Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of the Wnt-signaling antagonist DKK1 in the development of osteolytic lesions in multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND Myeloma cells may secrete factors that affect the function of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, or both. METHODS We subjected purified plasma cells from the bone marrow of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and control subjects to oligonucleotide microarray profiling and biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses to identify molecular determinants of osteolytic lesions. RESULTS We studied 45 control subjects, 36 patients with multiple myeloma in whom focal lesions of bone could not be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 137 patients in whom MRI detected such lesions. Different patterns of expression of 57 of approximately 10,000 genes from purified myeloma cells could be used to distinguish the two groups of patients (P<0.001). Permutation analysis, which adjusts the significance level to account for multiple comparisons in the data sets, showed that 4 of these 57 genes were significantly overexpressed by plasma cells from patients with focal lesions. One of these genes, dickkopf 1 (DKK1), and its corresponding protein (DKK1) were studied in detail because DKK1 is a secreted factor that has been linked to the function of osteoblasts. Immunohistochemical analysis of bone marrow-biopsy specimens showed that only myeloma cells contained detectable DKK1. Elevated DKK1 levels in bone marrow plasma and peripheral blood from patients with multiple myeloma correlated with the gene-expression patterns of DKK1 and were associated with the presence of focal bone lesions. Recombinant human DKK1 or bone marrow serum containing an elevated level of DKK1 inhibited the differentiation of osteoblast precursor cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS The production of DKK1, an inhibitor of osteoblast differentiation, by myeloma cells is associated with the presence of lytic bone lesions in patients with multiple myeloma.
A Method for Chronologically Ordering Archaeological Deposits

The statistical technique of this paper is based upon the empirically established fact that over the course of time pottery types come into and go out of general use by a given group of people. It is further based upon the established fact that in cultures where chronology has been determined the differential use of types takes on a form illustrated in Figure 89. The data of this diagram are hypothetical, the purpose being merely to illustrate the present discussion.
Shearing during pregnancy — review of a policy to increase birthweight and survival of lambs in New Zealand pastoral farming systems

Abstract Over the past decade, lambing percentages have risen in conjunction with a rise in the percentage of multiple lambs born. Multiple-born lambs are smaller than their singleton counterparts and are particularly susceptible to starvation-exposure. Any technique that can increase the birthweight or thermoregulatory capability, or both, of otherwise lightweight lambs has the potential to substantially increase survival of multiple-born lambs. In the United Kingdom under housed conditions, shearing during pregnancy has been shown to increase both the birthweight and thermoregulatory capability of newborn lambs. However, shearing during pregnancy under pastoral conditions has failed to consistently affect the newborn lamb’s thermoregulatory capability. In contrast, under New Zealand’s pastoral conditions shearing during pregnancy has been found to increase birthweight, but results have been inconsistent in both magnitude and birth-rank specificity. Increase in feed intake by the dam, types of shearing comb used and changes in gestation length do not explain the variation observed. When studies involving shearing during pregnancy are collated it becomes apparent that there are two criteria that must be met to achieve a birthweight response. Firstly, the dam must have the potential to respond and secondly, the dam must have the means to respond. Any increase in lamb survival through shearing during pregnancy would be predominantly through an increase in birthweight of otherwise lightweight lambs. However, in the few studies conducted to date, an increase in birthweight has not resulted in a statistically significant increase in survival. For an increase in birthweight to have a positive effect on lamb survival, lambs must be otherwise destined to be born within a birthweight range in which survival rate is below optimum (<4.0 kg), and the increase in birthweight observed must move a significant proportion of otherwise lightweight lambs into a higher range of survival rate.
Mechanisms of Pathogenesis in Listeria monocytogenes Infection I. Influence of Iron

Sword, C. P. (The University of Kansas, Lawrence). Mechanisms of pathogenesis in Listeria monocytogenes infection. I. Influence of iron. J. Bacteriol. 92: 536–542. 1966. —The effects of ferric and ferrous iron as well as other cations on Listeria infection in mice were studied. Iron compounds caused a reduction in the ld50 dose of Listeria, and, when added to a synthetic medium, proved stimulatory for in vitro growth of the organism. Bacterial counts on spleen and liver tissue from iron-treated mice showed that iron injections caused more rapid growth of bacteria and resulted in higher numbers of organisms in the tissue. The reticuloendothelial system did not appear to be impaired by this treatment. Immunized animals were not affected by iron treatment during challenge. Mice with experimentally induced hemolytic anemia showed increased susceptibility to listeriosis, whereas those treated with Desferal, a specific iron-chelating agent, appeared more resistant. Iron proved stimulatory for the avirulent strain, 9037–7, and resulted in an ld50 of 1.3 × 104 organisms in iron-treated animals. Growth of L. monocytogenes and mortality from experimental infection appeared to be correlated with availability of iron to the bacteria. The results suggest that host iron metabolism may play a part in the onset and progress of Listeria infections.
A magnetic field evolution scenario for brown dwarfs and giant planets

Very little is known about magnetic fields of extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs. We use the energy flux scaling law presented by Christensen et al. to calculate the evolution of average magnetic fields in extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs under the assumption of fast rotation, which is probably the case for most of them. We find that massive brown dwarfs of about 70 MJup can have fields of a few kilo-Gauss during the first few hundred Million years. These fields can grow by a factor of two before they weaken after deuterium burning has stopped. Brown dwarfs with weak deuterium burning and extrasolar giant planets start with magnetic fields between ∼100 G and ∼1 kG at the age of a few Myr, depending on their mass. Their magnetic field weakens steadily until after 10 Gyr it has shrunk by about a factor of 10. We use observed X-ray luminosities to estimate the age of the known extrasolar giant planets that are more massive than 0.3 MJup and closer than 20 pc. Taking into account the age estimate, and assuming sun-like wind-properties and radio emission processes similar to those at Jupiter, we calculate their radio flux and its frequency. The highest radio flux we predict comes out as 700 mJy at a frequency around 150 MHz for τ Boo b, but the flux is below 60 mJy for the rest. Most planets are expected to emit radiation between a few Mhz and up to 100 MHz, well above the ionospheric cutoff frequency.
Deficiency Causing Mutations and Common Polymorphisms in the Factor XIII-A Gene

Summary Blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII), for its unique features, used to be considered a stepchild among clotting factors. In contrast to other proenzyme clotting factors, it is the precursor of a transglutaminase and not of a proteolytic enzyme. By cross-linking peptide-bound glutamine and lysine side chains transglutaminases make, rather than break, peptide bonds. Activated FXIII (FXIIIa) cross-links fibrin α-chains and γ-chains and covalently attaches α2-plasmin inhibitor to fibrin α-chains to strengthen fibrin mechanically and to protect it from fibrinolysis. In addition to being a clotting factor, FXIII is also an intracellular proenzyme present in platelets and monocytes/macrophages. The plasma factor is of heterotetrameric structure consisting of two potentially active A (FXIII-A) and two inhibitory/protective B (FXIII-B) subunits (A2B2), while its cellular counterpart is a dimer of FXIII-A. Plasma FXIII is activated by the concerted action of thrombin and Ca2+. Thrombin cleaves FXIII-A at Arg37-Gly38, then in the presence of Ca2+ FXIII-B dissociates and FXIII-A assumes an active configuration (reviewed in ref. 1).
Cyclostationary analysis of ECG signals acquired inside an ultra-high field MRI scanner

In this paper, a strategy is proposed to estimate the R-peaks in ECG signals recorded inside a 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner in order to reduce the disturbances due to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect and to finally obtain high quality cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) images. We first show that the cyclostationarity property of the ECG signal disturbed by the MHD effect can be quantified by means of cyclic spectral analysis. Then, this information is forwarded as input to a cyclostationary source extraction algorithm applied to a set of ECG recordings acquired inside the MRI scanner in a Feet first (Ff) and a Head first (Hf) positions. Finally, detection of the R-peaks in the estimated cyclostationary signal completes the proposed procedure. Validation of the method is performed by comparing the estimated with clinical R-peaks annotations provided with the real world dataset. The obtained results are promising and future research directions are discussed.
Erosive effects of acidic center-filled chewing gum on primary and permanent enamel.

BACKGROUND The higher incidence of dental erosion in children and teenagers possibly reflects a high intake of acidic food and beverages as well as a more frequent diagnosis on this condition. AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the erosive potential of acidic filling of chewing gum in primary and permanent enamel. METHODS AND MATERIALS Eighty enamel blocks (40 primary and 40 permanent teeth) were used and randomly distributed into eight groups. Groups were divided according to types of dental substrates (permanent or primary), frequency of exposure to the acidic substance (2X or 4X/day), and concentration (pure or diluted). Exposure time to the acidic content of the chewing gum was five minutes under agitation, during five days. RESULTS All groups showed a significant decrease in surface microhardness (P P = 0.002), D3 (pure, 4X/day) and D4 (diluted, 4X/day) (P = 0.009) regarding the concentration, then the diluted acid content was associated with a greater decrease in microhardness. CONCLUSION It is concluded that the acidic filling of a chewing gum reduced the microhardness of primary and permanent enamel.
Circadian Rhythms in Man

Like many animals, humans have adjusted to the natural environment so as to be prepared for efficient activity during daytime and to rest at night. As the basis of this program, almost all structures and functions undergo regular changes within 24 hours. Such rhythms have been described in physiological parameters, such as hormone levels in blood plasma, blood pressure and heart rate, body temperature, and sleep propensity, and in behavioral parameters, such as mood, reaction time, computation speed, and performance in learning tasks. These rhythms normally keep distinct phase-relationships with each other, implying a high degree of internal temporal order. In principle, this rhythmicity is maintained when subjects are sleep deprived, when they are starved, or when they receive equal amounts of food at short intervals over the day. The timing of single meals, however, may influence the pattern of some variables, and the sleep-wake cycle can have phase-setting as well as masking effects on the instantaneous value of rhythms as especially known for body temperature and some hormones.
Detection of specific immunoglobulin E in patients with toxoplasmosis

An immunocapture assay was developed to detect Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in sera from adults with acute acquired infection or reactivation and from babies with congenital toxoplasmosis. The components of this assay were monoclonal antibody to human IgE, samples from patients, and T. gondii tachyzoites treated with Formalin. When T. gondii-specific IgE antibodies were present, visually detectable agglutination occurred. Sera, umbilical cord blood, fetal blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and amniotic fluid were tested by this method. Specific IgE antibodies were detected in sera from 25 (86%) of 29 adults who developed specific IgG antibody during pregnancy or had specific IgA and IgM antibodies. Specific IgE was present early during infection, at the time that IgM antibodies were present, and slightly preceding the presence of specific IgA antibodies. In 23 patients tested serially, IgE antibodies never persisted for longer than 4 months. No nonspecific anti-T. gondii IgE was detected in sera from uninfected individuals. Maternal IgE antibodies did not cross the placenta. In sera of patients with congenital toxoplasmosis, specific IgE antibodies were found at birth, during the first year of life, and during immunologic recrudescence following discontinuation of pyrimethamine-sulfonamide therapy. The IgE immunocapture assay is simple to perform. It is especially useful for determining when T. gondii was acquired by recently infected pregnant women.
Effects of paternal cigarette smoking on testicular function, sperm fertilizing capacity, embryonic development, and blastocyst capacity for implantation in rats

Summary. We evaluated the effects of paternal smoking on testicular function, sperm fertilizing capacity, embryonic development, and blastocyst capacity for implantation. Rats of group A were exposed to cigarette smoke for 10 weeks. Rats of group B were exposed to the smoke of incense sticks for 10 weeks. Rats of group C served as a control group. Rats of group D were exposed to cigarette smoke for 7 weeks only. Experimental period was 10 weeks in all groups. At the end of the experimental period serum testosterone responses to human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation, andro‐gen‐binding protein activity in testicular cytosols, epididymal sperm motility, and oocyte fertilization rate, oocyte cleavage rate, and blastocyst development rate after in vitro fertilization (IVF) trials were significantly smaller in group A compared with groups B and C. In contrast, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and blastocyst development rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures were not significantly different among groups A, B, C, and D. Both after IVF trials and ICSI techniques, the proportion of the alive offspring to the number of transferred oocytes was significantly smaller in group A than in groups B and C. Cigarette smoke‐exposure results in a secretory deficiency of Leydig and Sertoli cells leading to an impaired epididymal sperm maturation process and diminished capacity of spermatozoa to penetrate oocytes. In addition paternal cigarette smoke exposure affects the embryonic ability for implantation.
The Power & Perspective of Mommy Bloggers: Formative Research with Social Media Opinion Leaders about HPV Vaccination

Since the development of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2006, significant promotion efforts have targeted adolescent females and their parents in order to reduce the incidence of HPV and related cancers. Yet vaccination rates for pre-adolescents (the recommended age of administration) still lag behind. Social media and social network campaigns hold promise not only for promoting broad awareness but also for influencing vaccination attitudes and behaviors by utilizing opinion leaders for message dissemination. This formative intervention study explored the feasibility of leveraging online ‘mommy bloggers’ as thought leaders and sources of influence in the promotion of HPV vaccine messages. Findings include insights into vaccine hesitancy amongst mommy bloggers; approaches for discussing HPV vaccination in the blogosphere; and engagement strategies for working with mommy bloggers.
Drugs and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia risk: results from the DARE study cohort

Objectives To establish a unique sample of proarrhythmia cases, determine the characteristics of cases and estimate the contribution of individual drugs to the incidence of proarrhythmia within these cases. Setting Suspected proarrhythmia cases were referred by cardiologists across England between 2003 and 2011. Information on demography, symptoms, prior medical and drug histories and data from hospital notes were collected. Participants Two expert cardiologists reviewed data for 293 referred cases: 130 were included. Inclusion criteria were new onset or exacerbation of pre-existing ventricular arrhythmias, QTc >500 ms, QTc >450 ms (men) or >470 ms (women) with cardiac syncope, all secondary to drug administration. Exclusion criteria were acute ischaemia and ischaemic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia at presentation, structural heart disease, consent withdrawn or deceased prior to study. Descriptive analysis of Caucasian cases (95% of included cases, n=124) and culpable drug exposures was performed. Results Of the 124 Caucasian cases, 95 (77%) were QTc interval prolongation-related; mean age was 62 years (SD 15), and 63% were female. Cardiovascular comorbidities included hypertension (53%) and patient-reported ‘heart rhythm problems’ (73%). Family history of sudden death (36%) and hypokalaemia at presentation (27%) were common. 165 culpable drug exposures were reported, including antiarrhythmics (42%), of which amiodarone and flecainide were the most common. Sotalol, a beta-blocking agent with antiarrhythmic activity, was also common (15%). 26% reported multiple drugs, of which 84% reported at least one cytochrome (CYP) P450 inhibitor. Potential pharmacodynamics interactions identified were mainly QT prolongation (59%). Conclusions Antiarrhythmics, non-cardiac drugs and drug combinations were found to be culpable in a large cohort of 124 clinically validated proarrhythmia cases. Potential clinical factors that may warn the prescriber of potential proarrhythmia include older women, underlying cardiovascular comorbidity, family history of sudden death and hypokalaemia.
Intracranial Pressure Waveform Analysis During Rest and Suctioning

Cerebral compliance is a measure of cerebral adaptability to increases in volume within the intracranial space and an indicator of risk for neurological deterioration. However, no direct measurement of compliance exists in clinical practice to guide nursing care or treatment decisions. Current use of mean intracranial pressure (MICP) and gross morphological intracranial pressure waveform (ICPW) analysis have great variability in predicting outcomes. The purpose of this review and pilot study was to evaluate the effects of suctioning on MICP and other measures estimating cerebral compliance derived from analysis of ICPW on patient outcome. We analyzed arterial blood pressure waveforms (ABPWs), ICPWs, and respiratory cycle variations using Fourier Transform analysis, to explore the potential benefits of studying ICPWs across single cardiac and respiratory cycles using linear modeling and calculation of correlation coefficients. ABPWs, ICPWs, and MICP were measured over individual cardiac cycles across multiple respiratory phases in five critically ill neurological patients. Both direct and derived ICP measures, including Fourier analysis of ABP and ICP and the cross-transform between ABP and ICP, were correlated with patient outcome. This more complex waveform analysis of individual ABPW and ICPW together, and derived measures during both single cardiac and respiratory cycles, may provide information relevant to cerebral compliance and patient outcomes. Pending confirmation with additional data sets, this technique may be a useful real-time clinical tool to provide a measure of compliance and risk of neurological deterioration for clinicians.
Fetuin ‐ an old friend revisited

Bovine fetuin, the first fetal protein to be described, has recently been shown to be a species homologue of a well known human plasma protein ‐ α2HS glycoprotein (α2HS). The fetuins are now known to be members of the cystatin superfamily. The structural properties of the six fetuins that have been fully sequenced are compared. Despite the structural homology of these proteins, their described properties in the literature make them appear to be quite different. The diverse in vitro properties claimed for fetuin/α2HS are reviewed. In vivo, fetuins are involved in the acute phase response. In development, in all species studied so far, fetuins are present in a specific cell population that forms the developing neocortex. The possible functional significance of this distribution is discussed.
17β-Estradiol Induction of Filopodial Growth in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons within Minutes of Exposure

The rapid effect of 17beta-estradiol upon filopodial growth was investigated using videomicroscopy of hippocampal neurons in culture. Within 1-10 min, 17beta-estradiol induced a significant increase in the number of filopodia decorating neuritic extensions. In addition, the length of existing as well as newly formed filopodia increased significantly during the 10-min 17beta-estradiol exposure. Neurite area and neurite length did not change significantly. The inactive epimer, 17alpha-estradiol, had no effect upon any of the morphological parameters assessed. Similarly, neither progesterone or corticosterone showed a significant influence upon any of the parameters of hippocampal nerve cell growth in culture within the same time frame in which 17beta-estradiol effects were observed. Testosterone induced a significant increase in the number of filopodia without a significant increase in the overall length of the filopodia. Results of these studies demonstrate that 17beta-estradiol can induce rapid changes in nerve cell morphology, suggesting that modification of neuronal circuitry can occur within minutes of exposure, a time base that is consistent with 17beta-estradiol influence upon nerve cell excitability.
To the Other Side of the Neglected Brain

The human brain is characterized by the lateralization of cognitive functions. Multiple lines of evidence suggest the deployment of visuospatial attention is controlled by a frontoparietal network, with a right hemisphere dominance. Among cortical areas included in the network, the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) has been proposed to be a crucial node and has also been implicated on clinical grounds. Here, the authors provide an overview of the existent literature giving evidence to a functional asymmetry of the parietal cortices in directing visuospatial attention, focusing on those studies seeking to characterize the causal role of PPC, applying transcranial magnetic stimulation and its combination with imaging techniques, such as electroencephalography and fMRI. First, the role of PPC and how this region exerts its control over remote areas of both hemispheres is discussed. The second part discusses studies involving neglect patients shedding light on the complex interplay between left and right PPC, strongly supporting the hemispheric rivalry theory. Finally, studies demonstrating changes of neglect disorders following the manipulation of the unaffected hemisphere activation will be discussed.