Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B virus cellular immunity after liver transplantation: A role in preventing hepatitis B virus recurrence?

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a commoncause of advanced liver disease and hepatocellular car-cinoma and has become a worldwide public health is-sue. Liver transplantation (LT) is the most effectivetherapeutic option for HBV-infected patients who haveacute or chronic liver failure and/or primary liver can-cer. In the absence of prophylactic measures, the risk ofHBV recurrence is about 80% and is principally relatedto the viral load at the time of transplantation. Ad-vances in antiviral prophylaxis have achieved the pre-vention of clinically signiﬁcant graft reinfection for themajority of patients.
Diagnosis of canine nasal aspergillosis by cytological examination: a comparison of four different collection techniques.

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and diagnostic value of four different sample collection techniques for cytological identification of nasal aspergillosis-penicilliosis in dogs. METHODS Fifteen dogs with a history of persistent nasal discharge and clinical and radiographic findings suggestive of aspergillosis were evaluated using four different cytological sampling techniques. These were a direct smear from the nasal discharge, blind swab collection under general anaesthesia, brushing from suspect lesions under direct endoscopic visualisation and a squash technique of mucosal biopsies from suspect lesions obtained under direct endoscopic visualisation. RESULTS Direct smear collection and blind swab collection detected fungal hyphae in 13.3 and 20 per cent of examined cases, respectively; brush samples detected fungal hyphae in 93.3 per cent and fungal spores in the 45 per cent of examined cases and squash samples detected fungal hyphae in 100 per cent and fungal spores in 36 per cent of examined cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This study confirmed the high accuracy of cytology samples in the diagnosis of nasal aspergillosis-penicilliosis when collected under direct endoscopic visualisation and showed the poor value of samples that were collected by blind swabs or prepared from samples of nasal discharge.
An evaluation of a periodontal plastic surgical procedure for the reconstruction of interdental papillae in maxillary anterior region: A clinical study

Background: In today's world, people are very much aware about their looks and personality. They are getting more concerned about the esthetics and thus are not ready to compromise the appearance of black holes, especially in the anterior region of the mouth. Various techniques like orthodontic correction, prosthetic veneers and various periodontal surgical methods have been used to cover these unaesthetic open embrasures. In the present study, a variant technique given by Beagle in 1992 was used to cover these open gingival embrasures. The technique uses a gingival flap from the labial aspect to close the open gingival embrasures thus solving the problem of black holes. Aims and Objectives: This clinical study was aimed to reconstruct the lost or blunted interdental papillae with gingival tissue for esthetic purpose and for maintaining oral health with the objective to determine the extent to which the procedure can revert the maxillary esthetics. Materials and Methods: The patients selected were those who were having a complaint of at least one black hole in the maxillary anterior region with grade ‘0’ or ‘1’ type of contour of interdental tissues. A total of 39 open embrasures were surgically closed using this technique. Various indices were taken pre-surgically and then again post surgically. Results: Plaque index and gingival index showed an initial increase in the scores at the end of 1 week. Later, there was a gradual fall till the end of the study. Bleeding index significantly increased at the end of 12 weeks (P<0.001) but reduced to insignificant levels at the end of 24 weeks (P<0.09). The sulcus depth increased by about 1.19 mm. There was improvement in the contour of interdental tissues in 51% of cases and in 38.46% the interdental papillae completely obliterated the open embrasures. Conclusion: The surgical technique used here for reconstruction of interdental papilla was fairly successful. However, use of bone grafts or soft tissue grafts would have improved the results further.
Inhibition of gingipains and Porphyromonas gingivalis growth and biofilm formation by prenyl flavonoids

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Porphyromonas gingivalis is considered a major pathogen of chronic periodontitis, which also may be implicated with systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis. Secreted cysteine proteases, gingipains Rgp and Kgp, are essential for P. gingivalis virulence. Some polyphenols and flavonoids are known to inhibit gingipain activity and interfere with biofilm formation by P. gingivalis. Many bioactive compounds have been isolated from Epimedium species, but availability of these compounds on gingipains and P. gingivalis is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate natural products from medical plants to develop a new therapeutic agent against periodontal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prenylated flavonoids were isolated from Epimedium species plant using column chromatographies. The inhibitory effect of the prenylated flavonoids against protease activity of gingipains were examined using purified gingipains and fluorogenic substrates. Anti-P. gingivalis activity was evaluated to analyze planktonic growth and biofilm formation in brain heart infusion medium in the presence of the prenylated flavonoids. RESULTS We isolated 17 prenylated flavonoids (Limonianin, Epimedokoreanin B, etc.) from Epimedium species. We found that some prenylated flavonoids inhibited gingipain activity in a non-competitive manner with Ki values at μm order. The prenylated flavonoids also hindered growth and biofilm formation of P. gingivalis, in a manner independent of gingipain inhibition by the compounds. CONCLUSION The results indicated an inhibitory effect of the prenylated flavonoids against P. gingivalis and would provide useful information for future development of periodontitis treatment that suppresses gingipains, P. gingivalis growth and biofilm formation.
Direct comparison of intra‐articular versus intravenous delayed gadolinium‐enhanced MRI of hip joint cartilage

To investigate the potential of delayed gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in cartilage (dGEMRIC) after intra‐articular (ia) contrast agent administration at 3 Tesla (T), a paired study comparing intravenous (iv) dGEMRIC (standard) with ia‐dGEMRIC was performed.
INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN HYDROPHYLLUM APPENDICULATUM: ROLE OF MATERNAL EFFECTS, CROWDING, AND PARENTAL MATING HISTORY

This paper examines several aspects of the expression of inbreeding depression in an outcrossing, obligately biennial plant, Hydrophyllum appendiculatum (Hydrophyllaceae). The amount of inbreeding depression detected was small during the first year of life but increased with age and had significant effects on adult size and reproductive traits. The lack of significant inbreeding depression during early growth is likely due to the overriding influence of maternal environmental effects on seed size and seedling growth. However, as maternal effects decreased with age, the seedling's own genotype became a more important determinant of its fate. To examine whether the expression of inbreeding depression was sensitive to ecological conditions, selfed and outcrossed seedlings were grown alone or with other H. appendiculatum seedlings. No inbreeding depression was detected in the plants grown alone. In contrast, under competitive conditions, outcrossed seedlings were significantly larger than selfed seedlings by the end of the first growing season. To address whether parental mating history influences the amount of inbreeding depression expressed, I examined the consequences of two successive generations of selfing on seed set and seed weight. The amount of inbreeding depression increased following the second generation of selfing. In the first generation, seed set and seed weight differed by less than 5% between selfed and outcrossed progeny. However, both traits were 15% greater for outcrossed plants after two generations. These results indicate that the alleles responsible for the reductions in these traits were not purged and suggest the action of multiple loci with deleterious effects.
Alveolar ridge preservation with an open-healing approach using single-layer or double-layer coverage with collagen membranes

Purpose The aim of this prospective pilot study was to compare alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) procedures with open-healing approach using a single-layer and a double-layer coverage with collagen membranes using radiographic and clinical analyses. Methods Eleven molars from 9 healthy patients requiring extraction of the maxillary or mandibular posterior teeth were included and allocated into 2 groups. After tooth extraction, deproteinized bovine bone mineral mixed with 10% collagen was grafted into the socket and covered either with a double-layer of resorbable non-cross-linked collagen membranes (DL group, n=6) or with a single-layer (SL group, n=5). Primary closure was not obtained. Cone-beam computed tomography images were taken immediately after the ARP procedure and after a healing period of 4 months before implant placement. Radiographic measurements were made of the width and height changes of the alveolar ridge. Results All sites healed without any complications, and dental implants were placed at all operated sites with acceptable initial stability. The measurements showed that the reductions in width at the level 1 mm apical from the alveolar crest (including the bone graft) were −1.7±0.5 mm in the SL group and −1.8±0.4 mm in the DL group, and the horizontal changes in the other areas were also similar in the DL and SL groups. The reductions in height were also comparable between groups. Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, single-layer and double-layer coverage with collagen membranes after ARP failed to show substantial differences in the preservation of horizontal or vertical dimensions or in clinical healing. Thus, both approaches seem to be suitable for open-healing ridge preservation procedures.
Lessons in Hypertension from New Clinical Trials

Abstract Three important principles have emerged from recent epidemiologic and clinical studies in hypertension. First, patients with hypertension most often have other cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and diabetes. Second, hypertension remains grossly undertreated. Third, at blood pressure levels once considered “high-normal,” early organ damage may already be taking place in patients with multiple risk factors that, without treatment, can eventually lead to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The concept of evaluating global or overall risk is gaining wide acceptance, and US treatment guidelines may soon reflect these findings and assist clinicians in identifying individuals who are most likely to benefit from therapy. Results from clinical trials suggest that among the various pharmacologic agents available to treat hypertension, blockers of the renin-angiotensin system are effective in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, conditions that often occur in conjunction with hypertension.
Electronic structure of carbon dioxide under pressure and insights into the molecular-to-nonmolecular transition

Significance In this paper, both oxygen and carbon K-edge spectra of CO2 polymorphs at high pressure and room temperature were reported. The electronic structure of CO2 shows remarkable change from molecular to nonmolecular transition. Furthermore, a 532-eV feature was observed only at a limited pressure range from ∼37 to 53 GPa, suggesting the presence of a transient species in the nonmolecular phase. Knowledge of the high-pressure behavior of carbon dioxide (CO2), an important planetary material found in Venus, Earth, and Mars, is vital to the study of the evolution and dynamics of the planetary interiors as well as to the fundamental understanding of the C–O bonding and interaction between the molecules. Recent studies have revealed a number of crystalline polymorphs (CO2-I to -VII) and an amorphous phase under high pressure–temperature conditions. Nevertheless, the reported phase stability field and transition pressures at room temperature are poorly defined, especially for the amorphous phase. Here we shed light on the successive pressure-induced local structural changes and the molecular-to-nonmolecular transition of CO2 at room temperature by performing an in situ study of the local electronic structure using X-ray Raman scattering, aided by first-principle exciton calculations. We show that the transition from CO2-I to CO2-III was initiated at around 7.4 GPa, and completed at about 17 GPa. The present study also shows that at ∼37 GPa, molecular CO2 starts to polymerize to an extended structure with fourfold coordinated carbon and minor CO3 and CO-like species. The observed pressure is more than 10 GPa below previously reported. The disappearance of the minority species at 63(±3) GPa suggests that a previously unknown phase transition within the nonmolecular phase of CO2 has occurred.
Cultural Models, Socialization Goals, and Parenting Ethnotheories

This study conceptualizes a cultural model of parenting. It is argued that cultural models are expressed in the degree of familism, which informs socialization goals that are embodied in parenting ethnotheories. Three cultural models were differentiated a priori: independent, interdependent, and autonomous-related. Samples were recruited that were expected to represent these cultural models: German, Euro-American, and Greek middle-class women representing the independent cultural model; Cameroonian Nso and Gujarati farming women representing the interdependent cultural model; and urban Indian, urban Chinese, urban Mexican, and urban Costa Rican women representing the autonomous-related model. These a priori classifications were confirmed with data that addressed different levels of the cultural models of parenting. The authors further confirmed that socialization goals mediate between broader sociocultural orientations (familism) and parenting ethnotheories concerning beliefs about good parenting. The data reveal that the model of autonomous relatedness needs further theoretical and empirical refinement. Problems with empirical studies comparing participants with very different lifestyles are discussed.
Metabolic Syndrome Frequency in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Background/Aim: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clinical condition characterized by central obesity, elevated triglycerides, low–high density lipoproteins, impaired fasting glucose, and hypertension. There is insufficient data on the prevalence of MetS in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study sought to determine the prevalence of MetS in a Turkish cohort of patients with IBD and the association between insulin resistance (IR) and the MetS parameters, in this population. Patients and Methods: A total of 177 patients over 18 years of age (62 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 115 with ulcerative colitis (UC)) were enrolled in the study. The presence of at least three criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was accepted for the diagnosis of MetS. The Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) was used to determine IR. HOMA values < 1 were considered normal and values > 2.5 indicated a high probability of IR. Results: MetS frequency was higher in patients n=34 (29.5%) with UC than in patients n=11 (17.7%) with CD (P < 0.01). MetS was detected in 12 of the 117 patients (10.3%) with IBD, under 45 years of age, and in 33 of 60 patients (55%) over 45 years of age. HOMA value in n=31 patients (27%) with UC was > 2.5. Body mass index, insulin (P < 0.001), waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, leukocyte count (P < 0.01), triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and uric acid values (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in UC patients with IR than those without IR. Conclusion: Frequent occurrence of MS with increasing age in IBD, particularly in UC, showed the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the long-term follow-up of these diseases.
Baclofen-Induced Epilepsy

A literature search provides supporting evidence. Rampton's review2 detailed case reports of small bowel ulcers, perforations, bleeding, strictures and reperforations following ingestion of NSAIDs. It is also noted that infants treated with indomethacin for patent ductus arteriosus have an increased incidence of-perforation and necrotizing enterocolitis2. A large epidemiological study found that patients taking NSAIDs had a 2.6 times increased risk of perforation and haemorrhage3. Studies'5 had shown that subjects taking NSAIDs, whether healthy volunteers or patients with rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, have increased intestinal permeability to 51Cr EDTA. Indomethacin suppositories had a similar effect, suggesting a systemic action. '11Indium labelled leucocyte scintigrams showed there was 'intestinal inflammation' with concomitant increased faecal excretion of the isotope. The main site affected is the small bowel. Radiological contrast studies in some patients demonstrated small bowel ulceration and strictures5. Similar small bowel mucosal ulcers have been reported in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding6 but we have failed to find similar cases with perforations. However, rats given indomethacin developed similar ulcers in the distal small bowel7, some of which went on to perforation. It might be revealing to examine the distal small bowel ofNSAIDs users endoscopically. As regards ill patients with haemorrhagic cystitis, bladder irrigation with 1% alum solution is worth trying8. There is no doubt that this saved our patient's life.
National release of the nursing home quality report cards: implications of statistical methodology for risk adjustment.

OBJECTIVE To determine how alternative statistical risk-adjustment methods may affect the quality measures (QMs) in nursing home (NH) report cards. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTINGS Secondary data from the national Minimum Data Set files of 2004 and 2005 that include 605,433 long-term residents in 9,336 facilities. STUDY DESIGN We estimated risk-adjusted QMs of decline in activities of daily living (ADL) functioning using classical, fixed-effects, and random-effects logistic models. Risk-adjusted QMs were compared with each other, and with the published QM (unadjusted) in identifying high- and low-quality facilities by either the rankings or 95 percent confidence intervals of QMs. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Risk-adjusted QMs showed better overall agreement (or convergent validity) with each other than did the unadjusted versus each adjusted QM; the disagreement rate between unadjusted and adjusted QM can be as high as 48 percent. The risk-adjusted QM derived from the random-effects shrinkage estimator deviated nonrandomly from other risk-adjusted estimates in identifying the best 10 percent facilities using rankings. CONCLUSIONS The extensively risk-adjusted QMs of ADL decline, even when estimated by alternative statistical methods, show higher convergent validity and provide more robust NH comparisons than the unadjusted QM. Outcome rankings based on ADL decline tend to show lower convergent validity when estimated by the shrinkage estimator rather than other statistical methods.
Thickness measurement of hydrated and dehydrated cryosections by EELS

Electron energy‐loss spectroscopy (EELS) provides a useful method for determining the thickness of frozen‐hydrated and dehydrated cryosections in terms of the inelastic mean free path. Cryosection thickness is an important parameter because plural inelastic scattering limits the sensitivity of elemental microanalysis based on core‐loss EELS, and because overlapping structures can affect interpretation of microanalytical data as well as the quality of electron images. The purpose of this work was to establish the minimum practical thickness for cutting cryosections and to explain the measured values for hydrated and dehydrated specimens. Hydrated sections were typically found to be between 1.5–2.5 times thicker than expected from the nominal microtome setting; this difference can be largely explained by compression during cutting. Comparison of micrographs from hydrated and dehydrated cryosections of rapidly‐frozen, vitrified liver revealed a lateral shrinkage of ∼20% on drying. The measured compression and shrinkage factors are consistent with dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) mass measurements on freeze‐dried sections. Freeze‐dried cryosections, cut to a nominal thickness of 90 nm and supported on thin Formvar/carbon films, had a relative thickness t/λi in the range of 0.5 for cytoplasm to 0.9 for mitochondria when analyzed at 100 keV beam energy. Mass loss of ∼30% occurring at high electron dose enabled useful core‐loss spectra to be recorded even from high‐mass compartments such as mitochondria without excessive plural scattering. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of acidic environment on the response of endothelial cells to irradiation: Implications for microbeam radiation therapy

Abstract Purpose: Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is a novel experimental radiotherapy regimen, which delivers high doses of synchrotron-generated X-rays in the form of quasi-parallel arrays of microbeam separated by microplanar spaces. The repair or healing of irradiated regions (Peak) via migration of endothelial cells (EC) from unirradiated regions (Valley) plays an important role in the response of tumors and normal tissues to MRT. It is known that intratumor microenvironment is acidic. We investigated the influence of environmental acidity on the response of EC to ionizing radiation. Materials and methods: Effects of irradiation on the viability, clonogenicity and migration rate of endothelial cells were studied using human umbilical vascular endothelial cells and mouse endothelial cells in pH 7.3 and 6.4 environments. Results: An exposure to acidic environment (pH 6.4) for 2–4 days exerted little effect on the viability of EC. On the other hand, acidic environment significantly retarded the migration of control and irradiated EC. The migration of EC into 2000 μm-wide wound was slower than that into 1000 μm-side wounds. Conclusion: The microenvironmental acidity and the size of beam opening in MRT may greatly affect the repair of irradiated peak regions via migration of EC from unirradiated valley regions.
Inducible Costimulator Protein Controls the Protective T Cell Response Against Listeria monocytogenes1

The inducible costimulator protein (ICOS) was recently identified as a costimulatory molecule for T cells. Here we analyze the role of ICOS for the acquired immune response of mice against the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. During oral L. monocytogenes infection, low levels of ICOS expression were detected by extracellular and intracellular Ab staining of Listeria-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Blocking of ICOS signaling with a soluble ICOS-Ig fusion protein markedly impaired the Listeria-specific T cell responses. Compared with control mice, the ICOS-Ig treated mice generated significantly reduced numbers of Listeria-specific CD8+ T cells in spleen and liver, as determined by tetramer and intracellular cytokine staining. In contrast, the specific CD8+ T cell response in the intestinal mucosa did not appear to be impaired by the ICOS-Ig treatment. Analysis of the CD4+ T cell response revealed that ICOS-Ig treatment also affected the specific CD4+ T cell response. When restimulated with listerial Ag in vitro, reduced numbers of CD4+ T cells from infected and ICOS-Ig-treated mice responded with IFN-γ production. The impaired acquired immune response in ICOS-Ig treated mice was accompanied by their increased susceptibility to L. monocytogenes infection. ICOS-Ig treatment drastically enhanced bacterial titers, and a large fraction of mice succumbed to the otherwise sublethal dose of infection. Thus, ICOS costimulation is crucial for protective immunity against the intracellular bacterium L. monocytogenes.