Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial and temporal changes in myosin heavy chain gene expression in skeletal muscle development.

Seven myosin heavy chains (MyHC) are expressed in mammalian skeletal muscle in spatially and temporally regulated patterns. The timing, distribution, and quantitation of MyHC expression during development and early postnatal life of the mouse are reported here. The three adult fast MyHC RNAs (IIa, IIb, and IId/x) are expressed in the mouse embryo and each mRNA has a distinct temporal and spatial distribution. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrates expression of IIb mRNA by 14.5 dpc, which proceeds developmentally in a rostral to caudal pattern. IId/x and IIa mRNAs are detectable 2 days later. Ribonuclease protection assays demonstrate that the three adult fast genes are expressed at approximately equal levels relative to each other in the embryo but at quite low levels relative to the two developmental isoforms, embryonic and perinatal. Just after birth major changes in the relative proportions of different MyHC RNAs and protein occur. In all cases, RNA expression and protein expression appear coincident. The changes in MyHC RNA and protein expression are distinct in different muscles and are restricted in some cases to particular regions of the muscle and do not always reflect their distribution in the adult.
Polycystic ovary syndrome: a risk for coronary artery disease?

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the literature that was pertinent to cardiovascular risk in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. STUDY DESIGN Medline, Current Contents, and Pub-Med were searched for human studies from the time of our original interest in this issue in 1975 to the present. Only pivotal articles are presented because of page constraints and reference number limits. RESULTS Current literature supports the fact that women with this syndrome have risk factors for premature cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION Large multisite cooperative studies are necessary to evaluate cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates from this syndrome.
Analysis of Enantiomers of Citalopram and Its Demethylated Metabolites in Plasma of Depressive Patients Using Chiral Reverse‐Phase Liquid Chromatography

A stereospecific high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the analysis of the underived enantiomers of citalopram (CIT) and its N-demethylated metabolites in plasma. Using fluorescence detection, the limit of quantification for each enantiomer is 3 ng/ml. CIT N-oxide and the CIT propionic acid derivative are not extracted by the procedure used. Inter- and intraday validations of the method using reverse-phase mode HPLC on separate acetylated β-cyclobond columns showed the sensitivity of this assay to be suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of the enantiomers of these compounds. Plasma levels of the enantiomers and the demethylated metabolites of CIT have been determined during routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in 29 depressive patients treated with varying dosages (20–80 mg/day) of CIT. Concentrations of S-( + )-CIT, which is considered the most potent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) of the CIT and desmethylcitalopram (DCIT) enantiomers, varied between 24–49% (mean ± sd, 35% ± 5%) of the concentrations of total CIT. There were highly significant correlations between S-( + )-CIT and R-( – )-CIT levels (r = 0.866; p < 0.0001) and between S-( + )-DCIT and R-(-)-DCIT (r = 0.932; p < 0.0001). The co-medications seemed to have little influence on enantiomer ratios. These results suggest the need for studies on the relationships between clinical response and plasma levels of CIT enantiomers.
Serum Albumin in Peritoneal Dialysis: Clinical Significance and Important Influences on its Levels

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients tend to have lower serum albumin (SA) levels than those on hemodialysis. Low SA is associated with adverse outcomes in hemodialysis (1). It is not surprising, therefore, that SA has received a great deal of attention in PD. In this review, we will examine: a) the clinical significance of SA levels, b) the conditions which affect SA concentration, and c) interventions which may raise SA in PD.
Geldwäsche - ein europaweit harmonisierter Straftatbestand?

In der Erkenntnis, daß die Organisierte Kriminalität und insbesondere die Betäubungsmittel-Kriminalität international agiert, und in der Annahme, daß die „Triebfeder" dieser Kriminalität nur dann getroffen werden könne, wenn es gelinge zu verhindern, daß sich die Täter die Straftatgewinne sei es für die Begehung neuer Straftaten, sei es im legalen Wirtschaftsverkehr nutzbar machen, ist durch interund supranationale Instrumente ein weltund europaweit harmonisiertes Niveau der materiell-rechtlichen Strafbarkeit der Geldwäsche geschaffen worden. Maßgebend hierfür sind das in Wien geschlossene Übereinkommen der Vereinten Nationen vom 20.12. 1988 gegen den unerlaubten Verkehr mit Suchtstoffen und psychotropen Stoffen (Wiener Übereinkommen), das am 8.11. 1990 in Straßburg ausgelegte Übereinkommen des Europarats über das Waschen, das Aufspüren, die Beschlagnahme und die Einziehung der Erträge aus Straftaten (Europaratsübereinkommen) sowie die Richtlinie 91/308/EWG des Rates der Europäi-
Women's experiences following treatment for gynecologic cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe women's experiences after treatment for gynecologic cancer in relation to psychosocial and physical difficulties and perceptions of the helpfulness of healthcare professionals. DESIGN Descriptive, retrospective, mailed survey. SETTING Women previously treated for gynecologic cancer at a large urban hospital in Queensland, Australia. SAMPLE Eighty-two women of all ages completed the survey. Diagnoses included cervical (45%), uterine (30%), ovarian (20%), and vulvar (4%) cancer. METHODS A self-report questionnaire and elicited demographic/medical data and qualitative data about women's experiences. Researchers also explored subjects' perceptions of the helpfulness of nurses, doctors, and social workers. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Psychosocial and physical difficulties; informational, emotional, and practical support; personal coping strategies. FINDINGS Women described a range of psychosocial difficulties including depression, anxiety, and fear of dying. Physical side effects included fatigue, pain, bladder dysfunction, and vaginal problems. Women most often described emotional support from family members as assisting them to cope with difficulties. The most commonly described personal coping strategy was the use of positive thinking. Descriptions of how healthcare professionals were helpful reflected their roles within the healthcare system. CONCLUSIONS Women's existing social supports may be most important in determining how they cope with gynecologic cancer. Patients may evaluate the assistance provided by healthcare professionals in relation to professional roles. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Nurses are uniquely positioned to provide informational support to patients. However, patients' immediate difficulties and their perceptions of the nurse's role as helper may interfere with this process.
Primary Atypical Carcinoid of the Parietal Pleura Expressing KIT

The author reports an extremely rare case of atypical carcinoid of the pleura expressing KIT. An 81-year-old Japanese man with emphysema was found to have a mass (3×3×2 cm) in the left parietal pleura by various imaging modalities. Video-assisted tumorectomy was performed, but could not excise it completely. Histologically, the tumor was composed of atypical cells arranged in trabecular, ribbon-like, and rosette patterns. Mitotic figures and necrosis were present. The tumor cells were argyrophil. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for pancytokeratins, cytokeratin (CK) 18, chromogranin (focal), p53, KIT, and Ki67 (labeling=17%). In contrast, the tumor cells were negative for CK5/6, CK7, CK19, CK20, CK34&bgr;E12, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, S100-protein, &agr;-smooth muscle actin, desmin, CEA, TTF-1, CDX-2, AFP, HepPar-1, synaptophysin, CD56, CA19-9, CD15, neuron specific enolase, serotonin, CD34, platelet-derived growth factor-&agr;, calretinin, thrombomodulin, WT-1, B72.3, and D2-40. The pathologic diagnosis was atypical carcinoid of the pleura. The patient was examined by whole body computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography, but there were no tumors other than the pleural tumor. Endoscopic examinations including upper and lower gastrointestinal tract revealed no tumors. Therefore, the pleural tumor was thought to be primary. Ten months later, the patient developed metastatic lesions in the vertebular and femoral bones, and died of respiratory failure. Autopsy was not performed. To the best of the author's knowledge, there are no cases of primary carcinoid in the pleura in the English literature. This case is also interesting in that the atypical carcinoid expressed KIT.
Construction of a Bioluminescent Reporter Strain To Detect Polychlorinated Biphenyls

ABSTRACT A bioluminescent reporter strain, Ralstonia eutrophaENV307(pUTK60), was constructed for the detection of polychlorinated biphenyls by inserting the biphenyl promoter upstream of the bioluminescence genes. In the presence of a nonionic surfactant, which enhances the solubility of chlorinated biphenyls, bioluminescence was induced three- to fourfold over background by biphenyl, monochlorinated biphenyls, and Aroclor 1242. The minimum detection limits for these compounds ranged from 0.15 mg/liter for 4-chlorobiphenyl to 1.5 mg/liter for Aroclor 1242.
Detection of antibody to murine cytomegalovirus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and indirect immunofluorescence assays

We have compared murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) antibody determination by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence assay. A comparison of antibody detection with 146 serum samples at a 1:20 dilution showed 100% agreement (60 negatives and 86 positives) between the assays. There was close agreement of endpoint determinations of sera by both methods. After experimental MCMV infection, antibody to MCMV was detected by both assays as early as day 7, and high titers persisted as late as 6 months. In contrast to immunocompetent littermates, athymic nude mice did not develop antibody after infection. Mice lacking antibody detectable by ELISA were susceptible to lethal MCMV challenge. In a survey of animals from five commercial sources, MCMV antibody was not detected unless mice were experimentally infected. MCMV antibody determination by ELISA is a convenient method, comparable to the indirect immunofluorescence assay in sensitivity and specificity.
Modelling the lactation curve of dairy cows using the differentials of growth functions

SUMMARY Descriptions of entire lactations were investigated using six mathematical equations, comprising the differentials of four growth functions (logistic, Gompertz, Schumacher and Morgan) and two other equations (Wood and Dijkstra). The data contained monthly milk yield records from 70 first, 70 second and 75 third parity Iranian Holstein cows. Indicators of fit were model behaviour, statistical evaluation and biologically meaningful parameter estimates and lactation features. Analysis of variance with equation, parity and their interaction as factors and with cows as replicates was performed to compare goodness of fit of the equations. The interaction of equation and parity was not significant for any statistics, which showed that there was no tendency for one equation to fit a given parity better than other equations. Although model behaviour analysis showed better performance of growth functions than the Wood and Dijkstra equations in fitting the individual lactation curves, statistical evaluation revealed that there was no significant difference between the goodness of fit of the different equations. Evaluation of lactation features showed that the Dijkstra equation was able to estimate the initial milk yield and peak yield more accurately than the other equations. Overall evaluation of the different equations demonstrated the potential of the differentials of simple empirical growth functions used in the current study as equations for fitting monthly milk records of Holstein dairy cattle.
Effects of Oral Prasterone (Dehydroepiandrosterone) on Single‐Dose Pharmacokinetics of Oral Prednisone and Cortisol Suppression in Normal Women

This study sought to determine effects of multiple dosing of prasterone (DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone) on the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone and endogenous cortisol secretion. These drugs are likely to be coadministered to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Fourteen normal women (ages 30.1 ± 5.4 years) received single‐dose oral prednisone (20 mg) before and after200 mg/day of oral prasterone for one menstrual cycle (approximately 28 days). Identical assessments, timed to onset of menses, were conducted pretreatment (baseline) and at days 28 and 29 of prasterone treatment and included serum total and free prednisolone, prednisone, DHEA, DHEA‐S (dehydro‐epiandrosterone sulfate), ACTH‐stimulated cortisol, and sex hormones and 24‐hour urine free cortisol. Pharmacokinetic parameters of prednisolone as assessed by Cmax, t1/2, AUC, or serum protein binding were not affected by prasterone. The ACTH‐stimulated plasma cortisol concentrations were mildly reduced, but 24‐hour urine free cortisol excretion was unchanged during prasterone administration. Serum androstenedione and testosterone increased, while no changes in serum estradiol or estrone occurred. The administration of 200 mg oral prasterone produced serum concentrations of DHEA and DHEA‐S significantly greater than endogenous levels. Chronic dosing with 200 mg/day of prasterone did not alter either prednisolone pharmacokinetics or inhibition of cortisol secretion by prednisolone.
Productivity and Time Consumption of Timber Extraction with a Grapple Skidder in Selected Pine Stands

This paper presents the results of the study on work time and productivity of the John Deere 548G-III grapple skidder operating in pine stands on flat terrain. The research covered three types of treatment: late thinning, removal cutting in openings and clear cutting in openings. The average skidding distance was between 120 and 250 m. In the clear-cut stands, a mean duration of a skidding cycle accounted for 12 minutes, while in the thinned ones it was longer, lasting ca. 16 minutes. The investigators performed an estimate of parameters of multiple regression models, which revealed dependences between: Þ duration of skidding cycles and stand conditions, number of logs per load and skidding distance, and Þ productivity achieved in specific skidding cycles and the above-mentioned variables, as well as wood volume per load. The highest productivity within the productive work time of a skidder was recorded in the stand where removal cutting in openings was performed; it exceeded 14 m×h. In other stands, the efficiency was lower, not greater than 9 m×h. However, differences between the productivity achieved within the productive work time and that recorded for the work place time did not exceed 20%, which indicated that skidding operations in the stands under scrutiny were organised properly.
Intracranial hemangioblastomas: an institutional experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS We present our Institutional experience with intracranial hemangioblastomas. SETTINGS AND DESIGN A retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included all patients of intracranial hemangioblastomas admitted in our institution over a period of 11 years from January 1992 through June 2003. RESULTS There were a total of 69 patients (45 males and 24 females). The average age at presentation was 34.5 years. The tumor was located in the cerebellar hemispheres, vermian and brainstem regions in 42 (60%) patients, 19 (28%) patients and 8 (12%) patients, respectively. Hydrocephalus was seen in 48 (69%) patients. Thirty-three patients underwent CSF diversion procedures prior to surgery on the tumor. All except one underwent definitive surgery. The mortality was 8 (11%). Sixty eight patients underwent surgery on the tumor. The follow-up ranged from 1 month to 11 years. Fifteen patients developed recurrent lesions. CONCLUSION Lifelong surveillance is necessary in cases with hemangioblastomas to identify recurrences especially in those patients having VHL syndrome.
Direct ex vivo comparison of the breadth and specificity of the T cells in the liver and peripheral blood of patients with chronic HCV infection

The role of intrahepatic lymphocytes in the control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the pathology associated with it is not understood; most studies of the immunology of this infection use peripheral blood lymphocyte populations. To address this further, we examined in detail the IHL from HCV‐infected patients and controls, focusing on the antigen‐specific CD8+ T lymphocyte component. Individual T cells from needle liver biopsies and peripheral blood were isolated from patients with chronic HCV infection and examined directly ex vivo. We used RT‐PCR spectratyping to compare the breadth of the T cell receptor usage in the liver in comparison with the peripheral blood, and applied MHC class I tetramer technology to investigate the numbers of HCV‐specific CD8+ cells in the two compartments. T cell receptor usage in the liver of HCV‐infected patients was broad, comparable with that in the peripheral blood of the same patients. A much higher proportion of liver CD8+ cells expressed receptors specific for HCV antigens compared with paired peripheral blood CD8+ cells. A greater proportion of the liver tetramer‐positive cells expressed the activation marker CD69, compared with those in the periphery or other CD8+ cells in the liver. In the course of chronic HCV infection, HCV‐specific CD8 cells, which have been recently activated, appear to accumulate specifically in the livers of infected patients but are present in much lower numbers in the peripheral circulation. Further studies are needed to determine the function of these cells and their role in protection and immunopathology.
Lipopolysaccharide impairs endothelial nitric oxide synthesis in rat renal arteries.

BACKGROUND Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation may contribute to hypoperfusion and failure of abdominal organs, including the kidneys during endotoxin or septic shock. In this study, the short-term (2 h) effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on endothelium-dependent vasodilation in rat renal and superior mesenteric arteries were documented. METHODS Rat renal and mesenteric arteries were dissected and exposed in vitro to LPS for two hours. The effects of LPS on vascular reactivity were determined and compared with time-matched controls. Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) release was determined using an NO microsensor in adjacent vessel segments. RESULTS LPS impaired maximal acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in renal arteries (62.5 +/- 8.8% vs. 34.4 +/- 7.5% in controls and LPS-exposed arteries), but not in mesenteric arteries. LPS did not alter the sensitivity of renal arteries to exogenous NO. ACh-dependent vasodilation was abolished after blocking NO synthesis with 10-4 mol/L L-NA in control and LPS-incubated renal arteries. When compared with controls, NO release induced by ACh and the receptor-independent calcium ionophore A23187 was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in LPS-exposed renal segments and was fully abolished in endothelium-denuded segments, indicating that LPS attenuated receptor-dependent as well as receptor-independent endothelial NO release. In contrast, ACh- and A23187-induced NO release was normal in LPS-exposed mesenteric arteries. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that LPS-induced selective impairment of ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat renal arteries is caused by decreased endothelial NO release. This may contribute to the propensity for acute renal failure during septic shock.
Effectiveness for a Sleepiness Test of Pupil Size Estimation During Blink

Pupillary response has been used for an index of sleepiness, but the validity of the index is not clear. In this paper, the influence of blinks on the Pupillary Unrest Index (PUI) and the Power Spectrum Density (PSD) for the frequency range 0 . 1< f < 0.8Hz, as indices of pupil’s instability during a sleepiness test, was examined. To estimate pupil size during blink, a procedure for collecting the clinical data was developed using Support Vector Regression (SVR). The values of PUI increased with experimental time, and the values and deviations of PUI for experimental observation were larger than the ones with SVR estimation. The blink time also increased with experimental time, and there were significant correlation relationships between the value of PUI and blink time. The mean PSD also correlated significantly with blink time. The relationship between pupillary indices and a subjective sleepiness index was not significant, as it was not in other previous works. These results provide evidence that pupillary indices were significantly affected by blink, and they did not reflect sleepiness correctly.
Autophagy-preferential degradation of MIR224 participates in hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis

Autophagy and microRNA (miRNA) are important regulators during cancer cell tumorigenesis. Impaired autophagy and high expression of the oncogenic microRNA MIR224 are prevalent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the relationship between the 2 phenomena remains elusive. In this study, we are the first to reveal that autophagy selectively regulates MIR224 expression through an autophagosome-mediated degradation system. Based on this finding, we further demonstrated that in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC, aberrant autophagy (low autophagic activity) results in accumulation of MIR224 and decreased expression of the target gene Smad4, which leads to increased cell migration and tumor formation. Preferential recruitment of MIR224 into the autophagosome was clearly demonstrated by a) miRNA in situ hybridization under confocal microscopy, and b) immunogold labeling of MIR224 under electron microscopy compared with a ubiquitously expressed microRNA MIRlet7e/let-7. Furthermore, we found that off-label use of amiodarone, an antiarrhythmic agent, effectively suppressed HCC tumorigenesis through autophagy-mediated MIR224 degradation both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, we identified amiodarone as a new autophagy inducer, which may provide an alternative approach in HCC therapy through a novel tumor suppression mechanism.