Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-sinusoidal bending waves of sperm flagella.

The analyses of flagellar movement stimulated by Sir James Gray's (1955) photographic study of the movement of sea-urchin spermatozoa have used sine waves as a convenient mathematical model for the active bending waves of flagella. Machin (1958), following a suggestion of Pringle (1957), outlined an attractively simple model for the mechanical co-ordination of bending elements distributed along a flagellum to give propagated sine waves. However, in a later paper, Machin (1963) showed that these bending elements must behave non-linearly, in which case the bending waves will probably not be sinusoidal. Brokaw & Wright (1963) presented photographs showing that in at least one case-the large posterior flagellum of the dinoflagellate Ceratium-the bending waves are not sine waves, but instead contain regions of constant bending, forming circular arcs, separated by shorter unbent regions. In this paper photographs of flagellar bending waves of spermatozoa from marine invertebrate representatives of three animal phyla will be presented and discussed with reference to the description of bending waves proposed by Brokaw and Wright. Differences have been observed between the spermatozoa of these three species in respect of their movements under certain experimental conditions, but the common features of their movements will be emphasized in this paper.
Characterization of the polyketide synthase gene (pksL1) required for aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus

Aflatoxins are potent toxic and carcinogenic compounds, produced by Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus as secondary metabolites. In this research, a polyketide synthase gene (pksL1), the key gene for aflatoxin biosynthesis initiation in A. parasiticus, has been functionally identified and molecularly characterized. PCR-derived DNA probes were used to find the pksL1 gene from subtracted, aflatoxin-related clones. Gene knockout experiments generated four pksL1 disruptants which lost both the ability to produce aflatoxins B1, B2, and G1 and the ability to accumulate norsolorinic acid and all other intermediates of the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. A pksL1 DNA probe detected a 6.6-kb poly(A)+ RNA transcript in Northern (RNA) hybridizations. This transcript, associated with aflatoxin production, exhibited a regulated expression that was influenced by growth phase, medium composition, and culture temperature. DNA sequencing of pksL1 revealed an open reading frame for a polypeptide (PKSL1) of 2,109 amino acids. Sequence analysis further recognized four functional domains in PKSL1, acyl carrier protein, beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase, acyltransferase, and thioesterase, all of which are usually present in polyketide synthases and fatty acid synthases. On the basis of these results, we propose that pksL1 encodes the polyketide synthase which synthesizes the backbone polyketide and initiates aflatoxin biosynthesis. In addition, the transcript of pksL1 exhibited heterogeneity at the polyadenylation site similar to that of plant genes.
Early and late HIV‐1 RNA level and its association with other markers and disease progression in long‐term AIDS‐free homosexual men

Objective:To study the association between virological markers and clinical progression in individuals with long-term AIDS-free HIV infection. Design:Seventy-seven HIV-infected participants in the Amsterdam cohort study who remained AIDS-free for at least 8 years were prospectively followed during that time and during a subsequent period in which 15 developed AIDS. Methods:Serum HIV-1 RNA levels were evaluated at 1 and 8 years after study entry. Progression to AIDS following the 8 AIDS-free years was studied using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results:HIV-1 RNA increased over time in a large proportion of these long-term AIDS-free men. Most subjects showed progressive immune system damage and/or clinical manifestations of HIV disease at year 8. High RNA levels at year 8 were significantly associated with symptomatic HIV infection, low CD4+ T-cell count, p24 antigenaemia, low T-cell reactivity at year 8 as well as rapid annual CD4+ T-cell decline. High RNA level at year 1 was associated with high RNA levels at year 8 and low CD4+ T-cell count at year 1. In univariate analysis, RNA was associated with progression to AIDS after 8 years. In multivariate analysis, only the CD4+ T-cell count at year 8 remained significantly associated with progression to AIDS. Conclusions:In later stages of HIV infection, measures of immune deficiency may be more powerful prognostic markers than serum HIV-1 RNA level, indicating that optimal staging of the HIV-infected patient requires the combined use of RNA levels, CD4+ T-cell counts, and T-cell reactivity instead of RNA levels alone.
Comparative efficacy of 5flourouracil/calcium leucovorine versus 5flourouracil/calcium leucovorine plus oxaliplatin in the adjuvant treatment of colonic carcinoma in Kashmir

Aim: This prospective, randomized comparative study conducted in Kashmir evaluated the clinical profile of colonic carcinoma and the efficacy, side effects and survival advantage of adjuvant treatment with 5FU/CLV versus FOLFOX7. Materials and Methods: Between 2007 and 2009, the clinical profiles of 50 patients enrolled and randomized equally into Arm A receiving 5FU/CLV alone (Mayo Clinic Regimen) and Arm B receiving the FOLFOX7 regimen (including oxaliplatin) were evaluated. Results: Majority of the patients were in the 5th and 6th decade of life (males 70% versus females 30%), and most were from urban dwellings. Consumption of red meat, obesity and physical inactivity were common risk factors. A family history of colonic carcinoma was reported in 12% of the patients. Event-free and disease-free survival for the two arms were: Arm A – 12.8 ± 5 months and 14.2 ± 6 months; Arm B – 13.0 ± 6.7 months and 13.1 ± 6 months, respectively. Treatment-related morbidity was significant in Arm B whereas general well being and surrogate laboratory markers including a hemogram, favored Arm A. Conclusion: The clinical profile, risk factors and familial predisposition of Kashmiri colonic carcinoma patients matches that of colon cancer patients elsewhere. There was no added survival advantage by adding oxaliplatin to 5FU and CLV. Although the interim results showed that the Mayo Clinic Regimen has a better total survival advantage compared with the FOLFOX7 regimen, the results were not statistically significant. The Mayo Clinic Regimen was better than the FOLFOX7 regimen in terms of the toxicity profile. However, this finding needs to be studied further. The main idea of conducting this study was to reveal that there is no added advantage of adding oxaliplatin to 5FU and CLV, thereby (a) reducing the toxicity (b) and lowering cost of therapy.
Respiratory tract infections in the immunocompromised

Purpose of review Pulmonary infections are particularly common in the immunosuppressed host. This review discusses emerging threats, newer modalities of diagnostic tests and emerging treatment options, and also highlights the increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance. Recent findings Nosocomial pneumonia is increasingly due to multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms in immunosuppressed patients. Viral pneumonias remain a very significant threat, present atypically and carry a high mortality. Aspergillosis remains the most common fungal infection, and infections due to Mucorales are increasing. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is on the increase throughout the world. Mixed infections are common and early bronchoscopy with appropriate microbiological tests, including molecular diagnostics, optimise management and reduce mortality. Conclusion Pulmonary infection remains the most frequent infectious complication in the immunocompromised host. These complex infections are often mixed, have atypical presentations and can be due to multidrug-resistant organisms. Multidisciplinary involvement in specialist centres with appropriate diagnostics, treatment and infection control improves outcome. There is a desperate need for new antimicrobial agents active against Gram-negative pathogens.
Changes in the Rate of CO2 Release following Feeding in the Insect Rhodnius prolixus

We describe for the first time changes in the rate of CO2 release (as a surrogate of metabolic rate) in the terminal larval stage of the insect Rhodnius prolixus following a blood meal and during the molt leading to the adult stage. These data are presented on a whole‐animal basis as well as per gram wet and dry weight. We have also used techniques that allow us to describe the rate of release per gram of actual body tissue (i.e., removing the weight of the remaining bloodmeal in the gut and the metabolically inactive portion of the cuticle). While the metabolic rate of the whole animal rises approximately 10‐fold in 15 d following feeding, the rate per gram of dry body mass rises only twofold. We use these data to provide insights into the relative contributions of tissue growth and increases in metabolic intensity to the massive increases in metabolic rate observed in these insects following feeding. Our analyses indicate that the majority of nutrient uptake occurs in the first 4 d following feeding. It is well known in this species that day 4 following feeding is the end of a critical period for the insect in determining whether it will proceed to the next molt. Our results indicate that the insects may be able to make this decision based on nutrients already transported into the body. We examined the “down regulation” of metabolism observed in the latter stages of the molt cycle in this insect. We express these changes on both a per animal and per gram basis and demonstrate that this down regulation extends even into the adult stage before feeding. Using a comparison of the allometric relationships of metabolic rate to mass in insects and ticks, we demonstrate that unfed R. prolixus show a marked decrease in metabolic rate compared to other insects, while fed Rhodnius are similar in metabolic rate to other insects. Rhodnius has a markedly higher metabolic rate (as do all insects) than that found in ticks.
Development of a Prediction Rule to Estimate the Probability of Acceptable Intraocular Pressure Reduction After Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty in Open-angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

PurposeTo develop and validate a prediction rule to estimate the probability of acceptable intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. Patients and MethodsThe study population was derived from a cohort of 220 patients with ocular hypertension, open-angle glaucoma, or normal tension glaucoma. A ≥20% reduction in IOP (mm Hg) from the baseline IOP at 6 months after SLT was considered treatment success. Logistic multivariate regression modeling was performed to develop a prediction rule. ResultsIn multivariate logistic regression analyses, pre-SLT IOP and maximum IOP were identified as independent predictors for ≥20% IOP reduction at 6 months with adjusted odds ratios of 1.3 and 0.9, respectively, controlling for sex, diagnosis, pigment of anterior chamber, and washout of eye drops. The area under receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.716. Calibration of this prediction rule showed good agreement between predicted and observed probabilities of acceptable IOP reduction. If a probability of acceptable IOP reduction of 50% or greater is used as the minimal clinical threshold for treatment, the prediction rule had a sensitivity and specificity of 91.3% and 30.4%, respectively. ConclusionsSLT efficacy is positively associated with IOP elevation before SLT treatment and adversely associated with the maximum IOP ever recorded in history. Pigmentation of the anterior chamber angle, diagnosis, washout of eye drops, and sex are not associated with SLT treatment efficacy. This prediction rule should be further validated with a comparable prospective clinical study cohort.
Estimating the Medium-term Effects of the ASEAN Economic Community

Consequences of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) are investigated using a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Quantitative assessments of the effects on economic welfare, trade flows and sectoral output are offered. When the removal of trade barriers are combined with reductions in administrative and technical barriers and lowering the trade and transport margins under the assumption of endogenously determined productivity, the estimated welfare gains for the year 2015 range from 1.1% in Indonesia to 9.4% in Thailand. The results suggest that streamlining customs procedures and other reductions in administrative and technical barriers, as well as increased competition and improvements in infrastructure, are significant in enlarging the benefits of the AEC.
A SVD-based reconstruction scheme for microwave radiometers measurements

Microwave radiometer are passive low-resolution remote sensing sensors which measure the brightness temperature of the scene under survey. In order to enhance the spatial low-resolution limit a singular value decomposition (SVD) technique is here envisaged for scanning radiometers. Although this paper is theoretical in nature, it is of applicative relevance since it permits one to figure out some interesting multisensor data fusion techniques.
Role of gamma interferon in induction of natural killer activity by Legionella pneumophila in vitro and in an experimental murine infection model

Legionella pneumophila has been shown to induce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) both in vitro and in vivo during experimental infections of mice. With complement-mediated serologic depletion of murine splenocytes, the cellular sources of IFN-gamma following in vitro stimulation with L. pneumophila antigens were Thy-1.2+, Lyt-2-, L3T4-, and asialo-GM1+, which is consistent with the natural killer (NK) cell phenotype. Additionally, Percoll density discontinuous centrifugation demonstrated that maximal production of IFN coincided with high NK activity in fractions which were enriched for large granular lymphocytes. Furthermore, 18- to 24-h incubation of splenocytes with L. pneumophila whole-cell vaccine resulted in augmented NK cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 tumor target cells in a 51Cr release assay. The addition of macrophages to purified large granular lymphocyte populations augmented both IFN-gamma production and NK activity, suggesting that antigen is required for optimal responses. In an experimental infection model using an intratracheal inoculation route, NK activity was enhanced in the spleen, peripheral blood, and lung cells of infected mice, with maximal stimulation in the lung leukocytes at the site of infection. The results of the present study indicate that NK cells respond in vivo and in vitro to stimulation by L. pneumophila by producing IFN-gamma and by increased cytolytic activity.
Mutational analysis of IDH1 codon 132 in glioblastomas and other common cancers

Missense somatic mutations in IDH1 gene affecting codon 132 have recently been reported in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other gliomas. The recurrent nature of the IDH1 mutations in the same amino acid strongly suggests that the mutations may play important roles in the pathogenesis of glial tumors. The aim of this study was to see whether the IDH1 codon 132 mutations occur in other human cancers besides glial tumors. We also attempted to confirm the occurrence of the IDH1 mutations in GBM of Korean patients. We have analyzed 1,186 cancer tissues from various origins, including carcinomas from breast, colon, lung, stomach, esophagus, liver, prostate, urinary bladder, ovary, uterine cervix, skin and kidney, and malignant mesotheliomas, primary GBM, malignant meningiomas, multiple myelomas and acute leukemias by single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis. We found four IDH1 codon 132 mutations in the GBM (4/25; 16.0%), two in the prostate carcinomas (2/75; 2.7%) and one in the B‐acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B‐ALL) (1/60; 1.7%), but none in other cancers. The IDH1 mutations consisted of five p.R132H and two p.R132C mutations. The data indicate that IDH1 codon 132 mutations occur not only in GBM, but also in prostate cancers and B‐ALL. This study suggests that despite the infrequent incidence of the IDH1 mutations in prostate cancers and B‐ALL, mutated IDH1 could be therapeutically targeted in these cancers and in glial tumors with the IDH1 mutations. © 2009 UICC
Steroid Receptor Coactivator-1 Interacts with the p50 Subunit and Coactivates Nuclear Factor κB-mediated Transactivations*

Steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) specifically bound to the transcription factor NFκB subunit p50 but not to p65 as demonstrated by the yeast two hybrid tests and glutathione S-transferase pull down assays. The p50-binding site was localized to a subregion of SRC-1 (amino acids 759–1141) that encompasses the previously described CBP-p300-binding domain. In mammalian cells, SRC-1 potentiated the NFκB-mediated transactivations in a dose-dependent manner. Coexpression of p300 further enhanced this SRC-1-potentiated level of transactivations, consistent with the recent findings in which CBP and p300 were shown to be transcription coactivators of the p65 subunit (Perkins, N. D., Felzien, L. K., Betts, J. C., Leung, K., Beach, D. H., and Nabel, G. J. (1997) Science 275, 523–527; Gerritsen, M. E. , Williams, A. J., Neish, A. S. , Moore, S. , Shi, Y. , and Collins, T. (1997) Proc. Acad. Natl. Sci. U. S. A. 94, 2927–2932). These results suggest that at least two distinct coactivator molecules may cooperate to regulate the NFκB-dependent transactivations in vivo and SRC-1, originally identified as a coactivator for the nuclear receptors, may constitute a more widely used coactivation complex.
Pediatric Liver Lacerations and Intensive Care: Evaluation of ICU Triage Strategies

Objective: To compare PICU admission criteria following blunt traumatic liver laceration based on CT grade and/or physiologic instability with actual practice to improve efficiency of ICU admission. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Patients with grade 3–6 liver lacerations, 2002–2010. Patients: Hundred seventy-one infants and children, ages 1 month to 17 years. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Preadmission signs of physiologic instability (i.e., coma and cardiac arrest), liver CT grading, and outcomes including length of stay and packed RBC transfusion after admission to ICU were collected. Multiple body region severe trauma was defined as more than or equal to 1 extra-abdominal body area abbreviated injury score more than or equal to 4. Actual ICU admissions were compared with predicted. Two patients died before ICU admission and five (3%) died afterward. Of 169 patients, 52 (31%) were initially admitted to the inpatient ward. Five percent received surgical care for liver injury. Twenty percent received packed RBCs emergently for shock, whereas 5% received their first packed RBCs after admission. Compared with ICU admissions, ward patients were significantly older, had lower Injury Severity Scores, and less operative care. Among ICU patients, transfusion for hemorrhagic shock was significantly associated with more severe injury scores. Sixty percent of ICU patients were not transfused. ICU triage determined by signs of physiologic instability predicted 53 admissions (31%) including seven of nine patients (78%) treated with transfusions after admission. Predicted ICU admission for nontransfused patients was lower–9%. Adding CT laceration grade more than or equal to 4 increased ICU admissions to 129 (76%). Among surviving ICU patients, 37 of 62 patients (60%) with isolated severe abdominal trauma and no systemic instability had ICU length of stay less than 1 day. Conclusions: Children with isolated abdominal injury and no physiologic instability can generally be treated without ICU admission. Adding grade more than or equal to 4 to usual ICU admission criteria resulted in excessive admission of stable patients.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of rotator cuff deficiency: a concise follow-up, at a minimum of five years, of a previous report.

UNLABELLED We previously evaluated ninety-four patients (ninety-six shoulders) who underwent reverse shoulder arthroplasty with use of a central compressive screw along with 5.0-mm peripheral locking screws for baseplate fixation and a center of rotation lateral to the glenoid. The purpose of this study was to report updated results at a minimum follow-up of five years. Since the last report, an additional two patients underwent revision surgery: one for recurrent instability and one for resorption of a proximal humeral allograft. The patients continue to have improved outcome scores and range of motion. Survivorship with the end point being revision for any reason was 73.5 months, with 94% survival at sixty months. Radiographic follow-up showed that two (3%) of seventy-six patients included in the survivorship analysis had asymptomatic humeral loosening, seven (9%) had scapular notching, and no patient had glenoid baseplate loosening or baseplate failure. The patients have maintained their improved function with durable clinical and radiographic results at a minimum of five years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
A comparison of EMG procedures in the carpal tunnel syndrome with clinical‐EMG correlations

One hundred and twenty‐two patients were selected on the basis of symptoms of finger numbness and tingling thought to suggest carpal tunnel syndrome. The severity of the symptoms was graded and the patients were studied with seven established EMG procedures, motor inching to the abductor pollicis brevis and second lumbrical muscles, and sensory inching. Symptom severity was compared with the degree of nerve conduction abnormality and results from symptomatic hands with those abnormal results from patient's asymptomatic hands. Motor inching to the abductor pollicis brevis muscle was the most sensitive study and, when combined with sensory inching, gave a sensitivity of 97–100% (depending on symptom severity). Motor inching to the second lumbrical muscle alone detected the lesion site in several severely involved nerves. Guidelines are suggested with which one can estimate the likelihood that a patient's finger sensory symptoms are on the basis of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Survivin inhibition induces human neural tumor cell death through caspase‐independent and ‐dependent pathways

Survivin inhibits apoptosis during development and carcinogenesis and is absent in differentiated cells. To determine whether survivin inhibition induces cell death in neural tumor cells, survivin antisense oligonucleotides (SAO) were administered to a human neuroblastoma (MSN) and an oligodendroglioma (TC620) resulting in a dose‐dependent reduction in survivin protein. Although 74% of the SAO‐treated MSN cells were trypan blue+, PARP cleavage or activated caspase‐3 was not observed. However nuclear translocation of AIF occurred and XIAP increased dramatically. Co‐administration of z‐Val‐Ala‐Asp(OMe)‐fluoromethyl ketone (zVAD‐fmk) with SAO did not inhibit cell death suggesting a caspase‐independent mechanism of cell death. Propidium iodide (PI) staining revealed multiple large macronuclei with no apoptotic bodies supporting a role for survivin in cell division. By contrast, while 70% of the SAO‐treated TC620 cells were trypan blue+, PARP was cleaved, cells were TUNEL+ and PI‐staining revealed macronuclei and numerous apoptotic bodies. Co‐treatment of the TC620 cells with SAO and zVAD‐fmk blocked cell death. While no macronuclei or apoptotic bodies were observed there was a two‐fold increase in metaphase cells. Our results suggest that survivin inhibition decreases the viability of human neural tumor cells and as a result of mitotic catastrophe, cell death can be initiated by either a classic apoptotic mechanism or a caspase‐independent mechanism.