Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sharing of virulent Escherichia coli clones among household members of a woman with acute cystitis.

BACKGROUND Within-household transmission of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) may contribute to the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection (UTI), but this is poorly understood. METHODS A woman with acute UTI, 4 human household members who cohabited with her, and the family's pet dog underwent prospective longitudinal surveillance for colonizing E. coli for 7-9 weeks after the woman's UTI episode. Unique clones were resolved by random amplified polymorphic DNA and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis. Virulence genes, phylogenetic group, and O types were defined by PCR. Comparisons with reference strains were made using random amplified polymorphic DNA profiling. RESULTS Serial fecal and urine samples from the 6 household members yielded 7 unique E. coli clones (4 of which were ExPEC and 3 of which were non-ExPEC). For 3 clones, extensive among-host sharing was evident in patterns suggesting host-to-host transmission. The mother's UTI clone, which represented E. coli O1:K1:H7, was the clone that was most extensively shared (in 5 hosts, including the dog) and most frequently recovered (in 45% of samples and at all 3 time points). The other 3 ExPEC clones corresponded with E. coli O6:K2:H1, O1:K1:H7, and O2:F10,F48. CONCLUSIONS E. coli clones, including ExPEC, can be extensively shared among human and animal household members in the absence of sexual contact and in patterns suggesting host-to-host transmission.
Vatandaşlık eğitimi ve karakter eğitimi politikalarının değerlendirilmesine yönelik nitel bir çalışma

Akademisyenler, UNESCO ve Avrupa Birligince sik sik dile getirilen vatandaslik egitimi ve karakter egitiminin onemi, ulke yonetimleri tarafindan dikkate alinmaktadir. Konunun ulusal ve evrensel baris ve sevgiye dayali temel teskil etmesinden dolayi, egitim sistemlerinin politika ve planlamalarinda yerini almaktadir. Bu onem dogrultusunda arastirmanin amaci; istenmeyen yetiskin davranislarinin incelenerek karakter egitimi ve vatandaslik egitimi politikalarinin degerlendirilmesidir. Calismada, nitel arastirma yaklasimina dayali, fenomenolojik felsefeden yararlanilmistir. Calisma grubunda universite mezunu, kirk bes yetiskin katilimci bulunmaktadir. Katilimcilarin sosyal cevrelerinde tanik olduklari yetiskinlerin istenmeyen davranislara iliskin goruslerinin analizinde betimsel ve icerik analizi kullanilmistir. Arastirmada elde edilen verilerden yetiskinlerin karakter egitimi kapsaminda saygi, merhamet ve durustluk ile ilgili istenmeyen davranislar; vatandaslik egitimi kapsaminda ise adalet ve sorumluluk duygusu ile ilgili istenmeyen davranis gosterdikleri anlasilmaktadir. Karakter egitimi ve vatandaslik egitiminden okul, aile sosyal cevre ve medya sorumludur . Bu nedenle okul, aile ve cevre isbirliginde okul yoneticilerinden liderlik rolu ustlenmesi beklenmektedir. Karakter egitimi ve vatandaslik egitimi, hem toplumsal uyum ve duzenin saglanmasi hem de bireylerin oz bilinclerinin gelismesi oldukca onemlidir. Bu nedenle medya yoluyla populer kisilerin telkinleri bu olumsuz toplumsal kulturu degistirebilir.
Cholesterol and vitamin E-conjugated PEGylated polymeric micelles for efficient delivery and enhanced anticancer activity of curcumin: evaluation in 2D monolayers and 3D spheroids

Abstract A newly synthesized PEGylated cholesterol/α-tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS) linked polymer (CV) was self-assembled and loaded with curcumin to form a micellar system (C-CVM). The tri-functionalized amphiphilic polymer was constituted of hydrophobic cholesterol and α-TOS connected to hydrophilic PEG via a lysine linker. The synthesized polymer and the micelles were characterized by 1H NMR, DLS, zeta potentiometer, TEM, CMC determination and hemolysis studies. CVM displayed low CMC value of 15 µM with extent of hemolysis as less than 4%. The stable C-CVM with optimum % drug loading (14.2 ± 0.24) displayed Z average of 175.8 ± 0.68 nm with PDI (0.248 ± 0.075) and released curcumin in sustained manner in the in vitro drug release study. C-CVM demonstrated dose-dependent cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in murine melanoma, B16F10 and human breast cancer, MDA-MB-231 cell lines. CV exhibited marked reversal of drug resistance as indicated by significantly higher retention of P-glycoprotein substrate, rhodamine-123 in the resistant B16F10 cell line compared to standard P-glycoprotein inhibitor, verapamil. C-CVM demonstrated significantly higher spheroidal growth inhibition compared to C-PPM. The results provide strong evidence for CVM as promising drug delivery system and confirm the potential of C-CVM as chemotherapy in cancer. Graphical Abstract
Stress‐induced suppression of neuropeptide Y‐induced hunger in anorexic chicks involves corticotrophin‐releasing factor signalling and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus

The Virginia lines of chickens have been selected for low (LWS) or high (HWS) juvenile body weight and have different severities of anorexia and obesity, respectively. The LWS that are exposed to stressors at hatch are refractory to neuropeptide Y (NPY)‐induced food intake and the objective of the present study was to determine the underlying mechanisms. Chicks were exposed to a stressor (−20°C for 6 minutes and 22°C and delayed access to food for 24 hours) after hatching and the hypothalamic nuclei, including the lateral hypothalamus (LH), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and arcuate nucleus (ARC), were collected 5 days later. In LWS but not HWS, stress exposure up‐regulated corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF), CRF receptor subtypes 1 and 2 (CRFR1 and CRFR2, respectively), melanocortin receptor 4 and urocortin 3 in the PVN, as well as CRFR2 mRNA in the VMH and ARC. In LWS, stress exposure was also associated with greater NPY and NPY receptor subtype 5 mRNA in the ARC and PVN, respectively, as well as decreased agouti‐related peptide mRNA in the ARC. In HWS, stress exposure was associated with increased CRFR1 and decreased cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript in the ARC and PVN, respectively. Refractoriness of the food intake response to NPY in LWS may thus result from the over‐riding anorexigenic tone in the PVN associated with CRF signalling. Indeed, the orexigenic effect of NPY was restored when LWS were injected with a CRF receptor antagonist, astressin, before stress exposure. The results of the present study provide insights into the molecular basis of eating disorders and suggest that CRF signalling in the PVN may exacerbate the anorexic phenotype in the presence of environmental stressors.
Three-Dimensional Printed Polymer Waveguides for Whispering Gallery Mode Sensors

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonators are widely exploited for highly sensitive sensing applications due to their ultrahigh quality <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(Q)$ </tex-math></inline-formula> factor enabling single-particle detection. The WGM surface-confined resonant light recirculates around the resonator, allowing the light to interact with analytes over several round trips, which enhances the sensitivity of detection. However, the stability of efficient coupling of WGMs to ingress-egress waveguides for lab-on-chip has been problematic. The typical way to achieve WGM coupling is to use a tapered optical fiber or a prism, which makes the device either fragile or bulky, and is not conducive to sensor integration that can lead to robust lab-on-chip devices. In this letter, we demonstrate three-dimensional (3D) fabricated polymer waveguides that can be integrated and provide evanescent coupling to silica WGM microspheres without sacrificing <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q$ </tex-math></inline-formula> factor. By mechanically connecting the waveguides to the microcavity, we can control the coupling to the resonator and the mechanical stability of the 3D lab-on-chip sensor is greatly improved. This provides a pathway to enhance the stability of WGM coupling for sensor integration.
Broken Chains and Reneging: A Review of 1748 Kidney Paired Donation Transplants

Concerns regarding the potential for broken chains and “reneges” within kidney paired donation (KPD) and its effect on chain length have been raised previously. Although these concerns have been tested in simulation studies, real‐world data have yet to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the actual rate and causes of broken chains within a large KPD program. All patients undergoing renal transplantation through the National Kidney Registry from 2008 through May 2016 were included for analysis. Broken chains and loops were identified. A total of 344 chains and 78 loops were completed during the study period, yielding a total of 1748 transplants. Twenty broken chains and one broken loop were identified. The mean chain length (number of transplants) within broken chains was 4.8 compared with 4.6 of completed chains (p = 0.78). The most common causes of a broken chain were donor medical issues incurred while acting as a bridge donor (n = 8), donors electing not to proceed (n = 6), and kidneys being declined by the recipient surgeon (n = 4). All recipients involved in a broken chain subsequently received a transplant. Based on the results, broken chains are infrequent, are rarely due to lack of donor motivation, and have no significant impact on chain length.
Serum interleukin-6 in long-term hemodialyzed patients.

The generation of compounds such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and the possible encounter of circulating cells with endotoxin (LPS) have been demonstrated during hemodialysis. All these factors are able to induce the production of IL-6 by human monocytes. Anaphylatoxins can be generated following complement activation by cellulosic membrane dialysis. C5a is known to potentiate the LPS-induced production of IL-1 and TNF alpha, and we established that recombinant human C5a was able to act synergistically with LPS in the induction of IL-6 by human monocytes. We investigated whether IL-6 could be detected in the serum of long-term hemodialyzed and uremic patients. Using the very sensitive 7TD1 cell line bioassay, we demonstrated that circulating IL-6 activity was present in the serum of all 14 tested patients, whereas it was occasionally present in normal sera. The presence of serum IL-6 was confirmed using an anti-IL-6 antibody and a specific ELISA (109 +/- 36 pg/ml). Most patients had a reproducible level of IL-6 activity throughout a period of 10 days. The dialysis session did not significantly modify these levels and patients had similar serum IL-6 activity at the start, during or the at end of the dialysis session. The different parameters of the dialysis session (i.e. standard or filtrated dialyzates, complement-activating or nonactivating membranes) did not significantly influence the levels of IL-6. Elevated levels of IL-6 were also observed in uremic patients compared to normal donors, although significantly lower than in hemodialyzed patients (p = 0.001). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The intraparietal sulcus governs multisensory integration of audiovisual information based on task difficulty

Object recognition benefits maximally from multimodal sensory input when stimulus presentation is noisy, or degraded. Whether this advantage can be attributed specifically to the extent of overlap in object‐related information, or rather, to object‐unspecific enhancement due to the mere presence of additional sensory stimulation, remains unclear. Further, the cortical processing differences driving increased multisensory integration (MSI) for degraded compared with clear information remain poorly understood. Here, two consecutive studies first compared behavioral benefits of audio‐visual overlap of object‐related information, relative to conditions where one channel carried information and the other carried noise. A hierarchical drift diffusion model indicated performance enhancement when auditory and visual object‐related information was simultaneously present for degraded stimuli. A subsequent fMRI study revealed visual dominance on a behavioral and neural level for clear stimuli, while degraded stimulus processing was mainly characterized by activation of a frontoparietal multisensory network, including IPS. Connectivity analyses indicated that integration of degraded object‐related information relied on IPS input, whereas clear stimuli were integrated through direct information exchange between visual and auditory sensory cortices. These results indicate that the inverse effectiveness observed for identification of degraded relative to clear objects in behavior and brain activation might be facilitated by selective recruitment of an executive cortical network which uses IPS as a relay mediating crossmodal sensory information exchange.
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in the United States, 1979–1994: Increased Mortality Associated with HIV Infection

To examine trends in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) mortality in the United States, we analyzed PML death rates and deaths for 1979 through 1994, using US multiple cause-of-death data. During the 16-year study period 3,894 PML deaths were reported. The age-adjusted death rate increased more than 20-fold, from less than 0.2 per million persons before 1984 to 3.3 per million persons in 1994. The increase was attributable to infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which was recorded on 2,267 (89.0%) of 2.546 death records from 1991 through 1994. PML age-adjusted death rates increased abruptly for all males beginning in 1984 and for black females in 1990. Only a small increase was observed for white females. In 1994, PML was reported in 2.1% of white males who died with HIV-associated disease compared with 1.2% of white females and 1.0% of black males and females who died of similar causes. The epidemic of PML deaths is increasing in parallel with the AIDS epidemic. The increase in HIV-associated PML deaths, first noted among males, has also become apparent among females and probably reflects the increasing importance of drug use and heterosexual transmission of HIV. The reason for the higher prevalence of PML among white males with HIV infection is unknown.
Renal Colic: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

Acute renal colic is one of the most anguishing forms of pain in humans that needs quick diagnosis and treatment. The magnitude of the problem is large worldwide; the lifetime risk of developing an acute attack of renal colic is estimated at 1–10% [1]. It is caused by acute partial or complete ureteric obstruction due to a calculus in the vast majority of cases. In approximately 5% of the patients, renal colic may be caused by abnormalities of the urinary tract unrelated to a stone disease such as pyelonephritis and pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction [2]. A proportion of up to 10% of patients with renal colic may have extrinsic ureteral obstruction by a variety of other conditions including intestinal, gynecological, retroperitoneal and vascular lesions [2]. The aim of the present review is to provide new insights into renal colic caused by a stone disease with special emphasis on the most recent advances in this field. The review is divided into sections discussing pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.
Suprathreshold resistive load perception in normal and asthmatic subjects.

The perception of external suprathreshold loads (2.5-44 cm H2O.1-1.s) was determined in 5 normal and 16 asthmatic subjects in order to (1) study the role of the wording given to the subject for rating the inspiratory loads, either 'intensity' or breathing 'discomfort', and (2) compare the sensation to low (2.5-8 cm H2O.1-1.s) and to high (17-44 cm H2O.1-1.s) loads. Normal subjects exhibited accurate rating of the loads regardless of the wording; high loads were estimated as more severe than the low ones, in spite of a long time interval between the two experiments. They were able to discriminate between each pair of loads. On the contrary, asthmatics with chronic airway obstruction demonstrated a poor perception in all experimental conditions. The physiological variables of breathing pattern and mouth pressure were modified in the same manner in the two populations and could not account for the differences in perception. In conclusion, the differences in sensitivity observed between normal and asthmatic subjects were verified for suprathreshold load perception whatever the wording and the level of the loads. Therefore, for this kind of experimental study, it is not useful to study the full scale of the loads. Furthermore, the present methodological approach provides an additional support to the assumption that the asthmatics' poor sensitivity is related to psychological factors such as past experience of loaded breathing.
Long‐term study of tubeless insulin pump therapy compared to multiple daily injections in youth with type 1 diabetes: Data from the German/Austrian DPV registry

To examine glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who switched from multiple daily injections (MDI) to a tubeless insulin pump (Omnipod Insulin Management System, Insulet Corporation, Billerica, Massachusetts) compared to patients who continued MDI therapy over a 3‐year time period.
Redescription of Macrolaimus canadensis Sanwal, 1960 and M. ruehmi Andrássy, 1966 (Nematoda, Rhabditida, Chambersiellidae), and new data on M. crucis Maupas, 1900

Abstract Three species belonging to the genus Macrolaimus, namely M. canadensis, M. crucis and M. ruehmi, have been obtained from areas of natural vegetation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Corsica (France), the Czech Republic and Spain. These three species are characterized by the body length of males and females, stomatal proportion of the gymnostom and cheilostom, excretory pore position, postvulval uterine sac length, male and female tail length and morphology, and the length and morphology of the spicules and gubernacula. The occurrence of M. crucis in Spain has, as a result of this study, now also been expanded to a larger area of the southern Iberian Peninsula. Morphological and morphometrical analyses showed that M. canadensis and M. ruehmi are very similar, sharing apomorphic characters. In contrast, M. crucis has plesiomorphic characters. Description, measurements and illustrations are provided for these three species.
Review shows that implementing a nationwide protocol for congenital diaphragmatic hernia was a key factor in reducing mortality and morbidity

The French Rare Disease Reference Center for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) was created in 2008, to implement a national protocol for foetuses and children with this serious condition. Neonatal mortality from CDH is 30‐40%, mainly due to pulmonary hypoplasia and persistent pulmonary hypertension, and half of those who live have high respiratory, nutritional and digestive morbidity. CDH management requires long‐term and specialised multidisciplinary care. It has been well established that a standardised management protocol improves the prognosis of children with CDH.
The Mediating Role of Pain Acceptance in the Relation Between Perceived Injustice and Chronic Pain Outcomes in a Community Sample

Objective: Perceived injustice has been defined as an appraisal regarding the severity and irreparability of loss associated with pain, blame, and a sense of unfairness. Recent findings suggest that perceived injustice is an important risk factor for elevated disability associated with chronic pain. However, the mechanisms by which this perception leads to disability are not well understood. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the mediating role of pain acceptance on the relation between perceived injustice and chronic pain outcomes (pain intensity, pain-related disability, and psychological distress). Method: This cross-sectional study used a sample of 475 individuals from the community who suffer from chronic pain. Participants completed the Injustice Experience Questionnaire , the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire , a pain rating intensity scale, the Modified Brief Pain Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale . Results: Results revealed significant direct links from perceived injustice to pain intensity ( c’ = .416, p <.001), disability ( c’ = .891, p <.001), and distress ( c’ = .261, p <.001), as well as indirect links from perceived injustice through acceptance of pain to pain disability ( ab = .512, p <.001, CI = .390 to .635) and psychological distress ( ab = .106, p <.001, CI = .077 to .136). Discussion: Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed along with future research directions.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Confiscated Telmatobius in Lima, Peru

Abstract The Peruvian Andes are the home of 27 species of frogs of the genus Telmatobius, many of which are critically endangered. Illegal trade of adult frogs for purported medical properties likely represents the major threat facing these species. This activity, besides reducing their populations, may contribute to the dissemination of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which causes chytridiomycosis, a disease posing a threat to many populations of amphibians. We screened frogs confiscated by the Administration of Forestry and Wildlife in Lima, Peru, for Bd. We used real-time PCR to diagnose Bd at the Laboratory of Wildlife, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootecnics, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, in Lima and Pisces Molecular Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, US. Of 62 samples collected during this study, 60% (37) were PCR positive for Bd, confirming that illegal trade of amphibians can pose a risk for disseminating Bd.
Sex Differences in Ischemic Heart Disease: Advances, Obstacles, and Next Steps

Evolving knowledge of sex-specific presentations, improved recognition of conventional and novel risk factors, and expanded understanding of the sex-specific pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease have resulted in improved clinical outcomes in women. Yet, ischemic heart disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women in the United States. The important publication by the Institute of Medicine titled “Women’s Health Research—Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise,” highlights the persistent disparities in cardiovascular disease burden among subgroups of women, particularly women who are socially disadvantaged because of race, ethnicity, income level, and educational attainment. These important health disparities reflect underrepresentation of women in research, with the resultant unfavorable impact on diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies in women at risk for cardiovascular disease. Causes of disparities are multifactorial and related to differences in risk factor prevalence, access to care, use of evidence-based guidelines, and social and environmental factors. Lack of awareness in both the public and medical community, as well as existing knowledge gap regarding sex-specific differences in presentation, risk factors, pathophysiology, and response to treatment for ischemic heart disease, further contribute to outcome disparities. There is a critical need for implementation of sex- and gender-specific strategies to improve cardiovascular outcomes. This review is tailored to meet the needs of a busy clinician and summarizes the contemporary trends, characterizes current sex-specific outcome disparities, delineates challenges, and proposes transformative solutions for improvement of the full spectrum of ischemic heart disease clinical care and research in women.