Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial surface of rabbit aorta as observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Scanning electron microscope observation of the ascending aorta and arcus aortae of rabbits revealed that the endothelial surface possessed a number of hair-like projections of about 100-150mμ thickness and of lengths up to 3μ. The processes were numerous on the nuclear swelling of the cell. Small granule-like processes were also numerous on the cell which were presumed to represent very short projections.Transmission electron microscopy of ultra-thin sections confirmed the occurrence of the endothelial surface projections.Together with the result by SMITH et al. (1971) in the dog pulmonary artery, this study may demand a fundamental revision in the understanding of the structure and function of the endothelial surface of blood vessels.
Platelet alpha2-adrenoceptors and diurnal changes of platelet aggregability in hypertensive patients

Objective To analyse whether platelets from hypertensive patients have an increased responsiveness to aggregating agents during morning hours and whether these changes might be related to concurrent changes in platelet membrane α2-adrenoceptor characteristics, plasma catecholamine and cortisol levels, and blood pressure values. Design and methods Blood samples from 14 mild-to-moderate essential hypertensive males were collected in the morning (0700–0900 h) and the evening (1900–2100h) to determine platelet aggregability responses to adrenaline and ADP, platelet α2-adrenoceptor number and binding affinity to [3H]-yohimbine, plasma catecholamines and cortisol. During the same day patients underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Results The lowest concentration of adrenaline required to induce biphasic aggregation was significantly lower in the morning than in the evening, indicating an increased morning platelet aggregability to adrenaline; the minimum ADP concentration inducing aggregation was similar in morning and evening samples. There were no significant differences between morning and evening samples in platelet α2-adrenoceptor number and binding affinity. Plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol levels were higher in the morning than in the evening, but no correlation was observed between hormonal changes and the morning increase in platelet sensitivity to adrenaline. Ambulatory blood pressure recording showed abrupt morning elevations in systolic and diastolic blood pressures over sleeping values. However, morning blood pressure readings were not significantly different from those recorded during the rest of the day and in the evening. The morning rise in mean arterial pressure displayed a significant inverse correlation with the increased platelet sensitivity to adrenaline that was observed during the same hours. Conclusions The results indicate that the increased morning responsiveness to adrenaline that was observed in platelets obtained from hypertensive patients does not appear to be mediated by changes in the characteristics of platelet membrane α2-adrenoceptors, but morning blood pressure elevations might play some role in inducing this platelet hyper-reactivity.
Comparison of functional brain PET images and intraoperative brain-mapping data using image-guided surgery.

OBJECTIVE Knowledge about the spatial localization of eloquent brain areas is essential for resecting lesions in the vicinity of these areas. The classical approach is to perform surgery on the awake patient under local anesthesia using brain-mapping techniques. As an alternative, the location of eloquent areas can be visualized by preoperative functional brain-imaging techniques, for example, positron emission tomography (PET), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), or magnetoencephalography (MEG). Using functional activation PET, both methods were combined by integration into a frameless navigation system (BrainLAB) and used to map speech-eloquent areas. PATIENTS AND METHODS Speech-eloquent areas were localized preoperatively in seven patients with a left-sided glioma using 2-[(18)F]-2-desoxy-D-glucose PET. Patients were scanned under silence conditions (i.e., with the patient remaining silent in a sound-proof cabin), and speech was activated using a verb-generation paradigm. The PET data were transferred to the neuronavigation workstation and matched with a preoperative 3D-MRI using an automatic image-fusion algorithm. Intraoperative speech localization was performed using brain-mapping techniques under local anesthesia with bipolar cortical stimulation. The stimulator position was mapped into the MRI/PET data set by neuronavigational tracking of the instrument. RESULTS Functional PET images were integrated into the MRI-based neuronavigational system and could be transferred exactly to the operative field. By the additional integration of cortical stimulation, intraoperative electrophysiological findings can be directly compared with preoperative functional images. Seven patients with left-sided glioma were operated on using this protocol, confirming the technical feasibility. In three of seven patients, preoperative PET findings were not supported by intraoperative mapping. CONCLUSIONS This matching and mapping technique is suitable for monitoring eloquent speech areas during surgical resection of extensive left-sided low-grade gliomas, allowing a direct comparison between intraoperative electrophysiological brain mapping and preoperative functional brain-imaging findings. The sensitivity and specificity of functional imaging techniques can now be evaluated by reconciling the data with the intraoperative stimulation results.
Comparison of the effects of the uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist (+-)-5-aminocarbonyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] cyclohepten-5,10-imine (ADCI) with its structural analogs dizocilpine (MK-801) and carbamazepine on ethanol withdrawal seizures.

The ability of [(+-)-5-aminocarbonyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-di-benzo [a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (ADCI) and its structural analogs dizocilipine (MK-801) and carbamazepine to block ethanol withdrawal seizures was tested in mice made physically dependent upon ethanol. Three injections of either ADCI (ranging from 1.0-10.0 mg/kg), dizocilpine (ranging from 0.1-1.0 mg/kg) or carbamazepine (ranging from 17-50 mg/kg) were administered during the first 7 hr of ethanol withdrawal. The severity of ethanol withdrawal seizures was rated during the first 11 hr of withdrawal and again at 24 hr after withdrawal of ethanol. ADCI and dizocilpine suppressed the severity and occurrence of the withdrawal seizures in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas carbamazepine was ineffective in blocking the withdrawal seizures. The relative potencies of dizocilpine, ADCI and carbamazepine in suppressing ethanol withdrawal seizures corresponded with the relative potencies of the compounds in displacing [3H]dizocilpine from mouse cortical membrane preparations. These findings are consistent with the suggestion that blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate-mediated neurotransmission is an effective treatment for decreasing ethanol withdrawal seizures. ADCI also blocked the occurrence of withdrawal-associated whole body tremors, whereas dizocilpine and carbamazepine were ineffective in blocking the tremors. The doses of ADCI, dizocilpine and carbamazepine that resulted in motor incoordination on an accelerating rotarod task were determined in groups of naive mice. Dizocilpine in doses as low as 0.3 mg/kg produced a decreased ability to remain on the rotarod, whereas ADCI up to 30 mg/kg did not affect rotarod performance. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Role of Interactions between Autographa californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus Procathepsin and Chitinase Chitin-Binding or Active-Site Domains in Viral Cathepsin Processing

ABSTRACT The binding of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus chitinase (CHIA) to viral cathepsin protease progenitor (proV-CATH) governs cellular/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) coretention of CHIA and proV-CATH, thus coordinating simultaneous cellular release of both host tissue-degrading enzymes upon host cell death. CHIA is a proposed proV-CATH folding chaperone because insertional inactivation of chiA causes production of proV-CATH aggregates that are incompetent for proteolytic maturation into active V-CATH enzyme. We wanted to determine whether the N-terminal chitin-binding domain (CBD, 149 residues) and C-terminal CHIA active-site domain (ASD, 402 residues) of CHIA bind to proV-CATH independently of one another and whether either domain is dispensable for CHIA's putative proV-CATH folding chaperone activity. We demonstrate that N-terminally green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused CHIA, ASD, and CBD each colocalize with proV-CATH-RFP in ER-like patterns and that both ASD and CBD independently associate with proV-CATH in vivo using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and in vitro using reciprocal nickel-histidine pulldown assays. Altogether, the data from colocalization, BiFC, and reciprocal copurification analyses suggest specific and independent interactions between proV-CATH and both domains of CHIA. These data also demonstrate that either CHIA domain is dispensable for normal proV-CATH processing. Furthermore, in contrast to prior evidence suggesting that a lack of chiA expression causes proV-CATH to become aggregated, insoluble, and unable to mature into V-CATH, a chiA deletion bacmid virus we engineered to express just v-cath produced soluble proV-CATH that was prematurely secreted from cells and proteolytically matured into active V-CATH enzyme.
Foreign Capital Inflows and Economic Growth in Nigeria: An Empirical Approach

The study attempts to examine the nature of causality between foreign capital inflows components and real GDP (economic growth) and also, the impact of foreign capital inflows on economic growth in Nigeria. The dynamic interaction among aid, remittance, FDI and external debt and growth of the Nigerian economy was examined using the concept of cointegration, variance decomposition and impulse response analysis and block exogeneity tests.The results of the cointegration test revealed that causal relationship exists between foreign capital inflows and economic growth in Nigeria. The variance decomposition result supports that of cointegration analysis of causality which revealed that, causality runs from foreign aid, remittance (RMC), external debt (TED) and foreign direct investment (FDI) to real GDP (growth). Responses of the real GDP to one standard deviation innovations of the components of foreign capital inflows do appear to be very sensitive.The shocks appear to be very pronounced within the forecast period. However, the block of exogeneity tests shows that the granger causality runs from remittance (RMC) and external debt (TED) to real GDP (growth) only. Only remittance (RMC) and external debt (TED) are significant. But jointly they all enter the model. However, the result of the error correction model shows that there is a significant positive, negative, positive and negative effect of foreign aid, remittance, FDI and external debt on real GDP respectively. It takes some time before their impacts are manifested except FDI.
Negative regulation of STE6 gene expression by the alpha 2 product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The alpha 2 product of the alpha mating type locus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is proposed to be a negative regulator of a set of dispersed genes concerned with specialized properties of a cells. This set of genes includes those, termed a-specific STE genes (STE2, STE6, and STE14), which are required for mating by a cells but not by alpha cells. We cloned the STE6 gene to determine whether its expression is limited to a cells and, if so, whether its expression is inhibited in alpha cells by the alpha 2 product. Expression of STE6 was assayed in two ways: by blot hybridization, RNA and by beta-galactosidase activity in strains carrying a STE6-lacZ hybrid gene. We found that STE6 expression was limited to a cells and was negatively regulated by the alpha 2 product. STE6 RNA was not detectable in strains containing the wild-type alpha 2 gene product. Expression of STE6 was at least 150-fold lower in alpha cells than in a cells, based on beta-galactosidase activities in a and alpha cells carrying the STE6-lacZ gene. These results confirmed that the alpha 2 product is a negative regulator of gene expression and showed that it acts at the level of RNA production. We also examined the phenotype of a mutant carrying an insertion mutation of the STE6 gene, the ste6::lacZ allele. In addition, an a-specific defect in mating, this mutant was greatly reduced (but not completely deficient) in a-factor production. Other phenotypes characteristic of a cells--Barrier activity, agglutination, and response to alpha-factor--were normal. STE6 thus appears to be necessary for biosynthesis of a-factor.
Peritonitis is Still the Achilles’ Heel of Peritoneal Dialysis

262 Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis is the most common acute complication of PD and has been the main cause of technique failure. This situation has led to technical improvements in PD systems and connectology that have been shown to significantly decrease peritonitis rates in randomized controlled trials (1) as well as in long-term single-center experience (2). The systematic review by the Cochrane Renal Group showed that the use of the double-bag system was associated with lower peritonitis rates and the five randomized studies comparing the use of the double-bag system and the Y-set showed an incidence of peritonitis with the double-bag system ranging from 1 episode every 24.8 months to 1 episode every 46.4 months (1). The University of Missouri, with its long history of PD experience, has reported a progressive fall in peritonitis rates: from 5.8 episodes per patient-year before glass bottles were changed to plastic bags in 1978, to a peritonitis rate of 1 episode every 34.3 months in 2004 (2). Randomized clinical trial reports showing a reduced incidence of peritonitis complications with disconnect PD systems have been utilized to form the basis for setting audit measures of peritonitis prevention and management in national and international guidelines. Both the ISPD and UK Renal Association guidelines emphasize the need to follow all available measures to minimize the risk of developing peritonitis and recommend that each center should achieve an average peritonitis rate lower than 1 episode of peritonitis every 18 months of PD therapy (3,4). However, the incidence and clinical outcomes of PD-associated peritonitis reported in routine clinical audits of large unselected PD populations have not been as good as those reported in the metaanalysis by the Cochrane Renal Group (1) or in centers with a long-term clinical and research interest in PD (2). The average peritonitis rate observed in a prospective audit of all adult patients on PD in Scotland between 1999 and 2002 (n = 1205) was 1 episode every 19.2 months and the 10 adult PD units showed great variation in the incidence of peritonitis (5). A similar peritonitis rate of 1 episode every 21 months was reported for all PD patients in Australia (n = 2021) during 2006 (6). The observation that peritonitis rates in some large unselected PD populations may be greater than the target rates set PERITONITIS IS STILL THE ACHILLES’ HEEL OF PERITONEAL DIALYSIS
An unrecognized cause of oedema in a patient with lupus nephritis: protein losing enteropathy.

A 39-year-old woman was admitted because of marked peripheral oedema. Her haematocrit was 31.0% and her white-cell count was 3500. The urea nitrogen was 9mg/dl, the creatinine 0.7mg/dl, the total cholesterol 244mg/dl, the triglyceride 408mg/dl and total protein 3.4 g/dl with an albumin of 1.5 g/dl. Other biochemistries were normal. Urinalysis revealed microscopic haematuria with red blood cell casts and a negative dipstick for protein, and twice the 24-h urine collection contained 0.100 and 0.350 g of protein. Anti-nuclear antibody (1:1280), and anti-dsDNA (41 IU/ml, normal <30 IU/ml) were positive. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was impressed. Renal protein loss due to lupus nephritis was first considered. Kidney biopsy was performed and lupus nephritis WHO class IIa was found. However, the proteinuria was too little to account for the hypoalbuminaemia. Protein losing enteropathy (PLE) was finally proved by Tc-99m albumin scintigraphy, which revealed clear visualization of tracer in the small bowel at 30min (Figure 1A) and in the large bowel at 24 h (Figure1B), but is normally not seen in normal people (Figure 1C). The patient’s symptoms improved excellently with 50mg prednisolone daily treatment. The dosage of prednisolone was gradually tapered and the patient remained
Some Results for the Acceptance Urn Model

An urn contains $m$ balls of value $-1$ and $p$ balls of value $+1$. The balls are drawn randomly without replacement until the urn is emptied. Before each ball is drawn, the player is asked whether or not she would like to accept the next ball drawn, with the payout being the value of the ball. We present results related to the random version of this $(m,p)$ acceptance urn, where the total number of balls $n$ is known and the number of balls with value $+1$ is unknown and random. We also consider the ruin problem for the $(m,p)$ urn: The player has $b$ dollars available to play the $(m,p)$ urn and is ruined if at some point she has lost $b$ dollars. We find a necessary condition for ruin, and use this condition to give upper bounds for the ruin probability. We also examine the ruin problem for the random acceptance urn, finding the ruin probability provided the initial distribution satisfies some additional conditions.
Accuracy Assessment of the Dinamap ProCare 400 in Pregnancy and Preeclampsia

Objective. To assess the accuracy of the Dinamap ProCare 400 in pregnancy and preeclampsia, according to the British Hypertension Society protocol. Methods. Ethical approval was obtained. Forty-five women were recruited at two large teaching hospitals. Nine sequential same arm measurements were taken from each woman alternating between the Dinamap and mercury sphygmomanometry. Results. The device achieved an A/A grade (pregnancy) and an A/B grade (preeclampsia). Mean difference (SD) were 1.1(5.8)/0.1(5.7) mmHg (pregnancy) and –0.5(5.4)/0.9(9.5) mmHg (preeclampsia) for systolic/diastolic. Conclusion. The Dinamap ProCare 400 is recommended for use in pregnancy and has good accuracy in preeclampsia, although caution is still advised.
The effect of hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis on thyroxine metabolism in the rat.

The effect of alterations in metabolic status on the peripheral metabolism of thyroxine (T4) has been studied in thyroidectomized rats by an isotopic equilibration technique. In hypothyroid animals total T4 clearance rate was decreased as a result of decrease in the activity of both fecal and deiodinative routes of T4 metabolism. T4 distribution space was unchanged or very slightly decreased, and the net thyroid hormone binding affinity of the serum proteins, as judged by in vitro uptake tests, was increased little, if at all. In animals made thyrotoxic by daily administration of 10 M—g T4/ISO g bw daily, total T4 clearance rate was more than doubled, this as a consequence of increases in both fecal and deiodinative clearance. Total T4 distribution space was slightly increased and net thyroid hormone binding affinity of serum slightly decreased. Qualitatively similar results were obtained when animals were made thyrotoxic by administration of 3.3 µg L—triiodothyronine/150 g bw daily. Since the changes in .
Universal screening for infant hearing impairment: not simple, not risk-free, not necessarily beneficial, and not presently justified.

In our judgment, before any societal decision is made as to whether to institute a universal screening program for hearing impairment in young infants, many questions for which answers are not now available must be answered. To answer those questions will require extensive research. Clearly, the authors of the Consensus Statement were not unmindful of the scope of the problem, for they included in the Statement a listing of proposed future studies they considened important. Among these were: "controlled trials of screening by audiologists versus trained non-professionals on volunteers; controlled trials of the influence of different settings.on the effectiveness of screening procedures; comparison of early intervention with later intervention. ; evaluate the validity and reliability of screening instruments. ; test the feasibility of screening methods.in infant populations.in remote satellite clinics. ; determine whether a two-tier screening system.wonks better than [a single scneen]. study the cost-effectiveness of universal screening for infant hearing impairment. " We heartily agree that these studies, and other studies, are important—indeed, crucial. So crucial, in fact, that, until they have been conducted and their results tabulated, no rational decision on undertaking universal screening for infant hearing loss is possible. We, too, believe that early identification is important; however, the precipitate launching of mass screening could work to deter the eventual development of an effective early identification program. In the meantime, to identify infants at risk for hearing impairment, continued reliance on the high-risk register as recommended by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing,4 but in combination with an automated rather than conventional ABR screen, seems to be a more practical, cost-effective approach.
Estimating Proximity to Care: Are Straight Line and Zipcode Centroid Distances Acceptable Proxy Measures?

Background:Spatial accessibility of healthcare may be measured by proximity of patient residence to health services, typically in driving distance or driving time. Precise driving distances and times are rarely available. Although straight line distances between zipcode centroids and between precise address locations are used as proxy measures for distance to care, the accuracy of these measures has received little study. Methods:Among a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries, actual driving distances and times between patient residence and clinic were obtained from commercial software (MapQuest). We used a split-sample design to build and validate linear regression models that predict actual driving distances and times from estimated distances between zipcode centroids and between precise residential and hospital locations, adjusting for urban/suburban/rural residential status. Results:On average, predicted driving distances and times were larger than actual values. Zipcode centroid distances alone predicted longer driving distances than observed values: rural +19% (3.2 miles), suburban +23% (3.7 miles), and urban +27% (2.0 miles). Predicted time was 36% (9.4 min) longer in rural, 32% (6.8 min) longer in suburban, and 38% (4.7 min) longer in urban areas than observed values. Including urban/suburban/rural categorization of residence improved the accuracy of predicted driving distance and time for suburban and urban areas but diminished accuracy for rural areas. Similar trends were observed for distance estimates from precise locations. Conclusions:Distances between zipcode centroids and precise residential/hospital locations provide reasonable estimates of driving distance and time for epidemiologic research. Estimates are improved for suburban and urban residences when data are augmented by urban categorization.