Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kruppel-like factor 6 germ-line mutations are infrequent in Finnish hereditary prostate cancer.

PURPOSE Recently, Kruppel-like factor 6 gene (KLF6) has been shown to be inactivated in up to 77% of prostate carcinomas. KLF6 has an important role in regulating cell growth and differentiation. The function and high mutation frequency in sporadic prostate carcinomas make KLF6 an attractive candidate for prostate cancer predisposition and, therefore, DNA samples from 69 Finnish prostate cancer families were analyzed for KLF6 mutations. MATERIALS AND METHODS DNA samples from 69 Finnish prostate cancer families were screened for mutations in the KLF6 gene using single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and confirmatory sequencing. RESULTS In 8 (11.6%) families single-strand conformation polymorphism shifts were present. Sequencing revealed 6 201G>A (R201R) polymorphisms, as well as a -4C>A and a 956T>C alteration in the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions, respectively. Nonsense or missense mutations were not found. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that KLF6 germ-line mutations are of marginal importance in prostate cancer predisposition in Finland.
Seroepidemiology and primary infections of the recently detected Merkel cell polyomavirus and trichodysplasia-spinulosa associated polyomavirus

5 LIST OF ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS 7 ABBREVIATIONS 8 INTRODUCTION 9 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 10 1. Overview of human polyomaviruses 10 1.1 Classification and virion properties 10 1.2 General aspects of HPyV life cycle 11 1.3 General aspects of HPyV infection and diseases 12 2. Merkel cell polyomavirus 13 2.1 Merkel cell carcinoma 13 2.2 Discovery of MCPyV 14 2.3 MCPyV genome structure and function 14 2.4 Infection and immunity 17 2.5 Molecular epidemiology 18 2.6 Clinical aspects on MCPyV-positive and -negative MCCs 20 2.7 Association of MCPyV with pathogenesis of MCC 21 3. Trichodysplasia-spinulosa associated polyomavirus 23 3.1 Trichodysplasia-spinulosa disease 23 3.2 Discovery of TSPyV 23 3.3 TSPyV genome 23 3.4 Epidemiology and immunity 24 4. Serodiagnosis 26 4.1 Antibody response in viral infection 26 4.2 EIA for antibody detection 27 4.3 Interpretation of results 28 4.4 Biotinylation-based anti-viral IgM EIA 29 AIMS OF THE STUDY 30 MATERIALS AND METHODS 31 1. Materials 31 1.1 Patients and serum samples 31 1.2 Plasmids, bacteria and cells (I, II) 32 2. Methods 32 2.1 Virus-like particle production (I, II) 32 2.2 Biotinylation (I, II, IV) 33 2.3 Immunoblotting (I, II, IV) 33 2.4 In-house antibody assays (I-IV) 34 2.5 Cutoff determination (I-IV) 35 2.6 Affinity determination (IV) 36 2.7 Quantitative PCR (III) 36 2.8 Statistical analysis (I-IV) 36
Inner Ear Evolution in Primates Through the Cenozoic: Implications for the Evolution of Hearing

Mammals are unique in being the only group of amniotes that can hear sounds in the upper frequency range (>12 kHz), yet details about the evolutionary development of hearing patterns remain poorly understood. In this study, we used high resolution X‐ray computed tomography to investigate several functionally relevant auditory structures of the inner ear in a sample of 21 fossil primate species (60 Ma to recent times) and 25 species of living euarchontans (primates, tree shrews, and flying lemurs). The structures examined include the length of the cochlea, development of bony spiral lamina and area of the oval window (or stapedial footplate when present). Using these measurements we predicted aspects of low‐frequency and high‐frequency sensitivity and show that hearing patterns in primates likely evolved in several stages through the first half of the Cenozoic. These results provide temporal boundaries for the development of hearing patterns in extant lineages and strongly suggest that the ancestral euarchontan hearing pattern was characterized by good high‐frequency hearing but relatively poor low‐frequency sensitivity. They also show that haplorhines are unique among primates (extant or extinct) in having relatively longer cochleae and increased low‐frequency sensitivity. We combined these results with additional, older paleontological evidence to put these findings in a broader evolutionary context. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A novel sound sensor and its package used in lung sound diagnosis

Auscultation method has been used since the early 19th century in diagnostics of heart and lung diseases. Traditional stethoscope coupled with ears of physicians detects the heart and lung sound, and it is formed by microphone, air chamber and other infrastructures. However, some disadvantages exist in this kind of detecting tools, such as bulky size, friction noise due to hand-held, and inconvenience in long-term continuing monitoring, making it impossible to be integrated with clothing and hard to be interfaced with chest or inner cloth. A novel sound sensor used in lung sound detection with small size and high sensitivity will be presented in this paper. The sound sensor and its packaging are based on asymmetrically-gapped cantilever, consisting of a movable proof mass and three connection beams with two parallel beams that integrate one piezoelectric element at the top side and one mechanical beam at the bottom of sensor. As an example of lung sound diagnosis, a sound sensor with 5g weight, 86V/g sensitivity and 40ng/√Hz minimum detection acceleration is used in this paper. Due to the advantage of small size, high sensitivity and low cost, this sensor can be used in subtle sound and acceleration detection by a long term continuous monitoring mode. The application of this sound sensor will be presented in details in the lung sound detection, with particular focus on the deep breath induced sound. The monitoring experimental results show that this new sensor makes the detection of breathing clearer and easier, and heart sound can be sensed during breath holding period. The test data for regular breathing, deep breathing, and breathing & holding cases will be reported. It has been observed that lung sound can be measured and consistent results have been achieved. In addition, heart sound was tried to be extracted from lung sound, and the heart rate for the measured person is found to be 62 pulses per minute for an individual tested.
Pro: endoscopic realignment for pelvic fracture urethral injuries

Patients with pelvic fracture urethral distraction injuries may benefit from early endoscopic realignment. Realignment is associated with a low risk of immediate complications and has a high success rate for achieving catheter placement. Review of over thirty studies assessing for subsequent urethral stenosis, including at least a dozen that directly compare realignment to suprapubic diversion along, conclude that there is a benefit averaging at least 35% in favor of realignment. Furthermore, realignment may result in easier subsequent urethroplasty and possibly shorter stenoses.
Selection for lean growth in terminal sire sheep to produce leaner crossbred progeny

A progeny test was designed to test whether genetic superiority for lean growth in terminal sires is expressed in their crossbred progeny when reared in a different environment. In each of 1986, 1987 and 1988, 22 Suffolk rams were chosen at the conclusion of an indoor, intensive performance testing regime on an index score that rated their propensity for lean growth, while constraining fat growth, at 150 days of age. Half of these rams had high index scores and half had low index scores. In each year, around 400 crossbred ewes were mated and the resulting lambs were finished on grass to one of three target live weights (35-5, 41-5, and 47-0 kg). Shoulder joints were dissected on 1505 lambs whilst half carcasses were dissected on 372 lambs. Double sampling techniques were then used to combine the data from the shoulder and half carcass more precisely to predict the lean, fat and bone weight and content in the carcass. With each increment in target live weight, the carcasses were heavier and had proportionally more fat. The progeny of high index rams consistently had 144 (s.e.d. 32) g more lean, 66 (s.e.d. 12) g more bone, and 186 (s.e.d. 32) g less fat in a 19-7 (s.e. 0-5) kg carcass than progeny of low index rams, from the double sampling procedure. This improved composition reflected a correlated response to ram selection on the index. One standard deviation increase in ram index score corresponded to 51 g more lean and 64 g less fat in the 20 kg carcass of their crossbred offspring. These results show that the use of rams with high lean index scores in a crossbreeding system will produce lambs with leaner carcasses. Visual appraisals of fat and conformation both increased as the weight and, consequently, the fatness of the carcass increased. Offspring of high index rams were consistently scored as less fat than offspring of low index rams. But, at the lighter weights (35-5 and 41-5 kg), they were also scored lower in conformation — in effect, a penalty for their higher genetic merit for lean growth.
Activities of polyomavirus large-T-antigen proteins expressed by mutant genes

We constructed a set of polyomavirus mutants with alterations in the DNA sequences encoding large T-antigen. The mutant genomes were cloned and propagated as recombinants of plasmid pBR322, and the presence of the mutations was confirmed by nucleotide sequence analysis. To facilitate the analysis of defects in the function of large T-antigen, the dl1061 deletion was introduced into the mutant genomes. This deletion restricts the early gene expression to the synthesis of large T-antigen (Nilsson and Magnusson, EMBO J. 2:2095-2101, 1983). The mutant large T-antigens were identified after radioactive labeling. Their functional characterization was based on analysis of DNA binding, activity in the replication of viral DNA, and cellular localization. The native large T-antigen, which is 785 amino acid residues long, binds specifically to the regulatory region of polyomavirus DNA. This binding was significantly reduced by the deletion of amino acid residues 136 to 260. Nevertheless, this mutant large T-antigen was active in the initiation of viral DNA replication. Conversely, all of the mutants in this study that produced large T-antigens with alterations in the carboxy-terminal 146 amino acid residues had normal DNA-binding properties. However, these mutants were inactive in viral DNA synthesis and also inhibited the replication of wild-type DNA in cotransfected cells. The analysis of mutant dl2208 (Nilsson et al., J. Virol. 46:284-287, 1983) led to unexpected results. Its large T-antigen, missing amino acid residues 191 to 209, was overproduced. Although the protein had normal DNA-binding properties, it was not entering the cell nucleus normally. Furthermore, the dl2208 DNA replication was extremely low in the absence of small and middle T-antigens but was normal in the presence of these proteins.
Tumoricidal Effects of β-Glucans: Mechanisms Include Both Antioxidant Activity Plus Enhanced Systemic and Topical Immunity

A study to evaluate the mechanisms of tumoricidal activity resulting from orally administered extract of Agaricus blazei Murill (A. blazei) was performed in mice bearing syngeneic and xenogeneic tumors. Tumor regression was comparably seen in both syngeneic and xenogeneic tumor-bearing mice when administered oral extract preparations. In addition, in a murine syngeneic tumor model, oral administration of water-soluble extracts of A. blazei resulted in significant production of cytokines such as IFN-γ, and TNF-α in peritoneal exudate cells, in parallel with the marked regression of tumor development. The water-soluble extracts also induced pronounced antioxidant activity in in vitro and in vivo assays using two different methods. These results indicate the A. blazei extract may enhance not only the immnunomodulatory effects that promote activity of peritoneal exudate cells for tumor regression but also potentially result in the direct destruction of tumor cells through its antioxidant activity.
Risk of Injury during Alpine and Telemark Skiing and Snowboarding: the Equipment-Specific Distance-Correlated Injury Index

Estimation of injury risk in alpine sports is difficult. We present a new method of calculating an injury index related to the distance traveled on ski or snowboard. The distance-correlated injury index equals the number of injuries per 100,000 km traveled distance. This injury index can also be correlated to the type of equipment used. The equipment-specific distance-correlated injury index is the same as the distance-correlated injury index, but it is sport-specific. We found the distance-correlated injury index for alpine skiing to be 3.9 (95% CI 2.8 to 5.4); for snowboarding, 13.5 (95% CI 8.3 to 22.0); and for telemark skiing, 3.0 (95% CI 1.0 to 9.4), suggesting a three- to four-times higher incidence of injuries requiring hospital treatment among snowboarders than among alpine and telemark skiers.
A Brief Measure of Loneliness Suitable for Use with Adolescents

An 8-item loneliness scale was administered to a sample of high school students (N = 1,710) twice, about one year apart. The scale exhibited good internal consistency reliability (alphas of 0.78 and 0.79, respectively), was relatively independent of gender effects, and demonstrated evidence of construct validity. Factor analysis of the items yielded a two-factor solution which met methodological criteria, but over-all the data suggested a method artifact, e.g., positively and negatively worded items factored separately. Examination of the two factors indicated the subscale of four negative items (lack companionship, no longer close, left out, feel isolated) had an α reliability of . 77, correlated . 89 with the total scale score, and exhibited virtually an identical pattern of associations with a set of theoretically relevant variables as the full scale. This four-item scale may be useful in epidemiologic surveys in which over-all response burden is an issue.
Pacing Failure Due to Flecainide Acetate

Flecainide acetate is a recently introduced, class 1 antiarrhythmic agent that is highly effective in the treatment of ventricular and atrioventricular/ nodal reentrant tuchycardias.1,2 Although both intravenous and orally administered flecainide are known to cause an increase in the pacing threshold,3 an abrupt and potentially lethal rise in threshold causing failure of a properly functioning, newly implanted pacing system has not to our knowledge been described. We report such a case to stress the need for caution when using this drug in elderly pacemaker patients.
A state dependent life-history model of provisioning in 1 penguins

9 There is a wealth of information detailing the behavior of penguins in the Southern Ocean 10 during breeding. However, we have less of an idea how their behavior is affected by changes 11 in prey availability. The aim of management models in this region is to allocate catch 12 limits for one of the main prey species for penguins, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), 13 in defined units around major breeding colonies. Our main goal is to estimate the shape 14 of the functional response of penguins and krill, key information that is currently missing 15 from management. We use data from field studies on penguins and acoustic readings 16 of krill swarms to characterize a state-dependent life-history model where two penguin 17 parents forage to provision a chick to fledging. Each individual parent makes decisions 18 based on quantified estimates of state dynamics, a probabilistic distribution of how their 19 partner is behaving, and a need to maximize fitness. We predict that the shape of the 20 curve describing total amount of krill eaten versus krill available around a breeding colony 21 approximates a Holling Type III functional response. Our broader prediction is that the 22 age of parents can influence chick survival, but only at medium food levels. 23 24
Early Numerical Competencies of Students with Different Forms of Mathematics Difficulty

The purpose of the study was to examine differences in early numerical competencies, as well as subtraction skill, as a function of children's mathematics difficulty (MD) status: computational difficulty (CD), word problem–solving difficulty (PD), concurrent difficulty (CDPD), or neither difficulty (i.e., typically developing; TYP). Based on measures of addition and word–problem skill, second grade students (N= 332) were classified in terms of MD status. Then, students were assessed on three early numerical competency measures (Number Line Estimation, Number Sets Test, and Counting Knowledge) as well as a measure of subtraction. On Number Line Estimation and Number Sets Test, students with CD and those with PD scored comparably, but both outperformed students with CDPD. On Counting Knowledge–Double First, students with CDPD scored lower than the three contrasting groups. On subtraction, students with CD outperformed those with PD, and students with PD and those with CDPD performed comparably. Findings are discussed in terms of differential performance as a function of difficulty status and implications for understanding and teaching subtypes of MD.
Common human leucocyte antigen haplotypes in Indians – its implications in finding unrelated compatible bone marrow donors

Summary All over the world there have been efforts to make unrelated stem cell registries to cater for patients who do not have a compatible family donor and are in need of allogenic stem cell transplantation. Donors of Indian origin are poorly represented all these registries. Approximately 10 million Indians live outside India, and a substantial number of them live in the developed West. Hence when some of these patients of Indian origin need unrelated stem cell donor, they search the available National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry database and invariably do not get a human leucocyte antigen (HLA) matched donor. They come to India, where a haphazard search for the donor ensues and it invariably ends in failure. Hence, we have compiled the data of our laboratory and other published reports in population HLA studies from India and abroad to show several common haplotypes from these studies. It is hoped that this will give the busy clinician an idea whether a search for prospective unrelated stem cell donor for an Indian patient is likely to succeed or not.
Hyperimmunoglobulin‐E syndrome with recurrent infection: A review of current opinion and treatment

Hyperimmunoglobulin E (hyper‐IgE) syndrome with recurrent infection is a rare idiopathic primary immunodeficiency. It consists of a severe dermatitis with recurrent abscess formation, respiratory tract infections and very high titres of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE). Hyper‐IgE syndrome is also associated with skeletal abnormalities. Variability of presentation makes it easy to confuse the diagnosis with that of severe atopy or other rare immunodeficiencies. The aim of this article is to review the literature in order to consider the clinical findings, etiology and treatment of this syndrome.
The Impact of a Community-Based Clinical Trial Educational Intervention among Underrepresented Chinese Americans

Background: Clinical trials are a critical resource for the discovery of new prevention, diagnostic, and treatment methods for cancer. The most effective prevention and treatment modalities are based on previous clinical trial results. However, participation in clinical trials is underrepresented by racial/ethnic minority populations, Asian Americans in particular. Asian Americans are the least represented of any ethnic groups in clinical trials. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a culturally and linguistically appropriate community-based educational intervention to increase knowledge of and intent to participate in cancer clinical trials among underrepresented Chinese Americans. Methods: Community-Based Participatory Research approach was used to guide the development, cultural tailoring, implementation, and evaluation of clinical trial intervention. First, 22 Asian community representatives were recruited as community health educators (CHE) who received 12-hour training on clinical trial education. Second, 262 members were recruited from 11 Chinese community organizations. Of those recruited, a total of 247 eligible Chinese enrolled and participated in the clinical trial education delivered by trained CHEs. Participants completed pretest before and posttest after the intervention. Results: Fifteen of 21 measures of clinical trial knowledge showed significant changes post the intervention (P < 0.05). Education remained the sole demographic factor increasing clinical trial knowledge in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Clinical trial education should emphasize both benefits to science and the larger Asian community. This community-based clinical trial intervention demonstrated promising results and has potential to enhance recruitment and participation in clinical trial research among the underrepresented Asian Americans. Impact: Improving clinical trial participation in the fast-growing Asian American population is key to dissemination of health innovations targeted to diminish health disparities. See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, “Community Network Program Centers. ” Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(3); 424–32. ©2013 AACR.
The Severe Impairment Battery: Concurrent Validity and the Assessment of Longitudinal Change in Alzheimer's Disease

Measurement of cognitive dysfunction in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been well studied and there are many objective tests in use for this purpose. However, with the exception of clinical rating scales, such as the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, Global Deterioration Scale, and Functional Assessment Staging, there are few objective measures of cognition in the more advanced stages of AD. Given a renewed interest in potential AD therapies, objective measures of mental functioning are needed to adequately assess change in more advanced AD patients. As part of an effort by the NIA-Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study to evaluate new measures of efficacy for their utility in treatment studies, the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) was examined in a 1-year evaluation of change across a wide range of AD severity. The data suggest that the SIB is a reliable and valid measure of progression, particularly in persons with moderate to severe AD. The SIB may therefore be a useful outcome measure in clinical trials that include patients with more advanced stages of AD.
A simple geometrical description of the TrueFISP ideal transient and steady‐state signal

An intuitive approach is presented for assessment of the TrueFISP signal behavior in the transient phase and the steady state, based on geometrical considerations in combination with the Bloch equations. Short formulations are derived for the zenith and phase angle determining the direction of the magnetization vector for which a smooth monoexponential decay is obtained even at considerable off‐resonance frequencies, thus compactly defining the target of various preparation schemes proposed in literature. A pictorial explanation is provided to illustrate how the interplay between RF excitation and relaxation governs the TrueFISP transient phase and steady state. Closed form expressions are developed that describe the signal evolution, accounting for the influence of T1, T2, flip angle, and resonance frequency offset in agreement with recently published studies. These results are obtained directly from basic assumptions, without the need for abstract mathematical treatment or further approximations. The validity of the conceptual framework and the analytical description is verified by simulations based on the Bloch equations as well as with MR phantom experiments. The theory may be used for contrast calculations and has the potential to facilitate improved parameter quantification with magnetization prepared TrueFISP experiments accounting for off‐resonance effects. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.