Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

There is a strong association between PSC and IBD. PSC is the most common hepatobiliary lesion seen in association with IBD. Whether there are two subsets of PSC, one associated with IBD and one unassociated, is controversial. A lower male to female ratio in patients without IBD supports this view. The demonstration of the haplotype DRw52a in 100% of patients with PSC, irrespective of the absence of IBD, speaks against this view. Patients with isolated PSC tend to present with jaundice, pruritus, and fatigue more frequently than those with combined PSC and IBD. There may also be a difference in bile duct involvement between patients with and without IBD combined with PSC. Apart from usually being a total colitis, either Crohn's colitis or UC, the IBD associated with PSC cannot be distinguished from IBD without PSC with respect to symptoms and clinical course. Patients with combined IBD and PSC may have somewhat worse prognosis than those with isolated PSC. The majority of patients developing BDC have concomitant IBD, suggesting that patients without IBD represent a different subgroup of PSC and run a different clinical course. Most studies have, however, found no differences in epidemiology, pathogenetic factors, clinical findings related to the hepatobiliary disease and prognosis between those who present with PSC alone and those who present with combined PSC and IBD. A major problem when discussing the relationship between IBD and PSC is that the bowel is inadequately examined in many of the studies relating to this question. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Neuroanatomical hypothesis of panic disorder, revised.

OBJECTIVE In a 1989 article, the authors provided a hypothesis for the neuroanatomical basis of panic disorder that attempted to explain why both medication and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy are effective treatments. Here they revise that hypothesis to consider developments in the preclinical understanding of the neurobiology of fear and avoidance. METHOD The authors review recent literature on the phenomenology, neurobiology, and treatment of panic disorder and impressive developments in documenting the neuroanatomy of conditioned fear in animals. RESULTS There appears to be a remarkable similarity between the physiological and behavioral consequences of response to a conditioned fear stimulus and a panic attack. In animals, these responses are mediated by a "fear network" in the brain that is centered in the amygdala and involves its interaction with the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. Projections from the amygdala to hypothalamic and brainstem sites explain many of the observed signs of conditioned fear responses. It is speculated that a similar network is involved in panic disorder. A convergence of evidence suggests that both heritable factors and stressful life events, particularly in early childhood, are responsible for the onset of panic disorder. CONCLUSIONS Medications, particularly those that influence the serotonin system, are hypothesized to desensitize the fear network from the level of the amygdala through its projects to the hypothalamus and the brainstem. Effective psychosocial treatments may also reduce contextual fear and cognitive misattributions at the level of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Neuroimaging studies should help clarify whether these hypotheses are correct.
Surgical Treatment of Subungual Glomus Tumor: A Unique and Simple Method

BACKGROUND The glomus tumor, described as a painful subcutaneous nodule, commonly occurs in subungual regions and is accompanied by tenderness and temperature sensitivity. In treatment of subungual glomus tumor, surgical excision is known to be the only curative method. Under surgical approach, it is challenging to minimize postoperative nail deformity and to reduce tumor recurrence. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment of subungual glomus tumor using simple blunt dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty‐three patients diagnosed with subungual glomus tumor underwent surgical procedure using a dorsal transungual approach. A single linear incision was made above the tumor, and the exposed mass was meticulously dissected with the opposite end of a single‐end probe, and the tumor “popped up. ” Recurrence of symptom, tumor recurrence, and local complication were evaluated through long‐term follow‐up. RESULTS After a mean follow‐up period of 30 months, only one case recurred, and partial‐thickness skin necrosis occurred around the tourniquet site. There was no postoperative nail deformity. CONCLUSIONS In treatment of subungual glomus tumor, meticulous simple blunt dissection using a transungual approach led the tumor to “pop up” from the tumor bed. This unique and simple method of treating subungual glomus tumor showed low recurrence and minimal complications. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
NblR Is a Novel One-Component Response Regulator in the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942

A response regulator, NblR, of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 is known to induce expression of the nblA gene, a key factor in phycobilisome degradation (bleaching) under nutrient-deprivation conditions. In this study, we observed phosphorylation-independent regulation of NblR activity. We constructed a mutant strain expressing NblR (D57A), in which a putative phospho-accepting Asp-57 was replaced with Ala residue. Under nitrogen deprivation, this strain exhibited the typical bleaching phenotype observed in wild-type cells. Moreover, in the mutant, the nblA transcript accumulated at a level similar to that of the wild type. Our results indicate that activation of NblR is independent of phosphorylation, if any, by a cognate histidine kinase. Screening of proteins interacting with NblR by yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed two candidates, MreC and NarB, suggesting a novel mechanism that activates NblR, or other functions of the response regulator.
Abdominal Aortic Calcifications Predict Survival in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background: Peripheral arterial disease and vascular calcifications contribute significantly to the outcome of dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of severity of abdominal aortic calcifications and peripheral arterial disease on outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients using methods easily available in everyday clinical practice. Methods: We enrolled 249 PD patients (mean age 61 years, 67% male) in this prospective, observational, multicenter study from 2009 to 2013. The abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS) was assessed using lateral lumbar X ray, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) using a Doppler device. Results: The median AACS was 11 (range 0 – 24). In 58% of the patients, all 4 segments of the abdominal aorta showed deposits, while 19% of patients had no visible deposits (AACS 0). Ankle-brachial index was normal in 49%, low (< 0.9) in 17%, and high (> 1.3) in 34% of patients. Altogether 91 patients (37%) died during the median follow-up of 46 months. Only 2 patients (5%) with AACS 0 died compared with 50% of the patients with AACS ≥ 7 (p < 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 4.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.94 – 24.46) for aortic calcification (AACS ≥ 7), 2.14 for diabetes (yes/no), 0.93 for albumin (per 1 g/L), and 1.04 for age (per year). A low or high ABI were not independently associated with mortality. Conclusions: Severe aortic calcification was a strong predictor of all-cause mortality in PD patients. The evaluation of aortic calcifications by lateral X ray is a simple method that allows the identification of high-risk patients.
Voluntary HIV Testing Among Inmates: Sociodemographic, Behavioral Risk, and Attitudinal Correlates

We sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of self-reported HIV testing among inmates in correctional centers in Ontario, Canada. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a stratified random sample of 597 male and female adult inmates. The participation rate was 89%. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze HIV testing. Fifty-eight percent had ever been tested, and 21% had voluntarily tested while incarcerated in the past year. Having ever been tested was more common among those at risk for HIV through injection drug use (IDU) or sexual behavior. Testing while incarcerated in the past year was independently associated with being single (OR = 2.6), frequent IDU (OR = 4.0), not having casual sex partners prior to incarceration (OR = 0.53), a history of hepatitis (OR = 2.4), previous HIV testing (OR = 3.7), a close relationship with an HIV-positive person in the outside community (OR = 1.7), knowing an HIV-positive person inside (OR = 2.7), a perceived chance of being infected during incarceration (OR = 2.2), and support of mandatory testing (OR = 2.0). The predominant motivations for testing while incarcerated were IDU or fears of infection inside, possibly through contact with blood, during fights, or even by casual contact. Voluntary HIV testing in prison should be encouraged, and inmates should receive appropriate counseling and information to allow realistic assessment of risk.
Expression of p160erbB-3 and p185erbB-2 in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND Although prostatic adenocarcinoma is the most frequent malignancy among American men, little is known concerning the roles of growth factors, growth factor receptors, or proto-oncogene products in the development and progression of this malignancy. PURPOSE We examined and compared the expression and cellular distribution of the erbB-3 protein (p160erbB-3) and the erbB-2 protein (p185erbB-2) in various stages of development and progression of prostatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS Immunoperoxidase staining was used to determine the expression of p160erbB-3 and p185erbB-2 in benign prostatic epithelium, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, localized adenocarcinomas (pathologic stages B and C) as well as matching primary and lymph node lesions from patients with stage D adenocarcinoma. In order to test antibody specificity, we used Western blot analysis to examine the expression of p160erbB-3 and p185erbB-2 in selected prostatic adenocarcinomas. RESULTS Within benign glands, immunostaining for p160erbB-3 or p185erbB-2 was strongest in the basal cells and was typically absent or weak in the luminal (secretory) cells. Expression of both proteins within luminal cells was localized to cell membranes. We examined the expression of p160erbB-3 and p185erbB-2 in the prostatic intraepithelial neoplastic lesions of 22 radical prostatectomy specimens. Like benign glands, the basal cells of these neoplastic lesions typically demonstrated strong to moderate immunostaining when stained with either antibody. In contrast to benign glands, moderate to strong immunostaining for p160erbB-3 and p185erbB-2 was frequently observed within the cytoplasm and cell membranes of the prostatic intraepithelial neoplastic luminal cells. p160erbB-3 and p185erbB-2 were detected within the malignant cells in 28 and 29 of 29 localized adenocarcinomas, respectively. Immunostaining with either antibody was typically moderate to strong in the malignant cells. Both proteins were expressed on the cellular membranes as well as in the cytoplasm of malignant cells. Immunostaining for p160erbB-3 was detected in the matching primary and metastatic lesions (lymph nodes) in 10 of 11 patients with stage D adenocarcinoma. Immunostaining for p185erbB-2 was detected in matching primary and metastatic lesions (lymph nodes) obtained from 16 patients with stage D adenocarcinoma. Western blot analysis confirmed the specificity of the antibodies. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that increased expression and changes in the subcellular distribution of both p160erbB-3 and p185erbB-2 represent early events in the development and progression of prostatic adenocarcinomas. The high expression and distribution of both p160erbB-3 and p185erbB-2 are retained both in advanced-stage primary and metastatic tumors.
Dementia Update 2003

Clinical and scientific investigations in the field of dementia expanded greatly in the past two decades. Medline citations that addressed Alzheimer disease (AD), the most common dementing disorder, rose from 78 in 1980 to 987 in 1990 and to 1772 in 2000. Underscoring this increased body of knowledge, three practice parameters on dementia were published in 2001 by the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Although some older studies are included for context, this review focuses on selected recent advances in dementia that are relevant for the practicing physician. Topics covered include: 1) diagnosis of dementia; 2) risk factors and biomarkers; 3) mild cognitive impairment; 4) the scientific basis for treatment advances in AD; and 5) other dementing disorders.
Effectiveness of Fortification of Drinking Water with Iron and Vitamin C in the Reduction of Anemia and Improvement of Nutritional Status in Children Attending Day-Care Centers in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Background Because of the high prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in Brazil, individual control measures tend to be ineffective, and fortification of foods with iron is considered the most effective method to fight anemia. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of fortification of drinking water with iron and vitamin C in the reduction of anemia in children in day-care centers in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Methods This before-and-after study evaluated 318 children aged 6 to 74 months. Identification data and data on socioeconomic variables were collected; anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed before and after 5 months of fortification of water with 5 mg of elemental iron and 50 mg of ascorbic acid per liter. The fortified water was used for drinking and cooking at the day-care center. Wilcoxon's nonparametric test was used to evaluate the differences in continuous variables, and McNemar's test was used to compare the prevalence rates of anemia. Results The prevalence of anemia decreased signifi- cantly from 29.3% before fortification to 7.9% at the end of the study, with a significant increase in hemoglobin levels. Reductions in the prevalence rates of stunting and underweight were observed. Conclusions Fortification of water with iron and vitamin C significantly reduced the prevalence of anemia and improved nutritional status among children attending day-care centers.
A CMOS quadrature charge-domain sampling circuit with 66-dB SFDR up to 100 MHz

A charge-domain quadrature sampling circuit realization in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS is presented. The circuit downconverts a real-valued IF input signal with a nominal frequency of 50 MHz into baseband quadrature components by decimation. Based on multiple integrative sampling of charge, the circuit integrates a 192-tap complex bandpass finite-impulse response filtering function into the sampling operation providing 18 dB of built-in anti-aliasing suppression for the nearest unwanted frequencies aliasing to dc and over 36 dB of image band rejection on the 923-kHz 3-dB bandwidth of the circuit. The measured third-order input intercept point is + 25 dBV at 50 MHz, while the spurious-free dynamic range is more than 66 dB up to 100-MHz IF input frequency. The power consumption excluding output buffers is 30 mW from a 3.3-V supply.
The DNA unwinding element: a novel, cis‐acting component that facilitates opening of the Escherichia coli replication origin.

We have discovered that DNA supercoiling, in the absence of replication proteins, induces localized unwinding in the Escherichia coli replication origin (oriC) at the same sequence opened by the dnaA initiator protein. The DNA helix at the tandemly repeated, 13mer sequence is thermodynamically unstable, as evidenced by hypersensitivity to single‐strand‐specific nuclease in a negatively supercoiled plasmid, and demonstrated by stable DNA unwinding seen after two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis of topoisomers. A replication‐defective oriC mutant lacking the leftmost 13mer shows no nuclease hypersensitivity in two remaining 13mers and no detectable DNA unwinding on two‐dimensional gels. The replication defect in the oriC mutant can be corrected by inserting a dissimilar DNA sequence with reduced helical stability in place of the leftmost 13mer. Thus, the helical instability of the leftmost 13mer, not the specific 13mer sequence, is essential for origin function. The rightmost 13mer exhibits helical instability but differs from the leftmost 13mer in its strict sequence conservation among related bacterial origins. The repeated 13mer region appears to serve two overlapping functions: protein recognition and helical instability. We propose that the cis‐acting sequence whose helical instability is required for origin function be called the DNA unwinding element (DUE).
Pharmacokinetic interactions of flunixin meglumine and enrofloxacin in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To examine pharmacokinetic interactions of flunixin meglumine and enrofloxacin in dogs following simultaneously administered SC injections of these drugs. ANIMALS 10 Beagles (4 males and 6 females). PROCEDURE All dogs underwent the following 3 drug administration protocols with a 4-week washout period between treatments: flunixin administration alone (1 mg/kg, SC); simultaneous administration of flunixin (1 mg/kg, SC) and enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg, SC); and enrofloxacin administration alone (5 mg/kg, SC). Blood samples were collected from the cephalic vein at 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, and 24 hours following SC injections, and pharmacokinetic parameters of flunixin and enrofloxacin were calculated from plasma drug concentrations. RESULTS Significant increases in the area under the curve (32%) and in the elimination half-life (29%) and a significant decrease (23%) in the elimination rate constant from the central compartment of flunixin were found following coadministration with enrofloxacin, compared with administration of flunixin alone. A significant increase (50%) in the elimination half-life and a significant decrease (21%) in the maximum plasma drug concentration of enrofloxacin were found following coadministration with flunixin, compared with administration of enrofloxacin alone. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The observed decrease in drug clearances as a result of coadministration of flunixin and enrofloxacin indicates that these drugs interact during the elimination phase. Consequently, care should be taken during the concomitant use of flunixin and enrofloxacin in dogs to avoid adverse drug reactions.
Comparison of Spectrophotometric and Visual Readings of NCCLS Method and Evaluation of a Colorimetric Method Based on Reduction of a Soluble Tetrazolium Salt, 2,3-Bis {2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-[(Sulfenylamino) Carbonyl]-2H- Tetrazolium-Hydroxide}, for Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of AspergillusSpeci

ABSTRACT The susceptibilities of 25 clinical isolates of variousAspergillus species (Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus, A. ustus, and A. nidulans) to itraconazole (ITC) and amphotericin B (AMB) were determined using the standard proposed by NCCLS for antifungal susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi, a modification of this method using spectrophotometric readings, and a colorimetric method using the tetrazolium salt 2,3-bis {2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-[(sulfenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium-hydroxide} (XTT). Five MIC end points for ITC (MIC-0, no visible growth or ≤5% the growth control value [GC]; MIC-1, slight growth or 6 to 25% the GC; MIC-2, prominent reduction in growth or 26 to 50% the GC; MIC-3, slight reduction in growth or 51 to 75% the GC; and MIC-4, no reduction in growth or 76 to 100% the GC) and one for AMB (MIC-0) were determined visually by four observers and spectrophotometrically. The intraexperimental (between the observers) and interexperimental (between the experiments) levels of agreement of the NCCLS and XTT methods exceeded 95% for MIC-0 of AMB and MIC-0 and MIC-1 of ITC. The MIC-2 of ITC showed lower reproducibility, although spectrophotometric reading and/or incubation for 48 h increased the interexperimental reproducibility from 85 to >93%. Between visual and spectrophotometric readings, high levels of agreement were found for AMB (≈97%) and MIC-1 (≈92%) and MIC-2 (≈88%) of ITC. Poor agreement was found for MIC-0 of ITC (51% after 24 h), since the spectrophotometric readings resulted in higher MIC-0 values than the visual readings. The agreement was increased to 98% by shifting the threshold level of MIC-0 from 5 to 10% relative optical density and by establishing an optical density of greater than 0.1 for the GC as the validation criterion. No statistically significant differences were found between the NCCLS method and the XTT method, with the levels of agreement exceeding 97% for MIC-0 of AMB and 83% for MIC-0, MIC-1, and MIC-2 of ITC. The XTT method and spectrophotometric readings can increase the sensitivity and the precision, respectively, of in vitro susceptibility testing of Aspergillusspecies.
Peri-implant bone organization under immediate loading state. Circularly polarized light analyses: a minipig study.

BACKGROUND Immediate loading of dental implants is currently one of the most examined topics in implant dentistry. Using screw implants with a microstructured surface and bone-quality-adapted insertion procedures, osseointegration is achieved when implants are initially stable and when splinted with the superstructure. Despite reported success, there is a shortage of information relating to remodeling and peri-implant bone formation with immediately loaded implants. METHODS Four to six immediately loaded and unloaded dental implants with a microstructured surface were placed in the mandible and the maxilla in seven minipigs. A total of 85 implants were placed. After a 4-month healing period, all implants were retrieved. Histomorphometry was performed using a light microscope in transmitted polarized light connected to a high-resolution video camera interfaced to a monitor and personal computer. This optical system was associated with a digitizing pad and a histomorphometry software package with image capturing capabilities. RESULTS Implants showed osseointegration if the average insertion torque of the implants within one bridge was >35 Ncm. If the primary stability of the bridge was <35 Ncm, all implants in the quadrant were lost after 4 months. The multivariate discriminant analysis showed the highest correlation for implant stability by bridge insertion torque (BIT), localization (mandible or maxilla), and implant insertion torque (IIT) as success parameters. The loaded implants displayed collagen fibers, which were oriented in a more transverse way. In addition, a higher quantity of secondary osteons was present. In comparison, the unloaded implants had collagen fibers with a more parallel orientation, and a higher quantity of marrow spaces was present. CONCLUSIONS When observed after 4 months, immediately loaded implants showed a higher degree of bone formation and remodeling in comparison to unloaded implants. Immediately loaded implants also demonstrated a prevalence of transversely oriented collagen fibers in the peri-implant bone. In this animal model, an average insertion torque of the implants within one bridge>35 Ncm was associated with the most successful implants.