Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary Dystonia Is More Responsive than Secondary Dystonia to Pallidal Interventions: Outcome after Pallidotomy or Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation

OBJECTIVEThe response of patients with dystonia to pallidal procedures is not well understood. In this study, we assessed the postoperative outcome of patients with primary and secondary dystonia undergoing pallidotomy or pallidal deep brain stimulation. METHODSFifteen patients with dystonia had pallidal surgery (lesions or deep brain stimulation). These included nine patients with primary dystonia (generalized and cervical dystonias) and six with secondary dystonia (generalized, segmental, and hemidystonias). There were nine male patients and six female patients. The mean age at onset was 21 years for primary dystonia and 18 years for secondary dystonia. The primary outcome measure was a Global Outcome Scale score for dystonia at 6 months after surgery. Other outcome measures were the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale and Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale scores. RESULTSThe mean Global Outcome Scale score at 6 months for patients with primary dystonia was 3 (improvement in both movement disorder and function). In contrast, patients with secondary dystonia had a mean score of 0.83 (mild or no improvement in movement disorder with no functional improvement). All patients with primary dystonia had normal brains by magnetic resonance imaging, whereas five of six patients with secondary dystonia had basal ganglia abnormalities on their magnetic resonance imaging scans. CONCLUSIONThis study indicates that primary dystonia responds much better than secondary dystonia to pallidal procedures. We could not distinguish a difference in efficacy between pallidotomy and pallidal deep brain stimulation. The presence of basal ganglia abnormalities on the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scan is an indicator of a lesser response to pallidal interventions for dystonia.
Switching Skills On by Turning Off Part of the Brain

Snyder and Mitchell (1999) have argued that the extraordinary skills of savants, including mathematics and drawing, are within us all but cannot normally be accessed without some form of brain damage. It has also been argued that such skills can be made accessible to normal people by switching off part of their brain artificially using magnetic pulses (Carter, 1999). Using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to interrupt the function of the frontotemporal lobe, a region of the brain implicated in the development of savant skills (Miller et al., 1996, 1998), we tested this hypothesis. Here we show that savant-type skills improved in 5 out of 17 participants during the period of stimulation. The enhanced skills included declarative memory, drawing, mathematics, and calendar calculating. In addition to overall improvement being observed, striking improvements in individual performance on various tasks were also seen.
Crustacean frequenins: molecular cloning and differential localization at neuromuscular junctions.

Crustacean muscles are innervated by phasic and tonic motor neurons that display differential physiology and have morphologically distinct synaptic terminals. Phasic motor neurons release much more transmitter per impulse and have filiform terminals, whereas tonic motor neurons release less transmitter and have larger terminals with prominent varicosities. Using an antibody raised against Drosophila frequenin (frq), a calcium-binding protein that enhances transmitter release in Drosophila synaptic terminals, we found that frq-like immunoreactivity is prominent in many of the phasic, but not tonic nerve endings of crayfish motor neurons. In contrast, synapsin- and dynamin-like immunoreactivities are strongly expressed in both types of terminal. The immunocytochemical findings strongly suggested the presence of an frq-like molecule in crayfish, and its differential expression indicated a possible modulatory role in transmitter release. Therefore, we cloned the cDNA sequences for the crayfish and lobster homologues of Drosophila frq. Crustacean frequenins are very similar in sequence to their Drosophila counterpart, and calcium-binding regions (EF hands) are conserved. The widespread occurrence of frq-like molecules and their differential localization in crayfish motor neurons indicate a significant role in physiology or development of these neurons.
Demonstration of New Surface Antigens in Cells Transformed by Papovavirus SV40 by Cytotoxic Tests.∗

Summary Immunization of rabbits with cells transformed by papovavirus SV40 resulted in the production of cytotoxic antibodies specific for the homologous cells. Following absorption with normal hamster embryo fibroblasts, these sera failed to react with normal hamster cells, with BHK21 hamster cells, or with hamster cells transformed by adenovirus 7. Absorption with the homologous SV40 transformed cells removed all activity. The reaction observed was dependent on complement. The results suggest the presence of new specific antigens at the surface of cells transformed by SV40 and support the previous localization of surface antigens by the indirect immunofluorescent method. ADDENDUM. Since this work was completed, we have observed that absorption of the rabbit antisera with sheep erythrocytes decreases, but does not abolish, the cytotoxic reaction against the H-50 cells.
Benign Fibro-Osseous Lesions: A Review of Current Concepts

The benign fibro-osseous lesions (BFOL) represent a clinically diverse group of disorders of bone that share similar histopathologic features. As a group, they are relatively common in the craniofacial complex, especially the jaws. Although the general concept of BFOL is relatively well known, specific diagnostic interpretation of individual cases is often challenging. New concepts and controversies have arisen over the past 10 to 15 years regarding classification and diagnostic criteria. However, among the new theories and contentions, there is now essential agreement that the osseous dysplasias represent a single disease process, while the so-called “juvenile active ossifying fibroma” and other “aggressive,” “active,” “psammomatoid” ossifying/cementifying fibromas remain controversial. This review is presented to update the surgical pathologist on the various entities comprising the spectrum of BFOL and to examine the criteria for their diagnosis.
Combined prophylactic and therapeutic intranasal vaccination against human papillomavirus type-16 using different adeno-associated virus serotype vectors

Background Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among woman worldwide and is considered to be caused by infection with high-risk papilloma viruses. Genetic immunization using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors has shown great promise for vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Methods rAAV5, -8 and -9 vectors expressing an HPV16 L1/E7 fusion gene were generated and applied intranasally for combined prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination of mice. Results The rAAV5 and the rAAV9 vectors showed efficient induction of both humoral and cellular immune responses, whereas rAAV8 failed to immunize mice by the intranasal route. The L1-specific immune response evoked by expression of the L1/E7 fusion gene, however, was lower than that evoked by expression of the L1 antigen alone. This deficiency could be compensated by application of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin or monophsphoryl lipid as adjuvant upon vaccination with rAAV5-L1/E7. Coimmunization of rAAV9-L1/E7 with rAAV5-L1 or boosting of rAAV9-L1/E7 with rAAV5-L1 strongly increased L1-specific neutralizing antibody titres to levels above those achieved by vaccination with vectors expressing L1 alone. Both vectors elicited a vibrant cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against L1 or E7. Nasal immunization with rAAV5 or rAAV9 was superior to vaccination with HPV16-L1 virus-like particles (VLPs) or HPV16-L1/E7 CVLPs with respect to humoral and cellular immune responses. Vaccination with the rAAV vectors led to a significant protection of animals against a challenge with different HPV tumour cell lines. Conclusions Our results show that rAAV5 and rAAV9 vectors are promising candidates for a non-invasive nasal vaccination strategy.
Involvement of the CA1 GABAA receptors in MK-801-induced anxiolytic-like effects: an isobologram analysis

There seems to be a close relationship between hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and GABAA receptors with respect to the modulation of behavior that occurs in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. This study investigated the possible involvement of the CA1 GABAA receptors in anxiolytic-like effects induced by (+)-MK-801 (a noncompetitive antagonist of the NMDA subtype of the glutamate receptor). Male Wistar rats were subjected to the elevated plus-maze apparatus and open arm time (%OAT), and open arm entries (%OAE) for anxiety-related behaviors, and closed arm entries that correspond to the locomotor activity were assessed. An intra-CA1 injection of (+)-MK-801 (2 &mgr;g/rat) and muscimol (0.5 &mgr;g/rat; a GABAA receptor agonist) increased %OAT and %OAE by themselves while not altering the closed arm entries, indicating an anxiolytic-like effect of these drugs. Injection of bicuculline (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 &mgr;g/rat; a GABAA receptor antagonist) did not alter any of the anxiety-related parameters. An intra-CA1 injection of a subthreshold dose of muscimol (0.1 &mgr;g/rat) or bicuculline (0.5 &mgr;g/rat), 5 min before injection of subthreshold and effective doses of (+)-MK-801 (0.5, 1 and 2 &mgr;g/rat), increased and decreased the anxiolytic-like effect of (+)-MK-801, respectively. The isobologram analysis of these findings suggested a synergistic anxiety-like effect of intra-CA1 (+)-MK-801 and muscimol. In conclusion, the CA1 GABAA receptors appear to be involved in anxiolytic-like behaviors induced by (+)-MK-801.
A prospective cohort study of awake fibreoptic intubation practice at a tertiary centre

Contemporary data are lacking for procedural practice, training provision and outcomes for awake fibreoptic intubation in the UK. We performed a prospective cohort study of awake fibreoptic intubations at a tertiary centre to assess current practice. Data from 600 elective or emergency awake fibreoptic intubations were collected to include information on patient and operator demographics, technical performance and complications. This comprised 1.71% of patients presenting for surgery requiring a general anaesthetic, with the majority occurring in patients presenting for head and neck surgery. The most common indication was reduced mouth opening (26.8%), followed by previous airway surgery or head and neck radiotherapy (22.5% each). Only five awake fibreoptic intubations were performed with no sedation, but the most common sedative technique was combined target‐controlled infusions of remifentanil and propofol. Oxygenation was achieved with high‐flow, heated and humidified oxygen via nasal cannula in 49.0% of patients. Most operators had performed awake fibreoptic intubation more than 20 times previously, but trainees were the primary operator in 78.6% of awake fibreoptic intubations, of which 86.8% were directly supervised by a consultant. The failure rate was 1.0%, and 11.0% of awake fibreoptic intubations were complicated, most commonly by multiple attempts (4.2%), over‐sedation (2.2%) or desaturation (1.5%). The only significant association with complications was the number of previous awake fibreoptic intubations performed, with fewer complications occurring in the hands of operators with more awake fibreoptic intubation experience. Our data demonstrate that awake fibreoptic intubation is a safe procedure with a high success rate. Institutional awake fibreoptic intubation training can both develop and maintain trainee competence in performing awake fibreoptic intubation, with a similar incidence of complications and success compared with consultants.
Dynamic regulation of Cdr1 kinase localization and phosphorylation during osmotic stress

Environmental conditions modulate cell cycle progression in many cell types. A key component of the eukaryotic cell cycle is the protein kinase Wee1, which inhibits the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk1 in yeast through human cells. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the protein kinase Cdr1 is a mitotic inducer that promotes mitotic entry by phosphorylating and inhibiting Wee1. Cdr1 and Wee1 both localize to punctate structures, termed nodes, on the medial cortex, but it has been unknown whether node localization can be altered by physiological signals. Here we investigated how environmental conditions regulate Cdr1 signaling for cell division. Osmotic stress induced hyperphosphorylation of the mitotic inducer Cdr1 for several hours, and cells delayed division for the same time period. This stress-induced hyperphosphorylation required both Cdr1 autophosphorylation and the stress-activated protein kinase Sty1. During osmotic stress, Cdr1 exited cortical nodes and localized in the cytoplasm. Using a series of truncation mutants, we mapped a C-terminal domain that is necessary and sufficient for Cdr1 node localization and found that Sty1 directly phosphorylates this domain in vitro. Sty1 was not required for Cdr1 exit from nodes, indicating the existence of additional regulatory signals. Both Cdr1 phosphorylation and node localization returned to basal levels when cells adapted to osmotic conditions and resumed cell cycle progression. In summary, we identified a mechanism that prevents Cdr1 colocalization with its inhibitory target Wee1 during osmotic stress. Dynamic regulation of protein localization to cortical nodes might represent a strategy to modulate entry into mitosis under differing environmental conditions.
Telecytology and its evolving role in cytopathology

The advancement of telecommunication technology in the area of digital transfer of images form distant site has resulted in exploration of this technology in the area of cytopathology. Telecytology facilitates the electronic transmission of microscopic images using static, dynamic, and whole slide imaging systems. Recent articles have generated an interest in the use of this technology for immediate assessment of fine‐needle aspirations. Telecytology has potential for use in second opinion, quality assurance, slide archiving, proficiency testing, and distance‐based education. This review discusses the current and potential applications of telecytology in cytopathology practice and its limitation and advantages. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2012;40:498–502. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Responses to anonymous questionnaires concerning sexual behavior: a method to examine potential biases.

OBJECTIVES Low response rates to voluntary surveys raise questions about how representative the responses are. We compared the behavior and attitudes of responders, willing and reluctant, and nonresponders to anonymous questionnaires about behaviors that might expose participants to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS Questionnaires were sent to 1080 Danish adults 18 through 59 years including explicit questions about sexual acts and illegal drug use. Identical questionnaires were sent to 3600 other Danes, similarly chosen; packets sent to these persons included cards to be returned separately informing us that they had responded. Questionnaires were sent twice more to nonresponders, who, if they then responded, were considered reluctant responders. One hundred nonresponders were telephoned and asked why they had refused to respond. RESULTS Enclosing return cards did not affect initial response rate, but prompting boosted replies from 52% to 73%. However, behaviors were generally similar among initial and reluctant responders. One third of nonresponders agreed to respond if we wished (total potential response: 82%). In general, the reasons for nonresponse did not suggest that the life-styles of nonresponders placed them at risk for HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS This method provides a simple, inexpensive approach to improving response rates and learning about the biases of reluctant responders and nonresponders.
Age estimation using Active Appearance Models and Support Vector Machine regression

In this paper, we introduce a novel age estimation technique that combines Active Appearance Models (AAMs) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs), to dramatically improve the accuracy of age estimation over the current state-of-the-art techniques. In this method, characteristics of the input images, face image, are interpreted as feature vectors by AAMs, which are used to discriminate between childhood and adulthood, prior to age estimation. Faces classified as adults are passed to the adult age-determination function and the others are passed to the child age-determination function. Compared to published results, this method yields the highest accuracy recognition rates, both in overall mean-absolute error (MAE) and mean-absolute error for the two periods of human development: childhood and adulthood.
Grown, Printed, and Biologically Augmented: An Additively Manufactured Microfluidic Wearable, Functionally Templated for Synthetic Microbes

Abstract Despite significant advances in synthetic biology at industrial scales, digital fabrication challenges have, to date, precluded its implementation at the product scale. We present, Mushtari, a multimaterial 3D printed fluidic wearable designed to culture microbial communities. Thereby we introduce a computational design environment for additive manufacturing of geometrically complex and materially heterogeneous fluidic channels. We demonstrate how controlled variation of geometrical and optical properties at high spatial resolution can be achieved through a combination of computational growth modeling and multimaterial bitmap printing. Furthermore, we present the implementation, characterization, and evaluation of support methods for creating product-scale fluidics. Finally, we explore the cytotoxicity of 3D printed materials in culture studies with the model microorganisms, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The results point toward design possibilities that lie at the intersection of compu.
Applying Zipf’s Power Law Over Population Density and Growth as Network Deployment Indicator

Population distribution analysis contains useful information regarding decision making of networks’ deployment. However, both the public and the private sector should decide the development of networks based on qualitative and quantitative criteria, such as the application of power laws. In this work, one of the most widely used power laws ap-plied in demographics, the Zipf’s law, is tested over urban cities in Greece. Apart from the examination of Zipf’s law validation over population, this study provides further results according the distribution of population density as far as an analysis based on population differentiations in the last decades. According to the results, it is proved that the con-sidered sample plays a crucial role to the final conclusions, since the acceptance or the rejection of the law depends on it. Moreover, important information regarding the deployment of networks are revealed and discussed.
Chapter 11 Cornea and Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an acquired optic neuropathy in which destruction of ganglion cells and fibers leads to irreversible visual field loss. The prevalence of glaucoma, a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide [1,2], in the general population is about 2%. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) is a primary risk factor for glaucoma development. IOP evalua‐ tion is used to assess disease control and treatment response, and lowering IOP has resulted in reducing the rates of disease progression over 5 years [3-7]. These data confirmed that ele‐ vated IOP is a pathophysiologic basis for glaucoma; therefore, accurate IOP measurement is critical in glaucoma.
Pharmacologic prophylaxis regimens for acute graft-versus-host disease: past, present and future

Abstract Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has compromised and continues to compromise the benefits associated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant to cure malignant and non-malignant diseases. Pharmacologic interventions to prevent GVHD have emerged as a major objective of research in the immunology and transplant fields. A better understanding of the pathobiology behind the GVHD process has led the way to novel approaches and medications. Here we review the present arsenal of medications used to prevent GVHD, focusing on past experience and the current evidence, and discuss future potential targets.
Recalcification of Artificially Decalcified Dentin In Vivo

Cavity floor dentin of dog teeth was artificially decalcified in vivo by acid to investigate recalcification. The first decalcified layer was soft with low calcium content and could be recalcified only slightly by external deposition from saliva or capping. The second layer was decalcified intermediately and could be recalcified to a considerable degree by vital reaction.
Natural History and Prognosis of Hepatitis B

The natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is complex and variable and is greatly influenced by the age at infection, the level of HBV replication, and host immune status. Chronic HBV infection generally consists of an early replicative phase with active liver disease (hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg]-positive chronic hepatitis) and a late low or nonreplicative phase with HBeAg seroconversion and remission of liver disease (inactive carrier state). After HBeAg seroconversion, some patients may have active hepatitis due to HBV variants not expressing HBeAg (HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis). Morbidity and mortality are linked to development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Survival is reasonably good (about 85% probability at 5 years) in compensated cirrhosis but very poor in decompensated cirrhosis. Both cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients with sustained reduction of HBV replication and normalization of aminotransferase after interferon alfa therapy have a reduced risk for liver-related complications.
Acquisition of matching-to-sample performance in rats using visual stimuli on nose keys.

Steady and blinking white lights were projected on three nose keys arranged horizontally on one wall. The procedure was a conditional discrimination with a sample stimulus presented on the middle key and comparison stimuli on the side keys. Three rats acquired simultaneous "identity matching. " Accuracy reached 80% in about 25 sessions and 90% or higher after about 50 sessions. Acquisition progressed through several stages of repeated errors, alteration between comparison keys from trial to trial, preference of specific keys or stimuli, and a gradual lengthening of strings of consecutive trials with correct responses. An analysis of the acquisition curves for individual trial configurations indicated that the matching-to-sample performance possibly consisted of separate discriminations.