Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuroattenuated bunyavirus variant: derivation, characterization, and revertant clones

A neuroattenuated variant bunyavirus, designated RFC/25B.5 (B.5), was selected by serial passage of a reassortant clone (RFC virus) of a California serogroup virus in BHK-21 cells, followed by plaque purification of that passaged stock. Based on its virulence index (ratio of PFU/50% lethal dose), clone B5 was over 40,000-fold less virulent than its unpassaged RFC parent after intracerebral (i.c.) inoculation into adult mice. Clone B.5 also exhibited markedly reduced neuroinvasiveness after subcutaneous injection into neonatal mice, although it retained its ability to replicate and kill suckling mice after i.c. injection. A murine neuroblastoma line (NA cells) can be used as an in vitro surrogate for the adult mouse brain, since clone B.5 replicated to at least 1,000-fold-lower titers in NA cells than did several neurovirulent California serogroup viruses. Clone B.5 replicated in BHK-21 cells at 37 degrees C to titers similar to those achieved by other California serogroup viruses but was temperature sensitive (ts) since its replication was markedly restricted at 38.9 degrees C. Ten ts revertant clones of B.5 virus were selected at 38.9 degrees C, and all of them lost their ts phenotype and regained the ability to replicate to high titer in NA cells and to kill adult mice after i.c. injection. Clone B.5 is the first described California serogroup virus which is truly attenuated after i.c. inoculation, and its availability will permit genetic analysis of bunyavirus neurovirulence.
CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON BUPROPION AND VARENICLINE CLINICAL EFFICACY IN NICOTINE DEPENDENCE

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the efficacy of bupropion and varenicline for treating nicotine dependence as reported in the published studies. We analysed 435 journal articles identified in Pubmed data base with “nicotine, dependence, bupropion / varencline” included in abstract. The “human” filter was applied. 20 efficacy studies were selected and included for evaluation in this review. The results of these studies support the efficacy of both bupropion and varenicline, with varenicline showing higher abstinence rates. However in real life settings high levels of efficacy are lacking for all current available treatments. In addition, treatment related side effects highly influence the patient compliance. Rezumat Scopul acestei lucrări a fost investigarea eficacităţii bupropionei si a vareniclinei in tratamentul dependenţei la nicotină raportată in studiile publicate in literatură. Au fost identificate si analizate in baza de date Pubmed 435 de articole care conţineau in rezumat cuvintele cheie “nicotină, dependenţă, bupropiona/vareniclina”. Ulterior a fost aplicat filtrul de căutare “subiecţi umani”. După aplicarea acestui filtru au fost selectate si incluse in analiză 20 de studii de eficacitate efectuate pe subiecţi umani. Rezultatele studiilor analizate susţin eficacitatea atât a bupropionei, cât si a vareniclinei in tratamentul dependenţei la nicotină, vareniclina asociindu-se insă cu o rată mai mare de abstinenţă. Cu toate acestea, in practica actuală curentă eficacitatea tuturor medicamentelor utilizate in tratamentul adicţiei la nicotină este destul de redusă. In plus, efectele adverse ale acestor medicamente influenţează destul de mult complianţa pacienţilor la tratament.
Neutrophils enhance invasion activity of human cholangiocellular carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cells: An in vitro study

Background and Aim: Tumor–mesenchymal interactions are involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion in several types of carcinoma. Mutual interactions between carcinoma cells and neutrophils, however, have been poorly understood. In the present study we examined the effect of neutrophils on invasion activities of carcinoma cells in vitro. Role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as a mediator was also evaluated.
The pineal gland: basic implications and clinical correlations.

Introduction THE PINEAL gland has received increasing interest from investigators during the past decade. As the pineal has become more intensively investigated, its involvement in the modulation of specific endocrine systems, in particular the gonadal system, has become more clearly delineated. Due to the obvious difficulty in obtaining human material with which to work, investigators by necessity have concentrated their efforts in determining pineal gland function by utilizing a number of subhuman mammals, primarily the rat and the hamster. This review will discuss the historical literature relevant to the pineal gland, the anatomy of the pineal gland including neural and vascular connections, and the histological appearance of the vertebrate pineal gland. The biologically active substances which have been identified within the pineal gland will be discussed, with particular emphasis on the synthesis of melatonin and the photoperiodic and hormonal modulation of melatonin synthesis. Evidence which is cur.
Genetic Factors in Type 2 Diabetes: The End of the Beginning?

The intensive search for genetic variants that predispose to type 2 diabetes was launched with optimism, but progress has been slower than was hoped. Even so, major advances have been made in the understanding of monogenic forms of the disease which together represent a substantial health burden, and a few common gene variants that influence susceptibility have now been unequivocally identified. Armed with a better understanding of the tools needed to detect such genes, it seems inevitable that the rate of progress will increase and the relevance of genetic information to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diabetes will become increasingly tangible.
Therapeutic Mechanism of Saikosaponin-d in Anti-Thy1 mAb 1-22-3-Induced Rat Model of Glomerulonephritis

Aims: Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis is a common kidney disease and at present, there is no effective treatment. Our previous studies have demonstrated that Sairei-to can significantly prevent progression of experimental glomerulonephritis in rats. Although we have reported that the active component of Sairei-to in treatment of glomerulonephritis was Saikosaponin-d (Ssd), mechanism of Ssd in prevention of mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis progression is still unknown. Therefore, current study examines the effects of Ssd on progression of mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis induced by anti-Thy1 monoclonal antibody 1-22-3 (mAb 1-22-3) in uninephrectomized rats. Methods: Eighteen female Wistar rats first received uninephrectomy and mAb 1-22-3 injection and were then divided into 3 groups: treated daily with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 0.6 or 1.8 mg/kg of Ssd. Urinary protein concentration and systolic blood pressure were evaluated and the kidneys were collected and subjected to histological and immunohistological evaluation. The mRNA and protein of the kidneys were extracted and subjected to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results: Ssd reduced the amount of urinary protein and systolic blood pressure. Ssd administration also decreased extracellular matrix expansion, crescentic formation as well as infiltration of macrophages and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Moreover, Ssd significantly reduced expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and type I collagen in the kidneys. Conclusion: Ssd inhibits the progression of mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis through reduction of the expression of TGF-β1 and the infiltration of macrophages and CD8+ T lymphocytes.
The metabolic spectrum of venous thrombotic disorders found on PET/CT.

OBJECTIVE Thrombotic disorders detected on PET/CT are usually incidental findings and may change the treatment strategy and patient's disease prognosis. The purpose of this article is to present the spectrum of venous thrombotic disorders found on PET/CT. CONCLUSION The division of thrombotic disorders into metabolically nonactive and active thrombus may be helpful for differential diagnosis of underlying diseases causing thrombus formation. IV contrast media administration during PET/CT makes it possible to visualize the thrombus itself and helps to distinguish between benign and malignant metabolically active thrombus.
Combined Mitoxantrone Plus Doxorubicin in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Twenty-three patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with the combination of mitoxantrone and doxorubicin. This study was conducted since there is incomplete cross-resistance between the two drugs, and since data in vitro suggested that mitoxantrone might decrease the cardiotoxicity of concurrently administered doxorubicin by decreasing doxorubicin-induced membrane lipid peroxidation. Of 20 patients who were evaluable for response, 10 (50%) responded. Myelosuppression was pronounced with mitoxantrone doses ranging from 6 to 10 mg/m2 and doxorubicin doses ranging from 30 to 50 mg/m2, but granulocytopenia-related infections were uncommon. Three of 14 patients who had repeated gated cardiac radionuclide scans had reductions in their ejection fractions of 26% or more at relatively small total cumulative doses of the drugs; one patient developed reversible congestive heart failure after having received high cumulative doses of the two drugs. Preliminary clinical data suggest that mitoxantrone does not protect patients from doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Other toxicity was generally mild.
Discrete approximations of continuous-time high-order system using Z- and delta transform

This paper investigates the model order reduction of the continuous-time high-order system using Skogestad “half rule” method and obtaining the discrete-time models in zand delta domain. The proposed approach is illustrating by the simulation example of a non-minimum phase highorder system. Some discretization effects at different sampling rates are analyzed.
Paramètres de reproduction de Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793) du golfe de Guinée, Côte d’Ivoire

Une etude de la biologie de Sarda sarda du golfe de Guinee a ete entreprise de janvier a decembre 2016 au niveau des quais de debarquements des pecheurs artisans dans le but de determiner les parametres de reproduction. Ainsi, un total de 635 specimens (260 mâles et 375 femelles) de longueur a la fourche comprise entre 33 et 57 cm et de poids corporel allant de 914 a 2623 g ont ete examines. La periode de reproduction determinee s’etend de mars a aout. La fecondite absolue (Fa) varie de 44620 a 446530 ovocytes pour des femelles de taille comprise entre 38 et 56 cm, avec une moyenne de 124002 ± 10347 ovocytes. La fecondite relative (Fr) varie de 29 a 170 ovocytes / g de poids corporel avec une moyenne de 83 ± 4 ovocytes / g de poids corporel. Les fecondites absolue et relative augmentent proportionnellement avec la longueur corporelle. Le diametre des ovocytes varie de 1,3 a 1,6 mm avec une moyenne de 1,47 ± 0,14 mm. Le sexe ratio (M : F) determine pour l’espece est de 1:1,44. La taille de premiere maturite sexuelle est de 38,41 cm chez les mâles et 38,56 cm pour les femelles. Mots cles : Sarda sarda , golfe de Guinee, periode de reproduction, fecondite, sexe ratio, maturite sexuelle.
The Multivalent Adhesion Molecule SSO1327 plays a key role in Shigella sonnei pathogenesis

Shigella sonnei is a bacterial pathogen and causative agent of bacillary dysentery. It deploys a type III secretion system to inject effector proteins into host epithelial cells and macrophages, an essential step for tissue invasion and immune evasion. Although the arsenal of bacterial effectors and their cellular targets have been studied extensively, little is known about the prerequisites for deployment of type III secreted proteins during infection. Here, we describe a novel S. sonnei adhesin, SSO1327 which is a multivalent adhesion molecule (MAM) required for invasion of epithelial cells and macrophages and for infection in vivo. The S. sonnei MAM mediates intimate attachment to host cells, which is required for efficient translocation of type III effectors into host cells. SSO1327 is non‐redundant to IcsA; its activity is independent of type III secretion. In contrast to the up‐regulation of IcsA‐dependent and independent attachment and invasion by deoxycholate in Shigella flexneri, deoxycholate negatively regulates IcsA and MAM in S. sonnei resulting in reduction in attachment and invasion and virulence attenuation in vivo. A strain deficient for SSO1327 is avirulent in vivo, but still elicits a host immune response.
Molecular investigation by whole exome sequencing revealed a high proportion of pathogenic variants among Thai victims of sudden unexpected death syndrome

Introduction Sudden unexpected death syndrome (SUDS) is an important cause of death in young healthy adults with a high incident rate in Southeast Asia; however, there are no molecular autopsy reports about these victims. We performed a combination of both a detailed autopsy and a molecular autopsy by whole exome sequencing (WES) to investigate the cause of SUDS in Thai sudden death victims. Materials and methods A detailed forensic autopsy was performed to identify the cause of death, followed by a molecular autopsy, in 42 sudden death victims who died between January 2015 and August 2015. The coding sequences of 98 SUDS-related genes were sequenced using WES. Potentially causative variants were filtered based on the variant functions annotated in the dbNSFP database. Variants with inconclusive clinical significance evidence in ClinVar were resolved with a variant prediction algorithm, metaSVM, and the frequency data of the variants found in public databases, such as the 1000 Genome Project, ESP6500 project, and the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAc) project. Results Combining both autopsy and molecular autopsy enabled the potential identification of cause of death in 81% of the cases. Among the 25 victims with WES data, 72% (18/25) were found to have potentially causative SUDS mutations. The majority of the victims had at a mutation in the TTN gene (8/18 = 44%), and only one victim had an SCN5A mutation. Conclusions WES can help to identify the genetic causes in victims of SUDS and may help to further guide investigations into their relatives to prevent additional SUDS victims.
Dyskerin and cancer: more than telomerase. The defect in mRNA translation helps in explaining how a proliferative defect leads to cancer

Point mutations in the DKC1 gene that encodes dyskerin cause the rare inherited syndrome called X‐linked dyskeratosis congenita, characterized by a failure of proliferating tissues and increased susceptibility to cancer. Dyskerin is a nucleolar protein with different functions, all fundamental to basic cellular events such as protein expression, growth, and proliferation. The two best‐characterized dyskerin activities are the stabilization of the telomerase RNA component, allowing the proper function telomerase enzymatic complex, and the modification of specific uridine residues of ribosomal RNA by converting them to pseudouridine, thus allowing proper ribosome processing and function. In light of the recent findings, this review focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of dyskeratosis congenita, discussing how a defect in ribosomal function might impact on the translation of a subset of mRNAs encoding for tumour suppressors, thus providing an explanation for the apparent paradox of dyskeratosis congenita in which reduced cell proliferation is associated with cancer susceptibility. In addition, the current evidence pointing to a role played by dyskerin in tumours in the general population is also discussed. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Positron emission tomography predicted recovery of complete A-V nodal dysfunction in a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis.

A 36-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of exertional dyspnea and syncope. The ECG showed complete A-V block (Figure 1A), and a pacemaker was implanted. Although his chest X-ray did not detect bilateral hilar lymph node enlargement, his acute clinical course with complete A-V block suggested cardiac sarcoidosis. Thus, we performed thoracic computed tomography, which revealed multiple enlarged paratracheal lymph nodes. Pathological examination of one lymph node showed noncaseating granulomas, consistent with sarcoidosis (Figure 2). Radionucleotide scintigram of myocardium showed decreased uptake of thallium in the basal septal segment. Cardiac fluorine-18-deoxyglucose (18FDG)/nitrogen-13-ammonia (13NH3) positron emission tomography (PET) also showed strongly enhanced 18FDG uptake in the basal septal …
A Novel Passive Offline LED Driver With Long Lifetime

This paper describes a patent-pending passive offline light-emitting diode (LED) driver that has no controlled semiconductor switches, electrolytic capacitors, auxiliary power supply, and control board. It can provide a fairly smooth current from the ac mains to drive LED strings. The new circuit has the advantages of high input power factor, high energy efficiency and luminous efficacy, long lifetime, stable luminous output, and high robustness against extreme weather conditions. In addition, over 90% of the driver material is recyclable, leading to reduction of electronic waste. It is particularly suitable public LED lighting systems, such as road lighting systems. Experimental results based on a 50-W system are included in the paper to confirm the validity of the proposal. Due to the circuit simplicity, an energy efficiency exceeding 93.6% has been achieved.
The accuracy of colposcopic biopsy: Analyses from the placebo arm of the Gardasil clinical trials

We evaluated the overall agreement between colposcopically directed biopsies and the definitive excisional specimens within the context of three clinical trials. A total of 737 women aged 16–45 who had a cervical biopsy taken within 6 months before their definitive therapy were included. Per‐protocol, colposcopists were to also obtain a representative cervical biopsy immediately before definitive therapy. Using adjudicated histological diagnoses, the initial biopsies and the same day biopsies were correlated with the surgically excised specimens. The overall agreement between the biopsies taken within 6 months of definitive therapy, and the definitive therapy diagnoses was 42% (weighted kappa = 0.34) (95% CI: 0.29–0.39). The overall underestimation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 or adenocarcinoma in situ (CIN2‐3/AIS) and CIN3/AIS was 26 and 42%, respectively. When allowing for one degree of variance in the correlation, the overall agreement was 92% for CIN2‐3/AIS. The overall agreement between the same day biopsy and definitive therapy specimen was 56% (weighted kappa = 0.41) (95% CI: 0.36–0.47), and the underestimation of CIN2‐3/AIS was 57%. There were significant associations in the agreement between biopsies and excisional specimen diagnoses when patients were stratified by age, number of biopsies, lesion size, presence of human papillomavirus (HPV)16/18 and region. Of 178 diagnostic endocervical curettages performed, 14 (7.9%) found any HPV disease. Colposcopic accuracy improved when CIN2 and CIN3/AIS were grouped as a single predictive measure of high‐grade disease. Colposcopy functioned well when allowed a one‐degree difference between the biopsy and the surgical histologic interpretations, as done in clinical practice. Taking more than one biopsy improved colposcopic accuracy and could improve patient management.
Development and Testing of the Psychometric Properties of Thai Nurses’ Attitudes toward Alcohol-dependent Patients Scale

Background: The attitudes of nurses can impact quality of patient care. Aim: To develop and test the psychometric properties of Thai nurses’ attitudes toward alcohol-dependent patients scale. Method: Instrument development research design was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 was focus group interviews to better understand the meaning and concept of attitudes of nurses toward alcohol-dependent patients, creating components of attitude and developing specific scale items. Phase 2 was the evaluation of psychometric properties of the scale through fieldtesting for construct validity and reliability. Data was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient test, t-test, factor analysis technique with varimax rotation, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient test. Results: 28 items showed good item discrimination power. The item-total correlations showed medium to high levels of correlation with factor loadings ≥0.44, and displayed a total variance of 73.19%. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 5 components: nurses’ opinion alcohol-dependent patients in terms of behavior, beliefs, opinion on personalities, feeling about image, and opinion on care. The reliability coefficient alpha of Cronbach was 0.96. Conclusion: Nurses’ attitudes toward alcohol-dependent patients scale shows high validity, high reliability, and could be used as a scale of Thai nurses’ attitudes toward alcohol-dependent patients.
Effect of alcohol consumption on diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Both diabetes mellitus and alcohol consumption are prevalent in the United States, yet physicians are poorly informed about how alcohol use affects risk for or management of diabetes. PURPOSE To conduct a systematic review assessing the effect of alcohol use on the incidence, management, and complications of diabetes mellitus in adults. DATA SOURCES English-language studies in persons 19 years of age or older that were identified by searching the MEDLINE database from 1966 to the third week of August 2003 and the reference lists of key articles. STUDY SELECTION Two independent assessors reviewed 974 retrieved citations to identify all experimental, cohort, or case-control studies that assessed the effect of alcohol use on diabetes risk, control, self-management, adverse drug events, or complications. DATA EXTRACTION Two independent reviewers extracted data and evaluated study quality on the basis of established criteria. DATA SYNTHESIS Thirty-two studies that met inclusion criteria were reviewed. Compared with no alcohol use, moderate consumption (one to 3 drinks/d) is associated with a 33% to 56% lower incidence of diabetes and a 34% to 55% lower incidence of diabetes-related coronary heart disease. Compared with moderate consumption, heavy consumption (>3 drinks/d) may be associated with up to a 43% increased incidence of diabetes. Moderate alcohol consumption does not acutely impair glycemic control in persons with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased incidence of diabetes mellitus and a decreased incidence of heart disease in persons with diabetes. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of alcohol consumption on glycemic control and noncardiac complications in persons with diabetes.
Universal domains and the amalgamation property

In the theory of denotational semantics of programming languages, several authors have constructed various kinds of universal domains. We present here a categorical generalization of a well-known result in model theory, which we use to characterize large classes of reasonable categories that contain universal homogeneous objects. The existence of such objects is characterized by the condition that the finite objects in the category satisfy the amalgamation property. We derive from this the existence and uniqueness of universal homogeneous domains for several categories of bifinite domains, with embedding-projection-pairs as morphisms. We also obtain universal homogeneous objects for various categories of stable bifinite domains. In contrast, several categories of event domains and concrete domains and the category of all coherent Scott-domains do not contain universal homogeneous objects. Finally, we show that all our constructions can be performed effectively.