Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of a polymerase chain reaction assay and an ELISA to monitor porcine circovirus type 2 infection in pigs from farms with and without postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether correlations exist between viremia with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and serum antibody profiles and between detection of PCV2 in nasal cavities and viremia of pigs from farms with and without postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). ANIMALS 495 pigs, ranging from the late nursery stage to the early grower-finisher stage of production. PROCEDURE Serum antibodies to PCV2 were studied with an ELISA that detects the ORF2 viral protein. Nasal swab specimens and serum samples were tested with a PCV2-specific PCR assay. RESULTS PCV2 DNA and serum antibodies to PCV2 were detected in pigs from all farms, although in different proportions. Overall, PCV2 DNA was detected in greater percentages in serum samples and nasal swab specimens of pigs from farms with PMWS. Although viral DNA was detected in both serum samples and nasal swab specimens, PCV2 detection in nasal swab specimens was higher than in serum samples of pigs from all farms. Serum antibodies to PCV2 were detected in a greater percentage of pigs from farms with PMWS, compared with farms without PMWS. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A high prevalence of PCV2 infection was found in pigs from farms with and without PMWS. Besides the presence of PCV2, unknown additional factors may be necessary to induce the full expression of PMWS.
The Role of SOX2 in Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism

SOX2 is a transcription factor involved in early embryonic development. It plays a critical role in eye, forebrain, and hypothalamo-pituitary development. Individuals with SOX2 mutations have major eye abnormalities including anophthalmia, microphthalmia, and coloboma. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is a complex developmental disorder characterized by gonadotropin deficiency. Recently, a number of patients with SOX2 mutations have been shown to have hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, making SOX2 an interesting addition to the list of genes implicated in the etiology of the condition. Most of the patients demonstrate anterior pituitary hypoplasia. Surprisingly, although most patients with anterior pituitary hypoplasia manifest GH (growth hormone) deficiency, gonadotropin deficiency appeared to be the most consistent endocrinopathy in patients with SOX2 mutations. SOX2 may be involved at multiple levels during the development of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, and is likely to play an essential role in GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) neuronal differentiation and migration. Animal data also suggest an additional role for the gene in gonadal development. Given the critical role of Sox2 in normal hypothalamo-pituitary development in the mouse and the anterior pituitary hypoplasia observed in most human patients with SOX2 mutations, it remains to be established whether further pituitary hormone deficiencies might evolve with time.
Vitamin C uptake and recycling among normal and tumor cells from the central nervous system

Specialized cells transport vitamin C in its reduced form using sodium‐dependent cotransporters (SVCT1 and SVCT2). Additionally, different cells transport the oxidized form of vitamin C, dehydroascorbic acid, through glucose transporters (GLUTs). We have proposed recently a model for vitamin C uptake that resolves the apparent contradiction that although only ascorbic acid is detectable in vivo, there are cells that transport only dehydroascorbic acid. We carried out a detailed kinetic analysis to compare the mechanisms of vitamin C uptake in normal human melanocytes, neurons isolated from brain cortex, hypothalamic ependymal‐glial cells, and astrocytes. Uptake of ascorbic acid was also analyzed in the human oligodendroglioma cell line TC620, in human choroid plexus papilloma cells (HCPPC‐1), and in the neuroblastoma cell line Neuro‐2a. Melanocytes were used to carry out a detailed analysis of vitamin C uptake. Analysis of the transport data by the Lineweaver‐Burk plot revealed the presence of one functional component (Km 20 μM) involved in ascorbic acid transport by melanocytes. Vitamin C sodium‐dependent saturable uptake was also observed in neurons and hypothalamic tanycytes. We confirmed SVCT2 expression in neurons by in situ hybridization; however, SVCT2 expression was not detected in astrocytes in situ. Functional data indicate that astrocytes transport mainly dehydroascorbic acid, using the glucose transporter GLUT1. Our functional uptake analyses support the hypothesis that astrocytes are involved in vitamin C recycling in the nervous system. This recycling model may work as an efficient system for the salvage of vitamin C by avoiding the hydrolysis of dehydroascorbic acid produced by antioxidative protection. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Butyrate stimulates ApoA‐IV‐containing lipoprotein secretion in differentiated Caco‐2 cells: Role in cholesterol efflux

The aim of this study was to determine: (1) whether the Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) Acetate, Propionate, and Butyrate enhance the synthesis and secretion of intestinal apolipoprotein A‐IV‐containing lipoproteins and (2) if so, whether these particles are able to promote cholesterol efflux in vitro. For this purpose Caco‐2 cells were used for their functional properties of differentiated enterocytes. They were incubated with the three SCFA (2, 4, and 8 mM) for 48 h. Only butyrate stimulated apoA‐IV gene expression and this was associated with an increase in apoA‐IV secretion. A nondenaturing 2D‐PAGE (agarose gel was followed by PAGE) was used to identify apoA‐IV‐containing lipoproteins in various media, and showed that butyrate stimulated the secretion of two small HDL sized particles. The influence of these secreted particles on cholesterol efflux was investigated using incubation of media with 3H‐cholesterol‐labeled Fu5AH cells. The data indicate that conditioned media from Caco‐2 cells treated with butyrate resulted in an increase of 20–30% in cholesterol efflux. We conclude that butyrate may regulate apoA‐IV secretion and, therefore, modulate reverse cholesterol transport. J. Cell. Biochem. 83: 230–238, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of an equine‐movement therapy program on gait, energy expenditure, and motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy: a pilot study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an 8‐week program of hippotherapy on energy expenditure during walking; on the gait dimensions of stride length, velocity, and cadence; and on performance on the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) in five children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). A repeated‐measures within‐subjects design was used consisting of two baseline measurements taken 8 weeks apart, followed by an 8‐week intervention period, then a posttest. After hippotherapy, all five children showed a significant decrease (Xr2;=7.6, P<0.05) in energy expenditure during walking and a significant increase (Xr2=7.6, P<0.05) in scores on Dimension E (Walking, Running, and Jumping) of the GMFM. A trend toward increased stride length and decreased cadence was observed. This study suggests that hippotherapy may improve energy expenditure during walking and gross motor function in children with CP.
Some Biological Observations of Billfishes Taken in the Eastern Pacific Ocean , 1967-1 970

From 1967 through 1970 sport-eaught billflsbes were sampled at Mazath, Sinplop; and BWM V W , Baja California, and at San Dkgo, California. Lengths, weights, morphometries, merisl.ics, and gonad data were gathered on a total of 2,056 striped marlin, 821 SPimPh, 61 blue marlin, and 1 black marlin. This paper presents information on reproduction, average length and condition factor, food habits for 1970, and notes on parasites. Developing g o a d s were found only in the Mexican flsh. Our data on reproduction Indicated that both striped marh and SPIlILsh spawn once per year with peak spawning rrtivity probably in June and July. There b also the possibility that SaillLSh spawn in other months. First maturity in striped marlin and s;rllilsh occoRpd in the 155-165 em eye-fork length class. Fecundity estimates ranged from 2 to 5 million eggs for four spllilsh and from 11 to 29 millbn eggs for three striped marlin. It appears tnat striped marh move o f f h from the Mexican coastllw to spawn while srrililsb remain closer to shore. Much of the interest in billfishes in the eastern Pacific Ocean stems from their popularity among sport fishermen. Commercial fishermen have also been interested in the biUish resources as indicated by their extensive and continuous operation in this area since 1956 (Suda and Schaefer, 1%5). Since 1963 this fishery has concentrated off Mexico where it is directed primarily at striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) and sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) (Kume and Schaefer, 1966; Kume and Joseph, 1969a). Throughout the history of the billfish fishery in the eastern Pacific no attempt has been made to manage these resources; this is partly due to the lack of information on the life history and population dynamics of these fishes. This report provides data gathered from billfishes landed at sportfishing sites in southern California and Mexico from 1967 to 1970. Specimens were examined at San Diego, California; Buena Vista, Baja California; and Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico (Fig. 1). A total of 2,056 striped marlin, 821 sailfish, 61 blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and 1 black marlin (M. indica) were sampled. This paper is one of a series of publications describing the results of these studies. Evans 'NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Tiburon Fisheries Laboratory, Tiburon CA 94920. 89 and Wares (1972) published information of the food habits of fish collected in 1%7-1%9, and another paper (Wares and Sakagawa, 1973) has been prepared to present meristic and morphometric analyses. The purpose of this paper is primarily to present
GROWTH IN TURNER'S SYNDROME: SPONTANEOUS AND FLUOXYMESTERONE STIMULATED

Abstract. Lenko, H. L. , Perheentupa, J. and Söderholm, A. (The Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland). Growth in Turner's syndrome: spontaneous and fluoxymesterone‐stimulated. Acta Paediatr Scand, Suppl. 277: 57, 1979. ‐Spontaneous growth was analysed in a group of 55 girls with Turner's syndrome and various karyotypes. Their variation in height and its dependence on parental height were similar to that of normal girls. At all ages, the 45, X karyotype was associated with slightly greater mean stature than the other karyotypes together. The bone ages lagged progressively behind from 10 years onwards. Twenty‐five patients aged between 9.1 and 17.2 years were given fluoxymesterone, 0.06–0.17 mg/kg daily, for at least 1 year. Their height velocities increased significantly. This brought about a clear psychological benefit. Their final heights were predicted before and after therapy, with a new method based on the spontaneous growth and bone maturation of our patients. The response was individually variable but, on average, the patients gained in predicted height from the therapy. This effect was not lost during a posttreatment year. Abnormal lowering of the voice occurred in patients receiving ≥=0.15 mg/kg fluoxymesterone daily, but never with ≤0.13 mg/kg. No other adverse effects appeared. Thus, fluoxymesterone is useful for promoting growth in girls with Turner's syndrome.
FSH influences follicle viability, oestradiol biosynthesis and ovulation rate in Romney ewes.

Injection of steroid-free bovine follicular fluid (bFF; 2 X 5 ml s.c. 12 h apart) into anoestrous ewes lowered plasma FSH concentrations by 70% and after 24 h had significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced the number of non-atretic follicles (greater than or equal to 1 mm diam.) without influencing the total number of follicles (greater than 1 mm diam.) compared to untreated controls. Hourly injections of FSH (10 micrograms i.v. NIH-FSH-S12) for 24 h did not influence the number of non-atretic follicles but did negate the inhibitory effects of bFF on follicular viability. Hourly injections of FSH (50 micrograms i.v., NIH-FSH-S12) + bFF treatment for 24 h significantly increased the total number of non-atretic follicles, and particularly the number of medium to large non-atretic follicles (greater than 3 mm diam.) compared to the untreated controls (both P less than 0.01). The 10 micrograms FSH regimen (without bFF) significantly increased aromatase activity in granulosa cells from large (greater than or equal to 5 mm diam.; P less than 0.01) but not medium (3-4.5 mm diam.) or small (1-2.5 mm diam.) follicles compared to controls. The 10 micrograms FSH + bFF regimen had no effect on granulosa-cell aromatase activity compared to the controls. However, the 50 micrograms FSH plus bFF regimen increased the aromatase activity of granulosa cells from large, medium and small non-atretic follicles 2.6-, 8.3- and greater than or equal to 11-fold respectively compared to that in the control cells. Ewes (N = 11) that ovulated 2 follicles had significantly higher plasma FSH concentrations from 48 to 24 h and 24 to 0 h before the onset of a cloprostenol-induced follicular phase (both P less than 0.01) than in the ewes (N = 12) that subsequently ovulated one follicle. Hourly FSH treatment (1.6 micrograms i.v., NIAMDD-FSH-S15) for 24 h but not for any 6 h intervals between 48 and 24 h or 24 and 0 h before a cloprostenol-induced luteolysis also resulted in significant increases (P less than 0.05) in the number of ewes with 2 ovulations. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Formation of Metastable TbFe$_5$Phase by Mechanical Alloying

Bulk materials of TbFe2 (giant magnetostrictive) and TbFe3 were prepared by arc melting the constituent high pure elements under argon atmosphere. The two materials together were ball milled in toluene atmosphere for 70 h. The mixture is found to be predominantly amorphous after about 37 h of milling. The saturation-magnetization initially was found to increase and then found to decrease with milling time. The anisotropy of the material is seen to decrease as the milling time was increased, due to the formation of the amorphous phase. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies on the powders milled for 70 h showed two phase transitions, one at 90degC and another one at 110degC. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the annealed sample showed that a metastable phase formed at 90degC and is found to be TbFe5 phase and that the phase formed at 110degC was TbFe3. The average particle size calculated using the Sherrer's formula is found to be 30 nm
Information Environments for Supporting Consistent Registrar Medical Handover

This study was two-fold in nature. Initially, it examined the information environment and the use of customary information tools to support medical handovers in a large metropolitan teaching hospital on four weekends (i.e. Friday night to Monday morning). Weekend medical handovers were found to involve sequences of handovers where patients were discussed at the discretion of the doctor handing over; no reliable discussion of all patients of concern occurred at any one handover, with few information tools being used; and after a set of weekend handovers, there was no complete picture on a Monday morning without an analysis of all patient progress notes. In a subsequent case study, three information tools specifically designed as intervention that attempted to enrich the information environment were evaluated. Results indicate that these tools did support greater continuity in who was discussed but not in what was discussed at handover. After the intervention, if a doctor discussed a patient at handover, that patient was more likely to be discussed at subsequent handovers. However, the picture at Monday morning remained fragmentary. The results are discussed in terms of the complexities inherent in the handover process
Development of a Quality Improvement Bundle to Reduce Tracheal Intubation–Associated Events in Pediatric ICUs

Advanced airway management in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is hazardous, with associated adverse outcomes. This report describes a methodology to develop a bundle to improve quality and safety of tracheal intubations. A prospective observational cohort study was performed with expert consensus opinion of 1715 children undergoing tracheal intubation at 15 PICUs. Baseline process and outcomes data in tracheal intubation were collected using the National Emergency Airway Registry for Children reporting system. Univariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with adverse tracheal intubation–associated events. A multidisciplinary quality improvement committee was formed. Workflow analysis of tracheal intubation and pilot testing were performed to develop the Airway Bundle Checklist with 4 parts: (1) risk factor assessment, (2) plan generation, (3) preprocedure time-out to ensure that providers, equipment, and plans are prepared, (4) postprocedure huddle to identify improvement opportunities. The Airway Bundle Checklist developed may lead to improvement in airway management.
Transferred substrate Schottky-collector heterojunction bipolar transistors: first results and scaling laws for high f/sub max/

Unlike normal heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT's), transferred substrate Schottky-collector HBT's (SCHBT's) exhibit substantial increases in f/sub max/ as the emitter and collector stripes are scaled to deep submicron dimensions. First generation InAlAs/InGaAs SCHBT's with aligned 1-/spl mu/m emitter and collector stripes have been fabricated. <<ETX>>
Passive immunization of hamsters against disease caused by Clostridium difficile by use of bovine immunoglobulin G concentrate

Gestating Holstein cows were vaccinated with Clostridium difficile toxoid prepared from the culture filtrate of a strain that produces high levels of toxins A and B and other antigens. A bovine immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrate was prepared from colostrum collected at parturition. The results of our studies showed that hamsters treated prophylactically with the hyperimmune bovine IgG concentrate were protected against C. difficile disease. These results suggest that orally administered hyperimmune bovine IgG specific for C. difficile culture filtrate may be useful in prophylaxis against C. difficile disease.
Overexpression of cathepsin B in gastric cancer identified by proteome analysis

We aimed to validate an analytical approach based on proteomics on gastric cancer specimens for the identification of new putative diagnostic or prognostic markers. Primary screening was performed on gastrectomy specimens obtained from ten consecutive patients with gastric cancer. Gastric epithelial cells were obtained with an epithelial cell enrichment technique, homogenized and then separated by two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2‐D PAGE). The differential protein expression pattern was verified stepwise by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry on samples from 28 and 46 cancer patients, respectively. The putative clinical applicability and prognostic use were tested by an enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay on serum samples obtained from 149 cancer patients. One hundred‐ninety‐one differentially expressed protein spots were found by 2‐D PAGE and identified by mass spectrometry, including cathepsin B, which was over‐expressed in six (60%) patients. Western blotting confirmed that the active form of cathepsin B is over‐expressed, while immunohistochemistry showed strong cytoplasmic staining in cancer tissues of 45 (98%) patients. The serum level of cathepsin B was increased in patients with gastric cancer compared to healthy controls (P = 0.0026) and correlated with T‐category and the presence of distant metastases (P < 0.05). Serum levels above 129 pmol·L−1 were associated with a reduced survival rate (P = 0.0297). Proteome analysis is a valuable tool for the identification of prognostic markers in gastric cancer: Increased cathepsin B serum levels are associated with advanced tumor stages and progressive disease, which enables the classification of some gastric cancer patients into a subgroup that should undergo aggressive therapy.
Correlates of Depression among Rural Women Living with AIDS in Southern India

Although depression may be commonly experienced by persons living with AIDS, it may be challenging for health care providers to identify persons who are suffering from depression symptoms, particularly if they are living in the more isolated rural areas of India. The purpose of this study is to assess correlates of depression among women living with AIDS in rural Andhra Pradesh, India. A total of 68 rural women living with AIDS (WLA) completed baseline data and were assessed by means of structured instruments. Regression modeling revealed that disclosure avoidance and making at least six health care visits in the last six months were all associated with depression. Further, living with a spouse was associated with lower depressive symptom scores. Stigma was not found to be associated with depression. Understanding correlates of depression can lead the way toward designing culturally-tailored interventions that can mitigate disclosure avoidance and improve the health of women. A more comprehensive health focus may be needed to empower the women to seek quality care for both physical health, as well as mental health, symptomatology.
Hepatitis C is more severe in drug users with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Drug users with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are frequently co‐infected with human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1), but it is still not clear whether HIV‐1 worsens the natural history of hepatitis C. To investigate this, we conducted a multicentre observational study in 163 drug addicts with histologically documented hepatitis C, 92 of whom were also infected with HIV‐1: 25 (27%) were CDC stage II, 53 (58%) were CDC stage III and 14 (15%) were CDC stage IV. Eighty‐eight (54%) patients had chronic hepatitis (CH) with minimal activity, 28 (17%) had CH with moderate activity, 40 (25%) had CH with severe activity and seven (4%) had active cirrhosis. Twenty‐one HIV‐negative patients and 15 HIV‐positive patients admitted to alcohol abuse (29% vs 16%, P=0.0665). Liver disease was more severe in HIV‐positive patients than in HIV‐negative ones (P=0.0198): 34 HIV‐positive patients and 13 HIV negatives had severe CH and cirrhosis. These two severe liver diseases were seen more often in HIV‐positive patients with a history of alcohol abuse than in HIV‐negative patients (10 out of 16 vs seven out of 21). Age, alcohol abuse and distribution of the histological categories of liver disease were statistically different in HIV‐infected and HIV‐uninfected patients. Multivariate analysis showed that age, alcohol abuse and serum antibodies to HIV were independently associated with severe CH or cirrhosis. Thus, HIV may enhance the risk of severe liver disease in drug users with hepatitis C, independently of the degree of immune dysfunction. Alcohol abuse may contribute independently, aggravating the cause of HCV‐dependent liver disease.