Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CDX2 expression is induced by Helicobacter pylori in AGS cells

To The Editor: In the paper by Vauhkonen et al. [1], recently published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, the investigators observe that CDX2 is expressed focally and at low intensity in normal stomach, particularly in the antrum, and that this expression is enhanced in Helicobacter pylori gastritis and reversible after eradication of the bacteria. In accordance with the results by Vauhkonen et al., we observed, in vitro, an increase in CDX2 expression upon infection of a gastric carcinoma cell line (AGS) with a cag PAI-positive H. pylori strain, 26695. In our experiment, AGS cells were infected at two different ratios of bacteria to epithelial cells, 100:1 and 200:1, during 3 h and 8 h. We observed an increase in CDX2 expression, determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), after 8 h of infection (Figure 1A). Next, we evaluated the putative involvement of the CagA gene in the regulation of the CDX2 promoter, by co-transfecting three gastric carcinoma cell lines with the proximal CDX2 promoter (-871/-1) [2] and a CagA expression vector [3]. However, we did not observe any increased transcriptional activity of the CDX2 promoter (Figure 1B) by CagA. CDX2 is a marker and, more importantly, a master gene for intestinal differentiation both in the intestine [4] and in aberrant locations, such as intestinal metaplasia (IM) of the stomach [5 7], which is a preneoplastic lesion that is strongly associated with H. pylori infection, in epidemiological [8] and in vivo studies [9]. Vauhkonen et al. address two very interesting points on the regulation of CDX2 in the stomach, the association with H. pylori infection and the reversibility of CDX2 expression. Our results complement the ones obtained by Vauhkonen et al., since we show that the presence of H. pylori is sufficient to increase CDX2 expression in a gastric carcinoma cell line, and that this regulation is not directly through CagA in an in vitro system. The importance of this demonstration stems from the fact that, in vivo (in tissues), it is not possible to separate the role played by the bacteria and by the concomitant inflammatory process. In fact, the circumstance that CDX2 is also aberrantly expressed in other locations, such as Barrett’s oesophagus [10], and even in autoimmune gastritis, strongly suggests that the inflammatory process may play an important role. In summary, although the mechanism has not been clarified, both the report by Vauhkonen et al. and our own data show that CDX2 expression in the stomach is regulated directly by H. pylori.
Correlation between plasma thyroid hormones and liver enzymes level in thyrotoxic cases and controls in Hazara Division.

BACKGROUND Thyrotoxicosis is defined as increased synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones; when associated with defused goitre it is known as grave's disease. Hepatic changes in thyrotoxiosis are fatty changes, cirrhosis and centrilobular necrosis, resulting in elevated serum levels of liver specific enzymes ALT, AST and ALK. Objective of the study was to determine a correlation between plasma levels of 3 liver enzymes, and thyroid hormones in thyrotoxic cases, and matched controls in Hazara Division. METHODS This study was conducted at Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad from 1st July 2004 to 30th June 2007. The controls were selected from staff and students of Ayub Medial College Abbottabad. Fifty cases of thyrotoxicosis and 50 controls were included in this study by convenience sampling. Their thyroid profile for T3, T4, TSH and liver enzymes profile for ALT, AST, ALK were determined and analysed for a correlation. RESULTS Mean T3 of cases was 5.23 +/- 1.95 and of controls 1.95 +/- 0.35. Mean T4 of case was 248.88 +/- 62.75, and of controls was 113.40 +/- 19.01. Mean TSH of cases was 0.07 +/- 0.25 and that of controls was 2.24 +/- 0.80. Mean ALT of cases was 38.78 +/- 4.96 while that of controls was 23.98 +/- 5.27. Mean AST of cases was 39.76 +/- 5.05 and of controls was 26.52 +/- 4.49. Mean ALK of cases was 299.68 +/- 22.32 and of controls was 155.10 +/- 37.07. CONCLUSION Although liver enzymes levels were slightly elevated in many thyrotoxic cases, no significant correlation emerged between any of the thyroid hormones and any of the liver enzymes, either in cases or controls.
Multicast Planning for Mission-Critical Networks

In this paper, considering user vicinity information, maximum tolerable unwanted traffic, and routing overhead, we introduce a new two-stage multicast group planning technique which has many applications in tactical networks (TN) used in the future battlefield networks (FBN). We formally define channelization problem with respect to no false exclusion and minimum false inclusion requirements. We address: (i) selection of the number of multicast groups, (ii) adaptation of the mapping algorithms to the networks with different characteristics, and (Hi) reduction of the computational complexity of the mapping algorithms. Our approach results in scalable group configurations based on the availability of resources in the network. Simulation results show that it is cost-effective and generates multicast groups of smaller sizes, which are easier to maintain especially in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), than other greedy approaches for the same amount of unwanted traffic per user.
Effect of Xylitol on the Growth and Glycolysis of Acidogenic Oral Bacteria

We investigated the effect of xylitol on the growth of different oral bacteria in the presence of glucose. Xylitol inhibited the growth of all but one of ten strains of S. mutans and failed to inhibit the growth of the lactobacilli, actinomycetes, and other streptococci tested except S. sanguis 10556, which was slightly inhibited. However, the rate of acid production of the sensitive S. mutans strains was not equally affected by xylitol. These data, obtained with pure cultures of acidogenic oral bacteria, may explain the lack of an in vitro inhibitory effect of xylitol on dental plaque samples.
Tesevatinib ameliorates progression of polycystic kidney disease in rodent models of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

AIM To investigate the therapeutic potential of tesevatinib (TSV), a unique multi-kinase inhibitor currently in Phase II clinical trials for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), in well-defined rodent models of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). METHODS We administered TSV in daily doses of 7.5 and 15 mg/kg per day by I.P. to the well characterized bpk model of polycystic kidney disease starting at postnatal day (PN) 4 through PN21 to assess efficacy and toxicity in neonatal mice during postnatal development and still undergoing renal maturation. We administered TSV by oral gavage in the same doses to the orthologous PCK model (from PN30 to PN90) to assess efficacy and toxicity in animals where developmental processes are complete. The following parameters were assessed: Body weight, total kidney weight; kidney weight to body weight ratios; and morphometric determination of a cystic index and a measure of hepatic disease. Renal function was assessed by: Serum BUN; creatinine; and a 12 h urinary concentrating ability. Validation of reported targets including the level of angiogenesis and inhibition of angiogenesis (active VEGFR2/KDR) was assessed by Western analysis. RESULTS This study demonstrates that: (1) in vivo pharmacological inhibition of multiple kinase cascades with TSV reduced phosphorylation of key mediators of cystogenesis: EGFR, ErbB2, c-Src and KDR; and (2) this reduction of kinase activity resulted in significant reduction of renal and biliary disease in both bpk and PCK models of ARPKD. The amelioration of disease by TSV was not associated with any apparent toxicity. CONCLUSION The data supports the hypothesis that this multi-kinase inhibitor TSV may provide an effective clinical therapy for human ARPKD.
Persistence of Initial Misanalysis With No Referential Ambiguity

Previous research reported that in processing structurally ambiguous sentences comprehenders often preserve an initial incorrect analysis even after adopting a correct analysis following structural disambiguation. One criticism is that the sentences tested in previous studies involved referential ambiguity and allowed comprehenders to make inferences about the initial interpretation using pragmatic information, suggesting the possibility that the initial analysis persisted due to comprehenders' pragmatic inference but not to their failure to perform complete reanalysis of the initial misanalysis. Our study investigated this by testing locally ambiguous relative clause sentences in Japanese, in which the initial misinterpretation contradicts the correct interpretation. Our study using a self-paced reading technique demonstrated evidence for the persistence of the initial analysis with this structure. The results from an eye-tracking study further suggested that the phenomenon directly reflected the amount of support given to the initial incorrect analysis prior to disambiguating information: The more supported the incorrect main clause analysis was, the more likely comprehenders were to preserve the analysis even after the analysis was falsified. Our results thus demonstrated that the preservation of the initial analysis occurs not due to referential ambiguities but to comprehenders' difficulty to fully revise the highly supported initial interpretation.
Effects of mGlu1 and mGlu5 receptor antagonists on negatively reinforced learning

Effects on aversive learning of the novel highly selective mGlu5 receptor antagonist [(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl]pyridine (MTEP) and mGlu1 receptor antagonist (3-ethyl-2-methyl-quinolin-6-yl)-(4-methoxy-cyclohexyl)-methanone methanesulfonate (EMQMCM) were tested, after systemic administration, in the passive avoidance (PA) and fear potentiated startle (FPS) paradigms. Both MTEP at 10 mg/kg and EMQMCM at 5 and 10 mg/kg, given 30 min before training, impaired acquisition of the passive avoidance response (PAR). Co-administration of MTEP and EMQMCM at doses ineffective when administered alone, produced anterograde amnesia when given 30 min before the acquisition phase. Neither EMQMCM (5 mg/kg) nor MTEP (10 mg/kg) impaired retention of the PAR after direct post-training injections. EMQMCM (5 mg/kg), but not MTEP (10 mg/kg) blocked the PAR when given 30 min before testing. Pre-training administration of MTEP at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg inhibited fear conditioning in the FPS when tested 24 h later. In contrast, EMQMCM was ineffective. Our findings suggest diverse involvement of mGlu1 and mGlu5 receptors in negatively reinforced learning.
Polyaluminium chloride (PAX-18) - acute toxicity and toxicity for early development stages of common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to assess the toxicity of PAX-18 in different developmental stages of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The preparation PAX-18, with its active ingredient polyaluminium chloride (9% of Al), is a coagulation agent that is used mainly to precipitate phosphates, to prevent surface water eutrophication and incidences of cyanobacteria. It is applied to the water environment and thus could present a potential risk to fish. DESIGN The toxicity tests were performed on common carp according to OECD (203, 210) methodologies. The acute toxic effect was evaluated for juveniles and the early development stage effect was observed in embryo-larval toxicity tests. The results of the toxicity tests (the number of dead individuals at particular test concentrations) were subjected to a probit analysis using an EKO-TOX 5.2 programme to determine the LC50 values of PAX-18. RESULTS Acute toxicity value expressed as 96hLC50 was 753.1 +/- 24.3 mg.l-1 (67.8 mg.l-1 Al). Effect on early development stage expressed as the no observed effect concentration was 10 mg.l-1 (0.9 mg.l-1 Al), the lowest observed effect concentration was 50 mg.l-1 (4.5 mg.l-1 Al). No significant effects of the preparation PAX-18 in concentrations of 50 mg.l-1 of PAX-18 and lower were found on hatching, length and weight parameters, morphology and histopathology. CONCLUSION The lethal concentration of PAX-18 found in acute toxicity tests on common carp was 7-14 times higher than the concentration which is usually applied to water (5-10 mg.l-1 Al). Moreover, fish in eutrophicated water sources are exposed to PAX-18 concentrations corresponding with the lowest observed effect concentration only for a short time, therefore the effect on them can be considered as minimal.
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders.

BACKGROUND Epidemiologic studies in different parts of the world have revealed controversial results on the association between hepatitis C virus infection and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This discrepancy suggests that HCV lymphotropism or its effect on host lymphocytes may be influenced by regional and racial factors, as well as by genomic variations. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of HCV infection in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders diagnosed and treated in our institute in Israel. METHODS A total of 212 consecutive patients (95 males and 117 females) treated in our hematology outpatient clinic between August 1997 and September 1999 was screened for anti-HCV antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen. HCV infection was confirmed by the presence of HCV RNA in the serum. The prevalence of HCV in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders was compared to that in a control group of patients with myeloproliferative disorders and myelodysplastic syndromes. RESULTS HCV infection was more prevalent in the group of LPD patients than in the control group, but this finding was not statistically significant. The prevalence of HCV among LPD patients was 7.8%, while that in the group with myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders was 1.19% and in the general population 0.64%. Among the different classes of LPD, a significant association with HCV infection was established only in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Furthermore, HCV infection was significantly more prevalent than HBV infection in the LPD group, but not in the myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders group. CONCLUSIONS Our finding of a significant association between HCV infection and diffuse large B cell lymphoma leads us to suggest that anti-HCV antibodies be performed routinely in such subjects.
Cortical thickness mediates the effect of β-amyloid on episodic memory

Objective: To investigate the associations among β-amyloid (Aβ), cortical thickness, and episodic memory in a cohort of cognitively normal to mildly impaired individuals at increased risk of vascular disease. Methods: In 67 subjects specifically recruited to span a continuum of cognitive function and vascular risk, we measured brain Aβ deposition using [11C] Pittsburgh compound B–PET imaging and cortical thickness using MRI. Episodic memory was tested using a standardized composite score of verbal memory, and vascular risk was quantified using the Framingham Coronary Risk Profile index. Results: Increased Aβ was associated with cortical thinning, notably in frontoparietal regions. This relationship was strongest in persons with high Aβ deposition. Increased Aβ was also associated with lower episodic memory performance. Cortical thickness was found to mediate the relationship between Aβ and memory performance. While age had a marginal effect on these associations, the relationship between Aβ and cortical thickness was eliminated after controlling for vascular risk except when examined in only Pittsburgh compound B–positive subjects, in whom Aβ remained associated with thinner cortex in precuneus and occipital lobe. In addition, only the precuneus was found to mediate the relationship between Aβ and memory after controlling for vascular risk. Conclusion: These results suggest strong links among Aβ, cortical thickness, and memory. They highlight that, in individuals without dementia, vascular risk also contributes to cortical thickness and influences the relationships among Aβ, cortical thickness, and memory.
Effects of insulin monotherapy on body weight, composition, and fat distribution in newly diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (新诊断的2型糖尿病患者使用胰岛素单药治疗后对体重、身体组成以及脂肪分布的影响)

The body composition of weight gain during insulin treatment is not well understood. A few studies have evaluated the effects of insulin therapy on body composition and fat distribution; however, the subjects receiving insulin therapy in these studies were patients who had failed treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of insulin monotherapy on body weight, body composition, fat distribution, blood pressure, lipid profile, and adipokine level in patients with newly-diagnosed Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Moving ATM closer to multimedia applications

Enterprise serving with client-server as the underlying computing paradigm has become the computing model for organizations. In enterprise serving, an interconnected set of specialized and heterogeneous servers provide the computational and storage needs of client workstations, all in a transparent fashion. Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) has the promise of capturing the total network upon which enterprise serving operates. That is, ATM can be deployed from the workstation all the way to the server. Current servers are not designed for handling high bandwidth multimedia traffic and effectively delivering the high bandwidth of the ATM network to the processor boards where applications reside. It is feasible that extending ATM into the server as the interconnect fabric and communication architecture will be a solution. This solution is further analyzed and simulation results are reported. <<ETX>>
Diet and pancreatic cancer: a case-control study.

In a population-based case-control study carried out in Sweden in 1982-1984, the authors examined the association of pancreatic cancer with several dietary factors, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco. Analyses were based on 99 cases, 138 population controls, and 163 hospital controls. The cases were persons aged 40-79 years diagnosed with cancer of the exocrine pancreas at three surgical departments in Stockholm and Uppsala. The risk increased with higher consumption frequency of fried and grilled meat in the comparison with each series of controls (e.g., relative risk (RR) = 1.7 (90% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-2.7) for weekly intake and RR = 13.4 (90% CI = 2.4-74.7) for almost daily intake, in the comparison with population controls). Furthermore, associations were found with other fried or grilled foods, but not with meat other than fried or grilled. The risk also increased with the intake of margarine (e.g., RR = 9.7 (90% CI = 3.1-30.2) for 15+ g of margarine on a slice of bread, in the comparison with population controls). In contrast, no excess risk was associated with high intake of butter. A low risk was associated with frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, particularly carrots (RR = 0.3 (90% CI = 0.2-0.7)) and citrus fruits (RR = 0.5 (90% CI = 0.3-0.9)) for almost daily intake. No consistent associations were found with coffee, artificial sweeteners or alcohol consumption, but a threefold increase in risk was associated with smoking at least one pack of cigarettes per day.
A site‐specific, conservative recombination system carried by bacteriophage P1. Mapping the recombinase gene cin and the cross‐over sites cix for the inversion of the C segment.

The bacteriophage P1 genome carries an invertible C segment consisting of 3‐kb unique sequences flanked by 0.6‐kb inverted repeats. With insertion and deletion mutants of P1 derivatives the site‐specific recombinase gene cin for C inversion) has been mapped adjacent to the C segment and the cix sites (for C inversion cross‐over) have been located at the outside ends of the inverted repeats. Inversion of the C segment functions as a biological switch and controls expression of the gene(s) responsible for phage infectivity carried on the C segment. The cin gene product can promote recombination between a ‘quasi‐ cix’ site on plasmid pBR322 and a cix site on P1 DNA. The junctions formed on the resulting co‐integrate can also serve as cix sites. This observation implies a potential evolutionary process to bring genes under the control of a biological switch acting by DNA inversion.
Peripheral nerve stimulation‐optimal gradient waveform design

Modern magnetic resonance imaging scanners with high‐performance gradient systems have high maximum gradient strength (Gmax) and slew rate (Smax). Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is often a more limiting factor for gradient waveform design than Gmax and Smax. Traditionally, the slew rate is derated globally to adhere to PNS limitations.
Perception of visually masked stimuli by individuals with aphasia: A methodological assessment and preliminary theoretical implications

Background: Studies of the automatic processes supporting language processing and dysfunction in aphasia often rely on priming paradigms. However, the ability to confidently interpret these studies in terms of understanding the relative contributions of automatic vs controlled processing depends on the ability to isolate only automatic processes. One way this may be accomplished is through the use of visual masking. The effective use of visual masking, however, depends on verification that there was no task-relevant information consciously available from the prime item. Aims: The study reported here was designed to assess the visibility of visually masked stimuli, for both typical adults and adults with aphasia. Methods & Procedures: This experiment involved 31 typical adults and 21 individuals with aphasia. Visual masking sequences were presented on a computer screen, with 11 different interstimulus intervals assessed. Participants made lexical decisions on the masked stimuli. The two participant groups were compared in terms of their ability to distinguish the word/nonword status of masked stimuli at the various intervals. Outcomes & Results: Participants with aphasia showed an overall poorer ability to discriminate between visually masked words and nonwords than typical adults. Conclusions: The visual masking sequence effectively interfered with task-relevant conscious perception of some masked stimuli for typical adults and all masked stimuli for participants with aphasia. This finding, combined with preliminary data collected on a similar task that involved a simple presence/absence judgement on masked items, suggests that there may be differences in the ability of individuals with aphasia to process rapidly presented masked stimuli, even when there is minimal linguistic processing required.
The 2-Dimensional Riemann Problem for a 2 × 2 Hyperbolic Conservation Law I. Isotropic Media

We construct the solutions for a two-dimensional (2-D) Riemann problem for a 2 × 2 hyperbolic nonlinear system based upon the Keyfitz--Kranzer--Isaacson--Temple model. The system is applicable to polymer flooding of an oil reservoir; the parameterization can be adjusted to model either isotropic or anisotropic media. For isotropic media, the solutions are obtained by two methods. The first method utilizes a transformation into a one-dimensional (1-D) Cauchy problem. Such a transformation requires conformity of the x- and y-directional fluxes in the system. The second method involves a 2-D constructive technique which can be used more generally for solving systems. For the isotropic media case, we explicitly construct solutions for the so-called single and four quadrant Riemann problems by both methods and demonstrate the equality of the solutions. This has relevance as a test for the 2-D solution method, as existence and uniqueness results for solutions of systems in 1-D are known, whereas no such results.