Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visualizing renal primary cilia

Renal primary cilia are microscopic sensory organelles found on the apical surface of epithelial cells of the nephron and collecting duct. They are based upon a microtubular cytoskeleton, bounded by a specialized membrane, and contain an array of proteins that facilitate their assembly, maintenance and function. Cilium‐based signalling is important for the control of epithelial differentiation and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various cystic kidney diseases and in renal repair. As such, visualizing renal primary cilia and understanding their composition has become an essential component of many studies of inherited kidney disease and mechanisms of epithelial regeneration. Primary cilia were initially identified in the kidney using electron microscopy and this remains a useful technique for the high resolution examination of these organelles. New reagents and techniques now also allow the structure and composition of primary cilia to be analysed in detail using fluorescence microscopy. Primary cilia can be imaged in situ in sections of kidney, and many renal‐derived cell lines produce primary cilia in culture providing a simplified and accessible system in which to investigate these organelles. Here we outline microscopy‐based techniques commonly used for studying renal primary cilia.
Hetero-oligomeric glutamate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus.

An extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus, possesses two glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) genes, gdhA and gdhB, putatively forming an operon on the genome. To elucidate the functions of these genes, the gene products were purified and characterized. GdhA showed no GDH activity, while GdhB showed GDH activity for reductive amination 1.3-fold higher than that for oxidative deamination. When GdhA was co-expressed with His-tag-fused GdhB, GdhA was co-purified with His-tagged GdhB. Compared with GdhB alone, co-purified GdhA-GdhB had decreased reductive amination activity and increased oxidative deamination activity, resulting in a 3.1-fold preference for oxidative deamination over reductive amination. Addition of hydrophobic amino acids affected the GDH activity of the co-purified GdhA-GdhB hetero-complex. Among the amino acids, leucine had the largest effect on activity: addition of 1 mM leucine elevated the GDH activity of the co-purified GdhA-GdhB by 974 and 245 % for reductive amination and oxidative deamination, respectively, while GdhB alone did not show such marked activation by leucine. Kinetic analysis revealed that the elevation of GDH activity by leucine is attributable to the enhanced turnover number of GDH. In this hetero-oligomeric GDH system, GdhA and GdhB act as regulatory and catalytic subunits, respectively, and GdhA can modulate the activity of GdhB through hetero-complex formation, depending on the availability of hydrophobic amino acids. This study provides the first finding, to our knowledge, of a hetero-oligomeric GDH that can be regulated allosterically.
A decade after the KDOQI CKD guidelines.

2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-KDOQI) Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluation, Classification, and Stratification. KDOQI is one of the signature programs of the NKF, and the chronic kidney disease (CKD) guidelines have had far-reaching consequences for not only the NKF, but also for clinical practice, research, and public health worldwide. In this issue of AJKD, we asked leaders in the NKF and authorities in these fields for their perspective on the impact of the 2002 KDOQI CKD guidelines. We also surveyed a number of AJKD editorial board members from outside the United States for their perspective on the impact of the guidelines on their country or region. As the chair of the work group that developed the guidelines, I begin by providing a brief overview of the guidelines, my view of their impact, and the next steps. The goal of the 2002 guidelines was to define and classify stages of severity of CKD to “provide a common language for communication among providers, patients and their families, investigators, and policy-makers and a framework for developing a public health approach to affect care and improve outcomes of CKD. ” The guidelines contained a conceptual model for CKD development, progression, and complications, which has undergone refinement since its original publication (Fig 1). This model includes antecedents associated with increased risk of developing CKD (blue ovals), stages of disease (green ovals), and complications, including death (purple ovals). According to this scheme, outcomes of CKD include progression to kidney failure and death, shown by the horizontal arrows, and complications of CKD, shown by the diagonal arrows, and both complications and CKD outcomes can occur at any given point in time. Risks of the development of CKD may be categorized as either exposure to factors that can initiate kidney disease or susceptibility to kidney disease due to genetic and sociodemographic factors. CKD is defined based on objective measures with duration of 3 months or longer: either kidney damage (generally ascertained from albuminuria, but also including abnormalities in urine sediment, pathology or imaging studies, acid-base and electrolyte disorders due to tubular disorders, or history of kidney transplantation) or decreased kidney function (defined as glomerular filtration rate [GFR] 60 mL/min/1.73 m). Kidney failure, the end stage of CKD, is defined as GFR 15 mL/min/1.73 m or treatment by dialysis. Complications include those stemming from kidney
Survey of chronic haemodialysis in children between 2007 and 2012 in China

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children has been on the rise in China and more and more paediatric patients are now relying on chronic renal replacement therapies to sustain their lives. However, there is still a lack of literature in China about their outcomes, thus making it difficult, if not impossible for the paediatric nephrology community to develop strategies to guide future developments and to better serve this group of sick children.
Efficacy and tolerability of fixed combination of brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% compared with fixed combination of dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% in the treatment of patients with elevated intraocular pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the fixed-combination brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% (FCBT) compared with the fixed-combination dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% (FCDT) in the treatment of patients with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS Pertinent randomized controlled trials comparing FCBT with FCDT in patients with elevated IOP were identified through systematic searches of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE. The main efficacy measures were the IOP reduction (IOPR), including diurnal mean IOPR, and peak IOPR. The main tolerability measure was the individual adverse events. The pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were carried out in RevMan version 5.0 software. RESULTS Seven studies involving 582 patients were included in the meta-analysis. With a weighted mean difference (WMD) of IOPR in diurnal mean of 0.44 mmHg (95% CI, 0.00-0.88), the FCBT was as effective as FCDT in lowering IOP in patients with elevated IOP (P=0.05). The WMD of IOPR at peak was 0.65 mmHg (95% CI, -0.06 to 1.35) (P=0.76), and there was no significant difference between FCBT and FCDT. FCBT caused burning/stinging in less patients than FCDT [pooled relative risk: 0.45 (95% CI, 0.29-0.70)]. CONCLUSIONS Both FCBT and FCDT can effectively lower IOP in patients with elevated IOP, and the IOP-lowering efficacy of FCBT is noninferior to that of FCDT. Additionally, FCBT affords an ocular comfort advantage compared with FCDT.
Antisense-RNA-mediated plasmid copy number control in pCG1-family plasmids, pCGR2 and pCG1, in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

pCGR2 and pCG1 belong to different subfamilies of the pCG1 family of Corynebacterium glutamicum plasmids. Nonetheless, they harbour homologous putative antisense RNA genes, crrI and cgrI, respectively. The genes in turn share identical positions complementary to the leader region of their respective repA (encoding plasmid replication initiator) genes. Determination of their precise transcriptional start- and end-points revealed the presence of short antisense RNA molecules (72 bp, CrrI; and 73 bp, CgrI). These short RNAs and their target mRNAs were predicted to form highly structured molecules comprising stem-loops with known U-turn motifs. Abolishing synthesis of CrrI and CgrI by promoter mutagenesis resulted in about sevenfold increase in plasmid copy number on top of an 11-fold (CrrI) and 32-fold (CgrI) increase in repA mRNA, suggesting that CrrI and CgrI negatively control plasmid replication. This control is accentuated by parB, a gene that encodes a small centromere-binding plasmid-partitioning protein, and is located upstream of repA. Simultaneous deactivation of CrrI and parB led to a drastic 87-fold increase in copy number of a pCGR2-derived shuttle vector. Moreover, the fact that changes in the structure of the terminal loops of CrrI and CgrI affected plasmid copy number buttressed the important role of the loop structure in formation of the initial interaction complexes between antisense RNAs and their target mRNAs. Similar antisense RNA control systems are likely to exist not only in the two C. glutamicum pCG1 subfamilies but also in related plasmids across Corynebacterium species.
Transcervical ultrasonography in the diagnosis of pediatric peritonsillar abscess

Pediatric peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a common infection, particularly in the adolescent population. Physical examination alone is not always sufficient to diagnose this pathology, and thus, computed tomography is often utilized as a diagnostic adjunct. With growing concern over radiation exposure in the pediatric population, we conducted a prospective study to investigate the use of ultrasonography in the detection of pediatric PTA.
Alcohol brief interventions in general practice

Harmful levels of alcohol consumption are a longstanding but continually growing health concern affecting individuals, and consequently populations. Through personalised advice, alcohol brief interventions (ABIs) target drinking habits, which are deemed damaging to health. They are not targeted at dependent drinkers for whom a more intensive and specialist service would be better suited. In response to recent shifts in public-health strategy away from ABIs, and the publication of new trials into their effectiveness, this article evaluates the value of ABIs through the review of eleven relevant studies. Findings suggest that hazardous drinkers did reduce their drinking patterns following ABI, but not more so than control participants who were given standard treatment. The evolution of standard treatment to include thorough screening, non-personalised advice and sometimes literature on alcohol intake delivers an intervention, that is effective in reducing drinking. Therefore, future research and practice sh.
Sulphite : cytochrome c oxidoreductase deficiency in Campylobacter jejuni reduces motility, host cell adherence and invasion.

Campylobacter jejuni lacks the enzyme phosphofructokinase and, consequently, is incapable of metabolizing glucose. Instead, the pathogen uses a number of other chemicals to serve as electron donors. Like chemolithotrophic bacteria, C. jejuni is able to respire sulphite in the presence of a sulphite : cytochrome c oxidoreductase (SOR) that is encoded by the genes cj0004c and cj0005c; the former encodes a monohaem cytochrome c oxidoreductase and the latter a molybdopterin oxidoreductase. After screening of a transposon-based mutant library, we identified a mutant with an insertion in gene cj0005c that was strongly reduced in its capacity to infect Caco2 cells. Further characterization of a corresponding non-random knockout mutant together with a complemented mutant and the parental strain showed the cj0005c-deficient mutant to exhibit clearly reduced motility and diminished adherence to host cells. Furthermore, the transcription of genes responsible for the synthesis of, in particular, legionaminic acid was downregulated and the mutant had a reduced capacity to autoagglutinate. In contrast, neither the proliferation of the mutant, nor its intracellular ATP content, was altered compared to the parental strain.
Approximate 2-degree-of-freedom digital control for a PFC boost converter

A PFC boost converter is a non-linear system whose small perturbation model is changed at each operating point depending on a duty ratio. The robust controller for the PFC boost converter is needed to suppress the output voltage change at load sudden change while attaining high power factor and low harmonic. In this paper, the combining method and design methods of two approximate 2-degree-offreedom (A2DOF) controllers which simplify the overall controller and attain good robustness are proposed. The proposed controller is actually implemented on a Micro-processor and is connected to the PFC boost converter. Experimental studies demonstrate that the proposed robust controller is effective to suppress the output voltage change to improve power factor and to decrease harmonic.
Sustained Delivery of Timolol Maleate for Over 90 Days by Subconjunctival Injection.

PURPOSE Medical treatment of glaucoma relies on intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications, typically administered daily by the patient. While these medications are effective when applied correctly, patient adherence is a major obstacle in glaucoma treatment. We have developed a sustained-release formulation of timolol maleate that can be injected subconjunctivally to avoid patient noncompliance. METHODS A biodegradable microsphere formulation for timolol maleate was injected subconjunctivally in normal rabbits. We measured timolol levels in tears, aqueous humor, vitreous humor, and serum of study rabbits. Furthermore, IOP profiles were recorded longitudinally. Tissue compatibility and side effects were evaluated using histochemistry. RESULTS The microsphere formulation led to measureable amounts of timolol in the aqueous humor and the tear film for up to 90 days. Timolol was not detectable in the serum at any time. A significant reduction of IOP was observed in treated eyes. Clinically, the subconjunctival administration of the microspheres was well tolerated with no signs of inflammation or infection. The absence of local inflammation was confirmed by histology. CONCLUSIONS A single subconjunctival administration of timolol microspheres achieved delivery and IOP reduction in rabbits for up to 90 days without local or systemic inflammation or toxicity. This approach has the potential to improve the management of glaucoma in patient populations, who are challenged to adhere to a regimen of daily eye drops.
Safe Start: Promising Practices from the Evaluation of the Demonstration Project Association for the Study and Development of Community

ABSTRACT Several activities were used to evaluate the Safe Start Demonstration Project (2000–2006). Findings from two of the evaluation activities (i.e., process evaluations, promising practices reports) have been combined in this article to discuss systems change strategies implemented to better serve children exposed to violence and the promising practices that supported them. Together, these two evaluation processes yield valuable information for practitioners on how to engage families, systems, and communities to create more responsive systems capable of meeting the needs of children exposed to violence. These findings and examples also provide useful strategies and practices for future efforts focused on children exposed to violence.
Arterial stiffness evaluated by carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity increases the risk of chronic kidney disease in a Chinese population‐based cohort

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although pulse wave velocity (PWV), which reflects arterial stiffness, was increased in subjects with CKD, little is known regarding whether arterial stiffness can increase the risk of CKD. To help clarify this we conducted a prospective cohort study to measure the association of arterial stiffness with CKD.
Measuring Representational Style in the House: The Tea Party, Obama, and Legislators' Changing Expressed Priorities

Legislators use public communication to dene the type of representation they provide constituents. This chapter characterizes how legislators dene the type of representation they provide to constituents and shows how this denition of representation changes in response to shifts in electoral pressure and changes in party control of Congress. To demonstrate this change, I use a large collection of every House press release from 2005 to 2010 and a statistical topic model that measures legislators’ expressed priorities|their attention to salient topics. To increase substantive interpretability and address questions about the number of topics to include in the model, the model estimates a hierarchy of topics. A set of granular issue specic topics are nested in a set of coarse topics that capture broad dierences in the content of press releases. Using estimates of legislators’ attention to both types of topics, I show that, like senators, House members’ expressed priorities lie on a credit claiming/position taking spectrum. And where House members fall on this spectrum depends not only on who they represent, but also responds to broad political changes. After the 2008 election, representatives’ shift their expressed priorities|Republicans abandon credit claiming and articulate criticism towards Obama, while Democrats embrace credit claiming and defend the federal stimulus. Yet, even after responding to the changing conditions, legislators largely maintain the same broad style. The results in this chapter demonstrate the strategic ways legislators change how they communicate with constituents and demonstrates the utility of computational tools for studying representation.
Predictors of posttraumatic stress and preferred sources of social support among Canadian paramedics.

OBJECTIVE Emergency medical service (EMS) providers are exposed to a variety of stressors endemic to the profession. These exposures may contribute to stress reactions, including posttraumatic stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between work-related stressors and posttraumatic stress. The secondary objective was to determine paramedics' preferred sources of support for managing work-related stress. METHODS 269 paramedics in a county-based EMS service were invited to complete an online survey. Respondents reported their demographic characteristics, levels of chronic stress, critical incident stress, posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS), and preferred sources of support for managing work-related stress. RESULTS A total of 145 paramedics completed the survey. PTSS was significantly correlated with operational stress (p<0.001), organizational stress (p<0.001), and critical incident stress (p<0.001). Regression models revealed that chronic operational stress was a significant independent predictor of PTSS (p<0.001) and in combination with critical incident stress (p<0.01). Paramedics reported a higher preference for receiving support from a work partner, friend, or family member than from other sources (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Both chronic and critical incident stressors appear to be significant predictors of PTSS. Our findings suggests that holistic health and wellness initiatives that address the impact of both critical incident stress and the chronic stressors associated with day-to-day operations may help mitigate PTSS. Our findings also provide preliminary evidence that interventions may benefit from a focus on peer support and on friends and family members who can support the affected paramedic.
A Survey to Determine Decision-Making Styles of Working Paramedics and Student Paramedics.

OBJECTIVE Two major processes underlie human decision-making: experiential (intuitive) and rational (conscious) thinking. The predominant thinking process used by working paramedics and student paramedics to make clinical decisions is unknown. METHODS A survey was administered to ground ambulance paramedics and to primary care paramedic students. The survey included demographic questions and the Rational Experiential Inventory-40, a validated psychometric tool involving 40 questions. Twenty questions evaluated each thinking style: 10 assessed preference and 10 assessed ability to use that style. Responses were provided on a five-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher affinity for the style in question. Analysis included both descriptive statistics and t tests to evaluate differences in thinking style. RESULTS The response rate was 88.4% (1172/1326). Paramedics (n=904) had a median age of 36 years (IQR 29-42) and most were male (69.5%) and primary or advanced care paramedics (PCP=55.5%; ACP=32.5%). Paramedic students (n=268) had a median age of 23 years (IQR 21-26), most were male (63.1%) and had completed high school (31.7%) or an undergraduate degree (25.4%) prior to paramedic training. Both groups scored their ability to use and favourability toward rational thinking significantly higher than experiential thinking. The mean score for rational thinking was 3.86/5 among paramedics and 3.97/5 among paramedic students (p<0.001). The mean score for experiential thinking was 3.41/5 among paramedics and 3.35/5 among paramedic students (p=0.06). CONCLUSION Working paramedics and student paramedics prefer and perceive that they have the ability to use rational over experiential thinking. This information adds to our current knowledge on paramedic decision-making and is potentially important for developing continuing education and clinical support tools.
Optic nerve sheath diameter on computed tomography not predictive of neurological status post-cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVE Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured on a head computed tomography (CT) has been suggested as a potential prognostic factor for poor neurological outcome after cardiac arrest. We performed a single centre retrospective cohort analysis to further investigate this relationship. METHODS All patients >18 years of age admitted to St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada who survived a cardiac arrest and had a CT scan of the head within 48 hours were included in the analysis. RESULTS A total of 72 patients met inclusion criteria for the study; 54 (75.0%) of the patients had a poor neurological outcome, whereas 18 (25.0%) patients were discharged from the hospital with a good outcome. A CT head was obtained for patients in the good outcome group in a mean time of 9.3 hours (SD 10.0) compared to 10.2 hours (SD 11.2) for the poor outcome group (p=0.75). There was no difference in average ONSD observed between the two outcome groups (6.66 mm SD 0.78 v. 6.60 mm SD 0.82, p=0.77). Multiple logistic regression failed to show any association between ONSD and neurological outcome when adjusted for all other covariates (OR 1.32 95% CI 0.40-4.34, p=0.65). Setting an ONSD threshold of >8 mm (OR 2.32, 95% CI 0.14-39.40, p=0.55) or >7 mm (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.03-2.77, p=0.28) also failed to show any association on neurological outcome. CONCLUSION There was no observed difference in ONSD between those with a good neurological outcome and those with a poor outcome. ONSD was not an independent predictor of poor neurological outcome.