Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Day–night expression patterns of clock genes in the human pineal gland

Abstract: Rhythm generation within the mammalian circadian system is achieved by clock genes and their protein products. As an integral part of this system, the pineal gland serves the need to tune the body to the temporal environment by the rhythmic synthesis and release of melatonin. A number of human disorders and syndromes are associated with alterations in circadian rhythms of clock genes and their protein products and/or a dysfunction in melatonin synthesis. In the human, little is known about the molecular signature of time management. Pineal tissue from regular autopsies was allocated to asserted time‐of‐death groups (dawn, day, dusk, night), and analyzed by RT‐PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and confocal laser scanning microscopy for expression of clock genes. Despite the observed diurnal rhythms in activity of the arylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferase and in melatonin content, mRNA levels for the clock genes Period1, Cryptochrome1, Clock, and Bmal1, and also amounts of corresponding clock gene proteins showed no differences between time‐ of‐death groups. In contrast, a time‐of‐day‐dependent nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of clock gene proteins was detected. These data confirm the minor importance of a transcriptional regulation for dynamics in the human pineal gland, and offer a novel twist in the molecular competence of clock gene proteins.
DOA Estimation of Coherent Signals Based on Improved SVD Algorithm

In the light of that the general super-resolution subspace algorithms are invalid to coherent signals and the resolution of singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithms is reduced in the presence of low-SNR, an improved SVD algorithm to direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation is proposed. Firstly, a new matrix is constructed from the maximum eigenvector of the signal covariance matrix according to certain rules. Secondly, the reconstruction matrix is corrected by using the idea of matrix decomposition to enhance the decorrelation ability. Finally, ESPRIT method is utilized to DOA estimation. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has high estimation success probability, small estimation bias, and low estimation standard error for DOA estimation of the coherent signals in low-SNR condition.
Shoulder MR arthrography: which patient group benefits most?

OBJECTIVE We sought to compare the diagnostic accuracy of conventional MRI versus MR arthrography of the shoulder in the assessment of high-performance athletes (professional baseball players) and to compare our findings in these patients with the conventional MRI and MR arthrographic findings in an age-matched control group of nonprofessional athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Conventional MRI and MR arthrographic examinations of the shoulder in 20 consecutive professional baseball players with shoulder pain were reviewed retrospectively by two musculoskeletal radiologists in consensus. These interpretations were compared with retrospective consensus interpretations of conventional MRI and MR arthrographic examinations of the shoulder obtained in a control group of 50 consecutive nonprofessional athletes with shoulder pain. MR images were assessed for full- or partial-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears, superior labral anteroposterior (SLAP) tears, and anterior or posterior labral tears. RESULTS In the 20 consecutive professional athlete patients, two full-thickness and six partial-thickness undersurface supraspinatus tendon tears were seen on MR arthrography but not seen on conventional MRI as well as six SLAP tears, two anterior labral tears, and one posterior labral tear. Three patients had both SLAP tears and full- or partial-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears. Of 14 patients with findings on MR arthrography that were not seen on MRI, 11 had arthroscopic correlation. In all 11, arthroscopic findings confirmed findings on MR arthrography. In the group of 50 nonprofessional athlete patients, five had additional findings on MR arthrography not seen on conventional MRI: two anterior labral tears, two partial-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears, and two SLAP tears. One patient had both a partial-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear and a SLAP tear seen on MR arthrography. The five patients with additional findings on MR arthrography had arthroscopy. In all five, arthroscopic findings confirmed the findings on MR arthrography. CONCLUSION MR arthrography is considerably more sensitive for detection of partial-thickness supraspinatus tears and labral tears than conventional MRI. MR arthrography showed injuries in addition to those seen on conventional MRI in 14 of 20 patients in the high-performance athlete group. These results suggest high-performance athletes may be a subgroup of patients for whom MR arthrography yields considerably more diagnostic information than conventional MRI.
Transmembrane topology and histidine protein kinase activity of AgrC, the agr signal receptor in Staphylococcus aureus

The agr P2 operon in Staphylococcus aureus codes for the elements of a density‐sensing cassette made up of a typical two‐component signalling system and its corresponding inducer. It is postulated that the autoinducer, a post‐translationally modified octapeptide generated from the AgrD peptide, interacts with a receptor protein, coded by agrC, to transmit a signal via AgrA regulating expression of staphylococcal virulence genes through expression of agr RNA III. We show by analysis of PhoA fusions that AgrC is a transmembrane protein, and confirm using Western blotting that a 46 kDa protein corresponding to AgrC is present in the bacterial membrane. This protein is autophosphorylated on a histidine residue only in response to supernatants from an agr+ strain, and can also respond to the purified native octapeptide. A recombinant fusion protein where most of the N‐terminal region of AgrC is replaced by the Escherichia coli maltose‐binding protein is also autophosphorylated in response to stimulation by agr+ supernatants or purified octapeptide. We conclude that AgrC is the sensor molecule of a typical two‐component signal system in S. aureus, and that the ligand‐binding site of AgrC is probably located in the third extracellular loop of the protein.
Immortalization of a human colorectal adenoma cell line by continuous in vitro passage: Possible involvement of chromosome 1 in tumour progression

A non‐tumorigenic epithelial cell line designated PC/AA, derived from a large pre‐malignant colorectal adenoma from a patient with familial polyposis coli (also referred to as hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum) has became immortal in vitro. PC/AA has been passaged in vitro continuously for over A years and shows no signs of senescence. At early passage, PC/AA has a normal diploid karyotype but with late passage is showing signs of progression, becoming aneuploid and displaying signs of morphological transformation. Every cell examined of late‐passage PC/AA has an isochro‐mosome (Iq), and one other marker chromosome which is probably derived from an additional chromosome 8. The majority of cells examined have 48 chromosomes. Despite showing signs of progression in vitro, late‐passage PC/AA has remained non‐tumorigenic in athymic nude mice and retained morphological differentiation characteristics of colonic cells, in particular the ability to synthesize and secrete mucin. Two other cell lines derived from small adenomas did not become immortal in vitro and were also non‐tumorigenic in athymic nude mice. The isolation of an immortal pre‐malignant human epithelial cell line could prove invaluable in studies on human careinogenests and tumour progression. Our results, showing that only a large adenoma and no small adenomas have given rise to immortal cell lines, raise the possibility that the acquisition of in vitro immortality is associated with a relatively late stage in the adenoma‐carcinoma sequence. The possible involvement of chromosome I in tumour progression is discussed.
Frequency and antibiotic susceptibility of gram-positive bacteria in Makkah hospitals

Background and Objective :Gram-positive bacteria are important nosocomial pathogens. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequencies and resistance rates of gram-positive pathogens isolated from hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Design and Setting :Prospective study at three Makkah hospitals from May 2008 to April 2009. Patients and Methods : Clinical isolates were collected and demographic and laboratory data were recorded. Standard microbiological methods were used to identify the organisms and test for antimicrobial susceptibility. The results were interpreted according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results : Clinical isolates were collected from 1087 patients. Gram-positive pathogens infected all age groups, but had no gender predominance. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common cause of wound infection and accounted for more than half of the clinical isolates (688 cases). Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CONS) was a common isolate from blood cultures. Wounds were the most common site of infection (37.6%). Enterococcus spp. and Streptococcus agalactiae were the second most common bacteria (26%). The resistance rates of S aureus and CONS isolates were 39.4% and 82.4% for oxacillin, respectively. Among the streptococci, the resistance rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were 21.1% and 16.7% for ampicillin and erythromycin, respectively. Conclusions : S aureus infections were found to be very common in the Makkah hospitals. Infection prevention, control measures and continuous monitoring for antibiotic susceptibility are necessary to reduce these and other nosocomial infections.
The Effect of Mycophenolate Mofetil and Azathioprine Dose on Renal Allograft Outcome in the United Kingdom

Background. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy compared with azathioprine has not led to improved long-term renal allograft outcomes perhaps as MMF dose is limited by tolerability and dose reduction is associated with inferior graft outcome. The consequences, however, of dose reduction of mycophenolate mofetil relative to azathioprine have not been reported. Method. We studied dosing patterns of MMF and azathioprine in the first year after transplantation and their impact on graft outcome after renal transplantation between 1999 and 2002 in the United Kingdom. Results. Sixty-two percent of patients were found to be taking less than 2 g of MMF and 45% were taking less than 100 mg of azathioprine at 1 year after transplantation. Graft outcome was comparable in patients receiving 2 g or more of MMF (n=209), 1 to 2 g of MMF (n=267), and 100 mg or more of azathioprine (n=504) at 1 year after transplantation. Less than 1 g of MMF (n=71) and less than 100 mg of azathioprine (n=413) was associated with a 3-fold and 2-fold increased 4.5 year risk-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of graft failure, respectively, with reduced graft function. Finally, less than 1 g of MMF was not superior to less than 100 mg of azathioprine. Conclusion. Azathioprine levels are not routinely measured and long-term results of concentration controlled MMF studies are awaited. Currently, dose is a useful measure of drug exposure. This study suggests that less than 1 g of MMF and less than 100 mg of azathioprine are associated with inferior graft outcome.
Integrated Exposure-Based Therapy for Co-Occurring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Dependence: Predictors of Change in PTSD Symptom Severity

This paper examines factors associated with change in PTSD symptom severity among individuals randomised to receive an integrated exposure-based psychotherapy for PTSD and substance dependence–Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure (COPE). Outcomes examined include change in PTSD symptom severity as measured by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and the reliability and clinical significance of change in PTSD symptom severity. Factors examined include patient baseline characteristics, treatment characteristics, and events over follow-up. The mean difference in CAPS score was 38.24 (SE 4.81). Approximately half (49.1%) demonstrated a reliable and clinically significant improvement in PTSD symptom severity. No one was classified as having demonstrated clinically significant worsening of symptoms. Three independent predictors of reductions in PTSD symptom severity were identified: baseline PTSD symptom severity (β 0.77, SE 0.23, p = 0.001), number of traumas experienced prior to baseline (β −0.30, SE 0.15, p = 0.049), and number of sessions attended (β 2.05, SE 0.87, p = 0.024). The present study provides further evidence regarding the safety of the COPE treatment and factors associated with improvement in PTSD symptom severity. The identification of only a small number of predictors of the outcome points to the broad applicability of the COPE treatment to PTSD and substance use disorder (SUD) patients.
The comparison of mouse full metallothionein‐1 versus α and β domains and metallothionein‐1‐to‐3 mutation following traumatic brain injury reveals different biological motifs

Traumatic injury to the brain is one of the leading causes of injury‐related death or disability, but current therapies are limited. Previously it has been shown that the antioxidant proteins metallothioneins (MTs) are potent neuroprotective factors in animal models of brain injury. The exogenous administration of MTs causes effects consistent with the roles proposed from studies in knock‐out mice. We herewith report the results comparing full mouse MT‐1 with the independent α and β domains, alone or together, in a cryoinjury model. The lesion of the cortex caused the mice to perform worse in the horizontal ladder beam and the rota‐rod tests; all the proteins showed a modest effect in the former test, while only full MT‐1 improved the performance of animals in the rota‐rod, and the α domain showed a rather detrimental effect. Gene expression analysis by RNA protection assay demonstrated that all proteins may alter the expression of host‐response genes such as GFAP, Mac1 and ICAM, in some cases being the β domain more effective than the α domain or even the full MT‐1. A MT‐1‐to‐MT‐3 mutation blunted some but not all the effects caused by the normal MT‐1, and in some cases increased its potency. Thus, splitting the two MT‐1 domains do not seem to eliminate all MT functions but certainly modifies them, and different motifs seem to be present in the protein underlying such functions. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of training of trainers programmes and evaluation of their effectiveness in Istanbul, Turkey

This report presents an evaluation of the impact of the 'Training of Trainers' (TOT) courses conducted since 1997. The effects of TOT programmes were studied using a questionnaire given to the course participants immediately after and again following a minimum period of six months after completion of the course. The 85 participants included in this analysis were medical teachers from the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, of whom 17% were instructors, 39% were associate professors and 44% full professors. Some 72% of the medical teachers stated that they were able to implement the knowledge/skills they had acquired during the TOT course in their teaching. The majority of the participants reported more feedback from students and enhancement of student-faculty interaction in their teaching experience after the course. These results appear promising and indicate that TOT courses indeed motivate the teaching staff and provide them with tools and opportunities for more effective teaching. They also appear to have a lasting impact.
Picrotoxin action on the receptive fields of the cat sensorimotor cortex neurons

The receptive fields of the sensorimotor cortex neurons identified by electrocutaneous stimulation were modified by microelectrophoretically applied picrotoxin which is known to reduce inhibition. A relatively short application of picrotoxin (90 nA during 3–6 min) markedly increased the size of the neuronal receptive fields in the sensorimotor cortex. Control application of glutamate showed that additional depolarization did not affect receptive fields of the spontaneously active units. Our results together with other work in this field further support the hypothesis that inhibitory processes play a major role in forming functional properties of the cerebral cortex neurons.
Analysis of the role of Amh and Fra1 in the Sry regulatory pathway

Sry is the Y‐chromosomal gene responsible for initiating the pathway of male development in mammals, presumably by regulating downstream target genes. As a basis for examining the role played by Sry and other candidate sex‐determining genes, we have used reverse‐transcriptase PCR to produce a precise temporal profile of expression of Sry in the developing gonad. Sry expression first occurs at 10.5 days postcoitum (dpc) and is upregulated to reach a maximum level from 11.25 to 12 dpc. Expression is then steadily downregulated from 12.25 to 13.25 dpc and is completely extinguished by 13.5 dpc. Two genes implicated in sexual development are Amh, encoding anti‐müllerian hormone (AMH), and Fra1, encoding Fos‐related antigen‐1. Expression profiles of Amh and Sry in fetal gonads indicate a possible role for AMH in the downregulation of Sry expression. We show, however, that the timing of Sry downregulation is unaffected in Amh‐deficient mice, excluding a role for AMH as a negative regulator of Sry. Further, we have examined the possibility that SRY may activate Fra1 during testis determination by analysing the expression of Fra1 in mouse fetal gonads. Fra1 is not expressed at any stage at or around the critical period of sex determination when Sry transcripts are present, thus excluding a role for Fra1 in sex determination and differentiation. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serial evaluation of perfusion defects in patients with a first acute myocardial infarction referred for primary PTCA using intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography.

AIMS To investigate whether myocardial contrast echocardiography using Sonazoid could be used for the serial evaluation of the presence and extent of myocardial perfusion defects in patients with a first acute myocardial infarction treated with primary PTCA, and specifically, (1) to evaluate safety and efficacy of myocardial contrast echocardiography to detect TIMI flow grade 0--2, (2) to evaluate the success of reperfusion and (3) to predict left ventricular recovery after 4 weeks follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty-nine patients underwent serial myocardial contrast echocardiography, immediately before primary PTCA (MCE1), 1 h (MCE2) and 12--24 h after PTCA (MCE3). A perfusion defect was observed in 21 of 24 patients (88%) with anterior acute myocardial infarction. All but one had TIMI flow grade 0--2 prior to PTCA. Nine of 31 patients (29%) with inferior acute myocardial infarction showed a perfusion defect and all had TIMI flow grade 0-2 prior to PTCA. Restoration of TIMI flow grade 3 was achieved in 73% of the patients by primary PTCA. A reduction in size of the initial perfusion defect of at least one segment (16 segment model) or no defect vs persistent defect in patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction was associated with improved global left ventricular function at 4 weeks; mean global wall motion score index 1.29+/-0.21 vs 1.66+/-0.31 (P=0.009). Multiple regression analysis in patients with an anterior acute myocardial infarction revealed that the extent of the perfusion defect at MCE3 was a significant (P=0.0005) independent predictor for left ventricular recovery at 4 weeks follow-up. The only other independent predictor was TIMI flow grade 3 post PTCA (P=0.007). CONCLUSION Intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography immediately prior to primary PTCA seems safe and is capable of detecting the presence of a perfusion defect and its subsequent dynamic changes, particularly in patients with a first anterior acute myocardial infarction. A significant reduction in size of the initial perfusion defect using serial myocardial contrast echocardiography predicts functional recovery after 4 weeks and these findings underscore the potential diagnostic value of intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography.
Perceived emotional intelligence in nursing: psychometric properties of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To examine the psychometric properties of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale in the nursing context and to determine the relationships between emotional intelligence, self-esteem, alexithymia and death anxiety. BACKGROUND The Trait Meta-Mood Scale is one of the most widely used self-report measures for assessing perceived emotional intelligence. However, in the nursing context, no extensive analysis has been conducted to examine its psychometric properties. DESIGN Cross-sectional and observational study. METHODS A total of 1417 subjects participated in the study (1208 nursing students and 209 hospital nurses). The Trait Meta-Mood Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Death Anxiety Inventory were all applied to half of the sample (n = 707). A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out, and statistical analyses examined the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, as well as its relationship with relevant variables. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the three dimensions of the original scale (Attention, Clarity and Repair). The instrument showed adequate internal consistency and temporal stability. Correlational results indicated that nurses with high scores on emotional Attention experience more death anxiety, report greater difficulties identifying feelings and have less self-esteem. By contrast, nurses with high levels of emotional Clarity and Repair showed less death anxiety and higher levels of self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS The Trait Meta-Mood Scale is an effective, valid and reliable tool for measuring perceived emotional intelligence in the nursing context. Training programmes should seek to promote emotional abilities among nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Use of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale in the nursing context would provide information about nurses' perceived abilities to interpret and manage emotions when interacting with patients.
MRI detects myocardial iron in the human heart

Iron‐induced cardiac dysfunction is a leading cause of death in transfusion‐dependent anemia. MRI relaxation rates R2(1/T2) and R 2* (1/T 2* ) accurately predict liver iron concentration, but their ability to predict cardiac iron has been challenged by some investigators. Studies in animal models support similar R2 and R 2* behavior with heart and liver iron, but human studies are lacking. To determine the relationship between MRI relaxivities and cardiac iron, regional variations in R2 and R 2* were compared with iron distribution in one freshly deceased, unfixed, iron‐loaded heart. R2 and R 2* were proportionally related to regional iron concentrations and highly concordant with one another within the interventricular septum. A comparison of postmortem and in vitro measurements supports the notion that cardiac R 2* should be assessed in the septum rather than the whole heart. These data, along with measurements from controls, provide bounds on MRI‐iron calibration curves in human heart and further support the clinical use of cardiac MRI in iron‐overload syndromes. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.