Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative studies of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 in plasma, serum and tumour tissue extracts from patients with primary colorectal cancer

Objective. We have recently shown that preoperative plasma tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) levels are significantly associated with prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. In addition, we have shown that measurement of plasma TIMP-1 yields information on specificity and sensitivity, which could be used for early detection of colorectal cancer. However, it is not clear whether the increased plasma TIMP-1 levels in colorectal cancer patients are derived from the tumour tissue itself in which it is mainly expressed by the stromal cells located in the vicinity of the cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between blood TIMP-1 levels and tumour tissue TIMP-1 levels in colorectal cancer patients. Material and methods. Preoperative EDTA plasma, citrate plasma and serum, as well as tumour tissue extracts from 49 colorectal cancer patients were measured with a TIMP-1 ELISA that measures total TIMP-1 levels (non-complexed and complexed TIMP-1). Results. The median TIMP-1 level in the 49 tumour extracts was 18.7 ng/mg proteins (range 3.5–152.0 ng/mg protein). The median TIMP-1 value was 133.5 ng/ml (range 58.1–559.0 ng/ml) in EDTA plasma, 130.2 ng/ml (range 57.0–572.0 ng/ml) in citrate plasma and 207.2 ng/ml (range 72.6–828.0 ng/ml) in serum. No significant correlations were found between TIMP-1 content in the tumour extracts and in blood.However, EDTA and citrate plasma TIMP-1 levels (r =0.75; p <0.0001) as well as EDTA plasma and serum TIMP-1 levels (r=.064; p <0.0001) were highly correlated. Conclusions. The lack of correlation between tumour tissue TIMP-1 and blood levels of TIMP-1 suggests that other sources than the tumour tissue itself may contribute to the increased levels of plasma TIMP-1 in patients with colorectal cancer. However, degradation of cell membranes, rapid secretion into the blood stream and other factors may be responsible for the observed lack of association between TIMP-1 concentrations in blood and tumour tissue extracts.
Unusual presentation of familial Mediterranean fever: role of genetic diagnosis

OBJECTIVE To describe the role of molecular analysis in the diagnosis of an unusual presentation of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). CASE REPORT Two patients presenting with prolonged fever without signs and symptoms of serositis are described. FMF was diagnosed by genetic analysis, which disclosed that both patients were homozygous for the M694V mutation of the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene. CONCLUSION Molecular analysis of FMF should complement the investigation of patients with fever of unknown origin. This test enables a definite diagnosis of the disease and may promote the diagnosis and treatment of patients with an unusual or incomplete clinical picture of FMF.
TNF receptor I polymorphism is associated with persistent palindromic rheumatism

Objectives: To investigate the association between tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNFα), TNF receptor superfamily member 1A (TNFRSF1A, also known as TNFRI), TNFRSF1B (TNFRII), and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the susceptibility to persistent palindromic rheumatism (PR). Methods: Fifty‐six unrelated patients with persistent PR and 100 unrelated healthy controls were genotyped for TNFα −308G/A, −238G/A, and +488G/A, TNFRSF1A −609G/T and +36A/G, TNFRSF1B +676T/G and +1663G/A, and IL‐1β −511C/T, −31T/C, and +3954C/T using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Results: The TNFRSF1A +36G allele [odds ratio (OR) = 3.94, p = 0.003, corrected p (pc) = 0.03] and the TNFRSF1A +36AG genotype (OR = 4.81, p = 0.002, pc = 0.04) were significantly associated with persistent PR. The frequency of TNFRSF1B +676T/+1663A was increased in PR patients (OR = 2.12, p = 0.01), but failed to reach statistical significance after Bonferroni correction. No correlation was observed between persistent PR and TNFα, TNFRSF1A −609G/T, or IL‐1β SNPs. Conclusions: The results of this study provide evidence of an association between persistent PR and SNPs within the TNFRSF1A gene, and suggest that TNFRI is involved in the aetiopathogenesis of PR.
Polymicrobial infections involving clinically relevant Gram‐negative bacteria and fungi

Interactions between fungi and bacteria and their relevance to human health and disease have recently attracted increased attention in biomedical fields. Emerging evidence shows that bacteria and fungi can have synergistic or antagonistic interactions, each with important implications for human colonization and disease. It is now appreciated that some of these interactions may be strategic and helps promote the survival of one or both microorganisms within the host. This review will shed light on clinically relevant interactions between fungi and Gram‐negative bacteria. Mechanism of interaction, host immune responses, and preventive measures will also be reviewed.
The PmrA‐PmrB two‐component system responding to acidic pH and iron controls virulence in the plant pathogen Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora

Efficient response to environmental cues is crucial to successful infection by plant‐pathogenic bacteria such as Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora. The expression of the main virulence genes of this pathogen, encoding extracellular enzymes that degrade the plant‐cell wall, is subject to complex regulatory machinery where two‐component systems play an important role. In this paper, we describe for the first time the involvement of the PmrA‐PmrB two‐component system in regulation of virulence in a plant‐pathogenic bacterium. Disruption of pmrB resulted in reduced virulence both in potato and in Arabidopsis. This is apparently due to reduced production of the extracellular enzymes. In contrast, a pmrA mutant exhibited increased levels of these enzymes implying negative regulation of the corresponding genes by PmrA. Furthermore, the pmrB but not pmrA mutant exhibited highly increased resistance to the cationic antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B suggesting alterations in cell surface properties of the mutant. A similar increase of polymyxin resistance was detected in the wild type at mildly acidic pH with low Mg2+. Functional pmrA is essential for bacterial survival on excess iron at acidic pH, regardless of the Mg2+ concentration. We propose that PmrA‐PmrB TCS is involved in controlling of bacterial response to external pH and iron and is crucial for bacterial virulence and survival in planta.
Ellagic Acid Enhances Apoptotic Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to γ-Radiation

ABSTRACT Herbal polyphenols have gained increased significance because of the promises they hold in the prevention and treatment of cancer. There exists an enormous opportunity for the screening and valuation of natural dietary compounds in the development of an effective chemopreventive drug and radiosensitizer that may be of practical use for patients undergoing cancer therapy. This study describes the effect of the flavonoid ellagic acid (EA) on gamma-irradiated human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro when administered alone or in combination with radiation. It was interesting to find the radioprotective effect of EA on NIH3T3, which is a normal cell line. Irradiation of breast tumor cells in the presence of EA (10 μM) to doses of 2 and 4-Gy gamma radiation produced a marked synergistic tumor cytotoxicity while it was found to aid recovery from the radiation damage to NIH3T3 cells. When cells were given a combined treatment of EA and radiation, the cell death increased to 21.7% and 20.7% in the 2 and 4-Gy-treated cells respectively, significantly (P < 0.05) reducing the capacity of MCF-7 cells to form colonies. Even at 24 h, 38 foci/cell were observed in samples that were given the combined treatment, suggesting the cells' inability in repairing the damage. Also, increased apoptosis in EA+ 2Gy (50%) and EA+ 4 Gy (62%)-treated cells was observed in the the sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle. A 6.2-fold decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in the combined treatment of EA and IR that facilitated the upregulation of pro-apopttotic Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2, pushing the MCF-7 cells to undergo an apoptotic cell death. It is suggested that EA may be a potential drug adjuvant for improving cancer radiotherapy by increasing tumor toxicity and reducing the normal cell damage caused by irradiation.
Comparison of the Effects of Clofibrate and Silafibrate on Sperm Parameters Quality and Sex Hormones in Male Rats.

PURPOSE Fibrates are drugs widely used for the treatment of hyperlipidemic disorders. Previous studies on a novel analogue of clofibrate, called silafibrate, have shown good lipid lowering effects. This study was designed to assess the role of silafibrate as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) agonist on sperm health and spermatogenesis in adult male rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 7 groups: Cl-10, Cl-20, and Cl-40 mg/kg/day (clofibrate); Si-10, Si-20, and Si-40 mg/kg/day (silafibrate); and C, control. After a 28-day treatment, all rats were euthanized. Blood samples were taken for determination of testosterone, total antioxidant capacity, levels of malondialdehyde, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Reproductive organs were dissected and spermatozoa collected from the epididymis for analysis. RESULT Sperm parameters (count, motility, viability, and morphology) and total serum testosterone decreased significantly in clofibrate-treated (20 and 40 mg/kg) rats (P < 0.05) as compared with normal rats. CONCLUSION We conclude that PPARs agonists have significant adverse effect on sperm viability, motility, and total serum testosterone, and could be harmful for sperm parameters and male reproductive function in rats.
Iteratively Reweighted Blind Deconvolution With Adaptive Regularization Parameter Estimation

In many realistic image processing applications, the acquired images often suffer from mixed noises and blurring, which greatly degrade the image quality. In this paper, we propose an iteratively reweighted blind deconvolution method with robust regression for obtaining high quality images with mixed noises present. First, we construct a variational regularization model, including a robust regression data term with an adaptive reweighted least square criterion, which is robust to the mixed noises. To preserve the sharp edges and suppress the noise, a total variation-based regularization term for the image is incorporated into the model. Moreover, a Laplacian regularization term is imposed on the point spread function (PSF) for better smoothness. The subsequent optimization problems for the image and the PSF are solved using the limited-memory BFGS-B algorithm suitable for the large-scale problems. In addition, to improve the practicality of the method, a variant of the generalized cross validation method is derived and adopted to automatically estimate the regularization parameters for the image and the PSF. Experiments on simulated and real images demonstrate that the proposed method is superior to the state-of-the-art methods in terms of both subjective measure and visual quality.
Choreoathetosis, congenital hypothyroidism and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome with intact NKX2‐1

Mutations in the NK2 homeobox 1 gene (NKX2‐1) cause a rare syndrome known as choreoathetosis, congenital hypothyroidism, and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (OMIM 610978). Here we present the first reported patient with this condition caused by a 14q13.3 deletion which is adjacent to but does not interrupt NKX2‐1, and review the literature on this condition. The infant presented at 23 months with a history of developmental delay, hyperkinesia, recurrent respiratory infections, neonatal respiratory distress, and hypothyroidism. Choreiform movements and delayed motor milestones were first noted at 6–8 months of age. TSH levels had been consistently elevated from 8 months of age. The clinical presentation was suggestive of an NKX2‐1 mutation. Sequencing of all exons and splice site junctions of NKX2‐1 was performed but was normal. Array CGH was then performed and a 3.29 Mb interstitial deletion at 14q13.1–q13.3 was detected. The distal region of loss of the deletion disrupted the surfactant associated 3 (SFTA3) gene but did disrupt NKX2‐1. Findings were confirmed on high resolution SNP array and multiplex semiquanitative PCR. NKX2‐1 encodes transcriptional factors involved in the developmental pathways for thyroid, lung, and brain. We hypothesize that the region centromeric to NKX2‐1 is important for the normal functioning of this gene and when interrupted produces a phenotype that is typical of the choreoathetosis, congenital hypothyroidism, and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, as seen in our patient. We conclude that deletions at 14q13.3 adjacent to but not involving NKX2‐1 can cause choreoathetosis, congenital hypothyroidism, and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The use of fentanyl added to morphine-lidocaine-epinephrine spinal solution in patients undergoing cesarean section.

Because of its slow onset of action, intrathecal morphine may not be the optimal drug for intraoperative analgesia during short cases, such as cesarean sections. It is not known whether adding fentanyl to a morphine-lidocaine spinal solution would provide any benefits to patients undergoing cesarean sections. Sixty-two women scheduled for elective cesarean section received intrathecal 5% lidocaine with dextrose (50-70 mg), epinephrine 200 micrograms, preservative-free morphine 0.2 mg, and either 10 micrograms of fentanyl (study group) or preservative-free normal saline (placebo group) in a 0.2-mL volume. Patients were asked to rate their severity of pain on a visual analog scale (VAS) intraoperatively as the uterus was exteriorized and again when the dermatomal level had receded to L1. Intravenous fentanyl was administered if the patient experienced intraoperative discomfort. The VAS scores were 0.8 +/- 1.5 and 2.3 +/- 1.6 (mean +/- SD) in the placebo group at the time of uterine extrusion and in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The corresponding scores in the fentanyl group were 0.4 +/- 1.1 and 2.7 +/- 2.2. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the VAS scores intraoperatively (P < 0.014) but not in the PACU (P not significant). There was also a significant difference (P < 0.015) in the need for supplementation with intravenous (i.v.) fentanyl. Six patients in the placebo group received i.v. fentanyl as compared with none of the patients in the fentanyl group. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evaluation of New Simplified Dynamic Lane Merging Systems (SDLMS) for Short-Term Work Zone Lane Closure Configuration

To improve traffic safety and mobility in work zone areas, the Dynamic Lane Merge (DLM) systems, intelligent work zone traffic control systems, have been explored by several states of the U.S.A. The DLM can take two forms; dynamic early merge and dynamic late merge. The DLM systems were designed to advise drivers on definite merging locations. Up to date, there are no studies that contrast both merging schemes in the field under matching work zone settings. This study suggests two Simplified Dynamic Lane Merging Systems (SDLMS) (early merge and late merge) to supplement the current Florida Maintenance Of Traffic (MOT) plans for a three-to-two- work zone lane closure configuration. Data was collected in work zones on I-95, Florida for three different maintenance of traffic plan treatments. The first maintenance of traffic plan treatment was the standard MOT plan employed by FDOT. The second MOT was the early SDLMS and the third MOT was the late SDLMS. Results showed that dynamic early merging (early SDLMS) outperforms late SDLMS and the conventional Florida MOT plans under lower demand volumes. However, results also showed that late SDLMS outperforms early SDLMS and MAS under higher demand volumes.
Effects of New Hampshire's same-sex marriage legislation on married same-sex couples and their families: A preliminary study

This study explores the effects of New Hampshire's revised marriage statute and the ability to marry on married, resident same-sex couples and their families. The researcher used qualitative research methods in order to investigate the experiences of eleven participants in regards to the effects that marriage has had in their lives and the lives of their dependent and adult children. Based on the data and content analysis, a grounded theory of developing a same-sex marital identity emerged showing that the effects of marriage depend on an on-going interplay between personal and social contexts. Participants' lives were affected by marriage in multiple and varied ways based on their spousal relationship, personal surroundings, and interactions with those in their families and communities. Discrepancies between state and national laws governing marriage also influenced the way that marriage impacted the lives of participant couples.
Gabor expansion for stereophonic acoustic echo cancellation

In hands-free stereophonic devices, a stereo acoustic echo canceller is usually included. This however can exhibit convergence problems caused by the strong cross-correlation between the signals of the two channels. In this paper a new stereo acoustic echo cancellation structure based on the Gabor expansion is presented, which allows one to get better performance than other classical solutions, both in terms of complexity and misalignment. In fact, the decorrelating and whitening capabilities of the Gabor expansion, recently proposed for monophonic echo cancellation, allow one to avoid the use of cross-filters and make the adaptive filtering in each sub-band more effective.
Building a trustworthy corporate identity : A corpus-based analysis of stance in annual and corporate social responsibility reports

This article presents a corpus-based analysis of stance in a specialized corpus of annual and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. It investigates how companies use stance expressions to construct and promote a positive corporate identity in order to gain the trust of the stakeholder groups that these texts target. The results show that companies profile distinct identities in annual and CSR reports. In annual reports, they use stance resources to portray themselves as unbiased, rational, and competent decision makers. In CSR reports, they present themselves as committed, honest, and caring corporate citizens. These discursive identities are interpreted as strategic self-representations that optimize the persuasive appeal of the reports by addressing the specific expectations of the target readerships. This study sheds some new light on the identity work performed by companies in their public discourse. It also provides novel insights into the impression management strategies used by companies in annual and CSR reports. Finally, it provides both linguists and business communication scholars with a robust descriptive basis for critically assessing financial and CSR reporting.
Update on Inflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Immunoregulation in Multiple Sclerosis: Therapeutic Implications

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system of uncertain etiology. There is consensus that a dysregulated immune system plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of MS; therefore, we aim to summarize current hypotheses concerning the complex cellular and molecular interactions involved in the immunopathology of MS. Although CD4+ T lymphocytes have long been implicated in the immunopathology of MS, the role of other T-cell subtypes has been recognized. CD4+ and CD8+ cells have been isolated from different locations within MS lesions and &ggr;/&dgr; T cells have been isolated from early MS lesions. The prevalent dogma has been that CD4+ TH1 cells release cytokines and mediators of inflammation that may cause tissue damage, although CD4+ TH2 cells may be involved in modulation of these effects. Recent evidence, however, suggests that additional T-cell subsets play a prominent role in MS immunopathology: TH17 cells, CD8+ effector T cells, and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. In addition, laboratory and clinical data are accumulating on the prominent role of B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells in MS pathogenesis. On the basis of these observations, new therapeutic approaches for MS will need to focus on resetting multiple components of the immune system.
Disorders of carnitine transport and the carnitine cycle

Carnitine plays an essential role in the transfer of long‐chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This transfer requires enzymes and transporters that accumulate carnitine within the cell (OCTN2 carnitine transporter), conjugate it with long chain fatty acids (carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, CPT1), transfer the acylcarnitine across the inner plasma membrane (carnitine‐acylcarnitine translocase, CACT), and conjugate the fatty acid back to Coenzyme A for subsequent beta oxidation (carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2, CPT2). Deficiency of the OCTN2 carnitine transporter causes primary carnitine deficiency, characterized by increased losses of carnitine in the urine and decreased carnitine accumulation in tissues. Patients can present with hypoketotic hypoglycemia and hepatic encephalopathy, or with skeletal and cardiac myopathy. This disease responds to carnitine supplementation. Defects in the liver isoform of CPT1 present with recurrent attacks of fasting hypoketotic hypoglycemia. The heart and the muscle, which express a genetically distinct form of CPT1, are usually unaffected. These patients can have elevated levels of plasma carnitine. CACT deficiency presents in most cases in the neonatal period with hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia, and cardiomyopathy with arrhythmia leading to cardiac arrest. Plasma carnitine levels are extremely low. Deficiency of CPT2 present more frequently in adults with rhabdomyolysis triggered by prolonged exercise. More severe variants of CPT2 deficiency present in the neonatal period similarly to CACT deficiency associated or not with multiple congenital anomalies. Treatment for deficiency of CPT1, CPT2, and CACT consists in a low‐fat diet supplemented with medium chain triglycerides that can be metabolized by mitochondria independently from carnitine, carnitine supplements, and avoidance of fasting and sustained exercise. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.