Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cartilage Destruction Is Partly Induced by the Internal Proteolytic Enzymes and Apoptotic Phenomenon of Chondrocytes in Relapsing Polychondritis

Objective. We analyzed 9 cases by immunohistochemical studies in order to elucidate the mechanisms of cartilage destruction in relapsing polychondritis (RP), which often involves the external auricle and respiratory tract through immunological disorder. Methods. Cartilage tissues were obtained during surgical operations. Cell species in the granulation tissues, especially near the cartilage, were identified by cell-surface markers [CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD45 (LCA), and CD68]. The proteolytic enzymes expressed in the cells in the perichondral granulation and in chondrocytes themselves were analyzed by immunohistochemical studies using anti-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -1, -3, -8, -9, and -13, and cathepsin D, K, L, and elastase antibodies. Apoptosis and nitric oxide (NO), an apoptosis-related factor, were also examined using ApopTag and antinitrotyrosine antibody, respectively. Results. Among cell species that infiltrated in perichondral granulation, LCA, CD68 (monocytes/macrophages), and CD4 cells were dominant in number; MMP-8, MMP-9, and elastase were expressed only in the perichondral granulation; whereas MMP-3 and cathepsin K and L were detected in both chondrocytes and granulations. Out of 9 cases examined, 6 revealed apoptotic cells in excess of 50% of chondrocytes. There was a strong correlation between the number of apoptotic cells and the number of MMP-3-positive (r = 0.83) and cathepsin K-positive cells (r = 0.92). Abundant NO-expressing cells were observed in the chondrocytes in degenerated cartilage, similar to apoptosis. Conclusion. Cartilage destruction in polychondritis is induced not only by perichondral inflammation, but also by intrinsic factors expressed in chondrocytes themselves, including certain kinds of proteolytic enzymes and apoptosis.
Pretransplant IgG Subclasses of Donor-Specific Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies and Development of Antibody-Mediated Rejection

Background. The subclass of IgG antibodies contributes to their capability to activate complement. It is currently unknown whether the pretransplant IgG subclass composition allows distinguishing harmful from presumably irrelevant donor-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (HLA-DSA) detected by single-antigen flow beads (SAFB). Methods. Seventy-four patients transplanted in the presence of HLA-DSA were investigated. HLA-DSA characteristics were not different between patients experiencing antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) (n=40) and patients who did not (n=34) experience AMR. Sera were reanalyzed using SAFB with IgG subclass-specific reporter antibodies. Results. The 74 patients had in total 141 HLA-DSA. IgG1 was the predominant subclass (78%), followed by IgG2 (49%), IgG3 (36%), and IgG4 (20%). When grouped according to the complement-activating capability, only 4 of 74 patients (5%) had exclusively weak/no complement-activating HLA-DSA (i.e., IgG2 and IgG4), 21 of 74 patients (28%) had isolated strong complement-activating HLA-DSA (i.e., IgG1 and IgG3), and 46 of 74 patients (62%) had a mixture of both. There was no difference between the strong complement-activating and the mixture group regarding incidence of AMR (57% vs. 54%; P=0.81), phenotypes of AMR (P=0.70), and death-censored allograft survival at 5 years (78% vs. 78%; P=0.74). Interestingly, patients with exclusively weak/no complement-activating HLA-DSA (n=4) had a numerically lower incidence of AMR (25%) and no allograft loss has occurred yet. Conclusion. In 90% of patients, pretransplant HLA-DSA are composed of isolated strong or a mixture of strong and weak/no complement-activating IgG subclasses. Because outcomes in these two groups were similar, pretransplant IgG subclass analysis is likely not providing substantial value beyond the standard IgG SAFB assay for pretransplant risk stratification.
Eating and Weight/Shape Criticism as a Specific Life-Event Related to Bulimia Nervosa: A Case Control Study

ABSTRACT The present study aims to evaluate the occurrence of life events preceding the onset of eating problems in bulimia nervosa patients. A case-control design was used involving the comparison of 60 female subjects who meet DSM-IV criteria for bulimia nervosa with 60 healthy control subjects and 60 subjects with other psychiatric disorders. The RFI (Fairburn et al., 1998) subset of factors that represent exposure to life events in the 12 months immediately before the development of eating problems was used. Women with bulimia nervosa reported higher rates of major stress, criticism about eating, weight and shape and also a great number of antecedent life events during the year preceding the development of eating problems than the healthy control group. However, when compared with the general psychiatric control group only the exposure to critical comments about weight, shape, or eating emerged as a specific trigger for bulimia nervosa. Our findings support the fact that eating and shape/weight criticism in the year preceding the development of eating disturbance seems to be specifically related to bulimia nervosa.
Processus de judiciarisation carcérale : le droit en prison, une ressource pour les acteurs ?

L'article analyse la place croissante du droit en prison et les manieres dont les acteurs carceraux peuvent l'utiliser. Comment le droit peut-il faire sa place au sein d'une organisation habituee a fonctionner sur le mode de l'opacite et de l'arbitraire ? Les formes de ce processus de judiciarisation sont analysees, en particulier la reconnaissance de droits aux detenus, l'augmentation des recours, la presence en prison d'entrepreneurs du droit. Arme a double tranchant, le droit represente, pour les detenus comme pour les personnels, une ressource qui peut se transformer en risque. L'institution carcerale, dans un contexte de crise de legitimite, est modifiee par le droit, la question etant de savoir jusqu'ou peut aller sa transformation.
Retraimiento sostenido: Un indicador de riesgo en el desarrollo temprano

Este estudio muestra los aportes de una herramienta para la vigilancia del desarrollo psicoemocional temprano, que puede ser incorporada a la practica del pediatra en el primer nivel, favoreciendo una concepcion integral del control de salud. Se realizo la deteccion temprana de indicadores de retraimiento durante la consulta pediatrica con la escala ADBB (Guedeney, 2001/2007) a 67 bebes entre 2 y 14 meses, filmados en cuatro visitas pediatricas durante el ano 2010, en dos centros de salud publica. Se trabajo en dos lineas paralelas. Un pediatra con formacion en ADBB desde el inicio del estudio realizo la consulta de 30 bebes, y en caso de detectar retraimiento realizo intervenciones orientadas a promover nuevos recursos en los padres en la relacion temprana. Otros 37 bebes fueron atendidos en sus controles habituales por nueve pediatras, quienes fueron formados en ADBB y en la implementacion de intervenciones, despues de la segunda consulta videofilmada. Resultados: de los 37 bebes, 40% presentaban retraimiento en la primera evaluacion, 57% en la segunda y despues de la capacitacion (tercera evaluacion), el retraimiento bajo a 13%. En el grupo de 30 bebes, los porcentajes de retraimiento fueron: 7% en la primera evaluacion, 13% en la segunda, 10% en la tercera, y 3% en la cuarta. Conclusion: una perspectiva interdisciplinaria que incluye el desarrollo emocional temprano y el uso de la escala ADBB en la consulta de control en salud, brinda mayores herramientas para realizar detecciones tempranas e intervenciones oportunas desde la atencion primaria, ganando en calidad de atencion. Summary
Hippocampal stem cells differentiate into excitatory and inhibitory neurons

Stem cell technology promises new and rapid advances in cell therapy and drug discovery. Clearly, the value of this approach will be limited by the differentiated functions displayed by the progeny of stem cells. The foetal and adult central nervous system (CNS) harbour stem cells that can be expanded in vitro and differentiate into immature neurons and glia. Surprisingly, we do not know if neurons derived from stem cells form synapses, a definitive feature of neuronal function. Neuronal differentiation is a complex process and in this paper we establish conditions that permit extensive maturation of neurons in the presence of neurotrophins. These conditions permit the differentiation of rat hippocampal stem cells into both excitatory (glutamatergic) and inhibitory (GABAergic) neurons. The proportion of excitatory and inhibitory synapses was strongly influenced by specific neurotrophins, and these responses reflect the region of origin of the stem cells in the brain. These data show that stem cells can be used to study mechanisms of excitation and inhibition in the nervous system.
Signal amplitude limiter based soft distance decoding algorithm for polar codes over impulsive noise channels

In this paper, the BER performance of a soft distance successive cancellation decoder for Polar codes is analyzed in the presence of impulsive noise, modelled using both the Middleton's Class A model and the symmetric alpha-stable model, for impulsive noise channels. This algorithm avoids estimation of the signal-to-noise ratio of the channel, and simplifies the initialization step of the classic successive cancellation decoder for Polar codes. These two simplifications are obtained without any significant loss in BER performance with respect to the classic SC decoder operating over the same channels, as we show by means of BER performance simulations. Impulsive noise is characterized by strong peak amplitude values that are added to the amplitude of the transmitted signal, thus significantly increasing the BER. A simple strategy based on the use of signal amplitude limiters can be used to mitigate this effect. We have applied limiters to both decoders, resulting in significant BER performance improvements.
Investigation of 5‐FU disposition after oral administration of capecitabine, a triple‐prodrug of 5‐FU, using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model in a human cancer xenograft model: comparison of the simulated 5‐FU exposures in the tumour tissue between human and xenograft model

The nonlinear pharmacokinetics of capecitabine, a triple prodrug of 5‐FU preferentially activated in tumour tissues, was investigated in human cancer xenograft models. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model integrating the activation process of capecitabine to 5‐FU and 5‐FU elimination was constructed to describe the concentration/time profiles of capecitabine and its three metabolites, including 5‐FU, in blood and organs. All the biochemical parameters (enzyme kinetic parameters, plasma protein binding and tissue binding of capecitabine and its metabolites) integrated in this model were measured in vitro. The simulated curves for the blood and tumour concentrations of capecitabine and its metabolites can basically describe the observed values. A simple prodrug of 5‐FU, doxifluridine, is known to be activated to 5‐FU to some extent in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, causing diarrhoea, which is the dose limiting side effect of doxifluridine. Consequently, the therapeutic index (the ratio of 5‐FU AUC in the tumour to that in GI) after the administration of effective dose capecitabine was predicted by this PBPK model and found to be five times and 3000 times greater than that of doxifluridine and 5‐FU, respectively. This was compatible with the previous result for the difference in the ratio of the toxic dose to the minimum effective dose between capecitabine and doxifluridine, suggesting that 5‐FU preferentially accumulates in tumour tissue after oral administration of capecitabine compared with the other drugs (doxifluridine and 5‐FU). The 5‐FU AUC in tumour tissue of human cancer xenograft models at the minimum effective dose was comparable with those estimated for humans at the clinical dose. In addition, the predicted therapeutic indices at the respective doses were correlated well between humans and mice (xenograft model). These results suggest that the 5‐FU AUC in human tumour tissue at its clinically effective dose can be predicted based on the PBPK model inasmuch as the 5‐FU AUC in a human cancer xenograft model at its effective dose may be measured or simulated. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary Targets of Fluoroquinolones inStreptococcus pneumoniae

ABSTRACT Mutants of wild-type Streptococcus pneumoniae IID553 with mutations in parC were obtained by selection with trovafloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. All of theparC mutants were cross-resistant to the selecting agents but were not resistant to gatifloxacin and sparfloxacin. On the other hand, gyrA mutants were isolated by selection with gatifloxacin and sparfloxacin. The gyrA mutants were cross-resistant to gatifloxacin and sparfloxacin but were not resistant to the other fluoroquinolones tested. These results suggest that in wild-type S. pneumoniae the primary target of trovafloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin is topoisomerase IV, whereas the primary target of gatifloxacin and sparfloxacin is DNA gyrase.
Prevalence of Pre-hypertension and Hypertension in a sample of Egyptian Adults and its Relation to Obesity

Objective: to study the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in Egyptian adults and its relation to obesity. Subjects and Methods: The blood pressure of 5534 Egyptian subjects was measured (2663 females - 2871 males) aged 20 to 75 years old. They represented different geographic localities and different social classes. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, waist circumferences, and hip circumferences were also measured. Waist to hip ratio and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Fasting blood sugar was tested. Results: The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 49.22 % (54.4 and 43.1 for males and females) and 16.84 %( 18.5% and 15.1% for males and females) respectively. There was a tendency to increase of both prehypertension and hypertension in males as compared to females. The percentages of the hypertensive individuals were increased with age and degree of obesity. Prehypertension was higher in the cases having glucose intolerance, while hypertension was increased mainly in those suffering from diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: High rates of prehypertension and hypertension were observed in the studied Egyptian adults. Overweight/obesity and diabetes are important risk factors for hypertension. Strategies that can enhance public awareness of hypertension and increase access to affordable medications are urgently needed.
Genetics of Heading Time in Wheat (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.). II. the Inheritance of Vernalization Response.

The inheritance of vernalization response was studied in crosses involving four spring wheats (Sonora 64 (S), Pitic 62 (P), Justin (J) and Thatcher (T)) and three winter wheats (Blackhull (B), Early Blackhull (E) and Extra Early Blackhull (EE)). -All winter cultivars were highly responsive to vernalization, and Pitic 62 was the only spring cultivar whose time to heading was significantly accelerated following cold treatments. When vernalized and grown under long days, spring and winter cultivars became comparable in their heading response, indicating that cold requirement is the major attribute differentiating the heading behavior of true spring and true winter wheats. -Inheritance of growth habit in the F(1) generation of a five-parent diallel cross showed dominance of the spring character in all spring x winter crosses. Depending on the cross, one or two duplicate major genes governing growth habit were detected in F(2), F(3) and backcross generations grown in the field under long days in the absence of vernalizing temperatures. In some spring x winter crosses most of the variation in heading time among spring segregates could be attributed to the effects of major genes conditioning growth habit. In other crosses the heading patterns appeared more complex, indicating that genes with smaller effects are also involved in the control of heading response under spring or summer environments. -Evidence was presented supporting the hypothesis that the cultivar Pitic 62 carries a different allele at one of the two major loci governing its spring habit. This allele was associated with some response to vernalization and acted as a dominant gene determining earliness under low temperature vernalization, but as a partially recessive gene determining lateness in the absence of vernalizing temperatures. Genotypes were assigned to five cultivars as follows: S, CC DD; P, CC D'D'; J, cc DD; B and EE, cc dd. -The presence of major and minor genes and of multiple alleles governing response to photoperiod and vernalization was discussed in relation to the genetic manipulation of the heading response and to breeding wheat cultivars with specific or broad adaptation.
“It Is Not Our Reindeer but Our Politicians that Are Wild:”1 Contests over Reindeer and Categories in the Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia

This paper discusses contests over reindeer in the Kola Peninsula, northwest Russia, between Rossel’khoznadzor, an organization representing state interests, and two reindeer herding cooperatives, supported by the local village population. By analyzing the use of diverse categorizations like wild and civilized in the conflict, the paper shows how the state organization tries to revive Soviet configurations of power relations legitimised on the premises that indigenous people occupy a lower level of development and the state is a civilizing force, in order to impose control on and grab reindeer from the herding cooperatives. Finally, one might conjecture that this is also an attempt to gain official recognition of a market ideology at the expense of community and tradition based values. Against this, the cooperatives and the local community oppose their most powerful weapon—symbolic capital, based on the widely spread idea that reindeer herding is the economic, symbolic, and cultural stronghold of the region. “We live and work on the same land, but every one of us tries to take a larger share of our commonnatural resources, and this won’t bring us any good. ” Vasilii Filippov, the Chair of the Lovozero Council of the Veterans of War and Labor (Kondrat’ev 2004)
Biomechanics of a Novel Minimally Invasive Lumbar Interspinous Spacer: Effects on Kinematics, Facet Loads, and Foramen Height

OBJECTIVE To study the alteration to normal biomechanics after insertion of a lumbar interspinous spacer (ISS) in vitro by nondestructive cadaveric flexibility testing. METHODS Seven human cadaveric specimens were studied before and after ISS placement at L1–L2. Angular range of motion, lax zone, stiff zone, sagittal instantaneous axis of rotation (IAR), foraminal height, and facet loads were compared between conditions. Flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation were induced using pure moments (7.5 Nm maximum) while recording motion optoelectronically. The IAR was measured during loading with a 400 N compressive follower. Foraminal height changes were calculated using rigid body methods. Facet loads were assessed from surface strain and neural network analysis. RESULTS After ISS insertion, range of motion and stiff zone during extension were significantly reduced (P < .01). Foraminal height was significantly reduced from flexion to extension in both normal and ISS-implanted conditions; there was significantly less reduction in foraminal height during extension with the ISS in place. The ISS reduced the mean facet load by 30% during flexion (P < .02) and 69% during extension (P < .015). The IAR after ISS implantation was less than 1 mm from the normal position (P > .18). CONCLUSION The primary biomechanical effect of the ISS was reduced extension with associated reduced facet loads and smaller decrease in foraminal height. The ISS had little effect on sagittal IAR or on motion or facet loads in other directions.
Fits, misfits and interactions: learning at work, job satisfaction and job‐related well‐being

The resource-based view (RBV) of the firm has focused attention on the importance of aligning employees’ needs with the requirements of the jobs they do. This article focuses on how these needs and requirements interact in terms of learning. It does so in two ways. First, it develops new survey instruments to capture the learning demands of jobs and the learning dispositions of workers and uses them for the first time in a survey of 2,810 employees. Second, it examines how these person and job characteristics correlate with specific aspects of job satisfaction and job-related well-being. The results show that although learning alignment is associated with high levels of satisfaction and well-being, not all learning misalignments are associated with the reverse.
Lifestyles and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients

Kazuhiko Kotani, Naoki Sakane, Kokoro Tsuzaki, Yukiyo Matsuoka, Yoshiko Sano, Taku Hamada and Kazunori Yamada Division of Preventive Medicine and Diabetes Education, Clinical Research Institute for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan; Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Center for Diabetes, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
Magnetic resonance imaging and neurosphere therapy of stroke in rat

We intracisternally transplanted subventricular zone (SVZ) cells labeled by ferromagnetic particles into stroked rats. Migration of transplanted cells was non‐invasively tracked using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We found that transplanted cells selectively migrated towards the ischemic parenchyma at a mean speed of 65 ± 14.6 μm/hr in living rats. Migration of transplanted cells in the brain was also measured histopathologically. Rats transplanted with SVZ cells exhibited significant improvement of neurological function. Our data suggest that intracisternal transplantation of SVZ cells provides an avenue for cell therapy of stroke and that MRI can be used to track grafted cells in the brain. Ann Neurol 2003
Systemic Chemotherapy with Epirubicin for Treatment of Advanced or Multifocal Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the response rate and effect on survival of chemotherapy with epirubicin in non-resectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Fifty-two patients with non-resectable disease were treated with epirubicin. A treatment cycle consisted of 20 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1, 8 and 15 and was repeated every 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 1,000 mg/m2. Forty-four patients were eligible for analysis. Results: Out of 44 patients, 1 (2.3%) achieved a complete response, 3 (6.8%) had partial responses and 16 (36%) had stable disease (SD). For patients with successful disease control (complete and partial responders and patients with SD), the median survival was 16.2 months; for non-responders, it was 6.1 months (p < 0.003). Eight (88.9%) of 9 patients with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels <50 µg/l achieved successful disease control compared to 12 (34.9%) out of 35 patients with initially elevated AFP (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Epirubicin appears to be an active therapeutic option for patients with non-resectable HCC. Especially the subgroup of patients with low levels of AFP may benefit from this treatment.