Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro fertilization‐embryo transfer in nonhuman primates: The technique and its applications

Recently the delivery of the world's first rhesus monkey twins following the in vitro fertilization (IVF) of oocytes and subsequent freezing, thawing, and transfer of embryos (ET) to the oviducts of synchronized foster mothers was described (Lanzendorf et al., 1990b). Each of four animals received two embryos, which resulted in three twin pregnancies and the birth of six (five male and one female) infants. In the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center's program, frozen-thawed embryos have implanted at a rate in excess of that observed by any assisted reproductive technique in women. A high implantation rate has also been reported with nonfrozen, IVF-produced embryos in marmoset monkeys (Lopata et al., 1988). These achievements suggest that after more than a decade of development, nonhuman primate models for IVF-ET are now available for basic studies on the nature and regulation of gamete maturation, fertilization, embryonic development, implantation, and other processes that cannot be examined in women for ethical and practical reasons. Emerging methodologies could be applied to preserving endangered species of nonhuman primates and to propagating new primate models for studying human diseases. In this review, we will first examine the relevant technology associated with IVFET followed by specific examples of applications of this technology to nonhuman primate models. IN VITRO FERTILIZATION-EMBRYO TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY: STIMULATION OF THE GROWTH AND MATURATION OF MULTIPLE FOLLICLES Pituitary-ovarian relationships and the roles of the gonadotropic hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), in the gametogenic and endocrine functions of the ovary have been studied for over 60 years (Smith, 1926). Although many of the basic events and factors that control folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, and ovulation are similar in vertebrates, the details of the regulatory mechanisms vary substantially between species. Furthermore, additional fine-tuning of follicular control must exist in primates that produce only one mature follicle and ovum per cycle. Given the impure preparations of gonadotropic hormones and the empirical nature of their studies, it is not surprising that early workers (Hisaw et al., 1935; Hartman, 1938; van Wagenen, 1968) had difficulty stimulating follicle development and ovulation in primates. Nevertheless, experience suggested that appropriate therapy with exogenous gonadotropins could override the mechanisms that select a single mature follicle in the natural cycle and stimulate the growth of multiple follicles and their enclosed oocytes. As van Wagenen notes in her review (1968),
Distinct bacterial colonization patterns of Escherichia coli subtypes associate with rheumatoid factor status in early inflammatory arthritis.

OBJECTIVES The aetiology of RA is unknown; however, bacterial exposure, particularly to Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae, has been linked to disease pathogenesis. The strongest association was observed for RF(+) RA. We compare colonization patterns of these bacteria, and the anti-bacterial antibody levels in early onset RF(+) and RF(-) inflammatory arthritis. METHODS Bacteria isolated from stool and urine of early-stage RF(+) and RF(-) patients recruited to the Early Arthritis Registry were biochemically identified and genotyped. IgM and IgA anti-bacterial and RF antibodies were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS Differences in the types of colonizing pathogenic E. coli were identified. RF(+) patients were more commonly colonized with phylogenetic Group D E. coli, whereas RF(-) patients were more commonly colonized with phylogenetic Group B2 E. coli and these individuals also had lower joint scores and inflammatory markers yet higher IgA anti-E. coli antibody responses. CONCLUSIONS These studies link the type of colonizing bacteria in the gut and urine with the immune response (anti-bacterial and RF) in early-onset inflammatory arthritis and provide evidence for a role of the host-pathogen response in the aetiology of RF.
Emotional Processing Deficits in Individuals With Unilateral Brain Damage

This article presents a review of the neural mechanisms underlying emotional processing deficits (EPDs) in individuals with unilateral brain damage. First, key theoretical issues pertaining to the neuropsychology of emotion are presented. These include parameters of emotional processing, the componential approach, emotional domains, and hypotheses regarding hemispheric specialization for emotion. Second, the literature on hemispheric asymmetries for emotion is reviewed in terms of processing mode (perception and expression) and communication channel (facial, prosodic-intonational, and lexical-verbal). Studies involving normal adults and individuals with right- or left-sided brain damage are reviewed. Third, recent findings identifying the role of the right hemisphere in emotional processing are described. The article is concluded by aligning these new data with findings from the general literature, providing added support for the right-hemisphere emotion hypothesis.
Pregnancy in CKD stages 3 to 5: fetal and maternal outcomes.

BACKGROUND Prognostic criteria to inform women with moderate to severe renal insufficiency who wish to bear children are not well established. STUDY DESIGN Longitudinal multicenter cohort study. SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS Nondiabetic white women with pregnancies proceeded beyond the 20th week and estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (<1 mL/s/1.73 m(2)) before conception. PREDICTORS Baseline GFR and proteinuria (exposure); other clinical characteristics at conception (covariates). OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS Difference in GFR decreases before conception versus after delivery (mixed linear models); low birth weight (<2,500 g), and maternal renal survival (logistic and Cox regressions). RESULTS 49 women were studied. Mean serum creatinine and GFR at conception were 2.1 +/- 1 (SD) mg/dL (186 +/- 88 micromol/L) and 35 +/- 12 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (0.58 +/- 0.2 mL/s/1.73 m(2)), respectively. Overall mean GFR after delivery was less than before conception (30 +/- 13.8 versus 35 +/- 12.2 mL/min/1.73 m(2) [0.50 +/- 0.23 versus 0.58 +/- 0.20 mL/s/1.73 m(2)]; P < 0.001), but the rate of GFR decrease did not change (0.55 +/- 0.8 versus 0.50 +/- 0.3 mL/min/mo [0.0092 +/- 0.013 versus 0.0083 +/- 0.005 mL/s/mo]; P = 0.661). Independent of potential confounders, the combined presence of baseline GFR less than 40 mL/min/m(2) (<0.67 mL/s/m(2)) and proteinuria with protein greater than 1 g/d, but not either factor alone, predicted faster GFR loss after delivery compared with before conception (1.17 +/- 1.23 versus 0.55 +/- 0.39 mL/min/mo; difference, 0.62 mL/min/mo; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 0.96 mL/min/mo [0.020 +/- 0.021 versus 0.0092 +/- 0.007 mL/s/mo; difference, 0.10 mL/s/mo; 95% CI, 0.005 to 0.016 mL/s/mo]). The presence of both risk factors, but not either alone, also predicted shorter time to dialysis therapy or GFR halving (N = 20; hazard ratio, 5.2; 95% CI, 1.7 to 15.9) and low birth weight (N = 29; odds ratio, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.03 to 25.6). LIMITATIONS Generalizability to other settings; study power. CONCLUSION In women with renal insufficiency, the presence of both GFR less than 40 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (<0.67 mL/s/m(2)) and proteinuria with protein greater than 1 g/d before conception predicts poor maternal and fetal outcomes.
Does Litigation Deter or Encourage Real Earnings Management?

In this paper, we rely on an exogenous shock to examine the impact of litigation risk on real earnings management (REM). We conduct difference-in-differences tests centered on an unanticipated court ruling that reduced litigation risk for firms headquartered in the Ninth Circuit. REM increases significantly following the ruling for Ninth Circuit firms relative to other firms, consistent with litigation risk deterring REM. Additional analyses reveal that REM rises more following the ruling when firms issue more optimistic disclosures. The evidence is consistent with litigation deterring REM by constraining managers' ability to issue optimistic and misleading disclosures that can conceal the myopic and opportunistic motives underlying REM. We further document that an increase in REM in response to a decline in litigation risk is more pronounced when managers have higher incentives to manipulate earnings and governance mechanisms are weaker.
Art Therapy With Serious Juvenile Offenders

Forty-six seriously delinquent, incarcerated boys received individual and group therapy for 32 months. The study examined how art therapy addressed the boys' psychological needs via analysis of the boys' self-selected art productions. In descending order of frequency, the eight most frequent need themes were identity issues; need for security and tranquility; need for freedom, adventure, and fun; need for ideal parental relationships; need for affiliation and affection; erotic and sexual needs; expression of depression, childhood trauma, and other psychological problems; and religious or spiritual needs. The boys' perceptions of what was most helpful about art therapy in descending order were stress relief and relaxation, reduction of boredom, pride and self-confidence, positive recognition, working through frustration, enjoyment and fun, improvement of ability to concentrate, and the way they were treated. Three brief case histories and a description of the art therapy procedures are given. Possible implications for cognitive restructuring are discussed.
Differential Proteomic Analysis of the Bacillus anthracis Secretome: Distinct Plasmid and Chromosome CO2-Dependent Cross Talk Mechanisms Modulate Extracellular Proteolytic Activities

ABSTRACT The secretomes of a virulent Bacillus anthracis strain and of avirulent strains (cured of the virulence plasmids pXO1 and pXO2), cultured in rich and minimal media, were studied by a comparative proteomic approach. More than 400 protein spots, representing the products of 64 genes, were identified, and a unique pattern of protein relative abundance with respect to the presence of the virulence plasmids was revealed. In minimal medium under high CO2 tension, conditions considered to simulate those encountered in the host, the presence of the plasmids leads to enhanced expression of 12 chromosome-carried genes (10 of which could not be detected in the absence of the plasmids) in addition to expression of 5 pXO1-encoded proteins. Furthermore, under these conditions, the presence of the pXO1 and pXO2 plasmids leads to the repression of 14 chromosomal genes. On the other hand, in minimal aerobic medium not supplemented with CO2, the virulent and avirulent B. anthracis strains manifest very similar protein signatures, and most strikingly, two proteins (the metalloproteases InhA1 and NprB, orthologs of gene products attributed to the Bacillus cereus group PlcR regulon) represent over 90% of the total secretome. Interestingly, of the 64 identified gene products, at least 31 harbor features characteristic of virulence determinants (such as toxins, proteases, nucleotidases, sulfatases, transporters, and detoxification factors), 22 of which are differentially regulated in a plasmid-dependent manner. The nature and the expression patterns of proteins in the various secretomes suggest that distinct CO2-responsive chromosome- and plasmid-encoded regulatory factors modulate the secretion of potential novel virulence factors, most of which are associated with extracellular proteolytic activities.
Enhanced bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli in calves fed Morinda citrifolia (Noni) puree.

BACKGROUND Although adequate colostrum intake and properly used antibiotics can provide much protection for the bovine neonate, increased antibiotic scrutiny and consumer demand for organic products have prompted investigations of natural immunomodulators for enhancing calf health. One plant-based immunomodulator, Morinda citrifolia (noni) fruit, is a well-recognized natural product that has a broad range of immunomodulatory effects. HYPOTHESIS Neonatal calves fed noni puree would demonstrate whole blood phagocytic capacity in Gram-negative and Gram-positive in vitro assays. ANIMALS Blood samples from 18 neonatal Holstein bull calves. METHODS Calves were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 comprised control calves, whereas Group 2 received 30 mL of noni puree twice a day in milk replacer. Day 0 blood samples were obtained between 36 and 48 hours of age before the first feeding of puree. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid anticoagulated blood was collected from each calf on days 0, 3, 7, and 14. Bactericidal assays were performed to estimate the percentage killing of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. RESULTS Blood samples from noni puree-fed calves displayed significantly more E. coli bacterial killing than did controls on day 14, and although differences were not significant on days 0, 3, and 7, bacterial killing progressively increased over time. There was no significant difference between the groups for S. epidermidis killing. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE The immunomodulatory effect of noni puree may prove valuable in the future as production animal antibiotic use becomes more restricted. Additional clinical trials are warranted to investigate the clinical application of noni puree in promoting calf health.
Studies of Ventricular Fibrillation Caused by Electric Shock:

Abstract 1. 1. The natural course of events from the onset of fibrillation following faradic excitation to complete diastolic rest was studied by recording electrocardiograms and moving pictures simultaneously. In addition, intraventricular pressure curves were optically recorded during a number of experiments. The changes taking place when fibrillation was inhibited by intraventricular injections of 5 per cent KCl and the process of recovery following similar injections of 5 per cent CaCl2 solutions combined with massage, were investigated by the same means. 2. 2. Fibrillation induced by faradic stimulation continues naturally for fifteen to fifty minutes and may be divided into 4 stages, on the basis of surface changes, electrocardiographic deflections and intraventricular pressure variations. 3. 3. The initial stage of tachysystole lasts less than one second and is characterized by the spread of rapidly recurring but coordinated contraction waves, by large electrocardiographic deflections with steep gradients and by definite if small intraventricular pressure variations. 4. 4. The second stage of convulsive incoordination ordinarily lasts fifteen to forty seconds and is characterized by rapid irregular localized contractions which spread short and variable distances over the heart. They are accompanied by large electrical deflections, 600 or more per minute, which vary considerably in size, amplitude and contour. 5. 5. The third stage of tremulous incoordination ordinarily continues two or three minutes and is characterized by multitudes of irregular yet forceful shivering or trembling motions, each speading very short distances and with highly variable frequencies over different surface regions. They give rise to small irregular electrocardiographic oscillations having frequencies between 1100 and 1700 per minute, and are capable of increasing the intraventricular pressure level slightly. 6. 6. The fourth stage of atonic incoordination is characterized by feeble wavelets of contraction spreading irregularly and at slow rates over small areas until more and more areas become quiescent, and finally the very slightest movements remain in a few areas only. The electrical deflections perhaps become slightly more regular in contour and spacing, but their amplitude becomes progressively smaller, and their frequency is gradually reduced to 400 per minute or less. 7. 7. Potassium chloride injected into both ventricular cavities does not modify the stages through which fibrillation naturally passes; it merely hastens the process so that fibrillation stops within an average period of 2.4 minutes. 8. 8. Intraventricular injections of CaCl2 after potassium inhibition combined with massage, first inaugurate a coordinated idioventricular rhythm, characterized by slow waves of contraction sweeping over the two ventricles asynchronously but in coordinated fashion. After a short interval, a supraventricular rhythm is reestablished, the electrocardiogram regaining all its normal characteristics.
Fixation of Syndesmotic Ruptures in 38 Patients With a Malleolar Fracture: A Randomized Study Comparing a Metallic and a Bioabsorbable Screw

Objectives: To compare the performance of a metallic and a biodegradable screw in the fixation of tibia-fibula syndesmotic ruptures. Design: A randomized, prospective, and blinded study. Setting: Central hospital, Department of Surgery. Patients: Forty consecutive patients with a clinically verified syndesmotic rupture in association with a malleolar fracture, of whom 38 completed the study. Intervention: After syndesmosis rupture was diagnosed, implant selection was performed intraoperatively by a strict randomization with sealed envelopes. Eighteen patients were treated with a metallic screw, and 20 with a bioabsorbable polylevolactic acid screw. The metallic screws were removed in a second operation at 8 weeks postoperatively. All patients had a treatment-blinded clinical and radiographic control after a mean follow-up of 35 (range 17-51) months. Main Outcome Measures: Return to previous physical activity level, evaluation of ankle stability, range of motion, circumference of the ankle, and a radiographic evaluation of both ankles including a measure of the talocrural, medial joint, and syndesmotic space widths. Results: More patients with a polylevolactic acid screw returned to their previous activity level, and there was less swelling in the ankles of these patients, but joint motion was similar between the groups. The mean values of syndesmotic and medial joint spaces were significantly higher in the radiographs of the operated ankles when compared to the uninjured ankle, but there was not a correlation to the type of screw used. Conclusions: Polylevolactic acid screws worked as well, or slightly better than, metallic ones in syndesmosis fixation in patients with an ankle fracture.
The Politics of Narrative Form

published in the last fifteen years demonstrates strong concern for humanizing medical education. Proponents recognize the potential narrowness of an overly scientific curriculum that tends to suppress imaginative responses to deeply personal human situations. Literature and medicine has been offered as, among other things, a way of countering physicians' patriarchal attitudes, the treatment of patients as objects (or symptoms), and the loss of a sense of the broader cultural implications of disease and healing, and as a way of addressing the need for nurturing rather than professional brusqueness. I would add that studying literature in medical school can also repair the image of today's medical professionals who no longer live up to the great humanist figures of earlier centuries.2 Although most educators agree that simply reading some fiction will not heal these ills, many see literature as an important way of reinscribing a form of moral philosophy in the medical curriculum and developing a sensitivity to narrative as well as scientific ways of knowing. Nevertheless, advocates of such programs should not naively assume that literature transcends the problems that accompany an overly scientific medical education. Literature can (possibly) promote sympathetic responses to human situations and consequently help to humanize medical practitioners; but, on another level, narrative form produces, influences, shapes, and constrains knowledge in some very particular,
ptimal timing of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy fter acute cholangitis and subsequent clearance of holedocholithiasis icky

BACKGROUND: Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended after endoscopic clearance of choledocholithiasis for patients with acute cholangitis, according to Toyko guidelines. However, the optimal timing remains uncertain. METHODS: Perioperative outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and compared between patients with early ( 6 weeks) and late ( 6 weeks) surgeries, while risk factors for postoperative complications were assessed using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: One hundred twelve patients (mean age, 64 years; range, 30–85 years) were analyzed. Rate of conversion and intraoperative and postoperative complications (classified per Dindo et al) were 21.4% (24 of 112), 23.2% (26 of 112), and 34.8% (39 of 112), respectively. The late surgery group had significantly more intraoperative (28.8% vs 9.4%, P .029) and postoperative (42.5% vs 15.6%, P .007) complications compared with the early surgery group. Multivariate analysis showed both late surgery (95% confidence interval, 1.47–12.5; P .008) and a history of endoscopic sphincterotomy (95% confidence interval, 1.06–8.26; P .038) to be independent risk factors for postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with endoscopic clearance of choledocholithiasis, especially after endoscopic sphincterotomy, should receive elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 6 weeks after a
Title : A novel immune-competent murine tumor model for the evaluation of conditionally replication-competent ( oncolytic ) murine adenoviral vectors

word count: 226 Text word count: 7055 AC CE PT ED Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved. J. Virol. doi:10.1128/JVI.02561-08 JVI Accepts, published online ahead of print on 4 February 2009 on July 1, 2017 by gest http/jvi.asm . rg/ D ow nladed fom
Reliability Testing of the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators Pressure Ulcer Indicator

A criterion-referenced Web-based test was designed and administered to 256 individuals at 48 randomly sampled National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) member hospitals to determine the reliability of the NDNQI pressure ulcer indicator. Overall κ values for pressure ulcer identification, staging, and sourcing indicate moderate to near perfect reliability. Findings suggest that nurses can accurately differentiate pressure ulcers from other ulcerous wounds in Web-based photographs, reliably stage pressure ulcers, and reliably identify community versus nosocomial pressure ulcers.