had an overall positive attitude toward living donor kidney transplantation and laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy. This study also sheds light on a number of barriers that have not been previously reported.
Cutting Edge: Opposite Effects of IL-1 and IL-2 on the Regulation of IL-17+ T Cell Pool IL-1 Subverts IL-2-Mediated Suppression1

In this report, we show that IL-17+CD4+ and IL-17+CD8+ T cells are largely found in lung and digestive mucosa compartments in normal mice. Endogenous and exogenous IL-1 dramatically contribute to IL-17+ T cell differentiation mediated by TGFβ and IL-6. IL-1 is capable of stimulating IL-17+ T cell differentiation in the absence of IL-6. Furthermore, although IL-2 reduces IL-17+ T cell differentiation, IL-1 completely disables this effect. Mechanistically, IL-1 and IL-2 play opposite roles in regulating the expression of several molecules regulating Th17 cell differentiation, including the orphan nuclear receptor RORγt, the IL-1 receptor, and the IL-23 receptor. IL-1 subverts the effects of IL-2 on the expression of these gene transcripts. Altogether, our work demonstrates that IL-6 is important but not indispensable for IL-17+ T cell differentiation and that IL-1plays a predominant role in promoting IL-17+ T cell induction. Thus, the IL-17+ T cell pool may be controlled by the local cytokine profile in the microenvironment.
Verb and noun deficits in stroke-induced and primary progressive aphasia: The Northwestern Naming Battery

Background: Word class naming deficits are commonly seen in aphasia resulting from stroke (StrAph) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA), with differential production of nouns (objects) and verbs (actions) found based on StrAph type or PPA variant for some individuals. However, studies to date have not compared word class naming (or comprehension) ability in the two aphasic disorders. In addition there are no available measures for testing word class deficits, which control for important psycholinguistic variables across language domains. This study examined noun and verb production and comprehension in individuals with StrAph and PPA using a new test, the Northwestern Naming Battery (NNB; Thompson & Weintraub, experimental version), developed explicitly for this purpose. In addition we tested verb type effects, based on verb argument structure characteristics, which also is addressed by the NNB. Method: A total of 52 participants with StrAph (33 agrammatic, Broca's (StrAg); 19 anomic (StrAn)) and 28 PPA(10 agrammatic (PPA-G); 14 logopenic (PPA-L); 4 semantic (PPA-S)) were included in the study. Nouns and verbs were tested in the Confrontation Naming and Auditory Comprehension subtests of the NNB, with scores used to compute noun to verb ratios as well as performance by verb type. Performance patterns within and across StrAph and PPA groups were then examined. The external validity of the NNB was also tested by comparing (a) NNB Noun Naming scores to the Boston Naming Test (BNT; Kaplan, Goodglass, & Weintraub, 2001) and Western Aphasia Battery (WAB-R; Kertesz, 2007) Noun Naming subtest scores, (b) NNB Verb Naming scores to the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE; Goodglass, Kaplan, & Barresi, 2001) Action Naming score (for StrAph participants only), and (c) NNB Comprehension subtest scores to WAB-R Auditory Comprehension subtest scores. Outcomes & Results: Both agrammatic (StrAg and PPA-G) groups showed significantly greater difficulty producing verbs compared to nouns, but no comprehension impairment for either word class, whereas three of the four PPA-S participants showed poorer noun compared to verb production, as well as comprehension. However, neither the StrAn nor the PPA-L participants showed significant differences between the two word classes in production or comprehension. In addition, similar to the agrammatic participants, the StrAn participants showed a significant transitivity effect, producing intransitive (one-argument) verbs with greater accuracy than transitive (two- and three-argument) verbs. However, no transitivity effects were found for the PPA-L or PPA-S participants. There were significant correlations between NNB scores and all external validation measures. Conclusions: These data indicate that the NNB is sensitive to word class deficits in stroke and neurodegenerative aphasia. This is important both clinically for treatment planning and theoretically to inform both psycholinguistic and neural models of language processing.
Usefulness of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test to evaluate severity of COPD exacerbations.

RATIONALE The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT) is an eight-item questionnaire designed to assess and quantify the impact of COPD symptoms on health status. COPD exacerbations impair quality of life and are characterized by worsening respiratory symptoms from the stable state. We hypothesized that CAT scores at exacerbation relate to exacerbation severity as measured by exacerbation duration, lung function impairment, and systemic inflammation. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the usefulness of the CAT to assess exacerbation severity. METHODS One hundred sixty-one patients enrolled in the London COPD cohort completed the CAT at baseline (stable state), exacerbation, and during recovery between April 2010 and June 2011. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Frequent exacerbators had significantly higher baseline CAT scores than infrequent exacerbators (19.5 ± 6.6 vs. 16.8 ± 8.0, P = 0.025). In 152 exacerbations, CAT scores rose from an average baseline value of 19.4 ± 6.8 to 24.1 ± 7.3 (P < 0.001) at exacerbation. Change in CAT score from baseline to exacerbation onset was significantly but weakly related to change in C-reactive protein (rho = 0.26, P = 0.008) but not to change in fibrinogen (rho = 0.09, P = 0.351) from baseline to exacerbation. At exacerbation, rises in CAT score were significantly associated with falls in FEV(1) (rho = -0.20, P = 0.032). Median recovery time as judged by symptom diary cards was significantly related to the time taken for the CAT score to return to baseline (rho = 0.42, P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS The CAT provides a reliable score of exacerbation severity. Baseline CAT scores are elevated in frequent exacerbators. CAT scores increase at exacerbation and reflect severity as determined by lung function and exacerbation duration.
Swertiamarin Attenuates Experimental Rat Hepatic Fibrosis by Suppressing Angiotensin II–Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor–Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling

The rennin–angiotensin system (RAS) is crucial in hepatic fibrosis development, and therapies targeting this system may be a promising treatment for hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of swertiamarin (Swe), an ethanol extract of Gentiana manshurica Kitag, on hepatic fibrosis and its underlying mechanisms through regulating RAS. Primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated and treated with angiotensin II (Ang II) with or without Swe and losartan. The proliferation and activation of HSCs were measured. Rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) injection for 4 weeks. Rats were treated with Swe or losartan from the third week until the end of the experiment. Hydroxyproline content in liver tissue was assayed with Jamall’s method, and liver collagen deposition was visualized using Sirius red staining. RAS components were analyzed by Western blot, immunofluorescent staining, and real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that Swe significantly inhibited Ang II-induced HSC proliferation and activation. Swe also significantly suppressed DMN-induced α-smooth muscle actin production in rat livers and improved liver function. Swe partially inhibited Ang II-induced angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) up-regulation and suppressed Ang II-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-jun phosphorylation in HSCs. In the DMN-treated rats, Swe treatment significantly inhibited the plasma Ang II levels. DMN-induced AT1R up-regulation, and phosphorylation of ERK and c-jun in rat liver were also inhibited by Swe. In conclusion, Swe may attenuate hepatic fibrosis through inhibiting HSC activation by regulating the RAS.
Differential Uptake of Volatile Agents into Brain Tissue In Vitro: Measurement and Application of a Diffusion Model to Determine Concentration Profiles in Brain Slices

Background The rate of onset of drug actions in experiments with brain slices in vitro can vary widely. One factor that influences the rate is access to tissue sites of action. To study the effects of the nonimmobilizer 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane (F6, also termed 2N in the literature) on physiologic processes under defined tissue concentrations, the authors performed electrophysiologic measurements of the effects of F6 and halothane, measured the uptake of these agents into brain tissue, and performed computational modeling to determine concentration–depth profiles during drug application. Methods Hippocampal brain slices 500 &mgr;m thick were prepared from adult rats. Evoked population responses in the CA1 region were obtained using extracellular recordings and electrical stimulation of the Schaffer collateral pathway. F6 (24 &mgr;m) and halothane (270 &mgr;m) were applied via superfusion for 40 min. Uptake of drug into tissue slices was measured using gas chromatography. Computational modeling was used to obtain estimates of drug diffusion coefficients in brain tissue and to calculate tissue concentration as a function of time and depth during drug application. Results Halothane reduced the amplitude of the evoked population spike and reduced the population excitatory postsynaptic potential slope. F6 had no effect on either measure. Uptake experiments yielded a diffusion coefficient of 0.1 × 10−6 cm2/s for F6 and 0.8 × 10−6 cm2/s for halothane. After 40 min of drug application, the concentration reached at tissue depths from which physiologic signals were obtained, approximately the top 200 &mgr;m of the slice, was estimated to be 58% of the final equilibrium value for F6 and 93% for halothane. Conclusions Diffusion into tissue is substantially slower for F6 than for halothane, and its impact is great enough that this must be considered when designing or interpreting in vitro experiments. However, impaired access does not account for the lack of effect of F6 on electrophysiologic responses in rat hippocampal slices.
Haemodynamic effect of metaboreflex activation in men after running above and below the velocity of the anaerobic threshold

Previous studies have shown that the muscle metaboreflex, along with its effect on peripheral vasculature, is capable of inducing substantial enhancement in cardiac performance, stroke volume and cardiac output. This study was designed to determine whether the metaboreflex recruited by means of postexercise muscle ischaemia (PEMI) after running at two intensities was capable of eliciting similar enhancement in these cardiovascular parameters. In eight healthy male athletes the metaboreflex was studied with the PEMI method at the start of recovery from running bouts at a velocity of 30% above (PEMI‐AVAT) or below (PEMI‐BVAT) the anaerobic threshold previously assessed. Control exercise recovery tests at the same intensities were also conducted. Haemodynamics were evaluated by means of impedance cardiography. The main results were that: (1) the PEMI‐AVAT test induced an increase in stroke volume, which was not present during the other protocol conditions; (2) the PEMI‐AVAT test also induced a blunted heart rate response compared with the control situation, but this relative bradycardia was fully compensated by the stroke volume increment so that cardiac output was maintained and even increased in comparison with the other protocol sessions; and (3) finally, there was no detectable increase in systemic vascular resistance during PEMI‐AVAT. These results provide evidence that, like what has previously been reported for small muscle mass exercise, metaboreflex activation after running is capable of enhancing cardiac performance and stroke volume. Moreover, this study strengthens the concept that the cardiovascular response to metaboreflex is not merely the consequence of an increase in systemic vascular resistance.
Mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the haloacetic acids, a major class of drinking water disinfection by‐products

The haloacetic acids (HAAs) are disinfection by‐products (DBPs) that are formed during the disinfection of drinking water, wastewaters and recreational pool waters. Currently, five HAAs [bromoacetic acid (BAA), dibromoacetic acid (DBAA), chloroacetic acid (CAA), dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA); designated as HAA5] are regulated by the U.S. EPA, at a maximum contaminant level of 60 μg/L for the sum of BAA, DBAA, CAA, DCAA, and TCAA. We present a comparative systematic analysis of chronic cytotoxicity and acute genomic DNA damaging capacity of 12 individual HAAs in mammalian cells. In addition to the HAA5, we analyzed iodoacetic acid (IAA), diiodoacetic acid (DiAA), bromoiodoacetic acid (BIAA), tribromoacetic acid (TBAA), chlorodibromoacetic acid (CDBAA), bromodichloroacetic acid (BDCAA), and bromochloroacetic acid (BCAA). Their rank order of chronic cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary cells was IAA > BAA > TBAA > CDBAA > DIAA > DBAA > BDCAA > BCAA > CAA > BIAA > TCAA > DCAA. The rank order for genotoxicity was IAA > BAA > CAA > DBAA > DIAA > TBAA > BCAA > BIAA > CDBAA. DCAA, TCAA, and BDCAA were not genotoxic. The trend for both cytotoxicity and genotoxicity is iodinated HAAs > brominated HAAs > chlorinated HAAs. The use of alternative disinfectants other than chlorine generates new DBPs and alters their distribution. Systematic, comparative, in vitro toxicological data provides the water supply community with information to consider when employing alternatives to chlorine disinfection. In addition, these data aid in prioritizing DBPs and their related compounds for future in vivo toxicological studies and risk assessment. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Seven subthreshold flip-flop cells

For ultra-low-power applications, operating the transistors in their subthreshold region is an effective way of reducing the power dissipation of a circuit. This paper presents a comparative study of the performance of seven D-flip-flop cells operating in the subthreshold region, based on simulations in a 90 nm CMOS technology. Simulations have been performed with a supply voltage ranging from 150 mV to 350 mV. The best PDP and EDP numbers at 175 mV is 13 aJ and 10 yJs, respectively.
In Situ Electron Microscopy Mechanical Testing of Silicon Nanowires Using Electrostatically Actuated Tensile Stages

Two types of electrostatically actuated tensile stages for in situ electron microscopy mechanical testing of 1-D nanostructures were designed, microfabricated, and tested. Testing was carried out for mechanical characterization of silicon nanowires (SiNWs). The bulk micromachined stages consist of a comb-drive actuator and either a differential capacitive sensor or a clamped-clamped beam force sensor. High-aspect-ratio structures (height/gap = 20) were designed to increase the driving force of the geometrically optimized actuator and the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor. The actuator stiffness is kept low to enable high tensile force to be exerted in the specimen rather than in the suspensions of the comb drive. Individual SiNWs were mounted on the devices by in situ scanning electron microscopy nanomanipulation, and their tensile properties were determined to demonstrate the device capability. The phosphorus-doped SiNWs, which were grown in a bottom-up manner by the vapor-liquid-solid process, show an average Young's modulus of (170.0 ± 2.4) GPa and a tensile strength of at least 4.2 GPa. Top-down electroless chemically etched SiNWs, with their long axis along the [100] direction, show a fracture strength of 5.4 GPa.
[Neuropsychological assessment of memory in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: the role of executive functions].

INTRODUCTION There is an important agreement on the consideration of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a condition characterized by neurodevelopmental dysfunction of fronto-striatal dopaminergic and noradrenergic circuits with resultant executive deficits in cognitive functioning. AIM To assess the existence of memory deficits in children with ADHD associated with a poor performance executive. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We assess 14 children diagnosed with ADHD combined type and 14 controls matched on intellectual coefficient, age and level of schooling, in a neuropsychological evaluation protocol designed to assess executive functions and memory skills using Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Memory for Stories Test -Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL)-, Complex Figure Text, Visual Selective Reminding Test (TOMAL), Tower of Hanoi, Memory Phrases Test (Siegel and Ryan), Digit Span (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised) and Tapping Test (Wechsler Memory Scale III). RESULTS The ADHD group showed deficits in the learning and free recall of verbal material, in procedural and working memory. No group differences were observed in the visual memory tasks. CONCLUSIONS The results are analyzed in terms of difficulty in coding strategies, storage and search of information previously stored in the group with ADHD, at least for the kind of verbal information. These difficulties are associated with deficits in executive functioning.
Functional outcomes and cost estimation for extra-articular and simple intra-articular distal radius fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation versus closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation.

BACKGROUND We sought to compare direct costs and clinical and radiographic outcomes for distal radius fractures (DRF) treated with open reduction internal fixation with volar locking plates (VLP) versus closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). METHODS We identified patients with AO-type A and C1 DRFs from a prospective database. Outcomes were assessed at 6 weeks and at 3, 6 and 12 months, and surgical care costs were estimated. RESULTS Twenty patients were treated with CRPP and 24 with VLP. There were no significant differences in patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) scores between the 2 groups at any time point (mean 16.2 ± 23.1 in the CRPP group v. 21.5 ± 23.6 in the VLP group, p = 0.91). Overall alignment was maintained in both groups; however, there was a greater loss of radial height over time with CRPP than VLP (0.97 mm v. 0.25 mm, p = 0.018). The mean duration of surgery was longer for VLP than CRPP (113.9 ± 39.5 min v. 86.5 ± 7.8 min, p = 0.029), but there were fewer clinic visits (5.2 ± 1.4 v. 7.8 ± 1.3, p < 0.001) and fewer radiographs (7.4 ± 2.7 v. 9 ± 2.4, p = 0.031). The total cost per case was greater for VLP than CRPP ($1637.27 v. $733.91). CONCLUSION Based on PRWE scores, VLPs did not offer any significant advantage over CRPP in patients with simple fracture types between 3 and 12 months, but they were much more costly. Whether VLP offers any functional advantage earlier in recovery, thereby justifying their expense, requires further investigation in the form of a prospective randomized trial with a detailed cost analysis.
Ticks of the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago (Acarina: Ixodidae: Argasidae).

Die vorliegende Arbeit fasst alle bisher in der Literatur erwahnten Funde von Zecken-Arten der Tristan da Cunha Inseln zusammen. Ixodes (Multidentatus) zumpti Arthur, 1960 und dessen Wirt konnen aufgrund aktueller Untersuchungen erstmals fur den Archipel gemeldet werden. Eine aktuelle Liste von 10 Zecken-Arten aus drei Gattungen und zwei Familien und deren Wirte, namlich funf Vogel-Arten und vermutlich ein Huftier, ist beigefugt. Weiterhin sind eine summarische Liste der Funde vom Archipel, detaillierte Listen von den Hauptinseln sowie der Verbleib des Materials aufgefuhrt.StichworterTicks; Acarina; Ixodidae; Argasidae; ectoparasites; Tristan da Cunha; Nightingale; Inaccessible; Gough; Islands; South Atlantic Ocean; seabirds.
Identification of an Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Consensus Promoter Structure

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae promoter-containing clones were isolated from a genomic DNA library constructed in our lVET promoter trap vector pTF86. The promoter-containing clones were identiﬁed by their ability to drive expression of the promoterless luxAB genes of Vibrio harveyi . The degree of expression was quantiﬁable, and only high-expression or “hot” promoters were used for this study. Nine clones were se- quenced, and their transcriptional start sites were determined by primer extension. The sequences upstream of the start site were aligned, and a consensus promoter structure for A. pleuropneumoniae was identiﬁed. The consensus promoter sequence for A. pleuropneumoniae was found to be TATAAT and TTG/AAA, centered approximately 10 and 35 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site, respectively. A comparison of the A. pleuropneumoniae consensus with other prokaryotic consensus promoters showed that the A. pleuropneumoniae consensus promoter is similar to that found in other eubacteria in terms of sequence, with an identical 2 10 element and a similar but truncated 2 35 element. However, the A. pleuropneumoniae consensus promoter is unique in the spacing between the 2 10 and 2 35 elements. The promoter spacing was analyzed by site-directed mutagenesis, which demonstrated that optimal spacing for an A. pleuropneumoniae promoter is shorter than the spacing identiﬁed for Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis promoters. by one of the coauthors questions concerning the validity of the data in this paper have arisen. On the basis of recent investigations, the coauthor communicated that some of the experimental evidence presented in the paper cannot be replicated and that the conclusions of the work on the structure of a consensus Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae promoter are not valid. The other coauthor was not available to the Journal for comment. In an effort to prevent other investigators from using possibly erroneous data, the Journal of Bacteriology is retracting the article in its entirety.