Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of cervical cerclage on pregnancy outcomes in women following conization

Abstract Objectives: To determine the effect of cervical cerclage on obstetrical complications and perinatal outcomes of patients following conization. Design: A retrospective population based cohort study. Setting: Tertiary academic medical center that covers all the deliveries of the region. Population: All patients with previous cervical conization who delivered between the years 1994–2011. Methods: A retrospective population based study. Main outcome measures: The effect of cerclage placement on the rate of preterm birth. Results: During the study period there were 109 deliveries of patients following a cervical conization. Cervical cerclage was placed in 22 deliveries that served as the study group and the rest (n = 87) served as the comparison group. The rate of early preterm delivery (PTD; <34 weeks) was significantly higher in women who had a cerclage. In a logistic regression model, cerclage was found to be an independent risk factor for early PTD. Conclusion: Cerclage is an independent risk factor for early PTD In patients who had a conization due to CIN.
S Study of the Efficacy of Cysteine Protease Inhibitors Alone or Combined with Praziquantel as Chemotherapy for Mice Schistosomiasis mansoni

This study was designed for assessment of 3 types of Cysteine protease inhibitors (CPIs) fluromethylketone (FMK), vinyl sulfone (VS) and sodium nitro prussid (SNP), to define which of them is the best for curing S. mansoni infection in mice? In vitro, treated S. mansoni adult worms recorded a mortality rate after 1 hr of exposure to 500 ppm of FMK, VS and SNP as 75, 70 and 60%, respectively. FMK+PZQ treatment recorded the maximum reduction in worm burden (97.2% at 5 wk PI). VS treatment alone or combined with PZQ increases IgM, total IgG, IgG2 and IgG4 levels. In EM study, the completely implanted spines were reported in the degenerated tegument of adult worms in all groups treated with CPIs. VS+PZQ Treatment increased Igs levels but, its effect was different on worm reduction. So, it is not enough to eliminate the infection and FMK+PZQ considered the antischistosomicidal drug of choice. Keywords—Praziquantel, fluromethylketone, vinyl sulfone, sodium nitro prussid.
Expression of the immediate early gene, c‐fos, in fetal brain after whole of gestation exposure of pregnant mice to global system for mobile communication microwaves

Aims: To study immediate early gene, c‐fos, expression as a marker of neural stress after whole of gestation exposure of the fetal mouse brain to mobile telephone‐type radiofrequency fields. Methods: Using a purpose‐designed exposure system at 900 MHz, pregnant mice were given a single, far‐field, whole body exposure at a specific absorption rate of 4 W/kg for 60 min/day from day 1 to day 19 of gestation. Pregnant control mice were sham‐exposed or freely mobile in a cage without further restraint. Immediately prior to parturition on gestational day 19, fetal heads were collected, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and paraffin embedded. Any stress response in the brain was detected by c‐fos immunohistochemistry in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, hippocampus, midbrain, cerebellum and medulla. Results: c‐fos expression was of limited, but consistent, neuroanatomical distribution and there was no difference in immunoreactivity between exposed and control brains. Conclusion: In this animal model, no stress response was detected in the fetal brain using c‐fos immunohistochemistry after whole of gestation exposure to mobile telephony.
Persistent intestinal neuromuscular dysfunction after acute nematode infection in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Although most acute enteric infections in humans resolve, some herald the onset of chronic symptomatology and persistent gastrointestinal dysfunction--so-called postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome. This entity is poorly understood, and there are no animal models for testing hypotheses. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in intestinal neuromuscular function during and after recovery from acute intestinal inflammation due to primary Trichinella spiralis infections in NIH Swiss mice. METHODS Morphometric scores and myeloperoxidase activity were used to monitor mucosal inflammation. Neuromuscular function was assessed in vitro by pharmacological or electrical stimulation of longitudinal muscle. RESULTS Acute inflammation resulted in an approximately 50% reduction of villus height, an approximately 50% increase in crypt depth, and a threefold increase in myeloperoxidase activity. Carbachol- and KCl-induced contractions of longitudinal muscle were also increased threefold, whereas contraction induced by electrical field stimulation of intramural nerves was decreased by 60%. Mucosal morphology and myeloperoxidase activity rapidly returned to control values, but the increased muscle contractility and the decreased excitatory neurotransmission persisted as long as 42 and 28 days after infection, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These findings show that transient mucosal inflammation alters enteric neuromuscular function; this alteration persists after recovery from the infection and mucosal restitution.
SWM1, a Developmentally Regulated Gene, Is Required for Spore Wall Assembly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is followed by encapsulation of haploid nuclei within multilayered spore walls. Formation of this spore-specific wall requires the coordinated activity of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of its components. Completion of late events in the sporulation program, leading to spore wall formation, requires the SWM1 gene.SWM1 is expressed at low levels during vegetative growth but its transcription is strongly induced under sporulating conditions, with kinetics similar to those of middle sporulation-specific genes. Homozygous swm1Δ diploids proceed normally through both meiotic divisions but fail to produce mature asci. Consistent with this finding, swm1Δ mutant asci display enhanced sensitivity to enzymatic digestion and heat shock. Deletion ofSWM1 specifically affects the expression of mid-late and late sporulation-specific genes. All of the phenotypes observed are similar to those found for the deletion of SPS1 orSMK1, two putative components of a sporulation-specific MAP kinase cascade. However, epistasis analyses indicate that Swm1p does not form part of the Sps1p-Smk1p-MAP kinase pathway. We propose that Swm1p, a nuclear protein, would participate in a different signal transduction pathway that is also required for the coordination of the biochemical and morphological events occurring during the last phase of the sporulation program.
Glucocorticoids in the treatment of rheumatic diseases: an update on the mechanisms of action.

Six years after we published our first article on the mechanisms of action of glucocorticoids (GCs) (1), there is already a need for an update. GCs are superior to many drugs in terms of the number of patients treated, the variety of potential uses, and the experience with treatment in humans. They still represent the most important and most frequently used class of antiinflammatory drugs, and their therapeutic use has risen continuously in recent years (2). About 10 million new prescriptions for oral GCs are written each year in the US alone (2). They are the silent companions of rheumatologists, and it is impossible to imagine therapy— especially oral therapy, but intravenous and intraarticular as well—without them. From community survey data, the frequency of oral GC use has been estimated to be 0.5% of the general population and 1.75% of women over the age of 55 years (3,4). Between 56% and 68% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are treated more or less continuously with GCs (5–8). GCs are relatively inexpensive drugs, but it is the sheer volume used that is significant overall; the total market size is believed to be about 10 billion US dollars per year (2). Our understanding of the actions of GCs has also greatly increased in the last few years. In this review, we report on recent insights relating to 1) signaling, transcription processes, and gene expression as induced, inhibited, and/or modified by the interaction of GCs with their cytosolic receptors, 2) relationships between dosages and plasma levels, 3) membrane-bound GC receptors (GCRs), and 4) new (glucocorticoid) drugs on the horizon. These data support the modular concept we proposed in 1998 (1), and so this update follows the same structure.
Low‐cost, high‐throughput, automated counting of bacterial colonies

Research involving bacterial pathogens often requires enumeration of bacteria colonies. Here, we present a low‐cost, high‐throughput colony counting system consisting of colony counting software and a consumer‐grade digital camera or document scanner. We demonstrate that this software, called “NICE” (NIST's Integrated Colony Enumerator), can count bacterial colonies as part of a high‐throughput multiplexed opsonophagocytic killing assay used to characterize pneumococcal vaccine efficacy. The results obtained with NICE correlate well with the results obtained from manual counting, with a mean difference of less than 3%. NICE is also rapid; it can count colonies from multiple reaction wells within minutes and export the results to a spreadsheet for data processing. As this program is freely available from NIST, NICE should be helpful in bacteria colony enumeration required in many microbiological studies, and in standardizing colony counting methods. Published 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Early assessment of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function in patients with congenital hypothyroidism of central origin.

CONTEXT Early recognition of gonadotropic dysfunction could enable well-timed growth and maturation and prevent damage to gonads and external genitalia. The adaptation of the Dutch neonatal screening program for congenital hypothyroidism in the mid 1990s resulted in enhanced detection of congenital hypothyroidism of central origin (CH-C), with high likelihood of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency, including gonadotropin (Gn) deficiency. OBJECTIVE We analyzed GnRH test results and baseline Gn and sex hormone measurements in 15 infants with CH-C to examine these diagnostic tools for assessment of the integrity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis in young infants. DESIGN In a nationwide prospective study (1994-1996), patients were referred to our department if neonatal CH screening results were indicative of CH-C. When CH-C was confirmed, GnRH tests and baseline Gn and sex hormone measurements took place at the age of 3 months, when euthyroid status had been accomplished by T4 supplementation, and if necessary, cortisol supplementation was installed. SETTING The study took place at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam (referral center). PATIENTS The study included 15 neonates (five girls and 10 boys) with CH-C, detected by neonatal screening, in whom investigation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis could be performed at 3 months of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Results of GnRH tests and baseline Gn and sex hormone measurements were assessed. RESULTS GnRH tests at 3 months of age showed a pattern indicative of endogenous GnRH stimulation in nine infants and a blunted response in six. Baseline Gn and sex hormone concentrations except estradiol (P = 0.053) were significantly different between responders and nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS The GnRH test and baseline measurements of Gn and sex hormone serum concentrations at 3 months of age are promising options in the assessment of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function in infants with CH-C of both sexes.
Family Poverty Affects the Rate of Human Infant Brain Growth

Living in poverty places children at very high risk for problems across a variety of domains, including schooling, behavioral regulation, and health. Aspects of cognitive functioning, such as information processing, may underlie these kinds of problems. How might poverty affect the brain functions underlying these cognitive processes? Here, we address this question by observing and analyzing repeated measures of brain development of young children between five months and four years of age from economically diverse backgrounds (n = 77). In doing so, we have the opportunity to observe changes in brain growth as children begin to experience the effects of poverty. These children underwent MRI scanning, with subjects completing between 1 and 7 scans longitudinally. Two hundred and three MRI scans were divided into different tissue types using a novel image processing algorithm specifically designed to analyze brain data from young infants. Total gray, white, and cerebral (summation of total gray and white matter) volumes were examined along with volumes of the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Infants from low-income families had lower volumes of gray matter, tissue critical for processing of information and execution of actions. These differences were found for both the frontal and parietal lobes. No differences were detected in white matter, temporal lobe volumes, or occipital lobe volumes. In addition, differences in brain growth were found to vary with socioeconomic status (SES), with children from lower-income households having slower trajectories of growth during infancy and early childhood. Volumetric differences were associated with the emergence of disruptive behavioral problems.
climate-mediated extinction wild populations : depressed recruitment and increased risk of Impact of naturally spawning captive-bred Atlantic salmon on Supplementary data tml

Supplementary data tml http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing. org/content/suppl/2009/07/29/rspb.2009. 0799.DC1. h "Data Supplement" References ml#ref-list-1 http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing. org/content/early/2009/07/29/rspb.2009. 0799.full. ht This article cites 42 articles, 14 of which can be accessed free P<P Published online 29 July 2009 in advance of the print journal. This article is free to access Subject collections (915 articles) evolution  (780 articles) ecology  Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections
Promoter interactions in retrovirus vectors introduced into fibroblasts and embryonic stem cells

The activity of the Moloney murine leukemia virus promoter is restricted in mouse embryonic stem cells. Gene expression with retrovirus vectors can be achieved in these cells if internal promoters are used. To address the possible influence of the viral enhancer sequences on expression from the internal promoter, we have constructed high-titer, self-inactivating retrovirus vectors which delete viral regulatory sequences upon integration in the host genome. We show that deleting most of the viral enhancer sequences has no significant effect on viral titer. This enhancer deletion leads to either an increase or a decrease in the amount of RNA transcribed from the internal promoter, but no consistent change can be found with any type of vector. The same changes in expression from the internal promoter observed in embryonic stem cells are also observed in 3T3 fibroblast cells, in which the viral promoter is active. These results indicate that viral regulatory elements influence expression from an internal promoter independently of expression from the virus promoter.
Friction in modern total hip arthroplasty bearings: Effect of material, design, and test methodology

The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of a group of variables on frictional torque generated by acetabular components as well as to understand the influence of test model. Three separate test models, which had been previously used in the literature, were used to understand the effect of polyethylene material, bearing design, head size, and material combinations. Each test model differed by the way it simulated rotation of the head, the type of frictional torque value it reported (static vs. dynamic), and the type of motion simulated (oscillating motion vs. continuous motion). It was determined that not only test model may impact product ranking of fictional torque generated but also static frictional torque may be significantly larger than a dynamic frictional torque. In addition to test model differences, it was discovered that the frictional torque values for conventional and highly cross-linked polyethylenes were not statistically significantly different in the more physiologically relevant test models. With respect to bearing design, the frictional torque values for mobile bearing designs were similar to the 28-mm diameter inner bearing rather than the large diameter outer liner. Testing with a more physiologically relevant rotation showed that frictional torque increased with bearing diameter for the metal on polyethylene and ceramic on polyethylene bearings but remained constant for ceramic on ceramic bearings. Finally, ceramic on ceramic bearings produced smaller frictional torque values when compared to metal on polyethylene and ceramic on polyethylene groups.
Contributions from Self-Renewal and Trafficking to the Uterine NK Cell Population of Early Pregnancy1

Uterine NK (uNK) cells are abundant in human and murine uteri during decidualization. It is unclear whether precursors of uNK (pre-uNK) cells self-renew or are recruited from other sites. To assess self-renewal of pre-uNK cells, uterine segments from NK cell-competent mice were grafted orthotopically into NK/uNK cell-deficient or wild-type mice. Only in wild-type recipients did decidualized grafts contain uNK cells, indicating that pre-uNK cells do not self-renew in uterus. To identify pre-uNK cell sources, thymus, bone marrow, lymph node, or spleen cells were grafted from virgin or pregnant NK cell-competent donors into mated NK/uNK cell-deficient recipients. Cells from secondary lymphoid tissues of pregnant donors gave high level uNK cell reconstitution, which was independent of chemokine receptors CCR2 or CCR5. Pregnancy-induced changes to lymphocyte-endothelial cell interactions were documented using adhesion of human lymphocytes to frozen mouse tissue sections under shear. A dynamic increase was observed in L-selectin- and α4 integrin-dependent adhesion of CD56bright NK cells to decidualizing uterus and in human PBL adhesion to lymph node endothelium. These data support a model that attributes the dramatic increases in human and murine uNK cells during decidualization to precursor cell recruitment.
The SLUGGS survey: probing the supermassive black hole connection with bulges and haloes using red and blue globular cluster systems

Understanding whether the bulge or the halo provides the primary link to the growth of supermassive black holes has strong implications for galaxy evolution and supermassive black hole formation itself. In this paper, we approach this issue by investigating extragalactic globular cluster (GC) systems, which can be used to probe the physics of both the bulge and the halo of the host galaxy. We study the relation between the supermassive black hole masses (MBH) and the GC system velocity dispersions (σ GC) using an updated and improved sample of 21 galaxies. We exploit the dichotomy of GC system colours, to test if the blue and red GCs correlate differently with black hole mass. This may be expected if they trace the potentially different formation history of the halo and of the bulge of the host galaxy, respectively. We find that MBH correlates with the total GC system velocity dispersion, although not as strongly as claimed by recent work of Sadoun & Colin. We also examine the MBH−σ GC relation for barred/barless and core/non-core galaxies, finding no significant difference, and for the first time we quantify the impact of radial gradients in the GC system velocity dispersion profile on the MBH−σ GC relation. We additionally predict MBH in 13 galaxies, including dwarf elliptical galaxies and the cD galaxy NGC 3311. We conclude that our current results cannot discriminate between the bulge/halo scenarios. Although there is a hint that the red GC velocity dispersion might correlate better with MBH than the blue GC velocity dispersion, the number statistics are still too low to be certain.
Regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis: effect of glucose on activities of various glycolytic enzymes

Catabolism of carbohydrates has been implicated in the regulation of aflatoxin synthesis. To characterize this effect further, the activities of various enzymes associated with glucose catabolism were determined in Aspergillus parasiticus organisms that were initially cultured in peptone-mineral salts medium and then transferred to glucose-mineral salts and peptone-mineral salts media. After an initial increase in activity, the levels of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, mannitol dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase were lowered in the presence of glucose. Phosphofructokinase activity was greater in the peptone-grown mycelium, but fructose diphosphatase was largely unaffected by carbon source. Likewise, carbon source had relatively little effect on the activities of pyruvate kinase, malic enzyme, isocitrate-NADP dehydrogenase, and isocitrate-NAD dehydrogenase. The results suggest that glucose may, in part, regulate aflatoxin synthesis via a carbon catabolite repression of NADPH-generating and tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes.
Prediction of Clearance in Humans from In Vitro Human Liver Microsomes and Allometric Scaling. A Comparative Study of the Two Approaches

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the predicted clearance of a drug in humans from in vitro human liver microsomes was comparable with the predicted clearance in humans obtained by allometric scaling. Sixteen drugs were randomly selected from the literature and their hepatic clearances were predicted using human liver microsomes. For allometric scaling at least three animal species were used and three methods were utilized to generate allometric equations to predict the clearance in humans: (i) clearance vs body weight (simple allometry); (ii) product of the clearance and maximum life-span potential (MLP) vs body weight; and (iii) the product of clearance and brain weight vs body weight. The choice of one of the methods was based on the 'rule of exponents' as described by Mahmood and Balian /2,3/. The results of this study indicated that the use of human liver microsomes to predict hepatic clearance in humans may not provide reliable predictions. On the other hand, the prediction of clearance in humans using allometric scaling combined with the 'rule of exponents' can provide comparatively better prediction of clearance in humans.
Carcinonemertes regicides n . sp . ( Nemertea ) , a symbiotic egg predator from the red king crab , Paralithodes camtschatica ( Decapoda : Anomura ) , in Alaska

SHIELDS, J. D. , WICKHAM, D. E. , and KURIS, A. M. 1989 . Carcinonemertes regicides n.sp. (Nemertea), a symbiotic egg predator from the red king crab, Paralithodes camtschatica (Decapoda : Anomura), in Alaska. Can . J . Zool . 67 : 923-930 . A symbiotic nemertean worm, Carcinonemertes regicides n.sp . , found on red king crabs, Paralithodes camtschatica, is described and compared with other members of the genus Carcinonemertes . The family Carcinonemertidae Humes, 1942 is emended to include this species and to include known but as yet undescribed members . The following familial characters are considered diagnostic : (i) symbiotic relationship with a decapod crustacean, (ii) short proboscis, (iii) absence of cerebral organs, (iv) presence of Takakura's duct, and (v) a hoplonemertean larva . The new species of Carcinonemertes has a relatively large basis and stylet, a large anterior proboscis chamber, and a newly described flame cell pattern of 2[(1 + 1 + 1 + 1)] . In addition, at maturity it is the smallest member of the genus (typical adult size is 2 .0 mm in length), and female worms bear ovarian pores before oviposition . The above characters distinguish this species from others in the genus .