Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VALUE OF THE NEW DOPPLER-DERIVED MYOCARDIAL PERFORMANCE INDEX IN PREDICTING SUBCLINICAL CARDIOTOXICITY IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH ANTHRACYCLINES

BackgroundThere are many limitations to the use of conventional echocardiography indices for the estimation of systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) function. Anthracycline chemotherapy causes myocardial damage, leading to acute or chronic congestive heart failure during or soon after treatment in a significant percentage of patients treated, depending on the total cumulative dose used. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of myocardial performance index (MPI) in evaluation of subclinical cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing chemotherapy with anthracyclines. MethodsSeventy-five patients (41 male, 34 female, mean age 9±3 years) with malignant solid tumors and hematologic malignancy were randomly selected and evaluated before, during and after therapy by 2-D, M-Mode and Doppler echocardiography; and the data were compared with 48 ageand sex-matched normal controls prospectively. ResultsTwenty-three patients were taking high doses of anthracyclines (>200mg/m), whereas 52 patients were taking low doses of anthracyclines ( 200mg/m); MPI was 0.42±0.04 vs. 0.44±0.08, with P-value =0.062 between the two groups. No significant difference was found in LVEF (0.58 ± 0.12 vs. 0.64±0.06, P-value=0.056) and LVFS (0.32±0.08 vs. 0.36±0.04, Pvalue=0.068) between the patients and normal controls. ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that anthracycline cardiotoxicity is subtle and subclinical and systolic functions are preserved. MPI is helpful in the discrimination of early cardiac involvement from anthracycline chemotherapy, especially in asymptomatic young patients with normal limited systolic function. Moreover, MPI can enhance the accuracy of echocardiographic diagnosis in early ventricular dysfunction. Cumulative dose of anthracyclines is not a suitable parameter in the determination of the risk of the severity of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Recent advantages in diagnostic tests have allowed diagnosis at early stages of disease before massive cell injury and irreversible changes occur (Iranian Heart Journal 2006; 7 (4): 43-48).
a 4 b 2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Early Postnatal Mouse Superior Cervical Ganglion

Heteropentameric nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) mediate fast synaptic transmission in ganglia of the autonomic nervous system. It is undisputed that a3 and b4 are the predominant subunits in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG); however, reports on the presence of receptors that contain a4 have been controversial. Here, we have searched for the presence of a4-containing nAChRs in the postnatal rat and mouse SCG. We now show by immunoprecipitation combined with radioligand binding that a4-containing receptors constitute about 20% of hetero-oligomeric nAChRs in postnatal Day 3 (P3) mice. However, already by P9, the level of a4 approaches zero. In contrast, the number of a4-containing receptors is close to zero in the rat SCG at all times investigated. Deletion of the b2 subunit by using a5b2-double knockout (KO) mice removes all a4-containing receptors, suggesting that in the postnatal mouse SCG, a4 co-assembles only with b2 but not with b4. a4b2 receptors are, on the other hand, up-regulated in the SCG of P3 a5b4-double KO mice, where they make up about 50% of receptors that bind [H]epibatidine. Nonetheless, receptors on the surface of SCG neurons from a5b4-double KO mice maintained for one to two days in culture comprise <10% of a4b2 and >90% of a3b2, as determined by patch clamp recordings with a4b2and a3b2-specific ligands. We propose that in the P3 SCG of wild type mice, a3b4 (6a5) represent about 62% of receptors, whereas 17% are a3b2b4, and 21% are a4b2 (6a5) receptors. ' 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 71: 390–399, 2011
Differential activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 and p38 mitogen activated-protein kinase by AT1 receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells from Wistar–Kyoto rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objectives The present study investigates effects of angiotensin II on activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38 mitogen activated-protein kinase (p38MAPK) and c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK) in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from mesenteric arteries of Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats and SHR were studied. Angiotensin II-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK and p38MAPK were assessed by Western blot analysis. c-fos mRNA expression by angiotensin II was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the absence and presence of PD98059, selective inhibitor of ERK1/2-dependent pathways and SB202190, selective p38MAPK inhibitor. Results Angiotensin II increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38MAPK, but not JNK. Responses were significantly increased in SHR compared with WKY. Irbesartan, AT1 receptor antagonist, but not PD123319, AT2 receptor blocker, abolished angiotensin II-induced effects. PP2, selective Src inhibitor, decreased angiotensin II-mediated activation of MAP kinases. Angiotensin II increased c-fos mRNA expression in SHR and had a small stimulatory effect in WKY. These actions were inhibited by PD98059, whereas SB202190 had no effect. Conclusions Angiotensin II-induced activation of vascular ERK1/2 and p38MAPK is increased in SHR. These effects are mediated via AT1 receptors, which activate Src-dependent pathways. Overexpression of c-fos mRNA in SHR is due to ERK1/2-dependent, p38MAPK-independent pathways. Our results suggest that angiotensin II activates numerous MAP kinases in VSMCs and that differential activation of these kinases may be important in altered growth signaling in VSMCs from SHR.
Peritumoral fibroblast SPARC expression and patient outcome with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) is a protein involved in cell matrix interactions, wound repair, and cell migration, and has been reported to inhibit cancer growth. SPARC undergoes epigenetic silencing in many pancreatic cancers, but stromal fibroblasts adjacent to infiltrating pancreatic adenocarcinomas frequently express SPARC. We evaluated the prognostic significance of tumor and peritumoral SPARC expression in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS The expression patterns of SPARC were characterized by immunohistochemistry in 299 primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma resection specimens from patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, MD) between 1998 and 2003. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression modeling were used to assess the mortality risk associated with the presence or absence of tumor SPARC and peritumoral SPARC status. RESULTS By Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients whose pancreatic cancer stromal fibroblasts expressed SPARC (median survival, 15 months) had a significantly worse prognosis than patients whose tumor stroma did not express SPARC (median survival, 30 months; log-rank P < .001). In contrast, the expression of SPARC in pancreatic cancer cells was not associated with prognosis (log-rank P = .13). Controlling for other prognostic factors (tumor size, positive lymph nodes, margin status, tumor grade, and age), the relative hazard for patients whose stroma expressed SPARC compared with those whose stroma did not was 1.89 (95% CI, 1.31 to 2.74); the expression of SPARC in pancreatic cancer cells remained unrelated to prognosis (relative hazard, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.42). CONCLUSION The expression of SPARC by peritumoral fibroblasts portends a poorer prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Reversal of the CD4+/CD8+T-Cell Ratio in Lymph Node Cells upon In Vitro Mitogenic Stimulation by Highly Purified, Water-Soluble S3-S4 Dimer of Pertussis Toxin

ABSTRACT Pertussis toxin (PT), a holomer consisting of a catalytic S1 subunit and a B oligomer composed of S2-S4 and S3-S4 dimers, held together by the S5 subunit, exerts profound effects on immune cells, including T-cell mitogenicity. While the mitogenic activity of PT was shown to reside fully within the B oligomer, it could not be assigned to any particular B-oligomer component. In this study, we purified the S3-S4 dimer to homogeneity under conditions propitious to maintenance of the native conformation. In contrast to previous reports which suggested that both S3-S4 and S2-S4 dimers are necessary for mitogenic activity, our preparation of the highly purified S3-S4 dimer was as strongly mitogenic as the B oligomer, suggesting that the S3-S4 dimer accounts for the mitogenic activity of the B oligomer. Moreover, in vitro stimulation of naive lymphocytes by the S3-S4 dimer resulted in reversal of the normal CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio from approximately 2:1 to 1:2. The reversal of the CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio is unlikely to be due to preferential apoptosis-necrosis of CD4+ T cells, as indicated by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis of annexin-stained T-cell subsets, or to preferential stimulation of CD8+ T cells. The mechanism underlying the reversal requires further investigation. Nevertheless, the data presented indicate that the S3-S4 dimer may have potential use in the context of diseases amenable to immunological modulation.
The Proinflammatory Effect of Prostaglandin E2 in Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Mediated through the IL-23→IL-17 Axis1

Although Crohn’s disease has been traditionally considered to be Th1-mediated, the newly identified Th17 cells emerged recently as crucial participants. Th1/Th17 differentiation is controlled primarily by the IL-12 family of cytokines secreted by activated dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. IL-23 and IL-12/IL-27 have opposite effects, supporting the Th17 and Th1 phenotypes, respectively. We found that PGE2, a major lipid mediator released in inflammatory conditions, shifts the IL-12/IL-23 balance in DCs in favor of IL-23, and propose that high levels of PGE2 exacerbate the inflammatory process in inflammatory bowel disease through the IL-23→IL-17 axis. We assessed the effects of PGE2 on IL-12, IL-27, and IL-23 and found that PGE2 promotes IL-23, inhibits IL-12 and IL-27 expression and release from stimulated DCs, and subsequently induces IL-17 production in activated T cells. The effects of PGE2 are mediated through the EP2/EP4 receptors on DCs. In vivo, we assessed the effects of PGE analogs in an experimental model for inflammatory bowel disease and found that the exacerbation of clinical symptoms and histopathology correlated with an increase in IL-23 and IL-17, a decrease in IL-12p35 expression in colon and mesenteric lymph nodes, and a substantial increase in the number of infiltrating neutrophils and of CD4+IL-17+ T cells in the colonic tissue. These studies suggest that high levels of PGE2 exacerbate the inflammatory process through the preferential expression and release of DC-derived IL-23 and the subsequent support of the autoreactive/inflammatory Th17 phenotype.
Sequence analysis of the hypervariable region in hmtp210 of Avibacterium paragallinarum

The hmtp210 gene of Avibacterium paragallinarum, the causative agent of infectious coryza, encodes an outer-membrane hemagglutinin (HA) that plays an essential role in pathogenicity. A hypervariable region within this HA, which is highly antigenic, is proposed as a candidate for recombinant vaccine production. Nonetheless, little is known about its genetic variability. We performed sequencing analysis of the hmtp210 hypervariable region in 16 clinical isolates from Costa Rica and compared them with 4 vaccine strains and the hmtp210 sequences available in public databases. Except for isolate ApCR12, all isolates showed high identity with reference vaccine strains 0083 and H18. Better genetic characterization of the hypervariable region of hmtp210 is necessary to develop better immunogenic strategies and improved molecular typing methods.
Dense Metal Plasma in a Solenoid for Ion Beam Neutralization

Space-charge neutralization is required to compress and focus a pulsed high-current ion beam on a target for warm dense matter physics or heavy ion fusion experiments. We describe an approach to produce dense plasma in and near the final focusing solenoid through which the ion beam travels, thereby providing an opportunity for the beam to acquire the necessary space-charge compensating electrons. We use a high-current (>;4 kA) pulsed vacuum arc plasma from a ring cathode near the edge of the solenoid. The plasma distribution is characterized by photographic means, by an array of movable Langmuir probes, by a small single probe, and by evaluating Stark broadening of the Balmer Hβ spectral line. The plasma is produced at several cathode spots distributed azimuthally on the ring cathode. It is shown that the plasma is essentially hollow, as determined by the structure of the magnetic field, although the plasma density exceeds almost everywhere in the volume defined by the solenoid. The plasma is nonuniform and fluctuating. However, since its density exceeds the ion beam density, it is believed that this approach could provide a practical solution to the space-charge neutralization challenge.
Early requirement for α‐SNAP and NSF in the secretory cascade in chromaffin cells

NSF and α‐SNAP have been shown to be required for SNARE complex disassembly and exocytosis. However, the exact requirement for NSF and α‐SNAP in vesicular traffic through the secretory pathway remains controversial. We performed a study on the kinetics of exocytosis from bovine chromaffin cells using high time resolution capacitance measurement and electrochemical amperometry, combined with flash photolysis of caged Ca2+ as a fast stimulus. α‐SNAP, a C‐terminal mutant of α‐SNAP, and NEM were assayed for their effects on secretion kinetics. Two kinetically distinct components of catecholamine release can be observed upon fast step‐like elevation of [Ca2+]i. One is the exocytotic burst, thought to represent the readily releasable pool of vesicles. Following the exocytotic burst, secretion proceeds slowly at maintained high [Ca2+]i, which may represent vesicle maturation/recruitment, i.e. some priming steps after docking. α‐SNAP increased the amplitude of both the exocytotic burst and the slow component but did not change their kinetics, which we examined with millisecond time resolution. In addition, NEM only partially inhibited the slow component without altering the exocytotic burst, fusion kinetics and the rate of endocytosis. These results suggest a role for α‐SNAP/NSF in priming granules for release at an early step, but not modifying the fusion of readily releasable granules.
No survival benefit to gaining private health insurance coverage for post‐lung transplant care in adults with cystic fibrosis

The use of public insurance is associated with diminished survival in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) following lung transplantation. No data exist on benefits of gaining private health insurance for post‐transplant care among such patients previously using public insurance. The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify first‐time lung transplant recipients participating in Medicare or Medicaid, diagnosed with CF, and transplanted between 2005 and 2015. Survival outcomes were compared between recipients gaining private insurance after transplantation and those maintaining public coverage throughout follow‐up. Since implementation of the lung allocation score, 575 adults with CF received lung transplantation funded by Medicare or Medicaid and contributed data on insurance status post‐transplant. There were 128 (22%) patients who gained private insurance. Multivariable analysis of time‐varying insurance status found no survival benefit of gaining private insurance (HR = 0.822; 95% CI = 0.525, 1.286; p = 0.390). Further analysis demonstrated that resuming public insurance coverage was detrimental, relative to gaining and keeping private insurance (HR = 2.315; 95% CI = 1.020, 5.258; p = 0.045). Survival disadvantages of lung transplant recipients with CF who have public health insurance were not ameliorated by a switch to private coverage for post‐transplant care.
Protracted febrile myalgia in children and young adults with familial Mediterranean fever: analysis of 15 patients and suggested criteria for working diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES To present an analysis of patients with protracted febrile myalgia (PFM), a rarely reported manifestation of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), and propose clinical criteria for working diagnosis. METHODS A multicenter retrospective cohort study of children with PFM was performed. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained by medical record review. RESULTS The study group included 15 patients with PFM. PFM occurred as the presenting sign of FMF in 33%. FMF was diagnosed clinically in all and by genetic analysis in 93%. M694V allelic involvement was noted in 93% of the patients. PFM occurred at a mean age of 9 +/- 3.4 years and was characterized by severe generalized muscle pain in all patients and fever in 71%. Mean duration up to diagnosis was 15.5 +/- 6 days. Mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 104 +/- 26 mm/h; mean C-reactive protein was 15.4 +/- 6.3 mg%. Creatine kinase was normal. Treatment included corticosteroids (4 patients) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (9 patients) with a symptomatic relief achieved at a mean of 7.7 +/- 4.3 days and 5 +/- 3.8 days, respectively (p = 0.14) (mean severity score 3 and 2.2, respectively, p = 0.075). Symptomatic relief in 2 untreated patients was achieved at a mean of 45.5 days. CONCLUSION Based on our data, we propose criteria for working diagnosis including: severe disabling myalgia of at least 5 days in a young patient with FMF, associated with fever, elevated levels of inflammatory markers and presence of at least one M694V mutation.
ANALISIS KESALAHAN KONSEP SISWA DALAM MENYELESAIKAN SOAL UJIAN NASIONAL (UN) MATEMATIKA SD TAHUN 2012/2013

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan informasi dalam UN Matematika SD Tahun 2012/2013 di Kota Kediri yang meliputi: (1) atribut yang mendasari butir soal, (2) materi yang menyebabkan siswa banyak melakukan kesalahan, (3) jenis kesalahan yang dilakukan siswa, (4) letak kesalahan konsep siswa yang dominan, (5) penyebab utama kesalahan konsep yang dilakukan siswa. Penelitian ini termasuk deskriptif kuantitatif. Sumber data berupa lembar jawaban siswa dan soal UN Matematika SD Tahun 2012/2013 di Kota Kediri. Hasil penelitian (1) atribut yang mendasari butir soal ada 67 atribut, meliputi 4 atribut isi, 60 atribut proses, dan 3 atribut keterampilan; (2) materi yang menyebabkan siswa banyak melakukan kesalahan adalah materi geometri dan pengukuran; (3) jenis kesalahan tertinggi pada bilangan adalah kesalahan prosedur, pada geometri dan pengukuran adalah kesalahan konsep, dan pada pengolahan data adalah kesalahan penafsiran; (4) letak kesalahan konsep yang dominan pada bilangan adalah konsep dasar arithmetic dan konsep dasar bilangan, pada geometri dan pengukuran adalah konsep dasar geometri dan pengukuran, pada pengolahan data adalah konsep dasar statistika; (5) penyebab utama kesalahan konsep pada bilangan adalah tidak menerapkan operasi hitung dengan tepat, tidak memahami konsep bilangan berpangkat; penyebab utama kesalahan konsep pada geometri dan pengukuran adalah tidak menerapkan rumus, konsep, atau sifat-sifat bangun datar maupun bangun ruang dengan tepat; penyebab utama kesalahan konsep pada pengolahan data adalah tidak memahami konsep rata-rata, median dan modus dari data bentuk kumpulan maupun tabel.
The Fragile Fiber 1 Kinesin Contributes to Cortical Microtubule-Mediated Traf fi cking of Cell Wall Components 1

Biology Department (C.Z., A.G., R.D.) and Department of Mechanical Engineering (R.O.), Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130; Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 (T.I.B.); Department of Biology and Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (D.D.M., C.T.A.); Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, East Lansing, Michigan 48823 (C.F., K.A.M.); and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132 (H.B.)
Cued recall in early-stage dementia in adults with Down's syndrome.

BACKGROUND Memory declines were evaluated with an adaptation of the Cued Recall Test (CRT) in 19 adults with Down's syndrome (DS) with mild or moderate intellectual disability (ID) who were at an early-stage of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), and their performance was compared to peer groups of 75 adults with DS and 66 adults with ID without DS who were not suspected of functional declines. METHOD The CRT consisted of a training period in which 12 items were presented, four at a time, with each item accompanied by a unique category cue. The testing phase consisted of three trials which generated two measures, a free recall score (FRS; spontaneous recall of the list of 12 items) and a total score (TS; FRS plus items recalled when the category cue was provided). RESULTS It was found that a cut-off value of < or = 23 on the TS resulted in a sensitivity of 94.7% and a specificity of 93.9% with a positive predictive value of 81.9% when those individuals with DAT were compared to the participants with ID without DS. Eight of these individuals with DAT had relatively poor performance on the CRT compared to their healthy peers at a baseline when they were not suspected of functional declines, suggesting that memory declines can occur several years prior to the identification of DAT. In addition, 17 participants with DS without a diagnosis of DAT met the criterion for the cut-off score. Longitudinal data and converging measures indicated that there was the possibility that 15 of these individuals are in a 'pre-clinical' stage of decline. CONCLUSION The usefulness of the CRT as a screening test for early memory deficits for this population needs to be confirmed by following these participants for an extended period of time and by studying an independent sample.
The psychological and physiological responses of sedentary individuals to prescribed and preferred intensity exercise.

OBJECTIVES Affective valence responses to exercise may influence adherence. According to a newly proposed dual-mode model, affective responses have been proposed to vary depending on whether exercise is undertaken above or below the anaerobic threshold. With the model in mind, the study objectives were to explore the impact of an above-lactate, below-lactate, and self-selected exercise condition on acute affective responses in sedentary individuals. DESIGN Using a repeated measures design, 12 volunteers participated in two prescribed intensity exercise conditions (above and below-lactate threshold) and one self-selected intensity exercise condition. The three conditions were randomized. METHOD An incremental walking protocol was used to identify exercise intensities that would elicit above- and below-lactate threshold work rates for each participant. The exercise conditions were completed on different days and each lasted for 20 minutes. Physiological and affective responses were recorded pre-exercise, during exercise, and post-exercise. RESULTS Affective responses were more negative in the above-lactate condition during exercise compared with the below-lactate and self-selected conditions. There were no differences between the conditions post-exercise. Participants exercised around the lactate threshold and at a significantly higher intensity in the self-selected compared with the below-lactate condition. Inter-individual variability in responses was greatest below the lactate threshold, with similar levels of variability in the self-selected and above-lactate conditions. CONCLUSIONS Data are consistent with the proposals of the dual-mode model and support the use of self-selected intensity with sedentary individuals to promote positive affective responses.