Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hormesis effect of trace metals on cultured normal and immortal human mammary cells

An in vitro study was conducted to determine the effects of variable concentrations of trace metals on human cultured mammary cells. Monolayers of human mortal (MCF-12A) and immortal (MDAMB231) mammary epithelial cells were incubated in the absence or presence of increasing concentrations of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and copper (Cu) for 24-h, 72-h, 4-d, and 7-d. The MTT assay was used to assess viability for all time periods and cell proliferation was monitored for 4-d and 7-d studies. Monolayers were also labeled with rhodamine-110 (R-6501), Sytox green®, and Celltiter blueTM fluorescent dyes as indicators for intracellular esterase activity, nucleic acid staining, and cell reduction/viability, respectively. Total incubation time with chemical plus dyes was 24 h. For 24-h and 72-h studies, cells were seeded in 96-well plates, after which confluent monolayers were exposed to increasing concentrations of chemicals. For 4-d and 7-d studies, cells were seeded in 12-well plates at 1/3 confluent density (day 0) and exposed to increasing concentrations of metals on day 1. All cells were counted on days 4 and 7. In addition, test medium was removed from select groups of cultures on day 4, replaced with fresh medium in the absence of chemical (recovery studies), and assays were performed on day 7 as above. The data suggest that there is a consistent protective and/or stimulating effect of metals at the lowest concentrations in MCF-12A cells that is not observed in immortal MDA-MB231 cells. In fact, cell viability of MCF-12A cells is stimulated by otherwise equivalent inhibitory concentrations of As, Cu, and Hg on MDA-MB231 cells at 24-h. Whereas As and Hg suppress proliferation and viability in both cell lines after 4-d and 7-d of exposure, Cu enhances cell proliferation and viability of MCF-12A cells. MDA-MB231, however, recover better after 4-days of toxic insult. In addition, nutritional manipulation of media between the cell lines, or pretreatment with penicillamine, did not alter the hormesis effect displayed by MCF- 12A. Growth of these cells however was not maintained in the alternative medium. The study demonstrates that a hormesis effect from trace metals is detectable in cultured mammary cells; fluorescent indicators, however, are not as sensitive as cell proliferation or MTT in recognizing the subtle responses. Also, sensitivity of mammary cells to lower concentrations of Cu, a biologically important trace metal, may play an important role in controlling cellular processes and proliferation. The ability to detect this in vitro phenomenon implies that similar processes, occurring in vivo, may be responsible for the development, induction, or enhancement of human cancers.
Seizures in the Elderly: Etiology and Prognosis

Abstract: Purpose: To determine the etiology, early mortality, predictors of prognosis and diagnostic yields of EEG and CT scans of the head in new-onset seizures in elderly patients. Methods: EEG records for the north-central region of Saskatchewan, between 01/94 and 12/95 were reviewed to identify all adults aged 60 years or older with new-onset seizures. Information on demographics, seizure type, etiology, EEG and neuroimaging studies, anti-epileptic treatment and course of epilepsy was obtained by review of medical records and interview with the patient and/or family member. Results: Of 88 eligible subjects, 61 (69%) were contacted for follow-up, 19 (22%) were deceased (12 of whom who had a serious underlying etiology to their seizures, which was obvious at the time of initial presentation and led shortly to their demise), 4 (5%) were lost to follow-up and 4 (5%) refused participation. Excluding those refusing participation, 74/84 (88%) patients presented with partial or secondarily generalized seizures. Seizures were cryptogenic in 38/84 (45%), and due to stroke in 19/84 (23%). EEGs were abnormal in 61/84 (73%) cases, with epileptiform discharge in 33/84 (39%). CT scans were abnormal in 57/84 (68%) cases with acute pathology in 29/84 (35%). Of the 61 patients participating in the follow-up interview, 54 (89%) were treated with anti-epileptic medication and seizure control was usually successful. Predictors for ongoing seizures were more than 3 seizures at presentation, epileptiform activity on initial EEG and discontinuation of anti-epileptic medication for lack of efficacy. Conclusion: Prognosis of new-onset seizures in elderly patients is favorable if seizures are not symptomatic of a life-threatening disorder.
External genitalia gunshot wounds: a ten-year experience with fifty-six cases.

OBJECTIVE To determine the appropriate methods for the diagnosis and management of gunshot injuries to the external genitalia. DESIGN Retrospective analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-six patients with gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the external genitalia were seen over the last 10 years. All patients underwent physical examination, radiographic staging, and surgical exploration, according to protocol. RESULTS There were 25 testicular, 19 scrotal soft tissue, 14 penile, 4 epididymal, 4 urethral, 4 vasal, and 3 superficial scrotal skin injuries. When possible, all injuries, except for the vasal and 1 urethral injury, were primarily repaired with excellent long-term results. Orchiectomy was required in half of testes struck by gunshots. Associated injuries with single GSWs were mostly to the proximity soft tissue and were amenable to conservative management. Major associated injuries were present in patients with multiple GSWs. In the absence of a suspected major associated injury, genital GSWs required only two diagnostic studies, a retrograde urethrogram for suspected urethral injury and a routine abdominal radiograph. Gunshot injuries to the penis or perineum, blood at the penile meatus, or gross hematuria were highly suggestive of urethral injury. CONCLUSIONS Successful management of genital GSWs is dependent upon prompt surgical exploration, conservative debridement, and primary repair.
A Lymphatic Mechanism of Rotavirus Extraintestinal Spread in the Neonatal Mouse

ABSTRACT We used the neonatal mouse model of rotavirus infection and virus strains SA11-clone 4 (SA11-Cl4) and Rhesus rotavirus (RRV) to examine the mechanism of the extraintestinal spread of viruses following oral inoculation. The spread-competent viruses, RRV and reassortant R7, demonstrated a temporal progression from the intestine, to the terminal ileum, to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and to the peripheral tissues. SA11-Cl4 was not found outside the intestine. Reassortant virus S7, which was unable to reach the liver in previous studies (E. C. Mossel and R. F. Ramig, J. Virol. 76:6502-6509, 2002), was recovered from 60% of the MLN, suggesting that there are multiple determinants for the spread of virus from the intestine to the MLN. Phenotypic segregation analysis identified RRV genome segment 6 (VP6) as a secondary determinant of the spread of virus to the MLN (P = 0.02) in reassortant viruses containing segment 7 from the spread-incompetent parent. These data suggest that in the orally infected neonatal mouse, the extraintestinal spread of rotavirus occurs via a lymphatic pathway, and the spread phenotype is primarily determined by NSP3 and can be modified by VP6.
Clinical impact of pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii in intubated patients: A matched cohort study*

ObjectiveTo determine whether ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii (VAPAB) is associated with increased mortality rate. DesignA retrospective matched case-control study in which all intensive care unit adult patients with microbiologically documented VAPAB were defined as cases. SettingFour intensive care units from teaching hospitals. PatientsSixty patients were matched to sixty controls. Measurements and Main ResultsControls were matched based on stay before pneumonia onset, disease severity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) at admission, and diagnostic category. Population characteristics and intensive care unit mortality rates of patients with VAPAB and their controls were compared. Attributable mortality was determined by subtracting the crude mortality rate of the controls from the crude mortality rate of the case patients. Twenty-four of the 60 case patients died, representing a crude mortality rate of 40%, whereas 17 of the 60 controls died, a crude mortality rate of 28.3% (p = .17). Crude intensive care unit mortality was the same (12 of 35, 34.2%) in patients with VAPAB caused by strains sensitive to imipenem and in their matched controls. It was 44% for the 25 patients with imipenem-resistant strains with an estimated attributable mortality rate of 20.0% (95% confidence interval, −5.6% to 45.7%). Mean intensive care unit stay of patients and controls was 35.3 and 36.6 days, respectively (p = nonsignificant). ConclusionIn intubated patients, pneumonia by A. baumannii is not significantly associated with attributable mortality rate or an increased length of intensive care unit stay.
Informing Automated Writing Evaluation Using the Lens of Genre: Two Studies.

Genre serves as a useful lens to investigate the range of evidence derived from automated writing evaluation (AWE). To support construct-relevant systems used for writing instruction and assessment, two investigations were conducted that focused on post-secondary writing requirements and faculty perceptions of student writing proficiency. Survey research is described from a national study and a second site study at American University, a 4-year private university in Washington, DC, to illustrate writing requirements and perceptions of writing proficiency in school and workplace settings. A mixed-methods analysis of faculty focus groups in the site study afforded more detailed discussions that were used to understand student writing support needs. Through the lens of genre, study results illustrated how the role of AWE might be expanded and aligned with instruction in four-year post-secondary institutions.
Effect of Shear Stress on Attachment of Corneal Endothelial Cells in Association With Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss After Laser Iridotomy

Purpose: Laser iridotomy often causes bullous keratopathy; however, the mechanism is unclear. We investigated whether changes in aqueous humor hydrodynamics after laser iridotomy have any role in corneal endothelial cell loss. Materials and Methods: Porcine corneal endothelial cells were plated onto glass slides. Following 1 or 3 hours for adhesion, the endothelial cells were exposed to shear stresses (0.1-10 dyne/cm2) for 15 minutes, and the number of detached cells was counted. In addition, the pressure and shear stress on corneal endothelial layer were calculated in a virtual model of laser iridotomy. Results: The number of detached corneal endothelial cells increased with shear stresses in a dose-dependent manner. Significant increase of rate of detached corneal endothelial cells was observed at >0.3 dyne/cm2 after 1-hour attachment and at 1 dyne/cm2 after 3-hour attachment. The maximum pressure on corneal endothelial layer was 0.007 mm Hg, which is negligible compared with intraocular pressure. However, the maximum shear stress on the corneal endothelial layer could be >1 dyne/cm2 in some conditions of laser iridotomy. Conclusions: The resistance of corneal endothelial cell loss to shear stress is time dependent. Shear stress could be a cause of corneal endothelial cell loss in some conditions of laser iridotomy.
The Role of Natural Selection in Genetic Differentiation of Worldwide Populations of Drosophila ananassae

The main evolutionary forces leading to genetic differentiation between populations are generally considered to be natural selection, random genetic drift, and limited migration. However, little empirical evidence exists to help explain the extent, mechanism, and relative role of these forces. In this study, we make use of the differential migration behavior of genes located in regions of low and high recombination to infer the role and demographic distribution of natural selection in Drosophila ananassae. Sequence data were obtained from 13 populations, representing almost the entire range of cosmopolitan D. ananassae. The pattern of variation at a 5.1-kb fragment of the furrowed gene, located in a region of very low recombination, appears strikingly different from that of 10 noncoding DNA fragments (introns) in regions of normal to high recombination. Most interestingly, two main haplotypes are present at furrowed, one being fixed in northern populations and the other being fixed or in high frequency in more southern populations. A cline in the frequency of one of these haplotypes occurs in parallel latitudinal transects. Taken together, significant clinal variation and a test against alternative models of natural selection provide evidence of two independent selective sweeps restricted to specific regions of the species range.
Discrepancy between acute and chronic toxicity induced by imidacloprid and its metabolites in Apis mellifera

Imidaclopridi a systemic nitroguanidine insecticide that belongs to theneonicotinoid family. As an agonist of the acetylcholine receptor, it attacks the insect nervous system and is extremely effective against various sucking and mining pests. Oral acute and chronic toxicity of imidacloprid and its main metabolites (5‐hydroxyimidacloprid, 4,5‐dihydroxyimidacloprid, desnitroimidacloprid, 6‐chloronicotinic acid, olefin, and urea derivative) were investigated in Apis mellifera. Acute intoxication by imidacloprid or its metabolites resulted in the rapid appearance of neurotoxicity symptoms, such as hyperresponsiveness, hyperactivity, and trembling and led to hyporesponsiveness and hypoactivity. For acute toxicity tests, bees were treated with doses of toxic compounds ranging from 1 to 1,000 ng/bee (10–10,000 μg/kg). Acute toxicity (LD50) values of imidacloprid were about 60 ng/bee (600 μg/kg) at 48 h and about 40 ng/bee (400 μg/kg) at 72 and 96 h. Out of the six imidacloprid metabolites tested, only two (5‐hydroxyimidacloprid and olefin) exhibited a toxicity close to that of imidacloprid. Olefin LD50 values were lower than those of imidacloprid. The 5‐hydroxyimidacloprid showed a lower toxicity than imidacloprid with a LD50 four to six times higher than that of imidacloprid. Urea also appeared as a compound of nonnegligible toxicity by eliciting close to 40% mortality at 1,000 ng/bee (10,000 μg/kg). However, no significant toxicity was observed with 4,5‐dihydroxyimidacloprid, 6‐chloronicotinic acid, and desnitroimidacloprid in the range of doses tested. To test chronic toxicity, worker bees were fed sucrose solutions containing 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/L of imidacloprid and its metabolites for 10 d. Fifty percent mortality was reached at approximately 8 d. Hence, considering that sucrose syrup was consumed at the mean rate of 12 μl/d and per bee, after an 8‐d period the cumulated doses were approximately 0.01, 0.1, and 1 ng/bee (0.1, 1, and 10 μg/kg). Thus, all tested compounds were toxic at doses 30 to 3,000 (olefin), 60 to 6,000 (imidacloprid), 200 to 20,000 (5‐OH‐imidacloprid), and >1,000 to 100,000 (remaining metabolites) times lower than those required to produce the same effect in acute intoxication studies. For all products tested, bee mortality was induced only 72 h after the onset of intoxication.
Self-esteem and subjective well-being revisited: The roles of personal, relational, and collective self-esteem

Previous studies have shown that self-esteem is an important predictor of subjective well-being. However, the majority of research has focused on self-esteem at the individual and the collective level, but has mostly ignored self-esteem at the relational level. According to social identity theory, individuals can maintain and enhance self-esteem through personal traits (personal self-esteem, PSE), relationships with significant others (relational self-esteem, RSE), and relationships with larger groups (collective self-esteem, CSE). The current research investigated whether RSE and CSE can predict subjective well-being beyond PSE among Chinese college students. With four cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study (N = 847), we found that, when controlling for PSE, RSE was associated with greater life satisfaction, positive affect, meaning in life, happiness, and subjective vitality (Studies 1–5), but CSE was not (Studies 2–5). Implications are discussed.
Effects of a telephone counseling intervention on psychosocial adjustment in women following a cardiac event.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the effect of a post-discharge telephone counseling intervention on women's psychosocial adjustment following a cardiac event. DESIGN The study was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. PATIENTS Women (n = 196) were recruited from 4 hospitals in Sydney, Australia, who were hospitalized for coronary artery disease: myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafts, coronary angioplasty, or stable angina. Women were randomized to usual care (n = 103) or telephone counseling (n = 93) and were 67 years of age (range 34-92). The majority had not completed high school (92%) and were not employed (84%). OUTCOMES Psychosocial adjustment was measured by the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale the day before hospital discharge and 12 weeks postdischarge. INTERVENTION Individualized information and support, was designed to promote self-managed recovery and psychosocial adjustment, and began with an evaluation during admission and was followed up by telephone counseling at 1, 2, 3, and 6 weeks after discharge. RESULTS The intervention had no effect on psychosocial adjustment (F[1,182] = 0.06, P =.8), anxiety (F[1,182] = 0.15, P =.69) or depression (F[1,182] = 0.11, P =.74) at 12 weeks after discharge. Women made significant improvements during the 12 weeks on mean scores for psychosocial adjustment (F[1,182] = 58.37, P =.00), anxiety (F [1,182] = 74.58, P =.00) and depression (F[1,182] = 14.11, P =.00). The predictors of poor psychosocial outcomes for women included being less than 55 years of age, being unemployed or retired, having poor psychosocial adjustment to illness at baseline, having readmission, or experiencing a stressful, personal event during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Women at risk for poor outcomes following hospitalization for a cardiac event can be identified (ie, women less than 55 years of age, unemployed or retired, poorly adjusted to their cardiac illness, or readmitted to hospital within 12 weeks of a previous cardiac admission), but an effective intervention to enhance psychosocial outcomes remains to be established.
Decentralisation, Regional Autonomy and Ethnic Civil Wars: A Dynamic Panel Data Analysis, 1950-2010

This paper empirically revisits the relationships between decentralisation, regional autonomy and ethnic civil war. On the one hand, decentralisation and autonomy may allow ethnic minorities to directly control their own affairs or to better hold regional rulers to account. On the other hand, decentralisation and autonomy in multi-ethnic countries may foster centrifugal forces and bestow legitimacy and resources to secessionist groups. Current evidence from cross-country or cross-ethnic group econometric studies are limited by crude operationalisation of decentralisation and often questionable treatment of endogeneity. The paper makes three key contributions: i) it builds a new dataset bringing together up-to-date and cutting edge data on decentralisation and autonomy (RAI) and ethnic group violence (EPR), thereby providing new insights on groups exposure to decentralisation in 81 countries between 1945 and 2010; ii) it tests how various facets of decentralisation (autonomy, self-rule, shared-rule, political decentralisation) relate to ethnic violence; and iii) it exploits dynamic panel data techniques, namely the difference-GMM estimator, to account for reverse causality and unobserved heterogeneity biases. The validity and strength of the estimator are explicitly established. I find that regional autonomy - even when decentralisation is otherwise limited - strongly reduces the incidence of ethnic civil wars. The conflict-mitigating effect of autonomy is maximal when regional governments command substantial powers in terms of policy-setting and when political decentralisation is strong. Political decentralisation is also found to be a strong and consistent factor of ethnic peace in the absence of regional autonomy. In contrast, granting regional governments wide-ranging authorities on policy and fiscal matters does not reduce the incidence of large-scale ethnic conflict on its own. Granting autonomy to regional governments which have no substantial powers of self-rule is weakly correlated with higher chances of onset of civil wars but a combination of autonomy and above-median self-rule and political decentralisation strongly reduces such a likelihood. Regional autonomy appears to be the only effective strategy to stop existing civil wars.
Autologous Collagen-Induced Chondrogenesis Using Fibrin and Atelocollagen Mixture

For articular cartilage defect treatment, many treatment modalities have been developed. We evaluate the cartilage repair potential of an atelocollagen and fibrin mixture transplanted to cartilage defects. A circular, articular cartilage defect 4 mm in diameter was made in the trochlear region in each of 20 New Zealand white rabbits. The 10 rabbits in the control group were kept without treatment and the 10 rabbits in the experimental group underwent injection of atelocollagen mixed with fibrin. At week 12 following surgery the cartilage was observed and histologically compared in both groups. The surface of the newly generated cartilage was very smooth and even, and we also noted that the entire area was completely regenerated in the experimental group. The control group showed incomplete and irregular cartilage formation in the defect. Regarding the histological scoring, comparison of the two groups differed significantly (p < 0.001). Injection of a mixture of atelocollagen and fibrin used to treat articular cartilage defects of the knee appears to be an effective method for cartilage regeneration.
Serologic screening and genetic testing among brazilian patients with celiac disease and their first degree relatives.

CONTEXT Celiac disease susceptibility has been shown to be associated with the HLA alleles DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0201 (together encoding the DQ2 heterodimer) that are present in practically all celiac disease patients. The DQ8 heterodimer (coded by DQA1*03-DQB1*0302), which is carried on a DRB1*04 (DR4) haplotype, is commonly encoded for by the few celiacs who do not carry the DQ2 heterodimer. Only a few celiac disease patients have been reported without these known risk alleles. OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of celiac disease in a group of first degree relatives of celiac patients, and the frequency of HLA predisposing alleles both in the group of celiac patients and in their first degree relatives, identifying those first degree relatives who would need further screening for celiac disease. METHODS Ninety celiac disease patients and 207 first degree relatives underwent serologic screening for celiac disease (endomysial and transglutaminase antibodies) followed by intestinal biopsy in positive patients. The HLA-DQA1*0501, DQB1*0201 and DRB1*04 frequencies of celiac patients and their first degree relatives were determined utilizing the PCR method. RESULTS All the celiac disease patients (n = 90) with the exception of one (1.1%) carried at least one of the alleles investigated. Altogether 11 (5.3%) of the investigated first degree relatives did not carry any of the alleles studied. Fourteen (6.7%) new cases of celiac disease were found among the 207 celiac disease patients first degree relatives. CONCLUSIONS Considering the cost-benefit of the HLA typing of all the first degree relatives of celiac patients, their HLA status should be decided on an individual basis, taking account of their profile and preferences, and the existence of other medical conditions.