Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simple and Rapid Identification of theMycobacterium tuberculosis Complex by Immunochromatographic Assay Using Anti-MPB64 Monoclonal Antibodies

ABSTRACT A newly developed immunochromatographic assay (MPB64-ICA) for identification of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was evaluated with 20 reference strains of mycobacterial species and 111 clinical isolates. MPB64-ICA displayed a very strong reaction band with organisms belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex but not with mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis (MOTT bacilli), except for one of four M. marinum strains tested and one M. flavescens strain, both of which gave very weak signals. The effectiveness of MPB64-ICA in combination with two liquid culture systems (MB-REDOX and MGIT) was tested. A total of 108 of 362 sputum specimens processed were positive for acid-fast bacilli. Samples taken from the cultures on the same days when either of the two culture systems became positive for mycobacteria were assayed with MPB64-ICA. Of 108 cultures with mycobacteria, 51 showed a positive signal with the test, in which the presence of the M. tuberculosis complex was demonstrated later by the Accuprobe for M. tuberculosiscomplex. In addition, MPB64-ICA could correctly detect the M. tuberculosis complex in mixed cultures of the M. tuberculosis complex and MOTT bacilli. These results indicate that MPB64-ICA can be easily used for rapid identification of theM. tuberculosis complex in combination with culture systems based on liquid media without any technical complexity in clinical laboratories.
Advances in Brief Overexpression of Cyclin B 1 in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Its Clinical Implication 1

Cyclin B1 is a key molecule for G2-M-phase transition during the cell cycle and is overexpressed in various tumor types. However, the expression status of cyclin B1 in lung cancer and its clinical significance remain unknown. We used immunohistochemistry studies to examine the expression of cyclin B1 in 77 non-small cell lung cancer specimens from patients with histological stage I disease. All of the patients underwent curative surgical treatment. The median length of follow-up care is 8.2 years. High-level cyclin B1 expression (a cyclin B1 labeling index> 15%) was observed in 17 of the 77 (22%) tumors. Patients whose tumors expressed a high level of cyclin B1 had a significantly shorter survival time than patients whose tumors expressed a low level of cyclin B1 (P5 0.02, log-rank test). Interestingly, overexpression of cyclin B1 was more frequently observed in tumors with squamous cell histology than in tumors with other histological cell types (P5 0.01, Fisher’s exact test). A subgroup analysis revealed that cyclin B1 overexpression seems to be an adverse prognostic factor only in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung (P5 0.02, log-rank test). Our data indicate that cyclin B1 may be dysregulated in non-small cell lung cancer, particularly in the SCC subtype, and that a high level of cyclin B1 expression may be a prognostic marker for patients with early-stage SCC of the lung.
AVALIAÇÃO DA OCORRÊNCIA DE BACTÉRIAS MESÓFILAS NO LEITE CRU E ANÁLISE DO ENQUADRAMENTO DAS BOAS PRÁTICAS DE MANUSEIO FEITO PELOS PRODUTORES RURAIS DE JI-PARANÁ

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade microbiologica das condicoes higienico-sanitarias dos manipuladores de leite e os pontos criticos na coleta do leite cru pesquisando bacterias mesofilas em trinta amostras coletadas em propriedades e avaliando o conhecimento e aplicabilidade das boas praticas de manuseio por produtores rurais de Ji-Parana. Os dados obtidos do questionario aplicado e as analises da presenca de bacterias mesofilas foram comparados com os padroes estabelecidos pela Organizacao Pan-Americana de Saude (OPAS) e pela Instrucao normativa 62. As propriedades rurais selecionadas foram divididas de acordo com o metodo de coleta do leite, sendo de ordenha manual e ordenha mecânica e as amostras foram estabelecidas quanto aos principais pontos criticos, como: maos dos manipuladores, baldes e tambores na ordenha manual e maos dos manipuladores, teteiras e os tanques de refrigeracao. A avaliacao das boas praticas de manuseio atraves de um questionario com dezoito questoes que foram divididas entre higiene pessoal do manipulador, higiene da ordenha manual e a higiene da ordenha mecânica. Com os resultados obtidos pode-se concluir que a qualidade microbiologica de quase todas as amostras analisadas foi insatisfatoria, e o enquadramento das boas pratica de manuseio em parte nao estao de acordo com as normas da IN 62. Sendo assim, verifica-se a necessidade de correcoes no manejo da ordenha, a fim de melhorar a qualidade do leite produzido e se adequar as normas da IN62.
Elevated levels of soluble CD163 in sera and fluids from rheumatoid arthritis patients and inhibition of the shedding of CD163 by TIMP‐3

The aim of the present study was to evaluate levels of soluble CD 163 in sera and fluids from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and elucidate the mechanism that regulates the shedding of CD163. Levels of soluble CD163 in sera and fluids from RA patients were examined by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay and Western blotting. To determine the effects of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) on the shedding of CD163 from monocytes/macrophages, levels of soluble CD163 in cultures of monocytes/macrophages and the expression of CD163 on monocytes/macrophages in the presence or absence of TIMPs were examined by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay and flow cytometry, respectively. The clinical marker that was most associated with serum levels of soluble CD163 was levels of CRP. TIMP‐3, but not TIMP‐1 or TIMP‐2, inhibited the shedding of CD163 from monocytes/macrophages. It was shown that serum levels of soluble CD163 are a sensitive and reliable marker to monitor activated macrophages in synovitis from RA patients and the results imply that the responsible proteinase for the shedding of CD163 is not a member of the matrix metalloproteinases, but is likely to be a member of ADAMs.
Pathophysiology of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Otitis Media: Kinetics of the Middle Ear Biochemical and Cytologic Host Responses

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important bacterial pathogen in the pathophysiology of otitis media. To elucidate the inflammatory responses that occur during pneumococcal otitis media, the kinetics of the biochemical and cytologic middle ear responses to heat-killed encapsulated and nonencapsulated pneumococci were studied in the chinchilla model. Inoculation of the middle ear cavity with at least 106 S pneumoniae cells induced an early, brief vascular response with leakage of small (albumin) followed by larger (α2-macroglobulin) proteins, followed by sustained influx of acute inflammatory cells and lysozyme. The threshold for a sustained lysozyme response was 1,000 times lower for nonencapsulated than for encapsulated pneumococci. These results indicate that nonviable S pneumoniae organisms with an intact envelope initiate the middle ear inflammatory response. Therefore, interventions that enhance the clearance of pneumococcal cells from the middle ear may reduce the inflammatory response and prevent chronic middle ear inflammation.
Knowledge and Attitudes of Pediatric Office Nursing Staff About Breastfeeding

This descriptive study documents nurses'breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes. The nursing staffs of 27 private pediatric practices in North Carolina were surveyed. The 42-item questionnaire included questions about who was responsible for breastfeeding support, what staff nurses knew and believed about breastfeeding, and where their breastfeeding education was obtained. The response rate was 59% (134 out of 227). Only 5% responded that a breastfeeding patient experiencing problems would be referred to a physician, whereas 81% selected a lactation consultant, and 38% selected a member of the nursing staff. Knowledge scores ranged from 19 to 33 (out of 33). Attitude scores ranged from 10 to 30 (out of 30). Only 46% of respondents reported having received breastfeeding education in their training programs; 85% had received on-the-job training. The nurses surveyed were involved in breastfeeding support, yet many had incorrect information and negative attitudes toward breastfeeding.
Modélisation conjointe pour données longitudinales et données de survie : analyse des facteurs prédictifs du devenir de la greffe rénale

La prediction du devenir du greffon et de sa survie permettrait d’optimiser la prise en charge des patients transplantes. Le suivi des patients transplantes renaux inclue des mesures repetees de marqueurs longitudinaux tels que la creatinine serique et l’exposition aux medicaments immunosuppresseurs. L’approche statistique recemment proposee des modeles conjoints permet d’analyser la relation entre un processus longitudinal et la survenue d’un evenement clinique. Dans la premiere partie de ce travail de these, nous avons utilise les modeles conjoints a classes latentes pour etudier l’impact du profil de creatinine serique au cours des 18 premiers mois post-greffe sur la survie du greffon a long terme. Dans la cohorte etudiee, trois groupes homogenes caracterises par une trajectoire specifique de l’evolution de la creatinine serique en fonction du temps et un risque d’echec de greffe specifique ont ete identifies. Les probabilites individuelles de l’echec de greffe pendant les 10 premieres annees post-transplantation ont ete calculees sur la base du modele conjoint developpe. Chez les patients qui n’avaient pas developpe d’anticorps anti-HLA specifiques du donneur, le risque d’echec de greffe en fonction du temps etait predit avec un niveau de performance satisfaisant en termes de specificite, sensibilite et precision.L’utilite clinique de cet outil devra etre evaluee avec une approche dynamique. Dans une seconde partie, les modeles non lineaires a effets mixtes combines avec l’approche des modeles de melange a ete utilisee pour analyser (i) l’association entre la variabilite de l’exposition au tacrolimus au cours du temps et l’adhesion au traitement rapportee par le patient et (ii) l’impact de cette variabilite d’exposition sur le risque de rejet aigu. Ce modele a montre un effet significatif de la variabilite de l’exposition au cours du temps du tacrolimus sur la survenu de rejet aigu au-dela de 3 mois post-transplantation. Au contraire, aucune association entre l’adhesion et la variabilite de l’exposition au tacrolimus d’une part, et le risque de rejet aigu d’autre part n’a ete observee dans cette etude qui n’incluait que des patients moderement non-adherents. Ce resultat pose la question de l’impact d’une non adhesion moderee sur le devenir du greffon.
Queensland tick typhus: three cases with unusual clinical features

Queensland tick typhus (QTT), caused by Rickettsia australis, is usually a relatively mild illness but can occasionally be severe. We describe three cases of probable QTT with unusual clinical features, namely splenic infarction, fulminant myopericarditis and severe leukocytoclastic vasculitis. QTT may present with uncommon clinical features in addition to the more common manifestations. A high index of suspicion enables specific antibiotic therapy that may hasten recovery.
What is “quality improvement” and how can it transform healthcare?

Transformation of healthcare—quality improvement Many in healthcare today are interested in defining “quality improvement”. We propose defining it as the combined and unceasing efforts of everyone—healthcare professionals, patients and their families, researchers, payers, planners and educators—to make the changes that will lead to better patient outcomes (health), better system performance (care) and better professional development (learning; fig 1). This definition arises from our conviction that healthcare will not realise its full potential unless change making becomes an intrinsic part of everyone’s job, every day, in all parts of the system. Defined in this way, improvement involves a substantial shift in our idea of the work of healthcare, a challenging task that can benefit from the use of a wide variety of tools and methods (table 1). View this table: Table 1 Illustrative tools and methods in improvement Figure 1 Linked aims of improvement. Although all improvement involves change, not all changes are improvement. If healthcare is going to benefit fully from the science of disease biology, we need to be sure that the changes we make …
The value of "pre-load" doses of stable mercury prior to radioactive brain scan procedures: a negative report.

This study was begun in 1967 to establish the value of â€œpreloadingâ€ the kidneys with stable mer cury prior to the injection of radioactive mercury compounds for brain scanning procedures. At the present time, most hospitals in the United States routinely use o9mTc@pertechnetate for brain scanning although both â€˜9THg- and 203Hg-chlormerodrin are still being used. The retention of radioactive mercury in the renal tubules is the major radiation hazard from brain scans with this procedure (1 ) and tech niques to minimize this retention are desirable. In developing the use of chlormerodrin (Neohydrin) labeled with radioactive mercury for brain scans, Blau and Bender (2) found that giving stable mer cury on the day preceding the injection of radioactive material would reduce the radiation dose to the kid neys by a factor of three. Similar figures of reduced retention of radioactive mercury were reported by others (3), and the use of a preloading dose of stable mercury became a standard technique for this pro cedure. The results of other investigators are conflicting on the value of preparing patients with mercurial diu retics before administering 203Hg-chlormerodrin for brain scans. Sodee (4) found no difference in mer cury retention between patients previously â€œprimedâ€ with meralluride (Mercuhydrin) on the day before scanning and the patients who were not. McAfee (5) also lost enthusiasm for this routine. Bender has since stated that the initial data were obtained with radioactive material of low specific activity and feels that the relatively large amounts of mercury used in the early techniques might account for the difference in renal retention values (6) . His previous study also showed that administration of BAL or flushing doses of chlormerodrin or meralluride after scans had no significant effect on kidney retention. Some have felt that the age of the patient and the potential renal reserve at the time the study was undertaken are the more critical factors. MATERIALSAND METHODS
The effect of Benzothiazolone‐2 on the expression of Metallothionein‐3 in modulating Alzheimer's disease

Metallothioneins (MTs) are a class of ubiquitously occurring low‐molecular‐weight cysteine‐ and metal‐rich proteins containing sulfur‐based metal clusters. MT‐3 exhibits neuro‐inhibitory activity. The possibility to enhance the expression of MT‐3 or protect it from degradation is an attractive therapeutic target, because low levels of MT‐3 were found in brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
Cilostazol Prevents Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Cell Death by Suppression of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted from Chromosome 10 Phosphorylation and Activation of Akt/Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein Phosphorylation

This study examines the signaling mechanism by which cilostazol prevents neuronal cell death. Cilostazol (∼0.1-100 μM) prevented tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced decrease in viability of SK-N-SH and HCN-1A cells, which was antagonized by 1 μM iberiotoxin, a maxi-K channel blocker. TNF-α did not suppress the viability of the U87-MG cell, a phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN)-null glioblastoma cell, but it did decrease viability of U87-MG cells transfected with expression vectors for the sense PTEN, and this decrease was also prevented by cilostazol. Cilostazol as well as 1,3-dihydro-1-[2-hydroxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (NS-1619) and (3S)(+)-(5-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dihydro-3-fluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-indole-2-one (BMS 204352), maxi-K channel openers, prevented increased DNA fragmentation evoked by TNF-α, which were antagonizable by iberiotoxin. TNF-α-induced increased PTEN phosphorylation and decreased Akt/cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation were significantly prevented by cilostazol, those of which were antagonized by both iberiotoxin and paxilline, maxi-K channel blockers. The same results were evident in U87-MG cells transfected with expression vectors for sense PTEN. Cilostazol increases the K+ current in SK-N-SH cells by activating maxi-K channels without affecting the ATP-sensitive K+ channel. Thus, our results for the first time provide evidence that cilostazol prevents TNF-α-induced cell death by suppression of PTEN phosphorylation and activation of Akt/CREB phosphorylation via mediation of the maxi-K channel opening.
Are the PE‐PGRS proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis variable surface antigens?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv contains 67 PE‐PGRS genes, with multiple tandem repetitive sequences, encoding closely related proteins that are exceptionally rich in glycine and alanine. As no functional information was available, 10 of these genes were selected and shown to be expressed in vitro by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Antibodies against five PE‐PGRS proteins, raised in mice by DNA vaccination, detected single proteins when the same plasmid constructs used for immunization were expressed in epithelial cells or in reticulocyte extracts, confirming that the PE‐PGRS proteins are antigenic. As expected from the conserved repetitive structure, the antibodies cross‐reacted with more than one PE‐PGRS protein, suggesting that different proteins share common epitopes. PE‐PGRS proteins were detected by West‐ern blotting in five different mycobacterial species (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis BCG, M. smegmatis, M. marinum and M. gordonae) and 11 clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis. Whole‐genome comparisons of M. tuberculosis predicted allelic diversity in the PE‐PGRS family, and this was confirmed by immunoblot studies as size variants were detected in clinical strains. Subcellular fractionation studies and immunoelectron microscopy localized many PE‐PGRS proteins in the cell wall and cell membrane of M. tuberculosis. The data suggest that some PE‐PGRS proteins are variable surface antigens.
The Rift Valley is a major barrier to dispersal of African clawed frogs (Xenopus) in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian highlands – home to striking species diversity and endemism – are bisected by the Rift Valley, a zone of tectonic divergence. Using molecular data we examined the evolutionary history of two co‐distributed species of African clawed frog (Xenopus clivii and X. largeni) that are endemic to this region. Our field collections substantially extend the known distribution of X. largeni, a species formerly known from highlands southeast of the Rift, but that also occurs to the northwest. In both species, analysis of mitochondrial DNA and 19 autosomal loci identifies significant population structure, suggests little or no recent migration across the Rift Valley, and provides divergence time estimates across the Rift of ∼1–3.5 million years. These results indicate that the Ethiopian Rift Valley is a major obstacle to dispersal of highland‐adapted amphibians.
Expression of Uptake Hydrogenase and Molybdenum Nitrogenase in Rhodobacter capsulatus Is Coregulated by the RegB-RegA Two-Component Regulatory System

ABSTRACT Purple photosynthetic bacteria are capable of generating cellular energy from several sources, including photosynthesis, respiration, and H2 oxidation. Under nutrient-limiting conditions, cellular energy can be used to assimilate carbon and nitrogen. This study provides the first evidence of a molecular link for the coregulation of nitrogenase and hydrogenase biosynthesis in an anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium. We demonstrated that molybdenum nitrogenase biosynthesis is under the control of the RegB-RegA two-component regulatory system in Rhodobacter capsulatus. Footprint analyses and in vivo transcription studies showed that RegA indirectly activates nitrogenase synthesis by binding to and activating the expression of nifA2, which encodes one of the two functional copies of the nif-specific transcriptional activator, NifA. Expression of nifA2 but notnifA1 is reduced in the reg mutants up to eightfold under derepressing conditions and is also reduced under repressing conditions. Thus, although NtrC is absolutely required fornifA2 expression, RegA acts as a coactivator ofnifA2. We also demonstrated that in regmutants, [NiFe]hydrogenase synthesis and activity are increased up to sixfold. RegA binds to the promoter of the hydrogenase gene operon and therefore directly represses its expression. Thus, the RegB-RegA system controls such diverse processes as energy-generating photosynthesis and H2 oxidation, as well as the energy-demanding processes of N2 fixation and CO2 assimilation.
Online learning: a means to enhance professional development.

E. Paige Benson is an e-learning consultant (ep_benson@hotmail.com) who helps health-care organizations define, create, implement, and evaluate complex learning solutions and a nurse educator at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, Calif. Online learning offers a means of self-directed education with improved learning through interac-tivity. 10-16 Learners retain 10% of what they read, 30% of what they see, 50% of what they see and hear, and 90% of what they act on. 14,15,17 The level of a learner's engagement with online content is largely determined by the amount of interactivity offered and the integration of the online program with other delivery options. High levels of interactivity require learners to actively participate, greatly enhancing the retention and transfer of learning. 18 Computer-based training has been in use since monitoring equipment with simulated rhythms taught users how to interpret dysrhythmias. 16 For nurses, computer-based training is as effective as 10,19,20 or more effective than 19,20 lecture (or traditional training methods), and a blend of the 2 approaches offers the most cognitive improvement. 10 Educators who have researched online learning cite cost-effectiveness, use of different instructional strategies , 11-13,17,19-21 and providing consistent information 12,13 as advantages of computer-based training. A myriad of barriers can prevent educators and bedside nurses from providing and achieving competency and professional development in a timely fashion. These barriers include unsupportive managers, 23-25 staff issues, 23-25 availability of programs , In 1985, the American Nurses Association stated that every nurse is responsible for maintaining com-petency by keeping knowledge and skills current. 1 The Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations further requires that nurses meet minimum educational requirements and verify this knowledge through competency-based assessments and actual performance in the nurses' environment. 2-5 The escalation of the shortage of nurses and cost constraints create challenges for nurse educators to provide the necessary education and monitor competence. According to estimates , what a nurse knows today will be outdated in 2 to 5 years. 6-8 Educators must seek alternative methods to provide initial and ongoing education that is efficient and cost-effective and supports the development and documentation of nurses' competence. In this article, I describe the advantages and challenges of online learning as a means to enhance professional development and clinical knowledge.