Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mass spectrometric characterization of oat phytochrome A: Isoforms and posttranslational modifications

At least four mRNAs for oat phytochrome A (phyA) are present in etiolated oat tissue. The complete amino acid sequences of two phyA isoforms (A3 and A4) and the N‐terminal amino acid sequence of a third isoform (A5) were deduced from cDNA sequencing (Hershey et al., 1985). In the present study, heterogeneity of phyA on a protein level was studied by tryptic mapping using electrospray ionization mass‐spectrometry (ESIMS). The total tryptic digest of iodoacetamide‐modified phyA was fractionated by gel filtration chromatography followed by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. ESIMS was used to identify peptides. Amino acid sequences of the peptides were confirmed or determined by collision‐induced dissociation mass spectrometry (CID MS), MS/MS, or by subdigestion of the tryptic peptides followed by ESIMS analysis. More than 97% of the phyA3 sequence (1, 128 amino acid residues) was determined in the present study. Mass‐spectrometric analysis of peptides unique to each form showed that phyA purified from etiolated oat seedling is represented by three isoforms A5, A3, and A4, with ratio 3.4:2.3:1.0. Possible light‐induced changes in phytochrome in vivo phosphorylation site at Ser7 (Lapko VN et al., 1997, Biochemistry 36:10595–10599) as well at Ser17 and Ser598 (known as in vitro phosphorylation sites) were also analyzed. The extent of phosphorylation at Ser7 appears to be the same for phyA isolated from dark‐grown and red‐light illuminated seedlings. In addition to Ser7, Ser598 was identified as an in vivo phosphorylation site in oat phyA. Ser598 phosphorylation was found only in phyA from the red light‐treated seedlings, suggesting that the protein phosphorylation plays a functional role in the phytochrome A‐mediated light‐signal transduction.
NONLOCAL VIBRATION OF A FRACTIONAL ORDER VISCOELASTIC NANOBEAM WITH ATTACHED NANOPARTICLE

We propose a novel mathematical framework to examine the free damped transverse vibration of a nanobeam by using the nonlocal theory of Eringen and fractional derivative viscoelasticity. The motion equation of a nanobeam with arbitrary attached nanoparticle is derived by considering the nonlocal viscoelastic constitutive equation involving fractional order derivatives and using the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The solution is proposed by using the method of separation of variables. Eigenvalues and mode shapes are determined for three typical boundary conditions. The fractional order differential equation in terms of a time function is solved by using the Laplace transform method. Time dependent behavior is examined by observing the time function for different values of fractional order parameter and different ratios of other parameters in the model. Validation study is performed by comparing the obtained results for a special case of our model with corresponding molecular dynamics simulation results found in the literature. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI 174001, br. OI 174011 i br. TR 35006]
Adherence to American society of health-system pharmacists surgical antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines in a teaching hospital

Objective: Surgical site infections are the second most common type of adverse events occurring in hospitalized patients, whereas an estimated 40-60% of these infections are thought to be preventable. Choice of regimen, administration timing or duration of antibiotic prophylaxis is reported to be inappropriate in approximately 25-50% of cases. We tried to evaluate an antibiotic administration pattern for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in a teaching hospital. Methods: This study was conducted at the general surgery and orthopedic wards of a teaching hospital affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The medical records of admitted patients who underwent different surgical procedures were reviewed. Compliance was assessed with the recommendations of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' guidelines for every aspect of antibiotic prophylaxis. All data were coded and analyzed by SPSS16 software using Student's t-test and Chi-square test. Findings: During 1 year, 759 patients who underwent different surgeries were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 32.02 ± 18.79 years. Hand and foot fractures repair were the most frequent surgery types. About 56.4% of administered prophylactic antibiotics were in accordance with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) guidelines regarding prophylaxis indication. The most commonly antibiotic used was cefazolin and antibiotic choices were appropriate in 104 of 168 surgical procedures (62%). Gentamicin, metronidazole and ceftriaxone were the most frequently antibiotics that used inappropriately. Only in 100 of 168 procedures, duration was concordant with the ASHP guideline, whereas in 68 procedures, duration was longer than recommended time. In 98 procedures, the dose was lower and in one procedure, it was higher than recommended doses. Conclusion: Although such guidelines have been in place for many years, studies showed that much inappropriate antibiotic use as prophylaxis and poor adherence to guidelines are still major issues. It is essential for surgeons to be aware to consider the best antibiotic choices, dose and duration based on reliable guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis.
Acardiac twins--an analysis of 10 cases.

The pathological characteristics of the acardiac fetus were studied based on 10 autopsy cases. These cases were collected during a 13-year period at Seoul National University Hospital. All 10 fetuses were monochorionic twins, and six of them were male. Externally normal co-twins survived in five cases and died perinatally in three cases. The gestational period of these acardiacs ranged from 20 to 33 weeks. All of them showed a growth arrest of a fairly wide spectrum. Four cases belonged to acardius anceps, five were acardius acephalus, and one was acardius amorphus. Nine out of 10 cases were holoacardius, whereas one was hemiacardius with a vestigial heart tube present. Characteristic artery-to-artery anastomoses were demonstrated in all cases where examination was possible. The umbilical cords of the acardiacs often consisted of only two vessels, i.e., one umbilical artery and one umbilical vein, and these vessels were directly attached to the arteries and veins of the normal co-twins on the placental surface. The vascular system of the acardiac fetuses was simplified, providing only inflow and outflow pathways through common iliac vessels and vitelline vessels. When the head part was preserved (acardius anceps), the facial features were indistinguishable, particularly in the midfacial region, which resulted in a characteristic holoprosencephalic malformation of the brain in two out of four cases. Normal eyeball structure was not noted in any of these cases. The oral cavity and tongue were rarely recognized. Once the head part was absent (acardius acephalus) there was a wide variation of thoracic organ development. Hypoplastic lungs were seen in three cases, and they were connected to the trachea. A tracheoesophageal fistula was seen twice. The gastrointestinal tract was the most common feature of these acardiac monsters. However, it often lacked some portions, such as a stomach, midgut or part of a large intestine. The kidneys, testes and other parts of the urinary system were other common constituents of the acardiacs.
China experts consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of advanced stage primary lung cancer (2016 version)

Yuankai SHI, Yan SUN, Jinming YU, Cuimin DING, Ziping WANG, Changli WANG, Dong WANG, Cunde WANG, Zheng WANG, Mengzhao WANG, Xiuyi ZHI, You LU, Jifeng FENG, Yunpeng LIU, Xiaoqing LIU, Wei LIU, Gang WU, Xiaomei LI, Kai LI, Enxiao LI, Wei LI, Gongyan CHEN, Zhengtang CHEN, Ping YU, Ning WU, Milu WU, Wenhua XIAO, Li ZHANG, Yiping ZHANG, Shucai ZHANG, Shujun YANG, Xia SONG, Dongmei LIN, Rongcheng LUO, Li SHAN, Caicun ZHOU, Zongmei ZHOU, Qiong ZHAO, Chengping HU, Yi HU, Qisen GUO, Jianhua CHANG, Cheng HUANG, Xuan ZENG, Baohui HAN, Xiaohong HAN, Bo JIA, Ying HAN and Yu HUANG 1Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 4Beijing Cancer Hospital, 9Peking Union Medical College Hospital, 10Beijing Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 14The 307th Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, 16Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, 22Department of Imaging Diagnostic, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 24The First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation ArmyGeneral Hospital, 26Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 36Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 31Shanghai PulmonaryHospital, Tongji University, 34Cancer Hospital, FudanUniversitay, Shanghai, 2Shandong Province Cancer Hospital, Ji’nan, 3The Fourth Hospital of HebeiMedical University, Shijiazhuang, 5Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 6Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 20Xinqiao Hospital of The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 7Yunnan Province Cancer Hospital, Kunming, 11West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 21Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, 12Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, 13The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 15Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Hospital, Wuhan, 17The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University,Xi’an, 18The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 19HarbinMedical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 23Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining, 25Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, 32The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 27Henan Province Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 28Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, 29Nanfang Hospital, Nanfang Medical University, Guangzhou, 30Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 33Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, and 35Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
Glomerular structure in lithium‐induced chronic renal failure in rats

The effects of long‐term lithium administration on glomerular structure and intervention with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) were studied in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed a lithium‐containing diet (Li) or control diet (C) for 16 weeks postnatally. Litreated rats developed renal failure, hypertension and proteinuria. During the subsequent 24 weeks, subgroups were treated with ACEI. The kidneys were fixed by perfusion, and tissue blocks were serially cut for estimation of glomerular volume and glomerular characteristics by light microscopy. Mesangial and mesangial matrix volume fractions, surface density of capillary walls, basement membrane thickness and foot process width (FPW) were measured by electron microscopy. Glomerular volume was decreased in Lirats, with increased intra‐individual variation. In all Li‐rats, some glomeruli (mean 27%) were abnormal, with severe changes in only three rats. Ultrastructural parameters obtained by systematic sampling of three glomeruli in each rat showed no differences among groups. Among Litreated animals there was a significant correlation between FPW and albumin excretion per unit filtration surface, and between filtration surface per glomerulus and inulin clearance. In conclusion, long‐term lithium administration to newborn rats caused marked changes in glomerular volume which were not associated with measurable changes in structural parameters. No effect of ACEI‐treatment was detectable.
Sarcoidosis in southern Taiwan.

PURPOSE To investigate the disease characteristics of sarcoidosis in southern Taiwan, and to investigate diagnostic methods. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, from March 1988 to February 2002. RESULTS A total of 12 patients (3 men, 9 women), with a mean age of 44.5 years, and a diagnosis of sarcoidosis by positive histology and either a typical chest roentgenogram or clinical presentation were included. All 12 patients had intrathoracic involvement (hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes, 12; lungs, 5), eight had skin involvement, and two had extrathoracic lymph node involvement. The most frequent biopsy specimens were from the skin (n = 10), followed by the intrathoracic lymph nodes (n = 4), lungs (n = 2), and extrathoracic lymph nodes (n = 2). Four patients had positive biopsies from two organs. Our data showed an older age distribution and a greater female predominance of the disease compared with Western countries. A higher rate of intrathoracic and skin involvement was also found, but the reason for this was not clear. CONCLUSIONS Greater awareness of possible skin involvement may enable chest physicians and clinical practitioners to suspect this condition earlier. A histologic diagnosis from skin biopsy should then be made, rather than using more invasive procedures.
Allergen avoidance in infancy and allergy at 4 years of age

In an attempt to prevent or reduce the manifestations of atopic disease, a group of infants considered to be genetically at high risk of atopy was entered in a prenatally randomized, controlled study. A prophylactic group (n= 58) was either breast‐fed with their mothers excluding foods regarded as highly antigenic from their diets, or given an extensively hydrolysed formula. In addition, strenuous efforts were made to reduce exposure to the house‐dust mite by application of acaricide to the bedroom and living room carpets and upholstered furniture. A control group (n= 62) was fed conventionally by breast or on formula, and no specific environmental measures were taken. The results (previously reported) after 1 year showed significantly less total allergy, asthma, and eczema in the prophylactic group. Similar results were obtained at 2 years although the reduction in asthma no longer achieved statistical significance. However, there was significantly less sensitization, as shown by a battery of skin prick tests (SPTs), to both dietary allergens and aeroallergens in the prophylactic group. A11 the children have now been reviewed at the age of 4 years, and SPTs to a wide range of dietary allergens and aeroallergens have been performed. The control group continues to show more total allergy (odds ratio [OR] 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21–6.13, P<0.02), definite allergy (allergic symptoms plus positive SPT) (OR 5.6, CI 1.8–17.9, P<0.005), and eczema (OR 3.4, CI 1.2–10.1, P<0.05). More control children have positive SPTs (OR 3.7, CI 1.3–10.0, P<0.02). A dual approach to the prevention of allergic disease, avoiding as far as possible sensitization to food and aeroallergens, significantly reduces the risk of atopic disease. This should be reserved for infants considered at very high risk of atopy, and close medical and dietetic supervision must be available.
Structural basis of microtubule stabilization by laulimalide and peloruside A.

Laulimalide and peloruside A are microtubule-stabilizing agents (MSAs), the mechanism of action on microtubules of which is poorly defined. Here, using X-ray crystallography it is shown that laulimalide and peloruside A bind to a unique non-taxane site on β-tubulin and use their respective macrolide core structures to interact with a second tubulin dimer across protofilaments. At the same time, they allosterically stabilize the taxane-site M-loop that establishes lateral tubulin contacts in microtubules. Structures of ternary complexes of tubulin with laulimalide/peloruside A and epothilone A are also solved, and a crosstalk between the laulimalide/peloruside and taxane sites via the M-loop of β-tubulin is found. Together, the data define the mechanism of action of laulimalide and peloruside A on tubulin and microtubules. The data further provide a structural framework for understanding the synergy observed between two classes of MSAs in tubulin assembly and the inhibition of cancer cell growth.
Effect of long-term onion (Allium cepa) feeding on antioxidant enzymes in goat erythrocyte

The effect of long-term onion consumption on red blood cell antioxidant enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), were measured. The relationship of these enzymes with PCV and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations was also determined. Twelve adult female goats were used for the experiment and randomly assigned to three groups. Animals of group 1 and 2 received diets containing 30% and 60% spring onions (DM basis) for 60 days, respectively. Goats of group 3 served as control and were fed whole alfalfa hay. Blood samples were obtained before feeding onion and every 10 days up to 80 days. In the onion groups, PCV amounts decreased from day 10 and reached the lowest value at day 40. Although onion consumption reduced PCV, the measures were within the normal range for goats. G6PD activity decreased from day 10 and the lowest value was detected at day 40. After day 40, a slow and gradual return toward the baseline values was seen. In the onion groups, SOD showed a negative correlation with PCV and Hb (P<0.01). On the other hand, there was a positive correlation between G6PD and Hb (P<0.01). It seems that up to 60% of onions in diet can be consumed by goats without noticeable clinical anaemia. Moreover, it seems that SOD has a compensatory role in protection of erythrocytes against oxidative stress induced by onion consumption in goats.
Response of Dissolved Organic Carbon following Forest Harvesting in a Boreal Forest

Abstract To determine if forestry affects stream water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, we conducted high frequency water sampling at a clear-cut catchment experiment in northern Sweden 1 year after harvesting. The overall finding was that harvesting significantly increased stream water DOC in these boreal forest catchments, at least during the growing season. The results indicate a DOC concentration increase of up to 50% during early summer on the two harvested catchments relative to the two control catchments. The analysis supports the hypothesis that a raised groundwater level following harvesting caused the increased DOC concentration during both hydrological episodes and low flow conditions. Harvesting resulted in a 70% increase in DOC export due to the combined effect of runoff and DOC concentration during the June–October study period. Given the extent of forestry activity in the boreal landscape, these results demonstrate that tree harvesting will affect the water quality of the region.
Residential versus community treatment of personality disorders: a comparative study of three treatment programs.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three treatment models for personality disorder: 1) a long-term psychoanalytically oriented residential specialist program, 2) a phased "step-down" specialist psychosocial program that included a briefer residential stay and an outpatient component, and 3) a general community psychiatric model. METHOD One hundred forty-three patients with a personality disorder diagnosis were allocated according to geographical criteria to the three treatment conditions. Outcome was prospectively evaluated at 6, 12, and 24 months through the use of a standardized battery of instruments that included measures of general symptom severity, social adaptation, assessment of mental health functioning, frequency of self-harm and suicide attempts, and rates and duration of hospital readmissions. RESULTS By 24 months, patients in the step-down condition showed significant improvements on all measures. Patients in the long-term residential model showed significant improvements in symptom severity, social adaptation, and global functioning, while no changes were achieved in self-harm, attempted suicide, and readmission rates. Patients in the general psychiatric group showed no improvement on any variables except self-harm and hospital readmissions. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that for personality disorders, a specialist step-down program is more effective than both long-term residential treatment and general psychiatric treatment in the community. Replication is needed that includes a random allocation of patients to conditions to ensure that geographical factors did not account for the observed differences.
Trait anxiety and impaired control of reflective attention in working memory

The present study investigated whether the control of reflective attention in working memory (WM) is impaired in high trait anxiety individuals. We focused on the consequences of refreshing—a simple reflective process of thinking briefly about a just-activated representation in mind—on the subsequent processing of verbal stimuli. Participants performed a selective refreshing task, in which they initially refreshed or read one word from a three-word set, and then refreshed a non-selected item from the initial phrase or read aloud a new word. High trait anxiety individuals exhibited greater latencies when refreshing a word after experiencing the refreshing of a word from the same list of semantic associates. The same pattern was observed for reading a new word after prior refreshing. These findings suggest that high trait anxiety individuals have difficulty resolving interference from active distractors when directing reflective attention towards contents in WM or processing a visually presented word.
Bacterial Enteric Infections Among Older Adults in the United States: Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 1996-2012.

BACKGROUND A growing segment of the population-adults aged ≥65 years-is more susceptible than younger adults to certain enteric (including foodborne) infections and experience more severe disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using data on laboratory-confirmed infections from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), we describe trends in the incidence of Campylobacter spp. , Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and nontyphoidal Salmonella infections in adults aged ≥65 years over time and by age group and sex. We used data from FoodNet and other sources to estimate the total number of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States caused by these infections each year using a statistical model to adjust for underdiagnosis (taking into account medical care-seeking, stool sample submission, laboratory practices, and test sensitivity). RESULTS From 1996 to 2012, 4 pathogens caused 21,405 laboratory-confirmed infections among older adults residing in the FoodNet surveillance area; 49.3% were hospitalized, and 2.6% died. The average annual rate of infection was highest for Salmonella (12.8/100,000) and Campylobacter (12.1/100,000). Salmonella and Listeria led as causes of death. Among older adults, rates of laboratory-confirmed infection and the percentage of patients who were hospitalized and who died generally increased with age. A notable exception was the rate of Campylobacter infections, which decreased with increasing age. Adjusting for underdiagnosis, we estimated that these pathogens caused about 226,000 illnesses (≈600/100,000) annually among U.S. adults aged ≥65 years, resulting in ≈9700 hospitalizations and ≈500 deaths. CONCLUSIONS Campylobacter, E. coli O157, Listeria, and Salmonella are major contributors to illness in older adults, highlighting the value of effective and targeted intervention.