Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A randomized, crossover pharmacokinetic study comparing generic tacrolimus vs. the reference formulation in subpopulations of kidney transplant patients

An exploratory, post hoc analysis was performed using data from a prospective, multicenter, open‐label, randomized, two‐period (14 d per period), two‐sequence, crossover, steady‐state pharmacokinetic study comparing generic tacrolimus (Sandoz) vs. reference tacrolimus in stable renal transplant patients receiving their pre‐study twice‐daily dose. Pharmacokinetic parameters were compared in 68 patients according to gender, African American ethnicity, the presence or absence of diabetes, and use of steroids. The ratios of tacrolimus AUC0–12 h, Cmax, and C12 with generic vs. reference tacrolimus were calculated using the geometric mean (GM) of dose‐normalized values at days 14 and 28. Mean (SD) tacrolimus dose at baseline was 5.7 (4.2) mg/d. There were no consistent differences in dose‐normalized AUC0–12 h, C12, Cmax, or tmax between the generic and reference preparations within subpopulations. The 90% confidence intervals (CI) for the ratios of dose‐normalized AUC0–12 h and C12 with generic vs. reference tacrolimus were within 80–125% for all subpopulations, as were 90% CIs for Cmax other than for females, African Americans, and non‐diabetics, which is not unexpected given the wide variability of tacrolimus Cmax and the small subpopulation sizes. These exploratory results suggest that this generic tacrolimus preparation would be expected to offer comparable bioavailability to the reference drug in these patient subpopulations.
Hepatitis D virus antibody in HBsAg‐positive and HBsAg‐negative substance abusers with chronic liver disease

The hepatitis D virus (HDV; previously called the “delta agent”) is a defective organism which can replicate only in the presence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). We tested the serum of 95 substance abusers, all of whom had sufficient evidence of chronic liver disease to warrant a liver biopsy, for hepatitis D virus antibody (anti‐HDV). Anti‐HDV was detected in five of eight hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive patients and 12 of 87 (14%) HBsAg‐negative patients. Antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc) was the sole hepatitis B marker in eight of the 12 (67%) anti‐HDV‐positive, HBsAg‐negative patients but in only 14 of 75 (19%) anti‐HDV‐negative, HBsAg‐negative patients (P < 0.005). None of the anti‐HDV‐positive, HBsAg‐negative patients had detectable IgM anti‐HBc in the serum or hepatitis D antigen in liver tissue, and they had similar clinical features and liver biopsy diagnoses to HBsAg‐negative patients without anti‐HDV. We conclude that anti‐HDV in HBsAg‐negative substance abusers reflects infection with HDV and HBV in the distant past and does not indicate more severe liver disease than that seen in HBsAg‐negative patients without anti‐HDV.
Development of a model for predicting team performance.

The present investigation attempted to develop and test a model for competitive team success which would be capable of prediction regardless of the skill level of the players. The first hypothesis predicted that successful volleyball teams would have greater team cohesion and would be coached by a task-oriented leader. Initially, data were analyzed by means of a 2 × 2 (team success × level of skill) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with five dependent variables. Dependent variables consisted of two measures of cohesion and three measures of leadership. Results confirmed the presence of greater team cohesion within successful teams. All winning teams also perceived their coaches to exhibit a greater degree of initiating structure. The second hypothesis proposed that measures of cohesion and leadership could be identified which were most capable of discriminating between successful and unsuccessful teams. Results of the discriminant function analysis with stepwise F tests showed that the two measu.
Survey on chronic pancreatitis in the Asia–Pacific region

Background and Aims: A survey was conducted of chronic pancreatitis (CP) in different countries in the Asia–Pacific region. The main objective of the survey was to generate a database containing information regarding the prevalence, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic work‐up, and management of CP in the Asia–Pacific region.
Redistribution of Cyclophilin A to Viral Factories during Vaccinia Virus Infection and Its Incorporation into Mature Particles

ABSTRACT Cyclophilins are peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases involved in catalyzing conformational changes and accelerating the rate of protein folding and refolding in several cellular systems. In the present study, we analyzed the expression pattern and intracellular distribution of the cellular isomerase cyclophilin A (CypA) during vaccinia virus (VV) infection. An impressive increase in CypA stability was observed, leading to a practically unchanged accumulation of CypA during infection, although its synthesis was completely inhibited at late times. By confocal microscopy, we observed that CypA went through an intense reorganization in the cell cytoplasm and colocalized with the virosomes late in infection. CypA relocation to viral factories required the synthesis of viral postreplicative proteins, and treatment of infected cells with cyclosporine (CsA) prevented CypA relocation, clearly excluding the virosomes from CypA staining. Immunoelectron microscopy of VV-infected cells showed that CypA was incorporated into VV particles during morphogenesis. Biochemical and electron microscopic assays with purified virions confirmed that CypA was encapsidated within the virus particle and localized specifically in the core. This work suggests that CypA may develop an important role in VV replication.
Computational tools for the analysis of biological networks in plants

Dedicated to my parents Sabitri Das (late) and Balaram Das For their love and courage iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply grateful for the guidance and support of my advisor Prof. Joshua S. insightful comments and prompt advice made my graduate-student life a fascinating and enriching experience. I thank him for his support, for sharing his endless supply of ideas, and for being my philosopher and guide. I could not have hoped for a better advisor. I am grateful to my committee, Prof. for their valuable time, advice, expertise and good-natured support to better my work. for their advice and support. Many thanks to my family for all the love, support and courage they have given. I am especially thankful to my brothers, Ramani Ranjan Das and Saroj Ranjan Das, for their continued courage and support. I am proud of you as my family. Thanks to my help and support. Particularly for being there with me from the beginning, when I was preparing to leave a job and enter into the graduate program, till the end of the graduate-student life. My sincerest thanks to Prof. Strauss III for writing recommendation letters for my M.S. graduate program applications. v The research presented in this thesis is the result of joint research with colleagues. Finally, I would like to thank the former and the current members of Weitz Group, who shared many good times with me during my stay at Georgia Tech and provided feedback and comments on all of my work: Dr.
Selective utilization of basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper proteins at the immunoglobulin heavy-chain enhancer

The microE3 E box within the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) enhancer binds several proteins of the basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLHzip) class, including TFE3, USF1, and Max. Both TFE3 and USF have been described as transcriptional activators, and so we investigated their possible roles in activating the IgH enhancer in vivo. Although TFE3 activated various enhancer-based reporters, both USF1 and Max effectively inhibited transcription. Inhibition by USF correlated with the lack of a strong activation domain and was the result of the protein neutralizing the microE3 site. The effects of dominant-negative derivatives of TFE3 and USF1 confirmed that TFE3, or a TFE3-like protein, is the primary cellular bHLHzip protein that activates the IgH enhancer. In addition to providing a physiological role for TFE3, our results call into question the traditional view of USF1 as an obligate transcriptional activator.
Therapeutic potential of peroxisome proliferators--activated receptor-alpha/gamma dual agonist with alleviation of endoplasmic reticulum stress for the treatment of diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha/gamma dual agonists have the potential to be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This study evaluated the function of macelignan, a natural compound isolated from Myristica fragrans, as a dual agonist for PPARalpha/gamma and investigated its antidiabetes effects in animal models. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS GAL4/PPAR chimera transactivation was performed and the expression of PPARalpha/gamma target genes was monitored to examine the ability of macelignan to activate PPARalpha/gamma. Additionally, macelignan was administrated to obese diabetic (db/db) mice to investigate antidiabetes effects and elucidate its molecular mechanisms. RESULTS Macelignan reduced serum glucose, insulin, triglycerides, free fatty acid levels, and triglycerides levels in the skeletal muscle and liver of db/db mice. Furthermore, macelignan significantly improved glucose and insulin tolerance in these mice, and without altering food intake, their body weights were slightly reduced while weights of troglitazone-treated mice increased. Macelignan increased adiponectin expression in adipose tissue and serum, whereas the expression and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 decreased. Macelignan downregulated inflammatory gene expression in the liver and increased AMP-activated protein kinase activation in the skeletal muscle of db/db mice. Strikingly, macelignan reduced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activation in the liver and adipose tissue of db/db mice and subsequently increased insulin signaling. CONCLUSIONS Macelignan enhanced insulin sensitivity and improved lipid metabolic disorders by activating PPARalpha/gamma and attenuating ER stress, suggesting that it has potential as an antidiabetes agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
A CFD Simulation Study of VOC and Formaldehyde Indoor Air Pollution Dispersion in an Apartment as Part of an Indoor Pollution Management Plan

This paper is a preliminary report of an indoor pollution case study in a complex of apartments as a part of an Indoor Pollution Management Plan (IPMP). It describes the calculation by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques and presents the predicted air flow, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde contaminant distributions in an apartment comprised of a full-scale kitchen with open access to a living room, ventilated by an exhaust hood. The CFD Code PHOENICS®, which is based on solving the full 3-D Navier Stokes equations for turbulent flow and scalar conservation equations, was used. Major kitchen indoor pollution sources, VOCs and formaldehyde emitting materials and their emission characteristics were calculated through the use of emission factors. A typical apartment was used under case study and its detailed geometry was applied for the CFD model. To analyze the characteristics of the indoor environment, different mixing ventilation schemes (different locations of the cooker/oven and air inlets) were chosen as the parameters to investigate the indoor environment. The fields of VOCs and formaldehyde for several air inlets window positions, and ventilation parameters were calculated and compared. It was concluded that CFD methods can be used as a useful tool to assist the rational design of indoor spaces.
A comparative assessment of software metrics tools

In the recurrent monitoring of software quality, numerous quality metrics tools have evolved in response to the progressive need in software metrics evolution. Most of these tools, however, are developed to the constraints of system requirements, platform restrictions and/or organizational definitions. Consequent open-ended application queries arise from software metrics and their corresponding tools' proliferation: what are the effects of one tool's execution over another? What are the output file format extensions and their associations with real environment and/or tools? Are their file associations flexible and easily accessible? How possible is it to successfully run a needed combination of these tools on a computer system? It is apparent that these tools are run differently on their host platforms. This paper presents feature reviews of software metrics tools' execution descriptions, their platforms and implications on host system to an aggregate result ratio of 3:2 in the average uniform to non-uniform result pattern of the 15 characteristics studied.
Mavrilimumab, a human monoclonal GM-CSF receptor-α antibody for the management of rheumatoid arthritis: a novel approach to therapy

Introduction: Mavrilimumab, formerly known as CAM-3001, a GM-CSF receptor-α antibody, is the first human monoclonal antibody to be used in Phase II studies (2011) to modulate the innate immunity pathway targeting GM-CSF signaling in moderate rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Areas covered: Analysis of available clinical trial data on GM-CSF receptor-α antibody and medical literature search using MEDLINE for molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of RA and its treatment forms the basis of this expert opinion review. The mavrilimumab Phase II double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled ascending dose trial demonstrated statistically significant achievement of primary and secondary end points in patients with moderate RA. The trial demonstrated significant clinical benefit in the 100 mg mavrilimumab cohort compared to the placebo group. Expert opinion: The novel molecular targeting mechanism of mavrilimumab together with its demonstrated clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety profile in Phase II clinical trials in moderate RA, suggests significant potential utility for this drug to induce clinical remission, reduce flares and improve morbidity and mortality in patients with RA.
Dry-Land Strength Training vs. Electrical Stimulation in Sprint Swimming Performance

Girold, S, Jalab, C, Bernard, O, Carette, P, Kemoun, G, and Dugué, B. Dry-land strength training vs. electrical stimulation in sprint swimming performance. J Strength Cond Res 26(2): 497–505, 2012—This study was undertaken to compare the effects of dry-land strength training vs. an electrical stimulation program on swimmers. Twenty-four national-level swimmers were randomly assigned to 3 groups: the dry-land strength training program (S), the electrical stimulation training program (ES), and the control (C) group. The training program lasted 4 weeks. The subjects were evaluated before the training, at the end of the training program, and 4 weeks later. The outcome values ascertained were peak torque during arm extension at different velocities (from −60 to 180°·s−1) using an isokinetic dynamometer and performance, stroke rate, and stroke length during a 50-m front crawl. A significant increase in swimming velocity and peak torque was observed for both S and ES at the end of the training and 4 weeks later. Stroke length increased in the S group but not in the ES group. However, no significant differences in swimming velocity between S and ES groups were observed. No significant changes occurred in the C group. Programs combining swimming training with dry-land strength or electrical stimulation programs led to a similar gain in sprint performance and were more efficient than swimming alone.
Moving prediction of exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for patients in telecare

We investigated whether physiological data can be used for predicting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. Home measurements from 57 patients were analysed, during which 10 exacerbations occurred in nine patients. A total of 273 different features were evaluated for their discrimination abilities between periods with and without exacerbations. The analysis showed that if a sensitivity level of 70% is considered to be acceptable, then the specificity was 95% and the AUC was 0.73, i.e. it is possible to discriminate between periods of exacerbation and periods without. A system capable of predicting risk could provide support to COPD patients in their tele-rehabilitation.
Intracortical circuits, sensorimotor integration and plasticity in human motor cortical projections to muscles of the lower face

• Previous studies documented features of corticobulbar projections and of intracortical circuits in the motor cortex innervating lower facial muscles (face M1). However, there have been no studies of the afferent modulation of corticobulbar excitability or of the plasticity of synaptic connections in face M1. • Intracortical circuits, sensorimotor integration and plasticity in face M1 were investigated in healthy volunteers using standard protocols of the transcranial magnetic stimulation technique. • This study showed, for the first time, that face M1 is prone to plastic changes following paired associative stimulation and that its excitability is modulated by afferent stimulation at long latency (200 ms) but not at short latency (20 ms). Furthermore, contralateral predominance of cortical projection to lower facial muscles was confirmed, and the presence of bilateral intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms at rest and during voluntary muscle activation was clarified. • These data provide further physiological insight into pathologies affecting the facial motor system.
Review of boceprevir and telaprevir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE To summarize and evaluate the published literature pertaining to boceprevir and telaprevir, and to provide clinicians with suggestions for use in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. METHODS A standardized search strategy was performed using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar and International Pharmaceuticals Abstracts databases using the search terms "boceprevir", "telaprevir", "boceprevir and hepatitis C", and "telaprevir and hepatitis C". A manual search of references was performed to identify articles missed by the electronic search. Studies were included in the review if they assessed either boceprevir or telaprevir in comparison with standard of care in chronic hepatitis C patients. RESULTS The studies identified assessed boceprevir and telaprevir in genotype-1 hepatitis C patients. In both treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients, sustained virological response rates were achieved more often with boceprevir or telaprevir in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin compared with pegylated interferon and ribavirin alone. Both medications were well tolerated, with anemia presenting as the most treatment-limiting adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS Boceprevir and telaprevir will revolutionize the management of hepatitis C genotype 1 patients and will most likely decrease the burden of end-stage disease worldwide. However, current clinical limitations include establishing appropriate and cost-effective treatment durations, and use in special populations such as transplant patients and patients coinfected with HIV. Future research will need to clarify these clinical obstacles to clearly define the role of these agents in hepatitis C management.
Antimicrobial properties and cytotoxicity of an antimicrobial monomer for application in prosthodontics.

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial properties and cytotoxicity of the monomer methacryloyloxyundecylpyridinium bromide (MUPB), an antiseptic agent capable of copolymerizing with denture base acrylic resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS The antimicrobial activity of MUPB was tested against the species Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata, Lactobacillus casei, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans. The minimum inhibitory and fungicidal/bactericidal concentrations (MIC, MFC/MBC) of MUPB were determined by serial dilutions in comparison with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). The cytotoxic effects of MUPB at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1 g/L were assessed by MTT test on L929 cells and compared with methyl methacrylate (MMA). The antimicrobial activity of copolymerized MUPB was tested by means of acrylic resin specimens containing three concentrations of the monomer (0, 0.3, 0.6% w/w). Activity was quantified by means of a disc diffusion test and a quantification of adhered planktonic cells. Statistical analysis employed the Mann-Whitney test for MIC and MFC/MBC, and ANOVA for the microbial adherence test (α = 0.05). RESULTS MUBP presented lower MIC values when compared with CPC, although differences were significant for C. dubliniensis and S. mutans only (p= 0.046 and 0.043, respectively). MFC/MBC values were similar for all species except C. albicans; in that case, MUPB presented significantly higher values (p = 0.046). MUPB presented higher cytotoxicity than MMA for all tested concentrations (p < 0.001) except at 0.01 g/L. Irrespective of the concentration incorporated and species, there was no inhibition halo around the specimens. The incorporation of MUPB influenced the adhesion of C. albicans only (p = 0.003), with lower CFU counts for the 0.6% group. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that non-polymerized MUPB has an antimicrobial capacity close to that of CPC and high cytotoxicity when compared with MMA. The antimicrobial activity of MUPB after incorporation within a denture base acrylic resin did not depend on its elution, but was shown to be restricted to C. albicans.
Clinical analysis and follow‐up study of chronic active Epstein‐Barr virus infection in 53 pediatric cases

Background Chronic active Epstein‐Barr virus infection (CAEBV) has been previously reported to be sometimes associated with an aggressive clinical course. The characteristics of CAEBV in Mainland Chinese pediatric patients are largely unreported. The main aims of this survey were to recognize the clinical features of CAEBV in children and to explore its diagnostic criteria and risk factors. Methods A retrospective study was performed on 53 pediatric patients (36 boys and 17 girls) with CAEBV who were admitted to Beijing Children’s Hospital between 2003 and 2007. All their medical records were reviewed and analyzed. For each patient, demographic, clinical, laboratory data and outcome were collected. Independent‐samples t test was used for statistical analysis. Results The age at onset of CAEBV was from 2 months to 14.6 years (mean (5.3±3.3) years). At the time of onset, 43.4% patients had an infectious mononucleosis‐like symptom. Most patients exhibited intermittent fever (92.5%, 49/53), hepatomegaly (81.1%, 43/53) and splenomegaly (77.4%, 41/53). Life‐threatening complications including hemophagocytic syndrome (24.5%, 13/53), interstitial pneumonia (24.5%, 13/53), hepatic failure (15.1%, 8/53) and malignant lymphoma (11.3%, 6/53) were also observed. The serum EBV DNA level in 23 patients with CAEBV was in the range of 5.05×102‐4.60×106 copies/ml with a mean value of 103.7 copies/ml. Many patients with CAEBV generally had continuous symptoms during the observational period. Eleven out of 42 patients (26.2%) died 7 months to 3 years after onset. Deceased patients were more likely to have had lower platelet counts and albumin levels than the living patients (P <0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions The study reveals that CAEBV in Chinese pediatric patients has a severe clinical course and prognosis is poor. Thrombocytopenia and decreases in albumin might potentially be risk factors for a poor prognosis. EBV loads should be measured and tissue should be stained on hybridization probes for EBV‐encoded small RNA (EBER) if a patient presents with the known symptoms of CAEBV.