Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human conjunctiva contains high endothelial venules that express lymphocyte homing receptors.

Lymphocyte trafficking into tissues has been shown to occur across vessels with specialized endothelial cells called high endothelial venules. High endothelial venules naturally occur in lymph nodes and mucosal lymphoid tissues. The presence of high endothelial venules in the conjunctiva has not been demonstrated previously and the purpose of this study was to determine whether there is such a specialized vasculature to facilitate lymphocyte trafficking in conjunctiva associated lymphoid tissue.Samples of conjunctiva from four different individuals were analysed morphometrically for the presence of high endothelial venules by light and electron microscopy, and by immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for high endothelial venules and for two adhesion molecules namely, Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 and Mucosal Addressin Cell Adhesion Molecule-1, expressed on high endothelial venules found in other tissues. Blood vessels with anatomical features of high endothelial venules were demonstrated in relation to conjunctival follicles and in the lamina propria. Immunohistochemical studies showed positive staining of vessels with anti-high endothelial venule antibodies, and with antibody against Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 but not with antibody against Mucosal Addressin Cell Adhesion Molecule-1. This study reveals that some of the blood vessels associated with conjunctival follicles and lamina propria have features of high endothelial venules. These vessels may play a significant role in lymphocyte homing to the conjunctiva and Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (but not Mucosal Addressin Cell Adhesion Molecule-1) is one of the vascular addressin/adhesion molecules.
Nano-hole Arrays in Thin Au/Pd Film on Glass, for High Speed Molecular Analysis

We present an improved process technology based on e-beam lithography and lift-off technique, for fabrication of different nano-hole arrays in optically thick gold/palladium (Au/Pd=60/40) layers on transparent substrates. Every hole serves as a reaction chamber for bio-molecular analysis (e.g. antibody/antigen recognition), as part of a novel atto-liter titer plate device. The optical characterization of the hole-arrays is pursued, both for the transmission of the light and the fluorescence signal through the holes. Array structures with square and hexagonal holes' distribution, with the hole-diameters between 150 nm and 200 nm and periodicity of 600 nm and 900 nm are fabricated in 200 nm thick layer of gold/palladium alloy on glass. The spectrum of the transmitted light through the hexagonally distributed nano-holes compared to the one of the square distributed nano-holes shows a 20% of light enhancement. Applying Rhodamine G6 solution (0.05 mM) on top of the arrays reveals a nine time increased fluorescent signal.
Coalescent Processes with Skewed Offspring Distributions and Nonequilibrium Demography

Nonequilibrium demography impacts coalescent genealogies leaving detectable, well-studied signatures of variation. However, similar genomic footprints are also expected under models of large reproductive skew, posing a serious problem when trying to make inference. Furthermore, current approaches consider only one of the two processes at a time, neglecting any genomic signal that could arise from their simultaneous effects, preventing the possibility of jointly inferring parameters relating to both offspring distribution and population history. Here, we develop an extended Moran model with exponential population growth, and demonstrate that the underlying ancestral process converges to a time-inhomogeneous psi-coalescent. However, by applying a nonlinear change of time scale—analogous to the Kingman coalescent—we find that the ancestral process can be rescaled to its time-homogeneous analog, allowing the process to be simulated quickly and efficiently. Furthermore, we derive analytical expressions for the expected site-frequency spectrum under the time-inhomogeneous psi-coalescent, and develop an approximate-likelihood framework for the joint estimation of the coalescent and growth parameters. By means of extensive simulation, we demonstrate that both can be estimated accurately from whole-genome data. In addition, not accounting for demography can lead to serious biases in the inferred coalescent model, with broad implications for genomic studies ranging from ecology to conservation biology. Finally, we use our method to analyze sequence data from Japanese sardine populations, and find evidence of high variation in individual reproductive success, but few signs of a recent demographic expansion.
Surgical wound‐healing complications in heart transplant recipients treated with rapamycin

The aim of this retrospective analysis was to assess the influence of rapamycin (RAPA) used perioperatively on surgical complications in heart transplant recipients. The study group consisted of 28 heart transplant recipients (26M/2F, 49.2±11 years) receiving 15 mg of RAPA before operation, 10 mg of RAPA on the first postoperative day (POD) and 5 mg daily (n=20) thereafter, or 5 mg daily starting on POD 2 (n=8), until the introduction of cyclosporine‐A. A matched historical control group was composed of 28 patients (26M/2F, 49.7±9 years) receiving cyclosporine‐A from POD 1. We compared a number of surgical complications and reinterventions among groups. Statistical significance was assessed using the chi‐square test and the Mann–Whitney U‐test. There were 16 (57%) patients in the study group vs. six (21%) in the control group requiring reintervention (p=0.014). Pericardial tamponade decompression was performed in seven (25%) vs. zero patients, and sternum refixation in seven (25%) vs. zero patients (p=0.015). None of the wounds was infected. The overall drainage volume was 4,213±5,996 vs. 1,911±1,728 mL (p=NS). The frequencies of biopsy‐proven rejection and infection were comparable, except lower cytomegalovirus infection rates in the study group: three (11%) vs. 11 (39%) for the control group (p=0.023). The use of RAPA in the perioperative period of heart transplantation increases the risk of surgical wound‐healing complications.
Abdominal Muscle Training Can Enhance Cough After Spinal Cord Injury

Background. Respiratory complications in people with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly because of a reduced ability to cough as a result of abdominal muscle paralysis. Objective. We investigated the effect of cough training combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) over the abdominal muscles for 6 weeks to observe whether training could improve cough strength. Methods. Fifteen SCI subjects (C4-T5) trained for 6 weeks, 5 days per week (5 sets of 10 coughs per day) in a randomized crossover design study. Subjects coughed voluntarily at the same time as a train of electrical stimulation was delivered over the abdominal muscles via posterolaterally positioned electrodes (50 Hz, 3 seconds). Measurements were made of esophageal (Pes) and gastric (Pga) expiratory pressures and the peak expiratory flow (PEFcough) produced at the 3 time points of before, during, and after the training. Results. During voluntary coughs, FES cough stimulation improved Pga, Pes, and PEFcough acutely, 20-fold, 4-fold, and 50%, respectively. Six weeks of cough training significantly increased Pga (37.1 ± 2.0 to 46.5 ± 2.9 cm H2O), Pes (35.4 ± 2.7 to 48.1 ± 2.9 cm H2O), and PEFcough (3.1 ± 0.1 to 3.6 ± 0.1 L/s). Cough training also improved pressures and flow during voluntary unstimulated coughs. Conclusions. FES of abdominal muscles acutely increases mechanical output in coughing in high-level SCI subjects. Six weeks of cough training further increases gastric and esophageal cough pressures and expiratory cough flow during stimulated cough maneuvers.
Small breast cancers: in vivo percutaneous US-guided radiofrequency ablation with dedicated cool-tip radiofrequency system.

PURPOSE To evaluate in vivo the efficacy of a newly developed breast radiofrequency (RF) ablation system in human small invasive breast carcinomas in terms of induction of complete tumor necrosis, reproducibility of ablation lesion size and shape, and cosmetic outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study had institutional review board approval, and written informed consent was obtained. Thirty-four postmenopausal women (mean age, 53 years +/- 5 [standard deviation]; range, 49-62 years) with small (< or = 2 cm) biopsy-proved invasive ductal breast carcinomas were enrolled. RF energy was delivered through a 25-mm 15-gauge monopolar cool-tip needle electrode by using the temperature-controlled mode. Patients were divided into three groups according to their breast pattern as assessed at mammography. The volumetric size and geometry of the coagulation zone, together with ablation time, were determined. Histopathologic data were compared with postprocedural 3.0-T contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images. Cosmesis after RF ablation was assessed. Four weeks after RF ablation, patients underwent definitive surgery. RESULTS All ablation procedures were performed successfully. For 97% of the procedures, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in its reduced form-diaphorase staining showed no evidence of viable cells. The mean induced ablation volume, as assessed with histologic analysis, was 12.50 cm(3) +/- 0.8. Tumor ablation volume on the postablation MR images showed good correlation with results of histopathologic analysis (r = 0.823, P < .005). No differences were observed in terms of duration of the procedure or ablation volume with respect to the glandular pattern of the breast (P > .05 for both). The general shape of the induced necrosis was close to a sphere in all cases. Cosmesis was excellent in 28 patients. CONCLUSION A dedicated breast cool-tip RF ablation system can induce complete tumor necrosis and reproducible ablation volumes independently of breast glandular pattern, providing excellent cosmesis. Postablation MR images are a reliable tool in predicting histologic findings.
Beyond BLASTing: Tertiary and Quaternary Structure Analysis Helps Identify Major Vault Proteins

We examine the advantages of going beyond sequence similarity and use both protein three-dimensional (3D) structure prediction and then quaternary structure (docking) of inferred 3D structures to help evaluate whether comparable sequences can fold into homologous structures with sufficient lateral associations for quaternary structure formation. Our test case is the major vault protein (MVP) that oligomerizes in multiple copies to form barrel-like vault particles and is relatively widespread among eukaryotes. We used the iterative threading assembly refinement server (I-TASSER) to predict whether putative MVP sequences identified by BLASTp and PSI Basic Local Alignment Search Tool are structurally similar to the experimentally determined rodent MVP tertiary structures. Then two identical predicted quaternary structures from I-TASSER are analyzed by RosettaDock to test whether a pair-wise association occurs, and hence whether the oligomeric vault complex is likely to form for a given MVP sequence. Positive controls for the method are the experimentally determined rat (Rattus norvegicus) vault X-ray crystal structure and the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) MVP sequence that forms experimentally observed vaults. These and two kinetoplast MVP structural homologs were predicted with high confidence value, and RosettaDock predicted that these MVP sequences would dock laterally and therefore could form oligomeric vaults. As the negative control, I-TASSER did not predict an MVP-like structure from a randomized rat MVP sequence, even when constrained to the rat MVP crystal structure (PDB:2ZUO), thus further validating the method. The protocol identified six putative homologous MVP sequences in the heterobolosean Naegleria gruberi within the excavate kingdom. Two of these sequences are predicted to be structurally similar to rat MVP, despite being in excess of 300 residues shorter. The method can be used generally to help test predictions of homology via structural analysis.
Antral Follicle Priming Before Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Previously Diagnosed Low Responders: A Randomized Controlled Trial (FOLLPRIM).

CONTEXT A low response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation implies a reduced number of embryos and impaired pregnancy rate. Follicular priming with steroids before controlled ovarian hyperstimulation has been suggested to improve the subsequent ovarian response. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the best follicular priming protocol in low responders and to investigate the intrafollicular mechanisms triggered by steroid hormone priming. DESIGN This was a single-center, randomized, parallel, open-label, controlled trial, in two phases. SETTING The setting was a university-based in vitro fertilization unit. PATIENTS Potential low responders (n = 99) underwent a first intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle. Confirmed low responders (n = 66) were randomized to different priming protocols before a new intracytoplasmic sperm injection. INTERVENTIONS Randomized patients underwent one of the following priming strategies: transdermal testosterone (20 μg/kg/d), transdermal estradiol (200 μg/d), or combined estrogens and oral contraceptive pills (30 μg of ethinyl estradiol plus 150 μg of desogestrel administered during the luteal phase of two consecutive cycles) and 4 mg/d of estradiol valerate during the follicular phase between them. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Metaphase II (MII) oocytes were retrieved. Gene expression levels in the granulosa cells of steroidogenesis enzymes and FSH, LH, and androgen receptors were measured. RESULTS The number of retrieved MII oocytes did not differ between the interventional groups (testosterone, 2.2 ± 2.0; estrogen, 2.7 ± 1.7; and combined estrogens and oral contraceptive pills, 2.0 ± 1.3; not significant). Compared with those in nonprimed cycles, estradiol pretreatment yielded more MII oocytes (primed, 2.7 ± 1.7; nonprimed, 1.6 ± 1.2; P = .029) although the clinical pregnancy rate was higher in patients treated with testosterone (P = .003). Testosterone pretreatment increased androgen receptor expression (P = .028) compared with that for the previous cycle without priming. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present trial do not support the superiority of one priming strategy over the others.
MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of folate, and the role of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism in pancreatic carcinogenesis is still controversial. METHOD A literature search was performed using Pubmed and CNKI databases for published studies through May 2012. We performed a meta-analysis of all relevant case-control studies that examined the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk. RESULTS Finally, 9 individual case-control studies with a total of 1,299 pancreatic cancer cases and 2,473 controls were included into this meta-analysis. RESULTS This meta- analysis showed there was an obvious association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk in East Asians (for allele model, OR = 1.67, 95%CI 1.11-2.51; For homozygote model, OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.40-5.48; for recessive model, OR = 1.96, 95%CI 1.54-2.50; for dominant model, OR = 2.11, 95%CI 1.01-4.41). However, no significant association was found in Caucasians. CONCLUSION The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with pancreatic cancer risk, and a race-specific effect may exist in this association. More studies with a larger sample size are needed to further clarify this association.
Inpatient Suicides in an Australian Mental Hospital

Objective: Suicide rates among psychiatric inpatients are higher than in the general population. Mental health professionals are poor at predicting suicide risk. Method: One hundred and three inpatient suicides, over a 21-year period, in a large psychiatric hospital in Melbourne were examined. The characteristics, including demographic and clinical data, for 60 of these suicides were compared with a matched comparison group stratified for the time of admission. Violent methods (including jumping in front of trains, trams and road traffic, jumping off buildings, hanging and drowning) were most frequently used. Results: Over one-third of the suicides occurred during periods of approved leave and a similar number occurred after absconding from the hospital. Suicide was associated with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, increased duration of admission, more frequent prescription of neuroleptics and antidepressants, previous deliberate self-harm, suicidal ideation at the time of admission and during the admission, suicide attempts during the admission, unstable (fluctuating) suicidal ideation during the admission and a greater number of ward transfers. Conclusions: Psychiatric units should be developed away from readily available methods of suicide. Patients with previous or intra-admission suicidal ideation or attempts, or unstable suicidal ideation, should be carefully observed to avoid absconding. Suicide risk should be carefully evaluated in such patients prior to approving periods of leave.
Maximum Transmission Rate of PSR/TSR Protocols in Wireless Energy Harvesting DF-Based Relay Networks

In this paper, we consider the power splitting relaying (PSR) and time switching relaying (TSR) protocols for decode-and-forward (DF)-based relay networks consisting of a source, a relay, and a destination. For the networks, the relay is assumed to have a rechargeable battery with a certain amount of remaining energy for energy harvesting through the received signal transmitted from the source. Specifically, for the PSR protocol with and without the direct-path, we present the outage probability expression with a given power splitting coefficient, and we obtain the optimum power splitting coefficient to maximize the transmission rate and derive its transmission rate and outage probability, where the optimum coefficient depends on channel conditions and remaining energy. For the TSR protocol with and without the direct-path, we present the outage probability expression with a given time switching coefficient, and we obtain the optimum time switching coefficient to maximize the transmission rate and derive its transmission rate, where the optimum coefficient also depends on channel conditions and remaining energy.
Astrocytic adhesion molecules are increased in HIV‐1‐associated cognitive/motor complex

Half of AIDS dementia cases are associated with HIV‐encephalitis or myelin pallor. Another half die with no HIV‐related neuropathological changes. Previous observations suggest that cerebral dysfunction may result from more subtle cellular interactions, and that some of them may be mediated by cell adhesion molecules. In the present study the expression by astrocytes and endothelial cells of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) was analysed as a function of the neuropathological diagnosis, the density of astrogliosis and of HIV‐1 positive cells, and of the mental status. Twelve AIDS cases, without focal brain lesion, eight of whom were demented, were selected from a prospective study. They were compared with six control cases with multiple sclerosis, and with six control patients without neurological disease. ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 expression was localized by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. HIV protein gp41 was detected by immunohistochemistry on adjacent sections. Endothelial expression of ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 was significantly up‐regulated in all AIDS patients. VCAM‐1 only was related to myelin pallor. The density of VCAM‐1 or ICAM‐1 positive astrocytes increased in demented AIDS patients, independently of the neuropathological findings or the density of gp41 positive cells. Expression of cell adhesion molecules, together with other secondary mechanisms such as secretion of cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of white matter lesions leading to HIV‐1‐associated cognitive changes.
Physical and occupational therapy referral and use among systemic sclerosis patients with impaired hand function: results from a Canadian national survey.

OBJECTIVES Contractures and deformities of the hand are major factors in disability and reduced health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Physical (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) have been emphasised to address impaired hand function, but little is known about the extent they are employed. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of Canadian SSc patients with hand involvement who are referred to and use PT or OT services and factors associated with referral. METHODS Participants were respondents to the Canadian Scleroderma Patient Survey of Health Concerns and Research Priorities who rated ≥1 of 5 hand problems (hand stiffness, difficulty making fist, difficulty holding objects, difficulty opening hand, difficulty with faucet) as occurring at least sometimes with moderate or higher impact. Patients indicated if their physicians recommended PT or OT and if they used these services. Multivariate logistic regression assessed independent predictors of PT or OT referral. RESULTS Of 317 patients with hand involvement, 90 (28%) reported PT or OT referral, but only 39 (12%) reported using these services. PT or OT referral was associated with more hand problems (odds ratio [OR]=1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.51, p=0.031) younger age (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99, p=0.004) and not being employed (OR=0.50, 95% CI 0.26-0.97, p=.0041). CONCLUSIONS Few SSc patients with hand involvement are referred to PT or OT, and even fewer use these services. High-quality randomised controlled trials of PT and OT interventions to improve hand function in SSc are needed.
Child malnutrition in Mexico in the last two decades: prevalence using the new WHO 2006 growth standards.

OBJECTIVE To describe preschool malnutrition prevalence and trends in Mexican children for the 1988, 1999 and 2006 Mexican National Nutrition Surveys using WHO-2006 standards and National Center for Health Statistics/WHO (NCHS/WHO) references. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prevalence of undernutrition (< minus 2 z-score for weight/age, height/age and weight/height) and overweight (> plus 2 z-score for weight/height) were calculated. RESULTS Height/age and weight/height have increased over time (p< 0.05). Using WHO-2006 standards, stunting in children less than 5 years years old was 26.9%, 21.5% and 15.5% in 1988, 1999 and 2006, respectively; values for wasting were 6.2%, 2.1% and 2.0%, respectively. Wasting in the very young (< 6 mo) in 2006 is high (4.9%). Overweight increased from 1988 to 1999 (6.1% to 7.5%) and stabilized in 2006 (7.6%). Gaps among ethnic and socioeconomic groups have decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS Stunting has decreased markedly but continues to be the main malnutrition problem. Overweight has emerged as a public health problem in the young. Lower NCHS/WHO estimates previously published underestimated true prevalence. Length deviations in attained height after 12 months indicate poor infant feeding practices, probably coupled with early infections. Results reinforce the need to improve the quality of nutrition programs and to promote adequate lactation and infant feeding practices in Mexico.