Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between nephropathy and QT dispersion in type 2 diabetic patients

Amac: Tum dunyada artan diyabet ve diyabete bagli mortalite nedeniyle diyabet hastalarinda uygun ve kolay ulasilabilir tarama testlerinin onemi artmaktadir. Idrar protein/kreatinin orani ve QT dispersiyonu arasindaki iliskiyi arastirdigimiz bu calismada amacimiz diyabetin iki onemli komplikasyonundan nefropati ve otonom noropati arasindaki iliskiyi basit ve ulasilabilir testler ile saptayabilmekti. Yontemler: Bir aylik sure icinde, tip 2 diyabet tanisi ile diyabet poliklinigine basvuran, 45 erkek, 50 kadin hastanin tibbi kayitlari retrospektif olarak tarandi. Hastalara 12 derivasyonlu elektrokardiyogram (EKG), HbA1c, glukoz degerleri bakildi. idrar protein kreatinin orani(P/K), spot idrar orneklerinden olculdu. EKG’ler bilgisayar ortamina aktarilarak QT sureleri hesaplandi ve kalp hizina gore Bazett formulu ile duzeltildi. QT-max (en uzun QT suresi), QT-min (en kisa QT suresi) ve QT-dispersiyonu analizleri tum hastalar ve iskemik kalp hastaligi olanlar haric tutularak iki grup olarak calisildi. Proteinuri icin esik deger 91mg/g olarak lindi. 91mg/g ve uzeri proteinuri , 91mg/g altinda olanlar normal olarak gruplandirildi. Bulgular: Hastalarin QT-min (388,50±27,28 msn), QT-max (441,25±29,76 msn) ve QT-dispersiyonu (52,74±16,80 msn) degerleri ortalamasi iskemik kalp hastaligi olanlar cikarilsa da referans degerlerden uzun bulundu. Hem tum olgularda, hem de iskemik kalp hastaligi olan olgular haric tutuldugunda idrar protein/kreatinin oranina gore, proteinurisi olanlarda (idrar P/K 91mg/g ve uzerinde olanlar), QT dispersiyon degerleri normal olanlara gore (idrar P/K 91 mg/g’dan az olanlar) daha yuksek bulundu. Bu fark istatistiksel olarak anlamli saptanmamistir (p>0,05). Calismamizda, QT surelerinin diyabet hastalarinda kardiyovaskuler hastaliklardan bagimsiz olarak uzun oldugunu ancak protein/kreatinin orani ile anlamli iliskisi olmadigini tespit ettik. Sonuc: Sonuc olarak, diyabetik hastalarda spot idrar protein/kreatinin orani ile QT intervalleri arasindaki iliskiyi inceledigimiz bu calismada iki parametre arasinda anlamli iliski saptanamamistir. Literaturde A/K orani ile QT intervalleri arasinda iliski oldugunu gosteren calismalar bulunsa da P/K orani ile iliski saptayamadik.
OTT_A_214870 10335..10342

Sri Harsha Tella Amit Mahipal 2 Anuhya Kommalapati Zhaohui Jin 2 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA; 2Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; 3Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. Surgical resection of the primary lesion, liver-directed therapies, and orthotropic liver transplantation are employed in localized disease depending upon the clinical status, underlying liver function, the size, and location of the liver lesions. Systemic therapy plays a critical role in the management of advanced HCC. Sorafenib had remained as the only United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA)-approved systemic therapeutic agent for approximately a decade since its approval in 2007, until the advent of immunotherapy and a better understanding of HCC molecular pathogenesis changed the landscape of advanced HCC management. Lenvatinib was approved as an alternative first-line agent, whereas regorafenib, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ramucirumab, and cabozantinib were approved as second-line agents for HCC patients who could not tolerate or whose disease progressed on sorafenib. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab are the two immunotherapeutic agents that were conditionally approved by the US-FDA based on the encouraging results in Phase I/II trials. This review discusses the potential role of immunotherapy in advanced HCC with a special focus on nivolumab.
Highly Variable Expression of ESR1 Splice Variants in Human Liver: Implication in the Liver Gene Expression Regulation and Inter-Person Variability in Drug Metabolism and Liver Related Diseases

Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) plays an important role in many tissues including the liver. Numerous alternative splice variants of ESR1 exist that encode ESR1 proteins with varying functions. We aim to study ESR1 genomic organization and its mRNA expression profile in human liver by incorporating information from literature and genomic databases (Ensembl, NCBI and GTEx), and employing a quantitative method to measure all known ESR1 mRNA splice variants in 36 human livers. We re-constructed ESR1 genomic organization map that contains 29 exons. ESR1 mRNA splice variants with varying 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) and/or missing each of eight coding exons are readily detectable in liver and other tissues. Moreover, we found extensive inter-individual variability in splice variant pattern of ESR1 transcripts. Specifically, ESR1 transcripts lacking first coding exon are the main transcripts in liver, which encode ESR1 proteins missing N-terminal 173 amino acids (for example, ERα46), reported previously to have either constitutive activity or dominant negative effects depending on cellular context. Moreover, some livers predominantly express ESR1 transcripts missing exon 10 or 16, encoding C-terminal truncated ESR1 proteins with varying ESR1 activities. Inter-person variability in ESR1 expression profile may contribute to inter-person variability in drug metabolism and susceptibility to liver related diseases.
An assessment of the relationship between research and teaching performances in a static and dynamic perspective

The nexus between research and teaching activities and performance in higher education institutions (HEIs) has been scarcely explored empirically, and particularly in the long run. This paper investigates the pattern of teaching and research performances, the relationship between them, and the convergence for Italian public HEIs in the period 2000-2010, by comparing different bootstrap robust non-parametric frontier estimators. We find a generally positive relationship between research and teaching performances achieved by HEIs, in the short and long run. However, we detect a reversed U-shaped relationship between research (teaching) performance and teaching (research) activity, which supports the perception of limited scope economies between them. Furthermore, we find that Italian HEIs enjoyed an efficiency growth as well as convergence, in the observed period, although research and teaching converged at a different pace. Our empirical findings are robust to alternative estimator and bootstrapped bias correction.
On The Mechanism Of Plasminogen Activator Release By Ddavp: Animal Studies

In pentobarbitone anaesthetised dogs, IV infusion of 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) over 15 minutes produced a dramatic increase in plasma plasminogen activator (PA) levels, as measured by the euglobulin lysis time. However, 70 ug/Kg of DDAVP were required, compared with circa O.4 ug/Kg for a similar response in unanaesthetised human subjects. Factor VIII levels increased only slightly in dogs even at these relatively high doses. Infusion of 7.0 ug/Kg DDAVP into the femoral artery of dogs had no discernible effects on the PA level of ipsilateral femoral venous blood - similar to findings previously reported for humans. In contrast, infusion of this dose into the carotid artery of dogs produced a marked rise of PA in jugular venous and systemic blood. Fifty mls of jugular venous effluent were collected immediately after DDAVP infusion to carotid artery, the plasma separated, stored frozen, and subsequently infused intravenously to another dog. PA levels rose moderately. It is suggested that DDAVP acts on some cephalic receptor - possibly in the hypothalmus - from which a humoral factor is released which in turn releases PA from a peripheral storage site. The high doses of DDAVP required in these studies, and the relative lack of fVIII response, suggests that barbitone anaesthesia may interfere with this mechanism.
Estimation of Combining Ability, Heterosis and Heritability in some Egyptian Cotton Crosses

The present investigation was carried out to study heterosis, general and specific combining ability and heritability in broad and narrow sense for yield and yield component traits using line × tester analysis design for eight parents (five lines and three testers) of cotton and their 15 F1 hybrids. Mean squares due to genotypes (parents and their F1 hybrids) were highly significant for all studied traits revealing a large amount of variability among them. Results indicated that the cross (No. 1) had displayed the best heterosis (desirable) relative to mid-parent and better parent for (L. %) with values 7.76 and 7.25%. While, the cross (No. 4) had showed the best heterosis (desirable) relative to mid-parent and better parent for (S.I.) and (L.I.) with values 10.31, 9.15, 18.04 and 15.77%, respectively. In addition, the estimates of (G.C.A.) effects for (No.O.B. / P.), (B.W.), (S.C.Y. / P.) and (L.Y. / P.) were positive and highly significant in line (L5) in F1 hybrids. In addition, the cross (No. 12) in F1 hybrids had showed positive and highly significant for (No.O.B. / P.), (B.W.) and (S.C.Y. / P.). Results clarified that the estimates of broad sense heritability in F1 hybrids for (No.O.B. / P.), (B.W.), (S.C.Y. / P.), (L.Y. / P.), (L. %), (S.I.) and (L.I.) were moderate to high with values 96.25, 96.04, 97.35, 93.09, 54.70, 97.42 and 41.49%, respectively.
HMER_A_244596 49..60

Samuel H Sigal Zachary Sherman Arun Jesudian 1Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; 2Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA Abstract: Thrombocytopenia is a frequent complication in patients with cirrhosis. As many as 84% of patients with cirrhosis have thrombocytopenia, and it is an independent variable indicative of advanced disease and poor prognosis. Although there is great concern that it may aggravate bleeding during surgical procedures, there is limited evidence to inform decisions regarding the treatment of cirrhotic patients with thrombocytopenia undergoing invasive procedures. Finally, there is evidence that platelets play a significant role in liver regeneration. In this report, the clinical implications of thrombocytopenia in cirrhotic patients are reviewed. The utility of platelet counts in the prognosis of cirrhosis and relationship to complications of advanced liver disease, including portal hypertension, esophageal varices, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The impact of low platelet counts on bleeding complications during invasive procedures is outlined. Finally, the role of platelets and potential adverse impact in liver regeneration is reviewed.
The Feuerstein approach in New Zealand : Building on the past, for the future.

The Feuerstein approach to the teaching of thinking is highly regarded internationally as an effective programme for vulnerable learners and learners with special educational needs. This paper describes this approach. The need for this approach in New Zealand is discussed, including children’s rights to it, and the New Zealand National Curriculum requirements. This is followed by an analysis of how the approach meets international criteria for an effective programme for the teaching of thinking. The author’s early New Zealand research on the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment programme, to build a strong evidence-base for future use of the approach, is described in some detail, and her current New Zealand research project on best-practice with the inclusive and more whole-school integrated use of the Instrumental Enrichment programme is touched upon. Finally, some guidelines are outlined for the effective use of the Feuerstein approach in New Zealand now and in the future.
Reduced plasma orexin-A levels in patients with bipolar disorder

Purpose: Orexins are hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in the regulation of sleep, appetite and arousal. An altered orexin system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to examine whether plasma orexin-A levels differ in patients with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), or bipolar disorder (BD) compared to in healthy controls. We also examined the possible correlations between plasma orexin-A levels and clinical variables. Patients and methods: All participants were Japanese. The sample consisted of 80 patients with schizophrenia (42 women, 52.5%; mean age 36.8 years), 80 patients with MDD (43 women, 53.8%; 43.7 years), and 40 patients with BD (24 women, 60%; 41.1 years), as well as 80 healthy controls (48 women, 60%; 47.0 years). Plasma orexin-A levels were quanti ﬁ ed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Mean orexin-A levels were signi ﬁ cantly different across the four diagnostic groups (F=4.09; df=3; p =0.007, η 2 =0.06). In particular, the patients with BD showed signi ﬁ cantly lower orexin-A levels than did the controls. When the median value of the control group (109.8 pg/ml) was set as a cut-off value, subjects whose orexin-A levels were below the cut-off were more common in all psychiatric groups (schizophrenia: 73.8%, x 2 =9.56, df=1, p =0.003, OR=2.81, 95% CI: 1.45 to 5.45, d =0.57; MDD: 78.5%, x 2 =14.02, df=1, p <0.001, OR=3.65, 95% CI: 1.82 to 7.29, d =0.72; BD: 87.5%, x 2 =16.0, df=1, p <0.001, OR=7.00, 95% CI: 2.49 to 19.70, d =1.07). We found no association between plasma orexin-A levels and any clinical symptoms, depression severity, or medication doses. Conclusion: Our results suggest that plasma orexin-A levels are reduced in patients with BD.
The Role of Tantalum Nanoparticles in Bone Regeneration Involves the BMP2/Smad4/Runx2 Signaling Pathway

Background In recent years, nanomaterials have been increasingly developed and applied in the field of bone tissue engineering. However, there are few studies on the induction of bone regeneration by tantalum nanoparticles (Ta NPs) and no reports on the effects of Ta NPs on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and the underlying mechanisms. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Ta NPs on bone regeneration and BMSC osteogenic differentiation and the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods The effects of Ta NPs on bone regeneration were evaluated in an animal experiment, and the effects of Ta NPs on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and the underlying mechanisms were evaluated in cell experiments. In the animal experiment, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and hard-tissue section analysis showed that Ta NPs promoted bone regeneration, and immunohistochemistry revealed elevated expression of BMP2 and Smad4 in cells cultured with Ta NPs. Results The results of the cell experiments showed that Ta NPs promoted BMSC proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, BMP2 secretion and extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization, and the expression of related osteogenic genes and proteins (especially BMP2, Smad4 and Runx2) was upregulated under culture with Ta NPs. Smad4 expression, ALP activity, ECM mineralization, and osteogenesis-related gene and protein expression decreased after inhibiting Smad4. Conclusion These data suggest that Ta NPs have an osteogenic effect and induce bone regeneration by activating the BMP2/Smad4/Runx2 signaling pathway, which in turn causes BMSCs to undergo osteogenic differentiation. This study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of Ta NPs in bone regeneration.
Production of Cephalosporin C from Acremonium chrysogenum, and its Antimicrobial Activity against Some Pathogenic Bacteria

The Production of cephalosporin C by Acremoniumchrysogenumin flask contain fermentation medium, after that its extraction, purification and estimation was performedby Spectrophotometric Method.The antimicrobial activities of both the crude and purified cephalosporin C were performed against the test organisms by Agar Well Diffusion Method.Agar well diffusion method and the inhibition zones were recorded and evaluated the effectiveness of the antibiotic against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aereusand Bacillus subtilis) and no effectiveness against gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Proteus mirabilis).
Characterization of the immune response induced by non-pathogenic mycobacteria in macrophages and dendritic cells

Title of Document: CHARACTERIZATION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE INDUCED BY NON-PATHOGENIC MYCOBACTERIA IN MACROPHAGES AND DENDRITIC CELLS Amro Youssef Bohsali, PhD, 2012 Directed By: Associate Professor, Volker Briken, PhD, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics The capacity of the host to mount an effective immune response (IR) is crucial for the protection against invading pathogens. The apoptotic and proinflammatory responses of infected cells are important innate immune mechanisms. Consequently, the ability of persistent intracellular pathogens, such as the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), to inhibit infection-induced apoptosis of macrophages is important for its virulence in the host. Facultative-pathogenic mycobacterial species, like M. kansasii (Mkan), can cause disseminating disease in individuals with immune deficiencies. In contrast, non-pathogenic mycobacteria, like M. smegmatis (Msme), are not known to cause disseminating disease even in immunocompromised individuals. We hypothesized that this difference in phenotype could be explained by the strong induction of an innate IR by non-pathogenic mycobacteria. Here we analyze the mechanisms by which non-pathogenic mycobacteria induce a strong IR in their macrophage and dendritic cell (DC) host, specifically the induction of host cell apoptosis and the host inflammasome response via the secretion of IL-1β. The comparison of two non-pathogenic mycobacterial species (Msme and Mkan) with two facultative-pathogenic mycobacterial species (M.kan and M. bovis BCG) demonstrated that only the non-pathogenic mycobacteria induce strong apoptosis in murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) and dendritic cells (BMDC), which was dependent upon caspase-3 activation and TNF secretion. Consistently, BMDMs responded by secreting relatively large amounts of TNF and by upregulating the expression of Il-12. We also demonstrated that Msme infection of BMDCs strongly induces the secretion of IL-1β. This induction was dependent upon the presence of functional ASC and was partially independent of NLRP3. Interestingly this induction was also partially dependent on AIM2 and IFN-β. This AIM2-dpendent induction was observed in infection with non-pathogenic and opportunistic mycobacteria, and attenuated but not virulent Mtb. Surprisingly, caspase-1/11 deficient BMDCs still secreted substantial but reduced amounts of IL-1β upon Msme infection. In conclusion, we demonstrate a strong induction of the innate IR by nonpathogenic mycobacteria as measured by host cell apoptosis, and IL-12 / TNF / IL-1β cytokine induction. We also demonstrate the partially caspase-1/11 and NLRP3 independent, partially AIM2-dependent, but ASC-dependent IL-1β secretion in Msme infected BMDCs. Our findings support the hypothesis that the strong induction of the innate IR is a major reason for the lack of pathogenicity in non-pathogenic mycobacteria. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE INDCUED BY NONPATHOGENIC MYCOBACTERIA IN MACROPHAGES AND DENDRITIC CELLS
Comparison of sagittal lumbosacral parameters in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and chronic mechanical back pain

Aim: Lumbosacral parameters can be affected in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and chronic mechanical back pain.We compared lumbosacral parameters between patients with AS and chronic mechanical back pain to identify specific changes in AS. Material and Methods:This study has a retrospective design. A total of 42 patients with AS (16 females, 26 males) and 66 patients with chronic mechanical back pain (31 females, 35 males) were enrolled in the study. Lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), lumbosacral angle (LSA), sacral tilt (ST), and lumbosacral disc angle (LSDA) were measured using digitalized standing lateral lumbar radiographs. CRP and ESR concentrations of AS patients were obtained from the hospital database. Results: LLA, LSA, ST and LSDA were significantly smaller in the patients with AS (p < 0.05). CRP and ESR were significantly and negatively correlated with LLA and LSA (r = -0.516, p < 0.001; r = -0.401, p = 0.009 for CRP and r = -0.623, p < 0.001; r = -0.474, p = 0.002 for ESR). In AS patients, LLA was significantly and positively correlated with LSA and ST (r = 0.490, p = 0.001; r = 0.399, p = 0.009). Additionally, LSA was significantly and positively correlated with LSDA (r = 0.613, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The sagittal lumbosacral parameters of patients with AS were found to be significantly different from those of patients with chronic mechanical back pain. İnflammation negatively affects lumbosacral alignment in AS. The identification of specific changes in sagittal spinal alignment in patients with AS will contribute to the establishment of appropriate rehabilitation strategies and surgical plans.
The media, marketing, and single sex schooling

The Australian media’s interest in education, as in many Anglophone countries, is frequently dominated by concerns about boys in schools. In 2002, in a country region of the Australian State of Queensland, this concern was evident in a debate on the merits of single sex schooling that took place in a small local newspaper. The debate was fuelled by the inclusion in this newspaper of an advertising brochure for an elite private girls’ school. The advertisement utilized the current concerns about boys in schools to advocate the benefits of girls’ only schools. Drawing on research that suggests that boys are a problem in school, and utilising a peculiar mix of liberal feminism alongside a neo‐liberal class politics, it implicitly denigrated the education provided by government co‐educational schools. The local government high and primary school principals, incensed at this advertisement, contacted the paper to refute many of its claims and assumptions and to assert the benefits, to both boys and girls, of their particular schools. A letters to the editor debate then followed an article representing these government school principals’ views. These letters were from two private school principals. This country newspaper thus became a medium through which various school principals engaged with the current boys’ debate, and research associated with it, in order to market their schools. This paper examines this particular newspaper debate and argues that, in the absence of nuanced, research based, and thoughtful policy responses to gender issues, many school policies on gender are being shaped through and by the media in ways that elide the complexities of the issues involved.