Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
in situ oestrone synthesis in normal breast and breast tumour tissues: Effect of treatment with 4‐hydroxyandrostenedione

An isotopic infusion technique has been used in an attempt to determine the contribution that local, in situ, oestrone synthesis makes to the oestrogen content of breast tumours. 3H‐Androstenedione and 14C‐oestrone were infused into women with advanced breast cancer for 12 hr before operation. At surgery, normal breast and breast tumour biopsy samples were obtained and 3H‐androstenedione, 3H‐oestrone derived from 3H‐androstenedione and 14C‐oestrone were isolated and measured. DNA polymerase α activity, a marker of cellular proliferation, was also measured to examine whether local synthesis of oestrone exerted a biological effect. The study was repeated after patients had been treated with the aromatase inhibitor, 4‐hydroxyandrostenedione, before undergoing further surgery for removal of their tumours. In 4/6 tumours examined, in situ synthesis of 3H‐oestrone from 3H‐androstenedione accounted for the major part (84.3 ± 9.0%) of the 3H‐oestrone detected, while no significant in situ synthesis occurred in 2 other tumours. Although treatment with 4‐hydroxyandrostenedione did not significantly alter the uptake of 3H‐androstenedione or 14C‐oestrone into breast tissues, in situ formation of 3H‐oestrone was only detected in one tumour sample after treatment. DNA polymerase α activity decreased in 4/6 tumours after treatment with 4‐hydroxyandrostenedione. Overall, however, there was no significant correlation between the level of 3H‐oestrone formed in situ and DNA polymerase α activity (r = 0.38, NS). It is concluded that in some, but not all, breast tumours in situ formation of oestrone can make an important contribution to the oestrogen content of breast tumours.
First Description of Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus Due to TR46/Y121F/T289A Mutation in France

ABSTRACT Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus is an emerging public health concern. Recently, a novel fungicide-driven mutation in the cyp51A gene and its promoter, TR46/Y121F/T289A, leading to high-level resistance to voriconazole has been identified in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Tanzania, and India in both clinical and environmental samples. Here we report the first description of A. fumigatus carrying this mutation in France, in a cystic fibrosis patient, underlining the need for extensive monitoring of Aspergillus resistance.
Prednisone and vinblastine chemotherapy for canine mast cell tumor--41 cases (1992-1997).

Forty-one dogs with mast cell tumors (MCTs) were treated with oral prednisone and injectable vinblastine (VBL), both in the adjuvant setting (23 dogs) and in dogs with gross disease (18 dogs). Adverse effects were noted in 20% (8/41) of the patients, usually after the 1st dose of VBL. Adverse effects were considered mild in 6, and severe, necessitating treatment discontinuation, in 2 (5%). Overall response rate in the evaluable dogs with gross disease was 47% (7/15), consisting of 5 complete responses and 2 partial responses. Median response duration was 154 days (24 to >645 days). As adjuvant therapy to incomplete surgical resection, prednisone and VBL conferred a 57% 1- and 2-year disease-free rate. Median survival time (MST) for the entire patient population was not reached with a median follow-up of 573 days; however, the MST for dogs with grade III MCT was 331 days, with 45% of dogs alive at 1 and 2 years. This is an apparent improvement over historical survival data employing surgery alone. Upon univariate analysis, significant prognostic factors (P < .05) for survival included presence of a locally recurrent tumor, presence of gross disease, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region frequency, lymph node status, histologic grade, previous chemotherapy, and ulceration of the tumor. Similar criteria were significant when analyzed for time to treatment failure. Response to therapy was also predictive of survival in the gross disease group. Upon multivariate analysis, histologic grade (P = .012) and presence of a locally recurrent tumor (P < .001) were significant factors for survival.
Running Head : AMERICAN = WHITE ? American = White ?

In six studies, the extent to which American ethnic groups (African, Asian, and White) are associated with the national category “American” was investigated. Although strong explicit commitments to egalitarian principles were expressed (Study 1), each of five subsequent studies consistently revealed that both African and Asian Americans as groups are less associated with the national category “American” than are White Americans (Studies 2-6). Under some circumstances, a complete dissociation between mean levels of explicit beliefs and implicit responses emerged such that an ethnic minority was explicitly regarded to be more American than were White Americans (e.g., African Americans representing the U.S. in Olympic sports), but implicit measures showed the reverse pattern (Studies 3 and 4). In addition, Asian American participants themselves showed the American = White effect, although African Americans did not (Study 5). Importantly, the American = White association predicted the strength of national identity in White Americans: the greater the exclusion of Asian Americans from the category “American,” the greater the identification with being American (Study 6). Together, these studies provide evidence that to be American is implicitly synonymous with being White.
Selection of a Surrogate Agent (Fluconazole or Voriconazole) for Initial Susceptibility Testing of Posaconazole against Candida spp.: Results from a Global Antifungal Surveillance Program

ABSTRACT There are currently no FDA-approved broth microdilution antifungal susceptibility testing products or interpretive breakpoints for susceptibility testing of the new triazole posaconazole. Fluconazole and voriconazole are in the same triazole class as posaconazole, have CLSI-approved interpretive MIC breakpoints, and are available on some commercially available MIC panels. We investigated whether one or both of these agents may be useful as a surrogate marker for posaconazole susceptibility. Fluconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole MIC results for 10,807 isolates of Candida spp. were analyzed to validate a potential surrogate marker for posaconazole activity against indicated species. For illustrative purposes, we applied the voriconazole MIC breakpoints to posaconazole (susceptible, ≤1 μg/ml; susceptible dose dependent, 2 μg/ml; resistant, ≥4 μg/ml) and compared these MIC results and categorical interpretations with those of fluconazole and voriconazole by using regression statistics and categorical agreement. For all 10,807 isolates, the absolute categorical agreement was 91.1% (0.1% very major errors [VME], 1.2% major errors [ME], and 7.6% minor errors [M]) using fluconazole as the surrogate marker and 97.7% (0.3% VME 0.1% ME, and 1.9% M) using voriconazole as the surrogate. The results with fluconazole improved to a categorical agreement of 93.7% (0.1% VME, 0.2% ME, and 6.0% M) when results for Candida krusei (not indicated for fluconazole testing) were omitted. Either fluconazole or voriconazole MIC results may serve as surrogate markers to predict the susceptibility of Candida spp. to posaconazole.
An exact collisionless equilibrium for the Force-Free Harris Sheet with low plasma beta

We present a first discussion and analysis of the physical properties of a new exact collisionless equilibrium for a one-dimensional nonlinear force-free magnetic field, namely the Force-Free Harris Sheet. The solution allows any value of the plasma beta, and crucially below unity, which previous nonlinear force-free collisionless equilibria could not. The distribution function involves infinite series of Hermite Polynomials in the canonical momenta, of which the important mathematical properties of convergence and non-negativity have recently been proven. Plots of the distribution function are presented for the plasma beta modestly below unity, and we compare the shape of the distribution function in two of the velocity directions to a Maxwellian distribution.
Early grammatical development in Spanish children with Down syndrome*

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to analyze morphosyntactic development in a wide sample of children with Down syndrome (DS) (n = 92) and children with typical development (TD) (n = 92) with a mental age (MA) of 20 to 29 months. Children were individually matched for gender and MA (Analysis 1) and for vocabulary size (Analysis 2). Information about morphosyntax was obtained using an adaptation of the CDI for children with DS. In both analyses, the number of children with DS and with TD who combined words was similar. Analysis 1 showed that children with DS produced shorter utterances, with less morphosyntactic complexity and less morphological suffixes than children with TD, despite having the same mental age. The developmental pattern was similar, although slower in children with DS. Analysis 2 showed that the performance of children with DS was lower than the performance of children with TD in relation to morphosyntactic complexity and morphological suffixes.
Experimental prostatitis in nonhuman primates: II. Ascending acute prostatitis

Bacterial prostatitis is a common cause of urinary tract infection in males, but little is known of its pathophysiology. To study this, we developed a nonhuman primate model using a wild‐type clinical isolate of Escherichia coli. Primates have a prostatic anatomy that is similar to humans, which makes them ideal as an animal model of this disease. The monkeys had a urethral inoculation of this organism and were then followed with urine, blood, and semen cultures, white blood counts, and renal scans. They were sacrificed at from 10 days to 4 weeks, and their genitourinary tracts histologically examined. The prostatitis paralleled that reported in humans, and we conclude that the infection occurs by the ascending route. The organisms causing the infection in man do so in our primate model, and the histologic change is also the same. Thus, the primate model holds promise for studies to help us understand this disease.
Molecular Size Fractions of Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis) Exhibit Differentiated Regulation of Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth In Vitro

Numerous in vitro studies using solvent or aqueous extracts of raw dietary plant material have demonstrated modulation of colon cancer cell growth and apoptosis and effects on immune and nonimmune pathways of inflammation. We have developed a generic, 3-staged food-compatible process involving heating for conversion of dietary plants into food ingredients and report results on potential colon cancer-regulating properties of processed forms of Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis). In vitro studies demonstrated inhibition of cancer cell growth by processed Bay leaf products in HT-29, HCT-116, Caco-2, and SW-480 human cancer cell lines, which were accompanied by variable levels of elevated apoptosis. Bay leaf also exerted moderate inhibition of cycloxygenase 2 and 5 lipoxygenase enzymatic activity. In addition, these extracts significantly downregulated interferon-γ production in T helper Type 1-stimulated whole blood from healthy donors. Furthermore, size fractionation of the extracts revealed that antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities were associated with low mass (primarily polyphenolics and essential oils) and high mass (primarily proteins including polyphenol oxidase) chemical classes, respectively. Bay leaf exerted in vitro bioactivity that might be relevant to protecting against early events in sporadic colorectal cancer, with potential for further optimization of bioactivity by size-based fractionation.
An inferential approach to the knew-it-all-along phenomenon

Two studies tested the hypothesis that the knew-it-all-along effect may be the result of an inferential process. Specifically, that individuals use their feelings and experiences (e.g., "This question seems so familiar to me, surely I would have known the answer! ") to infer their judgement. Drawing on subjective feelings such as certainty or perceptual fluency, individuals can use a provided actual value as an informational cue and draw inferences from it. Thus, the occurrence of the knew-it-all-along effect is expected to depend on the experienced feeling of confidence with a question. This feeling may indicate to an individual that he or she did know the answer; a total lack of such a feeling may suggest that he or she never would have known the answer. In the reported studies we both measured feelings of confidence (Study 1) and induced them by manipulating perceptual fluency (Study 2) to show that the knew-it-all-along effect proves to be a phenomenon of inferences based on these experienced feelings. Participants experiencing high confidence or high perceptual fluency more strongly assimilated their judgements to the provided values, than did participants experiencing low confidence or low perceptual fluency.
Inter- and Intraindividual Variabilities in Pharmacokinetics of Fentanyl After Repeated 72-Hour Transdermal Applications in Cancer Pain Patients

Perception of pain by the patient is frequently one of the early signs preceding a diagnosis of cancer and, later, a sinister sign of disease progression. Among opioid drugs, transdermal fentanyl has been evaluated in the treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain. The objective of this study was to investigate the intra- and interindividual variabilities in pharmacokinetics after fentanyl drug delivery by the transdermal fentanyl patch delivery system in patients with cancer pain. As a first step, a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of the analgesic fentanyl in human plasma. This method was validated over the concentration range 0.15-100 ng/mL. The study group consisted of 29 inpatients (18 men and 11 women; age range 29-80 years). The initial transdermal fentanyl delivery rate was chosen depending on the patient's analgesic requirements. For 20 patients, the initial TTS fentanyl delivery rate was 25 or 50 μg/h. For 6 patients, the initial delivery rate was 75-150 μg/h. Two patients received up to 300 μg/h fentanyl delivery rate, and 3 patients received up to 350 μg/h fentanyl delivery rate. Fifteen of the 29 patients received rescue doses of subcutaneous or oral morphine, and 26 patients received paracetamol with codeine (30 mg per os). Blood samples were collected at the following intervals: 2-5, 22-26, or 45-47 hours following fentanyl patch application. The severity of pain experienced by the patient was assessed thrice daily using a visual analogue scale. The study period was 46 days. Large patient-to-patient variations in pharmacokinetic parameters occurred, although intraindividual variability was limited. A mean bioavailability of 78% was estimated; the total clearance averaged 41 L/h. From 25 to 100 μg/h fentanyl delivery rate, the pharmacokinetics was linear. At the 2 highest doses, an increase of total clearance was observed (>60 L/h). For the whole group, transdermal fentanyl treatment provided good to excellent pain relief in the majority of patients.
[Anogenital warts: a new way of solving the common problem of urology (results of long-term follow-up)].

AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of combined use of the imiquimod 5% cream and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) using a quadrivalent recombinant vaccine to achieve long-term clinical remission of chronic HPV infection manifested by anogenital warts. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study comprised 36 patients, including 22 men, aged 26.4+/-4.1 years, who had from 1 to 5 anogenital warts. Participants of the study were vaccinated by quadrivalent recombinant vaccine under a 3-dose scheme 0-2-6 months co-administered with imiquimod 5% cream three times per week up to 16 weeks. The follow-up period was 2 years. RESULTS Complete disappearance of genital warts within 1 year from baseline was observed in 34 (94.4%) patients. Two patients with anogenital warts after 1 year were treated for 1 year 3 months and 1 year and 4 months with Solcoderm which lead to the complete disappearance of genital warts. There were no recurrences of genital warts during the 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION Vaccination with a recombinant quadrivalent vaccine concurrently with using imiquimod 5% cream results in prolonged clinical remission of chronic HPV infection manifested by anogenital warts in at least 94.4% of the cases (2 year follow-up).
Food Habits of Canadians: Reduction in Fat Intake Over a Generation

Purpose: A national survey of adult Canadians (n=1,544) was recently undertaken (1997–1998) to monitor whether changes in dietary intake have occurred since the last Canadian dietary survey, conducted a generation ago (1970). Methods: Individuals from randomly selected households from a stratified sample of 80 enumeration areas from five regions of Canada were interviewed by a dietitian at home for a 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire.Results: The mean dietary % energy from protein (16–18%), carbohydrate (50–56%) and fat (29–31%) was close to recommended levels in the different age-sex groups. Fat intake was reduced from previous surveys. Intakes of dairy products and fruits and vegetables are lower than recommended. Nutrient values at the 25th percentile of the nutrient distribution, were below recommended levels for calcium, folate, iron and zinc among women.Conclusion: Despite the growing problem of obesity, Canadians are eating less fat than a generation ago but intake of certain nutrients are still suboptimal. RésuméObjectif: Une étude nationale sur des Canadiens adultes (n=1 544) fut récemment entreprise (1997–1998) pour vérifier si des changements dans la prise alimentaire étaient survenus depuis la dernière étude il y a une génération (1970). Méthodes: Des individus furent interviewés à la maison pour répondre à un questionnaire sur le rappel nutritionnel de 24 heures et la fréquence de prise alimentaire parmi des foyers sélectionnés au hasard à partir d’un échantillon stratifié de 80 territoires énumérés venant de cinq régions du Canada. Résultats: Le pourcentage moyen d’énergie provenant de protéines (16–18 %), des hydrates de carbone (50–56 %) et du gras (29–31 %) était près des niveaux recommandés. La prise de matières grasses avait diminué depuis les études précédentes. La prise de produits laitiers et de fruits et légumes est au-dessous de la recommandation. Les valeurs nutritives au 25e percentile de la distribution nutritionnelle, étaient au dessous des niveaux recommandés pour le calcium, l’acide folique, le fer et le zinc chez les femmes.Conclusion: Malgré le problème croissant d’obésité, les Canadiens consomment moins de gras qu’il y a une génération mais la prise de certains nutriments est toujours sous-optimal.
The Relation between Reporting Quality and Financing and Investment: Evidence from Changes in Financing Capacity

We use changes in the value of a firm's real estate assets as an exogenous change in a firm's financing capacity to examine (1) the relation between reporting quality and financing and investment conditional on this change, and (2) firms’ reporting quality responses to the change in financing capacity. We find that financing and investment by firms with higher reporting quality is less affected by changes in real estate values than are financing and investment by firms with lower reporting quality. Further, firms increase reporting quality in response to decreases in financing capacity. Our findings contribute to the literature on reporting quality and investment, and on the determinants of reporting quality choices.
The Early Prevention of Mathematics Difficulty

In this article, the authors consider the power and limitations of responsiveness-to-intervention (RTI) for reducing the need for ongoing and intensive services for the segment of the school population traditionally identified as having a learning disability in mathematics. To assess the robustness of RTI, the authors describe four studies with strong demonstrations of efficacy, as they considered the percentage of students who failed to respond, the post-tutoring achievement gap between tutored and not-at-risk students, and the extent of transfer across components of the mathematics curriculum. The authors then discuss implications and additional research questions pertaining to mathematics intervention generally and within the context of RTI. They conclude with a proposal for an expanded conceptualization of RTI.
Caenorhabditis elegans PAQR-2 and IGLR-2 Protect against Glucose Toxicity by Modulating Membrane Lipid Composition

In spite of the worldwide impact of diabetes on human health, the mechanisms behind glucose toxicity remain elusive. Here we show that C. elegans mutants lacking paqr-2, the worm homolog of the adiponectin receptors AdipoR1/2, or its newly identified functional partner iglr-2, are glucose intolerant and die in the presence of as little as 20 mM glucose. Using FRAP (Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching) on living worms, we found that cultivation in the presence of glucose causes a decrease in membrane fluidity in paqr-2 and iglr-2 mutants and that genetic suppressors of this sensitivity act to restore membrane fluidity by promoting fatty acid desaturation. The essential roles of paqr-2 and iglr-2 in the presence of glucose are completely independent from daf-2 and daf-16, the C. elegans homologs of the insulin receptor and its downstream target FoxO, respectively. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, we also show that PAQR-2 and IGLR-2 interact on plasma membranes and thus may act together as a fluidity sensor that controls membrane lipid composition.
The Consequences of REIT Index Membership for Return Patterns

We study the impact of S&P index membership on REIT stock returns. Given the hybrid nature of REITs, their returns may become more like those of other indexed stocks and less like those of their underlying properties. The existing literature does not offer clear predictions on these potential outcomes. Taking advantage of the inclusion of REITs in major S&P indexes starting in 2001, we find that shared index membership significantly increases the correlation between REIT returns after controlling for the stock characteristics that determine index membership. We also document that index membership enhances the link between REIT stock returns and the performance of the underlying real estate, consistent with improved pricing efficiency. REIT investors appear to be able to enjoy the benefits of improved visibility and liquidity associated with index membership as well as the exposure to underlying real estate markets and the related benefits of diversification.
Cu2O behavior under pressure: an ab initio study

We have performed density-functional theory calculations for three crystallographic phases (cuprite, CdI2, and CdCl2) of the cuprous oxide by using both the local-density approximation (LDA) and the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized-gradient approximation. The latter gives a very good description of the properties of the cuprite phase at room temperature. In particular, the bulk modulus and the elastic constants at zero pressure are in excellent agreement with experiment. At 10 GPa (7 in LDA calculations), the transition from the cuprite to the CdI2 phase occurs, and the latter remains the phase having the smallest Gibbs energy up to the maximum pressure we have considered (20 GPa). We have also determined the elastic constants of Cu2O in the cuprite phase for various applied pressures. The results indicate that this structure becomes unstable with respect to trigonal deformations before the transition to the CdI2 phase. On the other hand, no indication of instability with respect to tetragonal deformations has been found. This kind of instability would occur at pressures greater than the phase transition pressure.