Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins p34cdc2, p21waf1, and p53 in node negative invasive ductal breast carcinoma

Aims: To look for correlations between expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins p34cdc2, p21WAF1, and p53 in node negative invasive ductal breast carcinoma, or between these proteins and clinicopathological parameters, and to assess their prognostic value. Methods: Immunohistochemistry using formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded sections from 94 breast carcinomas. Adjacent benign epithelial breast tissue was available in 74 cases. Median follow up was 72 months. Results: Nuclear and cytoplasmic p34cdc2 expression was seen in 80 and 62 tumours, respectively; nuclear expression was seen in adjacent benign epithelium in 12 cases. p21WAF1 and p53 were positive in 48 and 21 tumours, respectively. High expression of p34cdc2 in neoplastic nuclei was associated with higher histological grade and p53 expression, but not with tumour size, steroid receptor status, patient age, menopausal status, recurrence, metastasis, disease free survival (DFS), or overall survival (OS). p34cdc2 in tumour cytoplasm was associated with p34cdc2 nuclear positivity, high tumour grade, and DFS in univariate but not multivariate analysis. In contrast, p34cdc2 expression in benign tissue independently predicted DFS and OS in univariate and multivariate analysis. Expression of p53 was associated with high tumour grade and negative steroid receptors, but not with recurrence, metastasis, DFS, or OS. p21WAF1 expression was not associated with the examined parameters. Conclusions: p34cdc2, p21WAF1, and p53 expression does not predict outcome in node negative breast carcinoma, although p34cdc2 expression in benign tissue is related to prognosis. The association between p34cdc2 and p53 implicates p53 in G2–M cell cycle checkpoint control, possibly via mediators unrelated to p21WAF1.
Fc epsilon receptor type I gamma chain replaces the deficient T cell receptor zeta chain in T cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE T cells from the majority of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) express significantly lower levels of T cell receptor zeta chain, a critical signaling molecule. However, TCR/CD3 triggering of SLE T cells shows increased phosphorylation of downstream signaling intermediates and increased [Ca2+]i response, suggesting the presence of alternative signaling mechanisms. We investigated whether Fcepsilon receptor type I gamma chain (FcepsilonRIgamma) could substitute for TCR zeta chain and contribute to T cell signaling in SLE. METHODS T cells were purified from the peripheral blood of 21 patients with SLE and 5 healthy volunteers. The expression of FcepsilonRIgamma was investigated using immunoblotting, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry methods. Involvement of the FcepsilonRIgamma in T cell signaling was studied by immunoprecipitation and/or immunoblotting after TCR/CD3 stimulation. RESULTS Western blotting and densitometric analysis showed that the expression of FcepsilonRIgamma in SLE T cells was 4.3-fold higher than in normal T cells (P < 0.001). Flow cytometric analyses of T lymphocyte subsets revealed that the proportions of FcepsilonRIgamma+,CD3+, FcepsilonRIgamma+,CD4+, and FcepsilonRIgamma+, CD8+ cells were significantly greater in SLE patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Immunoprecipitation of SLE T cell lysates with an anti-FcepsilonRIgamma antibody showed that FcepsilonRIgamma associates with the tyrosine kinase Syk and the CD3epsilon chain, suggesting that FcepsilonRIgamma is functionally involved in TCR signaling. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that the FcepsilonRIgamma chain is expressed at high levels in a large proportion of SLE T cells. The increased expression of FcepsilonRIgamma chain in SLE T cells may account in part for the aberrant antigen receptor-initiated signaling and contribute to the diverse cellular abnormalities found in this disease.
The Conditions of Ovary Storage Affect the Quality of Porcine Oocytes

We studied the effect of different storage conditions of porcine ovaries (time, temperature) on the characteristics of the follicular fluid, immature oocyte quality, meiotic competence and in vitro fertilization of oocytes. Ovaries were stored for 2, 4 or 6 h at 3 different temperatures (15°C, 25°C or 35°C). As the storage time increased, pH and glucose concentration of the follicular fluid, percentage of live immature oocytes at germinal vesicle stage, oxidative activity and maturation rate decreased. At higher temperatures, pH and glucose concentration decreased, but oxidative activity and oocyte maturation rate increased. Lactate concentration and immature oocyte ROS production increased as storage time and temperature increased. The ovary storage for longer than 2 h at 25°C and 35°C resulted in low pH of the follicular fluid and high ROS level in immature oocytes. Such conditions seem to damage oocytes and impair their meiotic competence. A decrease in the oxidative activity caused by long time and/or low storage temperature may imply a decrease in oocyte vitality. In conclusion, in the porcine species, the transport of ovaries at 25°C and 35°C for 2 h are the best conditions to maintain adequate oocyte quality, meiotic competence and in vitro fertilization rates.
NS309 decreases rat detrusor smooth muscle membrane potential and phasic contractions by activating SK3 channels

Overactive bladder (OAB) is often associated with abnormally increased detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) contractions. We used NS309, a selective and potent opener of the small or intermediate conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ (SK or IK, respectively) channels, to evaluate how SK/IK channel activation modulates DSM function.
Application of industrial engineering theories for a real manufacturing process improvement using simulation modelling

The purpose of this paper is to describe a detailed and sequential methodology in industrial processes improvement using simulation models. In order to strengthen this academic approach, its application is explained through a case study developed in a medium size company that manufactures windows, doors and facades established in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The article presents the description of the industrial process, the development of the simulation model and the experimental results obtained with its conclusions. The main benefits of this research include: First, the adjustment of basic industrial engineering terms of efficiency and capacity to the specialized simulation software ARENA®, second, the performance analysis of a complex manufacturing process, and finally, the techniques used for the improvement of the performance measures avoiding trial and error techniques.
Social Media Choice: An Explorative Study on Information Transmission via Social Media

From Facebook (i.e. a social network site) to Twitter (i.e. a microblog), a large variety of social media types and platforms facilitate information exchange among individuals. The information systems literature provides theoretical approaches to understand media choice, especially when multiple electronic media are available. In this empirical study, we seek to understand social media choice in the context of major business events. We explore how individuals make use of different social media types at different times during the communication process subsequent to the announcement of major business events. While controlling for other task-related influencing factors, our analysis provides evidence that the successive choices of social media types determine the task-related communication process.
AnnotateVis : Combining Traditional Close Reading with Visual Text Analysis

Close reading is an important research method to analyze and interpret text in traditional humanities research. In the last decades, a huge amount of historical texts have been made available due to large scale digitization projects and facilitated distant reading methods. In the last decade, a number of visualization techniques were developed that support distant reading tasks as they aid to explore large text collections. But, less work has been done to improve the close reading capabilities of humanities scholars, and the majority of existing techniques are either advanced text viewers highlighting textual features, or they are specific to particular research tasks. We propose the close reading tool AnnotateVis that supports the annotation of text fragments with various media types (audio, video, images, etc.). In addition, a user can perform various text analysis methods for a desired text snippet, and the results can be annotated in the form of an interactive visualization. To illustrate the utility of AnnotateVis, we provide two close reading scenarios.
A quantitative study of carbohydrate metabolism in the normal and injured rat.

This work arose out of study of the effect of severe injury on the metabolism of the rat. Its aim was to determine how carbohydrate metabolism differed in injured and normal rats. From the review of Levenson, Einheber & Malm (1961) it is clear that although the effect of injury on metabolism has been studied for a long time there is still much to be learnt. In the past, studies have been, for the most part, confined to determinations of the concentrations of metabolites in tissues. In the case of carbohydrate metabolism this is not enough. Besides concentrations of metabolites the rates of metabolism along the various pathways, glycolytic, gluconeogenic and oxidative, are also required. These rates can only be studied in whole animals by using tracers. We have, therefore, injected control and injured rats intravenously with U-14C-glucose, U-14C-fructose and 1_14C_, 2_14Cand 3-14C-pyruvates. We have followed the disappearance of 14C-glucose and 14C-fructose from the blood and the appearance and subsequent disappearance of 14C-glucose after the injection of 14C-fructose and the labelled pyruvates. The excretion of 14CO2 formed by the oxidation of these compounds in vivo was also followed. In this way the glycolytic and gluconeogenic pathways were spanned by 14C-glucose and 14C-pyruvate while 14C-fructose could be expected to provide information on processes in the middle, as its label enters them mainly as triose phosphate (Hers & Kusaka, 1953; Leuthardt, Testa & Wolf, 1953). Results obtained from experiments of this type show only the combined effects of distribution and metabolism. To separate these two effects one must find a method of interpretation which allows for their interaction. Unless this is done even qualitative conclusions may be wrong and it is quite impossible to make quantitative estimates. The only technique which offers some hope of separating distributive and metabolic processes is compartmental analysis (Sheppard, 1962). Theoretical models which reproduce the most important features of these processes are set up and analysed mathematically. No model can take account of all the processes,
Lipid profile in rheumatoid arthritis and its relation to disease activity.

AIM OF THE STUDY To ascertain whether--1. Serum lipids are altered in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 2. Disease activity has any role in altering lipid profile. METHODOLOGY Lipid profiles of 25 RA cases were compared with age and sex matched controls. RESULTS Serum triglycerides (STG) and total cholesterol (TC) were found to be significantly lower in RA patients. In patients with very active disease, activity index (AI) > 80, STG, TC and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) were significantly lower as compared to controls. For TG 'r' value of -0.483 indicated negative correlation between disease activity and TG values, though the correlation is not significant (p > 0.05). For TC 'r' value (-0.0551) indicates negative correlation between disease activity and serum TC.
Are genetic polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-10, CD14 endotoxin receptor or manganese superoxide dismutase associated with alcoholic liver disease?

Background Four polymorphisms have been described associated with either increased risk for alcoholic liver disease (ALD) or more serious histological lesions: tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-&agr;) G(−238)A, interleukin-10 (IL-10) C(−627)A, promoter of CD14 endotoxin receptor gene C(−159)T and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) C(−1183)T/valine → alanine. Methods We sought confirmatory evidence, through individual and simultaneous analysis of the four aforementioned polymorphisms, in 176 heavy drinkers: ALD (n=100) if histology-compatible or clinical evidence of hepatic decompensation; and no evidence of liver disease (NLD) (n=76) if normal liver tests on two occasions or normal liver histology (steatosis alone). Results Patients with ALD were older (53±10 vs. 48±10 years, P<0.05), with a similar sex distribution. TNF-&agr; G(−238)A showed no difference in heterozygous GA-genotype prevalence (ALD, 9.0%/NLD, 7.9%). IL-10 C(−627)A showed no difference between groups, either homozygote AA (8.0% vs. 10.5%) or heterozygote CA (34.0% vs. 39.5%). CD14 promoter C(−159)T showed no difference between groups in T-allele frequency, either homozygote TT (27% vs. 21%) or heterozygote CT (49% vs. 50%). Alanine MnSOD allele carriers showed no difference between groups in either the heterozygote (55.0% vs. 49.3%) or homozygote (22% vs. 25%). No difference was observed in the probability of having simultaneously two, three or four of the implicated polymorphisms: respectively, 43%, 33% and 0% in ALD, and 43%, 24% and 5% in NLD (not significant). Conclusions No association was found between the previously implicated polymorphisms of TNF-&agr;, IL-10, CD14 and MnSOD, either individually or simultaneously, and the presence of established ALD.
Ethnicity and disease prevention

Ethnic variations in health present a useful paradigm for the study of disease etiology. The knowledge base in this area has expanded dramatically in recent years, both as a result of research across cultures and studies within multiethnic societies. The growth in descriptive information, however, has not always been paralleled by an increase in causal explanations. At both the theoretical and practical levels confounding remains an unsolved problem. Because of the frequent correlation between ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and risk exposures it is often difficult to isolate the relative impact of genetics and external risk factors. The importance of variation in allele frequencies in determining ethnic diesease patterns is further complicated by the difficulty in providing precise ethnic group designations. Inference regarding causal relationships becomes particularly challenging for polygenic disorders like hypertension and non–insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus, where good candidate genes are not available. At the same time, exposures are often known before the genetic basis of susceptibility has been identified and provide a practical basis for prevention. Prevention campaigns should be merged with etiologic research whenever possible and close collaboration among scientists working in public health and epidemiology and those based in genetics and biology would facilitate development of an appropriately balanced strategy. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Are all donor-specific antibodies detected by solid-phase assay before transplantation clinically relevant?

Sera were tested for anti-HLA antibodies using the multiplex technology SPA. Class I (i.e. HLA-A/B) and class II (i.e. HLA-DR/DP/DQ) HLA antibodies were tested using reagents from One Lambda, Inc., Canoga Park CA, (LabScreen LS1A01 Lot 007 and LS2A01 Lot 004, commercialized in Switzerland by Ingen). Briefly, 20 μl of serum samples were incubated with HLA class I and HLA class II coated microspheres respectively for 30 min at dark and under gently agitation. The specimens were then washed 5 times before being incubated with anti-human IgG-conjugated phyco-erythrine in the same conditions as in the first incubation. The Labscan 100 flow analyzer (Luminex, Austin, TX) was used for beads and data acquisition. Data were then exported to the HLA Visual software (One Lambda) for analysis. The cut off level was define as a baseline normalized > 500 MFI. Presence of DSA was assigned by comparing the several HLA-specificities proposed by the software analysis with the HLA typing of the donor for all transplanted patients. The Luminex results did not influence transplant management (retrospective study). BACKGROUND
Denervation, but Not Decentralization, Reduces Nerve Growth Factor Content of the Mesenteric Artery

Abstract: In the present study we applied an improved nerve growth factor (NGF) extraction method to examine the effects of denervation and sympathetic decentralization on NGF levels in vascular tissue. Adult male Wistar Kyoto rats underwent mesenteric arterial denervation or splanchnic nerve transection. Four days after operation, animals were killed, and the mesenteric artery and coeliac‐superior mesenteric ganglia were removed. The arterial adventitia was stripped from the media to measure NGF levels in nerve and smooth muscle separately. A high concentration of NGF was detected in the normal artery, 90% of which was in the adventitial layer. Surgical denervation significantly reduced the NGF levels in the artery and ganglia by 78 and 71%, respectively. However, within the artery the level of NGF was reduced in the adventitia but not in the media. Thus, the large reduction of NGF content resulted from the loss of nerve plexus from the artery. In contrast, decentralization did not alter the NGF content in the artery, in either the adventitia or media. Our results are in marked contrast to previous studies reporting elevated levels of NGF following denervation. This discrepancy is explained by the ability of our new procedure to extract much greater amounts of NGF from the tissue.
An Investigation on Organisation Cyber Resilience

 Abstract — Cyber exercises used to assess the preparedness of a community against cyber crises, technology failures and Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) incidents. The cyber exercises also called cyber crisis exercise or cyber drill, involved partnerships or collaboration of public and private agencies from several sectors. This study investigates Organisation Cyber Resilience (OCR) of participation sectors in cyber exercise called X Maya in Malaysia. This study used a principal based cyber resilience survey called C-Suite Executive checklist developed by World Economic Forum in 2012. To ensure suitability of the survey to investigate the OCR, the reliability test was conducted on C-Suite Executive checklist items. The research further investigates the differences of OCR in ten Critical National Infrastructure Information (CNII) sectors participated in the cyber exercise. The One Way ANOVA test result showed a statistically significant difference of OCR among ten CNII sectors participated in the cyber exercise.
High rates of hypertension, diabetes, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in HIV-infected patients in Malawi

Objectives: Data on cardiovascular disease risks among HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) over long periods of time are lacking in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chiradzulu, Malawi from December 2015 to June 2016. HIV-infected persons on ART for more than 10 years (patients) and HIV-negative individuals (controls) from selected clinics participated. Following informed consent, a standardized questionnaire, clinical and laboratory examinations were performed. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors was calculated and stratified by age group. Results: Overall, 379 HIV-infected patients and 356 controls participated. Median time on ART among patients was 11.6 years (interquartile range 10.6–12.4). Within the 30–44, 45–59, and at least 60-year age groups, respectively, the prevalence of hypertension was 10.8, 20.4, and 44.7% among patients and 6.1, 25.8, and 42.9% among controls. Hypertension was previously undiagnosed in 60.3% patients and 37.0% controls with elevated blood pressure. The prevalence of diabetes within the respective age groups was 5.0, 6.4, and 13.2% among patients, and 3.4, 4.2, and 1.7% among controls. HIV-infected patients were more likely to have an glycated hemoglobin at least 6.0% (adjusted odds ratio 1.9; 95% confidence interval 1.1–3.2, P = 0.02). Prevalence of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol more than 130 mg/dl within the respective age groups was 8.0, 15.4, and 23.7% among patients and 1.8, 12.5, and 11.8% among controls. Conclusion: Noncommunicable diseases were a significant burden in Malawi, with high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in all survey participants and an especially acute diabetes burden among older HIV infected. Hypertension screening and treatment services are needed among identified high-risk groups to cover unmet needs.
Unmasking a temperature-dependent effect of the P. anserina i-AAA protease on aging and development

Different molecular pathways involved in maintaining mitochondrial function are of fundamental importance to control cellular homeostasis. Mitochondrial i-AAA protease is part of such a surveillance system and PaIAP is the putative ortholog in the fungal aging model Podospora anserina. Here we investigated the role of PaIAP in aging and development. Deletion of the gene encoding PaIAP resulted in a specific phenotype. When incubated at 27°C, spore germination and fruiting body formation are not different from that of the corresponding wild-type strain. Unexpectedly, the lifespan of the deletion strain is strongly increased. In contrast, cultivation at an elevated temperature of 37°C leads to impairments in spore germination and fruiting body formation, and to a reduced lifespan. The higher PaIAP abundance in wild-type strains of the fungus grown at elevated temperature and the phenotype of the deletion strain unmasks a temperaturerelated role of the protein. The protease appears to be part of a molecular system that has evolved to allow survival under changing temperatures as they characteristically occur in nature.
Disruption of CLOCK-BMAL 1 Transcriptional Activity Is Responsible for Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor – Mediated Regulation of Period 1 Gene

*Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois 62974-9629; †Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Life Science Research Center, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China; ‡Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois 62974-9629; and §School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410208, China
Impact of oral azithromycin on recurrence of trachomatous trichiasis in Nepal over 1 year

Background: Recently, a significant association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and postoperative trachomatous trichiasis (TT) recurrence was shown. The current study evaluated whether azithromycin treatment at the time of surgery could reduce recurrence. Methods: As part of Nepal’s national trachoma control programme, patients received azithromycin (53 patients) or placebo (56 patients) at surgery. Conjunctivae were graded for trachoma and swabbed to detect chlamydiae preoperatively and postoperatively up to 12 months. Logistic regression was performed for associations of treatment option with recurrence, infection, and active trachoma (by eye and by patient). Results: TT recurrence was 28.9% at 12 months. Recurrence was significantly lower for those with major TT at baseline in the azithromycin group at 12 months (p = 0.03); incident recurrence was also significantly lower at 6 months (OR, 0.056; 95% CI, 0 to 0.423; p = 0.004). There was a trend for increased recurrence among those with minor TT at baseline and for reduction of active trachoma and infection in the azithromycin group but not the placebo group. Conclusion: These data suggest that azithromycin treatment at the time of surgery may be warranted for patients with major TT. However, treatment should be investigated further for minor TT, for efficacy at subsequent time intervals and in other trachoma endemic settings.