Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Replication and Transmission of Live Attenuated Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (ILTV) Vaccines

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the replication of live attenuated infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccines in selected tissues and their ability to transmit to contact-exposed birds. Four-week-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were eye drop–inoculated with tissue culture origin (TCO) and chicken embryo origin (CEO) vaccines. Contact-exposed chickens were housed in direct contact with eye drop–inoculated chickens from the first day postinoculation. Virus isolation and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the presence of live virus and viral DNA, respectively, in the trachea, trigeminal ganglia, eye conjunctiva, cecal tonsils, and cloaca from eye drop–inoculated and contact-exposed birds at days 2, 4, 5 to 10, 14, 18, 21, 24, and 28 postinoculation. No differences were observed in the ability of the TCO and CEO vaccines to replicate in the examined tissues. Both vaccines presented a localized replication in the eye conjunctiva and the trachea. Both vaccines were capable of transmitting to contact-exposed birds, attaining peaks of viral DNA as elevated as those observed in inoculated birds. The CEO vaccine replicated faster and reached higher viral genome copy number than the TCO vaccine in the conjunctiva and trachea of eye drop–inoculated and contact-exposed birds. The viral DNA from both vaccines migrated to the trigeminal ganglia during early stages of infection. Although the CEO and TCO vaccines were not recovered from the cecal tonsils and the cloaca, low levels of viral DNA were detected at these sites during the peak of viral replication in the upper respiratory tract.
Recent clinical experience with vaccines using MPL- and QS-21-containing Adjuvant Systems

The immunostimulants 3-O-desacyl-4’-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and the saponin QS-21 are part of licensed or candidate vaccines. MPL and QS-21 directly affect the innate immune response to orchestrate the quality and intensity of the adaptive immune response to the vaccine antigens. The combination of immunostimulants in different adjuvant formulations forms the basis of Adjuvant Systems (AS) as a way to promote appropriate protective immune responses following vaccination. MPL and aluminum salts are present in AS04, and both MPL and QS-21 are present in AS01 and AS02, which are liposome- and emulsion-based formulations, respectively. The recent clinical performance of AS01-, AS02- and AS04-adjuvanted vaccines will be discussed in the context of the diseases being targeted. The licensing of two AS04-adjuvanted vaccines and the initiation of Phase III trials with an AS01-adjuvanted vaccine demonstrate the potential to develop new or improved human vaccines that contain MPL or MPL and QS-21.
The retinothalamic pathways in Siamese cats

By injecting one lateral geniculate nucleus with large amounts of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), we have determined the retinal distributions of contra‐ and ipsilaterally projecting retinothalamic ganglion cells in the Siamese cat. In accord with the data of others, we observe that large numbers of temporal ganglion cells, which normally send axons ipsilaterally, instead misproject to the contralateral thalamus. However, in contrast to the expectations raised by previous work, we do not find the Siamese defect to be a simple 20° shift of the naso‐temporal decussation line. Rather, there is intermingling of the crossed and uncrossed retinothalamic populations in the temporal retina, with a gradual increase in the proportion of ipsilaterally projecting ganglion cells as one moves temporally. Thus, the Siamese abnormality represents not only a temporal displacement of the retinothalamic decussation line, but also a smearing of the normally rather sharp division between regions of ipsilateral and contralateral projection.
Sexual behaviour and HIV sero-discordance among HIV patients receiving HAART in rural Uganda

Summary Globally, HIV sero-discordance is a major public health problem, due to increased risk of HIV transmission to HIV-negative partners. From January to August 2009, we assessed the sexual behaviour of HIV-infected patients attending an HIV treatment centre in Uganda and analysed characteristics associated with HIV sero-discordance. Of the 278 respondents, 256 (92.1%) were female, 218 (78.1%) were on antiretroviral drugs and 107 (38.7%) belonged to a sero-discordant couple. In the prior 3 months, 238 (88.5%) had more than one sexual partner and 98 (35.8%) had acquired new sexual partners. Only 171 (61.5%) had ever disclosed sero-status to main sexual partners. Participants who had changed sexual partners in the previous 3 months were more likely to be sero-discordant (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.13, 3.11). Respondents who used condoms during their last sexual intercourse and those currently on ARVs were significantly less likely to be sero-discordant (OR 0.52 95% CI 0.28, 0.96 and OR 0.52 95% CI 0.30, 0.94, respectively). Only disclosure of sero-status was independently though inversely associated with discordance (adjusted OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20, 0.64). Our findings indicate that HIV patients continue exhibiting high risk behaviour characterised by changing sexual partners, having multiple sexual partners and non-use of condoms.
Lack of Lasting Effectiveness of PEG 3350 Laxative Treatment of Constipation

Purpose: PEG 3350 (MiraLax, Braintree Laboratories Inc., Braintree, MA) 17 g daily has been shown to be safe and effective in a 14-day trial for constipation. This present investigation was designed to extend the treatment and safety experience with PEG 3350 and to evaluate any lasting effectiveness during a 30-day post-treatment observation period. Methods: Study subjects met Rome II criteria for constipation and reported <3 bowel movements a week. They were treated with PEG 3350 17 g daily for 14 days. Treatment efficacy was defined by resolution of constipation symptoms as determined by the Rome II and stool frequency definitions during the treatment period. Results: Fifty healthy constipated subjects formed the study group. There were 42 females and 8 males. Mean age was 52 ± 15.5 years (±SD). Symptom duration was 22.6 ± 16.7 months (±SD). At baseline, all had <3 bowel movements a week and met Rome II criteria. Two were lost to follow-up. Two took enemas or laxatives and 2 discontinued active treatment because of “gas” and were considered treatment failures. At the end of 14 days, 40 of 48 (83.3%) had >3 stools in the last week and no longer met Rome criteria. Thirty-two of 45 (71.1%) reported satisfaction with the first bowel movement after initiating treatment. Thirty days after active treatment, 29 of 47 (61.7%) responded that they needed laxative treatment. Conclusion: PEG 3350 relieved constipation in most treated study subjects. During a 30-day post-treatment observation period, 29 of 47 (61.7%) had additional constipation treatment interventions.
Antecedents of the use of Electronic Information Resources by Lawyers in selected law firms in Lagos State, Nigeria

The study examined the influence of gender, age, ICT competence and awareness of Electronic Information Resources (EIRs) on the use of EIRs in legal research by lawyers in Lagos State, Nigeria. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 226 lawyers from a population of 377. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The data was analysed with frequency and percentage distribution, correlation and multiple regression. Findings showed that the majority (>70%) were aware of most of the listed legal EIRs and also utilized them. However, not all could rate themselves highly competent at using ICTs for some of the listed tasks. Awareness and use of information resources had a significant, positive relationship (r = .82, p .05). The study recommends that the law firms should ensure continuous training in the use of ICTs and law librarians should find innovative ways of keeping lawyers abreast of new EIRs. Keywords : Electronic Information Resources (EIRs), Lawyers, Awareness of EIRs, ICT competence.
Anomalous diffusion process applied to magnetic resonance image enhancement

Diffusion process is widely applied to digital image enhancement both directly introducing diffusion equation as in anisotropic diffusion (AD) filter, and indirectly by convolution as in Gaussian filter. Anomalous diffusion process (ADP), given by a nonlinear relationship in diffusion equation and characterized by an anomalous parameters q, is supposed to be consistent with inhomogeneous media. Although classic diffusion process is widely studied and effective in various image settings, the effectiveness of ADP as an image enhancement is still unknown. In this paper we proposed the anomalous diffusion filters in both isotropic (IAD) and anisotropic (AAD) forms for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enhancement. Filters based on discrete implementation of anomalous diffusion were applied to noisy MRI T2w images (brain, chest and abdominal) in order to quantify SNR gains estimating the performance for the proposed anomalous filter when realistic noise is added to those images. Results show that for images containing complex structures, e.g. brain structures, anomalous diffusion presents the highest enhancements when compared to classical diffusion approach. Furthermore, ADP presented a more effective enhancement for images containing Rayleigh and Gaussian noise. Anomalous filters showed an ability to preserve anatomic edges and a SNR improvement of 26% for brain images, compared to classical filter. In addition, AAD and IAD filters showed optimum results for noise distributions that appear on extreme situations on MRI, i.e. in low SNR images with approximate Rayleigh noise distribution, and for high SNR images with Gaussian or non central χ noise distributions. AAD and IAD filter showed the best results for the parametric range 1.2 < q < 1.6, suggesting that the anomalous diffusion regime is more suitable for MRI. This study indicates the proposed anomalous filters as promising approaches in qualitative and quantitative MRI enhancement.
A New Case of Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase Deficiency: Enzymologic, Clinical, and Immunologic Characteristics

ABSTRACT: Deficiency of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) was detected in a 3-yr-oId boy who was admitted for investigation of a behavior disorder and spastic diplegia. The urinary excretion of purines, analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, showed the presence of large amounts of (deoxy)inosine and (deoxy)guanosine and low uric acid levels. Analysis of the (deoxy)nucleotide pools of erythrocytes showed elevated levels of deoxyguanine nucleotides and NAD and decreased guanine nucleotides. PNP activity in red blood cells was 0.1-0.5% of normal on two occasions and undetectable on four later measurements. Furthermore no immunoreactive material could be detected in his red cell lysate using an anti-PNP antiserum. PNP activities in the red cells of the patient's parents were 35 and 50% of normal. The presence of (minor) residual PNP activity in the patient enabled the investigation of some enzyme properties after partial purification. No abnormalities could be detected in substrate affinity for inosine, heat stability, and electrophoretic properties. In the heterozygous parents no signs of a mutant enzyme could be found. The molecular specific activities of the parental enzymes were also normal, indicating that no immunoreactive material attributable to inactive-mutant enzyme subunits was present. A striking feature of the patient is the prevailing neurologic abnormalities presumably caused by the metabolic disorder. A severe lymphopenia exists; however, clinical symptoms of an immune deficiency did not become apparent until the age of 4 yr.
An evaluation of the concept of innateness

The concept of innateness is often used in explanations and classifications of biological and cognitive traits. But does this concept have a legitimate role to play in contemporary scientific discourse? Empirical studies and theoretical developments have revealed that simple and intuitively appealing ways of classifying traits (e.g. genetically specified versus owing to the environment) are inadequate. They have also revealed a variety of scientifically interesting ways of classifying traits each of which captures some aspect of the innate/non-innate distinction. These include things such as whether a trait is canalized, whether it has a history of natural selection, whether it developed without learning or without a specific set of environmental triggers, whether it is causally correlated with the action of certain specific genes, etc. We offer an analogy: the term ‘jade’ was once thought to refer to a single natural kind; it was then discovered that it refers to two different chemical compounds, jadeite and nephrite. In the same way, we argue, researchers should recognize that ‘innateness’ refers not to a single natural kind but to a set of (possibly related) natural kinds. When this happens, it will be easier to progress in the field of biological and cognitive sciences.
Carotid baroreceptor reflex regulation of forearm vascular resistance in man.

The carotid baroreflex regulation of forearm vascular resistance in man is uncertain. Forearm vascular resistance, blood pressure and R‐R interval responses to carotid sinus stimulation were therefore measured in seven healthy men. Carotid stimuli were delivered by gradually applying neck pressure, neck suction or neck suction during simultaneous low‐level lower‐body negative pressure. Mean arterial blood pressure and R‐R interval responses to neck suction and pressure were immediate and were sustained throughout the periods of stimulation. In contrast, forearm vascular responses, were transient. During simultaneous mild lower‐body negative pressure (which decreases cardiopulmonary baroreceptor stimulation and increases forearm vascular resistance), neck‐suction‐induced forearm vasodilation was exaggerated and sustained throughout the entire period of neck suction. There was a linear relationship between the level of resting forearm vascular resistance and the change in resistance produced by carotid stimuli. It is concluded that reflex changes in forearm vascular resistance provoked by carotid baroreceptor stimuli are immediate and evanescent in man. Simultaneous reduction of cardiopulmonary baroreceptor activity heightens the magnitude and duration of forearm vasodilation induced by carotid baroreceptor stimulation.
Transmission risk of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from Ixodes ricinus ticks to humans in southwest Germany

The risk of Borrelia burgdorferi infection and the value of antibiotic prophylaxis after tick bite are controversial. In this study, performed in two areas of southwestern Germany, ticks were collected from 730 patients and examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B. burgdorferi. To assess whether transmission of B. burgdorferi occurred, the patients were clinically and serologically examined after tick removal and during follow-up examinations. Data from all tick bites gave a total transmission rate of 2·6% (19 patients). Eighty-four ticks (11·3%) were PCR positive. Transmission occurred to 16 (26·7%) of 60 patients who were initially seronegative and could be followed up after the bite of an infected tick. These results indicate that the transmission rate from infected ticks in Europe is higher than previously assumed. Examination of ticks and antibiotic prophylaxis in the case of positivity appears to be indicated.
Feeling the Blues of Infertility in a South Asian Context: Psychological Well-Being and Associated Factors Among Sri Lankan Women with Primary Infertility

Primary infertility may have a considerable impact on the psychological well-being of women. In the present study, the authors investigated the psychological well-being and its correlates among Sri Lankan women with primary infertility. A total of 177 women with primary infertility were compared with 177 fertile women matched for age and duration of marriage to identify differences in the psychological well-being between the two groups. They were recruited from a prevalence survey conducted in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka from August 2005 to February 2006. The General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30) and Mental Health sub-components of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) were used to measure psychological well-being. In addition, infertile women with and without psychological distress were compared to identify the social, marital, treatment, and demographic factors independently associated with psychological distress. A significantly higher proportion of women with primary infertility (66.1%; 95% CI 58.6–73.0%) had psychological distress as compared to fertile women (18.6 %; 95% CI 13.2–25.2%; P < 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors, infertile women who were psychologically distressed were significantly less educated (OR = 55.3; 95% CI 15.2–201.0), had poor marital communication (OR = 3.5; 95% CI 1.3–9.8), had a higher priority for having children (OR = 4.2; 95% CI 1.3–13.8), and had been previously (OR = 39.1; 95% CI 8.3–185.4) or currently (OR = 11.0; 95% CI 3.0–40.6) investigated/treated for infertility when compared with infertile women without distress. Women with primary infertility reported more distress as compared to fertile women. Psychological distress among infertile women was associated with poorer education, being previously/currently investigated/treated, placing higher importance on having children, and having poor marital communication. The need for psychological intervention targeting infertile women in clinics and community settings is highlighted.
Upstream Mechanisms of Glycogen Synthase Activation by Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor-I

This study was undertaken to define intracellular signaling pathways upstream to glycogen synthase activation. First, we examined the role of the two pathways of insulin signaling, Ras-dependent and wortmannin/LY294002-sensitive, in glycogen synthase activation. Although negative dominant Ras (Ras17N) induction in PC12 cells markedly decreased activities of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) and pp90 S6 kinase in response to insulin or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), activation of glycogen synthase by these agents was unaffected by negative dominant Ras induction. In contrast, wortmannin and 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002), inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, antagonized glycogen synthase activation in response to insulin or IGF-I. Next, we examined the contribution of pp70 S6 kinase, one of the wortmannin/LY294002-sensitive signaling molecules on glycogen synthase activation. Immunosuppressant rapamycin completely blocked activation of pp70 S6 kinase by insulin or IGF-I, but rapamycin alone or in combination with induction of negative dominant Ras failed to antagonize glycogen synthase activation by these hormones. These data suggest that 1) activation of Ras-MAP kinase is not necessary for stimulation of glycogen synthase and 2) activation of wortmannin/LY294002sensitive pathway, independent of pp70 S6 kinase, plays a key role in glycogen synthase regulation in PC12 cells.
Adjuvant chemotherapy in muscle‐invasive bladder carcinoma

The treatment of muscle‐invasive bladder carcinoma should include both the eradication of local disease and the elimination of potential micrometastases. To date, the ‘gold standard’ treatment for muscle invasive bladder carcinoma has been recognized to be radical cystectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) has the advantage of being administered to patients with known prognostic factors of recurrence. A pooled analysis was used to verify whether AC is able to increase the disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with muscle‐invasive bladder carcinoma who had undergone radical cystectomy.
Relative odds of temporomandibular joint pain as a function of magnetic resonance imaging findings of internal derangement, osteoarthrosis, effusion, and bone marrow edema.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether common magnetic resonance (MR) imaging variables such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement, osteoarthrosis, effusion, and bone marrow edema are predictive of the presence of TMJ pain. STUDY DESIGN The relationship between TMJ pain and TMJ internal derangement, osteoarthrosis, effusion, and bone marrow edema was analyzed in MR images of 338 TMJs in 169 patients with a clinical diagnosis of TMJ pain and dysfunction. Criteria for including a patient with TMJ pain were a report of orofacial pain referred to the TMJ, with the presence of unilateral or bilateral TMJ pain during palpation, function, or unassisted or assisted mandibular opening. The criteria for including a patient with no pain were the absence of TMJ pain during palpation, function, and unassisted or assisted mandibular opening. Application of the criteria resulted in a study group of 129 patients with unilateral TMJ pain, 18 with bilateral TMJ pain, and 22 without TMJ pain. Bilateral sagittal and coronal MR images were obtained to establish the presence or absence of TMJ internal derangement, osteoarthrosis, effusion, and bone marrow edema. Logistic regression analysis was used to compute the odds ratios for internal derangement, osteoarthrosis, effusion, and bone marrow edema for nonpainful TMJs (n = 173) versus painful TMJs (n = 165). RESULTS For pairwise comparison, the chi(2) test was used; the resultant data showed a significant relationship between the clinical findings of TMJ pain and the MR imaging diagnoses of internal derangement (P =.000), osteoarthrosis (P =.015), effusion (P =.002), and bone marrow edema (P =.016). Of the MR imaging variables considered simultaneously in multiple logistic regression analysis, osteoarthrosis (P =.405), effusion (P =.131), and bone marrow edema (P =.231) dropped out as nonsignificant in the diagnostic TMJ pain group in comparison with the TMJ no-pain group. Significant increases in risk of TMJ pain occurred with disk displacement without reduction in combination with osteoarthrosis and bone marrow edema (3.7:1 odds ratio; P =.000) and with disk displacement without reduction in combination with osteoarthrosis and effusion (2.8:1 odds ratio; P =.000). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that TMJ pain is related to internal derangement, osteoarthrosis, effusion, and bone marrow edema. However, the data reemphasize that these MR imaging variables may not be regarded as the unique and dominant factors in defining TMJ pain occurrence.
Exercise Immunology and Neutrophils

Neutrophils play important roles in host defense against infectious agents but, paradoxically, they are also involved in the pathology of various inflammatory conditions. Their microbicidal armory consists of oxidative and nonoxidative processes that are activated simultaneously upon phagocytosis. While destruction of infectious agents occurs intracellularly, release of cytotoxic molecules into the extracellular milieu can damage body tissues. Neutrophils are not a homogeneous cell population. Subpopulations exist in various stages from dormant to primed to fully activated. The activities of neutrophils are modulated by cytokines, hormones and bioactive lipids. As neutrophils represent 60% of the circulating leukocyte pool, they are readily accessible to experimental investigation. The sequence of events that occurs in the neutrophil response to microbial invasion includes adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, the oxidative burst, degranulation and microbial killing. In general, high-intensity exercise suppresses most neutrophil functions both acutely and chronically while the effects of moderate exercise have been conflicting. This review will summarize where the field is now and present some suggestions for future research. Emphasis will be placed on resolving conflicting results that may be due to biological and technical variability, and determination of the regulatory events that may mediate exercise-induced changes in neutrophil function.