Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microscopic measurement of the facial nerve root exit zone from central glial myelin to peripheral Schwann cell myelin.

OBJECT The authors have attempted to define the exact borders of the root exit zone (RExZ) of the facial nerve, measure the distribution of myelin histologically, and examine the relationship between contact vessels and the RExZ. METHODS Seventy-five facial nerves were obtained from brainstems excised from 44 adult patients at autopsy. The arteries and veins associated with the facial nerve were counted and measured. The facial nerves, associated vasculature, and adjoining portions of the brainstem were then removed en bloc. These tissues were serially sectioned and stained, and a photomicrograph of each section was obtained. The distribution of myelin on each section was measured from the upper edge of the supraolivary fossette, and the relationship between contact vessels and the RExZ examined. The lateral transitional zone of the facial nerve began 8 mm distal to the upper edge of the supraolivary fossette (root exit point [RExP]) and had a mean length of 1.9 mm. The root detachment point (RDP) of the facial nerve at the medial side was located very close to the beginning of the medial transitional zone. In more than 80% of the nerves that were examined, vascular structures compressed the central glial myelin of the nerve. CONCLUSIONS The authors propose the use of the terms "RExP," "RDP," and "transitional zone," instead of RExZ, which cannot be well defined. The RDP appears to be a good landmark for use during microvascular decompression.
Inhibition of transcription factor GATA-4 expression blocks in vitro cardiac muscle differentiation

Commitment of mesodermal cells to the cardiac lineage is a very early event that occurs during gastrulation, and differentiation of cardiac muscle cells begins in the presomite stage prior to formation of the beating heart tube. However, the molecular events, including gene products that are required for differentiation of cardiac muscle cells, remain essentially unknown. GATA-4 is a recently characterized cardiac muscle-restricted transcription factor whose properties suggest an important regulatory role in heart development. We tested the role of GATA-4 in cardiac differentiation, using the pluripotent P19 embryonal carcinoma cells, which can be differentiated into beating cardiac muscle cells. In this system, GATA-4 transcripts and protein are restricted to cells committed to the cardiac lineage, and induction of GATA-4 precedes expression of cardiac marker genes and appearance of beating cells. Inhibition of GATA-4 expression by antisense transcripts blocks development of beating cardiac muscle cells and interferes with expression of cardiac muscle markers. These data indicate that GATA-4 is necessary for development of cardiac muscle cells and identify for the first time a tissue-specific transcription factor that may be crucial for early steps of mammalian cardiogenesis.
The Chinese Mosaic: Cultural Diversity and Creative Cities

This paper identifies the extent to which cultural diversity induced by internal migration affects urban innovation in China. We measure cultural diversity by an index of “plurality” of provinces of origin. Using the 2000 and 2005 population census data, we find that innovative activities are higher in cities with a higher degree of cultural diversity. Further heterogeneity analysis shows that cultural diversity, not only of the highly skilled, but also of the low skilled, has a positive effect on innovation. Our study contributes to the scarce evidence on the effect of cultural diversity on innovation in developing countries.
Vasopeptidase Inhibition Prevents Target Organ Damage and Improves Survival in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Background. Vasopeptidase inhibition has been shown to be an effective antihypertensive principle but its long-term effects on hypertensive target organ damage are not known. We investigated the myocardial, vascular and renal effects of chronic vasopeptidase inhibition in arterial hypertension. Methods and Results. One hundred and thirty-nine male spontaneously hypertensive rats aged 15 months were treated chronically with either the pure angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, ramipril (1 mg/kg/d in drinking water, n=46), or the vasopeptidase inhibitor AVE7688 (30 mg/kg/d in chow, n=46), or placebo (n=47) and followed up until they died. After six months, both ramipril and AVE7688 had markedly reduced plasma ACE activity, normalised blood pressure (BP), reduced left ventricular mass and improved systolic function to similar extents. Acetylcholine mediated relaxation of aortic rings was improved by both ramipril and AVE7688. There was substantial albuminuria in the placebo group (albumin-to-creatinine ratio 107±54 µg/mg), which was significantly reduced by ramipril to 57±34 µg/mg, and practically abolished in the AVE7688 group (22±12 µg/mg, p<0.05 vs. placebo and ramipril). Tubulointerstitial damage (semi-quantitative score) was significantly reduced by AVE7688 and ramipril. significantly reduced byAVE7688 and ramipril. Overall mortality was markedly reduced in the ramipril and AVE7688 groups (13% and 16% at six months, respectively), both p<0.05 vs. placebo (71%). Conclusions. Vasopeptidase inhibition effectively controls BP and reduces myocardial, vascular and renal target organ damage, resulting in a markedly prolonged survival.At similar degrees of plasma ACE inhibition, AVE7688 compared to ramipril offers superior protection against hypertensive kidney damage.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase plays a critical role in resolving intestinal inflammation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Overproduction of nitric oxide by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been proposed as a pathogenic factor in colitis. The objective of this study was to examine the role of iNOS using iNOS-deficient mice in experimental colitis. METHODS Colitis was induced by intrarectal instillation of 3% acetic acid and assessed for neutrophilic infiltration and intestinal injury over 7 days. iNOS messenger RNA expression was also measured. RESULTS At 24 hours, acetic acid induced a mild colitis in wild-type mice. An increase in neutrophil infiltration and tissue edema was also observed. In the iNOS-deficient mice, a twofold increase in macroscopic damage was observed. Neutrophil infiltration and tissue edema were similar to those in wild-type animals at this time point. Although inflammation in wild-type mice had resolved by 7 days, a sevenfold increase in damage score and elevated myeloperoxidase level were still evident in iNOS-deficient mice. A striking increase in the message for iNOS was observed in inflamed wild-type mice at 24 hours and was still present at 72 hours. No message was found in iNOS-deficient mice. CONCLUSIONS Induction of iNOS seems to be a critical protective response to injury in intestinal inflammation possibly by reducing leukocytic infiltration.
Anti‐D immunoglobulin therapy for pediatric ITP: Before and after the FDA's black box warning

In March 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning for anti‐D immunoglobulin (anti‐D), an approved treatment for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). It is unknown if and how clinical practice at U.S children's hospitals has since changed. We sought to describe inpatient anti‐D usage, laboratory monitoring, and anti‐D complications before and after the FDA warning. Using the Pediatric Health Information System, we collected data from 41 children's hospitals. There was a modest but statistically significant decrease in anti‐D usage from pre‐warning to post‐warning. Severe complication rates were very low and did not change appreciably. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:E149–E151. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Treatment of resistant pemphigus vulgaris with an anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody (Rituximab)

Summary We describe a 54‐year‐old man with resistant pemphigus vulgaris. Standard therapies had afforded inadequate control and have been associated with considerable side‐effects. The anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, Rituximab (MabThera, Roche), was trialled with significant benefit. We discuss its potential mechanism of action.
Persistent Elastase/Proteinase Inhibitor Imbalance during Prolonged Ventilation of Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Evidence for the Role of Nosocomial Infections

ABSTRACT: Acute imbalance between elastase and α-1- proteinase inhibitor (α1Pi) may contribute to the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The question of whether such an imbalance persists in BPD infants still requiring mechanical ventilation after 4 wk of life has not been previously addressed. We studied 14 infants still on mechanical ventilation at 4 wk of age: nine had BPD and five did not. Weekly (4 to 9 wk) serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens were taken. αlPi and α-2-macroglobulin were measured in serum and BAL by immunoturbidimetric assay. BAL elastase activity was measured by cleavage of a synthetic substrate and expressed as ng of porcine pancreatic elastase equivalent. Infants with BPD had higher levels of serum αlPi and α-2-macroglobulin than those without BPD. In contrast, the corresponding BAL levels were either similar or even decreased (α1Pi). Moreover, there was a 3-fold increase in elastase-1Pi imbalance expressed as the BAL ng of porcine pancreatic elastase equivalent/2αlPi ratio. The role of nosocomial infections was evident in a subgroup of 11 infected BAL aspirates in BPD infants. In such cases we found a 3-fold increase in the BAL ng of porcine pancreatic elastase equivalent/αlPi ratio as compared to 35 noninfected BAL in BPD infants. These data suggest a persistent alveolitis with imbalance between elastase and proteinase inhibitors in prolonged severe BPD. Such an imbalance is, in part, explained by a local destruction and/or inactivation of αlPi. Our results also emphasize the increase in proteolysis with nosocomial pneumonia.
Use of a Lateral Infraclavicular Puncture to Obtain Proximal Venous Access with Occluded Subclavian/Axillary Venous Systems for Cardiac Rhythm Devices

Venous occlusion is not uncommon and total venous obstruction with more proximal patency may occur in as many as 10% of previous implants. Many techniques are available to obtain ipsilateral access; however, most require special equipment or skills. We describe a technique of infraclavicular cannulation of the brachiocephalic vein ipsilateral to the occlusion that is safe and feasible for most implanters.
Antiretroviral therapy initiation during primary HIV infection enhances both CD127 expression and the proliferative capacity of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells

Objectives:HIV-specific CD8+ T cells from patients with primary HIV infection (PHI) and after antiretroviral therapy initiation were evaluated for CD127 expression and proliferative capacity and were compared with cells from chronically-infected patients, including long-term nonprogressors and HIV controllers. Methods:We studied 30 patients with PHI (from the Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA Primo-infection Cohort) and 33 patients with chronic HIV infection (including nonprogressor patients from the Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA ALT Cohort and the Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA HIV Controllers Study Group). HIV-specific CD8+ T cells were identified by costaining with HIV human leukocyte antigen class I pentamers. CD127 expression was assessed by flow cytometry and cell proliferation by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester labeling. Results:During PHI, most HIV-specific CD8+ T cells coexpressed CD27 and CD45RO, were highly activated, and showed weak Bcl-2 expression. Their CD127 expression was very low and correlated negatively both with HIV RNA and DNA levels and with expression of the activation marker CD38. CD127 expression correlated positively with CD4 cell count, Bcl-2 expression and proliferative capacity. Strong CD127 expression was observed in the two groups of chronically-infected nonprogressors. CD127 expression on HIV-specific CD8+ T cells increased in early-treated PHI patients, reaching levels similar to those observed in nonprogressors. In parallel, these cells acquired strong proliferative capacity. No change in CD127 expression or proliferative potential was observed in untreated patients. Conclusion:Early antiretroviral therapy initiation enhances CD127 expression on HIV-specific CD8+ T cells, reaching levels similar to those observed in aviremic nonprogressors, and restores their proliferative capacity.
Does voluntary disclosures contributed to the intellectual capital efficiency

This study examined the relationship between voluntary disclosures (VD) and intellectual capital (IC) efficiency. The independent variables constitute 12 VD self-constructed indices with total 55 disclosure items. HCE, SCE and CEE form the components of the dependent variable which is IC efficiency. Four control variables used for measuring the relationship between VD and IC. A pooled data of 150 observations from Bahrain listed firms for the period 2011-2015 was examined, a multiple regression model was incorporated under random-effect method. The analysis indicates that disclosure index of corporate information is the highest 89.3% whereas the annual report disclosure index ranked Bahraini firms the lowest disclosure with 57.1%. The findings revealed VD positively affect the components of IC. VD indices found to be higher with firm's big assets/older age. General corporate information/financial indexes found higher in younger firms. It was found more VD the higher IC Efficiency since VDI found to be significant in all models.
4-1-2010 Fear of Crime Among Chinese Immigrants

Western scholars implicitly assume that the correlates of fear of crime discovered in the extant literature are also applicable to populations of different culture and ethnic backgrounds. The current study investigates whether such an assumption is valid, drawing on survey data of Chinese immigrants in Houston. Among other findings, this study reveals that the effect of age on fear of crime is negative among Chinese immigrants, contrary to the previous research findings on the general population. We discuss the social and cultural process that produces this interesting pattern. The study also finds that consistent with previous research that acculturation is a salient variable in explaining immigrants’ fear of crime.
Effects of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors on Hemostasis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the hematologic safety profile of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), with particular emphasis on the effects of these drugs on platelet aggregation. METHODS: Platelet aggregation studies were undertaken at baseline, and repeated 2 and 4 weeks after the initiation of treatment with an SSRI. Other investigations undertaken included analysis of serum electrolyte and liver enzyme concentrations, complete blood count, and coagulation studies. Patients were also assessed for clinical signs of bleeding. Eight patients (7 treated with fluoxetine, 1 with paroxetine) completed the study protocol. RESULTS: Repeated ANOVA revealed no abnormalities in platelet aggregation, hematopoiesis, or coagulation profile. No patient developed clinical signs of abnormal hemostasis during the study period. A statistically significant elevation in the mean serum bilirubin concentration was detected, but this was not of clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Although the SSRIs may cause abnormal hemostasis, this effect is probably rare. Another possibility is that abnormal hemostasis is more likely to occur when high doses of SSRIs are administered.
Structure of Ice VI

Ice VI, a high-pressure form of density 1.31 g cm-3, has a tetragonal cell of dimensions a = 6.27 �, c = 5.79 �, space group P42/nmc, each cell containing ten water molecules. The structure is built up of hydrogen-bonded chdins of water molecules that are analogs of the tectosilicate chains out of which the fibrous zeolites are constructed. The chains in ice VI are linked laterally to one another to form an open, zeolite-like framework. The cavities in this framework are filled with a second framework identical with the first. The two frameworks interpenetrate but do not interconnect, and the complete structure can thus be considered a "self-clathrate. " This structural feature is a natural way to achieve high density in tetrahedrally linked framework structures.
Independent genetic mechanisms mediate turgor generation and penetration peg formation during plant infection in the rice blast fungus

The first barrier to infection encountered by foliar pathogens is the host cuticle. To traverse this obstacle, many fungi produce specialized infection cells called appressoria. MST12 is essential for appressorium‐mediated penetration and infectious growth by the rice pathogen Magnaporthe grisea. In this study, we have characterized in detail the penetration defects of an mst12 deletion mutant. Appressoria formed by the mst12 mutant developed normal turgor pressure and ultrastructure but failed to form penetration pegs either on cellophane membranes or on plant epidermal cells. Deletion and site‐directed mutagenesis analyses indicated that both the homeodomain and zinc finger domains, but not the middle region, of MST12 are essential for appressorial penetration and plant infection. The mst12 mutant appeared to be defective in microtubule reorganization associated with penetration peg formation. In mature appressoria, the mutant lacked vertical microtubules observed in the wild type. The mst12 mutant also failed to elicit localized host defence responses, including papilla formation and autofluorescence. Our data indicate that generation of appressorium turgor pressure and formation of the penetration peg are two independent processes. MST12 may play important roles in regulating penetration peg formation and directing the physical forces exerted by the appressorium turgor in mature appressoria.
Domestic and Global Output Gaps as Inflation Drivers: What Does the Phillips Curve Tell?

This paper provides new empirical insights on the joint distribution of consumption, income, and wealth in three of the poorest countries in the world — Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda — all located in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The first finding is that while income inequality is similar to that of the United States (US), wealth inequality is barely one-third that of the US. Similarly, while the top of the income distribution (1 and 10 percent) earns a similar share of total income in SSA as in the US, the share of total wealth accumulated by the income-rich in SSA is one-fifth of its US counterpart. The main contributions of the paper are to document: (i) this dwarfed transmission from income to wealth, which suggests that SSA households face a larger inability to save and accumulate wealth compared with US households; and (ii) a lower transmission from income to consumption inequality, which suggests the presence of powerful institutions that favor consumption insurance to the detriment of saving. These features are more relevant for rural areas, which represent roughly four-fifths of the total population. The paper identifies the few successful pockets of the SSA population that are able to accumulate wealth by exploring sources of inequality such as age, education, migration, borrowing ability, and societal systems.
A prospective, randomized study comparing transparent and dry gauze dressings for central venous catheters.

Patients having central venous catheters for three or more days were prospectively randomized to receive a transparent (n = 58) or gauze (n = 57) dressing to compare the incidence of insertion site colonization, local catheter-related infection, and catheter-related sepsis. Quantitative cultures of the catheter insertion site (25 cm2) revealed significantly greater colonization (P less than or equal to .009) after 48 h in the transparent versus the gauze dressing group. Local catheter-related infection occurred significantly more often (P = .002) in the transparent (62%) than in the gauze group (24%). Seven episodes of catheter-related bacteremia occurred in the transparent group (16.6%) and none in the gauze group (P = .015). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that cutaneous colonization at the insertion site of greater than or equal to 10(3) cfu/mL (relative risk, 13.16) and difficulty of insertion (relative risk, 5.39) were significant factors for catheter-related infection. These data suggest that transparent dressings are associated with significantly increased rates of insertion site colonization, local catheter-related infection, and systemic catheter-related sepsis in patients with long-term central venous catheters.
Expression of human mammaglobin and clinicopathologic correlations in breast cancer: the findings in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND Human mammaglobin (hMAG) is a secreted protein which has been detected in breast epithelial cells of mammary glands and has been used as a specific marker for breast cancer. OBJECTIVES This study aims at studying the hMAG expression and identifying the significant predictors of hMAG expression in breast cancer tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS The tissue samples were obtained from two major teaching hospitals in the country. They were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the hMAG expression was evaluated using an established scoring system. RESULTS Out of 84 breast cancer tissue samples, hMAG was expressed in 50 samples (59.6%). The expression of hMAG was found to be increased with cancer grade. The output of logistic regression model showed that hMAG was overexpressed in breast cancer samples from the first hospital (P = 0.014), but not with those from the second hospital. CONCLUSIONS It can be concluded that hMAG may serve in the diagnosis and the assessment of progression with the increased cancer grade. The dominance in hMAG expression in samples from HUSM may correlate with ethnic, environmental or genetic factors.
Observation of Glucose Metabolism in the Thalamic Nuclei by Fusion PET/MRI

The anatomy of the thalamus and its connectivity with surrounding areas are known. Localized metabolic activities at the thalamic substructural level have not been measured in vivo in human brains because of limited resolution and contrast. Methods: The energy metabolism and fine anatomic structures of the thalamus were measured simultaneously in 5 healthy subjects using a PET/MRI fusion imaging system. Measured metabolism in individual thalamic nuclei was quantified by corresponding PET/MRI images. Results: Substructures of the thalamus were clearly distinguished in 7.0-T MRI images, and the corresponding metabolic activities measured by PET were integrated by the PET/MRI system. The medial dorsal thalamic nucleus consistently showed the highest glucose uptake among the thalamic nuclei. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that substructure-specific metabolic activities in the thalamus can be measured with a PET/MRI system consisting of an ultra-high-resolution PET component and an ultra-high-field MRI component.