Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae carrying multiple metallo-beta-lactamase genes.

CONTEXT Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a leading nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU). Members of Enterobacteriaceae are the most common causative agents and carbapenems are the most commonly used antibiotics. Metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) production leading to treatment failure may go unnoticed by routine disc diffusion susceptibility testing. Moreover, there is not much information on association of MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae with ICU-acquired VAP. Therefore, a study was undertaken to find out the association of MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae with VAP. SETTINGS This study was conducted in a large tertiary care hospital of North India with an eight-bed critical care unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS The respiratory samples (bronchoalveolar lavage, protected brush catheter specimens and endotracheal or transtracheal aspirates) obtained from VAP patients (during January 2005-December 2006) were processed, isolated bacteria identified and their antibiotic susceptibilities tested as per standard protocols. The isolates of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to carbapenem were subjected to phenotypic and genotypic tests for the detection of MBLs. RESULTS Twelve of 64 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae were detected as MBL producers, bla(IMP) being the most prevalent gene. Additionally, in three strains, simultaneous coexistence of multiple MBL genes was detected. CONCLUSION The coexistence of multiple MBL genes in Enterobacteriaceae is an alarming situation. As MBL genes are associated with integrons that can be embedded in transposons, which in turn can be accommodated on plasmids thereby resulting in a highly mobile genetic apparatus, the further spread of these genes in different pathogens is likely to occur.
The attenuated virulence of a Burkholderia cenocepacia paaABCDE mutant is due to inhibition of quorum sensing by release of phenylacetic acid

The phenylacetic acid degradation pathway of Burkholderia cenocepacia is active during cystic fibrosis‐like conditions and is necessary for full pathogenicity of B. cenocepacia in nematode and rat infection models; however, the reasons for such requirements are unknown. Here, we show that the attenuated virulence of a phenylacetic acid catabolism mutant is due to quorum sensing inhibition. Unlike wild‐type B. cenocepacia, a deletion mutant of the phenylacetyl‐CoA monooxygenase complex (ΔpaaABCDE) released phenylacetic acid in the medium that favours infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. Addition of phenylacetic acid further decreased the pathogenicity of the ΔpaaABCDE, which cannot metabolize phenylacetic acid, but did not affect the wild‐type, due to phenylacetic acid consumption. In line with reduced detection of acyl‐homoserine lactones in spent medium, the ΔpaaABCDE exhibited transcriptional inhibition of the quorum sensing system cepIR. Phenotypes repressed in ΔpaaABCDE, protease activity and pathogenicity against C. elegans, increased with exogenous N‐octanoyl‐L‐homoserine lactone. Thus, we demonstrate that the attenuated phenotype of B. cenocepacia ΔpaaABCDE is due to quorum sensing inhibition by release of phenylacetic acid, affecting N‐octanoyl‐L‐homoserine lactone signalling. Further, we propose that active degradation of phenylacetic acid by B. cenocepacia during growth in cystic fibrosis‐like conditions prevents accumulation of a quorum sensing inhibiting compound.
Natriuretic Peptides Stimulate Cyclic GMP Production in an Immortalized LHRH Neuronal Cell Line

The role of cyclic 3′,5′‐guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) as a second messenger in LHRH neurons is not well understood. Recent studies involving nitric oxide, a direct activator of soluble guanylate cyclase (GC), have implicated cGMP in the regulation of LHRH secretion both in vivo and in vitro. Evidence for the membrane‐bound form of GC in LHRH neurons has thus far not been reported. In polymerase chain reaction screening of various cell lines for the natriuretic peptide receptors—which represent GCs—we identified both GC‐A and GC‐B cDNAs by southern blot hybridization in reverse transcribed and amplified extracts of the GT1‐7 cell line, an immortalized LHRH neuronal cell line. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that all of the natriuretic peptides elevated cGMP production with a rank order of potency: CNP > ANP > BNP. Time course studies revealed a rapid intracellular accumulation of cGMP following exposure to CNP with a peak at 2.5 min. CNP was some 200‐fold more potent than the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside, in stimulating cGMP accumulation in these cells. These data show for the first time the presence of functional mGCs on LHRH cells, and suggest that the natriuretic peptides may also participate in the regulation of LHRH activity.
Transient human cortical responses during the observation of simple finger movements: A high‐resolution EEG study

High‐resolution event‐related potentials (ERPs) were used to model the hemispherical representation of the transient cortical responses relating to the observation of movement during execution (right or left aimless finger extension). Subjects were seated in front of the observed person and looked at both their own and the observer's hand to receive similar visual feedback during the two conditions. In a visual control condition, a diode light moved at the observed person's hand. A first potential accompanying the movement execution peaked at about +110 msec over the contralateral somatomotor areas. It was followed by a potential (P300) peaking at about +350 msec over the central midline. In contrast, the potentials accompanying the movement observation peaked later over parietal‐occipital other than somatomotor areas (N200 peak, +200 msec; P300 peak, +400 msec). Notably, the N200 was maximum in left parietal area whereas the P300 was maximum in right parietal area regardless the side of the movement. They markedly differed by the potentials following the displacement of the diode light. These results suggest a rapid time evolution (∼200–400 msec) of the cortical responses characterizing the observation of aimless movements (as opposite to grasping or handling). The execution of these movements would mainly involve somatomotor cortical responses and would be scarcely founded on the visual feedback. In contrast, the observation of the same movements carried out by others would require dynamical responses of somatomotor and parietal‐occipital areas (especially of the right hemisphere), possibly for a stringent visuospatial analysis of the motor event. Hum. Brain Mapping 20:148–157, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impact of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) knockdown on cell cycle progression in human HaCaT keratinocytes

Abstract While activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by exogenous ligands is well investigated, its physiological function is less understood. By extending research in AhR biology, evidence appeared that the receptor generally plays an important role in cell physiology. In keratinocytes, little is known about endogenous functions of the AhR. In order to expand this knowledge, we analyzed the impact of AhR knockdown on cell cycle progression in HaCaT cells and showed that proliferation of siAhR HaCaT cells was significantly decreased. In line with that result, western blot analysis revealed that protein level of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27KIP1 was increased, whereas protein level of the cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 2 was reduced. CDK4 and CDK6 protein levels remained unchanged, whereas protein level of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) was reduced. By measuring ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity we showed that endogenous cytochrome P450 1 (CYP1), especially CYP1A1 is required for normal cell cycle in HaCaT cells, as well. To the best of our knowledge, we provide evidence for the first time in human skin cells, that in the absence of exogenous ligands, the AhR promotes cell cycle progression in HaCaT cells and one can speculate that this is the physiological function of this receptor in keratinocytes.
Misregulation of autophagy and protein degradation systems in myopathies and muscular dystrophies

Summary A number of recent studies have highlighted the importance of autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome in the pathogenesis of muscle wasting in different types of inherited muscle disorders. Autophagy is crucial for the removal of dysfunctional organelles and protein aggregates, whereas the ubiquitin-proteasome is important for the quality control of proteins. Post-mitotic tissues, such as skeletal muscle, are particularly susceptible to aged or dysfunctional organelles and aggregation-prone proteins. Therefore, these degradation systems need to be carefully regulated in muscles. Indeed, excessive or defective activity of the autophagy lysosome or ubiquitin-proteasome leads to detrimental effects on muscle homeostasis. A growing number of studies link abnormalities in the regulation of these two pathways to myofiber degeneration and muscle weakness. Understanding the pathogenic role of these degradative systems in each inherited muscle disorder might provide novel therapeutic targets to counteract muscle wasting. In this Commentary, we will discuss the current view on the role of autophagy lysosome and ubiquitin-proteasome in the pathogenesis of myopathies and muscular dystrophies, and how alteration of these degradative systems contribute to muscle wasting in inherited muscle disorders. We will also discuss how modulating autophagy and proteasome might represent a promising strategy for counteracting muscle loss in different diseases.
Performance Analysis of SAC-OCDMA Systems Adopting Overlapping PPM Schemes

A fertile technique, for increasing single-user throughput while keeping a constraint on the light pulsewidth, is proposed for spectral-amplitude-coding optical code-division multiple-access (SAC-OCDMA) systems. In this technique, two-level M-ary overlapping pulse-position modulation (M-OPPM) scheme is adopted and each user is assigned two orthogonal code sequences to represent these two levels. The code sequences are selected from a minimum cross-correlation code set. The bit error rate (BER) of the proposed system is derived, taking into account the effects of phase-induced intensity noise, shot noise, and thermal noise in addition to the multiple-access interference. The BER performance of this system is compared to other systems adopting M-PPM and OOK schemes under same pulsewidth constraints. Our results reveal that, while keeping the BER well below a prescribed threshold, the proposed M -OPPM SAC-OCDMA system achieves higher transmission rate as compared to both M-PPM and OOK SAC-OCDMA systems under same constraints. Specifically the transmission rate of a single user of the proposed system can be increased by about 34.44% as compared to traditional systems.
Surgical subcision as a cost‐effective and minimally invasive treatment for axillary osmidrosis

Background Axillary osmidrosis, characterized by unpleasant odor and occasional staining of clothing, is a personal discomfort and social impairment for people who suffer from it. Various types of surgical procedures involving instrumented‐assisted tools (lasers, ultrasonic, endoscope, and others) have shown relatively positive results; however, for patients in developing countries, especially in China, these treatments are inconvenient and cost‐ineffective.
Different spatial patterns of [Ca2+] increase caused by N‐ and L‐type Ca2+ channel activation in frog olfactory bulb neurones.

1. The intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured olfactory bulb neurones of Xenopus laevis tadpoles was imaged using the calcium indicator dyes fluo‐3 and Fura Red as well as a laser scanning microscope. 2. Upon extracellular application of brief pulses of a solution with high potassium concentration (high [K+]o), an increase in [Ca2+]i occurred in all neurones observed. During the first 2 days in culture this increase was highest. At later stages (more than 2 days in culture) the increase in [Ca2+]i was non‐homogeneous and highest in the dendritic processes. 3. Nifedipine (10 microM) reduced the high [K+]o‐induced increase in [Ca2+]i. The reduction was greatest in somata and proximal dendrites. 4. With nifedipine in the bath, the high [K+]o‐induced increase of [Ca2+]i was further reduced by the application of omega‐conotoxin GVIA (1 microM). The omega‐conotoxin‐sensitive Ca2+ influx occurred predominantly on dendritic processes. 5. Noradrenaline (NA), as well as the alpha 2‐adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine, reduced the high [K+]o‐induced increase of [Ca2+]i. This reduction occurred mainly on dendritic processes. 6. Our results suggest a highly non‐homogeneous spatial distribution of voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels in cultured olfactory bulb neurones. L‐type channels were found mainly on somata and their density seemed to decrease on the dendrites with increasing distance from the soma. In contrast, nifedipine‐insensitive N‐type channels were mainly observed on dendrites and were blocked by omega‐conotoxin. NA, as well as clonidine, markedly blocked Ca2+ influx through dendritic N‐type Ca2+ channels.
Doppler Sonography in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The course of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases is highly variable and prediction of relapse remains difficult. Doppler sonography is a newer, non-invasive method to assess the hyperdynamic splanchnic blood flow that is characteristic of acute inflammation. Its role in the analysis of disease activity is still limited and its application restricted to specialized units. However, improved spatial resolution by power Doppler ultrasound, with or without the use of contrast agents, allows a very early detection of mucosal and transmural inflammatory lesions. Still more important, the repeated quantification of mesenteric blood flow enables the prediction of relapse at six months after steroid-induced remission. Future studies should clarify whether the combined application of available methods will allow a more calculated and finally more effective therapy.
The Effects of a Robot Game Environment on Computer Programming Education for Elementary School Students

In the past, computer programming was perceived as a task only carried out by computer scientists; in the 21st century, however, computer programming is viewed as a critical and necessary skill that everyone should learn. In order to improve teaching of problem-solving abilities in a computing environment, extensive research is being done on teaching–learning methods, types of teaching software, the educational environment, and related tools. This paper, based on diverse experimental results, proposes an environment where elementary students can easily learn and practice computer programming. The proposed robot game environment used a tangible programming tool with which students can easily create robot programs, without learning syntax, and then validate their programming results; it can also provide various game activities to incite students’ interest. Observation of elementary school students placed in the robot game environment confirmed the tool’s usability and entertainment aspects, and students’ attitudes toward programming and their understanding of programming concepts improved.
An Insight into the Mechanism of Human Cysteine Dioxygenase

Cysteine dioxygenase is a non-heme mononuclear iron metalloenzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of cysteine to cysteine sulfinic acid with addition of molecular dioxygen. This irreversible oxidative catabolism of cysteine initiates several important metabolic pathways related to diverse sulfurate compounds. Cysteine dioxygenase is therefore very important for maintaining the proper hepatic concentration of intracellular free cysteine. Mechanisms for mouse and rat cysteine dioxygenases have recently been reported based on their crystal structures in the absence of substrates, although there is still a lack of direct evidence. Here we report the first crystal structure of human cysteine dioxygenase in complex with its substrate l-cysteine to 2.7Å, together with enzymatic activity and metal content assays of several single point mutants. Our results provide an insight into a new mechanism of cysteine thiol dioxygenation catalyzed by cysteine dioxygenase, which is tightly associated with a thioether-bonded tyrosine-cysteine cofactor involving Tyr-157 and Cys-93. This cross-linked protein-derived cofactor plays several key roles different from those in galactose oxidase. This report provides a new potential target for therapy of diseases related to human cysteine dioxygenase, including neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases.
Marsupial Egg and Embryo Coats

Egg and embryo coats of marsupials are reviewed. Marsupial eggs are enclosed by a zona pellucida, mucoid coat and an outer shell coat. An extra-cellular matrix coat that lines the zona pellucida also occurs in some species. The zona pellucida consists of three zona proteins (ZPA, ZPB, ZPC) with considerable similarity to those of eutherian mammals. The zona is thought to be the sperm receptor site and, in some species, but not others, is a barrier to polyspermy. Immunostaining, in situ hybridisation, histochemistry and electron microscopy indicate that the zona originates in the oocyte at the onset of oocyte growth. It changes greatly in shape during ovulation and early development and plays an essential role in blastocyst formation. The mucoid coat is an acid glycoprotein that is produced by non-ciliated cells at all levels of the oviduct and has been implicated in providing a barrier to polyspermy, nourishment of the embryo and an osmotically stable environment for the embryo. Its width varies widely in marsupials. The shell coat is secreted by the epithelia of the utero-tubal junction and upper uterus during oestrus and early cleavage. Evidence is provided for a second wave of secretion at bilaminar and trilaminar blastocyst stages. Shell-free embryos do not survive in vitro during bilaminar and early trilaminar blastocyst stages. Hatching from the shell coat occurs between 65 and 85% of the gestation period usually when the embryo is undergoing early somitogenesis. The extra-cellular matrix is secreted by the oocyte or by the cells of early cleavage stages and initially separates cells from the zona pellucida and from each other. It plays an essential role in blastocyst formation. The zona, mucoid and shell coats provide a framework for blastocyst construction and normal embryos do not form in their absence in some species.
Repeated physical and cytologic characterizations of subcutaneous postvaccinal reactions in cats.

OBJECTIVES To examine local reactions and short-term cytologic responses of cats to administration of rabies virus (RV); FeLV; and combined feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus (FRCPV) vaccines. ANIMALS 9 healthy 6- to 7-month-old specific-pathogen-free cats. PROCEDURE One-milliliter doses of the aforementioned vaccines were administered SC (at different sites) to healthy, specific-pathogen-free cats. Each cat also received 1 ml of sterile saline solution SC as a control. Injection sites were visually examined and palpated daily for 4 weeks. Palpable lesions were measured by use of calipers. Temperature of the vaccination sites was measured weekly by use of a thermocouple. Aspirates were taken from vaccination sites weekly, and smears were submitted for cytologic analysis. RESULTS There were no significant differences in lesion surface temperature among injection sites at any time. Injections of saline solution and FeLV vaccine resulted in no palpable lesions. The FRCPV vaccine elicited a minor reaction in 1 of the 9 cats. The RV vaccine caused palpable lesions in all cats. Smears of the aspirates from the sites of saline injection were poorly cellular. Cellularity of aspirates from the sites of FRCPV and FeLV vaccinations was moderate at week 1, and decreased with time. Inflammatory infiltrates were composed principally of lymphocytes, with fewer neutrophils and macrophages. In contrast, cellularity of aspirates from RV vaccination sites increased for 21 days and was characterized by increasing numbers of lymphocytes and macrophages. CONCLUSIONS RV vaccine used in this study induced palpable lesions in many cats. In contrast, FRCPV and FeLV vaccines elicited less severe lesions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Subcutaneous administration of killed virus vaccines in cats may result in palpable lesions that are detected by clients or clinicians. Aspiration cytologic examination may reveal a different characteristic pattern of cells that is dependent on the individual vaccine and time elapsed from vaccination.
Estudio de la información sobre la violencia contra la mujer en América Latina y el Caribe

El documento que se presenta es el resultado de una investigacion sobre la informacion disponible para la construccion de indicadores en violencia en el mundo y particularmente en America Latina y el Caribe, primer eslabon del diseno de toda politica publica y social. Los indicadores propuestos por el Grupo de Amigos de la Presidencia sobre indicadores de violencia contra la mujer de la Comision de Estadisticas de las Naciones Unidas y aprobados por esta ultima (Nueva York, 2009) han sido un insumo para facilitar a los paises el registro de la violencia de genero y hacer mas eficaz la respuesta estatal frente a esta. Por su parte, desde la Comision Economica para America Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) y con la voluntad de fortalecer la labor del Secretario General en su Campana para poner fin a la violencia contra las mujeres por aunar mayores esfuerzos para combatir este tipo de violencia, se ha incorporado como indicador la muerte de mujeres de mano de sus parejas o ex parejas. El analisis realizado evidencia dos aspectos de un mismo problema; las opciones politicas y juridicas que han marcado las tendencias en el tratamiento de la violencia, y su impacto en las formas de registro y de generacion de informacion, que permitan configurar el mapa estadistico de la violencia de genero.
Analysis of variation in relative mRNA abundance for specific gene transcripts in single bovine oocytes and early embryos

Variation in the abundance of a specific gene transcript was assessed in single bovine oocytes and in vitro–derived blastocysts. Transcripts encoding the Na+,K+‐ATPase α1 subunit were detected by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and quantified relative to an exogenously supplied rabbit α‐globin mRNA using laser‐induced fluorescence capillary electrophoresis (LIF‐CE). The precision of this relative abundance (RA) calculation was predicted and shown to resolve 2‐fold differences in transcript abundance between individual blastocysts and predicted in oocytes to resolve 3‐fold differences. The RA of the α1 subunit transcript differed by 2‐ to 3‐fold among blastocysts, and 3‐ to 6‐fold among oocytes. Comparison of a general population of oocytes with blastocysts revealed little overlap in RA values between the two groups, with a 8‐ to 14‐fold increase in the mean RA for each group with development observed in two successive experiments (P ≤ 0.05). In contrast, oocytes selected for their developmental competence on the basis of morphologic criteria exhibited only a 1.6‐ to 1.7‐fold developmental increase when the assay was performed on cDNA generated from either embryo pools (n = 6 versus 6) or individuals (n = 7 versus 7), respectively. These results provide the first characterization of the degree of heterogeneity in the abundance of a specific mRNA transcript among individual mammalian oocytes and preimplantation embryos and demonstrate that transcript relative abundance can be correlated with bovine oocyte morphology. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 49:119–130, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.