Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leech therapy in Dermatology

Leech therapy gained worldwide acceptance because of its effect in graft transplant. However its efficacy is not restricted to grafts only but extends beyond dermatological implications into a holistic approach. Its fame is due to its bioactive enzymes packed saliva. But its secret weapon is in its ability to manipulate the haemodynamics via blood sucking. Thus evacuating the body of Morbid humour (Istifragh) and further propagating capillary networking. Skin is an extraordinary structure. It is frequently damaged because it is directly in the “firing line” and for this reason, skin diseases are very common. There are more than 3000 known diseases of the skin. Although most of the chronic skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo and leg ulcers, are not immediately life-threatening, they are recognized as a considerable burden on health status and quality of life, having, physical, emotional and financial consequences. These make leeches a boon for a variety of dermatological diseases like Qooba (Ringworm), Saafa (Tinea corporis), Namash (Chloasma), kalaf (Warts), Narfarsi (Eczema), Daul sadaf (Psoriasis), Bars (Vitiligo), Da us Salab (Alopecia). Some of these have scientific backing too. The paper at length describes the effect leaching has on dermatological problems, its nature of mechanism, and its complications
ALK Fusions in a Wide Variety of Tumor Types Respond to Anti-ALK Targeted Therapy.

BACKGROUND Genomic fusions of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) are a well-established therapy target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). From a survey of 114,200 clinical cases, we determined the prevalence of ALK rearrangements (rALK) in non-NSCLC tumors and report their responsiveness to therapies targeting ALK. MATERIALS AND METHODS Comprehensive genomic profiling of 114,200 relapsed and metastatic malignancies, including both solid tumors and hematolymphoid cancers, was performed using a hybrid-capture, adaptor ligation-based next-generation sequencing assay. RESULTS Of 114,200 clinical samples, 21,522 (18.8%) were NSCLC and 92,678 (81.2%) were other tumor types. Of the 876 (0.8%) cases with ALK fusions (fALK) or rALK, 675 (77.1%) were NSCLC and 201 (22.9%) were other tumor types. ALK fusions were significantly more frequent in NSCLC (3.1%) than non-NSCLC (0.2%; p < .0001). Patients with non-NSCLC tumors harboring fALK were significantly younger (p < .0001) and more often female (p < .0001) than patients with fALK-positive NSCLC. EML4 was more often the fusion partner in NSCLC (83.5%) versus non-NSCLC tumors (30.9%; p < .0001). CONCLUSION ALK rearrangements can be identified in a wide variety of epithelial and mesenchymal malignancies beyond NSCLC. Anti-ALK therapies can be effective in non-NSCLC tumors driven by fALK, and further study of therapies targeting ALK in clinical trials involving a wider variety of cancer types appears warranted. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Rearrangements involving the ALK gene have been detected in dozens of cancer types using next-generation sequencing. Patients whose tumors harbor ALK rearrangements or fusions respond to treatment with crizotinib and alectinib, including tumors not normally associated with ALK mutations, such as non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis or renal cell carcinoma. Comprehensive genomic profiling using next-generation sequencing can detect targetable ALK fusions irrespective of tumor type or fusions partner.
ACTION SPECTRA FOR THE INDUCTION OF PYRIMIDINE(6‐4)PYRIMIDONE PHOTOPRODUCTS AND CYCLOBUTANE PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN NORMAL HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS

Abstract. Normal human skin fibroblasts were exposed to 265–313‐nm monochromatic UV wavelengths and the yield of pyrimidine(6‐4)pyrimidone photoproducts [(6‐4) photoproducts] and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (dimers) measured by radioimmunoassay. The action spectra for the induction of these two types of DNA damage were very similar for wavelengths from 254 to 302 nm. However, the action spectrum value for (6‐4) photoproduct production was less than half the value obtained for dimer induction by 313‐nm UV. Cells were also exposed to the UV produced by a broad‐spectrum fluorescent sunlamp (280–360 nm, peak at 313 nm) under conditions in which various wavelength components were removed from the spectrum. For exposures in which the (6‐4) photoproducts and dimers were induced primarily by wavelengths shorter than 310 nm, their rates of induction, relative to 254‐nm‐irradiated cells, were similar. However, the level of (6‐4) photoproduct production was about three‐fold lower than dimer induction for sunlamp irradiations in which the 315–330‐nm component of this source was primarily responsible for the formation of this damage. These results are consistent with the conclusion that for treatments in which (6‐4) photoproducts are produced by wavelengths in the 310–320‐nm range, which represent the region of absorption peaks for these photoproducts, both the induction and photolysis of (6‐4) photoproducts occur simultaneously during irradiation.
Systemic and vascular inflammation in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis as measured by [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT): a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) to detect and quantify systemic inflammation in patients with psoriasis. DESIGN Case series with a nested case-control study. SETTING Referral dermatology and preventive cardiology practices. PARTICIPANTS Six patients with psoriasis affecting more than 10% of their body surface area and 4 controls age and sex matched to 4 of the patients with psoriasis for a nested case-control study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The FDG uptake in the liver, musculoskeletal structures, and aorta measured by mean standardized uptake value, a measure of FDG tracer uptake by macrophages and other inflammatory cells. RESULTS FDG-PET/CT identified numerous foci of inflammation in 6 patients with psoriasis within the skin, liver, joints, tendons, and aorta. Inflammation in the joints was observed in a patient with psoriatic arthritis as well as in 1 patient with no history of joint disease or joint symptoms. In a nested case-control study, FDG-PET/CT imaging demonstrated increased vascular inflammation in multiple segments of the aorta compared with controls. These findings persisted after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors in multivariate analysis (mean β = 0.33; P < .001). Patients with psoriasis further demonstrated increased hepatic inflammation after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors (β = 0.18; P < .001), but the association was no longer significant when adjusted for alcohol intake (β = -0.25; P = .07). CONCLUSION FDG-PET/CT is a sensitive tool for identifying inflammation and can be used to identify clinically observed inflammation in the skin and subclinical inflammation in the blood vessels, joints, and liver of patients with psoriasis.
Exact Analysis of Optimum Combining with Interference and Noise in Non-Gaussian Fading Channels

The performance of optimum combining (OC) operating over a non-Gaussian, so called spherically invariant random process, multipath fading environment has been investigated. This non-Gaussian process has been normally used to characterize the clutters and multipath fading due to its Gaussian-like properties. The closed-form expression of average bit error rate (BER) in the presence of multiple equal-power interferers is then derived.
HETEROCHRONIC DEVELOPMENTAL SHIFT CAUSED BY THYROID HORMONE IN LARVAL SAND DOLLARS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY AND THE EVOLUTION OF NONFEEDING DEVELOPMENT

Abstract Recent work on a diverse array of echinoderm species has demonstrated, as is true in amphibians, that thyroid hormone (TH) accelerates development to metamorphosis. Interestingly, the feeding larvae of several species of sea urchins seem to obtain TH through their diet of planktonic algae (exogenous source), whereas nonfeeding larvae of the sand dollar Peronella japonica produce TH themselves (endogenous source). Here we examine the effects of TH (thyroxine) and a TH synthesis inhibitor (thiourea) on the development of Dendraster excentricus, a sand dollar with a feeding larva. We report reduced larval skeleton lengths and more rapid development of the juvenile rudiment in the exogenous TH treatments when compared to controls. Also, larvae treated with exogenous TH reached metamorphic competence faster at a significantly reduced juvenile size, representing the greatest reduction in juvenile size ever reported for an echinoid species with feeding larvae. These effects of TH on D. excentricus larval development are strikingly similar to the phenotypically plastic response of D. excentricus larvae reared under high food conditions. We hypothesize that exogenous (algae-derived) TH is the plasticity cue in echinoid larvae, and that the larvae use ingested TH levels as an indicator for larval nutrition, ultimately signaling the attainment of metamorphic competence. Furthermore, our experiments with the TH synthesis inhibitor thiourea indicate that D. excentricus larvae can produce some TH endogenously. Endogenous TH production might, therefore, be a shared feature among sand dollars, facilitating the evolution of nonfeeding larval development in that group. Mounting evidence on the effects of thyroid hormones in echinoderm development suggests life-history models need to incorporate metamorphic hormone effects and the evolution of metamorphic hormone production.
Larkspur poisoning : toxicology and alkaloid structure – activity relationships

Systematic approaches to taxonomic classifications of the tall larkspur spp. have been developed using traditional chemical methods to profile alkaloids, comparison of relative toxicity of individual alkaloids, plant morphology/taxonomy and molecular genetics. Using these methods (papers published in this series) toxicology of three distinct species of tall larkspurs including Delphinium glaucum, Delphinium barbeyi andDelphinium occidentale is described. Tall larkspurs ( Delphinium spp.) continue to be the most serious cause of cattle losses on mountain rangelands in the western US. Over 40 norditerpenoid alkaloids have been reported in species of larkspurs and toxicology data on 25 of these have been reported by the authors. These alkaloids can be classified into three general types based on their structural characteristics and toxicity: theN-(methylsuccinyl) anthranoyllycoctonine (MSAL)-type, having high toxicity; the lycoctonine-type, with moderate toxicity; and the 7,8-methylenedioxylycoctonine (MDL)-type, of low toxicity. The structural importance of the methylsuccinimido anthranilic acid ester group at the C18 position is evident in the high toxicity of MSAL alkaloids, particularly methyllycaconitine (MLA), Nudicauline (NUD) and 14-deacetylnudicauline (14-DAN). Other structural aspects of these alkaloids such as the C14 functionality are also important, as demonstrated by the reduced toxicity of barbinine. MLA is the alkaloid of most importance in toxicity of larkspurs on mountain rangelands because of its prevalence in most larkspurs and high toxicity. While NUD and 14-DAN also possess high toxicity, they are relatively minor components in few larkspur species (generally the plains and low larkspurs), but when present at concentrations approaching 1 mg/g dry weight they contribute significantly to overall * Corresponding author. Tel. : +1-435-752-2941; fax: +1-435-753-5681. E-mail address: kpanter@cc.usu. edu (K.E. Panter). Part 4 in a series onDelphinium genetics, chemistry, toxicology, and taxonomy. 0305-1978/02/$ see front matter Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. PII: S0305 -1978(01 )00123-5 114 K.E. Panter et al. / Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 30 (2002) 113–128 toxicity. Deltaline (DLT) is often found in high concentrations in many larkspurs but because of low toxicity, its contribution to larkspur poisoning in the field is relatively minor and it will probably not cause toxicosis in the absence of the MSAL-type alkaloids. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
The Economic System in Contemporary Islamic Thought: Interpretation and Assessment

Since the late 1940s, and especially since the mid-1960s, a wealth of pamphlets, articles, and books have appeared that constitute the corpus of what is now known as “Islamic economics. ” This literature, whose exponents call themselves “Islamic economists,” purports to provide the blueprint of an economic system consonant with the original sources of Islam. The central feature of the proposed system is that individuals are guided in their economic decisions by a set of behavior norms, ostensibly derived from the Qur'an and the Sunna. Two other features stand out: zakāt, a tax considered the basis of Islamic fiscal policy, and the prohibition of interest, viewed as the centerpiece of Islamic monetary policy. Virtually all Islamic economists consider this trio—the norms, zakāt, and zero interest—the pillars of the Islamic system. ’
Intermediate-term and long-term mortality among acute medical patients hospitalized with community-acquired sepsis: a population-based study

Objective Admission with severe sepsis is associated with an increased short-term mortality, but it is unestablished whether sepsis severity has an impact on intermediate-term and long-term mortality following admission to an acute medical admission unit. Patients and methods This was a population-based study of all adults admitted to an acute medical admission unit, Odense University Hospital, Denmark, from September 2010 to August 2011, identified by symptoms and clinical findings. We categorized the mortality periods into intermediate-term (31–180 days) and long-term (181–365, 366–730, and 731–1096 days). Mortality hazard ratios (HRs), comparing patients admitted with sepsis with those of a well-defined background population, were estimated using multivariable Cox regression. HRs were presented with 95% confidence intervals. Results In total, 621 (36.3%) presented with sepsis, 1071 (62.5%) presented with severe sepsis, and 21 (1.2%) presented with septic shock. Thirty-day all-cause mortality for patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock was 6.1, 18.8, and 38.1%, respectively. The adjusted HR among patients with sepsis of any severity within the time periods 31–180, 181–365, 366–720, and 721–1096 days was 7.1 (6.0–8.5), 2.8 (2.3–3.5), 2.1 (1.8–2.6), and 2.2 (1.7–2.9), respectively. Long-term mortality was unrelated to sepsis severity [721–1096 days: sepsis HR: 2.2 (1.5–3.2), severe sepsis HR: 2.1 (1.5–3.0)]. Conclusion Patients admitted with community-acquired sepsis showed high intermediate-term mortality, increasing with sepsis severity. Long-term mortality was increased two-fold compared with sepsis-free individuals, but might be explained by unmeasured confounding. Further, long-term mortality was unrelated to sepsis severity.
Approach to Oral and Enteral Nutrition (PN) in Adults

1. General characteristics 1.1 Nutritionally complete/incomplete formulae 1.2 Low, normal and high energy formulae 1.3 Whole protein formulae 1.3. 1 Standard formulae 1.3. 2 High energy formulae 1.3. 3 High protein formulae 1.4 Peptide-based formulae 1.5 Free amino acid formulae 1.6 Ingredients of enteral formulae 2. Disease-specific formulae 2.1 Diabetes formulae 2.2 Liver formulae 2.3 Renal formulae 2.4 Pulmonary formulae 3. Immune-modulating formulae 4. The individual effects of single special nutrients: 4.1 ω-3 fatty acids 4.2 Arginine 4.3 Glutamine
Proliferation of masseter myocytes after distraction osteogenesis of the porcine mandible.

PURPOSE Long-term success of distraction osteogenesis depends on the ability of the surrounding soft tissues to tolerate distraction forces and to adapt to the resulting increase in skeletal length and volume. The hypothesis tested in this study was that mandibular elongation by distraction induces myocyte proliferation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Unilateral mandibular angle osteotomies were performed in 16 Yucatan minipigs. The hemimandibles were lengthened using semiburied distraction devices (Synthes Maxillofacial, Paoli, PA) with 0-day latency, 1, 2, or 4 mm/d distraction rates, and a neutral fixation period of twice the gap size in days. In 2 additional animals, the dissection and osteotomies were performed, and distraction devices were placed without activation (sham control). At the end of neutral fixation, tissues were taken from masseter muscle overlying the osteotomy and the equivalent region on the unoperated side (contralateral control). Proliferation of myocytes was estimated using immunohistochemical localization with antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). RESULTS Muscle overlying the distracted mandible showed 6-fold more PCNA-positive myocytes (16.8% +/- 11.3%) than the contralateral control side (2.8% +/- 1.1%, P < .0001). In the 2 sham-control animals, there was a low index of PCNA-positive myocytes on both the osteotomy (2%, 5%) and the contralateral sides (1%, 2%). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that distraction of the porcine mandible by the protocol described induces myocyte proliferation in the masseter muscle. A proliferative response may contribute to improved long-term stability of mandibular expansion by distraction osteogenesis.
The role of Fas-FasL in the development and treatment of ischemic retinopathy.

PURPOSE Define a role for Fas-FasL in oxygen-induced retinopathy and explore the mechanism of pigment-epithelium-derived growth factor (PEDF) inhibition in this model. METHODS Seven-day-old mice C57BL/6J (B6), FasL-defective (B6-gld), or Fas-defective (B6-lpr) mice were exposed to 75% oxygen for 5 days (postnatal day [P]7-P12) and returned to room air. On day P17, vascular architecture was assessed microscopically after perfusion with FITC-dextran, and preretinal nuclei were quantified by PAS and hematoxylin staining. In some experiments, mice were treated intraperitoneally with PEDF. Vascular architecture and preretinal nuclei counts were compared with those in PBS-treated control animals. RESULTS Oxygen-induced retinopathy was significantly increased in FasL-defective gld mice compared with wild-type B6 animals. This was manifested by an increase in the number of microaneurysms, neovascular tufts, and preretinal nuclei. PEDF treatment prevented retinopathy in B6, B6-gld, and B6-lpr mice. CONCLUSIONS Fas-FasL interactions regulate the extent of oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization. The inhibition of neovascularization in B6 gld, and B6-lpr mice by PEDF suggests that Fas-FasL interactions are probably not the mechanism for inhibition in this model.
The life cycle and pathogenesis of human cytomegalovirus infection: lessons from proteomics

Viruses have coevolved with their hosts, acquiring strategies to subvert host cellular pathways for effective viral replication and spread. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a widely-spread β-herpesvirus, is a major cause of birth defects and opportunistic infections in HIV-1/AIDS patients. HCMV displays an intricate system-wide modulation of the human cell proteome. An impressive array of virus–host protein interactions occurs throughout the infection. To investigate the virus life cycle, proteomics has recently become a significant component of virology studies. Here, we review the mass spectrometry-based proteomics approaches used in HCMV studies, as well as their contribution to understanding the HCMV life cycle and the virus-induced changes to host cells. The importance of the biological insights gained from these studies clearly demonstrate the impact that proteomics has had and can continue to have on understanding HCMV biology and identifying new therapeutic targets.
A General Closed-Form Solution to Achieve Interference Alignment along Spatial Domain

Interference alignment along spatial dimension for the K-user constant MIMO interference channel with arbitrary antenna configuration is investigated. We show that interference alignment can be accomplished either at the transmitter or at the receiver. Based on the constraint on the total stream number L < min[N^2K/(NK-M),K(M+N)/(K+1)] with M antennas in all transmitters and N antennas in all receivers, we obtain a general closed-form solution to achieve interference alignment by nulling the constructed channel coefficients matrix. This general solution gives a simple implementation for interference alignment to replace present case-by-case solutions.
The use of Moringa oleifera in poultry diets

Poultry production sectors in developing countries are facing some problems, one of which is an increase in the cost of feed due to high prices of protein and energy sources. In addition, they are also faced with the problem of the development of antibiotic- resistant pathogens due to unwise and excessive use of antibiotics. Researchers are therefore looking for cheap, available, and safe alternative sources of protein and energy. In addition, scientists are also searching for natural antimicrobial ingredients. Some tropical legumes and plants were introduced into poultry diets as protein sources to decrease the cost of the feed. Recent studies report that some herbs, spices, and extracts may have antimicrobial, coccidiostatic, and anthelminthic properties. Moringa oleifera is a tree with many uses, and of great economic importance, found throughout most of the tropics. It was incorporated into the poultry diet by nutritionists to examine its effects on weaner rabbits', broilers', and laying hens' productive performance.
Isolation and Characterization of Highly Radioresistant Malignant Hamster Fibroblasts that Survive Acute γ Irradiation with 20 Gy

Abstract Tyrsina, E. G. , Slanina, S. V. , Kakpakova, E. S. , Kalendo, G. S. , Kan, N. G. , Tyrsin, O. Y. and Ryskov, A. P. Isolation and Characterization of Highly Radioresistant Malignant Hamster Fibroblasts that Survive Acute γ Irradiation with 20 Gy. Radiat. Res. 164, 745–754 (2005). To study the acquired radioresistance of tumor cells, a model system of two cell lines, Djungarian hamster fibroblasts (DH-TK–) and their radioresistant progeny, was established. The progeny of irradiated cells were isolated by treating the parental cell monolayer with a single dose of 20 Gy (PIC-20). The genetic and morphological features, clonogenic ability, radiosensitivity, cell growth kinetics, ability to grow in methylcellulose, and tumorigenicity of these cell lines were compared. The plating efficiency of PIC-20 cells exceeded that of DH-TK– cells. The progeny of irradiated cells were more radioresistant than parental cells. The average D0 for PIC-20 cells was 7.4 ± 0.2 Gy, which is three times higher than that for parental cells (2.5 ± 0.1 Gy). Progeny cell survival in methylcellulose after irradiation with a dose of 10 Gy was 15 times higher than that of DH-TK– cells. In contrast to parental cells, the progeny of irradiated cells showed fast and effective repopulation after irradiation with doses of 12.5 and 15 Gy. The tumor formation ability of irradiated progeny cells was higher than that of parental cells; after 15 Gy irradiation, PIC-20 cells produced tumors as large as unirradiated progeny of irradiated cells, whereas the tumor development of DH-TK– cells diminished by 70%. High radioresistance of progeny of irradiated cells was reproduced during the long period of cultivation (more than 80 passages). The stability of the radioresistant phenotype of PIC-20 cells allows us to investigate the possible mechanisms of acquired tumor radioresistance.