Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FoxM1 is associated with metastasis in colorectal cancer through induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Immunohistochemical assays were performed to detect FoxM1 and epithelial (E-) cadherin protein expression in 92 CRC, 61 colonic adenoma and 32 wild-type colonic tissue samples. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays were performed to determine the expression levels of FoxM1 and E-cadherin mRNAs in 30 CRC and adjacent normal mucosal tissues. RNA interference was used to knock down endogenous FoxM1 expression in CRC cell lines, and the migratory and invasive capacity of the CRC cells was analyzed. The expression of FoxM1, E-cadherin and neuronal (N-) cadherin in the CRC cell lines was evaluated using qPCR and Western blot analysis. The relative expression levels of FoxM1 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in the CRC tissues compared with those in the colonic adenoma and wild-type mucosal tissue samples (P<0.01). In contrast, the relative expression levels of E-cadherin mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in the CRC tissues compared with in the colonic adenoma and normal mucosal tissues (P<0.01). FoxM1 overexpression and decreased E-cadherin expression were significantly associated with poor colonic tissue differentiation, lymph node metastasis and an advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage. Additionally, the increased expression of FoxM1 was associated with a decrease in E-cadherin expression (P<0.01). Furthermore, RNA interference-mediated FoxM1 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of CRC cells. Downregulation of FoxM1 expression significantly increased E-cadherin expression and decreased N-cadherin expression. The results of the present study suggest that FoxM1 overexpression in tumor tissues is significantly associated with metastasis in CRC through the induction of EMT.
Embryonic bauplans and the developmental origins of facial diversity and constraint

A central issue in biology concerns the presence, timing and nature of phylotypic periods of development, but whether, when and why species exhibit conserved morphologies remains unresolved. Here, we construct a developmental morphospace to show that amniote faces share a period of reduced shape variance and convergent growth trajectories from prominence formation through fusion, after which phenotypic diversity sharply increases. We predict in silico the phenotypic outcomes of unoccupied morphospaces and experimentally validate in vivo that observed convergence is not due to developmental limits on variation but instead from selection against novel trajectories that result in maladaptive facial clefts. These results illustrate how epigenetic factors such as organismal geometry and shape impact facial morphogenesis and alter the locus of adaptive selection to variation in later developmental events.
HIV enteropathy and aging: gastrointestinal immunity, mucosal epithelial barrier, and microbial translocation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite decreases in morbidity and mortality as a result of antiretroviral therapy, gastrointestinal dysfunction remains common in HIV infection. Treated patients are at risk for complications of 'premature' aging, such as cardiovascular disease, osteopenia, neurocognitive decline, malignancies, and frailty. This review summarizes recent observations in this field. RECENT FINDINGS Mucosal CD4 lymphocytes, especially Th17 cells, are depleted in acute HIV and simian immune deficiency virus (SIV) infections, although other cell types also are affected. Reconstitution during therapy often is incomplete, especially in mucosa. Mucosal barrier function is affected by both HIV infection and aging and includes paracellular transport via tight junctions and uptake through areas of apoptosis; other factors may affect systemic antigen exposure. The resultant microbial translocation is associated with systemic immune activation in HIV and SIV infections. There is evidence of immune activation and microbial translocation in the elderly. The immune phenotypes of immunosenescence in HIV infection and aging appear similar. There are several targets for intervention; blockage of residual mucosal virus replication, preventing antigen uptake, modulating the microbiome, improving T cell recovery, combining therapies aimed at mucosal integrity, augmenting mucosal immunity, and managing traditional risk factors for premature aging in the general population. SUMMARY Aging may interact with HIV enteropathy to enhance microbial translocation and immune activation.
Clearance of bacteria from cerebrospinal fluid to blood in experimental meningitis

The occurrence and importance of secondary bacteremia in the pathogenesis of and response to therapy in meningitis is uncertain. Streptococcus pneumoniae type III was injected into the cerebrospinal fluid of the cisterna magna in anesthetized, curarized dogs, and sequential simultaneous samples were obtained from the superior sagittal sinus, cisterna magna, and peripheral blood. The results show that: (i) bacteria are rapidly transported from the cerebrospinal fluid to blood but only after active multiplication within the cerebrospinal fluid, and (ii) entrance into the blood from the cerebrospinal fluid occurs before the height of the febrile response or cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis.
Evaluation of a behavioral method for objective vision testing and identification of achromatopsia in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To develop a quantifiable behavioral test for identification of achromatopsic dogs based on visual performance. ANIMALS 14 dogs. PROCEDURES A 3.6-m-long obstacle-avoidance course with 6 obstacle panels was developed from a preliminary 2.4-m-long course. Achromatopsic and visually normal control dogs were run through the course at 4 ambient light intensities (from dim to bright: 0.2, 25, 65, and 646 lux). Completion of 4 runs ranging from dimmest to brightest light intensity constituted 1 complete trial. Each dog underwent 3 trials. Transit times were measured and compared between dog groups and between light intensities by use of a generalized linear model and ANOVA. RESULTS At the 3 highest light intensities, the achromatopsic dogs needed significantly more time to pass through the obstacle course than the control animals. Compared with the mean transit time at the lowest light intensity, mean transit times were 2.6 times as long at 25 lux, 3.2 times as long at 65 lux, and 5.7 times as long at 646 lux. The achromatopsic dogs had signs of increasing difficulty navigating around the obstacle panels with increasing light intensities; this was not the situation for the control dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A 3.6-m-long obstacle-avoidance course with 6 movable obstacle panels allowed identification of achromatopsic dogs at ambient light intensities >or= 25 lux based on transit times. This test could be helpful in the evaluation of new cone photoreceptor specific treatments.
Warburg effect—damping of electromagnetic oscillations

ABSTRACT Mitochondrial dysfunction is a central defect in cells creating the Warburg and reverse Warburg effect cancers. However, the link between mitochondrial dysfunction and cancer has not yet been clearly explained. Decrease of mitochondrial oxidative energy production to about 50 % in comparison with healthy cells may be caused by inhibition of pyruvate transfer into mitochondrial matrix and/or disturbed H+ ion transfer across inner mitochondrial membrane into cytosol. Lowering of the inner membrane potential and shifting of the working point of mitochondria to high values of pH above an intermediate point causes reorganization of the ordered water layer at the mitochondrial membrane. The reorganized ordered water layers at high pH values release electrons which are transferred to the cytosol rim of the layer. The electrons damp electromagnetic activity of Warburg effect cancer cells or fibroblasts associated with reverse Warburg effect cancer cells leading to lowered electromagnetic activity, disturbed coherence, increased frequency of oscillations and decreased level of biological functions. In reverse Warburg effect cancers, associated fibroblasts supply energy-rich metabolites to the cancer cell resulting in increased power of electromagnetic field, fluctuations due to shift of oscillations to an unstable nonlinear region, decreased frequency and loss of coherence.
An Accurate Power-Sharing Control Method Based on Circulating-Current Power Phasor Model in Voltage-Source Inverter Parallel-Operation System

This paper proposes an optimized mathematical model of the voltage-source inverter parallel-operation system (VSIPS) and proposes an improved droop control method based on this model, which can realize accurate power sharing in VSIPS. First, this paper analyzes VSIPS as a multi-input and multioutput system and proposes a precise definition of circulating current. The circulating-current model, the steady-state model, and the small-signal model are proposed subsequently based on the optimum design of wire impedance, which constitute the optimized mathematical model of VSIPS in <italic>s</italic>-domain. The circulating-current phasor model and the circulating-current power phasor model (CCPPM) are also proposed. Second, the mathematical model of traditional droop control is built and analyzed based on CCPPM, which elaborates the tradeoff of droop control between the steady-state voltage bias and the load-sharing accuracy, and proves that the <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$V- Q$</tex-math></inline-formula> droop control cannot realize accurate reactive-power sharing. Third, an improved droop control method (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\omega - P_{{\text{cir}}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$V- Q_{{\text{cir}}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> control) is proposed, which can realize the accurate active- and reactive-power sharing and eliminate the steady-state voltage bias simultaneously. Finally, simulation and experimental results are presented, which validate the proposed mathematical model of VSIPS, the analysis of droop control, and the performance of the proposed method.
Callable Convertible Bond Valuation Framework and VIC Case

Convertible bond, a hybrid instrument that offers the holders both fixed income of straight debt and capital gain of equity via attachment of the right to convert to common shares of issuing companies, has recently been issued in mass by important Vietnamese banks and groups. To account for this growing trend, this paper aims to help market participants to gain more insight on the products as well as the possible methods of pricing. The authors first describe the characteristics and risks of convertible bond in general and callable convertible bond in particular. Secondly, due to the fact that Vietnam convertible market is very much it its early stage, analytical tools are vital to assist participants in the estimation of fair value for the bonds. Therefore, the authors propose the use of three approaches with varying degree of difficulty, efficiency, etc. to price a typical callable convertible bond, together with the case application of a famous Vietnamese enterprise, Vincom Joint Stock Company. They are Lattice models including Binomial Tree and Trinomial Tree, Black-Scholes based Component model and Monte Carlo simulation.
Optical quality analysis after surface excimer laser ablation: the relationship between wavefront aberration and subepithelial haze.

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between mild and moderate corneal haze and the distribution of higher order wavefront aberrations after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS Thirty-six eyes from 18 patients who underwent PRK were divided into two groups: 10 eyes with corneal haze and 26 eyes without corneal haze (control). All eyes were evaluated up to 6 months after PRK. Wavefront aberrations were measured using a psychophysical wavefront sensor and the NIDEK OPD-Scan. Topography, point spread function, and modulation transfer function maps were obtained from the OPD-Scan. RESULTS The mean total higher order aberration was slightly higher in the corneal haze group than in the control group. This difference was not statistically significant. The mean third order coma aberrations were higher and mean fourth order spherical aberrations were lower in the haze group compared with the control group, although neither difference attained statistical significance. The t test values were 1.05, -0.38, -1.10, -0.08, and -0.23, when comparing the mean third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh order aberrations, respectively. None of these differences attained statistical significance. In terms of Zernike coefficients, Z-1 and Z1 showed greater mean root-mean-square (RMS) in the haze group (0.33 and 0.35 microm, respectively) than those for the control group (0.26 and 0.23 microm, respectively) (t=0.71 and P=.49; t=0.84 and P=.43, respectively). However, ZO had lower RMS in the haze group (0.18 microm) than in the control group (0.28 microm). This difference also was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS In this study comparing the optical aberrations of eyes with and without corneal haze after PRK, corneal haze did not affect the magnitude and distribution of higher order aberrations in a predictable manner.
Phase I studies of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor chimeric antibody C225 alone and in combination with cisplatin.

PURPOSE The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is frequently overexpressed in epithelial tumors. C225 is a human-to-murine chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to the receptor and inhibits growth of cancer cells expressing the receptor. We evaluated the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of C225 in patients with advanced tumors overexpressing EGF receptors. PATIENTS AND METHODS We treated 52 patients in three successive phase I clinical trials of C225 as a single dose (n = 13), weekly multiple dose (n = 17), and weekly multiple dose with cisplatin (n = 22). C225 dose levels were 5, 20, 50, and 100 mg/m(2). In the study combining C225 with cisplatin, limited to patients with either head and neck or non-small-cell lung cancer, C225 was further escalated to 200 and 400 mg/m(2). Cisplatin was given at a dose of 60 mg/m(2) once every 4 weeks, and treatment was continued for up to 12 weeks if no disease progression occurred. RESULTS C225 displayed nonlinear pharmacokinetics, with antibody doses in the range of 200 to 400 mg/m(2) being associated with complete saturation of systemic clearance. C225 clearance did not change with repeated administration or with coadministration of cisplatin. Antibodies against C225 were detected in only one patient, and C225-associated toxicity was minimal. Patients experiencing disease stabilization were seen in all studies. In the study combining C225 and cisplatin, nine (69%) of 13 patients treated with antibody doses >/= 50 mg/m(2) completed 12 weeks of therapy, and two partial responses were observed. CONCLUSION C225 has dose-dependent pharmacokinetics, and doses that achieve saturation of systemic clearance are well tolerated. C225 given in combination with cisplatin has biologic activity at pharmacologically relevant doses.
Pressure ulcer risk factors among hospitalized patients with activity limitation.

OBJECTIVE To identify specific demographic, medical, functional status, and nutritional characteristics that predict the development of stage 2 or greater pressure ulcers among patients whose activity is limited to bed or chair. DESIGN Prospective inception cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care, urban, university teaching hospital. PATIENTS A total of 286 patients fulfilling the following criteria: admitted to the hospital within the previous 3 days, age 55 years or more, expected to be confined to bed or chair for at least 5 days or had a hip fracture, and without a stage 2 or greater pressure ulcer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Time to in-hospital development of a stage 2 or greater pressure ulcer. RESULTS Total cumulative incidence of pressure ulcers was 12.9% (n = 37) after a median time of 9 days from admission to final skin examination. Age of 75 years or more, dry skin, nonblanchable erythema (a stage 1 pressure ulcer), previous pressure ulcer history, immobility, fecal incontinence, depleted triceps skinfold, lymphopenia (lymphocyte count < 1.50 x 10(9)/L), and decreased body weight (< 58 kg) were significantly associated with pressure ulcer development by univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analyses (P < .05 by log-rank test). Risk ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) for predictors (P < or = .05) of pressure ulcer development after multivariable Cox regression analysis included the following: nonblanchable erythema, 7.52 (1.00 to 59.12); lymphopenia, 4.86 (1.70 to 13.89); immobility, 2.36 (1.14 to 4.85); dry skin, 2.31 (1.02 to 5.21); and decreased body weight, 2.18 (1.05 to 4.52). The 3-week cumulative incidence of pressure ulcers with none, one, two, or three or more of these characteristics was 0%, 11.4%, 39.6%, and 67.9%, respectively (P < .001 by log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that nonblanchable erythema, lymphopenia, immobility, dry skin, and decreased body weight are independent and significant risk factors for pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients whose activity is limited to bed or chair.
Airway epithelial Fas ligand expression : potential role in modulating bronchial inflammation

Gochuico, Bernadette R. , Kathleen M. Miranda, Edith M. Hessel, Joris J. De Bie, Antoon J. M. Van Oosterhout, William W. Cruikshank, and Alan Fine. Airway epithelial Fas ligand expression: potential role in modulating bronchial inflammation. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 18): L444–L449, 1998. —Epithelium-derived Fas ligand is believed to modulate inflammation within various tissues. In this paper, we report findings that suggest a similar immunoregulatory role for Fas ligand in the lung. First, Fas ligand was localized to nonciliated, cuboidal airway epithelial cells (Clara cells) throughout the airways in the normal murine lung by employing nonisotopic in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Second, gld mutant mice, which express a dysfunctional Fas ligand protein, were noted to develop prominent infiltration of inflammatory cells in submucosal and peribronchial regions of the upper and lower airways. Third, during allergic airway inflammation induced by ovalbumin in mice, cell-associated staining for Fas ligand mRNA and protein was markedly reduced in the airway epithelium. These data suggest that Clara cell-derived Fas ligand may control immune activity in the airway; thus alterations in this protective mechanism may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain inflammatory conditions of the airway, such as asthma.
Open Conversion after Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair with the Ovation Prime™ Endograft

Advances in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) endograft device technology have contributed to improved outcomes and durability of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), even in complex infrarenal aortic anatomies. However, stent graft failure secondary to endoleaks, migration, endotension and sac enlargement are persistent problems that can result in aneurysm rupture following EVAR. A symptomatic infrarenal AAA (4mm proximal neck) was treated initially with an Ovation Prime™ device (TriVascular, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA) in an off-label fashion, leading to type Ia endoleak moderately reduced by additional proximal neck ballooning. A failed Chimney technique to the single patent, but severely stenosed, right renal artery preceded the use of this device. A large type Ia endoleak was evident at 6-month follow-up, but following a failed supplementary endovascular intervention with coils to seal the endoleak, the patient presented with hemorrhagic shock from AAA rupture, requiring urgent open conversion. Intraoperatively it was impossible to explant this new type of endograft. Circumferential tying of the infrarenal aorta with a Teflon band was unable to stop the bleeding. However, after dividing the body of the stent-graft below the two proximal polymer rings, the endoleak was successfully treated by suturing the graft with the proximal aortic neck. The procedure was completed with extension of the stump to the common femoral arteries using a bifurcated Dacron prosthesis. The body of an Ovation Prime™ endograft may be impossible to explant in open conversion conditions. Large prospective studies with longer follow-up are required to adequately reflect the behavior of this particular device.
Amiloride analogues cause endothelium‐dependent relaxation in the canine coronary artery in vitro: possible role of Na+/Ca2+ exchange

1 A number of amiloride analogues were used to test the proposal that Na+/Ca2+ exchange may play a role in the secretion of endothelium‐derived relaxing factor (EDRF). The analogues used were those substituted on either the 5‐amino group or the terminal guanidino nitrogen atom. The former block both Na+ /Ca2+ and Na+ /H+ exchange whilst the latter block the Na+ channel and the Na+ /Ca2+ exchange. 2 Both series of compounds caused relaxation in isolated rings of dog coronary artery (EC50 values, 1–10 μM) presumably due to release of EDRF since removal of endothelium greatly attenuated the response. 3 Amiloride (1–100 μM) had little effect on either endothelium‐intact or denuded arteries. 4 The guanidino substituted analogues also appeared to block selectively the relaxation response to acetylcholine in the coronary artery, independently of their EDRF‐releasing activity. 5 It is proposed that endothelial cells have an active Na+ /Ca2+ exchange operating in the forward mode to extrude Ca2+. This mechanism may be important in the control of EDRF release.
Emotion dysregulation and the development of borderline personality disorder

We review the role of emotion regulation in borderline personality disorder (BPD). We briefly discuss the historical development of BPD as a disorder where emotional regulation plays a key role. We review the concept of emotion regulation in general and explore both one-factor and two-factor models of emotion regulation. We discuss cognitive and attentional aspects of emotion regulation, and explore these regulatory controls as operating as both voluntary as well as automatic processes. We then turn to other neurophysiological models of emotion regulation in general and examine how those models, both neurophysiologically and neuroanatomically, are expressed in individuals with BPD. We examine how neuroimaging, both anatomical and functional, reveals the roles that various neuroanatomical structures play in the regulation of emotion in BPD. We conclude by creating a neurodevelopmental model that describes how a complex matrix involving the interplay of constitutional/biological predispositions with environmental stressors as well as with parental effectiveness in response to the child's emotion expression can impact key aspects of adult cognitive, affective, interpersonal, and behavioral functioning that culminate in a diagnosis of BPD.
The Effect of Bankruptcy Reform on the Number of Corporate Reorganization Proposals

One of the major aims of the 1992 reform to bankruptcy law in Canada was to increase the number of commercial reorganization proposals. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the number of reorganization proposals filed by companies in Toronto and Montreal before and after bankruptcy reform to see whether the reform has had its intended effect. Controlling for a variety of macroeconomic and policy factors that also influence the number of reorganization proposals, we find that bankruptcy reform has significantly increased the number of corporate reorganization proposals filed in Toronto and Montreal.