Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
B‐cell precursors differentiated from cord blood CD34+ cells are more immature than those derived from granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor‐mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells

Umbilical cord blood (CB) has been widely used instead of bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) for stem cell transplantation (SCT). However, problems of sustained immunodeficiency after CB transplantation remain to be resolved. To elucidate the mechanism of immunodeficiency, we compared the characteristics of B cells differentiated in vitro from CD34+ cells of CB with those of PB. Purified CD34+ cells from CB and PB were cultured on murine stroma cell‐line MS‐5 with stem cell factor and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor for 6 weeks. The B‐cell precursors (pre‐B cells) that differentiated in this culture system, were analysed as to their immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) variable region gene repertoire and the expression of B‐cell differentiation‐related genes. CD10+ CD19+ pre‐B cells were differentiated from both PB and CB. Although the usages of IgH gene segments in pre‐B cells differentiated from CB and PB were similar, the N region was significantly shorter in CB‐derived than PB‐derived cells. Productive rearrangements were significantly fewer in cells of CB than PB in the third week. Among a number of B‐cell differentiation‐related genes, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) gene was not expressed in CB‐derived cells during the culture. These results indicated that immature features of pre‐B cells from CB, such as lack of TdT expression, and a short N region and few productive rearrangements in the IgH gene, might cause the delay in mature B‐cell production.
The Quality of In‐house Medical School Examinations

Purpose Most medical schools test their students throughout the curriculum using in-house examinations written by the faculty who teach the courses. The authors assessed the quality of in-house examinations used in three U.S. medical schools. Method In 1998, nine basic science examinations from the three schools were gathered and each question was subjected to quality assessment by three expert biomedical test developers, each of whom has had extensive experience in reviewing and evaluating questions for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1 and 2. Questions were rated on a five-point scale: 1 = tested recall only and was technically flawed to 5 = used a clinical or laboratory vignette, required reasoning to answer, and was free of technical flaws. Each rater made independent assessments, and the mean score for each question was calculated. Mean quality scores for National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) who were trained question writers were compared with the mean scores for question writers without NBME training. The raters' quality assessments were made without knowledge of the test writers' training background or the study's hypothesis. Results A total of 555 questions were analyzed. The mean score for all questions was 2.39 ± 1.21. The 92 questions written by NBME-trained question writers had a mean score of 4.24 ± 0.85, and the 463 questions written by faculty without formal NBME training had a mean score of 2.03 ± 0.90 (p <.01). Conclusions The in-house examinations were of relatively low quality. The quality of examination questions can be significantly improved by providing question writers with formal training.
Genetic relatedness within and between serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae from the United Kingdom: analysis of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and antimicrobial resistance patterns

A collection of 54 isolates of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae of serotypes 3 and 14 and serogroups 6, 9, 19, and 23 was investigated. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis suggested that two clones were represented in the collection, one of serotype 14 isolates, most of which were resistant to erythromycin, and one of serotype 9V isolates, in which resistance to penicillin (MIC, 1 microgram/ml), cefotaxime, and co-trimoxazole was common. Among other isolates there were only a limited correlation between genetic relatedness measured by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and expression of the same capsule type. However, isolates with highly related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns always shared the same serotype and highly related allele profiles. Calculation of the index of association suggests a freely recombining population structure with epidemic spread of successful clones.
First-phase insulin release during the intravenous glucose tolerance test as a risk factor for type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between first-phase (1 minute + 3 minutes) insulin production during the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IV-GTT) and risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes. STUDY DESIGN Relatives of persons with type 1 diabetes (n = 59,600) were screened for islet cell antibodies (ICAs). Subjects who had positive screening results underwent IV-GTT (> or =2 times), repeat ICA screening, insulin autoantibody (IAA) screening twice, and an oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS Of the 59,600 subjects in the study, 2199 (3.69%) had positive findings on initial ICA test. IV-GTTs were performed in 1622 subjects, with children <8 years having the lowest first-phase insulin release (FPIR) and subjects 8 to 20 years of age having the highest FPIR. The FPIR was lower for subjects with a confirmed positive ICA test result or a positive IAA test result, subjects with higher titers of ICA or IAA, and subjects who had an abnormal (impaired or diabetic) oral glucose tolerance test result. CONCLUSION FPIR in the IV-GTT correlates strongly with risk factors for development of type 1 diabetes.
Exogenous Isolation of Mobilizing Plasmids from Polluted Soils and Sludges

Exogenous plasmid isolation was used to assess the presence of mobilizing plasmids in several soils and activated sludges. Triparental matings were performed with Escherichia coli (a member of the γ subgroup of the Proteobacteria) as the donor of an IncQ plasmid (pMOL155, containing the heavy metal resistance genes czc: Cor, Znr, and Cdr), Alcaligenes eutrophus (a member of the β subgroup of the Proteobacteria) as the recipient, and indigenous microorganisms from soil and sludge samples as helper strains. We developed an assay to assess the plasmid mobilization potential of a soil ecosystem on the basis of the number of transconjugants obtained after exogenous isolations. After inoculation into soil of several concentrations of a helper strain (E. coli CM120 harboring IncP [IncP1] mobilizing plasmid RP4), the log numbers of transconjugants obtained from exogenous isolations with different soil samples were a linear function of the log numbers of helper strain CM120(RP4) present in the soils. Four soils were analyzed for the presence of mobilizing elements, and mobilizing plasmids were isolated from two of these soils. Several sludge samples from different wastewater treatment plants yielded much higher numbers of transconjugants than the soil samples, indicating that higher numbers of mobilizing strains were present. The mobilizing plasmids isolated from Gent-O sludge and one plasmid isolated from Eislingen soil hybridized to the repP probe, whereas the plasmids isolated from Essen soil did not hybridize to a large number of rep probes (repFIC, repHI1, repH12, repL/M, repN, repP, repT, repU, repW, repX). This indicates that in Essen soil, broad-host-range mobilizing plasmids belonging to other incompatibility groups may be present.
Health Care Transition for Youth Living With HIV/AIDS

There are ∼1 million people in the United States living with HIV/AIDS, and >50 000 new infections occur each year. With an estimated 13% of all new infections occurring among young people aged 13 to 24 years and an increasing number of perinatally infected youth surviving to adulthood, there is now an increasing need to transition both perinatally and behaviorally infected youth to the adult health care setting. Recently, pediatric providers and professional societies have prioritized the development of transition programs for adolescents with chronic disease to address the many challenges these youth face in the process. Although multiple position papers have called for continuous, coordinated, culturally appropriate, compassionate, family-centered transition programs for youth with special health care needs and have recognized the need for evidence-based models, few data exist on what strategies are most effective. To date, published data on health care transition for HIV-positive youth are limited and include only 2 studies, which considered behaviorally infected youth. In this state-of-the-art review, we discuss the unique transition challenges to consider for this population, including socioeconomic and health insurance status, the special role of the pediatric or adolescent provider as family, stigma and disclosure issues, cognitive development and mental health issues, medication adherence, and sexual, reproductive, and gender health concerns. Future research will need to include the experiences of transition in low-resource settings and examine clinical outcomes and factors that may predict success or failure of the transition process.
Ophthalmic Manifestations in Children and Young Adults with Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate whether different types of ocular manifestations are associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) in a large Caucasian population of children and young adults with Down syndrome (DS). Methods: Population-based, case-control study which included 185 subjects with DS (mean age 13.2 ± 7.9 years), who reported presence or absence of CHD; DS with CHD group (51 subjects, mean age 10.6 ± 5.6 years) and DS without CHD (134 subjects, mean age 14.2 ± 8.4 years). Results: In our sample with DS and CHD, strabismus was found in 15 subjects (29.4%), nystagmus in 1 (2.0%), epiblepharon in 21 (41.2%) and Brushfield spots in 15 (31.3%). In the DS without CHD group, strabismus was found in 38 participants (28.4%), nystagmus in 13 (9.7%), epiblepharon in 31 (23.5%) and Brushfield spots in 21 (16.0%). Only the variables epiblepharon and presence of Brushfield spots differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). Hyperopia was present in 26 participants (53.1%) in the DS with CHD group, and in 65 (57.0%) in the DS without CHD group. Oblique astigmatism was present in 25 (52.1%) in the DS with CHD group and in 61 (53.5%) in the DS without CHD group. Conclusions: Frequencies of DS participants presenting with strabismus, nystagmus, hyperopia and oblique astigmatism were not statistically different between those with CHD and those without CHD in this sample. Further studies are needed to confirm if there are associations between the presence of Brushfield spots or epiblepharon and CHD in patients with DS.
Raising awareness of hypertension risk through a web-based framing intervention: Does consideration of future consequences make a difference?

Approximately, one third of people with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition. However, little research has explored the efficacy of interventions to raise awareness of this serious problem. This study had two main objectives: (1) To explore the efficacy of a web-based intervention aimed at raising awareness of the risks associated with high blood pressure and hypertension; (2) To examine the role of the personality variable, consideration of future consequences (CFC) in influencing the effectiveness of the intervention. A 2 (message framing: loss vs. gain)×2 (function: prevention vs. detection)×2 (CFC: low vs. high) between-subjects design was employed. Participants were randomly allocated to read one of four messages on a health website. Time spent reading additional health information was utilised as the dependent variable. A significant message frame by CFC interaction was found indicating a loss frame advantage for participants high in CFC and a gain frame advantage for those low in CFC. After reading the loss frame, participants high in CFC spent almost twice as long as those low in CFC reading the additional health information, whereas after reading the gain frame, participants low in CFC read longer than those high in CFC. This study demonstrates that a simple, theory-driven, web-based intervention has the capacity to increase information seeking about hypertension and highlights the importance of tailoring health communication messages to individual characteristics in order to maximise their effectiveness.
Ground Application of Aquareslin® and Aquakontrol® Against Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Aedes aegypti, and Aedes albopictus

Abstract Two permethrin formulations, AquaReslin® and AquaKontrol®, were applied by ultra-low volume truck-mounted sprayers on test plots under appropriate meteorological condition at Jacksonville, FL. The method of application was followed from the product label. The application rate for each formulation was 0.79 g permethrin per acre. AquaReslin and AquaKontrol demonstrated similar results against Anopheles quadrimaculatus; the former was superior to the latter used against Aedes aegypti, and Ae. albopictus. Teflon®-coated standard glass slides were used to collect the aerosol components. Volume median-diameter droplets per square centimeter varied with pesticides and distance from spray source, and the mortality of the 3 species at 18 h ranged from 61.3% to 91.7%.
Infanticide: Is Its Incidence Among Postneonatal Infant Deaths Increasing?: An 18-year Population-Based Analysis in California

The decline in the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and recent recommendations regarding the differentiation of SIDS and child abuse has generated speculation that some cases of infanticide were misdiagnosed as SIDS. The aims of this study were to determine the change in incidences and proportions of postneonatal deaths from all causes, SIDS, and infanticide in California over an 18-year interval encompassing years before and after the Back to Sleep campaign. Selected postneonatal mortality data from 1981 through 1998 obtained from the California Department of Health Services were analyzed and graphically displayed. The total postneonatal mortality and incidence of SIDS deaths per 100,000 live births decreased 45% and 66%, respectively, during the study interval; the incidence of infanticide remained low. The ratio of infanticide to SIDS increased from 4.3 per 100 in 1981 to 10.2 per 100 in 1998. Infanticide deaths, as a percentage of the total number of postneonatal deaths, increased slightly from the first to the second half of the study interval but never rose above 3.2%. It is concluded that this increased percentage is due to a decrease in SIDS deaths and not to an actual increase in infanticide deaths.
Analysis of the conducting airway system in the lung: A new method combining morphometry with mathematical modeling for airway classification

Although the lung is structurally complex, it is suitable for morphometric analysis of the structural determinants of lung function in health and disease. Analysis of the organized branching airways has been problematic because of the need to identify and classify airways before structural characteristics of different‐order branches can be determined. Airway casts have been used to identify relationships between branches, measure some structural features, and develop mathematical models that describe simply the relationships between generations. However, cast preparation destroys surrounding tissue, including the airway wall, thus precluding analysis of these structural elements. We describe a new approach using tissue sections which combines the classification of airways into Strahler order (SO) with tissue structural analysis. Lung‐tissue sections are prepared, and outer (OD) and inner (ID) diameters are determined over a wide range of airways. The line equation relating log OD vs. SO is determined using measured values for SO1 (terminal bronchioles) and SO8 (first branch bronchi). Mean ODs can then be calculated for each of the other SO groups, and measurements can be classified. Calculations can be made for the mean number of branches and airway lengths (given the log linear relationship of these factors with SO and morphometrically determined volume densities for airway lumen), and for individual airway resistance and total resistances for each SO. For an example, mean data are presented for airways in the adult sheep (n = 13). The methodology presented allows identification of subtle alterations in airway structures which may be affecting selected orders of airways, with specific implications for changes in lung function. Anat Rec 266:51–57, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stem cells: new opportunities to treat eye diseases.

The recent identification and characterization of neural progenitors with stem cell properties has opened new avenues that may be useful for treating functional impairments caused by the death of specific neural cell populations. Neuronal degeneration is the cause of debilitating visual impairment associated with prevalent ocular diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal detachment, and glaucoma. Neural stem cells may help to restore vision in patients who have these diseases, by repopulating the damaged retina and/or by rescuing retinal neurons from further degeneration. In addition, understanding the molecular and cellular biology of neural stem cells will shed light on developmental mechanisms that regulate their maintenance, differentiation, and survival. Insights into these developmental mechanisms are likely to provide additional therapeutic approaches. This review provides an overview of the progress made in the area of neural stem cell research with emphasis on the eye. First, neural stem cells are defined and described. Second, their location and characterization in the mammalian eye is outlined. Third, progress in therapeutic usage of neural stem cell is discussed. And finally, the current barriers to neural stem cell therapy are assessed in an attempt to provide a balanced view of these exciting new opportunities in treating degenerative eye diseases. This review does not include corneal stem cells; the reader is referred to an excellent review by Schwab and Isserhoff on the therapeutic uses of corneal stem cells.
Memory: recording experience in cells and circuits: diversity in memory research.

One of the long-standing and challenging issues that memory research continues to confront is the dilemma of localizing a complex function in an exquisitely anatomically differentiated central nervous system. Is memory a mental function that can be identified with an isolated neural structure or specific groups of neurons? Traditionally, this question has been framed by psychological inquiry. The 19th century school of “faculty psychology” divided mental processes into separate and distinct human attributes such as “courage” and “ambition,” encouraging the anatomist, Gall (1), to impose the multiple attributes of human psychological make-up onto a physical map of the brain. Although this naive view of psychological process was widely repudiated, it nevertheless spawned the powerful and ultimately validated idea that specific functions can be relegated to particular brain structures or regions. Clinical observations in patients with focal lesions in the last century clearly established a correspondence between specific symptoms and localized regions of injury, most notably left hemisphere frontal sites with expression of speech (2) and left hemisphere posterior temporal lobe sites with speech …
Conformational Fluctuations of the Ca2+-ATPase in the Native Membrane Environment

Digestion with proteinase K or trypsin yields complementary information on conformational transitions of the Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) in the native membrane environment. Distinct digestion patterns are obtained with proteinase K, revealing interconversion of E1 and E2 or E1∼P and E2-P states. The pH dependence of digestion patterns shows that, in the presence of Mg2+, conversion of E2 to E1 pattern occurs (even when Ca2+ is absent) as H+ dissociates from acidic residues. Mutational analysis demonstrates that the Glu309 and Glu771 acidic residues (empty Ca2+-binding sites I and II) are required for stabilization of E2. Glu309 ionization is most important to yield E1. However, a further transition produced by Ca2+ binding to E1 (i.e. E1·2Ca2+) is still needed for catalytic activation. Following ATP utilization, H+/Ca2+ exchange is involved in the transition from the E1∼P·2Ca2+ to the E2-P pattern, whereby alkaline pH will limit this conformational transition. Complementary experiments on digestion with trypsin exhibit high temperature dependence, indicating that, in the E1 and E2 ground states, the ATPase conformation undergoes strong fluctuations related to internal protein dynamics. The fluctuations are tightly constrained by ATP binding and phosphoenzyme formation, and this constraint must be overcome by thermal activation and substrate-free energy to allow enzyme turnover. In fact, a substantial portion of ATP free energy is utilized for conformational work related to the E1∼P·2Ca2+ to E2-P transition, thereby disrupting high affinity binding and allowing luminal diffusion of Ca2+. The E2 state and luminal path closure follow removal of conformational constraint by phosphate.
Prostaglandin E2 Stimulates Bone Sialoprotein (BSP) Expression through cAMP and Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Response Elements in the Proximal Promoter of the Rat BSP Gene*

Bone sialoprotein (BSP), an early marker of osteoblast differentiation, has been implicated in the nucleation of hydroxyapatite during de novo bone formation. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has anabolic effects on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts via diverse signal transduction systems. Because PGE2 increases the proportion of functional osteoblasts in fetal rat calvarial cell cultures, we investigated the regulation of BSP, as an osteoblastic marker, by PGE2. Treatment of rat osteosarcoma UMR 106 cells with 3 μm, 300 nm, and 30 nm PGE2 increased the steady state levels of BSP mRNA about 2.7-, 2.5-, and 2.4-fold after 12 h. From transient transfection assays, the constructs including the promoter sequence of nucleotides (nt) –116 to +60 (pLUC3) were found to enhance transcriptional activity 3.8- and 2.2-fold treated with 3 μm and 30 nm PGE2 for 12 h. 2-bp mutations were made in an inverted CCAAT box (between nt –50 and –46), a cAMP response element (CRE; between nt –75 and –68), a fibroblast growth factor 2 response element (FRE; nt –92 to –85), and a pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 motif (between nt –111 and –105) within pLUC3 and pLUC7 constructs. Transcriptional stimulation by PGE2 was almost completed abrogated in constructs that included 2-bp mutations in either the CRE and FRE. In gel shift analyses an increased binding of nuclear extract components to double-stranded oligonucleotide probes containing CRE and FRE was observed following treatment with PGE2. These studies show that PGE2 induces BSP transcription in UMR 106 cells through juxtaposed CRE and FRE elements in the proximal promoter of the BSP gene.