Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Escherichia coli fimbriae recognizing sialyl galactosides

Fimbriae recognizing sialyl galactosides (S fimbriae) were purified from an Escherichia coli strain. The S fimbriae were morphologically identical to type 1 and P fimbriae of E. coli and showed a hemagglutination that was abolished when erythrocytes were treated with neuraminidase. Hemagglutination by the purified fimbriae was inhibited by orosomucoid but not by its desialylated derivative. Of the oligosaccharides tested, sialyl-(alpha 2-3)-lactose and sialyl-(alpha 2-3)-N-acetyllactosamine had the strongest inhibitory activities. It was concluded that S fimbriae have the strongest affinity for (alpha 2-3)-linked sialyl galactosides. In the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the hyperimmune serum to the S fimbriae reacted strongly with the homologous antigen but not with type 1, P, or nonhemagglutinating KS71C fimbriae of E. coli. Analogously, the hyperimmune sera to the other E. coli fimbriae did not react with the purified S fimbriae. The immunoprecipitation assay showed that S fimbriae on different E. coli serotypes shared immunological cross-reactivity.
Early abortion induction by a combination of mifepristone and oral misoprostol: a comparison between two dose regimens of misoprostol and their effect on blood pressure

Objectives 1. To investigate the efficacy of 800 μg misoprostol (a PGE1 analogue) when administered to women pretreated with mifepristone for early pregnancy termination. 2. To establish means of minimising gastrointestinal side effects by comparing two different misoprostol regimens. The impact of these regimens on blood pressure was investigated in a subgroup of patients.
Osteopontin expression and function: Role in bone remodeling

The cytokine and cell attachment protein osteopontin (OPN) is not necessary for the development and survival of mice in a clean animal facility. The primary role of OPN appears to be that of facilitating recovery of the organism after injury or infection, which generally causes an increase in its expression. It also is essential for some forms of bone remodeling. OPN stimulates cellular signaling pathways via various receptors found on most cell types and can encourage cell migration. OPN modulates immune and inflammatory responses and possibly negatively regulates Ras signaling pathways. Its apparent ability to enhance cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis may explain why the metastatic proficiency of tumor cells increases with increased OPN expression. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppls. 30/31:92–102, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self-Reported Psychopathology in Polydrug Users

There is a large body of work investigating concurrent associations between polysubstance use and psychopathology, but much of this work has either pre-dated or failed to account for the complex and culturally specific patterns of contemporary drug use. In particular, attendees of dance music events report a greater drug history than their peers and engage in a unique lifestyle. To further investigate the consequences of this type of drug use, 100 subjects who regularly attended dance music events were administered a battery of self-report psychiatric symptom scales. This battery contained the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D), the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Padua Inventory Revised and additional questions about substance use. Our study population included abstainers and drug users with a wide history of use. We demonstrated strong associations between use of many different drugs, suggesting that polydrug use is the norm in this type of population. We found weak, but statistically significant, correlations between use of alcohol (p < 0.05), amphetamine (p < 0.01) and ecstasy (p < 0.01) with self-reported score on the BAI. There were also positive associations between dissociative symptomatology and the use of amphetamine (p < 0.05) and cocaine (p < 0.05). Furthermore, weekly unit intake of alcohol positively correlated with score on the CES-D (p < 0.05). As polydrug use was the norm in this sample, we performed regression analysis to investigate the contribution of multiple drug use on self-report. This showed that weekly use of alcohol, and frequency of use of amyl nitrate and cigarettes were significant predictors of BAI score. However, the majority of subjects reported being unworried by these symptoms, which may represent a lack of self-awareness, or acceptance of them as the subacute effects of substance use. It remains to be determined at what point adverse effects of drug use begin to interfere with day-to-day life.
An RF-Driven Josephson Bifurcation Amplifier for Quantum Measurements

We have constructed a new type of amplifier whose primary purpose is the readout of superconducting quantum bits. It is based on the transition of an RF-driven Josephson junction between two distinct oscillation states near a dynamical bifurcation point. The main advantages of this new amplifier are speed, high-sensitivity, low back-action, and the absence of on-chip dissipation. Pulsed microwave reflection measurements on nanofabricated Al junctions show that actual devices attain the performance predicted by theory.
Evolution of the feeding mechanism in primitive actionopterygian fishes: A functional anatomical analysis of Polypterus, Lepisosteus, and Amia

The comparative functional anatomy of feeding in Polypterus senegalus, Lepisosteus oculatus, and Amia calva, three primitive actinopterygian fishes, was studied by high‐speed cinematography (200 frames per second) synchronized with electromyographic recordings of cranial muscle activity. Several characters of the feeding mechanism have been identified as primitive for actinopterygian fishes: (1) Mandibular depression is mediated by the sternohyoideus muscle via the hyoid apparatus and mandibulohyoid ligament. (2) The obliquus inferioris and sternohyoideus muscles exhibit synchronous activity at the onset of the expansive phase of jaw movement. (3) Activity in the adductor operculi occurs in a double burst pattern—an initial burst at the onset of the expansive phase, followed by a burst after the jaws have closed. (4) A median septum divides the sternohyoideus muscle into right and left halves which are asymmetrically active during chewing and manipulation of prey. (5) Peak hyoid depression occurs only after peak gape has been reached and the hyoid apparatus remains depressed after the jaws have closed. (6) The neurocranium is elevated by the epaxial muscles during the expansive phase. (7) The adductor mandibulae complex is divided into three major sections—an anterior (suborbital) division, a medial division, and a posterolateral division.
Litorisediminivivensgilvus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, aerobic and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterium, designated YSM-17T, was isolated from tidal flat sediment collected from the South Sea, South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The novel strain grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 6.5-8.0 and in the presence of 2.0-3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YSM-17T forms a distinct evolutionary lineage independent of other taxa in the family Rhodobacteraceae. Strain YSM-17T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 96.8 and 96.6 % to the type strains of Pseudopelagicola gijangensis and Pelagicola litoralis, respectively, and of less than 96.5 % to the type strains of other recognized taxa. Strain YSM-17T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids detected in strain YSM-17T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified aminolipid. The fatty acid and polar lipid profiles of strain YSM-17T were distinguished from those of the genera Pseudopelagicola and Pelagicola. The DNA G+C content of strain YSM-17T was 64.6±0.04 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic properties, strain YSM-17T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Litorisediminivivensgilvus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Litorisediminivivensgilvus is YSM-17T (=KCTC 52249T=NBRC 112330T).
Primary Structure of Dihydrofolate Reductase and Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein L36 Genes from the Basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus

We amplified and sequenced the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene of the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus. Downstream of the DHFR coding region, a mitochondrial (mt) ribosomal protein L36 (RPL36) gene was discovered in the opposite orientation to DHFR gene. Putative polyadenylation signals of the two genes overlapped, both containing the 8-bp palindrome 5′-aatatatt-3′. The finding that C. cinereus DHFR gene is closely clustered with a mt protein gene strongly suggests that C. cinereus DHFR is closely related to mt function and evolution. The amino acid sequence of C. cinereus DHFR is most homologous to eukaryotic proteins such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Pneumocystis carinii DHFRs. However, the sequence of C. cinereus mt RPL36 closely resembles RPL36 of bacteria and cyanobacteria such as Synechocystis sp. and Escherichia coli. This result strongly supports the serial endosymbiotic theory of the development of ancestral eukaryotes, and suggests that C. cinereus mt RPL36 gene originated from the ancestral eubacterial genome.
Age and gender predict the outcome of treatment for Graves' hyperthyroidism.

The response to treatment in Graves' hyperthyroidism is unpredictable, and factors postulated to predict outcome have not generally proved clinically useful or been widely adopted in clinical practice. We audited outcome in 536 patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism presenting consecutively to determine whether simple clinical features predict disease presentation and response to treatment. At presentation males had slightly more severe biochemical hyperthyroidism [free T4: males, 64.3 +/- 3.0 pmol/L (mean +/- SE); females, 61.3 +/- 1.7 (P = 0.45); free T3: males, 24.3 +/- 1.5 pmol/L; females, 21.0 +/- 0.6, (P = 0.04)]. Patients less than 40 yr at diagnosis had more severe hyperthyroidism than patients more than 40 yr old [free T4: <40 yr, 64.3 +/- 2.0; >40 yr, 56.7 +/- 2.3 (P = 0.02); free T3: <40 yr, 22.8 +/- 0.8; >40 yr, 19.0 +/- 0.9 (P = 0.003)]. Males had a lower remission rate than females after a course of antithyroid medication [19.6% vs. 40%; odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17-0.79; P < 0.01]. Similarly, patients aged less than 40 yr had a lower remission rate than older patients (32.6% vs. 47.8%; odds ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.32-0.87; P = 0.01). One dose of radioiodine cured hyperthyroidism in fewer males than females (47% vs. 74%; P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated male sex (odds ratio, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.31-5.98; P = 0.008), serum free T4 concentration at diagnosis (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.0-1.04; P = 0.01), and dose of radioiodine administered (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-1.00; P = 0.001) were contributing factors associated with failure to respond to a single dose of radioiodine. As males and younger patients are more likely to fail to respond to medical treatment, and male patients are likewise less likely to respond to a single dose of radioiodine, we suggest that those groups with low remission rates should be offered definitive treatment with radioiodine or surgery soon after presentation and that the value of higher initial doses of radioiodine in males be evaluated.
Effects of gum chewing on abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and intake adherence to polyethylene glycol solution of patients in colonoscopy preparation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE This study aimed to reduce the common discomfort of colonoscopy patients when taking a bowel cleansing solution. Gum chewing, a form of sham feeding, was examined as a possible efficient intervention to reduce the discomfort from consuming polyethylene glycol. BACKGROUND Sham feeding is a method that is similar to food intake, which stimulates the cephalic-vagal reflex, promotes secretion of gastrointestinal hormones, and stimulates movement of the gastrointestinal tract. Sham feeding with chewing gum has been shown to promote bowel motility. DESIGN This was an experimental study utilising a randomised control group post-test design. METHODS This study was conducted in Seoul, Korea from August-October 2012. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups; a gum-chewing group (n = 66) or a control group (n = 65). In the control group, patients drank a polyethylene glycol solution according to the general protocol. For the gum-chewing group, patients had to chew one stick of sugarless gum during the pause interval of drinking the polyethylene glycol solution. Results were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, t-test, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS The gum-chewing group reported significantly lower abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting and took a shorter time to ingest the polyethylene glycol solution than the control group. CONCLUSION Gum chewing is efficient in improving abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and the intake adherence of patients in colonoscopy preparation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Gum chewing was demonstrated by this study to be a potentially effective nursing intervention that is easy for patients to perform with simple instructions and is low cost with no side effects.
Expression of Phospho enol pyruvate Carboxylase and Phospho enol pyruvate Carboxylase Kinase Genes . Implications for Genotypic Capacity and Phenotypic Plasticity in the Expression of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism 1

In plants with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), dark CO2 uptake is mediated by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), an enzyme that can be regulated at transcriptional and posttranslational levels. Reversible phosphorylation of PEPC is catalyzed by a dedicated PEPC kinase, which in turn is regulated at the transcriptional level over the 24-h cycle in CAM plants. PEPC kinase controls the day/night regulation of PEPC during the CAM cycle, thus facilitating plasticity for optimizing CO2 uptake under different environmental conditions. To understand the importance of PEPC kinase in relation to its target PEPC in terms of CAM performance, the expression of the genes encoding the two enzymes was investigated in four species of Clusia that have photosynthetic patterns ranging from C3 photosynthesis to constitutive CAM. By linking changes in the expression of PEPC and PEPC kinase to day/night patterns of leaf gas exchange, organic acid, and soluble sugar contents under different environmental conditions, the genetic and metabolic limitations to CAM plasticity were assessed. The results indicate that PEPC expression is a major factor underpinning the genotypic capacity for CAM and that PEPC kinase expression does not appear to limit CAM. The day/night regulation of Ppck transcript abundance was found to be a consequence of CAM and the day/night cycling of associated metabolites, rather than the primary controlling factor for the temporal separation of carboxylation processes.
Two-dose daclizumab regimen in simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant recipients: primary endpoint analysis of a multicenter, randomized study1

Background. Controversy exists about the optimal immunosuppressive regimen in simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant (SKPT) recipients. This study determined the safety and efficacy of two dosing regimens of daclizumab compared with no antibody induction in SKPT recipients receiving tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. Methods. A total of 297 SKPT patients were enrolled in this prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label study. The patients were randomized into three groups: daclizumab 1 mg/kg per dose every 14 days for five doses (group I, n=107), daclizumab 2 mg/kg per dose every 14 days for two doses (group II, n=112), and no antibody induction (group III, n=78). All patients received tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids as maintenance immunosuppression. Results. Demographic and transplant characteristics were similar among the groups. At 6 months, there were no differences in patient, kidney, and pancreas graft survival rates among the three groups. The probability of either kidney or pancreas allograft rejection at 6 months was 21%, 17%, and 32% in groups I, II, and III, respectively (P =0.042). The median time to first acute rejection of either the kidney or pancreas was 23 days in group I, 44 days in group II, and 20 days in group III (group I vs. II, P =0.078; group II vs. III, P =0.016). At 6 months, the actuarial event-free survival (no acute rejection, allograft loss, or death) rates were 66%, 77%, and 56% in groups I, II, and III, respectively (group I vs. III, P =0.119; group II vs. III, P =0.002). There were no differences in the incidence of serious adverse events including infectious complications among the groups. All three groups demonstrate excellent kidney and pancreas function at 6 months. Conclusions. Daclizumab is safe and effective in reducing the incidence of acute rejection in SKPT recipients compared with no antibody induction. Moreover, the two-dose regimen of daclizumab (2 mg/kg on days 0 and 14) compares favorably with the standard five-dose regimen.
Sub-Gaussian mean estimators

We discuss the possibilities and limitations of estimating the mean of a real-valued random variable from independent and identically distributed observations from a non-asymptotic point of view. In particular, we define estimators with a sub-Gaussian behavior even for certain heavy-tailed distributions. We also prove various impossibility results for mean estimators.
Zinc ions promote Alzheimer Aβ aggregation via population shift of polymorphic states

Although a key factor in Alzheimer’s disease etiology is enrichment of Zn2+ in aggregates, and there are data suggesting that zinc promotes aggregation, how Zn2+-Aβ coordination promotes aggregation is elusive. Here we probe the structures and mechanisms through which Zn2+ can affect amyloidosis. By covalently linking fragments (that have experiment-based coordinates) we observed that, in oligomeric Zn2+-Aβ42, Zn2+ can simultaneously coordinate intra- and intermolecularly, bridging two peptides. Zinc coordination significantly decreases the solvation energy for large Zn2+-Aβ42 oligomers and thus enhances their aggregation tendency. Zn2+ binding does not change the β-sheet association around the C-terminal hydrophobic region; however, it shifts the relative population of the preexisting amyloid polymorphic ensembles. As a result, although a parallel β-sheet arrangement is still preferred, antiparallel and other less structured assemblies are stabilized, also becoming major species. Overall, Zn2+ coordination promotes Aβ42 aggregation leading to less uniform structures. Our replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations further reproduced an experimental observation that the increasing Zn2+ concentration could slow down the aggregation rate, even though the aggregation rates are still much higher than in Zn2+-free solution.
Enterotoxigenicity of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Food Handlers during Hajj Season in Saudi Arabia

Food poisoning during Hajj season is one of the main hazardous issues where most of the health services in Saudi Arabia are targeting to minimize every year during Hajj seasons. Ordinarily, food handlers are subjected to medical examination before assignment to work. However, they are mostly lacking proper training in food handling operations, mass feeding, and sanitary practices. This situation may encourage causing food poisoning especially with staphylococcus enterotoxins. 1516 clinical specimens from food handlers of different nationalities in Makkah were microbiologically investigated for bacterial pathogens during the hajj seasons of 2001-2002 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 129 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were isolated. Of which, 35% produced enterotoxins A, B, C and D singly or in pairs, when such enterotoxins were evaluated by Reversed Passive Latex Agglutination test (RPLA). Enterotoxins C and A, elaborated by 15.5% and 12.4%, isolates respectively, which showed the highest percentage. They were mostly isolated from nasal swabs than throat swabs. All isolates were resistant to Penicillin G. On the other hand, they were sensitive to Clindamycin, Oxacillin and Gentamicin when tested by Kirby-Bauer method. The (RPLA) method yielded satisfactory results.
Cytokine-Based Immunotherapy for Advanced Kidney Cancer: Past Results and Future Perspectives in the Era of Molecularly Targeted Agents

Until recently, immunotherapy has been the only therapeutic option available for patients with advanced kidney cancer, even though different choices were often made on the two sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The absence of alternatives made different immunotherapeutic approaches common practice, even with few adequate randomized studies that addressed key questions, such as the best treatment and schedule, and so on. The recent registration of the first two, molecularly targeted, agents Sorafenib and Sunitinib could (and will) render many therapeutic approaches, e.g., single-agent Interferon, obsolete. In this review, we shall cover the past achievements obtained so far with cytokine-based immunotherapy and discuss the present role of immunotherapy in the era of molecularly targeted agents. In particular, specific indications for immunotherapy are emerging (e.g., the use of Interleukin-2 in patients with high CAIX expression), while new trials are ongoing to test immunotherapy in combination with molecularly targeted agents, such as Sorafenib, Sunitinib, or Bevacizumab.
A New Class of Caulobacter crescentusFlagellar Genes

ABSTRACT Eight Caulobacter crescentus flagellar genes,flmA, flmB, flmC, flmD,flmE, flmF, flmG, andflmH, have been cloned and characterized. These eight genes are clustered in pairs (flmAB, flmCD,flmEF, and flmGH) that appear to be structurally organized as operons. Homology comparisons suggest that the proteins encoded by the flm genes may be involved in posttranslational modification of flagellins or proteins that interact with flagellin monomers prior to their assembly into a flagellar filament. Expression of the flmAB, flmEF, andflmGH operons was shown to occur primarily in predivisional cells. In contrast, the flmCD operon was expressed throughout the cell cycle, with only a twofold increase in predivisional cells. The expression of the three temporally regulated operons was subject to positive regulation by the CtrA response regulator protein. Mutations in class II and III flagellar genes had no significant effect on the expression of the flm genes. Furthermore, the flm genes did not affect the expression of class II or class III flagellar genes. However, mutations in theflm genes did result in reduced synthesis of the class IV flagellin proteins. Taken together, these data indicate that theflm operons belong to a new class of flagellar genes.