Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Traumatic Diaphragmatic Rupture and Associated Thoracic and/or Abdominal Injuries

This is a retrospective review of 731 patients sustaining diaphragmatic trauma over a 22 year period (1980–2002) at an urban level I trauma center. Patients had an average injury severity score (ISS) of 22 ± 12. The mortality rate (MR) was 23 per cent (168/731). There were a total of 460 left-sided diaphragmatic injuries (L-TDR), 263 right-sided diaphragmatic injuries (R-TDR), and 8 bilateral diaphragmatic injuries (B-TDR). There were no significant differences in mortality with L-TDR versus R-TDR. Shotgun wounds had the highest MR (42%) (P = 0.0028). Emergency thoracotomies were performed in 31 per cent (225) with a 62 per cent (140) MR. Bilateral thoracotomies had a significantly higher MR of 85 per cent (33/39) compared to the 58 per cent (107/186) for unilateral thoracotomies (P = 0.0028). Multivariate analysis revealed the most significant independent predictors of mortality to be the revised trauma score, transfusion of pRBCs > 10 units, and need for thoracotomy (P < 0.0001). The infection rate was 41 per cent. Multivariate analysis revealed blunt trauma, blood transfusions, ISS, and pancreatic injury as the most significant independent predictors of infection (P < 0.001). The initial physiologic presentation of the patient and the severity of hemorrhagic shock are the primary determinants for survival. Prompt identification of associated injuries with rapid control of bleeding is paramount to survival.
Acute muscle damage as a stimulus for training-induced gains in strength.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single acute bout of maximal eccentric work upon the strength gains during 9 subsequent weeks of strength training. Eccentric work causes acute muscle damage that may initiate compensatory hypertrophy and enhance training-induced gains in strength. METHODS Twenty-six healthy adults (21 +/- 1 yr, 7 women) trained the elbow flexors 3 d per week for 9 wk. One arm (C) performed purely conventional isotonic training, i.e., lifting and lowering. The other arm (E) began with a single bout of maximal eccentric work but thereafter undertook identical isotonic training. Every week dynamic lifting strength (1 RM) and isometric strength were measured. RESULTS The results indicated that an acute bout of eccentric muscle damage does not accentuate training-induced gains in strength. Isometric strength of arm E fell by 15 +/- 2% (mean +/- SEM) 2 d after the bout of eccentric work, and, 4 d afterward, plasma creatine kinase levels were 1502 +/- 397 IU.L-1. Although arm E displayed rapid gains in strength from 2 d after the bout of eccentric work, these were not sustained, and for several weeks arm E showed significantly smaller gains in strength than arm C (isometric strength, 2 wk; dynamic lifting strength, 5 wk). CONCLUSIONS After 9 wk of training, the gains in both isometric and dynamic lifting strength were similar for the two arms. A single bout of damaging eccentric work did not enhance the response to conventional strength training and significantly compromised strength gains for several weeks.
Étude des relations entre croissance, concentrations en métabolites primaires et secondaires et disponibilité en ressources chez la tomate avec ou sans bioagresseurs

Dans un contexte de limitation de l'utilisation des pesticides, une voie de recherche prometteuse porte sur le determinisme environnemental actionnant les mecanismes de defense de la plante, entre autres, la production de metabolites secondaires. L'objectif de mon travail de these a ete d'etudier le compromis entre croissance et defense (metabolisme primaire vs. secondaire) dans les tissus de la plante saine ou attaquee par differents bioagresseurs, sous differentes conditions de disponibilite en ressources. Pour cela, nous avons mesure differents parametres de croissance, les ratios C/N des tissus, les concentrations en principaux metabolites primaires (glucides simples, amidon) et en composes de defense (acide chlorogenique, rutine, kaempferol-rutinoside et tomatine) dans differents organes de tomate en culture hydroponique en serre ou phytotron. Nous avons observe que les variations des ratios C/N total et de ressources sont positivement correlees a celles de nombreux composes de defense quelle que soit leur composition en N et C. De plus, nous avons montre qu'en presence d'un bioagresseur, les concentrations des composes primaires et secondaires ne suivent pas la meme evolution selon leur nature. La synthese de caffeoyl putrescine est fortement induite lors de l'attaque par P. syringae alors que la concentration en acide chlorogenique est diminuee. L'inoculation de P. syringae reduit les concentrations en glucose et fructose alors que P. corrugata stimule leur synthese. Enfin, nous avons observe qu'une faible disponibilite en azote altere le developpement de P. syringae, P. corrugata et Tuta absoluta mais favorise le developpement de Botrytis cinerea. Nos resultats ont montre que le ratio C/N est un indicateur fiable du compromis croissance/defense dans le cas d'une plante saine. Dans le cas d'une plante attaquee, la repartition des ressources entre les differents metabolites varie en fonction du bioagresseur. Et chaque bioagresseur reagit de facon differente aux variations de disponibilite en azote de la plante. La maitrise des conditions de culture apparait comme un levier agronomique pertinent pour raisonner la lutte contre les bioagresseurs meme s'il est difficile d'appliquer des regles generales sur l'interaction plante/environnement/bioagresseurs
GATA-3 Expression in Trophoblastic Tissues: An Immunohistochemical Study of 445 Cases, Including Diagnostic Utility

Immunohistochemical expression of GATA-3 is seen predominantly in non-neoplastic bladder and breast epithelium and their respective carcinomas; however, data on expression in normal and lesional trophoblastic tissues are limited. Immunohistochemical staining for GATA-3 was assessed in a range of normal/lesional trophoblastic tissues and tumors in the differential diagnosis (n=445), including nonmolar products of conceptions/second and third trimester placentas/ectopic pregnancies, hydatidiform moles, placental site nodules, normal/exaggerated implantation sites, choriocarcinomas, epithelioid trophoblastic tumors, placental site trophoblastic tumors, atypical smooth muscle tumors (including leiomyosarcoma), and cervical and pulmonary squamous cell carcinomas. The extent of expression (0 to 4+) and intensity (weak to strong) were recorded. All cases with developing trophoblast/non-neoplastic trophoblastic proliferation and 81% of trophoblastic neoplasms were positive. Of all non-neoplastic trophoblast cell types, expression was observed in cytotrophoblast in 89% of cases, syncytiotrophoblast in 50%, intermediate trophoblast in 100%, and villous trophoblastic columns in 100%. Increasing gestational age was associated with a decrease in extent/intensity of expression in non-neoplastic cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast, whereas intermediate trophoblast maintained diffuse and strong expression from early to late gestation (P<0.0001). Eighty-nine percent of normal/exaggerated implantation sites showed 3+ or 4+ expression, whereas staining in 55% of placental site nodules was 1+ or 2+. Staining for GATA-3 was present in 78% of choriocarcinomas, 95% of epithelioid trophoblastic tumors, and 71% of placental site trophoblastic tumors. Although the number of choriocarcinomas and placental site trophoblastic tumors that showed a spectrum of expression ranging from negative to diffuse was relatively evenly distributed, 81% of epithelioid trophoblastic tumors had 3+ or 4+ staining. None of the atypical smooth muscle tumors and 3% of squamous cell carcinomas were positive, all of which exhibited weak staining. We conclude that GATA-3 is frequently expressed in normal and lesional trophoblastic tissues. It is also differentially expressed in intermediate trophoblast and cytotrophoblast/syncytiotrophoblast, which varies according to time during pregnancy. This study expands the spectrum of neoplasms known to express GATA-3. Thus, recognition of expression in trophoblastic tumors is important, because it can present a diagnostic pitfall in the assessment of suspected metastatic bladder or breast carcinomas involving the gynecologic tract. In the evaluation of diagnostically problematic tumors for which trophoblastic neoplasms are in the differential diagnosis, such as leiomyosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma, GATA-3 can be included as part of an immunohistochemical panel particularly when other trophoblastic markers are either not available or yield ambiguous results.
The IVADo regimen—A pilot study with ifosfamide, vincristine, actinomycin D, and doxorubicin in children with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma

The role of doxorubicin (Doxo) as part of multidrug regimens used to treat children with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is controversial. To evaluate the feasibility of combining Doxo with the well established ifosfamide, vincristine, and actinomycin D (IVA) regimen, the Italian STS Committee performed a pilot study on a series of children with metastatic STS.
Bulk Acoustic Wave-Mediated Multiferroic Antennas: Architecture and Performance Bound

Time-varying magnetic flux can be induced from the dynamic mechanical strain of acoustic waves in multiferroic devices that are comprised of piezoelectric and magnetostrictive material. Such devices can be used to create electromagnetic radiation and to alleviate the platform effect associated with low-profile conformal antennas. In this paper, a bulk acoustic wave (BAW)-mediated multiferroic antenna structure is proposed. Its potential for efficient radiation of electromagnetic waves is evaluated by analytically deriving the lower bound of its radiation quality factor (Q factor). A one-dimensional (1-D) multiscale finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique is developed to predict the bilateral, dynamic coupling between the acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves. The simulation shows a decaying stress profile in the BAW resonator structure, which implies that the radiation of the electromagnetic waves acts as a damping load to the acoustic resonance. The simulated radiation Q factor matches well with the analytical derivations and the agreement validates both the operating principle of the proposed antenna and the FDTD algorithm developed. The study concludes that efficient antennas may be realized at GHz frequencies with thin film multiferroic material that has thicknesses of the order of 10-5 wavelength.
Respiratory infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children with cystic fibrosis: early detection by serology and assessment of risk factors.

CONTEXT Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are susceptible to lower respiratory tract infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and typically acquire this organism in early childhood. Once P aeruginosa infection is established, eradication may be impossible, and progressive lung disease often aggravates morbidity and mortality risks. The ability to diagnose CF by genetic testing at birth makes it possible to determine the temporal sequence of events that result in P aeruginosa-associated pulmonary infections. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the longitudinal relationship between the production of an antibody response against P aeruginosa and clinical factors associated with P aeruginosa pulmonary infections in patients with CF diagnosed in early life. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Serum samples and oropharyngeal cultures (protocol cultures) were obtained at 6-month intervals from April 15, 1985, to April 15, 2000 (or for up to 180 months depending on their enrollment date) from 68 patients at 2 centers in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis, diagnosed through the Wisconsin CF Neonatal Screening Project, a longitudinal cohort study. Additional cultures were obtained at examining physicians' discretion (all cultures). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Time to serum IgG, IgA, and IgM antibody titer of at least 1:256 against P aeruginosa, assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using cell lysate, exotoxin A, and elastase as antigens; time to organism isolation from respiratory samples; time to Wisconsin Cystic Fibrosis Radiograph (WCXR) score of 5 or more. RESULTS The median time to an antibody titer of at least 1:256 was 17.8, 24.2, and 70.9 months for cell lysate, exotoxin A, and elastase, respectively. The rise of anti-cell lysate and anti-exotoxin A titers to 1:256 or more occurred a mean of 11.9 (P<.001) and 5.6 (P =.04) months, respectively, before the isolation of P aeruginosa for all cultures and 18.2 (P<.001) and 11.9 (P =.006) months, respectively, before protocol cultures. There was no significant difference between the rise of anti-cell lysate and anti-exotoxin A titer and a WCXR score of 5 or more (P =.24 and.32, respectively). Treatment with long-term, non-Pseudomonas oral antibiotics and integration of CF infants with older, chronically infected patients were associated with a significantly increased risk of P aeruginosa pulmonary infection. CONCLUSIONS In CF patients diagnosed through neonatal screening, P aeruginosa pulmonary infections occurred 6 to 12 months before the organism was isolated from respiratory secretions. The longitudinal monitoring of P aeruginosa antibody titers, in concert with WCXR score, should facilitate diagnosis and treatment of P aeruginosa pulmonary infections in young children with CF.
Genetic polymorphism of inosine-triphosphate-pyrophosphatase influences mercaptopurine metabolism and toxicity during treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia individualized for thiopurine-S-methyl-transferase status

Importance of the field: Although genetic polymorphisms in the gene encoding human thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) are known to have a marked effect on mercaptopurine metabolism and toxicity, there are many patients with wild-type TPMT who develop toxicity. Furthermore, when mercaptopurine dosages are adjusted in patients who are heterozygous at the TPMT locus, there are still some patients who develop toxicity for reasons that are not fully understood. Therefore, we recently studied the effects of a common polymorphism in another gene encoding an enzyme involved in mercaptopurine metabolism (SNP rs1127354 in inosine-triphospate-pyrophosphatase, ITPA), showing that genetic polymorphism of ITPA is a significant determinant of mercaptopurine metabolism and of febrile neutropenia following combination chemotherapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in which mercaptopurine doses are individualized based on TPMT genotype. Area covered in this review: In this review, we summarize the knowledge available about the effect and clinical relevance of TPMT and ITPA on mercaptopurine pharmacogenomics, with a particular focus on the use of this medication in pediatric patients with ALL. What the reader will gain: Reader will gain insights into: i) the effects of pharmacogenomic traits on mercaptopurine toxicity and efficacy for the treatment of ALL and ii) individualization strategies that can be used to mitigate toxicity without compromising efficacy in pediatric patients with ALL. Take home message: Mercaptopurine dose can be adjusted on the basis of TPMT genotype to mitigate toxicity in pediatric patients with ALL. As treatment is individualized in this way for the most relevant genetic determinant of drug response (i.e., for mercaptopurine, TPMT), the importance of other genetic polymorphisms emerges (e.g., ITPA).
Karyotype analysis and new chromosome number reports in Silene species (sect. Auriculatae, Caryophyllaceae)

Karyotype study was performed in 13 populations of 11 Silene species (sect. Auriculatae L., Caryophyllaceae) growing in Iran. All the species studied showed 2n = 2x = 24 chromosome number supporting the earlier report on S. meyeri, while the chromosome number of S. palinotricha, S. sojakii, S. gertraudiae, S. elymaitica, S. pseudonurensis, S. dschuparensis, S. eriocalycina, S. araratica, S. prilipkoana and S. commelinifolia are new to science. The chromosomes were mainly metacentric or sub-metacentric and their size varied from 1.10 μm in S. pseudonurensis to 7.11 μm in S. dschuparensis. The species studied differed significantly in the total size of the chromosomes, the size of the short arms and the long arms, indicating the role of quantitative genomic changes in the Silene species diversification. They also differ in their karyotype formulae indicating the occurrence of structural changes in their chromosomes. The Silene species were placed in 1A, 2A, 1B and 2B classes of Stebbins karyotype symmetry showing symmetrical karyotypes. Clustering of the species based on karyotype features grouped the species of S. palinotricha, S. prilipkoana, S. commelinifolia, S. eriocalycina, S. meyeri, S. araratica and S. Sojakii together while the species of S. gertraudiae and S. elymaitica showed more similarity and were placed close to each other.
Diminished production of anti‐inflammatory mediators during neutrophil apoptosis and macrophage phagocytosis in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)

Genetic defects in the phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)‐oxidase enzyme system result in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). In addition to recurrent, life‐threatening infections, patients with CGD frequently present with sterile inflammatory complications, suggesting that NADPH‐oxidase deficiency predisposes to these responses in the absence of persistent microbial infection. The mechanisms involved in the aberrant, inflammatory process are unknown. In this study, we have shown that neutrophils isolated from CGD patients, which are more resistnt to spontaneous apoptosis in vitro, also produce significantly less of the anti‐inflammatory mediator cyclopentenone prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). In addition, during phagocytosis of opsonized and nonopsonized apoptotic targets, CGD macrophages are severely compromised in their ability to produce PGD2 and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β). We suggest that delayed apoptosis of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils and deficient production of the anti‐inflammatory mediators PGD2 and TGF‐β during macrophage clearance of apoptotic debris and invading pathogens, contributes to persistence of inflammation in CGD.
Inactivation of Enteric Viruses in Minimally Processed Berries and Herbs

ABSTRACT Several hepatitis A virus (HAV) and human norovirus (HuNoV) outbreaks due to consumption of contaminated berries and vegetables have recently been reported. Model experiments were performed to determine the effectiveness of freeze-drying, freeze-drying combined with heating, and steam blanching for inactivation of enteric viruses that might be present on the surface of berries and herbs. Inactivation of HAV and inactivation of feline calicivirus, a surrogate for HuNoV, were assessed by viral culturing and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), whereas HuNoV survival was determined only by quantitative RT-PCR. While freeze-drying barely reduced (<1.3 log10 units) the amount of HAV RNA detected in frozen produce, a greater decline in HAV infectivity was observed. The resistance of HuNoV genogroup I (GI) to freeze-drying was significantly higher than that of HuNoV GII on berries. Addition of a terminal dry heat treatment at 120°C after freeze-drying enhanced virus inactivation by at least 2 log10 units, except for HuNoV GII. The results suggest that steam blanching at 95°C for 2.5 min effectively inactivated infectious enteric viruses if they were present in herbs. Our results provide data for adjusting food processing technologies if viral contamination of raw materials is suspected.
Environment influences functional outcome of cerebral infarction in rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine whether preoperative and postoperative enrichment of the environment can enhance the functional outcome after cerebral infarction in rats. METHODS The right middle cerebral artery was ligated in adult spontaneously hypertensive male rats, and the functional outcome was studied for 12 weeks after the operation. Three groups were compared: A, rats kept in individual cages before and after the operation (n = 9); B, rats kept in individual cages before the operation but transferred to an enriched environment after the operation (n = 10); and C, rats kept in an enriched environment all the time (n = 12). The enriched environment consisted of a large cage with opportunities for various activities, but rats were not forced to do any particular tasks. RESULTS Rats kept in an enriched environment (groups B and C) performed significantly better than rats in group A in a leg-placement test, beam walking, walking on a rotating pole, and climbing. The infarct size and thalamic atrophy did not differ among the groups. CONCLUSIONS The laboratory environment is important for the functional outcome in brain ischemia. We hypothesize that an enriched environment may stimulate mechanisms that enhance brain plasticity after focal brain ischemia.
Envelope protein variability among HBV‐Infected asymptomatic carriers and immunized children with breakthrough infections

A detailed study of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface variants and their role in breakthrough infections has been conducted in The Gambia, West Africa. Samples from 1856 vaccinated subjects were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Evidence of infection was found in 11% (22/192) of subjects with breakthrough infections and 18 (81.8%) were also positive for HBV DNA following PCR analysis. A cohort of 58 unvaccinated carriers which also included 11 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was also investigated in order to establish the prevalence of surface variants in the unvaccinated population. Analysis of the S gene from HBV PCR‐positive subjects (n = 64) revealed little variation in the S gene of these subjects. Twenty‐four S protein sequences (37.5%) were identical and a further 22 sequences differed by only a single amino acid. The K141E variant found in previous work was not detected and little variation was observed in the immunodominant “a” determinant; a single change was found in one vaccinated patient (Q129H) and nine changes detected among six unvaccinated carriers. This study showed that breakthrough HBV infection in vaccinated Gambians is mainly caused by the wild type genoytype E strain and that immune escape mutants are uncommon. However, HBV mutants may play a role in establishing infection later in life when anti‐HBs antibodies have begun to decline. Further investigation is required to determine the cause of these breakthrough infections and whether they contribute to the establishment of the carrier state. J. Med. Virol. 80:1537–1546, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.