Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Genetic diversity of Peruvian isolates of Leptospira spp. through pulsed field gel electrophoresis].

OBJECTIVES Determine the genetic diversity of Peruvian isolations of Leptospira spp. through Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). MATERIALS AND METHODS The PFGE methodology proposed by Galloway and Levett (2008) was standardized. A database including the PFGE profiles of 65 reference strains was prepared, and the technique was applied in 111 isolates of Leptospira spp. obtained in Peru between 2002 and 2010. RESULTS A great generic diversity of serovars of circulating Leptospira spp. was determined in our country. 57 serovars were identified, 47 out of 97 pathogen isolates. Most frequent serovars were Icterohaemorrhagiae/Copenhageni (n=24) and Canicola (n=7). The most frequent species were L. santarosai (49,5%) and L. interrogans (37,1%). The distribution of species, clusters and serovars changed according to the source of isolate, the environmental context and the origin. CONCLUSIONS There is great diversity of circulating serovars in Peru. There are genetic and epidemiological relations among isolates of different sources, and this is related to species, reservoir, environmental context and the origin of the isolate.
[Mephedrone: a designer drug of recent use in France].

Designer drugs are currently marketed as substitutes for stimulant drugs as cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA.Unlike compounds listed as narcotics, these new substances are deliberately synthesized to avoid anti-drug laws. Among them, mephedrone (4-methylmethcatinone) that belongs to cathinone family, has been recently introduced in France. Users report positive euphoric and entactogenic effects. They also describe negative effects such as increased dependence towards the drug itself and larger craving for tobacco and alcohol. The numerous and various described adverse effects include psychoactive, digestive, cardiovascular. effects. Some fatality cases have been reported in scientific literature or in press and attributed to mephedrone often in association with other substances. Mephedrone has been listed as narcotic in several European countries and more recently in France.
Cerebral Circulation: Effects of Sympathetic Nerves and Protective Mechanisms During Hypertension

The first goal of this study was to examine bilateral effects of reflex activation of sympathetic nerves on the cerebral circulation. Seizures, which activate sympathetic nerves, were induced in animals with intact nerves and after bilateral cervical sympathetic denervation. Increases in cerebral blood flow (microspheres) and decreases in cerebral vascular resistance were similar in denervated and innervated animals. Thus, during intense metabolic stimulation, metabolic factors are the primary determinant of cerebral blood flow, and bilateral effects of sympathetic nerves are minimal. The second goal of this study was to examine the role of vascular hypertrophy in protection of the cerebral circulation. Cerebral perfusion pressure was decreased on one side by clipping one carotid artery in 4-week-old stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Two to four months later, the clip was removed, and seizures were induced. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the cerebrum occurred predominantly on the clipped side. We suggest that reduction in perfusion pressure attenuates development of cerebral vascular hypertrophy and thereby increases susceptibility to disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Thus, hypertrophy of cerebral vessels during chronic hypertension may protect the cerebral circulation. (Circulation Research 1987;61(suppl II):II-102-II-106)
Altered Calcium Homeostasis and Ultrastructure in Motoneurons of Mice Caused by Passively Transferred Anti‐motoneuronal IgG

Calcium homeostasis and ultrastructure are altered in motor axon terminals (AT) of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and in mice injected with ALS IgG and exhibit increased density of synaptic vesicles and increased intracellular calcium. To develop an immune-mediated passive transfer experimental model of both systemic weakness and altered morphology, mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with anti-motoneuronal IgG. Animals initially manifested muscle stiffness and evidence of autonomic cholinergic hyperactivity. Electron microscopic cytochemistry within 12 hours (h) demonstrated significantly increased density of synaptic vesicles and calcium both in axon terminals of neuromuscular junctions and synaptic boutons on spinal motoneurons. After 24 h the mice were severely weak and premorbid. The number of synaptic vesicles was still larger than normal, but calcium was depleted from axon terminals and synaptic boutons. The motoneuron perikarya demonstrated the dilatation of the Golgi system and the rough endoplasmic reticulum with an increased amount of calcium. The NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, and the L-type calcium channel antagonist, Diltiazem, prevented clinical symptoms and some morphological alterations. These data demonstrate that high titer anti-motoneuronal IgG can induce severe weakness and produce similar ultrastructural features of motor axon terminals in human ALS and in mice injected with ALS IgG, and support a key role for calcium in selective vulnerability of motoneurons.
Body fluid volume determination via body composition spectroscopy in health and disease

The assessment of extra-, intracellular and total body water (ECW, ICW, TBW) is important in many clinical situations. Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) has advantages over dilution methods in terms of usability and reproducibility, but a careful analysis reveals systematic deviations in extremes of body composition and morbid states. Recent publications stress the need to set up and validate BIS equations in a wide variety of healthy subjects and patients with fluid imbalance. This paper presents two new equations for determination of ECW and ICW (referred to as body composition spectroscopy, BCS) based on Hanai mixture theory but corrected for body mass index (BMI). The equations were set up by means of cross validation using data of 152 subjects (120 healthy subjects, 32 dialysis patients) from three different centers. Validation was performed against bromide/deuterium dilution (NaBr, D2O) for ECW/TBW and total body potassium (TBK) for ICW. Agreement between BCS and the references (all subjects) was −0.4 ± 1.4 L (mean ± SD) for ECW, 0.2 ± 2.0 L for ICW and −0.2 ± 2.3 L for TBW. The ECW agreement between three independent reference methods (NaBr versus D2O−TBK) was −0.1 ± 1.8 L for 74 subjects from two centers. Comparing the new BCS equations with the standard Hanai approach revealed an improvement in SEE for ICW and TBW by 0.6 L (24%) for all subjects, and by 1.2 L (48%) for 24 subjects with extreme BMIs (<20 and >30). BCS may be an appropriate method for body fluid volume determination over a wide range of body compositions in different states of health and disease.
Serrated Polyps With “Intermediate Features” of Sessile Serrated Polyp and Microvesicular Hyperplastic Polyp: A Practical Approach to the Classification of Nondysplastic Serrated Polyps

Sessile serrated polyps (SSPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of proximal colonic carcinomas, but they lack well-defined diagnostic criteria and their features overlap considerably with those of microvesicular hyperplastic polyps (MVHPs). We have noted that morphologic features of SSPs are often present in small, distally located MVHPs, suggesting that these polyps represent points on a continuum, rather than distinct entities. We evaluated the molecular features of diminutive (<1 cm) nondysplastic serrated polyps that met at least 4 of the 7 “SSP-like” morphologic criteria, but occurred throughout the colorectum, and compared them with SSPs and MVHPs. Fifty nondysplastic serrated polyps (6 SSPs, 31 study polyps, and 13 MVHPs) were evaluated for Ki-67, O6-methylguanine methyltransferase, MUC2, and MUC5AC expression, and also their BRAF and KRAS mutational status. The study polyps and SSPs were similar; 52% and 50% expressed MUC5AC, and 87% and 100% harbored BRAF mutations, respectively, compared with 15% and 46% of MVHPs (P≤0.05, all comparisons). O6-methylguanine methyltransferase expression in the study polyps (29%) was intermediate between that of SSPs (83%, P=0.02) and MVHPs (15%, P=0.04). We conclude that the pathologic and molecular features of diminutive, distally located nondysplastic serrated polyps are often indistinguishable from proximally located SSPs, although convincing evidence linking the former to appreciable colorectal cancer risk is entirely lacking. Thus, we propose that, at present, the term “sessile serrated polyp” be restricted to large (≥1 cm), proximally located polyps with a presumed biologic risk, until prospective data regarding the natural history of small, distal lesions are available.
Anatomical study of preganglionic spinal nerve and disc relation at different lumbar levels: Special aspect for microscopic spine surgery.

BACKGROUND Lumbar microdiscectomy is a widespread popular method of treatment. One major challenge is the spine level dependent different anatomy and the limited sight on the nerve root during the surgical procedure. OBJECTIVE The aim was to analyze the specific anatomic relation of nerve root, intervertebral disc and intervertebral ganglion under determination of the specific nerve distances. Furthermore the relation between the disc and the corresponding nerve root was evaluated. METHODS Regular human lumbar spine specimens of body donors were included in the study. Microscopic assisted dissection was performed. The topographical distances between a defined disc measurement point (DP) and the corresponding nerve root shoulder (NS) were measured. The preganglionic distance from the caudal axilla point (AP) of the spinal nerve root and the center point (CG) of the spinal ganglion in the intervertebral foramen were determined. RESULTS The AP-CG distance increased gradually in the caudal direction from L1 (7.25 ± 2.72 mm right side, 7.30 ± 2.85 mm left side) to a maximum for L5 (16.00 ± 3.39 mm right side, 16.50 ± 3.58 mm left side, p< 0.05). We found a significant reduction for S1 (14.88 ± 3.42 mm right side, 13.83 ± 2.47 mm, p< 0.05). In contrast the DP-AP distances showed a maximum for L1 (12.75 ± 2.78 mm right side, 13.70 ± 3.87 mm left side) with an increasing shortening in the caudal direction and even negative values for S1 (-2.63 ± 3.31 mm right side, -0.83 ± 2.84 mm left side, p< 0.01). CONCLUSION The topographical anatomy changes each lumbar segment and demands therefore an exact preoperative planning using this specific knowledge to perform a successful microscopic spine surgery. The results of the study support a better understanding of the relevant anatomy and help to reduce incomplete herniated disc removal and to avoid surgical complications.
Endometrial Gene Expression in Early Pregnancy: Lessons From Human Ectopic Pregnancy

Human endometrium undergoes modifications in preparation for embryonic implantation. This study investigated in vivo the endocrine effects of pregnancy on the endometrium, using the model of ectopic pregnancy. Endometrial biopsies from 9 subjects with ectopic pregnancy (Preg) were compared with 8 and 6 samples of mid and late secretory endometrium, respectively. After hybridizing with Affymetrix HGU133 Plus 2 chips, data were analyzed using GeneSpring GX and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis. From 54 675genes, 3021 genes were significantly differentiated when mid-secretory endometrium was compared with the Preg (Volcano plot; P < .05, ≥2-fold change). The complement and coagulation cascade, phospholid degradation, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis (globoseries), retinol metabolism, antigen presentation pathway, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, and O-glycan biosynthesis were main significant canonical pathways found in Preg samples. Validation was done with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. In conclusion, the ectopic embryo has a significant impact, by an endocrine mechanism, on endometrium, when compared with the window of implantation.
Cerebral hemodynamics in subarachnoid hemorrhage evaluated by transcranial Doppler sonography. Part 1. Reliability of flow velocities in clinical management.

During recent years, the management of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has changed, resulting in an increase in early operations and routine administration of nimodipine. Both influenced the indication for transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). Furthermore, investigations detected discrepancies between Doppler findings and neurological status. In a prospective study, the reliability of TCD was investigated in patients with SAH treated with intravenously administered nimodipine. Patients with large hematomas were excluded. Neurological deficits immediately after surgery or within the first 48 hours were classified as not delayed, and therefore not necessarily due to vasospasm. The most remarkable points of this study are that there is no significant difference between the flow velocities for Hunt and Hess Grades I and II when compared with those for Grade III, and that Grades IV and V seem to be affiliated with the lowest velocities. When the flow velocities of 11 patients who developed delayed ischemic deficits (DIDs) were compared with those of patients with no deficit, no significant difference was seen. A significant increase in velocity in the days before the onset of DID was found only in 3 of 11 cases. Eight patients showed either constant high or constant low velocities or even, in some cases, decreasing time courses. High flow velocities did not necessarily mean impending neurological deficits: 8 of 66 patients tolerated flow velocities over 200 cm/s. Therefore, it no longer seems to be justified to proclaim that TCD is able to predict neurological deficits, although it is doubtless able to detect vasospasm. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cation‐independent mannose 6‐phosphate receptor contains covalently bound fatty acid

The cation‐independent mannose 6‐phosphate receptor (215,000 daltons) was isolated from embryonic bovine tracheal cells and embryonic human skin fibroblasts labelled with [3H]palmitic acid, the tritium label was detected in the protein upon fluorographic analysis of SDS‐polyacrylamide gels of the purified receptor. The label was not sensitive to hydroxylamine, methanolic KOH, or β‐mercaptoethanol, but labelled fatty acid was recovered from the protein by acidic methanolysis. Labelled receptor protein could not be isolated from cells grown in the presence of [3H]myristic acid. The results suggest the presence of amide‐linked palmitic acid in the structure of the cation‐independent mannose 6‐phosphate receptor.
BAISHAKHI: Odia keyboard evaluation using keystroke level model

Odia is the primarily spoken language of Odisha and the sixth classical language of India. There are more than 33 million people of Odisha speak Odia in their day to day life. However, standard input methods for typing Odia are not very widespread among Odia users This paper proposes a simulation algorithm based on Keystroke-Level Model, for predicting one aspect of user performance of our previously proposed Odia keyboard “Baishakhi”. The time it takes an user to perform a given task on a given computer system is simulated by this algorithm. The design and development of BAISHAKHI Odia keyboards that can be used to type Unicode enabled Odia texts in a standard text editor using any QWERTY keyboard. We have evaluated the performance of our proposed layout with the existing Odia keyboard layouts using this simulation algorithm. Our primary evaluation shows a significant improvement in reducing time irrespective of keystrokes.
Foreign Direct Investment and China's Service Economy

The service economy is an essential part of China's economy. To a certain extent, China is export-oriented now and actively court foreign direct investment (FDI) to advance its economic development. This paper describes the current situation that China's service economy takes advantage of FDI, analyses the challenges and opportunities that China's service economy will meet when it makes use of FDI in the context of financial crisis, and proposes the corresponding policy for China's service economy FDI (SFDI). China should stimulate the demand for services, expand service market openness, attach great importance to personnel training and the upgrading of service economy, and advocate attaching equal importance to development and environmental protection.
Myosin heavy chain isoform expression following reduced neuromuscular activity: Potential regulatory mechanisms

In this review, the adaptations in myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression induced by chronic reductions in neuromuscular activity (including electrical activation and load bearing) of the intact neuromuscular unit are summarized and evaluated. Several different animal models and human clinical conditions of reduced neuromuscular activity are categorized based on the manner and extent to which they alter the levels of electrical activation and load bearing, resulting in three main categories of reduced activity. These are: 1) reduced activation and load bearing (including spinal cord injury, spinal cord transection, and limb immobilization with the muscle in a shortened position); 2) reduced loading (including spaceflight, hindlimb unloading, bed rest, and unilateral limb unloading); and 3) inactivity (including spinal cord isolation and blockage of motoneuron action potential conduction by tetrodotoxin). All of the models discussed resulted in increased expression of fast MHC isoforms at the protein and/or mRNA levels in slow and fast muscles (with the possible exception of unilateral limb unloading in humans). However, the specific fast MHC isoforms that are induced (usually the MHC‐IIx isoform in slow muscle and the MHC‐IIb isoform in fast muscle) and the degree and rate of adaptation are dependent upon the animal species and the specific model or condition that is being studied. Recent studies designed to elucidate the mechanisms by which electrical activation and load bearing alter expression of MHC isoforms at the cellular and genetic levels are also reviewed. Two main mechanisms have been proposed, the myogenin:MyoD and calcineurin:NF‐AT pathways. Collectively, the data suggest that the regulation of MHC isoform expression involves a complex interaction of multiple control mechanisms including the myogenin:MyoD and calcineurin:NF‐AT pathways; however, other intracellular signaling pathways are likely to contribute. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 23: 661–679, 2000
Sorting and Intracellular Trafficking of a Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Protein and Two Hybrid Transmembrane Proteins with the Same Ectodomain in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Epithelial Cells (*)

We compared the trafficking of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and two chimeric transmembrane proteins containing the PLAP ectodomain in stably transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells to determine whether different mechanisms might be used in apical sorting of GPI-anchored and transmembrane proteins. PLAP-G, which contained the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein, was delivered directly to the basolateral surface. PLAP-HA contained the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of influenza hemagglutinin. Both PLAP and PLAP-HA were delivered directly to the apical membrane. PLAP becomes insoluble in Triton X-100 during biosynthetic transport, as it associates with detergent-resistant membranes. Neither hybrid protein was detergent insoluble, though the small amount of PLAP that was missorted to the basolateral surface was insoluble. We examined the effects of three drugs known to interfere with membrane trafficking on sorting and delivery of PLAP and the hybrid proteins. Monensin had no effect on sorting or surface expression of any of the proteins. Nocodazole affected the sorting of both PLAP and PLAP-HA but not of PLAP-G. Brefeldin A appeared to disrupt the sorting of PLAP and PLAP-HA but not of PLAP-G. This conclusion was tempered by the observation that this drug affected the distribution of proteins at the cell surface. Thus, sorting and transport of GPI-anchored and apical transmembrane proteins are similar in a number of respects.
The Prognostic Role of Ventilatory Inefficiency and Exercise Capacity in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and fatal interstitial lung disease associated with poor prognosis and limited effective treatment options. Reliable predictors of outcome in daily clinical practice are needed to determine high-risk patients for urgent lung transplantation referral. This study aimed to identify practical prognostic predictors of mortality using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in IPF subjects. METHODS: Thirty-four subjects with IPF (22 men and 12 women), median age 68 (range 50–81) y were prospectively studied. At baseline, all subjects were assessed with CPET and were followed up for 40 months from baseline. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted to determine cut-off points of CPET variables for mortality, Cox regression analysis for survival using a log-rank test, and hazard ratio for death using a Wald test. RESULTS: Peak work rate <62 watts (P = .005), peak V̇O2 ≤13.8 mL/kg/min (P = .031), tidal volume reserve ≤0.48 L/breath (P = .010), minute ventilation to carbon dioxide (V̇E)/V̇CO2) ratio at the anaerobic threshold >34 (P = .02), and V̇E)/V̇O2 nadir >34 (P = .002) were detected as cut-off points associated with mortality. Non-survivor subjects were characterized by higher dyspnea levels, the presence of pulmonary hypertension assessed by echocardiography, pronounced inefficient ventilatory pattern, lower exercise capacity, and more severe desaturation during physical exertion. By the end of the study, 11 subjects (7 women and 4 men) died. Overall mean survival was 60%, 33.7 months (95% CI 30.2–37.2). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides simple, practical, and novel cut-off points for CPET as predictors of prognosis to identify high-risk IPF subjects. Impairment in exercise capacity and abnormal ventilatory responses during CPET were associated with poorer survival in IPF subjects. The findings suggest considering the use of CPET for IPF risk stratification and prediction of prognosis. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT01499745.)
Design of Radio-over-Fiber Distributed Antenna System and Application of Wireless Positioning

In this paper, a radio-over-fiber distributed antenna system (ROF-DAS) and application of wireless positioning are proposed. The modified Medium Access Control (MAC) frame, optical switch array, ROF network based on star topology and Reflective Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (RSOA) are employed to design the system. Based on the structure, wireless positioning could be achieved by Time Division Multiplexing-Time Difference of Arrival (TDM-TDOA) technology combined with Chan assisted Taylor algorithm. The quality of signal transmission is evaluated by Q Factor, and the positioning accuracy is performed in terms of the antennas amount using the positioning algorithm.