Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Urinary Cell Levels of mRNA for OX40, OX40L, PD-1, PD-L1, or PD-L2 and Acute Rejection of Human Renal Allografts

Background. The positive costimulatory proteins OX40 and OX40L and negative regulatory proteins programmed death (PD)-1, PD ligand 1, and PD ligand 2 have emerged as significant regulators of acute rejection in experimental transplantation models. Methods. We obtained 21 urine specimens from 21 renal allograft recipients with graft dysfunction and biopsy-confirmed acute rejection and 25 specimens from 25 recipients with stable graft function and normal biopsy results (stable). Urinary cell levels of mRNAs were measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, and the levels were correlated with allograft status and outcomes. Results. Levels of OX40 mRNA (P<0.0001, Mann-Whitney test), OX40L mRNA (P=0.0004), and PD-1 mRNA (P=0.004), but not the mRNA levels of PD ligand 1 (P=0.08) or PD ligand 2 (P=0.20), were significantly higher in the urinary cells from the acute rejection group than the stable group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that acute rejection is predicted with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 92% (area under the curve=0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.96–1.0, P<0.0001) using a combination of levels of mRNA for OX40, OX40L, PD-1, and levels of mRNA for the previously identified biomarker Foxp3. Within the acute rejection group, levels of mRNA for OX40 (P=0.0002), OX40L (P=0.0004), and Foxp3 (P=0.04) predicted acute rejection reversal, whereas only OX40 mRNA levels (P=0.04) predicted graft loss after acute rejection. Conclusion. A linear combination of urinary cell levels of mRNA for OX40, OX40L, PD-1, and Foxp3 was a strong predictor of acute rejection in human renal allograft biopsies. This prediction model should be validated using an independent cohort of renal allograft recipients.
Airflow modeling of steady inspiration in two realistic proximal airway trees reconstructed from human thoracic tomodensitometric images

Detailed description of the flow field in human airways is highly important to better understand human breathing and provide a patient's customized diagnosis. An integrated numerical simulation platform is presently proposed in order to incorporate medical images into a numerical software to calculate flow field and to analyze it in terms of fluid dynamics. The platform was set up to compute steady inspiratory airflow in realistic human airways reconstructed from tomodensitometric medical images at resting breathing conditions. This morpho-functional simulation platform has been tested retrospectively with two CT-scanned patient airway morphological models: (i) a normal airway model (subject A) with no evidence of morphological alteration and (ii) a highly altered airway model (subject B) exhibiting a severe stenosis in the right main bronchus. First, various morphological aspects proper to each airway model are provided to show the performance and interest of the reconstruction method. Second, we describe the three-dimensional flow patterns associated to the global morphological features, which are mainly shared by the present realistic models and previous idealistic airway models. Finally, the flow characteristics associated to local morphological features specific to realistic airway models are discussed. The results demonstrate that the morpho-functional simulation platform is able to capture the main features of airway velocity patterns but also more specific airflow patterns which are related to customized patient morphological features such as laminar vortex formation. The present results suggest that the proposed airway functional imaging platform is adequate to provide most of functional information related to airflow and enable a patient to patient diagnosis.
No association of vitamin D receptor gene start codon fok 1 polymorphisms in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether the start codon Fok I of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism is a marker of susceptibility to or severity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Chinese patients in Taiwan. METHODS A control group of 90 healthy people and 52 patients with SLE were examined. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based restriction analysis, we evaluated the relationship between Fok I polymorphisms and SLE, where an unexcisable length was determined to be 265 bp (FF), and the 2 fragments measuring 169 bp and 96 bp were determined to be excisable lengths (ff). RESULTS For the genotype of VDR Fok I start codon polymorphism, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (chi-squared test, p = 0.07). Additionally, we did not detect any association of VDR genotype with the clinical and laboratory profiles in SLE patients. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the vitamin D receptor Fok I start codon polymorphism is not related to patients with SLE in Taiwan.
Changes in length of sarcomeres following tenotomy of the rat soleus muscle

Tenotomy of the proximal and distal tendons of the soleus muscle of female Wistar rats was performed and sarcomeric length and muscle fascicle length measured. On the first postoperative day muscle bellies were found shortened and their sarcomeric length considerably reduced. Four weeks following tenotomy, although the muscle bellies remained shortened, sar‐comeric length was comparable with that of control muscles. Measurement of muscle fascicle lengths at this time showed that those of experimental muscles were nearly 50% less than those of control muscles. It was concluded from these experiments that a reduction of the number of sarcomeres in series had occurred, thus compensating for the reduced length of the muscle belly.
Human capital and firms’ innovation: evidence from emerging economies

ABSTRACT We explore the relationship between human capital and firms’ innovation in emerging economies. Most papers consider the formal knowledge developed in R&D laboratories as a major source of innovation. However, a critical portion of knowledge required for innovation resides in human resources and is created outside any formalised R&D activity. We consider that, to improve their technological capabilities, firms should invest in different forms of human capital, namely highly educated workforce and experienced managers, but also in strategic human resource (HR) practices aimed at developing human capital by increasing employees’ firm-specific technical skills and competences. Besides looking at the type of innovation outcomes, we place greater emphasis on the strategies of innovation development, as these should signal an improved firms’ ability, not just to innovate, but to put their own creative effort in the development of innovation. Our results contrast with the traditional view of firms in emerging economies as mainly relying on the external acquisition of innovations, by showing their actual ability to develop new technologies. In this respect, HR practices aimed at fostering employees’ learning and autonomy at work appear more important than the educational attainment of workers, whilst the experience of managers does not seem effective.
MMPI–2 and MCMI–III Characteristics of Parental Competency Examinees

The MMPI–2 (Butcher et al., 2001) and the MCMI–III (Millon, Davis, & Millon, 1997) may contribute to understanding psychological functioning in parental competency examinees. In this study, we sought to identify MMPI–2 and MCMI–III characteristics of this population. We collected data regarding 127 individuals who underwent court-ordered parental competency evaluations. Although test results were generally consistent with findings from the child custody literature, MMPI–2 results indicated the highest Validity scale elevation on the L scale in contrast to the K scale elevations that have often been reported in the custody literature.
G-index – the financial situation prognosis method of agricultural enterprises

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Effects of Rat Bone Marrow–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Demineralized Bone Matrix on Cranial Bone Healing

BackgroundStudies in tissue engineering about mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide promising results for bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rat bone marrow–derived MSCs (rMSCs) alone and when combined with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on critical-sized cranial defects of rats. MethodsTen rats were used to obtain allogeneic rMSCs. Forty rats were separated equally into 4 groups. A full-thickness circular bone defect was created in the frontal bone of the rats. Group 1 was an operative control group. In group 2 DBM, in group 3 rMSCs, and in group 4 DBM combined with rMSCs were applied into the defects. Bone regeneration was evaluated by computed tomographic analysis and immunohistochemistry. ResultsIn radiological evaluation, the percentage of area healed in group 3 at the 12th week was statistically significantly greater than in group 1. In group 3 and group 4, distributed healing patterns were observed more than in group 2 and in group 1. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed that group 4 had the best osteoinductive potential. Osteoinductive potential of group 3 was similar to group 2 and was better than group 1. ConclusionsAllogeneic rMSC applications have created a statistically significant radiologic reduction of the bone defect areas at the end of the 12 weeks. The MSC applications have also increased the bone density and changed the healing patterns. Combined use of the DBM and rMSCs has created more osteoinductive responses. This combination can provide better results in craniofacial bone reconstruction.
A Survey of World Wide Web Use in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

We conducted a survey to document World Wide Web use patterns in middle-aged (ages 40-59), young-old (ages 60-74), and old-old adults (ages 75-92). We conducted this survey of 550 adults 40 years old and over in southeastern Michigan, and the overall response rate was approximately 71%. The results suggested that (a) there are distinct age and demographic differences in individuals who use the Web; (b) middle-aged and older Web users are similar in their use patterns; (c) the two primary predictors for not using the Web are lack of access to a computer and lack of knowledge about the Web; (d) old-old adults have the least interest in using the Web compared with middle-aged and young-old adults; and (e) the primary content areas in learning how to use the Web are learning how to use electronic mail and accessing health information and information about traveling for pleasure. This research may serve as a preliminary attempt to ascertain the issues that must be faced in order to increase use of the World Wide Web in middle-aged and older adults.
Four Different Genes Responsible for Nonimmune Immunoglobulin-Binding Activities within a Single Strain ofEscherichia coli

ABSTRACT Certain Escherichia coli strains bind the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G (IgG) at the bacterial cell surface. Previous work established that this nonimmune Ig binding depends on several large proteins with apparent molecular masses that can exceed 200 kDa. ForE. coli strain ECOR-9, four distinct genes (designatedeibA, eibC, eibD, andeibE) are responsible for Ig binding. Two eibgenes are linked to eaa genes, which are homologous to genes for the autotransporter family of secreted proteins. With reference to the E. coli K-12 chromosome, theeibA-eaaA cluster is adjacent to trpA (min 28.3) while the eibC-eaaC cluster is adjacent toaspS (min 42.0). Sequence adjacent to theeibA-eaaA cluster converges with that of strain K-12 precisely as observed for the Atlas family of prophages, suggesting that eibA is part of one of these. All four eibgenes, when cloned into plasmid vectors, impart IgG binding to E. coli K-12 strains, and three impart IgA binding also. The IgG binding occurs at the bacterial cell surface, and its expression increases survival in serum by up to 3 orders of magnitude. Theeib sequences predict a C-terminal peptide motif that is characteristic of outer membrane proteins, and the protein sequences show significant similarity near the C terminus to both the YadA virulence factor of Yersinia species and the universal surface protein A II of Moraxella catarrhalis. The sizes predicted for Eib proteins from DNA sequence are much smaller than their apparent sizes on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, possibly reflecting stable oligomerization.
After Four Hours of Cold Ischemia and Cardioplegic Protocol, the Heart Can Still Be Rescued With Postconditioning

Background. There is evidence that ischemia lasting more than 4 hours affects cardiac allograft survival. Ischemia and reperfusion are associated with additional deleterious effects. Protective effects of preconditioning are already being used but protocols based on postconditioning have not been evaluated. We tested the impact of postconditioning on hearts maintained in the cold for a long period of total global ischemia and we compared the results with those obtained with pyruvate, a cardioprotective molecule. Methods. Isolated working rat hearts were subjected to a global total ischemia (4 h/4°C), followed by 45 min of reperfusion. Postconditioning consisted of brief total global ischemia applied three times during the onset of reperfusion (ischemia: 30 sec, reperfusion: 30 sec). Superoxide anion production and collagen content were evaluated on cryosections. Results. Our results showed that postconditioning led to improvements in cardiac functions that were comparable to those conferred by pyruvate. Postconditioning reduced myocardial damage, gave better functional recovery, and better preserved the collagen content. It reduced the duration of arrhythmias at the onset of reperfusion. In the postconditioning group, this improvement was associated with a reduction in superoxide production. Conclusions. In conclusion, our study showed that postconditioning induced good cardioprotective effects in a long cold (4 hr/4°C) ischemia protocol and led to lower O2·− production in part mediated by the reduction in NAPDH oxidase activity. It is interesting to note that, in our experimental conditions, the beneficial effects of postconditioning were comparable to those produced by pyruvate.
Simultaneous administration of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-inactivated poliovirus-Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine in children: a randomized double-blind study.

BACKGROUND Meningococcal C disease can be life-threatening in infants, young children and adolescents. New conjugate vaccines are immunogenic in young infants and induce immunologic memory, so we should consider incorporating them into the routine childhood immunization program. The objective of this study was to measure the safety and immunogenicity of a meningococcal C conjugate vaccine when given with routine childhood vaccines. METHODS We carried out a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial at children's hospitals in 3 Canadian cities. A convenience sample of 351 healthy 2-month-old infants was enrolled from the community and randomly allocated to receive either meningococcal C conjugate vaccine or the control (hepatitis B) vaccine. All participants received a concurrent injection of the combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-inactivated poliovirus-Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-IPV-Hib) conjugate vaccine in the opposite limb. Participants were immunized at 2, 4, 6 and 15 months of age; adverse events were recorded after each dose. Serum bactericidal and ELISA meningococcal antibody levels in the participants were measured at 6, 7, 15 and 16 months of age; diphtheria, tetanus, H. influenzae type b, poliovirus and pertussis antibodies were measured at 7 months of age. A total of 323 (92%) participants completed all aspects of the study. The proportion of participants who suffered adverse events after each vaccine dose was the primary safety outcome. Geometric mean antibody titres and the proportion of participants with protective antibody levels after immunization were the primary immunologic outcomes. RESULTS After 2 doses of the meningococcal C conjugate vaccine 99% of participants achieved a protective ( > or = 1:8) bactericidal meningococcal serogroup C antibody level, and after 3 doses this rate increased to 100%. Antibody levels to the concomitant vaccine antigens in the group receiving meningococcal C vaccine were similar to those in the control group except for higher antidiphtheria antibody titres (p < 0.001). Local injection site reactions (redness and induration) after the meningococcal conjugate vaccine were more frequent than after hepatitis B vaccine but less frequent than after the DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine. CONCLUSIONS The meningococcal C conjugate vaccine can be safely and effectively administered at the same visit as the other vaccine antigens routinely given to infants in Canada.
[Leg length changes after upper tibial osteotomy: analysis of different preoperative planning methods].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The amount of change in the length of the lower limb resulting from upper tibial osteotomy depends on the type of osteotomy performed, the preoperative length of the limb, the degree of preoperative deformity and the amount of correction obtained. Wedge resection, for example, removes bone tissue and can lead to shortening. Inversely, a lengthening effect may result from correction of deformity. The purpose of this article was to present an analysis of the differences between different types of osteotomies and compare their effect on leg length. METHODS Change in length of the lower limb was studied with a mathematical analysis in opening wedge osteotomy, closing wedge osteotomy, and dome osteotomy. Leg length was calculated for several preoperative deformity angles of the entire limb (hip-knee-ankle angle) and several values of planned correction. RESULTS The theoretical mathematical model demonstrated that the greatest changes in leg length are obtained with opening wedge osteotomy, followed by dome, then closing wedge osteotomy. Tables were established showing calculated change in leg length. Tracings on radiographs or CT scans used to measure these changes are explained. Methods applicable in case of flexion contracture of the knee are presented. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Once the initial question regarding length changes is posed, many of the points become evident on image tracings. This work points out how quickly tables can be used to recognize significant differences in leg length changes produced by different osteotomies.
CT venography for deep venous thrombosis: continuous images versus reformatted discontinuous images using PIOPED II data.

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to determine whether discontinuous CT of the lower extremities for the detection of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) yields results similar to those of complete helical imaging using cases from the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis II (PIOPED II). MATERIALS AND METHODS In PIOPED II, CT venography followed CT angiography (CTA) to detect pulmonary embolus, using 7.5-mm continuous helical imaging from the iliac crest to the tibial plateau. DVT was detected in 105 of 737 patients (14.2%). We randomly chose 54 positive cases and 96 negative cases for our study. The continuous helical images were reformatted as 7.5-mm images and two of every three images were deleted. These images (7.5 mm; skip = 15 mm) were then sent--without identifying information--to the original reviewers. From 1 to 3.5 years had elapsed since the original interpretations. The results of the new interpretations were compared with the original CT venography consensus interpretations of PIOPED II. RESULTS There was agreement for the presence of DVT in at least one leg (same leg) or for the absence of DVT in both legs in 133 of the 150 study patients (89%). The kappa statistic showed substantial agreement between the consensus interpretations and the test interpretations (kappa = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.64-0.86) per patient. CONCLUSION There was good--but not perfect--agreement between continuous helical and discontinuous axial imaging for the detection of DVT. Given the vagaries of interobserver and intraobserver variation, there appears to be little difference between the two approaches. Adopting discontinuous imaging and other dose-reduction strategies can reduce pelvic radiation by more than 75%.
A Qualitative Study Exploring the Perceptions of Sedentary Behavior in Prostate Cancer Survivors Receiving Androgen-Deprivation Therapy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe and understand the perceptions of sedentary behavior (SED) and the interests and preferences for a SED intervention of men on androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) within a two-phase (formative and intervention research) feasibility study. RESEARCH APPROACH Qualitative, descriptive. SETTING Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Odette Cancer Centre, both in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS 27 men on ADT. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH Men were recruited from prostate cancer clinics. Nine focus groups were conducted from November 2013 to April 2014 until data saturation was reached. Probe questions assessed perceptions regarding SED and preferences for a mobile SED intervention. Data were transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was conducted. FINDINGS Twenty-seven men with a mean age of 73.5 years (SD = 8.1 years) volunteered for the study. Most men were aware of the health risks associated with SED, but most discussed SED in terms of increasing physical activity (PA). Many men were interested in a mobile application to reduce SED and expressed that the design should be easy to use, have an alerting function to interrupt sitting, have the ability to track and monitor PA levels, be tailored to the individual, and involve social support. CONCLUSIONS These findings will inform the development and evaluation of a novel SED intervention to improve health outcomes in this population. INTERPRETATION Oncology nurses may serve as a motivational factor in encouraging men on ADT to reduce SED.
Alterations in Metabolism-Related Genes Induced in SHSY5Y Cells by Okadaic Acid Exposure

Okadaic acid (OA) is a widely distributed marine toxin produced by several phytoplanktonic species and responsible for diarrheic shellfish poisoning in humans. At the molecular level OA is a specific inhibitor of several types of serine/threonine protein phosphatases. Due to this enzymic inhibition, OA was reported to induce numerous alterations in relevant cellular physiological processes, including several metabolic pathways such as glucose uptake, lipolysis and glycolysis, heme metabolism, and glycogen and protein synthesis. In order to further understand the underlying mechanisms involved in OA-induced effects on cellular metabolism, the expression levels of six genes related to different catabolic and anabolic metabolism-related processes were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Specifically, the expression patterns of GAPDH, TOMM5, SLC25A4, COII, QARS, and RGS5 genes were determined in SHSY5Y human neuroblastoma cells exposed to OA for 3, 24, or 48 h. All these genes showed alterations in their expression levels after at least one of the OA treatments tested. These alterations provide a basis to understand the mechanisms underlying the previously described OA-induced effects on different metabolic processes, mainly regarding glucose and mitochondrial metabolism. However, other OA-induced affected genes can not be ruled out, and further studies are required to more comprehensively characterize in the mechanisms of OA-induced interaction on cell metabolism.