Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intracellular Role of Adenylyl Cyclase in Regulation of Lateral Pseudopod Formation during Dictyostelium Chemotaxis

ABSTRACT Cyclic AMP (cAMP) functions as the extracellular chemoattractant in the aggregation phase of Dictyostelium development. There is some question, however, concerning what role, if any, it plays intracellularly in motility and chemotaxis. To test for such a role, the behavior of null mutants of acaA, the adenylyl cyclase gene that encodes the enzyme responsible for cAMP synthesis during aggregation, was analyzed in buffer and in response to experimentally generated spatial and temporal gradients of extracellular cAMP. acaA− cells were defective in suppressing lateral pseudopods in response to a spatial gradient of cAMP and to an increasing temporal gradient of cAMP. acaA− cells were incapable of chemotaxis in natural waves of cAMP generated by majority control cells in mixed cultures. These results indicate that intracellular cAMP and, hence, adenylyl cyclase play an intracellular role in the chemotactic response. The behavioral defects of acaA− cells were surprisingly similar to those of cells of null mutants of regA, which encodes the intracellular phosphodiesterase that hydrolyzes cAMP and, hence, functions opposite adenylyl cyclase A (ACA). This result is consistent with the hypothesis that ACA and RegA are components of a receptor-regulated intracellular circuit that controls protein kinase A activity. In this model, the suppression of lateral pseudopods in the front of a natural wave depends on a complete circuit. Hence, deletion of any component of the circuit (i.e., RegA or ACA) would result in the same chemotactic defect.
RBP4 and THBS2 are serum biomarkers for diagnosis of colorectal cancer

The potential role of serum RBP4 and THBS2 as biomarker in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis has never been studied. We investigated in large sample using quantitative ELISA method to explore whether serum RBP4 and THBS2 can act as biomarkers for CRC diagnosis. The concentration of RBP4 and THBS2 was measured in 402 CRC patients’ serum samples and 218 normal controls’ serum samples. The results showed that the average RBP4 and THBS2 concentrations in normal controls were significantly higher than in CRC patients (36.5±11.4μg/mL vs 21.8±8.7μg/mL and 20.5±6.1ng/mL vs 14.5±7.3ng/mL, respectively), both p<0.001. RBP4 distinguished CRC patients from normal individuals with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) performing at 0.852, with sensitivity of 74.9% and specificity of 81.7%. While THBS2 distinguished CRC patients performing AUC at 0.794, with sensitivity of 64.9% and specificity of 87.1%. The ability of RBP4 and THBS2 serum concentration distinguishing CRC from normal controls showed better than that of serum CEA (AUC=0.818) or CA19-9 (AUC=0.650) concentration. This is the first study to report RBP4 and THBS2 as diagnosis serum biomarkers for CRC, which might be a good supplement for CEA or CA19-9 for clinical diagnosis.
Cesarean delivery results in a family medicine residency using a specific training model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study describes and evaluates a teaching model for training family medicine residents to perform cesarean deliveries and determines whether family medicine residents can achieve adequate quality care in the procedure. METHODS The teaching model for cesarean deliveries involved direct instruction and supervision by an obstetrician. We conducted a review of all cesarean deliveries performed over a 3-year period by family medicine residents. The review analyzed associated medical conditions, cesarean section indications, cesarean rate, blood loss, postoperative complications, and fetal outcome. We compared these data to published outcomes in obstetrical literature and local obstetricians' data. RESULTS Maternal outcomes of all 277 cases performed under the teaching model were similar to other published results. The family medicine residency's cesarean section rate (19.1%) was less than the national cesarean section rate (27.6%) and the local obstetricians' rate (22.6%). CONCLUSIONS The teaching model outlined provides family medicine residents with the knowledge and skill to perform cesarean deliveries with high-quality standards.
Survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2 Danish counties

We investigated the survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a follow-up study of all patients hospitalized with the disease in 2 Danish counties during the period 1974 to 1986. There were 186 patients, with a mean age at diagnosis of 64.3 years. The median survival time was 12 months from diagnosis, the 3-year survival rate was 12%, and the 5-year survival rate 4%. (The corresponding figures from onset were 23 months, 26%, and 7%.) Old age and bulbar findings at onset were negative prognostic factors. For each clinical category, the annual death rate remained constant throughout the observation period, indicating the effects of a steadily progressing degenerative disorder. We found no evidence of the existence of a separate variety of ALS, associated with long survival.
The use of combined physiological parameters in the early recognition of the deteriorating acute medical patient.

BACKGROUND Early warning scores (EWS) are widely used to allow early recognition of the deteriorating patient. We aimed to test their ability to predict major deterioration in medical patients. METHODS Two cohorts were prospectively identified who were admitted to an acute medical admissions unit and to the respiratory unit but not admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU): medical-non ICU and respiratory-non ICU groups. Two further cohorts were retrospectively identified that required ICU admission from these units (medical-ICU and respiratory-ICU groups). Discriminant analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to discriminate between groups, and time relationships were analysed. RESULTS Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were significantly higher--and oxygen saturation (SaO₂) significantly lower--in the medical-ICU group as compared with the medical non-ICU group, and in the respiratory-ICU group as compared with [corrected] the respiratory-non ICU group. Discriminant functions incorporating HR, RR and SaO₂ performed at least as well as existing EWS systems in predicting ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS Commonly used physiological parameters and existing EWS systems are useful at identifying sick patients. The discriminant functions described here appear to have a role in this setting but require validation in future studies.
Biogenic amine receptor gene expression in the ovarian tissue of the honey bee Apis mellifera

In the honey bee Apis mellifera loss of the queen from a colony induces increased levels of the biogenic amine dopamine in the brain of workers, and this elevation is correlated with ovary activation. In the present study we use real‐time quantitative PCR to investigate expression of five biogenic amine receptor genes. We show that biogenic amine receptors are expressed in ovarian tissue, and that their expression is strongly influenced by the presence or absence of a queen in the colony. In contrast to the brain, where all three dopamine receptors are expressed, only two dopamine receptors are expressed in the ovaries, and their expression is strongly correlated with the reproductive status of workers. We conclude that biogenic amine receptors are expressed in the ovaries and are likely to be directly influential in the regulation of worker sterility in honey bees.
Dermatophytosis: a 16-year retrospective study in a metropolitan area in southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION Dermatophytoses are considered a public health problem. The objectives of this study were to determine the evolution of their prevalence in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil, and to analyze the dermatophyte species distribution according to body site and demographic characteristics of the patients. METHODOLOGY This work was a retrospective analysis of data from patients attending a tertiary care hospital during 1996-2011. RESULTS There were 9,048 cases with cultures positive for dermatophytes. Trichophyton rubrum occurred in 59.6% of the cases, followed by Trichophyton interdigitale (34%), Microsporum canis (2.6%), Epidermophyton floccosum (1.5%), Microsporum gypseum (1.3%), and Trichophyton tonsurans (0.9%). The angular coefficients for T. interdigitale, E. floccosum, T. rubrum, and M. canis were +1.119, +0.211, -0.826 and -0.324% per year, respectively. Males presented higher prevalence of infection (79.3% versus 53.9%). Tinea unguium occurred in 48.5% of the cases, followed by tinea pedis (33.1%). T. rubrum was the predominant species in all regions of the body except the scalp, where M. canis was responsible for 75% of the cases. CONCLUSION Monitoring of the evolution of dermatophytosis tracks changes in prevalence over the years and may assist practical measures for the public health control of this disease.
Structure—function relationships of the HIV‐1 envelope V3 loop tropism determinant: evidence for two distinct conformations

ObjectiveThe V3 loop of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 is an important determinant of HIV–specific cell tropism. Nine different purified envelope proteins were prepared in order to examine the association between the structure of the gp20 proteins and functional properties of HIV-1 virions differing in their tropism for T-cell lines and macrophages. ResultsSix monoclonal antibodies to the V3 loop reacted preferentially with T-cell line-tropic gp120 envelope proteins, and one monoclonal antibody reacted preferentially with macrophage-tropic gp120 envelope proteins. T-cell line-tropic gp120 envelope proteins were at least 10-fold more susceptible to V3 loop proteolytic cleavage by human thrombin, and 1000-fold more susceptible to V3 loop proteolytic cleavage by human mast cell tryptase than macrophage-tropic gp20 envelope proteins. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that there are two distinct conformations for the V3 loop of T-cell line-tropic and macrophage-tropic gp20 envelope proteins.
The different origins of stability and change in antisocial personality disorder symptoms

Background. Although adult antisocial personality disorder is generally preceded by a pattern of childhood/adolescent conduct problems, only a subset of those who manifest these developmental precursors go on exhibit significant antisocial behavior in adulthood. To date, however, researchers have yet to resolve the origins of either stability or change in antisocial behavior from childhood/adolescence to adulthood. Method. The present study sought to fill this gap in the literature, making use of a sample of 626 twin pairs from the ongoing Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS). Participants were assessed three times between late adolescence and early adulthood. We made use of biometric Cholesky decomposition and latent growth curve modeling techniques, which allow researchers to disambiguate processes of stability and change and evaluate their respective etiologies (i.e. genetic or environmental). Results. Our results revealed that genetic forces were largely responsible for the stability of adult symptoms of antisocial behavior (AAB) from late adolescence through mid-adulthood, while non-shared environmental influences were primarily responsible for change. Importantly, however, although some of the latter represented systematic and long-lasting influence, much of this non-shared environmental variance appeared transient and idiosyncratic. Conclusions. Such findings highlight the enduring impact of genetic influences on AAB, and offer insights into the nature of non-shared environmental influences on development.
The Property Rights Theory of the Firm: Some Evidence from the U.S. Nursing Home Industry

Oskar Lange is reported to have said that the incentives facing the managers of his socialist firms were so unimportant that they could be left to the sociologists. But, many economists since Lange have disagreed and have pursued the incentive problem. They may properly be called new institutional economists. An important part of the new institutional economics is the property rights theory of the firm, associated most closely with Armen Alchian and Oliver Williamson. It analyzes the external constraints faced by the top decisionmaker of the firm. The top decision-maker of the classical textbook firm is regarded as having full private property rights. The theory predicts that if the property rights of that decision-maker are attenuated, these weaker rights reduce the price on nonpecuniary amenities to the top decision maker. In turn, this leads to greater consumption of amenities and lower firm wealth, thus reduced managerial efficiency (Alchian [1961], Furubotn and Pejovich [1972], Frech [1980]). Other, implications of the theory can be developed with the addition of auxiliary hypotheses (Clarkson [1972], Borjas, Frech and Ginsburg
Hormonal and renal differences between low dose and high dose angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor treatment in patients with chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the differential effects of low dose (5 mg) and high dose (20 mg) lisinopril treatment on cardiovascular hormones, renal function, and blood pressure over 24 hours in patients with heart failure. DESIGN: Double-blind crossover study. SETTING: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee. PATIENTS: 19 patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 45%. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of aldosterone and endothelin were lower on the 20 mg dose (plasma aldosterone mean at peak drug effect: 90.7 v 152.0 pg/ml, P < 0.001; mean at trough effect: 124.7 v 174.4 pg/ml, P < 0.01; plasma endothelin at trough effect 4.70 v 6.04 pmol/l, P = 0.03). Creatinine clearance was lower on 20 mg lisinopril (68.7 v 82.1 ml/min, P < 0.05). The area under the curve for diastolic blood pressure over 24 hours was significantly lower on 20 mg (mean difference 3.0 mm Hg, P = 0.04); for systolic blood pressure there was a similar trend (mean difference 5.7 mmHg, P = 0.05). Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide were similar for both doses; urinary excretion of ANP was lower on 20 mg (12.2 v 13.6 pmol, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that within the usual therapeutic range, high doses of lisinopril cause greater suppression of selected cardiovascular hormones than low doses in heart failure, but are associated with lower creatinine clearance in some patients.
Analysis Model and Empirical Study of Impacts from Population and Consumption on Carbon Emissions

With the development of social economy,the influences from China's population and consumption on carbon emission are getting increasingly deeper.An extended STIRPAT model is established in this article.Impacts from population,consumption and technology on carbon emissions are analyzed econometrically with the ridge regression method.Empirical results of China's carbon emission from 1980 to 2007 demonstrate that the extended STIRPAT model has high explanatory power for China's realities.The impacts of the urbanization rate,the household consumption level and the population scale have more explanatory power to the quantity change regularity of China's carbon emission,which is more influenced by the urbanization rate and the household consumption level than the population size at the present stage.Both the changes of household consumption level and consumption pattern have possibilities of being new growth points for China's carbon emission.The impacts of technology has limited explanatory power to China's carbon emission,thus means China has tremendous potential for future carbon emission reduction through technology progress.
Organizational Learning through Problem Absorption: A Processual View

In organizations, existing codified rules are often used as the basis for solving new problems even when this means stretching those rules. Such " absorption" of new problems by rules reduces the need to explore and develop new solutions and to encode those solutions into new rules. In the present chapter we examine the phenomenon of " problem absorption" more closely from the process perspective and conceptualize it as a microlevel form of " semantic learning. " Contrary to previous literature, we argue that problem absorption does not necessarily reinforce existing rules and prevent the search for alternatives. We thus contribute to the literature on organizational learning and rule dynamics by showing how under certain conditions the cumulative effects of semantic learning via repeated absorption of novel problems by formal rules can give rise to higher-level learning that has the potential to transform the organization's rule system.
Enzymatic Determination of Unbound D-Mannose in Serum

Mannose is an aldohexose component of a number of glycoproteins in cellular membranes and blood plasma. Free (unbound) mannose is a normal blood plasma constituent and its concentration is elevated in diabetes mellitus and chronic glomerulonephritis. We devised an enzymatic method for the determination of free mannose in which mannose is converted to glucose-6-phosphate and measured spectrophotometrically using glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). Accumulation of reduced NADP in the assay was verified by spectral analysis and by finding rapid disappearance of absorbance at 340 nm on addition of glutathione reductase and oxidized glutathione into the reaction mixture. The method necessitates prior removal of glucose from the samples. This we accomplished using glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and a surplus amount of NADP, followed by elimination of reduced NADP by acidification of the reaction mixture. The assays may be run in parallel for expediency. Concentration of free mannose in serum was 18.5 +/- 5.5 mumol/l in healthy fasting female adults. The analytical recovery was 90.2 +/- 10.2% and the between-run imprecision was 13.5% (18.5 +/- 5.5 mumol/l, mean +/- SD) and 10.4% (75.3 +/- 10.3 mumol/l). The assay showed rectilinearity up to 220 mumol/l, which covers the measuring range to which the mannose concentrations in normal and clinical samples may be expected to fall.
TRP Channels in Human Prostate

This review gives an overview of morphological and functional characteristics in the human prostate. It will focus on the current knowledge about transient receptor potential (TRP) channels expressed in the human prostate, and their putative role in normal physiology and prostate carcinogenesis. Controversial data regarding the expression pattern and the potential impact of TRP channels in prostate function, and their involvement in prostate cancer and other prostate diseases, will be discussed.
Does donor cause of death affect the outcome of lung transplantation?

BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests that the donor's cause of death may influence posttransplantation allograft function. We conducted a retrospective analysis of our adult lung transplant experience to investigate the influence of donor traumatic brain injury versus nontraumatic brain injury on posttransplantation outcome. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed donor records and recipient medical charts for 500 consecutive lung transplants performed between July 1988 and December 1999. Recipient follow-up was complete, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year of survival. RESULTS There were 295 and 205 donors in the traumatic and nontraumatic brain injury groups, respectively. Young male donors predominated in the traumatic brain injury group. Recipients receiving donor lungs from the traumatic and nontraumatic brain injury groups did not differ by age, sex, diagnosis, type of transplant (single-lung versus double-lung) or requirement for pretransplantation mechanical ventilatory assistance. Recipients did not differ in immediate or 24-hour PaO (2)/inspired oxygen ratio, ventilation time, hospital stay, hospital mortality, or overall survival. Recipients of organs from donors who died of traumatic brain injury showed a higher severity and frequency of rejection episodes during the first year after transplantation. Freedoms from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome at 5 years were 34.5% and 50.8% for recipients of organs from donors who died of traumatic and nontraumatic brain injury, respectively (P =.002). CONCLUSIONS The cause of donor brain death does not appear to influence early results of lung transplantation. Traumatic brain injury, or some phenomenon associated with it, may predispose a transplanted lung and its recipient toward more severe early rejection episodes and subsequent development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.
Diffusion tensor imaging in primary cervical dystonia

Background: It is the traditional view that primary dystonia arises from abnormal basal ganglia function but causes no apparent morphological changes. Objective: To determine whether cervical dystonia leads to ultrastructural changes in the brain, using diffusion tensor imaging to compare brain structure in 15 patients with cervical dystonia with 10 healthy controls. Design: Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained in 17 brain regions of interest. Results: Patients had higher FA values than controls in both putamina and lower FA values in the genu and in the body of the corpus callosum. Patients also had lower MD values in the left pallidum, the left putamen, and both caudati. Conclusions: In patients with cervical dystonia, diffusion tensor imaging shows ultrastructural changes in specific brain areas, including the basal ganglia.
Increased atherosclerosis in P 2 Y 13 / apolipoprotein E double-knockout mice : contribution of P 2 Y 13 to reverse cholesterol transport

Increased atherosclerosis in P2Y13/apolipoprotein E double-knockout mice: contribution of P2Y13 to reverse cholesterol transport