Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PATIENTS AT RISK FOR DEVELOPMENT OF POSTTRANSPLANT LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDER: PLASMA VERSUS PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS AS MATERIAL FOR QUANTIFICATION OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRAL LOAD BY USING REAL-TIME QUANTITATIVE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION1,2

Background. Early diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is required to detect a stage of disease that is more likely to respond to treatment. Elevated levels of EBV DNA were found in peripheral blood of patients at the onset of PTLD. Methods. To compare plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as material for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) measurement of Epstein-Barr viral load, we used two sets of primers and probes specific for the BAM HI-K or BAM HI-W region of the EBV genome. Results. Patients with PTLD had a median viral load of 19,200 EBV genomes/&mgr;g DNA (n=9) or 3,225 EBV genomes/100 &mgr;l plasma (n=5), being significantly higher compared with immunosuppressed patients with primary (n=9) or reactivated (n=20) EBV infection or immunosuppressed patients without serological signs of active EBV infection (n=67) (P <0.001). Hence, a value of greater than 5,000 EBV genomes/&mgr;g PBMC DNA was considered as a diagnostic parameter for PTLD with a sensitivity and specificity of 1.00 or 0.89, respectively. When plasma was analyzed, however, a value of greater than 1,000 EBV genomes/100 &mgr;l plasma had both a sensitivity and specificity of 1.00 for the diagnosis of PTLD. During remission of PTLD, viral load was more effectively cleared in plasma compared with PBMCs. In plasma of nonimmunosuppressed individuals, even a qualitative detection of EBV-related sequences was sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of primary EBV infection, whereas for analysis of PBMC DNA a quantitative parameter had to be considered to differentiate healthy individuals (<100 EBV genomes/&mgr;g PBMC DNA) from patients with primary EBV infection (>100 EBV genomes/&mgr;g PBMC DNA). Conclusion. Although both PBMCs and plasma were useful as material for EBV-specific RQ-PCR in immunosuppressed patients and nonimmunosuppressed individuals, the specificity of analysis seemed to be higher if plasma was taken for analysis.
Central bank cooperation in historical perspective: a sceptical view

It has been argued that central bank cooperation was important to the working of the gold standard before 1914. This article takes a critical view of the central bank cooperation thesis and, relying on new archival research as well as on secondary sources, offers an alternative picture of central bank relations during the nineteenth century. Central bank cooperation was exceptionally never reciprocal and always failed to institutionalize: scholars seeking to explain the stability of the gold standard will have to look in other directions
Neural and behavioral responses to tryptophan depletion in unmedicated patients with remitted major depressive disorder and controls.

CONTEXT An instructive paradigm for investigating the relationship between brain serotonin function and major depressive disorder (MDD) is the response to tryptophan depletion (TD) induced by oral loading with all essential amino acids except the serotonin precursor tryptophan. OBJECTIVE To determine whether serotonin dysfunction represents a trait abnormality in MDD in the context of specific neural circuitry abnormalities involved in the pathogenesis of MDD. DESIGN Randomized double-blind crossover study. SETTING Outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-seven medication-free patients with remitted MDD (18 women and 9 men; mean +/- SD age, 39.8 +/- 12.7 years) and 19 controls (10 women and 9 men; mean +/- SD age, 34.4 +/- 11.5 years). INTERVENTIONS We induced TD by administering capsules containing an amino acid mixture without tryptophan. Sham depletion used identical capsules containing hydrous lactose. Fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography studies were performed 6 hours after TD. Magnetic resonance images were obtained for all participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Quantitative positron emission tomography of regional cerebral glucose utilization to study the neural effects of sham depletion and TD. Behavioral assessments used a modified (24-item) version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS Tryptophan depletion induced a transient return of depressive symptoms in patients with remitted MDD but not in controls (P<.001). Compared with sham depletion, TD was associated with an increase in regional cerebral glucose utilization in the orbitofrontal cortex, medial thalamus, anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, and ventral striatum in patients with remitted MDD but not in controls. CONCLUSION The pattern of TD-induced regional cerebral glucose utilization changes in patients with remitted MDD suggests that TD unmasks a disease-specific, serotonin system-related trait dysfunction and identifies a circuit that probably plays a key role in the pathogenesis of MDD.
Banach spaces with many projections

A fundan1ental question in operator theory is: how rich is the collection of operators on a given Banach space? For classical spaces, especially Hilbert space, a well developed theory of exists. However a Banach space may have far fewer operators than one expect. Shelah has constructed a nonseparable Banach space X, for which the space of operatm:s with separable range has codirnension one in . An interesting open problem is whether there is a Banach space . X for which the space of compact operators has finite codimension in B(X).
Bacterial Dynamics in Large and Small Estuaries

We have been investigating bacterioplankton biomass and production in Chesapeake Bay for the past decade. More recently we initiated a system-level study of bacterial and DOM dynamics in the York River, Virginia, a small (100 km) subestuary of the Chesapeake Bay. In Chesapeake Bay, where water residence times are long (months), bacterial biomass and production show maxima in the middle, mesohaline reaches of the estuary. In contrast, in the York River bacterial rates and biomass consistently show opposing monotonic trends, with biomass increasing, and activity decreasing, to the seaward. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) utilization experiments and natural carbon isotopic abundance data s uggest that terrestrial DOC supplied in the freshwater inflow is used preferentially and may structure the bacterial community. The contrasting patterns within and between estuaries were analyzed with respect to the DOM supply hypothesis and other environmental controls, and compared to oceanic patterns.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) ABC transporters in Arthropods : genomic comparison and role in insecticide transport and resistance

About a 100 years ago, the Drosophila white mutant marked the birth of Drosophila genetics. The white gene turned out to encode the first well studied ABC transporter in arthropods. The ABC gene family is now recognized as one of the largest transporter families in all kingdoms of life. The majority of ABC proteins function as primary-active transporters that bind and hydrolyze ATP while transporting a large diversity of substrates across lipid membranes. Although extremely well studied in vertebrates for their role in drug resistance, less is known about the role of this family in the transport of endogenous and exogenous substances in arthropods. The ABC families of five insect species, a crustacean and a chelicerate have been annotated in some detail. We conducted a thorough phylogenetic analysis of the seven arthropod and human ABC protein subfamilies, to infer orthologous relationships that might suggest conserved function. Most orthologous relationships were found in the ABCB half transporter, ABCD, ABCE and ABCF subfamilies, but specific expansions within species and lineages are frequently observed and discussed. We next surveyed the role of ABC transporters in the transport of xenobiotics/plant allelochemicals and their involvement in insecticide resistance. The involvement of ABC transporters in xenobiotic resistance in arthropods is historically not well documented, but an increasing number of studies using unbiased differential gene expression analysis now points to their importance. We give an overview of methods that can be used to link ABC transporters to resistance. ABC proteins have also recently been implicated in the mode of action and resistance to Bt toxins in Lepidoptera. Given the enormous interest in Bt toxicology in transgenic crops, such findings will provide an impetus to further reveal the role of ABC transporters in arthropods. 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Treating patients with severe sepsis.

Sepsis is an infection-induced syndrome defined as the presence of two or more of the following features of systemic inflammation: fever or hypothermia, leukocytosis or leukopenia, tachycardia, and tachypnea or a supranormal minute ventilation.1 When an organ system begins to fail because of sepsis, the sepsis is considered severe. Each year, sepsis develops in more than 500,000 patients in the United States, and only 55 to 65 percent survive.2,3 Fortunately, the death rates in some subgroups of patients with sepsis-induced organ failure have decreased, even though there is no specific therapy for sepsis.3,4 The reduced mortality may be .
Last but not least: new insights into how FtsN triggers constriction during Escherichia coli cell division

The arrival of FtsN at the division site triggers synthesis of septal peptidoglycan and constriction of the cell envelope. New findings are changing our view of how this happens. Binding of FtsN's cytoplasmic domain to a protein named FtsA recruits a small amount of FtsN to the division site earlier than previously recognized. The ability of FtsA to interact with FtsN is regulated by the ZipA protein. The FtsN–FtsA interaction pushes FtsA into an ‘on’ conformation that activates the machinery for peptidoglycan synthesis. In addition, a small region of FtsN's periplasmic domain appears to interact with the FtsQLB complex, pushing it into an ‘on’ state that also triggers synthesis of peptidoglycan. Thus, FtsN allosterically activates peptidoglycan synthesis by two pathways, one in the cytoplasm and involving FtsA, and the other in the periplasm and involving FtsQLB.
Original Research: Different imiquimod creams resulting in differential effects for imiquimod-induced psoriatic mouse models

Imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mouse psoriatic model is one of the useful models displaying most of psoriatic features. To compare the modeling efficacy of different IMQ creams, we induced the psoriatic models by topically applying two different brands of IMQ 5% creams to the shaved Balb/c mice skin and assessed the results. Balb/c female mice (n = 24) 8–12 weeks of age were randomly divided into experimental groups A (Likejie), B (Aldara), and control group C (Vaseline); Likejie, Aldara, or Vaseline was topically applied to the back skin for mice in groups A, B, and C, respectively, for six consecutive days. The total psoriasis area and severity index scores of groups A, B, and C were 3.25 ± 1.56, 9.81 ± 0.84, and 0, respectively; the Baker’s scores were 2.93 ± 1.07, 6.47 ± 1.50, and 0, respectively; and the epidermis thickness was 49.79 ± 14.16, 85.62 ± 17.55, and 20.04 ± 3.68 µm, respectively. The differences between the three groups in dual were statistically significant (P < 0.005 for the groups in dual). Aldara group showed more characteristic alterations of psoriasiform lesions than that of Likejie both macroscopically and histopathologically. The results suggested that different brands of IMQ creams may result in differential efficacy when performing the IMQ-induced psoriasis mouse models.
Effect of procaterol on Th2‐related chemokines production in human monocyte and bronchial epithelial cells

Procaterol is a β2‐adrenoceptor agonist used as a bronchodilator for the treatment of asthma; it also possesses an anti‐inflammatory property. As chemokines play a pivotal role in inflammation and the pathogenesis of asthma, we investigated the effects of procaterol on type 2 helper T cell (Th2)‐related [macrophage‐derived chemokine (MDC) and I‐309] and type 1 helper T cell (Th1)‐related chemokines [monokine‐induced by IFN‐gamma (Mig) and interferon‐inducible protein 10 (IP‐10)] production of THP‐1 cells and human primary monocytes. The effect on thymus‐ and activation‐regulated chemokine (TARC) production in BEAS‐2B cells was also evaluated. Nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors were used to ascertain the intracellular signal pathways involved, and etazolate, a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, was used to assess the correlation between the β2‐adrenoceptor‐cAMP pathway and the effect on chemokines. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays (ChIPs) were performed to detect histone modification in the TARC promoter region. MDC and I‐309 production of both THP‐1 cells and primary human monocytes, as well as TARC expression of BEAS‐2B cells, were significantly inhibited by procaterol (10−10–10−7 M); however, procaterol did not suppress Mig and IP‐10 expression by THP‐1 cells. MDC secreted by monocytes is associated with the NF‐κB and MAPK signaling pathways, in particular p38‐ and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) MAPKs. Etazolate blocked the expression of MDC by THP‐1 cells and TARC by BEAS‐2B cells. ChIP assay revealed decreased trimethylation of lysine 4 in histone 3 (H3K4) in the TARC promoter region of BEAS‐2B cells. In conclusion, procaterol could inhibit Th2‐related chemokines production in human monocytes and bronchial epithelial cells, an effect that may be mediated through not only the NF‐κB, p38, and JNK‐MAPK pathways, but also the β2‐adrenoceptor‐cAMP pathway. Most importantly, the suppressive effect of Th2‐related chemokines production by procaterol might be regulated via post‐transcriptional modification by decreasing H3K4 trimethylation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:977–984. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of pancreatitis on ampicillin excretion in pancreatic fluids of dogs

Pancreatic excretion of ampicillin was evaluated in normal dogs and in dogs with induced pancreatis. A 100-mg/kg ampicillin dose administered intravenously induced mean peak serum levels of 100 micrograms/ml, and a 200-mg/kg intravenous dose induced a mean peak serum level of 273 microgram/ml. Ampicillin serum levels did not differ between the group of normal dogs and those with pancreatitis. In normal dogs, the peak pancreatic fluid ampicillin concentration after the 100-mg/kg dose was 0.4 microgram/ml, and that after the 200-mg/kg dose was 2.7 micrograms/ml. In dogs with pancreatitis, the mean peak ampicillin concentration in the pancreatic fluid after the 100 mg/kg dose was 19 micrograms/ml, and that after the 200-mg/kg dose was 38.5 micrograms/ml. Pancreatic fluid ampicillin concentrations were therapeutic in dogs with pancreatitis and subtherapeutic in normal dogs.
The effect of ex vivo anticoagulants on whole blood platelet aggregation

Pre- and intraoperative platelet function monitoring is increasingly recommended in order to detect risk factors for bleeding and to target coagulation management. The ideal anticoagulant for accurate platelet aggregometry remains controversial. The aim of this experimental trial was to compare platelet aggregability in whole blood stored in citrate, heparin and direct thrombin inhibitors. Whole blood was drawn from 11 healthy adult volunteers who had not taken any medication in the previous 14 days. Blood was stored in trisodium citrate, unfractionated heparin, melagatran, lepirudin and argatroban. Platelet aggregation was performed using the impedance aggregometer Multiplate® (Dynabyte, Munich, Germany) with adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP), collagen, arachidonic acid and ristocetin as agonists. Samples were analysed immediately after blood sampling (baseline), as well as 30 and 120 min afterwards. At baseline there were no significant differences in aggregability between samples containing direct thrombin inhibitors and heparin. In contrast, aggregation in response to all agonists except for ristocetin was significantly impaired in citrated blood. During storage the response to arachidonic acid and collagen was maintained by direct thrombin inhibitors and heparin, whereas ADP-, TRAP- and ristocetin-induced aggregation varied considerably over time in all ex vivo anticoagulants tested. Pre-analytical procedures should be standardized because storage duration and anticoagulants significantly affect platelet aggregability in whole blood. For point-of-care monitoring with immediate analysis after blood withdrawal all tested direct thrombin inhibitors as well as unfractionated heparin can be used as anticoagulants whereas citrate is not recommended.
Expression of alpha and gamma interferon receptors in the sperm cell

The present study was conducted to examine whether or not the sperm cell has the expression of receptors for interferon (IFN) ‐α and ‐γ. This was investigated using specific antibodies. Antibody to IFN‐α receptor reacted with the acrosomal and tail regions of the murine sperm cell in the indirect immunofluorescence technique (IFT) and immunoscanning electron microscopic procedure (ISEP). In the immunoprecipitation and Western blot procedures, this antibody specifically recognized a protein band of ≈100 kD, which corresponds to the molecular weight of IFN‐α receptor present in other cell types. Antibody to IFN‐γ receptor specifically reacted with the posterior head, midpiece, and tail regions of sperm cell in IFT and ISEP, and recognized a band of ≈85 kD in the immunoprecipitation and Western blot procedures, corresponding to the IFN‐α receptor. Similar bands of ≈100 kD and ≈85 kD molecular identities were also detected in the testes extracts and sperm extracts of other mammalian species namely human, rabbit, and pig, the species tested. These findings indicate that the mammalian sperm cell has expression of IFN‐α and IFN‐γ receptors, which seem to develop during spermatogenesis in the testes. These findings may have implications in male infertility and antisperm contraceptive vaccine development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 56:189–197, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Independent Control of Ly49g Alleles: Implications for NK Cell Repertoire Selection and Tumor Cell Killing1

A novel murine NK cell-reactive mAb, AT8, was generated. AT8 recognizes Ly49G from 129/J, BALB/c, and related mouse strains, but does not bind to Ly49GB6. Costaining with AT8 and a Ly49GB6-restricted Ab (Cwy-3) provides the first direct evidence that Ly49G protein is expressed from both alleles on a significant proportion of NK cells from four different types of F1 hybrid mice. The observed level of biallelic Ly49G expression reproducibly followed the product rule in both freshly isolated and cultured NK cells. Surprisingly, the percentage of NK cells expressing both Ly49G alleles could be dramatically increased in vitro and in vivo through IL-2R- and IFN receptor-dependent signaling pathways, respectively. Unexpectedly, Ly49GB6+ NK cells in an H-2d, but not H-2b, background were more likely to lyse Dd+ and Chinese hamster ovary tumor cells than Ly49GBALB/129+ NK cells. Furthermore, Ly49GB6+ NK cells also proliferated to a higher degree in response to poly(I:C) than NK cells expressing a non-Ly49GB6 allele in an H-2d, but not H-2b, background. These results suggest that Ly49GB6 has a lower affinity for H-2Dd than Ly49GBALB/129, and the genetic background calibrates the responsiveness of NK cells bearing self-specific Ly49. Other H-2Dd receptors on the different Ly49G+ NK cell subsets were unequally coexpressed, possibly explaining the disparate responses of Ly49GB6+ NK cells in different hybrid mice. These data indicate that the stochastic mono- and biallelic expression of divergent Ly49G alleles increases the range of MHC affinities and the functional potential in the total NK cell population of heterozygous mice.
‘Mentally disordered persons found in public places’ Diagnostic and social aspects of police referrals (Section 136)

Synopsis A survey over 2 years of all Police Referrals (Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983) in an inner-city health district identified 163 cases, with a core group of repeat referrals. Previous psychiatric admissions, a diagnosis of schizophrenia, social deprivation, and a bias towards young men of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity were key features. The difficulty of obtaining clear data and uncertainties within the law rebound unfairly on patients, police and psychiatrists. Section 136, while not inappropriate diagnostically, can be seen as highlighting unmet social and medical needs in the context of community care. The requirement for coordinated resources, including acute in-patient services sufficient for deprived populations and legal provision for treatment beyond a hospital's boundaries, seems paramount.
Postictal headache in epileptic patients

Postictal headache (PIH) is defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition beta (ICHD-3 beta), as “headache caused by and occurring within 3 hours after an epileptic seizure, and remitting spontaneously within 72 hours after seizure termination”. People at highest risk of suffering PIH are who have generalized tonic-seizures (GTCSs) and a history of interictal headaches. An occipital epileptogenic focus may be an additional risk factor. Also PIH frequently have characteristics of migraine, the diagnostic criteria of “headache with features of tension-type headache or, in a patient with migraine, of migraine headache” in ICHD-2 has been ruled out from the ICDH-3. The high percentage of PIH in patients with epilepsy which really burden patient’s daily life. For purposes of comparison, trials should adhere to a unified definition of PIH, and ICHD-3 beta revised the ICHD-2 definition which widens the inclusion criteria to any headache attributed to a seizure and following it. In order to improve the diagnosis and management of this symptom, clinicians should pay more attention to epileptic patients with PIH.
Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid in Patients With Moderate Mental Retardation: Impact and Benefit Assessment

Objective: To assess the impact and the subjective benefit of Bone-anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) implementation in patients with hearing impairment combined with moderate mental retardation. Study Design: Case control study using two validated patient-oriented instruments. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Twenty-two patients with moderate mental retardation and conductive or mixed hearing loss. Intervention: Rehabilitative. Main Outcome Measures: Subjective benefit, listening and learning capabilities. Results: BAHA implementation in patients with moderate mental retardation, by using the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory and the Listening Inventory for Education, showed a subjective benefit, which was comparable with that of the control group and was consistent with the results of earlier studies. Conclusion: The use of BAHA proved beneficial in most patients with hearing impairment and moderate mental retardation. Extending the indications for BAHA application to this special patient group shows to be a very valuable option.