Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Serum Levels of Methylguanidine and Glycemic Control in IDDM Children

OBJECTIVE To examine the serum levels of methylguanidine in IDDM children and compare them with markers for glycemic control. Reports have indicated that active oxygen, which damages various tissues, increases in diabetes mellitus. The increase of active oxygen is one of the risk factors for diabetic complications. The synthesis of methylguanidine, a metabolic product of guanidine, is mainly regulated by active oxygen. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Forty-eight children with IDDM (mean age 13.3 yr) and 17 age-matched nondiabetic control subjects were studied. Diabetic children were divided into a well-controlled group (HbA1c < 8%, n = 24) and a poorly controlled group (HbA1c > 8%, n = 24). Serum concentrations of methylguanidine were measured by enzymatic assay. RESULTS Levels of methylguanidine in the poorly controlled group (1.31 ± 0.08 μM) were significantly higher than those in both the well-controlled group (0.85 ± 0.08 μM) and the control group (0.59 ± 0.11 μM), respectively (P < 0.01). Methylguanidine levels showed a positive correlation with the levels of HbA1c (P < 0.01) or fructosamine (P < 0.01). No significant correlations were noted between methylguanidine levels and age, sex, duration of diabetes, or insulin dose. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that the levels of methylguanidine in IDDM children might be affected by glycemic control and that the determination of serum methylguanidine levels could be a useful test for evaluating the state of diabetic control.
Significance, Nature, and Direction of the Association Between Child Sexual Abuse and Conduct Disorder

To elucidate the significance, nature, and direction of the potential relationship between child sexual abuse and conduct disorder, all the pertinent studies were reviewed. Ten databases were searched. Blind assessments of study eligibility and quality were performed by two independent researchers. Thirty-six studies including 185,358 participants and meeting minimum quality criteria that were enough to ensure objectivity and to not invalidate results were analyzed. Across the majority of studies, conduct disorder was significantly and directly related to child sexual abuse, especially repeated sexual molestation and abuse involving penetration, even after controlling for various sociodemographic, family, and clinical variables. The association between child sexual abuse and conduct disorder was not confounded by other risk factors, such as gender, socioeconomic status, school achievement, substance problems, physical abuse, parental antisocial behavior or substance problems, parent–child relationships, and family disruption, conflict, or violence. Evidence for a significant interactive effect between child sexual abuse and monoamine oxidase A gene on conduct disorder was scant. Early sexual abuse might predispose to the subsequent onset of conduct disorder which, in turn, may lead to further sexual victimization through association with sexually abusive peers or involvement in dangerous situations or sexual survival strategies.
Accelerated Forgetting in Association with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Paraneoplastic Encephalitis

The association between epilepsy and amnesia is studied in patient J.T. who presented with a very unusual pattern of memory loss with retention of information for hours to days but rapid forgetting of information that exceeded this time frame. J.T. 's unusual memory profile was studied with several tests administered over week-long intervals of time. There was evidence that his retention decreased in conjunction with increased seizures. During a trial of paraldehyde, a decrease in seizure frequency was associated with enhanced memory. J.T. 's memory problem was unlike that described in prototypical cases of amnesia. His day-long retention of new information alongside his absolute loss of that information days later is consistent with the idea that consolidation is a process that occurs over lengthy periods of time.
Origin of the antigens in rabbit semen which induce antifertility antibodies.

Cattle and guinea-pig antisera against rabbit testis, epididymal spermatozoa and ejaculated semen had high titres of sperm agglutinins and prevented fertilization of ova in rabbits bred with semen treated with these sera. Although cattle antisera produced against seminal plasma from vasectomized rabbits, 9-day-old-rabbit conceptuses and rabbit brain and guinea-pig antiserum to seminal plasma containing epididymal secretions exhibited relatively high titres of sperm agglutinins, none of these sera prevented spermatozoa from fertilizing ova. The antifertility antibodies were removed or inactivated in antisera by absorptions with testis material, epididymal spermatozoa and semen supernatant but not by absorption with either type of seminal plasma. Agar-gel diffusion and immuno-electrophoretic techniques revealed that ejaculated rabbit semen contained at least nine antigens. Seven were common to seminal plasma, two to blood serum and two appeared to be spermatozoa-specific originating in the testis. Antisera to the conceptus material reacted with four to six different antigens in semen of which at least one was not common to the antigens in blood serum.
A Prediction Model for Pathologic N2 Disease in Lung Cancer Patients with a Negative Mediastinum by Positron Emission Tomography

Introduction: Guidance is limited for invasive staging in patients with lung cancer without mediastinal disease by positron emission tomography (PET). We developed and validated a prediction model for pathologic N2 disease (pN2), using six previously described risk factors: tumor location and size by computed tomography (CT), nodal disease by CT, maximum standardized uptake value of the primary tumor, N1 by PET, and histology. Methods: A cohort study (2004–2009) was performed in patients with T1/T2 by CT and N0/N1 by PET. Logistic regression analysis was used to develop a prediction model for pN2 among a random development set (n = 625). The model was validated in both the development set, which comprised two thirds of the patients and the validation set (n = 313), which comprised the remaining one third. Model performance was assessed in terms of discrimination and calibration. Results: Among 938 patients, 9.9% had pN2 (9 detected by invasive staging and 84 intraoperatively). In the development set, univariate analyses demonstrated a significant association between pN2 and increasing tumor size (p < 0.001), nodal status by CT (p = 0.007), maximum standardized uptake value of the primary tumor (p = 0.027), and N1 by PET (p < 0.001); however, only N1 by PET was associated with pN2 (p < 0.001) in the multivariate prediction model. The model performed reasonably well in the development (c-statistic, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.63–0.77; goodness of fit p = 0.61) and validation (c-statistic, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.56–0.74; goodness-of-fit p = 0.19) sets. Conclusion: A prediction model for pN2 based on six previously described risk factors has reasonable performance characteristics. Observations from this study may guide prospective, multicenter development and validation of a prediction model for pN2.
Regional differences in symptomatic fever management among paediatricians in Switzerland: the results of a cross-sectional Web-based survey.

AIMS In symptomatic fever management, there is often a gap between everyday clinical practice and current evidence. We were interested to see whether the three linguistic regions of Switzerland differ in the management of fever. METHODS A close-ended questionnaire, sent to 900 Swiss paediatricians, was answered by 322 paediatricians. Two hundred and fourteen respondents were active in the German speaking, 78 in the French speaking and 30 in the Italian speaking region. RESULTS Paediatricians from the French and Italian speaking regions identify a lower temperature threshold for initiating a treatment and more frequently reduce it for children with a history of febrile seizures. A reduced general appearance leads more frequently to a lower threshold for treatment in the German speaking than in the French and Italian speaking areas. Among 1.5 and 5-year-old children the preference for the rectal route is more pronounced in the German than in the French speaking region. French speaking respondents more frequently prescribe ibuprofen and an alternating regimen with two drugs than German speaking respondents. Finally, the stated occurrence of exaggerated fear of fever was higher in the German and Italian speaking regions. CONCLUSIONS Switzerland offers the opportunity to compare three different regions with respect to management of febrile children. This inquiry shows regional differences in symptomatic fever management and in the perceived frequency of exaggerated fear of fever. The gap between available evidence and clinical practice is more pronounced in the French and in the Italian speaking regions than in the German speaking region.
Activation of p38 MAPK During Porcine Oocyte Maturation1

Abstract The p38 MAPK is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family that participates in a signaling cascade in response to cytokines and stress in somatic cells. The present study was designed to investigate the expression and possible function of p38 MAPK in porcine oocytes during maturation. In immunoblots, p38 MAPK was detected in oocytes and cumulus cells. Its activity was determined during oocyte maturation in vitro by the phosphorylation of its substrate, activated transcription factor 2. As ERK1/2, oocyte p38 MAPK became active around germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and maintained activity until metaphase II (MII). Immunofluorescent microscopy showed phosphorylated p38 MAPK accumulated in the nucleus before GVBD and localized in the cytoplasm and around chromosomes from metaphase I (MI) to MII. In cultured cumulus-oocyte complexes, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB203580, inhibited phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in cumulus cells and blocked both FSH-induced cumulus expansion and meiotic resumption of oocytes. During spontaneous meiotic resumption of denuded oocytes, SB203580 did not affect GVBD, but it significantly decreased the number of oocytes reaching MII and conversely increased the number of oocytes arrested at MI. These results suggest that p38 MAPK in porcine oocytes becomes active around GVBD, remains active through MI to MII, and has a role in MI-MII transition, and that cumulus p38 MAPK might be involved in FSH-induced meiotic resumption of oocytes.
Increase in angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression immediately after ischemia-reperfusion in isolated rat hearts.

BACKGROUND Myocardial ischemia is known to upregulate the systemic renin-angiotensin system, which influences myocardial ischemic events by affecting hemodynamics and hemostatic activity. This study was designed to examine whether angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor expression in the myocardium is altered immediately after ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS AND RESULTS Isolated buffer-perfused Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were subjected to continuous perfusion (control, n=5) or to 25 minutes of global ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion (n=10). Autoradiographic analysis for Ang II receptors of multiple myocardial sections was performed. Whereas continuous perfusion of hearts resulted in minor changes in coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and developed left ventricular pressure (dLVP=LVSP-LVEDP), ischemia-reperfusion caused a marked increase in CPP and LVEDP and a decrease in dLVP, indicating severe cardiac dysfunction. Concurrently, total myocardial Ang II receptor expression was greater (P<.05) in hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion than in the continuously perfused control hearts. Most of the increase in Ang II receptor expression was due to an increase in type 1 receptor (AT1) expression (34.6+/-6.5 versus 18.2+/-4.4 fmol/g, P<.05), because Ang II type 2 receptor expression was unaffected. To examine the importance of AT1 receptor expression, another group of isolated rat hearts (n=5) was perfused with buffer containing losartan (10(-5) mol/L) and subjected to ischemia followed by reperfusion. Perfusion of hearts with losartan attenuated the ischemia-reperfusion-induced cardiac dysfunction. Perfusion of hearts with losartan also blocked the ischemia-reperfusion-induced increase in myocardial AT1 binding. CONCLUSIONS These observations indicate that myocardial AT1 expression increases immediately after ischemia-reperfusion and contributes to cardiac dysfunction.
Influence of bacteriophage preparations on migration of HL-60 leukemia cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND Bacteriophage therapy is considered one of the most attractive alternatives to antibiotic treatment, which may be significant due to the rising number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Patients with cancer frequently suffer bacterial infections resulting from immunosuppression caused by anticancer treatment; thus they constitute a considerable group of patients subjected to phage therapy. In this study, we investigated the influence of bacteriophages on the migration of human leukemia (HL-60) cells. Results of these studies provide data regarding phage treatment of patients with cancer, especially with this type of leukemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS The influence of phage preparation on migration of HL-60 leukemia cells was evaluated with BD Bioscience Migration Chambers. RESULTS Bacteriophages have no influence on migration of HL-60 cells. The only phage preparation which stimulated migration of HL-60 cells was Staph.liz, specific to S. aureus, however, the molecular basis of these interactions cannot be currently explained. CONCLUSION Results of our studies may be in line with previous data indicating that phage therapy is safe for patients with cancer.
Approximative kinetic formats used in metabolic network modeling

An overview is presented of the different approximative enzyme kinetic formats that have been proposed for use in metabolic modeling studies. It is considered that the following four general properties are relevant for approximative kinetics: the rate must be proportional to enzyme level; at high metabolite concentrations, there is downward concave behavior of rate versus concentration; the number of kinetic parameters should be as small as possible; analytical solutions of steady‐state network balances are desirable. Six different approximative kinetic formats are evaluated (linear, logarithmic‐linear, power law GMA, power law S‐systems, thermokinetic, linear‐logarithmic) and it is concluded that only the recently proposed linear‐logarithmic approach combines all desired properties and therefore seems a most appropriate approximate kinetic format. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Behavioral Influences on E‐Commerce Adoption in a Developing Country Context

Electronic commerce (e‐commerce) is rapidly gaining a prominent place in the global marketing matrix. The volume of transactions that are carried out over the Internet globally is extremely huge. It is estimated that in the next decade, e‐commerce activities would be a major source of foreign exchange, and a key indicator of national development. Studies show that e‐commerce development in developing countries, especially in Africa is comparatively very low. Infrastructural, economic, and management factors have been previously identified as contributing to the low level of e‐commerce development in developing countries. This study focuses on behavioural factors in the adoption of e‐commerce in developing countries. The results of the study show that perceived advantages, Internet and complexity, accessibility, and management support have statistically significant influence on the adoption of e‐commerce, while perceived disadvantages and other facilitating conditions do not significantly affect the decision to adopt e‐commerce. The study results tend to agree with the theory of planned behaviour, but attitude seems to weigh more than subjective norm and perceived behavioural control.
Rib development in chick embryos analyzed by means of tantalum foil blocks.

Rib development in chick embryos, with special emphasis on the origin of ribforming cells, has been analyzed by inserting tantalum foil blocks parallel to certain somites of the prospective rib-forming level. Intact edges of bent pieces of foil the width of 4–6 somites were inserted through the somatopleure at stage 14–16 either (1) immediately lateral to the nephrotome, (2) between proximal and distal portions of the lateral plate or (3) within the distal lateral plate. Edges of similar pieces of foil containing a triangular notch the width of 2 somites were likewise inserted through the somatopleure of stage 14–16 embryos (4) immediately lateral to the nephrotome or (5) between proximal and distal portions of the lateral plate. On the basis of the modified rib pattersn studied in toto after 11 days of incubation it was concluded that the (1) original somatic mesoderm does not participate in formation of vertebral rib components, (2) original somatic mesoderm plays some role in formation of sternal rib components (ribs 3–7) but probably does not contribute chondroblasts for this purpose, and (3) distalmost somatic mesoderm is not involved in rib formation. Consistent types of modified wings are described and also modifications of the body wall, breast and ventral feather tracts of the right side.
Interaction of multi-functional silver nanoparticles with living cells

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in household products and in medicine due to their antibacterial and to wound healing properties. In recent years, there is also an effort for their use in biomedical imaging and photothermal therapy. The primary reason behind the effort for their utility in biomedicine and therapy is their unique plasmonic properties and easy surface chemistry for a variety of functionalizations. In this study, AgNPs modified with glucose, lactose, oligonucleotides and combinations of these ligands are investigated for their cytotoxicity and cellular uptake in living non-cancer (L929) and cancer (A549) cells. It is found that the chemical nature of the ligand strongly influences the toxicity and cellular uptake into the model cells. While the lactose-and glucose-modified AgNPs enter the L929 cells at about the same rate, a significant increase in the rate of lactose-modified AgNPs into the A549 cells is observed. The binding of oligonucleotides along with the carbohydrate on the AgNP surfaces influences the differential uptake rate pattern into the cells. The cytotoxicity study with the modified AgNPs reveals that only naked AgNPs influence the viability of the A549 cells. The findings of this study may provide the key to developing effective applications in medicine such as cancer therapy.
Dynamic analysis of muscle spindle endings in the cat using length changes of different length-time relations.

Primary and secondary muscle spindle endings in the ankle extensors of the cat were studied in response to length changes of ramp, triangular wave, sine wave and parabolic wave form with the intention of finding the most suitable input signal for an extensive dynamic analysis of the spindle during constant fusimotor input. In dynamic tests the spindle endings were not found to obey linear length-response transfer functions; no support for a power function relation could be obtained.Sine wave analysis was therefore not considered suitable for the purpose of determining the transfer functions.Attention was directed towards the use of step changes of velocity and of acceleration of length changes.No evidence for a specific sensitivity to acceleration was found in responses to ‘parabolic’ length changes.Responses interpreted as due to mechanical properties in the spindle elements resembling ‘stiction’ were obtained when ‘ramp’ length changes were applied.These effects were largely avoided when recurring ‘triangular’ length changes of constant velocity were used.It is concluded that the dynamic analysis might be adequately performed by subjecting the musscle spindles to periodically recurring length changes of triangular wave form giving step changes in velocity.
Looking Beyond Urban/Rural Differences: Emergency Department Utilization by Asthmatic Children

Asthma causes pediatric morbidity throughout the US with substantial regional variability. Emergency department (ED) utilization data were studied to determine if geographic variability of pediatric asthma cases exists within a state. Records for non-neonatal Maryland children less than 18 years of age seen and discharged from Maryland EDs from April 1997 through March 2001 were analyzed. While Baltimore City had the highest rates of asthma visits, adjusted odds ratios identified the wealthiest suburban county to have a higher risk of an asthma ED visit. Children from rural counties, for the most part, had fewer ED asthma visits than children from urban and suburban counties.
Predictors of survival after curative resection of carcinoma of the colon and rectum

Of 668 Rochester, Minnesota residents with colon or rectal cancer diagnosed from 1940 through 1979, 400 (60%) were operated on for cure and had a known disease stage. The influence of patient sex, age, and decade of diagnosis, disease stage, grade, site, and size, and the presence of obstruction or perforation were examined as prognostic factors for death, death from colorectal cancer, and cancer recurrence. In this population‐based inception cohort, overall survival was independently associated with male sex (P = 0.0002), older age (P < 0.001), and more advanced disease stage (P < 0.001). Death due to colon cancer, on the other hand, was associated with disease stage (P < 0.0001), more advanced grade (P = 0.016), and the presence of obstruction (P = 0.003). One hundred seven (27%) patients had a recurrence of their colon cancer. Seventy‐one percent of recurrences were evident within the first 2 years and 91% by 5 years. Recurrence was associated with disease stage (P < 0.0001), grade (P = 0.006), and the presence of perforation (P = 0.012).
Comparative studies on the qualities of seven brands of vanilla-flavoured stirred yoghurts produced within the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana.

Yoghurt is the main fermented and well-patronized dairy product produced commercially within the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. As far as the nutritional composition are concerned, some of the produced yoghurts are either not labeled or inadequately labeled. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the nutritional, physicochemical, microbial and sensory qualities of seven commercialized brands of yoghurts in Kumasi. The brands were coded as Y1, Y2, Y3 up to Y7 and the qualities were analyzed. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the qualities of the seven brands. The protein content ranged from 2.08 to 3.10% while the fat contents ranged from 0.24 to 0.59%. The energy contents were also from 229 to 338 kJ/100 ml of yoghurt. The total coliforms were from 0 to 9.30×10 cfu/ml and yeast counts also ranged from 8.40×105 cfu/ml to 14.00×105cfu/ml. These variations could be attributed to the differences in the compositions of the raw materials used and the methods of production. Apart from Y3 which had no coliforms, the microbial levels of the other products did not meet Codex Allimentarius standards for fermented milk products. Comparative study on the sensory evaluation by 30 untrained panelists showed that product Y3 was the least acceptable product while product Y6 turned out to be the most acceptable product followed by product Y5.