Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sequence analyses and antigenic epitope mapping of the putative RNA-directed RNA polymerase of five U.S. bluetongue viruses.

We determined the complete nucleotide sequences of the cognate L1 double-stranded RNA segments of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes 2, 11, 13, and 17, which encode the putative RNA-directed RNA polymerase VP1. Each L1 gene contained 3944 nucleotides and was 10 bases shorter than the previously reported L1 gene of BTV 10. A single open reading frame which could encode the reported VP1 protein, 1302 amino acids in size, began with an initiation codon at nucleotides 12-14 and a termination codon at nucleotides 3918-3920. Analyses of the nucleotides of L1 genes and the deduced amino acid sequences of VP1 proteins of the five U.S. BTV serotypes indicated that the most recently isolated BTV-2 serotype from Florida was more distantly related than BTV-10, 11, 13, and 17, which were isolated primarily in the western U.S.A. The results are consistent with our hypothesis that BTVs-10, -11, -13, and -17 are derived from a single and common gene pool, and that BTV-2 belongs to a second, distinct gene pool. These genetic distinctions also reflected well with the known geographic distribution of the five U.S. BTV serotypes in North America. This putative RNA-directed RNA polymerase (149 KDa) was a basic protein, and the deduced amino acid sequences of the VP1 proteins contained seven highly conserved hydrophobic domains and many other sequence motifs which were also found in other known RNA polymerases. Four immunodominant but linear antigenic epitopes conserved among the VP1 of five U.S. BTVs were also been identified and mapped using monospecific oligoclonal antibodies.
The role of lymphoid tissue inducer cells in splenic white pulp development

CD4+CD3– lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells are crucial for the development and organisation of lymph nodes and gut associated lymphoid tissues. In this report, we characterise their appearance in the developing spleen and highlight their importance in relation to the development of splenic T cell zones. LTi cells were detected in embryonic spleen from embryonic day 13, although their progenitors were present at embryonic day 12. These cells clustered initially around splenic blood vessels in a lymphotoxin (LT)‐independent manner, but up‐regulation of VCAM‐1 expression on stromal cells associated with the blood vessels was LT dependent. After birth, T cell colonisation of these clusters to form nascent white pulp areas was also LT dependent. Transfer experiments reconstituting RAG–/– mice with either WT or LTα–/– splenocytes demonstrated that lymphocyte expression of LT was not essential for the organisation of a discrete CD3+ T cell zone with localised podoplanin and CCL21 expression. Our studies indicate that a combination of LT signals from LTi cells and LT‐independent signals from lymphocytes is sufficient for expression of podoplanin and CCL21 on splenic T cell zone stroma and subsequent T cell organisation.
The value of bacteriology and serology in the diagnosis of cellulitis and erysipelas

Patients diagnosed as suffering from erysipelas or cellulitis were subjected to bacteriological and serological investigations. The serological tests used included the anti‐streptolysin O reaction (ASO), the anti‐deoxyribonuclease B test (ADB) and the anti‐hyaluronidase tests (AHT) that are specific both for the group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) and for the human pyogenic streptococci of group C or group G. Antibody tests to the α‐lysin and the nuclease of Staphylococcus aureus were also employed. Conventional bacteriological culture methods were used plus needle aspiration of injected saline in most patients with erysipelas, but recognized pathogens were isolated in only 42% of cases. Our results indicate the limitations of these tests for making initial diagnoses and deciding treatment. Serial serological testing was very successful in differentiating cellulitis due to group A, C or G haemolytic streptococci, or occasionally Staphylococcus aureus, but was positive in only 40% of cases of erysipelas.
[Isolation and experimental transmission of Sarcocystis moulei Neveu-Lemaire, 1912].

Of 44 several years old goats slaughtered in Kabul/Afghanistan 16 proved to be infected ith Sarcocystis moulei. The large white cysts measuring 2-16 x 1-9 mm were found exclusively in oesophageal muscle tissues of the animals. A total of 4 million sporocysts were harvested from mucosal scrapings of the small intestines of two young cats which had been killed 11 or 14 days after being fed with S. moulei-containing oesophagi of those goats. For transmission experiments in Berlin 11 kids from a S. moulei-free goat breeding as well as 5 Sarcocystis-free cats were used. In a preliminary experiment 3 young goats were orally inoculated with 200 or 2000 sporocysts from Kabul. In further consecutive trials each of the 8 remaining kids received 1000 sporocysts, which were isolated from the intestines of cats after feeding them S. moulei-cysts from successfully infected goats of the first experiment in Berlin. No cysts could be detected in oesophageal muscle tissues of two goats which were slaughtered 4 or 6 months after sporocyst application. Also no sporocysts were excreted by two cats which were fed with the oesophagi of those two animals. In oesophageal muscle tissues of the 9 remaining goats, which were slaughtered 19, 25, 43, 44, 59 or 86 months after infection, 17 to 140 macroscopically visible cysts of S. moulei were found. A definite correlation between age and size of cysts was observed. 19 months p.i. cysts measured 1-2 x 0.5-1 mm, at 43 or 44 months p.i. they were already 1-8 x 1-4 mm, and finally 86 months p.i. they reached a size of 7-13 x 5-8 mm. In H.E. stained histological sections cysts appeared to be subdivided into honeycomb like chambers by very prominent septae. In smaller cysts all chambers were filled with sickle shaped cystozoites, whereas in larger cysts only the chambers at the periphery contained cystozoites. Groups of metrocytes were seen within the cyst groundsubstance at the periphery of cysts indicating further growth, even of very large cysts. Cyst walls measured up to 10 microns in thickness and were composed of a primary and a secondary cyst wall. The thin primary cyst wall was folded irregularly to give cauliflower like protrusions, which were up to 4.4 microns high. The parasitized host cell formed a thick surrounding layer of 6 to 7.5 microns, which was covered by a 2 to 2.5 microns thick layer of connective tissue. All three cats which were fed with S. moulei-cysts in Berlin excreted S. moulei-sporocysts with their faeces. Prepatency was 10 days. A total of 100 sporocysts measured 11.6-13.1 x 8.7-9.4 microns.
Markers of arterial stiffness in a sample of Lebanese subjects with Grade I essential hypertension

Objectives: Arterial stiffness is becoming a major global condition associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems and death. Several markers have been linked to arterial stiffness. Methods: To determine and evaluate these relations, anthropometric parameters (weight, height, and pulse rate), biochemical profile, and central and peripheral indices of arterial function were measured in 114 Lebanese subjects with Grade I essential hypertension. Results: Age was associated with a higher pulse wave velocity (p = .001), central systolic blood pressure (p = .013), central pulse pressure (p = .028), central augmentation index (p ≤ .0001) with a lower heart rate (p = .08), and glomerular filtration rate (p = .019). Pulse wave velocity was found to be higher in older subjects (>65 years) and correlated with higher body mass index (r = .85) independent of age. Aging also correlated with higher plasma glucose and alterations in calcium–phosphorus metabolism. Conclusion: Aging is associated with increased arterial stiffness which is reflected by an increase in the pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, central pulse pressure, and central systolic blood pressure with a reduction in heart rate. Also, a higher body mass index and a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) are associated with increased arterial stiffness while calcium and phosphorus metabolism may play a role by promoting vascular calcification.
Individual differences in game motivation as moderators of preprogrammed strategy effects in prisoner's dilemma.

The impact of three programmed strategies (tit-for-tat, 100% cooperation, and 100% defection) on cooperation level in the Prisoner's Dilemma game is examined as a function of the subject's motivational orientation (cooperative, competitive, or individualistic). Motivational orientation was assessed on the basis of each subject's choices across four classes of decomposed games. Following this assessment, subject's played 30 trials of Prisoner's dilemma in matrix form against one of the above-mentioned strategies. Results were wholly consistent with predictions, showing that (a) cooperatively oriented subjects cooperate with a tit-for-tat and a 100% cooperative strategy, but defect against a 100% defecting strategy, (b) competitive subjects defect against all three strategies; and (c) individualistic subjects defect against both 100% cooperative and 100% defective strategies, but they cooperate with a tit-for-tat strategy. It appears reasonable to conclude that the outcomes of a Prisoner's Dilemma have affectively different meaning (i.e., values) for subjects of differing orientations, and that subjects of all three orientations adopt strategies that effectively maximize their particular type of reward in the game.
Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin-Based Combination Chemotherapy as Salvage Treatment in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objectives:Effective chemotherapy with the least toxicity is important for patients with inoperable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Single use of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin has been reported to be safe and effective with varying treatment response. The authors evaluate its activity in combination with capecitabine or gemcitabine as salvage therapy in these patients. Methods:At first, intravenous administration of 30 mg/m2 pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for 60 minutes on day 1, with oral capecitabine 1500 mg twice daily from day 1 to day 14 every 4 weeks (trial A) was conducted. Following unfavorable results, a second trial (trial B) was performed to subsequent patients with the same pegylated liposomal doxorubicin schedule, but in combination with 1000 mg/m2 gemcitabine over 30 minutes on day 1 and day 8, followed by a 2-week rest. Results:Both trials showed no objective response, with 2 patients with stable disease in each trial. In trial A, the disease control rate of all evaluative patients (complete response + partial response + stable disease) and progression-free survival of 2 responders were 20%, 164 days and 240 days versus 22%, 75 days and 73 days in trial B. The median overall survival for all patients in trials A and B were 161 days and 84 days respectively. Generally, toxicities were well managed without toxic death. Conclusion:Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-based combination chemotherapy with capecitabine or gemcitabine was not effective as salvage therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Further effective systemic chemotherapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma is warranted.
From Genes to Genomes: Beyond Biodiversity in Spain’s Rio Tinto

Spain’s Rio Tinto, or Red River, an example of an extremely acidic (pH 1.7–2.5) environment with a high metal content, teems with prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial life. Our recent studies based on small-subunit rRNA genes reveal an unexpectedly high eukaryotic phylogenetic diversity in the river when compared to the relatively low prokaryotic diversity. Protists can therefore thrive in and dominate extremely acidic, heavy-metal-laden environments. Further, because we have discovered protistan acidophiles closely related to neutrophiles, we can hypothesize that the transition from neutral to acidic environments occurs rapidly over geological time scales. How have these organisms adapted to such environments? We are currently exploring the alterations in physiological mechanisms that might allow for growth of eukaryotic microbes at acid extremes. To this end, we are isolating phylogenetically diverse protists in order to characterize and compare ion-transporting ATPases from cultured acidophiles with those from neutrophilic counterparts. We predict that special properties of these ion transporters allow protists to survive in the Rio Tinto.
Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus infections in a family medicine clinic.

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antibody in a general medical practice setting and to assess the frequency of subclinical infection. DESIGN Prevalence study. SETTING A family practice clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle. PARTICIPANTS Five hundred randomly selected patients between the ages of 18 and 45 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Serum samples were tested by Western blot assay to detect the presence of antibody to HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2. Demographic information and clinical history of oral and genital herpes were obtained. RESULTS One hundred fourteen patients (23%) were seropositive for HSV-2 antibody, 277 patients (56%) were seropositive for HSV-1 antibody, 59 patients (12%) were seropositive for both HSV-2 and HSV-1 antibodies, and 163 patients (33%) were seronegative for both. Women were almost twice as likely as men to be seropositive for HSV-2 antibody (28% vs 15%, P < .001). Blacks had the highest rates of HSV-2 antibody seropositivity (60%) compared with whites (20%) and Asians (6%) (P < .001). Other demographic correlates of seropositivity included being older, having fewer years of education, and having public insurance. The specificity of a clinical history of genital herpes or sores for HSV-2 infection was high (99%), but the sensitivity was low (27%). CONCLUSIONS Herpes simplex virus infection is common among patients seeking primary care. Women, blacks, and patients of lower socioeconomic status are most likely to be seropositive for HSV-2 antibody. The high frequency of unrecognized HSV infection has implications for primary care physicians in counseling patients regarding HSV infection and transmission.
Behavior in Prader-Willi syndrome: relationship to genetic subtypes and age.

BACKGROUND Some behavioral features of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are associated with the major genetic subtypes of this disorder. While most agree that those with maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) have a distinctive cognitive and psychiatric profile, findings are more controversial regarding possible differences among persons who vary in paternal deletion size. METHODS Caregivers of 88 persons with PWS aged 5 to 51 years (M = 22 years) were administered measures of problem behavior, compulsivity, hyperphagia, and adaptive skills. The sample was well characterized as having relatively large, Type I (n = 26) or smaller, Type II (n = 29) deletions, or UPD (n = 33). RESULTS No significant behavioral differences were found between the Type I versus Type II deletion groups. Within each genetic subtype, however, differences emerged in how advancing age related to behavior. Although age did not emerge as a significant correlate of behavior in the Type II or UPD groups, in the Type I group age was consistently associated with lower problem behaviors, adaptive skills, and externalizing symptoms. CONCLUSION Although differences between deletion subtypes were not found, significant within-subtype differences emerged in relationships between age and behavior. Negative associations between age and behavior in the Type I group only may relate to non-imprinted genes that are deleted in Type I but not Type II cases, including CYFIP1. Altered expression of CYFIP1 is seen in other developmental disabilities, including 15q disorders, and haploinsufficiency of CYFIP1 in Type I PWS cases may be associated with age-related phenotypic effects. Findings underscore the importance of a life-span perspective in phenotypic research.
Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans among Brazilian Women of Reproductive Age.

INTRODUCTION There are no studies assessing the simultaneous occurrence of Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) in the primary health care in Brazil. Despite different conditions to establishment of each one, the co-detection of both has been reported by some authors in previous studies from other regions. AIM To compare the prevalence of T. vaginalis and C. albicans in correlation with associated variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study conducted in a family health clinic in the Federal District of Brazil, between November 2014 and March 2015. Vaginal swabs were collected from 201 women of the reproductive age selected from women registered at the family health clinic. Minors and pregnant women were excluded. The rates of T. vaginalis and Candida albicans prevalence were evaluated with vaginal pH, the whiff test, sexual practices and other social and demographic variables. Difference between proportions was assessed by Z-Test. RESULTS C. albicans was present in 20% of the women, while 16% of them had T. vaginalis. The simultaneous occurrence of the agents was found in 1.5%. Significant differences were found between prevalence rates for the variables race/skin colour, practice of anilingus and lifetime number of sexual partners. CONCLUSION The prevalence of T. vaginalis exceeds C.albicans among women with higher numbers of sexual partners. The prevalence of C. albicans was higher than T. vaginalis among white women and those who practice active and receptive anilingus. The simultaneous occurrence of the two microorganisms was uncommon.
Comparison of percutaneous versus open surgical techniques for placement of peritoneal dialysis catheter in children: A randomized clinical trial

Background This research compares the outcomes of percutaneous technique and open surgical peritoneal dialysis catheter placement in children. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, between 2010 and 2011,a total of 35 pediatric uremic patients were enrolled and randomized into two study groups. Follow up data included duration of operation (minute), duration of hospitalization (days) and onset time of peritoneal dialysis. Complications were considered as mechanical and infectious. Results: The percutaneous procedure was significantly faster than the open surgical technique (9.5 ± 1.81 versus 27.00 ± 2.61 minutes, p= 0.0001). The onset of dialysis was earlier in percutaneous insertion. There were no cases of hollow viscous perforation, early peritonitis and exit site infection at the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day in both groups. Complications in open surgical group were include wrapped omentum in 4 (23.5%), catheter malposition in 3 (17.6%),delayed exit site infection in 2 (11.7%), Incisional hernia in 1 (5.8%)and hemoperitoneum in 2 (11.7%)cases. Complications in percutaneous insertion group were include catheter malposition and wrapped omentum each in one case. Conclusion: Percutaneous method with secure insertion of the catheter reduced the rate of some complications. Although they were not statistically significant, this technique reduces the time of hospitalization and operation without need to general anesthesia. The onset of dialysis was earlier significantly. Trial registry code: IRCT2013091514670N1
Human anisakiasis transmitted by marine food products.

Seafood-transmitted parasitic diseases represent an emerging area of interest to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Human infections with marine parasites are generally the result of ingesting uncooked seafood products. Over 50 species of helminthic parasites are known to infect humans worldwide. Recently, the number of infections with one of these helminths, the juvenile stage of the marine nematode, Anisakis simplex, has increased in the United States. Raw fish dishes such as lomi lomi salmon and sashimi are known to transmit the parasite to unsuspecting citizens and the most frequently implicated fish in the transmission of this zoonotic disease is the Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). The risk of infection from fishes caught in Hawaiian waters is slight; however, a juvenile Anisakis simplex infected one patient from either locally caught aku or ahi. We report 4 new cases, which brings the total number of known cases in Hawaii to 7. Five of the 7 cases were diagnosed and treated by means of an endoscope and biopsy forceps. Serological profiles are presented in several of these cases. One case represents the first known instance of reinfection; the initial infection occurred 2 years prior. The second infection gave an opportunity to compare the human response to a challenge infection and to investigate the validity of the "double hit" theory. Increased awareness by physicians to the clinical features of this disease is warranted. The zoonotic disease, anisakiasis, should be considered in patients presenting with intense abdominal pain, if these patients admit they have recently eaten raw or undercooked seafoods.
The Influence of Drying on Quantitative Laser Fluorescence and Optical Pathlengths in Incipient Natural Caries Lesions

Drying effects in 14 natural lesions were studied with quantitative light-induced fluorescence and optical pathlength spectroscopy. Results were compared with clinical judgments of the lesion surface and microradiographical characterizations of the lesions. Relative fluorescence and average pathlength decreased as a function of drying time with a decay time ranging from 35.5 to <1 min. Depth and mineral loss correlated with average pathlength total changes (r = –0.79/–0.60, respectively) and poorly with total fluorescence changes (r 0.3). The decay time of the drying process for the relative fluorescence correlated well with a theoretical model based on water diffusion in lesion and surface layer, but only for large decay times. Clinical judgments could not be related to the surface layer properties or the changes in the average pathlength, but were weakly related to the changes in the relative fluorescence. We conclude that (i) fluorescence effects are mostly due to the screening by the lesion of the fluorescence from the dentin and enamel-dentin junction; (ii) water evaporation in lesions conforms to the diffusion laws only in large lesions with low surface layer penetrability; (iii) the evaporation process is controlled by the surface layer only for small surface penetrabilities (≈ 0.1 vol% µm–1).