Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proliferative glomerulonephritis associated with monoclonal immune deposits: A case report and review of literature

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits (PGNMID) is a newly recognized entity caused by monoclonal deposition of IgG. PGNMID resembles immune complex glomerulonephritis (GN) on light and electron microscopy. The monotypic immunoglobulin deposits seen on immunofluorescence (IF) clinches the diagnosis. We report a case of proliferative GN associated MGRS and review the relevant literature. The patient had significant proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine. The renal biopsy showed proliferative GN with focal crescents and monoclonal immune deposits confirming a diagnosis of PGNMID. Serum work up showed no monoclonal proteins. Proliferative GN as a manifestation of a monoclonal gammopathy needs to be borne in mind especially in renal biopsies of older patients.
Advance Care Planning in palliative care: A systematic literature review of the contextual factors influencing its uptake 2008–2012

Background: Advance Care Planning is an iterative process of discussion, decision-making and documentation about end-of-life care. Advance Care Planning is highly relevant in palliative care due to intersecting clinical needs. To enhance the implementation of Advance Care Planning, the contextual factors influencing its uptake need to be better understood. Aim: To identify the contextual factors influencing the uptake of Advance Care Planning in palliative care as published between January 2008 and December 2012. Methods: Databases were systematically searched for studies about Advance Care Planning in palliative care published between January 2008 and December 2012. This yielded 27 eligible studies, which were appraised using National Institute of Health and Care Excellence Quality Appraisal Checklists. Iterative thematic synthesis was used to group results. Results: Factors associated with greater uptake included older age, a college degree, a diagnosis of cancer, greater functional impairment, being white, greater understanding of poor prognosis and receiving or working in specialist palliative care. Barriers included having non-malignant diagnoses, having dependent children, being African American, and uncertainty about Advance Care Planning and its legal status. Individuals’ previous illness experiences, preferences and attitudes also influenced their participation. Conclusion: Factors influencing the uptake of Advance Care Planning in palliative care are complex and multifaceted reflecting the diverse and often competing needs of patients, health professionals, legislature and health systems. Large population-based studies of palliative care patients are required to develop the sound theoretical and empirical foundation needed to improve uptake of Advance Care Planning in this setting.
Nano-Micelle of Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil Triggers Mitochondrial Cancer Cell Apoptosis

Cancer, a worldwide epidemic disease with diverse origins, involves abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade other parts of the body. Globally, it is the main cause of mortality and morbidity. To overcome the drawbacks of the commercially available chemotherapies, natural products-loaded nano-composites are recommended to improve cancer targetability and decrease the harmful impact on normal cells. This study aimed at exploring the anti-cancer impacts of Moringa oleifera seed oil in its free- (MO) and nano-formulations (MOn) through studying whether it mechanistically promotes mitochondrial apoptosis-mediating cell death. Mitochondrial-based cytotoxicity and flow cytometric-based apoptosis analyses were performed on cancer HepG2, MCF7, HCT 116, and Caco-2 cell lines against normal kidney BHK-21 cell line. The present study resulted that MOn triggered colorectal cancer Caco-2 and HCT 116 cytotoxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction more powerful than its free counterpart (MO). On the other side, MOn and MO remarkably induces HCT 116 mitochondrial apoptosis, while sparing normal BHK-21 cells with minimal cytotoxic effect. The present results concluded that nano-micelle of Moringa oleifera seed oil (MOn) can provide a novel therapeutic approach for colorectal and breast cancers via mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, while sparing normal and even liver cancer cells a bit healthy or with minimal harmful effect. Intriguingly, MOn induced breast cancer not hepatocellular carcinoma cell death.
INCLUSION FORMATION BY ATAXINS -1, -2, -3, AND -7

The authors studied inclusion formation in vitro using transiently transfected PC12 cells, with epitope-tagged and untagged full-length and truncated wild-type and expanded ataxins -1, -2, -3, and -7. At 72 hours, no inclusions were seen with wild-type full-length or truncated ataxins -2, -3, or -7, and only one with ataxin-1. Truncation abolished nuclear localization of ataxins -1 and -7, and allowed nuclear entry of ataxin-2. Of the expanded ataxins, only -1 and -2 formed inclusions, and those of ataxin-2 were rare and exclusively cytoplasmic. Truncation resulted in inclusion formation by ataxins -3 and -7, increased ataxin-1 inclusions, and enabled formation of nuclear ataxin-2 inclusions. There was no recruitment of wild-type ataxin-1 to expanded ataxin-1 inclusions.
Neonatal thyroid screening: Relationship between cord blood thyroid stimulating hormone levels and thyroid stimulating hormone in heel prick sample on 4th to 7th day-of-life

1. Anjana RM, Pradeepa R, Deepa M, Datta M, Sudha V, Unnikrishnan R, et al. Prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance) in urban and rural India: Phase I results of the Indian Council of Medical Research-INdia DIABetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study. Diabetologia 2011;54:3022-7. 2. Chrisman NR. What does ‘GIS’ mean? Transactions in GIS 1999;3:175-86. 3. Agrawal S, Ebrahim S. Prevalence and risk factors for self-reported diabetes among adult men and women in India: Findings from a national cross-sectional survey. Public Health Nutr 2012;15:1065-77. 4. Kalra S, Kalra B, Sharma A. Prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Karnal district, Haryana state, India. Diabetol Metab Syndr 2010;2:14.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOLECULAR GAS AND STAR FORMATION IN LOW-MASS E/S0 GALAXIES

We consider the relationship between molecular gas and star formation surface densities in 19 morphologically defined E/S0s with stellar mass ≲4 × 1010 M☉, paying particular attention to those found on the blue sequence in color versus stellar mass parameter space, where spiral galaxies typically reside. While some blue-sequence E/S0s must be young major-merger remnants, many low-mass blue-sequence E/S0s appear much less disturbed and may be experiencing the milder starbursts associated with inner-disk building as spirals (re)grow. For a sample of eight E/S0s (four blue, two mid, and two red sequence) whose CARMA CO(1–0), Spitzer MIPS 24 μm, and GALEX FUV emission distributions are spatially resolved on a 750 pc scale, we find roughly linear relationships between molecular gas and star formation surface densities within all galaxies, with power-law indices N = 0.6–1.9 (median 1.2). Adding 11 more blue-sequence E/S0s whose CO(1–0) emission is not as well resolved, we find that most of our E/S0s have global 1–8 kpc aperture-averaged molecular gas surface densities overlapping the range spanned by the disks and centers of spiral galaxies. While many of our E/S0s fall on the same Schmidt–Kennicutt relation as local spirals, ∼80% (predominantly on the blue sequence) are offset toward apparently higher molecular gas star formation efficiency (i.e., shorter molecular gas depletion time). Possible interpretations of the elevated efficiencies include bursty star formation similar to that in local dwarf galaxies, H2 depletion in advanced starbursts, or simply a failure of the CO(1–0) emission to trace all of the molecular gas.
The effect of panretinal laser photocoagulation on visual acuity, visual fields and on subjective visual impairment in preproliferative and early proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Abstract The effect of panretinal laser scatter treatment on visual fields, visual acuity and subjective complaints was assessed in 11 patients with severe nonproliferative or early proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Patients were prospectively examined before and after panretinal treatment using automated static threshold perimetry with program 30‐2 on the Humphrey perimeter, and they were interviewed. Visual field sensitivity was often depressed even before treatment with mean MD – 4.3 (–1, ‐11.6) dB, but was significantly lower (p < 0.01, ANOVA) 2 weeks after treatment with mean MD – 8.6 dB. Visual fields remained stable 4 months later. Treatment increased the number of eyes with visual fields as defined by abnormal MD values at the p < 0.05 level from 8 to 16 among the 17 treated. In spite of considerable impairment of visual fields after treatment, subjective problems were small and the visual field impairment seemed to have little influence on everyday life.
CD 4 , CD 8 and MHC Class I Expression in Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma : An Immunohistochemical Study

Aim: The exact immunopathogenesis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the expression of CD4, CD8, and MHC class I molecules in NPC. Method: Biopsies were obtained from patients with NPC as well as the Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-seronegative patients as a control. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were classified using the World Health Organization (WHO) pathological assessment and clinical staging of NPC. The expression of CD4, CD8, and MHC class I in the biopsies were assessed immunohistochemically. Result: The results showed that the number of CD4 positive, CD8 positive, and MHC class I positive cells in NPC patients were higher than those in EBV-negative subjects (p<0.05). The number of these positive cells in NPC patients with WHO Type II or early clinical stage was not significantly differences with those with WHO Type III or late clinical stage, respectively (p>0.05). No statistical differences between the number of CD4 positive and CD8 positive cells in NPC patients could be found (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest, therefore, that the expression of CD4, CD8 and MHC class I molecules may not be associated with the pathologic classification and clinical staging of NPC and that the CD4:CD8 ratio in nasopharyngeal carcinoma may indicate decreased functions of these infiltrating T cell subsets.
Relation between Time-Series and Cross-Sectional Effects of Idiosyncratic Variance on Stock Returns

Consistent with the post-1962 US evidence by Ang et al. [Ang, A. , Hodrick, R. , Xing Y. , Zhang, X. , 2006. The cross-section of volatility and expected returns. Journal of Finance 51, 259-299], we find that stocks with high idiosyncratic variance (IV) have low CAPM-adjusted expected returns in both pre-1962 US and modern G7 data. We also test in three ways the conjecture that IV is a proxy of systematic risk. First, the return difference between low and high IV stocks - that we dub as IVF - is a priced factor in the cross-section of stock returns. Second, loadings on lagged market variance and lagged average IV account for a significant portion of variation in average returns on portfolios sorted by IV. Third, the variance of IVF correlates closely with average IV, and the two variables have similar explanatory power for the time-series and cross-sectional stock returns.
Effect of carbon black loading on mechanical and rheological properties of natural rubber/styrene-butadiene rubber/nitrile butadiene rubber blends

This study investigated the effect of carbon black (CB) filler loading on mechanical and rheological properties of natural rubber (NR)/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) ternary rubber nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were prepared using a melt mixing method. Four different samples with different filler loadings namely S2 (15 phr), S3 (30 phr), S4 (45 phr), and S5 (60 phr) were prepared in this work. The mechanical properties of these samples were investigated such as tensile strength, stress at 100, 200, and 300% elongations, elongation at break %, tear strength, compression set, compression stress, and crosslink density. Results indicate that minimum torque, maximum torque, tensile strength, stress at 100, 200, and 300% elongations, elongation at break %, tear strength, compression set, compression stress, and crosslink density were increased while the scorch time, cure time, cure rate index, elongation at break %, swelling coefficient, and filler–rubber interaction decrease with increasing CB loading. The higher value of tensile strength for these samples was S4 (loading with 45-phr CB). Therefore, had higher stiffness compared to the other content ratio. Additionally, S4 showed 233.58% increment in tensile strength. These results showed that the optimum filler loading can increase the compatibility between CB and NR/SBR/NBR. These results were confirmed by scanning electron microscope micrography.
A multilevel prediction of physiological response to challenge: Interactions among child maltreatment, neighborhood crime, endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS), and GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha-6 gene (GABRA6)

Abstract Physiological response to stress has been linked to a variety of healthy and pathological conditions. The current study conducted a multilevel examination of interactions among environmental toxins (i.e., neighborhood crime and child maltreatment) and specific genetic polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS) and GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha-6 gene (GABRA6). One hundred eighty-six children were recruited at age 4. The presence or absence of child maltreatment as well as the amount of crime that occurred in their neighborhood during the previous year were determined at that time. At age 9, the children were brought to the lab, where their physiological response to a cognitive challenge (i.e., change in the amplitude of the respiratory sinus arrhythmia) was assessed and DNA samples were collected for subsequent genotyping. The results confirmed that complex Gene × Gene, Environment × Environment, and Gene × Environment interactions were associated with different patterns of respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity. The implications for future research and evidence-based intervention are discussed.
Efficacy of Breast Conservation Therapy in Early Stage Bilateral Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with bilateral breast cancer as compared to unilateral breast cancer treated with breast conservation therapy. Sixty patients with bilateral breast cancer (BBC) and 1,080 unilateral breast cancer (UBC) patients treated with breast conservation therapy from 1977 to 1994 were analyzed for outcome. Of the 60 bilateral patients, 44 were metachronous bilateral breast cancer patients (MBBC) and 16 were synchronous bilateral breast cancer patients (SBBC). The majority of patients received lumpectomy, axillary node dissection, and localized radiation therapy. Median tumor size was 1.4 cm for BBC and 1.5 cm for UBC patients. Median total dose to the tumor bed was 60 Gy for both unilateral and bilateral patients. Of the 44 MBBC patients, 14 received breast conservation for both the first and second lesions, while 30 received breast conservation for only the second metachronous lesion. Thus 58 lesions in 44 patients were treated with breast conservation therapy. Of the SBBC patients, 13 of 16 patients received breast‐conserving therapy for both breasts, while 3 received a mastectomy for the second synchronous primary. Median follow‐up was 50 months for SBBC patients, 45 months for MBBC patients, and 52 months for UBC patients. Local control and survival were analyzed in patients with SBBC, MBBC, and UBC. The interval to development of local recurrence and survival were calculated from the time of development of the second breast lesion in patients with MBBC. No differences were found for survival and failure‐free survival in patients with SBBC, MBBC, or UBC. Five‐year overall survival by lifetable analysis was 76% for SBBC, 78% for MBBC, and 87% for UBC patients (p = 0.32 by log‐rank analysis). The 5‐year failure‐free survival was 79% for SBBC, 73% for MBBC, and 85% for UBC patients (p = 0.28 by log‐rank analysis). No significant differences were seen for median age, tumor size, pathologic node status, tamoxifen use, chemotherapy use, or median total radiation dose for SBBC, MBBC, or UBC patients. A significant difference was found in the incidence of family history of breast cancer in patients with unilateral versus bilateral breast cancer (p = 0.028 by chi‐square analysis). However, there was no difference in outcome of patients by family history of breast cancer. The local control was identical in both BBC and UBC patients, with a local failure rate of 3%. Therefore, breast conservation therapy in local‐regional, early stage breast cancer is a rational and efficacious treatment modality for patients with SBBC, MBBC, and UBC. ▪
Endometrial NK Cells Are Special Immature Cells That Await Pregnancy1

NK cells populate the human endometrium before pregnancy. Unlike decidual NK cells that populate the decidua during pregnancy, the NK cells present in the human endometrium, before pregnancy, have not been fully characterized. In this study, we provide a detailed analysis of the origin, phenotype, and function of endometrial NK cells (eNK). We show that eNK cells have a unique receptor repertoire. In particular, they are negative for NKp30 and chemokine receptor expression, which distinguishes them from any other NK subset described so far. We further show that eNK cells lack NK-specific functional phenotype and activity such as cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity, before IL-15 stimulation. Following such stimulation, endometrial NK cells acquire phenotype and function that are similar to those of decidual NK cells. We therefore suggest that eNK cells are inactive cells (before IL-15 activation and in relation to the known NK activity) that are present in the endometrium before conception, waiting for pregnancy.
Tests of the Extension and Deadbolt Models of Integrin Activation*

Despite extensive evidence that integrin conformational changes between bent and extended conformations regulate affinity for ligands, an alternative hypothesis has been proposed in which a “deadbolt” can regulate affinity for ligand in the absence of extension. Here, we tested both the deadbolt and the extension models. According to the deadbolt model, a hairpin loop in the β3 tail domain could act as a deadbolt to restrain the displacement of the β3 I domain β6-α7 loop and maintain integrin in the low affinity state. We found that mutating or deleting the β3 tail domain loop has no effect on ligand binding by either αIIbβ 3 or αVβ3 integrins. In contrast, we found that mutations that lock integrins in the bent conformation with disulfide bonds resist inside-out activation induced by cytoplasmic domain mutation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that extension is required for accessibility to fibronectin but not smaller fragments. The data demonstrate that integrin extension is required for ligand binding during integrin inside-out signaling and that the deadbolt does not regulate integrin activation.
Electroplated Co–Pt Thick-Film Magnets Prepared in Citric-Acid-Based Plating Baths

We electroplated Co–Pt thick films in acid plating baths using a citric acid, and evaluated the magnetic properties of the annealed films. The maximum coercivity value depended on the amount of the citric acid in the bath, and the high coercivity of approximately 800 kA/m was obtained around Co content of 43 at% for the bath with 30 g/L of citric acid. The thickness linearly increased with the increasing plating time, and high plating rate of approximately <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3.5~\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>/min was obtained. Consequently, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$60~\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-thick films were realized keeping at high coercivity.
EELS Spectroscopy of Iron Fluorides and FeFx/C Nanocomposite Electrodes Used in Li-Ion Batteries

A new type of positive electrode for Li-ion batteries has been developed recently based on FeF3/C and FeF2/C nanocomposites. The microstructural and redox evolution during discharge and recharge processes was followed by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to determine the valence state of Fe by measuring the Fe L3 line energy shift and from Fe L3/L2 line intensity ratios. In addition, transition metal fluorides were found to be electron beam sensitive, and the effect of beam exposure on EELS spectra was also investigated. The EELS results indicate that for both FeF3/C and FeF2/C nanocomposite systems, a complete reduction of iron to FeO is observed upon discharge to 1.5 V with the formation of a finer FeO/LiF subnanocomposite (∼7 nm). Upon complete recharging to 4.5 V, EELS data reveal a reoxidation process to a Fe2+ state with the formation of a carbon metal fluoride nanocomposite related to the FeF2 structure.
ß-Arrestin 2 Regulates Zebrafish Development Through the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

β-arrestins are multifunctional proteins that act as scaffolds and transducers of intracellular signals from heptahelical transmembrane-spanning receptors (7TMR). Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, which uses the putative 7TMR, Smoothened, is established as a fundamental pathway in development, and unregulated Hh signaling is associated with certain malignancies. Here, we show that the functional knockdown of β-arrestin 2 in zebrafish embryos recapitulates the many phenotypes of Hh pathway mutants. Expression of wild-type β-arrestin 2, or constitutive activation of the Hh pathway downstream of Smoothened, rescues the phenotypes caused by β-arrestin 2 deficiency. These results suggest that a functional interaction between β-arrestin 2 and Smoothened may be critical to regulate Hh signaling in zebrafish development.
DIPLOID MALES IN A PRIMITIVELY EUSOCIAL BEE, LASIOGLOSSUM (DIALICTUS) ZEPHYRUM (HYMENOPTERA: HALICTIDAE)

Hymenoptera are characterized by a haplo‐diploid mechanism of sex determination. Females are diploid and males are haploid. However, in many species diploid males may occur if individuals are homozygous at a sex determining locus. Diploid males were found in three out of four populations (nest aggregations) of the primitively eusocial, halictine bee Lasioglossum zephyrum for which samples of males were examined electrophoretically. The frequency of diploid males was greater in a small, geographically isolated population (the “Robinson” nest aggregation) than in a large population that had nearby neighboring populations (the “Salmon Creek A” nest aggregation). In addition, the proportion of polymorphic loci was lower in the Robinson nest aggregation suggesting that a bottleneck event or loss of alleles due to small population size occurred in the Robinson population that involved a loss in the number of alleles at the sex determining locus.
Prevalence of epilepsy in Bogota, Colombia

A combined epidemiologic, clinical, and electroencephalographic study of epilepsy was undertaken in Bogota by the Neurological Institute of Colombia, the Colombian Institute of Health, and the Department of Health of the City of Bogota. The prevalence of epilepsy on December 31, 1974, was 19.5 per 1,000, the highest rate for general populations reported in the literature. The prevalence was significantly higher for females than for males, 22.9 per 1,000 compared with 15.5 per 1,000.