Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liver transplantation using organs from donors older than 60 years

At present, it is frequently accepted to expand the organ pool for liver transplantation (LTx) by including livers from critical donors. From 1990 to June 2002 a total of 1,208 LTx were performed. Of those, 67 livers from donors older than 60 years were transplanted to 66 patients, including re-LTx in eight patients. Fourteen patients had malignant diseases (21%). Ten patients had a high urgency status (15%). Median donor age was 65 years (range 61–80 years). Primary graft function was observed in 84%. Patient survival rate at 1 and 5 years was 79% and 62%, and graft survival was 68% and 53%, respectively. No difference was observed in LTx with livers from donors younger than 60 years. Fifteen graft losses occurred during the study. Surgical complications were observed in 23 patients (34%). The outcome of LTx with livers from donors older than 60 years is satisfactory and is comparable to results of LTx with livers from donors younger than 60 years. The frequency of vascular complications and cholestasis syndrome is not increased.
The effect of 6‐hydroxydopamine lesions on the release of amino acids in the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia: a dual microdialysis probe analysis

The loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease and in animal models of Parkinson's disease is associated with an imbalance in the activity of the so‐called ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ pathways of information flow through the basal ganglia. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the imbalance is reflected in changes in the release of GABA, aspartate and glutamate in the pathways using dual probe microdialysis in freely moving rats. Control and 6‐hydroxydopamine‐(6‐OHDA)‐lesioned rats were implanted with microdialysis probes in the neostriatum and substantia nigra or globus pallidus and the release of amino acids was analysed in the dialysates. Basal levels of amino acids were largely unaltered by the 6‐OHDA lesion; however, the levels of GABA in the globus pallidus dialysates were significantly elevated in the lesioned rats, indicating an imbalance in favour of the indirect pathway. Administration of kainic acid to the neostriatum enhanced the release of GABA locally and in the distal probes in the substantia nigra and globus pallidus. In 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats, stimulated release of GABA in the substantia nigra was abolished, indicating a reduction in transmission along the direct pathway. Thus, consistent with the direct–indirect pathway model of the basal ganglia, the 6‐OHDA lesion results in an elevation of the basal release of GABA in the striatopallidal (indirect) pathway and a reduction in the evoked release of GABA in the striatonigral (direct) pathway. These imbalances may underlie, at least in part, the motor abnormalities of Parkinson's disease and in animal models of Parkinson's disease.
Time since smoke-free law and smoking cessation behaviors.

INTRODUCTION We examined the association between time since implementation of a smoke-free law and cessation behaviors among current and former smokers. METHODS A quasiexperimental, three-group design assessed smoking and cessation behaviors via brief telephone interviews with 295 randomly selected current and former smokers who had quit since a smoke-free law took effect in their community. Participants lived in one of four communities that had implemented a smoke-free law in the preceding 6-8 months (n = 106), 18 months (n = 87), or 36 months (n = 102). RESULTS Compared with those living in communities with relatively new smoke-free laws (6-8 months), those in communities with more established laws (18 and 36 months) were more likely to (a) be former smokers and (b) report a longer time since smoking their last cigarette. Compared with the 6- to 8-month group, those in the 36-month group were more likely to have tried to quit since the law was implemented. DISCUSSION Smoke-free laws may have a delayed effect on cessation among adults. The longer a smoke-free law is in effect, the more likely adults will attempt to quit smoking and become former smokers. Maintaining the integrity of smoke-free laws over time is an important population-based quit strategy.
Aberrant DNA methylation in ulcerative colitis without neoplasia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS DNA methylation has been reported to correlate with the development of colitis associated cancer. We detected the promoter methylation of estrogen receptor gene (ER), TP53, p14, p16, p21 and hMLH1 in ulcerative colitis without neoplasia. METHODOLOGY A total of 49 specimens from 36 patients, including 36 at rectal inflammatory mucosa and 13 at terminal ileum were obtained by colonoscopic biopsies. Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction were performed to detect the methylation in promoters of the above six genes. RESULTS Methylation rate of ER promoter was significantly higher in the rectal mucosa than that in the ileum (76.3% vs. 46.2%, P=0.044). Moreover, ER methylation in rectal mucosa was significantly higher in relapse-remitting type compared to one attack only type cases (P=0.008), and also increased in cases longer than 7 years (P=0.036). Methylation rates of p14 or p16 were higher in rectal mucosa than those in the ileum, but the differences were not of statistic significance. Meanwhile, methylation in TP53 promoter was found in only one case, while p21 and hMLH1 methylation were negative in all cases. CONCLUSIONS Methylation in promoters of ER, p14 and p16 occurs in rectal inflammatory mucosa without neoplasia. Examination of ER methylation in rectal mucosa may be useful for predicting cases at high risk of neoplasia.
Genomic redistribution of GR monomers and dimers mediates transcriptional response to exogenous glucocorticoid in vivo

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly prescribed drugs, but their anti-inflammatory benefits are mitigated by metabolic side effects. Their transcriptional effects, including tissue-specific gene activation and repression, are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which is known to bind as a homodimer to a palindromic DNA sequence. Using ChIP-exo in mouse liver under endogenous corticosterone exposure, we report here that monomeric GR interaction with a half-site motif is more prevalent than homodimer binding. Monomers colocalize with lineage-determining transcription factors in both liver and primary macrophages, and the GR half-site motif drives transcription, suggesting that monomeric binding is fundamental to GR's tissue-specific functions. In response to exogenous GC in vivo, GR dimers assemble on chromatin near ligand-activated genes, concomitant with monomer evacuation of sites near repressed genes. Thus, pharmacological GCs mediate gene expression by favoring GR homodimer occupancy at classic palindromic sites at the expense of monomeric binding. The findings have important implications for improving therapies that target GR.
Cyclin D3 Expression in Melanoma Cells Is Regulated by Adhesion-dependent Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Signaling and Contributes to G1-S Progression*

D-type cyclins regulate G1 cell cycle progression by enhancing the activities of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and their expression is frequently altered in malignant cells. We and others have previously shown that cyclin D1 is up-regulated in melanoma cells through adhesion-independent MEK-ERK1/2 signaling initiated by mutant B-RAF. Here, we describe the regulation and role of cyclin D3 in human melanoma cells. Cyclin D3 expression was enhanced in a cell panel of human melanoma cell lines compared with melanocytes and was regulated by fibronectin-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling but not MEK activity. RNA interference experiments demonstrated that cyclin D3 contributed to G1-S cell cycle progression and proliferation in melanoma cells. Overexpression of cyclin D1 did not recover the effects of cyclin D3 knockdown. Finally, immunoprecipitation studies showed that CDK6 is a major binding partner for cyclin D3, whereas CDK4 preferentially associated with cyclin D1. Together, these findings demonstrate that cyclin D3 is an important regulator of melanoma G1-S cell cycle progression and that D-type cyclins are differentially regulated in melanoma cells.
The effectiveness of forestry best management practices at skidder stream crossings in Virginia

Sediment is the most common nonpoint source pollutant associated with timber harvesting in the southeastern United States. Sediment is of particular concern at operational stream crossings because sediment delivery potential is increased by stream proximity and any compromised streamside management zone buffers. This study quantifies the effectiveness of water quality best management practices (BMPs) implemented at operational skidder stream crossings in three physiographic regions of Virginia. We located 79 operational skid trail crossings and assessed implementation of state BMP manual recommendations, percentage positive response to a Virginia Department of Forestry BMP audit questionnaire, and potential soil erosion as predicted by the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-Forest methodology and Water Erosion Prediction Project: Road interface. Estimated erosion rates decreased with increasing BMP scores for skid trails (p < 0.001). Ratings of substandard implementation (BMP-), implementation that met recommended guidelines (BMP-std), or implementation that exceeded BMP guidelines (BMP+) were determined for each crossing. Hypothetical BMP upgrades were developed for crossings rated as BMP- or BMP-std so that crossings were hypothetically upgraded one or two ratings. BMP-std or BMP+ categorized crossings made up 92% of all skid trail stream crossings sampled, with average modelled potential erosion rates of ≤5.2 Mg ha−1 y−1. Results verify that BMPs are adequately applied on the majority of skidder stream crossings in Virginia, and that BMPs are effective for minimizing erosion at skidder stream crossings.
Blepharophimosis, corneal vascularization, deafness, and acroosteolysis: A “new” syndrome?

We report on a patient with blepharophimosis who after unsuccessful surgery developed progressive corneal vascularization. The patient had conductive hearing loss, acroosteolysis of the phalanges, arthropathy, loss of subcutaneous fat of the hands, feet and face, and oligospermia. He had had spontaneous pneumothorax four times. We have found no similar case reports in the literature and suggest that this is a new syndrome, which must be differentiated from hereditary mucoepithelial dysplasia, mandibuloacral dysplasia, keratitis‐ichthyosis‐deafness syndrome, Hajdu–Cheney syndrome, Penttinen syndrome, and mucopolysaccharidoses. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Continuous cell injury promotes hepatic tumorigenesis in cdc42-deficient mouse liver.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The Rho small guanosine triphosphatase Cdc42 is critical for diverse cellular functions, including regulation of actin organization, cell polarity, intracellular membrane trafficking, transcription, cell-cycle progression, and cell transformation. This implies that Cdc42 might be required for liver function. METHODS Mice in which Cdc42 was ablated in hepatocytes and bile duct cells were generated by Cre-loxP technology. Livers were examined by histologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and serum analysis to define the effect of loss of Cdc42 on liver structure. RESULTS Mice lacking Cdc42 in their hepatocytes were born at Mendelian ratios. They did not show increased mortality but showed chronic jaundice. They developed hepatomegaly soon after birth, and signs of liver transformation, such as formation of nodules and tumors, became visible macroscopically at age 6 months. Hepatocellular carcinoma was observed 8 months after birth. Tumors grew slowly and lacked expression of nuclear beta-catenin. Lung metastases were observed at the late stage of carcinogenesis. Immunofluorescent examination and electron microscopy revealed severe defects in the liver. At the age of 2 months, the canaliculi between hepatocytes were greatly enlarged, although the tight junctions flanking the canaliculi appeared normal. Regular liver plates were absent. E-cadherin expression pattern and gap junction localization were distorted. Analysis of serum samples indicated cholestasis. CONCLUSIONS We describe a mouse model in which chronic liver disease leads to hepatocarcinogenesis.
Assessing the vulnerability of agricultural households to covariate and idiosyncratic shocks: a case study in Odisha, India

ABSTRACT Households in India face various covariate shocks, including cyclones, droughts and floods, and these extreme climatic shocks have a negative impact on their welfare. Although these are likely to increase in future due to climate change, households are also taking up various coping measures to deal with these extreme climatic shocks from their past experience. Hence, assessing the impact of these covariate shocks and identifying the determinants of various adaptation options have relevant policy implications in the context of designing a disaster mitigation policy. This study aims to assess farmers' vulnerability to climatic variability and climate change taking both irrigated and rain-fed regions of the country. Vulnerability analysis was done using an econometric method of ‘vulnerability as exposure to uninsured risk’ (VER) in order to test the determinants of household income loss due to covariate and idiosyncratic risk. Based on a survey of 400 farmers in Odisha, India, results show that households that access weather-related information reduce their level of vulnerability to climate change and improve their overall adaptive capacity. To address climatic vulnerability, policymakers need to emphasize farmers’ responses in different regions and can plan climate adaptation strategies based on the vulnerability assessment of entire regions.
Does hypersensitive teeth show pulp inflammation?

ABSTRACT Objective: This study investigated the presence of inflammatory response in the dental pulp of rats showing hypersensitive dentin, induced by erosive episodes. Methods: Sixteen Wistar rats were fed with commercial sucrose-free pellet diet for 12 hours; whereas the food was removed during the remainder of the day, and the animals received mineral water or a lemon-based sucrose-free soft drink, according to the group to which they belonged. Eight animals consumed the soft drink to induce hypersensitivity, while the other 8 animals received mineral water (control). After six weeks, the animals were euthanized, the mandible was removed and subjected to a median incision in the sagittal plane, to obtain right and left hemimandibles. The slides stained with hematoxylin-eosin were analyzed using light microscopy. Results: Histological evaluation of the control and experimental groups revealed no inflammatory process in the pulp tissue, and the presence of inflammatory cells, such as lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils and macrophages, was not observed. In addition, there was no edema or dilated and congested blood vessels. The Mann-Whitney test showed no significant difference (p = 1.000) between the experimental and the control groups. Conclusion: In the animal model used, dentin hypersensitivity does not trigger dental pulp inflammatory response.
Cooperative multi-cell beamforming for MIMO unicast/ multicast broadband H.264 scalable video networks

In this paper we propose a novel scheme to jointly determine the optimal transmit/receive beamformers together with multi-user power allocation towards transmission rate maximization in a cooperative MIMO cellular wireless network for unicast/multicast scenarios. For the unicast scenario, we propose a successive constrained eigenbeamforming (SCEB) technique to reduce the inter-user interference and enhance the data rates subject to power constraints. This scheme is further extended to a multicast scenario (SCEB-M) to maximize the sum rate of a user group with group constraints on the transmit power. We also derive optimal schemes to efficiently schedule a subset of users/ groups from the active user set. We employ a practical H.264 scalable video quality model to demonstrate the performance of the presented schemes in realistic video streaming broadband wireless networks. Simulation results show that the proposed SCEB schemes achieve a superior data rate and video quality in comparison to conventional resource allocation schemes in cooperative cellular scenarios.
Updated list of the mosquitoes of Colombia (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract Background A revised list of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) known to occur in Colombia is presented. A total of 324 species from 28 genera of Culicidae are included. The species names are organized in alphabetical order according to the current generic and subgeneric classification, along with their authorship. The list is compiled in order to support mosquito research in Colombia. New information Our systematic review and literature survey found, by 16 February 2015, 13 records of culicid species previously overlooked by mosquito catalogs for Colombia: Anopheles costai da Fonseca & da Silva Ramos, 1939, An. fluminensis Root, 1927, An. malefactor Dyar & Knab, 1907, An. shannoni Davis, 1931, An. vargasi Galbadón, Cova García & Lopez, 1941, Culex mesodenticulatus Galindo & Mendez, 1961, Haemagogus capricornii Lutz, 1904, Isostomyia espini (Martini, 1914), Johnbelkinia leucopus (Dyar & Knab, 1906), Mansonia indubitans Dyar & Shannon, 1925, Psorophora saeva Dyar & Knab, 1906, Sabethes glaucodaemon (Dyar & Shannon, 1925), and Wyeomyia intonca Dyar & Knab, 1909. Moreover, Wyeomyia (Dendromyia) luteoventralis Theobald, 1901 is recorded for Colombia for the first time. This work provides important insights into mosquito diversity in Colombia, using the current nomenclature and phylogenetic rankings.
Is chorioamnionitis harmful for the brain of preterm infants? A clinical overview

Background. Chorioamnionitis is an important risk factor underlying preterm delivery, and it has also been suggested that it is associated with brain lesions and deviant neurological development in prematurely born infants. Objective. To evaluate the possible effects of chorioamnionitis on the brain of preterm infants. Design. A systematic review. Methods. A systematic database search was performed to identify all original articles published until 5 October 2011 evaluating the association between histological and/or clinical chorioamnionitis and brain lesions and/or neurological development in preterm infants. Altogether, 609 potentially relevant articles were identified, of which 84 original articles were included. Results. The majority of the articles do not support the hypothesis that chorioamnionitis poses a direct risk on the central nervous system of preterm infants. The full course of antenatal steroids seems to further reduce the adverse effects of inflammation on the developing nervous system. Conclusions. It seems that there are both benefits and risks with regard to the effects of chorioamnionitis on the brain development of preterm infants. It is plausible that inflammation enhances maturation of the preterm infant and therefore has protective effects balancing its potential harmful effects. We conclude that chorioamnionitis does not carry higher risks for the brain of preterm infants than other underlying pathologies behind preterm delivery.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: significantly enhanced response with docetaxel.

PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of neoadjuvant (NA) docetaxel (DOC) with anthracycline-based therapy and determine the efficacy of NA DOC in patients with breast cancer initially failing to respond to anthracycline-based NA chemotherapy (CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with large or locally advanced breast cancer received four pulses of cyclophosphamide 1,000 mg/m(2), doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2), vincristine 1.5 mg/m(2), and prednisolone 40 mg (4 x CVAP) for 5 days. Clinical tumor response was assessed. Those who responded (complete response [CR] or partial response [PR]) were randomized to receive further 4 x CVAP or 4 x DOC (100 mg/m(2)). All nonresponders received 4 x DOC. RESULTS One hundred sixty-two patients were enrolled; 145 patients completed eight cycles of NA CT. One hundred two patients (66%) achieved a clinical response (PR or CR) after 4 x CVAP. After randomization, 50 patients received 4 x CVAP and 47 patients received 4 x DOC. In patients who received eight cycles of CT, the clinical CR (cCR) and clinical PR (cPR) (94% v 66%) and pathologic CR (pCR) (34% v 16%) response rates were higher (P =.001 and P =.04) in those who received further DOC. Intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated cCR and cPR (85% v 64%; P =.03) and pCR (31% v 15%; P =.06). Axillary lymph node examination revealed residual tumor in 33% of patients who received 8 x CVAP and 38% of patients who received further DOC. In patients who failed to respond to the initial CVAP, 4 x DOC resulted in a cCR and cPR rate of 55% and a pCR rate of 2%. Forty-four percent of these patients had residual tumor within axillary lymph nodes. CONCLUSION NA DOC resulted in substantial improvement in responses to DOC.
The Measurement of Preoperative Anxiety

Preoperative anxiety was assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale, multiple affect adjective check list (MAACL) and linear analogue anxiety scale (LAAS) in 100 consecutive day case patients undergoing termination of pregnancy. The HAD scale, a recently introduced self assessment scale comprising 7 multiple choice questions, was readily accepted and easily understood by patients. There was a high degree of correlation between the HAD scale and both the MAACL (correlation coefficient 0.74) and the LAAS (correlation coefficient 0.67). There was only a moderate degree of correlation between the HAD scale and the anaesthetist's assessment of anxiety (correlation coefficient 0.46). The HAD scale is a useful method of subjective measurement of preoperative anxiety.
Functional study of a novel single deletion in the TITF1/NKX2.1 homeobox gene that produces congenital hypothyroidism and benign chorea but not pulmonary distress.

CONTEXT We studied two sisters with congenital hypothyroidism and choreoathetosis but not respiratory distress. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to establish the genetic defect that causes this phenotype and study the molecular mechanisms of the pathology by means of functional analysis. DESIGN Sequencing of DNA, expression vectors generation, EMSAs, transfections experiments as well as bioinformatics analysis were performed. RESULTS We found a new single deletion (825delC) in one allele of the TITF1/NKX2.1 gene. The mutation located in the C-terminal domain generates a nonsense thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1) protein, with 22 amino less and rich in positive charges. This protein shows diminished binding to DNA, does not interfere with wild-type (wt) TTF1 binding, and fails to activate reporter genes harboring the thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroperoxidase (TPO), or surfactant protein B (SP-B) promoters. In addition, the mutant (mut) protein has a dominant-negative effect on the transcriptional activity of wt TTF1 in a promoter-specific manner, inhibiting the transcription of Tg and TPO but not of SP-B. Using a Gal4 reporter system, we demonstrate that the mut protein is not transcriptionally active and does not likely compete with the wild type for coactivators. Interestingly, the mut protein impairs the wt capacity to synergize with paired box 8 (PAX8). This cooperation is necessary for Tg and TPO transcription but dispensable for SP-B expression. CONCLUSION These results are concordant with the phenotype of the two sisters studied and demonstrate a differential role for TTF1 in the different tissues in which it is expressed.