Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contact hypersensitivity to stainless steel cages (chromium metal) in hairless descendants of mexican hairless dogs

Canine allergic contact hypersensitivity is an uncommon skin disease as compared with human beings because hair coat is a good natural barrier to environmental contactants. In our colony of hairless dogs housed in stainless steel cages, we have encountered spontaneously occurring contact hypersensitivity. The author has attempted to study the toxicological effects of environmental sensitizing substances on the canine skin. The purpose of this study is to elucidate dermatological characteristics in canine species with contact hypersensitivity. This skin lesion was investigated by patch tests, macroscopic observations, and histopathological examinations. Patch tests exhibited positive reactions to potassium dichromate. Macroscopically, early lesions were macules and/or papules and they gradually progressed to severe inflammatory dermatitis over the dorsum. In the chronic phase, lichenification, kyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation, dryness, scaliness, and fissuring were observed in the skin. Avoidance of contact with the stainless steel cages resulted in clinical improvement. Histopathologically, the epidermis apparently showed hyperkeratosis, thickening, hyperplasia, and rete ridge formation. Lichenified lesions had clumps of melanin granules in the stratum basale and spinosum. In the dermis, there was marked edema and dense mononuclear cell infiltration. Vasodilation, hemorrhage, and hyperplasia of sebaceous glands were also found. Both dermal mast cells and epidermal Langerhans cells significantly increased in the skin lesions, as compared with nonlesional sites. The present results revealed that constant contact with stainless steel cages (chromium metal) caused contact hypersensitivity in hairless dogs with very sparse hairs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 176–184, 2007.
Detection of Intermediate Filament in Testicular Seminoma Through Immunohistochemical Expressions of Keratins

Intermediate filament was detected in human testicular seminoma using immunohistochemical expression of keratin. Commercially available Cytokeratin of varying molecular weight were applied to 32 seminomas along with 22 embryonal carcinomas (pure and mixed form). Detection of intermediate filaments was correlated with age, tumor size, and stage. Seminomas showed Intermediate filaments in number of cases.Cytokeratin of varying molecular weight showed positivity.Of 32 seminomas, 37.5 % show presence of intermediate filaments through positive expression with AEI/AEIII, 37.5 % with 34bE12, 43.7% with Cytokeratin 7. There were no differences in patient age,stage, tumor size, between CK-positive andCK-negative seminomas. Of 22 Embryonalcarcinomas86% shows positivity with AEI/AEIII, whereas34bE12 and Cytokeratin 7 was positive in 86% and 100% of cases. Epithelial membrane antigen was positive in 9% cases of Embryonal carcinomas and 8.6% cases of seminomas. Keyword: Intermediate filament, Seminoma, Keratin
Dieta cetogénica. A experiência de um Serviço de Pediatria

Introducao: A dieta cetogenica consiste num regime alimentar normoproteico, rico em lipidos e pobre em hidratos de carbono, que mimetiza a resposta do organismo ao jejum prolongado. Tem sido utilizada no tratamento de criancas com epilepsia refractaria.Metodologia: Analise retrospectiva de 27 criancas com epilepsia refractaria, acompanhadas em Consulta de Neurologia Pediatrica de um Hospital de nivel III e submetidas a dieta cetogenica. Caracterizacao da amostra no que diz respeito a distribuicao etaria e por sexo, idade de instituicao da dieta, tipo de dieta instituida, duracao da terapeutica, efeito da dieta na reducao do numero de crises, na reducao do numero de farmacos anti-epilepticos utilizados e na melhoria subjectiva da atencao, cognicao e socializacao. Avaliaram-se tambem os efeitos adversos concomitantes.Resultados: Na maioria das criancas obtiveram-se resultados favoraveis com reducao do numero de crises epilepticas: 8% tiveram resolucao completa das crises, 23% uma reducao da frequencia das crises superior a 90% e 23% uma reducao da frequencia das crises entre 50-90%. Em 52% dos casos registou-se uma diminuicao do numero total de farmacos anti-epilepticos e em 74% houve melhoria ao nivel da atencao e da interaccao com os outros. Em 44% registaram-se efeitos adversos, mas a maioria foram efeitos ligeiros e apenas originaram a interrupcao da dieta em dois casos.Conclusoes: Os resultados favoraveis apoiam a utilizacao da dieta cetogenica em criancas com epilepsia muito grave e comprovadamente resistente a outras formas de terapeutica. As exigen cias inerentes a este tipo de terapeutica assim como a ocorrencia de efeitos adversos implicam uma abordagem multidisciplinar com acompanhamento em areas como Neuropediatria, Pediatria Geral, Nutricao e Dietetica, entre outras.
When Corruption Gets in the Way

This article investigates the encounter of EU-unionization with a domesticated practice of corruption in Bosnian higher education. Relying on primary data collected in Bosnia's public higher education system, the study finds that the country's corrupt higher education is in conflict with the Bologna-themed reforms that would arguably help harmonize Bosnia's fragmented higher education. As it delineates factors that perpetuate corruption, the study, somewhat surprisingly, finds that the Bologna process—despite its partly failed adaptation in Bosnia—is still perceived as potentially transformative for the country's corruption-prone higher education system. The study further looks into why that may be the case and explores a possibility of leveraging Bosnia's intelligentsia abroad to lessen corruption in higher education.
Gender-related therapy: early IL-10 administration after hemorrhage restores immune function in males but not in females.

Recent experimental studies have found gender differences in the immune response after hemorrhagic shock with an enhanced immune function and lower mortality after subsequent sepsis in females than in males. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been shown to play a potential role in the treatment of early proinflammatory state after hemorrhagic shock. Although studies showed beneficial effects of the treatment with IL-10, it remains unclear whether the effects are gender related. To study this, male and female CBA/J mice were subjected to hemorrhage (35+/-5 mmHg for 90 min and fluid resuscitation) or sham operation. At resuscitation, each received either recombinant murine IL-10 (rmIL-10) or placebo i.p. At 48 h after resuscitation, peritoneal macrophages (pMphi) and splenocytes were harvested. IL-1beta and IL-12 release by pMphi and splenocyte proliferation and splenocyte IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-gamma release capacity were assessed. Interleukin-10 plasma levels were not increased after rmIL-10 treatment. The results indicate that rmIL-10 treatment restores depressed immune response (splenocyte proliferation, IFN-gamma, IL-1beta in males after hemorrhagic shock. In contrast, the immune responses after shock in females were not influenced by rmIL-10, with the exception of depressed splenocyte proliferation. In addition, sham-operated male mice treated with rmIL-10 showed immune depression compared with the placebo group. Thus, administration of rmIL-10 during resuscitation after hemorrhage produces salutary effects on the depressed immune responses in males but did not further enhance the immune functions in females under those conditions.
Differences in body mass index and waist : hip ratios in North Indian rural and urban populations

Overweight could be a major factor in determining the increasing rates of coronary heart disease in the Indian population, by its influence on blood pressure, diabetes and insulin resistance. We studied the prevalence of overweight in north Indian urban and rural population samples. The urban sample population (n = 3050) was selected using a multistage sampling with stratification for geographical zone and the type of residential colony and cluster sampling of urban blocks in each stratum. The rural sample (n = 2487) was selected by random sampling of villages stratified for population size followed by coverage of all eligible persons in the village. All participating individuals were 35–64 years of age. Women constituted 52.2% (n = 1594) and 57% (n = 1417) of urban and rural samples, respectively. The study reveals that overweight is widely prevalent in the adult urban Delhi population, whereas underweight is a significant problem in the rural population. This was noted across all the age groups in both men and women. We estimated ‘comprehensive coronary risk estimates’ based on the New Zealand Heart foundation guidelines and noted that the proportion of high and very high risk subjects increased in a continuous manner even within the ‘normal’ ranges of BMI. This difference in prevalence in the urban population could represent the demographic transition in the Indian population.
Psychotherapeutic treatment of eating disorders improve dissociative experiences and impulse regulation but not alexithymia. A case series report.

AIM Eating disorders (EDs) are complex conditions associated with disability and a high rate of mortality. Typical characteristics of these diseases are dissociation, alexithymia and impulse dysregulation, all strategies dealing with negative emotions and regulate negative affect and anxiety. Our study aimed to assess the effectiveness of intensive psychological treatment for EDs, with particular reference to the above mentioned clinical characteristics. METHODS Eight outpatients with eating disorders in psychotherapeutic treatment were evaluated in two stages after one year (T1 and T2), using the Eating Disorder Inventory II, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20, and the Dissociative Experiences Scale. RESULTS Wilcoxon test showed significant reductions in DES score as well as in two subscales of the EDI-2, Impulse Regulation and Body Dissatisfaction (I-EDI2 and BD-EDI2), while alexithymia levels did not show any difference. CONCLUSIONS We can confirm the effectiveness of psychotherapy in people with EDs as regards dissociative moments, impulsivity and body dissatisfaction. However, alexithymia remains unchanged, possibly because of its deep emotional nature.
Molded reliability study for different Cu wire bonding configurations

With the transition from Au wire bonding to Cu wire bonding, both bare Cu wire and Pd coated Cu (PCC) wire are now commonly used. Humidity reliability is particularly challenging for Cu wire bonding. In this paper, 18 um (0.7 mil) bare Cu and PCC wire are used in the wire bonding and HAST reliability test. Various factors can influence the HAST reliability outcome. The key factors examined in this paper include: wire bonding parameters such as ultrasonic energy, force and time; wire type including bare Cu wire and PCC wire; cover gas type including forming gas and nitrogen for PCC wire; molding compound; and plasma cleaning. From our HAST test results, the most influential factor is the wire type. PCC wire exhibited much better HAST results than Cu wire. Using the recently developed Cu wire bonding processes, bonding parameters played a secondary role in the reliability outcome. For PCC wire, the lowest and highest ultrasonic energy settings both passed 336 hours with IMC at 71% and 94%. The IMC%, a key factor used in evaluating wire bonding quality, does not seem to correlate to the reliability outcome for PCC wire. A higher IMC% does help bare Cu wire HAST results. Our tests indicated that there was no difference between forming gas and Nitrogen in the HAST testing. A plasma cleaning time of 20 sec provided better HAST results than no plasma cleaning or a long plasma cleaning time. A time interval study was carried out to study the failure mechanism. Samples at different HAST time intervals were cross sectioned and analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The different stages include before HAST but after molding and post molding cure (PMC), HAST test at 48hr, 96 hr, 168 hr and 336 hr. A typical failure starts with Cu nano-particles and Al oxides formation at the Cu rich IMC layer at 48hr. Over time, the Cu-Al IMC corrodes and more Cu and Al oxides form and leave small voids, and the voids can develop into continuous gaps (cracks). The gap normally starts at the edge of the bond and propagates inward. When the gap propagates all the way to the center of the bond, an open failure will occur. We found two primary factors that influence the HAST outcome. The first factor is the presence of the Pd elements. For the PCC wire samples, even though Pd is absent at the ball and pad interface immediately after wire bonding, it tends to diffuse into the interface during HAST testing. For a good interface with no cracks, a higher concentration of Pd is present and Pd-Cu-Al IMC is formed. At the failed bond, Pd elements are absent. This indicates that the Pd element has the effect of slowing or preventing the Cu-Al IMC corrosion or Pd-Cu-Al IMC is more corrosion resistant. That explains why PCC wire has a better HAST test outcome. The second factor is the concentration of chlorine. At failed bonds, a much higher concentration of chlorine was found, which implies the role of chlorine in the IMC corrosion. Controlling the chlorine level, and mobility, are key considerations in molding compound formulation.
The relationship between glycaemic control and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes in general practice (ZODIAC-11).

BACKGROUND The relationship between the degree of glycaemic control and mortality remains an important topic of discussion. AIM This study aimed to investigate this relationship. DESIGN OF STUDY Prospective cohort study. SETTING Primary care. METHOD A total of 1145 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in the Zwolle Outpatient Diabetes project Integrating Available Care (ZODIAC) in 1998. Their survival status was recorded in September 2004. Mortality ratios were calculated using standardised mortality ratios (SMRs). Associations between haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) levels and mortality were studied with a Cox proportional hazard model. HbA(1c) levels were studied as continuous and as categorical variables. RESULTS A total of 335 patients died after a median follow-up period of 5.8 years. The SMR (95% confidence interval [CI]) for total mortality was 1.86 (95% CI = 1.66 to 2.06) and 2.24 (95% CI = 1.91 to 2.61) for cardiovascular mortality. For each 1% increase in HbA(1c) there was a 21% increase in the hazard ratio for total mortality. When compared with the target HbA(1c) group (HbA(1c) 6.5-7%), the group with very poor glycaemic control (HbA1c >9%) had a hazard ratio of 2.21 (95% CI = 1.42 to 3.42) for total mortality. The group with normal glycaemic control (HbA(1c) <6.5%) had a hazard ratio of 1.00 (95% CI = 0.46 to 2.19) for total mortality. CONCLUSION HbA(1c) level was associated with mortality and this effect seemed largely attributable to patients who were in really poor glycaemic control. The absence of differences in mortality in the groups with lower HbA(1c) levels supports the position that there is no basis for continually decreasing the therapeutic target HbA(1c) level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Fitness Instructors' Recognition of Eating Disorders and Attendant Ethical/Liability Issues

Individuals with eating disorders may pursue overexercising in fitness facilities and exercise classes. The primary aim of this study was to assess registered fitness instructors' capability to recognize an individual with anorexia nervosa and determine what they would do professionally in that situation. A secondary objective was to assess fitness instructors' understanding of potential professional, ethical and legal issues inherent in this situation. Fitness instructors and pediatricians were administered a survey consisting of a descriptive case scenario of an individual with probable anorexia nervosa. Fitness instructors were also surveyed on various related issues. Thirty-two percent of fitness instructors indicated the case scenario subject presented with anorexia nervosa compared with 88% of pediatricians, a statistically significant difference. Sixty percent of fitness instructors recognized that there were some ethical and liability issues inherent in the scenario, and 37% identified these as serious. All fitness instructors suggested guidelines in this area would be helpful. Implications for training and continued education opportunities for both fitness instructors and pediatricians are discussed.
Frequency of stavudine substitution due to toxicity in children receiving antiretroviral treatment in sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction:Stavudine is a commonly used drug in paediatric antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens. Due to toxicity concerns, however, the drug abacavir has replaced stavudine in first-line paediatric regimens in many countries. We describe the frequency of stavudine toxicity in children receiving ART at a treatment clinic in Soweto, South Africa. Methods:Data on patient characteristics and outcomes of ART were collected from a cohort of 2222 HIV-infected children initiating ART between 2004 and 2008 when stavudine-containing regimens were routinely recommended. At several time-points after treatment initiation, we estimate the proportion of children where an attending clinician discontinued stavudine due to lipodystrophy, pancreatitis, lactic acidosis or peripheral neuropathy. Factors associated with stavudine-related toxicities were identified. Results:At ART initiation, most children had advanced disease. The majority initiated an efavirenz/lamivudine/stavudine regimen (n = 1422), and 76% of children remained on their initial ART regimen after a median 19.9 months of ART. Replacement of stavudine due to drug toxicity occurred at a rate of 28.8 per 1000 child years on treatment (95% confidence interval = 23.6–35.2). Rates of toxicity increased with treatment duration (in their first year of ART stavudine was replaced in 0.5% of children, but after 3 years stavudine had been changed to abacavir in 12.6% of children). Toxicity was more common in older children and in girls. Lipodystrophy accounted for 87 of 96 toxic events. Conclusion:Stavudine-associated toxicity resulting in single-drug substitution was uncommon in this cohort, though its frequency increased steadily with ART duration, especially with lipodystrophy. Where drug options are limited, stavudine remains a relatively well tolerated and effective option for children.
Maximum total ergodic spectral efficiency of randomly-spread coded-CDMA with linear multiuser receivers over multipath fading channels

In this paper, we analyze the total ergodic spectral efficiency and sum-rates error-exponents of randomly-spread CDMA systems with diversity-combining linear multiuser receivers over time-varying frequency-selective multipath Rayleigh/Ricean fading channels. The basis of our analysis mainly being the joint/average eigenvalue density of the random cross-correlation matrices, our focus is on equal-rate/equal-energy identical users with statistically i.i. d. channels. The upper-bound ergodic spectral efficiency and the corresponding sum-rates error-exponent expressions are derived in closed-form in terms of the key system parameters for linear multiuser receivers with single-user ML decoding. The analysis sheds light onto asymptotic behaviour of channel-coded wideband CDMA systems over multipath fading channels.
Pinacol Coupling Strategy for the Construction of the Bicyclo[6.4.1]tridecane Framework of Schiglautone A.

The synthesis of the tricyclic carbon framework of schiglautone A (1) is reported herein. The generation of the bicyclo[6.4. 1]tridecane 19 was accomplished via a SmI2-mediated pinacol coupling of dialdehyde 18. The side chain in 18 was introduced using a selective 1,4-addition. A further key step of the synthesis was the homologation of a Wieland-Miescher ketone derivative to establish the 7-membered ring.
Two ubiquitin ligases, APC/C-Cdh1 and SKP1-CUL1-F (SCF)-β-TrCP, sequentially regulate glycolysis during the cell cycle

During cell proliferation, the abundance of the glycolysis-promoting enzyme, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, isoform 3 (PFKFB3), is controlled by the ubiquitin ligase APC/C-Cdh1 via a KEN box. We now demonstrate in synchronized HeLa cells that PFKFB3, which appears in mid-to-late G1, is essential for cell division because its silencing prevents progression into S phase. In cells arrested by glucose deprivation, progression into S phase after replacement of glucose occurs only when PFKFB3 is present or is substituted by the downstream glycolytic enzyme 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase. PFKFB3 ceases to be detectable during late G1/S despite the absence of Cdh1; this disappearance is prevented by proteasomal inhibition. PFKFB3 contains a DSG box and is therefore a potential substrate for SCF-β-TrCP, a ubiquitin ligase active during S phase. In synchronized HeLa cells transfected with PFKFB3 mutated in the KEN box, the DSG box, or both, we established the breakdown routes of the enzyme at different stages of the cell cycle and the point at which glycolysis is enhanced. Thus, the presence of PFKFB3 is tightly controlled to ensure the up-regulation of glycolysis at a specific point in G1. We suggest that this up-regulation of glycolysis and its associated events represent the nutrient-sensitive restriction point in mammalian cells.
Memory Loss after Left Anterior Temporal Lobectomy in Patients with Mesial Temporal Lobe Sclerosis

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that structural integrity (i.e., presence/absence of mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS)) of the left mesial temporal lobe is associated with verbal memory outcome following left anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL). However, the functional integrity of the left temporal lobe, as exemplified by preoperative verbal memory performance, has also been associated with verbal memory outcome following surgery. We investigated the risk of verbal memory loss in patients with known structural abnormality (i.e., left mesial temporal sclerosis by MRI) and normal preoperative verbal memory performance who undergo left ATL. METHODS: Seventeen patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy, MRI-based exclusive left MTS, and normal preoperative verbal memory were identified. Normal verbal memory was defined as performance on both Acquisition (learning across trials 1–5) and Retrieval (long delayed free recall) portions of the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) above a T score of 40 (>16‰). Postoperative verbal memory outcome was established by incorporating standardized regression-based (SRB) change scores. RESULTS: Postoperative declines across both CVLT Retrieval T scores and Acquisition T scores (average 20% and average 15% declines from baseline scores, respectively) were measured for the group. The average CVLT Retrieval SRB change score was −2.5, and the average CVLT Acquisition SRB change score was −1.0. A larger proportion of patients demonstrated postoperative declines on Retrieval scores than Acquisition scores (64.7% vs. 17.6%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Even in the presence of left MTS, patients exhibiting normal presurgical verbal memory are at risk for verbal memory declines following ATL. These results suggest that the functional integrity of the left mesial temporal lobe may play an important role in the verbal memory outcome in this patient group.