Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Permeant ion binding affinity in subconductance states of an L‐type Ca2+ channel expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

1 The relationship between single‐channel conductance and ion binding affinity in Ca2+ channels was investigated by measuring differences in the apparent binding affinity (K′D) for Ca2+ among naturally occurring conductance states of an L‐type (α1C) Ca2+ channel heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Using cell‐attached patch recordings, three or more conductance levels were observed when Ca2+, Ba2+ or Li+ was used as the permeating ion. 2 With Li+ as the charge carrier, low concentrations of Ca2+ (0.1‐3.0 μM) produced discrete blocking events in all conductance states. Measurements of open and blocked times as a function of Ca2+ concentration were used to calculate rates of block and unblock. 3 K′ D was calculated for three of the conductance levels. Binding affinity for Ca2+ increased as conductance decreased (K′D: large = 7.5 μM, medium = 4.0 μM, small = 2.7 μM). The lower K′D values of the smaller conductance states arose from a combination of larger on‐rates and smaller off‐rates. 4 These results imply that permeant ions such as Ca2+ have both easier access to, and longer dwell time in, the Ca2+ binding locus in the pore when the channel opens to a subconductance level as compared to the fully open level. 5 The difference in K'D between the large and small conductance levels corresponds to a small difference in the free energy of binding, ΔΔG≈ 1kBT, where kB is Boltzmann's constant and T is absolute temperature (kelvin). Nonetheless, an Eyring model of Ca2+ channel permeation incorporating the state‐specific on‐ and off‐rate constants for Ca2+ was able to reproduce the large difference in channel conductance, indicating that small differences in binding energy may be able to account for large differences in amplitude between conductance states.
An audit of excised breast lumps in Ghanaian women.

BACKGROUND In our environment, all patients presenting with breast masses insist on complete surgical removal as the preferred treatment option acceptable to them. We report on a 6-year prospective study of the clinical and pathological features of these breasts masses excised for histopathological examination. STUDY DESIGN Details of all consecutive women referred to the surgical out-patients' clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from January 1998 to December 2003 inclusive, for clinical assessment and excision of breast masses were prospectively recorded. Open surgical biopsies were performed on these masses and the pathological features recorded. RESULT A total of 443 patients were reported. Approximately 80% of the women were 40 years old or younger There were 355 (80.9%) benign breast lesions and 88 (19.1%) carcinomas. The principal histopathological types were fibroadenoma, fibrocystic breast changes and carcinoma occurring in 47.7%, 23.9% and 19.1% of the patients respectively. The cumulative frequency at >30 years for fibroadenoma and carcinoma was 0.81 and 0.11 respectively. No carcinomas were found below 26 years. There was a significant association between the ages of the patients and the type of breast disease (X2 = 20.9 P <0.05). CONCLUSION Discrete breast masses in Ghanaian women are mostly due to benign breast disease. The risk of cancer increases with the age of the patient especially after 30 years.
The Impact of Perceived Barriers on Primary Care Physicians' Screening Practices for Female Partner Abuse

ABSTRACT Objectives: Our purpose was to examine primary care physicians' screening practices for female partner abuse in different clinical situations and to investigate the relationship between perceived barriers and screening practices. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was mailed to Alaska physicians practicing in the following specialties: family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and general practice. Results: The survey response rate was 80 percent (305/383). The majority (85.7%) of primary care physicians screened often or always when a female patient presents with an injury, but they rarely screened at initial visits (6.2%) or annual exams (7.5%). More than one-third of respondents estimated that 10% or more of their female patients had experienced some type of intimate partner abuse. Several barriers to screening described in the literature were not predictive of physicians' screening practice patterns. Physicians' perceptions that abuse is prevalent among their patients and physicians' beliefs that they have a responsibility to deal with abuse were the only variables independently associated with screening at initial visits and annual exams. The only variable predictive of screening when a patient presents with an injury was physicians' perceived prevalence of abuse. Conclusion: Primary care physicians have not integrated screening for partner abuse into routine care. Strategies to increase awareness of the high prevalence of abuse in the primary care setting and to educate providers on the negative health effects of victimization can help physicians to acknowledge their responsibility in addressing abuse and the importance of screening at routine visits. Further rigorous studies are needed to identify and evaluate predictors of screening for abuse.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharide antigen in cerebrospinal fluid and serum. Sensitivity and specificity were determined for purified antigen preparations. Specificity was also evaluated in the rabbit meningitis model, and the sensitivity was compared to counterimmunoelectrophoresis, using the infected rabbits' cerebrospinal fluid and serum. The ELISA was a specific technique for detecting S. pneumoniae antigen. ELISA was 25 times more sensitive than counterimmunoelectrophoresis for purified antigen and resulted in an increased positivity of the cerebrospinal fluid and serum from infected rabbits. ELISA should prove very useful in the diagnosis of pneumococcal infections.
IPO Performance Under Different Regulatory Regimes: Evidence from Hong Kong

This paper studies the impact of a regulatory change of listing rules on the long-term IPO performance in the Hong Kong stock market. This regulatory change, introduced in 1994, imposed a three-year prelisting earning requirement on new issues. Our sample includes 287 IPOs registered on the Hong Kong stock market between 1986 and 1996. We find that there is no significant difference in short-term performance between IPOs before and after the regulatory change. The findings reveal that IPOs listed after the regulatory change have generated a higher medium-term return than those listed before the change and there is no significant difference in the long-term return between IPOs listed before and after the regulatory change. Like other markets, all IPOs registered before and after the regulatory change underperform the market indexes. We further divide our sample of IPOs registered before the regulatory change into two sub-samples; those that did and those that did not fulfil the earnings requirement. The result shows that there is no significant difference in medium-term and long-term performances between the two IPO sub-samples. However, we do find that IPOs listed after the regulatory change have a better medium-term performance than those listed before but would have met the earning requirements. Other factors, such as underwriter reputation, industry, total funds raised and market capitalization, are included in our analysis as control variables. The results seem to indicate that investors may not consider the pre-listing earning as an important criterion for IPO selection before the regulatory change. We further find the new listing rules with more stringent listing requirements do matter and could screen out IPOs with bad medium-term performance. But, the new listing requirements could not guarantee IPOs' long-term performance.
Individual motivations for limiting meat consumption

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to identify predictors of meat consumption and the intention to reduce it. Since meat consumption is one of the major contributors to human made environmental destruction including climate change, biodiversity loss or water and air pollution and at the same time under volitional control meat consumption is an interesting target for interventions. Design/methodology/approach – An integrated model was derived from the theory of planned behaviour, the norm activation theory and the protection motivation theory which was tested in a paper-pencil based questionnaire study including self-reported meat consumption was conducted with a convenience sample of 210 adult inhabitants of Trondheim (Norway). Findings – The model was confirmed to a large extent. Meat consumption was predicted strongly by meat eating habits, but also negatively by reduction intentions. Reduction intentions were determined by attitudes, moral beliefs and health beliefs. Moral beliefs were predicted by inj.
The Benefits, Challenges, and Strategies of Adults Following a Local Food Diet

Supported in part by a variety of popular books, websites, and other media, the interest in local food is building dramatically, and a growing number of people are increasing their purchases of local food. This paper describes a study that explored the perceived benefits and challenges of following a diet consisting exclusively of local food in southwestern Virginia, as well as the strategies for coping with its limitations. Nineteen individuals participated in a four-week Local Food Diet Challenge, which included eating only foods produced from within 100 miles of the participants’ homes. Part of
Surveillance of norovirus infection in a study of sporadic childhood gastroenteritis in South West England and South Wales, during one winter season (1999–2000)

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), electron microscopy (EM) and a genotype II specific antigen capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA), (Lordsdale strain) were used to establish the prevalence of Norwalk‐like viruses (NLV) among sporadic cases of childhood gastroenteritis in South West England over a winter season. Samples of 3,172 stools from cases of gastroenteritis in children aged under 7 years sent to the Bristol Public Health Laboratory over the 1999/2000 winter ‘season’ were tested prospectively by EM, EIA and RT‐PCR. The results from sporadic cases were compared with 1,360 samples from 285 outbreaks of gastroenteritis which were sent to the laboratory over the same period. In total NLV was established as the causal agent in 326 cases (10.3%) of sporadic gastroenteritis by one or more of the tests (EM 30 (0.9%), EIA 132 (4.2%) and RT‐PCR 276 (8.7%)). The presence of other enteric viruses was established using EM and rotavirus EIA. Rotaviruses were the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis with 684 cases (21.6%). Other viruses detected included, adenovirus 124 cases (3.9%), astrovirus 97 cases (3.1%) and calicivirus in 7 cases (0.2%). NLV was the second most common viral agent indicating a significant role in cases of sporadic childhood gastroenteritis. J. Med. Virol. 72:307–311, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lack of an effect of pioglitazone or glipizide on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-y agonist with vascular beneficial effects, and glipizide, an insulin secretagogue, on novel inflammatory vascular risk markers in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes. METHODS We studied 11 subjects without diabetes and 19 matched subjects with diabetes. The subjects with diabetes were randomly assigned to receive either 45 mg daily of pioglitazone (N = 8) or 10 mg daily of glipizide (N = 11) (median dose) for 12 weeks. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), and e-selectin were measured by established techniques before and after therapy with either agent. The subjects without diabetes were studied only once. RESULTS The study subjects with diabetes had higher (P<0.05) LpPLA2, e-selectin, and VCAM-1 levels than did those without diabetes. ICAM-1 levels tended to be higher (P = 0.07) in the study subjects with than in those without diabetes. Neither pioglitazone nor glipizide therapy significantly altered LpPLA2 or VCAM-1 concentrations. While pioglitazone therapy reduced (P<0.05) eselectin concentrations, glipizide therapy reduced (P<0.03) ICAM-1 concentrations. CONCLUSION Type 2 diabetes is associated with elevated concentrations of the novel vascular risk marker LpPLA2 and inflammatory risk markers e-selectin and VCAM-1. Neither pioglitazone nor glipizide significantly altered LpPLA2, VCAM-1, or highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels after 12 weeks of therapy. In study subjects with type 2 diabetes, e-selectin concentrations declined significantly with pioglitazone therapy, whereas ICAM-1 concentrations decreased significantly with glipizide therapy.
Prioritising patient care: The different views of clinicians and managers

Background: There is little research comparing clinicians’ and managers’ views on priority settings in the healthcare services. During research on two different qualitative research projects on healthcare prioritisations, we found a striking difference on how hospital executive managers and clinical healthcare professionals talked about and understood prioritisations. Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore how healthcare professionals in mental healthcare and somatic medicine prioritise their care, to compare different ways of setting priorities among managers and clinicians and to explore how moral dilemmas are balanced and reconciled. Research design and participants: We conducted qualitative observations, interviews and focus groups with medical doctors, nurses and other clinical members of the interdisciplinary team in both somatic medical and mental health wards in hospitals in Norway. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Ethical considerations: Basic ethical principles for research ethics were followed. The respondents signed an informed consent for participation. They were assured anonymity and confidentiality. The studies were approved by relevant ethics committees in line with the Helsinki Convention. Findings: Our findings showed a widening gap between the views of clinicians on one hand and managers on the other. Clinicians experienced a threat to their autonomy, to their professional ideals and to their desire to perform their job in a professional way. Prioritisations were a cause of constant concern and problematic decisions. Even though several managers understood and empathised with the clinicians, the ideals of patient flow and keeping budgets balanced were perceived as more important. Discussion: We discuss our findings in light of the moral challenges of patient-centred individual healthcare versus demands of distributive justice from healthcare management. Conclusion: The clinicians’ ideals of autonomy and good medical and nursing care for the individual patients were perceived as endangered.
A Common 936 C/T Mutation in the Gene for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Is Associated with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Plasma Levels

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important regulator of angiogenesis. Strong interindividual variations of VEGF plasma levels have been reported previously. Aim of the present study was to search for mutations in the 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the VEGF gene and to analyze their relation to VEGF plasma levels. Methods: The complete 3′-UTR (nucleotide 700–2622) of the VEGF gene was screened for sequence variations by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Frequencies of mutated alleles were determined in 119 healthy subjects; VEGF plasma levels were analyzed in a subgroup of 23 healthy men aged 18–36 years. Results: Three novel mutations (702 C/T, 936 C/T, 1612 G/A) were found, allele frequencies of 702T, 936T and 1612A were of 0.017, 0.160 and 0.471, respectively. VEGF plasma levels were significantly lower in carriers of the 936T allele (9.1 ± 2.7 pg/ml, mean ± SEM) than in noncarriers (28.0 ± 5.5 pg/ml, p = 0.033), whereas the 702 C/T and the 1612 G/A mutations showed no association with VEGF plasma levels. The 936 C/T exchange led to the loss of a potential binding site for transcription factor AP-4, although the functionality of this binding site remains unclear. Conclusion: We have found three common mutations in the VEGF gene; one of them, a 936 C/T exchange, may be an important determinant of VEGF plasma levels.
Automobile Exports: Export price and retail price

Given the recent theoretical emphasis on firm-level heterogeneity in international trade, we examine the price-setting behaviors of Japanese automobile exporting firms as they correspond with the fluctuations of foreign exchange rates. We do so by employing international trade datasets revitalized by the use of the geographical locations of exporting firms within an exporting country. With this technique, we transform a national-level dataset into a quasi-firm-product-level dataset. First, by restricting the dataset to the two exporting ports, we are able to estimate the price-setting behaviors of one particular Japanese automaker. Consistent with the multi-product exporter model, we find heterogeneity among auto-models in the exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) even when we restrict the dataset to a single automaker. Second, coupled with the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) in the US market, we examine the dynamic behaviors of model-specific price margins for US distributors and Japanese automakers. The price margins for US distributors have shrunk substantially, particularly when the US dollar depreciated after the global financial crisis.
Prevalence of Hemolytic and Enterotoxigenic Aeromonas Spp. in Healthy and Diseased Freshwater Food Fishes as Assessed by Multiplex PCR

A total of 103 representative colonies from 53 healthy and diseased food fish samples were tested for the incidence of Aeromonas spp. Of which 57% of colonies were positive for Aeromonas spp. by the multiplex PCR (MPCR). On an average, the prevalence was found to be 66% with highest incidence in diseased fishes (76%). About 48% of healthy fish samples were observed to contain Aeromonas. The biomoleculoar identification revealed that the selected virulent hemolytic and enterotoxigenic genes appeared in four different patterns viz. alt; act//hlyA/aer; alt and act//hlyA/aer; ast, alt and act//hlyA/aer, among the MPCR positive isolates of Aeromonas spp. The overall prevalence of the toxin genes alt, act/hlyA/aer and ast among the MPCR positive Aeromonas isolates was found to be 89.8%, 72.9% and 20%, respectively. The biochemical confirmation of the MPCR positive Aeromonas isolates revealed different species in the tested samples belonging to A. hydrophila, A. sobria, A. caviae, A. jandaei, A. veronii, A. schubertii and A. trota and the dominant species was found to be A. hydrophila (48%).
Protective role of interleukin 6 in the lipopolysaccharide-galactosamine septic shock model

C57BL/6J mice given low doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 ng per mouse) plus D-galactosamine (8 mg per mouse) die within 24 h following LPS administration. We used this septic shock model to confirm the role of tumor necrosis factor in mortality using a monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor to prevent lethality. Furthermore, we demonstrated that interleukin 6, rather than playing a lethal role, protected mice against death in this septic shock model. Antibody to interleukin 6 did not affect the fatal outcome in this low-LPS-dose model. However, pretreatment with antibody to tumor necrosis factor did protect the mice against death, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, mortality was enhanced by pretreatment with antibody to interleukin 6 when tumor necrosis factor was partly limited by anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment. Mortality was significantly reduced by pretreatment with both recombinant interleukin 6 and low doses of antibody to tumor necrosis factor; in the absence of the low dose of antibody to tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 6 alone did not confer any protection. These data demonstrate in vivo antagonistic activities of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 6 and show that interleukin 6 can play a protective role against death from septic shock.
Prevalence, risk factors and economic importance of infestations with Sarcoptes scabiei and Haematopinus suis in sows of pig breeding farms in Hesse, Germany

Abstract. A cross‐sectional survey was performed in 110 randomly selected pig‐breeding farms of southern Hesse, Germany to estimate the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations and to find possible risk factors. Ear scrapings of, if available, 10 sows per farm were examined for Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis (De Geer) (Acaridida: Sarcoptidae) by the potassium hydroxide digestion method, and a total of 2754 sows was inspected for skin lesions and infestations with Haematopinus suis (L.) (Anoplurida: Haematopinidae). Data on farm profiles and sows were collected by a questionnaire. In total, 19.1% and 2.5% of the sows were found to be infested with S. scabiei or H. suis, respectively. The percentage of mite or louse infestation was significantly higher in sows showing pruritus than in those without skin lesions. Both ectoparasite infestations were related neither to the age of sows nor their reproduction status, nor to the time interval to last ectoparasite treatment. Using farms as the unit of analysis, the estimated prevalence of mange mite and louse infestations was 45.4% and 14.5%, respectively. There was no significant association between the presence of S. scabiei and H. suis in the farms. Risk factors for S. scabiei infestation were mixed housing of dry and nursing sows in the same unit (vs. separate housing) and straw bedding (vs. strawless). For louse infestation, only mechanical cleaning of stable units (vs. additional use of disinfection methods) and pasturing of gilts and dry sows were identified as risk factors. The economic loss by S. scabiei infestation in the study population was assessed at €4200 per affected farm and year on average.