Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elevated Cyclin E Levels, Inactive Retinoblastoma Protein, and Suppression of the p27KIP1 Inhibitor Characterize Early Development of Promyeloid Cells into Macrophages

ABSTRACT Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors such as p27KIP1 have recently been shown to lead to cellular differentiation by causing cell cycle arrest, but it is unknown whether similar events occur in differentiating promyeloid cells. Hematopoietic progenitor cells undergo lineage-restricted differentiation, which is accompanied by expression of distinct maturation markers. Here we show that the classical growth factor insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) potently promotes vitamin D3-induced macrophage differentiation of promyeloid cells, as assessed by measurement of a coordinate increase in expression of the integrin α subunit CD11b, the CD14 lipopolysaccharide receptor, and the macrophage-specific esterase, α-naphthyl acetate esterase, as early as 24 h following initiation of terminal differentiation. Addition of IGF-I to cells undergoing vitamin D3-induced differentiation also leads to an early increase in expression of cyclin E, phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein, and a doubling of the cell number. Early expression of CD11b (24 h) is simultaneously accompanied by inhibition in the expression of p27KIP1. Cell cycle analysis with propidium iodide revealed that CD11b expression at 24 h following initiation of differentiation occurs at all phases of the cell cycle instead of only those cells arrested in G0/G1. Similarly, development of a novel double-labeling intra- and extracellular flow-cytometric technique demonstrated that single cells expressing the mature leukocyte differentiation antigen CD11b can also incorporate the thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine. Likewise, expression of the intracellular DNA polymerase δ cofactor/proliferating-cell nuclear antigen at 24 h is also simultaneously expressed with the surface marker CD11b, indicating that these cells continue to proliferate early in their differentiation program. Finally, at 24 h following induction of differentiation, IGF-I promoted a fourfold increase in the uptake of [3H]thymidine by purified populations of CD11b-expressing cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the initial steps associated with terminal macrophage differentiation occur concomitantly with progression through the cell cycle and that these very early differentiation events do not require the accumulation of p27KIP1.
“Blind” Placement of Long-Term Central Venous Access Devices: Report of 589 Consecutive Procedures

Placement of long-term central venous access devices, such as Hickman catheters and implanted subcutaneous ports, has traditionally been performed in the operating room with fluoroscopy. This study reports our experience with percutaneous placement of these devices in the outpatient clinic setting without the use of real-time imaging. Results were generated from a prospective database of all adult patients undergoing placement of central venous access in the outpatient clinic of the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. This database revealed that during the years 1996 and 1997, long-term central venous catheter placement was attempted in 589 adult patients in the outpatient clinic. Technical success was achieved in 558 patients (92%). This included 278 tunneled catheters and 280 totally implanted devices. Repositioning of the catheter tip was required in 16 patients (2.9%). The incidence of pneumothorax was 1.9 per cent. Late complications, including infection and thrombosis, occurred in 9 per cent. The average procedure-related charge for placement of a single-lumen central venous port in the outpatient clinic was $1691 versus $4559 in the operating room and $3890 in the radiology department. We conclude that routine placement of long-term central venous access devices in the outpatient clinic, without the use of real-time imaging, yields acceptable success rates and may have economic advantages over procedures performed in the operating room or radiology department.
Liver Organogenesis Promoted by Endothelial Cells Prior to Vascular Function

The embryonic role of endothelial cells and nascent vessels in promoting organogenesis, prior to vascular function, is unclear. We find that early endothelial cells in mouse embryos surround newly specified hepatic endoderm and delimit the mesenchymal domain into which the liver bud grows. In flk-1 mutant embryos, which lack endothelial cells, hepatic specification occurs, but liver morphogenesis fails prior to mesenchyme invasion. We developed an embryo tissue explant system that permits liver bud vasculogenesis and show that in the absence of endothelial cells, or when the latter are inhibited, there is a selective defect in hepatic outgrowth. We conclude that vasculogenic endothelial cells and nascent vessels are critical for the earliest stages of organogenesis, prior to blood vessel function.
Causes of Cancellations on the Day of Surgery at Two Major University Hospitals

Cancellations of elective cases on the day of surgery waste valuable operating-room time. The authors studied cancellations at an American hospital and a Norwegian university hospital to test (a) whether the quality of hospital administrative data on cancellations is sufficient for meaningful comparative analysis and (b) whether causes of cancellations at these 2 major academic hospitals are comparable. Large retrospective cause-of-cancellation data sets were obtained from each hospital. The authors then prospectively established root causes of cancellations by on-site investigation and interviews of the hospital personnel involved. The surgical department at the Norwegian hospital cancelled 14.58% of cases in 2003 and 16.07% in 2004. The American hospital cancelled 16.52% of all cases between May 1, 2003, and April 30, 2004. Administrative data may give a rough picture of causes of cancellations. However, most findings at either of the hospitals do not translate easily to the other.
The effect of conjugated linoleic acid on the fatty acid composition of different tissues and yolk lipids in pigeons

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was reported to increase the levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA), to decrease monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in egg yolk, liver and adipose tissue in chicken and quail. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary CLA on the fatty acid composition of liver, breast muscle, abdominal adipose tissue and egg yolk lipids in pigeons. Eight established breeding pairs per group were fed either a commercially pelleted pigeon diet mixed with 0.5% safflower oil (SFO) or 0.5% CLA for 12 weeks. For fatty acid analyses, four eggs per group were collected at the 10 th week of feeding. At the end of the 12 th week of the CLA feeding, four pigeons per treatment were killed and liver, breast muscle and abdominal fat pads were obtained at necropsy. For fatty acid analyses, fats from liver, breast muscle, abdominal adipose tissue and egg yolks were extracted with chloroform : methanol (2 : 1, v/v). Dietary CLA had no effect on the fatty acid composition of the liver compared to the control. However, dietary CLA caused a significant increase in the level of SFA and a decrease in the level of MUFA in breast muscle, adipose tissue and egg yolk. Breast muscle, adipose tissue and egg yolk from the CLA-fed pigeons had 1.8-, 1.6-, and 1.5-fold increases in the ratio of C16:0/C16:1(n-7), respectively. Also the ratio of C18:0/C18:1(n-9) in breast muscle, adipose tissue and egg yolk from the CLA group increased 1.4-, 2.2- and 1.9-fold, respectively, compared to the control. Relative CLA (%) in the liver, breast muscle, adipose tissue and egg yolk from the CLA group was 0.71, 1.30, 2.14 and 1.22%, respectively. Control egg yolk contained only 0.06% CLA. This study showed that CLA altered the fatty acid composition of the related tissues and egg yolk when supplemented in the diet of pigeons.
Time-Resolved Fluorescence of Water-Soluble Pyridinium Salt: Sensitive Detection of the Conformational Changes of Bovine Serum Albumin

In this paper, we report a pyridinium salt “turn-on” fluorescent probe, 4-[2-(4-Dimethylamino-phenyl)-vinyl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide (p-DASPMI), and applied its time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) to monitor the protein conformational changes. Both the fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield (QY) of p-DASPMI were increased about two orders of magnitude after binding to the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA). The free p-DASPMI in solution presents an ultrashort fluorescence lifetime (12.4 ps), thus it does not interfere the detection of bound p-DASPMI which has nanosecond fluorescence lifetime. Decay-associated spectra (DAS) show that p-DASPMI molecules bind to subdomains IIA and IIIA of BSA. The TRF decay profiles of p-DASPMI can be described by the multi-exponential decay function ( ∑ α n exp ( - t / τ n ) ), and the obtained parameters, such as lifetimes ( τ n ), fractional amplitudes ( α n ), and fractional intensities ( α n τ n ), may be used to deduce the conformational changes of BSA. The pH and Cu2+ induced conformational changes of BSA were investigated through the TRF of p-DASPMI. The results show that the p-DASPMI is a candidate fluorescent probe in studying the conformational changes of proteins through TRF spectroscopy and microscopy in the visible range.
Demonstration of Early-Phase Transmission of Yersinia pestis by the Mouse Flea, Aetheca wagneri (Siphonaptera: Ceratophylidae), and Implications for the Role of Deer Mice as Enzootic Reservoirs

Abstract The role of deer mice and other species of Peromyscus as enzootic reservoirs for plague remains controversial. In this study, we evaluated early-phase vector efficiency of Aetheca wagneri Baker, a common flea species infesting deer mice, to determine the likelihood that Y. pestis could be spread mouse to mouse by this species. We showed that A. wagneri could transmit plague bacteria to laboratory mice as early as 3 d postinfection (p.i.), but transmission efficiency was quite low (1.03%; 95% CI: 0.19–3.34%) 1–4 d p.i. compared with that for the established plague vector Oropsylla montana Baker (10.63%; 95% CI: 4.18–25.91). Using this early-phase transmission efficiency estimate, we determined through parameterization of a simple predictive model that at least 68 A. wagneri per deer mouse would be required to support levels of transmission adequate for enzootic maintenance. Because deer mice typically harbor fewer than three A. wagneri per host, our data do not support the notion of an independent deer mouse–A. wagneri transmission cycle.
Widespread and Persistent Populations of a Major New Marine Actinomycete Taxon in Ocean Sediments

ABSTRACT A major taxon of obligate marine bacteria within the order Actinomycetales has been discovered from ocean sediments. Populations of these bacteria (designated MAR 1) are persistent and widespread, spanning at least three distinct ocean systems. In this study, 212 actinomycete isolates possessing MAR 1 morphologies were examined and all but two displayed an obligate requirement of seawater for growth. Forty-five of these isolates, representing all observed seawater-requiring morphotypes, were partially sequenced and found to share characteristic small-subunit rRNA signature nucleotides between positions 207 and 468 (Escherichia coli numbering). Phylogenetic characterization of seven representative isolates based on almost complete sequences of genes encoding 16S rRNA (16S ribosomal DNA) yielded a monophyletic clade within the family Micromonosporaceae and suggests novelty at the genus level. This is the first evidence for the existence of widespread populations of obligate marine actinomycetes. Organic extracts from cultured members of this new group exhibit remarkable biological activity, suggesting that they represent a prolific resource for biotechnological applications.
Effects of caffeine on linear and nonlinear measures of heart rate variability before and after exercise

Caffeine intake is associated with an increase in heart rate (HR) variability. This study sought to examine the effects of caffeine on HR variability measures before and during progressive exercise in 11 healthy volunteers in a double‐blind randomized and counterbalanced placebo‐controlled paradigm. As expected, there were significant increases in HR and decreases in HR variability after exercise during both placebo and caffeine conditions; however, pre‐exercise caffeine condition was associated with a significant increase of HR variability, especially in the high‐frequency range (0.15–0.5 Hz), and also approximate entropy (APEN), which is usually attributed to cardiac vagal function. But during progressive exercise, caffeine intake resulted in a greater decrease of HF power as well as HR APEN. Caffeine also was associated with significantly higher LF power during exercise compared to the placebo condition. These results suggest that caffeine may have different effects on HR variability at rest, compared to exercise. These findings may have implications for patients with cardiac illness and anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders who use beverages containing excessive caffeine. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transfusion medicine. First of two parts--blood transfusion.

Blood transfusion and blood conservation (techniques or strategies to avoid the need for blood) are complementary activities that constitute the clinical arena of transfusion medicine. Recent improvements in the safety of the blood supply and the increasing costs associated with transfusion therapies have led to a reevaluation of the clinical practices of blood transfusion and blood conservation. Among the issues that have been reevaluated are the threshold for transfusion at which the benefits outweigh the risks and the identification of patients most likely to benefit from blood conservation. This review summarizes recent developments in transfusion medicine that have affected the .
Progressive facial hemiatrophy: central nervous system involvement and relationship with scleroderma en coup de sabre.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship of progressive facial hemiatrophy (PFH) and scleroderma en coup de sabre by establishing the presence and type of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in both diseases and the possible coexistence of PFH with scleroderma in other body sites. METHODS We divided 19 cases of PFH into 2 groups: group 1 in which atrophies were preceded by cutaneous indurations (n = 10) and group 2 with no precedent indurations (n = 9). The third group consisted of 7 cases of scleroderma en coup de sabre with no PFH features. Clinical and laboratory investigations included indirect immunofluorescence for antinuclear antibodies, and routine neurological examination involved electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after contrast application to evaluate the integrity of blood-brain barrier, angio-MRI to evaluate intracranial blood vessel anomalies, and 99mTc-HM-PAO-SPECT to evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (CBF). RESULTS We found similar anomalies in all 3 groups. MRI did not show abnormality in 2 out of 9 PFH cases preceded by indurations, in 5 out of 9 cases not preceded by indurations, and in all 7 cases of scleroderma en coup de sabre, including 5 patients, in whom the CBF was found to be diminished. In single cases of groups 1 and 2, SPECT was normal despite some MRI abnormalities. Angio-MRI was not contributory since the same abnormalities of Willis circle were found in normal controls. In single cases of both PFH groups, MRI with contrast disclosed some damage of the blood-brain barrier. CONCLUSION Our results suggest frequent CNS involvement in PFH cases, regardless of the time of presentation of cutaneous indurations, with or without coexistent plaques of localized scleroderma in other locations. This indicates a close relationship between PFH and scleroderma en coup de sabre. The detection of abnormal SPECT by normal MRI in some cases of PFH and scleroderma en coup de sabre is of practical importance. This indicates the usefulness of SPECT in studying both PFH and scleroderma en coup de sabre.
Genetic perspective of uniparental mitochondrial DNA landscape on the Punjabi population, Pakistan

Abstract To investigate the uniparental genetic structure of the Punjabi population from mtDNA aspect and to set up an appropriate mtDNA forensic database, we studied maternally unrelated Punjabi (N = 100) subjects from two caste groups (i.e. Arain and Gujar) belonging to territory of Punjab. The complete control region was elucidated by Sanger sequencing and the subsequent 58 different haplotypes were designated into appropriate haplogroups according to the most recently updated mtDNA phylogeny. We found a homogenous dispersal of Eurasian haplogroup uniformity among the Punjab Province and exhibited a strong connotation with the European populations. Punjabi castes are primarily a composite of substantial South Asian, East Asian and West Eurasian lineages. Moreover, for the first time we have defined the newly sub-haplogroup M52b1 characterized by 16223 T, 16275 G and 16438 A in Gujar caste. The vast array of mtDNA variants displayed in this study suggested that the haplogroup composition radiates signals of extensive genetic conglomeration, population admixture and demographic expansion that was equipped with diverse origin, whereas matrilineal gene pool was phylogeographically homogenous across the Punjab. This context was further fully acquainted with the facts supported by PCA scatterplot that Punjabi population clustered with South Asian populations. Finally, the high power of discrimination (0.8819) and low random match probability (0.0085%) proposed a worthy contribution of mtDNA control region dataset as a forensic database that considered a gold standard of today to get deeper insight into the genetic ancestry of contemporary matrilineal phylogeny.
Gravity Field, Shape, and Moment of Inertia of Titan

Titan Through to the Core Gravity measurements acquired from orbiting spacecraft can provide useful information about the interior of planets and their moons. Iess et al. (p. 1367; see the Perspective by Sohl) used gravity data from four flybys of the Cassini spacecraft past Saturn's moon, Titan, to model the moon's gravity field and probe its deep interior structure. Their analysis implies that Titan is a partially differentiated body with a core consisting of a mix of ice and rock or hydrated silicates. Analysis of gravity data reveals that Saturn’s moon Titan has a partially differentiated internal structure. Precise radio tracking of the spacecraft Cassini has provided a determination of Titan’s mass and gravity harmonics to degree 3. The quadrupole field is consistent with a hydrostatically relaxed body shaped by tidal and rotational effects. The inferred moment of inertia factor is about 0.34, implying incomplete differentiation, either in the sense of imperfect separation of rock from ice or a core in which a large amount of water remains chemically bound in silicates. The equilibrium figure is a triaxial ellipsoid whose semi-axes a, b, and c differ by 410 meters (a – c) and 103 meters (b – c). The nonhydrostatic geoid height variations (up to 19 meters) are small compared to the observed topographic anomalies of hundreds of meters, suggesting a high degree of compensation appropriate to a body that has warm ice at depth.
Effect of Estradiol Benzoate on the Pituitary‐Gonadal Axis in the Intact Male Rat

Erwachsene männliche Ratten wurden 28 Tage lang täglich mit 50 μg Oestradiolbenzoat subcutan behandelt. Die Gewichte der Sexualorgane und der Hypophyse zeigten die für eine Oestrogenzufuhr klassischen Veränderungen. Sowohl die Plasma‐ als auch die Hoden‐Testosteronwerte gingen innerhalb von 24 Stunden nach der ersten Oestrogeninjektion auf fast Spurenwerte zurück und blieben dort während der Experimentierperiode. Die Hypophysen‐LH‐Werte und deren Konzentration zeigten einen progressiven Abfall; demgegenüber blieben die Plasma‐LH‐Werte während des Experimentes unverändert. Dieses Ergebnis legt es nahe, daß bei der gesunden männlichen Ratte das Oestrogen die Hoden‐Testosteron‐Produktion direkt beeinflußt. Die Beobachtung gibt Veranlassung für die Notwendigkeit einer Überprüfung der gegenwärtigen Vorstellungen über die Hoden‐Hypophyse‐feedback‐Mechanismen.
Randomized, placebo-controlled study of cetirizine and loratadine in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND Pharmacologic treatment is a mainstay of allergy therapy and many caregivers use over-the-counter antihistamines for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) symptoms in children. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and safety of cetirizine 10 mg syrup versus loratadine 10 mg syrup versus placebo syrup in a randomized double-blind study of children, ages 6-11 years, with SAR. METHODS This randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study was conducted at 71 U.S. centers during the spring tree and grass pollen season. After a 1-week placebo run-in period, qualified subjects were randomized to once-daily cetirizine 10 mg (n = 231), loratadine 10 mg (n = 221), and placebo (n = 231) for 2 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was change from baseline in the subject's mean reflective total symptom severity complex (TSSC) score over 14 days. RESULTS Children treated with cetirizine experienced significantly greater TSSC score reductions versus children treated with placebo over 14 days (least square mean change, -2.1 versus -1.6; p = 0.006). The differences in TSSC score improvement over 14 days between the cetirizine versus loratadine groups (-2.1 versus -1.8; p = 0.124) and between the loratadine versus placebo groups (-1.8 versus -1.6; p = 0.230) were not statistically significant. Predominant adverse events in the cetirizine, loratadine, and placebo groups were headache (3.5, 3.6, and 3.1%, respectively) and pharyngitis (3.5, 2.7, and 3.5%, respectively). Somnolence was reported in three subjects (1.3%) treated with cetirizine and in none of the other subjects. CONCLUSION Cetirizine 10 mg was statistically significantly more efficacious than placebo in the treatment of SAR symptoms in children ages 6-11 years. Symptom improvement was not significantly different between the loratadine 10 mg and placebo groups.
Serodiagnosis of hydatidosis in sheep slaughtered at Sokoto abattoir, Sokoto state, Nigeria

Serological screening for hydatidosis was carried out on sheep slaughtered at the Sokoto abattoir, Northwestern Nigeria. A total of 186 serum samples obtained from randomly selected animals were analysed for antigen - antibody responses using Echinococcus granulosus IgG Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit (RIDASCREEN ® ). Postmortem inspection for the presence of cyst was also carried out on the selected animals. The study did not observe any antigen-antibody reaction in any of the samples screened and no cyst was found at post-mortem inspection of the selected sheep. The zero prevalence recorded suggest s the need to employ some other more sensitive diagnostic techniques to ascertain the result obtained in this study.