Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The benefits of renin-angiotensin blockade in renal transplant recipients with biopsy-proven allograft nephropathy.

BACKGROUND Allograft nephropathy, regardless of aetiology, leads to progressive renal injury and eventual graft loss. In native kidney disease, treatment of hypertension, in particular with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), has proven beneficial in retarding renal function decline. In the present study, we reviewed the clinical course of a renal transplant recipient cohort that was prescribed either an ACEi or ARB for biopsy-proven allograft nephropathy. METHODS Patients were followed from the time of post-biopsy initiation of ACEi/ARB and were stratified based on biopsy findings. Outcomes of interest included safety, allograft survival, renal function and change in slope of renal function pre- and post-ACEi/ARB. RESULTS The 5 year allograft survival after biopsy diagnosis of allograft nephropathy was 83%. Serum creatinine was 191+/-97 (86-377) micromol/l at the time of biopsy and 228+/-102 (102-575) micromol/l at last follow-up. The slopes of reciprocal creatinine vs time were used to calculate the decline in renal function and were compared pre- and post-ACEi/ARB. The mean slope+/-SD was -0.06+/-0.21 l/micromol x 10(-3) per month in the 12 months prior to therapy and -0.03+/-0.09 l/micromol x 10(-3) per month following therapy. The absolute difference in slopes was 0.03 (P =<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with ACEi/ARB may be beneficial in the management of allograft nephropathy.
Analysis of Twenty‐three Plasma Proteins in Ascites The Depletion of Fibrinogen and Plasminogen

The concentrations of 23 plasma proteins were measured by radial immunodiffusion in the plasma and ascites of 17 patients with cirrhosis and four patients with intraperitoneal malignancies, to learn whether there is a selectivity in the movement of proteins from plasma into ascites, analogous to that of proteinuria. Additionally, since some of the proteins are involved in coagulation, we hoped to clarify the coagulopathy frequently seen following peritoneovenous shunting of ascites. Analysis was by groups: group 1 consisted of nine patients with cirrhosis with an ascites-total protein content less than 2.5 g/dl; group 2 consisted of eight patients with cirrhosis with ascites-total protein content greater than or equal to 2.5 g/dl; and group 3 consisted of four patients with malignant ascites. The ratio of the plasma concentration/ascites concentration ([P]/[A]) for each protein was calculated for each patient. In each group the median [P]/[A] for each protein was plotted against the natural logarithm of its molecular weight (In MW). For 21 of the 23 proteins, [P]/[A] showed a close linear relationship to In MW. Fibrogen and plasminogen showed significant (p < 0.0002) elevation above the regression line relating [P]/[A] to In MW. This indicates depletion of fibrinogen and plasminogen in ascites. The ascites in group 1 showed moderate selectivity, defined as the slope of the regression line (1.59), while groups 2 and 3 were essentialy nonselective (0.35 and 0.50). Fibrin-split products were elevated in all ascites but not in plasma, indicating either fibrinolysis or fibrinogenolysis within the ascites. A normal ratio for prothrombin suggests fibrinogenolysis may be the dominant mechanism. Thus the coagulopathy induced by LeVeen valve insertion may be in part secondary to the infusion of plasmin or a plasminogen activator into the circulation.
pConsensus Peptide Induces Tolerogenic CD8+ T Cells in Lupus-Prone (NZB × NZW)F1 Mice by Differentially Regulating Foxp3 and PD1 Molecules1

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease caused primarily by autoantibodies (including IgG anti-DNA) and immune complexes that cause tissue damage. After tolerization with an artificial peptide (pConsensus, pCons) based on murine anti-DNA IgG sequences containing MHC class I and class II T cell determinants, lupus-prone (NZB × NZW)F1 female (BWF1) mice develop regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells and inhibitory CD8+ T cells, both of which suppress anti-DNA Ig production and immune glomerulonephritis. In the present work, we show that splenocytes from BWF1 mice treated with pCons had significant expansion of primarily CD8+ T cells. CD4+ T cells and B cells were each directly suppressed by CD8+ T cells from tolerized mice in a contact-independent manner. Both pCons-induced CD8+CD28+ and CD8+CD28− T cells suppressed production of anti-DNA in vitro. Silencing with small interfering RNA of Foxp3 abrogated the suppression mediated by both CD8+ T cell subsets. Additionally, CD8+ T cells from tolerized mice were weakly cytotoxic against syngeneic B cells from old anti-DNA-producing mice, but not from young mice. Importantly, pCons treatment had dual effects on CD8+ suppressor T cells from tolerized mice, increasing the intracellular expression of Foxp3 while decreasing the surface expression of PD1 molecules. Blocking PD1/PDL1 interactions in the CD8+ T cells from tolerized mice reduced their expression of Foxp3 and their ability to suppress CD4+CD25− proliferation. In contrast, blocking PD1/PDL1 in naive T cells increased Foxp3 expression. Our data suggest that tolerization with pCons activates different subsets of inhibitory/cytotoxic CD8+ T cells whose targets are both CD4+CD25− effector T cells and B cells.
Solar Radiation‐induced Mortality of Marine Pico‐phytoplankton in the Oligotrophic Ocean †

We examined the response of pico‐phytoplankton communities sampled at the equatorial, tropical and temperate Central Atlantic Ocean to subsurface underwater solar radiation in order to test the generality of the reported cell mortality for these populations when exposed to high ultra violet radiation (UVR) and photosynthetically active radiation. The natural communities of pico‐phytoplankton populations tested experienced high cell mortality when exposed to high solar radiation, despite inhabiting tropical waters. Synechococcus and eukaryotes were more resistant to solar radiation than Prochlorococcus. The decay rates of all pico‐phytoplankton groups examined tended to be much higher when exposed to total solar radiation than when UVB‐R was filtered out. We also show that even short exposures of 30 min to high solar radiation were able to induce cell mortality in Prochlorococcus. The variability in the decay rates of living Prochlorococcus cells were strongly related to the condition of the original population. However, Synechococcus decay rates were higher in populations from the tropical area, with eukaryotes sensitivity increasing with increasing the trophic degree. The data reported in this study and in the literature revealed contrasting capacities of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and eukaryotes to survive under high solar radiation. Although the mechanisms involved are as yet unclear, their elucidation may help explain niche partitioning among these organisms in the ocean.
The anticancer drug Dp44mT inhibits T‐cell activation and CD25 through a copper‐dependent mechanism

The di‐2‐pyridylketone thiosemicarbazone Dp44mT is a metal‐chelating compound that has been demonstrated to have potent activity as an anticancer agent. Here we report that it also has a dramatic inhibitory effect on T‐cell activation in vitro. We found that 10 nM Dp44mT (IC50 3.2 nM) prevented the up‐regulation of surface CD25, and completely suppressed the activation and proliferation of splenic T cells isolated from Mus musculus that were stimulated with either T‐cell receptor (TCR) cross‐linking antibodies or phorbol ester plus ionomycin. In contrast, Dp44mT had no adverse effects on the survival of resting T cells. In addition, T cells stimulated in the presence of Dp44mT maintained the ability to upregulate CD69 surface expression and secrete interleu‐kin‐2. Consistent with these observations, Dp44mT did not inhibit multiple canonical signals downstream of the TCR, including the nuclear factor of activated T cells. The effects of Dp44mT were easily mitigated by addition of nontoxic copper chelators or N‐acetylcysteine, indicating a role for copper and reactive oxygen species in its actions. Together, these findings suggest that Dp44mT may serve as a potent immunosuppressive agent that could complicate its use as a cancer therapeutic agent, but might have utility in the treatment of autoimmunity. —Gundelach, J. H. , Madhavan, A. A. , Wettstein, P. J., Bram, R. J. The anticancer drug Dp44mT inhibits T‐cell activation and CD25 through a copper‐dependent mechanism. FASEB J. 27, 782–792 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Preoperative red cell production in patients undergoing weekly autologous blood donation

BACKGROUND: Modest autologous blood donation programs involving weekly phlebotomy and threshold hematocrits for blood donation higher than 33 percent are frequently used in patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery. This study was performed to determine the gain in red cells (RBCs) obtained with such a program. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The blood bank and medical records of 225 adult patients (194 men, 31 women; mean age, 57 years [range, 18–77]) who donated blood for autologous use in elective cardiac surgery during a 3‐year period were reviewed. Preoperative RBC production was estimated by the total volume of RBCs donated minus the change in circulating RBC volume between the first donation and the day before surgery. RESULTS: A total of 604 blood units were donated (2.7 units/patient; range, 1–3). The mean volume of RBCs donated was 522 mL (range, 171–732). Mean RBC production (over baseline RBC production) was 351 mL (range, 9–719), or 19 percent (range, 0.5–40) of the circulating RBC volume at baseline. CONCLUSION: A modest autologous blood donation program using three phlebotomies at weekly intervals and a threshold hematocrit for blood donation of 36 percent yields an average of 351 mL (range, 9–719) of RBCs. This is equivalent to 2 units (range, 0.5‐4) of allogeneic packed RBCs at 180 mL per unit.
Selling Politics? How the Traits of Salespeople Manifest Themselves in Irish Politicians

This article seeks to uncover if some of the traits most associated with salespeople manifested themselves in the activities of candidates in the constituency of Dun Laoghaire during the 2007 Irish general election. Such a finding would suggest that just as political parties have looked to the marketing profession for their lead in developing political marketing, politicians are looking to, and adopting the traits of those in the sales profession. This would point to the traits that the modern politician must possess in order to get and remain elected. It would also raise significant questions in terms of how candidates present themselves to the electorate, as well as how they go about campaigning and formulating policy.
Antibody-induced ultrastructural changes of malarial sporozoites.

Immunization with irradiated sporozoites produces a considerable degree protection against rodent, simian, and human malaria. This protection is in part antibody mediated. Antibodies neutralize sporozoites (SNA), i.e. abolish their infectivity, and cause, in vitro, the formation of a thread-like precipitate on the parasites (CSP reaction). The present study was undertaken to characterize the ultrastructural aspects of antibody-sporozoite interaction.
Estrogen Receptor β in Breast Cancer: Associations Between ERβ, Hormonal Receptors, and Other Prognostic Biomarkers

The estrogen receptor (ER)-β isoform has been recently identified to be distinct from ERα isoform and regulates separate sets of genes, and can exert opposite signaling functions depending on the ligand and response elements. Previous studies of ERβ have been at the mRNA level and few by immunohistochemistry, and the results are inconsistent. In this study the authors compared expression of ERβ with those of other prognostic biomarkers by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray slides, and with morphologic parameters on 147 cases of primary breast cancer. Immunoreactivity of more than 10% of cancer cells was considered to be positive. Associations between categoric variables were analyzed using the χ2 test, and a P value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. ERβ was expressed in benign epithelium and stromal cells, and breast cancer cells in 59% of different histologic types of breast cancer. ERβ was coexpressed with ERα in 45% of cases. There was a statistically significant association between expression of ERβ and Her-2/neu (P < 0.000), cathepsin D (P < 0.02), p53 (P < 0.03), and PS2 (P < 0.002). Ki-67 was almost exclusively expressed in ERβ-positive cells. No statistically significant association was seen between ERβ expression and histologic grade, DNA ploidy, or S-phase.
Elevated plasma YKL‐40 levels and ischemic stroke in the general population

We hypothesized that elevated plasma YKL‐40 levels are associated with increased risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease in the general population. In contrast to C‐reactive protein (CRP) produced in the liver in response to inflammation, YKL‐40 is produced by lipid‐laden macrophages inside the vessel wall.
Radiographic observations on the use of two different regeneration materials in a single subject: Case study

Two infrabony defects (i.e. defects in tooth supporting bone that extend into the body of the bone) in different sites in the same individual were treated surgically. Tissue regeneration was incorporated into the surg-ical procedures using a different material in each site (oxidized cellulose mesh and bioglass). The post surgical radiographic appearance showed increasing calcification in both sites that was not complete even at 15 months after placement. The radiographic appearance of both sites was similar but calcification was observed above the crest of alveolar bone in the oxidized cellulose mesh site that was not present with bioglass site. As calcification did not appear to be complete by 15 months after place-ment and it did not resemble true bone in either site, it would appear that the regenerative process was not yet complete by this time. Bone regeneration may therefore progress slowly over a protracted period of time after placement. Some evidence is present that oxidized cellulose mesh may have enhanced regenerative capacity by comparison to other synthetic bone regeneration materials such as hydroxyapatite and bioglass. No conclusions could be drawn from this single case study and further work is necessary to confirm and investigate these observations more fully.
Isolation and characterization of a low-abundance splice variant from the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early gene region

The major immediate-early (IE) gene region of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes several proteins as a result of differential RNA splicing events. By expression vector cloning of HCMV IE mRNA, we isolated and characterized a cDNA for a novel splice variant from the major IE gene region. The RNA product is a derivative of the IE55 mRNA and contains an additional splice from nucleotides 170,635 to 170,307 in the IE2 gene region (UL122), resulting in a 1.4-kb mRNA. The predicted open reading frame codes for a 164-amino-acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 18 kDa (IE18). Mung bean nuclease analysis and PCR were used to characterize expression of IE18 mRNA in HCMV-infected cells. While the 1.4-kb mRNA was detected in infected human fibroblasts in the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor, it was not detectable during a normal infection. However, the 1.4-kb mRNA was readily detected in infected human monocyte-derived macrophages at IE times. These results suggest that the novel IE18 mRNA exhibits cell type-specific expression indicating differential regulation of the major IE gene region in different permissive cell types.
Smad4 and transforming growth factor beta1 expression in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

PURPOSE The members of the Smad family play key rolesin regulating gene expression in the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 signaling pathways. Activation of Smads causes their translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where they function as transcription factors. The present study analyzed the expression and clinicopathological significance of Smad4 and TGF-beta1 in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of Smad4 and TGF-beta1 proteins in 258 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The relationship between expression of these proteins and clinicopathological factors was analyzed, and the usefulness of Smad4 in disease prognosis was evaluated in relation to TGF-beta1 expression. RESULTS Smad4 expression was preserved in 32.2% of tumors, and TGF-beta1 expression was identified in 42.6% of tumors. Patients with preserved expression of Smad4 had a higher rate of early-stage carcinoma (P < 0.01) and fewer lymph node metastases (P < 0.01) than those with reduced Smad4 expression. The expression of TGF-beta1 was not associated with any of the clinicopathological factors. Postoperative survival analysis indicated that patients with a tumor in which Smad4 expression was reduced had worse clinical outcomes than those with preserved expression (P = 0.01). In patients with TGF-beta1-negative tumors, the survival rate was significantly higher in patients with a preserved level of Smad4 expression than in those with reduced Smad4 expression (P = 0.02). However, according to multivariate analysis, Smad4 expression could not be used as an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS Although Smad4 expression could not be used as a prognostic factor, its expression reflected tumor progression such as tumor depth and lymph node metastasis.
TRATAMENTO ORTODÔNTICO DA MORDIDA ABERTA ANTERIOR CAUSADA POR HÁBITOS DELETÉRIOS

A mordida aberta anterior (MAA) e uma ma oclusao de comprometimento estetico e funcional, definida como trespasse vertical negativo entre os dentes antagonistas que altera o perfil e a fisionomia do individuo, dificulta a apreensao e corte dos alimentos, prejudica determinados fonemas e expoe os pacientes a situacoes cotidianas desagradaveis. O objetivo desse trabalho e realizar uma revisao de literatura ilustrada por um caso clinico, abordando os fatores determinantes para esta alteracao patologica bem como as diversas formas de tratamento envolvidas. Os trabalhos levantados nesta revisao de literatura apontam os habitos deleterios como principais responsaveis pela MAA, dentre eles a succao digital e a succao de chupeta, considerados os mais comuns, os quais, muitas vezes, estao associados a fatores emocionais. O mau habito pode provocar uma ma oclusao desde que haja uma interrelacao direta de tres fatores: intensidade, tempo e frequencia do mesmo. Assim, quando a crianca interrompe precocemente o habito de succao nao nutritiva, este nao se torna deleterio. O diagnostico e tratamento ortodontico precoces proporcionam um prognostico bastante favoravel, com menores chances de recidivas. Em razao da etiologia multifatorial e das diversas consequencias, e necessario que ocorra integracao entre varias especialidades como a ortodontia, a odontopediatria, a psicologia, a otorrinolaringologia e a fonoaudiologia. Concluimos que para a correcao da MAA e indicado o emprego de dispositivos recordatorios e impedidores.
Meibomian Gland Triglyceride Fatty Acid Differences in Chronic Blepharitis Patients

In this study, we analyzed the triglyceride fraction of human meibomian gland secretions to determine whether specific fatty acids were significantly associated with specific chronic blepharitis disease groups. Triglycerides, isolated from the lipid component of human meibomian secretions by thin-layer chromatography, were transmethylated with sodium methoxide/methanol. Samples from individuals were then analyzed by gas chromatographymass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Significant fatty acid differences were determined by nonparametric analyses, utilizing Kruskal-Wallis analysis of between group differences and Student-Newman-Keuls multiple comparisons. The analyses showed that the triglyceride samples contained the expected normal, iso, and anteiso fatty acids; disease group differences (from normals) in some of these fatty acid types were significant only without a Bonferroni adjustment. The triglycerides also contained previously unreported polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as two four-member families of fatty acids that had mass spectra and retention times consistent with dimethylated carbon chains. Additionally, some members of the meibomian keratoconjunctivitis (MKC) group contained an unusual pattern of normal 20-carbon fatty acids, including a higher level of saturated and lower levels of unsaturated fatty acids. An important exception was the presence of a monounsaturated fatty acid whose GC retention time and mass spectrum were consistent with the uncommon cis- 10-20:1 isomer. This pattern was associated with the presence of patient posterior hordeola. Thus, the association of triglyceride fatty acid composition with chronic blepharitis disease signs could be much more important than previously thought. Furthermore, this is the first example of the association of specific fatty acids with a specific chronic blepharitis disease sign.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Malay language version of the TZO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life questionnaire

The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the translated Malay language version of TZO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life (TAPQOL) questionnaire in preschool children. Preterm children and term children aged between two and five years were enrolled into the study. The Malay language version of TAPQOL and a set of questions regarding the child’s health status were answered by the caregivers. The internal consistency, Spearman’s correlation coefficients and principal component analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation and Mann–Whitney U test for group comparison were employed to evaluate the psychometric properties of this instrument. A total of 258 children (120 preterm children and 138 term children) were recruited to this study with a response rate of 94%. All (sub)domains except one had Cronbach’s α coefficients of more than . 7. The Spearman’s correlation coefficients between 12 subdomains were generally low. PCA supported the structural unidimensionality of the items in the instrument. Preterm children had lower quality of life scores than that of term children. Malay version of TAPQOL has multidimensional construct. It is a reliable and valid instrument for preschool children, with almost similar psychometric properties to the original version.