Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinicopathologic correlation in erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN To confirm the recent hypothesis that the spectrum of severe erythema multiforme (EM) is actually composed of two different disorders, we retrospectively studied 38 such cases, particularly in regard to their histopathologic features. Based on photographs and a recent proposal, the cases were classified as EM major when the eruption consisted of typical or raised atypical target lesions located on the extremities and/or the face or as Stevens-Johnson syndrome when the eruption consisted of flat atypical target lesions or purpuric macules that were widespread or distributed on the trunk. The cases were also assessed for causal agent. A biopsy specimen was obtained in each case. Several histologic parameters were analyzed (and scored) without clinical data and correlated to the clinical pattern. These parameters were first studied in a global assessment and then in a detailed evaluation. RESULTS The global assessment showed two different histological patterns: (1) a predominantly inflammatory pattern characterized by a lichenoid infiltrate and epidermal necrosis that mainly affected the basal layer; and (2) a predominantly necrotic pattern in which major epidermal necrosis and minimal inflammatory infiltration were found. The former pattern was associated with EM major, the latter with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (P < .001) and with drug-related cause (P < .001). The detailed evaluation showed also less epidermal necrosis, and more dermal inflammation, and more exocytosis in EM major. Conversely, there was more epidermal necrosis, less dermal inflammation, and less exocytosis in Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The difference was statistically significant for the inflammation and exocytosis. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the two different symptomatologies in the spectrum of severe EM correlate with two different patterns of histopathologic changes. A prospective multicentered study should be conducted to definitively characterize these entities.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Reframing German Federalism

In recent years, Germany's federal system has been subject to a number of pressures for change. A constitutional debate on ‘disentangling’ the legislative roles of federal and Länder institutions which stuttered through the 1990s and into the 2000s finally led to a re-allocation of competences in 2006. These reforms shifted some areas of legislative responsibility from the federal to the Länder level and relaxed rules which had earlier justified a federal override when both levels held legislative responsibilities concurrently. At the very least, these constitutional adjustments increased the potential for policy outputs to diverge from one Land to another and give expression to territorial differences in priority and preference.
Solubility enhancement of some water-insoluble drugs in the presence of nicotinamide and related compounds.

The solubilities of five poorly water-soluble drugs, diazepam, griseofulvin, progesterone, 17 beta-estradiol, and testosterone, were studied in the presence of nicotinamide. All solubilities were found to increase in a nonlinear fashion as a function of nicotinamide concentration. The K1:1 and K1:2 stability constants were as follows: for diazepam, K1:1 = 5.23 M-1 and K1:2 = 8.6 M-2; for griseofulvin, K1:1 = 5.54 M-1 and K1:2 = 8.82 M-2; for progesterone, K1:1 = 5.48 M-1 and K1:2 = 42.47 M-2; for 17 beta-estradiol, K1:1 = 5.38 M-1 and K1:2 = 36.9 M-2; and for testosterone, K1:1 = 5.07 M-1 and K1:2 = 27.47 M-2. Two aliphatic analogues of nicotinamide (nipecotamide and N,N-dimethylacetamide) were studied as ligands with diazepam and griseofulvin and were found to increase the solubilities of both drugs in a linear fashion. The aromatic analogue, N,N-diethylnicotinamide, showed a nonlinear solubilization relationship similar to that seen with nicotinamide. In addition, three other aromatic analogues (isonicotinamide, 1-methylnicotinamide iodide, and N-methylnicotinamide) were studied. These ligands were not soluble enough in water to be studied over the wide range of concentrations used for nicotinamide and N,N-diethylnicotinamide; however, in the concentration range studied, these ligands solubilized diazepam and griseofulvin to a degree similar to that observed with comparable concentrations of nicotinamide. These results suggest that the aromaticity (Pi-system) of the pyridine ring is an important factor in complexation because the aromatic amide ligands were found to enhance the aqueous solubilities of the test drugs to a greater extent than the aliphatic amide ligands. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
REVIEW ARTICLE THERAPEUTIC PROGRESS–REVIEW XXXVI: ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS IN THE DRUG TREATMENT OF DISORDERS OF THE BLADDER, PROSTATE, and PENIS?

This paper discusses the novel application of drugs, many of which were first developed for, or have an established role in other indications, in the treatment of disorders of the bladder, prostate and penis. These novel applications have often followed on from an increase in the understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved in the urological condition. Urology also lends itself to novel routes of administration, such as intravesical and intracorporeal routes as well as the more conventional oral, parenteral, and intra‐nasal routes.
Overexpression of autophagy-related beclin-1 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with lymph-node metastasis.

ejd.2011. 1516 Auteur(s) : Risa Okura, Motonobu Nakamura motonaka@med.uoeh-u.ac. jp Department of Dermatology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan Autophagy is a self-catabolic process that maintains intracellular homeostasis and prolongs cell survival under stress via lysosomal degradation of cytoplasmic constituents and recycling of amino acids and energy [1]. Autophagy plays a dual role in tumorigenesis, acting both as a [. ]
Computation of Elementary Functions on the IBM RISC System/6000 Processors

The additional speed and precision of the IBM RISC System/6000 floating-point unit have motivated reexamination of algorithms to perform division, square root, and the elementary functions. New results are obtained which avoid the necessity of doing special testing to get the last bit rounded correctly in accordance with all of the IEEE rounding modes in the case of division and square root. For the elementary function library, a technique is described for always getting the last bit rounded correctly in the selected rounding mode.
Linking caplets and swaptions prices in the LMM-SABR model

We use (and improve upon) a recent time-homogeneous extension of the stochastic alpha beta rho (SABR)-LIBOR market model (LMM) approach described in Rebonato (2007) to develop a quick and accurate analytical approximation to the implied swaption prices given the forward-rate SABR– LMM parameters. This approximation can be used for studies of calibration of a forward-rate-based LMM–SABR model to (portions of) the swaption matrix, to determine the constant maturity swap (CMS) drift corrections (see Hagan (2003)) and to study the congruence between the caplet and swaption markets.
Interferon lambda 3 rs12979860 polymorphism in patients with haemophilia and HCV infection: a predictor of spontaneous viral clearance and sustained virological response

Summary Chronic hepatitis C is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in adult haemophilic patients who received non-virally inactivated plasma-derived clotting factor concentrates. Overall, spontaneous viral clearance rate is 10–25% and the only approach that can halt disease progression is hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication by means of antiviral therapy. In non-haemophilic patients a single nucleotide polymorphism located upstream the gene of interferon lambda 3 (IFNλ3) has been associated with both spontaneous viral clearance and sustained virological response after antiviral treatment. The aim of this study was to assess whether the rs12979860 polymorphism was a predictor of spontaneous viral clearance and of sustained virological response after antiviral therapy in a large cohort of haemophilic patients with HCV infection. The rs12979860 polymorphism, defined as CC genotype or T allele, was tested in a cohort of 342 haemophilic patients and evaluated as predictor of spontaneous clearance or response to antiviral therapy. By multivariate regression analysis the IFNλ3 CC genotype was an independent predictor of spontaneous viral clearance (odds ratio: 3.7, 95% confidence interval: 2.0–6.8). Sustained virological response rates were doubled in patients with the CC genotype than in those with the T allele (78% vs 44%; p<0.001), especially in patients with HCV type 1 (67% vs 32%; p<0.001) and higher sustained response rates were observed in patients with the CC genotype who did not achieve rapid virological response (61% vs 30% in T allele patients; p=0.006).
Angiogenic cytokines in mesothelioma: a study of VEGF, FGF‐1 and ‐2, and TGF β expression

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGF‐1 and ‐2), and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) are potent angiogenic cytokines. Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura presents with a high intra‐tumoural microvascular density (IMD) which also has prognostic relevance. This study was designed to verify the immunohistochemical expression of the angiogenic cytokines in mesothelioma as well as in non‐neoplastic human mesothelial cells and to study the individual as well as the combined expression of these cytokines in mesothelioma in relation to both IMD and prognosis. In addition, four mesothelioma cell lines were studied by ELISA for the secretion of VEGF and FGF‐2 in their supernatants and were shown to contain high levels of both of these cytokines. Immunohistochemically, VEGF, FGF‐1 and ‐2, and TGFβ immunoreactivity was present in 81, 67, 92 and 96 per cent of mesotheliomas, and in 20, 50, 40, and 10 per cent of samples of the non‐neoplastic mesothelium, respectively. Co‐ordinate expression of the cytokines was observed whereby mesotheliomas expressed more than one cytokine. The combined immunohistochemical expression levels for all four cytokines correlated significantly with both IMD ( p=0·01) and prognosis ( p=0·0013). When studied individually, high FGF‐2 expression correlated best with more tumour aggressiveness and worse prognosis for mesothelioma ( p=0·0011). There was no significant correlation between prognosis and immunoexpression of VEGF ( p=0·07), FGF‐1 ( p=0·3), or TGFβ ( p=0·1), or between IMD and any of the cytokines studied individually. These data support the assertion that selective angiogenic cytokines might contribute to the progressive changes of mesothelioma by tumour angiogenesis. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transformation of Trichothecenes in Ileal Digesta and Faeces from Pigs

The capacity of pig gastrointestinal microflora to metabolise the trichothecenes 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-acDON) and nivalenol (NIV) was investigated. 3-acDON was deacetylated to DON in anaerobic incubations with pig faeces collected at different pig farms. Furthermore, both 3-acDON and NIV were metabolised to the corresponding de-epoxy metabolite in these incubates. Five pigs, in which the gastrointestinal microflora lacked the ability to transform 3-acDON and NIV to their corresponding de-epoxidated metabolites, were given low levels of DON in the feed for seven weeks. The gastrointestinal micro-organisms did not acquire the de-epoxidation ability during the seven week long exposure period. At the end of the exposure period, faeces from pigs with a known de-epoxidation ability was spread out in the pens and left for 24 hours. One week after the faeces had been spread out in the pens, the de-epoxidation ability was found in faecal incubations from four out of five experimental pigs. This change in metabolic ability of the intestinal de-epoxidation ability was not accompanied by any detectable changes in the DNA-profiles of the bacterial community composition. The results show that the intestinal de-epoxidation ability is common at pig farms in the Uppsala area, and that the ability may be transferred between pigs in a stock.
Variation in the TNF Gene Promoter and Risk of Osteolysis After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Genetic factors may influence implant failure caused by osteolysis after THA. In an association study of 481 subjects after THA, we found that carriage of the TNF‐238A allele was associated with an increased incidence of osteolysis versus noncarriage (odds ratio, 1.7) and was independent of other risk factors. Genetic and environmental factors influence implant survival after THA.
Prevalence of and attitudes about concussion in Irish schools' rugby union players.

BACKGROUND Youth rugby players represent 45.2% (N = 69,472) of the Irish rugby union playing population. The risk and consequences of concussion injury are of particular concern in these young athletes, but limited epidemiological data exists. This study investigated annual and lifetime prevalence of concussion in an Irish schoolboy rugby union cohort. METHODS An anonymous cross-sectional survey of youth rugby players was conducted. Diagnosed concussion was defined as an incident where diagnosis was confirmed by a health professional or coach. Demographics, prevalence, and attitudes to concussion were collated. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square test, t-tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and logistic regression. RESULTS Overall, 304 youth (aged 12-18 years) responded. Lifetime prevalence of diagnosed concussion was 19.4%, with annual (2010) prevalence 6.6%. Approximately 25.4% of players with diagnosed concussions returned to play without medical advice. Internal motivation (11.8%) was the predominant factor in feeling pressure to play while concussed. A desire for further concussion education was expressed by 89.5% of participants. CONCLUSIONS Reform is required to prevent and manage concussion injuries among youth players in the rugby union, including mandatory education specific to concussion and implementation of return-to-play protocols. These findings have relevance for governing bodies, coaches, clinicians, schools, parents, and rugby union players.
Optimal Method of Collection of First-Void Urine for Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Men

ABSTRACT First-void urine (FVU) is the preferred specimen for the diagnosis of urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in men. We have developed FirstBurst, a urine collection device that collects the first 4 to 5 ml of FVU and yields a specimen with a sixfold higher C. trachomatis organism load than the regular urine cup by quantitative PCR (32,533 versus 5,271 plasmids/ml; P < 0.0001). Consequently, the use of FirstBurst to collect a urine sample improved the sensitivity of a rapid test for Chlamydia over testing of samples collected with a urine cup (82 versus 47% sensitivity using PCR as a reference; P < 0.0015).
Survival Probability of Narrow and Standard-Diameter Implants with Different Implant-Abutment Connection Designs.

PURPOSE To investigate the probability of survival of different implant-abutment connection designs in narrow versus standard-diameter implants supporting anterior crowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 108 implants of either 3.5-mm or 4.0-mm diameter (narrow and standard, respectively) (10 mm in length, Implacil de Bortoli) were divided into six groups (n=18 each) as follows: external hexagon 3.5 mm or 4.0 mm (EH3.5 or EH4.0), internal hexagon 3.5 mm or 4.0 mm (IH3.5 or IH4.0), and Morse taper 3.5 mm or 4.0 mm (MT3.5 or MT4.0). The corresponding abutments were screwed to the implants, and standardized maxillary central incisor metal crowns were cemented and subjected to step-stress accelerated life testing in water. Use-level probability Weibull curves and reliability for a mission of 50,000 and 100,000 cycles at 100 N and 150 N (90% 2-sided confidence intervals [CI]) were calculated. Polarized-light and scanning electron microscopes were used to assess the failure modes. RESULTS The calculated reliability with 90% CI for a mission of 50,000 cycles at 100 N and 150 N showed that cumulative damage from the respective loads would lead to ~93% and ~18% implant-supported restoration survival in group EH3.5, ~99% and ~1% in group IH3.5, ~97% and ~89% in the MT3.5, ~100% and ~99% in the group EH4.0, ~100% and ~100% in group IH4.0, and ~99% and ~99% in group MT4.0. For the 100,000-cycle mission, the probability of survival estimated at 100 N and 150 N was, respectively: 0% for EH3.5 and IH3.5 at both load levels, ~96% and ~87% for the MT3.5, 100% and ~99% for EH4.0, 100% and ~99% for IH4.0, and 98% and ~92% for the MT4.0. CONCLUSION A significant decrease in the probability of survival as a function of elapsed fatigue cycles and load increase was observed for narrow implants only with EH and IH implant-abutment connections, but not on Morse taper.
Industrial Symbiosis Dynamics and the Problem of Equivalence: Proposal for a Comparative Framework

Industrial symbiosis (IS), one of the founding notions within the field of industrial ecology, has diffused throughout significant parts of the world as a practice that can reduce the ecological impact of the industrial processes of groups of firms. In this article, we propose a fresh look at this research topic, building on the considerable advances that have been made in the last 15 years in understanding how IS comes about. We propose a conceptual and theoretical framework for taking on the challenge of comparative analysis at a global level. This requires developing an approach to address a solution to the problem of equivalence: the difficulty of comparing instances of IS across different institutional contexts. The proposed framework emphasizes IS as a process and attempts to address the obstacles to comparative study by (1) identifying terminology to examine IS variants, (2) providing a typology of IS dynamics, and (3) formulating key research questions to illuminate a way forward. In developing our argument, we build on the collective experiences of collaborative research efforts in North America, Europe, and Asia as evidenced in recent overviews of the literature.
Prospective Comparison of the Diagnostic Potential of Real-Time PCR, Double-Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Galactomannan, and a (1→3)-β-d-Glucan Test in Weekly Screening for Invasive Aspergillosis in Patients with Hematological Disorders

ABSTRACT The establishment of an optimal noninvasive method for diagnosing invasive aspergillosis (IA) is needed to improve the management of this life-threatening infection in patients with hematological disorders, and a number of noninvasive tests for IA that target different fungal components, including galactomannan, (1→3)-β-d-glucan (BDG), and Aspergillus DNA, have been developed. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the diagnostic potential of three noninvasive tests for IA that were used in a weekly screening strategy: the double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for galactomannan (Platelia Aspergillus), a real-time PCR assay for Aspergillus DNA (GeniQ-Asper), and an assay for BDG (β-glucan Wako). We analyzed 149 consecutive treatment episodes in 96 patients with hematological disorders who were at high risk for IA and diagnosed 9 proven IA cases, 2 probable IA cases, and 13 possible invasive fugal infections. In a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the area under the ROC curve was greatest for ELISA, using two consecutive positive results (0.97; P = 0.036 for ELISA versus PCR, P = 0.055 for ELISA versus BDG). Based on the ROC curve, the cutoff for the ELISA could be reduced to an optical density index (O.D.I.) of 0.6. With the use of this cutoff for ELISA and cutoffs for PCR and BDG that give a comparable level of specificity, the sensitivity/specificity/positive predictive value/negative predictive value of the ELISA and the PCR and BDG tests were 1.00/0.93/0.55/1.00, 0.55/0.93/0.40/0.96, and 0.55/0.93/0.40/0.96, respectively. In conclusion, among these weekly screening tests for IA, the double-sandwich ELISA test was the most sensitive at predicting the diagnosis of IA in high-risk patients with hematological disorders, using a reduced cutoff of 0.6 O.D. I.
Viral Diversity in Hot Springs of Pozzuoli, Italy, and Characterization of a Unique Archaeal Virus, Acidianus Bottle-Shaped Virus, from a New Family, the Ampullaviridae

ABSTRACT Virus-like particles with five different morphotypes were observed in an enriched environmental sample from a hot, acidic spring (87 to 93°C, pH 1.5) in Pozzuoli, Italy. The morphotypes included rigid rods, flexible filaments, and novel, exceptional forms. Particles of each type were isolated, and they were shown to represent viable virions of five novel viruses which infect members of the hyperthermophilic archaeal genus Acidianus. One of these, named the Acidianus bottle-shaped virus, ABV, exhibits a previously unreported morphotype. The bottle-shaped virion carries an envelope which encases a funnel-shaped core. The pointed end of the virion is likely to be involved in adsorption and channeling of viral DNA into host cells. The broad end exhibits 20 (± 2) thin filaments which appear to be inserted into a disk, or ring, and are interconnected at their bases. These filaments are apparently not involved in adsorption. ABV virions contain six proteins in the size range 15 to 80 kDa and a 23.9-kb linear, double-stranded DNA genome. Virus replication does not cause lysis of host cells. On the basis of its unique morphotype and structure, we propose to assign ABV to a new viral family, the Ampullaviridae.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to inhalation of chlorine gas in sheep.

BACKGROUND Toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) are potential terrorist weapons. Several TICs, such as chlorine, act primarily on the respiratory tract, but knowledge of the pathophysiology and treatment of these injuries is inadequate. This study aims to characterize the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by chlorine gas (Cl2) inhalation in a large-animal model. METHODS Anesthetized female sheep were ventilated with 300 L of a Cl2/air/oxygen mixture for 30 minutes. In phase 1 (n = 35), doses were 0 ppm (Group 1, n = 6); 120 ppm (Group 2, n = 6); 240 to 350 ppm (Group 3, n = 11); and 400 to 500 ppm (Group 4, n = 12). In phase 2 (n = 17), doses were 0 ppm (Group 5, n = 5); 60 ppm (Group 6, n = 5); and 90 ppm (Group 7, n = 7), and the multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET) was used to characterize the etiology of hypoxemia. Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed daily for all animals. RESULTS In Phase 1, lung function was well maintained in Group 1; Cl2 caused immediate and sustained acute lung injury (PaO2-to-FiO2 ratio, PFR<3.0) in Group 2 and ARDS (PFR<2.0) in Groups 3 and 4. All animals in Groups 1 and 2 survived 96 hours. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed dose-related differences in survival (log-rank test, p < 0.0001). Logistic regression identified 280 ppm as the lethal dose 50%. CT and histopathology demonstrated lesions of both small airways and alveoli. In Phase 2, MIGET showed diversion of blood flow from normal to true-shunt lung compartments and, transiently, to poorly ventilated compartments. CONCLUSIONS Cl2 causes severe, dose-related lung injury, with features seen in both smoke inhalation and in ARDS secondary to systemic disease. This model will be used to test new therapeutic modalities.