Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of mitochondrial metabolism-interfering agents on cancer cell mitochondrial function and radio/chemosensitivity

Abnormal mitochondrial function is common in cancer cells and activates metabolic pathways suppressed in normal tissues. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that mitochondria might serve as targets for novel anticancer therapies. We investigated whether mitochondrial metabolism-interfering agents (MMIAs) available currently in clinical practice affect cancer cell mitochondrial metabolism and synergize with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Two cancer cell lines A549 (lung cancer) and DU145 (prostate cancer) were treated with a variety of MMIAs (metformin, nimodipine, memantine, oxytetracycline, amiodarone, and sodium azide) and their response was assessed using a resazurin reduction method and confocal microscopy. Focusing on amiodarone and metformin, we investigated their potential sensitizing effect on cancer cells when treated with ionizing radiation, cisplatin, and docetaxel. Resazurin reduction was increased by metformin and decreased by amiodarone at nontoxic concentrations. Amiodarone induced mitochondrial swelling, whereas metformin exerted no apparent effect on their morphology. Amiodarone and metformin exerted a weak radiosensitization effect on A549, whereas a synergetic activity with cisplatin and docetaxel was evident in both cell lines. It can be concluded that amiodarone and metformin, being well-established drugs in clinical practice, constitute two potential drugs for further experimental and clinical evaluation as cancer cell sensitizers to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
MR in phenylketonuria-related brain lesions.

PURPOSE Phenylketonuria (PKU) patients were examined by different MR techniques to explain the pathological changes observed in periventricular white brain matter using conventional MR imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifteen patients with treated classical PKU were examined by 1H spectroscopy, relaxometry and diffusion imaging on a whole-body 1.5-T MR imager. RESULTS Known PKU lesions characterized by T2 enhancement in periventricular white matter were observed in all patients. The MR spectra from the lesioned areas showed a significant decrease in choline concentration. The mean ADC of water decreased and tortuosity increased in PKU lesions compared to control data. CONCLUSION The results support the following hypothesis: The T2 increase in the PKU lesion reflects a raised concentration of free water molecules (about 15%) that have an increased trajectory between collisions compared to the same region in controls. The increase in water mobility might be explained by changes in extracellular space volume and myelin sheaths, which, presumably, have a different geometry with more hydrophobic sites in PKU patients. The changes result in increased tortuosity and may be confirmed by the loss of anisotropy in PKU lesions.
Current status of stem cell therapy: opportunities and limitations

Over recent years stem cells have stood out as a promising tool for regenerative medicine, providing alternative therapeutic solutions for a large number of diseases. Many clinical trials using stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells are focused on the repair and regeneration of various tissues and organs in degenerative diseases, whose current treatment only succeeds in slowing down the progression of the disease. Although the preliminary results are interesting, further studies are required in order to evaluate the safety and benefits of stem cell therapy, considering the teratoma development and ethical considerations in embryonic stem cell cases or reprogramming-induced somatic mutations and epigenetic defects. This review summarizes several current clinical and nonclinical data on the use of embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells in various diseases.
Eversion during external rotation of the human cadaver foot produces high ankle sprains

While high ankle sprains are often clinically ascribed to excessive external foot rotation, no experimental study documents isolated anterior tibiofibular ligament (ATiFL) injury under this loading. We hypothesized that external rotation of a highly everted foot would generate ATiFL injury, in contrast to deltoid ligament injury from external rotation of a neutral foot. Twelve (six pairs) male cadaveric lower extremity limbs underwent external foot rotation until gross failure. All limbs were positioned in 20° of dorsiflexion and restrained with elastic athletic tape. Right limbs were in neutral while left limbs were everted 20°. Talus motion relative to the tibia was measured using motion capture. Rotation at failure for everted limbs (46.8 ± 6.1°) was significantly greater than for neutral limbs (37.7 ± 5.4°). Everted limbs showed ATiFL injury only, while neutral limbs mostly demonstrated deltoid ligament failure. This is the first biomechanical study to produce isolated ATiFL injury under external foot rotation. Eversion of the axially loaded foot predisposes the ATiFL to injury, forming a basis for high ankle sprain. The study helps clarify a mechanism of high ankle sprain and may heighten clinical awareness of isolated ATiFL injury in cases of foot eversion prior to external rotation. It may also provide guidance to investigate the effect of prophylactic measures for this injury. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1423–1429, 2012
Efficacy of preformed metal crowns vs. amalgam restorations in primary molars: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND The authors evaluated the treatment efficacy of preformed metal crowns, or PMCs, vs. amalgam restorations in primary molars by means of a literature review and meta-analysis. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED From a literature search, the authors selected clinical studies that evaluated treatment with PMCs vs. amalgam control restorations in primary molars and provided data against which treatment outcomes could be compared. RESULTS Ten studies with durations ranging from 1.6 to 10 years fulfilled the selection criteria. Their failure rates, based on need for subsequent treatment or retention of the restoration at final evaluation, ranged from 1.9 to 30.3 percent for PMCs and 11.6 to 88.7 percent for amalgam restorations. Overall, PMCs demonstrated greater longevity and reduced retreatment need compared with amalgam control restorations. The odds ratio for all studies fell within the boundary favoring treatment with PMCs. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Analysis of the literature, though mainly retrospective studies, demonstrated evidence of a more favorable outcome for PMCs than for amalgam restorations in primary molars requiring multisurface restorations.
All-fiber grating-based higher order mode dispersion compensator for broad-band compensation and 1000-km transmission at 40 Gb/s

We use a novel fiber-grating device to demonstrate the first polarization-insensitive all-fiber higher order mode dispersion compensator for broad-band dispersion compensation. Its low loss and high effective area have enabled transmission through 1000 km (10/spl times/100 km) of nonzero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZDSF) at 40 Gb/s.
Recovering from cardiac surgery: what patients want you to know.

BACKGROUND Care of cardiac surgery patients has changed substantially in the past decade, with an emphasis on streamlined procedures and shortened hospital stays. The few qualitative reports of patients' perspectives of this experience focus primarily on physical complications and discomforts during the immediate postoperative period. OBJECTIVE To examine patients' perceptions of the quality of the nursing and medical care they received during their hospital stay after cardiac surgery. METHODS Data were collected from a consecutive sample of 89 cardiac surgical patients who consented to participate in 2 telephone interviews at 1 week and 6 weeks after hospitalization. Patients responded to a single open-ended question: "What do you want your nurses and doctors to know to help them do a better job? " Thematic extraction analysis of patients' responses was conducted by using commercially available statistical software. Extracted themes were applied to the structure-process-outcome framework of quality of care. RESULTS Four major themes (and 12 subthemes) were identified: (1) being satisfied (having a positive experience, getting information), (2) not being cared for (feeling depersonalized, having expectations that did not match recovery experiences, not being listened to, experiencing unprofessional behavior by care providers, experiencing continued care needs after going home), (3) physical needs unmet (sleep, pain, complications, physical environment), and (4) informational needs unmet (needing more or different information). CONCLUSIONS Patients want nurses and doctors to provide a smooth transition to home, recognize the patients as individuals, prepare them honestly for their experiences with specific information, and manage pain and sleep.
Changes in higher order wavefront aberrations after contact lens corneal refractive therapy and LASIK surgery.

PURPOSE To compare ocular higher order aberrations induced by corneal refractive therapy (CRT, Paragon Vision) to those produced by LASIK for patients with comparable levels of myopia. METHODS A retrospective chart review of 11 patients who used CRT lenses and 12 patients who underwent LASIK for correction of low to moderate myopia was performed. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest refraction, and optical higher order aberrations were recorded before and 1 month after treatment for each patient. RESULTS The CRT group consisted of 11 patients (4 men, 7 women) with a mean age of 29.1+/-5.2 years (range: 23 to 40 years), and the LASIK group consisted of 12 patients (3 men, 9 women) with a mean age of 39.2+/-12.0 years (range: 23 to 60 years). Manifest refraction decreased statistically significantly from -2.81+/-1.05 diopters (D) at baseline to -0.77+/-0.64 D following CRT treatment at 1 month (P<.0001) and from -3.11+/-1.21 D at baseline to -0.43+/-0.27 D at 1 month after LASIK (P<.0001). Both CRT and LASIK exhibited no significant changes in total higher order aberrations for 4-mm pupils but induced statistically significant increases in total higher order aberrations for 6-mm pupils. Corneal refractive therapy and LASIK both exhibited statistically similar factors of change for total higher order aberrations and coma-like higher order aberrations for 6-mm pupils. Corneal refractive therapy demonstrated a statistically significant greater factor of increase in spherical-like higher order aberrations for 6-mm pupils (P=.01). CONCLUSIONS Contact lens corneal refractive therapy and LASIK can effectively correct myopia, but both increase higher order aberrations for 6-mm pupils to a similar degree. However, spherical-like aberrations were statistically significantly greater after CRT than after LASIK.
Evaluation of nutritional status in patients with kidney disease: usefulness of dietary recall.

BACKGROUND Three-day food recall and normalized protein nitrogen appearance calculation from pre- and postdialysis plasma urea are the most commonly used techniques to assess nutritional intake, but a 7-day dietary recall is probably more accurate to approach dietary intake in clinical practice. METHODS A total of 99 hemodialyzed patients from two units were analyzed in a 7-day dietary record with a large range of age and without having any signs of malnutrition. Dietary protein intake was estimated from the recall and calculated (normalized protein catabolic rate) from urea kinetic modeling. Calorie intake and quality and repartition of nutrients were estimated from diaries. RESULTS Repartition of nutrients was close to that of a reference population except for a lower glucidic contribution (glucide 47%, lipid 36%, protein 16%). Normalized protein catabolic rate and dietary protein intake were well correlated (R2 = 0.4), but a large variability existed from day to day, according to age (older patients are less variable) and day of dialysis (long or short interval). CONCLUSION A large variation in alimentary intake exists from patient to patient and day to day. A 7-day evaluation of nutrient intake, dialysis adequacy, and nutritional parameters seems to be a good solution to guide dietetic counseling.
The Relationship between the Lactate Turnpoint and the Time at V·O2max during a Constant Velocity Run to Exhaustion

The present investigation examined the relationship between the running velocity at the lactate turnpoint (vLTP) and the time at which VO2max can be sustained (TVO2max) during a continuous run to exhaustion at the minimal running velocity that elicits VO2max (vVO2max). Seven moderately-trained endurance runners undertook three tests on a treadmill. The first test was to determine vVO2max; the second to determine the time to exhaustion during a constant velocity run at vVO2max (Tlim vVO2max) and TVO2max; and the third to determine the vLTP. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the association between the vLTP (%vVO2max; i.e. the relative vLTP) and TVO2max, and between other selected physiological variables. Correlations between the relative vLTP and TVO2max, expressed as a percentage of T(lim vVO2max (the relative TVO2max; r=0.82), and between TVO2max and Tlim vVO2max (r=0.89), were significant at the p<0.05 level. All other correlations between selected measured physiological variables were found to be statistically insignificant. The main finding of this present study is that the relative vLTP demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the relative TVO2max. The physiological mechanism by which the lactate turnpoint may influence the relative TVO2max has not been elucidated, but may be due to a combination of decreasing the time to attain VO2max and increasing Tlim vVO2max. The present investigation has demonstrated that the lactate turnpoint may influence the relative time at which VO2max can be sustained during a continuous run to exhaustion at vVO2max, although further research is required to substantiate these findings.
In Vitro Activities of Voriconazole, Posaconazole, and Four Licensed Systemic Antifungal Agents against Candida Species Infrequently Isolated from Blood

ABSTRACT We determined the in vitro susceptibilities of 314 strains of Candida spp. , representing 13 species rarely isolated from blood, to posaconazole and voriconazole as well as four licensed systemic antifungal agents (amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, and itraconazole). The organisms included 153 isolates of C. krusei, 67 isolates of C. lusitaniae, 48 isolates of C. guilliermondii, 10 isolates of C. famata, 10 isolates of C. kefyr, 6 isolates of C. pelliculosa, 5 isolates of C. rugosa, 4 isolates of C. lipolytica, 3 isolates of C. dubliniensis, 3 isolates of C. inconspicua, 2 isolates of C. sake, and 1 isolate each of C. lambica, C. norvegensis, and C. zeylanoides. MIC determinations were made by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards reference broth microdilution method and Etest (amphotericin B). Resistance to both amphotericin B and fluconazole was observed in strains of C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. guilliermondii, C. inconspicua, and C. sake. Resistance to amphotericin B, but not to fluconazole, was also observed among isolates of C. kefyr and C. rugosa. Posaconazole and voriconazole were active (MIC, ≤1 μg/ml) against 94 to 100% of these isolates. In contrast to the more common species of Candida causing bloodstream infection, these rare species appear to be less susceptible to the currently licensed systemic antifungal agents, with the exception of voriconazole. Continued surveillance will be necessary to detect the emergence of these species as more prevalent, resistant pathogens. The new triazoles appear to offer acceptable coverage of uncommon Candida sp. bloodstream infections.
Characterization of the variable-number tandem repeats in vrrA from different Bacillus anthracis isolates

PCR analysis of 198 Bacillus anthracis isolates revealed a variable region of DNA sequence differing in length among the isolates. Five polymorphisms differed by the presence of two to six copies of the 12-bp tandem repeat 5'-CAATATCAACAA-3'. This variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) region is located within a larger sequence containing one complete open reading frame that encodes a putative 30-kDa protein. Length variation did not change the reading frame of the encoded protein and only changed the copy number of a 4-amino-acid sequence (QYQQ) from 2 to 6. The structure of the VNTR region suggests that these multiple repeats are generated by recombination or polymerase slippage. Protein structures predicted from the reverse-translated DNA sequence suggest that any structural changes in the encoded protein are confined to the region encoded by the VNTR sequence. Copy number differences in the VNTR region were used to define five different B. anthracis alleles. Characterization of 198 isolates revealed allele frequencies of 6.1, 17.7, 59.6, 5.6, and 11.1% sequentially from shorter to longer alleles. The high degree of polymorphism in the VNTR region provides a criterion for assigning isolates to five allelic categories. There is a correlation between categories and geographic distribution. Such molecular markers can be used to monitor the epidemiology of anthrax outbreaks in domestic and native herbivore populations.
Stable Surgical Repair With Accelerated Rehabilitation Versus Nonsurgical Treatment for Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Background: The optimal treatment for acute Achilles tendon ruptures is still a subject of debate. Early loading of the tendon is a factor that has been shown to be beneficial to recovery and to minimize complications. The main outcome of previous studies has been complications such as reruptures and deep infections, without focusing on the functional outcome relevant to the majority of patients who do not experience these complications. Purpose: To evaluate whether stable surgical repair and early loading of the tendon could improve patient-reported outcome and function after an acute Achilles tendon rupture. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A total of 100 patients (86 men, 14 women; mean age, 40 years) with an acute total Achilles tendon rupture were randomized to either surgical treatment, including an accelerated rehabilitation protocol, or nonsurgical treatment. The primary outcome was the Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS). The patients were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months for symptoms, physical activity level, and function. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of symptoms, physical activity level, or quality of life. There was a trend toward improved function in surgically treated patients; the results were significantly superior when assessed by the drop countermovement jump (95% CI, 0.03-0.15; P = .003) and hopping (95% CI, 0.01-0.33; P = .040). No reruptures occurred in the surgical group, while there were 5 in the nonsurgical group (P = .06). There were 6 superficial infections in the surgically treated group; however, these superficial infections had no bearing on the final outcome. Symptoms, reduced quality of life, and functional deficits still existed 12 months after injury on the injured side in both groups. Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate that stable surgical repair with accelerated tendon loading could be performed in all (n = 49) patients without reruptures and major soft tissue–related complications. However, this treatment was not significantly superior to nonsurgical treatment in terms of functional results, physical activity, or quality of life.
Clinical stage of oral cancer patients at the time of initial diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral cancer. Early diagnosis ensures better prognosis. Late diagnosis is however common around the world and contributes to the high morbidity and mortality related to oral cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical stage of oral cancer patients at the time of diagnosis. METHODS This retrospective study was carried out on 334 oral cancer patients who presented to the outdoor departments of Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi from July 2008 to December 2009. The records that were reviewed included history and clinical examination findings. OPG and CT scans of the head and neck region, chest X-rays, abdominal ultrasounds and liver function tests. Size of the primary tumour, the size, number and laterality of the involved cervical lymph nodes and the presence/absence of distant metastases were documented and statistically analysed using SPSS-17. RESULTS Out of the 334 patients, 203 (60.8%) were males and 131 (39.2%) females. The age range was from 21 to 88 years. Buccal mucosa was the most commonly involved site (32%). The primary tumour was 4 Cm or more in size, (T3/T4) 71.25% of the cases. Cervical lymph nodes were involved in 211 patients (63.2%) and distant metastases were present in 39 patients (11.7%). Overall, clinical stage IV was the most common (57.18%) followed by stage III (24.55%), stage II (13.77%) and stage I (4.49%). CONCLUSION Oral cancers are diagnosed late (Stage III and IV) in Pakistan and need immediate public and professional attention.
Interplay between protein carbonylation and nitrosylation in plants

ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are key regulators of redox homeostasis in living organisms including plants. As control of redox homeostasis plays a central function in plant biology, redox proteomics could help in characterizing the potential roles played by ROS/RNS‐induced posttranslational modification in plant cells. In this review, we focus on two posttranslational modifications: protein carbonylation (a marker of protein oxidation) and protein S‐nitrosylation, both of which having recently emerged as important regulatory mechanisms during numerous fundamental biological processes. Here, we describe the recent progress in proteomic analysis of carbonylated and nitrosylated proteins and highlight the achievements made in understanding the physiological basis of these oxy/nitro modifications in plants. In addition, we document the existence of a relationship between ROS‐based carbonylation and RNS‐based nitrosylation thus supporting the finding that crosstalk between cellular signaling stress pathways induced by ROS and RNS could be mediated by specific protein modifications.
Intrauterine Endotoxin Administration Leads to White Matter Diffusivity Changes in Newborn Rabbits

Maternal intrauterine inflammation has been implicated in the development of periventricular leukomalacia and white matter injury in the neonate. We hypothesized that intrauterine endotoxin administration would lead to microstructural changes in the neonatal rabbit white matter in vivo that could be detected at birth using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Term newborn rabbit kits (gestational age 31 days) born to dams exposed to saline or endotoxin in utero on gestational day 28 underwent diffusion tensor imaging, and brain sections were stained for microglia. Comparison between normal and endotoxin groups showed significant decreases in both fractional anisotropy and eigenvalue (e1) in all periventricular white matter regions that showed an increase in the number of activated microglial cells, indicating that after maternal inflammation, microglial infiltration may predominantly explain this change in diffusivity in the immediate neonatal period. Diffusion tensor imaging may be a clinically useful tool for detecting neuroinflammation induced by maternal infection in neonatal white matter.