Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for genotype Ib chronic hepatitis C in Japan.

AIM To evaluate the efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha-2b (peg-IFN alpha-2b) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype Ib and a high viral load. METHODS One hundred and twenty CHC patients (58.3% male) who received peg-IFN alpha-2b plus RBV therapy for 48 wk were enrolled. Sustained virological response (SVR) and clinical parameters were evaluated. RESULTS One hundred (83.3%) of 120 patients completed 48 wk of treatment. 53 patients (44.3%) achieved SVR. Early virological response (EVR) and end of treatment response (ETR) rates were 50% and 73.3%, respectively. The clinical parameters (SVR vs non-SVR) associated with SVR, ALT (108.4 IU/L vs 74.5 IU/L, P = 0.063), EVR (76.4% vs 16.4%, P < 0.0001), adherence to peg-IFN (>or= 80% of planned dose) at week 12 (48.1% vs 13.6%, P = 0.00036), adherence to peg-IFN at week 48 (54.7% vs 16.2%, P < 0.0001) and adherence to RBV at week 48 (56.1% vs 32.1%, P = 0.0102) were determined using univariate analysis, and EVR and adherence to peg-IFN at week 48 were determined using multivariate analysis. In the older patient group (> 56 years), SVR in females was significantly lower than that in males (17% vs 50%, P = 0.0262). EVR and adherence to Peg-IFN were demonstrated to be the main factors associated with SVR. CONCLUSION Peg-IFN alpha-2b plus RBV combination therapy demonstrated good tolerability in Japanese patients with CHC and resulted in a SVR rate of 44.3%. Treatment of elderly female patients is still challenging and maintenance of adherence to peg-IFN alpha-2b is important in improving the SVR rate.
All Quiet on the Western Front and the Fate of a War

Between 1928 and 1930 Germany and Great Britain especially, and France and America to a lesser extent, experienced a sudden and remarkable 'boom' in war books, plays, and films. For a decade after the end of the war, publishers, theatre directors, and film makers had treated war material gingerly, viewing it as a poor commercial propositon, on the assumption that the public wished, contrary to annual remembrance day exhortations, to forget the war. In the course of 1928, and then particularly in early 1929, it became abundantly clear that the war had become a saleable subject, and cultural artifacts dealing with the war began to pour forth. What some felt to have been a 'conspiracy of silence' was shattered with a
Charge Movement in Cut Twitch Fibres of Rana Temporaries Containing 0.1 mm EGTA

1 Charge movement was studied in the cut twitch fibres of Rana temporaria with a double Vaseline‐gap voltage‐clamp technique. 2 In fibres containing 0.1 mm EGTA, the Iγ hump component of charge movement was either unresolvable or had a brief duration at all potentials. In the steady‐state charge‐voltage (Q–V) plots that were separable into the less voltage dependent (Qβ) and more voltage dependent (Qγ) components, the amount of Qγ was 0.9 ± 0.1 nC μF−1 (mean ±s.e.m., n= 18). 3 Fibres containing 20 mm EGTA showed broad Iγ humps at about −45 mV. The addition of 1.8 mm total Ca2+ to the end‐pools accelerated the rising phase and abbreviated the duration of the hump. 4 I γ humps in fibres containing 0.1 mm EGTA resembled those in intact fibres when recorded at similar low temperatures. 5 These results explain the controversy concerning the variable appearance of Iγ humps in cut fibres.
Construction and characterization of isogenic mutants of Streptococcus mutans deficient in major surface protein antigen P1 (I/II)

The gene (spaP) coding for the Streptococcus mutans major surface protein antigen P1 (or I/II) has been cloned into Escherichia coli (S. F. Lee, A. Progulske-Fox, and A. S. Bleiweis, Infect. Immun. 56:2114-2119, 1988). In the present study, this gene has been disrupted in vitro by insertional inactivation with pVA981, which carries a Tcr marker, and transformed into S. mutans NG8 (serotype c) by electroporation. Upon homologous recombination, the defective spaP was integrated into the genome as demonstrated by Southern hybridization analysis. One Tcr mutant, designated 834, selected by its nonreactivity with anti-P1 monoclonal antibodies, was found to lack the cell surface fuzzy layer which was clearly present on the parent cells. Analysis of extracellular fluids, sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized membranes, and cytoplasmic fractions by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that 834 had protein profiles identical to the parent. However, a 185-kilodalton protein which reacts with anti-P1 antibodies was missing from the wall of 834, suggesting that spaP has been specifically inactivated. This mutant displayed levels of glucosyltransferase and fructosyltransferase activities similar to those of the parent. It was much less hydrophobic than the parent. S. mutans NG8 aggregated readily in the presence of clarified whole saliva or a high-molecular-weight salivary agglutinin. This strain also adhered to agglutinin-coated hydroxyapatite. The P1-negative mutants, however, did not display these two properties, suggesting that P1 may play a role in saliva-mediated aggregation and adherence.
Determinants of vitamin D supplement use in Canadians

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of vitamin D supplement use in Canadian adults and associations with demographic and socio-economic variables. Design Data from the Healthy Aging module of the Canadian Community Health Survey were used to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D supplement use in Canadians aged 45 years and over. The prevalence of supplement use stratified by various behavioural and demographic characteristics was calculated and adjusted models were used to find associations with those factors. Setting The ten provinces of Canada. Subjects Canadians aged 45 years and over who participated in the Healthy Aging module of the Canadian Community Health Survey from 2008–2009. Results The highest observed prevalence for women was 48·0 % in the 65–69 years age group and the highest prevalence for men was 25·3 % in the 70–74 years age group. Women had higher odds of vitamin D supplement use than men in all age groups. Not using supplements was more common in smokers, those who did not engage in leisure-time physical activities and who were either overweight or obese. Vitamin D supplement use increased with household income and level of education, and decreased with self-perceived health. Supplement use was higher in those with chronic conditions. Conclusions The inverse association with self-perceived health could be partly explained by age, chronic conditions and increased use of health-care services. Associations with higher income and education suggest a strong socio-economic influence and that individuals may not have the expendable income to purchase vitamin D supplements or knowledge of their health benefits.
Identification and Characterization of a Novel RF-amide Peptide Ligand for Orphan G-protein-coupled Receptor SP9155*

Orphan G-protein-coupled receptors are a large class of receptors whose cognate ligands are unknown. SP9155 (also referred to as AQ27 and GPR103) is an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor originally cloned from a human brain cDNA library. SP9155 was found to be predominantly expressed in brain, heart, kidney, retina, and testis. Phylogenetic analysis shows that SP9155 shares high homology with Orexin, NPFF, and cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors, but identification of the endogenous ligand for SP9155 has not been reported. In this study, we have used a novel method to predict peptides from genome data bases. From these predicted peptides, a novel RF-amide peptide, P52 was shown to selectively activate SP9155-transfected cells. We subsequently cloned the precursor gene of the P52 ligand and characterized the activity of other possible peptides encoded by the precursor. This revealed an extended peptide, P518, which exhibited high affinity for SP9155 (EC50 = 7 nm). mRNA expression analysis revealed that the peptide P518 precursor gene is predominantly expressed in various brain regions, coronary arteries, thyroid and parathyroid glands, large intestine, colon, bladder, testes, and prostate. These results indicate the existence of a novel RF-amide neuroendocrine peptide system, and suggest that SP9155 is likely the relevant G-protein-coupled receptor for this peptide.
Freshwater Bacteria Release Methane as a By-Product of Phosphorus Acquisition

ABSTRACT Freshwater lakes emit large amounts of methane, some of which is produced in oxic surface waters. Two potential pathways for aerobic methane production exist: methanogenesis in oxygenated water, which has been observed in some lakes, and demethylation of small organic molecules. Although methane is produced via demethylation in oxic marine environments, this mechanism of methane release has not yet been demonstrated in freshwater systems. Genes related to the C-P lyase pathway, which cleaves C-P bonds in phosphonate compounds, were found in a metagenomic survey of the surface water of Lake Matano, which is chronically P starved and methane rich. We demonstrate that four bacterial isolates from Lake Matano obtain P from methylphosphonate and release methane and that this activity is repressed by phosphate. We further demonstrate that expression of phnJ, which encodes the enzyme that releases methane, is higher in the presence of methylphosphonate and lower when both methylphosphonate and phosphate are added. This gene is also found in most of the metagenomic data sets from freshwater environments. These experiments link methylphosphonate degradation and methane production with gene expression and phosphate availability in freshwater organisms and suggest that some of the excess methane in the Lake Matano surface water, and in other methane-rich lakes, may be produced by P-starved bacteria. IMPORTANCE Methane is an important greenhouse gas and contributes substantially to global warming. Although freshwater environments are known to release methane into the atmosphere, estimates of the amount of methane emitted by freshwater lakes vary from 8 to 73 Tg per year. Methane emissions are difficult to predict in part because the source of the methane can vary: it is the end product of the energy-conserving pathway in methanogenic archaea, which live predominantly in anoxic sediments or waters but have also been identified in some oxic freshwater environments. More recently, methane release from small organic molecules has been observed in oxic marine environments. Here we show that demethylation of methylphosphonate may also contribute to methane release from lakes and that phosphate can repress this activity. Since lakes are typically phosphorus limited, some methane release in these environments may be a by-product of phosphorus metabolism rather than carbon or energy metabolism. Methane emissions from lakes are currently predicted using primary production, eutrophication status, extent of anoxia, and the shape and size of the lake; to improve prediction of methane emissions, phosphorus availability and sources may also need to be included in these models.
Constitutive Activation of the δ Opioid Receptor by Mutations in Transmembrane Domains III and VII*

We have investigated whether transmembrane amino acid residues Asp128 (domain III), Tyr129(domain II), and Tyr308 (domain VII) in the mouse δ opioid receptor play a role in receptor activation. To do so, we have used a [35S]GTPγS (where GTPγS is guanosine 5′-3-O-(thio)triphosphate) binding assay to quantify the activation of recombinant receptors transiently expressed in COS cells and compared functional responses of D128N, D128A, Y129F, Y129A, and Y308F point-mutated receptors to that of the wild-type receptor. In the absence of ligand, [35S]GTPγS binding was increased for every mutant receptor under study (1.6–2.6-fold), suggesting that all mutations are able to enhance constitutive activity at the receptor. In support of this finding, the inverse agonistN,N-diallyl-Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu (where Aib represents α-aminobutyric acid) efficiently reduced basal [35S]GTPγS binding in the mutated receptor preparations. The potent agonist BW373U86 stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding above basal levels with similar (D128N, Y129F, and Y129A) or markedly increased (Y308F) efficacy compared with wild-type receptor. BW373U86 potency was maintained or increased. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the mutations under study increase functional activity of the receptor. Three-dimensional modeling suggests that Asp128 (III) and Tyr308 (VII) interact with each other and that Tyr129 (III) undergoes H bonding with His278(VI). Thus, Asp128, Tyr129, and Tyr308 may be involved in a network of interhelical bonds, which contributes to maintain the δ receptor under an inactive conformation. We suggest that the mutations weaken helix-helix interactions and generate a receptor state that favors the active conformation and/or interacts with heterotrimeric G proteins more effectively.
Bleb-associated endophthalmitis in a Chinese population (2003-2010): clinical characteristics and visual outcome

Purpose To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with bleb-associated endophthalmitis (BAE) in a Chinese population. Methods A retrospective review of patients treated for BAE between January 2003 and December 2010 in a single institution was performed. Data on visual acuity (VA), clinical characteristics, causative organisms, and treatment outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results Thirty-one eyes from 31 patients with BAE were identified during the study period. Primary open-angle glaucoma was the most common type of glaucoma in this series (18 eyes, 58.1%). The time between glaucoma filtering surgery and diagnosis of endophthalmitis ranged from 18 days to 32 years, with a mean of 6.95±8.22 years. Nine eyes (32.1%) were culture positive, and the most common organisms identified were Staphylococcus species (6/9, 66.7%). Best-corrected VA at 12 months after treatment ranged from 20/30 to no light perception (NLP). Twelve (38.7%) eyes achieved VA of 20/400 or better, and 7 (22.6%) eyes had NLP. In patients undergoing initial tap-and-inject treatment, the eyes with presenting VA of finger count or better were associated with a higher treatment success rate (87.5%) than those of hand movement (33.3%) or light perception or NLP (9.1%). Conclusions Primary open-angle glaucoma was the most common type of glaucoma, and Staphylococcus species was the most common causative organism in this case series of BAE. Despite prompt treatment with appropriate intravitreal antibiotics, BAE still carries a poor visual prognosis.
Concussion Knowledge and Communication Behaviors of Collegiate Wrestling Coaches

ABSTRACT Sport coaches can play an important role in shaping a team’s approach to concussion safety through their communication with team members. However, across all sports, there is limited knowledge about factors that make coaches more or less likely to engage in safety-supportive communication. The objectives of this study were to assess the concussion-related knowledge and attitudes of wrestling coaches, as well as the extent to which they engage in autonomy-supportive coaching practices, and to determine how these factors are related to communication with athletes in support of concussion safety. Data were collected through an online survey of head coaches of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) wrestling teams (n = 89, 40.5% response rate). On average, coaches answered five out of a possible nine knowledge questions correctly and were significantly more likely to think it was acceptable for an athlete to continue playing after sustaining a concussion during a national qualifying competition as compared to during an early-season competition. Engaging in autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors was the coach factor explaining the largest percentage of variability in communication. Findings suggest that while knowledge deficits and attitudes about the acceptability of continued play while symptomatic during more consequential competitive matches should be addressed in educational programming for collegiate wrestling coaches, these changes alone may not be a sufficient for adequately increasing concussion safety communication. Targeting more distal factors such as autonomy-supportive approaches to coaching may hold promise for intervention design and should be explored in future prospective research.
Trends in the use of antiepileptic drugs among pregnant women in the US, 2001-2007: a medication exposure in pregnancy risk evaluation program study.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the extent of antiepileptic drug (AED) use in pregnancy, particularly for newer agents. Our objective was to assess whether AED use has increased among pregnant women in the US, 2001-2007. METHODS We analysed data from the Medication Exposure in Pregnancy Risk Evaluation Program (MEPREP) database, 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2007. We identified liveborn deliveries among women, aged 15-45 years on delivery date, who were members of MEPREP health plans (n=585615 deliveries). Pregnancy exposure to AEDs, determined through outpatient pharmacy dispensing files. Older AEDs were available for clinical use before 1993; other agents were considered newer AEDs. Information on sociodemographic and medical/reproductive factors was obtained from linked birth certificate files. Maternal diagnoses were identified based on ICD-9 codes. RESULTS Prevalence of AED use during pregnancy increased between 2001 (15.7 per 1000 deliveries) and 2007 (21.9 per 1000 deliveries), driven primarily by a fivefold increase in the use of newer AEDs. Thirteen per cent of AED-exposed deliveries involved a combination of two or more AEDs. Psychiatric disorders were the most prevalent diagnoses, followed by epileptic and pain disorders, among AED users regardless of AED type, year of conception or gestational period. CONCLUSIONS AED use during pregnancy increased between 2001 and 2007, driven by a fivefold increase in the use of newer AEDs. Nearly one in eight AED-exposed deliveries involved the concomitant use of more than one AED. Additional investigations of the reproductive safety of newer AEDs may be needed.
Regulation of activity of P2X7 receptor by its splice variants in cultured mouse astrocytes

Of purinergic receptors, P2X7 receptor (P2X7R, defined as a full‐length receptor) has unique characteristics, and its activation leads to ion channel activity and pore formation, causing cell death. Previously, we demonstrated that P2X7R expressed by nonstimulated astrocyte cultures obtained from SJL‐strain mice exhibits constitutive activation, implying its role in maintenance of cellular homeostasis. To obtain novel insights into its physiological roles, we examined whether constitutive activation of P2X7R is regulated by expression of its splice variants in such resting astrocytes, and whether their distinct expression profiles in different mouse strains affect activation levels of astrocytic P2X7Rs. In SJL‐ and ddY‐mouse astrocytes, spontaneous YO‐PRO‐1 uptake, an indicator of pore activity of P2X7R, was detected, but the uptake by the formers was significantly greater than that by the latter. Between the two mouse strains, there was a difference in their sensitivity of YO‐PRO‐1 uptake to antagonists, but not in the expression levels and sequences of P2X7R and pannexin‐1. Regarding expression of splice variants of P2X7R, expression of P2X7R variant‐3 (P2X7R‐v3) and ‐4 (P2X7R‐v4), but not variant‐2 and ‐k, was lower in SJL‐mouse astrocytes than in ddY‐mouse ones. On transfection of P2X7R‐v3 and ‐v4 into SJL‐mouse astrocytes, the pore activity was attenuated as in the case of the HEK293T cell‐expression system. These findings demonstrate that basal activity of P2X7R expressed by resting astrocytes is negatively regulated by P2X7R‐v3 and ‐v4, and that their distinct expression profiles result in the different activation levels of astrocytic P2X7Rs in different mouse strains. GLIA 2014;62:440–451
Visual Attention to Color: Parvocellular Guidance of Attentional Resources?

Although transient changes in luminance have been well documented to automatically attract attention to their location, experiments looking at abrupt changes in color have failed to find similar attentional capture. These results are consistent with current theories of the role of the magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) streams that postulate that the M stream, which is “color-blind,” plays the dominant role in guiding attention and eye movements. The experiment reported here used stimuli that contained only information defined by color, and masked residual luminance information with dynamic noise, to assess the capacity of purely chromatic cues to automatically guide spatial attention. Such stimuli were as effective as those containing large luminance signals in guiding attention. To the extent that these purely chromatic signals isolated the P stream, these results suggest that this stream is also capable of automatic attentional capture. Hence, color vision not only aids target identification but also is a strong aid for target detection and localization.
Design of a 1.26 GHz high gain microstrip patch antenna using double layer with airgap for satellite reconnaissance

In this paper, we introduce a method using double layer with airgap to design a high gain single element microstrip rectangular patch antenna operating at 1.26 GHz. Double layer technique provide us easy fabrication, besides, under layer consisted of double-sided copper ensure using one side as ground plane and other side as feed network for higher gain array antenna. Low cost fabrication also has been taken into account. To do that, we used a widely available FR4 material and instead of using low-loss and expensive substrates, we inserted an air gap between radiating and ground planes. This air gap reduces both the electric field concentration on the lossy epoxy and the effective dielectric constant of the radiating plane. Therefore, a low-loss and high-gain single element rectangular patch antenna is obtained. The simulation results conducted by CST Microwave Studio and measurement results carried out in an anechoic chamber of the proposed antenna are included in this study. The close similarity between simulation results and measurement results has been observed. This proposed antenna is appropriate to use in especially global position satellite systems, life detection radar systems and wireless communication systems.