Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cyclosporine improves remyelination in diabetic rats submitted to a gliotoxic demyelinating model in the brainstem

The use of cyclosporine (CsA) has shown to induce an increase in density of oligodendrocytes near remyelinating areas following the injection of ethidium bromide (EB), a demyelinating agent, in the rat brainstem. It is also known that diabetes mellitus was capable of delaying remyelination by both oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells in this gliotoxic model. This study was designed to assess whether CsA had the capacity to improve remyelination in streptozotocin‐induced (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneal route) diabetic rats. Diabetic Wistar rats were divided in different groups receiving 10 microlitres of 0.1% EB or 0.9% saline solution into the cisterna pontis and were treated or not with CsA. During 7 days and, thereafter, three times a week, 10 mg/kg/day of CsA were given by intraperitoneal route. The rats were euthanized from 7 to 31 days after EB or saline injection and brainstem sections were collected and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy studies. Results from different groups were compared by using a semi‐quantitative method developed for documenting the extent and nature of remyelination in semithin sections following gliotoxic lesions. Results showed that CsA administration to diabetic rats after EB injection stimulate both oligodendroglial and Schwann cell remyelination (mean remyelination scores of 3.15 ± 0.5 for oligodendrocytes and 1.36 ± 0.58 for Schwann cells) compared to untreated animals (2.52 ± 0.71 for oligodendrocytes and 0.73 ± 0.47 for Schwann cells, respectively). CsA given to diabetic rats was capable of reversing some of the deleterial effects of diabetes on remyelination. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:714–722, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Epithelial Trafficking of Sonic Hedgehog by Megalin

We present here evidence of in vivo epithelial endocytosis and trafficking of non-lipid-modified Sonic hedgehog (ShhN) when infused into rat efferent ducts via microinjection. Initially, exogenous ShhN is detected in endocytic vesicles and early endosomes located near the apical plasma membrane of non-ciliated cells. Within 30-60 min following infusion, ShhN can be detected in lysosomes and at basolateral regions of non-ciliated cells. Basolaterally, ShhN was observed along the extracellular surfaces of interdigitated plasma membranes of adjacent cells and in the extracellular compartment underlying the efferent duct epithelium. Uptake and subcellular trafficking of infused ShhN by non-ciliated cells could be blocked by either anti-megalin IgG or the megalin antagonist, RAP. Ciliated cells, which do not express megalin, displayed little if any apical internalization of ShhN even though they were found to express Patched-1. However, ShhN was found in coated pits of lateral plasma membranes of ciliated cells as well as in underlying endocytic vesicles. We conclude that megalin-mediated endocytosis of ShhN can occur in megalin-expressing epithelia in vivo, and that the internalized ShhN can be targeted to the lysosome or transcytosed in the plane of the epithelium or across the epithelium. These findings highlight the multiple mechanisms by which megalin may influence Shh morphogen gradients in vivo.
Simultaneous Estimation of Legal and Illegal Supply and Demand: The Case of Motion Pictures

ABSTRACT Prior research into illegal goods has typically looked at one-way effects, such as illegal demand on legal demand. This research investigates a previously unexamined component of the market, illegal supply. The authors examine the supply and demand of legal goods and their illegal counterparts as a market system of four interdependent components. This research makes theoretical and empirical contributions by evaluating illegal supply in this system. Simultaneous equations estimate each market component on the others using data from the motion picture industry. The results find illegal supply has no effect on legal supply (movie screens), positive effects on illegal demand (piracy downloads), and some effect on legal demand (box office revenues). Timing effects highlight this: illegal supply has a positive effect on legal demand during a film’s opening week, but no effect post-launch. The other market components have positive effects on illegal supply (except legal supply, which is negative in the opening week). Additionally, illegal demand has a negative effect on legal demand during the opening week of release, but not in the subsequent weeks. This finding alleviates prior research tension as to whether piracy helps or hurts legal sales, as omitting illegal supply could result in biased estimates.
Strengthening the training of adult educators: learning from an inter-regional exchange of experience

This collection describes policies, programs and projects devoted to adult education training that have been initiated in various parts of the world. They are evidence that adult educator training has gained greater visibility worldwide as a result of CONFINTEA V and the follow-up process. An agenda of future action is proposed, to be undertaken before CONFINTEA VI, along with suggestions for monitoring and evaluating progress. The papers are: Professional and personal development of adult and youth educators in Latin America and the Caribbean / Magaly Robalino Campo (p. 11-17); The training of adult educators in Latin America / Graciela Messina and Gabriela Enriquez (p. 18-28); Training adult and youth educators: the experience of the Academy of Adult Education, National University of Education, Mexico / Carmen Campero (p. 29-33); Improving the quality of training of adult education practitioners in the South Asian region: some considerations / Anita Dighe (p. 34-44); Issues in the training of adult educators: an African perspective / Stanley Mpofu (p. 45-53); The professional and personal development of adult education practitioners in Northern Europe / Antra Carlsen (p. 54-61).
Game-Theoretic Modeling of the Steering Interaction Between a Human Driver and a Vehicle Collision Avoidance Controller

Development of vehicle active steering collision avoidance systems calls for mathematical models capable of predicting a human driver's response so as to reduce the cost involved in field tests while accelerating product development. This paper provides a discussion on the paradigms that may be used for modeling a driver's steering interaction with vehicle collision avoidance control in path-following scenarios. Four paradigms, namely decentralized, noncooperative Nash, noncooperative Stackelberg, and cooperative Pareto are established. The decentralized paradigm, which is developed on the basis of optimal control theory, represents a driver's interaction with the collision avoidance controllers that disregard driver steering control. The noncooperative Nash and Stackelberg paradigms are used for predicting a driver's steering behavior in response to the collision avoidance control that actively compensates for driver steering action. These two are devised based on the principles of equilibria in noncooperative game theory. The cooperative Pareto paradigm is derived from cooperative game theory to model a driver's interaction with the collision avoidance systems that take into account the driver's target path. The driver and the collision avoidance controllers' optimization problems and their resulting steering strategies arise in each paradigm are delineated. Two mathematical approaches applicable to these optimization problems namely the distributed model predictive control and the linear quadratic dynamic optimization approaches are described in detail. A case study illustrating a conflict in steering control between driver and vehicle collision avoidance system is performed via simulation. It was found that the variation of driver path-error cost function weights results in a variety of steering behaviors, which are distinct between paradigms.
Foetal and neonatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: GDM has gained global importance because of its rising prevalence. Increasing prevalence of GDM especially among youngsters has been associated with increased complications associated with it. Methods: A case control study conducted from October 2010 to August 2012. 100 ladies diagnosed with gestational diabetes and 100 ladies without gestational diabetes representing the general population were selected and followed till delivery. Foetal and neonatal complications in them were studied. Results: Occurrence of macrosomia was 1% more in GDM group compared to control group. There was no still birth or respiratory distress syndrome in either group. Congenital anomaly was same 1% in either group. Preterm labour was 9% in GDM group compared to 4% in control group. Operative vaginal delivery (forceps and vacuum) was 6% in both groups. Rate of caesarean delivery was 28% in GDM group compared to 19% in control group. Conclusions: The rate of adverse outcomes has seen lot of changes, which was high in earlier days. With increasing prevalence of GDM there is a threat for these complications to again increase. With good monitoring and treatment the adverse outcomes of GDM are not more than that of general population.
Renal involvement in paediatric systemic vasculitis.

BACKGROUND Primary systemic vasculitis is a rare condition in children, which often has a slowly progressive course with diffuse symptoms and is therefore easily overlooked. Early initiation of treatment can prevent severe kidney disease. The aim of this study was to survey the extent of renal involvement in children with systemic vasculitis at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet. MATERIAL AND METHOD This observational retrospective study was based on a review of medical records, laboratory results and renal biopsies from first admission to last check-up at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, for the period 2000–14. RESULTS A total of 66 children (35 boys) under 18 years of age were treated at the hospital for primary systemic vasculitis in the period in question. Objective signs of renal involvement were found in 39 (59 %) at the first consultation and in 42 (64 %) over the course of the disease. Twenty-nine patients (44 %) underwent renal biopsy. Of the 41 patients with proven renal involvement that were still alive at the time of the last check-up, 12 continued to require treatment for renal impairment. Three patients had undergone renal transplantation, 18 were in remission on immunosuppressive or antihypertensive treatment, while 11 patients had achieved medication-free renal remission. INTERPRETATION There is a high prevalence of renal involvement in paediatric patients treated for systemic vasculitis at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet. At their final check-up, the majority of patients continue to require treatment and follow-up for kidney disease.
Local cultures in institutional contexts: The functions of academic departments in liberal arts colleges

The academic department remains understudied as a context of faculty work, particularly in institutional settings beyond the research university. In this article, we report findings from a study of faculty experiences within academic departments in liberal arts colleges, through analysis of interviews with 55 faculty members representing a 13-member consortium of liberal arts institutions in the mid-western U.S. Through inductive analysis and deductive coding from existing models, we identified five functions of departments in liberal arts colleges, including: (a) faculty hiring, retention, and promotion; (b) new faculty socialization; (c) informal interactions, mentoring, and network-building; (d) establishing and communicating institutional and departmental policies, practices, and procedures; and (e) the structuring of academic work. Findings suggest that departmental functions in liberal arts colleges are generally the same as those in other institution types, but play out differently and thus have different consequences for academic careers. Across functions, liberal arts colleges seem to be undergoing an evolution, or perhaps revolution, that has implications for academic work in such contexts.
Expression of multiple human endogenous retrovirus surface envelope proteins in ovarian cancer

Individual classes of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) genes and proteins are expressed in cancer, but expression of more than one type of HERV is rare. We report here the expression of multiple HERV genes and proteins in ovarian cell lines and tissues. Expression of HERV‐K env mRNA was greater in ovarian epithelial tumors than in normal ovarian tissues (N = 254). The expression of this protein on the surface and in the cytoplasm of ovarian cancer cells was confirmed using anti‐HERV‐K specific antibody by flow cytometric analysis. The frequency of expression of HERV‐K env protein in multitissue microarrays (N = 641) was determined by immunohistochemistry and a significant correlation with tumor histotype was found. A significantly increased expression of HERV‐K was observed in tumors with low malignant potential and low grade, relative to expression in normal ovarian tissues. The increase in expression of HERV‐K env protein took place in a stepwise fashion in serous papillary adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, we found that other classes of HERV env mRNAs, including ERV3 and HERV‐E, are expressed in the same ovarian cancer tissues that expressed HERV‐K. Furthermore, anti‐HERV antibodies including anti‐ERV3 (30%), anti‐HERV‐E (40%) and anti‐HERV‐K (55%) were detected in patients with ovarian cancer, but not in normal female controls. HERV env proteins are frequently transcribed and translated in ovarian epithelial tumors, and multiple HERV families are detectable in ovarian cancer. HERV env proteins, and especially those expressed on the cell surface, may serve as novel tumor targets for detection, diagnosis and immunotherapy of ovarian cancer. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical analysis of community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical features, etiology, and outcome of patients over 65 years old hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia. PATIENTS Eighty-four patients (50 males, 34 females) hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia in Kawasaki Medical School Kawasaki Hospital between April 1998 and March 2000. RESULTS Most of the patients had respiratory symptoms or signs, but over one-third also had atypical symptoms of pneumonia such as dyspnea, consciousness disturbance, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The causative microorganisms were identified in 48% of these patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae (13%), respiratory viruses (13%), Haemophilus influenzae (8%) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (8%) were frequently identified, but Mycoplasma pneumoniae was less frequently noted in the elderly. Double infection was recognized in 19 % and a combination of some virus and bacteria in 13%. Treatment consisted of the administration of second or third generation cephalosporin antibiotics intravenously, because antibiotics had already been preadministered in 39%. The prognosis was poor (mortality rate 9%) for the elderly with community-acquired pneumonia despite mechanical ventilation in 8%. CONCLUSIONS Although the range of microorganisms causing community-acquired pneumonia differed slightly from that in previous reports; namely, lower frequency of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila, it is suggested that the initial antibiotic treatment should always cover S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. In addition, since a prevalence of virus infections related to the increase in community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly was found in this study, the routine use of influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccines in the elderly is recommended to reduce the high mortality rate.
Aluminium oxide nanoparticles induce mitochondrial-mediated oxidative stress and alter the expression of antioxidant enzymes in human mesenchymal stem cells

An urgent need for toxicological studies on aluminium oxide nanoparticles (Al2 NPs) has arisen from their rapidly emerging range of applications in the food and agricultural sectors. Despite the widespread use of nanoscale aluminium and its composites in the food industry, there is a serious lack of information concerning the biological activities of Al2 NPs (ANPs) and their impact on human health. In this preliminary study, the effects of ANPs on metabolic stress in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were analysed. The results showed dose-dependent effects, including cellular toxicity. The mitochondrial membrane potential in the hMSCs decreased with increasing ANP concentrations after 24 h of exposure. The expression levels of oxidative stress-responsive enzymes were monitored by RT-PCR. The expression levels of CYP1A and POR were up-regulated in response to ANPs, and a significant down-regulation in the expression of the antioxidant enzyme SOD was observed. Further, dose-dependent changes in the mRNA levels of GSTM3, GPX and GSR were noted. These findings suggest that the toxicity of ANPs in hMSCs may be mediated through an increase in oxidative stress. The results of this study clearly demonstrate the nanotoxicological effects of ANPs on hMSCs, which will be useful for nanotoxicological indexing.
Synovial sarcoma in children and adolescents: the St Jude Children's Research Hospital experience.

PURPOSE AND METHODS We reviewed the clinical records and pathologic findings of 37 children and adolescents with synovial sarcoma treated at our institution over a 30-year period to evaluate the prognostic significance of tumor size, invasiveness, histology, and other features. RESULTS The 20 male and 17 female patients with synovial sarcoma had a median age of 13.7 years at diagnosis. Primary tumor sites were the extremities (n = 27), trunk (n = 8), and head and neck (n = 2). Disease stage (clinical group) was as follows: group I, n = 21; group II, n = 7; group III, n = 4; and group IV, n = 5. Nineteen patients had invasive (T2) lesions, 20 had tumors more than 5 cm in diameter, and 14 had histologic grade 3 lesions. The estimated 5-year survival rate (+/- SE) for patients with group I or II disease was 80% +/- 9%, compared with 17% +/- 15% for those with group III or IV tumors (P = .0003). An exact log-rank test, adjusted for clinical group, showed that tumor invasiveness and grade independently predicted overall and progression-free survival (P < .05); tumor size was significantly correlated with progression-free survival. A borderline significant relationship with overall survival was found for both tumor size and histologic subtype (P = .09). CONCLUSION A controlled trial of adjuvant chemotherapy is merited in children with resected synovial sarcoma (clinical group I or II) who present with unfavorable clinicopathologic features such as large, invasive, or grade 3 lesions. Children with unresected or metastatic disease fare poorly despite multimodality therapy and require novel treatment approaches.
TRAM Flap versus Nonautologous Breast Reconstruction:: What Do Patients Really Think?

Although there have been many reports of aesthetic outcomes after breast reconstruction, there have been comparatively few studies examining patient satisfaction and related subjective issues. The variables affecting satisfaction are only beginning to be understood, and patient satisfaction issues were explored in a more homogeneous patient population. A questionnaire surveying overall and aesthetic satisfaction, postoperative recuperation time, and symptoms was used to elicit candid patient responses. Fifty-seven patients replied (86 percent response rate), of whom 38 had undergone transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap (pedicled, n = 29; free, n = 9) reconstruction and 19 had undergone nonautologous reconstruction. Although the median patient satisfaction score was higher for the TRAM flap group, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.92). Recuperation was significantly longer for the TRAM flap group, with only 47 percent of patients being able to resume full activities within 2 months after the surgical procedure, compared with 95 percent of the implant group (p = 0.002). Of the TRAM flap–treated patients, 50 percent described some postoperative abdominal weakness, but only 5 percent of all TRAM flap–treated patients said that abdominal weakness was actually a functional problem. Our results suggest that patients may derive equal satisfaction with the two methods of reconstruction. The postoperative recuperation time after TRAM flap reconstruction is significantly longer than that after nonautologous procedures, although the postoperative abdominal weakness after TRAM flap reconstruction is not as significant a clinical problem as previously thought. The patient-derived information on satisfaction should assist both surgeons and patients in matching reconstructive options with patients’ expectations and lifestyle.
Activation of the tissue factor pathway occurs during continuous venovenous hemofiltration.

BACKGROUND Activation of the tissue factor pathway occurs during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). Despite adequate exogenous anticoagulation, the occlusion of CVVH circuits can occur within minutes to a few hours of use and is associated with evidence of thrombin generation. Having found no evidence of activation of the contact factor (intrinsic coagulation) pathway during CVVH, we sought to examine the effect of the first episode of CVVH on the tissue factor (extrinsic) pathway of coagulation and thrombin generation. METHODS Twelve critically ill patients were studied prior to the commencement of hemofiltration and at regular intervals thereafter until the filter clotted. RESULTS Prior to hemofiltration, most patients had increased levels of plasma tissue factor, thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI); during hemofiltration, further generation of TAT complexes occurred. Initially, levels of activated factor VII (FVIIa) fell and TFPI increased, but during the course of hemofiltration, the levels of TFPI fell and FVIIa increased. Levels of tissue factor increased during CVVH in some patients, but this was not related to the generation of FVIIa. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that activation of FVII occurred during CVVH, which was related to levels of TFPI, but not tissue factor, and was coincidental to thrombin generation.