Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The exoD gene of Rhizobium meliloti encodes a novel function needed for alfalfa nodule invasion

During the symbiotic interaction between alfalfa and the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium meliloti, the bacterium induces the formation of nodules on the plant roots and then invades these nodules. Among the bacterial genes required for nodule invasion are the exo genes, involved in production of an extracellular polysaccharide, and the ndv genes, needed for production of a periplasmic cyclic glucan. Mutations in the exoD gene result in altered exopolysaccharide production and in a nodule invasion defect. In this work we show that the stage of symbiotic arrest of exoD mutants is similar to that of other exo and ndv mutants. However, the effects of exoD mutations on exopolysaccharide production and growth on various media are different from the effects of other exo and ndv mutations. Finally, exoD mutations behave differently from other exo mutations in their ability to be suppressed or complemented extracellularly. The results suggest that exoD represents a new class of Rhizobium genes required for nodule invasion, distinct from the other exo genes and the ndv genes. We discuss models for the function of exoD.
Assessment of the anterior spinal artery and the artery of Adamkiewicz using multi‐detector CT angiography

Background Damage to the spinal cord after the treatment of the descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms is an uncommon but devastating complication. The artery of Adamkiewicz (AKA) is the principal arterial supply of the anterior spinal artery (ASA) in the lower thoracic and lumbar level. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visualization of the anterior spinal artery and the artery of Adamkiewicz, the affecting factors for the detection rate using multi‐detector row CT (MDCT). Methods Ninety‐nine consecutive patients (31 women and 68 men; age range, 25‐90 years; average age 61.3 years), with suspicion for thoracic aortic lesions necessitating surgical intervention (31 aortic aneurysm, 45 dissection, 5 intramural hematoma, and 18 normal), underwent CT angiography from the aortic arch to the aortic bifurcation. Transverse sections, multiplanar reformations and thin maximum intensity projections were used to assess the ASA and AKA. The level of the ASA and AKA origins and CT acquisition parameters were recorded. The contrast‐to‐noise ratio of the image, an index of the mass of the T11 body (vertebral mass index), the subcutaneous fat thickness, and the CT value within the aortic arch and at the T11 level were measured. The detection of the ASA and AKA were evaluated relative to the acquisition parameters, scan characteristics, and aortic lesion type. Differences were assessed with the Wilcoxon rank‐sum and t tests. Results The ASA was visualized in 51 patients (52%) and the AKA in 18 patients (18%). The ASA was identified in 36/67 patients (54%) with 1.25 mm thickness and in 15/32 patients (47%) with 2.5‐3.0 mm thickness. This difference did not achieve significance (P=0.13). The detection rate of the ASA and the AKA was influenced by the vertebral mass index and the contrast‐to‐noise ratio (P<0.05). The amount of subcutaneous fat affected the detection rate of the ASA (P <0.05) but not the AKA. In CT scans of ASA detection, the mean CT values in the aorta at the arch and at T11 were 360 and 358 HU, respectively, whereas in CT scans without ASA detection, the CT values in the aorta at the arch and at T11 were lower (P <0.05), 297 and 317 HU, respectively. Conclusions The ASA and AKA were less frequently detected in our cohort than previous reports. The visualization of the ASA and AKA was significantly affected by aortic enhancement, the “vertebral mass index”, and the contrast‐to‐noise ratio.
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in clinical isolates of Enterobacter gergoviae and Escherichia coli in China

Resistance to ceftazidime, detected in isolates of Escherichia coli 5518 and Enterobacter gergoviae 3773 from our hospital, was transferred, together with resistance to aminoglycosides, trimethoprim, sulfonamide, and other beta-lactam antibiotics, by conjugation to E. coli JP559. Both E. coli transconjugants were resistant to ampicillin, all cephalosporins, and aztreonam but remained susceptible to cefoxitin and imipenem. The enzymes of the two transconjugant strains readily hydrolyzed cephalosporins in a spectrophotometric assay. Hybridization results suggested that the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase produced by E. coli 5518 was a non-TEM, non-SHV enzyme, the origin of which is currently unknown. The beta-lactamase produced by E. gergoviae 3773 was of the SHV type and was further proved to be SHV-2 by DNA sequencing. Thus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases are occurring in China as well as in other parts of the world.
Clinical significance of bacteriologic screening in platelet concentrates

BACKGROUND: Despite routine bacterial screening with a bacterial culturing system (BacT/ALERT, bioMérieux) of platelet (PLT) concentrates, two cases of life‐threatening sepsis attributed to transfused PLT products contaminated with Bacillus cereus were reported to the regional hemovigilance office in the southwest region of the Netherlands. These reports necessitated a retrospective evaluation of the currently applied bacteriologic screening program.
CITED4 Inhibits Hypoxia-Activated Transcription in Cancer Cells, and Its Cytoplasmic Location in Breast Cancer Is Associated with Elevated Expression of Tumor Cell Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α

The interaction of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and the CH1 domain of the transcriptional coactivator p300/CBP is necessary for the expression of hypoxia responsive genes and tumor angiogenesis. The transcription factor CITED2 binds p300/CBP at the CH1 domain and functions as a negative regulator of hypoxia signaling by competing with hypoxia-inducible factor 1α. CITED4, a recently identified member of the CITED family, binds p300/CBP via the CH1 domain and functions as a coactivator for transcription factor AP-2. Here, we show that CITED4 blocks the binding of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α to p300 in vitro and inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor-1α transactivation and hypoxia-mediated reporter gene activation. These studies suggest that CITED4 might function as an inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α. To explore the function of CITED4 in breast cancer, we determined its expression in normal, in situ and invasive breast cancers. We also correlated its expression in 286 invasive breast tumors with clinicopathological, hypoxia markers and survival. In contrast to the nuclear localization of CITED4 in normal breast tissue, breast tumors were characterized by cytoplasmic and nuclear localization. Nuclear CITED4 expression was significantly inversely associated with tumor hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (P < 0.05), tumor size (P = 0.03), tumor grade (P = 0.0001), and Chalkley vessel count (P = 0.04). CITED4 showed no significant correlation with patient age (P = 0.45), estrogen receptor (P = 0.11), or epidermal growth factor receptor (P = 0.48). These results show that breast cancer development is characterized by either nuclear loss or cytoplasmic translocation of CITED4, with consequent loss of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α transcriptional antagonist activity. This may be an important mechanism by which tumors enhance hypoxia-inducible factor expression and result in an aggressive phenotype.
Relationship between Supra-Annual Trends in Influenza Rates and Stroke Occurrence

Background: Stroke occurrence appears to be a random event, yet annual and supra-annual periodicity is observed. Recent attention in atherosclerotic disease etiology has focused on infectious and inflammatory mechanisms. Influenza is one such infection that may influence stroke occurrence. Methods: We explored population-based time series data on stroke occurrence and influenza activity. Using Fourier transformation to isolate low-frequency signals in the data, the inverse transformed time series were regressed using Prais-Winsten regression to correct for serially auto-correlated residuals, to assess the relationship between influenza rates and stroke occurrence rates. Results: Changes in the low-frequency components of influenza activity predicted the changes in low-frequency components of the stroke occurrence data with a delay of about 20 weeks. The delay between changes in influenza activity and subsequent stroke activity was different for different stroke types. Overall, the effect size was small with a tripling of the influenza rate associated with about a 6% change in stroke occurrence rate. Conclusions: A small proportion of the patterns of stroke occurrence may be explained by variation in influenza activity. Further evaluation of influenza as a triggering agent in stroke is needed.
Operative management of chronic pancreatitis in children.

HYPOTHESIS Chronic pancreatitis in childhood is a rare but potentially debilitating disorder, and failure of conservative therapy with chronic pain medication use is common. We hypothesize that aggressive surgical therapy may hold promise for long-term remission. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively for 12 years. SETTING Tertiary care children's hospital. PATIENTS Eighteen children (aged 3-13 years, 11 girls) underwent surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis after 1 to 6 years of various medical therapies (parenteral nutrition, somatostatin, or pain medication). These patients required a mean +/- SD 6 +/- 0 hospitalizations before operation. Pancreatitis was familial in 9 patients, idiopathic in 5, and secondary to trauma and medication use in 2 each. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed pancreatic duct dilatation in 7, strictures in 5, ductal stones in 4, and normal findings in 2. The operative therapy consisted of longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy in 2 children (both children failed pancreaticojejunostomy but improved after undergoing pancreatectomy) and distal pancreatectomy with Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy in 16 children. OUTCOME MEASURES Survival, need for rehospitalization or reoperation, and chronic pain medication requirements. RESULTS All patients survived. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 15 years. Thirteen (72%) of 18 patients have required no further hospitalizations or medications. Two patients required a second operation to convert their longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy to distal pancreatectomy, and 3 patients have required 2 to 5 additional hospitalizations for recurrent pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography on 5 patients 2 to 4 years postoperatively showed patent distal pancreaticojejunostomy. CONCLUSIONS This series suggests that distal pancreatectomy and pancreaticojejunostomy are effective treatments for this difficult group of patients, while longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy was ineffective. Long-term relief of pain and reduced need for rehospitalization are the usual results after this procedure.
Mentors offering maternal support: a support intervention for military mothers.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of the Mentors Offering Maternal Support (MOMS) program to promote maternal fetal attachment, maternal adaptation to pregnancy, self-esteem, and perceived community support in women within a military environment. DESIGN A randomized, controlled, repeated measured pilot study compared two groups of pregnant military wives, a control group receiving standard prenatal care and an intervention group receiving a structured eight-session MOMS program. SETTING The study was conducted at two Air Force installations in Florida having joint (Air Force, Army, and Navy) operations and high deployment requirements. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-five military wives in their first trimester of pregnancy (control group, n = 36 and intervention group, n = 29) completed all aspects of the study. METHODS Women randomized to the MOMS program received eight structured classes starting in the first trimester of pregnancy and occurring every other week until the third trimester. Outcome measures were obtained in each trimester. The women in the control group received usual prenatal care. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups for any of the outcome variables. The interaction of the amount of contact the women had with their deployed husbands and group assignment was statistically different for two variables, the Relationship with Husband Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory.
Is dietary restriction always necessary in Haemoccult screening for colorectal neoplasia?

Certain dietary constituents may cause guaiac-based faecal occult blood tests to be positive in the absence of blood loss. In a randomized controlled study of Haemoccult screening for the early detection of colorectal cancer, a policy of retesting with appropriate dietary restriction is used to minimize false-positive results. Delay associated with the retesting protocol may cause considerable anxiety. The aim of the study was to determine the likelihood of an initial positive result remaining positive after retesting. One-hundred-and-thirteen of 137 (35.6%) subjects whose initial test was < 5 squares positive remained positive in contrast to 52/59 (88.1%) with > or = 5 squares positive, a significantly higher proportion (P < 0.001). This suggests that if five or more test squares are positive, then dietary interference is unlikely to be responsible. We conclude that, if dietary restriction retesting is practiced, individuals with strongly positive tests may be offered investigation without retesting, thus reducing their delay to further investigation.
White blood cells count , sex and age are major determinants of platelet indices heterogeneity in an adult general population : results from the MOLI-SANI project by

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Expression of Inflammatory and Neurogenic Mediators in Adenomyosis

Objective: Adenomyosis is a uterine disorder characterized by dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, abnormal uterine bleeding, and infertility. Pathogenesis indicates that endometrial cells invade and proliferate within myometrium, and inflammatory mediators participate to the intense painful symptoms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of inflammatory (interleukin 1β [IL-1β], corticotropin-releasing hormone [CRH], urocortin [Ucn]) and neurogenic (nerve growth factors [NGFs], synaptophysin [SYN], microtubule-associated protein 2 [MAP2]) factors in adenomyotic nodules. Materials and Methods: This prospective study enrolled 16 women, 8 women with nodular adenomyosis and 8 control women undergoing to hysterectomy. Specimens from adenomyotic nodules and eutopic endometrium were collected after surgery. Endometrial tissue was also obtained from the control group and also used for preparing primary culture of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Messenger RNA expression of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, CRH, and Ucn) and neurogenic factors (NGF, SYN, and MAP2) was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The in vitro effects of CRH/Ucn on NGF or SYN mRNA expression were also investigated. Results: Adenomyotic nodules highly expressed IL-1β, CRH, and Ucn mRNAs, as well as NGF, SYN, and MAP2 mRNAs (P < .001 vs eutopic endometrium and control). Endometrium of women with adenomyosis showed high expression of IL-1β and CRH (P < .001 vs control). Protein expression of CRH, NGF, and SYN in adenomyotic nodules was confirmed by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses. Urocortin increased NGF mRNA expression in cultured HESCs. Conclusion: The present study showed that adenomyotic nodules are novel site of expression of inflammatory and neurogenic factors, probably involved in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.
Influence of orthostatic hypotension on mortality among patients discharged from an acute geriatric ward

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common finding among older patients. The impact of OH on mortality is unknown.OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term effect of OH on total and cardiovascular mortality.PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 471 inpatients (227 males and 244 females), with a mean age of 81.5 years who were hospitalized in an acute geriatric ward between the years 1999 and 2000 were included in the study. Orthostatic tests were performed 3 times during the day on all patients near the time of discharge. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a fall of at least 20 mmHg in systolic blood pressure (BP) and/or 10mmHg in diastolic BP upon assuming an upright posture at least twice during the day. Patients were followed until August 31, 2004. Mortality data were taken from death certificates.RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one patients (34.2%) experienced OH at least twice. Orthostatic hypotension had no effect on all cause and cause specific mortality. Over a follow-up of 3.47±1.87 years 249 patients (52.8%) had died 83 of whom (33.3%) had OH. Age-adjusted mortality rates in those with and without OH were 13.4 and 15.7 per 100 person-years, respectively. Cox proportional hazards model analysis demonstrated that male gender, age, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure increased and high body mass index decreased total mortality.CONCLUSIONS: Orthostatic hypotension is relatively common in elderly patients discharged from acute geriatric wards, but has no impact on vascular and nonvascular mortality.
Pentose cycle activity in endometrium of the rat during progestation: its regulation by intrauterine oxygen and its relation to the "progestational" action of progesterone.

Measures were made of the utilization of l-14C-glucose and 6-14C-glucose by endometrium of the rat uterus during progestation under incubation conditions of 3, 5 and 8% oxygen. It was found that utilization of both labeled sugars was moderate during proestrus and estrus, increased rapidly on Days 1 and 2 of pseudopregnancy, and declined transiently during Day 3 of pseudopregnancy under all oxygen tension conditions. Oxygen tension affected glucose utilization, which, in general, was higher under 5% oxygen than under the other pO2 environments. The effects of oxygen on metabolism could be explained as the result of (a) a shift in substrate utilization from an endogenous to an exogenous source as the pO2 was raised from 3 to 5 %, and (b) an added Pasteur effect, as the level of oxygen was increased from 5 to 8%. Two major avenues of glucose metabolism were modified by oxygen: an elevated pentose-shunt activity (observed at 5% O2) and a decreased endogenous contribution to the lactate pool as the oxygen leve.
‘I have better stuff at home’: treasure hunting and private collecting of World War II artefacts in Finnish Lapland

ABSTRACT Almost all archaeologists encounter collectors of different kinds of artefacts at some point in their career, whether it is the private collectors of financially valuable antiquities or ‘amateur archaeologists’ who have amassed personal collections of local finds. In our research into the material legacy of the German presence in northern Finland during World War II, we have encountered both artefact hunters (primarily but not exclusively metal detecting enthusiasts) and artefact collectors (sometimes the same people) with a specific interest in military remains from this location and period. In this article, we explore these alternative perspectives on collecting, and frame them within the context of treasure hunters, militaria collectors and other history hobbyists, and their relationship to the ‘official’ heritage managers and curators.
Evidence for the transfer in culture of [14C]‐labelled fatty acids from macrophages to lymphocytes

[14C]‐labelled palmitic acid (PA), oleic acid (OA), linoleic (LA) and arachidonic (AA) acids were transferred from macrophages (Mφ) to lymphocytes (LY) when equal numbers of the two cell types were co‐cultured. The relative degree and amounts of the fatty acids transferred from Mφ to LY are as follow: AA (368.57±21.62)=OA (274.52±15.41)>LA (42.11±8.31)=PA (36.53±2.45). The transfer units are nmol/1010 Mφ/1010 LY and the values are mean±SEM for 7 experiments. The [144C]‐radioactivity transferred was mainly directed to the phospholipid fraction of the lymphocytes (85% by PA, 86% by LA, 83% by OA and 79% by AA). In the same order as above, phosphatidylcholine was the phospholipid moiety most heavily labelled (82% by PA, 71% by LA, 66% by OA and 47% by AA). The amount of [14C]‐radioactivity transferred to stimulated lymphocytes of thioglycollate treated animals remained unchanged for LA, PA and AA but reduced for OA (71%). The significance of these observations for the immune functions of the cells and resolution of the question of whether some of the [14C]‐isotope transfer involves a component of exchange or is unequivocally net fatty acid mass transfer are still being investigated.
Structure and Absolute Configuration of a Diterpenoid from Castanea mollissima

From the nuts of Castanea mollissima Blume, a new kauranoid diterpene glycoside, named mollioside (1), was isolated. Its structure was established as (4R, 5S, 6R, 8R, 9S, 10S, 13R, 16R) 17-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, ent-6,7-epoxy-6α-hydroxyl-6,7-secokaur-19-oic acid, 6, 19-lactone-16β, 17-diol on the basis of HR-FAB-MS, 1D, 2D-NMR and CD spectral analysis. The aglycone (1a, named mollissin), also as a new compound, was obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis of 1. Both compounds exhibited significant growth inhibitory activity on HeLa tumor cells, but no activity on A375-S2.