Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neonatal and maternal concentrations of hydroxil radical and total antioxidant system: protective role of placenta against fetal oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND Reactive oxygen species (ROS) may cause peroxydation of lipids, proteins and deoxyribonucleic acids with subsequent cell damage. The hydroxyl radical (OH*) represents a measure of global oxidative stress. Hydroxyl radicals are short-lived; they form an important part of radical chemistry nonetheless. The measure of total antioxidant system (TAS) can give useful information about the extent of defence capable of counteracting the oxidative damage. Pregnancy is an important condition that favors oxidative stress in the fetus. Clinical studies indicate a protective mechanism against O2 toxicity in the human feto-placental unit. AIM This study reports the OH* and TAS concentrations in mother and fetus at birth to evaluate the role of the placenta against fetal oxidative stress. METHODS Blood samples were collected at delivery from 45 healthy women at term and from their newborns. The maternal and neonatal OH* and TAS concentrations were compared by paired Student t-test. RESULTS OH* was higher in maternal blood than in cord blood (573.75+/- 170.0 UCarr/l vs 40.08+/-33.37 UCarr/l) (p<0.01); TAS concentrations did not differ between the two groups (1.11+/-0.09 mmol/l vs 1.17+/-0.12 mmol/l). Multiple regression analyses: maternal and neonatal OH* decreases with maternal age; only maternal TAS and OH* are related to gestational age in a nonlinear fashion. Female infants showed higher values of maternal and neonatal TAS as compared to male infants. CONCLUSION TA protective role of the placenta against oxidative damage is in keeping with a large enough gradient of ROS (between mother and fetus) and the passage of TAS from mother to fetus.
In utero cocaine exposure: effect on neonatal breathing in guinea pigs.

Cocaine (COC) abuse during pregnancy may be a factor in the development of neonatal breathing abnormalities. To examine this possibility, pregnant Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs were treated daily with s.c. injections of saline or 2, 6 or 12 mg/kg of COC during the second half of gestation. Treatments were assigned randomly to pregnant dams. Neonatal weight, breathing, ECG and EEG were recorded in unsedated animals using noninvasive techniques at intervals for 3 weeks after birth. Neonatal weight on Day 1 was decreased by exposure to the two highest doses of COC (P less than .05). The effects of drug treatment, day of study and response to inhalation of 5% CO2 were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. A significant drug-, day- and CO2-effect on tidal volume (VT) and inspiratory minute volume (VI) was observed (P less than .01). COC exposure in utero increased the weight-normalized neonatal VT and VI on room air and 5% CO2 during the first 2 weeks of life in the absence of a measurable effect of drug exposure upon breathing frequency, heart rate or EEG power. The increase in VT and VI may be caused by an increase in metabolic rate (hyperpnea) or an alteration of ventilatory control (hyperventilation). Either mechanism could represent functional teratogenesis and either results in a greater ventilatory effort which increases the work of breathing and the consumption of oxygen. An increase in oxygen demand due to an increase in metabolism or an increase in ventilatory effort might compromise some neonates and contribute to an increased incidence of sudden-infant-death.
Application of the Fama and French Factor Models to the Credit Default Swaps (CDS) Market

In this paper we apply the Fama French (FF) three-factor (3F) and five-factor (5F) models to the CDS market. By converting daily CDS spreads into daily returns we are able to perform tests on the FF 3F and 5F models. Our results provide evidence that both 3F and 5F models can be extended to the CDS market. We also test the default risk hypothesis, by augmenting the FF models with the distance-to-default factor. Our findings suggest it is unlikely that SMB and HML are proxying for the default risk. We conclude that the FF 5F model is the preferred model for explaining daily CDS returns.
Autoantibodies to fibroblasts induce a proadhesive and proinflammatory fibroblast phenotype in patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE Fibroblasts play a major role in the development of systemic sclerosis (SSc), and the occurrence of serum autoantibodies reacting with fibroblast plasma membrane antigens in SSc has been reported. This study was undertaken to investigate whether IgG from SSc sera that react with human fibroblasts modulates the fibroblasts' function. METHODS Sera from 69 patients with SSc (28 with limited cutaneous SSc [lcSSc] and 41 with diffuse cutaneous SSc [dcSSc]), 30 patients with sarcoidosis, and 50 matched healthy controls were examined. We evaluated antibody binding to human skin and lung fibroblasts by cell-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. We further investigated the ability of purified IgG to modulate 1) intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression, 2) U937 cell adhesion to fibroblasts, and 3) fibroblast steady-state messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), IL-beta, and IL-6, and IL-6 protein production. RESULTS Of 69 SSc sera tested by cell-based ELISA, 58% bound to normal skin and lung fibroblasts. The prevalence of binding was significantly higher in dcSSc than in lcSSc (P < 0.05). Only IgG from SSc sera that were positive for antifibroblast antibody (AFA) induced a dose-dependent up-regulation of ICAM-1 expression and IL-6 production, enhancement of U937 cell adhesion, and increased levels of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 mRNA in fibroblasts. Up-regulation of ICAM-1 mediated by AFA IgG was inhibited by the addition of IL-1 receptor antagonist, indicating an autocrine activation loop. CONCLUSION Our findings confirm the presence of AFAs in SSc sera and demonstrate, for the first time, that autoantibodies reacting with fibroblast surface molecules act as an extrinsic stimulus inducing fibroblast activation in vitro.
Strategies to prevent the neuropsychiatric side-effects of corticosteroids: a case report and review of the literature

Purpose of reviewThe use of corticosteroids is increasing, and while the physical complications of their use are well known, the neuropsychiatric consequences are not. This review focuses on preventing these neuropsychiatric complications. Although there are limited data on this subject, it is a problem that clinicians face on a regular basis. Recent findingsThe incidence of neuropsychiatric complications rises rapidly once the daily dose of prednisone is greater than 40 mg. Other risk factors for neuropsychiatric symptoms are damaged blood–brain barrier and hypoalbuminemia. All patients receiving corticosteroids and their caregivers should be warned about the potential neuropsychiatric complications. Small trials have supported the use of various agents as prophylaxis. The development of neuropsychiatric symptoms secondary to corticosteroids should lead to prompt involvement of liaison psychiatry. SummaryThere is a lack of large randomized controlled studies to inform clinical practice. At present, lithium and olanzapine probably represent the best choices for prophylaxis. Patients with a prior history of steroid-related psychosis or mania should be considered for prophylaxis when future courses of steroids are prescribed as limited data, and our clinical experience suggests that this can reduce the future episodes of neuropsychiatric side-effects.
Impact of Freezing on the Future Utility of Archived Surveillance Culture Specimens

The ability to recover bacteria from frozen culture specimens has important implications. The purpose of this study was to validate the utility of frozen specimens for recovery of several gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial species by culture. Results demonstrate that 98% of 250 bacterial isolates identified on initial culture were subsequently recovered by culture of frozen specimens after a median storage period of 564 days.
The epidemiology of HSV-2 infection and its association with HIV infection in four urban African populations

Objectives: To estimate age- and sex-specific herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) prevalence in urban African adult populations and to identify factors associated with infection. Design and methods: Cross-sectional, population-based samples of about 2000 adults interviewed in each of the following cities: Cotonou, Benin; Yaoundé, Cameroon; Kisumu, Kenya and Ndola, Zambia. Consenting study participants were tested for HIV, HSV-2 and other sexually transmitted infections. Results: HSV-2 prevalence was over 50% among women and over 25% among men in Yaoundé, Kisumu and Ndola, with notably high rates of infection among young women in Kisumu and Ndola (39% and 23%, respectively, among women aged 15-19 years). The prevalence in Cotonou was lower (30% in women and 12% in men). Multivariate analysis showed that HSV-2 prevalence was significantly associated with older age, ever being married, and number of lifetime sexual partners, in almost all cities and both sexes. There was also a strong, consistent association with HIV infection. Among women, the adjusted odds ratios for the association between HSV-2 and HIV infections ranged from 4.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.0-8.0] in Kisumu to 5.5 (95% CI = 1.7-18) in Yaoundé, and those among men ranged from 4.6 (95% CI = 2.7-7.7) in Ndola to 7.9 (95% CI = 4.1-15) in Kisumu. Conclusions: HSV-2 infection is highly prevalent in these populations, even at young ages, and is strongly associated with HIV at an individual level. At a population level, HSV-2 prevalence was highest in Kisumu and Ndola, the cities with the highest HIV rates, although rates were also high among women in Yaoundé, where there are high rates of partner change but relatively little HIV infection. The high prevalence of both infections among young people underlines the need for education and counselling among adolescents.
Measuring Acculturation Gap Conflicts Among Hispanics

This study examined the factor structure and validity of the Acculturation Gap Conflicts Inventory (AGCI), a new instrument developed to measure the types of recurring conflicts that young people experience as part of the parent–child acculturation gap. Participants included 283 Hispanic young adults who completed the AGCI and existing measures of acculturation, family dynamics, psychosocial, and academic adjustment. Principal axis factor analysis revealed three factors with good internal consistency: Autonomy Conflicts, Conflicts over Preferred-Culture, and Dating/Being Out Late Conflicts. These factors correlated in the expected direction with acculturative stress and family dynamics variables. Autonomy Conflicts explained more than 25% of the variance in the acculturation gap conflicts items investigated, and this factor demonstrated incremental validity in predicting psychosocial and academic adjustment beyond the variance accounted for by other acculturative stress variables. The AGCI can be valuable to researchers from a variety of disciplines interested in measuring acculturation-related intergenerational conflicts among Hispanic youth that may be predictive of adjustment.
Experimentally reduced root-microbe interactions reveal limited plasticity in functional root traits in Acer and Quercus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Interactions between roots and soil microbes are critical components of below-ground ecology. It is essential to quantify the magnitude of root trait variation both among and within species, including variation due to plasticity. In addition to contextualizing the magnitude of plasticity relative to differences between species, studies of plasticity can ascertain if plasticity is predictable and whether an environmental factor elicits changes in traits that are functionally advantageous. METHODS To compare functional traits and trait plasticities in fine root tissues with natural and reduced levels of colonization by microbial symbionts, trimmed and surface-sterilized root segments of 2-year-old Acer rubrum and Quercus rubra seedlings were manipulated. Segments were then replanted into satellite pots filled with control or heat-treated soil, both originally derived from a natural forest. Mycorrhizal colonization was near zero in roots grown in heat-treated soil; roots grown in control soil matched the higher colonization levels observed in unmanipulated root samples collected from field locations. KEY RESULTS Between-treatment comparisons revealed negligible plasticity for root diameter, branching intensity and nitrogen concentration across both species. Roots from treated soils had decreased tissue density (approx. 10-20 %) and increased specific root length (approx. 10-30 %). In contrast, species differences were significant and greater than treatment effects in traits other than tissue density. Interspecific trait differences were also significant in field samples, which generally resembled greenhouse samples. CONCLUSIONS The combination of experimental and field approaches was useful for contextualizing trait plasticity in comparison with inter- and intra-specific trait variation. Findings that root traits are largely species dependent, with the exception of root tissue density, are discussed in the context of current literature on root trait variation, interactions with symbionts and recent progress in standardization of methods for quantifying root traits.
Thinking for translating and intra-typological variation in satellite-framed languages

We analyze the expression of motion in translations of Tolkien’s The Hobbit into Polish and German within the framework of Talmy’s (1991, 2000) typology of macro-events and Slobin’s (1991, 1996) “Thinking for speaking” hypothesis. We show that although both languages pertain to the satellite-framed typological group, Polish provides less diversified Manner and Path descriptions than German, which exploits the satellite lexicalization pattern by far more productively. We relate these contrasts in the rhetorical style to the particular morpho-syntactic and semantic characteristics of the languages under discussion.
Noncompliance with directly observed therapy for tuberculosis. Epidemiology and effect on the outcome of treatment.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To describe the epidemiology and clinical consequences of noncompliance with directly observed therapy (DOT) for treatment of tuberculosis. DESIGN Retrospective review. SETTING An urban tuberculosis control program that emphasizes DOT. PATIENTS All patients treated with outpatient DOT from 1984 to 1994. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS We defined noncompliance as follows: (1) missing > or = 2 consecutive weeks of DOT; (2) prolongation of treatment > 30 days due to sporadic missed doses; or (3) incarceration for presenting a threat to public health. Poor outcomes of therapy were defined as a microbiologic or clinical failure of initial therapy, relapse, or death due to tuberculosis. Fifty-two of 294 patients (18%) who received outpatient DOT fulfilled one or more criteria for noncompliance. Using multivariate logistic regression, risk factors for noncompliance were alcohol abuse (odds ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 7.5; p = 0.02) and homelessness (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 7.2; p = 0.004). Noncompliant patients had poor outcomes from the initial course of therapy more often than compliant patients: 17 of 52 (32.7%) vs 8 of 242 (3.3%); relative risk was 9.9; 95% confidence interval was 4.5 to 21.7 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In an urban tuberculosis control program, noncompliance with DOT was common and was closely associated with alcoholism and homelessness. Noncompliance was associated with a 10-fold increase in the occurrence of poor outcomes from treatment and accounted for most treatment failures. Innovative programs are needed to deal with alcoholism and homelessness in patients with tuberculosis.
Systemic Administration of IL-15 Augments the Antigen-Specific Primary CD8+ T Cell Response Following Vaccination with Peptide-Pulsed Dendritic Cells

The systemic administration of IL-2 can act as a potent adjuvant for T cell-directed vaccine strategies. However, not only is the administration of IL-2 potentially toxic, but recent evidence suggests that it may also paradoxically limit the duration and magnitude of the cytotoxic T cell response. A recently identified cytokine, IL-15, shares many properties with IL-2 and may provide a preferential means of augmenting T cell-directed vaccine responses. Although well characterized in vitro, there are few data on the ability of IL-15 to augment T cell-mediated responses in vivo. We therefore evaluated the ability of systemic IL-15 to function as a T cell adjuvant in a murine vaccine model. To establish a population of easily identifiable Ag-responsive T cells, naive CD8+ (OT-1) T cells were first adoptively transferred into mice. Vaccination with peptide-pulsed dendritic cells induced a modest expansion of OT-1 T cells. The addition of systemic IL-15 for 7 days following vaccination resulted in a significant increase in the expansion of responding T cells in the PBL, spleen, and lymph nodes. Importantly, the responding T cells were cytotoxic and maintained a Tc1-biased phenotype. We did not observe either enhanced resistance to activation-induced cell death or preferential generation of memory T cells as a result of treatment with IL-15 compared with IL-2. These studies show for the first time that IL-15 is capable of augmenting the primary CD8+ T cell response to vaccination and contribute to the basis for future experiments exploring the clinical role of IL-15.
Treatment of hypersaline hazardous landfill leachate using a baffled constructed wetland system: effect of granular packing media and vegetation

ABSTRACT Constructed wetland is an engineered system that attains more attention as a feasible technology for the treatment of municipal landfill leachate. However, its feasibility for treatment of toxic, hazardous, and hypersaline leachate remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using a baffled constructed wetland (BCW) system for the treatment of hypersaline hazardous landfill leachate. Furthermore, the effects of granular packing media, toxicity, and hyper salinity conditions on the removal efficiency of COD fractions (CODt, CODs, and CODp), nitrogen, heavy metals, and coarse solids were extensively investigated. Our findings indicated that BCWs were highly effective in removing heavy metals particularly Cu2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, and Zn2+ and exhibited moderate efficiency for other contaminants (e.g. COD fractions, solids, and nitrogen species). Furthermore, use of a sand and gravel mixture for bed materials demonstrated higher performance over sand alone. However, we found that Phragmites australis is not tolerant enough to extreme toxicity and salinity conditions, and this reed could not survive for more than 27 and 33 days in sand BCW and sand/gravel BCW, respectively. Consequently, survivorship of reed and efficiency of treatment using vegetation were limited in the long-term operation with high salinity and toxicity conditions. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Computed Tomography Angiography in the Assessment of Patients With Stroke/TIA

Rapid advance in medical technology has resulted in the availability of numerous tests and treatment strategies in the management of acute stroke. The increasingly evidence-based context of clinical medicine necessitates that clinicians use only appropriate tools to facilitate the diagnostic process and patient management. In this review, we seek to explore the use of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the diagnosis and management of patients presenting with acute stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). We present evidence in favor of the use of CTA, highlight the disadvantages of this imaging modality, and present a heuristic model based on our experience at utilizing CTA for decision making in acute stroke and TIAs.
Functional Diversity of Heat-labile Toxins (LT) Produced by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Heat-labile toxins (LTs) have ADP-ribosylation activity and induce the secretory diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains in different mammalian hosts. LTs also act as adjuvants following delivery via mucosal, parenteral, or transcutaneous routes. Previously we have shown that LT produced by human-derived ETEC strains encompass a group of 16 polymorphic variants, including the reference toxin (LT1 or hLT) produced by the H10407 strain and one variant that is found mainly among bacterial strains isolated from pigs (LT4 or pLT). Herein, we show that LT4 (with six polymorphic sites in the A (K4R, K213E, and N238D) and B (S4T, A46E, and E102K) subunits) displays differential in vitro toxicity and in vivo adjuvant activities compared with LT1. One in vitro generated LT mutant (LTK4R), in which the lysine at position 4 of the A subunit was replaced by arginine, showed most of the LT4 features with an ∼10-fold reduction of the cytotonic effects, ADP-ribosylation activity, and accumulation of intracellular cAMP in Y1 cells. Molecular dynamic studies of the A subunit showed that the K4R replacement reduces the N-terminal region flexibility and decreases the catalytic site crevice. Noticeably, LT4 showed a stronger Th1-biased adjuvant activity with regard to LT1, particularly concerning activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes when delivered via the intranasal route. Our results further emphasize the relevance of LT polymorphism among human-derived ETEC strains that may impact both the pathogenicity of the bacterial strain and the use of these toxins as potential vaccine adjuvants.
Immunohistochemical Detection of Cathepsin D in T2N0M0 Breast Carcinoma

Recent studies have reported significant but inconsistent correlations between tumor cathepsin D (CD) concentration and prognosis in breast carcinoma. To investigate the tissue distribution and a prognostic utility of CD in breast carcinoma, 159 cases of T2N0M0 breast carcinoma with a minimum of 10 years' follow-up were studied for CD expression by immunohistochemistry. This group of patients was chosen for study because of current interest in prognostic markers for stage I breast carcinoma and the likelihood that there would be sufficient recurrences in this group to detect significant differences. Seventy-two carcinomas (45%) showed prominent staining of cells composing the tumor. Neoplastic cell staining for CD correlated with well-differentiated architecture, and lack of neoplastic cell CD expression correlated with high nuclear grade and the medullary carcinoma category. Stromal cell (primarily histiocyte) staining in carcinomas was the major contributor to CD expression in 67 of the 159 cases (42%). Intense intratumoral stromal cell staining correlated with absence of estrogen receptors and the medullary carcinoma subtype. There was no significant correlation between disease-free or overall survival and (a) intensity of overall staining for CD, (b) staining of carcinoma cells alone, or (c) staining of nonneoplastic cells within the region of the carcinoma. These results show that a significant proportion of CD activity detected within a tumor by immunohistochemistry may be contributed by nonneoplastic cells, and there is no significant correlation between survival and immunohistochemical detection of CD in T2N0M0 breast cancer.