Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brief report: autoimmune protein S deficiency in a boy with severe thromboembolic disease.

Protein S is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein involved in the regulation of the protein C anticoagulant pathway,1 the system responsible for the inactivation of factors Va and VIIIa2. Protein S functions as a cofactor for activated protein C by increasing its affinity for the cell surface3 and by blocking the capacity of factor Xa to protect factor Va from inactivation by activated protein C4; it also enhances the profibrinolytic effects of activated protein C5–7. The congenital deficiency of protein S is associated with an increased risk of recurrent juvenile venous and arterial thromboembolism8–10.
Is the prevalence of atopic dermatitis increasing?

Several studies have suggested that the prevalence of atopic dermatitis has increased over the last three decades,1‐7 and similar trends have been reported with asthma and hay fever.8‐13 However, in common with other ‘allergic’ disease, the definition and measurement of atopic dermatitis in populations has been fraught with problems and has led to difficulties in separating any real changes in disease prevalence from secular changes in diagnosis. In this article, the evidence surrounding the claims of an increased prevalence of atopic dermatitis is examined, and possible reasons for such a change are suggested.
An IgG antibody response to the antigen 85 complex is associated with good outcome in Mexican Totonaca Indians with pulmonary tuberculosis.

SETTING It is generally accepted that antibodies do not protect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, as this role relies upon T-cell reactivity. Hence, most studies on antimycobacterial antibodies have been aimed at developing serologic tests, and few explore their role in disease pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE To determine the IgG antimycobacterial antibody response of 55 Mexican Totonaca Indians with pulmonary tuberculosis and its correlation with some features of the disease. DESIGN Study of the profile of antigen recognition by immunoblot and ELISA with isolated antigen 85 complex (Ag85) and whole culture filtrate proteins. Correlation of immunoblot and ELISA results with BCG vaccination, tuberculin reactivity, extent of the disease, clinical setting, and response to treatment. RESULTS On immunoblot, band reactivity was very poor and the most frequently recognized antigen was the 30-32 kDa, antigen 85 complex (45.8% of serum samples). ELISA with this antigen showed a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 100%. Positive antibody titers to Ag85 were observed in 79.4% of patients with non-cavitary tuberculosis (P = 0.012) and in 95.8% of patients who were cured with anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy (P = 0.0001). By contrast, an antibody response to whole culture filtrate antigens had no correlation with the presence of cavitations or with prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that an antibody response to Ag85, aside from having great potential to develop a serologic test for tuberculosis, was associated with a positive outcome in a cohort of tuberculous Mexican Indians.
Advancing Nursing Administration Through Research

The International Conference on Nursing Administration Research convened in Denver, Colorado, October 12 to 15, 2011. Conference presentations focused on transformations in nursing leadership through evidence and education, future leadership challenges, and implications for nurse leaders related to new healthcare policies. Topics included domestic and international research initiatives supporting transition to practice, retention, competence, and leadership. Sponsors of the conference were the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence and the Council on Graduate Education for Administration in Nursing. To showcase this excellent work, several presenters were asked to provide brief overviews of their podium presentations. All abstracts from the conference will be submitted to Sigma Theta Tau International’s Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library. A sampling of those abstracts follows.
Variant of Stimulatory G Protein-Subunit ( Gs ) , Is a Distinct , Membrane-Anchored GNAS Product that Can Mimic Gs

Endocrine Unit (C.A., M.J.M., H.A.W.T., M.B.), Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Department of Endodontics (C.A.), Center for Dental Sciences, Gülhane School of Medicine, 06018 Ankara, Turkey; Departments of Neurology (N.A., N.W.K., A.D.) and Pathology (N.W.K.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; and Research and Development Service/Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (N.A., N.W.K., A.D.), Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts 02130
Evidence for coinfection by multiple strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype B in an acute seroconvertor

Sequences encoding the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were amplified by PCR from plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained at four time points from an acute seroconvertor. Genetic analyses, including nucleotide sequencing and heteroduplex mobility studies, showed that the patient harbored three distinct populations of HIV-1 clade B envelope sequences, with nucleotide distances ranging from 9.2 to 17.2%. One population of sequences was clearly distinguishable from the others on the basis of phylogenetic analysis. In addition, sequences suggesting recombination between two of the three distinct viral populations were also found. This case of acute seroconversion provides clear and conclusive evidence that coinfection by multiple HIV-1 strains can indeed occur in vivo.
Core temperature regulation of heart rate during exercise in humans.

The relationship between two abnormalities of exercise physiology in chronic heart failure patients was investigated: chronotropic incompetence and decrease in core temperature. While at rest, 13 heart failure patients had an average sinus heart rate that was significantly higher than seven normals (92 +/- 13 vs. 82 +/- 10 min-1, P less than 0.05). However, during exercise, the trend of increase in sinus heart rate as a function of work load and O2 uptake was significantly greater in normals compared with heart failure (P less than 0.05), and the absolute increase in heart rate at 50 W of cycle ergometry was larger in normals compared with heart failure (38 +/- 17 vs. 22 +/- 13 min-1, P less than 0.05). Differences in core temperature regulation were also observed. In the normals, core temperature increased from 37.13 +/- 0.33 degrees C at rest to 37.37 +/- 0.31 degrees C at 50 W of exercise (P less than 0.01). In the heart failure patients, core temperature decreased from 36.99 +/- 0.33 degrees C at rest to 36.66 +/- 0.39 degrees C at 50 W of exercise (P less than 0.01). As expected, significant differences in hemodynamic and gas exchange variables were observed between the normals and the heart failure patients both at rest and during exercise. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed of heart rate changes as the dependent variable and thermoregulatory and hemodynamic changes as the independent variables to test for their influence on heart rate. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Energy Distribution of EEG Signal Components by Wavelet Transform

Ibrahim Omerhodzic1, Samir Avdakovic2, Amir Nuhanovic3, Kemal Dizdarevic1 and Kresimir Rotim4 1Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Department of Neurosurgery, Sarajevo 2EPC Elektroprivreda of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo 3Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Tuzla, Tuzla 4University Hospital “Sisters of Charity”, Department of Neurosurgery, Zagreb 1,2,3Bosnia and Herzegovina 4Croatia
The use of radioactive phosphorus in high fractures of the femoral neck.

The use of radioactive phosphorus (“P) in determining the vascularity of the femoral head and therefore treatment for high fractures of the femoral neck is reported in 89 cases. The techkpe is described and results analysed. Autoradiograms of the femoral head are used to check the initial assessment of vascularity.
Iron deficiency anaemia in chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) has been shown to be the most common cause of anaemia worldwide. It is accepted that people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) develop anaemia as their kidney function declines. METHODS To better understand IDA in CKD, it is necessary to appreciate the normal iron metabolism and utilisation of iron and how these processes can be disordered in patients with CKD. The problems related to infection / inflammation and oxidative stress are examined. Whilst National and international guidelines recommend specific tests for IDA, these and alternative tests are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS Whilst iron supplementation is necessary for CKD patients with IDA, iron metabolism and utilisation can be affected by factors such as infection or inflammation. Iron is essential element for all life, it can be toxic to cells through the process of oxidative stress. The recommended tests for IDA may be affected by factors such as infection and inflammation. Alternative tests are available, which may be a more accurate indicator of IDA as they are not affected by external factors.
A Novel Crizotinib-Resistant Solvent-Front Mutation Responsive to Cabozantinib Therapy in a Patient with ROS1-Rearranged Lung Cancer

Purpose: Rearranged ROS1 is a crizotinib-sensitive oncogenic driver in lung cancer. The development of acquired resistance, however, poses a serious clinical challenge. Consequently, experimental and clinical validation of resistance mechanisms and potential second-line therapies is essential. Experimental Design: We report the discovery of a novel, solvent-front ROS1D2033N mutation in a patient with CD74-ROS1–rearranged lung adenocarcinoma and acquired resistance to crizotinib. Crizotinib resistance of CD74-ROS1D2033N was functionally evaluated using cell-based assays and structural modeling. Results: In biochemical and cell-based assays, the CD74-ROS1D2033N mutant demonstrated significantly decreased sensitivity to crizotinib. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed compromised crizotinib binding due to drastic changes in the electrostatic interaction between the D2033 residue and crizotinib and reorientation of neighboring residues. In contrast, cabozantinib binding was unaffected by the D2033N substitution, and inhibitory potency against the mutant was retained. Notably, cabozantinib treatment resulted in a rapid clinical and near-complete radiographic response in this patient. Conclusions: These results provide the first example of successful therapeutic intervention with targeted therapy to overcome crizotinib resistance in a ROS1-rearranged cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(10); 2351–8. ©2015 AACR.
The serodiagnosis of infections caused by Verocytotoxin‐producing Escherichia coli

Patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and haemorrhagic colitis (HC) produce serum antibodies to the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Escherichia coli O157 and certain other E. coli serogroups. Patients may also make salivary antibodies to the LPS of E. coli O157. Serological tests based on these antibodies can be used to provide evidence of infection in the absence of culturable VTEC or the toxins they produce. Serum antibodies to LPS persist for several months following onset of disease, enabling both current and retrospective serological testing. The LPS of E. coli O157 shares epitopes with strains of Brucella abortus, Yersinia enterocolitica O9, Vibrio cholerae O1 Inaba, group N Salmonella and certain strains of Citrobacter freundii and E. hermanni. Serological tests for serum antibodies to E. coli O157 should be evaluated in the light of these cross‐reactions. Serological tests to supply evidence of infection with E. coli O157 have been shown to provide a valuable adjunct to bacteriological procedures for detecting culturable VTEC and VT. The use of well characterized LPS antigens in association with the techniques of ELISA and immunoblotting provide valuable procedures for detecting evidence of infection with E. coli O157 and possibly other VTEC.
A Health Monitoring System Based on Pocket PC for Community Aging Residents

Health monitoring system is a crucial element which helps to the active prevention and effective treatment of the chronic illness with the worldwide population aging. This paper presents a health monitoring system based on Pocket PC for community aging residents according to the status in China. The test result of the prototype is good and it has some referenced value when implementing the community healthcare.
Protein synthesis and release by cultured schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni

Summary The lung schistosomulum of Schistosoma mansoni is the target of protective immunity in mice singly vaccinated with irradiated cercariae. Since the effector responses are T cell-mediated, their initiation requires the release of antigens from the intact parasite. We have used the technique of biosynthetic labelling with ‘35S’methionine, before and after transformation of the cercariae, to analyse the kinetics of protein synthesis and release by the schistosomulum. In addition, the proteins present in the soluble fraction of the parasite and those released during in vitro culture have been characterized. During a 7-day culture period schistosomula derived from labelled cercariae lost proteins most rapidly within the first 3 h after transformation. Two proteins of molecular weight 61 and 20 kDa were dominant and may correspond to areas of proteolytic activity. Analysis of the rate of protein synthesis of schistosomula labelled after transformation revealed four different phases, which may relate to the developmental processes occurring in vivo. During the first 24 h, synthesis was very low, increasing to a plateau and then rising to a peak at day 8; thereafter the rate declined rapidly. Whilst some stage-specific synthesis of proteins was detected in the soluble fractions of the parasite bodies, the pattern of proteins released by cultured larvae was remarkably uniform. At least 15 proteins were detected by autoradiography with bands at 61, 45 and 20 kDa being particularly prominent. These proteins merit further study as potential mediators of the protective immune response.
Disulfide connectivity prediction with 70% accuracy using two‐level models

Disulfide bridges stabilize protein structures covalently and play an important role in protein folding. Predicting disulfide connectivity precisely helps towards the solution of protein structure prediction. Previous methods for disulfide connectivity prediction either infer the bonding potential of cysteine pairs or rank alternative disulfide bonding patterns. As a result, these methods encode data according to cysteine pairs (pair‐wise) or disulfide bonding patterns (pattern‐wise). However, using either encoding scheme alone cannot fully utilize the local and global information of proteins, so the accuracies of previous methods are limited. In this work, we propose a novel two‐level framework to predict disulfide connectivity. With this framework, both the pair‐wise and pattern‐wise encoding schemes are considered. Our models were validated on the datasets derived from SWISS‐PROT 39 and 43, and the results demonstrate that our models can combine both local and global information. Compared to previous methods, significant improvements were obtained by our models. Our work may also provide insights to further improvements of disulfide connectivity prediction and increase its applicability in protein structure analysis and prediction. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CD11b+ Peyer’s Patch Dendritic Cells Secrete IL-6 and Induce IgA Secretion from Naive B Cells1

Peyer’s patch (PP) dendritic cells (DCs) have been shown to exhibit a distinct capacity to induce cytokine secretion from CD4+ T cells compared with DCs in other lymphoid organs such as the spleen (SP). In this study, we investigated whether PP DCs are functionally different from DCs in the SP in their ability to induce Ab production from B cells. Compared with SP DCs, freshly isolated PP DCs induced higher levels of IgA secretion from naive B cells in DC-T cell-B cell coculture system in vitro. The IgA production induced by PP DCs was attenuated by neutralization of IL-6. In addition, the induction of IgA secretion by SP DCs, but not PP DCs, was further enhanced by the addition of exogenous IL-6. Finally, we demonstrated that only PP CD11b+ DC subset secreted higher levels of IL-6 compared with other DC subsets in the PP and all SP DC populations, and that PP CD11b+ DC induced naive B cells to produce higher levels of IgA compared with SP CD11b+ DC. These results suggest a unique role of PP CD11b+ DCs in enhancing IgA production from B cells via secretion of IL-6.
Elastic scattering spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for differentiating pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract: preliminary testing.

We report preliminary clinical testing of elastic-scattering spectroscopy for the detection of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Tissue pathologies are detected and diagnosed using spectral measurements of elastically scattered light in an optical geometry that results in sensitivity to both the absorption and scattering properties of the tissue, over a wide range of wavelengths (300 to 750 nm). The system employs a small fiber optic probe, which is amenable to use with most endoscopes or catheters, or to direct surface examination, as well as interstitial needles. In this paper we report the results of preliminary clinical measurements on various organ sites of the gastrointestinal tract. In several instances the data indicate promise for this diagnostic method to distinguish malignant and dysplastic conditions from normal or other diagnoses.
Current zinc intake and risk of diabetes and coronary artery disease and factors associated with insulin resistance in rural and urban populations of North India.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association between current zinc intake and prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes as well as factors associated with insulin resistance. DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND METHODS In this cross sectional survey, 3575 subjects, aged 25 to 64 years, including 1769 rural (894 men. 875 women) and 1806 urban (904 men, 902 women) subjects were studied. The survey methods included questionnaires for 7-day food intake record, physical examination, and electrocardiography using World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS The prevalence of CAD, diabetes and glucose intolerance was significantly higher among subjects consuming lower intakes of dietary zinc. There was a higher prevalence of hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels which showed significant upward trend with lower zinc intakes. Serum lipoprotein (a) and 2-hour plasma insulin levels also were associated with low zinc intake. Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment for age showed that zinc intake and CAD were inversely associated. Serum zinc (odds ratio:men 0.77, women 0.57), serum triglycerides (men 0.86, women 0.81), blood pressure (0.83 men, women 0.76), diabetes mellitus (men 0.90, women 0.85), central obesity (men 0.88, women 0.87), glucose intolerance (men 0.66, women 0.57) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (men 0.72, women 0.70) were significant risk factors for CAD (explained by tertiles of zinc status) in urban subjects. These associations were not observed in rural subjects. CONCLUSION Lower consumption of dietary zinc and low serum zinc levels were associated with an increased prevalence of CAD and diabetes and several of their associated risk factors including hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and other factors suggestive of mild insulin resistance in urban subjects.
Oxidative Stress Induces Biphasic ERK1/2 Activation in the RPE with Distinct Effects on Cell Survival at Early and Late Activation

Abstract Purpose: Oxidative stress is considered a major factor in the deterioration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The MAPK ERK1/2 can be activated by oxidative stress, may exert both pro- and anti-apoptotic functions, and has recently been proposed as a major factor in RPE degeneration in atrophic changes. Nrf2 is a master regulator of oxidative stress defense and ERK1/2 is an upstream activator of Nrf2. In this study, we investigate the participation of ERK1/2 in oxidative stress pathways in connection with Nrf2. Methods: Nrf2 knock-out and wild-type primary RPE cells were prepared from mouse eyes. Oxidative stress was induced by different concentrations of t-butylhydroperoxide. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were blocked by commercially available inhibitors (SB203580, U0126, SP600125). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. ERK1/2 expression and activation were assessed by Western blotting. Results: Oxidative stress induced concentration dependent cell death, which occurred at lower concentrations in Nrf2 knock-out RPE. Western blot analysis displayed a biphasic activation of ERK1/2 in murine wild-type RPE and the inhibition of late, but not early activation of ERK1/2 exerted protection in wild-type murine RPE cells. The biphasic activation of ERK1/2 is lost in Nrf2 knock-out mice, and inhibition of ERK1/2 was generally protective. The inhibition of MAPK JNK or p38 exerted no protection, irrespective of Nrf2. Conclusion: RPE cells display a biphasic activation of ERK1/2 after oxidative insult, of which the late activation is pro-apoptotic. The biphasic activation is lost in Nrf2 knock-outs, suggesting that early ERK1/2 activation may be connected to Nrf2 signaling. In addition, ERK1/2 activation in Nrf2 knock-outs mediates oxidative stress-induced cell death.
Evaluation of an Urban Farm-to-Preschool and Families Program

Over the past 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has risen dramatically. Despite recent declines in prevalence among preschool-aged children, child obesity is still a significant public health concern. Healthy People 2020 objectives include increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among children over 2 years of age and increasing the number of schools that offer access to fresh fruits and vegetables. To reach these objectives, farm-to-school programs are being implemented across the United States. The purpose of this evaluation was to: (a) identify factors that facilitate adoption of the Farm-to-Preschool and Families program in Springfield, MA, specifically; and (b) provide recommendations and guidelines for successful implementation of Farm-to-Preschool and Families programs generally. Using a combination of classroom observations of preschoolers, teacher and food service interviews, and administrator surveys, the findings suggest that having a strong programmatic infrastructure, administrative support, and external support from families is important to sustain a Farm-to-Preschool and Families program.