Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cysticidal Effect on Acanthamoeba and Toxicity on Human Keratocytes by Polyhexamethylene Biguanide and Chlorhexidine

Purpose: To evaluate the cysticidal effect of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and chlorhexidine on Acanthamoeba and its toxic effect on cultured human keratocytes. Methods: Each well of a twofold-diluted Acanthamoeba cyst-containing suspension of 5 × 104 cysts/mL was treated with PHMB and chlorhexidine for 8, 24, and 48 hours to determine the minimal cysticidal concentration (MCC) of each disinfectant. Human corneal keratocytes (5 × 104cells/mL) were exposed to PHMB and chlorhexidine for the same time to determine the survival rate of keratocytes. Inverted phase-contrast and electron microscopy were used to observe the morphologic changes. Results: The mean MCC of PHMB for 8, 24, and 48 hours was 9.42, 5.62, and 2.37 μg/mL, respectively. The mean MCC of chlorhexidine for 8, 24, and 48 hours was 24.32, 10.02, and 7.02 μg/mL, respectively. The respective survival rate of keratocytes at the MCC was 91.7%, 64.6%, and 49.7% for PHMB and 95.7%, 90.6%, and 78.1% for chlorhexidine, respectively. The cysts and keratocytes showed more damaged appearances after treatment with PHMB than chlorhexidine. Conclusions: PHMB and chlorhexidine showed a similar amoebicidal efficacy. However, PHMB seemed to be more toxic to keratocytes than chlorhexidine.
ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation: current practice and the decade ahead

Purpose of reviewWith rapidly growing deceased donor kidney transplant waiting lists, solutions to the shortage of kidney donors need to come from many corners. This review focuses on the current results and upcoming medications that will allow broad expansion of ABO-incompatible transplantation as one facet to combat this issue. Recent findingsOutcomes of ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation are comparable to standard living donor transplantation but carry a significant, early risk of antibody-mediated rejection. Reducing this early rejection risk will be critical for a broader adaption of incompatible transplants. Improvements in the measurement of isohemagglutinin antibodies with less variability, will reduce patient risk. The anti-CD20 antibody rituximab has replaced splenectomy at most centers with equivalent outcomes, eliminating the need for additional surgical intervention. Studies of complement inhibitors have proven effective in treating antibody-mediated rejection in animal models and human studies are currently ongoing. Studies in xenotransplantation show that blood group carbohydrate antigens can be effectively removed ex vivo prior to implantation. Ongoing studies of accomodation in animal models are finding protective changes in endothelial cells and the immune system that could become targets for pharmacologic manipulation. SummaryImprovements that reduce risk of early rejection and its long-term sequelae will allow ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation to be adopted broadly along with paired kidney exchange programs, to address the donor organ shortage.
Group IB Secretory Phospholipase A2 Promotes Matrix Metalloproteinase-2-mediated Cell Migration via the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Akt Pathway*

Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), abundantly expressed in various cells including fibroblasts, is able to promote proliferation and migration. Degradation of collagenous extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) plays a role in the pathogenesis of various destructive disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tumor invasion, and metastasis. Here we show that group IB PLA2 increased pro-MMP-2 activation in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. MMP-2 activity was stimulated by group IB PLA2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Consistent with MMP-2 activation, sPLA2 decreased expression of type IV collagen. These effects are due to the reduction of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and the activation of the membrane type1-MMP (MT1-MMP). The decrease of TIMP-2 levels in conditioned media and the increase of MT1-MMP levels in plasma membrane were observed. In addition, treatment of cells with decanoyl Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-chloromethyl ketone, an inhibitor of pro-MT1-MMP, suppressed sPLA2-mediated MMP-2 activation, whereas treatment with bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of H+-ATPase, sustained MMP-2 activation by sPLA2. The involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt in the regulation of MMP-2 activity was further suggested by the findings that PI3K and Akt were phosphorylated by sPLA2. Expression of p85α and Akt mutants, or pretreatment of cells with LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, attenuated sPLA2-induced MMP-2 activation and migration. Taken together, these results suggest that sPLA2 increases the pro-MMP-2 activation and migration of fibroblasts via the PI3K and Akt-dependent pathway. Because MMP-2 is an important factor directly involved in the control of cell migration and the turnover of extracellular matrix, our study may provide a mechanism for sPLA2-promoted fibroblasts migration.
The youngest Ediacaran fossils from Southern Africa

Discovery of fossils of the Ediacara biota near the top of the Spitzkopf Member at farm Swartpunt extends the known range of these remains in Namibia more than 600 m to near the sub-Cambrian unconformity. The fossiliferous beds occur approximately 100 m above a volcanic ash dated at 543 ± 1 Ma, and thus may be the youngest Proterozoic Ediacara-type fossils reported anywhere in the world. Fossils are preserved within and on the tops of dm-thick beds of storm-deposited sandstone at two stratigraphic levels; the environment is interpreted as open marine, generally calm but with episodic disruptions by storm waves, and probably within the euphotic zone. The presence of Pteridinium carolinaense (St. Jean), which is also known from the classic sections in Ediacara and the White Sea among others, reinforces evidence from geochronology and chemostratigraphy that the Swartpunt section is terminal Neoproterozoic in age. The new genus and species Swartpuntia germsi is a large, multifoliate frond that exhibits at least three quilted petaloids. Macroscopically, Swartpuntia resembles Pteridinium and Ediacara-type fronds such as Charniodiscus traditionally interpreted as Cnidaria, whereas microscopically it exhibits segmentation that is remarkably similar to that of the putative worm Dickinsonia. Combination of diagnostic characters of these supposedly disparate groups in a single species suggests that many species of quilted Ediacaran organisms were more similar to each other than they were to any modern groups, and provides support for the concept of the “Vendobionta” as a late Neoproterozoic group of mainly multifoliate organisms with a distinctive quilted segmentation.
Executive functions in preschool children with cerebral palsy – Assessment and early intervention – A pilot study

Abstract Objective: To assess the level of executive functioning among preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) and evaluate effects of the Program Intensified habilitation (PIH). Methods: In this non-randomized, prospective study, 15 preschool children with CP, and their parents attended the PIH for a 1-year period. Executive functions were evaluated using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive functions – Preschool version (BRIEF-P), filled out by parents and preschool teachers. Results: Before PIH, scores of executive function difficulties were close to the general population mean. After PIH, fathers and preschool teachers reported reduced levels of executive difficulties on, respectively, the Emergent Metacognition Index and the Flexibility Index on the BRIEF-P. Mothers reported no changes. Conclusion: The children in our sample showed age-appropriate levels of executive functions before attending PIH. Some aspects of executive skills difficulties were reduced after PIH. Using BRIEF-P contributed to the differentiation of cognitive strengths and weaknesses among the children.
MELASMA: A CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF 312 CASES

Background: Melasma is an acquired increased pigmentation of the skin, characterized by gray-brown symmetrical patches, mostly in the sun-exposed areas of the skin. The pathogenesis is unknown, but genetic or hormonal influences with UV radiation are important. Aims: Our present research aims to study the clinico-epidemiological pattern and the precipitating or provocation factors in melasma. Materials and Methods: A total of 312 patients were enrolled for the study over a period of one year. Results: The mean age of patients with melasma was 33.45 years, ranging from 14 to 54 years. There was female preponderance with a female to male ratio of approximately 4 : 1. The mean age of onset was 29.99 years, with the youngest and oldest being 11 and 49 years, respectively. The patients sought medical treatment on an average of 3.59 years after appearance of melasma. About 55.12% of our patients reported that their disease exacerbated during sun exposure. Among 250 female patients, 56 reported pregnancy and 46 reported oral contraceptive as the precipitating factors. Only 34 patients had given history of exacerbation of melasma during pregnancy. A positive family history of melasma was observed in 104 (33.33%) patients. Centrofacial was the most common pattern (55.44%) observed in the present study. Wood light examination showed the dermal type being the most common in 54.48% and epidermal and mixed were seen in 21.47% and 24.03% of the cases, respectively. We tried to find an association with endocrinal diseases and observed that 20 of them had hypothyroidism. Conclusion: The exact cause of melasma is unknown. However, many factors have been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of this disorder. Here we try to identify the causative factors and provocation to develop melasma.
Stage at diagnosis and treatment patterns among older women with breast cancer: an HMO and fee-for-service comparison.

CONTEXT Few studies have compared patterns of care in health maintenance organization (HMO) and fee-for-service (FFS) settings. OBJECTIVE To examine breast cancer stage at diagnosis and, for those at an early stage, treatment patterns for elderly women in HMO and FFS settings. DESIGN Cancer registry data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program linked to Medicare enrollment records. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS Women aged 65 years or older residing in 11 geographic areas who were newly diagnosed as having breast cancer between 1988 and 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Standardized percentage of cases diagnosed at late stages for HMO vs FFS; standardized percentage of early-stage cases undergoing initial treatment with breast-conserving surgery (BCS); and, among BCS cases, standardized percentage receiving adjuvant radiation therapy. Standardization was achieved through logistic regression, controlling for patient demographics, cancer history, county of residence, year of diagnosis, and educational attainment at the census tract level. Analyses of treatment patterns were controlled for stage at diagnosis and tumor size. RESULTS The HMO enrollees were less likely to have breast cancer diagnosed at late stages than FFS patients (HMO, 7.6%; FFS, 10.8%; difference, -3.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), -4.2% to -2.2 %]). Among early-stage cases, the percentages undergoing BCS were similar in HMO and FFS settings overall (HMO, 38.4%; FFS, 36.8%; difference, 1.6% [95% CI, 0.0%-3.2%]); percentages varied markedly at the individual plan level. Among women undergoing BCS, HMO enrollees were significantly more likely to receive radiation therapy but, again, results varied by plan (HMO, 69.0%; FFS, 63.7%; difference, 5.3% [95% CI, 2.9%-7.7%]). In general, use of BCS and radiation therapy was substantially higher than that found in an earlier study examining cases diagnosed between 1985 and 1989. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of early-stage breast cancer in HMOs often differs from local FFS patterns, but not in a consistent way. During the period of our study, elderly HMO enrollees did not appear to have systematic access problems with adjuvant radiation therapy following BCS compared with women in an FFS setting.
Endoproteolytic Cleavage of FE65 Converts the Adaptor Protein to a Potent Suppressor of the sAPPα Pathway in Primates*

Adaptor protein FE65 (APBB1) specifically binds to the intracellular tail of the type I transmembrane protein, β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). The formation of this complex may be important for modulation of the processing and function of APP. APP is proteolytically cleaved at multiple sites. The cleavages and their regulation are of central importance in the pathogenesis of dementias of the Alzheimer type. In cell cultures and perhaps in vivo, secretion of the α-cleaved APP ectodomain (sAPPα) is the major pathway in the most cells. Regulation of the process may require extracellular/intracellular cues. Neither extracellular ligands nor intracellular mediators have been identified, however. Here, we show novel evidence that the major isoform of FE65 (97-kDa FE65, p97FE65) can be converted to a 65-kDa N-terminally truncated C-terminal fragment (p65FE65) via endoproteolysis. The cleavage region locates immediately after an acidic residue cluster but before the three major protein-protein binding domains. The cleavage activity is particularly high in human and non-human primate cells and low in rodent cells; the activity appears to be triggered/enhanced by high cell density, presumably via cell-cell/cell-substrate contact cues. As a result, p65FE65 exhibits extraordinarily high affinity for APP (up to 40-fold higher than p97FE65) and potent suppression (up to 90%) of secretion of sAPPα. Strong p65FE65-APP binding is required for the suppression. The results suggest that p65FE65 may be an intracellular mediator in a signaling cascade regulating α-secretion of APP, particularly in primates.
Antibody patterns to Herpesvirus saimiri-induced antigens in owl monkeys.

Antibody-response patterns to 3 major groups of Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS)associated antigens [early antigens (EA), late antigens (LA), membrane antigens (MA)] in 10 owl monkeys infected with HVS were related to the clinical course of HVS-induced disease. Results are also presented which show that EA is produced 4-8 hours earlier than LA in HVSinfected cells providing further evidence that these were 2 distinct groups of antigens. In animals that developed neoplasms, antibodies against all 3 groups of antigens were found; however, the antibody response to EA was delayed, in general, 2-4 weeks compared with the responses to LA and MA. Two owl monke,s inoculated with HVS and one inoculated with HVS-induced tumor cells did not develop gross or clinical signs of disease; antibodies to LA and MA, but not EA, were detected in serum samples from these monkeys. These results provide additional evidence that the antibody response to EA may indicate Iymphoproliferation (or cell transformation). -J Natl Cancer Inst 51: 1939-1943, 1973.
Challenges and Opportunities of Health Care Supply Chain Management in the United States

This article explores current supply chain management challenges and initiatives and identifies problems that affect supply chain management success in the U.S. health-care industry. In addition, it investigates the impact of health care supply chain management (SCM) initiatives on the overall organizational effectiveness. The attitudinal results, as well as the performance results presented in this study support the claim of health care proponents that the SCM allows organizations to reduce cost, improve quality, and reduce cycle time, and leads to high performance.
RN Refresher Courses: Hospital-Based Versus University-Based

Refresher and reentry courses for registered nurses (RNs) are being used to recruit inactive nurses back into practice in the present nursing shortage. Built on models of staff development orientation for newly employed RNs and continuing education for adult learners, two refresher/reentry programs are described. University- and hospital-based RN refresher courses had similar enrollments and positive evaluations, but different curriculum organization; cost and employment outcomes varied. Both employment prior to the class and collaboration among providers greatly enhance positive outcomes.
Mirror therapy: An adjunct to conventional pharmacotherapy in phantom limb pain

Sir, As disturbing and distressing “phantom limb phenomenon” is for the patient, so has been the fascination of physicians since its early description in the 16th century. [1] The phantom limb phenomenon includes three different elements, namely, the phantom limb pain (PLP), the phantom limb sensation (PLS) and the stump pain (SP). These elements often coexist in each patient and may be difficult to separate. The PLS differs from PLP in being any sensation but pain. Numbness, feelings of posture and movement may be felt to varying degrees. A peculiar phenomenon, “telescoping” may occur rarely when the distal part of the phantom is gradually felt to approach the residual limb and in the end, may even be experienced within the stump. SP and PLP are interrelated phenomena and amputees with SP have a higher prevalence of PLP as compared with amputees without SP. [2] PLP is primarily localized in distal parts of the missing limb. It is intermittent, variously described as shooting, stabbing, boring, squeezing, throbbing, or burning. Incidence of PLP is nearly 60-80% of all amputations. Estimations based on the patient’s request for pain relief grossly underestimates the incidence, with many patients not reporting for fear of being labeled mentally disturbed. [2,3]
Adding culture to context: extending the boundaries in multimedia design for senior management education

The delivery of effective multimodal learning requires co-design of a context of delivery to structure the interface between a multimedia product and its broader learning environment. Also managers' cultural experiences in organisations have a profound impact upon learning, so it is important to consider organisational cultural influences. This paper explores the role within context of culture in multimedia delivery. It examines the nature of organisational culture and how this impacts upon the efficacy of multimedia for e-learning success in management education.
Contradictory Messages: A Content Analysis of Hollywood-Produced Romantic Comedy Feature Films

This study analyzed the romantic content of a sample of 40 romantic comedy films using a basic grounded theory methodology. Analyses revealed that such films appear to depict romantic relationships as having qualities of both new and long-term relationships; that is, to be both novel and exciting, yet emotionally significant and meaningful. Furthermore, relationships were shown to have both highly idealistic and undesirable qualities but for any problems or transgressions experienced to have no real negative long-term impact on relationship functioning. The potential for viewer interpretations is discussed and the need for future research highlighted.
Autonomic function and baroreflex sensitivity during angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition or angiotensin II AT-1 receptor blockade in essential hypertensive patients

Objective — The influence of ACE-inhibition and angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockade on the autonomic function and baroreflex sensitivity was investigated in hypertension. Methods and results — Heart rate variability was assessed in a resting condition by power spectrum analysis to evaluate the low frequency (LF) power, high frequency (HF) power and LF/HF ratio in 19 hypertensive patients and 23 normotensive controls. Moreover, the coherence between the tachogram and the systogram was evaluated, and the baroreflex gain (αLF -index), describing the transfer function of variability in the systolic pressure signal to variability in the RR interval, was obtained. Then a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed.The 19 hypertensive patients were randomized to either enalapril or losartan treatment, and after 2 months were resubmitted to the RR variability and baroreflex study and to blood pressure monitoring.The subjects then crossed to the other antihypertensive treatment and were re-evaluated after an additional two months. No significant difference was found either in LF power and HF power and LF/HF ratio between normotensive and hypertensive subjects whereas a slight though significant difference was observed in the αLF -index. In hypertensive patients, both the treatments with enalapril and losartan reduced blood pressure and had no effect on heart rate. No significant change was observed in autonomic balance or in baroreflex sensitivity during the two antihypertensive treatments. Conclusions — In hypertensive patients, the angiotensin system or bradykinins do not seem to have any modulatory effect on the sympathetic/parasympathetic control of blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity, in a resting condition. Since heart rates were unchanged by the two antihypertensive treatments despite a significant reduction of blood pressure, a resetting of baroreflex function was observed during both ACE-inhibition and angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockade.
A sigmoidoscopy‐based case–control study of polyps: macronutrients, fiber and meat consumption

We conducted a large, sigmoidoscopy‐based case–control study to examine the relation of intake of macronutrients, meat, and fiber to occurrence of adenomas of the large bowel. Cases were subjects diagnosed for the first time with one or more histologically confirmed adenomas. Controls had no polyps of any type at sigmoidoscopy, had no history of polyps, and were individually matched to cases by gender, age, date of sigmoidoscopy, and Kaiser Center. The response rate was 84% for cases and 82% for controls. Complete dietary data for 488 matched pairs were available. All odds ratios are from matched analyses adjusted for energy. We observed positive associations with risk of adenomas for calories, animal fat, saturated fat, red meat, and the ratio of red meat to poultry and fish. Protective effects were observed for vegetable protein, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber. The fiber effects diminished after adjusting for fruits and vegetables. Results after mutually adjusting for the effects of saturated fat, fiber and the ratio of red meat to chicken and fish suggest that each of these variables has an effect on risk of adenomas that is independent of the other 2 exposures. Int. J. Cancer 73:497–502, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.