Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DETECTION OF SPECIFIC LIPIDS IN MYCOBACTERIA BY INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

The chemical complexity of the lipids of mycobacteria has been well established by previous investigators. The pioneering studies of Anderson (1943) demonstrated the large number of compounds present in the tubercle bacillus and the unusual nature of some of them. More recent contributions are reported by Asselineau (1952) and Asselineau and Lederer (1953). Although most of the studies have concerned the lipids of a relatively small number of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, comparisons have been made with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium. Anderson (1943) found phthiocerol to occur only in human and bovine strains of tubercle bacilli and Asselineau and Lederer (1953) state that certain lipopolysaccharides of human strains contain alanine, glutamic acid, and a ,e-diaminopimelic acid, whereas these amino acids do not occur in the lipopolysaccharides of bovine strains and saprophytes. Mycolic acids of human and bovine strains differ from those of saprophytic strains (Asselineau and Lederer, 1955). These studies of limited numbers of strains of human, bovine, and avian species have been hampered because of their dependence upon classical methods of purification and analysis, but still suggest that more extended investigation might result in the discovery of additional characteristic lipids in these strains and others.
Efficacy of rivastigmine in comparison to ginkgo for treating Alzheimer's dementia.

OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of the Ginkgo biloba in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type in slowing down the disease's degenerative progression and the patients' cognitive impairment compared with rivastigmine. METHODS Total 56 patients aged 50-75 years, suffering from dementia, were allocated into one of the two treatments: group 1) Ginkgo biloba (120 mg daily dose); group 2) rivastigmine (4.5 mg daily dose) in a 24-week randomized double blind study. The degree of severity of dementia was assessed by the Seven Minute test and the Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS Our results confirm the clinical efficacy of rivastigmine in the dementia of the Alzheimer type, comparing to Ginkgo biloba. There are few published trials that have directly compared a cholinesterase inhibitor with Ginkgo for dementia. This study directly compares a cholinesterase inhibitor with Ginkgo biloba for dementia of the Alzheimer type. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that there are differences in the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba and rivastigmine in the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia. In addition, this study suggested that cholinesterase inhibitors should be used in preference to Ginkgo biloba in patients with mild to moderate AD.
Disclosing doubtful indications for emergency cesarean sections in rural hospitals in Tanzania: a retrospective criterion‐based audit

Objective. To investigate in depth to what extent indications for emergency cesarean sections followed evidence‐based audit criteria for realistic best practice. Design. A quality assurance analysis based on a retrospective criterion‐based audit. Setting. Two rural hospitals in Tanzania. Population. From 2009, 400 cesarean section instances were investigated. Of these, 303 were emergency cesarean sections and therefore included. Methods. Documented indications for and management preceding the emergency cesarean sections were compared with the audit criteria. Main outcome measures. Prevalence of suboptimal care. Results. Of the emergency sections, 26% appeared to be decided based on inappropriate indications, and in an additional 38%, the indications were unclear. Prolonged labor was the leading indication; in 36% of these, labor progressed timely and/or the membranes were still intact. In 26%, previous cesarean section was the indication, half of these with one previous section only. Fetal distress was an indication in 14%, but for 84% of these the fetal heart rate was either reassuring or not documented. For nine women, section was decided upon because of intrauterine fetal death; none had a trial of forceps/vacuum extraction or destructive surgery. Conclusion. A considerable number of the audited emergency cesarean sections were performed on doubtful indications. In the light of the rising trend in global cesarean section rates, there seems to be a need to ensure quality of management preceding cesarean sections. This is particularly called for in rural sub‐Saharan Africa where cesarean rates are still low and health risks of emergency surgery not negligible.
0058 Accuracy of a single item on mentally tiring work as proxy measure of job demands and efforts in the gazel cohort

Objective Comparing the accuracy of single item about mentally tiring work against validated scales, Demand-Control (DC) and the Effort Reward Imbalance (ERI). Methods We analysed data from the Gazel cohort, where a question about mentally tiring work was administered simultaneously with the DC (in 1997 and 1999) and ERI (in 1998) scales. Correlation and accuracy were studied comparing this single question (8 categories, and recoded into 2 or categories) with DC and ERI scales (without and with recoding into 2 categories based on usual threshold), using sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratio. Results For the years considered, 5706 (1998) to 11 304 (1997) workers had responded to the questionnaires. The demand and effort dimensions were moderately correlated with the mentally tiring work question showing a good sensitivity (>0.8), and a negative likelihood ratio (<0.33), with a possible dose-response-relationship. Specificity and positive likelihood ratio were low (respectively <0.5 and<2). Job control, Job strain and ERI were not captured by mentally tiring work, and reward only partly. Conclusion Though a single question does not replace validated scales as the DC and the ERI scales, these results indicate that it would be possible to use simple measures in questionnaires and non-specialised cohorts for screening purpose.
Tezosentan in patients with acute heart failure and acute coronary syndromes: design of the fourth Randomized Intravenous Tezosentan Study (RITZ-4).

Abstract Background Endothelin-1 is the most potent known endogenous vasoconstrictor. It is released during ischemia, and elevated levels have been demonstrated in hypertension, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Tezosentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist, and it has improved cardiac output and reduced pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance in experimental animal models and in initial human acute decompensated heart failure studies. Methods The Randomized Intravenous TeZosentan (RITZ-4) study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tezosentan in patients with acute heart failure associated with acute coronary syndrome. The estimated sample size was 200 patients. Patients with evidence of acute heart failure and acute coronary syndrome were eligible for the study. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to tezosentan or matching placebo. The primary end point was the composite of death, worsening heart failure, recurrent ischemia, and recurrent or new myocardial infarction within 72 hours after the start of study drug treatment. Secondary end points included all-cause death and hospitalization at 30 days, and length of initial hospital stay. Results Enrollment was completed in February 2001, with 193 patients enrolled. Conclusions The RITZ-4 study evaluated an important population in which few data are available to guide medical management. RITZ-4 will provide valuable safety and efficacy data with the novel compound tezosentan in patients with acute heart failure and acute coronary syndrome. (Am Heart J 2002;144:583-8.)
Optimizing personalized normative feedback: the use of gender-specific referents.

OBJECTIVE Many brief interventions include personalized normative feedback (PNF) using gender-specific or gender-neutral referents. Several theories suggest that information pertaining to more socially proximal referents should have greater influence on one's behavior compared with more socially distal referents. The current research evaluated whether gender specificity of the normative referent employed in PNF related to intervention efficacy. METHOD Following baseline assessment, 185 college students (45.2% women) were randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions: gender-specific feedback, gender-neutral feedback, or assessment-only control. Immediately after completing measures of perceived norms, alcohol consumption, and gender identity, participants in the gender-neutral and gender-specific intervention conditions were provided with computerized information detailing their own drinking behavior, their perceptions of student drinking, and actual student drinking. RESULTS After a 1-month follow-up, the results indicated that normative feedback was effective in changing perceived norms and reducing alcohol consumption for both intervention groups for women and men. The results provide support, however, for changes in perceived gender-specific norms as a mediator of the effects of normative feedback on reduced drinking behavior for women only. Additionally, gender-specific feedback was found to be more effective for women higher in gender identity, relative to the gender-neutral feedback. A post-assessment follow-up telephone survey administered to assess potential demand characteristics corroborated the intervention effects. CONCLUSIONS Results extend previous research documenting efficacy of computer delivered PNF. Gender specificity and gender identity appear to be important elements to consider for PNF intervention efficacy for women.
Laboratory evaluation of five assay methods for vancomycin: bioassay, high-pressure liquid chromatography, fluorescence polarization immunoassay, radioimmunoassay, and fluorescence immunoassay

We compared the precision and accuracy of five methods used to measure the concentration of vancomycin in serum: bioassay, high-pressure liquid chromatography, fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA [TDX; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill.]), radioimmunoassay (RIA), and fluorescence immunoassay. Based on an analysis of seven standards and of 106 patient samples, all five methods were accurate, and four (bioassay, high-pressure liquid chromatography, FPIA, and RIA) were also precise. The FPIA was the most precise and the fluorescence immunoassay was the least precise of the methods tested; intrarun coefficients of variation for these two methods were 0.9 to 3.0% versus 8.9 to 14.5%, and interrun coefficients of variation were 2.8 to 8.1% versus 12.2 to 16.2%, respectively. The RIA was inconvenient because it required an extra dilution of the specimen being tested and an additional (64 micrograms/ml) vancomycin standard for specimens with 32 to 64 micrograms of vancomycin per ml. Based on its rapid turnaround time and the stability of its standard curve, we believe that the FPIA is the best method currently available to quantitate vancomycin in the clinical laboratory.
Expression and localization of homeodomain proteins DLX4, HB9 and HB24 in malignant and benign human colorectal tissues.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to identify homeobox genes expressed in the human colon and to determine whether their expression levels were altered between matched non-malignant and malignant colon tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS Homeobox genes expressed in colon tissue were identified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Antibodies were raised to the homeodomain proteins DLX4, HB9 and HB24 and immunohistochemistry was performed on 3 moderately-differentiated tumors and their corresponding non-malignant colon tissue samples. RESULTS The RT-PCR screen identified expression of DLX4, HB9, HB24 and MSX2 in the normal colon. Immunoaffinity purified polyclonal antisera raised against DLX4, HB9 and HB24 detect specific immunoreactivity in glandular epithelial cells, stromal cells of the lamina propria but not in the submucosa. Nuclear epithelial immunoreactivity of all three antibodies decreased in moderately-differentiated tumors compared to the corresponding matched non-malignant mucosa. These data suggest that differential expression of HB9, HB24 and DLX4 may be associated with colorectal carcinogenesis.
Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania. VII. Mechanical Precipitation of Attacks: New Cases and Localization of Trigger Points

Two new chronic paroxysmal hemicrania patients are described. In both, attacks can be precipitated mechanically by applying firm manual pressure to certain sensitive points on the neck, i.e. in the C2 area, in the transverse processes of the C4–C5 vertebrae, or beneath the posterior part o15 the skull on the symptomatic side. The most sensitive area seems to be the transverse process of C4–C5. Susceptibility to this type of attack is dependent on the flow of spontaneous attacks; attacks are easily precipitated in a phase with multiple spontaneous attacks, but are not readily precipitated otherwise. Under indomethacin protection, local tenderness is clearly diminished and attacks cannot be precipitated.
A C. elegans CLIC-like Protein Required for Intracellular Tube Formation and Maintenance

The Caenorhabditis elegans excretory canal is composed of a single elongated and branched cell that is tunneled by an inner lumen of apical character. Loss of the exc-4 gene causes a cystic enlargement of this intracellular tube. exc-4 encodes a member of the chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) family of proteins. EXC-4 protein localizes to various tubular membranes in distinct cell types, including the lumenal membrane of the excretory tubes. A conserved 55–amino acid domain enables EXC-4 translocation from the cytosol to the lumenal membrane. The tubular architecture of this membrane requires EXC-4 for both its formation and maintenance.
Fluorescent microplate assay for cancer cell-associated cathepsin B.

Cathepsin B and in particular cell-surface and secreted cathepsin B has been implicated in the invasive and metastatic phenotype of numerous types of cancer. We describe here a method to easily survey cancer cell lines for cathepsin B activity using the highly selective substrate Z-Arg-Arg-AMC. Intact human U87 glioma cells hydrolyze Z-Arg-Arg-AMC with a Km of 460 microM at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C. This is nearly the same as the Km of 430 microM obtained with purified cathepsin B assayed under the same conditions. The pericellular (i.e. both cell-surface and released) cathepsin B activity was inhibited by the cysteine protease inhibitors E-64, leupeptin, Mu-Np2-HphVS-2Np, Mu-Leu-HpHVSPh and the cathepsin B selective inhibitor Mu-Tyr(3,5 I2)-HphVSPh with IC50 values similar to those observed for the inhibition of purified human liver cathepsin B. Other human cancer cell lines with measurable pericellular cathepsin B activity included HT-1080 fibrosarcoma, MiaPaCa pancreatic, PC-3 prostate and HCT-116 colon. Cathepsin B activity correlated with protein levels of cathepsin B as determined by immunoblot analysis. Pericellular cathepsin B activity was also detected in the rat cell lines MatLyLu prostate and Mat B III adenocarcinoma and in the murine lines B16a melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma. The ability to determine pericellular cathepsin B activity will be useful in selecting appropriate cell lines for use in vivo when analyzing the effects of inhibiting cathepsin B activity on tumor growth and metastasis.
Normative values for short‐segment nerve conduction studies and ultrasonography of the ulnar nerve at the elbow

Introduction: In patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE), short‐segment nerve conduction studies (NCS) are rarely performed due to unclear reference values. We excluded controls with subclinical UNE, calculated normative values, and tested them in UNE patients. Methods: Clinical examination, ultrasonography (US), and 2‐cm short‐segment ulnar motor NCS across the elbow were performed in 49 controls and 67 UNE patients. In controls, subclinical UNE was diagnosed if at least 2 studies were outside the reference limits in the same 2‐cm segment. Results: Exclusion of controls with subclinical UNE produced less stringent normative values (2‐cm conduction velocity: 25 to 31 m/s; US cross‐sectional area: 11.6 to 9.6 mm2), which raised diagnostic sensitivity (short‐segment NCS: 76% to 90%; 10‐cm NCS: 72% to 85%, US: 43% to 79%). Conclusions: We propose the use of our normative values in patients with clinically definite and probable UNE after exclusion of alternative diagnoses. Muscle Nerve, 2015 Muscle Nerve 51: 370–377, 2015
Dynamic patterns of apoptosis in the developing chicken heart

The outflow tract (OFT) is abnormal in many congenital heart defects. One critical mechanism for morphogenesis of this complex structure is apoptosis. Chicken embryos (stages 19–38; ED4–10) stained with a fluorescent supravital lysosomal dye (LysoTracker Red; LTR) revealed the three‐dimensional relationship between structural changes and apoptosis. The LTR staining peaked in the OFT myocardium at stages 27–32, consistent with our previous analyses using other apoptosis assays. While LTR stained under both the pulmonary artery and the aorta, it was most prevalent in the subaortic myocardium before its elimination. Furthermore, LTR staining was most abundant in the myocardium under intensely cytokeratin‐positive, thick epicardium. These data support the hypothesis that temporally and spatially restricted apoptosis in the OFT myocardium allows the aorta and pulmonary artery to dock at the appropriate angle and level with the proper ventricle. These data also support a relationship between the differentiating epicardium and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Developmental Dynamics 229:489–499, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional Roles of Otx2 Transcription Factor in Postnatal Mouse Retinal Development

ABSTRACT We previously reported that Otx2 is essential for photoreceptor cell fate determination; however, the functional role of Otx2 in postnatal retinal development is still unclear although it has been reported to be expressed in retinal bipolar cells and photoreceptors at postnatal stages. In this study, we first examined the roles of Otx2 in the terminal differentiation of photoreceptors by analyzing Otx2; Crx double-knockout mice. In Otx2+/−; Crx−/− retinas, photoreceptor degeneration and downregulation of photoreceptor-specific genes were much more prominent than in Crx−/− retinas, suggesting that Otx2 has a role in the terminal differentiation of the photoreceptors. Moreover, bipolar cells decreased in the Otx2+/−; Crx−/− retina, suggesting that Otx2 is also involved in retinal bipolar-cell development. To further investigate the role of Otx2 in bipolar-cell development, we generated a postnatal bipolar-cell-specific Otx2 conditional-knockout mouse line. Immunohistochemical analysis of this line showed that the expression of protein kinase C, a marker of mature bipolar cells, was significantly downregulated in the retina. Electroretinograms revealed that the electrophysiological function of retinal bipolar cells was impaired as a result of Otx2 ablation. These data suggest that Otx2 plays a functional role in the maturation of retinal photoreceptor and bipolar cells.
FoxO transcription factors activate Akt and attenuate insulin signaling in heart by inhibiting protein phosphatases

Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are rapidly expanding public health problems. Acting through the PI3K/Akt pathway, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) inactivate FoxO transcription factors, a class of highly conserved proteins important in numerous physiological functions. However, even as FoxO is a downstream target of insulin, FoxO factors also control upstream signaling elements governing insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. Here, we report that sustained activation of either FoxO1 or FoxO3 in cardiac myocytes increases basal levels of Akt phosphorylation and kinase activity. FoxO-activated Akt directly interacts with and phosphorylates FoxO, providing feedback inhibition. We reported previously that FoxO factors attenuate cardiomyocyte calcineurin (PP2B) activity. We now show that calcineurin forms a complex with Akt and inhibition of calcineurin enhances Akt phosphorylation. In addition, FoxO activity suppresses protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and disrupts Akt-PP2A and Akt–calcineurin interactions. Repression of Akt–PP2A/B interactions and phosphatase activities contributes, at least in part, to FoxO-dependent increases in Akt phosphorylation and kinase activity. Resveratrol, an activator of Sirt1, increases the transcriptional activity of FoxO1 and triggers Akt phosphorylation in heart. Importantly, FoxO-mediated increases in Akt activity diminish insulin signaling, as manifested by reduced Akt phosphorylation, reduced membrane translocation of Glut4, and decreased insulin-triggered glucose uptake. Also, inactivation of the gene coding for FoxO3 enhances insulin-dependent Akt phosphorylation. Taken together, this study demonstrates that changes in FoxO activity have a dose-responsive repressive effect on insulin signaling in cardiomyocytes through inhibition of protein phosphatases, which leads to altered Akt activation, reduced insulin sensitivity, and impaired glucose metabolism.
Genitofemoral neuralgia: A review

Genitofemoral neuralgia is a cause of neuropathic pain that is often debilitating in nature. It is characterized by chronic neuropathic groin pain that is localized along the distribution of the genitofemoral nerve. The symptoms include groin pain, paresthesias, and burning sensation spreading from the lower abdomen to the medial aspect of the thigh. It may present with scrotal pain in male, while females experience symptoms radiating to the labia majora and mons pubis. Genitofemoral neuropathy has been attributed to iatrogenic nerve injury occurring during inguinal and femoral herniorrhaphy, with cases developing after both open and laparoscopic techniques. Diagnosis of genitofemoral neuralgia can be challenging, due to the overlap in sensory distribution the nerve shares with the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve. Differential nerve blocks are recommended in effort to differentiate the nerves when patients present with lower abdominal and groin pain. Once a diagnosis has been made, there exist several treatment options for genitofemoral neuralgia ranging from medical management, non‐invasive injections, and surgery. Literature has also brought light to radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation performed under ultrasound guidance as emerging treatments. The aim of the current article is to review the anatomy, diagnostic techniques, and treatment options for patients with genitofemoral neuralgia. Clin. Anat. 28:128–135, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tissue factor expression correlates with histological grade in human pancreatic cancer

The transmembrane cellular receptor tissue factor (TF) is the primary initiator of the coagulation cascade in man. Expression of TF was determined in 55 specimens of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and was found to correlate strongly with the degree of histological differentiation. A significant linear trend was observed with stronger immunoreactivity observed in poorly differentiated tumours (X2 = 6·69, P = 0·0098). No TF staining was seen in pancreatic samples from normal controls (n = 18). As expression of TF may be associated with tumour progression, its analysis could provide useful prognostic information in patients with pancreatic malignancy.