Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Donor factors in cadaveric renal transplantation.

1. Donor kidney side (left/right) had no significant effect on cadaveric renal allograft survival. 2. Kidneys from male donors had an 83% one-year graft survival rate, compared with 78% for those from female donors. 3. Donor race did not have an effect on renal allograft survival. 4. One-year survival rates for kidneys from very young (< 5 years old) donors and older (> 50 years old) cadaver donors (74%) were significantly poorer than those for kidneys from donors age 6-50 (84%). 5. Donor ABO blood type and Rh factor had no significant effect on renal allograft survival. 6. Cause of death (trauma/nontrauma) had a pronounced effect on cadaveric renal allograft survival. Kidneys from trauma donors (motor vehicle accident, gunshot wound, head injury, etc.) had a significantly higher one-year graft survival rate (84%) than that of kidneys from nontrauma donors (77%). This effect was found to be independent of donor age. 7. Donor past medical history had a significant effect on renal allograft survival. Kidneys from donors with histories of hypertension had slightly poorer graft survival (75%) than those from "normal" donors (80%). Donors with histories of diabetes had significantly lower graft survival; 54.8% at one-year posttransplant. 8. Donor lifestyle factors, including smoking, drinking, drug use, and sexual history, had no significant effect on renal allograft survival. 9. The duration of donor hospitalization (from admission to the time of procurement) had no effect on renal allograft survival. 10. Donor cardiac arrest (in either the field, hospital, or operating room) had no significant effect on renal allograft survival. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Bipolar vaporization of the prostate: is it ready for the primetime?

Although transurethral resection of the prostate is still the ‘gold standard’ in the surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is associated with significant morbidity. This review presents one of its most successful alternatives, bipolar transurethral vaporization of the prostate, a procedure that has emerged during the last decade. The technical principles are presented, together with the trials that compare it with the standard resection technique. The review concludes that bipolar vaporization of the prostate is safe and effective, providing very good hemostasis control and low complication rates, at a significantly reduced cost per procedure. Improved vision and hemostasis make it suitable for patients with cardiac pacemakers, bleeding disorders, or those under anticoagulant therapy. However, long-term follow-up and more randomized trials are still needed, to validate the value of bipolar vaporization.
The development of animal cap cells in Xenopus: a measure of the start of animal cap competence to form mesoderm

Grafting, together with tissue identification by monoclonal antibodies, has been used to study the allocation of Xenopus animal cap cells to the ectodermal or mesodermal lineages. Animal cap cells become responsive at stage 61/2 and lose responsiveness to mesodermal induction at, or just after, stage 101/2 (depending on the batch of embryos). The ability of the vegetal yolky cells to induce mesoderm disappears between stages 101/2 and 11. It is present at stage 6–61/2 and may exist before this. The emergence of competence to respond at stage 61/2, coupled with the fact that the endoderm is already capable of induction at this stage, suggests that mesodermal induction begins at this point in the intact embryo.
Eating disturbances among American minority groups: a review.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this paper was to review the research literature related to eating behaviors and disturbances among American minority groups. METHOD A computer-based literature search was conducted to locate articles pertaining to this topic. RESULTS This review indicates that, compared to Caucasian females, eating disturbances are equally common among Hispanic females, more frequent among Native Americans, and less frequent among Black and Asian American females. Risk factors for eating disorders (EDs) are greater among minority females who are younger, heavier, better educated, and more identified with White, middle-class values. DISCUSSION Further studies of EDs among American minority groups are needed, especially studies that are longitudinal and developmental in nature and that focus more specifically on the effects of racism in the development of EDs.
Finance and R&D Investments - is there a debt overhang effect on R&D investments?

The motivation of this paper is the rather naive approach to debt as a financing source of R&D investment in the empirical investment literature. I focus on long-term relational debt based on its appealing contractual properties and discover a debt overhang effect for the relationship between additional long-term debt and R&D investment. I augment an error correction accelerator-profit specification to include changes in long-term debt as a transitory determinant of R&D investment as has been done with internal finance previously. Firms with previous period debt levels around 0.60 display a positive relationship between additional long-term debt and R&D investment.
Growth factor regulation of insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐6 expression in osteoblasts

Previously we have shown that transforming growth factor β (TGF β) 1, basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) BB inhibit the synthesis of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) II, but their effects on IGF binding protein (IGFBP)‐6 in osteoblast cultures are not known. IGFBP‐6 binds IGF II with high affinity and prevents IGF II–mediated effects, so that a possible mode of regulating the IGF II available to bone cells would be by changing the levels of IGFBP‐6. To enhance our understanding of the actions of growth factors on the IGF II axis in bone, we tested the effects of TGF β1, basic FGF, PDGF BB, IGF I, and IGF II on the expression of IGFBP‐6 in cultures of osteoblast‐enriched cells from 22 day fetal rat calvariae (Ob cells). Treatment of Ob cells with TGF β1 caused a time‐ and dose‐dependent decrease in IGFBP‐6 mRNA levels, as determined by Northern blot analysis. The effect was maximal after 48 h and observed with TGF β1 concentrations of 0.04 nM and higher. TGF β1 also decreased IGFBP‐6 polypeptide levels in the medium, as determined by Western immunoblot analysis. Cycloheximide at 3.6 μM decreased IGFBP‐6 transcripts and prevented the effect of TGF β1. The decay of IGFBP‐6 mRNA in transcriptionally arrested Ob cells was not modified by TGF β1. In addition, TGF β1 decreased the rates of IGFBP‐6 transcription as determined by a nuclear run‐on assay. In contrast, basic FGF, PDGF BB, IGF I, and IGF II did not change IGFBP‐6 mRNA levels in Ob cells. In conclusion, TGF β1 inhibits IGFBP‐6 expression in Ob cells by transcriptional mechanisms. Since IGFBP‐6 binds IGF II and prevents its effects on bone cells, decreased synthesis of IGFBP‐6 induced by TGF β1 could be a local feedback mechanism to increase the amount of IGF II available in the bone microenvironment. J. Cell. Biochem. 66:77–86, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The demographics of fat talk in adult women: Age, body size, and ethnicity

Fat talk, conversations in which women disparage the size/shape of their bodies, acts as both a reflection of and contributor to body dissatisfaction. We assessed the impact of age, body mass index, and ethnicity on fat talk in two large, online surveys of adult women. Body mass index showed a small, positive correlation with fat talk, but only for women who were not overweight. Fat talking was common across all ages. In contrast to the common belief that fat talk is limited to young, thin women, these studies demonstrate that women of many body sizes and ages engage in fat talk.
Chronic Prenatal Hypoxia Induces Epigenetic Programming of PKCϵ Gene Repression in Rat Hearts

Rationale: Epidemiological studies demonstrate a clear association of adverse intrauterine environment with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease in adulthood. Hypoxia is a common stress to the fetus and results in decreased protein kinase C epsilon (PKCϵ) expression in the heart and increased cardiac vulnerability to ischemia and reperfusion injury in adult offspring in rats. Objectives: The present study tested the hypothesis that fetal hypoxia-induced methylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides at the PKCϵ promoter is repressive and contributes to PKCϵ gene repression in the heart of adult offspring. Methods and Results: Hypoxic treatment of pregnant rats from days 15 to 21 of gestation resulted in significant decreases in PKCϵ protein and mRNA in fetal hearts. Similar results were obtained in ex vivo hypoxic treatment of isolated fetal hearts and rat embryonic ventricular myocyte cell line H9c2. Increased methylation of PKCϵ promoter at SP1 binding sites, −346 and −268, were demonstrated in both fetal hearts of maternal hypoxia and H9c2 cells treated with 1% O2 for 24 hours. Whereas hypoxia had no significant effect on the binding affinity of SP1 to the unmethylated sites in H9c2 cells, hearts of fetuses and adult offspring, methylation of both SP1 sites reduced SP1 binding. The addition of 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine blocked the hypoxia-induced increase in methylation of both SP1 binding sites and restored PKCϵ mRNA and protein to the control levels. In hearts of both fetuses and adult offspring, hypoxia-induced methylation of SP1 sites was significantly greater in males than in females, and decreased PKCϵ mRNA was seen only in males. In fetal hearts, there was significantly higher abundance of estrogen receptor &agr; and &bgr; isoforms in females than in males. Both estrogen receptor &agr; and &bgr; interacted with the SP1 binding sites in the fetal heart, which may explain the sex differences in SP1 methylation in the fetal heart. Additionally, selective activation of PKCϵ restored the hypoxia-induced cardiac vulnerability to ischemic injury in offspring. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate a direct effect of hypoxia on epigenetic modification of DNA methylation and programming of cardiac PKCϵ gene repression in a sex-dependent manner, linking fetal hypoxia and pathophysiological consequences in the hearts of adult offspring.
Intra‐articular immunization induces strong systemic immune response in humans

There is no information available about immunological interactions between the synovial tissue compartment and systemic immunity in health and in disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate effects of intra‐articular immunization on the systemic immune responses in humans. Control subjects were immunized with the same dose of immunogen subcutaneously. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were analysed by spot‐ELISA with respect to numbers of immunoglobulin‐producing cells and antigen‐specific antibody‐secreting cells before and 1 week after immunization. Serum and salivary antibody levels were measured by an ELISA before and 14 days after the antigenic exposure. In addition, serum levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) were analysed before and after immunization. The results indicate that the influenza virus antigen deposited in the joint space induces strong systemic antibody response of IgG, IgA and IgM classes. This response is significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of control subjects immunized subcutaneously. In contrast, no significant differences were detected between intra‐articularly and subcutaneously immunized subjects with respect to mucosal immune responses. Increased serum levels of IL‐6 were observed 1–2 weeks after the vaccination in both experimental groups. We conclude that human joints possess very efficient antigen‐presenting properties enhancing systemic B cell reactivity.
“Life, Jim, But Not as We Know It”? Transmissible Dementias and the Prion Protein

The spongiform encephalopathies are unusual in several respects. Firstly, they are transmissible, and in some cases inheritable. Secondly, variants of these disorders occur in many species and can be transmitted by consumption of infected material; this has led to concern as to the potential risk from eating contaminated animal products. Thirdly, increasing evidence suggests that a ‘prion’ protein is central to their aetiology and pathogenesis, and that no nucleic acid is involved in the infective process. The role of the prion gene and its protein is outlined and proposed as the basis for an improved classification of the transmissible dementias.
Small intestinal stem cell identity is maintained with functional Paneth cells in heterotopically grafted epithelium onto the colon

To develop stem cell therapy for small intestinal (SI) diseases, it is essential to determine whether SI stem cells in culture retain their tissue regeneration capabilities. Fukuda et al. demonstrate that cultured murine SI epithelial organoids are able to reconstitute self-renewing epithelia in the colon. The SI-derived grafts maintain many features unique only to the SI. This study provides evidence that cultured adult SI stem cells could be a source for cell therapy of intestinal diseases, maintaining their identity along the gastrointestinal tract through an epithelium-intrinsic mechanism.
Purification and Characterization of 2 , 4 , 6-Trichlorophenol-4-Monooxygenase , a Dehalogenating Enzyme from Azotobacter sp . Strain GP 1

The enzyme which catalyzes the dehalogenation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) was purified to apparent homogeneity from an extract of TCP-induced cells of Azotobacter sp. strain GP1. The initial step of TCP degradation in this bacterium is inducible by TCP; no activity was found in succinate-grown cells or in phenol-induced cells. NADH, flavin adenine dinucleotide, and O2 are required as cofactors. As reaction products, 2,6-dichlorohydroquinone and Cl ions were identified. Studies of the stoichiometry revealed the consumption of 2 mol of NADH plus 1 mol of O2 per mol of TCP and the formation of 1 mol of Cl 2 ions. No evidence for membrane association or for a multicomponent system was obtained. Molecular masses of 240 kDa for the native enzyme and 60 kDa for the subunit were determined, indicating a homotetrameric structure. Cross-linking studies with dimethylsuberimidate were consistent with this finding. TCP was the best substrate for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol-4-monooxygenase (TCP-4-monooxygenase). The majority of other chlorophenols converted by the enzyme bear a chloro substituent in the 4-position. 2,6-Dichlorophenol, also accepted as a substrate, was hydroxylated in the 4-position to 2,6-dichlorohydroquinone in a nondehalogenating reaction. NADH and O2 were consumed by the pure enzyme also in the absence of TCP with simultaneous production of H2O2. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of TCP-4-monooxygenase from Azotobacter sp. strain GP1 revealed complete identity with the nucleotide-derived sequence from the analogous enzyme from Pseudomonas pickettii and a high degree of homology with two nondehalogenating monooxygenases. The similarity in enzyme properties and the possible evolutionary relatedness of dehalogenating and nondehalogenating monooxygenases are discussed.
Effects of daily maladaptive coping on nightly sleep in mothers

Objective: We examined effects of daily rumination and suppression in response to stressors on objective and subjective sleep among mothers. Design: Participants were 183 mothers, including chronically stressed mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (M-ASD; n = 92) and age-matched mothers of neurotypical children (M-NT; n = 91). In an intensive longitudinal design, participants provided reports of daily rumination and suppression, nightly objective actigraphy-defined sleep and nightly subjective sleep quality for seven consecutive days at baseline, 9 months and 18 months. Main Outcome Measures: Total sleep time, sleep fragmentation, sleep onset latency, and subjective sleep quality. Results: Among M-NT with above average depressive symptoms, higher daily rumination was associated with shorter total sleep time. Rumination was associated with more sleep fragmentation among M-NT at the trend level. Rumination was not associated with sleep onset latency among M-NT, or with any sleep outcomes among M-ASD. Suppression was not associated with any sleep outcomes. Conclusion: We provide novel evidence of the effect of rumination on objectively measured sleep duration among M-NT. Coping was not related to sleep among M-ASD. Given the prevalence of poor sleep among mothers, future work should examine modifiable factors perpetuating sleep disturbance.
Microdeletion in the SHOX 3′ region associated with skeletal phenotypes of Langer mesomelic dysplasia in a 45,X/46,X,r(X) infant and Leri–Weill dyschondrosteosis in her 46,XX mother: Implication for the SHOX enhancer

It is known that SHOX nullizygosity results in Langer mesomelic dysplasia (LMD) and SHOX haploinsufficiency leads to Leri–Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWDC). Here, we report on a microdeletion in the SHOX 3′ region identified in a Japanese infant with LMD‐compatible skeletal features and a 45,X[191]/46,X,r(X)(p22.3q24)[9] karyotype and in her mother with LWDC‐compatible skeletal features and a normal 46,XX karyotype. Physical and auxological examinations revealed mesomelic appearance, ulnarly deviated hands, and borderline micrognathia in the infant, and relatively short forearms and lower legs in the mother. Radiological studies indicated mesomelia, markedly curved radii, hypoplastic ulnas and fibulas, and metaphyseal splaying in the infant, and borderline to mild curvature of the radii, decreased carpal angles, and high‐normal triangularization index in the mother. Cytogenetic and molecular studies showed that the ring X chromosome of the infant was missing SHOX and of paternal origin, whereas the cytogenetically normal X chromosomes of the infant and one of the two X chromosomes of the mother, though they retained SHOX with normal coding sequences, had a microdeletion in the SHOX 3′ region. The microdeletion started from a position ∼200 kb from SHOX coding sequences, and spanned 240–350 kb in physical length involving DXYS233. The results, in conjunction with those reported by Flanagan et al. [ 2002 ], suggest that a cis‐acting enhancer exists in the SHOX 3′ region around DXYS233. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Posttrial HIV Vaccine Adoption: Concerns, Motivators, and Intentions Among Persons at Risk For HIV

Background:Suboptimal uptake of existing vaccines, potential obstacles specific to HIV/AIDS stigma and mistrust, and marked health disparities suggest that it is vital to investigate consumer concerns, motivations, and adoption intentions regarding posttrial HIV vaccines before a vaccine is publicly available. Method:Nine focus groups were conducted with participants (n = 99; median age, 33 years; 48% female; 22% African American, 44% Latino, and 28% white) recruited from 7 high-risk venues in Los Angeles using purposive venue-based sampling. A semistructured interview guide elicited concerns, motivators, and adoption intentions regarding hypothetical U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved HIV vaccines. Data were analyzed using narrative thematic analysis and Ethnograph qualitative software. Results:Concerns included vaccine efficacy, vaccine-induced infection, vaccine-induced HIV seropositivity, side effects, cost/access, trustworthiness, and relationship issues. Motivators included protection against HIV infection and the ability to safely engage in unprotected sex. Participants expressed reluctance to adopt partial efficacy vaccines and likelihood of increased sexual risk behaviors in response to vaccine availability. Conclusion:Tailored interventions to facilitate uptake of future U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved HIV vaccines and to prevent risk behavior increases may be vital to the effectiveness of vaccines in controlling the AIDS pandemic.
Neonatal Exposure to Low-Dose 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin Causes Autoimmunity Due to the Disruption of T Cell Tolerance1

Although 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been shown to influence immune responses, the effects of low-dose TCDD on the development of autoimmunity are unclear. In this study, using NFS/sld mice as a model for human Sjögren’s syndrome, in which the lesions are induced by the thymectomy on day 3 after birth, the autoimmune lesions in the salivary glands, and in later phase, inflammatory cell infiltrations in the other organs were developed by neonatal exposure to nonapoptotic dosage of TCDD without thymectomy on day 3 after birth. We found disruption of thymic selection, but not thymic atrophy, in TCDD-administered mice. The endogenous expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the neonatal thymus was significantly higher than that in the adult thymus, suggesting that the neonatal thymus may be much more sensitive to TCDD compared with the adult thymus. In addition, the production of TH1 cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ from splenic CD4+ T cells and the autoantibodies relevant for Sjögren’s syndrome in the sera from TCDD-exposed mice were significantly increased compared with those in control mice. These results suggest that TCDD/aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling in the neonatal thymus plays an important role in the early thymic differentiation related to autoimmunity.
Gain of 1q is a marker of poor prognosis in Wilms' tumors

Wilms' tumor (WT) trials aim to better tailor treatment intensity to the risk of relapse and death. Currently, stage, histology, age (< or > 24 months), and combined loss of heterozygosity at 1p and 16q in chemotherapy‐naïve WTs are the only risk factors used for treatment stratification. However, they predict only less than one‐third of all relapsing patients, implying that other factors are involved in treatment failure. Previous studies have associated 1q gain with adverse outcome. Therefore, in this study, the role of 1q gain and other common cytogenetic aberrations (CAs) in WTs was investigated and related to follow‐up data from patients with WT treated in the United Kingdom; 19% (64/331) had 1q gain. Gain of 1q was significantly associated with 16q loss (P < 0.001) and 1p loss (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis taking account of age, tumor stage, anaplasia, and common CA (e.g., 1p loss and 16q loss), 1q gain was independently associated with adverse event‐free survival [EFS; hazard ratio (HR) = 2.45, P = 0.02] and overall survival (HR = 4.28, P = 0.004). Loss of 14q was independently associated with an adverse EFS (HR = 4.0, P = 0.04). Gain of 1q is a marker of poor prognosis in WTs, independent of high tumor stage and anaplasia which remain the overarching adverse prognostic factors. Confirmation in other studies is necessary before future therapeutic studies can incorporate 1q gain into new risk stratification schema. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Population registers: some administrative and statistical pros and cons.

The advantages and disadvantages of introducing a central population register are discussed in the context of the United Kingdom. The discussion covers a range of issues, including "justice, fairness, freedom, privacy, efficiency, the fight against crime and fraud, and relations between the government and the community. " The author describes the use of population registers in other European countries, the statistical implications of better population registers, the various population records that do exist in the United Kingdom, and the proposal to introduce identity cards in Australia. A summary of a discussion that took place following presentation of the paper at the Royal Statistical Society is included (pp. 28-41).