Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patch test reactivity to a cobalt–chromium–molybdenum alloy and stainless steel in metal‐allergic patients in correlation to the metal ion release

Nickel, chromium, and cobalt released from stainless steel and CoCrMo alloys have been postulated to trigger hypersensitivity reactions. The objective of this study was to assess the ion release from a CoCrMo alloy and stainless steel in vitro and the cutaneous reactivity to it by patch test. 52 metal‐allergic patients and 48 non‐allergic controls were patch tested to stainless steel and CoCrMo discs. In addition, using atomic absorption spectrometry, the release of nickel, cobalt, and chromium from both materials was assessed upon 2‐day exposure to distilled water, artificial sweat (AS), and cell culture medium. There was low nickel ion release from stainless steel (0.3–0.46 μg/cm2/2 days) and CoCrMo discs (up to 0.33 μg/cm2/2 days) into the different elution media. Chromium release from the 2 materials was also very low (0.06–0.38 μg/cm2/2 days from stainless steel and 0.52–1.36 μg/cm2/2 days from CoCrMo alloy). In contrast, AS led to abundant cobalt release (maximally 18.94 μg/cm2/2 days) from the CoCrMo discs, with concomitant eczematous reaction upon patch testing: 0 of the 52 metal‐allergic patients reacted to stainless steel discs and 5 of the 52 patients to CoCrMo discs (all 5 patients were cobalt allergic and 3 also nickel and chromium allergic). None of the controls reacted to the discs. Apart from nickel being a focus of allergological research, our results point to the possibly underestimated association of cobalt release and potential hyperreactivity to CoCrMo alloy.
The Theory of Foreign Exchanges

I9. As long as commodity trade, exchange of services, long-term investments and unilateral payments are treated as the only sources of supply and demand of foreign exchange, as long, therefore, as international movements of gold and short-term balances are excluded, the analysis can be said to deal with " independent currencies As soon as international movements of gold (and other monetary metals) and short-term (bank) balances are introduced as sources of supply and demand of foreign exchange, the analysis proceeds to currency systems whose effective circulation is not independent of international transactions. Inflow and outflow of gold, and acquisition and disposal of foreign bank balances, may change the effective monetary circulation of the countries concerned. Institutions which secure that gold and foreign bank balances can be bought and sold at fairly fixed prices, constitute the essence of the gold standard. Leaving international movements of bank balances for the last step of our analysis, we introduce first international gold movements, and make the assumption that the monetary authorities of both countries are prepared to buy and sell gold at fixed prices or pairs of prices. This assumption, i.e., the assumption of the gold standard maintained in both countries, implies that at a certain exchange rate the supply of foreign exchange becomes infinitely elastic, and at another (somewhat lower) exchange rate, the demand for foreign exchange becomes infinitely elastic. Under an "orthodox " gold standard system, it is not the monetary authorities themselves which offer to sell
Long-term trends in income distribution a global perspective

Provides a comprehensive overview of the development in income distribution and outlines its major long-term trends of 23 countries worldwide. These countries are clustered in four groups covering the core advanced, the Nordic, the emerging, and the least developed economies of the world. Applies different measures to analyse income distribution in three dimensions: national income, functional income distribution, and personal income distribution, ranging between 1960 and 2012.
Drug interactions with the dietary fiber Plantago ovata husk

Introduction: Plantago ovata husk is a viscous water-soluble fiber obtained by milling the seed of Plantago ovata. The increased use of this compound for the treatment of diseases makes it necessary to know of its potential drug interactions. Areas covered: The present paper reviews the literature concerning interactions between drugs and the dietary fiber Plantago ovata husk. All publications which might describe interactions between the dietetic fiber Plantago ovata husk and other drugs were identified by searches using databases such as MEDLINE or EMBASE. Expert opinion: Drug interactions have been the subject of numerous studies, but few of them have been carried out with dietary fiber and the results obtained have often been variable. The incidence and importance of interactions between fiber and drugs has increased due to a worldwide rise in the use of dietary fiber. Plantago ovata husk has the potential for producing both benefits and risks with both desirable and undesirable effects when coadministered with drugs. More clinical studies are justifiably needed to improve treatments and to better evaluate patient safety.
Multiple insertions of fimbrial operons correlate with the evolution of Salmonella serovars responsible for human disease

On centisome 7, Salmonella spp. contain a large region not present in the corresponding region of Escherichia coli. This region is flanked by sequences with significant homology to the E. coli tRNA gene aspV and the hypothetical E. coli open reading frame yafV. The locus consists of a mosaic of differentially acquired inserts forming a dynamic cs7 region of horizontally transferred inserts. Salmonella enterica subspecies I, responsible for most Salmonella infections in warm‐blooded animals, carries a fimbrial gene cluster (saf) in this region as well as a regulatory gene (sinR). These genes are flanked by inverted repeats and are inserted in another laterally transferred region present in most members of Salmonella spp. encoding a putative invasin (pagN ). S. enterica subspecies I serovar Typhi, the Salmonella serovar that causes the most severe form of human salmonellosis, contains an additional insert of at least 8 kb in the sinR–pagN intergenic region harbouring a novel fimbrial operon (tcf ) similar to the coo operon encoding the CS1 fimbrial adhesin expressed by human‐specific enterotoxigenic E. coli. It is suggested that the multiple insertions of fimbrial genes that have occurred in the cs7 region have contributed to phylogenetic diversity and host adaptation of Salmonella spp.
Influence of Collagen and Laminin Gels Concentration on Nerve Regeneration after Resection and Tube Repair

In order to assess the usefulness of collagen and laminin gels prefilling nerve chambers to enhance nerve regeneration, we compared reinnervation of target organs after sciatic nerve resection leaving gaps of 4 or 6 mm followed by repair with silicone tubes in different groups of mice. Tubes were prefilled with saline solution, collagen gels, or laminin-containing gels at different concentrations. Functional reinnervation was assessed by noninvasive methods to quantitate recovery of sweating, nociceptive, sensory, and motor functions in the hindpaw repeatedly during 4-5 months postoperation. The increase in gap length between nerve stumps delayed the beginning and reduced the degree of functional recovery achieved. Reinnervation started earlier and achieved slightly higher levels with collagen gel diluted at 1.28 mg/ml than with more concentrated (1.92 and 2.56 mg/ml) collagen gels and with saline-prefilled tubes bridging a 4-mm gap. Recovery was also better with diluted (4 mg/ml) than with concentrated (12 mg/ml) laminin-containing gel, although lower than with collagen gels and saline. By prefilling silicone tubes bridging a 6-mm gap, a length considered limiting for regeneration in the mouse sciatic nerve, with diluted collagen or laminin gels, both matrices allowed for higher levels of recovery and for successful regeneration in a higher proportion of mice than saline solution. The laminin gel performed slightly better than the collagen gel.
Child Malnutrition in Indonesia: Can Education, Sanitation and Healthcare Augment the Role of Income?

In spite of the sustained economic growth and progress in reducing poverty, the status of child nutrition is abysmal in Indonesia with chronic malnutrition rates continuing to remain at very high levels. In this backdrop, this study attempts to shed light on the channels through which various socio‐economic factors affect children's nutritional status in Indonesia. Utilizing recent data from Indonesian Family Life Survey, and controlling for an exhaustive set of socio‐economic factors, it emerged that mother's education, water and sanitation conditions, household poverty and access to healthcare to strongly influence chronic malnutrition among children in Indonesia. Child stunting rates were surprisingly high even in the wealthiest quintile of households, implying that income growth merely will not automatically solve the nutritional problem. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sleep Polygraphic Study of Children and Adolescents With Narcolepsy/Cataplexy

The alterations of the Cyclic Alternating Pattern (CAP) recently found in narcoleptic adult patients suggest the presence of an impaired modulation of the fluctuations of the arousal level during their non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, possibly because of the persistence of neurophysiological mechanisms typical of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The same mechanism might play a role in the occurrence of leg movement (LM) activity during sleep characterized by low levels of periodicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate CAP and sleep LM activity in a group of children and adolescents with narcolepsy, to interpret the results under a developmental point of view and integrate this new information with data already available for adults. Thirteen young patients with narcolepsy/cataplexy were consecutively recruited for this study, together with 13 age- and sex-matched normal controls. Nocturnal polysomnography was carried out after a night of adaptation in a sleep laboratory room; sleep stages, CAP, and LMs were scored and evaluated following standard criteria. Narcoleptic patients showed shorter sleep onset and REM sleep latency, higher number of stage shifts and awakenings per hour of sleep, and higher percentage of wakefulness after sleep onset; CAP rate was found to be decreased in all NREM sleep stages (in particular CAP A1 subtypes) in narcoleptic patients who also showed significant higher values of all types of LMs (periodic or isolated), during both REM and NREM sleep; however, the most evident differences were found during REM sleep. The results of this study confirm that the sleep microstructure and LM activity changes observed in adulthood are already present and detectable in childhood and might have a role in the already known impaired prefrontal functioning of these subjects. The well-established orexin deficiency might be the unifying factor playing a major role in the modulation of CAP and LMs during sleep in children and adolescents with narcolepsy/cataplexy.
Activity patterns assessed throughout 24-hour recordings in preterm and near term infants.

The motility of 10 low-risk infants, aged between 34 and 40 weeks of postmenstrual age, has been continuously recorded for 24 h. Four codes were distinguished: code 1 (absence of motility or occasional occurrence of startles), code 2 (presence of small general or isolated body movements, startles, smiles, grimaces, and other facial activity), code 3 (forceful and prolonged general movements, startles, and stretches), code 4 (vigorous and abrupt general body movements accompanied by crying). Changes with age concern mainly the increase of the duration of code 1 (quiescence) episodes. Confrontation between day and night showed higher levels of motility during the night than during the day. The last weeks before term represent a time for increase in the ability to sustain a quiet behavior and to reorganize day-night motility distribution.
INVESTIGATION OF NEPFROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SILYMARIN AGAINST METHOTREXATE AND IFOSFAMIDE INDUCED TOXICITY IN RATS

The present study was undertaken to investigate the Nephroprotective effect of silymarin against Methotrexate (MTX) induced nephrotoxicity in rats. In MTX model rats of either sex (n=6) were pre-treated with silymarin (50mg/kg, p.o.) for 6 days in MTX model, MTX toxicity was induced by administering MTX (20mg/kg) on third day by intra-peritoneal route. The influence of prophylactic treatment was analyzed by quantification of Serum/Urinary biomarkers and antioxidants and histopathological observations. Silymarin treatment in presence of MTX was responsible for significant reduction in Serum; Urea, Creatinine, Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Urinary; Total Protein, Sodium and Potassium compared to MTX control group. Silymarin treatment was also responsible for significant increase in Serum Albumin and antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH) and Catalase activities in kidney tissue homogenate compared to MTX control group. Similarly, there was an increase in the urine volume and decrease in the kidney weight in the silymarin treated groups compared to the MTX control group. Results were further supported by histopathological studies. Investigation witnessed the administration of silymarin 50mg/kg dose was effective in normalizing the abnormal conditions of kidney induced by MTX. Thus investigational finding conclude that silymarin possess potential benefits in treating animals with nephrotoxicity.
EGFR lung cancer mutants get specialized

In 2004, three groups independently identified mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, ErbB1) that sensitized nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) to the small-molecule EGFR inhibitors erlotinib and gefitinib (1⇓–3). The most commonly occurring mutation, L834R (or L858R in numbering that includes the signal peptide), also leads to increased EGFR signaling. Despite impressive initial responses to the treatment of tumors containing the L834R substitution, patients inevitably developed resistance as a result of secondary mutations in the kinase domain, most frequently represented by modification of the gatekeeper residue (T766M) (4). After nearly a decade of research into the molecular basis by which activating mutations deregulate EGFR signaling, our understanding of these effects is greatly improved but not complete. In PNAS, Red Brewer et al. (5) use recent developments in our knowledge of EGFR activation to investigate how the L834R and L834R/T766M mutants drive aberrant signaling. Their work identifies a clever strategy in which the cancer mutants cooperate with wild-type EGFR and its close homolog, ErbB2, to produce enhanced activity. These results put a fresh spin on targeting EGFR in cancer. The molecular mechanism which underlies EGFR activation involves formation of a unique asymmetric dimer between two kinase domains. In this arrangement, the C-terminal lobe of one kinase (the donor/activator) interacts with the N-terminal lobe of its partner (the acceptor/receiver), resulting in allosteric activation of the acceptor kinase (Fig. 1 A ) (6). Conformational changes in the acceptor kinase involve movement of the catalytically important αC helix toward the active site, and extension of the activation loop. These changes open a hydrophobic interface in the N-lobe, promoting association with the donor. Formation of the asymmetric dimer is absolutely essential for activation of EGFR, and the receptor fails to signal as a monomer (6). Fig. 1. ( A ) Activation of … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Natalia.Jura{at}ucsf.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Vi I typing phage for generalized transduction of Salmonella typhi

Salmonella typhi Vi typing phages were used to transduce temperature-sensitive (Ts) mutants of Salmonella typhi. Antibiotic resistance and Ts+ markers were transduced at high frequency (> 10(-4) per virulent phage). Several markers were cotransduced by phage Vi I, suggesting that it may be useful for mapping studies of the S. typhi genome.
[Mortality-morbidity conferences: evaluation of an intervention to expand their practice in a university hospital].

BACKGROUND Mortality-morbidity conferences (M&MC) are a recognized technique for evaluating and improving medical practices as well as improving patient safety. OBJECTIVES To describe the current practices for identification and management of care-related adverse events and to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to promote M&MC in a university hospital. METHODS The study was designed as a before-and-after survey. In the first part of the survey (September-December 2004), we interviewed the heads of the clinical departments and units in a Parisian university hospital (n=37), using a semi-structured questionnaire. Questions concerned the management of adverse events or errors in their departments or units. The intervention took place during these interviews and consisted of providing information on methods currently available to improve inpatient safety, including broad-based M&MC. The second part involved a structured questionnaire sent by e-mail in December 2005. RESULTS In 2004, 24 of the 37 departments discussed adverse events, 11 kept a register of them, and 9 used M&MC, mostly covering a specific limited segment of their specialty field. Only 2 used structured M&MC that covered the entire specialty field. In 2005, 3 departments had expanded the field covered by their M&MC, and 9 had established M&MC for their entire field (n=12). Six departments had not changed the field of their M&MC and 14 had not introduced it. CONCLUSION Our survey of department heads allowed us both to collect information about the methods they used for managing and evaluating adverse events and to provide information to them. This intervention may have contributed to increasing and improving the use of M&MC.
Plasma renin activity and aldosterone secretion in hypertensive patients during high and low sodium intake and administration of diuretic.

ABSTRACT Plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone secretion or excretion rates have been measured in 35 hypertensive patients. Most hypertensive patients respond normally to decreased sodium intake and upright posture with an increase in PRA, which is further enhanced when chlorothiazide is given. PRA was found to be above the normal range in malignant hypertension and in some patients with renovascular and essential hypertension. PRA remained increased for up to 2 months after taking estrogen and progestin. Subnormal PRA has been observed in primary aldosteronism and Cushing's syndrome. Six patients with essential hypertension had low PRA. When these patients were given a low sodium diet and chlorothiazide, neither PRA nor aldosterone increased normally, urinary sodium loss continued, and hyponatremia developed in 3 of the 6 patients. Postural hypotension was observed in 5 of the 6 cases during sodium depletion. Aldosterone secretion was well correlated with PRA in most hypertensives. Exceptions were .
Self-assessed physical and mental function of haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scales of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey are validated measures of quality of life (QOL) and functional status. We sought to evaluate the PCS and MCS in haemodialyis patients as compared to the general population and other chronic diseases. METHODS A cohort of 134 haemodialysis patients (mean age 60.9+/-14.3 years, males 63.4%, Caucasians 66.4%) was followed from January 1996 to December 1998 (mean follow up 14.5+/-5.7 months). SF-36 questionnaires were administered every 3 months and PCS and MCS were calculated. Results were compared to the general population and other chronic diseases. Correlators of PCS and MCS, change in QOL over time, and the correlators of this change were determined. RESULTS Mean PCS was 36.9+/-8.8 and mean MCS was 47+/-10.7. Compared to the general US population, these represent a decline of 8.7+/-0.8 for PCS (P<0.0001) and 2.7+/-0.8 for MCS (P<0.001). PCS and MCS in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were lower than in most other chronic diseases studied. Univariate correlators of PCS in haemodialysis patients included age, male sex, haematocrit, serum albumin, and severity of comorbid cardiac and pulmonary illnesses. Multivariate analysis demonstrated independent correlators of PCS to be male sex, serum albumin and severity of comorbid cardiac and pulmonary diseases. Univariate as well as multivariate correlators of MCS included: serum albumin, KT/V(urea), and status living alone. A trend analysis revealed that both PCS and MCS tended to decline in the initial months of dialysis but stabilized over time. Status living alone was a significant predictor of improvement in MCS by univariate as well as multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Self assessed physical and mental health of haemodialysis patients is markedly diminished compared to the general population and other chronic diseases.
Portfolio selection based on relative entropy coherent risk measure

This article optimizes stocks portfolio through a new proposed coherent risk measure called relative-entropic risk measure. And then the ability of the optimization model is tested, which is the test of the discrimination for risk of the risk measure. Firstly, it introduces the consistence with stochastic dominances for three kinds of quantile-based risk measures: VaR, ES and relative-entropic risk measure. It is pointed that ES only utilizes local information as VaR, and is consistent with stochastic dominances lower than second-order. However, relative-entropic risk measure utilizes the whole information to measure the risk, and is consistent with stochastic dominances of higher orders. So, it is most powerful for discrimination of risk. Then, Spearman rank test is used to test the discrimination for risk of the risk measure. Lastly, four kinds of portfolio optimization models based on standard error, VaR, ES and relative-entropic risk measure are used in Chinese markets. The results turn out that all the performance indexes of portfolios optimized by relative-entropic risk measure are the best, which reveals that it has the highest discrimination of risk in the three risk measures.
Control of actin-based motility through localized actin binding

A wide variety of cell biological and biomimetic systems use actin polymerization to drive motility. It has been suggested that an object such as a bacterium can propel itself by self-assembling a high concentration of actin behind it, if it is repelled by actin. However, it is also known that it is essential for the moving object to bind actin. Therefore, a key question is how the actin tail can propel an object when it both binds and repels the object. We present a physically consistent Brownian dynamics model for actin-based motility that includes the minimal components of the dendritic nucleation model and allows for both attractive and repulsive interactions between actin and a moveable disc. We find that the concentration gradient of filamentous actin generated by polymerization is sufficient to propel the object, even with moderately strong binding interactions. Additionally, actin binding can act as a biophysical cap, and may directly control motility through modulation of network growth. Overall, this mechanism is robust in that it can drive motility against a load up to a stall pressure that depends on the Young’s modulus of the actin network and can explain several aspects of actin-based motility.