Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
uPA and uPAR contribute to NK cell invasion through the extracellular matrix.

BACKGROUND The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system has been implicated in cellular invasiveness of tumor cells and immune cells. Herein we provide evidence for the production by natural killer (NK) cells of both uPA and its receptor (uPAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS Western blot analysis, RTPCR, casein/plasminogen zymography, and fluorescence microscopy were employed to detect uPA and uPAR on NK cells. NK cell invasiveness was examined using Matrigel invasion assays. RESULTS NK cell uPA appeared at its characteristic molecular weights, is enzymatically active in casein/plasminogen zymography, and is recognized by monoclonal antibodies. uPAR was detected by RTPCR and fluorescence microscopy. Matrigel invasion assays demonstrated an active role of uPA in NK cell invasion. CONCLUSION The uPA system contributes to extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation by NK cells, which may be essential for NK cell accumulation into metastases, and may be prerequisite for their killing of tumor cells following NK cell adoptive transfer.
SISTEMATIZAÇÃO DA ASSISTÊNCIA DE ENFERMAGEM: PROBLEMAS IDENTIFICADOS PELOS ENFERMEIROS

A sistematizacao da Assistencia de Enfermagem (SAE) proporciona assistencia individualizada e de qualidade ao cliente, com embasamento cientifico. Percebeu-se, porem, desarticulacao entre teoria versus pratica, o que nao favorecia uma assistencia ordenada. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar os problemas apresentados pelos enfermeiros com relacao a operacionalizacao da SAE num hospital-escola. (AU)
Comparison of serum selenium levels among hypertensive and normotensive pregnant women

ABSTRACT Objective: To correlate serum selenium levels with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in a selected population and evaluate this mineral as a possible protective factor. Methods: This case–control study included 32 normotensive, 20 hypertensive (chronic and gestational hypertension), and 38 preeclamptic pregnant women. All patients were recruited from antenatal or obstetric admissions of a tertiary hospital in Brazil. Serum selenium was measured at the time of inclusion. Patients were followed up until hospital discharge after delivery. Results: Groups did not differ with regard to maternal age, ethnicity, educational attainment, parity, or smoking prevalence. Normotensive patients had lower body mass index and were included in the study earlier. These patients also had a higher prevalence of comorbidities other than hypertension. Continuous use of medication and a history of HDP in previous pregnancies were more common in preeclamptic patients. Serum selenium levels were not significantly different between groups, with an average of 56.4 ± 15.3 μg/L in the control group, 53.2 ± 15.2 μg/L in the hypertension group, and 53.3 ± 16.8 μg/L in the preeclampsia group (p = 0.67). Among patients with preeclampsia, 52.6% had the severe form. Serum selenium levels in these patients also did not differ significantly from those of controls (p = 0.77). Preeclampsia was associated with earlier termination of pregnancy and lower birth weight (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences across groups in other outcomes of interest. Conclusion: Serum selenium levels did not differ significantly between groups. Thus, we could not establish whether selenium is a protective factor against these conditions.
All-Fiber Low-Noise High-Power Femtosecond Yb-Fiber Amplifier System Seeded by an All-Normal Dispersion Fiber Oscillator

We report an all-fiber, high-power, low-noise amplifier system seeded by an all-normal-dispersion-mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator. Up to 10.6 W of average power is obtained at a repetition rate of 43 MHz with diffraction-limited beam quality. Amplified pulses are dechirped to sub-160-fs duration in a grating compressor. It is to our knowledge the first high-power source of femtosecond pulses with completely fiber-integrated amplification comprising commercially available components. Long-term stability is excellent. Short-term stability is characterized and an integrated laser intensity noise of <0.2% is reported. We also conclude that all-normal dispersion fiber oscillators are low-noise sources, suitable as seed for fiber amplifiers. Detailed numerical modeling of both pulse generation in the oscillator and propagation in the amplifier provide very good agreement with the experiments and allow us to identify its limitations.
A small outbreak of listeriosis potentially linked to the consumption of imitation crab meat

A small outbreak of listeriosis involving two previously healthy adults occurred in Ontario. Food samples obtained from the refrigerator of the patients included imitation crab meat, canned black olives, macaroni and vegetable salad, spaghetti sauce with meatballs, mayonnaise and water. All of the samples except the water contained Listeria monocytogenes. The three most heavily contaminated samples were the imitation crab meat, the olives and the salad which contained 2·1 × 109, 1·1 × 107 and 1·3 × 106 cfu g−1, respectively. L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2b was isolated from the patients, as well as from the opened and unopened imitation crab meat. Molecular typing of the isolates by both randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing demonstrated the imitation crab meat and clinical strains to be indistinguishable. Challenge studies performed with a pool of L. monocytogenes strains showed that imitation crab meat, but not olives, supported growth of the organism.
Role of Fiber-Optic Bronchoscopy in Sputum Smear Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis -

Objective: To evaluate the utility of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in sputum smear negative PTB patients. Material and Methods : A total of 66 adult patients with sputum smear negative for Acid Fast Bacilli(AFB) and chest X-ray suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy( FOB) . A thorough examination of bronchial tree was carried out and bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) was taken and was sent for Ziehl-Neelsen staining,MGIT960 TBculture,pyogenic and fungal culture. Bronchial brushing,endo-bronchial and transbronchial lung biopsy(TBLB) wherever indicated were performed and Ziehl-Neelsen staining was performed and post bronchoscopy sputum(PBS) was also sent for Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Results are summarized in tables and percentages. Quantitative data is summarized using means& standard deviation. Cross tabulation with outcome variable of interest was done using statistical software Epi-info version 7 (7.1.1.0). A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Males constituted majority of our study population. The most common age group involved in the study was 18-28 years (36.3%). cough was the most common symptom reported by 62 patients (93.93%). The past history of PTB was present 6 patients (9.09%). Majority of study population, 39 patients (59.09%) had unilateral lesion on CXR. Out of 66 clinically suspected SSN-PTB patients, 52 patients (78.7%) were finally diagnosed as having active PTB. The diagnosis other than PTB was established in 6 (9.09%) cases, which included 3 cases of fungal (Candida) pneumonia and 3 cases of bacterial (pseudomonas species, citrobacter species, serratia marsecens) pneumonia. Conclusions: FOB and various bronchoscopy guided procedures can provide a rapid and definitive diagnosis of PTB in sputum negative patients.
Electroluminescence of silicon-rich silicon nitride light-emitting devices

Non-stoichiometric silicon nitride films with different excess Si concentrations were deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) under different NH3/SiH4 gas flow ratios. Room-temperature electroluminescence (EL) was observed from the films. And the peak of EL spectra remains at 600 nm, irrespective of the increase of the Si concentrations. It was found that at high electric fields the electrons were injected into the SRSN film via Fowler-Nordheim tunneling and trap assisted tunneling, while at low electric fields the electrons were injected via Poole-Frenkel conduction. The observed EL can be attributed to the relaxation of injected carriers down the lower defect states before recombination due to their longer recombination lifetime.
Microtensile bond strength of self-adhesive luting cements to ceramic.

PURPOSE To test the null hypothesis that three self-adhesive luting materials had the same microtensile bond strength when used to lute ceramic IPS Empress II disks to the dentin of perfused teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS Occlusal enamel and the roots of 9 human third molars were removed and crown segments connected to a perfusion system (30 cm H2O). Nine ceramic disks (IPS Empress II) were prepared, conditioned with 5% HF (20 s), rinsed with water, and air dried. A primer silane agent was applied (Monobond-S) for 60 s and air dried. Teeth were bonded to disks using one of three materials: Multilink System, RelyX Unicem, or Panavia F light. Specimens were vertically sectioned to obtain square bars. Each bar was fixed to a rigid custom-made tensile device and submitted to tensile force until debonding. Microtensile bond strength (microTBS) was given in MPa. Because the means of bonded areas (BA) were different between groups, it was impossible to compare microTBS results directly. Thus, the regression line TBS(MPa) = -2.15 + [19.92 / BA (mm(2))] was calculated to correlate microTBS results and BA. Residuals (difference between the value estimated by the regression line and the actual value) were stored as "distances". ANOVA was performed to examine the statistical significance of differences between means distances of the groups', and the Tamhane's post hoc test was used to locate eventual differences. RESULTS The number of bars used in the analysis was n = 147. Residuals should not be statistically different if the null hypothesis (represented by the regression line) was credible. ANOVA showed statistically significant differences between the distances of the groups' means (p < 0.00001). Tamhane's post hoc test (p < 0.05) showed that different group means were RelyX < Multilink < Panavia F. CONCLUSION The null hypothesis was rejected: materials showed different tensile bond strengths. Panavia F obtained highest bonding values, followed by Multilink System. RelyX Unicem, the only material that does not require pretreatment of dentin, achieved the lowest TBS values under these study conditions.
The ‘small for size’ liver syndrome

Purpose of reviewSmall-for-size syndrome (SFSS) is a clinical syndrome described following liver transplantation (LT) and extended hepatectomy. New evidence has emerged documenting the importance of preoperative evaluation of functional liver mass, liver quality, influence of portal hypertension, and variations in surgical technique to improve outcome. Recent findingsSFSS is characterized by postoperative coagulopathy and liver dysfunction due to insufficient functional liver mass. Recent radiologic advances allow accurate preoperative estimation of total, graft, and remnant liver volume (RLV). In adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), a graft-to-recipient body weight ratio ≥0.8% or graft weight ratio ≥30% are important to avoid SFSS. Minimal functional RLV following extended hepatectomy is ≥25% in a normal liver, and ≥40% with preoperative liver dysfunction. Preoperative portal vein or hepatic artery embolization to increase RLV and function after extended hepatectomy, and the increasing use of parenchymal-sparing segmental resections have improved outcome. In LT, the evolving use of split livers, LDLT and marginal grafts has resulted in increased recognition of SFSS. This has led to a renewed interest in defining the pathophysiology, and the development of new surgical techniques to reduce its incidence. SummaryCurrent radiologic imaging techniques can be used to evaluate liver volume and the risk of SFSS following LT and extended hepatectomy. Intraoperative techniques to predict postoperative dysfunction are emerging, and may be helpful in directing the use of pre-emptive surgical interventions. The future lies in the development of perioperative liver protection and support in predicted SFSS, and enhancement of healthy liver regeneration.
Physiological responses of anxious and normal subjects to simple signal and non-signal auditory stimuli.

In an attempt to assess orienting (OR) and defensive responses (DR) of anxious and normal Ss, heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) changes were measured in response to three intensities of signal and non-signal tones. Anxious Ss significantly differed from normal Ss in the number of spontaneous SC responses emitted, but did not differ in either magnitude or rate of habituation of SC responses to the tones. An analysis of second-by-second changes in HR suggested that, relative to normal Ss, anxious Ss show a deficit in OR and a greater tendency to respond with a pattern characteristic of a DR. This difference was particularly apparent under signal conditions.
Nerve growth factor sensitivity is broadly distributed among myenteric neurons of the rat colon

Nerve growth factor (NGF) acts on the two‐receptor system of trkA and p75 to mediate neuroprotection and influence phenotype and function in the peripheral nervous system, but the effects of NGF on the enteric nervous system (ENS) are virtually unknown. To establish a basis for enteric responsiveness to NGF, we studied the presence and distribution of NGF‐sensitive receptors in the myenteric neurons of the normal rat colon and examined their activation via trkA phosphorylation. Fluorescent immunocytochemistry on wholemounts showed that the two NGF receptors were abundantly present in the ENS, with 71% of all neurons positive for trkA and 78% for p75. More thanr 60% of the myenteric neurons expressed both receptors, and exogenous application of NGF resulted in trkA phosphorylation, evidence for high NGF sensitivity within the ENS. trkA was co‐expressed with choline acetyltransferase (61% of trkA‐positive neurons), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (22%), or calbindin (10%), suggesting widespread potential for NGF action. We conclude that functional receptors for NGF are widely distributed among the diverse enteric phenotypes and argue for a novel NGF‐mediated regulatory system within the ENS. J. Comp. Neurol. 490:194–206, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Performance Characteristics of UV-C AlGaN-Based Lasers Grown on Sapphire and Bulk AlN Substrates

The performance characteristics of optically pumped laser heterostructures emitting in the UV-C spectral range between 272 and 279 nm are investigated. The laser heterostructures were grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy on (0001) planar AlN/sapphire, epitaxially laterally overgrown (ELO) AlN/sapphire, and bulk AlN substrates with threading dislocation densities ranging from 2×1010 to 104 cm-2. We found that the defect density strongly affects the laser performance. The lowest pulse threshold energy density of 50 mJ/cm2 under resonant optical pumping condition was obtained for an AlGaN multiple quantum well laser grown pseudomorphically on low defect density bulk AlN substrate. Lasing was also observed for AlGaN MQW heterostructures grown on ELO AlN/sapphire templates. The laser emission in all lasers was TE polarized. However, no lasing was observed for heterostructures grown on high defect density AlN/sapphire.
Electromyography in MRI—First recordings of peripheral nerve activation caused by fast magnetic field gradients

Prior studies on the evaluation of stimulation by MRI were based on the subjective feeling of the volunteers. A wide variety of stimulation thresholds between the subjects was observed. In order to exclude subjective perception levels as a cause of this variation, we developed a method to investigate the activation of peripheral nerves after gradient switching by electromyography (EMG) within the MR‐imager. Five healthy volunteers were positioned in the MR‐scanner with the bridge of the nose at isocenter. The amplitude of sinusoidal pulse trains of the anterior–posterior gradient (rise‐times: 200 or 300 μs, various numbers of oscillations) was increased stepwise. Four surface electrodes were placed on the region where a muscle‐twitch was reported. Electric activity of the muscle during stimulation experiments was recorded with an MR‐compatible electro‐physiologic amplifier. Stimulation thresholds were defined by the appearance of an EMG‐signal. Thresholds were sharp and consistent with the report of the subjects. Magn Reson Med 43:534–539, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vitamin D status is insufficient in the majority of children at diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are treated for at least 12 weeks with high doses of prednisolone, which may be harmful to the bones. Vitamin D deficiency is also harmful to the bones. METHODS This was a prospective study of consecutive children with first episode of NS at the time of their diagnosis before treatment with glucocorticoids. The following plasma levels were measured: 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D (25(OH)D), albumin, ionised calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase and creatinine. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated from the Schwartz formula, and only patients with normal values were included. RESULTS A total of 14 children were examined, 13 (93%) had 25(OH)D deficiency including 12 (86%) with moderate or severe vitamin D deficiency. The plasma 25(OH)D was positively associated with plasma albumin (p = 0.031) and negatively with PTH (p = 0.003), phosphate (p = 0.016) and body mass index percentile (p = 0.022). PTH was negatively associated with albumin (p = 0.019) and the estimated GFR (p = 0.007), and positively associated with phosphate (p = 0.008), 24-h urine protein/m2 (p = 0.018) and systolic blood pressure percentiles (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION The vitamin D status was insufficient in 93% of the patients. We suggest that vitamin D status in children with NS be measured routinely at the time of diagnosis so that an individual treatment strategy for vitamin D deficiency can be given. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of such treatment.
Differences in the Timing of Prechondrogenic Limb Development in Mammals: The Marsupial-Placental Dichotomy Resolved

In contrast to placentals, marsupials are born with forelimbs that are greatly developmentally advanced relative to their hind limbs. Despite significant interest, we still do not know why this is the case, or how this difference is achieved developmentally. Studies of prechondrogenic and chondrogenic limbs have supported the traditional hypothesis that marsupial forelimb development is accelerated in response to the functional requirements of the newborn's crawl to the teat. However, limb ossification studies have concluded that, rather than the forelimb being accelerated, hind limb development is delayed. By increasing the taxonomic coverage and number of prechondrogenic events relative to previous studies, and combining traditional phylogenetic analyses of event sequences with novel analyses of relative developmental rates, this study demonstrates that the timing of limb development in marsupials is more complex than commonly thought. The marsupial phenotype was derived through two independent evolutionary changes in developmental rate: (1) an acceleration of the forelimb's first appearance and (2) a delay of hind limb development from the bud stage onward. Surprisingly, this study also provides some support for an evolutionary acceleration of the marsupial hind limb's first appearance. Further study is needed on the developmental and genetic mechanisms driving these major evolutionary transitions.
Robotic system for prostate brachytherapy

In contemporary brachytherapy procedures, needle placement at the desired target is challenging for a variety of reasons. A robot-assisted brachytherapy system can potentially improve needle placement and seed delivery, resulting in enhanced therapeutic outcome. In this paper we present a robotic system with 16 degrees of freedom (DOF) (9 DOF for the positioning module and 7 DOF for the surgery module) that has been developed and fabricated for prostate brachytherapy. Strategies to reduce needle deflection and target movement were incorporated after extensive experimental validation. Provision for needle motion and force feedback was included in the system to improve robot control and seed delivery. Preliminary experimental results reveal that the prototype system is sufficiently accurate in placing brachytherapy needles.
Peripheral blood accessory cells modulate committed colony‐forming units but not 5‐week cobblestone‐area‐forming cell outgrowth from CD34+ cells

Abstract: While cellular modulation in vitro of committed hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) growth has been known for some time, less is known about the effect of accessory cells (AC) on the growth of more immature HSC. We have examined the effect of peripheral blood (PB) AC on hematopoiesis by coculturing enriched PB CD34+ cells (> 96% pure) with different quantities of CD34− cells (< 1% contamination) harvested from 10 breast cancer patients. As expected colony growth was predominantly present in the CD34+ fractions, in which colony forming units granulocyte‐macrophage (CFU‐GM) varied between 89–3289/105 (median 1422/105 seeded cells) and week 5 cobblestone area forming cells (CAFC) between 64–1330/105 (median 427/105 seeded cells). Few CFU‐GM (0–27/105 seeded cells) and no week 5 CAFC (0–1/105 seeded cells) were present in the CD34− fractions. The addition of PB CD34− cells to cultures of CD34+ cells resulted in a considerable variation in the cloning efficiency at the CFU‐GM level, and the extent of modulation within the single patient was inconsistent between the different CD34+/CD34− cell mixtures. Overall the stimulatory effect was more pronounced than inhibition and on average the CFU‐GM formation per CD34+ cell seeded increased 3 fold (stimulatory effect ranged between 3–17 fold and decreases between 2–10 fold). In contrast, the cloning efficiency at the week 5 CAFC level of differentiation remained unaffected by the addition of different amounts of CD34− cells (the stimulatory effect was maximally 3‐fold and inhibition 3‐fold). We conclude that while the CFU assay is modulated by the presence of AC, the CAFC assay is more robust and can be employed as a reliable and reproducible tool for HSC measurement.
PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors Predicts Progression-Free Survival and Time to Local or Distant Progression After Chemotherapy with Regional Hyperthermia for Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

We evaluated the prognostic accuracy of established PET and CT response criteria in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) after combined chemotherapy plus regional hyperthermia (RHT). Methods: Seventy-three patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT before and after 2–4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with RHT for STS. Progression-free survival (PFS) and time to local and distant progression were among other factors correlated with response according to PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST 1.0) and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1). Results: Metabolic response by PERCIST (n = 44/73) was an independent predictor for PFS (P = 0.002; hazard ratio [HR], 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18–0.68) and time to local or distant progression. Other independent predictors for PFS by multivariate analysis were adjuvant radiotherapy (P = 0.010; HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.20–0.80) and a baseline tumor size less than 5.7 cm (P = 0.012; HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.22–0.83). Response by RECIST 1.1 was seen in a small group of patients (n = 22/73) and allowed prediction of PFS for patients with sarcoma outside the abdomen (P = 0.048; HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02–0.98). Conclusion: Metabolic response by 18F-FDG PET predicts PFS and time to local and distant progression after 2–4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus RHT for STS.