Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a survival evaluation model for liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to hepatitis B.

AIM To develop a model using easily obtainable, objective, verifiable preoperative parameters, to help evaluate post transplant survival probability for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with hepatitis B. METHODS We retrospectively examined a cohort of 150 consecutive primary cadaveric liver transplants with HCC in our center over 6 years. Thirteen preoperative biochemical parameters and six tumor-related factors were analyzed to identify their correlation with post transplant survival using the Cox proportional-hazards regression model. The predictive power of a new model and the model for end stage liver disease was compared by the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS In univariate analysis, the factors significantly associated with post transplant survival were serum concentrations of albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-fetoprotein, gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, sodium, tumor diameter and the number of tumor nodules. Multivariate analysis showed alpha-fetoprotein, serum sodium, alkaline phosphatase and the number of tumor nodules were significantly associated with the post transplant outcome. Based on the four variables, we established a new model with a c-statistic of 0.72 which was significantly greater than 0.50 (P = 0.001), and the c-statistic of MELD was 0.59 (P = 0.146). CONCLUSION The new model based on four objective tumor-related parameters has the capacity to evaluate the risk of post transplant mortality for HCC patients with hepatitis B.
Ehrlichia chaffeensis TRP32 Is a Nucleomodulin That Directly Regulates Expression of Host Genes Governing Differentiation and Proliferation

ABSTRACT Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligately intracellular bacterium that reprograms the mononuclear phagocyte through diverse effector-host interactions to modulate numerous host cell processes, including transcription. In a previous study, we reported that E. chaffeensis TRP32, a type 1 secreted effector, interacts with multiple host nucleus-associated proteins and also autoactivates reporter gene expression in yeast. In this study, we demonstrate that TRP32 is a nucleomodulin that binds host DNA and alters host gene transcription. TRP32 enters the host cell nucleus via a noncanonical translocation mechanism that involves phosphorylation of Y179 located in a C-terminal trityrosine motif. Both genistein and mutation of Y179 inhibited TRP32 nuclear entry. An electromobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated TRP32 host DNA binding via its tandem repeat domain. TRP32 DNA-binding and motif preference were further confirmed by supershift assays, as well as competition and mutant probe analyses. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation with next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq), we determined that TRP32 binds a G-rich motif primarily within ±500 bp of the gene transcription start site. An ontology analysis identified genes involved in processes such as immune cell differentiation, chromatin remodeling, and RNA transcription and processing as primary TRP32 targets. TRP32-bound genes (n = 1,223) were distributed on all chromosomes and included several global regulators of proliferation and inflammation such as those encoding FOS, JUN, AKT3, and NRAS and noncoding RNA genes microRNA 21 (miRNA 21) and miRNA 142. TRP32 target genes were differentially regulated during infection, the majority of which were repressed, and direct repression/activation of these genes by TRP32 was confirmed in vitro with a cellular luciferase reporter assay.
The ETS family member Tel antagonizes the Fli-1 phenotype in hematopoietic cells.

The ETS family member Tel is rearranged in human leukemia of both myeloid and lymphoid origin while the ETS member Fli-1 is insertionally activated in Friend erythroleukemia in mice and is translocated to the EWS locus in Ewing's sarcoma. In previous studies we demonstrated that Tel binds to Fli-1 and blocks transactivation of megakaryocytic promoters by Fli-1. In this study we demonstrate that expression of Fli-1 in the leukemia cell line K562 induces a megakaryocytic phenotype and the expression of the platelet markers GPIX, GP1balpha, and GPIIb. Introduction of Tel blocked the megakaryocytic phenotype induced by Fli-1, suggesting a biological correlation to the biochemical interaction of Tel and Fli-1 reported previously.
Protein immobilization in crosslinked alginate microparticles

Oral administration of peptide and protein drugs requires their protection from the acidic and enzymatic degradation in the gastro-intestinal environment and their targeting to the absorption zone. For this purpose, an alginate microsystem, as a carrier of bovine serum albumin (BSA), as a model protein, was developed using a spray-drying technique. A hardening process with Ca 2+ and chitosan (CS) provided a system with resistance to the gastro-intestinal barriers and of appropriate size for targeting to the Peyer's patches. The present work aims to evaluate the effects of the ratio of sodium alginate (Na-A) and BSA as well as the pH of the crosslinking medium on the microsystem properties. Microparticle morphological and dimensional characteristics did not change significantly with the formulation variables. BSA loading at a pH value less than the protein isoelectric point (pI) was higher than that at a pH similar to the pI owing to an electrostatic interaction between the charged protein and the polyanionic alginate. The maximum encapsulation efficiency was obtained at the highest Na-A/BSA ratio. Protein release in a simulated gastro-intestinal fluid was not affected by the preparative variables, but was controlled by the pH-dependent nature of the polymer material. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) demonstrated the stability of the protein to both the preparative conditions and the gastro-intestinal pH values.
Critical parameters in the pegylation of gold nanoshells for biomedical applications: An in vitro macrophage study

Pegylation of gold nanoshells provides an effective means to reduce their reticuloendothelial system (RES) clearance in body. In this study, we perform a parametric investigation on the factors that would affect the macrophage uptake of gold nanoshells with the aim to optimize their pegylation and minimize their macrophage uptake. We synthesized and pegylated the gold nanoshells using methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-thiol and employed an in vitro macrophage assay to examine the effect of surface density of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), chain length of the PEG, and size of the gold nanoshells on their macrophage uptake. We have shown that a saturated surface density would minimize macrophage uptake, which could be obtained by experimental titration-based Ellman’s reagent. Our results suggest that the chain length of PEG and size of gold nanoshells influence the surface density of PEG. We have also shown that PEG with molecular weight of around 2000 Da and a size range larger than 186 nm would be appropriate for facilitating a high surface density. Our in vitro macrophage system thus provides a good model to accurately predict the RES response to different pegylation parameters.
Infant mental health and variability of parental depression symptoms.

OBJECTIVE To examine the course of mothers' depression symptoms in association with child and family functioning beyond that explained by diagnostic status. METHOD A longitudinal high-risk design with 16 months of course-of-illness follow-up was used. Structured clinical and family interviews, direct observation of child social-emotional competence, and parent reports of child behavior problems were included. RESULTS Parameters of maternal symptom patterns across time were associated with child and family functioning. Most of these effects remained when presence/absence of major depression diagnosis was covaried. CONCLUSIONS The trajectory of symptoms over time is important to consider in studies of children at risk and may also help to inform how illness in infancy and early childhood is conceptualized.
BB-Graph: A New Subgraph Isomorphism Algorithm for Efficiently Querying Big Graph Databases

With the emergence of the big data concept, the big graph database model has become very popular since it provides strong modeling for complex applications and fast querying, especially for the cases that require costly join operations in RDBMs. However, it is a big challenge to find all exact matches of a query graph in a big graph database, which is known as the subgraph isomorphism problem. Although a number of related studies exist in literature, there is need for a better algorithm that works efficiently for all types of queries since the subgraph isomorphism problem is NP-hard. The current subgraph isomorphism approaches have been built on Ullmann's idea of focusing on the strategy of pruning out the irrelevant candidates. Nevertheless, for some graph databases and queries, the existing pruning techniques are not adequate to handle some of the complex queries. Moreover, many of those existing algorithms need large indices that cause extra memory consumption. Motivated by these, we introduce a new subgraph isomorphism algorithm, namely BB-Graph, for querying big graph databases in an efficient manner without requiring a large data structure to be stored in main memory. We test and compare our proposed BB-Graph algorithm with two popular existing ones, GraphQL and Cypher of Neo4j. Our experiments are done on a very big graph database application (Population Database) and the publicly available World Cup graph database application. We show that our algorithm performs better than those that we use for comparison in this study, for most of the query types.
X-linked gene expression and X-chromosome inactivation: marsupials, mouse, and man compared.

The existence of paternal X inactivation in Australian and American marsupial species suggests that this feature of X-chromosome dosage compensation is not a recent adaptation, but probably predates the evolutionary separation of the Australian and American marsupial lineages. Although it is theoretically possible that the marsupial system is one of random X inactivation with p greater than 0.99 and q less than 0.01 and dependent on parental source, no instance of random X inactivation (p = q or p not equal to q) has ever been verified in any tissue or cell type of any marsupial species. Therefore, we conclude that the most fundamental difference in X inactivation of marsupials and eutherians is whether the inactive X is the paternal one or is determined at random (with p = q in most but not all cases). The only other unequivocal difference between eutherians and marsupials is that both X chromosomes are active in mice and human oocytes, but not in kangaroo oocytes. Apparently, the inactive X is reactivated at a later meiotic stage or during early embryogenesis in kangaroos. X-chromosome inactivation takes place early in embryogenesis of eutherians and marsupials. Extraembryonic membranes of mice exhibit paternal X inactivation, whereas those of humans seem to exhibit random X inactivation with p greater than q (i.e., preferential paternal X inactivation). In general, extraembryonic membranes of marsupial exhibit paternal X inactivation, but the Gpd locus is active on both X chromosomes in at least some cells of kangaroo yolk sac. It is difficult to draw any general conclusion because of major differences in embryogeny of mice, humans, and marsupials, and uncertainties in interpreting the data from humans. Other differences between marsupials and eutherians in patterns of X-linked gene expression and X-chromosome inactivation seem to be quantitative rather than qualitative. Partial expression of some genes on the inactive X is characteristic of marsupials, with species variation in the behavior of specific loci; some X-linked human genes on the inactive chromosome also are known to exhibit partial activity in vivo and in cultured cells. The X chromosomes of marsupials do not behave as units with respect to transcriptional activity, nor does the human X chromosome. In addition, Barr bodies have recently been detected at interphase in some marsupials, establishing that this manifestation of X chromosome inactivity is not restricted to eutherians. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
[The dependence of the heart rhythm on anxiousness as a stable individual characteristic].

In 90 subjects (25 males and 65 females) aged 17-19 heart and respiration rates were telemetrically recorded with a "Sport" polygraph under conditions of rest and arithmetical load (periods of 3 min each). Spectral analysis of heart rate and respiration and statistical processing was performed off-line by an IBM PC XT with the software package PFE2. Anxiety was tested according to Spielberger State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory with Hanin modification and strength of excitation and inhibition according to Strelau Temperament Inventory. It was shown that the group characterized by the high trait-anxiety had significantly higher resting heart rate and Baevskiĭ index of strain than the group with low trait-anxiety. The groups differed also in R-R interval variability (standard deviation) under arithmetic load. In the group with high trait-anxiety R-R interval variability was lower than in the other group mainly in two frequency bands of R-R power spectrum, i. e. , those of respiratory arrhythmia (RA) and Traube-Hering-Mayer waves (THM). Mental load evoked an increase in the heart rate and Baevskiĭ index and decrease in the power of RA and THM frequency bands. Such peculiarities of the heart rate in both groups during the periods of rest and informational load can be explained in the framework of reciprocal relationship between orienting (lower trait-anxiety, lower heart rate, higher R-R interval variability mainly in RA and THM bands of R-R power spectrum) and defensive reflexes (higher trait-anxiety, higher heart rate, lower R-R interval variability, in particular in RA and THM bands of R-R power spectrum.
Staff perceptions of end-of-life care in long-term care.

OBJECTIVE Although residential care/assisted living facilities and nursing homes have increasingly become a significant site of death for older Americans, little is known about staff perceptions of end-of-life care, perceived need for improvement in care, and differences by type of setting. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Ninety-nine staff provided their perceptions of end-of-life care for 99 decedents from 74 residential care/assisted living facilities and nursing homes in four states as part of a larger cohort study. Staff were interviewed retrospectively regarding care provided during residents' last month of life. MEASUREMENTS Staff reported on 11 areas of end-of-life care, describing the importance of each area and the level of improvement they felt was indicated. Weighted "need for change" scores were calculated as the product of perceived importance and need for improvement. RESULTS Both residential care/assisted living and nursing home staff reported a need for more staff education and nursing assistant time, as well as more use of volunteers. The two lowest ranked items for both facility types were involvement of hospice and encouragement for staff to attend funeral services. Nursing home staff perceived a greater need for improvement than residential care/assisted living staff in all 11 areas. CONCLUSION Results underscore the staffing demands of end-of-life care across facility types, and staff desires to be able to provide quality care throughout the dying process.
Lactate uptake contributes to the NAD(P)H biphasic response and tissue oxygen response during synaptic stimulation in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices

Synaptic train stimulation (10 Hz × 25 s) in hippocampal slices results in a biphasic response of NAD(P)H fluorescence indicating a transient oxidation followed by a prolonged reduction. The response is accompanied by a transient tissue PO2 decrease indicating enhanced oxygen utilization. The activation of mitochondrial metabolism and/or glycolysis may contribute to the secondary NAD(P)H peak. We investigated whether extracellular lactate uptake via monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) contributes to the generation of the NAD(P)H response during neuronal activation. We measured the effect of lactate uptake inhibition [using the MCT inhibitor α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamate (4‐CIN)] on the NAD(P)H biphasic response, tissue PO2 response, and field excitatory post‐synaptic potential in hippocampal slices during synaptic stimulation in area CA1 (stratum radiatum). The application of 4‐CIN (150–250 μmol/L) significantly decreased the reduction phase of the NAD(P)H response. When slices were supplemented with 20 mmol/L lactate in 150–250 μmol/L 4‐CIN, the secondary NAD(P)H peak was restored; whereas 20 mmol/L pyruvate supplementation did not produce a recovery. Similarly, the tissue PO2 response was decreased by MCT inhibition; 20 mmol/L lactate restored this response to control levels at all 4‐CIN concentrations. These results indicate that lactate uptake via MCTs contributes significantly to energy metabolism in brain tissue and to the generation of the delayed NAD(P)H peak after synaptic stimulation.
A Nanobiosensor Based on 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase Enzyme for Mesotrione Detection

The herbicide residue from intensive agricultural activity provokes environmental disturbances and human health injuries. Among the enzymatic disruptor herbicides, mesotrione is able to inhibit 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), which plays a key role in the carotenoid synthesis. Therefore, enzyme-based sensors are innovative options for monitoring herbicides used in agriculture. Compared to the standard sensors, biosensors have assorted advantages, such as practicality, quick response, low cost, and high sensitivity. A nanobiosensor was developed herein based on HPPD for mesotrione detection. Theoretically, the molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation estimated the interacting regions of HPPD with mesotrione. Experimentally, the atomic force microscope tip functionalization with HPPD immobilized in self-assembled monolayers was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and atomic force spectroscopy. The cross-linker N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride was responsible for properly preserving the enzyme on the tip. The nanobiosensor proposed here was successfully able to detect mesotrione molecules. Such effectiveness in the development of nanobiosensors promises reliable, precise, and low-cost techniques, which apply to a broad range of issues, from ecology to medicine.
Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles: magnetic resonance imaging findings and surgical treatment

Abstract Purpose: We analyzed findings of orbital and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles (CFEOM). We described surgery and its outcome. Material and method: Nine out of 10 patients with clinical findings of CFEOM underwent orbital and cranial MRI to perform a study of the extraocular muscles and cranial nerves. A multimodality workstation platform developed by the imaging laboratory of our hospital for PC computer allowed us to visualize and measure the cross sections of the extraocular muscles in a coronal section. Surgery was indicated to resolve strabismus. Outcome was considered favorable if the final deviation was <10 pd in the primary position without head turn. Results: In 8 cases (6 males, 5 unilateral [3 left eye]), MRI revealed atrophy of at least 1 of the extraocular muscles supplied by the third nerve. Five patients had third nerve aplasia or hypoplasia. Clinical findings were compatible with a probable diagnosis of CFEOM in all 10 patients. Four patients underwent ptosis surgery before being diagnosed with CFEOM. Four patients underwent surgery to correct strabismus and, of these, 2 required multiple interventions (1 needed 4 interventions). Outcome was successful in only 2 cases. Conclusion: Orbital and cranial MRI provided useful information about extraocular muscles and cranial nerves in CFEOM. Surgery must be performed on an individual basis; the number of reoperations is high. The outcome of surgery was favorable in half of the cases.
Gender differences in referral to cardiac rehabilitation programs after revascularization.

BACKGROUND This study examines the influence of gender on the healthcare provider's secondary prevention instruction and cardiac rehabilitation (CR) referral after coronary revascularization procedures such as balloon angioplasty/coronary stenting and coronary bypass surgery (CABG). Cardiac rehabilitation decreases mortality and morbidity, yet only a small percentage of women and men are referred to these programs. The patient population of our university-affiliated CR program consisted of 88% men and 12% women. METHODS In a matched case observational study, 80 patients (40 men, 40 women) who had undergone coronary revascularization procedures between 1997 and 1998 completed a questionnaire on secondary prevention instruction and written referral to CR programs. Patients were matched for age and coronary revascularization procedure. RESULTS Women were less likely to be instructed on secondary prevention strategies and CR or referred to CR as compared to men despite being matched for age and undergoing the same procedure. The data demonstrate a gender difference in hospital teaching and referral information for CR after revascularization (P < 0.001). Being a woman was associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving a physician referral to CR after revascularization (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The instruction of patients concerning secondary prevention and CR postrevascularization procedures is poor. Within that group, women were far less likely to have CR discussed or referrals made by healthcare professionals. This study demonstrates the need for education initiatives of all healthcare providers on the comprehensive nature and benefits of CR in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, with a particular emphasis on women.
Potential Benefits of Thermoelectric Element Used With Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers

This paper investigates the application of thermoelectric devices to enhance the performance of conventional vapor compression based air conditioning systems. Thermoelectric devices are capable of converting electrical energy into thermal heat-pumping at a very high efficiency. In this paper, a validated air-cooled heat exchanger simulation tool is used to study the effect of adding thermoelectric devices between the fins and tubes to enhance heat transfer. Further, a validated system simulation tool is used to study the effect of using a thermoelectric device to increase the refrigerant sub-cooling at the outlet of a condenser. The study is conducted for several refrigeration and airconditioning applications with various refrigerants.