Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical analysis of 14‐3‐3 sigma and related proteins in hyperplastic and neoplastic breast lesions, with particular reference to early carcinogenesis

In order to confirm the role of 14‐3‐3 sigma (σ) as a tumor suppressor in breast carcinogenesis, we have studied the expression of 14‐3‐3σ immunohistochemically in usual ductal hyperplasia (UDH), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast lesions. Immunostaining for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), p53 and estrogen‐responsive RING finger protein (Efp) was also carried out. Immunohistochemically, expression of 14‐3‐3σ was seen in 92% UDH lesions and gradually decreased from 65% in DCIS to 23% in IDC. The expression of ERα decreased gradually from UDH to DCIS to IDC, while p53 showed an inverse staining pattern to that of ERα. The expression of Efp showed no significant difference among the three breast lesions. Hence, the present immunohistochemical study confirmed 14‐3‐3σ as a tumor suppressor in breast carcinogenesis. A similar immunohistochemical analysis was then carried out on columnar cell hyperplasia with atypia (CCHA), in which the expression pattern of tumor suppressor 14‐3‐3σ, ERα and p53 suggested that it might be possible that CCHA is a precancerous lesion.
Endometrial safety, overall safety and tolerability of transdermal continuous combined hormone replacement therapy over 96 weeks: a randomized open-label study

Objectives To establish whether transdermal continuous hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen/progestogen provides adequate long-term endometrial protection in postmenopausal women over a period of 96 weeks. Methods This multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study evaluated the endometrial effects and overall safety and tolerability of a transdermal matrix patch delivering estradiol (E2) 50 µg/day and norethisterone acetate (NETA) 140 µg/day (Estalis®; patches applied twice weekly without intermediate breaks) and a once-daily oral comparator (Kliogest®; one tablet containing E2 2 mg/NETA 1 mg) in postmenopausal women. A total of 406 women with an intact uterus, aged 44–69 years, were randomized in the 48-week core phase of the study, and 239 continued into the 48-week extension phase. Subjects were randomized in the ratio 3 : 1 to transdermal or oral E2/NETA treatment. Results No cases of endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer were reported with either treatment during the core or extension phase. Both treatments were generally well tolerated, with most adverse events (>90%) being mild to moderate, although minor differences in the tolerability profile were observed between treatments. Conclusions Continuous combined transdermal HRT with E2/NETA shows no evidence of an increased endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer risk over a 96-week period.
Influence of romifidine and detomidine on the induction of anesthesia and recovery from total intravenous anesthesia in horses De invloed van romifidine en detomidine op de inductie en recovery bij paarden in combinatie met totale intraveneuze anesthesie

In the present study, the quality of the induction of and the recovery from anesthesia was compared in 146 horses undergoing total intravenous anesthesia with guaifenesin, ketamine and detomidine for computed tomography (CT), randomly assigned to receive either romifidine (n = 110) or detomidine (n = 36) during premedication. The induction of anesthesia was performed with a ketamine-midazolam combination. The anesthetic duration was short (mean +/SD time: 23.5 +/8.8 minutes). No significant difference in induction score was observed. However, the recovery quality was significantly better in horses premedicated with romifidine.
Development of the Listening Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (LSEQ)

Abstract Objective: Listening self-efficacy refers to the beliefs, or confidence, that listeners have in their capability to successfully listen in specific situations, which may influence audiologic rehabilitation outcomes. The objective of this study was to develop and validate the Listening Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (LSEQ), which quantifies listening self-efficacy in a variety of situations where the goal of the listener is to understand speech. Study Sample: Older listeners with hearing loss (N = 169) participated in the study. Design: A factor analysis showed that the LSEQ has three subscales, with beliefs about listening capabilities relating to the following situations: (1) dialogue in quiet, (2) focusing attention on a single source, and (3) complex auditory scenes. Internal consistency reliability was excellent (Chronbach's α > .80). Results: The validity of the LSEQ was demonstrated by comparing the LSEQ scores to audiologic measures, responses on questionnaires, and to the scores for reference groups of younger and older listeners with normal hearing. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the LSEQ is a valid and reliable measure of listening self-efficacy with good potential for use in clinical and research settings. Sumario Objetivo: La auto-eficacia para escuchar se refiere a la convicción o confianza que el sujeto tenga sobre su capacidad de escuchar exitosamente en situaciones específicas, las cuáles pueden influir los resultados de una rehabilitación audiológica. El propósito de este estudio fue desarrollar y validar un cuestionario de auto-eficacia para escuchar (LSEQ), que cuantifica la auto-eficacia para escuchar en una variedad de situaciones, donde la meta es entender lenguaje. Muestra del Estudio: Participaron en el estudio sujetos mayores con hipoacusia (n = 169). Diseño: Un análisis factorial mostró que el LSEQ tiene tres sub-escalas, con relación a capacidades para escuchar en la siguientes situaciones: (1) diálogo en silencio, (2) concentrando la atención en un fuente única, y (3) escenarios auditivos complejos. La confiabilidad y la consistencia interna fue excelente (Chronbach α > .80). Resultados: La validez del LSEQ fue demostrada comparando las puntuaciones con las mediciones audiológicas, con las respuestas de cuestionarios, y con las puntuaciones para grupos de referencia de personas jóvenes y viejas con audición normal. Conclusión: Los hallazgos indican que el LSEQ es una medida válida y confiable de auto-eficacia para escuchar con un buen potencial para utilizarse en el contexto clínico y de investigación.
Rapid Licensure of a New, Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in the United States

Background: The unexpected problems at 1 of 2 US licensed manufacturers of trivalent inactivated influenza virus vaccine (TIV) in 2004 highlights the urgent need for additional vaccine sources. We evaluated a split virus TIV (Fluarix, GSK), to generate data supportive of a license application in the US. Methods: Healthy adults ages 18-64 years at 4 centers were randomly assigned to receive a single IM injection of Fluarix (n=763) or placebo (n=193) in double-blind fashion. Subjects were monitored for safety and serum hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) titers determined before and 21 days after vaccination. Results: Vaccine was well tolerated, with only mild to moderate myalgias and injection site pain and redness being more common in vaccine than placebo recipients. Four-fold or greater increases in serum HAI titers were seen in 60%, 62%, and 78% of vaccine recipients against the H1, H3, and B components of the vaccine, respectively, and post-vaccination titers of > 1:40 achieved in 98%, 99%, and 99% of subjects, exceeding the pre-specified criteria for acceptability for all three antigens. Conclusions: Fluarix has a safety and immunogenicity profile like other US-licensed inactivated influenza vaccines and should be effective when used to immunize US adults.
Thromboembolism After Trauma: An Analysis of 1602 Episodes From the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank

Objective:Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) are potentially preventable causes of morbidity and mortality after injury. We hypothesized that the current clinical incidence of VTE is relatively low and that VTE risk factors could be identified. Methods:We queried the ACS National Trauma Data Bank for episodes of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE). We examined demographic data, VTE risk factors, outcomes, and VTE prophylaxis measures in patients admitted to the 131 contributing trauma centers. Results:From a total of 450,375 patients, 1602 (0.36%) had a VTE (998 DVT, 522 PE, 82 both), for an incidence of 0.36%. Ninety percent of patients with VTE had 1 of the 9 risk factors commonly associated with VTE. Six risk factors found to be independently significant in multivariate logistic regression for VTE were age ≥40 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74 to 2.32), lower extremity fracture with AIS ≥3 (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.64 to 2.26), head injury with AIS ≥3 (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.46), ventilator days >3 (OR 8.08; 95% CI 6.86 to 9.52), venous injury (OR 3.56; 95% CI 2.22 to 5.72), and a major operative procedure (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.30 to 1.80). Vena cava filters were placed in 3,883 patients, 86% as PE prophylaxis, including in 410 patients without an identifiable risk factor for VTE. Conclusions:Patients who need VTE prophylaxis after trauma can be identified based on risk factors. The use of prophylactic vena cava filters should be re-examined.
Effects of Phycocyanin Extract on Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Nitrite Levels in Serum of Mice Treated with Endotoxin

Summary Phycocyanin is a biliprotein which exerts antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in various in vivo and in vitro experimental models. In this study phycocyanin effects on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and nitrite levels in serum of mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was examined. TNFα was measured by cytotoxicity on L-929 cells and nitrite by the Griess reaction, after reduction of all nitrates to nitrites by nitrate reductase. 1 h after LPS injection (0.5 mg/kg i.p) there was a significant increase in TNFα levels in mouse serum. Phycocyanin (50–300 mg/kg p.o), administered 1 h before LPS, reduced dose-dependently the TNFα concentration in serum. After 18 h, LPS (30 mg/kg i.p) also induced a substantial increase in serum nitrite levels, which were reduced dose-de-pendently by phycocyanin pretreatment (100–300 mg/kg p.o). The results indicate that phycocyanin exerts inhibitory effects on TNFα and NO production which might be ascribed to the antioxidative properties of the biliprotein.
Molecular Characterization of Mutations in Indian Children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to Steroid 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is the commonest cause of female pseudohermaphroditism. It is most often due to steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency resulting from mutations in the CYP21 gene. This study was conducted to characterize mutations in the CYP21 gene, determine their frequency and correlate genotype with phenotype in Indian children with CAH. Twenty-eight patients with salt-wasting (SW) or simple-virilizing (SV) forms of the disease as well as parents and siblings were studied. Allele specific PCR was carried out and rapid characterization of six mutations was achieved in 23 patients. Twelve patients were homozygous for the mutations and 11 were heterozygous, of whom eight were compound heterozygotes and three were hemizygotes; no mutation was found in five patients. The homozygosity of the mutations was found to be high in our population. The most common mutation was Ile173Asn (31.8%), followed by intron2 splice (27.2%), Gln319stop (22.7%), gene deletion (15.9%) and Pro31Leu (2.2%). Genotype-phenotype correlations showed that the most frequent mutations in the SW group were intron2 splice and Gln319stop mutations (33.3% each) and Ile173Asn (71.4%) in the SV group.
psoriasis regulates epidermal development in zebrafish

The zebrafish epidermis completely envelopes the embryo by 14 hours postfertilization, providing an essential barrier between the internal organs and the environment. As the embryo increases in size, keratinocytes in the epidermis must proliferate and differentiate to form the three epidermal layers present in the adult. The mechanisms controlling growth, differentiation, and maintenance of the fish epidermis are mostly unknown. Here, we describe psoriasis, an epidermal mutant that exhibits widespread overproliferation of the epidermis at 3 days postfertilization and a defect in keratinocyte differentiation. Based on mosaic analysis, we show that psoriasis acts non–cell‐autonomously, suggesting that psoriasis encodes a secreted factor. Our analysis of the psoriasis mutant indicates that keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation are tightly regulated to maintain a cohesive epidermal sheet around the embryo and that disruptions in these processes result in the formation of epidermal aggregates. Developmental Dynamics 237:1153–1164, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Fasting and Refeeding on Insulin Binding to Liver Plasma Membranes and Hepatocytes from Normal Rats

The effect of acute and chronic starvation on insulin binding to liver cells and liver cell membranes was studied in normal rats. A short-term (1 day) fasting period did not induce significant changes in insulin binding to liver plasma membranes in spite of the hypoinsulinemia present in the rats, as compared with normo-insulinemic fed controls. Longer periods of fasting (2 and 4 days) elicited an increase in insulin binding to liver membranes that was due to an increase in the number of insulin receptors rather than to changes in affinity. All groups of membranes were similar with respect to the rates of association and dissociation of hormone, degree of negative cooperativity and extents of both hormone and receptor inactivation. The fasting-induced increase of insulin binding was not a consequence of the methodological procedure for membrane isolation since the same conclusions were obtained when intact hepatocytes were used. Refeeding of fasted animals resulted in a decrease of insulin binding together with an increase of insulinemia towards the fed control values. These results suggest that the number of insulin receptors is inversely related to the circulating levels of the hormone and support the hypothesis of insulin regulating its own receptor.
Update on Zika: What You Need to Know.

A remaining related to few sporadic cases in limited regions for more than half century since its discovery, Zika virus (ZIKV) was recently introduced into the Western Hemisphere, first in Brazil and then spreading very rapidly in the Americas. Unexpectedly, an increased incidence of microcephaly and other neurologic malformations in fetuses born to mothers infected with ZIKV during pregnancy was reported in Brazil, leading the World Health Organization to declare this situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The scientific data collected and the lessons learned after ZIKV introduction in the Americas, particularly in Brazil, provided a huge amount of new information and have been crucial in informing a better understanding on several aspects related to the transmission of the virus, its clinical manifestations and neurologic complications, possibility of congenital malformations, potential therapeutic interventions and preventive measures. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the ZIKV infection and provides perspectives on future challenges.
FIR filter design methodology for hardware optimized implementation

This paper presents a novel method of FIR filter design for optimized hardware implementation. The FIR filters are extensively employed in a variety of consumer devices like TVs, mobile phones and docking stations. The optimized implementations of FIR filter furnish high quality signal processing at reasonable cost. The paper first analyzes the effects of quantization on frequency response of a filter by successively reducing the number of bits in each coefficient. Empirical analysis of coefficient quantization reveals a relationship between the number of bits, number of coefficients and the frequency response. The paper then presents a methodology for an optimized design of an FIR filter for hardware implementation. The proposed approach first designs a filter with certain parameters and then redesigns the same filter with tighter constraints resulting in higher filter order. The coefficients of the improved or over designed filter are then quantized successively with lesser number of bits by an iterative algorithm to a level where its frequency response matches to the original requirements. The synthesis results show that a significant reduction in hardware resources can be achieved using this methodology. The proposed approach has so far not been reported for reduction in hardware resources.
Prevalence of International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision common mental disorders in the elderly in a Brazilian community: The Bambui Health Ageing Study.

BACKGROUND Most community surveys of the mental health of older people have used fully structured interviews administered by lay interviewers. In this study of an older Brazilian population, the authors investigated the prevalence and correlates of common mental disorders with semistructured interviews administered by a psychiatrist. METHOD A two-phase population survey of 392 persons aged > or = 75 years were screened for depression and mental disorders using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Half of those scoring > or = 11 on GDS and > or = 4 on GHQ, and 20% of others, were evaluated in the second phase using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) to generate International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision diagnoses. RESULTS The prevalence of depressive episode was high (19.2%) with no effect of gender or age. Dysthymia is also prevalent (9.0%), but half of the cases were comorbid with depression. Anxiety and somatoform disorders were comparatively infrequent. CONCLUSIONS Structured lay-administered interviews may underestimate the prevalence of mental disorders in older people. One month, rather than one year or lifetime, prevalence may be more appropriate for the oldest-old given patchy recall of distant experiences. The very strong association between mental disorders and poor self-reported global health underlines their impact on quality of life.
Winter Prey Selection of Canada Lynx in Northwestern Montana

Abstract The roles that diet and prey abundance play in habitat selection of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the contiguous United States is poorly understood. From 1998–2002, we back-tracked radiocollared lynx (6 F, 9 M) for a distance of 582 km and we located 86 kills in northwestern Montana, USA. Lynx preyed on 7 species that included blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), spruce grouse (Canachites canadensis), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), least weasel (Mustela nivalis), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Snowshoe hares (69 kills) accounted for 96% (4-yr average, range = 94–99%) of prey biomass during the sample period. Red squirrels were the second-most-common prey (11 kills), but they only provided 2% biomass of the winter diet. Red squirrels contributed little to the lynx diet despite low hare densities. A logistic regression model of snowshoe hare, red squirrel, and grouse abundance, as indexed by the number of track crossings of use and available lynx back-tracks, was a significant (Wald statistic = 19.03, df = 3, P < 0.001) predictor of habitat use. As we expected, lynx (P < 0.001) selected use-areas with higher snowshoe hare abundance compared to random expectation. However, the red squirrel index had a weak (P = 0.087) negative relationship to lynx use, and grouse was nonsignificant (P = 0.432). Our results indicate that lynx in western Montana prey almost exclusively on snowshoe hares during the winter with little use of alternative prey. Thus, reductions in horizontal cover for hares would degrade lynx habitat.
Control of growth hormone receptor and insulin‐like growth factor‐I expression by cortisol in ovine fetal skeletal muscle

Insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I has an important role in myogenesis but its developmental regulation in skeletal muscle before birth remains unknown. In other tissues, cortisol modulates IGF gene expression and is responsible for many of the prepartum maturational changes essential for neonatal survival. Hence, using RNase protection assays and ovine riboprobes, expression of the IGF‐I and growth hormone receptor (GHR) genes was examined in ovine skeletal muscle during late gestation and after experimental manipulation of fetal plasma cortisol levels by fetal adrenalectomy and exogenous cortisol infusion. Muscle IGF‐I, but not GHR, mRNA abundance decreased with increasing gestational age in parallel with the prepartum rise in plasma cortisol. Abolition of this cortisol surge by fetal adrenalectomy prevented the prepartum fall in muscle IGF‐I mRNA abundance. Conversely, raising cortisol levels by exogenous infusion earlier in gestation prematurely lowered muscle IGF‐I mRNA abundance but had no effect on GHR mRNA. When all data were combined, plasma cortisol and muscle IGF‐I mRNA abundance were inversely correlated in individual fetuses. Cortisol is, therefore, a developmental regulator of IGF‐I gene expression and is responsible for suppressing expression of this gene in ovine skeletal muscle near term. These observations have important implications for muscle development both before and after birth, particularly during conditions which alter intrauterine cortisol exposure.
Sylvatic focus of trichiniasis in the Caspian region, Northern Iran.

Trichinella spiralis larvae were found in 5 of 21,143 wild boars and 1 of 16 brown bears examined in the 5-year period from 1967 to 1971, and in 38 of 63 golden jackals (Canis aureus), 2 of 3 jungle cats (Felis chaus), and none of 3 other carnivores, 30 rodents, and 20 shrews examined in 1972. Infection has not been reported in more than 500,000 domestic pigs examined for Trichinella in the Teheran abattoir, although most of the pigs were raised in the Caspian region. Human infection from eating undercooked infected wild boar or brown bear probably occurs; one suspected case has been reported.
Characterization of novel conjugative multiresistance plasmids carrying cfr from linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates from Italy.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic environment of the cfr gene from two linezolid-resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from Italy. METHODS The two strains (SP1 and SP2) were phenotypically and genotypically characterized. Transferability of cfr was assessed by electrotransformation and conjugation. The genetic contexts of cfr were investigated by PCR mapping, sequencing and comparative sequence analyses. RESULTS SP1 and SP2 belonged to ST23 and ST83, respectively. In both strains, the cfr gene was located on a plasmid, which could be transferred to Staphylococcus aureus by transformation and conjugation. In isolate SP1, linezolid resistance mediated by mutations in 23S rRNA and the L3 ribosomal protein was also detected. pSP01, the cfr-carrying plasmid from strain SP1, had a larger number of additional resistance genes and was sequenced (76 991 bp). It disclosed a distinctive mosaic structure, with four cargo regions interpolated into a backbone 95% identical to that of S. aureus plasmid pPR9. Besides cfr, resistance genes distributed in the cargo regions included blaZ, lsa(B), msr(A) and aad, and a gene cluster for resistance to heavy metals. A closely related cfr plasmid (pSP01.1, ∼ 49 kb), differing from pSP01 by the lack of a large cargo region with some resistance genes, was detected in strain SP2. CONCLUSIONS The conjugative multiresistance plasmid pSP01 is the first cfr-carrying plasmid to be sequenced in Italy. This is the first time cfr has been found: (i) in association with blaZ, msr(A) and heavy metal resistance genes; and (ii) in an S. epidermidis strain (SP2) belonging to ST83.