Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Derived Cerebral Blood Volume Correlates Better With Leak Correction Than With No Correction for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Microvascular Density, and Grading of Astrocytoma

Objective: To look for the impact of leak correction on correlation of perfusion indices with microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in astrocytomas. Methods: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 64 patients with varying grades of astrocytoma. Perfusion indices (ie, relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) with and without leak correction, relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF), permeability (ktrans), and leakage (ve) were quantified. MVD and VEGF-expressing cells were quantified from the excised tumor tissues and were correlated with perfusion metrics. Results: Perfusion indices showed significant difference among the astrocytoma grades. The corrected rCBV correlated better with MVD and VEGF. The corrected rCBV correlated (r = 0.853, P = <0.001) strongly, whereas the uncorrected rCBV (r = 0.592, P = <0.001) and ktrans (r = 0.498, P = 0.001) correlated moderately with tumor grade. The corrected rCBV discriminated 100% low-grade from high-grade astrocytoma, while uncorrected rCBV did this in 95.5% low-grade and 71.4% high-grade astrocytoma. Conclusions: Corrected rCBV better correlates with grade and is more accurate in discriminating low-grade from high-grade astrocytoma compared with uncorrected rCBV.
A reverse signaling pathway downstream of Sema4A controls cell migration via Scrib

Semaphorins comprise a large family of ligands that regulate key cellular functions through their receptors, plexins. In this study, we show that the transmembrane semaphorin 4A (Sema4A) can also function as a receptor, rather than a ligand, and transduce signals triggered by the binding of Plexin-B1 through reverse signaling. Functionally, reverse Sema4A signaling regulates the migration of various cancer cells as well as dendritic cells. By combining mass spectrometry analysis with small interfering RNA screening, we identify the polarity protein Scrib as a downstream effector of Sema4A. We further show that binding of Plexin-B1 to Sema4A promotes the interaction of Sema4A with Scrib, thereby removing Scrib from its complex with the Rac/Cdc42 exchange factor &bgr;PIX and decreasing the activity of the small guanosine triphosphatase Rac1 and Cdc42. Our data unravel a role for Plexin-B1 as a ligand and Sema4A as a receptor and characterize a reverse signaling pathway downstream of Sema4A, which controls cell migration.
Multiple nuclear dots antinuclear antibodies are not specific for primary biliary cirrhosis

Multiple nuclear dots antinuclear antibodies display a specific immunofluorescence pattern on HEp‐2 cells. They have been reported to be strongly associated with primary biliary cirrhosis, especially when sicca syndrome was present. To determine whether multiple nuclear dots antinuclear antibodies are specific for primary biliary cirrhosis, we studied the clinical, biochemical, immunological and morphological features of 38 patients between December 1983 and September 1990 who had serum multiple nuclear dots antinuclear antibodies detected in an immunology laboratory of a large medical center. Sufficient information was reliable in 36 patients; the group included 31 women and 5 men (mean age = 57.6 ± 14.5, range = 30 to 87). Fifteen patients (42%) had primary biliary cirrhosis, 5 patients (14%) had type 1 autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, 4 patients (11%) had liver disease of unknown cause and 12 patients (33%) had various immunological disorders but no liver disease. Two of the patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (13%) had clinical sicca syndrome. Our study demonstrates the following: (a) serum multiple nuclear dots antinuclear antibodies are not specific for liver disease because they can be observed in one third of patients with various immunological disorders without liver involvement, and (b) serum multiple nuclear dots antinuclear antibodies are not specific for PBC because they can also be observed in type 1 autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. Our results also suggest that patent sicca syndrome is abnormally present in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and multiple nuclear dots antinuclear antibodies. (HEPATOLOGY 1992;16:127–131.)
Activation of the extrinsic caspase pathway in cultured cortical neurons requires p53‐mediated down‐regulation of the X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein to induce apoptosis

Cultured cortical neurons exposed to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus gp120 coat protein undergo apoptosis involving activation of both caspase‐8 and caspase‐9. Additionally, gp120‐mediated neuronal apoptosis requires the pro‐apoptotic transcription factor p53. As caspase‐8‐induced apoptosis does not typically require p53, we examined the possibility of a novel role for p53 in caspase‐8 activation initiated by gp120. We observed that gp120 treatment of cultured cortical neurons induced caspase‐8 activity and Bid cleavage independently of p53, but induction of caspase‐3 enzymatic activity required p53 expression. These findings suggested the possibility that p53 down‐regulates a caspase‐3 inhibitor. We observed high‐level expression of the caspase‐3/9 inhibitor X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in cultured cortical neurons. Adenoviral expression of p53 or induction of endogenous p53 by camptothecin treatment reduced XIAP protein in neurons. Infection with a p53 expressing adenovirus increased expression of the mRNA for Omi/HtrA2, a protease that cleaves and inactivates XIAP. These findings suggest that p53 regulates neuronal apoptosis, in part, by suppressing the anti‐apoptotic protein XIAP via transcriptional activation of Omi/HtrA2.
Therapeutic Potential of Tetrahydrobiopterin for Treating Vascular and Cardiac Disease

Tetrahydrobiopterin is the reduced unconjugated pterin that serves as an essential cofactor for the normal enzymatic function of the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases and for the nitric oxide synthases (NOS). Its role in the latter biochemistry is being increasing appreciated, as depletion or oxidation of BH4 results in a condition of NOS uncoupling, resulting in a nitroso-oxidative imbalance. Recent experimental studies support an important pathophysiologic role of BH4 deficiency as well as the therapeutic potential of BH4 repletion for hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cardiac hypertrophic remodeling, and heart failure. In addition to BH4, studies are also examining the potential role of folic acid therapy, because folic acid can enhance BH4 levels and the NOS coupling state. This review summarizes these recent studies focusing on the biochemistry and pharmacology of BH4 and its potential role for treating cardiovascular disease.
FISH analysis of MALT lymphoma‐specific translocations and aneuploidy in primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma

Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphomas (PCMZL) share histological and clinical characteristics with mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas suggesting a common pathogenesis. A number of recurrent structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations have been described in MALT lymphoma, but their incidence in PCMZL is largely unknown, as is their relation with clinical and pathological data. In this study, the incidence of t(11;18)(q21;q21), t(1;14)(p22;q32), two different t(14;18)(q32;q21), involving either IGH/MALT1 or IGH/BCL2, and numerical aberrations of chromosomes 3, 7, 12 and 18 were analysed in 12 patients with PCMZL, with follow‐up of up to 10 years. Nuclei were isolated from paraffin wax sections for dual‐colour interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using various probe sets either flanking or spanning the involved genes. T(14;18)(q32;q21), with breakpoints in IGH and MALT1, was found in three cases. All three had partly monocytoid histological appearances and lacked blastic transformation. An additional trisomy of chromosome 3 was detected in one of these cases. Trisomy 18 was present in two lymphomas without monocytoid morphology. No definite correlation was seen with any clinical feature, including Borrelia serology. Neither t(11;18)(q21;q21), nor t(1;14)(p22;q32) or any other translocation involving IGH, BCL10, MALT1, BCL2 and API2, amplification or deletion of chromosomal region 11q21, 18q21, 1p22, and 14q32 was detected. These results indicate that a subgroup of PCMZL with partly monocytoid morphology is genetically related to MZL at other extranodal sites. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic pain and pain medication use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A cross-sectional study.

RATIONALE Pain is a common problem for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, pain is minimally discussed in COPD management guidelines. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to describe chronic pain prevalence among patients with COPD compared with similar patients with other chronic diseases in a managed care population in the southwestern United States (age ≥ 40 yr). METHODS Using data for the period January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010, patients with COPD were matched to two control subjects without COPD but with another chronic illness based on age, sex, insurance, and healthcare encounter type. Odds ratios (OR) for evidence of chronic pain were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Pulmonary function data for 200 randomly selected patients with COPD were abstracted. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Retrospectively analyzed recurrent pain-related utilization (diagnoses and treatment) was considered evidence of chronic pain. The study sample comprised 7,952 patients with COPD (mean age, 69 yr; 42% male) and 15,904 patients with other chronic diseases (non-COPD). Patients with COPD compared with non-COPD patients had a higher percentage of chronic pain (59.8 vs. 51.7%; P < 0.001), chronic use of pain-related medications (41.2 vs. 31.5%; P < 0.001), and chronic use of short-acting (24.2 vs. 15.1%; P < 0.001) and long-acting opioids (4.4 vs. 1.9%; P < 0.001) compared with non-COPD patients. In conditional logistic regression models, adjusting for age, sex, Hispanic ethnicity, and comorbidities, patients with COPD had higher odds of chronic pain (OR, 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-1.71), chronic use of pain-related medications (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.46-1.74), and chronic use of short-acting or long-acting opioids (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.57-1.92). CONCLUSIONS Chronic pain and opioid use are prevalent among adults with COPD. This finding was not explained by the burden of comorbidity.
Adhesive dentistry and endodontics: materials, clinical strategies, and procedures for restoration of access cavities: a review.

The complexity of restorative dentistry has increased greatly in recent years, with the myriad of products used in "adhesive dentistry. " So too has the "simple" matter of restoring access cavities after completion of endodontic treatment. This review discusses current methods of "bonding" to tooth structure, ceramic materials, and metals, with emphasis on those aspects that are important to endodontics. Specific materials, procedures and major decision making elements are discussed, as well as how to avoid problems in compatibility between endodontic and restorative materials.
A floating wiper inductive voltage divider type displacement transducer

A novel, floating wiper, inductive voltage divider (IVD) type displacement transducer is presented here. A self balancing signal conditioning circuit, proposed herein, operates on an IVD with a floating wiper and provides an output that is proportional to the displacement (can be linear or angular) of the wiper. The output is made independent of the coupling capacitor that would arise due to the air gap between the inductive element and the floating wiper. Thus the output of the proffered transducer is unaffected by any jitter that may occur and alter the distance between the wiper and the IVD. The workability of the proposed transducer is extensively verified through simulation studies.
Application of Indefinite Delivery–Indefinite Quantity Construction Strategies at the Federal Level

AbstractIndefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) construction contracts use an overarching master contract between an owner and contractor for multiple projects over a specified time period. The practice is widespread in the federal government but its efficacy has been the subject of relatively few studies. Content analysis of 90 federal requests for proposal advertised between 2010 and 2014 reveals IDIQ contracting use for a wide range of facility types and construction services. Owners most often use best-value procurement methods, emphasize qualifications over price to initially select the IDIQ pool of contractors, and use seed projects for initial price evaluations. Findings also suggest that IDIQ contracts reflect the inherent paradoxical organizational tensions in public sector procurements. On one hand, IDIQ contracts reflect a desire for flexibility, simplified procurement processes, and finding the most qualified contractors for long-term performance. On the other hand, public owners must p.
Impact of hydrochloric acid instillation on salvage of infected central venous catheters in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Abstract Background: Bacteraemia associated with indwelling central venous catheters (CVC) causes significant morbidity in children with cancer. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) instillations have been reported to salvage CVCs with antibiotic-refractory infection. We implemented this treatment in 2002. The impact on the survival of CVCs has been evaluated in a retrospective cohort study of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Methods: Children with newly diagnosed ALL during 1999–2005 having their first CVC inserted before (n = 16) and after (n = 24) the introduction of the procedure were studied. All bacteraemic episodes were reviewed, recording bacteriological findings and treatment, and the time to premature or planned removal of the CVC was determined. Results: In the comparison cohort, 31.0% (9/29) of bacteraemic episodes led to removal of the CVC, compared to 5.5% (2/36) in the intervention cohort (p = 0.01). Thus, the rate of catheter loss due to infection fell from 56.3% (9/16) to 8.3% (2/24) after introducing HCl treatment (p = 0.0025). Overall, the premature catheter removal rate fell from 75.0% (12/16) to 45.8% (11/24) (p = 0.10). Analysed in a CUSUM plot the reduced frequency of premature CVC removal evidently coincided with the introduction of the procedure. In a subgroup analysis of 21 monobacterial infections with coagulase-negative staphylococci, a decrease in systemic and lock antibiotic therapy was found. No adverse events were noted. Conclusions: HCl instillations significantly reduced the need to remove and replace CVCs. The procedure is practical, appears to be safe, and may reduce the consumption of antibiotics.
The Determinants of Poverty in Mexico: 1996

This study examines the changes in poverty in Mexico for the period 1994-1996 as well as the determinants or correlates of poverty in 1996. The data used in the study come from the National Survey of Income and Expenditures of Households for the years 1994 and 1996. By estimating the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke family of poverty measures, we found that both moderate and extreme poverty increased in Mexico during the 1994-1996 period, and that the depth and severity of poverty also increased. The poverty profiles constructed for both years indicate that poverty incidence is higher for households located in rural areas, for large households, for households where the head has a low level of education, and for households whose head works in a rural or domestic occupation. A logistic regression model was estimated for 1996, with the probability of a household being extremely poor as the dependent variable and a set of economic and demographic variables as the explanatory variables. It was found that the variables that are positively correlated with the probability of being poor are: size of the household, living in a rural area, working in a rural occupation and being a domestic worker. Variables negatively correlated with the probability of being poor are: the education level of the household head, his/her age and whether he or she works in a professional or middle level occupation.
Feral Systems as Institutional Phenomena: A Framework for Analyzing Persistent Computer Workarounds

Feral systems, which sometimes manifest as computer workarounds, are recognized in the IT literature, but little attention has been paid to their persistence. The persistent reality of some computer work-arounds may be traceable to discordant top-down institutional environmental pressures and bottom-up influences of day-today operational work. The authors build on the constructs of neo-institutional theory to de-black-box the workaround as situated practices built upon institutional logics of work practices, power to decouple by social actors, and material constraints of work. They extend the IT research on computer workarounds by casting them as emergent outcomes that exhibit institutional characteristics lending credence to the existence of feral information systems.
The Arduino platform connected to education process

In order to keep up with the massive growing and expanding development of the electronics and informatics fields of study, the education system should be able to react on the currently used technologies available on the market and include them into the education process. Meeting the new trends becomes crucial when producing the people with broad view, experience and insight. Nowadays, Arduino based technologies are gaining huge popularity among the communities interested in fields of electronic and hardware solutions, because of its availability on the market, relatively easy use and last but not least, because of its cheap price and large accessibility of various information, components and already made tutorials. Therefore it becomes more and more crucial to include Arduino into education process within the subjects taught on schools, which would like to provide the complex view of electronics and informatics connected fields of study.
In vitro toxicological screening of nanoparticles on primary human endothelial cells and the role of flow in modulating cell response

Abstract After passage through biological barriers, nanomaterials inevitably end up in contact with the vascular endothelium and can induce cardiovascular damage. In this study the toxicity and sub-lethal effects of six types of nanoparticle, including four of industrial and biomedical importance, on human endothelial cells were investigated using different in vitro assays. The results show that all the particles investigated induce some level of damage to the cells and that silver particles were most toxic, followed by titanium dioxide. Furthermore, endothelial cells were shown to be more susceptible when exposed to silver nanoparticles under flow conditions in a bioreactor. The study underlines that although simple in vitro tests are useful to screen compounds and to identify the type of effect induced on cells, they may not be sufficient to define safe exposure limits. Therefore, once initial toxicity screening has been conducted on nanomaterials, it is necessary to develop more physiologically relevant in vitro models to better understand how nanomaterials can impact on human health.
Acceleration of the direct reconstruction of linear parametric images using nested algorithms

Parametric imaging using dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) provides important information for biological research and clinical diagnosis. Indirect and direct methods have been developed for reconstructing linear parametric images from dynamic PET data. Indirect methods are relatively simple and easy to implement because the image reconstruction and kinetic modeling are performed in two separate steps. Direct methods estimate parametric images directly from raw PET data and are statistically more efficient. However, the convergence rate of direct algorithms can be slow due to the coupling between the reconstruction and kinetic modeling. Here we present two fast gradient-type algorithms for direct reconstruction of linear parametric images. The new algorithms decouple the reconstruction and linear parametric modeling at each iteration by employing the principle of optimization transfer. Convergence speed is accelerated by running more sub-iterations of linear parametric estimation because the computation cost of the linear parametric modeling is much less than that of the image reconstruction. Computer simulation studies demonstrated that the new algorithms converge much faster than the traditional expectation maximization (EM) and the preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithms for dynamic PET.
An arteriovenous loop in a protected space generates a permanent, highly vascular, tissue‐engineered construct

A major obstacle to 3‐dimensional tissue engineering is incorporation of a functional vascular supply to support the expanding new tissue. This is overcome in an in vivo intrinsic vascularization model where an arteriovenous loop (AVL) is placed in a noncollapsible space protected by a polycarbonate chamber. Vascular development and hypoxia were examined from 3 days to 112 days by vascular casting, morphometric, and morphological techniques to understand the model's vascular growth and remodeling parameters for tissue engineering purposes. At 3 days a fibrin exudate surrounded the AVL, providing a scaffold to migrating inflammatory, endothelial, and mesenchymal cells. Capillaries formed between 3 and 7 days. Hypoxia and cell proliferation were maximal at 7 days, followed by a peak in percent vascular volume at 10 days (23.2±03.14% compared with 3.5±92.68% at 3 days, P<0.001). Maximal apoptosis was observed at 112 days. The protected space and spontaneous microcirculatory development in this model suggest it would be applicable for in vivo tissue engineering. A temporal window in a period of intense angiogenesis at 7 to 10 days is optimal for exogenous cell seeding and survival in the chamber, potentially enabling specific tissue outcomes to be achieved. —Lokmic, Z. , Stillaert, F. , Morrison, W. A. , Thompson, E. W. , Mitchell, G. M. An arteriovenous loop in a protected space generates a permanent, highly vascular, tissue‐engineered construct. FASEB J. 21, 511–522 (2007)
Dyslipidemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: Managing a High-Risk Combination

Abstract Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single largest cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), with those patients having a 10-year CVD-related morbidity and mortality of > 20%. This has led to the inclusion of CKD as a CVD equivalent, and justifies the aggressive treatment of modifiable risk factors such as dyslipidemia. Primary care physicians (PCP) often manage patients with CKD in the early stages of the disease and have a pivotal role in affecting long-term outcomes in CKD patients related to cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Therefore, treatment of dyslipidemia often becomes the responsibility of the PCP and comes with its own set of challenges because of CKD-related issues (eg, the dose adjustments required). Exacerbating this problem is the fact that current guidelines are lengthy and complex. This article discusses the current guidelines for treating dyslipidemia in patients with CKD. Few studies have examined the safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapy for treatment of dyslipidemia in the CKD population, and ongoing studies such as the Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) should help clarify the current treatment guidelines.