Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antioxidants and Protein Carbonyls in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Children: Normal Data

Antioxidant-oxidant imbalances in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) are thought to contribute to oxidative stress in respiratory disease. However, normal reference ranges for BAL antioxidants and oxidized proteins in children are not available. In this study, we recruited 124 children attending for elective surgery for a noninflammatory condition; 83 were nonasthmatic, nonatopic (N) and 41 were nonasthmatic, atopic (NA). A nonbronchoscopic lavage was performed and ascorbate, uric acid, α-tocopherol, and protein carbonyl (as a measure of oxidative damage) concentrations were determined in BAL fluid. The 95% reference range was 0.112–1.897 μmol/L for ascorbate, 0.149–2.163 μmol/L for urate, 0.0029–0.066 μmol/L for α-tocopherol, and 0.280–4.529 nmol/mg for protein carbonyls in BAL fluid. Age, gender, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke did not affect the concentration of ascorbate, urate, α-tocopherol, or protein carbonyls. However, in multiple linear regression analyses, the type of home heating (glass-fronted fires or oil-fired central heating) was found to influence ascorbate and urate concentrations in the BAL fluid (β-coefficient for ascorbate: 0.445, p = 0.031; for urate: 0.114, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the N and NA group in BAL fluid concentrations of ascorbate, urate, or protein carbonyls. The α-tocopherol concentration was significantly increased in the NA group (p = 0.037). Uric acid and α-tocopherol concentrations in BAL fluid and serum were not correlated. Intriguingly, serum and BAL ascorbate concentrations were significantly correlated (r = 0.297, p = 0.018, n = 63), which may offer an explanation for why supplementing the diet with vitamin C can improve asthma symptoms. Further studies will investigate the role of BAL antioxidant concentrations in children with inflammatory respiratory diseases.
Pareto Distributions in International Trade: Hard to Identify, Easy to Estimate

We show that, in heterogeneous-firm international trade models, common forms of heterogeneity and uncertainty drive a (multiplicative random) wedge between the observable exports distribution and the latent distribution of firm productivity. Even if the latter is exactly Pareto distributed, this wedge, correlated with firm productivity, distorts the exports data, often making it look log-normally distributed. We show this distortion to be quantitatively relevant, meaning that empirical evidence of a log-normal exports distribution does not preclude an underlying Pareto distribution for productivity. Furthermore, this wedge renders common maximum-likelihood and quantile-based estimators misspecified, hence inconsistent. We provide general conditions in a broad class of international trade models under which, despite this misspecification issue, the tail of the exports distribution can be used to estimate the power exponent of the productivity distribution consistently -- provided the sample size of left-truncated export data is large enough.
Safety profile of asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi in a large compassionate‐use trial

L‐Asparaginase is an integral component of standard chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Clinical hypersensitivity, a common reason for treatment discontinuation, has been reported in 10–30% of patients receiving Escherichia coli‐derived asparaginase. After hypersensitivity, E. coli‐derived asparaginase should be discontinued and an alternative asparaginase preparation, such as asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi, may be initiated. We conducted a compassionate‐use study to collect additional safety information on asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi and to support FDA approval of the product.
Delayed nucleoid segregation in Escherichia coli

To study the role of cell division in the process of nucleoid segregation, we measured the DNA content of individual nucleoids in isogenic Escherichia coli cell division mutants by image cytometry. In pbpB(Ts) and ftsZ strains growing as filaments at 42°C, nucleoids contained, on average, more than two chromosome equivalents compared with 1.6 in wild‐type cells. Because similar results were obtained with a pbpB recA strain, the increased DNA content cannot be ascribed to the occurrence of chromosome dimers. From the determination of the amount of DNA per cell and per individual nucleoid after rifampicin inhibition, we estimated the C and D periods (duration of a round of replication and time between termination and cell division respectively), as well as the D′ period (time between termination and nucleoid separation). Compared with the parent strain and in contrast to ftsQ, ftsA and ftsZ mutants, pbpB(Ts) cells growing at the permissive temperature (28°C) showed a long D′ period (42 min versus 18 min in the parent) indicative of an extended segregation time. The results indicate that a defective cell division protein such as PbpB not only affects the division process but also plays a role in the last stage of DNA segregation. We propose that PbpB is involved in the assembly of the divisome and that this structure enhances nucleoid segregation.
Cervical Paraspinal Electromyography: Normal Values in 100 Control Subjects

The normal electromyographic values and the significance of spontaneous activity, when examining the cervical paraspinal muscles, has been studied rarely, and there are very few studies concerning this issue.To obtain muscle unit potential (MUP) reference values for cervical paraspinal muscles, we examined 100 volunteers. Spontaneous activity and the analysis of 20 MUPs in every individual were checked by the automated MUP analysis program.In those individuals ages 20 to 40 years, no spontaneous activity was observed, and in the ones ages 40 to 60 years and 60 years or older, fibrillations and/or positive sharp waves were seen in 8% and 92%, respectively. MUP values were found to be close to those of upper limb muscles. Age has no significant effect on MUP values, except for mean amplitude that was increased in individuals ages 60 to 80 years.Our findings suggest that fibrillations and positive sharp waves do not have much electrodiagnostic value in the study of cervical paraspinal muscles of middle-aged and elderly subjects, when it is an isolated finding, and there is a need for an extended electromyographic examination, including other muscles, to exclude radiculopathy. Automated MUP analysis is easily performed, and our results may serve as reference values.
Tobacco World: Evaluation of a Tobacco Cessation Training Program for Third-Year Medical Students

Background Training in tobacco cessation counseling is deficient in medical schools. Tobacco World, a tobacco cessation training program, was implemented in a family medicine clerkship and subsequently evaluated. Method In the pilot year, students were assigned to either standard clerkship training (comparison group) or a group that also received Tobacco World training (intervention group). All students received intervention training in the second year of the study. A 35-item questionnaire was administered before and after the four-week clerkship to assess knowledge, attitude, and confidence regarding tobacco cessation counseling. Results Intervention training was highly rated. Students in the intervention group from both years demonstrated significant improvements in some key measurements of knowledge, attitude, confidence, and increased frequency of tobacco cessation counseling. Conclusions This smoking cessation training program addresses an underrepresented area of medical school education and has the potential to translate into improved smoking cessation counseling by future physicians.
Design of Temperature-Aware Low-Voltage 8T SRAM in SOI Technology for High-Temperature Operation (25 %C–300 %C)

A temperature-aware low-voltage 8T static random access memory (SRAM) for high-temperature operations is presented. A dedicated read port with virtual ground and optimal body bias improves sensing margin under very high temperature (up to 300 °C). Bitline offset voltage for data “0” caused by the virtual ground scheme is also compensated by a replica bitline. The independent body bias control feature of the employed silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology allows the write margin to be enhanced significantly without using any write-assist circuitry. Test chips were fabricated in a 1-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> SOI technology with tungsten interconnect for reliability at high temperature and lesser process variation. Measurement results demonstrate that the proposed SRAM operates successfully up to 300 °C with the supply voltage range of 2–5 V. At the minimum performance variation point (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$V_{\mathrm{ DD}} = 2.5$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V), the SRAM consumes 1.48 mW and shows the access time of 156 ns and the maximum clock frequency of 14.38 MHz at 300 °C.
Immune complexome analysis reveals the specific and frequent presence of immune complex antigens in lung cancer patients: A pilot study

Cancer immunotherapies such as antibodies targeting T cell checkpoints, or adaptive tumor‐infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) transfer, have been developed to boost the endogenous immune response against human malignancies. However, activation of T cells by such antibodies can lead to the risk of autoimmune diseases. Also, the selection of tumor‐reactive T cells for TIL relies on information regarding mutated antigens in tumors and does not reflect other factors involved in protein antigenicity. It is therefore essential to engineer therapeutic interventions by which T cell reactivity against tumor cells is selectively enhanced (i.e., “focused cancer immunotherapy”) based on tumor antigens that are specifically expressed in the tumor of a certain cancer and in many patients with this cancer. Immune complexes (ICs) are the direct and stable products of immunological recognition by humoral immunity. Here, we searched for tumor‐specific IC antigens in each of five cancers (lung (n = 28), colon (n = 20), bladder (n = 20), renal cell (n = 15) and malignant lymphoma (n = 9)), by using immune complexome analysis that comprehensively identifies and profiles the constituent antigens in ICs. This analysis indicated that gelsolin and inter‐alpha‐trypsin inhibitor heavy chains were specifically and frequently detected (at a frequency higher than 80%), and that phosphoproteins (VENTX, VCIP135) were also specifically present in the ICs of lung cancer patients. Immune complexome analysis successfully identified several tumor‐specific IC antigens with high detection frequency in lung cancer patients. These specific antigens are required to validate the clinical benefit by further analysis using a large number of patients.
IL‐12 suppresses the expression of ocular immunoinflammatory lesions by effects on angiogenesis

Topical application of plasmid DNA encoding IL‐12 to the cornea of mice prior to ocular infection with Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) results in diminished corneal immunoinflammatory lesions. Such herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) reactions in humans represent an important cause of blindness. The effect of IL‐12 pretreatment acted via inhibitory effects on corneal neovascularization rather than by inhibiting viral replication or the function of CD4+ T cells that mediate HSK. The antiangiogenesis induced by IL‐12 DNA application was mediated indirectly via the cytokine IFN‐γ and one or both of two chemokine molecules, IP‐10 and MIG. Thus IL‐12 DNA administration lacked modulatory effects on HSK in GKO mice, indicating the necessary involvement of IFN‐γ induction for antiangiogenesis. In contrast, exposure of GKO mice to IP‐10 DNA did suppress the severity of HSK. Furthermore, treatment with specific antisera to IP‐10 and MIG in HSV‐infected mice abrogated the IL‐12‐induced inhibitory effect on lesion severity. Taken together, our data indicate that the HSV‐induced ocular immunoinflammatory lesions can be modulated by IL‐12 and that this effect results from chemokine inhibition of angiogenesis. The use of antiangiogenesis therapy might represent a useful control measure against HSK.
Maternal Sleep Disordered Breathing and Neonatal Outcome.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) during pregnancy may adversely influence maternal as well as fetal well being. OBJECTIVES To examine the effect of maternal SDB on neonatal neurological examination and perinatal complications. METHODS Pregnant women of singleton uncomplicated pregnancies were prospectively recruited from a community and hospital low risk obstetric surveillance. All participants completed a sleep questionnaire in the second trimester and underwent ambulatory sleep evaluation (WatchPAT, Itamar Medical, Caesarea, Israel). They were categorized as SDB (apnea hypopnea index > 5) and non-SDB. Maternal and newborn records were reviewed and a neonatal neurologic examination was conducted during the first 48 hours. RESULTS The study group included 44 women and full-term infants; 11 of the women (25%) had SDB. Mean maternal age of the SDB and non-SDB groups was 32.3 ± 2.8 and 32.5 ± 4.7 years, respectively (P = 0.86). Mean body mass index before the pregnancy in the SDB and non-SDB groups was 25.8 ± 4.7 and 22.0 ± 2.5 kg/m2, respectively (P = 0.028). No differences were found between infants born to mothers with SDB and non-SDB in birth weight (3353.8 ± 284.8 vs. 3379.1 ± 492.4 g), gestational age (39.5 ± 0.9 vs. 39.2 ± 1.5 weeks), 5 minute Apgar scores (9.8 ± 0.6 vs. 9.9 ± 0.3), and neurologic examination scores (95.2 ± 3.9 vs. 94.6 ± 4.1). P value for all was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary results suggest that maternal mild SDB during pregnancy has no adverse effect on neonatal neurologic examination or on perinatal complications.
21.8 A 16-ch patient-specific seizure onset and termination detection SoC with machine-learning and voltage-mode transcranial stimulation

Multichannel EEG seizure detection SoCs are widely used in medical practice and in research [1]-[3]. Due to huge variation in seizure patterns, patient-specific seizure detection is very crucial. [1], [2] presents 8-channel (ch) SoCs with moderate latency (~2s) but without seizure termination detection and stimulation. [3] implements a closed-loop SoC but is not patient-specific, and moreover, is invasive. This paper presents an ultra-low power 16-ch "non-invasive, patient-specific" seizure onset and termination detection SoC with channels multiplexing AFE and pulsating voltage transcranial electrical stimulation (PVTES).
Paclitaxel Treatment of Breast Cancer Cell Lines Modulates Fas/Fas Ligand Expression and Induces Apoptosis Which Can Be Inhibited through the CD40 Receptor

Objective: Cytotoxic chemotherapy of advanced breast cancer is frequently complicated by drug resistance. Our goal was to define the role of the apoptosis-regulating receptors Fas (CD95) and CD40 in the chemosensitivity of breast cancer. Methods: The sensitivity of four breast cancer cell lines to paclitaxel and mitoxantrone was evaluated using an ATP-based cell viability assay. After verification of apoptosis by annexin V staining and TUNEL assay, cell lines were characterized regarding their constitutive expression of both surface and soluble (s)Fas (CD95) and Fas ligand (Fas-L). The role of the Fas/Fas-L system and different caspases was assessed by blocking drug-mediated apoptosis with specific antibodies. Finally, the paclitaxel sensitivity of the CD40-negative cell line KS was compared to that of its CD40-positive transfectant KS-CD40. Results and Conclusion: While the cytotoxic effect of mitoxantrone did not correlate with Fas expression, the results presented here suggest some involvement of the Fas/Fas-L system in paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. Cell lines with constitutive expression of Fas/sFas demonstrated a higher sensitivity to paclitaxel than Fas-negative cells. Incubation with paclitaxel led to a measurable downregulation of the expression of both soluble and surface Fas receptor in these cells. Interestingly, stimulation of the CD40 receptor inhibited paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in the transfected cell line KS-CD40, suggesting a role of this receptor in the modulation of chemosensitivity.
Loss of imprinting and marked gene elevation are 2 forms of aberrant IGF2 expression in colorectal cancer

Loss of imprinting (LOI) of insulin‐like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a common event in many cancers and typically activates the maternally silenced allele. The resulting biallelic IGF2 expression correlates strongly with the hypomethylation of a differentially methylated region (DMR) near its promoter. It has also been shown that IGF2 undergoes overexpression in human malignancies; nevertheless, this phenomenon and its link to aberrant DMR methylation have not been reported in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between IGF2 LOI, overexpression and DMR hypomethylation in CRC. By analyzing IGF2 and H19 methylation in 97 primary CRC and 64 matched normal colorectal tissues, we have shown a significant correlation between IGF2 LOI and DMR hypomethylation of IGF2 and H19. Additionally, when analyzing Affymetrix expression data of 167 primary CRC tumors and 32 normal tissues, 15% of tumors showed marked IGF2 elevation. We further investigated if substantially elevated IGF2 levels were linked to IGF2 or H19 hypomethylation, but found no significant correlation. However, we demonstrated that noticeable IGF2 overexpression, rather than LOI, negatively correlated with CRC microsatellite instability. These observations indicate that IGF2 expression, particularly when transcribed at significantly high levels, is a result of mechanisms unrelated to LOI. Our results suggest that IGF2 participates in CRC tumorigenesis through 2 different forms of aberrant gene expression.
Levels of Complement Receptor Type One (CR1, CD35) on Erythrocytes, Circulating Immune Complexes and Complement C3 Split Products C3d and C3c Are Not Changed by Short-Term Physical Exercise or Training

The effect of heavy short-term physical exercise on the levels of complement receptor type one (CR1, CD35) on erythrocytes, the concentrations of circulating immune complexes (IC), and the complement C3 split products C3c and C3d were examined in young healthy males. Fourteen untrained volunteers underwent a 60-min bicycle exercise test at 75% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Six of the volunteers were exercised twice with an interval of at least one month. Before the second bicycle test they received oral indomethacin. With an interval of at least 1 week, 6 also went through a 60-min back-muscle exercise at up to 30% of VO2max. Blood samples were collected before and during the last few minutes of exercise as well as 2 h and 24 h afterwards. The same parameters were examined once in 29 highly trained racing cyclists. There were no consistent or significant exercise-induced changes in the levels of erythrocyte CR1, circulating IC, C3c nor C3d as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, polyethylene glycol precipitation complement consumption method, and by intermediate gel rocket immunoelectrophoresis, respectively. Neither did these parameters differ from controls in the highly trained group. The results indicate that CR1 on erythrocytes, circulating immune complexes and complement cleavage products C3c and C3d in healthy subjects remain unaffected by short-term heavy physical activity and training.
Epidemiological Analysis of Non-M-Typeable Group A Streptococcus Isolates from a Thai Population in Northern Thailand

ABSTRACT Infection with group A streptococci (GAS) can lead to the development of severe postinfectious sequelae such as rheumatic fever (RF). In Thailand, RF and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remain important health problems. More than 80% of GAS circulating in this population are non-M antigen typeable by conventional M serotyping methods. In this study, we determine the M protein sequence types of GAS isolates found in northern Thailand. The emm genes from 53 GAS isolates, collected between 1985 and 1995 from individuals with pharyngitis, impetigo, acute RF (ARF), RHD, or meningitis as well as from individuals without infections, were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Thirteen new sequence types that did not show homology to previously published sequences were characterized. Six of these sequence types could be isolated from both skin and throat sites of impetigo and pharyngitis/ARF patients, respectively. In many cases we could not specifically differentiate skin strains or throat strains that could be associated with ARF or acute glomerulonephritis. Antigenic variations in the emm gene of the isolates investigated, compared to published M protein sequences, were predominantly due to point mutations, small deletions, and insertions in the hypervariable region. One group of isolates with homology to M44 exhibited corrected frameshift mutations. A new M type isolated from an RHD patient exhibited nucleotide sequence corresponding to the N terminus of M58 and the C terminus of M25, suggesting that recombination between the two types may have occurred. This study provided epidemiological data relating to GAS endemic to northern Thailand which could be useful for identification of vaccine candidates in a specific region of endemicity.
Taxonomy of Leishmania. Use of isoenzymes. Suggestions for a new classification.

The authors propose a new classification for the genus Leishmania Ross, 1903 based both on the use of intrinsic and extrinsic characters and on Linnean and Adansonian methods. The type of vertebrate host makes it possible to recognize the genus group: Leishmania designates Kinetoplastida parasites of mammals. Neighbouring forms which parasite reptiles are now grouped in the genus Sauroleishmania Ranque, 1973. Characteristics of the intravectorial cycle (supra- and peri-pyloric) are used to define the subgenus group (Leishmania, Viannia Lainson and Shaw, 1987). The classification uses biochemical, particularly enzymatic, characters. Elementary taxonomic units are made up of all the strains having the same isoenzyme profile, i.e. the zymodeme. The grouping of the zymodemes is usually performed through automatic techniques which lead to bush-like trees (dendrograms) showing either simple affinities between units (phenograms) or their phyletic relationships (cladograms). The branches recognized as being stable are individualized as "zymodeme complexes". They bear the name of either the previously defined species taxa or that of a specially created one. Two examples of taxonomic constructions, phenetic and cladistic, are presented. Finally, a general classification of the genus is proposed.
When Breast Cancer Survivors Report Cognitive Problems at Work

Objective: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) who wish to stay actively employed following primary treatment of cancer may experience cognitive problems at work. Management of these cognitive problems may need to focus on associated symptoms. The current study determined whether fatigue and depressive symptoms, which can co-occur with one another, are independently and/or interactively related to cognitive limitations at work. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted. BCS (n = 133) and a non-cancer comparison group (NCCG; n = 122) completed measures of work-related cognitive limitations, fatigue, and depression. Results: Three years post primary treatment, BCS reported higher levels of fatigue (p = 0.001), depressive symptoms (p = 0.001), and work related cognitive limitations (p = 0.001) than the NCCG. Fatigue and depressive symptoms were each independently associated with cognitive limitations in both those with and without a history of cancer. Conclusions: When BCS report problems with cognitive abilities at work along with fatigue and depressive symptoms, it is important to recognize that these symptoms can be independently related to cognitive limitations. This study also suggests that management of symptoms of fatigue and depression may benefit from different approaches when improvement in cognitive function at work is a desired outcome.