Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of disseminated pancreatic cells by amplification of cytokeratin-19 with quantitative RT-PCR in blood, bone marrow and peritoneal lavage of pancreatic carcinoma patients.

AIM To evaluate the diagnostic potential of cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) mRNA for the detection of disseminated tumor cells in blood, bone marrow and peritoneal lavage in patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. METHODS Sixty-eight patients with pancreatic cancer (n = 37), chronic pancreatitis (n = 16), and non-pancreatic benign surgical diseases (n = 15, control group) were included in the study. Venous blood was taken preoperatively, intraoperatively and at postoperative d 1 and 10. Preoperative bone marrow aspirates and peritoneal lavage taken before mobilization of the tumor were analyzed. All samples were evaluated for disseminated tumor cells by CK-19-specific nested-PCR and quantitative fluorogenic RT-PCR. RESULTS CK-19 mRNA expression was increased in 24 (64%) blood samples and 11 (30%) of the peritoneal lavage samples in the patients with pancreatic cancer. In 15 (40%) of the patients with pancreatic cancer, disseminated tumor cells were detected in venous blood and bone marrow and/or peritoneal lavage. In the peritoneal lavage, the detection rates were correlated with the tumor size and the tumor differentiation. CK-19 levels were increased in pT3/T4 and moderately/poorly differentiated tumors (G2/G3). Pancreatic cancer patients with at least one CK-19 mRNA-positive sample showed a trend towards shorter survival. Pancreatic cancer patients showed significantly increased detection rates of disseminated tumor cells in blood and peritoneal lavage compared to the controls and the patients with chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSION Disseminated tumor cells can be detected in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by CK-19 fluorogenic RT-PCR. In peritoneal lavage, detection rate is correlated with tumor stage and differentiation. In the clinical use, CK-19 is suitable for the distinction between malignant and benign pancreatic disease in combination with other tumor-specific markers.
Fasting hyperinsulinemia and increased waist-to-hip ratios in non-wasting individuals with AIDS.

OBJECTIVE To identify metabolic and body composition changes associated with HIV-1 infection in a cross-sectional study of individuals stratified by immunologic status and body mass. DESIGN Metabolic abnormalities including glucose intolerance and changes in body morphology have recently been described in HIV-1-infected individuals following therapy with protease inhibitor-containing highly active anti-retroviral therapy. Although this is suggestive of a direct drug effect, the possibility that HIV infection may induce a tendency towards such underlying derangements should be considered. HIV-infected patients are heterogeneous with respect to immunologic status and body mass. In examining the underlying effect of HIV-1 on metabolic and body composition parameters, stratification by various immunologic and body mass categories may give divergent results that would not be detected otherwise. METHODS Thirty male participants were categorized into four cohorts: non-wasting HIV-seronegative controls, non-wasting HIV-infected patients with relatively intact immune function (CD4 cell count > 500 x 10(6)/l); non-wasting individuals with AIDS (CD4 cell count < 200 x 10(6)/l); and individuals with AIDS wasting. RESULTS Increased fasting plasma insulin and waist-to-hip ratios were found specifically in non-wasting individuals with AIDS compared with HIV-negative controls. CONCLUSIONS Our study emphasises the importance of both body mass and immune function in studying metabolic and body composition abnormalities associated with HIV-1 infection. The association of increased waist-to-hip ratios and hyperinsulinemia suggestive of insulin resistance in non-wasting individuals with AIDS suggest that the tendency towards these metabolic abnormalities may be related to the HIV infectious process or to factors associated with immunologic dysfunction.
[Is microalbuminuria a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy?].

PURPOSE To determine the relationship between microalbuminuria and diabetic retinopathy. METHODS A prospective 10-year study of 104 younger-onset diabetic patients. The diabetic retinopathy diagnosis was made by fundus retinography, and determination of microalbuminuria was made from urine samples. RESULTS The incidence of diabetic retinopathy in this group of patients was 39 (37.5%). The epidemiological factors implicated were diabetes duration, higher levels of HbA(1c), male sex, and diastolic arterial hypertension. The incidence of microalbuminuria was 21 patients (20.2%), with high levels of HbA(1c) the epidemiological factor implicated. The association between microalbuminuria and diabetic retinopathy grouped the patients as follows: 56 patients without microalbuminuria or retinopathy, 16 patients who developed microalbuminuria and diabetic retinopathy, 23 patients who developed retinopathy but not microalbuminuria, and nine patients who developed only microalbuminuria. The discriminant analysis showed that the high levels of HbA(1c) were associated with microalbuminuria and diabetes duration and high levels of HbA(1c) were associated with diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS In the population studied, microalbuminuria was not a good marker for diabetic retinopathy.
Paratuberculosis in a domestic dog in South Africa

This case report shows that Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection can cause clinical disease in domestic dogs, and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions. A male dachshund presented with lethargy and pain. Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were found on abdominal ultrasound examination. Cytological examination of lymph node aspirates was consistent with granulomatous inflammation, which was culture-confirmed as MAP. Although we were unable to confirm the source of infection, the dog’s history included exposure to sheep in the Western Cape.
A year in Labour : rethinking political parties, campaigns and elections through assemblage and affect

To analyse intentional assemblages, it is important to attend to how an organization can function and do something despite its constant changing (or ‘becoming’). Some argue that the function of such an assemblage is defined by its ‘abstract machine,’ however, there are many different interpretations of what the abstract machine is. Tampio (2015: 49) says that ‘an abstract machine [is] an incorporeal power that pilots the formation of assemblages [. it] shapes a body’s content and expression,’ and but confuses ‘incorporality’ by borrowing Paul Patton’s metaphor that it is ‘a software program that turns a computer into a calculating or a gaming machine. ’ Grossberg (2014: 10) suggests that the abstract machine is ‘a map that realises itself in the production of the real: it directs the creative emergence of the actual akin to how we might think about the laws of geometry as “producing” or “causing” the very shapes they describe. ’ Bachanan (2015: 385) insists that an abstract machine is crucial, as an ‘assemblage is purposeful, it is not simply a happenstance collocation of people, materials, and actions, but the deliberate realization of a distinctive abstract machine [. ] its components are both known and integral to its existence, not unknown and undecided. ’ There is a confusion about whether the abstract machine is ‘incorporeal’ or – as suggested by being a ‘software program’ ‘distinctive’, thus locatable as a ‘plan’. In this thesis, I wish to test only one of these theories. As such, following the
A Novel System for the Determination of Antidepressant Concentrations in Human Breast Milk

The high incidence of psychiatric illness in the postpartum period and the increasing percentage of women who breastfeed has focused attention on the treatment of breastfeeding women with psychotropic medications and, additionally, the exposure of nursing infants to these medications. Consequently, there has been an increased effort to develop standardized methods for quantifying psychotropic medications in breast milk. This paper details a novel method for quantifying the concentrations of multiple selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in breast milk. The method consists of a common liquid/liquid and solid-phase extraction followed by HPLC separation on a common column and UV detection. Assay system 1 measures fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine; assay 2 measures sertraline and desmethylsertraline; and assay 3 measures the TCAs including doxepin, nordoxepin, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline, and amitriptyline. The method is shown to be a highly accurate and precise technique for measuring 12 different antidepressants in human breast milk and to be free of the matrix effects often encountered in breast milk drug analyses.
Modern Counter-Insurgency

Contents: Series preface Introduction. Part I The British Experience: British intelligence in the Palestine campaign 1945a "47, David A. Charters 'Jungle bashing' in Malaya: towards a formal tactical doctrine, Raffi Gregorian CLARET operations and confrontation, 1964a "66, Raffi Gregorian Intelligence and counter-insurgency in Kenya, 1952a "56, Randall Heather Intelligence and counter-insurgency operations: some reflections on the British experience, Keith Jeffrey The British army and counter-guerrilla warfare in transition, 1944a "52, Tim Jones The British army and counter-guerrilla warfare in Greece, 1945a "49, Tim Jones The British army in Northern Ireland 1969a "1972: from policing to counter-terror, Caroline Kennedy-Pipe and Colin McInnes Minimum force, British counter-insurgency and the Mau Mau rebellion, John Newsinger From counter-insurgency to internal security: Northern Ireland 1969a "1992, John Newsinger British counter-insurgency in Kenya, 1952a "56: extension of internal security policy or prelude to decolonisation? , David A. Percox 'Lacking intelligence': some reflections on recent approaches to British counter-insurgency, 1900a "1960, Richard Popplewell Insurgency and decolonisation during the Malayan emergency, A.J. Stockwell. Part II The United States Experience: Illustrations of 'learning' in counter-insurgency, Christopher C. Harmon Foreign internal defense and the Hukbalahap: a model counter-insurgency, Wray R. Johnson and Paul J. Dimech American strategic culture in small wars, Carnes Lord Ruminations of a pachyderm or what I learned in the counter-insurgency business, John D. Waghelstein. Part III The Soviet and Russian Experience: The Soviet Union and Muslim guerrilla wars, 1920a "1981: lessons for Afghanistan, Alexandre Bennigsen Marxist counterinsurgencies, Rod Paschall (1986) Kabul to Grozny: a critique of Soviet (Russian) counter-insurgency doctrine, Carl van Dyke Name index.
Abnormal function of the parvocellular visual system in anisometropic amblyopia.

PURPOSE To study the function of the parvocellular (P) and the magnocellular (M) visual systems with steady-state visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in anisometropic amblyopes. METHODS A matrix of isolated checks was superimposed on a steady background with different check sizes and temporal frequencies to form specific stimuli to preferentially activate the P or the M visual system. The amplitude of the VEP fundamental frequency was analyzed at the electrode Oz of 5 anisometropic amblyopes and 22 normal subjects. The normal subjects were tested at two visual acuity (VA) levels, 20/20 and 20/40, modified by lenses, to match with the VA levels of the fellow eyes and the amblyopic eyes of the amblyopes, respectively. RESULTS No significant amplitude difference was found between the dominant eyes and nondominant eyes of the normal subjects for either P or M stimuli at both 20/20 and 20/40 VA levels (P>.05). No significant amplitude difference was found between the fellow eyes of the amblyopes and the dominant eyes of normals for either P or M stimuli at 20/20 VA level (P>.05). A significant amplitude difference was found between the amblyopic eyes and the nondominant eyes of the normals for P stimuli (P<.05) but not for M stimuli (P>.05) at 20/40 VA level. CONCLUSIONS The amplitude of the VEP fundamental frequency was selectively reduced for P stimuli in anisometropic amblyopic eyes. This clinical electrophysiologic finding confirms that only the function of the P visual system is abnormal in anisometropic amblyopic eyes.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Nonstructural Protein 1β Modulates Host Innate Immune Response by Antagonizing IRF3 Activation

ABSTRACT Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection of swine leads to a serious disease characterized by a delayed and defective adaptive immune response. It is hypothesized that a suboptimal innate immune response is responsible for the disease pathogenesis. In the study presented here we tested this hypothesis and identified several nonstructural proteins (NSPs) with innate immune evasion properties encoded by the PRRS viral genome. Four of the total ten PRRSV NSPs tested were found to have strong to moderate inhibitory effects on beta interferon (IFN-β) promoter activation. The strongest inhibitory effect was exhibited by NSP1 followed by, NSP2, NSP11, and NSP4. We focused on NSP1α and NSP1β (self-cleavage products of NSP1 during virus infection) and NSP11, three NSPs with strong inhibitory activity. All of three proteins, when expressed stably in cell lines, strongly inhibited double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) signaling pathways. NSP1β was found to inhibit both IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)- and NF-κB-dependent gene induction by dsRNA and Sendai virus. Mechanistically, the dsRNA-induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3 were strongly inhibited by NSP1β. Moreover, when tested in a porcine myelomonocytic cell line, NSP1β inhibited Sendai virus-mediated activation of porcine IFN-β promoter activity. We propose that this NSP1β-mediated subversion of the host innate immune response plays an important role in PRRSV pathogenesis.
Assessing aging stereotypes: Personal stereotypes, self‐stereotypes and self‐perception of aging

Abstract Background: There is a broad semantic network of aging stereotypes; where different concepts and their measurement are confused: personal stereotypes, self‐stereotypes and self‐perception of aging. Method: First, we analyze the translated version of the Image of Aging Scale (IAS) measurement model through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, with two representative sub‐samples of the Spanish population aged over eighteen (N = 1,105) and in a sample of gerontologists and geriatricians (N = 325). Second, in an effort to disentangle the theoretical relationships between personal stereotypes, self‐stereotypes and self‐perception of aging, both the IAS (with different instructions) and Lawton's 5‐item scale were administered to a representative sample of Spanish people over 50. Results: Our results indicate that the Spanish version of the IAS has a similar psychometric structure to that proposed by the authors. Furthermore, the factorial structure (equal form and metric invariance) is replicated in both samples, but latent means and factor correlations were higher in the professional group. Conclusions: We discuss Levy's theoretical assumptions about personal‐stereotypes and the self‐stereotype measured with IAS and their relationship to self‐perception of ageing. Resumen Evaluando estereotipos del envejecimiento: estereotipos personales, autoestereotipos y auto‐percepción del envejecimiento. Antecedentes: existe una amplia red semántica sobre los estereotipos del envejecimiento; donde se confunden diferentes términos como: los estereotipos personales, autoestereotipos y la auto‐percepción del envejecimiento; así como la manera en que se evalúan. Método: con el objetivo de clarificar esta red semántica, se analiza la versión traducida del modelo de medición Image of Aging Scale (IAS) a través del análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, en dos sub‐muestras representativas de la población española mayor de 18 (N = 1.105) y en una muestra de gerontólogos y geriatras (N = 325). También se administran el IAS (con diferentes instrucciones) y la escala de 5 ítems de Lawton a una muestra representativa de españoles mayores de 50 años. Resultados: nuestros resultados indican que la versión española de la IAS tiene una estructura psicométrica similar a la propuesta por los autores. La estructura factorial se replica en ambas muestras, las medias latentes y las correlaciones de los factores fueron mayores en el grupo profesional. Conclusiones: se discuten los supuestos teóricos de Levy sobre los estereotipos personales y el auto‐estereotipo medidos con el IAS y su relación con la auto‐percepción del envejecimiento. Palabras clave: estereotipos del envejecimiento, estereotipos personales, auto‐estereotipos y la auto‐percepción del envejecimiento.
Effects of Organic Antagonists of Ca 2 1 , Na 1 , and K 1 on Chemotaxis and Motility of Escherichia coli

Various Ca antagonists used in animal research, many of them known to be Ca channel blockers, inhibited Escherichia coli chemotaxis (measured as entry of cells into a capillary containing attractant). The most effective of these, acting in the nanomolar range, was v-conotoxin GVIA. The next most effective were gallopamil and verapamil. At concentrations around 100-fold higher than that needed for inhibition of chemotaxis, each of these antagonists inhibited motility (measured as entry of cells into a capillary lacking attractant). Various other Ca antagonists were less effective, though chemotaxis was almost always more sensitive to inhibition than was motility. Cells treated with each of these Ca antagonists swam with a running bias, i.e., tumbling was inhibited. Similarly, some Na antagonists used in animal research inhibited bacterial chemotaxis. E. coli chemotaxis was inhibited by saxitoxin at concentrations above 10 M, while more than 10 M was needed to inhibit motility. Cells treated with saxitoxin swam with a tumbling bias. In the case of other Na antagonists in animals, aconitine inhibited bacterial chemotaxis 10 times more effectively than it inhibited motility, and two others inhibited chemotaxis and motility at about the same concentration. In the case of K antagonists used in animal research, 4-aminopyridine blocked E. coli chemotaxis between 10 M and, totally, 10 M, while motility was not affected at 10 M; on the other hand, tetraethylammonium chloride failed to inhibit either chemotaxis or motility at 10 M.
High-Frequency Measures of Information Risk

We estimate each day for each stock the conditional probabilities of informed trading on good and bad news in the spirit of Easley et al. (1996), and provide new evidence that these variables capture informed trading. The estimated daily conditional probability measures increase before earnings announcements and remain high over the days following the announcements. Consistent with informed trading accelerating the adjustment of prices to new information, informed trading prior to earnings announcements are associated with smaller price reactions to earnings surprises on the announcement dates. Our results also show that in general higher probabilities of informed trading on good (bad) news forecast higher (lower) stock returns up to three (two) days ahead.
Psychiatry and the media

Aspects of print, broadcast, film and ‘new media’ are related to their interactions with psychiatry. Frequent representations of mental health issues are paralleled by the adoption of psychological theories into media studies. Key areas are covered where psychiatric items diverge from other medical specialities, such as the depiction of suicide, the dominance of ‘human interest’ stories and negative representation of people with mental illness. Although the language of mental disorders is important, the power of the image needs to be examined. Media items also have implications for public mental health (children as vulnerable viewers) and the clinical practice of psychiatry that are not uniformly negative. Television has limitations and clinicians are encouraged to participate in radio and other media. Resources and practical advice for media contact are provided.
Serum β–carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and malondialdehyde levels in several types of cancer

We measured the levels of serum carotenoids (β–carotene), total tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic acid and malondialdehyde (MDA) in newly diagnosed cancer cases. Levels of the antioxidants and MDA in serum samples from 208 subjects with cancer affecting different sites (59 breast, 38 head and neck, 46 genitourinary, 12 lung, 20 gastrointestinal and 33 other sites) were compared with levels in 156 controls. Cases and controls were compared with respect to a number of potentially confounding factors: age, sex, smoking status, Quetelet index (kg/m2), diet and alcohol intake. Mean (±SD) levels of β–carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C were significantly lower among the cases than the controls (49 35±36 55 μg/1, 0 60±014 mg/dl, 0 40±0 27 mg/dl and 75 31±28 59 mg/dl, 0 98±0 13 mg/dl, 0 88±0 47 mg/dl, respectively) (P < 0 05).
An Opportunistic Relay Protocol With Dynamic Scheduling in Wireless Body Area Sensor Network

Due to varying on-body channel conditions, transmission between a sensor node and a body-worn coordinator is vulnerable to poor channel conditions caused by body shadowing. One possible solution to this is the use of relays where direct transmission to the hub is not possible. The two-hop relay mechanism proposed in IEEE 802.15. 6 standard can be divided into channel assessment, relaying node election, and data relaying processes. However, as these three processes are initiated at different time intervals, simulations suggest that channel conditions actually vary between processes, which leads to data relaying failure. In order to reduce the possibility of data relaying failure, a relay mechanism with predefined relaying nodes are introduced and evaluated against the relay mechanism proposed in IEEE 802.15. 6 standard. A predefined relaying node will be active during the data relaying process even if it is not elected. Simulations show that the proposed relay mechanism is able to achieve 50% reduction in data relaying failure rate, which in turn improves the packet delivery rate (PDR). The proposed relay mechanism is evaluated in a superframe structure. Simulation shows that with the presence of the predefined relaying node, the network lifetime is extended by 8%. To further improve the PDR, direct transmission in the relaying process is supported, and a dynamic scheduling algorithm is proposed to optimize slot allocation in the superframe for all nodes. The proposed relay protocol achieves 21% improvements in network lifetime and 14% improvements in PDR with decreasing transmission powers from -10 to -15 dBm.