Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroprotective groups among isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi

We demonstrated that different seroprotective groups exist among isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia garinii. The major group was composed of isolates 297, B31, S-1-10, MMTI, IPT, and ATCC 35211 and 21 isolates obtained from California, Illinois, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin. A second group was composed of European isolates PBi and G25. A third group was composed of a single isolate, C-1-11. These groupings were supported by Western immunoblot findings. In addition, the seroprotective groups were confirmed by passive transfer of immune sera and challenge of recipient hamsters with the homologous isolate or other isolates of B. burgdorferi or B. garinii. These studies demonstrate that a monovalent vaccine will not provide complete protection against infection with all isolates of B. burgdorferi.
Sudden death caused by pulmonary thromboembolism in Proteus syndrome

We report 3 patients with Proteus syndrome (PS) who died suddenly from pulmonary embolism (PE). The first patient was a male diagnosed with PS at 12 years who had varicose veins, portal vein thrombosis, right iliac vein occlusion and recurrent PE. At age 25 years, he was admitted to the hospital with a severe headache. Despite therapeutic doses of warfarin, investigations for an acute episode of breathlessness showed PE and he was unable to be resuscitated. The second case was a 9‐year‐old male with PS who collapsed at home and could not be revived. Autopsy revealed that the cause of death was a PE associated with thrombosis of the deep veins (DVT). The third patient was a 17‐year‐old female undergoing inpatient treatment for sinusitis when she unexpectedly arrested. She could not be revived and a full autopsy revealed a large PE with no identified DVT. We conclude that PE is a serious complication of PS and recommend vigilance concerning the signs and symptoms of thrombosis and PE in individuals with PS, including children. Aggressive evaluation and treatment should be considered urgently in patients with PS and signs or symptoms of DVT.
A Nonparametric, Multiple Imputation-Based Method for the Retrospective Integration of Data Sets

Complex research questions often cannot be addressed adequately with a single data set. One sensible alternative to the high cost and effort associated with the creation of large new data sets is to combine existing data sets containing variables related to the constructs of interest. The goal of the present research was to develop a flexible, broadly applicable approach to the integration of disparate data sets that is based on nonparametric multiple imputation and the collection of data from a convenient, de novo calibration sample. We demonstrate proof of concept for the approach by integrating three existing data sets containing items related to the extent of problematic alcohol use and associations with deviant peers. We discuss both necessary conditions for the approach to work well and potential strengths and weaknesses of the method compared to other data set integration approaches.
Core level spectroscopy of RbTiOPO4 and chemical bonding in KTiOPO4 crystal family

Valence band structure and electronic parameters of constituent element core levels of RbTiOPO4 have been analyzed with X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Detailed photoemission spectra of the element core levels have been recorded under excitation by nonmonochromatic Al Kα radiation (1486.6 eV). The Ti-O and P-O chemical bonding in RbTiOPO4 have been considered using binding energy difference parameters and compared with those earlier reported for complex titanates and phosphates.
A Panel of Recombinant Mucins Carrying a Repertoire of Sialylated O-Glycans Based on Different Core Chains for Studies of Glycan Binding Proteins

Sialylated glycans serve as key elements of receptors for many viruses, bacteria, and bacterial toxins. The microbial recognition and their binding specificity can be affected by the linkage of the terminal sugar residue, types of underlying sugar chains, and the nature of the entire glycoconjugate. Owing to the pathobiological significance of sialylated glycans, we have engineered Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to secrete mucin-type immunoglobulin-fused proteins carrying terminal α2,3- or α2,6-linked sialic acid on defined O-glycan core saccharide chains. Besides stably expressing P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1/mouse immunoglobulin G2b cDNA (PSGL-1/mIgG2b), CHO cells were stably transfected with plasmids encoding glycosyltransferases to synthesize core 2 (GCNT1), core 3 (B3GNT6), core 4 (GCNT1 and B3GNT6), or extended core 1 (B3GNT3) chains with or without the type 1 chain-encoding enzyme B3GALT5 and ST6GAL1. Western blot and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of core 1, 2, 3, 4, and extended core 1 chains carrying either type 1 (Galβ3GlcNAc) or type 2 (Galβ4GlcNAc) outer chains with or without α2,6-linked sialic acids. This panel of recombinant mucins carrying a repertoire of sialylated O-glycans will be important tools in studies aiming at determining the fine O-glycan binding specificity of sialic acid-specific microbial adhesins and mammalian lectins.
Clinical review: Do glucocorticosteroids alter vitamin D status? A systematic review with meta-analyses of observational studies.

CONTEXT Vitamin D supplementation is an important adjunct therapy for the prevention and management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. There has been little exploration of the relationship between glucocorticosteroid (GCS) use and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to systematically explore how serum 25(OH)D is altered in adult patients receiving GCS. DATA SOURCES We reviewed Medline and Cinahl databases between January 1970 and August 2011. STUDY SELECTION Experimental studies were included where 25(OH)D was measured in patients more than 18 yr of age receiving GCS therapy. Studies were excluded if patients received at least 400 IU/d (10 μg/d) vitamin D, if GCS treatment was less than 2-wk duration, if more than 50% of the study population received GCS for renal or hepatic disease or after transplant, or if the study population included patients with Cushing's syndrome. A consensus method was used to classify studies. Of identified studies, 3% met the selection criteria. DATA EXTRACTION Data were extracted by a single author. Study quality was assessed using criteria developed by the American Dietetic Association. DATA SYNTHESIS The weighted mean 25(OH)D (by sample size or sd) was 22.4 [95% confidence interval (CI), 19.4, 25.3] ng/ml and 21.0 (95% CI, 13.5, 28.5) ng/ml, respectively. Random effects meta-analysis was used to compare serum 25(OH)D in patients treated with GCS compared to steroid-naive controls (either healthy or with active disease) and in patients before and after GCS administration. Serum 25(OH)D in GCS users was on average -0.5 (95% CI, -1.0, -0.1) ng/ml lower than in healthy controls (P=0.03; I2=56.4%). Serum 25(OH)D did not differ between GCS users and disease controls [standardized mean difference=0.0 (95% CI, -0.2, 0.3) ng/ml; P=0.793; I2=16.2%]. CONCLUSION The suboptimal concentrations of serum 25(OH)D found in adults receiving GCS are inadequate for prevention and management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Recommendations for vitamin D supplementation should be adjusted accordingly.
Air quality control.

I would like to second the policies advocated in Philip H. Abelson's editorial "Water pollution abatement: Goals and costs" (28 June, p. 1333). One item that needs to be further discussed is the impact on human health and survival of spending money to clean up pollution. Abelson notes that industry will have to invest an additional $8 billion to meet 1977 requirements of "best practicable" water pollution control technology at existing plants. However, industry will have to spend an additional $9.5 billion to meet the 1977 standards for thermal discharges. The costs for thermal plant discharge elimination then exceed those from all other industrial wastes put together. When one compares the known incidence of disease and environmental destruction from the discharge of heavy metals, carcinogens, mutagens, pesticides, and so forth, to the known incidence of disease from thermal discharges (zero), one is somewhat appalled at the relative emphasis given to the thermal pollution abatement. A more realistic approach would be to evaluate each discharge in place and compare the benefits to be achieved by its elimination or reduction with the costs to achieve such benefits. From this a more realistic standard could be set (1). Although the Environmental Protection Agency is supposed to be a total. environmental agency, it appears that' the waste effluent standards are set without regard to the effects on the atmosphere and lithosphere. In the case of thermal pollution elimination standards, these effects would include the environmental costs of treatment of the chemicals concentrated in the circulating cooling water (possibly an even more severe environmental insult than the hot water); the decrease in efficiency and consequent increase in air pollution resulting from the greater use of fossil fuels in central generating stations; and the fog, drift, icing, and acidic rains that occur in the immediate vicinity of plants because of the combination of sulfur dioxide from power plant stacks and the water vapor
Second Rebuttal Proof of Evidence of

Second Rebuttal Proof of Evidence of Dr John Underhill‐Day for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds April 2011 Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) In the matter of: Planning Applications for Construction of a runway extension and erection of a terminal building at London Ashford Airport, Lydd, Kent Planning Inspectorate Refs: APP/L2250/V/10/2131934 APP/L2250/V/10/2131936
Peripartum robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy after second-trimester pregnancy loss with placenta increta.

To the Editor: Needless to say, any report dealing with new indications where robotic surgery is used is read with great interest. So was the article “Peripartum Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Hysterectomy After SecondTrimester Pregnancy Loss With Placenta Increta” by Boes et al. In a study comparing 47 robotic hysterectomies with 77 total laparoscopic hysterectomies, it was concluded that, when performed by surgeons with expertise, the endoscopic group proved superior (and we expect major surgeries to be performed only by experts). In a multicenter review with more than 36,000 patients in 350 hospitals, the conclusion was that there is no significant difference between robotic and endoscopic hysterectomies concerning the surgical outcome but that the operative time when using robotics is longer and the operative costs are higher. Similar results comparing morbidity and costs were reported in hysterectomies for endometrial cancer. There are claims that robotic hysterectomy might result in reduced blood loss and shorter hospital stays, but this is a retrospective study comparing various methods such as vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, and total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Robotic surgery proved itself for other indications such as prostate cancer, and, with technical improvements in the future, such as the introduction of haptic sensation, it is expected to become superior over today’s endoscopy. However, we believe that any introduction of a new indication for the use of robotic surgery should add value to the existing methods. Although we totally agree with the authors that hysterectomy was indicated, we have doubts that the use of robotics was justified in this case.
Comparison between rotary and manual techniques on duration of instrumentation and obturation times in primary teeth.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the duration of instrumentation and obturation times and quality of root canal filling between rotary and manual instrumentation techniques in primary teeth. STUDY DESIGN A randomized, controlled clinical trial was performed that included deciduous teeth with pulp necrotic. Forty necrotic teeth were included; 20 were instrumented with a rotary technique (experimental group) and 20 with a manual technique (control group). The time taken for instrumentation and for obturation were recorded in minutes, and the quality of the root canal filling was recorded as optimal, under-filled, or overfilled. RESULTS The use of the rotary technique diminished the time of instrumentation to 63% and time of obturation to 68%, and it improved the quality of the root canalfilling. CONCLUSION The use of rotary instruments in the pulpectomy of primary molars represents a promising technique; the time is significantly reduced.
Binding of Hepatitis C Virus-Like Particles Derived from Infectious Clone H77C to Defined Human Cell Lines

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis in the world. The study of viral entry and infection has been hampered by the inability to efficiently propagate the virus in cultured cells and the lack of a small-animal model. Recent studies have shown that in insect cells, the HCV structural proteins assemble into HCV-like particles (HCV-LPs) with morphological, biophysical, and antigenic properties similar to those of putative virions isolated from HCV-infected humans. In this study, we used HCV-LPs derived from infectious clone H77C as a tool to examine virus-cell interactions. The binding of partially purified particles to human cell lines was analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting with defined monoclonal antibodies to envelope glycoprotein E2. HCV-LPs demonstrated dose-dependent and saturable binding to defined human lymphoma and hepatoma cell lines but not to mouse cell lines. Binding could be inhibited by monoclonal anti-E2 antibodies, indicating that the HCV-LP-cell interaction was mediated by envelope glycoprotein E2. Binding appeared to be CD81 independent and did not correlate with low-density lipoprotein receptor expression. Heat denaturation of HCV-LPs drastically reduced binding, indicating that the interaction of HCV-LPs with target cells was dependent on the proper conformation of the particles. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that insect cell-derived HCV-LPs bind specifically to defined human cell lines. Since the envelope proteins of HCV-LPs are presumably presented in a virion-like conformation, the binding of HCV-LPs to target cells may allow the study of virus-host cell interactions, including the isolation of HCV receptor candidates and antibody-mediated neutralization of binding.
Growth-inhibitory effects of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine in the spectrum of human lung carcinoma cells in culture.

dl-α-Difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO) is a new and specific inhibitor of the first step in polyamine biosynthesis. We recently reported that DFMO profoundly diminishes cell survival in a single culture line of human small-cell lung carcinoma (SCC). In the present study, we have extended this work to ascertain: ( a ) the effects of DFMO on the spectrum of cell growth for SCC in culture; and ( b ) how the response of SCC cells to DFMO compares to that for the other three major types of human lung cancer cells. SCC cells were found to have a unique response to DFMO among the types of lung cancer; exposure of eight separate lines to the drug, during the exponential growth phase, produced an initial inhibition of cell increase followed by a progressive and complete loss of cells from the cultures. There was a heterogeneous response pattern among the SCC lines in that the time of onset for cell loss ranged from 4 days to 4 weeks. In marked contrast to SCC, two lines of human lung adenocarcinoma, one of squamous cell carcinoma and one of large cell undifferentiated carcinoma, had a more usual response to inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis. Despite a cessation of cell proliferation during DFMO treatment, no cell loss ensued over periods up to 8 weeks in these cultures. The above results with SCC and non-SCC cells suggested that the former could not live well in culture as a resting, nonproliferative cell. We further tested this hypothesis by exposing to DFMO stationary-phase 4-week-old aggregates of cultured SCC cells, in which cell proliferation and cell loss are balanced; within 2 weeks, the profound loss of cells was again manifest. We conclude that: ( a ) in culture, SCC cells, among human lung cancer types, have a unique sensitivity to inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis; ( b ) the heterogeneity for timing of SCC response to DFMO may have to be taken into account when investigating the therapeutic potential of the drug, DFMO; and ( c ) the biological differences between SCC and non-SCC cell in response to DFMO may provide a model system for establishing further the functional role of the polyamines.
Differential effects of antiretrovirals on microbial translocation and gut microbiota composition of HIV-infected patients

Introduction: Increased bacterial translocation and alterations to gut microbiota composition have been described in HIV infection and contribute to immune activation and inflammation. These effects persist despite combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). However, the contribution of different cART combinations has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyse the long‐term effects of different combinations of cART on bacterial translocation and gut microbiota composition in HIV‐infected patients.
Cross-Sensitization between Poppy Seed and Buckwheat in a Food-Allergic Patient with Poppy Seed Anaphylaxis

The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum L. , is the source of both poppy seeds and opium. The commercially available seeds are widely used as ingredients for various kinds of food. IgE-mediated sensitization to poppy seeds is rare, but, if present, clinical symptoms are usually severe. Cross-sensitizations between poppy seeds and other food allergens have been described with sesame, hazelnut, rye grain and kiwi fruit. We report the case of a 17-year-old female with an apparently food-allergic reaction after ingestion of a poppy seed cake. Allergological workup revealed a poppy seed anaphylaxis and led to the identification of a novel cross-sensitization with buckwheat.
Gene knockout mice establish a primary protective role for major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted responses in Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection

Mice with disrupted beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m-/-), I-A (class II-/-), or CD4 (CD4-/-) genes were examined for their capacity to resolve Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection. C57BL/6 and beta 2m-/- mice resolved infection similarly and were culture negative by 4 to 5 weeks following infection. Conversely, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-/- mice failed to resolve infection, and CD4-/- mice showed a significant delay (2 weeks). Secondary challenge of C57BL/6, beta 2m-/-, and CD4-/- mice established that acquired protective immunity, which was characterized by an infection of shortened duration and reduced shedding of infectious organisms, developed. Serological analysis of C57BL/6 and beta 2m-/- mice by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed no striking differences in the immunoglobulin subclass specificity of the anti-Chlamydia response, although some differences were observed in the magnitude of the immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) and IgG2b responses. Class II-/- mice produced lower-titered serum anti-Chlamydia antibodies of all isotypes. The serum antibody responses of CD4-/- mice were similar to those of C57BL/6 mice, except that the anti-Chlamydia IgA response was delayed by approximately 3 weeks. Analysis of vaginal washes for Chlamydia-reactive antibodies revealed the presence of IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgA in C57BL/6 and beta 2m-/- mice and primarily of IgA in CD4-/- mice. Vaginal washes from class II-/- mice were consistently antibody negative. Interestingly, the Chlamydia-specific IgA response in the vaginal washes of CD4-/- mice was delayed, but its appearance coincided with decreased shedding of infectious organisms and resolution of infection. Our results demonstrate that MHC class II-restricted T-cell responses are necessary for the development of protective immunity to Chlamydia genital tract infection and that local (vaginal) anti-Chlamydia IgA antibody coincides with the resolution of infection. A substantive role for MHC class I-restricted T-cell responses in protective immunity to Chlamydia genital tract infection was not confirmed.
Why Can’t A Man Be More Like A Woman?

The medical interview is the family physician's principal tool for both diagnosis and treatment. Residency-trained family physicians have already received more detailed instruction and feedback regarding interview skills than have most other specialists, but we must nevertheless continue to explore ways in which we can enhance the therapeutic potential of the interview. Two recently presented studies are therefore of great interest to family physicians. The first suggests that women physicians display certain valuable interviewing skills more frequently than men. The second suggests . that practicing physicians can enhance these sorts of skills following a brief and focused intervention and that measurable patient improvement results. Charon and colleagues 1 have developed a narrative model of medical encounters that fundamentally looks at the medical interview as an example of reading the meaning of a text (i.e., the patient's story). Previous work on gender differences in the reading of literary texts suggests that women read differently from men specifically, women more readily enter into the world of the text and identify emotionally with it while men remain more distant from the text , and see it as a source of facts to be abstracted.
Regulation of CD23 expression by Notch2 in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The original observation that sera from patients with chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) contain high amounts of soluble CD23 (sCD23), which reflect disease activity and tumor load has been confirmed by numerous reports and serial determinations of sCD23 are now recognized as important indicators of disease progression. The reason why the leukemic cells over express CD23 and subsequently release large quantities of sCD23 as compared to healthy persons or patients with other lymphoproliferative disorders is still not clear. However, progress has been made in understanding the mechanism leading to the upregulation of CD23 in the leukemic cells. Following is an update on clinical data and a short review on the potential functions of CD23 as well as its regulation by Notch2 in B-CLL.
Sex Differences in Human Skeletal Muscle Fatigue

HICKS, A.L. , J. KENT-BRAUN, and D.S. DITOR. Sex differences in human skeletal muscle fatigue. Exerc. Sports Sci. Rev., Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 109–112, 2001. Research on muscle fatigue suggests that greater fatigue resistance may be evident in females compared with males. The possible mechanisms for this sex difference include factors related to muscle mass, substrate utilization, muscle morphology, and neuromuscular activation.