Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of mini-open anterior corpectomy and posterior total en bloc spondylectomy for solitary metastases of the thoracolumbar spine.

OBJECT The object of this study was to compare the mini-open anterior corpectomy procedure with posterior total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) in treating patients with solitary metastases of the thoracolumbar spine. METHODS From 2004 to 2010, 41 patients with solitary metastases of the thoracolumbar spine were treated in our hospital using either a mini-open anterior corpectomy or posterior TES. Intraoperative and diagnostic data, including perioperative complications, were collected using retrospective chart review. The surgical outcomes were assessed according to survival status, neurological function, local recurrence, and pain before and after surgery. RESULTS Seventeen patients underwent posterior TES and 24 underwent mini-open anterior corpectomy. Mean blood loss (TES, 1721 ± 293 ml; mini-open corpectomy, 1058 ± 263 ml; p < 0.05), and mean operative time (TES, 403 ± 55 minutes; mini-open corpectomy, 175 ± 38 minutes; p < 0.05) were recorded and calculated. Neurological improvement by at least 1 American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade was noted in 35 (97.2%) of the 36 cases with preoperative deficits. After the operation, 68.4% of nonambulatory patients became ambulatory again, including 84.6% after mini-open corpectomy and 33.3% after posterior TES (p > 0.05). The visual analog scale scores of the patients were significantly reduced after both procedures, with no difference between the procedures (p > 0.05). The local tumor recurrence rate of the TES group was significantly lower than that of the mini-open corpectomy group (p < 0.05), while the postoperative survival rates within 2 years after surgery were similar. The complication rate in the mini-open corpectomy group (29.2%) was higher than that in the TES group (11.8%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.185). There was no hardware failure and no loss of the sagittal Cobb angle in either group. Slight subsidence (< 3 mm) of the mesh cage was observed with a successful fusion in 3 (17.6%) of 17 patients in the TES group. No subsidence of polymethylmethacrylate block/autograft was recorded in the mini-open group. CONCLUSIONS Mini-open anterior corpectomy can be accomplished with less blood loss, fewer fixation instrumentations, and shorter surgical time than that required for TES, but patients who undergo a mini-open corpectomy might have a greater tendency to experience local recurrence. A mini-open anterior corpectomy has a relatively mild learning curve and involves fewer technical difficulties. With smaller incisions, mini-open anterior corpectomy is an option in treating solitary metastases of the thoracolumbar spine.
Correlation between rhodamine 123 accumulation and azole sensitivity in Candida species: possible role for drug efflux in drug resistance

A wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells exhibit a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype, indicating that resistance to potentially toxic compounds is mediated by their active efflux from the cell. We have sought to determine whether resistance to azoles in some strains of Candida species may be due in part to active drug efflux. Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) is a fluorescent compound that is transported by a wide variety of MDR cell types. We have shown that certain azole-resistant strains of Candida albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei accumulate less Rh123 than azole-susceptible ones. In C. albicans, Rh123 accumulation was growth phase and temperature dependent and was increased by proton uncouplers and by reserpine, an MDR modulator. This is consistent with an energy-dependent efflux mechanism for Rh123, mediated by an MDR transporter. In C. glabrata, but not in C. albicans, there was competition between Rh123 and fluconazole for efflux. Thus, in C. glabrata, Rh123 and fluconazole appear to be transported via a common MDR-like transporter, whereas in C. albicans, the Rh123 transporter does not appear to transport azoles.
The Conjugacy Problem in hyperbolic Groups for Finite Lists of Group Elements

Let G be a word-hyperbolic group with given finite generating set, for which various standard structures and constants have been pre-computed. An (non-practical) algorithm is described that, given as input two lists A and B, each composed of m words in the generators and their inverses, determines whether or not the lists are conjugate in G, and returns a conjugating element, should one exist. The algorithm runs in time O(mμ), where μ is an upper bound on the length of elements in the two lists. Similarly, an algorithm is outlined that computes generators of the centralizer of A, with the same bound on running time.
Epidemiological and Serological Survey of Brucellosis in Mongolia by ELISA Using Sarcosine Extracts

Brucellosis is an important zoonosis, and serological surveillance is essential to its control. However, cross‐reactions of attenuated live cells of Brucella abortus strain S‐19 and B. melitensis strain Rev‐1 with Yersinia enterocolitica O9 or vaccinated animal sera interfere with accurate serological diagnosis by the Rose Bengal test (RBT). Therefore, we used ELISA with sarcosine extracts from the virulent B. abortus strain 544 to eliminate false‐positives among RBT positive‐sera. A total of 697 serum samples were collected in Mongolia from humans and animals in 23 nomadic herds. The herds were classified into three groups as brucellosis‐endemic (BE), brucellosis‐suspected (BS), or Brucella‐vaccinated (BV). The number of 295 animals (43.0%) was positive by RBT, but 206 (69.8%) of these were positive according to ELISA; therefore, 30.2% of the RBT‐positive sera were found to be false positives. The false positive samples for RTB represent 4.1%, 27.4%, and 68.2% of the animals from the BE, BS, and BV herds, respectively. In addition, 32% of RBT‐positive human sera were also false positives. Thus, our ELISA would be more specific than RTB and useful for epidemiological surveillance for brucellosis.
Cellular Cooperation in the Antibody Response of Mice to Two Serum Albumins: Specific Function of Thymus Cells

Experiments and Results 117 A. Failure of Recovery of Ami-BSA Response in CBA Mice Thymectomised in Adult Life and Then Irradiated (Thymectomized-irradiated Mice) B. Restoration of Immune Response to Thymectomized-irradiated Mice with Thymus or Lymph-node Cells C. Depression of the Anti-BSA Response in Recipients of Transferred Cells Induced by Treatment of the Cell Donors with BSA; Effects of Duration of Treatment and Antigen Dosage on Lymph-node Cells or Thymus Cells D. Cooperation between Thymus and Marrow Cells in the Antibody Response to BSA E. Cooperation of Thymus Cells with Spleen Cells from Thymectomized-irradiated Mice F. Effect of BSA Treatment on Bone Marrow and Thymus; Controls for Antigen Carried Over to Recipients G. Retention of Radioactivity in Various Tissues after Injection of ""I-BSA H. Specificity of Paralysis of Thymus CeUs I. Effects of Long-term Paralysis J. Discussion of Results: Evidence That Antigen Carried Over with Thymus Cells Could not Account for Paralysis
Vascular endothelial function in cyclosporine and tacrolimus treated renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Endothelial dysfunction is an early key event in the development of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), thus an early marker of subclinical ASCVD. Endothelial function is impaired in renal transplant recipients (RTR) treated with cyclosporine (CyA). Tacrolimus is associated with less hyperlipidemia and hypertension than CyA, however, there are no data on endothelial function in tacrolimus-treated RTR. METHODS High-resolution brachial ultrasonography was used to assess endothelium-dependent dilatation (EDD), and endothelium-independent dilatation (EID) in 20 stable RTR and a control group of 10 healthy subjects without clinical evidence of ASCVD. The RTR group included patients receiving CyA (n=10) and tacrolimus (n=10). EDD and EID were measured as percent increase in brachial artery diameter in response to reactive hyperemia and nitroglycerin, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS EDD was significantly lower in RTR versus controls (1.7+/-0.7 vs. 7.3+/-0.7%, P<0.0001), whereas EID was similar in the two groups. No significant differences were found in EDD or in EID between CyA- and tacrolimus-treated RTR. Glomerular filtration rate, plasma homocysteine, blood pressure, and lipid profiles were similar in CyA- and tacrolimus-treated RTR.
Affordability of inhaled corticosteroids as a potential barrier to treatment of asthma in some developing countries.

SETTING The cost and availability of the medications required for the treatment of asthma may represent potential barriers to effective management. METHOD A survey of prices and policies for components of asthma treatment in 1998, in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Syria, Turkey and Vietnam. RESULTS Medications were consistently available in only four of the eight countries studied. The cost of essential medications for standard case management varied by over five times for beclomethasone and by over three times for inhaled salbutamol. In all but two countries, the cost of one year of drugs for treatment of a moderate, persistent case exceeded the monthly salary of a nurse in that country. The essential drugs list included inhaled salbutamol in five of eight countries and beclomethasone in three of eight. The costs of medications were lower where generic preparations were available and, to a lesser extent, where the medications are on the essential drugs list. CONCLUSIONS The cost and availability of medications vary widely, and may represent an important barrier to effective management in some low and middle income countries.
Spontaneous in vitro contractile activity of specimens from the abomasal wall of healthy cows and comparison among dairy breeds.

OBJECTIVE To characterize and compare in vitro contractility patterns of sections of abomasal wall harvested from cattle of 3 dairy breeds. SAMPLE POPULATION Longitudinal and circular smooth muscle preparations harvested from the antrum and body of the abomasum of 30 recently slaughtered Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Simmental X Red Holstein cows. PROCEDURE Spontaneous isometric contractions of specimens in tissue baths of modified Krebs solution were recorded during a 4-hour period. Maximal amplitude, frequency of contractions, and change of basal tension were used to characterize contractility. Statistical analyses were used to test for differences among time periods, among breeds, between specimen locations, and between fiber orientations. RESULTS Myoactivity patterns of abomasal smooth muscle preparations are highly variable and differ on the basis of location and fiber orientation. Frequency of contractions differed significantly among time periods for longitudinally oriented specimens with decreasing frequencies of contractions over time. Maximal amplitude of the longitudinally oriented specimens from the antrum increased significantly, whereas maximal amplitude of the circularly oriented specimens from the antrum decreased significantly. Values did not differ significantly among breeds. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Patterns of spontaneous contractility of abomasal wall specimens are not homogeneous. During a 4-hour recording period, maximal amplitude and frequency of contractions of specimens varied significantly with respect to orientation and location; however, spontaneous contractile myoactivity did not differ significantly among breeds. Therefore, breed predisposition for displaced abomasum is not correlated with spontaneous activity of smooth muscle specimens.
RECOMBINANT EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA TRUNCATED EXOTOXIN A IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa exotoxin A (PE) is one of the most potent bacterial toxins ever been identified. It catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of cellular elongation factor 2 and specifically arrests protein synthesis leads to cell death. Different derivatives of PE have been used for construction of immunotoxins against cancers. The aim of this study was to clone and express a DNA fragment of PE encoding a truncated exotoxin lacking the cell binding domain of native toxin. The genomic DNA extracted from P. aeruginosa PAO1 was used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique containing the primers for amplification of domain 2-3 of PE gene. The PCR product was then cloned into the pET-22b vector and transformed into E. coli BL21 cells. The expression of soluble truncated PE was optimized in the presence of different additives and the His-tagged recombinant PE38 was purified by Nickel affinity chromatography. Sequencing of the cloned fragment confirmed the identity of the fragment as PE domain 2-3. Analyzing the recombinant protein expression and purification by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting showed that the present expression system is efficient for the production of recombinant truncated exotoxin A. This recombinant protein can be used for the construction of toxin conjugates against different cancers.
Risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality among diabetic patients prescribed rosiglitazone or pioglitazone: a meta-analysis of retrospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND The difference of cardiovascular effects between rosiglitazone and pioglitazone treatment for diabetic patients has not been thoroughly studied. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the risk of cardiovascular adverse effects in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with rosiglitazone compared to pioglitazone. METHODS The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase were searched to identify retrospective cohort studies assessing cardiovascular outcomes with rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. Meta-analysis of retrospective cohort studies was conducted using RevMan 5.0 software to calculate risk ratios. RESULTS Of the 74 references identified, eight studies involving 945 286 patients fit the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The results of meta-analyses showed that, compared with pioglitazone, rosiglitazone therapy significantly increased the risk of myocardial infarction (risk ratios (RR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 - 1.32; P = 0.01), the risk of heart failure (RR 1.18, 95%CI 1.02 - 1.36; P = 0.03), and total mortality (RR 1.13, 95%CI 1.08 - 1.20; P < 0.000 01). CONCLUSION Compared with pioglitazone, rosiglitazone was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, heart failure, and all-cause mortality in diabetic patients.
Central giant cell granuloma of the jaws: assessment of cell cycle proteins.

BACKGROUND Several reports have demonstrated the presence of a high proliferative activity in central giant cell granuloma, raising the possibility that deregulation of the cell cycle may contribute to its pathogenesis. As we identified alterations of cyclin D1 in giant cell tumor of bone, and as there are histologic similarities between central giant cell granuloma and giant cell tumor, we assessed jaw lesions for the presence of similar alterations. METHODS Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 29 cases of central giant cell granuloma was assessed for the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin B1, and MIB-1 (Ki-67) using immunohistochemistry. In addition, differential polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine whether there was cyclin D1 gene amplification. RESULTS The cyclin D1 gene copy number appeared to be minimally elevated in 31% of the cases. Cyclin D1 protein overexpression was observed in 28 of 29 cases (96.5%). Immunostaining was present predominantly in the nuclei of the giant cells. Cyclin B1 and MIB-1 immunoreactivity was restricted to the mononuclear cells with no staining present in the giant cells. CONCLUSIONS Cyclin D1 protein overexpression may be involved in the formation of the giant cells and the pathogenesis of central giant cell granuloma. As the distribution of immunostaining is identical to that observed in giant cell tumor of bone, our results support the possibility that central giant cell granuloma of the jaws and giant cell tumor of bone represent a similar disease process that clinically and histologically may have somewhat different features because of differences in the anatomical site of involvement.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

Emotional stress has been recognized as a modiﬁable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Adolescence has been proposed as a developmental period of vulnerability to stress. This idea has been mainly supported by experimental research in animals demonstrating a higher impact of chronic emotional stress in adolescents compared with adults. Adolescent vulnerability is also based on evidence that stress during this developmental period affects development, so that enduring changes are found in adult animals that experienced stress during adolescence. The purpose of the present review is to discuss experimental research in rodent models that investigated the impact of long-term exposure to stressful events during adolescence on cardiovascular function. The development of cardiovascular function and autonomic activity in rodents is initially reviewed. Then, a discussion of an adolescent vulnerability to cardiovascular effects of chronic stress is presented. From the reviewed literature, perspective for future research is proposed to better elucidate adolescent vulnerability to cardiovascular complications evoked by chronic emotional stress.
Nitrate in drinking water. A case-control study on primary brain tumours with an embedded drinking water survey in Germany.

BACKGROUND Nitrate is known to be a precursor in the endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds which are thought to be associated with the development of brain tumours. METHODS We conducted a population-based case-control study on the aetiology of primary brain tumours in adults in which the nitrate concentration in drinking water was investigated as a quantitative variable. For this purpose, an additional drinking water survey was performed. RESULTS Analysis of 173 incident cases and 418 controls did not show any relationship between exposure to nitrate in drinking water and risk of developing primary brain tumours. We found mean nitrate concentrations of 15.98 mg/l (SD 15.61) in the drinking water history of the cases and of 16.16 mg/l (SD 15.72) for controls. In addition, we compared the quantitative history of nitrate contamination of the study participants to a semi-quantitative assessment by a stick method. Although we found good agreement between these methods we would recommend the use of detailed water surveys for retrospective studies on contaminants in drinking water. CONCLUSION The results suggest the absence of an association between nitrate levels in drinking water and the risk of brain tumours. However in order to draw definite conclusions quantitative prospective studies are needed.
EGFR , KRAS and BRAF mutations in Chinese patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The EGFR-KRAS-BRAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) pathway plays an important role in most cancers with close association of EGFR, KRAS or BRAF mutations with carcinogenesis and drug resistance. EGFR have been developed for molecular targeted therapy of various cancers. However, it remains to be determined whether aberration of this pathway is essential for the survival of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) and whether EGFR tyrosine kinases inhibitors (TKIs) could benefit CCRCC patients. In this study, we detect EGFR, KRAS and BRAF mutations in CCRCC, investigate the potential of EGFR TKIs for the treatment of CCRCC patients, and summarize clinicopathological characteristics of CCRCC carrying EGFR, KRAS and BRAF mutations. EGFR, KRAS and BRAF mutation in 100 CCRCC from China were detected by high resolution melting analysis. Positive mutations were confirmed using direct sequencing. The cases with EGFR, KRAS and BRAF mutations were further assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The diagnosis of CCRCC was confirmed by IHC staining of CK (Pan), EMA, Vimentin, CD10, Desmin and SMA, and the activation of MAPK pathway was assessed by IHC staining of EGFR, KRAS, BRAF and p-BRAF. One KRAS while no EGFR or BRAF mutations were identified in these 100 CCRCC patients. The case with KRAS mutation was histologic grade G4, tumor stage III and TNM stage III (T3N0M0). Lung metastasis was found four months after surgery and the patient died two and a half months after metastasis. The tumor with KRAS mutation was positive for CK (Pan), EMA, Vimentin, CD10, but negative for desmin and SMA, and positive for KRAS, BRAF, and p-BRAF, but negative for EGFR. To conclude, our results support EGFR, KRAS and BRAF mutations are rare in CCRCC, EGFR TKIs may be not suitable for the majority of CCRCC patients and CCRCC patients with the tumor carrying KRAS mutation might have poor prognosis.
Self-Powered Electrochemical Lactate Biosensing

This work presents the development and characterization of a self-powered electrochemical lactate biosensor for real-time monitoring of lactic acid. The bioanode and biocathode were modified with D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) and bilirubin oxidase (BOD), respectively, to facilitate the oxidation and reduction of lactic acid and molecular oxygen. The bioelectrodes were arranged in a parallel configuration to construct the biofuel cell. This biofuel cell’s current–voltage characteristic was analyzed in the presence of various lactic acid concentrations over a range of 1–25 mM. An open circuit voltage of 395.3 mV and a short circuit current density of 418.8 µA/cm² were obtained when operating in 25 mM lactic acid. Additionally, a 10 pF capacitor was integrated via a charge pump circuit to the biofuel cell to realize the self-powered lactate biosensor with a footprint of 1.4 cm × 2 cm. The charge pump enabled the boosting of the biofuel cell voltage in bursts of 1.2–1.8 V via the capacitor. By observing the burst frequency of a 10 pF capacitor, the exact concentration of lactic acid was deduced. As a self-powered lactate sensor, a linear dynamic range of 1–100 mM lactic acid was observed under physiologic conditions (37 °C, pH 7.4) and the sensor exhibited an excellent sensitivity of 125.88 Hz/mM-cm2. This electrochemical lactate biosensor has the potential to be used for the real-time monitoring of lactic acid level in biological fluids.
Dropout from Internet-based treatment for psychological disorders.

PURPOSE The purpose of this review was to present an in-depth analysis of literature identifying the extent of dropout from Internet-based treatment programmes for psychological disorders, and literature exploring the variables associated with dropout from such programmes. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PSYCHINFO and PUBMED with the keywords: dropouts, drop out, dropout, dropping out, attrition, premature termination, termination, non-compliance, treatment, intervention, and program, each in combination with the key words Internet and web. A total of 19 studies published between 1990 and April 2009 and focusing on dropout from Internet-based treatment programmes involving minimal therapist contact were identified and included in the review. RESULTS Dropout ranged from 2 to 83% and a weighted average of 31% of the participants dropped out of treatment. A range of variables have been examined for their association with dropout from Internet-based treatment programmes for psychological disorders. Despite the numerous variables explored, evidence on any specific variables that may make an individual more likely to drop out of Internet-based treatment is currently limited. CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the need for more rigorous and theoretically guided research exploring the variables associated with dropping out of Internet-based treatment for psychological disorders.