Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cancer Survivorship: Resilience across the Lifespan

Received February 28, 2005; accepted May 4, 2005. It is a common finding that 30 –90% of people experiencing serious illness and other forms of adversity report increased quality of life and other positive life changes after their experience, yet there is still considerable disagreement among scientists and practitioners about whether such changes are real or beneficial. The current article identified four pervasive assumptions about positive emotions and beliefs that may limit progress in understanding and promoting resilience among survivors of cancer, namely, that positive beliefs and emotions are absent, dangerous, delusional, or trivial among people managing life-threatening illnesses. A review of evidence on each of these points suggested instead that positive emotions and beliefs seem not only to be associated with good outcomes among people experiencing adversity, but also to play a role in realizing them. Implications for the study of positive beliefs, emotions, and life changes among survivors of cancer and for interventions to promote mental and physical health were discussed. Cancer 2005;104(11 Suppl):2549 –56. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Cultural Influences on Categorization Processes

Chiu (1972) reported that in a categorization task, Chinese children were more likely to categorize objects based on shared relationships, whereas American children were more likely to categorize objects based on similarity. This research examines whether such findings generalize to adults and whether cultural differences would also be observed in the activation of semantic concepts. In Experiment 1, Chinese adults were equally likely to categorize based on relationships and similarity, whereas Western adults were more likely to categorize based on similarity. Analogous differences in response latencies were observed in a timed task that reflected semantic processing in Experiment 2, and to some extent in a slightly different task in Experiment 3, although differences between the two experiments suggest that the nature of the categorization task determines the extent to which cultural differences are observed. Overall, results suggest that differences in categorization styles are associated with differences in semantic activation.
The Calcium-binding Protein S100B Down-regulates p53 and Apoptosis in Malignant Melanoma*

The S100B-p53 protein complex was discovered in C8146A malignant melanoma, but the consequences of this interaction required further study. When S100B expression was inhibited in C8146As by siRNA (siRNAS100B), wt p53 mRNA levels were unchanged, but p53 protein, phosphorylated p53, and p53 gene products (i.e. p21 and PIDD) were increased. siRNAS100B transfections also restored p53-dependent apoptosis in C8146As as judged by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, DNA ladder formation, caspase 3 and 8 activation, and aggregation of the Fas death receptor (+UV); whereas, siRNAS100B had no effect in SK-MEL-28 cells containing elevated S100B and inactive p53 (p53R145L mutant). siRNAS100B-mediated apoptosis was independent of the mitochondria, because no changes were observed in mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, caspase 9 activation, or ratios of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins (BAX, Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL). As expected, cells lacking S100B (LOX-IM VI) were not affected by siRNAS100B, and introduction of S100B reduced their UV-induced apoptosis activity by 7-fold, further demonstrating that S100B inhibits apoptosis activities in p53-containing cells. In other wild-type p53 cells (i.e. C8146A, UACC-2571, and UACC-62), S100B was found to contribute to cell survival after UV treatment, and for C8146As, the decrease in survival after siRNAS100B transfection (+UV) could be reversed by the p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-α. In summary, reducing S100B expression with siRNA was sufficient to activate p53, its transcriptional activation activities, and p53-dependent apoptosis pathway(s) in melanoma involving the Fas death receptor and perhaps PIDD. Thus, a well known marker for malignant melanoma, S100B, likely contributes to cancer progression by down-regulating the tumor suppressor protein, p53.
Purification, cloning, and primary structure of an enantiomer-selective amidase from Brevibacterium sp. strain R312: structural evidence for genetic coupling with nitrile hydratase

An enantiomer-selective amidase active on several 2-aryl and 2-aryloxy propionamides was identified and purified from Brevibacterium sp. strain R312. Oligonucleotide probes were designed from limited peptide sequence information and were used to clone the corresponding gene, named amdA. Highly significant homologies were found at the amino acid level between the deduced sequence of the enantiomer-selective amidase and the sequences of known amidases such as indoleacetamide hydrolases from Pseudomonas syringae and Agrobacterium tumefaciens and acetamidase from Aspergillus nidulans. Moreover, amdA is found in the same orientation and only 73 bp upstream from the gene coding for nitrile hydratase, strongly suggesting that both genes are part of the same operon. Our results also showed that Rhodococcus sp. strain N-774 and Brevibacterium sp. strain R312 are probably identical, or at least very similar, microorganisms. The characterized amidase is an apparent homodimer of Mr 2 x 54,671 which exhibited under our conditions a specific activity of about 13 to 17 mumol of 2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic R acid formed per min per mg of enzyme from the racemic amide. Large amounts of an active recombinant enzyme could be produced in Escherichia coli at 30 degrees C under the control of an E. coli promoter and ribosome-binding site.
Maternal Decidual Macrophages Inhibit NK Cell Killing of Invasive Cytotrophoblasts During Human Pregnancy1

ABSTRACT Human pregnancy is an immunological paradox. Semiallogeneic (fetal) placental cells (extravillous cytotrophoblasts [CTBs]) invade the uterine lining (decidua), which contains a unique decidual natural killer (dNK) cell population, identified by the cell surface phenotype CD56bright CD16− CD3− and CD14+ CD206+ macrophages (dMac). Previous reports suggested that human dNK cells are not a threat to the fetoplacental unit because they are anergic. In contrast, here we showed that purified and exogenously stimulated dNK cells are capable killers of cellular targets, including semiallogeneic CTBs. However, dMacs in the decidual leukocyte (DL) population restrained dNK killing through a transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1)-dependent mechanism. Our findings support a new model whereby dNK cells, capable of killing CTBs, are prevented from doing so by neighboring macrophages, thus protecting the fetal cells from NK cell attack. We speculate that this mechanism would inhibit dNK cell-mediated killing, even under conditions where high levels of cytokines may stimulate dNK cells, which could pose a threat to the developing placenta.
Diurnal variations in intervertebral disc height affect spine flexibility, intradiscal pressure and contact compressive forces in the facet joints

Diurnal changes of intervertebral disc height are caused by high compressive loading during the day, which expulses fluid from the disc, and by osmotic pressure, which imbibes fluid into the disc at low loading. The aim of the present study was to determine the magnitude of diurnal changes in spine flexibility, intradiscal pressures and contact forces in the facet joints. A validated osseoligamentous finite element model of the lumbar spine was used to determine these quantities for morning and evening situations. Disc height varied by 10% for these two situations. Spine flexibility and facet joint forces were markedly higher in the evening than in the morning. Intradiscal pressures were higher in the morning than in the evening. The different spine flexibilities in the morning and evening should be taken into account during kinematical measurements. Predicted facet joint forces may be used for the designing and pre-clinical testing of artificial facet joint replacements.
The role of asymmetric dimethylarginine alone and in combination with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide as a screening biomarker for systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension: a case control study.

OBJECTIVES Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a novel biomarker of endothelial cell dysfunction. In this proof of concept study, we sought to evaluate the role of ADMA as a screening biomarker for incident systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH). METHODS ADMA levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography in 15 consecutive treatment-naive patients with newly-diagnosed SSc-PAH and compared with 30 SSc-controls without PAH. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the independent association of ADMA with PAH. The optimal cut-point of ADMA for SSc-PAH screening was determined. NT-proBNP levels were previously measured in the same patients and the optimal cut-point of NT-proBNP of ≥210ng/mL was coupled with the optimal cut-point of ADMA to create a screening model that combined the two biomarkers. RESULTS The PAH group had significantly higher mean ADMA levels than the control group (0.76±0.14 μM versus 0.59±0.07 μM; p<0.0001). ADMA levels remained significantly associated with PAH after the adjustment for specific disease characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and other SSc-related vascular complications (all p<0.01). An ADMA level ≥0.7 μM had a sensitivity of 86.7%, specificity of 90.0% and AUC of 0.86 for diagnosing PAH. A screening model that combined an NT-proBNP ≥210ng/mL and/ or ADMA ≥0.7 ng/mL resulted in a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 90% for the detection of SSc-PAH. CONCLUSIONS In this small study, use of ADMA in combination with NT-proBNP produced excellent sensitivity and specificity for the non-invasive identification of SSc-PAH. The role of ADMA as a screening biomarker for SSc-PAH merits further evaluation.
Treatment of Facial Lipoatrophy With Intradermal Injections of Polylactic Acid in HIV-Infected Patients

Background:This study assessed the safety and efficacy of intradermal injections of polylactic acid (PLA) in patients with facial lipoatrophy under antiretroviral therapy. Methods:In a prospective open-label study, PLA was injected in both cheeks every 2 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the patient's self-perception of improvement as assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary endpoints included 3-dimensional photographs (3DP) to measure dermal thickness, quality of life (QoL) scores, and adverse events. Results:Ninety-four patients received a median of 5 sets of injection in both cheeks. Median age was 43 years, and median CD4 cell count was 500/mm3. Median VAS score significantly increased from 3.4/10 at baseline to 6.8/10 at the end of the treatment procedure and was sustained at 7/10 at the end of follow-up (P < 0.0001 vs. baseline). Median dermal thickness increase was 2.3 mm at the end of follow-up. QoL scores remained unchanged. Seventeen patients needed further injections of PLA during a median follow-up of 12 months. Injections were well tolerated with only 1 serious adverse event (anaphylactic reaction) that necessitated treatment interruption. Conclusions:Injections of PLA improved patients' self-perception of facial lipoatrophy, with a good safety profile. The benefit of the procedure, however, decreased with time.
Sustained and focused hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid–specific T‐cell immunity in liver transplant recipients compared to individuals with chronic and self‐limited hepatitis B virus infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is associated with poor graft‐ and patient‐survival. Treatment with HBV‐specific immunoglobulins (HBIG) in combination with nucleos(t)ide analogs is effective in preventing HBV reinfection of the graft and improving OLT outcome. However, the role of HBV‐specific cellular immunity in viral containment in immune suppressed patients in general and in OLT recipients in particular is unclear. To test whether or not OLT recipients maintain robust HBV‐specific cellular immunity, the cellular immune response against HBV was assessed in 15 OLT recipients and 27 individuals with chronic and 24 subjects with self‐limited HBV infection, respectively; using an overlapping peptide set spanning the viral nucleocapsid‐ and envelope‐protein sequences. The data demonstrate that OLT recipients mounted fewer but stronger clusters of differentiation (CD)8 T cell responses than subjects with self‐limited HBV infection and showed a preferential targeting of the nucleocapsid antigen. This focused response pattern was similar to responses seen in chronically infected subjects with undetectable viremia, but significantly different from patients who presented with elevated HBV viremia and who mounted mainly immune responses against the envelope protein. In conclusion, virus‐specific CD4 T cell–mediated responses were only detected in subjects with self‐limited HBV infection. Thus, the profile of the cellular immunity against HBV was in immune suppressed patients similar to subjects with chronic HBV infection with suppressed HBV‐DNA. Liver Transpl 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
Human Placenta Contains Neurotensin: Immunohistochemical Evidence

In an attempt to demonstrate the paraneuronal nature of the human placenta, an immunohistochemical study was conducted. Paraffin sections of human placenta consistently reacted with a rabbit antibody to neurotensin, positive staining being restricted to the cytotrophoblast cells. Although the placenta is not an innervated organ it contains a neurohormone of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal region. On this basis, it is suggested that the cytotrophoblast is akin to a paraneuron and may exhibit similar genetic programming capabilities to the neural crest cells that are destined to form the neural tissue of the embryo.
A Phase II Trial of Perifosine in Locally Advanced, Unresectable, or Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Background:Perifosine, a heterocyclic alkylphosphocholine signal transduction inhibitor, has activity against multiple cell types in vitro. This is a phase II study to determine activity and toxicity of perifosine in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients and Methods:Previously untreated patients with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, performance status Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0 or 1, were enrolled. An oral loading dose of 900 mg was followed by 100 mg per day until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Response criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) methodology and a 2-stage design were used. Suspension could occur for inadequate response in the first cohort or for more than 25% grade 3 or greater toxicity. Results:Ten patients were enrolled. Six received 1 month and 4 received 2 months of treatment. Four discontinued therapy as a result of progression and 2 because of clinical deterioration. Three died during treatment. One patient had stable disease but discontinued therapy as a result of unacceptable adverse events (95% confidence interval: 0.3–45%). There were no objective responses and all patients died of progressive disease. Median overall and progression-free survival was 1.85 months (95% confidence interval: 0.9–2.7) and 1.5 months (95% confidence interval: 0.9–1.9) respectively. Conclusion:The study was suspended and subsequently terminated as a result of unacceptable adverse events during the first stage. Perifosine does not appear to be worthy of further study in this group of patients.
Severe Necrotizing Fasciitis in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Patient Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a rarely reported cause of necrotizing fasciitis. We report an unusually severe case of MRSA necrotizing fasciitis in a previously undiagnosed AIDS patient. Molecular analysis revealed that the strain had the USA300/spa1 genotype, now an abundant cause of community-acquired MRSA infection.
Prevention of agricultural injuries: an evaluation of an education-based intervention

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an agricultural health and safety program in reducing risks of injury. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: 50 rural municipalities in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Intervention: The Agricultural Health and Safety Network (AHSN), a mainly educational program that administered 112 farm safety interventions over 19 years. Subjects: 5292 farm people associated with 2392 Saskatchewan farms. Farms and associated farm people were categorized into three groups according to years of participation in the AHSN. Main measures: Impact: self-reported prevalence of: (1) farm safety practices; (2) physical farm hazards. Outcome: (1) self-reported agricultural injuries. Results: After adjustment for group imbalances and clustering at the rural municipality level, the prevalence of all impact and outcome measures was not significantly different on farms grouped according to years of AHSN participation. To illustrate, the adjusted relative risk of reporting no rollover protection on tractors among farms with none (0 years) versus high (>8 years) levels of AHSN participation was 0.95 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.30). The adjusted relative risk for agricultural injuries (all types) reported for the year before the survey was 0.99 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.32). Conclusions: Educational interventions delivered via the AHSN program were not associated with observable differences in farm safety practices, physical farm hazards, or farm-related injury outcomes. There is a need for the agricultural sector to extend the scope of its injury prevention initiatives to include the full public health model of education, engineering, and regulation.
Generic method to determine coefficients of mechanistic milling force model

Precise estimation of cutting coefficients is the fundamental stage of every mechanistic force model to achieve a reliable prediction of cutting forces. This paper presents an efficient method to determine the cutting coefficients for milling operations. The unique feature of the proposed method is that only a single cut is needed to extract the cutting coefficients and calibrate the force model. The single cut enables successive determination of the lumped discrete values of the various cutting coefficients along the cutter axis while the size effect parameters are determined based on the variation of undeformed chip thickness during tool rotation. In order to approve the effectiveness of the proposed model, a serrated tapered ball end mill tool, which has one of the most complicated geometries among milling tools, has been selected to run the tests. The efficiency of this method in determining the cutting coefficients has been confirmed experimentally with a series of verification experiments.
Mortality of UK electricity generation and transmission workers, 1973-2002.

OBJECTIVE To examine mortality from cancer and non-malignant causes among a large cohort of UK electricity generation and transmission workers. METHODS The mortality experienced by a cohort of 83,923 employees of the former Central Electricity Generating Board of England and Wales was investigated for the period 1973-2002. All employees had worked for at least 6 months with some employment between 1973 and 1982. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were used to assess mortality in the total cohort and in three sub-cohorts: power station workers, substation and transmission workers and workers at non-operational locations. These classifications were based on the place of work of the first known job. RESULTS Overall mortality was significantly below that expected, based on national rates [males: observed (Obs) 18,773, expected (Exp) 22,497.9, SMR 83; females: Obs 1122, Exp 1424.9, SMR 79]. Statistically significant deficits of deaths were also found for most of the major disease groupings. However, significant excesses of deaths were found in male power station workers for cancer of the pleura (Obs 129, Exp 30.3, SMR 426) and in male workers from non-operational locations for cancer of the brain (Obs 55, Exp 36.0, SMR 153). There was also a non-significant excess of deaths from cancer of the breast in male power station workers (Obs 10, Exp 5.3, SMR 190). CONCLUSIONS Mortality was exceptionally low for most causes of death but late health effects from earlier asbestos exposure were still in evidence.
PCR assay based on DNA coding for 16S rRNA for detection and identification of mycobacteria in clinical samples

A PCR and a reverse cross blot hybridization assay were developed for the detection and identification of mycobacteria in clinical samples. The PCR amplifies a part of the DNA coding for 16S rRNA with a set of primers that is specific for the genus Mycobacterium and that flanks species-specific sequences within the genes coding for 16S rRNA. The PCR product is analyzed in a reverse cross blot hybridization assay with probes specific for M. tuberculosis complex (pTub1), M. avium (pAvi3), M. intracellulare (pInt5 and pInt7), M. kansasii complex-M. scrofulaceum complex (pKan1), M. xenopi (pXen1), M. fortuitum (pFor1), M. smegmatis (pSme1), and Mycobacterium spp. (pMyc5a). The PCR assay can detect 10 fg of DNA, the equivalent of two mycobacteria. The specificities of the probes were tested with 108 mycobacterial strains (33 species) and 31 nonmycobacterial strains (of 17 genera). The probes pAvi3, pInt5, pInt7, pKan1, pXen1, and pMyc5a were specific. With probes pTub1, pFor1, and pSme1, slight cross hybridization occurred. However, the mycobacterial strains from which the cross-hybridizing PCR products were derived belonged to nonpathogenic or nonopportunistic species which do not occur in clinical samples. The test was used on 31 different clinical specimens obtained from patients suspected of having mycobacterial disease, including a patient with a double mycobacterial infection. The samples included sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, tissue biopsy samples, cerebrospinal fluid, pus, peritoneal fluid, pleural fluid, and blood. The results of the PCR assay agreed with those of conventional identification methods or with clinical data, showing that the test can be used for the direct and rapid detection and identification of mycobacteria in clinical samples.