Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Skinny Hedgehog, an Acyltransferase Required for Palmitoylation and Activity of the Hedgehog Signal

One of the most dominant influences in the patterning of multicellular embryos is exerted by the Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted signaling proteins. Here, we identify a segment polarity gene in Drosophila melanogaster, skinny hedgehog(ski), and show that its product is required in Hh-expressing cells for production of appropriate signaling activity in embryos and in the imaginal precursors of adult tissues. Theski gene encodes an apparent acyltransferase, and we provide genetic and biochemical evidence that Hh proteins from skimutant cells retain carboxyl-terminal cholesterol modification but lack amino-terminal palmitate modification. Our results suggest thatski encodes an enzyme that acts within the secretory pathway to catalyze amino-terminal palmitoylation of Hh, and further demonstrate that this lipid modification is required for the embryonic and larval patterning activities of the Hh signal.
The Knowledge, Attitudes and Lifestyle Practices of Hypertensive Patients in the Cape Coast Metropolis-Ghana

Aims: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and lifestyle practices of hypertensive patients to help educate them to properly manage the condition and help reduce incidence among the populace. Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive survey. Place and Duration of Study: The Central Regional Hospital (Pedu), the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital (OLA) and the University of Cape Coast Hospital (UCC), between August 2014 and December 2014. Methodology: We included 400 patients (158 males, 242 females; age range 20-89 years) with hypertension. Patients BMI’s were determined as well as information on their knowledge of hypertension, attitudes towards exercise and dietary practices. Barriers to maintaining healthy lifestyles were also identified. Original Research Article Anowie and Darkwa; JSRR, 8(7): 1-15, 2015; Article no.JSRR. 19891 2 Results: Out of the 400 patients, 282 (71%) were overweight and obese. The following barriers countered participants’ efforts to maintain healthy life styles; “lack of education”, “fear”, “financial constraint,” and “lack of commitment. ” Logistic regression showed that participants’ occupation significantly influenced their knowledge levels positively with P=. 012 at α-level of 0.05. Conclusion: More than 95% (n=383) of the study participants showed a poor level of knowledge in the causes, signs and symptoms, risk factors, prevention and treatment of hypertension. Participants’ who had occupations and worked were more knowledgeable about the condition than those who had no occupation and no regular jobs. Hypertension’s association with low levels of awareness, drug treatment, and blood pressure control identified in past studies still exist within current hypertension populations. Population-based prevention strategies, such as reduction in salt intake and integration of hypertension care into primary care need to be reviewed.
Medical Career Choices: Traditional and New Possibilities

CONTROVERSY CONTINUES OVER HOW PHYSICIANS SHOULD BE employed in the United States. Some workforce experts believe there is a physician oversupply, arguing that allopathic, osteopathic, and international medical graduates are all competing for limited practice opportunities in the managed care setting. Other experts have advocated the expansion of US medical school positions, claiming that physician demand has not lessened despite a perceived oversupply. Yet others continue to hold that a “maldistribution” of physicians into urban and suburban areas, rather than rural and inner-city regions, is the root of the problem. Recent data suggest that this practice disparity, the target of primary care initiatives in many medical schools, has not closed, and may even have widened. Whatever the outcome of the physician workforce debate, physicians will face a changing landscape of clinical practice roles as well as increased availability of alternate career options. Some medical graduates are choosing to reject traditional clinical roles altogether. In this issue, we explore the continuing evolution of physicians’ clinical and nonclinical roles, including additional career possibilities. The Association of American Medical Colleges has monitored medical students’ future practice patterns since 1978, polling medical students each year prior to graduation to ask them about their career plans. In this issue, Dr Richard and colleagues examine 10 years of data from the questionnaire relevant to medical student career decisions, especially those outside traditional clinical medicine. Physicians seeking an alternative path have frequently sought additional graduate or professional degrees to expand their career options. Many medical schools have responded to the demand by offering combined degree programs, traditionally in public health and health policy, and, more recently, in business and law. The juris doctor degree is one possibility that has grown in popularity in the past decade: in this issue, Matthew Howard, MD, JD, outlines the development of legal medicine and the roles that physicians with legal training can play. In this era of managed care, training in business may be an asset. Not only are some physicians seeking business knowledge to increase their proficiency in the financial affairs of medicine, but businesses are also seeking persons with MD and combined MD/PhD degrees to bring new knowledge to the workplace. Michael Ennen examines why firms are hiring physicians as consultants. What possible choices exist for medical students who decide to contribute, outside of traditional research, to the advancement of medical science? For those with patience, medical editing is a possibility. The effort that brings you JAMA and MSJAMA—long hours of editing, reediting, and copyediting—is explored by Jerome Kassirer, MD, a former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Adenovirus-transformed cells restrict Herpes simplex virus replication

A cell line that normally supports the replication of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 became resistant to these viruses after transformation by simian adenovirus 7. Kinetic studies of the mechanism of resistance demonstrated that both herpesviruses were able to attach to the transformed cells and express some early genomic functions, as demonstrated by the presence of low levels of viral thymidine kinase. However, isopycnic centrifugation studies of the abortive system failed to detect viral deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, whereas indirect immunofluorescent studies of viral proteins revealed that less than 10 per cent of the cells contained these viral macromolecules at any given time. Collectively the data suggest that after transformation by simian adenovirus 7 these cells are altered so as to render them resistant or incapable of supporting the growth of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. The results further suggest that the block occurs after viral absorption and prior to viral deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis.
Isoelectric Focusing in an Immobilized pH Gradient for the Detection of Intrathecal IgG in Cerebrospinal Fluid: Sensitivity and Specificity for the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Cerebrospinal fluid and serum from 192 patients was analysed for the presence of intrathecally synthesized oligoclonal IgG bands using isoelectric focusing in an immobilized pH gradient pH7–10. The sensitivity of this method for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) was 95% (21 of 22), or 75% if patients with suspected MS were included. The specificity for the diagnosis of MS was 98%, or 96% if the suspected MS patients were included. The very high specificity may be because the intrathecally synthesized oligoclonal IgG associated with MS is more alkaline than IgG from serum and is better detected in an immobilized alkaline pH gradient.
The magnetized bellows of Betelgeuse

We present calculations for a magnetised hybrid wind model for Betelegeuse ( Orionis). The model is a direct application of our previously derived theory, combining a canonical Weber-Davis (WD) stellar wind with dust grains in the envelope of an AGB star (see Thirumalai & Heyl 2010). The resulting hybrid picture provides a mechanism for solving the problem of lifting stellar material up from the photosphere (e.g. Harper et al. 2009; Guandalini et al. 2006; Jura 1984) and into the circumstellar envelope. It also predicts wind velocities in agreement with current estimates. Our approach reveals that magnetic elds in supergiant stars like Betelgeuse (see Auri ere et al. 2010), may play a vital role in determining the nature of the stellar outow and consequently, opens a new avenue of investigation in the eld of hybrid stellar winds.
Current status of the dysplastic melanocytic nevus

The description of the dysplastic melanocytic nevus (DMN) has provided not only a unique opportunity to potentially identify individuals at increased risk for the development of melanoma but also another model for the study of tumorigenesis (tumor progression) in humans (1-17). The advantages of studying tumor progression of melanocytic proliferations of the skin have been oudined and in essence are related to easy accessibility on the skin surface for observation and removal (8). As in animal models and in other human tissues, the DMN in all likelihood represents an atypical proliferation with some potential for progression to melanoma. At the same time, the very presence of clinically atypical (dysplastic) nevi on an individual seems to convey some increased risk for developing melanoma perhaps independent of a precursor role (9). Despite considerable controversy surrounding DMN over the past decade, there has been a general consensus that DMN are important in the pathogenesis of at least a subset of melanomas but that much more research is needed to clarify the nature and significance of DMN particularly outside the context of familial melanoma. There is also concern that the histologic features of DMN may lack specificity and potentially are more prevalent in the general population than was previously thought (18-20). In the following treatise, the state of affairs surrounding DMN at this time will be briefly summarized and particular issues related to melanocytic dysplasia that merit further attention will be discussed.
Puerarin accelerate scardiac angiogenesis and improves cardiac function of myocardial infarction by upregulating VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2 in rats.

OBJECTIVE The traditional Chinese medicinal puerarin, has long been used to treat cardiovascular diseases, however, the mechanism underlying its effects remain unclear. Here, this study would to investigate the role of puerarin on cardiac angiogenesis and myocardial function induced by myocardial infarction. METHODS Puerarin was treated in rats after left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation and maintained for 4 weeks (diets containing about 50 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg/day). After treatment, cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography and markers of heart failure. Paraffin sections of the heart tissues were used for isolect in GS-IB4 staining. The Mrna and protein expression levels of VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. RESULTS Significantly damaged angiogenesis and slightly increase of VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2 were showed after LAD ligation. Impaired angiogenesis and cardiac function were remarkably improved in puerarin treatment rats with great increase of VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2. CONCLUSION The above results demonstrated that puerarin could accelerate cardiac angiogenesis and improve cardiac function of myocardial infarction rats by upregulating VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2.
Why do adults entitled to free or highly subsidized dental services select fully out-of-pocket-paid care?

OBJECTIVE To investigate patients' reasons for selecting a dental clinic given their choice of free or highly-subsidized dental services. METHODS The study was based on cross-sectional data obtained through phone interviews with adults in Tehran, Iran. The present study included those entitled to free or highly-subsidized dental services (n = 726). The data covered the patients' awareness of subsidized dental services and type of dental clinic for their most recent visit and their reasons for selecting that clinic. Awareness of subsidized dental services was dichotomized as being either aware or unaware of such subsidy. The type of clinic was dichotomized as providing either free or highly-subsidized (FHS) or fully out-of-pocket paid (FOP) services. Free format answers about the subjects' reasons for selecting a particular clinic were later sub-grouped as: convenient access, good technical aspects, good interpersonal aspects, low or reasonable fees, recommendation by a friend, and no reason. Socio-demographic status was based on background. Data analysis included the chi-square test and logistic regression model. RESULTS Of the subjects (n = 726), 60% were women and 58% were under 35 years of age. The subjects' mean age was 33.5 years with no difference by gender (P = 0.24) and the majority had public insurance (91%). Of all the subjects, 60% selected FOP. Good interpersonal aspects were the strongest reason for selecting FOP (OR = 4.6), follow by good technical aspects (OR = 2.3). Those subjects who were unaware of their benefit had 4.6 times the odds of selecting FOP. CONCLUSIONS Despite the opportunity to use highly-subsidized dental services, good interpersonal and good technical aspects lead patients to select private dentists and to pay fully out of pocket.
Influence of therapy on the antioxidant status in patients with melanoma

Background and objective: Some anticancer drugs can result in increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Alkylating agents are the most frequently used drugs in chemotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of malignant melanoma. It is known that triazenes exhibit in vivo activity by alkylation of nucleic acids and proteins, but there is no data about ROS formation during oxidative metabolism. Single agents of most interest for treatment of malignant melanomas include 5‐(3,3‐dimethyltriazene‐1‐yl)‐imidazole‐4‐carboxamide (DTIC) and nitrosoureas such as 1‐(2‐chloroethyl) ‐3‐cyclohexyl‐1‐nitrosourea (CCNU), but complete response to these drugs is rare. The present study aimed to determine whether an oxidative stress occurs during the clinical course of melanoma and the influence of therapy on the antioxidant status of patients with melanoma. For this purpose, we investigated plasma concentrations of MDA as indices of the levels of lipid peroxidation products. In addition, we studied the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in patients with melanoma before any treatment, after surgical removal of melanoma, and after chemotherapy with DTIC or in combination with CCNU of the operated patients.
Influence of pulsed electromagnetic field with different pulse duty cycles on neurite outgrowth in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells

The influence of low frequency (50 Hz repetition rate) pulsed electromagnetic field (EMF) on PC12 cell neurite outgrowth in vitro was investigated in this study. We studied the percentage of neurite bearing cells, average length of neurites, and directivity of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells cultured for 96 h in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF). PC12 cells were exposed in one incubator to pulsed EMF at 1.36 mT (peak value) generated by a pair of Helmholtz coils, and the control samples were placed in another identical incubator. We found that the pulse duty cycle had significant effect on neurite outgrowth. Low (10%) pulse on‐time significantly inhibited the percentage of neurite bearing cells, but at the same time increased the average length of neurites, while 100% on‐time (DC) had exactly the opposite effects. Furthermore, we found that neurites were prone to extend along the direction of pulsed EMF with 10% pulse on‐time. Our studies show that neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells is sensitive to the pulse duty and this sensitivity was associated with NGF concentration. Bioelectromagnetics 26:406–411, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical analysis on surgical management of type III external auditory canal cholesteatoma: a report of 12 cases

Abstract Objective: To investigate surgical management of type III EACC with lesions involving the posterior external auditory canal and mastoid. Methods: This retrospective case review was conducted in 12 patients with type III EACC who underwent intact canal wall mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty and canal wall reconstruction with autologous cortical bone. Results: During the follow-up, all patients obtained successful results on external auditory canal structures and hearing improvement, except for one patient who needed a revision operation for the fistula between the reconstructed wall and the mastoid. Conclusion: Intact canal wall mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty and canal wall reconstruction with autologous cortical bone was proved to be an effective and inexpensive choice for the patients with type III external auditory canal cholesteatoma (EACC) to achieve optimal outcomes.
Fluid replacement in sport and exercise--a consensus statement.

Loss of fluid and reduction of the body's carbohydrate stores are the two major causes of fatigue in prolonged exercise. When the ambient temperature and humidity are high, the capacity to perform prolonged exercise is reduced. Small losses of body water can decrease the capacity for exercise, and dehydration resulting from sweat loss, and the consequent thermoregulatory problems, may be the primary cause of fatigue even in moderate climatic conditions. Sweat losses in high-intensity, short-duration exercise are necessarily small, but exercise capacity is impaired if there is a pre-existing fluid deficit. The importance of adequate hydration for the maintenance of physical and mental performance is, however, generally underestimated. Adequate hydration before exercise is essential for optimum performance. During prolonged exercise the ingestion of appropriate fluids will improve performance, not just of the elite athlete but of all people involved in sport and physical activity. Fluid ingestion during exercise has the twin aims of supplying water to replace the losses incurred by sweating and of providing a source of carbohydrate fuel to supplement the body's limited stores. The composition of drinks to be taken will thus be influenced by the relative importance of the need to supply fuel and water; this in turn depends on the intensity and duration of the exercise task, on the ambient temperature and humidity, and on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the individual athlete. The effects of the consumption of different types and amounts of beverages during exercise have been extensively investigated, using a variety of experimental models. The evidence clearly indicates that sports drinks which contain an energy source in Dr R. J. Maughan the form of carbohydrate together with electrolytes, particularly sodium, are more effective than plain water in improving performance. The type of carbohydrate appears not to be of major importance, although it may influence palatability which is a major factor in encouraging consumption. Fructose in high concentrations is best avoided because of the risk of gastrointestinal problems. There are no studies showing that fluid ingestion will have an adverse effect on performance, with the exception of a few investigations where the composition of the drinks administered was such as to result in gastrointestinal disturbances. Rehydration after exercise is especially important for recovery and restoration of physical and mental performance. Where the exercise has to be repeated after a short interval, appropriately formulated carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks will provide the fastest possible water replacement, …
Regulation of carcinoembryonic antigen expression in different human colorectal tumor cells by interferon-gamma.

The regulation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression by recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was studied in a series of 7 human colorectal tumor cell lines at various stages of differentiation. Two of the colorectal cell lines were poorly differentiated and did not constitutively express CEA. IFN-gamma treatment, however, induced CEA expression in one of those lines (i.e., DLD-1) as evidenced by the appearance of CEA-related mRNA transcripts, as well as the cell surface expression of the antigen as measured by flow cytometry and radioimmunoassay. In the highly differentiated colorectal tumor cell lines, IFN-gamma treatment resulted in no detectable change in CEA content in whole cell extracts or in the percentage of cells positive for cell surface CEA expression. In fact, IFN-gamma treatment of the highly differentiated LS174T cell line not only failed to alter CEA expression, but also failed to induce class II human leukocyte antigen expression. Therefore, the highly differentiated LS174T cell line and the poorly differentiated MIP cell line represent colorectal tumor cell types that are unresponsive to the ability of IFN-gamma to induce alterations in tumor (i.e., CEA) or normal (i.e., class I and class II human leucocyte antigen) surface antigen expression. The most responsive of human colorectal tumor cells to the ability of IFN-gamma to alter CEA expression were the moderately differentiated cell lines (i.e., HT-29, WiDr, etc.). IFN-gamma treatment of those cell types increased the CEA content in cell extracts by 300-400%, and increased the percentage of cells positive for surface CEA expression from 30-45% to greater than 80%. The effect of IFN-gamma treatment on 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2'-5' A) activity was also studied using 4 of the 7 colorectal cell lines. Constitutive 2'-5' A activity varied approximately 14-fold and was not correlated with degree of cellular differentiation. IFN-gamma treatment increased 2'-5' A activity in all 4 colorectal tumor cells tested. In particular, the ability to enhance 2'-5' A activity in the MIP and LS174T cells, 2 colorectal tumor cell types that previously were shown to be unresponsive to IFN-gamma-mediated changes in their antigenic phenotype, clearly separates cellular events regulating 2'-5' A activity from those involved in regulating cell surface antigen expression. The findings also suggested that the regulation of CEA expression by IFN-gamma is not related to the degree of cellular differentiation and, furthermore, provide some insight into which human tumor cell populations may be the most amenable to tumor antigen augmentation by IFN-gamma in an adjuvant setting with a monoclonal antibody.
Maternal Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Pregnancy is Not a Risk Factor for Long-term Morbidity of the Offspring.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS To investigate whether offspring of women suffering from inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] during their pregnancy are at an increased risk for long-term paediatric morbidity. METHODS In this population-based cohort study, we investigated the incidence of long-term [up to the age of 18 years] hospitalizations due to cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, haematological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary paediatric morbidities of offspring of mothers affected by IBD during their pregnancy. Deliveries occurred between the years 1991 and 2014 in a regional tertiary medical centre. Newborns with congenital malformations as well as multiple pregnancies were excluded from the study. RESULTS During the study period, 255 352 deliveries met the inclusion criteria; 278 offspring were born to mothers with IBD. During the follow-up period, children born to mothers with IBD did not have an increased risk for long-term [up to the age of 18 years] morbidity compared with the control group. CONCLUSION Maternal IBD during pregnancy is not a risk factor for long-term paediatric morbidity of the offspring.