Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Roentgen therapy in neuroblastoma; a review of seventy three cases.

In the neuroblastomas of infancy and childhood the physician is dealing with a multipotential tumor which may be curable. The outcome will in part depend upon the localization of the primary lesion, the presence and distribution of metastases, and the selection of the type of therapy. Neuroblastoma was first described by Virchow (1) in 1864 and classified as a glioma. The clinical picture was described by Pepper (2) in 1901 and Hutchison (3) in 1907, and their names have become associated with two clinical types based upon the distribution of the metastases, the adrenal hepatic distribution of the tumor being subsequently known as Pepper's type and the adrenal skeletal, specifically with skull metastases, as the Hutchison type. Studying the suprarenal tissues of embryos, Wright (4) in 1910 first recognized the similarity of the cells to those of these tumors and concluded that the origin must be from the sympathetic nervous system. Farber (5) in 1940 and Karsner (6) in 1942 finally dispelled the concept o.
Sodium Currents in Medullary Neurons Isolated from the Pre-Bötzinger Complex Region

The pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC) in the ventrolateral medulla contains interneurons important for respiratory rhythm generation. Voltage-dependent sodium channels mediate transient current (INaT), underlying action potentials, and persistent current (INaP), contributing to repetitive firing, pacemaker properties, and the amplification of synaptic inputs. Voltage-clamp studies of the biophysical properties of these sodium currents were conducted on acutely dissociated preBötC region neurons. Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated the presence of mRNA for Nav1.1, Nav1.2, and Nav1.6 α-subunits in individual neurons. A TTX-sensitive INaP was evoked in all tested neurons by ramp depolarization from -80 to 0 mV. Including a constant in the Boltzmann equation for inactivation by estimating the steady-state fraction of Na+ channels available for inactivation allowed prediction of a window current that did not decay to 0 at voltages positive to -20 mV and closely matched the measured INaP. Riluzole (3 μm), a putative INaP antagonist, reduced both INaP and INaT and produced a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation. The latter decreased the predicted window current by an amount equivalent to the decrease in INaP. Riluzole also decreased the inactivation time constant at potentials in which the peak window/persistent currents are generated. Together, these findings imply that INaP and INaT arise from the same channels and that a simple modification of the Hodgkin-Huxley model can satisfactorily account for both currents. In the rostral ventral respiratory group (immediately caudal to preBötC), INaP was also detected, but peak conductance, current density, and input resistance were smaller than in preBötC region cells.
Efficient frequency-hopping synchronization for satellite communications using dehop-rehop transponders

A simple and efficient method of frequency hopping synchronization for the dehop-rehop satellite transponder is proposed. This method enables simultaneous synchronization of the up- and downlinks through two steps only, which minimizes the overall acquisition time. The mean acquisition time of the method is mathematically derived and simulated. A comparison with conventional methods confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method. In addition, synchronization failure because of the drift of the satellite can be resolved.
Self-management and adherence with exercise-based falls prevention programmes: a qualitative study to explore the views and experiences of older people and physiotherapists

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to involve older people and physiotherapists in the development of acceptable strategies to promote uptake and adherence with an exercise-based falls prevention programme. Method: Focus groups were conducted with older people attending a regional falls and syncope service (3 groups, total 12 participants) and local physiotherapists (4 groups, total 18 participants). Framework analysis was undertaken to identify why uptake and adherence with an exercise-based falls prevention programme is currently poor and to provide suggestions for how it might be improved. Results: The older people participated in an exercise-based falls prevention programme to remain independent in activities of daily living. They valued approaches that promoted self-efficacy and self-management. In contrast, the physiotherapists perceived that many older people were reluctant to participate in an exercise-based falls prevention programme. While it was acknowledged that older people should be encouraged to take greater responsibility for the maintenance of their own health, the physiotherapists demonstrated a conflicting desire to remain in control of the treatment programme. Conclusions: A focus on self-management support may provide the key to promoting uptake and adherence with an exercise-based falls prevention programme. Physiotherapists should move from being “experts” to “enablers” who use their professional knowledge and expertise to support older people at risk of falling to maintain optimum levels of health and independence. Implications for Rehabilitation Despite the established efficacy of exercise-based falls prevention programmes, their impact remains limited by low levels of uptake and adherence. Clinical encounters between physiotherapists and older people at risk of falling offer the opportunity for the exchange of new information to promote patient empowerment and shared decision-making. Physiotherapists need to move away from being experts who care for and do to their patients to enable us to use their professional knowledge and expertise to maintain optimum levels of health and independence for older people at risk of falling.
Structural changes induced by substrates and anions at the active site of creatine kinase. Electron paramagnetic resonance and nuclear magnetic relaxation rate studies of the manganous complexes.

Abstract Structural changes at the active site of creatine kinase which occur upon binding of substrates and inhibitory anions have been examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and proton relaxation rate (PRR) studies of manganous complexes with the enzyme. EPR spectra for solutions of ternary complexes involving enzyme and Mn(II)-nucleotides are quite similar to those for the binary Mn(II)-nucleotide complexes in solution and in the solid state. However, there are significant changes in the EPR spectra upon addition of creatine to solutions of E-MnADP or to E-MnATP. The changes show that the binding of creatine induces a rearrangement at the active site which results in a more asymmetrical electronic environment for the Mn(II). Substitutions of ligand groups from the protein into the Mn(II) coordination sphere are suggested as a possible source of the spectral changes. Anions such as nitrate and chloride produce further changes in the EPR spectrum of E-Mn-ADP-creatine and decrease the PRR of water for this complex. The anions apparently bind at the vacant phosphoryl site in the abortive quaternary complex, and their binding induces additional structural changes. Considerable specificity is observed in the effectiveness of various anions on the EPR spectrum or on the PRR of water, nitrate inducing the maximal effect. Experiments with modified substrates show that even minor differences e.g. dADP versus ADP in the molecular structure of the substrates bound to the enzyme are reflected in the EPR spectrum of Mn(II) at the active site. Creatine kinase modified at the essential sulfhydryl groups by reaction with iodoacetamide does not undergo a conformational response upon addition of either creatine or creatine and anions to solutions of its ternary complex with MnADP.
Effects of corn particle size and physical form of the diet on the gastrointestinal structures of broiler chickens

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different particle sizes, expressed as Geometric Mean Diameter (GMD) of corn (0.336mm, 0.585mm, 0.856mm and 1.12mm) of mash and pelleted broiler chicken diets on the weight of the gizzard, duodenum and jejunum+ileum; on the pH of the gizzard and small intestine and on the characteristics of the duodenal mucous layer (number and height of villi and crypt depth) in 42-day-old broilers. The physical form and the particle size of the diet had no significant effect on gizzard and intestine pH (p > 0.05). A greater gizzard weight was seen in the birds receiving pelleted diet and particle size of 0.336mm (p < 0.008). However, for the particle sizes of 0.856 and 1.12 mm, a greater weight was found in birds that received mash diet (p < 0.039 and p < 0.006, respectively). Also, gizzard weight was greater with increasing corn GMD independent of the physical form of the diet. In the mash diet, the increase in particle size promoted a quadratic response in the weight of duodenum and jejunum + ileum. The pelleted diet promoted a greater number of villi per transverse duodenum cut (p < 0.007) and greater crypt depth (p < 0.05). As the particle size increased, there was a linear increase of villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum, irrespective of the physical form of the diet.
Responses of Platelets to Strains of Streptococcus sanguis: Findings in Healthy Subjects, Bernard-Soulier, Glanzmann’s, and Collagen-Unresponsive Patients

Summary The ability of endocarditis and dental strains of Streptococcus sanguis to induce platelet aggregation in plasma (PRP) from normal subjects were examined and compared to responses of PRP with known platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) and response defects. S. sanguis strains differed in their ability to induce normal PRPs to aggregate. Strains that induced PRP aggregation in more than 60% of donors were significantly faster agonists (mean lag times to onset of aggregation less than 6 min) than those strains inducing response in PRPs of fewer than 60% of donors. Platelets from patients with Bernard-Soulier syndrome aggregated in response to strains of S. sanguis. In contrast, platelets from patients with Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia and from a patient with a specific defect in response to collagen were unresponsive to S. sanguis. These observations show that GPIb and V are not essential, but GPIIb-IIIa and GPIa are important in the platelet response mechanism to S. sanguis. Indeed, the data suggests that the platelet interaction mechanisms of S. sanguis and collagen may be similar.
Evidence for a major gene elevating serum bilirubin concentration in Utah pedigrees.

In case-control studies, lower serum bilirubin levels have been associated with increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). We have also previously shown that serum bilirubin has a significant polygenic component. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether there was statistical evidence for a major gene explaining a significant portion of individual variation in serum total bilirubin levels and whether this gene might alter the risk of CHD. Serum bilirubin measurements were obtained from 1240 adults in 84 Utah pedigrees screened twice: from 1980 to 1983 and again from 1983 to 1986. Bivariate maximum-likelihood segregation analysis of serum bilirubin levels obtained from the two clinic visits indicated that a major gene was responsible for elevated levels in 11.5% of the persons in these pedigrees. Phenotypic variations in visit 1 bilirubin arising from polygenes were highly correlated with the phenotypic variation due to polygenes in visit 2 bilirubin, indicating a stable genetic contribution to bilirubin over 2.5 years of follow-up. The major gene explained 27% and 28% of the variance in bilirubin levels at visit 1 and visit 2, respectively. There were no correlations of unmeasured environmental factors influencing bilirubin between the two clinic visits. At both visits, persons with early CHD had lower levels of bilirubin than unaffected persons (P < .01). The odds ratio for the risk of CHD in the high-homozygote group was 0.31, P = . 09. We conclude that there is a major gene modestly raising serum bilirubin levels. Since cross-sectional data indicate that low serum bilirubin levels increase the risk of CHD, this major gene may be protective against CHD for about 12% of the persons in this study.
Comparing the nutrition environment and practices of home- and centre-based child-care facilities

Abstract Objective To assess and compare the nutrition environment and practices (as they relate to pre-schoolers) of centre- and home-based child-care facilities. Design Using a cross-sectional study design, nineteen child-care facilities (ten centre-based, nine home-based) were assessed for one full day using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool (consisting of a day-long observation/review of the nutrition environment, practices and related documents). Specifically, eight nutrition-related subscales were considered. Setting Child-care facilities in London, Ontario, Canada. Subjects Child-care facilities were recruited through directors at centre-based programmes and the providers of home-based programmes. Results The mean total nutrition environment EPAO scores for centre- and home-based facilities were 12·3 (sd 1·94) and 10·8 (sd 0·78) out of 20 (where a higher score indicates a more supportive environment with regard to nutrition), respectively. The difference between the total nutrition environment EPAO score for centre- and home-based facilities was approaching significance (P=0·055). For both types of facilities, the highest nutrition subscale score (out of 20) was achieved in the staff behaviours domain (centre mean=17·4; home mean=17·0) and the lowest was in the nutrition training and education domain (centre mean=3·6; home mean=2·0). Conclusions Additional research is needed to confirm these findings. In order to better support child-care staff and enhance the overall nutrition environment in child care, modifications to food practices could be adopted. Specifically, the nutritional quality of foods/beverages provided to pre-schoolers could be improved, nutrition-related training for child-care staff could be provided, and a nutrition curriculum could be created to educate pre-schoolers about healthy food choices.
EFFECTIVE RENAL BLOOD FLOW IN SUBJECTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION.

Sixty patients with well-established essential hypertension form the basis of this report. These patients were selected from the Hypertension and Nephritis Clinic of the New York Clinic. who have of glomerular nephritis a constant filtration rate over a wide range of renal blood flow (neglecting subsidiary factors such as viscosity, etc.), while Lamport's equation leads to a reduction in filtration rate as the blood flow is either increased above or reduced below the basal value by pure efferent constriction; i.e., reduction in blood flow with constant filtration rate would, according to Lamport, re-quire some measure of simultaneous afferent dilatation, which, of course, might follow passively in consequence of an increase in glomerular pressure. Without considering here the premises and equations involved, we may record our uncertainty concerning the validity of this particular interpretation, and note that, even accepting Lamport's equation, which requires some afferent dilatation, efferent constriction is still indicated as the cause of the relative renal ischemia in group B of our hypertensive subjects.
Correlates of Leisure-Time Physical Activity During Transitions to Motherhood

Despite growing evidence for an inverse relationship of motherhood and physical activity, studies of the possible correlates for behavior change are scant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in leisure-time physical activity behaviors of 139 urban women during the transition to motherhood in retrospective analysis and evaluate their physical activity changes using the theory of planned behavior during motherhood. Perceptions of control based on time, fatigue, social support, and childcare were the critical correlates that distinguished between those who continued with physical activity and those who declined. These results provide evidence for targeted PA interventions during the transition to motherhood.
Lineage commitment in the immune system: the T helper lymphocyte grows up.

Cells of the immune system provide particularly fruitful subjects for the study of lineage commitment. Both T and B lymphocytes undergo complicated patterns of differentiation from uncommitted, nonfunctional precursor cells to highly sophisticated effector cells. The development of the helper T lymphocyte is one of the most elegant examples of this. A little over a decade ago, Mosmann and Coffman (1989) discovered that naive mouse CD4 T helper lymphocytes, upon receiving an antigenic stimulus, differentiate into two distinct subsets defined both by their function and by unique cytokine profiles. These subsets, T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) (Mosmann et al. 1986; Mosmann and Coffman 1989; Paul and Seder 1994; O’Garra 1998; Rengarajan and Glimcher 2000), are responsible for cell-mediated/inflammatory immunity and humoral responses, respectively (Fig. 1). This division of labor fits nicely with previous demonstrations that an organism tends to mount either a cell-mediated or humoral response, but not both, in response to pathogens. The function of T helper cells can largely be explained by the cytokines they secrete. Cytokines (or lymphokines) are small hormone-like polypeptides that have pleiotrophic biological activities in several cell types. Resting T cells do not transcribe cytokine genes, but they are rapidly induced upon coactivation through the T-cell receptor (TCR) and costimulatory receptors (Lenschow et al. 1996). Much progress has been made in identifying the signaling pathways and transcription factors that control Th1 and Th2 differentiation as shown schematically (Fig. 2a). This review will summarize what is currently known about the signals that regulate lineage commitment in T helper cells with a special focus on three subset-specific transcription factors, T-bet, GATA-3, and c-Maf, responsible for lineage commitment (Fig. 2b).
Nucleic Acid Sequence Analysis of Basal Core Promoter/Precore/Core Region of Hepatitis B Virus Isolated from Chronic Carriers of the Virus from Kolkata, Eastern India: Low Frequency of Mutation in the Precore Region

Objective: The aim of the present study was to characterize the predominant hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains and their molecular variants present in the HBV isolates of the different genotypes found among the chronic carriers of the virus in our community. Methods: Precore/core and core promoter regions of HBV DNA were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and then subjected to direct sequencing. Of the 64 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive chronic HBV carriers investigated, 44 were HBeAg negative and 20 were HBeAg positive. Results: In addition to genotype D, which was the predominant genotype, 12 genotype C (18.7%) and 6 genotype A (9.4%) were also detected. Presence of T at nt 1858 has often been related to the development of precore stop mutation at nt 1896, while that of C has been related to the development of 1762–1764 double mutation. In our study group, 39 of the 44 HBeAg-negative samples have T1858. The precore stop codon mutation was found in only 8 (18%) of the HBeAg-negative samples. More than half of the HBeAg-negative samples had wild-type sequence in the precore region. The core promoter region could be sequenced from 40 samples, and 1762–1764 double mutation was detected in 13 (32.5%) of them. No significant changes could be detected in the core amino acid sequence of these isolates. Conclusion: The pattern of core promoter and precore mutation of HBV isolates in the present study is atypical and not in accordance with reports from other parts of the world, where genotype D and genotype C with T at codon 1858 are common.
Molecular cloning and characterization of a 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase gene from Ginkgo biloba

1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) reductoisomerase (DXR, EC: 1.1.1.267) is the second enzyme of the non-mevalonate terpenoid pathway for isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis and actually catalyzes a committed step of the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for ginkgolide biosynthesis. The full-length DXR cDNA sequence (GenBank accession number: AY443101) was cloned and characterized for the first time from gymnosperm plant species, Ginkgo biloba, using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. The full-length cDNA of GbDXR was 1720 bp containing a 1431 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a peptide of 477 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 52 kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.58. Comparative and bioinformatic analyses revealed that GbDXR showed extensive homology with DXRs from other plant species and contained a conserved transit peptide for plastids, an extended Pro-rich region and a highly conserved NADPH binding motif in its N-terminal region owned by all plant DXRs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that GbDXR was more ancient than other plant DXRs. Tissue expression pattern analysis indicated that GbDXR expressed in all tissues including roots, stems, leaves, pericarps and seeds and lower transcription level was observed in leaves of G. biloba than that of other tissues. The cloning and characterization of GbDXR will be helpful to understand more about the role of DXR involved in the ginkgolides biosynthesis at the molecular level.
Therapeutic effectiveness over time of intratympanic dexamethasone as salvage treatment of sudden deafness.

CONCLUSION Intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) within 1 month after initial treatment failure should be utilized as salvage treatment for refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic efficacy over time of ITD as salvage treatment in SSNHL. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and audiograms of 99 SSNHL patients who were refractory to 2 weeks of oral steroid treatment, from August 2003 to October 2006. Patients were divided into those receiving no further treatment (control group) and those receiving ITD within 2 weeks (early-ITD), between 2 weeks and 1 month (mid-ITD), and between 1 and 2 months (late-ITD) after initial treatment failure. ITD was performed in the supine position on four separate occasions over the course of 2 weeks. Final assessment of hearing was carried out 3 months after outbreak of SSNHL. Hearing improvement was defined as a > 15 dB decrease in four-tone average (FTA). RESULTS Overall hearing improvement was observed in 8 of 50 (16.0%) control patients, 7 of 16 (43.8%) early ITD patients, 6 of 20 (30.0%) mid ITD patients, and 2 of 13 (15.4%) late ITD patients.