Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia induces epidermal keratinocyte matrix metalloproteinase‐9 secretion via the protein kinase C pathway

Hypoxia promotes keratinocyte migration on wound bed connective tissues and is a profound biological signal that transforms a basal keratinocyte, destined to differentiate, into a motile cell that is essential for re‐epithelialization. In this study, we examined the effect of hypoxia on keratinocyte‐derived collagenases associated with keratinocyte migration. Cells plated on various connective tissue matrices under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, demonstrated a two‐fold increase in the 92 kDa, type IV collagenase (MMP‐9) when examined by quantitative zymography and ELISA. Western blotting and ELISA demonstrated a two‐fold increase in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP‐1), an enzyme that binds to MMP‐9 and inhibits its activity. The hypoxia‐induced increase in cell motility could be inhibited by a neutralizing antibody to MMP‐9. Northern blotting demonstrated that MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 mRNA increased 2.5‐ to 4‐fold, 2–12 h after the cells were made hypoxic. The hypoxia‐induced changes in MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 were inhibited by staurosporine and bisindolylmaleimide, inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), but not by inhibitors of tyrosine phosphorylation and the mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway. Inhibition of PKC also inhibited hypoxia‐induced keratinocyte migration on type I collagen. These data provide evidence that hypoxia‐induced keratinocyte migration is mediated by increased cellular secretion of MMP‐9 via the PKC pathway. J. Cell. Physiol. 214:47–55, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diversity Considerations in HIV-1 Vaccine Selection

Globally, human immunodeficiency virus–type 1 (HIV-1) is extraordinarily variable, and this diversity poses a major obstacle to AIDS vaccine development. Currently, candidate vaccines are derived from isolates, with the hope that they will be sufficiently cross-reactive to protect against circulating viruses. This may be overly optimistic, however, given that HIV-1 envelope proteins can differ in more than 30% of their amino acids. To contend with the diversity, country-specific vaccines are being considered, but evolutionary relationships may be more useful than regional considerations. Consensus or ancestor sequences could be used in vaccine design to minimize the genetic differences between vaccine strains and contemporary isolates, effectively reducing the extent of diversity by half.
Negative and positive predictive value of a whole-blood interferon-γ release assay for developing active tuberculosis: an update.

RATIONALE only limited data are available on the predictive value of interferon-γ release assays for progression from latent tuberculosis infection to active tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVES to build on our initial study comparing the QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube assay (QFT) with the tuberculin skin test (TST) in close contacts of patients with TB and evaluating progression to active TB for up to 4 years. METHODS a cohort of close contacts of smear-positive index cases established between May 2005 and April 2008 was tested with QFT and TST. Through April 2010, progressors to active TB were consecutively recorded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS of the 1,414 contacts (141 children), 1,033 were still resident in Hamburg at the end of the study period, and results of both tests were available for 954. QFT, but not TST, results were associated with exposure time (P < 0.0001). For QFT, 198 of 954 (20.8%) were positive; 63.3% (604) were TST positive at greater than 5 mm and 25.4% at greater than 10 mm. Nine hundred and three contacts refused chemoprevention and 19 developed active TB. All 19 (100%) had been QFT positive with a progression rate of 12.9% (19 of 147) over the observation period. Corresponding values for the TST were significantly lower: 89.5% (17 of 19) and 3.1% (17 of 555) at greater than 5 mm, and 52.6% (10 of 19) and 4.8% (10 of 207) at greater than 10 mm, respectively. The progression rate of 28.6% (6 of 21) for QFT-positive children was significantly higher than 10.3% (13 of 126) for adults (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS results suggest that QFT is more reliable than the TST for identifying those who will soon progress to active TB, especially in children.
Topical anesthetic abuse ring keratitis: report of four cases.

PURPOSE We present the clinicopathologic correlations of two case and two other clinical cases of topical anesthetic abuse keratopathy that were originally diagnosed as Acanthamoeba keratitis because of ring keratitis presentation and characteristic history. METHODS Four patients who were referred to us with suspected Acanthamoeba keratitis are included. Each was initially treated for amoebic keratitis, by using established protocols, and only later was the true origin (topical anesthetic abuse) uncovered. The clinical and surgical histories, pathologic analysis of the corneal specimens, and follow-up of < or = 4 years are included. RESULTS Our four cases show another cause for ring infiltration of the cornea. Two cases resulted in corneal transplantation and multiple other medical or surgical treatments in an attempt to restore vision but had poor outcomes of finger-counting vision. Two other cases responded to intensive medical treatments with return of useful vision. Evaluation of the surgical specimens revealed a previously unpublished finding of near total cell death within the corneal stroma. CONCLUSION Topical anesthetic abuse resulting in sight-threatening keratitis may be seen as a masquerade syndrome in many cases. Because of the often poor outcome, we must be aware of this entity, prevent abuse, and be vigilant in our prohibition of topical anesthetic for any therapeutic use.
Anemia in Pediatric Celiac Disease: Association With Clinical and Histological Features and Response to Gluten-free Diet

Goals: The aim of the present study was to compare clinical, serological, and histological manifestations between children with anemia and without anemia at celiac disease (CD) diagnosis. Background: Despite being a common finding, the association between the presence of anemia and clinicohistopathological presentation of CD in children remains obscure. Study: A total of 455 patients with CD <18 years of age were divided into those with anemia and those without anemia at diagnosis. The groups underwent comparisons of a variety of clinical, serological, and laboratory parameters and severity of small-bowel mucosal damage. Furthermore, adherence and clinical and serological response to the gluten-free diet (GFD) were compared. Results: Anemia was detected in 18.0% of the patients. Children with anemia had higher values for transglutaminase 2 antibodies (120.0 U/L vs 88.0 U/L, P < 0.001) and, by definition, lower values for hemoglobin (10.5 g/dL vs 12.8 g/dL, P < 0.001) and other iron parameters. They were also less often screen-detected (13.4% vs 34.6%), had more severe histological damage (P = 0.048), and poorer dietary adherence (78.3% vs 87.5%, P = 0.035) than the patients without anemia. A total of 92% of the patients recovered from anemia after a median of 1 year on a GFD, but hemoglobin values remained significantly lower compared with the nonanemic group (12.5 g/dL vs 13.2 g/dL, P = 0.045). There was no difference between the groups in the clinical and serological response to the GFD (P = 0.318). Conclusions: Anemia at CD diagnosis is associated with more severe histological and serological presentation in children. Furthermore, low hemoglobin may not fully recover even after a median of 1 year on a strict GFD.
Perceived Organizational Support and Turnover Intention: The Mediating Effects of Personal Sacrifice and Job Fit

ABSTRACT This study examines the mediating role of job fit on the relationship between perceived supervisor support (PSS) and perceived organizational support (POS), and the mediating role of personal sacrifice on the relationship between POS and turnover intention. We use structural equation modeling (SEM) with a data set consisting of a sample of 346 individuals in a manufacturing firm to test our proposed model of PSS, POS, and turnover intention. Consistent with prior literature, our hypothesized model confirms that PSS is a predictor of POS and that POS is a predictor of turnover intention. By testing two additional competing and theoretically derived nested models, our findings indicate that job fit partially mediates the relationship between PSS and POS, and that personal sacrifice partially mediates the relationship between POS and turnover intention. Our study is among the first to examine job fit and personal sacrifice as mediators within the POS-turnover intention model.
An unusual spliced herpes simplex virus type 1 transcript with sequence homology to Epstein-Barr virus DNA

High-resolution transcription mapping localized a spliced 2.7-kilobase herpes simplex virus type 1 mRNA. The 4-kilobase intron of this transcript encodes a nested set of transcripts on the opposite DNA strand. The nucleotide sequence of the DNA encoding the left-hand and right-hand exons of the spliced transcript was determined, and the salient features are presented here. Of major interest is that both exons contained regions within several hundred bases of the splice donor and acceptor sites which showed homology to two regions of the Epstein-Barr virus genome, which are themselves 3 kilobases apart. The spliced herpes simplex virus transcript encoded a translational reading frame which could encode a protein with an approximate size of 75,000 daltons. This value is in agreement with in vitro translation data. The predicted amino acid sequence of the herpes simplex virus protein had significant homology with putative amino acid sequences encoded by the homologous Epstein-Barr virus DNA sequences.
1-Deoxynojirimycin Content and Alfa-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity and Heat Stability of 1-Deoxynojirimycin in Silkworm Powder

Silkworm powder containing 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) has α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and is promising as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) agent in Japan. Silkworm powder produced in Korea was extracted with 75% ethanol. The extract was derivatized with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl), and DNJ-FMOC content was measured by HPLC. Then, alfa-glucosidase inhibition by silkworm and mulberry powder in pig liver crude enzyme was assayed using 4-nitrophenyl-alfa-D-glucopyranoside as a substrate. Silkworm powder DNJ content (0.39 to 0.58%) was higher than that in mulberry powder (0.08 to 0.12%). The alfa-glucosidase inhibitory activity of silkworm powder was more potent than that of mulberry leaves and green tea. Silkworm powder DNJ was stable upon heating to 121? C for up to 15 min.
Is the erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition a valid index of skeletal muscle membrane fatty acid composition?

Recent studies suggest that insulin sensitivity is related to the fatty acid composition of phospholipids in skeletal muscle (SM) membranes. Since it is difficult to obtain muscle biopsies, it may be useful to have information on the fatty acid composition using more accessible cells such as erythrocytes. This would be possible only if the composition of erythrocyte and muscle membranes are very similar. Since no comparative data are available, we evaluated the phospholipid fatty acid composition of erythrocyte and SM membranes in 16 individuals, 10 nondiabetics (male to female ratio, 4:6; age, 50 +/- 11 years; body mass index, 27 +/- 5 kg/m2; mean +/- SD) and 6 type 2 diabetic patients (male to female ratio, 2:4; age, 64 +/- 5 years; body mass index, 27 +/- 4 kg/m2). All patients underwent abdominal surgery, during which a biopsy of the abdominal rectus muscle (50 to 100 mg) was obtained. Erythrocyte and SM phospholipid fatty acids were extracted and then methylated; the methyl fatty acids were separated and quantified by gas chromatography. Compared with erythrocyte membranes, muscle membranes showed a significantly higher proportion of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ([PUFA] 43.0% +/- 3.1% v29.7% +/- 1.6%, P < .001) and lower saturated fatty acid ([SFA] 41.1% +/- 1.5% v 43.4% +/- 1.2%, P < .001), monounsaturated fatty acid ([MUFA] 11.5% +/- 1.7% v 20.0% +/- 1.9%, P < .001), and omega-3 PUFA (3.8% +/- 0.6% v 7.4% +/- 1.0%, P < .001). The greatest increase involved linoleic acid (26.9% +/- 2.8% v 10.3% +/- 1.6%, P < .001), whereas lignoceric acid (0.8% +/- 0.2% v 5.0% +/- 0.6%, P < .001) and oleic acid (10.4% +/- 1.6% v 13.5% +/- 1.3%, P < .001) were significantly lower. These results show that erythrocyte and muscle membrane phospholipid fatty acids are significantly different. Therefore, data on SM membranes cannot be extrapolated on the basis of measures of erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition.
Relay Architectures for 3GPP LTE-Advanced

The Third Generation Partnership Project's Long Term Evolution-Advanced is considering relaying for cost-effective throughput enhancement and coverage extension. While analog repeaters have been used to enhance coverage in commercial cellular networks, the use of more sophisticated fixed relays is relatively new. The main challenge faced by relay deployments in cellular systems is overcoming the extra interference added by the presence of relays. Most prior work on relaying does not consider interference, however. This paper analyzes the performance of several emerging half-duplex relay strategies in interference-limited cellular systems: one-way, two-way, and shared relays. The performance of each strategy as a function of location, sectoring, and frequency reuse are compared with localized base station coordination. One-way relaying is shown to provide modest gains over single-hop cellular networks in some regimes. Shared relaying is shown to approach the gains of local base station coordination at reduced complexity, while two-way relaying further reduces complexity but only works well when the relay is close to the handset. Frequency reuse of one, where each sector uses the same spectrum, is shown to have the highest network throughput. Simulations with realistic channel models provide performance comparisons that reveal the importance of interference mitigation in multihop cellular networks.
Histocompatability Antigens and Schizophrenia

The HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigen) types A and B were studied in 80 patients diagnosed as schizophrenic. There was an increased incidence of HLA-BW5 and a decrease in HLA-AW29 and HLA-BW17 as compared with healthy controls. In the sub-group of patients exhibiting Schneider's first-rank symptoms there was an increased incidence of HLA-A1 with a decrease in HLA-A2 and HLA-BW17.
Recursive Block Markov Superposition Transmission of Short Codes: Construction, Analysis, and Applications

Extensive studies have demonstrated the effectiveness and the flexibility of constructing capacity-approaching codes by block Markov superposition transmission (BMST). However, to achieve high performance, BMST codes typically require large encoding memories and large decoding window sizes, which result in high decoding complexity and high decoding latency. To address these issues, we introduce the recursive BMST (rBMST), in which the block-oriented feedback convolutional code is used instead of the block-oriented feedforward convolutional code of BMST. We propose to use a modified extrinsic information transfer chart analysis, which relates the mutual information to the bit error rate, to study the convergence behaviors of rBMST codes. On one hand, rBMST code shares most merits of BMST code, including near-capacity performance, low-complexity encoding, and flexible construction. On the other hand, compared with BMST code, rBMST code requires a smaller encoding memory, hence a lower decoding complexity, to approach the capacity. In particular, both analytical and simulation results show that rBMST code with encoding memory three reveals a lower error floor than the BMST code with encoding memory twelve. Furthermore, we show by analysis and simulations that rBMST with fixed encoding memory ( $m = 3$ ) and fixed decoding delay ( $d = 12$ ) can be used to construct capacity-approaching multiple-rate codes. Finally, the comparison between rBMST codes and spatially coupled low-density parity-check codes is carried out, which shows the advantages of rBMST codes in terms of performances and decoding complexities.
Depression in Pediatric Illness

Depression is a major complication of medical illness in adults and is increasingly being recognized as a complication of pediatric illness. The author reviews issues in the assessment and diagnosis of depression in pediatric illness and reviews recent studies on the prevalence of and risk factors for depression in different illnesses. Pediatric illness may be a major stressor that precipitates depression in children vulnerable because of life events, family dysfunction, or predisposition to affective illness.
Association of ABO and Rh blood groups with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE The phenotypic "ABO" blood groups are inherited antigenic substances which are found on the surface of red blood cells in addition to other tissues. Certain hypothesis advocates that genetic predisposition like "ABO" blood group would be associated with occurrence of diseases including type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between "ABO" and "Rhesus" blood groups with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS We identified 47 research documents in a data based search including ISI-Web of Science, EMBASE and PubMed. Literature was explored using the key terms including "ABO blood groups" "type 2 diabetes". Studies in which "ABO" blood types and diabetes mellitus were discussed included without restrictions of research documents, types, status and language of the publications. Finally, 15 publications which matched our criteria were included, and remaining studies were excluded. RESULTS Blood group "B" was associated with high incidence of type 2 diabetes and blood group "O" has a minimum association with type 2 diabetes. Blood group "A" and "AB" were almost equally distributed in both diabetic and non-diabetic population. However, we were unable to find an association between "Rh+ve" and "Rh-ve" blood groups with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Subjects with blood group "B" are at high risk while individuals with blood group "O" are at low peril of evolving type 2 diabetes. It is suggested that subjects with blood group "B" should be closely monitored by physicians as these subjects have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Unusual susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to erythromycin, clindamycin, gentamicin, and tetracycline at 30 degrees C but not at 35 degrees C

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen in hospital environments, and optimal detection of MRSA requires nonroutine methods in clinical microbiology laboratories. One such method is an incubation temperature of 30 degrees C in contrast to the more commonly used temperature of 35 degrees C. To determine the percentage of MRSA isolates that would be missed if only one temperature were used, we evaluated methicillin resistance and susceptibility of 2,397 S. aureus isolates by agar dilution at 30 and 35 degrees C. Of the clinical isolates, 93% showed matching MICs of methicillin at both temperatures. Another 6.8% (162) showed different MICs at 30 and 35 degrees C, with 60 of the 162 isolates (2.5% of all isolates studied) being resistant to methicillin at 30 degrees C but susceptible at 35 degrees C (temperature-discrepant MRSA). MICs of other antimicrobial agents, measured at 35 degrees C, revealed an unusual pattern of susceptibility of these temperature-discrepant MRSA isolates. In contrast to previously reported resistance of MRSA at 35 degrees C to erythromycin, clindamycin, gentamicin, and tetracycline, the temperature-discrepant MRSA isolates were susceptible to these agents. This resistance pattern may be of value in identifying questionable MRSA isolates when only one incubation temperature is used.
Prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics of Ib-IIb adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix in patients who have had radical hysterectomy.

AIMS The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with stage lb-IIb cervical adenocarcinoma treated with radical hysterectomy, and to determine the clinicopathological characteristics of those patients. METHODS A total of 255 patients with cervical carcinoma stage Ib-IIb (57 adenocarcinoma and 198 squamous cell carcinoma) who had undergone radical hysterectomy were included in this study. Patient survival distribution was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS The estimated 5-year survival rate for patients with adenocarcinoma was significantly poorer than that for patients with squamous cell carcinoma (77.9% vs 91.7%). The survival rate in stage Ib patients did not differ between two groups (95.8% vs 94.4% respectively). The incidence of lymph node involvement was significantly higher in patients with adenocarcinoma than in those with squamous cell carcinoma (31.6% vs 14.8%). Among patients receiving post-operative radiotherapy, the survival rate for adenocarcinoma (71.1%) was significantly poorer than that for squamous cell carcinoma (90.0%). When patients underwent radical hysterectomy, the survival rate for stage II patients with adenocarcinoma was significantly poorer than that for patients with squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS The higher incidence of lymph node involvement and lower response to post-operative radiotherapy are considered to be factors of poorer prognosis in cervical adenocarcinoma.
Somatostatin reduces transcription of the growth hormone gene in rats.

To examine whether somatostatin (SS) exerts influences on the steady state levels of GH-releasing factor (GRF), the effect of SS on GH gene transcription was examined in rats. This approach was used because it has been shown that GRF stimulates GH gene transcription independent of GH release, and SS does not inhibit basal or GRF-stimulated GH gene transcription. Therefore, it is assumed that an effect of SS on GH gene transcription would be mediated by a change in GRF levels. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were provided with right atrial cannulae. Studies were performed using unanesthetized rats. Pituitary GH gene transcription was measured by transcription assay. An iv administration of antiserum to rat GRF 150 min previously significantly decreased GH gene transcription compared with that in control rats given normal goat serum. A continuous infusion of SS (300 micrograms/kg.h) via the cannula for 150 min significantly decreased GH gene transcription compared with that in control rats receiving 0.9% NaCl. When GRF (3 micrograms/kg.h) was given simultaneously with SS (300 micrograms/kg.h), GH gene transcription increased significantly compared with that in rats receiving SS infusion alone. After the withdrawal of SS infusion, GH gene transcription rapidly and significantly increased. The data suggest that SS reduces the steady state levels of GRF.