Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[A comparative study of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis preoperatively in myasthenia].

INTRODUCTION Thymectomy is a well established procedure in myasthenia gravis (MG). To reduce its morbidity, treatments which are effective in the short term, such as plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin (IGI) have been used. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the IGI, compared with plasmapheresis, in the preparation of myasthenic patients before thymectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS We compared a group of 33 prospective myasthenic patients treated with IGI with 38 clinical histories taken as controls treated by plasmapheresis during the peri operative period of thymectomy. RESULTS The patients treated with IGI were in the intensive care unit and neurology ward for less time. The endotracheal tube was also removed sooner. However, these differences were not significant. The commonest complications of IGI were fever, shivering and phlebitis. The most frequent adverse reaction to plasmapheresis were cutaneous eruptions. One patient developed Hepatitis C after plasmapheresis. CONCLUSION IGI is comparable in efficacy to plasmapheresis in the peri operative period of MG, but has a better profile of adverse reactions.
Biomedical Applications of Polymers -An Overview

Polymers are macromolecules, versatile in structure, constitution and properties. They have wide range of applications in various fields such as biophysics, medicine, electronics, and other branches of science and technology. Among these polymers biomedical polymers are specially mentioned due to their less toxicity in vivo, easy to process and sterilized, better shelf life, light weight, and remarkable properties suited to the applications [1]. This paper explores the various applications of biomedical polymers in the field of medicine.
Mutation in TET2 in myeloid cancers.

BACKGROUND The myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders are associated with deregulated production of myeloid cells. The mechanisms underlying these disorders are not well defined. METHODS We conducted a combination of molecular, cytogenetic, comparative-genomic-hybridization, and single-nucleotide-polymorphism analyses to identify a candidate tumor-suppressor gene common to patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative disorders, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The coding sequence of this gene, TET2, was determined in 320 patients. We analyzed the consequences of deletions or mutations in TET2 with the use of in vitro clonal assays and transplantation of human tumor cells into mice. RESULTS We initially identified deletions or mutations in TET2 in three patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, in three of five patients with myeloproliferative disorders, in two patients with primary AML, and in one patient with secondary AML. We selected the six patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or AML because they carried acquired rearrangements on chromosome 4q24; we selected the five patients with myeloproliferative disorders because they carried a dominant clone in hematopoietic progenitor cells that was positive for the V617F mutation in the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene. TET2 defects were observed in 15 of 81 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (19%), in 24 of 198 patients with myeloproliferative disorders (12%) (with or without the JAK2 V617F mutation), in 5 of 21 patients with secondary AML (24%), and in 2 of 9 patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (22%). TET2 defects were present in hematopoietic stem cells and preceded the JAK2 V617F mutation in the five samples from patients with myeloproliferative disorders that we analyzed. CONCLUSIONS Somatic mutations in TET2 occur in about 15% of patients with various myeloid cancers.
Structural basis for cooperative DNA binding by two dimers of the multidrug‐binding protein QacR

The Staphylococcus aureus multidrug‐binding protein QacR represses transcription of the qacA multidrug transporter gene and is induced by multiple structurally dissimilar drugs. QacR is a member of the TetR/CamR family of transcriptional regulators, which share highly homologous N‐terminal DNA‐binding domains connected to seemingly non‐homologous ligand‐binding domains. Unlike other TetR members, which bind ∼15 bp operators, QacR recognizes an unusually long 28 bp operator, IR1, which it appears to bind cooperatively. To elucidate the DNA‐binding mechanism of QacR, we determined the 2.90 Å resolution crystal structure of a QacR–IR1 complex. Strikingly, our data reveal that the DNA recognition mode of QacR is distinct from TetR and involves the binding of a pair of QacR dimers. In this unique binding mode, recognition at each IR1 half‐site is mediated by a complement of DNA contacts made by two helix–turn–helix motifs. The inferred cooperativity does not arise from cross‐dimer protein–protein contacts, but from the global undertwisting and major groove widening elicited by the binding of two QacR dimers.
Using Gene Expression Noise to Understand Gene Regulation

Phenotypic variation is ubiquitous in biology and is often traceable to underlying genetic and environmental variation. However, even genetically identical cells in identical environments display variable phenotypes. Stochastic gene expression, or gene expression “noise,” has been suggested as a major source of this variability, and its physiological consequences have been topics of intense research for the last decade. Several recent studies have measured variability in protein and messenger RNA levels, and they have discovered strong connections between noise and gene regulation mechanisms. When integrated with discrete stochastic models, measurements of cell-to-cell variability provide a sensitive “fingerprint” with which to explore fundamental questions of gene regulation. In this review, we highlight several studies that used gene expression variability to develop a quantitative understanding of the mechanisms and dynamics of gene regulation.
Secure content sharing for social network using fingerprinting and encryption in the TSH transform domain

In this paper, a JFE (joint fingerprinting and encryption) scheme based on the Tree-Structured Harr (TSH) transform is proposed with the purpose of protecting media distribution in social network environment. The motivation is to map hierarchical community structure of social network into tree structure of TSH transform for fingerprinting and encryption. Firstly, the fingerprint code is produced using social network analysis. Secondly, the content is decomposed by the TSH transform. Thirdly, the content is fingerprinted and encrypted in the TSH transform domain. At last, the encrypted contents are delivered to users via hybrid multicast-unicast. The proposed method, to the best of our knowledge, is the first JFE method in the TSH transform domain using social network analysis. The use of fingerprinting along with encryption can provide a double-layer of protection to media sharing in social network environment. Theory analysis and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed JFE scheme.
Structural and Dynamical Insights on HLA-DR2 Complexes That Confer Susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis in Sardinia: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

Sardinia is a major Island in the Mediterranean with a high incidence of multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Disease susceptibility in Sardinian population has been associated with five alleles of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II DRB1 gene. We performed 120 ns of molecular dynamics simulation on one predisposing and one protective alleles, unbound and in complex with the two relevant peptides: Myelin Basic Protein and Epstein Barr Virus derived peptide. In particular we focused on the MHC peptide binding groove dynamics. The predisposing allele was found to form a stable complex with both the peptides, while the protective allele displayed stability only when bound with myelin peptide. The local flexibility of the MHC was probed dividing the binding groove into four compartments covering the well known peptide anchoring pockets. The predisposing allele in the first half cleft exhibits a narrower and more rigid groove conformation in the presence of myelin peptide. The protective allele shows a similar behavior, while in the second half cleft it displays a narrower and more flexible groove conformation in the presence of viral peptide. We further characterized these dynamical differences by evaluating H-bonds, hydrophobic and stacking interaction networks, finding striking similarities with super-type patterns emerging in other autoimmune diseases. The protective allele shows a defined preferential binding to myelin peptide, as confirmed by binding free energy calculations. All together, we believe the presented molecular analysis could help to design experimental assays, supports the molecular mimicry hypothesis and suggests that propensity to multiple sclerosis in Sardinia could be partly linked to distinct peptide-MHC interaction and binding characteristics of the antigen presentation mechanism.
Sarcomas Involving the Abdominal and Pelvic Cavity

The principles of management of all sarcomas that involve the abdominal and pelvic cavity are presented. The anatomic sites for the primary malignancy include retroperitoneal sarcomas, pelvic side-wall sarcomas, sarcomas arising from the abdominal viscera, and sarcomas arising from the pelvic organs. All histologic types of sarcomas may be considered together when therapeutic options are being discussed. This presentation stresses surgical removal with an adequate margin of resection as the principal goal of management. The curative treatment of these cancers places great emphasis on the surgeon's knowledge of anatomy, technical skills, innovation, and surgical courage. Systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not shown reproducible efficacy. Complete resection in the absence of tumor spillage remains the only reliable treatment option. Possible benefits of induction chemotherapy and intraperitoneal chemotherapy using cisplatin and doxorubicin in the early postoperative period are presented.
The level and distribution of heavy metals and changes in oxidative stress indices in humans from Lahore district, Pakistan

Human biomonitoring is a well-recognized tool for estimating the exposure of humans to environmental pollutants. However, heavy metals’ pollution from anthropogenic origin is a cause for concern because of its potential accumulation in the environment and living organisms, leading to long-term toxic effects. This study was aimed to assess the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in human biological samples (urine, whole blood, hair, and nails) and antioxidant response in blood samples from 48 individuals exposed to heavy metals and to compare them with different age classes and sites. The results indicated that there were metal-specific differences in concentration in exposure groups among the studied sites. The concentration of heavy metals in blood samples showed the following order : Pb > Cd > Ni > Co > Cr. In urine samples, the order was Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Co > Cd; in nails samples, the order was Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Cd > Mn; and in hair samples, the trend was Pb > Ni > Cr > Mn > Cd > Co. A significant (p > 0.05) decrease in antioxidants enzymes activity was observed with increase in heavy metals concentrations. This is the first study reporting biological evidence of altered toxic metals’ concentration in humans in Lahore, Pakistan, due to environmental exposure. Further research, including risk analysis studies, food chain contamination, and epidemiological and clinical investigations, are needed to assess optimal levels for dietary exposure in the study area and associated adverse health outcomes.
Xylella Genomics and Bacterial Pathogenicity to Plants

Xylella fastidiosa, a pathogen of citrus, is the first plant pathogenic bacterium for which the complete genome sequence has been published. Inspection of the sequence reveals high relatedness to many genes of other pathogens, notably Xanthomonas campestris. Based on this, we suggest that Xylella possesses certain easily testable properties that contribute to pathogenicity. We also present some general considerations for deriving information on pathogenicity from bacterial genomics. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiological Prediction of Posttraumatic Kyphosis After Thoracolumbar Fracture

Objectives: Classification methods that are currently being used for clinical decision making in thoracolumbar fractures, are limited by reproducibility and prognostic value. Additionally, they do not include kyphosis. As a posttraumatic kyphosis is related to persistent pain, it is of importance to determine a risk of posttraumatic kyphosis based on fracture type and patient characteristics. Purpose: To determine risk factors (AO classification, age, gender, localization) that may lead to progressive kyphosis after a thoracolumbar fracture. Materials and Methods: Retrospective radiographic analysis of a consecutive patientcohort that presented in our clinic with a traumatic fracture of the thoracolumbar spine between 2004 and 2011. Cobb angle, Gardner angle, vertebral compression angle and anterior vertebral body compression were measured on plain radiographs, direct post-trauma and at follow-up. Results: Age and localization are not significantly correlated, but there seems to be an increased risk of progression of kyphosis in age > 50 years and fractures localized at Th12 or L1. A3 type fractures are significantly more at risk for posttraumatic kyphosis compared to A1 and A2 type fractures. 30-50% of the A3 type fractures have an end Gardner angle and end vertebral compression angle of more than 20 degrees. Conclusion: AO-type A3 fractures appear to be at risk of progression of kyphosis. Localization at Th12-L1 and age above 50 years seem to be risk factors for significant posttraumatic kyphosis. These findings should be used in patient counseling and a meticulous evaluation by weekly radiographs is recommended to determine the treatment strategy of thoracolumbar fractures.
MUC-4 Test Results and Analysi s

This note embodies our analyses of the performance of the ALEMBIC system in the MUC-4 evaluation task . These analyses have provided us with a reasonably good understanding of the principal factors contributing to the system's correct responses and to its errors . This understanding is based in part on interpretations of the performance measures provided by the MUC-4 scoring software; in addition, we performed a number of qualitative and quantitative investigations into linguistic aspects of the messages that underly the system 's performance .
Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Infancy and Mother-Infant Interaction During Feeding

Objective: This study was conducted to compare quality of mother-infant interaction during feeding in infants with or without iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). Method: Infants and caregivers were screened at their 9- to 10-month-old health maintenance visits at an inner-city clinic in Detroit. Those who were full-term and healthy received a venipuncture blood sample to assess iron status. Of the 77 infants who met final iron status criteria, 68 infants and mothers were videotaped during feeding interaction at the Child Development Research Laboratory. The quality of mother-infant interaction during feeding was scored on the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale. Twenty-five infants with IDA (hemoglobin [HB] <110 g/L and at least 2 abnormal iron measures) were compared to 43 nonanemic infants (HB ≥110 g/L) using analysis of variance and general linear models with covariate control. Results: Mothers of IDA infants responded with significantly less sensitivity to infant cues and less cognitive and social-emotional growth fostering behavior than mothers of nonanemic infants. The pattern of results was similar for scales of contingent behaviors. The magnitude of the differences in maternal ratings was large (0.8-1.0 SD after covariate adjustment). IDA infants were rated significantly lower on clarity of cues and overall (effect sizes 0.5 SD). Conclusion: IDA in infancy was associated with less optimal mother-infant interaction during feeding. Future interventions might target feeding interaction and consider effects on infant iron status and developmental/behavioral outcomes among IDA infants, as well as infant feeding practices per se.
Fuzzy logic-based matching pursuits for lossless predictive coding of still images

This paper presents an application of fuzzy-logic techniques to the reversible compression of grayscale images. With reference to a spatial differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) scheme, prediction may be accomplished in a space-varying fashion either as adaptive, i.e., with predictors recalculated at each pixel, or as classified, in which image blocks or pixels are labeled in a number of classes, for which fitting predictors are calculated. Here, an original tradeoff is proposed; a space-varying linear-regression prediction is obtained through fuzzy-logic techniques as a problem of matching pursuit, in which a predictor different for every pixel is obtained as an expansion in series of a finite number of prototype nonorthogonal predictors, that are calculated in a fuzzy fashion as well. To enhance entropy coding, the spatial prediction is followed by context-based statistical modeling of prediction errors. A thorough comparison with the most advanced methods in the literature, as well as an investigation of performance trends and computing times to work parameters, highlight the advantages of the proposed fuzzy approach to data compression.
Radiation Pattern of Patch Antenna with Slits

The Microstrip antenna has been commercially used in many applications, such as direct broadcast satellite service, mobile satellite communications, global positioning system, medical hyperthermia usage, etc. The patch antenna of the size reduction at a given operating frequency is obtained. Mobile personal communication systems and wireless computer networks are most commonly used nowadays and they are in need of antennas in different frequency bands. In regulate to without difficulty incorporate these antennas into individual systems, a micro strip scrap transmitter have been preferred and intended for a convinced divergence. There is also an analysis of radiation pattern, Gain of the antenna, Directivity of the antenna, Electric Far Field. The simulations results are obtained by using electromagnetic simulation software called feko software are presented and discussed
The products of ribbon and raw are necessary for proper cell shape and cellular localization of nonmuscle myosin in Drosophila.

Mutations in the genes rib and raw cause defects in the morphology of a number of tissues in homozygous mutant embryos. A variety of tubular epithelial tissues adopt a wide, round shape in mutants and dorsal closure fails. Cells of the normal tubular epithelia are columnar and wedge-shaped, and cells of the epidermis become elongated dorsoventrally as dorsal closure occurs. However, the cells of mutants are round or cuboidal in all of the tissues with mutant phenotypes, consistent with the hypothesis that the products of these genes are required for proper cell shape. Cytoskeletal defects, in particular, defects in myosin-driven contraction of the cortical actin cytoskeleton, could be responsible for the lack of specific cell shapes in mutant embryos. This possibility is supported by our observation that the intracellular localization of nonmuscle myosin to the leading edge of the dorsally closing epidermis is absent or reduced in rib and raw mutant embryos. In contrast, the band of actin that is also located at the leading edge is neither eliminated nor interrupted by either rib or raw mutations. Furthermore, mutations of zipper, the gene encoding the nonmuscle myosin heavy chain, exhibit mutant phenotypes in most of the same tissues affected by rib and raw, and many of the phenotypes are similar to those of rib and raw. Therefore, the products of rib and raw may be required for proper myosin-driven contraction of the actin cytoskeleton.
Expression Pattern of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Normal Rat Epidermis and Pilosebaceous Unit during Hair Cycle

As an important member of the cyclooxygenase isoenzymes, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mainly catalyzes the first two steps in prostanoid synthesis. In mammalian animals, although COX-2 was thought to be rarely expressed in most normal tissues and was usually upregulated in a variety of epithelial tumors and inflammatory reactions, recently it was reported that COX-2 could localize in the epidermis as well as the pilosebaceous unit of the normal human and mouse skin. Until now, the function of COX-2 in normal skin has remained unknown. To investigate the possible roles of COX-2 in normal skin by RT-PCR and immunochemistry, we studied the expression pattern of COX-2 in hair cycle of the normal rat skin. The expression of COX-2 mRNA was detected in normal rat skin sample and was related to the hair follicle cycle. When the hair cycle entered catagen and telogen, COX-2 mRNA transcription in skin increased significantly. Furthermore, the location of COX-2 immunoreactivity showed that COX-2 protein is mainly concentrated in the epidermis and pilosebaceous unit. In the stratified epidermis, the strong COX-2 protein expression was detected in the suprabasal layers of epidermis in anagen and declined in catagen and telogen. In hair follicle, COX-2 protein was obviously expressed in the outer root sheath of the anagen hair follicle, and was barely detectable in catagen as well as telogen. In the sebaceous gland, the COX-2 protein expression became more intense in catagen and telogen, with an increase in sebaceous gland size. Our results suggested that COX-2 was not specific to some abnormal tissues and was indeed involved in the normal physiology of rat skin, such as the differentiation of epidermis, the morphogenesis of the hair follicle, the transformation of hair cycle stages, and the lipid production of the sebaceous gland.