Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Pathology and histochemistry of mitral valve prolapse].

UNLABELLED To analyze the myxomatous changes and the components of acidic glycosaminoglycans (GAG) of the mitral valve in aged patients with the mitral valve prolapse (MVP) syndrome, a pathological and histochemical study was performed on hearts of 18 autopsied cases with MVP. The histochemical study included toluidine blue Ohno's method, and 3 enzymatic digestion tests with streptomyces hyaluronidase, chondroitinase AC-II and chondroitinase ABC. The following results were obtained: 1. The incidence of MVP with mitral regurgitation among 2,060 elderly autopsy patients over 60 years of age was 0.87%. 2. PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS marked prolapse was detected in the anterior leaflet of 3 patients, moderate prolapse in the anterior leaflet of 6 and moderate prolapse in the posterior leaflet of 5. Most patients showed greater prolapse in the anterior than in the posterior leaflets. The MVP of 11 patients (61%) was associated with tricuspid valve prolapse. 3. Histological findings: All cases exhibited thickening at the rough zone; 17 patients showed enlargement of the spongiosa layer, and 15 showed a decrease or disappearance of the fibrosa layer. All cases showed various degrees of change in the atrialis layer. The main site of myxomatous change in the mitral valve of MVP was the spongiosa layer of the rough zone. 4. Histochemical findings: Results using 3 methods of enzymatic digestion tests were positive in 13 patients, which suggested that the major component of increased GAG at the myxomatous changes in the mitral valve of MVP was hyaluronic acid, as did the results with Ohno's toluidine blue method.
Metabolic syndrome and health-related quality of life in reproductive age and post-menopausal women: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

BACKGROUND Given the lack of data clarifying the manner in which women with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in different eras of their life perceive their health-related quality of life (HRQoL), this study aimed at investigating the association between MetS and HRQoL in reproductive age and post menopausal women. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted within the framework of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) and HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of poor HRQoL with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for reproductive age and post-menopausal women separately and adjusted for confounding variables. RESULTS All 603 participants with (n = 340) and without (n = 263) MetS were studied. Overall, in both physical and mental domains, those without MetS had higher scores in all subscales of SF-36 except for vitality, role emotional and mental component summary. Unadjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for poor physical HRQoL were 2.8 (1.7-4.6); (P < 0.001) and 1.5 (0.7-3.4) for the reproductive age and post-menopausal groups, respectively. Compared to the post-menopausal group, the odds ratio of reporting poor HRQoL for reproductive age women was significantly higher, even after adjusting for age (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.0-3.0, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results indicate that MetS is associated with poor HRQoL in reproductive age, but not in post-menopausal women, and the association is observed mainly in relation to physical rather than mental health.
Body image, anthropometric measures, and eating-disorder prevalence in auxiliary unit members.

CONTEXT Medical professionals have recognized eating disorders and related problems in competitive athletes. Auxiliary members (color guard, dance, majorettes) experience the same appearance-related pressures observed in sports commonly associated with eating disorders. OBJECTIVE To estimate eating-disorder prevalence based on associated eating-disorder characteristics and behaviors in female auxiliary members and to compare perceived and ideal body images and anthropometric measurements between at-risk and not-at-risk participants for eating-disorder characteristics and behaviors. DESIGN Cross-sectional design. SETTING Three universities in the southeastern United States. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Participants (n = 101, mean age = 19.2 +/- 1.2 years) represented 3 auxiliary units, including color guard (n = 35), dance line (n = 47), and majorettes (n = 19). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Participants self-reported menstrual history, height, and weight. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, body fat percentage, and waist and hip circumferences. We screened for eating-disorder risk behavior with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT)-26 and for body dissatisfaction with the Figural Stimuli Survey. RESULTS Based on the EAT-26, we estimated eating-disorder prevalence among members to measure 29.7% (95% confidence interval = 20.8%, 38.6%). The EAT-26 results revealed that 21% of participants used purgatives and 14% vomited to control weight or shape. The at-risk group had higher scores on the EAT-26 total (P <or= .01) and on the dieting (P <or= .01), oral control (P = .02), and bulimia (P = .01) subscales. Hip circumference (P = .01), self-reported weight (P = .03), measured weight (P = .04), difference between measured and preferred weights (P = .02), and calculated target weight (P = .02) were different between the at-risk and not-at-risk groups. CONCLUSIONS Collegiate auxiliary unit members may have an unacceptable prevalence of eating disorders. Our results validate concerns that auxiliary members may exhibit an unacceptable eating-disorder risk, highlighting the need to examine and address unhealthy weight-management behaviors independent of eating-disorder status.
Autoimmunity to Steroid-Producing Cells

Addison’s disease, named after the English physician who provided its full description in 1855, is the result of the destruction or impaired function of adrenocortical cells. Of the 11 cases described by Addison, 10 were likely subsequent to an infiltrative disease (the most common being the secondary localization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to the adrenal gland) and 1 was clinically idiopathic (likely of an autoimmune origin, on the basis of the current knowledge of disease mechanisms). In recent years the ethiologic spectrum of the disease has considerably expanded to include genetic causes not present in the 11 cases described by Thomas Addison. Accordingly, the definition of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) appears today more correct. Nevertheless, Autoimmune Addison’s Disease (AAD) and posttuberculosis Addison’s disease are still adequate definitions according to the clinical characteristics of the cases described in 1855. Prevalence of PAI is estimated at 120-160 cases per million in western countries, corresponding to 1 case every 7,000-7,500 individuals (Laureti et al, 1999; Lovas et al, 2002). The clinical manifestations of the disease result from the glucorticoid, mineralcorticoid and androgen deficiency (Oelkers, 1996). In western countries and Japan, an autoimmune process is responsible for the destruction of the adrenocortical cells and for the clinical manifestations of PAI in around 70-90% of cases (Betterle et al, 2002; Nomura et al, 1994). AAD occurs frequently in concomitance with other organ-specific and non-organ-specific autoimmune diseases in the so-called autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes (APS). Since at least two-thirds of patients with AAD have one or more other manifestations of an ongoing autoimmune process against other endocrine glands or different tissues, AAD can be considered a paradigmatic disease for the study of endocrine autoimmunity. On the basis of the type of diseases present in the same patient, different APSs are recognized. APS 1 is caused by mutations of the AIRE (AutoImmune REgulator) gene, which is located on chromosome 21 (The Finnish-German APECED Consortium, 1997). This syndrome is characterized by the concomitant presence of at least two of three diseases: chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism and AAD. In first-degree relatives of APS1 patients a single disease manifestation is sufficient to formulate the diagnosis. No general agreement exists for the classification of the remaining APSs. Some authors discriminate APS 2, APS 3 and APS 4 according to the different combination of autoimmune diseases present in the same patients. With this classification, APS 2 would identify the association of clinical or pre-clinical AAD with thyroid autoimmune diseases
Potamonautid river crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamonautidae) of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The recent descriptions of Potamonautes dentatus, P. clarus and P. lividus have brought the number of species recorded from KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) to five, with P. depressus depressus and P. sidneyi having long been known from the province. To determine and quantify levels of genetic differentiation between these species, 14 populations were analysed using allozyme electrophoresis of 14 presumptive loci. Interspecific genetic identity-values ranged between 0.224 and 0.793 ( D = 0.233 to 1.495), with between one and ten fixed allele differences present among species. Morphometric differentiation between species was examined using discriminant function analyses of seven carapace and eight pereiopod variables. Species were found to be well defined along the first two canonical variables, in terms of carapace and pereiopod morphometrics. Results are discussed in li ght of genetic and morphometric differentiation documented for the genus. The distribution of each species was determined, using d ata from 220 collection localities, plotted, and discussed. A key for the identification of the species occurring in the province is provided.
Diet composition and overlap for 43 fishes in the North Aegean Sea, Greece

This study presents the diet composition of 43 of some of the most abundant fish species from the North Aegean Sea, Greece. According to the diet analysis and fractional trophic level previously reported in the literature, 20 of the studied species were omnivores with a preference for animals and the other half were carnivores (15 with preference for fish and Cephalopoda, and seven with preference for fish and Decapoda), whereas Parablennius gattorugine was the only recorded omnivore with a preference for plant material. Finally, according to the results of Schoener’s index, diet overlap between species was recorded in a small number of cases (33 out of the 903 pairs examined). Yet, competition among diet-overlapping species may be minimised by either morphological differentiations and/or habitat segregation.
Amount of information gained during brief exposures of numerals and colors.

"In the present experiments the problem of how much S can perceive during the brief exposure of a group of stimulus objects is re-examined from the viewpoint of the relation of amount of information transmitted to information coding and amount of information displayed…. Performance at first increased and then decreased as information content per message was systematically increased, reaching different maxima for each of the three coding schemes studied. " Language: en
The Value of Crowdsourcing for Complex Problems: Comparative Evidence from Software Developed By the Crowd And Professionals

Crowdsourcing is “the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent (usually an employee) and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people in the form of an open call” [10, 27, 28, 53]. Crowdsourcing has also been described as a problem-solving model [3, 9, 14, 15]; gaining input from many unknown and unconnected contributors [25]; and distributed production models that ask for contributions via open calls from an undefined large network of people [3, 54]. The common attribute of crowdsourcing in all these definitions is that it is a collaborative effort enabled by people-centric technology. Crowdsourcing business models benefit organizations by providing cheap labor and by tapping geographically disperse crowds.
The Isolation, Purification, and Characterisation of the Principal Urinary Metabolites of Melatonin

Melatonin is metabolised by hydroxylation to form 6‐hydroxy‐melatonin by demethylation to form N‐acetyl‐serotonin, which are excreted as sulphate glucuronide conjugates. We required these metabolites as pure powders therefore undertook their isolation characterisation. Three volunteers ingested 1 g each of melatonin, their urine was collected pooled. For the sulphate conjugates, a Lichoprep column was used to concentrate the metabolites to remove most of the urea. The sulphate conjugates were separated from the glucuronides on a Florisil column further purified on a fractogel column. They were separated by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) resulting in white powders of 6‐hydroxy‐melatonin sulphate (SaMT) N‐acetyl‐serotonin sulphate (SNAS). For the glucuronide conjugates, an aliquot of the pooled urine was taken to dryness, the residue was dissolved in methanol, the solution was filtered. The methanol filtrate was taken to dryness, the residue was applied to a Florisil column. The isolated glucuronide conjugates were recrystallized prior to separation by HPLC, which gave pure white powders of N‐acetyl‐serotonin glucuronide (GNAS) 6‐hydroxy‐melatonin glucuronide (GaMT). Characterisation was achieved by using infrared ultraviolet spectroscopy, thin‐layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GCMS). These techniques unambiguously confirmed the assigned structures for SaMT SNAS fully supported the assigned structures for GNAS GaMT. Three TLC solvent systems were used, in each case the individual conjugated metabolite appeared as a discreet spot. Purity, as assessed by GCMS, was shown to be greater than 95% for SNAS, SaMT, GaMT to be 88% for GNAS.
Point vortices on the sphere: Stability of symmetric relative equilibria

We describe the linear and nonlinear stability and instability of certain symmetric configurations of point vortices on the sphere forming relative equilibria. These configurations consist of one or two rings, and a ring with one or two polar vortices. Such configurations have dihedral symmetry, and the symmetry is used to block diagonalize the relevant matrices, to distinguish the subspaces on which their eigenvalues need to be calculated, and also to describe the bifurcations that occur as eigenvalues pass through zero.
"You Brought Your Baby to Base Camp?" Families and Field Sites

This paper focuses on the researcher’s own experience as a graduate student embarking on fieldwork in a remote and somewhat risky field site located at the foot of Mount Everest in Nepal and the complications that arose when she decided to bring her family along with her. Following other feminist geographers who challenge the conventional and masculinist modes of carrying out research, this author argues that these modes are no longer tenable, if they ever were. Using her own fieldwork stories, she tells how the ideal model of the lone, male, detached researcher broke down for her, and how her family’s presence complicated her research yet ultimately deepened her understanding of the spatiality and social contours of the landscape she was studying. The paper grapples with the related issues of whether or not family members who accompany researchers to research sites ought to remain hidden in the ensuing analyses and written reports, and how “accompanied research” can invoke theoretical insights. Throughout the paper the author addresses the broader question of how her status as a graduate student influenced her research choices and the considerable boundary crossings she made.
Role of CYP 2 A 6 Genet ic Variat ion on Smoking Behaviors and Cl inica l Impl icat ions

Overview: Cigarette smoking is responsible for numerous health problems, including cancer and cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. It is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Nicotine is primarily responsible for the highly addictive properties of cigarettes. In humans, nicotine is mainly inactivated into cotinine, and the hepatic enzyme cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) mediates the majority of this reaction. CYP2A6 also can metabolically activate certain tobacco-specific nitrosamines into their carcinogenic forms. The gene encoding CYP2A6 is highly polymorphic, and individuals with reducedor loss-offunction alleles have significantly slower rates of nicotine metabolism. Smokers are known to regulate their nicotine intake to maintain brain and plasma levels; thus, genetic variations in CYP2A6 have been hypothesized to influence smoking behaviors. This article summarizes studies examining the role of CYP2A6 genetic variation on nicotine pharmacokinetics and smoking. Studies have associated slow CYP2A6 metabolism with an altered risk of becoming dependent, lower risk of being a smoker, lower cigarette consumption, and lower risk of lung cancer. Furthermore, this article will review how genetic variability in CYP2A6 may have clinical implications in smoking cessation. CYP2A6 activity may be a useful predictor of the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy because it may affect the nicotine levels derived. In addition, CYP2A6 inhibitors may have utility in smoking reduction and cessation by mimicking the phenotypes of slow metabolizers.
Immunization of mice against Trichinella spiralis and T. britovi using excretory and secretory antigens

Abstract Immune responses to immunization and infection with Trichinella spiralis and T. britovi were studied in NIH high-responder mice. Overall it was shown that T. britovi was the more immunogenic, immunization and challenge with this species giving greater host-protective immunity. This greater immunogenicity was reflected in higher proliferative responses when mesenteric node lymphocytes (MLNC) from immunized mice were restimulated with T. britovi antigens in vitro and in higher levels of T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocyte-dependent specific IgG1 antibody responses against this species. MLNC from mice immunized against T. britovi released more IL-5 when restimulated in vitro, again suggesting a greater T helper 2 subset response, but after infection the highest levels of IL-5 were recorded from MLNC taken from T. spiralis challenged mice. These data are discussed in relation to current understanding of immunological differences between species and isolates of the genus Trichinella.
An economic history of Medicare part C.

CONTEXT Twenty-five years ago, private insurance plans were introduced into the Medicare program with the stated dual aims of (1) giving beneficiaries a choice of health insurance plans beyond the fee-for-service Medicare program and (2) transferring to the Medicare program the efficiencies and cost savings achieved by managed care in the private sector. METHODS In this article we review the economic history of Medicare Part C, known today as Medicare Advantage, focusing on the impact of major changes in the program's structure and of plan payment methods on trends in the availability of private plans, plan enrollment, and Medicare spending. Additionally, we compare the experience of Medicare Advantage and of employer-sponsored health insurance with managed care over the same time period. FINDINGS Beneficiaries' access to private plans has been inconsistent over the program's history, with higher plan payments resulting in greater choice and enrollment and vice versa. But Medicare Advantage generally has cost more than the traditional Medicare program, an overpayment that has increased in recent years. CONCLUSIONS Major changes in Medicare Advantage's payment rules are needed in order to simultaneously encourage the participation of private plans, the provision of high-quality care, and to save Medicare money.
Optimal markers for real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR detection of circulating tumor cells from melanoma, breast, colon, esophageal, head and neck, and lung cancers.

BACKGROUND The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may prove useful for screening, prognostication, and monitoring of response to therapy. However, given the large background of circulating cells, it is probably necessary to detect 1 cancer cell in >10(6) leukocytes. Although reverse transcription (RT)-PCR is potentially sensitive and specific enough to achieve this goal, success will require the use of appropriate mRNA markers. The goal of this study was to identify optimal marker combinations for detection of CTCs. METHODS An extensive literature and internet database survey was conducted to identify potential markers. We then used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to test for expression of selected potential markers in tissue samples from primary tumors of breast, colon, esophagus, head and neck, lung, and melanoma and normal blood samples. Markers with high expression in tumors and a median 1000-fold lower expression in normal blood were considered potentially useful for CTC detection and were tested further in an expanded sample set. RESULTS A total of 52 potential markers were screened, and 3-8 potentially useful markers were identified for each tumor type. The mRNAs for all but 2 markers were found in normal blood. Marker combinations were identified for each tumor type that had a minimum 1000-fold higher expression in tumors than in normal blood. CONCLUSIONS Several mRNA markers may be useful for RT-PCR-based detection of CTCs from each of 6 cancer types. Quantification of these mRNAs is essential to distinguish normal expression in blood from that due to the presence of CTCs. Few markers provide adequate sensitivity individually, but combinations of markers may produce good sensitivity for detection of the presence of these 6 neoplasms.
Repeated intravenous injections in non-human primates demonstrate preclinical safety of an anti-inflammatory phosphorus-based dendrimer

Abstract Dendrimers are nanosized hyperbranched polymers synthesized through an iterative step-by-step process; their size and structure are perfectly controlled, and they are widely used for biomedical purposes. Previously, we showed that a phosphorous-based dendrimer capped with anionic AzaBisPhosphonate groups (so-called ABP dendrimer) has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties toward the human immune system. It dramatically inhibits the onset and development of experimental arthritis in a mouse model relevant for human rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease of auto-immune origin. In this article, we demonstrate in an unprecedented study that cynomolgus macaques repeatedly injected with the ABP dendrimer displayed no adverse response. Indeed, biochemical, haematological, clotting and immunological parameters remained with a normal physiological range during the study. Moreover, quantification of serum cytokines and histopathological analyses failed to reveal any noticeable lesion or noteworthy non-physiological occurrence. These results strengthen the potential of the ABP dendrimer as an innovative drug-candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and favor the regulatory preclinical development of the molecule.
Uncertainty propagation on damage evolution of a concrete structure subjected to coupled leaching and creep

ABSTRACT We introduce a model for calcium leaching and creep strain evolution. Both phenomena are coupled for the estimation of the damage time evolution. Simulations are achieved so as to quantify the influence of the input parameters variability on the structure lifespan. The most influent parameters are identified and threshold values for lifespan classification are enlighted.