Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Which type of mid‐urethral sling procedure should be chosen for treatment of stress urinary incontinance with intrinsic sphincter deficiency? Tension‐free vaginal tape or transobturator tape

Objective. To compare tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) and transobturator tape (TOT) for surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. Gynecology department, Bakirkoy Women and Childrens’ Hospital, Istanbul. Sample. Three hundred women urodynamically diagnosed with stress incontinence with intrinsic sphincter deficiency underwent synthetic mid‐urethral sling procedures (TVT = 180, TOT = 120). Methods. Before the operation, a complete medical history was taken and a gynecologic examination was performed. Subjects with detrusor overactivity or previous sling surgery were excluded. Clinical checkups were conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months, and then annually. Main outcome measures. Intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and subjective cure rates. Results. There were no significant differences in demographics between the TVT and TOT groups: mean age, parity, body mass index, menopausal status, and hormone replacement therapy. At a mean follow‐up of 31.2±9.1 (range 12–46) months, the overall cure rates were 78.3% for TVT and 52.5% TOT (p<0.0001). The risk of treatment failure in women who received TOT was 4.9 times higher than in women who underwent TVT. There were no significant differences in perioperative and postoperative complication rates between the two groups. Conclusion. TVT appears to be the preferable surgical option for the treatment of SUI with intrinsic sphincter deficiency.
Laquinimod, a once-daily oral drug in development for the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Laquinimod is a novel, small, orally administered medication that has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS. In preclinical testing, laquinimod inhibited the development of both acute and chronic paralysis in the multiple sclerosis model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Furthermore, laquinimod reduced inflammation, demyelination and axonal damage in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice treated at disease induction or at clinical disease onset. Recent findings from the clinical trials indicate that laquinimod has significant effects in reducing relapse rate and has more pronounced effects in reducing sustained disability progression as well as brain atrophy, with a good safety profile. In conclusion, preclinical studies show that laquinimod’s unique mechanisms of action, including its immunomodulatory and CNS-protective effects, translate into clinical benefits in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients.
Molecular Mimicry in Lyme Arthritis Demonstrated at the Single Cell Level: LFA-1αL Is a Partial Agonist for Outer Surface Protein A-Reactive T Cells1

Antibiotic treatment-resistant Lyme arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that follows infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). A marked Ab and T cell response to Bb outer surface protein A (OspA) often develops during prolonged episodes of arthritis. Furthermore, cross-reaction between the bacterial OspA and human LFA-1αL at the T cell level and the inability to detect Bb in the joint implicate an autoimmune mechanism. To analyze the nature of response to OspA and LFA-1αL, we used OspA-specific T cell hybrids from DR4 transgenic mice, as well as cloned human cells specific for OspA165–184, the immunodominant epitope, from five DRB1*0401+ patients, using OspA-MHC class II tetramers. Although OspA165–184 stimulated nearly all OspA-specific human T cell clones tested to proliferate and secrete IFN-γ and IL-13, LFA-1αL326–345 stimulated ∼10% of these clones to proliferate and a greater percentage to secrete IL-13. Assays with LFA- or OspA-DR4 monomers revealed that higher concentrations of LFA-DR4 were needed to stimulate dual-reactive T cell hybrids. Our analysis at the clonal level demonstrates that human LFA-1αL326–345 behaves as a partial agonist, perhaps playing a role in perpetuating symptoms of arthritis.
Somatostatin‐immunoreactive interneurons contribute to lateral inhibitory circuits in the dentate gyrus of control and epileptic rats

Lateral inhibition, a feature of neuronal circuitry that enhances signaling specificity, has been demonstrated in the rat dentate gyrus. However, neither the underlying neuronal circuits, nor the ways in which these circuits are altered in temporal lobe epilepsy, are completely understood. This study examines the potential contribution of one class of inhibitory interneurons to lateral inhibitory circuits in the dentate gyrus of both control and epileptic rats. The retrograde tracer wheat germ agglutinin‐apo‐horse radish peroxidase‐gold (WGA‐apo‐HRP‐gold) was injected into the septal dentate gyrus. Neurons double‐labeled for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and the retrograde tracer are concentrated in the hilus and may contribute to lateral inhibition. Neurons double‐labeled for somatostatin and the retrograde tracer account for at least 28% of GAD‐positive neurons with axon projections appropriate for generating lateral inhibition in control rats. Despite an overall loss of somatostatin‐expressing cells in epileptic animals, the number of somatostatin‐positive interneurons with axon projections appropriate for generating lateral inhibition is similar to that seen in controls. These findings suggest that somatostatinergic interneurons participate in lateral inhibitory circuits in the dentate gyrus of both control and epileptic rats, and that surviving somatostatinergic interneurons might sprout new axon collaterals in epileptic animals. Hippocampus 2001;11:418–422. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GAPDH regulates cellular heme insertion into inducible nitric oxide synthase

Heme proteins play essential roles in biology, but little is known about heme transport inside mammalian cells or how heme is inserted into soluble proteins. We recently found that nitric oxide (NO) blocks cells from inserting heme into several proteins, including cytochrome P450s, hemoglobin, NO synthases, and catalase. This finding led us to explore the basis for NO inhibition and to identify cytosolic proteins that may be involved, using inducible NO synthase (iNOS) as a model target. Surprisingly, we found that GAPDH plays a key role. GAPDH was associated with iNOS in cells. Pure GAPDH bound tightly to heme or to iNOS in an NO-sensitive manner. GAPDH knockdown inhibited heme insertion into iNOS and a GAPDH mutant with defective heme binding acted as a dominant negative inhibitor of iNOS heme insertion. Exposing cells to NO either from a chemical donor or by iNOS induction caused GAPDH to become S-nitrosylated at Cys152. Expressing a GAPDH C152S mutant in cells or providing a drug to selectively block GAPDH S-nitrosylation both made heme insertion into iNOS resistant to the NO inhibition. We propose that GAPDH delivers heme to iNOS through a process that is regulated by its S-nitrosylation. Our findings may uncover a fundamental step in intracellular heme trafficking, and reveal a mechanism whereby NO can govern the process.
White Matter Microstructure Changes in the Thalamus in Parkinson Disease with Depression: A Diffusion Tensor MR Imaging Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Depression occurs frequently in PD; however the neural basis of depression in PD remains unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize possible depression-related white matter microstructural changes in the thalamus of patients with DPD compared with those with NDPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: FA and MD maps from DTI were obtained in 14 patients with DPD and 18 patients with NDPD. Region-of-interest−guided VBA was conducted on the FA maps to detect possible microstructural differences in the thalamus between these 2 patient groups. Moreover, mean FA and MD in regions with a detected difference were compared between DPD and NDPD groups, and correlations between diffusion quantities and the severity of depression were analyzed. RESULTS: White matter microstructure differences were found between the patients with DPD and NDPD in the bilateral mediodorsal thalamic regions. In these regions, patients with DPD showed significantly decreased FA values (P < .005) compared with patients with NDPD, and the mean values of FA were negatively correlated with the scores of depression severity (P < .05) for patients with PD. No significant differences of MD were found in the mediodorsal thalamus between these 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide preliminary evidence that the mediodorsal thalamus may play an important role in depression in PD and suggest a relationship between FA in the mediodorsal thalamus and the presence of depressive symptoms in patients with DPD. These findings may be helpful for further understanding the potential mechanisms of depression in PD.
Use of cage space by guineapigs

Cage space requirements for laboratory animals have been established by Government Regulation and Recommendations. In order to test the adequacy of these space allocations, the use of cage floor area by breeding groups of guineapigs was studied. A computer-coupled video tracking system capable of imaging in low light intensity as well as total darkness was used to determine the average per cent occupancy by guineapigs in all portions of a cage over 12-h light and dark cycles. Simultaneous time synchronized slow motion video recordings permitted an analysis of activity to be coordinated with cage use data. Results of the study revealed that breeding groups of guinea pigs utilize the periphery of the cage almost to the total exclusion of the centre of the cage. Approximately 75-85% of all occupancy in both the day and evening hours occurred in 47% of the cage floor area located along the periphery. Analysis of video recordings revealed that the animals remained active throughout the day and night with no prolonged period of quiescence that could be associated with sleep. Results of this study suggest that while guidelines for housing guineapigs based on area allocation per animal can be formulated and are easy to administer, they cannot be supported by the behavioural characteristics of these animals or careful quantitation of their pattern of cage space utilization.
Effect of cyclic loading and conductor layout on contact resistance of full-size ITER PFCI conductors

An evolution of the contact resistances (R/sub c/) of two full-size ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) cable-in-conduit conductors (CICC) aimed for the Poloidal Field Conductor Insert (PFCI) was studied in the Twente Cryogenic Press. The conductors are distinguished by the presence of stainless steel wraps around the last stage sub-cables in one of the conductors. The R/sub c/ and AC loss were measured on the conductors being in the "virgin" state and after they have been loaded 40,000 times with a peak force of 315 kN/m. The test results are compared with those, obtained on sections from the same conductor lengths, in the SULTAN test facility. The consequences of the cyclic loading and the sub-cable wraps on the R/sub c/ and the coupling AC loss are discussed in view of the previously published results on full- and sub-size ITER NbTi CICCs. Special emphasis was paid to the measurements of the contact resistances between individual sub-cables and the conduit, since the knowledge of them is important for proper interpretation of the DC test results. As a final goal, the test outcome will be used as a reference for calibration of the PFCI AC loss performance.
Perinatal Risk Factors for Infantile Autism

Background. Etiologic hypotheses in infantile autism suggest a strong genetic component, as well as possible environmental risks linked to early fetal development. We evaluated the association of maternal, pregnancy, delivery, and infant characteristics and risk of infantile autism. Methods. We conducted a case-control study nested within a population-based cohort (all Swedish children born in 1974–1993). We used prospectively recorded data from the Swedish Birth Register, which were individually linked to the Swedish Inpatient Register. Cases were 408 children (321 boys and 87 girls) discharged with a main diagnosis of infantile autism from any hospital in Sweden before 10 years of age in the period 1987–1994, plus 2,040 matched controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results. The risk of autism was associated with daily smoking in early pregnancy (OR = 1.4; CI = 1.1–1.8), maternal birth outside Europe and North America (OR = 3.0; CI = 1.7–5.2), cesarean delivery (OR = 1.6; CI = 1.1–2.3), being small for gestational age (SGA; OR = 2.1; CI = 1.1–3.9), a 5-minute Apgar score below 7 (OR = 3.2, CI = 1.2–8.2), and congenital malformations (OR = 1.8, CI = 1.1–3.1). No association was found between autism and head circumference, maternal diabetes, being a twin, or season of birth. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that intrauterine and neonatal factors related to deviant intrauterine growth or fetal distress are important in the pathogenesis of autism.
Population Structure in the Mediterranean Basin: A Y Chromosome Perspective

The Mediterranean region has been characterised by a number of pre‐historical and historical demographic events whose legacy on the current genetic landscape is still a matter of debate. In order to investigate the degree of population structure across the Mediterranean, we have investigated Y chromosome variation in a large dataset of Mediterranean populations, 11 of which are first described here. Our analyses identify four main clusters in the Mediterranean that can be labelled as North Africa, Arab, Central‐East and West Mediterranean. In particular, Near Eastern samples tend to separate according to the presence of Arab Y chromosome lineages, suggesting that the Arab expansion played a major role in shaping the current genetic structuring within the Fertile Crescent.
Lithostratigraphic analysis of a new stromatolite–thrombolite reef from across the rise of atmospheric oxygen in the Paleoproterozoic Turee Creek Group, Western Australia

This study describes a previously undocumented dolomitic stromatolite–thrombolite reef complex deposited within the upper part (Kazput Formation) of the c. 2.4–2.3 Ga Turee Creek Group, Western Australia, across the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Confused by some as representing a faulted slice of the younger c. 1.8 Ga Duck Creek Dolomite, this study describes the setting and lithostratigraphy of the 350‐m‐thick complex and shows how it differs from its near neighbour. The Kazput reef complex is preserved along 15 km of continuous exposure on the east limb of a faulted, north‐west‐plunging syncline and consists of 5 recognisable facies associations (A–E), which form two part regressions and one transgression. The oldest facies association (A) is characterised by thinly bedded dololutite–dolarenite, with local domical stromatolites. Association B consists of interbedded columnar and stratiform stromatolites deposited under relatively shallow‐water conditions. Association C comprises tightly packed columnar and club‐shaped stromatolites deposited under continuously deepening conditions. Clotted (thrombolite‐like) microbialite, in units up to 40 m thick, dominates Association D, whereas Association E contains bedded dololutite and dolarenite, and some thinly bedded ironstone, shale and black chert units. Carbon and oxygen isotope stratigraphy reveals a narrow range in both δ13Ccarb values, from −0.22 to 0.97‰ (VPDB: average = 0.68‰), and δ18O values, from −14.8 to −10.3‰ (VPDB), within the range of elevated fluid temperatures, likely reflecting some isotopic exchange. The Kazput Formation stromatolite–thrombolite reef complex contains features of younger Paleoproterozoic carbonate reefs, yet is 300–500 Ma older than previously described Proterozoic examples worldwide. Significantly, the microbial fabrics are clearly distinct from Archean stromatolitic marine carbonate reefs by way of containing the first appearance of clotted microbialite and large columnar stromatolites with complex branching arrangements. Such structures denote a more complex morphological expression of growth than previously recorded in the geological record and may link to the rise of atmospheric oxygen.
Principle phase decomposition: a new concept in blind seismic deconvolution

This paper outlines an exciting new approach for carrying out blind seismic deconvolution. In this algorithm, overlapping source wavelets are modeled as amplitude-modulated sinusoids, and blind deconvolution is carried out by initially determining the seismogram's principle phase components. Once the principle phases are determined, a Rao-Blackwellized particle filter (RBPF) is utilized to separate the corresponding overlapping source wavelets. This deconvolution technique is referred to as principle phase decomposition (PPD). The PPD technique makes use of the fact that in reflection seismology the discrete convolution operation can be represented as the summation of several source wavelets of differing arrival times. In this algorithm, a jump Markov linear Gaussian system (JMLGS) is defined where changes (jumps) in the state-space system and measurement equations are due to the occurrences and losses of overlapping source wavelet events. The RBPF obtains optimal estimates of the possible overlapping source wavelets by individually weighting and subsequently summing a bank of Kalman filters (KFs). These KFs are specified and updated by samples drawn from a Markov chain distribution that defines the probability of the overlapping source wavelets that compose the JMLGS. In addition, hidden Markov model filters are utilized for refining the principle phase estimates
Physiological State of Human Embryonic Lung Cells Affects Their Response to Human Cytomegalovirus

Cultures of human embryonic lung (HEL) cells in different physiological states were studied for their susceptibility to infection with human cytomegalovirus (CMV) with respect to production of infectious virus, synthesis of viral antigens, and virus-induced stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis. In general, subconfluent, actively growing cells yielded higher amounts of infectious virus than did confluent contact-inhibited cells. The higher yield of infectious virus was correlated with a greater percentage of cells producing viral antigens within the first 48 h after infection. In confluent cultures, 25 to 50% of the cells produced viral antigens within the first 48 h postinfection. This proportion did not change over a 10-fold range of multiplicity of infection, indicating that many of the cells in confluent cultures did not support productive infection. However, virtually all the cells in subconfluent cultures were susceptible. Also, in contrast to herpes simplex virus and pseudorabies virus, infectious CMV is not produced by cells treated with 5-fluorouracil and thymidine. Virus-induced stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis in cells infected at high multiplicities of infection could be detected only in confluent cultures, in which cellular DNA synthesis had been previously suppressed, but could not be detected in similarly treated cultures of subconfluent cells. The lack of detectable stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis in the latter was related to the fact that practically all the cells in the culture synthesized viral antigens within the first 48 h after infection, productive infection and detectable synthesis of cellular DNA being mutually exclusive.
Speech-in-noise measures: Variable versus fixed speech and noise levels

Abstract Objective: The purpose was to determine if speech-recognition performances were the same when the speech level was fixed and the noise level varied as when the noise level was fixed and the speech level varied. Design: A descriptive/quasi-experimental experiment was conducted with Lists 3 and 4 of the revised speech perception in noise (R-SPIN) test, which involves high predictability (HP) and low predictability (LP) words. The R-SPIN was modified into a multiple signal-to-noise paradigm (23- to −1-dB in 3-dB decrements) from which the 50% points were calculated with the Spearman-Kärber equation. Study sample: Sixteen young listeners with normal hearing and 48 older listeners with pure-tone hearing losses participated. Results: The listeners with normal hearing performed better than the listeners with hearing loss on both the HP and LP conditions. For both groups of listeners, (1) performance on the HP sentences was better than on the LP sentences, and (2) the mean 50% points were 0.1 to 0.4 dB lower (better) on the speech-variable, babble-fixed condition than on the speech-fixed, babble-variable condition. Conclusions: For practical purposes the ≤ 0.4-dB differences are not considered noteworthy as the differences are smaller than the decibel value of one word on the test (0.6 dB).
Diagnostic accuracy of posterior pole asymmetry analysis parameters of spectralis optical coherence tomography in detecting early unilateral glaucoma

Purpose: To report the diagnostic ability of posterior pole asymmetry analysis (PPAA) parameters of spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) in detecting early unilateral glaucoma. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study which included 80 eyes of 80 normal subjects and 76 eyes of 76 patients with unilateral early primary open-angle glaucoma by Hodapp-Anderson-Parrish classification. All subjects were of age more than 18 years, best-corrected visual acuity 20/40 or better, and a refractive error within ± 5 diopter (D) sphere and ± 3 D cylinder. Control subjects had a normal ocular examination, intraocular pressure (IOP) <22 mmHg, no past history of high IOP, no family history of glaucoma, normal optic disc morphology, and visual field in both eyes. One eye of the control subject was randomly included. All eyes underwent OCT for retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) analysis and PPAA. The number of continuous black squares was noted in the asymmetry analysis (right-left + hemisphere asymmetry). The area under curve (AUC) was calculated for all OCT parameters. Results: The best value for AUC for RNFL analysis was 0.858 for the inferotemporal quadrant thickness. This was similar to the best value for AUC for PPAA which was 0.833 for the inferior macular thickness parameter (P = 0.5). The AUC for the right-left and the hemisphere asymmetry part of PPAA was 0.427 and 0.499, respectively. Conclusion: The macular thickness PPAA parameters were equally good as the RNFL parameters. However, the asymmetry analysis parameters performed poorly and need further refinement before its use in early unilateral glaucoma diagnosis.