Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sorting out cutaneous vasculitis--a rheumatologist's perspective.

© Copyright CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY 2000. All efforts to classify vasculitis have failed to achieve unanimity of opinion for over a century. While superficially this nosologic quandary may appear to be an exercise best suited for academicians to debate, there is in fact a serious need for such a construct to help gauge prognosis, guide therapy and provide a diagnostic standard for the increasing number of multi-center, randomized controlled clinical trials being performed in these relatively rare diseases. Within these varied classification schemes, efforts to define the cutaneous vasculitidies have been perhaps the least satisfying. In support of this assertion is the fact that in the 1990 classification system proposed by the American College of Rheumatology, the proposed criteria for hypersensitivity vasculitis (HV) (1) yielded the poorest discriminate function and the lowest sensitivity and specificity of all the vasculitic syndromes. This disease has generally been considered a benign and primarily cutaneous disorder, but within the ACR database, over one-fourth of the patients had some degree of renal and gastrointestinal involvement (2). In 1994 an International Consensus Conference at Chapel Hill criticized the concept of HV as a specific disease entity and eliminated the term altogether (3). In its place they substituted the term "cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis (CLA)", which was defined purely on anatomic grounds as "isolated cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis without systemic vasculitis or glomerulonephritis". This nomenclature change, however, was not supported by epidemiologic data, but merely by expert opinion and has been difficult to validate. It furthermore failed to accommodate the not infrequently encountered cases of small vessel vasculitis with other than purely cutaneous disease. In the ACR classification, HenochSchönlein purpura (HSP) was associated with somewhat more efficient classification (4) based on its younger age of onset and typical target organ distribution, but in adults appeared to be a more pernicious disorder with a higher frequency of visceral involvement and atypical features (2). Dr. Callen in his editorial comments (5) astutely contends that distinguishing HSP from diseases such as HV or CLA, which are based largely on arbitrary criteria, is often problematic. He furthermore asserts that publications which have been designed solely to strengthen the distinction of these two syndromes (i.e. HV, or CLA and HSP) based on such arbitrary criteria are unnecessary. Lastly, he points out that neither classification scheme (i.e., ACR or Chapel Hill) offers much assistance to the clinician faced with a patient with leukocytoclastic vasculitis. On all of these points I strongly agree and would like to take this opportunity to make a few practical suggestions on how to further our understanding and approach to classification, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.
Blood coagulation factor Xa as an emerging drug target

Introduction: Factor (F)Xa is well-known as an important player in the coagulation cascade responsible for thrombin generation. More recently, FXa emerged as an essential player in cell biology via activation of protease-activated receptors (PAR)-1 and -2. This pleiotropic role of FXa forms the basis for its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of several diseases. Areas covered: The role of FXa in pathophysiology is reviewed with special emphasis on its signal transduction properties. To this end, we first discuss the important role of FXa in the coagulation cascade, we continue with recent data on FXa induced signaling in pathophysiology with special emphasis on tissue remodeling and fibrosis and discuss the potential of FXa as an emerging drug target. Expert opinion: FXa is more than a passive intermediate in the coagulation cascade and FXa may in fact orchestrate fundamental processes during pathophysiology. Targeting FXa may be an exciting new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of (fibro)proliferative diseases for which current treatment options are limited.
Household crowding and food insecurity among Inuit families with school-aged children in the Canadian Arctic.

OBJECTIVES We examined the relation of household crowding to food insecurity among Inuit families with school-aged children in Arctic Quebec. METHODS We analyzed data collected between October 2005 and February 2010 from 292 primary caregiver-child dyads from 14 Inuit communities. We collected information about household conditions, food security, and family socioeconomic characteristics by interviews. We used logistic regression models to examine the association between household crowding and food insecurity. RESULTS Nearly 62% of Inuit families in the Canadian Arctic resided in more crowded households, placing them at risk for food insecurity. About 27% of the families reported reducing the size of their children's meals because of lack of money. The likelihood of reducing the size of children's meals was greater in crowded households (odds ratio=3.73; 95% confidence interval=1.96, 7.12). After we adjusted for different socioeconomic characteristics, results remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Interventions operating across different levels (community, regional, national) are needed to ensure food security in the region. Targeting families living in crowded conditions as part of social and public health policies aiming to reduce food insecurity in the Arctic could be beneficial.
The Minimal Set of States that Must Be Expanded in a Front-to-End Bidirectional Search

A* is optimal among admissible unidirectional algorithms when searching with a consistent heuristic. Recently, similar optimality bounds have been established for bidirectional search, but no practical algorithm is guaranteed to always achieve this bound. In this paper we study the nature of the number of nodes that must be expanded in any front-to-end bidirectional search. We present an efficient algorithm for computing that number and show that a theoretical parameterized generalization of MM, with the correct parameter, is the optimal front-to-end bidirectional search. We then experimentally compare various algorithms and show how far they are from optimal.
Dependence of promiscuous soybean and herbaceous legumes on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their response to bradyrhizobial inoculation in low P soils

As the production of grain and herbaceous legumes is often limited by low levels of available P in moist savanna soils, the potential for managing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) by selecting lines or accessions dependent on AMF as a strategy to improve plant P nutrition and productivity is required. The interactions between AMF and Bradyrhizobia sp. and their effects on growth and mycorrhizal colonization of ten recent selections of promiscuous soybean breeding lines and two herbaceous legumes (Lablab purpureus and Mucuna pruriens) were investigated. The pots contained soil (available P = 5.33 mg P soilÿ1, Bray 1) collected at Fashola from a derived savanna in Nigeria. Mycorrhizal colonization differed among promiscuous soybean lines (ranging from 16 to 33%) and was on average 20% for mucuna and lablab. Shoot weight of plants single or dually inoculated with AMF and Bradyrhizobia sp. were higher than those of uninoculated plants and the differences between lines and species were signi®cant. Three groups of plants were obtained according to their mycorrhizal dependency (MD): (i) the highly dependent plants with (MD) >30%, e.g.,soybean line 1039 and mucuna; (ii) the intermediate group, with MD between 10 and 30%, e.g., soybean line 1576 and lablab, and (iii) the majority of soybean lines (®ve lines out of 10) that were not mycorrhizal dependent. This great variability in MD and response to P application among promiscuous soybean and herbaceous legumes offers a potential for the selection of plant germplasm able to grow in P de®cient soil. # 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Quantification of HIV-1 using multiple quantitative polymerase chain reaction standards and bioluminometric detection.

A non-gel-based quantification assay based on competitive PCR and bioluminometric detection has been developed. Samples containing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA and three quantitative standards at discrete concentrations were coamplified by PCR with primers annealing in the polymerase gene region. The quantitative standards contained the same primer binding sequences and had the same amplicon length as the wild-type DNA, but differed in an internal homopolymeric stretch (A, C, or T) over three base pairs. The PCR products were captured onto a solid support and treated with NaOH to separate the strands. Discrimination between the wild-type DNA and the three quantitative standard amplicons was achieved on the solid support by four parallel extension reactions with 3'-end specific primers. Inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) released as a result of successful extension was converted to ATP by ATP sulfurylase and the level of ATP was sensed by firefly luciferase, generating a proportional amount of visible light which was detected by a luminometer. Here, we show that the obtained calibration curves, using the signal intensities of the three quantitative standards, enabled determination of the amount of target HIV-1 DNA.
Alkaline peroxide delignification of agricultural residues to enhance enzymatic saccharification

Approximately one‐half of the lignin and most of the hemicellulose present in agricultural residues such as wheat straw and corn stover are solubilized when the residue is treated at 25°C in an alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide. The delignification reaction is most efficient when the ratio of hydrogen peroxide to substrate is at least 0.25 (w/w) and the pH is 11.5. The supernatant fraction from a given pretreatment, after addition of makeup peroxide and readjustment of the pH, can be recycled to treat at least six additional batches of substrate, resulting in a substantial concentration of hemicellulose and soluble lignin degradation products. Hydrolysis of the insoluble fraction with Trichoderma reesei cellulase after alkaline peroxide treatment yields glucose with almost 100% efficiency, based upon the cellulose content of the residue before treatment. These data indicate that alkaline peroxide pretreatment is a simple and efficient method for enhancing the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic crop residues to levels approaching the theoretical maximum.
Finding your voice: A singing lesson from functional imaging

Vocal singing (singing with lyrics) shares features common to music and language but it is not clear to what extent they use the same brain systems, particularly at the higher cortical level, and how this varies with expertise. Twenty‐six participants of varying singing ability performed two functional imaging tasks. The first examined covert generative language using orthographic lexical retrieval while the second required covert vocal singing of a well‐known song. The neural networks subserving covert vocal singing and language were found to be proximally located, and their extent of cortical overlap varied with singing expertise. Nonexpert singers showed greater engagement of their language network during vocal singing, likely accounting for their less tuneful performance. In contrast, expert singers showed a more unilateral pattern of activation associated with reduced engagement of the right frontal lobe. The findings indicate that singing expertise promotes independence from the language network with decoupling producing more tuneful performance. This means that the age‐old singing practice of ‘finding your singing voice’ may be neurologically mediated by changing how strongly singing is coupled to the language system. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Physicochemical Properties and Sensory Evaluation of Bread Made with a Composite Flour from Wheat and Tempoyak (Fermented Durian)

Composite flour from wheat flour and Tempoyak Flour (TF) was produced in this study. Three different bread formulations from the composite flour were produced, containing 5% TF (TF5), 10% TF (TF10) and 15% TF (TF15). Bread samples were analyzed for their physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics compared with control bread made from 100% wheat flour. The resistant starch content increased significantly (p
Identification of cystic fibrosis mutations in Oman

To the Editor: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is due to DNA variations that modify the sequence, structure, function and/or expression of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene (1). Beside DF508 (which accounts for 66% of all CF chromosomes studied so far), 877 other CF-causing mutations have been identified worldwide in the CFTR gene (2). Many mutations are rare, but their frequencies are quite variable amongst different ethnic and geographically located populations (1–3). In some populations, a few mutations only (three to six) account for 60–90% of all CF chromosomes; many more rare mutations, however, have to be detected to characterize all CF chromosomes (1–3). Thus, it is of the utmost importance to make an inventory of CF mutations in all countries. We have shown that, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two mutations, DF508 and S549R(TG), account for 46 out of 52 (88%) CF alleles and characterize 95% (18 out of 19) of the affected families that have been referred to us (4). All patients that we investigated were homozygous for either of the two mutations: 16 CF patients (who were of Bedouin origin) were S549R(TG) homozygotes and 7 patients (who were of Baluch lineage) were DF508 homozygotes (1). In light of these observations, we designed a pilot study aimed at identifying CFcausing mutations in Oman, one of the UAE’s neighboring countries that shares some common genetic influences with the population of the UAE.
Influence of pentamidine and two new trypanocidal agents (DAPI, DIPI) on liver metabolism of mice.

The effects of equimolar doses (65.5 mumol/kg intraperitoneally) of three trypanocidal compounds, i.e., pentamidine, 6-amidino-2-(amidinophenyl)indole (DAPI), and 6-imidazolino-2-(imidazolinophenyl)indole (DIPI) on some parameters of liver carbohydrate, lipid and energy metabolism have been assessed in male NMRI mice. Most prominent effects were an initial increase of the blood glucose and fatty acid levels followed by long lasting increases of the hepatic triglyceride and glycogen contents which were accompanied by decreases of the liver pyruvate and lactate and ATP contents. These effects which can be interpreted as results of a transient lipolytic and glycogenolytic effect and a longer lasting inhibition of the energy yielding carbohydrate metabolism were most pronounced after DAPI and DIPI and less marked after pentamidine.
Prophylactic Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Obese Patients Following Cesarean Delivery

Objective. Negative pressure therapy (NPT) offers the potential to reduce infection in obese patients. The goal of this study was to explore the association between NPT use and infection after cesarean delivery among obese women. Methods: We initiated a hospital protocol wherein women with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m2 or greater who delivered after January 1, 2011 were to receive NPT following cesarean section. A retrospective comparison of surgical site infection (SSI) in women receiving the intervention to a similar group with a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or greater, a historical control group of women who delivered before January 1, 2011. Incidence of SSI was compared between time periods using logistic regression models. Results. A total of 233 patients in the preintervention (control) group and 234 patients in the intervention group were included in the analysis. In the control group, 23 (9.9%) developed SSI, compared with 13 (5.6%) in the intervention group. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, women in the postintervention period experienced a statistically significant reduction in SSI rates (adjusted odds ratio =0.45, 95% CI = 0.22-0.95); P = . 04). Conclusion. Implementation of a hospital protocol of NPT following cesarean delivery in obese women resulted in reduced incidence of postoperative SSI. This study suggests that using NPT after cesarean delivery in women with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 is an efficacious method to reduce incidence of postoperative wound infections.
Effects of Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Motivation to Quit in Tobacco Smokers: A Randomized, Sham Controlled, Double-Blind Trial

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been shown to reduce cravings in tobacco addiction; however, results have been somewhat mixed. In this study, we hypothesized that motivation to quit smoking is a critical factor of tDCS effects in smokers. Therefore, we conducted a double-blind, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of both tDCS and motivation to quit on cigarette consumption and the relationship between these two factors. DLPFC tDCS was applied once a day for 5 days. Our primary outcome was the amount of cigarettes smoked per day. We collected this information at baseline (d1), at the end of the treatment period (d5), 2 days later (d7) and at the 4-week follow-up (d35). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for motivation to quit was collected at the same time-points. 36 subjects (45 ± 11 years old; 24.2 ± 11.5 cigarettes daily smoked, 21 women) were randomized to receive either active or sham tDCS. In our multivariate analysis, as to take into account the mediation and moderation effects of motivation to quit, we found a significant main effect of tDCS, showing that tDCS was associated with a significant reduction of cigarettes smoked per day. We also showed a significant interaction effect of motivation to quit and treatment, supporting our hypothesis that tDCS effects were moderated by motivation to quit, indicating that higher levels of motivation were associated with a larger tDCS response. We found that the participants' motivation to quit alone, both at baseline and at follow-up, does not explain the decrease in the average cigarette consumption. Repetitive prefrontal tDCS coupled with high motivation significantly reduced cigarette consumption up to 4-weeks post-intervention. Clinical Trial Registration: http://ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02146014.
Regulation of Feedback between Protein Kinase A and the Proteasome System Worsens Huntington's Disease

ABSTRACT Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. Abnormal regulation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway occurs during HD progression. Here we found that lower PKA activity was associated with proteasome impairment in the striatum for two HD mouse models (R6/2 and N171-82Q) and in mutant HTT (mHTT)-expressing striatal cells. Because PKA regulatory subunits (PKA-Rs) are proteasome substrates, the mHTT-evoked proteasome impairment caused accumulation of PKA-Rs and subsequently inhibited PKA activity. Conversely, activation of PKA enhanced the phosphorylation of Rpt6 (a component of the proteasome), rescued the impaired proteasome activity, and reduced mHTT aggregates. The dominant-negative Rpt6 mutant (Rpt6S120A) blocked the ability of a cAMP-elevating reagent to enhance proteasome activity, whereas the phosphomimetic Rpt6 mutant (Rpt6S120D) increased proteasome activity, reduced HTT aggregates, and ameliorated motor impairment. Collectively, our data demonstrated that positive feedback regulation between PKA and the proteasome is critical for HD pathogenesis.
Epigenetic Changes in Hybrids

Hybrid systems show altered DNA methylation and siRNA patterns that potentially contribute to the hybrid vigor phenotype. Genome-wide approaches to the study of hybrid vigor have identified epigenetic changes in the hybrid nucleus in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), maize (Zea mays), and rice (Oryza sativa). DNA methylation associated with 24-nucleotide small interfering RNAs exhibits transallelic effects in hybrids of Arabidopsis and other species. Some of the transmethylation changes are inherited and some affect gene expression. Hybrids have larger leaves than those of the parents and have increases in cell size and number. The increased leaf size results in a greater photosynthetic capacity, which may support the increased vegetative and reproductive yields of the F1 hybrids. Genes and metabolic pathways that have altered expression relative to the parents include loci involved in responses to hormones and to biotic and abiotic stress. Whereas epigenetically induced changes in gene expression may contribute to hybrid vigor, the link between the transcriptional changes and the hybrid phenotype is not confirmed. Recurrent selection of high yielding F1 lines from the F2/F3 of a number of crops has fixed heterosis yields in pure breeding lines. These hybrid-like lines may have valuable applications in crop systems.
Eye-movement recording as a tool for studying syntactic processing in a second language: a review of methodologies and experimental findings

The complex trace of saccades, fixations and regressions that the eyes make while taking in a line of text is unquestionably one of the richest accounts available as concerns the process of reading. Recording these jumps, stops and re-takes provides a to-the-letter, millisecond-precise report of the readers’ immediate syntactic processing as well as revisions thereof. In addition, the influence of innumerable factors -from low-level visual conditions to high-level pragmatic cues - on the reading process can be measured via this method, thereby rendering possible the testing of various psycholinguistic models of parsing and comprehension. For all of these reasons, eye-movement recording has become an invaluable tool in the study of how readers process text. Interestingly, however, only a handful of eye-movement studies have been published as concerns reading in the second language. The goal of the present article is to outline the findings of these second language studies and, hopefully, to encourage future work in the field using this tool.