Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Randomized trial of autologous filgrastim-primed bone marrow transplantation versus filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in lymphoma patients.

Although a large amount of data is available on the effects of filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF]) on the mobilization of stem cells in the circulation, data concerning its effects on bone marrow (BM) harvesting is scarce and controversial. We have designed a randomized trial comparing filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation with filgrastim-primed autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Fifty-five patients affected by non-Hodgkin's (n = 38) or Hodgkin's (n = 17) lymphoma, selected for autologous transplantation over a 12-month period in a single institution, were randomized 2:1 to undergo BM or PB harvest/collection after priming for 3 days with filgrastim, 16 microg/kg body weight daily subcutaneously. BM priming with G-CSF allowed the harvest of a significantly higher number of mononuclear cells (MNC) (0.53 x 10(8)/kg, range, 0.32 to 1.40), as compared with a historical control of unprimed BM harvests (0.43 x 10(8) MNC/kg, range, 0.15 to 0.72, P = . 001). After high-dose ablative therapy, median time to neutrophil recovery above 0.5 x 10(9)/L was 12 days for BM and 11 days for PB (P = .219); median time to platelet recovery above 20 x 10(9)/L was 13 days for BM and 11 days for PB (P = .242). The same number of red blood cells, platelet transfusions, and posttransplant G-CSF doses were required in the two groups of patients. Less patients (50% v 70%) became febrile in the group transplanted with mobilized PB, but days of fever/patient and days on antibiotics were overlapping. The median time spent in the hospital after reinfusion was 16.5 and 15.5 days after primed BM and primed PB, respectively (P = .134). These data suggest that in patients with lymphoma submitted to autologous transplantation, the reinfusion of filgrastim-primed BM or filgrastim-mobilized PB leads to similar results, with an advantage of only 1 day in the neutrophil recovery and 1 day on the time spent in the hospital in favor of primed PB. Either option can be chosen on the basis of the availability of a surgery room or cell separator facilities and considering the patients' characteristics and wishes.
The profiles of interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐6, and interferon‐gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from house‐dust‐mite‐allergic patients: a role for IL‐6 in allergic disease

We have developed a model to measure cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro. In this report, we examine the production of interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), IL‐6, and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) by PBMC of house‐dust‐mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus)‐allergic subjects. When stimulated with specific allergen (D. pteronyssinus), PBMC of patients produced significant levels of IL‐2 and high levels of IL‐6, but little or no IFN‐γ. Nonatopic control PBMC also produced IL‐6, although at lower levels, but no IL‐2 or IFN‐γ. A ubiquitous antigen, streptokinase/streptodornase (SKSD), induced high levels of IL‐2 in patients, but only low levels of IFN‐γ and IL‐6. Nonatopic controls produced similar levels of IL‐2 and IL‐6, but high levels of IFN‐γ to SKSD. IL‐2 and IFN‐γ levels induced by the T‐cell mitogen phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were similar in patient and control groups, but IL‐6 levels were significantly lower in the patients. IgE synthesis in vitro was shown only in atopic PBMC cultures stimulated with specific allergen. The major points can be summarized as 1) IL‐2 production by atopic patients in response to allergen; 2) IL‐6 production to allergen by both atopic and nonatopic patients, but significantly increased in atopic patients; and 3) defective IFN‐γ production by atopic patients to both allergen and antigen. These findings suggest that IL‐6 may be important in the immune response to inhalent allergens such as D. pteronyssinus, possibly by creating a cytokine environment favourable to a TH2 response, and that atopic patients exhibit a generalized defect of IFN‐γ production, not related to the response to allergen.
EMILIN-1 Deficiency Induces Elastogenesis and Vascular Cell Defects

ABSTRACT EMILINs constitute a family of genes of the extracellular matrix with high structural similarity. Four genes have been identified so far in human and mouse. To gain insight into the function of this gene family, EMILIN-1 has been inactivated in the mouse by gene targeting. The homozygous animals were fertile and did not show obvious abnormalities. However, histological and ultrastructural examination revealed alterations of elastic fibers in aorta and skin. Formation of elastic fibers by mutant embryonic fibroblasts in culture was also abnormal. Additional alterations were observed in cell morphology and anchorage of endothelial and smooth muscle cells to elastic lamellae. Considering that EMILIN-1 is adhesive for cells and that the protein binds to elastin and fibulin-5, EMILIN-1 may regulate elastogenesis and vascular cell maintenance by stabilizing molecular interactions between elastic fiber components and by endowing elastic fibers with specific cell adhesion properties.
Increased Cerebral Blood Flow Associated with Better Response Inhibition in Bipolar Disorder

Abstract Impairment on inhibitory tasks has been well documented in bipolar disorder (BD). Differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) between BD patients and healthy comparison (HC) participants have also been reported. Few studies have examined the relationship between cognitive performance and regional CBF in this patient population. We hypothesized that group differences on an inhibitory task (the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function Scale’s Color-Word Inhibition task) would be associated with differential CBF in bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) regions. Whole brain resting CBF was measured using Multiphase Pseudocontinuous Arterial Spin Labeling MR imaging for 28 euthymic BD and 36 HC participants. Total gray matter (GM) CBF was measured, and regional CBF values were extracted for each region of interest (ROI) using Freesurfer-based individual parcellations. Group, CBF, and group-by-CBF interaction were examined as predictors of inhibition performance. Groups did not differ in age, gender or education. BD patients performed significantly worse on Color-Word inhibition. There were no significant group differences in CBF in either total GM or in any ROI. There was a group by CBF interaction in the bilateral ACC, right IPL and right DLPFC such that better inhibitory performance was generally associated with higher resting state CBF in BD subjects, but not HC participants. Although CBF was not abnormal in this euthymic BD sample, results confirm previous reports of inter-episode inhibitory deficits and indicate that the perfusion-cognition relationship is different in BD compared to HC individuals. (JINS, 2015, 21, 105–115)
QTL Mapping for Fiber Quality and Yield Traits Based on Introgression Lines Derived from Gossypium hirsutum × G. tomentosum

The tetraploid species Gossypium hirsutum is cultivated widely throughout the world with high yield and moderate fiber quality, but its genetic basis is narrow. A set of 107 introgression lines (ILs) was developed with an interspecific cross using G. hirsutum acc. 4105 as the recurrent parent and G. tomentosum as the donor parent. A specific locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) strategy was used to obtain high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. In total, 3157 high-quality SNP markers were obtained and further used for identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for fiber quality and yield traits evaluated in multiple environments. In total, 74 QTLs were detected that were associated with five fiber quality traits (30 QTLs) and eight yield traits (44 QTLs), with 2.02–30.15% of the phenotypic variance explained (PVE), and 69 markers were found to be associated with these thirteen traits. Eleven chromosomes in the A sub-genome (At) harbored 47 QTLs, and nine chromosomes in the D sub-genome (Dt) harbored 27 QTLs. More than half (44 QTLs = 59.45%) showed positive additive effects for fiber and yield traits. Five QTL clusters were identified, with three in the At, comprised of thirteen QTLs, and two in the Dt comprised of seven QTLs. The ILs developed in this study and the identified QTLs will facilitate further molecular breeding for improvement of Upland cotton in terms of higher yield with enhanced fiber quality.
Experience with the Roche LightCycler VRE detection kit during a large outbreak of vanB2/B3 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.

impairment developed in half of the patients. A switch to second-line antimycotics was also performed at the same percentage in both patient cohorts, either due to persisting fever or due to side effects. Mean duration of AmB therapy was slightly longer with 24 h infusions than with 6 h infusions (median 10.5 versus 7 days on AmB), because renal impairment on average developed slightly more slowly in the 24 h infusion cohort, but this trend was not significant (P 1⁄4 0.44, Mann–Whitney test). The 4 week survival rate was not significantly different (P 1⁄4 0.43, Fisher’s exact test). Overall, no difference in outcome was observed. Taken together, at least in our hands, continuous infusion of AmB turned out to be feasible. It had the advantage of being well tolerated regarding acute side effects without the need for pre-medication except electrolyte solutions, and the number of days on AmB therapy was slightly increased when compared with 6 h infusions. However, continuous infusions did not eliminate the nephrotoxicity that is frequently induced by this drug and did not change the outcome in our cohort. The problem of nephrotoxicity can be avoided by alternative preparations of amphotericin B than AmB deoxycholate or by newer antifungals, but at considerably higher drug expenses.
The Intronless and TATA-less HumanTAF II 55 Gene Contains a Functional Initiator and a Downstream Promoter Element*

Human TAFII55 (hTAFII55) is a component of the multisubunit general transcription factor TFIID and has been shown to mediate the functions of many transcriptional activators via direct protein-protein interactions. To uncover the regulatory properties of the general transcription machinery, we have isolated thehTAF II 55 gene and dissected the regulatory elements and the core promoter responsible forhTAF II 55 gene expression. Surprisingly, the hTAF II 55 gene has a single uninterrupted open reading frame and is the only intronless general transcription factor identified so far. Its expression is driven by a TATA-less promoter that contains a functional initiator and a downstream promoter element, as illustrated by both transfection assays and mutational analyses. Moreover, this core promoter can mediate the activity of a transcriptional activator that is artificially recruited to the promoter in a heterologous context. Interestingly, in the promoter-proximal region there are multiple Sp1-binding sites juxtaposed to a single AP2-binding site, indicating that Sp1 and AP2 may regulate the core promoter activity of thehTAF II 55 gene. These findings indicate that a combinatorial regulation of a general transcription factor-encoding gene can be conferred by both ubiquitous and cell type-specific transcriptional regulators.
Food‐Reinforced Operant Behavior in Dopamine Transporter Knockout Mice: Enhanced Resistance to Extinction

Abstract: Dopamine (DA) plays roles in circuits that are important for brain reward and in striatal brain regions that are important for certain types of habit learning. These processes in wildtype, heterozygous, and homozygous dopamine transporter knockout (DAT‐KO) mice, which were mildly food deprived and allowed to make nose‐poke responses for food reinforcement, were studied. The mice were given 20‐min sessions of daily (a) baseline exposure to the operant chambers, (b) acquisition of nose‐poke responses in which responses were reinforced under a fixed ratio (FR5) schedule, (c) a progressive ratio schedule in which the number of responses required to obtain food was gradually increased, and (d) extinction of responses in which nose pokes were not followed by food. Neither heterozygous nor homozygous DAT‐KO mice differed from their wildtype litter mates in the number of nose pokes displayed during baseline exposures to the chambers, the number of sessions required for acquisition, the number of responses under the FR5 schedule, or the number of responses under the progressive ratio schedule. Interestingly, however, in the five extinction sessions in which food was no longer delivered by nose poking, homozygous DAT‐KO mice exerted significantly more responses than mice of either of the other two genotypes. These lines of evidence suggest a greater resistance of DAT‐KO mice to the elimination of the response and support roles of dopaminergic systems in habit memory.
Myocilin analysis by DHPLC in French POAG patients: Increased prevalence of Q368X mutation

Primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) is a prevalent optic neuropathy with complex genetics. A small number of patients carry a mutation in the coding region of the myocilin (MYOC) gene. The nature and the frequency of these mutations, however, vary substantially, notably with the age at onset and the ethnic origin of the patients. Here, we showed that denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) is an appropriate method for screening carriers of MYOC mutations. We have applied the method to a group of 237 POAG patients and 108 control subjects from France. Mutations were found in 17 (7.5%) patients and in none of the controls. A single mutation, Q368X (c.1102C>T), accounted for the majority (12/17) of these mutations, corresponding to a frequency of 5% among POAG patients, the highest ever reported for this mutation. Furthermore, analysis of allelic associations at closely linked microsatellite markers indicated that most, if not all, patients inherited Q368X from a same ancestor. Five other patients carried four distinct mutations, including N480K (c.1440C>A) (2 cases), I499F (c.1495A>T), G367R (c.1099G>A) and T438I (c.1313C>T), which is reported here for the first time. Altogether, MYOC mutations in French patients were associated with a significantly increased intraocular pressure at diagnosis. In addition, the age at diagnosis of patients with a mutation other than Q368X was significantly younger than that of Q368X carriers or of patients with a normal MYOC. Based on these observations, a screening strategy of MYOC mutations in French POAG patients is briefly outlined. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Confocal microscopy of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy

Purpose. To describe the changes seen with the confocal microscope in Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy (TSPK). Methods. Confocal microscopy was performed on six patients with TSPK presenting to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital from October 1999 to June 2001. Both eyes were examined including the normal fellow eyes of two patients with unilateral TSPK. Images were compared with age-matched controls. Results. Irregular nerve fibers, masked by considerable haze, were seen in the subepithelial nerve plexus immediately above Bowman's membrane in TSPK. Generalized haze was also present in the anterior stroma along with areas of high reflectivity, microdots, and reflective bodies. Keratocytes had highly reflective nuclei and cell bodies of irregular size, orientation, and shape. The changes were related to the duration of TSPK, were not seen in normal fellow eyes, and were also present in areas without lesions. Conclusion. Confocal imaging of TSPK demonstrated considerable abnormalities in the subepithelial nerve plexus, Bowman's membrane, and the anterior stroma that were related to disease duration. Similar changes have been reported in a variety of corneal diseases and following laser corneal surgery. Recent evidence has supported interactions between the epithelium and Bowman's membrane and the anterior stroma in corneal disease and after laser corneal surgery. We speculate that such interactions may have a role in TSPK.
Public transport use among the urban and rural elderly in China: Effects of personal, attitudinal, household, social-environment and built-environment factors

Public transport brings significant benefits to the aging society by providing essential mobility to the elderly. However, few studies have investigated the factors that impact public transport use among the urban or rural elderly. This study explored the effects of personal, attitudinal, household, social environment, and built environment factors on the public transport trips of the elderly. The research data was collected from 274 urban and rural neighborhoods of Zhongshan, a medium-sized Chinese city. The negative binomial regression models suggest that, all else being equal, living in a neighborhood with a high level of public transport service, abundant green space along walking routes connecting home and bus-stops, or a relatively balanced structure of age or income is strongly connected to more public transport trips of the elderly. The results also indicate that a strong preference for public transport is significantly related to the public transport use among the elderly. These findings facilitate our understanding of the correlates of public transport use while providing insights into achieving an effective design of policies to encourage public transport use among the elderly in China.
The role of physical education in promoting learner academic performance: A case study of Kombaniya Primary School of Mansa District, Luapula Province, Zambia

i Dedication . v Acknowledgement . vi List of Tables . xi List of Figures . xii List of Acronyms . xiii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1. Overview . 1 1.2. Background of the study . 1 1.3. Statement of the Problem . 4 1.4. Purpose of the Study . 4 1.5. Objectives of the Study . 4 1.6. Research Questions . 4 1.7. Significance of the Study . 5 1.8. Study Site . 5 1.9. Limitations of the Study . 5 1.10. Definitions of Terms . 5 1.11. Organization of the Dissertation . 6 1.12. Summary . 6 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 7 2.1. Overview . 7 2.2. The meaning of Physical Education . 7 2.3. Perspectives of Physical Education as a Teaching Subject . 8 2.3. 1. Physical Education in USA . 9 2.3. 2. Physical Education in UK. 11 2.3. 3. Physical Education in India and Pakistan. 11 2.3. 4. Physical Education in Korea . 12 2.3. 5. Physical Education in New Zealand. 13 2.3. 6. Physical Education in Australia. 13 2.3. 7. Physical Education in Nigeria . 14 2.3. 8. Physical Education in Ghana . 15 2.3. 9. Physical Education in Tanzania . 15 2.3. 10. Physical Education in South Africa . 16 2.3. 11. Physical Education in Egypt . 17 2.3. 12. Physical Education in Kenya . 17 2.3. 13. Physical Education in Zambia . 18
Phosphorylation-Regulated Transitions in an Oligomeric State Control the Activity of the Sae2 DNA Repair Enzyme

ABSTRACT In the DNA damage response, many repair and signaling molecules mobilize rapidly at the sites of DNA double-strand breaks. This network of immediate responses is regulated at the level of posttranslational modifications that control the activation of DNA processing enzymes, protein kinases, and scaffold proteins to coordinate DNA repair and checkpoint signaling. Here we investigated the DNA damage-induced oligomeric transitions of the Sae2 protein, an important enzyme in the initiation of DNA double-strand break repair. Sae2 is a target of multiple phosphorylation events, which we identified and characterized in vivo in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both cell cycle-dependent and DNA damage-dependent phosphorylation sites in Sae2 are important for the survival of DNA damage, and the cell cycle-regulated modifications are required to prime the damage-dependent events. We found that Sae2 exists in the form of inactive oligomers that are transiently released into smaller active units by this series of phosphorylations. DNA damage also triggers removal of Sae2 through autophagy and proteasomal degradation, ensuring that active Sae2 is present only transiently in cells. Overall, this analysis provides evidence for a novel type of protein regulation where the activity of an enzyme is controlled dynamically by posttranslational modifications that regulate its solubility and oligomeric state.
Parathyroid Hormone (1–84) and Teriparatide in the Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis-related fractures are a major public health problem worldwide. Antiresorptive drugs, which work principally by suppressing bone resorption, are the established therapeutic approach for the prevention of fragility fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Parathyroid hormone and its analogs represent a new class of agents with anabolic effects on the skeleton. The results of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have shown that both the full length, 84 amino acid parathyroid hormone and teriparatide, the parathyroid hormone fragment (1–34) increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk of fracture when administered intermittently to postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Therefore, these drugs should be considered an alternative therapy in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
The Intermediary Metabolism of the Prostate: A Key to Understanding the Pathogenesis and Progression of Prostate Malignancy

This review emphasizes the importance and role of altered intermediary metabolism of prostate cells in the pathogenesis of prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) and the progression of malignancy. The focus of the presentation is a summary of the overwhelming evidence which implicates the metabolic transformation of citrate-producing sane cells to citrate-oxidizing malignant cells in the process of malignancy. The evidence now demonstrates that altered zinc accumulation is an important factor in this transformation. These metabolic relationships are uniquely different from the metabolic alterations associated with tumorigenesis of other mammalian cells. The metabolic transformation of zinc-accumulating citrate-producing normal prostate epithelial cells to citrate-oxidizing malignant cells has important implications on cellular bioenergetics, cell growth and apoptosis, lipogenesis, angiogenesis. Based on the metabolic considerations new concepts concerning the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of prostate malignancy are presented. Unfortunately the metabolism of the prostate has been a seriously neglected and largely ignored area of prostate research. The importance of expanded research into the intermediary metabolism of normal and neoplastic prostate is essential to future significant advances in understanding and dealing with PCa.