Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of muscle strength and electrophysiological measures of reinnervation in diabetic neuropathy

Motor function was assessed in 34 non‐insulin‐dependent and 19 insulin‐dependent diabetic patients with macroelectromyography and isokinetic dynamometry. Fiber density (FD) and the amplitude of the macro motor unit potential (macro MUP) of the anterior tibial and lateral vastus muscles were obtained and maximal isokinetic strength of the ankle and knee extensors were determined. All patients underwent standardized clinical examination including a neurological disability score (NDS), quantitative sensory examination, and conventional motor nerve conduction studies. The amplitude of the macro MUP and FD of the anterior tibial muscle were increased in neuropathic patients without weakness (P < 0.05) and further increased in neuropathic patients with weakness (P < 0.05). The NDS was related to the FD and the amplitude of the macro MUP for the anterior tibial and lateral vastus muscle [r = 0.55–0.75 (P < 0.005)]. Muscle strength of ankle and knee extensors correlated with the FD [r = −0.69 (P < 0.0001) and r = −0.58 (P < 0.001), respectively] and with the amplitude of the macro MUP of the two muscles [r = −0.63 (P < 0.0001) and r = −0.37 (P < 0.05), respectively]. Our findings support the hypothesis that loss of muscle strength in diabetic patients is due to incomplete reinnervation following axonal loss. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21: 1647–1654, 1998
Leptospirosis in Equine Fetuses, Stillborn Foals, and Placentas

Leptospirosis was diagnosed in 51 equine fetuses and 16 stillborn foals with gestational ages from 3½ to 11 months. Diagnosis was based on one or more of the following: positive fetal antibody titer, positive fluorescent antibody test, demonstration of spirochetes in kidney and/or placental sections stained by the Warthin-Starry technique, high leptospiral titers in aborting mares, or isolation of Leptospira spp. from fetal organs. Gross lesions were observed in 80.3% of the fetuses, stillborn foals, and placentas. Gross placental lesions included nodular cystic allantoic masses, edema, areas of necrosis of the chorion, and necrotic mucoid exudate coating the chorion. The liver (23 cases) was enlarged, mottled, and pale to yellow. The kidneys (seven cases) were swollen and edematous with pale white radiating streaks in cortex and medulla. Microscopic lesions were observed in 96% of fetuses, stillborn foals, and placentas. Placental lesions consisted of thrombosis, vasculitis, mixed inflammatory cell infiltration of the stroma and villi, cystic adenomatous hyperplasia of allantoic epithelium, and villous necrosis and calcification. Fetal lesions included hepatocellular dissociation, mixed leukocytic infiltration of the portal triads, giant cell hepatopathy, suppurative and nonsuppurative nephritis, pulmonary hemorrhages, pneumonia, and myocarditis. Spirochetes were demonstrated with the Warthin-Starry stain in the allantochorion and/or kidney of 69 of the 71 cases. Using the direct fluorescent antibody technique, 56/60 cases tested positively for leptospires. Leptospires were isolated from fetal tissues in 20/42 cases. Sixteen of the isolates were identified by restriction enzyme analysis as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona serovar kennewicki; case Nos. 36 and 41 were serovar grippotyphosa. The other two isolates were not identified. Microagglutination titers against leptospires were demonstrated in the body fluid of 47/67 cases tested and titers ranged from 1:50 to greater than 1:1,638,400 against Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona, grippotyphosa, copenhageni, hardjo, canicola, and bratislava. Sixty-two of 71 aborting mares tested had titers ranging from 200 to greater than 3,276,800. Leptospiral antibody titers in the body fluid and gross and histopathologic lesions did not differ with age, breed, or sex or between fetuses and stillborn foals.
Subjective memory complaints in the elderly: Depressive symptoms and future dementia

Background Population studies indicate that subjective memory complaints by elderly people are correlated with cognitive performance. These complaints have some predictive power regarding the development of dementia. The present study attempted to replicate this finding, and investigated which variables determine subjective memory complaints. Method Participants in the Amsterdam Study of the Elderly (n=2114; 65–84 years of age), who were not demented and had a normal MMSE score (> 23) at baseline, were re-examined after four years. Subjective complaints were measured using a previously developed scale. Dementia and depression were measured using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule (GMS). Premorbid intelligence was measured by the Dutch Adult Reading Test (DART) Results Memory complaints at baseline contributed a small but significant amount of diagnostic information with respect to the prediction of future dementia. Depressive symptoms at baseline had no predictive value when these memory complaints were accounted for. Subjective memory complaints were associated with depression, baseline MMSE score, and premorbid intelligence. Conclusions Subjective memory complaints are not just secondary to depression, but in part reflect realistic self-observations of cognitive decline.
Ciclosporin in psoriasis clinical practice: an international consensus statement

The main recommendations for the use of ciclosporin in the management of psoriasis are: (i) intermittent short courses (average of 12 weeks duration) of ciclosporin are preferable; (ii) ciclosporin should be given in the dose range 2·5–5·0 mg kg−1 day−1 (doses greater than 5·0 mg kg−1 day−1 should only be given in exceptional circumstances); (iii) treatment regimens should be tailored to the needs of each patient; (iv) selection of patients should take into account psychosocial disability, as well as clinical extent of disease and failure of previous treatment; (v) each patient's renal function (as measured by serum creatinine) should be thoroughly assessed before and during treatment; (vi) each patient's blood pressure should be carefully monitored before and during treatment; (vii) adherence to treatment guidelines substantially reduces the risk of adverse events; (viii) long‐term continuous ciclosporin therapy may be appropriate in a subgroup of patients; however, duration of treatment should be kept below 2 years whenever possible; and (ix) when long‐term continuous ciclosporin therapy is necessary, annual evaluation of glomerular filtration rate may be useful to accurately monitor renal function.
Albumin stimulates monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 expression in rat embryonic mixed brain cells

Albumin, a blood protein absent from the adult brain in physiological situations, can be brought into contact with brain cells during development or, in adult, following breakdown of the blood–brain barrier occurring as a result of local inflammation. In the present study, we show that ovalbumin and albumin induce the release of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP‐1/CCL2) from rat embryonic mixed brain cells. A short‐term exposure to ovalbumin during the cell dissociation procedure is sufficient to generate MCP‐1 mRNA. A comparable effect is observed when the cells are incubated for 4 hr with ovalbumin or rat albumin, while MCP‐1 messengers are barely detectable following bovine albumin exposure. The amount of MCP‐1 protein measured in 4 hr‐supernatants of albumin‐treated cells followed the same albumin‐inducing pattern as that of MCP‐1 mRNA, while all albumins tested induced MCP‐1 protein after a 17 hr‐incubation period. The albumin‐induced MCP‐1 production is significantly inhibited in calphostin C‐treated cells, suggesting the implication of a protein kinase C‐dependent signaling pathway. This MCP‐1‐inducing activity is maintained after a lipid extraction procedure but abolished by proteinase K or trypsin treatments of albumin. The MCP‐1 secretion following albumin contact with nervous cells could thus interfere, by chemotactic gradient formation, with the brain infiltration program of blood‐derived cells during development or brain injury. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cost comparison of climate change mitigation options

The global community has reaffirmed its commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions to control the expected increase in the global average temperature. Thus, many governments and private sectors are interested in the cost-efficiency of frequently discussed mitigation methods forest and pasture carbon sequestration (FPCS) subsidy, carbon tax, and biofuels and their impacts on the global economy. We modified our new developed computable general equilibrium for the analysis. We simulate different rates to observe their mitigation potentials. Our results suggest that there is a trade-off between cost-efficiency and emission reduction between policies, where tax can achieve larger emission reductions under the same rate of FPCS but with higher economic costs. Likewise, combining tax and an equivalent subsidy has a larger reduction potential due to the synergistic effects, but food prices increase dramatically. Biofuels proved to be costlier than FPCS or tax. Acknowledgement : We would like to acknowledge and thanks the following institutions: Purdue Research Climate Research Center Ludwig Kruhe Doctoral Fellowship Bilsland Dissertation Doctoral Fellowship For their funding contribution in this research.
Assessment of the dysexecutive syndrome in schizophrenia

Background. Cognitive neuropsychological theories hypothesize a role for frontal lobe executive deficits in the aetiology of schizophrenic symptoms. The study examined the performance of a schizophrenic group on the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS; Wilson et al. 1996), a test battery which assesses the ‘everyday’ difficulties associated with the dysexecutive syndrome. Performance of the schizophrenics was contrasted with that of brain injured and healthy volunteer groups. Methods. Matched groups of 31 schizophrenic patients, 35 patients with brain injuries and 26 healthy volunteers were administered the BADS. Patients were also given tests of general intelligence and memory. Patients and their relatives/carers also completed a questionnaire rating day-to-day failures of executive functioning. Results. Schizophrenic and brain-injured patients showed impairment on the BADS, compared to healthy controls. There were no significant differences between the two patient groups. Significant impairment was found in a subgroup of 16 schizophrenics who showed otherwise intact general intellectual functioning, suggesting the existence of a specific executive deficit. Among the schizophrenic patient group there was evidence of a dissociation between executive and memory impairments. A significant correlation existed between performance on the BADS and relatives ratings of executive problems for the brain injured group, but not for the schizophrenic group. Conclusions. The BADS is a useful tool for identifying executive deficits in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, especially those who are otherwise generally intellectually intact. This is particularly important in the context of rehabilitation and community transition programmes.
Cell fusion mediated by interaction of a hybrid CD4.CD8 molecule with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein does occur after a long lag time

Several domains of CD4 have been suggested to play a critical role in events that follow its binding to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (gp120-gp41). It has been reported previously that cells expressing a chimeric molecule consisting of the first 177 residues of human CD4 attached to residues from the hinge, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains of human CD8 did not form syncytia with HIV-1-infected cells (L. Poulin, L.A. Evans, S. Tang, A. Barboza, H. Legg, D.R. Littman, and J.A. Levy, J. Virol. 65: 4893-4901, 1991). In contrast, we found that the hybrid CD4.CD8 molecule expressed in human cells did render them susceptible to fusion with cells expressing HIV-1IIIB or HIV-1RF envelope glycoproteins encoded by vaccinia virus recombinants, but only after long lag times. The lag time of membrane fusion mediated by the hybrid CD4.CD8 molecule was fivefold longer than that for the wild-type CD4 molecule. However, the rate of binding to and the affinity of soluble gp120 for membrane-associated CD4.CD8 were the same as for CD4. Both molecules were laterally mobile, as determined by patching experiments. Coexpression of the CD4.CD8 chimera with wild-type CD4 did not lead to interference in fusion but had an additive effect. Therefore, the proximal membrane domains of CD4 play an important role in determining the kinetics of postbinding events leading to membrane fusion. We hypothesize that the long lag time is due to the inability of the CD4.CD8-gp120-gp41 complex to undergo the rapid conformational changes which occur during the fusion mediated by wild-type CD4.
Morphine Pharmacodynamics in Mechanically Ventilated Preterm Neonates Undergoing Endotracheal Suctioning

To date, morphine pharmacokinetics (PKs) are well quantified in neonates, but results about its efficacy are ambiguous. This work presents an analysis of a previously published study on pain measurements in mechanically ventilated preterm neonates who received either morphine or placebo to improve comfort during invasive ventilation. The research question was whether morphine reduces the pain associated with endotracheal or nasal suctioning before, during, and after suctioning. Because these neonates cannot verbalize their pain levels, pain was assessed on the basis of several validated pain measurement instruments (i.e., COMFORT‐B, preterm infant pain profile [PIPP], Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), and visual analogue scale (VAS)). The item response theory (IRT) was used to analyze the data in order for us to handle the data from multiple‐item pain scores. The analysis showed an intra‐individual relationship between morphine concentrations and pain reduction, as measured by COMFORT‐B and VAS. However, the small magnitude of the morphine effect was not considered clinically relevant for this intervention in preterm neonates.
GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ANISAKIS SPECIES (NEMATODA: ANISAKIDAE) INFERRED FROM MITOCHONDRIAL COX2 SEQUENCES, AND COMPARISON WITH ALLOZYME DATA

The genetic relationships among 9 taxa of Anisakis Dujardin, 1845 (A. simplex (sensu stricto), A. pegreffii, A. simplex C. , A. typica, A. ziphidarum, A. physeteris, A. brevispiculata, A. paggiae, and Anisakis sp. ) were inferred from sequence analysis (629 bp) of the mitochondrial cox2 gene. Genetic divergence among the considered taxa, estimated by p-distance, ranged from p = 0.055, between sibling species of the A. simplex complex, to p = 0.12, between morphologically differentiated species, i.e., A. ziphidarum and A. typica. The highest level was detected when comparing A. physeteris, A. brevispiculata, and A. paggiae versus A. simplex complex (on average p = 0.13) or versus A. typica (on average p = 0.14). Sequence data from the newly identified Anisakis sp. poorly aligned with other Anisakis species but was most similar to A. ziphidarum (p = 0.08). Phylogenetic analyses based upon Parsimony and Bayesian Inference, as well as phenetic analysis based upon Neighbor-Joining p-distance values, generated similar tree topologies, each well supported at major nodes. All analyses delineated two main claides, the first encompassing A. physeteris, A. brevispiculata, and A. paggiae as a sister group to all the remaining species, and the second comprising the species of the A. simplex complex (A. simplex (s.s.), A. pegreffii and A. simplex C), A. typica, A. ziphidarum, and Anisakis sp. In general, mtDNA-based tree topologies showed high congruence with those generated from nuclear data sets (19 enzyme-loci) and with morphological data delineating adult and larval stages of the Anisakis spp. ; however, precise positioning of A. typica and A. ziphidarum remain poorly resolved, though they consistently clustered in the same clade as Anisakis sp. and the A. simplex complex. Comparison of anisakid data with those currently available for their cetacean-definitive hosts suggests parallelism between host and parasite phylogenetic tree topologies.
Distribution of HPV genotypes in uterine cervical lesions in Yanbian, northern China

The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of HPV genotypes in uterine cervical lesions in Yanbian, northern China. HPV‐DNA chip (oligonucleotide microarray) and cervical biopsy were used for 322 women in 1998–2005. All the normal cervical epithelia were negative for HPV. The positive rate of high‐risk HPV was 33.9% in cervical intra‐epithelial neoplasia (CIN)‐1, 51.6% in CIN‐2, 57.7% in CIN‐3, 66.7% in cervical glandular intra‐epithelial neoplasia (CGIN), 91.7% in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 78.6% in adenocarcinoma. HPV‐16 was the major type in all CIN and SCC cervical lesions, but in cervical adenocarcinoma HPV‐18 was the most common type, and HPV‐16 was the second most common type. Several cases of CIN‐3, SCC and adenocarcinoma had multiple types of HPV, but there was none in CIN‐1/2. In summary, HPV‐16 is the type most frequently involved in the development of SCC of the cervix, and this may be helpful for the prediction of the development and progress of CIN‐2/3, whereas both HPV‐18 and ‐16 play a prominent role in the development of adenocarcinoma and CGIN of the cervix in Yanbian, northern China.
Real‐time PCR with internal amplification control for detecting tuberculosis: method design and validation

Flores E, Rodríguez JC, Garcia‐Pachón E, Soto JL, Ruiz M, Escribano I, Royo G. Real‐time PCR with internal amplification control for detecting tuberculosis: method design and validation. APMIS 2009; 117: 592–7.
RAD6 gene is involved in heat shock induction of bleomycin resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cells react to environmental and endogenous challenges such as high temperature, reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and nutrient starvation by activating several defense mechanisms known as stress responses. An important feature is the overlap between different stress responses that contributes at least in part to the phenomenon of cross‐protection. We previously demonstrated that pretreatment with a heat shock (HS) induces resistance to the lethal and mutagenic effects of the antineoplastic drug Bleomycin (BLM) in wild‐type Saccharomyces cerevisiae. At the DNA level, the HS resulted in more efficient repair of BLM‐induced DNA damage. In the present study, we have investigated the mechanisms involved in this HS‐induced BLM resistance. Since the RAD6 gene is involved in the ubiquitin system and DNA repair, we analyzed the effects of HS on the lethality of BLM in a rad6Δ (ubc2) mutant strain of S. cerevisiae. The rad6Δ mutant was more sensitive to the lethal effects of BLM than wild‐type yeast and HS had no effect on the lethality of BLM in the mutant. Analysis of cell proliferation kinetics indicated that the HS‐induced cell cycle delay observed in the wild‐type yeast was absent in the rad6Δ mutant strain. BLM treatment impaired mutant cell proliferation, and HS had no effect on the delayed cell kinetics of the mutant. In addition, pulsed‐field electrophoresis of chromosomes damaged by BLM indicated that there was very little recovery from damage in the mutant after 24 hr of incubation in BLM‐free nutrient medium, and that HS had little effect on the recovery. These data indicate that the RAD6 gene is involved in the HS‐induced BLM resistance observed in the isogenic wild‐type strain. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Complement C4 Gene Copy Number Variations, Size Dichotomy, and C4A Deficiency on Genetic Risk and Clinical Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in East Asian Populations

Human complement C4 is complex, with multiple layers of diversity. The aims of this study were to elucidate the copy number variations (CNVs) of C4A and C4B in relation to disease risk in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to compare the basis of race‐specific C4A deficiency between East Asians and individuals of European descent.
Ganciclovir treatment of hepatitis B virus infection in liver transplant recipients

To determine the safety and efficacy of ganciclovir treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after liver transplantation, nine patients (seven males, two females; mean age, 38 years) with posttransplant HBV infection were treated with ganciclovir for 3 to 10 months. Ganciclovir was administered intravenously at an initial dose of 5 mg/kg/d and then increased to 10 mg/kg/d. Immunosuppressive drug therapy was maintained at low levels. There were no major side effects of ganciclovir therapy. Serum HBV DNA levels decreased by a mean of 90% (range, 42% to 100%), and four of nine patients had no measurable HBV DNA at the completion of therapy. Mean serum alanine aminotransferase levels decreased by 83%. Hepatic expression of HBV antigens and HBV DNA was assessed before and after therapy in six patients and found to be reduced in three patients. The histology activity index was also stabilized or improved in all patients. After discontinuation of therapy, four of nine patients underwent retreatment for 4‐ to 12‐fold elevation of serum HBV DNA and/or biochemical and clinical relapse, that was severe in one patient. This pilot study shows the safety and efficacy of ganciclovir therapy for reducing HBV replication in patients with HBV infection after liver transplantation.
CpG Are Efficient Adjuvants for Specific CTL Induction Against Tumor Antigen-Derived Peptide

The identification of CTL-defined tumor-associated Ags has allowed the development of new strategies for cancer immunotherapy. To potentiate the CTL responses, peptide-based vaccines require the coadministration of adjuvants. Because oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing CpG motifs are strong immunostimulators, we analyzed the ability of CpG ODN to act as adjuvant of the CTL response against tumor-derived synthetic peptide in the absence or presence of IFA. Mice transgenic for a chimeric MHC class I molecule were immunized with a peptide analog of MART-1/Melan-A26–35 in the presence of CpG ODN alone or CpG ODN emulsified in IFA. The CTL response was monitored ex vivo by tetramer staining of lymphocytes. In blood, spleen, and lymph nodes, peptide mixed with CpG ODN alone was able to elicit a stronger systemic CTL response as compared with peptide emulsified in IFA. Moreover, CpG ODN in combination with IFA further enhanced the CTL response in terms of the frequency of tetramer+CD8+ T cells ex vivo. The CTL induced in vivo against peptide analog in the presence of CpG ODN are functional, as they were able to recognize and kill melanoma cells in vitro. Overall, these results indicate that CpG ODN by itself is a good candidate adjuvant of CTL response and can also enhance the effect of classical adjuvant.
On the relationships of resilience with organizational commitment and burnout: a social exchange perspective

Abstract The present study discussed whether social exchange would take effect in the relationship of resilience with organizational commitment and job burnout. It examined resilience as an antecedent of organizational commitment and burnout and the mediating role of leader–member exchange (LMX) and team–member exchange (TMX) in a sample of Chinese civil servants. Two hundred and thirty-six civil servants from a large east-coast city in the People’s Republic of China completed a questionnaire measuring resilience, LMX, TMX, organizational commitment, and burnout. Results based on structural equation modeling indicated that (a) resilience positively predicted LMX and TMX, and (b) LMX, rather than TMX, partially mediated the relationships of employee resilience with organizational commitment and job burnout. The present study provided valuable insights into the understudied mechanisms of resilience at workplace through the social exchange perspective; it also underscored the importance of the reciprocity between supervisors and subordinates in human management practice.