Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced proapoptotic effects of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand on temozolomide-resistant glioma cells.

OBJECT Death receptor targeting is an attractive approach in experimental treatment for tumors such as malignant gliomas, which are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Among the family of cytokines referred to as death li gands, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has attracted clinical interest. The aim of this study was to assess whether TRAIL can be used as an adjuvant to temozolomide (TMZ) for apoptosis induction in malignant glioma cell lines. METHODS Six human malignant glioma cell lines (A172, U87, U251, T98, U343, and U373) were exposed to human (h)TRAIL, TMZ, or an hTRAIL/TMZ combined treatment. Cell viability was assayed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and phase-contrast microscopy. Cell apoptosis was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling technique and quantified using flow cytometric analysis. The apoptosis signaling cascade was studied with Western blotting. The additive effects of hTRAIL and TMZ resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability and an increased apoptotic rate. Expression of the death receptors DR5 and DR4 in two cell lines (A172 and U251) upregulated significantly when they were used in combination hTRAIL/TMZ treatment (p < 0.05 compared with baseline control), leading to activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3 (p < 0.05 compared with baseline control) and confirming an extrinsic apoptotic pathway. A cell intrinsic pathway through mitochondrial cytochrome c was not activated. CONCLUSIONS Based on this work, one may infer that hTRAIL should be considered as an adjuvant treatment for TMZ-resistant human malignant gliomas.
Dependency on mask ventilation after acute respiratory failure in the intermediate care unit

The predictive factors for long-term dependency (LTD) on noninvasive ventilation (NIV) immediately after acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) have not been identified. The present authors studied 42 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 58 non-COPD patients successfully treated by NIV for an AHRF episode. Parameters at stable state, at admission for AHRF and during a 1-yr follow-up were compared in patients with or without LTD-NIV at discharge. The incidence of LTD-NIV was 39% in non-COPD patients and 19% in COPD patients. Based on multivariate analysis with stepwise logistic regression, lower baseline pH values and noninfectious causes of AHRF were independently associated with LTD-NIV. Mutually adjusted odds ratios were found to be 1.316 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.127–1.536) for a 0.01 decrease of baseline pH value and 5.1 (95% CI = 1.8–14.0) for a noninfectious cause of AHRF. Outcome after 1 yr was poor in COPD patients. Long-term dependency on noninvasive ventilation is not an uncommon situation after resolution of an acute hypercapnic respiratory failure episode, especially in patients with non-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes of respiratory failure. The present study raises the need for prospective validation of a weaning protocol in patients managed by noninvasive ventilation for an acute hypercapnic respiratory failure episode.
DRD4 gene variant associated with body mass: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

In this article we report a novel statistically significant association between the D4.7/D4.7 genotype of the DRD4 gene and the body mass of black and Hispanic participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). We investigated the role of the 48‐bp repeat polymorphism of the dopamine receptor 4 gene (DRD4) in body mass regulation in 2,277 adolescents and young adults followed in 1995 (12–18 years old), 1996, and 2002 by Add Health. After the effects of age, sex, and ethnicity were adjusted, the D4.7/D4.7 genotype reduced the body mass index (BMI)‐percentile score by 15 and 12.5, as compared to those with other genotypes, for African‐Americans (P = 0.0047) and Hispanic‐Americans (P = 0.037), respectively. Although the D4.7/D4.7 genotype was associated with a lower BMI‐percentile score in white individuals compared to other genotypes, the difference was not significant. Individuals heterozygous for D4.7 did not differ from those with the other/other genotype. Hum Mutat 27(3):236–241, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rethinking enterprise flexibility: a new approach based on management control theory

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to a void in the literature on enterprise flexibility: The Management Control Systems’ (MCS) role in the enterprise flexibility and stability discussion. MCS can be instrumental in securing an organization’s strategic performance objectives, far beyond the mere managerial control and accounting perspectives of traditional MCS’ roles. Design/methodology/approach This study is qualitative in nature, and presents a theoretical approach with a conceptual model to address enterprise flexibility and stability jointly; arguing that both should be part of the MCS’ design and implementation with a distinct strategic outlook. Several theoretical and practical arguments are presented which reinforce this thesis. Findings To operate optimally, enterprises must be able to manage their limited resources in efficient and effective manner. This is especially so when dealing with uncertainty and contingencies on an ongoing basis, while following a defined strategic choice. Such choices are expected to mirror enterprise flexibility types and measures without neglecting enterprise stability requirements, linking both to strategic performance measurement indicators. Research limitations/implications Further work is needed to explore not only how different types of enterprise flexibility and stability measures can bring additional benefits to the firm but also how best to apply such types in accordance with business and operations strategies, organizational stability requirements and management control strategies. Practical implications MCS can and should take part of an organization’s strategic performance measures but these are to be understood from a systemic design perspective of the enterprise system’s metacontrollability, addressing flexibility and stability jointly. Social implications There is a need to reevaluate the role of MCS and their strategic potential. The approach presented can have valuable potential ramifications and insights for management and information sciences as well as for the enterprise management practitioners as a whole. Originality/value This paper provides original research on enterprise flexibility and stability analysis, covering all aspects of MC and its role on the enterprise’s metacontrollability. Design and coordination of the seven basic elements which comprise MCS are analyzed, as well as how they influence one another. The paper includes two tables to illustrate the approach being proposed. Table I presents a classification of the literature reviewed in the paper while Table AI presents the choice of the theoretical lens on enterprise flexibility from other authors which contrasts with the model proposed. The role of MCS in the enterprise is also included.
Wenshen Xiaozheng Tang suppresses the growth of endometriosis with an antiangiogenic effect

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of Wenshen Xiaozhng Tang (WXT) on ectopic endometrial growth and on angiogenesis in endometrial implants in a rat model. Methods Sprague–Dawley rats with endometriotic implants were randomly treated with low-dose WXT, high-dose WXT, or vehicle (negative control) for 28 days. Cell proliferation and vascular density in the lesions were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The levels of VEGF in peritoneal fluid were determined by ELISA. The mRNA expression of HIF-1α and Flk-1 in the endometriotic lesions was evaluated by real-time PCR. Results WXT treatment significantly decreased the lesion size and inhibited cell proliferation in the endometriotic lesions. Lowered vascular density and reduced mRNA expression of HIF-1α in the endometriotic lesions, associated with decreased concentration of VEGF in peritoneal fluid, were also observed in WXT-treated rats. Conclusions These results suggest that WXT could be effective to suppress the growth of endometriosis, partially through its antiangiogenic activity.
Why we need a broad perspective on meta-analysis

In the world of clinical trials and meta-analyses there is an important debate between the “lumpers” and the “splitters. ” This relates to whether the overall findings of clinical trials and meta-analyses are the appropriate outcome to apply to individuals (lumping) or whether it is better to try to match the characteristics of particular patients to characteristics of subgroups within trials or meta-analyses (splitting). Although the splitters' view seems intuitively correct, there are usually substantial clinical and methodological advantages to lumping. The generalisability and usefulness of meta-analyses are increased considerably if the individual trials cover different patient populations, settings, and concomitant routine care. For example, when a meta-analysis showed that the use of human albumin increased mortality1 this result applied to all three groups of critically ill patients studied. For patients with hypovolaemia the difference was not conventionally significant (95% confidence interval for the odds ratio 0.99 to 3.15), but it would be wrong to interpret this result as meaning that clinicians should continue to give these patients albumin. Most significant results will disappear because of lack of power if trials in a meta-analysis are split up into a large enough number of subgroups. It is more relevant that the point estimates were similar …
Low kV settings CT angiography (CTA) with low dose contrast medium volume protocol in the assessment of thoracic and abdominal aorta disease: a feasibility study

Objective: To assess the diagnostic quality of low dose (100kV) CT angiography (CTA), by using ultra-low contrast medium volume (30ml), for thoracic and abdominal aorta evaluation. Methods: 67 patients with thoracic or abdominal vascular disease underwent multidetector CT study using a 256 slice scanner, with low dose radiation protocol (auto-mated tube current modulation, 100kV) and low contrast medium volume (30ml; 4mls 2 1 ). Density measurements were performed on ascending, arch, descending thoracic aorta, anonymous branch, abdominal aorta, and renal and common iliac arteries. Radiation dose exposure [dose – length product (DLP)] was calculated. A control group of 35 patients with thoracic or abdominal vascular disease were evaluated with standard CTA protocol (automated tube current modulation, 120kV; contrast medium, 80ml). Results: In all
Galvanic Skin Response in Mood Disorders: A Critical Review

To critically review the literature on Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) within Mood Disorder populations. GSR profiles were examined for the various types of Mood Disorder and their association with comorbidity, suicidality and predispositions. This review examined studies with emotional and non-emotional stimuli whilst aiming to identify a Mood Disorder GSR profile by comparisons with healthy controls and other psychological or physical disorders. A systematic search for relevant literature was conducted using PsychINFO, CINAHL and MEDLINE databases. Studies using emotional stimuli to measure GSR in mood disorder patients were included. Some studies did not use emotional stimuli, however were included as GSR measures were conducted separately from stimuli presentation. A greater proportion of studies reported results in support of a specific GSR profile for mood disorders as well as indicating GSR variation depending on type of disorder. Distinguishing the GSR profile from other psychological or physical disorders was more challenging, as it is less clear if pathology causes differences in GSR when issues such as comorbidity are present. Bilateral GSR differences, GSR differences between the left and right hand, were also reported in a number of studies. Results indicated mood disorder patients have low or flat GSR profiles, consistent with review expectations. Bilateral analysis also indicated a common left-hand bias among mood disorder patients.
Overexpression of PER3 Inhibits Self-Renewal Capability and Chemoresistance of Colorectal Cancer Stem-Like Cells via Inhibition of Notch and β-Catenin Signaling

PER3, a circadian clock gene, plays an important role in colorectal cancer, but its action and underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) remain unclear. In this study, the colorectal CSCs were enriched in colorectal HCT-116 sphere-forming cells, expressing lower levels of stem cell markers CD133, CD44, LGR5, and SOX2 compared with HCT-116 cells. A drug-resistant strain from HCT-116 was established. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis showed that PER3 was downregulated in colorectal CSCs and drug-resistant HCT-116. Overexpression of PER3 could strengthen 5-FU-induced inhibitory effects on colorectal CSCs, but knockdown of PER3 decreased its inhibition of colorectal CSCs. In addition, overexpression of PER3 in colorectal CSCs resulted in reduced colony formation efficiency in a soft agar medium and self-renewal efficiency. Inversely, knockdown of PER3 enhanced self-renewal of colorectal CSCs. Overexpression of PER3 decreased stemness markers and Notch1, Jagged1, β-catenin, c-Myc, and LGR5 in colorectal CSCs. When Notch or β-catenin signaling was inhibited, the chemoresistance and self-renewal capability of colorectal CSCs were decreased. It was confirmed that PER3 can reduce chemoresistance and self-renewal capability of colorectal CSCs via inhibition of Notch and β-catenin signaling. Our results reveal that PER3 plays a critical role in maintaining the stemness of colorectal CSCs and may be a promising target for elimination of CSCs.
Modification of Soluble Immunological Parameters during Treatment with Interleukin-2

In the present study we tested numerous soluble immunological parameters (soluble Interleukin 2 receptor, Beta 2 microglobulin, Neopterin, soluble CD8 antigen, gamma Interferon and alpha Tumor Necrosis Factor) in sera obtained from 18 advanced cancer patients during subcutaneous treatment with recombinant Interleukin 2. The treatment cycles consisted of a dose of 9×106 IU/m2 twice daily for 2 days followed by 1.8×106 IU/m2 twice daily for 5 days/week during 6 weeks. Even before therapy, neoplastic patients had higher levels of soluble Interleukin 2 receptor than a group of healthy subjects. Moreover, basal soluble CD8 antigen levels showed significant differences (p<0.01) in patients with different clinical responses (responders and non-responders). During treatment we observed a fast increase (in the first or second week) of all parameters considered; soluble Interleukin 2 receptor and soluble CD8 antigen were the markers that were best related to the course of immunotherapy. In conclusion, monitoring recombinant Interleukin 2 immunotherapy with immunological parameters in serum seems to be of interest. However, more data are necessary to confirm the real value of the single markers.
Nutritional status of children under five years living in area of social vulnerability of Campina Grande, Paraíba State

The nutritional status of children under five years living in an area of social vulnerability and its association with personal and socioeconomic characteristics are evaluated by a cross-sectional study conducted at the Basic Family Health Units (I and II) of the Mutirao district in Campina Grande PB Brazil. Current study included 76 families with under-five-year-old children and any former collector of recyclable materials from the Campina Grande landfill. The nutritional status of children was analyzed by weight / age (W/A), height / age (H/A) and weight / height (W/H) indexes to determine their anthropometric deviations and etiological analyses with children´s socioeconomic characteristics. Prevalence of 6.6% in weight deficit and 19.7% in height deficit were reported. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that W/A, H/A and W/H indexes were negatively influenced in cases of children born with low birth weight, in children who had diarrhea during the last 15 days prior to the interview and those who had protozoan parasites during the same period. Height and weight deficits were the most common nutritional disorders. Results emphasize the need to carry out periodic assessments of children´s nutritional status featuring health and socioeconomic characteristics of vulnerability.
Mastitis incidence in straw yards and cubicles

infected quarters were odourless and varied from a brown coloured milk to a purulent discharge. In longer established cases, gradual separation of milk samples into a sediment and a serumlike supernatant was the most consistently observed feature. All cows were intensively treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, with minimal effect on the clinical signs. No pathogenic bacteria or yeast were isolated from initial milk samples. M bovis was detected by a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA (Ball and others 1994), and subsequently cultured from milk samples collected from the mastitic cows three weeks after the outbreak began. One of the imported Montbelliardes was also diagnosed as having M bovis mastitis shortly after the first seven cases. These eight cows and two cows suspected on clinical signs were segregated and milked after the rest of the herd. Nine weeks after the outbreak began, quarter milk samples were collected aseptically from all 44 lactating cows. M bovis was detected in milk samples from 10 clinically infected quarters and from a further 11 subclinically infected quarters all from the eight previously identified cows. Milk sccs ranged from 1,752,000 to 21,381,000 cells/ml in samples collected from quarters with subclinical M bovis infection. Four cows developed infection in all four quarters and were dried off. Three cows resumed production of apparently normal milk but subclinical M bovis mastitis was later observed in two of these cows. Another infected cow continued to produce a sediment in mammary secretions from two infected quarters. Segregation of affected cows, which included milking them last, was followed by a reduced incidence of M bovis mastitis in this herd. During the following three months only four new cases were identified on this farm and these included the two suspect
Human Lung Hydrolases Delineate Mycobacterium tuberculosis–Macrophage Interactions and the Capacity To Control Infection

Pulmonary surfactant contains homeostatic and antimicrobial hydrolases. When Mycobacterium tuberculosis is initially deposited in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli, as well as following release from lysed macrophages, bacilli are in intimate contact with these lung surfactant hydrolases. We identified and measured several hydrolases in human alveolar lining fluid and lung tissue that, at their physiological concentrations, dramatically modified the M. tuberculosis cell envelope. Independent of their action time (15 min to 12 h), the effects of the hydrolases on the M. tuberculosis cell envelope resulted in a significant decrease (60–80%) in M. tuberculosis association with, and intracellular growth of the bacteria within, human macrophages. The cell envelope-modifying effects of the hydrolases also led to altered M. tuberculosis intracellular trafficking and induced a protective proinflammatory response to infection. These findings add a new concept to our understanding of M. tuberculosis–macrophage interactions (i.e., the impact of lung surfactant hydrolases on M. tuberculosis infection).
Attribution Patterns in Women With and Without Orgasmic Difficulties

People with sexual problems are more likely to attribute negative sexual experiences to themselves, in contrast with sexually functional individuals who attribute negative sexual experiences to external factors such as the circumstance or situation. We investigated attribution patterns in women reporting difficult or absent orgasm—a group only minimally investigated in this regard—to determine whether they differed from women without orgasmic problems. Using an internet-based approach, we compared attribution responses of 376 women with orgasmic difficulty with 367 women without orgasmic difficulty to five sexual scenarios, two presenting positive sexual experiences and three presenting negative sexual experiences. Women with orgasmic difficulty were more likely to take blame for any negative sexual experience, including ones not related to orgasmic difficulty. They were also more likely to attribute responsibility to their partner’s lack of skill, whereas orgasmic women attributed negative outcomes more to circumstance. Women with orgasmic difficulty were also less likely to assume credit or responsibility for positive sexual experiences. Differences between orgasmic and non-orgasmic groups persisted or were augmented when age and arousal difficulty were controlled. These results emphasize the stark contrast in the way women with and without orgasmic problems approach sexual situations and suggest several therapeutic strategies.
Food patterns of Spanish schoolchildren and adolescents: The enKid Study

Abstract Objective: To evaluate dietary habits and nutritional status of Spanish schoolchildren and adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional study by face-to-face interview. Methods: A random sample of 3534 people aged 2 to 24 years were interviewed by a team of 43 dietitians in the subjects' homes. Interviews included 24-hour recalls (a second 24-hour recall in 30% of the sample), a food-frequency questionnaire and other questions including lifestyles, knowledge and food preferences. Results: The participation rate was 68%. Mean daily energy consumption was 2189 kcal among males and 1781 kcal among females, and the percentage of energy from fat and saturated fat was 39.8% and 13.4%, respectively, without any differences by gender. Of females, 95% showed folic acid intakes below 200 μg day−1. Consumption expressed as food groups reflected a westernised Mediterranean pattern. Conclusions: The enKid Study provides reliable and useful nutrition information for children and adolescents in Spain, having incorporated a rigorous methodological design within a representative sample.
Sclerosing Sweat Duct Carcinoma in a 6‐Year‐Old African American Child

Abstract: Sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma is a rare, locally aggressive adnexal tumor that frequently occurs on the face of middle‐aged adults, invades deeply, and has a propensity to recur. We report a rare instance of sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma occurring in a 6‐year‐old African American child and review the literature of this infrequently observed neoplasm.