Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decomposing diffeomorphisms of the sphere

A central problem in the theory of quasiconformal and bi‐Lipschitz mappings is whether they can be written as a composition of such mappings with small distortion. In this paper, we prove a decomposition result for C1 diffeomorphisms of the sphere; namely, we show that, given ε>0, every C1 diffeomorphism of the sphere Sn can be written as a composition of bi‐Lipschitz mappings with isometric distortion at most 1 + ε.
Potential biomarkers for acute and chronic rejection after lung transplantation

Chronic rejection in the form of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the main hindrance for long-term survival after lung transplantation. Repeated acute rejections (AR) constitute a major risk factor for developing BOS. The aim of this thesis was to expand the knowledge of the biological processes underlying AR and BOS and to identify potential immunological biomarkers for these conditions. The following specific research questions were posed: Are alterations in IL-18 concentration associated with AR (paper I)? Are there local pulmonary changes in the protease/anti-protease balance in BOS (paper II)? Is the neutrophil mobilizing cytokine IL-26 involved in AR and BOS development (paper III)? Does composition of particles in exhaled air (PEx) differ between BOS/non-BOS (paper IV)? Methods: In a biobank of collected bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from lung transplant recipients (LTRs), we identified patients, with or without AR and BOS respectively, who were carefully matched. The matching procedure included preoperative diagnosis, age, gender, type of and time after transplantation to avoid the influence of confounding clinical factors. Inflammatory cells and soluble mediators involved in the inflammatory process were analyzed in BAL samples (paper I-III). In paper IV, PEx composition in LTRs and healthy controls was investigated with a novel method that enables non-invasive sampling from the distal airways. Results: There were no changes in IL-18 concentration or correlation between IL-18 and lymphocyte percentages in BAL samples from patients with AR (paper I). Increased net gelatinase activity and a clear correlation between activity and concentration of the gelatinase MMP-9 (but not MMP-2) as well as a correlation between activity and neutrophil percentages were found in BAL samples from BOS patients (paper II). It was also found that the concentration of IL-26 in BAL samples from patients with BOS (but not AR) was increased and intracellular IL-26 was detected in alveolar macrophages and lymphocytes (paper III). Finally, surfactant protein A (SP-A) was lower in PEx from BOS patients compared to stable LTRs and LTRs, in particular BOS patients, exhaled a higher amount of PEx than healthy controls (paper IV). Conclusions: These findings forward evidence that local unopposed gelatinase activity, likely to be accounted for by the gelatinase MMP-9 from neutrophils, and the neutrophil mobilizing cytokine IL-26 from macrophages and lymphocytes, are involved in BOS development. The results also show that PEx composition differs between stable LTRs and patients that develop BOS. The clinical utility of PEx as a non-invasive diagnostic tool in the follow up after lung transplantation and the possibility of targeting MMP-9 and IL-26 for early detection, monitoring and possibly even treatment of BOS warrant further study.
Time Course of Protein Synthesis-Dependent Phase of Olfactory Memory in the Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Abstract The cricket Gryllus bimaculatus forms a stable olfactory memory that lasts for practically a lifetime. As a first step to elucidate the cellular mechanisms of olfactory learning and memory retention in crickets, we studied the dependency of memory retention on the de novo brain protein synthesis by injecting the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) into the head capsule. Injection of CHX inhibited 3H-leucine incorporation into brain proteins by > 90% for 3 hr. Crickets were trained to associate peppermint odor with water (reward) and vanilla odor with saline solution (non-reward) and were injected with CHX before or at different times after training. Their odor preferences were tested at 2 hr, 1 day and 4 days after training. Memory retention at 2 hr after training was unaffected by CHX injection. However, the level of retention at 1 day and 4 days after training was lowered when CHX was injected 1 hour before training or at 1 hr or 6 hr after training. To study the time course of the development of CHX-sensitive memory phase, crickets that had been injected with CHX at 1 hr after training were tested at different times from 2 to 12 hr after training. The level of retention was unaffected up to 4 hr after training but significantly lowered at 5 hr after training, and the CHX-sensitive memory phase developed gradually during the next several hours. CHX dissociates two phases of olfactory memory in crickets: earlier protein synthesis-independent phase (< 4 hr) and later (> 5 hr) protein synthesis-dependent phase.
Genetic analysis of angiotensinogen gene polymorphisms (M235T and T174M) in Romanian patients with essential arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND Several studies suggested the role of the genes of the rennin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of essential arterial hypertension. PATIENTS We investigated 100 consecutive hypertensive patients (42 males and 58 females; mean +/- SD age, 55.14 +/- 9.49 years) for M235T and T174M polymorphisms. Seventy six normotensive patients (28 males and 48 females; mean +/- SD age, 54.94 +/- 9.56 years) formed the control group. METHODS M235T and T174M polymorphisms were analyzed using PCR-RFLP methods. RESULTS The carrier frequency of M235T polymorphism in the AGT gene was 73% in hypertensive patients and 34.21% in normotensive patients (OR 5.2, 95%CI [2.72-9.93], p<0.01, chi2 test). The carrier frequency of T174M polymorphism in the AGT gene was 42% in hypertensive patients and 11.84% in normotensive patients (OR 5.39, 95%CI [2.41-12.01], p<0.01, chi2 test). CONCLUSIONS Essential arterial hypertension is associated with polymorphisms in the AGT gene, M235T and T174M.
Attempted suicide in social networks.

It is generally agreed that a suicidal attempt commonly represents a bid by the patient to com municate his distress to key figures in his intimate social group (Stengel and Cook, 1958; Farberow and Shneidman, 1961). An implication of this view is that such acts may function as a language' employed within such a group in situations where other groups would use less pathological forms of communication. The 'language' component of the act can be recognized only as a social and not as an individual phenomenon, and this leads to the hypothesis that suicidal attempts should be found to be concentrated in socially-linked clusters of individuals. More specifically, it could be predicted that, among the close acquaintances of patients attempting suicide, the number of suicidal attempts would be greater than would be expected from the age, sex, and demographic characteristics of these acquaintances. This study was designed to investi gate this hypothesis.
Unilateral Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Proposal of Genetic Pathogenic Mechanisms

Purpose To investigate and integrate anatomic and physiologic findings from a group of patients who present retinitis pigmentosa affecting just one eye and use this information to propose mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study examined 5 patients, all female, from 8 to 60 years old. The study was conducted in 4 university hospitals. The patients were selected according to the characteristics of ocular involvement, notably unilateral presentation of similar anatomic and functional abnormalities. Full-field electroretinogram, fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, infrared imaging, optical coherence tomography, and genetic testing were performed. Results Full-field electroretinogram showed unilateral decrease in amplitude and increase in implicit time; autofluorescence showed unilateral areas of decreased intensity. The USH2AW4149R mutation was confirmed in one patient. Conclusions Imaging and functional testing are important in elucidating the unilateral pattern of the disease and in monitoring these individuals. Mosaicism or somatic mutation may cause unilateral genetic disease presentation.
Improved survival from acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and adults

Nineteen adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with combination chemotherapy to induce remission in the period from 1971 to 1979. Those patients achieving remission received intensive post‐remission therapy with central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis, followed by two‐drug maintenance therapy, and reinduction courses of chemotherapy every six months. Remissions were achieved in 17 of the 19 patients (89%). Twelve patients (63%) are alive, 11 currently in complete remission. Two patients who experienced relapses in recent months have successfully undergone transplantation with allogeneic marrow from sex‐matched, HLA‐compatible sibling donors. The median survival and median duration rates of first remissions have not yet been reached, but to date are 36+ months and 29+ months, respectively with a predicted five‐year survival rate of 61 %. These results not only are significantly better than those achieved in the years 1968 to 1971 in our institution, but also are superior to others reported in the world medical literature. The combination of optimal treatment protocols with allogeneic marrow transplantation for patients with poor prognoses is expected to improve the survival of adult patients even further in the next decade.
Effects of α-tocopherol and ternatin antioxidants on morphology and activation of goat preantral follicles in vitro cultured

The effects of -tocopherol and ternatin on the morphology, activation, and growth of goat preantral follicles in vitro cultured, for one or five days, were evaluated. Ovarian fragments were immediately fixed (non-cultured control) or in vitro cultured for one or five days in Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) with or without -tocopherol or ternatin supplementation, both at concentrations of 5, 10, or 15 M, corresponding to the following treatments: MEM, TOC5, TOC10, TOC 15, TER5, TER10, and TER15. The percentages of morphologically normal preantral follicles in non-cultured ovarian tissue (control) was 73.2% and after five days of culture, there was a decrease on these percentages in all treatments (P<0.05) when compared with non-cultured control. Culture of ovarian cortex for five days increased the percentages of follicular activation in all treatments (P<0.05). Ultrastructural analysis did not confirm the integrity of caprine preantral follicles cultured for five days in medium containing antioxidants. This study demonstrated that -tocopherol and ternatin can promote follicular activation; however, addition of these antioxidants in the tested concentrations reduced the follicular viability after in vitro culture.
Antibiotic exposure and resistance development in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species in intensive care units*

Objectives:We quantified the association between antibiotic exposure and acquisition of antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species in intensive care unit patients. Design:Prospective cohort study. Setting and Patients:In 1,201 patients, respiratory tract colonization was determined through regular screening on admission, twice weekly, and on discharge. Primary outcome was the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in previous antibiotic sensitive P. aeruginosa and Enterobacter species, with acquisition attributable to cross-transmission excluded based on genotyping and epidemiologic linkage. Cox regression analysis, adjusted for covariates, was performed to calculate hazard ratios of patients exposed to antibiotics compared to patients not exposed to antibiotics. Measurements and Main Results:In total, 194 and 171 patients were colonized with P. aeruginosa and Enterobacter species, respectively. Two or more cultures per episode were available for 126 and 108 patients. For P. aeruginosa, ceftazidime exposure was associated with 6.3 acquired antibiotic resistance events per 100 days of exposure, whereas incidence rates were lower for ciprofloxacin, meropenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam. In multivariate analysis, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime were significantly associated with risk of resistance development in P. aeruginosa (adjusted hazard ratio, 11.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.4–51.5 for meropenem; adjusted hazard ratio, 4.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–16.2 for ciprofloxacin; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–5.5 for ceftazidime). For Enterobacter, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin exposure were associated with most antibiotic resistance acquisitions. No significant associations were found in multivariate analysis. Conclusions:Meropenem exposure is associated with the highest risk of resistance development in P. aeruginosa. Increasing carbapenem use attributable to emergence of Gram-negative bacteria producing extended-spectrum &bgr;-lactamases will enhance antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa.
Hypokalemia: are elderly females more vulnerable?

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between prevalence of hypokalemia and the age and sex of patients. Serum potassium concentrations of 872 patients were measured, and the prevalence of hypokalemia was compared between age and sex groups. Hypokalemia was more common in patients 65 years or older than in younger groups (P < .001), with a significantly higher frequency in female patients (P < .003). The finding was more common in elderly female patients than in elderly males (P < .002). No statistically significant difference was noted in the frequency of hypokalemia in elderly male patients compared with younger patients of either sex. The predominance of hypokalemia in elderly groups was chiefly attributable to a marked preponderance in elderly female patients over all other groups. Neither younger females nor elderly males were at increased risk. The preponderance in elderly females was not dependent on diuretic usage. It may have been due to age- and sex-associated differences in body mass composition, which result in a physiologically low total exchangeable body potassium in elderly females, placing this group at greater risk for developing hypokalemia.
A Review Paper on Face Recognition Techniques

The study of computer vision and pattern recognition is growing because of the various commercial and practical applications of these disciplines. Identification of individuals in a multitude, access control, forensics, and human-computer interactions are only among the topics studied by these areas. However, analyzing unconstrained face recognition poses ethical issues and privacy concerns. Many recent proposals employ Holistic Methods, Geometric Approach and Local-Texture Approach, methods and databases like ORL, FERET and AR Dataset to study constrained face recognition. At least some understanding of 2D perspective was achieved. This occurred in highly controlled environments where parameters such as camera angles, lighting and distance were strictly regulated. However, significant degradation in recognition performance occurred if the environment changed or the subject smiled or frowned. This critique discusses the technology utilized in face recognition, as well as the databases of methods that utilize this technology. To help guide future research, this article discusses current knowledge and suggests future directions for study in the field of facial recognition.
The S100 family of multipurpose calcium‐binding proteins

Antibodies reactive with S100 protein are useful markers in a diagnostic immunohistochemistry laboratory dealing with cutaneous tumors. However, S100 protein is not a single protein but instead a group of S100 proteins with diverse functions. S100 proteins constitute a family of acidic calcium‐binding proteins that are important in intracellular calcium metabolism. Recent evidence that some S100 proteins are secreted makes it likely that they are also involved in cell‐cell interactions. The exploration of the status of the different members of the S100 family may yield not only diagnostic clues but also relevant functional information about the cells. Considerable recent progress has been made in our understanding of S100 proteins. This review surveys some of these findings that may be either directly or indirectly relevant to cutaneous pathology.
Multiple drug class-wide resistance associated with poorer survival after treatment failure in a cohort of HIV-infected patients

Objective:To evaluate the effect of drug class-wide resistance (CWR) on survival in HIV-infected individuals who underwent genotypic resistance test after antiretroviral failure. Design:Observational, longitudinal cohort study. Methods:HIV-infected individuals experiencing treatment failure were enrolled at first genotypic resistance test. End-points were death for any cause, AIDS-related death and AIDS-defining event/death. CWR was defined according to the International AIDS Society consensus. Survival analysis was performed with Cox's model. Results:Among 623 patients enrolled and followed for a median of 19 months (interquartile range, 12–29), Kaplan–Meier analyses for end-points at 48 months in patients with no CWR, one CWR, two CWR or three CWR were 8.9, 11.7, 13.4 and 27.1%, respectively, for death; 6.1, 9.9, 13.4 and 21.5%, respectively, for AIDS-related death; and 16.0, 17.7, 19.3 and 35.9%, respectively, for new AIDS event/death. In a multivariate Cox's model, higher HIV RNA level, previous AIDS and detection of three CWR (hazard ratio, 5.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.76–16.24) were all significantly associated with increased risk of death, while higher CD4 cell count and use of a new boosted protease inhibitor drug after identifying genotypic resistance were associated with reduced risk. Detection of three CWR was also significantly associated with higher risk of AIDS-related death and new AIDS event/death. Conclusions:Even in the late era of highly effective antiretroviral treatments, detection of CWR, particularly if extended to all three drug classes is related to poorer clinical outcome and represents a risk-marker of disease progression and death.
Fibrinolysis changes in normal pregnancy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in fibrinolysis parameters during pregnancy. Normal pregnant women (n = 60) formed the study population. Blood samples were taken in the first, second and third trimester, during delivery and three days after delivery. Fibrinolysis parameters were estimated using commercial tests. Tissue plasminogen activator, D-dimer and plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2) were determined. Tissue plasminogen activator and D-dimer increased after the first trimester and reached maximum levels during delivery. Plasminogen activator inhibitors type 1 and type 2 were also higher, in particular PAI-2, and reached maximum levels in the third trimester. On the third day after delivery, fibrinolysis activity recovered, but D-dimer and PAI-2 levels remained above the normal non-pregnant range.
Lengthening of the Trachea During Neck Extension: Which Part of the Trachea Is Stretched?

BACKGROUND:We sought to determine the distances of the three segments of the airway from upper incisors to carina in intubated patients in three different neck positions. METHODS:Twenty patients undergoing elective surgery were studied. The airway was divided into three segments: upper incisor to vocal cords (UI-VC), vocal cords to sternal notch (VC-SN), and sternal notch to the carina (SN-CA). After general anesthesia and tracheal tube placement, the circuit was connected and the lungs ventilated. A bronchoscope was inserted through a ported elbow adapter until the tip just contacted carina. A marker tape was placed on the bronchoscope immediately above the adapter port. As the bronchoscope was withdrawn to the sternal notch (by transillumination), vocal cords and upper incisor (endoscopic visualization), three corresponding markers were placed along the bronchoscope. The three segments of the airway were obtained by measuring the distances between the four markers. Measurements were taken with the patient’s neck in flexion (10 cm pillow), neutral (5 cm pillow), and extension (no pillow) positions. Repeated measure analysis of variance and paired t-tests were used for analysis of the data. RESULTS:The UI-VC, VC-SN, and SN-CA distances were 12.01 ± 1.49, 5.37 ± 0.95, 8.24 ± 1.16 cm. From neck flexion to extension, UI-VC and VC-SN increased by 0.36 ± 0.68 cm (P = 0.027) and 1.74 ± 0.48 cm (P < 0.001) respectively; SN-CA decreased by 0.12 ± 0.70 cm (NS). Overall, UI-CA increased by 1.99 ± 0.70 cm (P < 0.001). SN-CA represented 64%, 61%, 56% of the VC-CA distance with the neck in flexion, neutral, and extension respectively. SN-CA did not change significantly among the head positions (NS). CONCLUSIONS:From neck flexion to extension, the UI-CA distance increased by 1.99 cm. The major contribution to this lengthening was an increase of the VC-SN distance by 1.74 cm; UI-VC increased by 0.36 cm whereas SN-CA did not change significantly. Averaging the three neck positions, SN-CA represented 60% of the VC-CA distance. Our findings may explain why tracheal tubes fixed at the mouth ascend in the trachea with neck extension.
Expression of Globo H and SSEA3 in breast cancer stem cells and the involvement of fucosyl transferases 1 and 2 in Globo H synthesis

We examined the expression in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) of Globo H, a potential tumor-associated antigen for immunotherapy of epithelial cancers including breast cancer. Flow cytometry revealed Globo H expression in 25/41 breast cancer specimens (61.0%). Non-BCSCs from 25/25 and BCSCs from 8/40 (20%) expressed Globo H. We showed the expression of stage-specific embryonic antigen 3 (SSEA3), the pentasaccharide precursor of Globo H, in 31/40 (77.5%) tumors. Non-BCSCs from 29/31 and BCSCs from 25/40 (62.5%) expressed SSEA3. Like Globo H, SSEA3 expression in normal tissues was predominately at the secretory borders of epithelium, where access to the immune system is restricted. Immunization of mice with Globo H-KLH and α-GalCer induced antibodies reactive with Globo H and SSEA3, suggesting that a Globo H-based vaccine will target tumor cells expressing Globo H or SSEA3. We next sought to reduce Globo H expression by siRNA targeting fucosyltransferase (FUT) 1 and 2, which mediate alpha-1,2 linkage of fucose to SSEA3 to generate Globo H. We showed both genes to be involved in the biosynthesis of Globo H. Moreover, FUT2 expression in BCSCs was significantly lower than in non-BCSCs harvested from a primary human breast cancer in NOD/SCID mouse, whereas FUT1 was slightly lower in BCSCs. Thus, the lower expression of Globo H in BCSCs may be attributed to less FUT2/FUT1, and to reduced SSEA3 in BCSCs compared with non-BCSCs. Our findings provide insight into further development of a Globo H-based vaccine and FUT1/FUT2-targeted therapy for breast cancer.