Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
General survey of diabetic features of yellow KK mice.

Yellow KK mice, carrying the yellow obese gene (Ay), developed marked adiposity and diabetic symptoms in comparison with their control littermates, black KK mice. The blood glucose and circulating insulin levels were increased progressively from 5 weeks of age in yellow KK mice. Age dependent alterlations were also observed in pancreas and kidney. Namely, degranulation and glycogen infiltration of B cells, first observed at 5 weeks of age, were followed by hypertrophy and central cavitation of islets. Renal glomerular changes, which were very similar to diffuse or exudative type of sclerosis in human diabetes, were also recognized in the mice at 16 weeks of age. These changes, though less remarkable, were also noted in their control littermates older than 16 weeks of age. Some metabolic defects were developed, as demonstrated by in vitro experiments. At younger age, lipogenesis by liver and adipose tissue was increased in yellow KK mice, but there was no noticeable difference in glucose oxidation by adipose tissue between both mice. Insulin sensitivity of adipose tissue was decreased with age in both mice, especially in yellow KK mice being reduced more remarkably to its complete loss at 16 weeks of age. These findings indicate that the yellow obese gene not only induces adiposity but also accelerates development of diabetic traits of KK mice. A possible mechanism for the observed diabetogenic action of the gene will be discussed.
Mouse blood leukocytes: in vitro primary and secondary responses to two synthetic polypeptides.

The antibody responses of various strains of inbred mice to a series of multichain synthetic polypeptide antigens are quantitative traits under a dominant-determinant-specific type of genetic control (1). That is, a given strain of mouse may respond poorly, if at all, to one of the antigens while a second strain will respond quite well. These antigens are composed of a polylysine backbone with side chains of poly-dl-alanine and, in the case of the two antigens used in these experiments, terminating in short random sequences of either tyrosine and glutamic acid [(T,G)-A--L], or histidine and glutamic acid [(H,G)-A--L]. It has been shown that the genetic mechanism controlling these antibody responses is closely linked to the major histocompatibility locus (H-2) of the mouse (2). All strains of the same H-2 type (except H-2d) exhibit a similar pattern of immune response to these antigens regardless of the remainder of the strain's genetic background.
Serial quantitative coronary angiography and coronary events.

BACKGROUND Although assessment of progression of atherosclerosis by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) is used as a surrogate for coronary events, no validation study has compared the several QCA measures used. METHODS AND RESULTS The Cholesterol Lowering Atherosclerosis Study was a clinical trial testing the efficacy of colestipol-niacin on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. Baseline/2-year coronary angiograms were obtained on 156 men with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Changes in percent diameter stenosis and minimum lumen diameter (both measured in coronary lesions and segments) and coronary segment measures of average diameter, percent involvement, and vessel edge roughness were measured by QCA. Coronary events ascertained over 12 years of follow-up included myocardial infarction (MI), coronary death, and coronary artery revascularizations. Proportional hazards models evaluated the relation between QCA change measures and coronary events. Changes in percent diameter stenosis and minimum lumen diameter of coronary artery lesions were significantly related to the risk of MI/coronary death. All QCA measures were significantly related to the risk of any coronary event. Relative risks for each QCA measure were of similar magnitude when estimated separately within each treatment group. Change in minimum lumen diameter of lesions was the only measure independently associated with the risk of coronary events. CONCLUSIONS All QCA measures of progression of coronary artery disease were related to all coronary events (including revascularizations). Only QCA measures of lesion progression were related to MI/coronary death. QCA measures of lesion change may be better surrogate end points for "hard" coronary events than measures of change in coronary segments.
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Retreatment in Patients on CD4-Guided Therapy Achieved Similar Virologic Suppression Compared With Patients on Continuous HAART: The HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration 001.4 Study

Objective:To assess the safety of 2 intermittent treatment strategies compared with continuous therapy for patients with virologic suppression on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at baseline. Design:Seventy-four nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and protease inhibitor (PI) pretreated patients with an HIV RNA level <50 copies at screening were randomized to continuous treatment, CD4-guided treatment, or week-on-week-off treatment with 2 NRTIs plus 1600 mg/100 mg of saquinavir/ritonavir once daily. At week 96 (end of the randomized phase of the study), all patients were given continuous HAART for 12 weeks to week 108. Primary outcomes were the proportion of patients with a CD4 count >350 cells/μL and HIV RNA level <400 copies/mL at week 108. Methods:Patients were followed up every 12 weeks for CD4 count, HIV RNA level, and clinical and laboratory toxicities. In the CD4-guided arm, treatment was stopped and restarted using a CD4 count threshold (above or below 350 cells/μL or reduction of 30%). Results:Seventy-four patients were enrolled with a median CD4 count of 644 cells/μL before the structured treatment interruption (STI). The week-on-week-off arm (n = 26) was discontinued at week 72 because of high rates (46%) of HIV RNA rebound above 50 copies/mL. In the continuous arm, 25 (100%) of 25 patients and 24 (96%) of 25 patients had an HIV RNA level <400 copies/mL and <50 copies/mL, respectively, at week 108, and 96% had a CD4 count above 350 cells/μL, with a median CD4 count of 661 cells/μL. Patients in the CD4-guided arm had a significantly lower median CD4 count (489 cells/μL) than the patients in the continuous arm (P = 0.03), but all had a CD4 count above 350 cells/μL and 1 had a new HIV-related illness. At week 108, 21 (91%) of 23 patients and 13 (57%) of 23 patients had an HIV RNA level <400 copies/mL and <50 copies/mL, respectively. Those who did not achieve an HIV RNA level <50 copies/mL had a higher HIV RNA load before retreatment, and 4 of 5 patients subsequently achieved viral suppression after an additional 12 weeks of HAART (week 120). Therefore, 17 (94%) of 18 evaluable CD4-guided arm patients achieved viral suppression after retreatment. Antiretroviral (ARV) side effects were similar in all arms. CD4-guided treatment had a 54% ARV cost savings. Conclusions:This pilot study suggests that CD4-guided HAART is a well-tolerated and cost-saving treatment strategy for patients with high pre-ARV and pre-STI CD4 counts. Week-on-week-off treatment had a high virologic failure rate and was discontinued. The HIV RNA suppression rate was similar in patients treated with continuous HAART and in those retreated with 12 to 24 weeks of HAART after CD4-guided therapy.
Morphological changes induced by extracellular matrix are correlated with maturation of rat small hepatocytes

Small hepatocytes (SHs), which are known to be hepatic progenitor cells, were isolated from an adult rat liver. SHs in a colony sometimes change their shape from small to large and from flat to rising/piled‐up. The aim of the present study is to clarify whether the alteration of cell shape is correlated with the maturation of SHs and whether extracellular matrix (ECM) can induce the morphological changes of SHs. We used liver‐enriched transcription factors (LETFs) such as hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) 4α, HNF6, CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) α, and C/EBPβ, tryptophan 2,3‐dioxygenase (TO), and serine dehydratase (SDH) as markers of hepatic maturation. To enrich the number of SH colonies, the colonies were isolated from dishes and replated. Replated colonies proliferated and the average number of cells per colony was about five times larger at day 9 than at day 1. When the cells were treated with laminin, type IV collagen, a mixture of laminin and type IV collagen, Matrigel™ or collagen gel (CG), only the cells treated with Matrigel dramatically changed their shape within several days and had reduced growth activity, whereas the cells treated with other ECM did not. HNF4α, HNF6, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, and TO were well expressed in the cells treated with Matrigel. Furthermore, addition of both glucagon and dexamethasone dramatically induced the expression of SDH mRNA and protein in the cells treated with Matrigel. In conclusion, morphological changes of SHs may be correlated with hepatic maturation and basement membrane (BM)‐like structure may induce the morphological changes of SHs. J. Cell. Biochem. 87: 16–28, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Exploratory Study.

CONTEXT Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently on the rise, now affecting approximately 1 in 68 children in the United States according to a 2010 surveillance summary from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This figure is an estimated increase of 78% from the figure in 2002. The CDC suggests that more investigation is needed to understand this astounding increase in autism in such a short period. OBJECTIVE The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether a group of children with ASD exhibited similar variations in a broad array of potential correlates, including medical histories, symptoms, genetics, and multiple nutritional and metabolic biomarkers. DESIGN This study was a retrospective, descriptive chart review. SETTING The study took place at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). PARTICIPANTS Participants were 7 children with ASD who had sought treatment at the Integrative Medicine Clinic at the medical center. RESULTS A majority of the children exhibited an elevated copper:zinc ratio and abnormal vitamin D levels. Children also demonstrated abnormal levels of the essential fatty acids: (1) α-linolenic acid (ALA)- C13:3W3, and (2) linoleic acid (LA)-C18:2W6; high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); and an elevated ω-6:ω-3 ratio. Three of 7 children demonstrated abnormal manganese levels. Children did not demonstrate elevated urine pyruvate or lactate but did have abnormal detoxification markers. Three of 7 patients demonstrated abnormalities in citric acid metabolites, bacterial metabolism, and fatty acid oxidation markers. A majority demonstrated elevated serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to casein, egg whites, egg yolks, and peanuts. A majority had absent glutathione S-transferase (GSTM) at the 1p13.3 location, and 3 of 7 children were heterozygous for the glutathione S-transferase I105V (GSTP1). A majority also exhibited genetic polymorphism of the mitochondrial gene superoxide dismutase A16V (SOD2). CONCLUSIONS The findings from this small group of children with ASD points to the existence of nutritional, metabolic, and genetic correlates of ASD. These factors appear to be important potential abnormalities that warrant a case control study to evaluate their reliability and validity as markers of ASD.
Transplants in Foreign Countries Among Patients Removed from the US Transplant Waiting List

Transplant tourism, where patients travel to foreign countries specifically to receive a transplant, is poorly characterized. This study examined national data to determine the minimum scope of this practice. US national waiting list removal data were analyzed. Waiting list removals for transplant without a corresponding US transplant in the database were reviewed via a data validation query to transplant centers to identify foreign transplants. Additionally, waiting list removal records with text field entries indicating a transplant abroad were identified. We identified 373 foreign transplants (173 directly noted; 200 from data validation); most (89.3%) were kidney transplants. Between 2001 and 2006, the annual number of waiting list removals for transplant abroad increased. Male sex, Asian race, resident and nonresident alien status and college education were significantly and independently associated with foreign transplant. Recipients from 34 states, plus the District of Columbia, received foreign transplants in 35 countries, led by China, the Philippines and India. Transplants in foreign countries among waitlisted candidates in the US are increasingly performed. The data reported here represent the minimum number of cases and the full extent of this practice cannot be determined using existing data. Additional reporting requirements are needed.
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) anthocyanins modulate heme oxygenase-1 and glutathione S-transferase-pi expression in ARPE-19 cells.

PURPOSE To determine whether anthocyanin-enriched bilberry extracts modulate pre- or posttranslational levels of oxidative stress defense enzymes heme-oxygenase (HO)-1 and glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. METHODS Confluent ARPE-19 cells were preincubated with anthocyanin and nonanthocyanin phenolic fractions of a 25% enriched extract of bilberry (10(-6)-1.0 mg/mL) and, after phenolic removal, cells were oxidatively challenged with H(2)O(2). The concentration of intracellular glutathione was measured by HPLC and free radical production determined by the dichlorofluorescin diacetate assay. HO-1 and GST-pi protein and mRNA levels were determined by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS Preincubation with bilberry extract ameliorated the intracellular increase of H(2)O(2)-induced free radicals in RPE, though H(2)O(2) cytotoxicity was not affected. By 4 hours, the extract had upregulated HO-1 and GST-pi protein by 2.8- and 2.5-fold, respectively, and mRNA by 5.5- and 7.1-fold, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. Anthocyanin and nonanthocyanin phenolic fractions contributed similarly to mRNA upregulation. CONCLUSIONS Anthocyanins and other phenolics from bilberry upregulate the oxidative stress defense enzymes HO-1 and GST-pi in RPE, suggesting that they stimulate signal transduction pathways influencing genes controlled by the antioxidant response element.
Immunologic al and Genetic Markers Predicting Treatment Outcome in Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). A chronic infection, which develops in most infected subjects, may lead to liver cirrhosis with ensuing liver dysfunction and liver cancer. The current standard therapy in chronic hepatitis C is a combination of pegylated interferon-α (peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) for 24-48 weeks. Eradication of HCV (i.e. sustained virological response, SVR) is achieved in 50-80% of patients, albeit with significant side-effects. Further understanding of host factors that determine the effectiveness of treatment may provide diagnostic tools to distinguish patients who will be cured from those in whom treatment is likely to be futile. The aim of this thesis was to identify biomarkers to predict outcome of combination therapy in chronic HCV infection. The biomarkers studied included IP-10, soluble CD26 (sCD26), and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in proximity of genes encoding cytokines of the IFN-λ family. Interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 kDa (IP-10 or CXCL10) is a chemokine that attracts mononuclear blood cells to sites of infection. IP-10 is produced by several cell types, including hepatocytes, and blood levels of IP-10 at onset of therapy are reportedly elevated in patients infected with HCV of genotypes 1 or 4 who do not achieve SVR. In the studies included in this thesis, it was observed that IP-10 in plasma is mirrored by intrahepatic IP-10 mRNA expression, and strongly predicts the reduction of HCV RNA in blood already during the first days of peg-IFN/RBV therapy for all HCV genotypes. Additionally, it was observed that a combined assessment of systemic IP-10 and IL28B-related SNPs further enhances the prediction of early viral decline and the final treatment outcome among HCV genotype 1-infected patients. Serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV, also known as CD26, cleaves a dipeptide from the N-terminal region of IP-10, generating a truncated, competitive antagonist form of IP-10. Recent reports demonstrated that serum IP-10 in HCV patients is dominated by truncated IP-10. In this setting, the specific sCD26 activity was found to predict the effectiveness of peg-IFN/RBV therapy in chronic hepatitis C, and enhance the value of established outcome predictors.
The Bethesda System for reporting thyroid fine-needle aspiration specimens.

The Bethesda System for reporting thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens1 undoubtedly represents a major step toward standardization, reproducibility, and ultimately improved clinical significance, usefulness, and predictive value of thyroid FNA. During the past decade, several classification schemes for thyroid gland FNA have been proposed by various professional organizations.1–6 Most of these schemes consist of 4 to 6 diagnostic categories, which are not always comparable with each other. This variation has led to confusion and differences in perceptions of diagnostic terminology in cytopathology reporting of thyroid FNA between cytopathologists and clinicians.7,8 The main difficulty is represented by “borderline” lesions characterized by atypia of undetermined significance and/or a microfollicular pattern.9,10 In this context, it is interesting to compare the division in 6 classes proposed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI)1,2 with the division in 5 classes proposed by the British Association–Royal College of Physicians in 20024,5 and modified by the Italian Society of Pathology and Cytopathology–Italian Section of the International Academy of Pathology in 2007.6 All classification systems provide a category for nondiagnostic FNA samples, a category for benign lesions, and a category for malignant lesions. However, there are also notable differences. The NCI system, as illustrated in Table 1, introduces 2 categories for borderline lesions: “atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance” and “follicular neoplasm or suspicious for a follicular neoplasm. ” Conversely, the British and the Italian reporting systems provide a single category for all borderline lesions, named follicular lesion and follicular proliferation, respectively. In addition, the British and the Italian systems provide numeric coding for each category. The differences in reporting borderline lesions testify to the well-recognized …
Phospholamban p.Arg14del cardiomyopathy is characterized by phospholamban aggregates, aggresomes, and autophagic degradation

The non‐desmosomal phospholamban PLN p.Arg14del mutation was identified in patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and/or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). We aimed to investigate whether this mutation leads to aggregation, aggresome formation and autophagy of mutant PLN protein.
Siderocytes and the spleen.

1. Blood containing high concentrations of siderocytes was transfused into four recipients with spleens and into two who lacked a spleen. In the circulation of recipients with spleens the siderin granules rapidly disappeared while the transfused red cells remained. In the recipients who had no spleen both the granules and the red cells remained. 2. It is concluded that the spleen is somehow able to bring about the removal of siderin inclusion bodies without destroying the red cells that contain them.
A 188-size 2.1mm2 reconfigurable turbo decoder chip with parallel architecture for 3GPP LTE system

This paper presents a turbo decoder chip supporting all 188 block sizes in 3GPP LTE standard. The design allows 1, 2, 4, or 8 SISO decoders to concurrently process each block size, and the number of iteration can be adjusted. Moreover, a threestage network is utilized to connect multiple memory modules and multiple SISO decoders. After fabricated in 90nm process, the 2.1mm2 chip can achieve 129Mb/s with 219mW for the 6144-bit block after 8 iterations.
Mortality patterns during a war in Guinea-Bissau 1998-99: changes in risk factors?

BACKGROUND The crude mortality rate of the whole population and the mortality of children <5 years of age are the common indicators of the severity of a complex emergency situation. However, these indicators rarely take account of differences in socioeconomic conditions and vulnerability. METHODS We followed a population in Guinea-Bissau, which fled when fighting took place in the capital during the war in 1998-99. The population stayed close to the area of conflict and returned as soon as a cease-fire was negotiated. A peace treaty was signed after half-a-year. The following 6 months was a period of returning and re-settlement, even though two outbreaks of fighting occurred. RESULTS In the first half-year the mortality rate was 78% [mortality ratio (MR) = 1.78; 95% CI 1.61-1.97] increased and mortality for children <5 years of age doubled (MR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.79-2.38). In the last 6 months of the war, mortality was slightly increased for children and not at all for the total population. In the first half-year, households living in better houses and having members with schooling were less affected. In the 're-settlement' period two inequalities emerged; the largest ethnic group, Pepel, continued to have high mortality when the mortality of other groups declined; likewise girls continued to have an elevated mortality whereas mortality of boys declined. CONCLUSION Whereas specific 'free' interventions reduced social inequalities for the groups affected, for the total population health-inequalities were slightly amplified during the war. Once the population returned to their urban homes, mortality fell to pre-war levels even though some fighting continued, limited humanitarian aid was available and the pre-war infra-structure had not been re-established.
A Compact Dipole Antenna With Curved Reflector for 1.0–4.2 GHz EMC Measurement

A figure of merit for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing antennas is first introduced and some design considerations are presented. A compact dipole antenna with curved reflector is proposed for 1.0-4.2 GHz EMC measurement. Structure of the curved reflector, defined by a power function, is studied by full-wave simulations and verified by experiments. A comparison between the curved reflector, corner reflector, and pyramidal reflector is presented and discussed. The presented antenna has nearly constant radiation patterns and realized gain. The minimum measurement distance is only 1.0 m for the proposed antenna, which reaches the lower limit recommended by CISPR. For small equipments under test, the measurement distance can be alternated and higher field strength can be provided by the proposed antenna without increasing the input power. In contrast, double-rigided horn antennas do not have the flexibility as they have much larger dimensions.