Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Syringotropic cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: an immunophenotypic and genotypic study of five cases

There is uncertainty about the exact nosological relationship between mycosis fungoides, follicular mucinosis, syringolymphoid hyperplasia with alopecia (SLHA) and syringotropic cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL). We report the clinical, histological, immunophenotypic and genotypic characteristics of a series of five patients (three men and two women) with syringotropic CTCL. We also review the 15 cases of SLHA previously reported in the literature. We conclude that syringotropic CTCL is a distinct clinicopathological variant of mycosis fungoides which may present on its own with characteristic punctate erythema or more commonly in association with folliculotropic lesions. Syringotropic CTCL is characterized histologically by infiltration of sweat glands by atypical lymphocytes in association with syringolymphoid hyperplasia. Cases of SLHA represent a syringotropic form of CTCL in association with follicular involvement, and such cases need to be investigated using T‐cell receptor gene analysis of both skin and blood. Only limited conclusions on prognosis can be derived from our preliminary data. However, a review of the literature suggests that the prognosis does not differ significantly from other types of mycosis fungoides of equivalent stage.
Phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray of micro lesions of the cartilage of the femoral head in rabbits.

BACKGROUND To observe micro lesions on the cartilage of the rabbit femoral head using phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray and to prove that this method can be useful in the study of the degeneration of cartilage. METHODS New Zealand white rabbits were used in a micro lesion model of rabbit femoral head cartilage. Bilateral femoral heads were excised from rabbits, and micro lesions were made on one side with a specially made knife with a blade 20 μm in width. The other femur was left intact to serve as the control. Phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray and conventional X-ray imaging were used to observe the cartilage. Histological changes were investigated using modified Golden tri-color staining. RESULTS Phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray clearly showed the 20 μm lesions on the cartilage on the heads of rabbit femurs. These lesions were not visible with conventional X-ray imaging. Histological observation confirmed the presence of the microscopic lesions. CONCLUSION Phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray can detect microscopic lesions on cartilage that cannot be detected by conventional absorption-contrast X-ray. This provides an unequivocal, non-invasive alternative to histological examination in the diagnosis of joint disease. It should be considered a new tool in osteoarthritis and cartilage research.
Paclitaxel by 3-hour infusion in combination with bolus doxorubicin in women with untreated metastatic breast cancer: high antitumor efficacy and cardiac effects in a dose-finding and sequence-finding study.

PURPOSE To define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and better tolerated sequence of paclitaxel by 3-hour infusion plus bolus doxorubicin (DOX) and to evaluate antitumor efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-five women with metastatic breast cancer (dominant visceral metastases in 56%, and involvement of > or = three sites in 67%) who never received chemotherapy of any type were studied. Paclitaxel every 3 weeks (125 mg/m2 starting dose) was increased by 25-mg/m2 steps in subsequent cohorts of patients. DOX (60 mg/m2 fixed dose) was administered 15 minutes before the start of or after the end of paclitaxel for a maximum of eight cycles. Subsequently, patients in continuous response could receive single-agent paclitaxel (175 to 200 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). The drug sequence was alternated in consecutive patients and in the first two cycles. RESULTS Severe neutropenia that lasted greater than 7 days (n = 4), febrile neutropenia (n = 7) and grade III oral mucositis (n = 6) defined the MTD of paclitaxel at 200 mg/m2 in 34 assessable patients. Grade II peripheral neuropathy occurred in 33% of patients. Six women (18%) developed clinically reversible congestive heart failure (CHF) after a median of 480 mg/m2 total DOX. Drug sequence had no effect on toxicities. High efficacy on all metastatic sites in 32 assessable patients accounted for a 41% complete response (CR) rate (95% confidence interval [CI], 24% to 59%) and 94% overall-response rate (95% CI, 79% to 99%). After a median follow-up of 12 months (range 3 to 18), the median response duration is 8 months (range, 2+ to 18+) for complete responders and 11 months (range 1+ to 15+) for partial responders. CONCLUSION The rate of CR and incidence of CHF may be an expression of therapeutic and toxic enhancement due to the schedule used in this trial. Until clarification of this possibility, this promising combination should be used in investigational trials.
Kinetics and spectroscopic evidence that the Cu(I)-semiquinone intermediate reduces molecular oxygen in the oxidative half-reaction of Arthrobacter globiformis amine oxidase.

The role of copper during the reoxidation of substrate-reduced amine oxidases by O(2) has not yet been definitively established. Both outer-sphere and inner-sphere pathways for the reduction of O(2) to H(2)O(2) have been proposed. A key step in the inner-sphere mechanism is the reaction of O(2) directly with the Cu(I) center of a Cu(I)-semiquinone intermediate. To thoroughly examine this possibility, we have measured the spectral changes associated with single-turnover reoxidation by O(2) of substrate-reduced Arthrobacter globiformis amine oxidase (AGAO) under a wide range of conditions. We have previously demonstrated that the internal electron-transfer reaction [Cu(II)-TPQ(AMQ) --> Cu(I)-TPQ(SQ)] (where TPQ(AMQ) is the aminoquinol form of reduced TPQ and TPQ(SQ) is the semiquinone form) occurs at a rate that could permit the reaction of O(2) with both species to be observed on the stopped-flow time scale [Shepard, E. M. , and Dooley, D. M. (2006) J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 11, 1039-1048]. The transient absorption spectra observed for the reaction of O(2) with substrate-reduced AGAO provide compelling support for the reaction of the Cu(I)-TPQ(SQ) form. Further, global analysis of the kinetics and the transient absorption spectra are fully consistent with an inner-sphere reaction of the Cu(I)-semiquinone intermediate with O(2) and are inconsistent with an outer-sphere mechanism for the reaction of the reduced enzyme with O(2).
Induced hypothermia in critical care medicine: A review

BackgroundClinical trials of induced hypothermia have suggested that this treatment may be beneficial in selected patients with neurologic injury. ObjectivesTo review the topic of induced hypothermia as a treatment of patients with neurologic and other disorders. DesignReview article. InterventionsNone. Main ResultsImproved outcome was demonstrated in two prospective, randomized, controlled trials in which induced hypothermia (33°C for 12–24 hrs) was used in patients with anoxic brain injury following resuscitation from prehospital cardiac arrest. In addition, prospective, randomized, controlled trials have been conducted in patients with severe head injury, with variable results. There also have been preliminary clinical studies of induced hypothermia in patients with severe stroke, newborn hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, neurologic infection, and hepatic encephalopathy, with promising results. Finally, animal models have suggested that hypothermia that is induced rapidly following traumatic cardiac arrest provides significant neurologic protection and improved survival. ConclusionsInduced hypothermia has a role in selected patients in the intensive care unit. Critical care physicians should be familiar with the physiologic effects, current indications, techniques, and complications of induced hyperthermia.
Ocular herpes simplex virus reactivation in mice latently infected with latency-associated transcript mutants.

A mouse model for ocular reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was modified and used to study the effect of strain difference on the frequency of ocular HSV reactivation. Outbred male NIH white mice were immunized with 1.0 ml of anti-HSV serum with a neutralizing titer of 1:400 24 hr before infection and bilaterally infected at 10(5) plaque-forming units/eye with one of three HSV-1 strains: 17 Syn+, LAT+ (XC-20), or LAT- (X10-13). Latency-associated transcripts (LAT) are produced by strain 17 Syn+ and LAT+ but not by LAT-. The primary infection was monitored by ocular swabbing for HSV. Reactivation was induced by intravenous (i.v.) injection of cyclophosphamide (5 mg) followed 24 hr later by i.v. dexamethasone (0.2 mg). These drugs significantly reduced the white cell count between 0 and 6 days post-administration. The eyes were swabbed for 7 consecutive days to monitor reactivation, and HSV-1 reactivation was induced at the following frequencies in individual eyes: 17 Syn+ (32.5%), LAT+ (18.5%), and LAT- (2.5%) (P less than or equal to 0.002). Co-culture of trigeminal ganglia was done, and random isolates were checked to ascertain their identity. The HSV was recovered from individual trigeminal ganglia at the following frequencies: 17 Syn+ (83%), LAT+ (100%), and LAT- (67%) (P less than or equal to 0.091). These results confirm that the mouse can be used as a reactivation model for ocular HSV infection and that the presence of LAT facilitates reactivation in vivo in the mouse.
Cytomegalovirus antibody status at 17–18 weeks of gestation and pre‐eclampsia: a case–control study of pregnant women in Norway

Please cite this paper as: Strand K, Odland M, Iversen A, Nordbø S, Vik T, Austgulen R. Cytomegalovirus antibody status at 17–18 weeks of gestation and pre‐eclampsia: a case–control study of pregnant women in Norway. BJOG 2012;119:1316–1323.
Integral proteins of the extracellular matrix fibrils of Myxococcus xanthus

The extracellular matrix fibrils of Myxococcus xanthus are mediators of cell-cell cohesion and as such are required for the maintenance of the social lifestyle characteristic of these prokaryotes. The fibrils have also been implicated as factors involved in contact-mediated cell interactions and in signal exchange. The fibrils are extracellular carbohydrate structures with associated proteins. All of the major proteins associated with the fibrils react with monoclonal antibody 2105 and can be removed from the fibrils only by boiling with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and beta-mercaptoethanol. For consistency with their integral association with the fibrils, we have designated this class of proteins as integral fibrillar proteins class 1 (IFP-1). IFP-1 comprises five major proteins whose molecular sizes range from 66 to 14 kDa. All of the proteins in IFP-1 have been purified from isolated fibrils by electroelution after size separation on SDS-PAGE gels. Analysis of the purified proteins suggested that the forms with different molecular sizes result from the aggregation of a single small-molecular-size subunit. Fingerprint analysis and amino acid composition profiles confirmed the identity among the different members of IFP-1. The sequence of the 31 amino-terminal amino acids of the 31-kDa form of IFP-1 (IFP-1:31) was determined. There was no significant homology to other known protein sequences. During development there is a dramatic shift in the banding pattern of IFP-1 proteins without any apparent overall loss of total protein.
A case study of Locked-In-Syndrome: Psychological and personal perspectives

Objectives: Although patients with Locked-In-Syndrome (LIS) are often stated to have normal cognitive functioning, the few reports of neuropsychological assessment in these cases suggest this is not always true. This paper (a) reviews published reports of neuropsychological assessments of LIS patients, (b) presents a detailed neuropsychological assessment of a patient to determine if she has normal cognitive functioning and (c) presents the views of the patient on what has happened to her. Methods and procedures: An in-depth single case report assessing the cognitive and emotional functioning of a young woman with LIS plus a personal account from the patient. Detailed assessments were carried out using standardized neuropsychological tests and questionnaires measuring emotional functioning, pain and quality-of-life. The patient also states her views of what happened and how she feels. Results: On most tests, cognitive functioning was average or above, but some impairments were found (consistent with published literature). No emotional problems were detected. Quality of life was satisfactory. Pain perception was normal. Conclusions: Although LIS patients have no severe cognitive deficits, some cognitive difficulties are common. Despite severe physical and communication problems and some mild cognitive deficits on visual reasoning tasks, this patient feels she has a reasonable quality-of-life.
Prevalence of Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Sedentary behavior is a cluster of behaviors adopted in a sitting or lying posture where little energy is being expended. Sedentary behavior is a risk factor for health independent to inactivity. Currently, there are no published systematic reviews on the prevalence of sedentary behavior objectively measured in, or subjectively reported by, older adults. The aim of this systematic review was to collect and analyze published literature relating to reported prevalence of sedentary behavior, written in English, on human adults, where subjects aged 60 years and over were represented in the study. 23 reports covered data from 18 surveys sourced from seven countries. It was noted that sedentary behavior is defined in different ways by each survey. The majority of surveys included used self-report as a measurement of sedentary behavior. Objective measurements were also captured with the use of body worn accelerometers. Whether measurements are subjective or objective, the majority of older adults are sedentary. Almost 60% of older adult’s reported sitting for more than 4 h per day, 65% sit in front of a screen for more than 3 h daily and over 55% report watching more than 2 h of TV. However, when measured objectively in a small survey, it was found that 67% of the older population were sedentary for more than 8.5 h daily.
Building capacity of drivers in Nigeria to provide first aid for road crash victims

This paper presents the effect of first aid training on the first aid knowledge and skills of university drivers. The intervention group (n=98) received training on first aid and controls (n=78) received training on HIV/AIDS. First aid knowledge and skills were measured at baseline, immediately after the training and 4 months post-intervention. Changes in knowledge and skills were assessed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Knowledge scores were 51.2±14.8%, 59.6±12.8% and 57.6±12.8% (p>0.05) for intervention drivers versus 51.6±11.6%, 53.2±12.0% and 56.4±12.4% (p>0.05) in controls. The skill scores for intervention drivers were 49.2±14.2%, 78.3±12.9% and 77.5±11.7% (p<0.05) versus 37.7±12.4%, 40.4±16.3% and 41.7±12.1% (p>0.05) for controls. Four months after intervention, >75% of the 13 intervention drivers who came across a crash had used the skills acquired. The intervention improved the first aid skills of intervention drivers. In view of the reduction in scores by the fourth month post-intervention, periodic refresher training is recommended to sustain the skills acquired.
Comparison of settings used for high-frequency chest-wall compression in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients commonly use a high-frequency chest-wall compression (HFCWC) device for airway clearance that generates oscillatory flow with a sine-wave configuration. Typical HFCWC settings combine a lower Vest inflation pressure setting (eg, 5 on the Vest's arbitrary 1-10 scale for the setting that controls the background pressure of the inflatable vest) with mid-range frequency (14-16 Hz) (lower-pressure/mid-frequency HFCWC). OBJECTIVE To determine whether HFCWC with higher pressure settings (6-10 on the Hill-Rom Vest's arbitrary 1-10 scale) combined with variable mid-frequencies (8, 9, and 10 Hz, plus 18, 19, and 20 Hz) (higher-pressure/variable-frequency HFCWC) results in greater sputum expectoration than lower-pressure/mid-frequency HFCWC. METHODS This was a controlled randomized crossover study. Sixteen clinically stable, adult CF patients participated. Patients performed airway clearance with HFCWC, once each with lower-pressure/mid-frequency HFCWC and higher-pressure/variable-frequency HFCWC, on separate occasions. All sputum produced during each session was collected. Patients completed pulmonary function tests before and after each session. RESULTS Median sputum wet weight was greater with higher-pressure/variable-frequency HFCWC than with lower-pressure/mid-frequency HFCWC (6.4 g, range 0.49-22.0 g, versus 4.8 g, range 0.24-15.0 g, P = .02). Dry sputum weight differences did not reach statistical significance (higher-pressure/variable-frequency HFCWC 0.20 g, range 0.009-0.62 g, lower-pressure/mid-frequency HFCWC 0.12 g, range 0.0001-1.0 g, P = .23). Higher-pressure/variable-frequency HFCWC and lower-pressure/mid-frequency HFCWC resulted in similar increases in FEV(1) (70 mL vs 90 mL, P = .21) and forced vital capacity (80 mL vs 80 mL, P = .94). Post-therapy sputum viscoelastic properties did not differ. Patients perceived the 2 regimens as equally comfortable and effective (P = .35 and P = .35, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In adult CF patients, single-session higher-pressure/variable-frequency HFCWC resulted in greater sputum expectoration by wet weight, but not other differences, compared to the commonly used lower-pressure/mid-frequency settings. Longer-term comparisons are needed in a larger, more diverse population to determine whether sustained use of the higher-pressure/variable-frequency settings results in clinically important differences in outcomes.
Respiratory psychophysiology of panic disorder: three respiratory challenges in 98 subjects.

OBJECTIVE Respiratory abnormalities may play a central role in the pathophysiology of panic disorder. The current study was undertaken to examine the respiratory response in the largest series of subjects to date during three respiratory challenges that used improved methodology. METHOD Fifty-nine patients with DSM-III-R panic disorder and 39 normal volunteers were challenged with 5% and 7% CO2 inhalation and room air hyperventilation separated by room air breathing with continuous spirometry. RESULTS Patients with panic disorder were more sensitive to the anxiogenic effects of CO2 than were normal subjects, and CO2 was a more potent stimulus to panic than hyperventilation. Patients increased their respiratory rate more quickly during CO2 inhalation than did comparison subjects, and this increase preceded the panic attacks. Patients who panicked in response to 5% CO2 demonstrated continued rise in end-tidal CO2, while the end-tidal CO2 of the comparison groups stabilized. Low end-tidal CO2 and high variance in minute ventilation at baseline predicted panic attacks during CO2 inhalation. Following CO2 or hyperventilation challenges, respiratory rate dropped sharply, while tidal volume remained elevated longer in patients than in comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS The findings confirm the greater behavioral and physiological sensitivity of patients with panic disorder to CO2 inhalation and identify a series of respiratory abnormalities. Panic attacks in panic disorder may be explained by inefficient compensatory mechanisms, primarily of respiratory rate.
Profound suppression of cellular proliferation mediated by the secretions of nematodes

Loss of T lymphocyte proliferation and the emergence of a host response that is dominated by a Th2‐type profile are well‐established features of human filarial infection. Downregulation and modulation of host T cell responses during lymphatic filariasis has been investigated by implantation of parasite stages into inbred mice. Adherent peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from mice transplanted with adult or larval Brugia malayi parasites are profoundly anti‐proliferative but do not prevent antigen‐specific cytokine production by T cells. We demonstrate here that the excretory/secretory (E/S) products of the adult parasite are sufficient to induce PEC that block proliferation if injected daily into mice. We have previously shown that in vivo production of host IL‐4 is required for the generation of suppressive cells. Because the induction of host IL‐4 is characteristic of infection with nematodes, we asked whether E/S from two other nematode parasites, Nippostrongylus braziliensis and Toxocara canis were also capable of generating a suppressor cell population. Injection of E/S from these two parasites also led to a reduction in T cell proliferation suggesting that this mechanism of down‐regulating host responses is a feature common to nematode parasites.
Semiactive Control Strategies for MR Dampers: Comparative Study

This paper presents the results of a study to evaluate the performance of a number of recently proposed semiactive control algorithms for use with multiple magnetorheological (MR) dampers. Various control algorithms used in recent semiactive control studies are considered including the Lyapunov controller, decentralized bang-bang controller, modulated homogeneous friction algorithm, and a clipped optimal controller. Each algorithm is formulated for use with the MR damper. Additionally, each algorithm uses measurements of the absolute acceleration and device displacements for determining the control action to ensure that the algorithms could be implemented on a physical structure. The performance of the algorithms is compared through a numerical example, and the advantages of each algorithm are discussed. The numerical example considers a six-story structure controlled with MR dampers on the lower two floors. In simulation, an El Centro earthquake is used to excite the system, and the reduction in the drif.