Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Treatment of Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis with Partial Lateral Facetectomy

We investigated the impact of the partial lateral facetectomy of the patella on middle-aged to elderly patients with isolated lateral patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Between 1991 and 2000, we performed partial lateral facetectomy on 11 knees in 11 patients with an average age of 62 years (range, 53-72 years). The mean followup was 8 years (range, 3-14). The average Knee Society Score improved from a preoperative score of 150 to a score of 176 at latest followup. Followup radiographs showed slow progression of osteoarthritis in the patellofemoral and tibiofemoral compartments, but radiographic appearance did not always correlate with clinical symptoms. The success of this procedure depends largely on relief of pain. Partial lateral facetectomy is relatively simple and effective surgical treatment for middle-aged to elderly active patients with isolated lateral patellofemoral osteoarthritis who want to maintain activity level. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series-no, or historical control group). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Identification of the HetR Recognition Sequence Upstream of hetZ in Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120

ABSTRACT HetR is the master regulator of heterocyst differentiation in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 and has been found to specifically bind to an inverted-repeat-containing region upstream of hetP, a heterocyst differentiation gene. However, no such inverted-repeat sequence can be found in promoters of other genes in the genome. hetZ is a gene involved in early heterocyst differentiation. As shown with the gfp reporter gene, transcription from PhetZ was correlated to the expression level of hetR and inhibition by RGSGR, the pentapeptide derived from the C terminus of PatS. As detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, a recombinant HetR showed specific binding to the region upstream of hetZ, and the binding was inhibited by RGSGR. Tests of a series of the upstream fragments delimited the HetR-binding site to a 40-bp region that shows similarity to that upstream of hetP. The introduction of substitutions of bases conserved in the two HetR-binding sites showed that at least 12 bases are required for recognition by HetR. Deletion of a 51-bp region containing the HetR-binding site completely eliminated the transcription activity of PhetZ. Based on the HetR recognition sequence of hetZ, those upstream of hetR and patA are proposed.
Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, antithymocyte globulin, with or without low dose total body irradiation, for alternative donor transplants, in acquired severe aplastic anemia: a retrospective study from the EBMT-SAA working party

Background We analyzed the outcome of 100 patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia undergoing an alternative donor transplant, after immune suppressive therapy had failed. Design and Methods As a conditioning regimen, patients received either a combination of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and antithymocyte globulin (n=52, median age 13 years) or this combination with the addition of low dose (2 Gy) total body irradiation (n=48, median age 27 years). Results With a median follow-up of 1665 and 765 days, the actuarial 5-year survival was 73% for the group that received fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and antithymocyte globulin and 79% for the group given the conditioning regimen including total body irradiation. Acute graft-versus-host disease grade III–IV was seen in 18% and 7% of the groups, respectively. Graft failure was seen in 17 patients with an overall cumulative incidence of 17% in patients receiving conditioning with or without total body irradiation: 9 of these 17 patients survive in the long-term. The most significant predictor of survival was the interval between diagnosis and transplantation, with 5-year survival rates of 87% and 55% for patients grafted within 2 years of diagnosis and more than 2 years after diagnosis, respectively (P=0.0004). Major causes of death were graft failure (n=7), post-transplant-lymphoproliferative-disease (n=4) and graft-versus-host disease (n=4). Conclusions This study confirms positive results of alternative donor transplants in patients with severe aplastic anemia, the best outcomes being achieved in patients grafted within 2 years of diagnosis. Prevention of rejection and Epstein-Barr virus reactivation may further improve these results.
Interference by malaria in the diagnosis of typhoid using Widal test alone.

A total of 270 febrile patients (130 males and 140 females) aged between 15 and 59 were screened using thick and thin blood film stains for malaria, bacteriologic culture and Widal test for enteric fevers. Sixty (22%) were positive for malaria while 38 (14%) were positive for enteric fevers out of which 16 (26.6%) concomitantly had malaria parasite. Cases without malaria parasite (MP) or enteric fever organism were 172 (63.7%) and classified as pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO). Forty-four were strictly malaria cases out of which 36 (82%) were due to Plasmodium falciparum, and all had antibody Widal titres > or = 160 to 0 antigen while 4 (9%) were due to Plasmodium malariae, 3 (6.8%) were due to P. ovale and 1 (2.3%) was due to P. vivax. Twenty (52.6%) of the 38 patients with enteric fever had typhoid, all had Widal titres > or = 160 to 0 antigen. In all, antibody reaction Widal titres to H antigen were < 20. There was no statistical significant difference [chi2 = 327.2, P > 0.05] between Widal titres of malaria and typhoid cases. Hence using Widal test alone, one cannot differentiate typhoid fever from malaria. In another 250 healthy adults, of equal sex distribution, used as controls 12 (4.8%) had malaria parasite and 4 (1.6%) had enteric fever organisms. While only 4 (1.6%) gave Widal titre of 80 to 0 antigen the rest had antibody titres of < 20 to O antigen. Malaria could interfere with serological diagnosis of typhoid and hence lead to over diagnosis of typhoid in Nigeria.
Interpersonal Subtypes Within Social Anxiety: The Identification of Distinct Social Features

ABSTRACT Although social anxiety disorder is defined by anxiety-related symptoms, little research has focused on the interpersonal features of social anxiety. Prior studies (Cain, Pincus, & Grosse Holtforth, 2010; Kachin, Newman, & Pincus, 2001) identified distinct subgroups of socially anxious individuals' interpersonal circumplex problems that were blends of agency and communion, and yet inconsistencies remain. We predicted 2 distinct interpersonal subtypes would exist for individuals with high social anxiety, and that these social anxiety subtypes would differ on empathetic concern, paranoia, received peer victimization, perspective taking, and emotional suppression. From a sample of 175 undergraduate participants, 51 participants with high social anxiety were selected as above a clinical cutoff on the social phobia scale. Cluster analyses identified 2 interpersonal subtypes of socially anxious individuals: low hostility–high submissiveness (Cluster 1) and high hostility–high submissiveness (Cluster 2). Cluster 1 reported higher levels of empathetic concern, lower paranoia, less peer victimization, and lower emotional suppression compared to Cluster 2. There were no differences between subtypes on perspective taking or cognitive reappraisal. Findings are consistent with an interpersonal conceptualization of social anxiety, and provide evidence of distinct social features between these subtypes. Findings have implications for the etiology, classification, and treatment of social anxiety.
Mm-wave 2D beam-steering focal plane array with microfluidically switched feed network

Microfluidic focal plane arrays (MFPAs) are attractive for realizing low-cost beam-steering at mm-waves with a compact structure. Recently, a microfluidically switched feed network concept has been introduced for improving the bandwidth performance of these arrays. Specifically, a selectively metallized plate inside a microfluidic channel is placed over a feed network consisting of gaps. Due to the strong capacitive coupling between the plate metallizations and the feed line (through a channel wall thickness <10 μm), metallizations that overlap with gaps act as RF switches. This paper, for the first time, reports the experimental verification of this concept through the realization of an 8 element 30 GHz MFPA. The measured gain value (>22 dB) and experimental switch characterization demonstrate that the switches exhibit <0.1 dB insertion loss (IL) and result in low-loss wideband feed networks. In addition, extending the concept to 2D beam-steering is demonstrated with an 8×8 array design.
CD8+ T Cell-Dependent Elimination of Dendritic Cells In Vivo Limits the Induction of Antitumor Immunity1

The fate of dendritic cells (DC) after they have initiated a T cell immune response is still undefined. We have monitored the migration of DC labeled with a fluorescent tracer and injected s.c. into naive mice or into mice with an ongoing immune response. DC not loaded with Ag were detected in the draining lymph node in excess of 7 days after injection with maximum numbers detectable ∼40 h after transfer. In contrast, DC that had been loaded with an MHC class I-binding peptide disappeared from the lymph node with kinetics that parallel the known kinetics of activation of CD8+ T cells to effector function. In the presence of high numbers of specific CTL precursors, as in TCR transgenic mice, DC numbers were significantly decreased by 72 h after injection. The rate of DC disappearance was extremely rapid and efficient in recently immunized mice and was slower in “memory” mice in which memory CD8+ cells needed to reacquire effector function before mediating DC elimination. We also show that CTL-mediated clearance of Ag-loaded DC has a notable effect on immune responses in vivo. Ag-specific CD8+ T cells failed to divide in response to Ag presented on a DC if the DC were targets of a pre-existing CTL response. The induction of antitumor immunity by tumor Ag-loaded DC was also impaired. Therefore, CTL-mediated clearance of Ag-loaded DC may serve as a negative feedback mechanism to limit the activity of DC within the lymph node.
A Comparative Analysis of Attitudes Toward Immigrants

The current study examined attitudes toward immigrants in four countries including the United States, China, South Africa, and Turkey, differing from each other by their economic development levels and past immigration experiences. Although considerable attention has been paid to public attitudes toward immigrants, extant research have remained limited to economic and cultural factors as potential determinants of public attitudes, and they have failed to widen the scope of the issue. Thus, they have ignored the role of countriesâ€™ past immigration practices and effective immigration policies in shaping nativesâ€™ perceptions of immigrants. The current study has added some unique and valuable findings to the literature on attitudes toward immigrants by revealing the distinctive impacts of countriesâ€™ past immigration experiences and their immigration policies on nativesâ€™ perceptions of immigrants. By using data drawn from the 2015 Global @dvisor Survey, the current study also provided up-to-date research outcomes on the topic.
Activation of mutated K‐ras in donor endometrial epithelium and stroma promotes lesion growth in an intact immunocompetent murine model of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common chronic gynaecological condition, affecting 5–10% of women of child‐bearing age. Its study has been hampered by lack of genetically tractable models. We transplanted steroid‐manipulated, menstrual‐like endometrium from K‐rasG12V/+/Ah‐Cre+/+/ROSA26R‐LacZ+/+ mice into gonad‐intact immunocompetent wild‐type mice. This led to endometriosis‐like lesion development. Long‐term lesion survival depended on the presence of the activated K‐ras in the small proportion of the cells in the mature lesion that had undergone Cre‐mediated K‐ras activation. LacZ activity demonstrated Cre‐mediated recombination in both endometrial epithelial cells and stromal cells, and transgenic K‐ras expression was confirmed by RT‐PCR. The endometriosis lesions developed without exogenous oestradiol supplementation and anti‐oestrogen (fulvestrant, ICI 182780) treatment greatly suppressed their growth. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that as in human endometriosis, there was invasion and activation of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and macrophages, with marked collagen deposition in the lesions. This model provides an opportunity to investigate endometriosis lesion establishment, growth, and regression in genetically tractable, immunocompetent, and hormonally intact mice. Furthermore, for the first time it provides a suitable model to test clinically validated driver genes in a faithful mouse model of the predisposing endometriotic lesion, thus providing the correct cellular context and microenvironment for ovarian clear cell carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early Results of Retrograde Expandable Nail Fixation of 29 Distal Femoral Fractures

The authors retrospectively reviewed 27 consecutive patients with 29 fractures of the distal femur treated with the new retrograde expandable nail. One 10-mm diameter nail that expands to 16 mm was used with the possibility of locking in the condylar area only. Retrieved data included single versus multiple injuries, fracture type, operation time, reaming or nonreaming, hospitalization and healing times, and intra- and postoperative complications. The overall average operation time was 96 (range 40-320) minutes, but only 65 (range 40-120) minutes for isolated fractures. The overall mean hospitalization time was 16 (range 3-40) days, but only 7 (range 4-10) days for isolated fractures. Follow-up continued until fracture healing or for a minimum of 1 year (average 14 months, range 12-24 months). The average clinical union time was 83 (range 43-179) days, and the mean radiographic healing was 87 (range 43-179) days. One patient developed a nonunion that required exchange of the nail to the same device. Another patient underwent hardware removal during a procedure for a torn meniscus. These preliminary results demonstrate satisfactory healing and alignment for the treatment of distal femoral shaft fractures by means of this new device without jeopardizing the knee joint by nail protrusion.
Role of hydrochloric acid in the treatment of central venous catheter infections in children with cancer

The use of central venous catheters (CVCs) in pediatric cancer patients is associated with substantial risk of producing sepsis. The treatment of catheter‐related infections has generally consisted of antibiotic administration with or without catheter removal. The authors report the first published experience using intraluminal hydrochloric acid (HCl) instillation as an adjunct to systemic antimicrobials in the management of catheter‐related infections in children with cancer.
NMR structure of CXCR3 binding chemokine CXCL11 (ITAC)

CXCL11 (ITAC) is one of three chemokines known to bind the receptor CXCR3, the two others being CXCL9 (Mig) and CXCL10 (IP‐10). CXCL11 differs from the other CXCR3 ligands in both the strength and the particularities of its receptor interactions: It has a higher affinity, is a stronger agonist, and behaves differently when critical N‐terminal residues are deleted. The structure of CXCL11 was determined using solution NMR to allow comparison with that of CXCL10 and help elucidate the source of the differences. CXCL11 takes on the canonical chemokine fold but exhibits greater conformational flexibility than has been observed for related chemokines under the same sample conditions. Unlike related chemokines such as IP‐10 and IL‐8, ITAC does not appear to form dimers at millimolar concentrations. The origin for this behavior can be found in the solution structure, which indicates a β‐bulge in β‐strand 1 that distorts the dimerization interface used by other CXC chemokines.
A Study on the Optimization of an HTS Quadrupole Magnet System for a Heavy Ion Accelerator Through Evolution Strategy

This paper attempted to use a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) quadrupole magnet in a heavy ion accelerator. In such application, HTS quadrupole magnets are superior to conventional superconducting magnets because their heat loads can be removed more efficiently. Generally, the magnetic field quality of quadrupole magnets is assessed through harmonic analysis. In quadrupole magnets, the second (four-pole) component is the main magnetic field, and the field inhomogeneity is composed of the sixth (12-pole) component, the tenth (20-pole) component, and so on because of its symmetry. Therefore, the harmonic contents in a good field region can be defined to express the field quality of a quadrupole magnet by using higher order components (order > 2) with respect to the second component. In conventional analysis, multipole components can be obtained by a Fourier series of the radial field component. This paper analyzed the difference between radial and azimuthal multipole components. The HTS quadrupole magnet is wound with a rectangular tape and requires specific structures for refrigeration, which increases the harmonics. In this paper, the effects on the harmonic contents in relation to the HTS coil position and the shape of the iron pole were analyzed based on the HTS quadrupole magnet of the RAON system for the Rare Isotope Science Project in Korea. Several parameters were selected in designing the HTS quadrupole magnet system by using the evolution strategy method. Finally, all harmonic contents were optimized, and an HTS quadrupole magnet design was suggested.
Exercise improves hippocampal estrogen and spatial memory of ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE The present study aimed at examining the effects of regular exercise on hippocampal estrogen and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) levels, as well as the spatial memory of ovariectomized rats. BACKGROUND A decrease of estrogen levels leads to dysfunctions of hippocampus, including spatial learning and memory. Studies have shown that physical exercise improved spatial memory of ovariectomized rats and was associated with an increased extragonadal aromatization. This in turn affects the expression of estrogen receptors. METHODS Ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into the two groups, i.e. exercise and control groups. Rats of the exercise group were trained to run on a treadmill. The exercise was performed five times per week for 12 weeks. The spatial memory of rats was measured using the Morris water maze. The hippocampal estrogen and ERβ levels of rats were determined using ELISA. RESULTS The spatial memory retention of the exercise group was significantly better than that of the control group. The hippocampal estrogen level of the exercise group was significantly higher than that of the control group. CONCLUSION Regular exercise increases hippocampal estrogen levels and improves spatial memory retention of ovariectomized rats (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 53).
66 kV/1 kA high-T/sub c/ superconducting fault current limiter magnet

One of the items included in the Super-conductive AC Equipment (Super-ACE) project, being performed from 2000 to 2004, is development of a 66 kV/1 kA class high-Tc superconducting (HTS) fault current limiter (FCL) magnet. This research focuses on fundamental technical items essential for a 66 kV class fault current limiter, that is, high current-capacity, high voltage-insulation, and sub-cooled nitrogen cooling. This paper describes the design of the magnet and the test results obtained. The magnet mainly consists of a vacuum vessel, a nitrogen bath, a pair of current leads, cryocoolers, and six sets of coils wound with Bi2223 tape. The rated current of the magnet is 750 Ap. The insulation voltage of the magnet is of the 66 kV class. In the final year of the project, all six sets of the coils are set connected in the cryostat and evaluation tests have been implemented. In the cooling test, sub-cooled nitrogen of 65 K was obtained, with homogenous temperature distribution in the cryogen. The rated current of 750 Ap was successfully obtained for both direct and alternating current tests. In addition, the magnet passed the simultaneous current and voltage application test. Finally, the dielectric test results showed that the magnet satisfied the insulation for 66 kV apparatus in the Japanese Electrotechnical Committee Standard (JEC) standard.
Mitochondria-specific transgenic overexpression of connexin-43 simulates preconditioning-induced cytoprotection of stem cells.

AIMS We previously reported that preconditioning of stem cells with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) translocated connexin-43 (Cx-43) into mitochondria, causing cytoprotection. We posit that these preconditioning effects could be simulated by mitochondria-specific overexpression of Cx-43. METHODS AND RESULTS During IGF-1-induced preconditioning of C57black/6 mouse bone marrow stem cell antigen-1(+) (Sca-1(+)) cells, Cx-43 was mainly translocated onto the mitochondrial inner membrane, which was abrogated by an extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) blocker PD98059. To investigate the role of mitochondrial Cx-43, we successfully designed a vector coding for full-length mouse Cx-43 with a mitochondria-targeting sequence (mito-Cx-43) and cloned into a shuttle vector (pShuttle-IRES-hrGFP-1) for mitochondria-specific overexpression of Cx-43 (mito-Cx-43). Sca-1(+) cells with mito-Cx-43 reduced cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c, lowered caspase-3 activity, and improved survival during index oxygen-glucose deprivation as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Computational analysis revealed a B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) homology domain-3 (BH3) motif in Cx-43 with a conserved pattern of amino acids consistent with the Bcl-2 family that regulated cytochrome c release. Moreover, computational secondary structure prediction indicated an extended α-helix in this region, a known condition for BH3-driven protein-protein interactions. CONCLUSION Cx-43 translocation into mitochondria during preconditioning was ERK1/2-dependent. Expression of mito-Cx-43 simulated the cytoprotective effects of preconditioning in stem cells. Structural features of Cx-43 were shared with the Bcl-2 family as determined by computational analysis.