Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complex antibodies provide a simple explanation for the plurality of clinical presentations in the Guillain Barré syndromes

A strong argument can be made for pluralizing the eponymous term when referring to the acute post infectious polyradiculoneuropathies. The Guillain−Barre syndromes (GBS) thus comprise axonal, demyelinating and nodo-paranodopathy forms, defined electrophysiologically or pathologically. Clinically recognized variants can be limited to specific body regions (such as facial diplegia or paraplegic GBS) and preferentially or exclusively affect specific nerve types (pure motor, sensory, acute pandysautonomia). Antibodies directed against the ganglioside GQ1b are strongly associated with the GBS variant known as Miller−Fisher syndrome (MFS), yet are also found in formes fruste of MFS, Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis and the regional pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant. An explanation for the plurality of clinical presentations associated with this single antibody has thus far proved elusive.
Existence of different Fos/Jun complexes during the G0-to-G1 transition and during exponential growth in mouse fibroblasts: differential role of Fos proteins

We have determined the different Fos/Jun complexes present in Swiss 3T3 cells either following serum stimulation of quiescent cells or during exponential growth by immunoprecipitation analyses. We have shown that while c-Fos is the major Fos protein associated with the Jun proteins (c-Jun, JunB, and JunD) soon after serum stimulation, at later times Fra-1 and Fra-2 are the predominant Fos proteins associated with the different Jun proteins. During exponential growth, the synthesis of Fra-1 and Fra-2 is maintained at a significant level, in contrast to c-Fos and FosB, which are expressed at very low or undetectable levels. Consequently, Fra-1 and Fra-2 are the main Fos proteins complexed with the Jun proteins in asynchronously growing cells. To determine whether the Fos proteins are differentially required during the G0-to-G1 transition and exponential growth for the entrance into S phase, we microinjected affinity-purified antibodies directed against c-Fos, FosB, Fra-1, and Fra-2. We have found that while the activities of c-Fos and FosB are required mostly during the G0-to-G1 transition, Fra-1 and Fra-2 are involved both in the G0-to-G1 transition and in asynchronous growth.
L’énigme des contraintes grammaticales sur les sujets poyaudins

Notre contribution fait etat de notre etude en cours des sujets du poyaudin, un patois d’oui. D’une part, en poyaudin, tous les syntagmes nominaux ne sont pas eligibles pour la position syntaxique de sujet : ils doivent pour cela etre suffisamment definis/topicaux. Les autres syntagmes nominaux, s’ils doivent exprimer le sujet semantique de la predication, doivent etre inseres dans des structures syntaxiques ou ils peuvent apparaitre en position d’objet : comme element introduit par y a dans une clivee, ou comme sujet reel d’un verbe a la tournure impersonnelle. D’autre part, les syntagmes nominaux sujets sont (tres) frequemment redoubles d’un clitique nominatif. Nous proposons alors un ensemble d’hypotheses : (i) Les contraintes qui pesent sur les sujets dependent crucialement du fait que les syntagmes candidats a la position syntaxique de sujet sont evalues sur une echelle de definitude/ accessibilite/topicalite. (ii) Les clitiques nominatifs portent un trait d’accord de type defini/accessible/topical. Ce trait implique que le redoublement clitique du sujet n’est possible que lorsque le sujet est evalue sur l’echelle en question par une valeur compatible avec le trait du clitique nominatif. Ainsi, certains sujets, trop bas sur cette echelle, ne declenchent pas l’accord par redoublement clitique. (iii) Les syntagmes nominaux trop bas sur l’echelle pour etre eligibles en position de sujet trouvent une place adequate dans les clivees et les tournures impersonnelles parce qu’ils s’y trouvent dans des positions syntaxiques d’objets, qui n’ont pas de restriction dans ce sens.
Storage characteristics of some vegetables and soft fruits.

SUMMARY Rates of carbon dioxide production, in air and in 3 % 02, over a range of temperatures, were measured for over thirty commodities, and rates of evaporation, under known water vapour pressure deficit, measured for most of them. Optimum storage conditions in air for each commodity were determined. Storage life under these optimum conditions, and under the nearest practical approximation to them, was estimated. In most cases the optimum temperature is ooC, examples of exceptions being runner beans, cucumbers, potatoes, green peppers and tomatoes. The humidity should usually be high, 100 % r.h. often being optimal, particularly for leafy vegetables, provided the temperature is low. Commodities resistant to evaporation, however, such as the onion, may with advantage be stored at lower humidities, thus reducing the microbial hazards.
Combined bilateral and anisotropic-diffusion filters for medical image de-noising

Image de-noising is a core operation in image processing and computer vision. In this paper, combination of two popular methods in image de-noising bilateral and anisotropic-diffusion filtering is investigated to reduce the noise in medical images, while preserving the clarity of images. The proposed method experimented on 23 MRI images. The results obtained from the proposed method gained higher peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and compression ratio (CR) performance in comparison with the traditional methods by more than 8%.
Unenhanced Helical CT Using Increased Pitch for Suspected Renal Colic: An Effective Technique for Radiation Dose Reduction?

Purpose To determine the accuracy and utility of unenhanced helical CT for suspected renal colic, using a pitch of either 2.5 or 3.0. Methods 59 consecutive patients underwent unenhanced helical CT. 5 mm contiguous images were obtained at a kVP of 120 and an mA of 260. Thirty-four patients were imaged at a pitch of 2.5, and 25 patients were imaged at a pitch of 3.0. Two radiologists, an attending (reader 1), and a second-year resident (reader 2), independently and retrospectively reviewed the CT images, blinded to the clinical outcome. The presence or absence of a ureteral stone was recorded and image quality was graded. A third radiologist determined accuracy for each reader. Average entrance exposure was estimated using a CT phantom at a variety of pitches. Results Overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for reader 1 were 91, 96, and 93%. For reader 2, they were 86, 93, and 90%. There was no significant difference in accuracy using a pitch of 3.0 compared with 2.5 for either reader. Readers 1 and 2 rated image quality at 2.5 pitch as excellent for 88 and 76% of scans, respectively; at 3.0 pitch the scans were rated by both readers as excellent for 40% and acceptable for 60%. Average entrance exposures were estimated at 461, 553, and 913 mR at pitches of 3.0, 2.5, and 1.5. Conclusion Increasing the pitch on unenhanced helical CT for suspected renal colic to 2.5 or 3.0 appears to be an effective method of reducing radiation dose. Although accuracy of the technique did not significantly change using a pitch of 3.0 in one group of patients, compared with a pitch of 2.5 in another group of patients, image quality did decrease.
Distal Intramural Spread in Colorectal Cancer: A Reappraisal of the Extent of Distal Clearance in Fifty Cases

Fifty colorectal carcinomas were Investigated to demonstrate distal intramural spread (DIS). In 17 cases (34 %) a DIS ranging from 0.25 to 3.5 cm was present. DIS was positively correlated with stage C2 (p < 0.01), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.03) and Infiltrative growth of the tumor (p < 0.05). Our results show that DIS is a relatively frequent event but of limited extension. In fact, a distal clearance margin of 2 cm was considered safe for all patients but one C2 mucoid case. No pathologic feature can predict preoperatively the presence and extent of DIS.
Which algorithm diagnoses invasive pulmonary aspergillosis best in ICU patients with COPD?

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a potentially lethal opportunistic infection, mainly affecting immunocompromised patients, particularly those with prolonged neutropenia [1]. Several reports have shown that Aspergillus spp. can also cause IPA in patients with a priori less severe immune dysfunction, such as those in intensive care units (ICUs) [2–5] or with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [5–8]. In these patients, diagnosis of IPA remains a challenge, because the reference diagnostic criteria (defined by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycosis Study Group (EORTC/MSG)) were developed for research in high-risk patients and not specifically for patients in the ICU or patients with COPD [9]. Two alternative algorithms have been proposed for this setting: the COPD algorithm for patients with COPD [6] and the Clinical algorithm for patients in the ICU [10]. In ICU COPD patients, the Clinical algorithm seems to be more useful to diagnose IPA than the COPD or EORTC/MSG ones http://ow.ly/N2TN30e6Zur
Photodynamic therapy in oncology: mechanisms and clinical use.

In photodynamic therapy (PDT), a sensitizer, light, and oxygen are used to cause photochemically induced cell death. The mechanism of cytotoxicity involves generation of singlet oxygen and other free radicals when the light-excited sensitizer loses or accepts an electron. Although selective retention of sensitizer by malignant tissue is seen in vivo, the mechanisms for this sensitizer targeting remain unclear. The first-generation sensitizers are porphyrin based and vary in lipophilicity and hydrophilicity. Targeting of the vasculature seems to be a prominent feature of the cytotoxic effect of these sensitizers in vivo, with resulting necrosis. Treatment depth varies with the wavelength of light that activates the sensitizer used, and the second-generation sensitizers are activated at longer wavelengths, allowing for a 30% increase in treatment depths. The selectivity of targeting can be increased when the sensitizer is delivered with the use of liposomes or monoclonal antibodies specific for tumor antigens. Studies have demonstrated direct effects of PDT on immune effector cells, specifically those with lineage from macrophages or other monocytes. Clinically, this therapy has been chiefly used for palliation of endobronchial and esophageal obstruction, as well as for treatment of bladder carcinomas, skin malignancies, and brain tumors. The future of PDT rests in defining its use either as an intraoperative adjuvant to marginal surgical procedures or as a primary treatment for superficial malignancies. Phase III trials in esophageal cancer and lung cancer are in progress and will help in evaluation of whether Photofrin II, the most widely used sensitizer, can be added to the oncologic armamentarium, pending approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Population-Based Validation of a German-Language Self-Administered Headache Questionnaire

We validated a German-language self-administered headache questionnaire for migraine (M), tension-type headache (TTH) and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC) in a general population sample of people with headache. Randomly selected subjects (n = 240) diagnosed by the questionnaire as M (n = 60), TTH (n = 60), a combination of M and TTH (M+TTH, n = 60) and TAC (n = 60) were invited for examination by headache specialists. One hundred and ninety-three subjects (80%) were studied. Sensitivity and specificity for M were 0.85 and 0.85, for TTH 0.6 and 0.88, for M+TTH 0.82 and 0.87, respectively. Cohen's κ was 0.6 (95% confidence interval 0.50, 0.71). Of 45 patients with TAC according to the questionnaire, physicians diagnosed cluster headache in two patients only. We conclude: (i) the questionnaire can be used to diagnose M, TTH and M+TTH, but not TAC; (ii) screening questionnaires for epidemiological research should be validated in a general population sample but not in a tertiary headache clinic.
CYP450 polymorphisms predict clinic outcomes to vinorelbine-based chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

CYP2C19*2(G681A), CYP2C19*3(G636A), CYP2D6*4(C188T), CYP2D6*2(C2938T, G4268C), CYP3AP1*3- G44A and CYP3A5*3(A22893G) are the most common polymorphisms detected among Chinese that may influence the efficacy of vinorelbine-based therapies to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We detected the genotypes of these polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP in 59 patients with NSCLC and assessed their responses to vinorelbine. CYP2D6*4(C188T), CYP3AP1*3 (G -44 A) and CYP3A5*3 were found to be associated with response to vinorelbine. For the 2D6*4 polymorphism, the 18 of 32 (56.25%) patients with homozygous (C/C) responded to this therapy, while 6 of 27 (22.22%) of those heterozygous (C/T) at this site responded. (χ2=5.68, p < 0.05) For the 3AP1*1/*3 polymorphism, 12 of 42 (28.57%) patients with homozygous (A/A) responded, while 12 of 17 (70.59%) with heterozygous (A/G) and homozygous (G/G) responded (χ2=7.19, p < 0.01). CYP3A5*3 polymorphism has a result corresponding to 3AP1*3 polymorphism. Other polymorphisms were not associated with response to vinorelbine. No significant difference in toxicity and survival was observed according to SNP genotype.
Ten-year clinical, developmental, and intellectual follow-up of children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection without neurologic symptoms at one year of age.

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to ascertain whether children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection at birth, but without neurologic symptoms at 1 year of age, differed in somatic, neurologic, developmental, or intellectual status from matched control children at long-term follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS Congenital CMV infection, as demonstrated by isolation of the virus within the first week of life, was diagnosed in 44 (0.5%) of 9806 infants. From this basic CMV-infected population, children who developed neurologic disturbances including sensorineural deafness before 1 year of age were excluded (n = 7), as were those unwilling to participate (n = 2). Congenitally infected infants (n = 35) and matched control infants (n = 53) were followed up clinically and neurologically. At 21 months, development was assessed with the Griffiths' Developmental Scale and at 7 years of age neurologic status was assessed with the Stott test and intellectual development with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. RESULTS As reported previously, 18% (8/44) of the CMV-infected infants manifested symptoms at birth, as compared to 8% (4/53) in the control group. In the congenital CMV group 7% (2/30) children tested had abnormal Stott test results, as compared to 2% (1/43) in the control group. Thirty-two CMV-infected and 51 control group children were assessed with the Griffiths' scale at 21 months of age. The two groups did not differ significantly, either in mean scores (6.3 +/- 2.3 vs 6.1 +/- 1.9) or in the proportion of children with scores below normal (19% [6/32] vs 16% [8/51]). Twenty-five CMV-infected and 41 control group children were assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children at 7 years of age (median 86 months; range, 82 to 90 and 82 to 91, respectively). The two groups did not differ significantly, either in mean scores (5.8 +/- 2.0 vs 6.4 +/- 1.6) or in the proportion of children with scores below normal (12% [3/25] vs 5% [2/41]). CONCLUSION Children with congenital CMV infection are unlikely to be at an increased risk of subsequent neurodevelopmental or intellectual impairment if they show normal development at 12 months of age.
Making UML activity diagrams object-oriented

The way the activity diagram in the Unified Modeling Language is currently defined is not object-oriented. Activity diagrams specify data/object flow. We feel that the object-oriented principles should hold for every part of the standard for object-oriented analysis and design. Therefore this paper proposes a few small changes to the UML metamodel that will integrate activity diagrams into an object-oriented scheme, focusing on three fundamental object-oriented principles: responsibility, information hiding/encapsulation, and delegation.
Finger dexterity and hand function: effect of three commercial wrist extensor orthoses on patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of 3 commercial wrist orthoses on finger dexterity and hand function of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Forty-two patients with definite RA participated in the cross-over study comparing 3 styles of commercial wrist orthoses. Finger dexterity and hand function of the dominant hand were assessed while splinted and unsplinted, at the initial session and after 1 week of intermittent orthosis use. Finger dexterity was assessed using two subtests from the Purdue Pegboard Test (Purdue) and hand function was assessed using the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (Jebsen-Taylor). RESULTS Both finger dexterity and hand function were reduced by splinting; men and women were affected similarly. There was no difference in finger dexterity or hand function afforded by the 3 orthoses. Results on both the Purdue and Jebsen-Taylor tests showed a significant learning effect across time. CONCLUSIONS The 3 commercial wrist orthoses studied reduce dexterity similarly and significantly. When commercial wrist orthoses are to be used during tasks that require maximum dexterity, this reduction should be weighed against the known benefits of splinting.
Re-emerging of infections in urban India--focus leptospirosis.

One of the major success stores against infection diseases in the 20th Century is hampered by reemergence of old ones and with co-occurrence of new disease as well as drug resistance strains. Several bacterial diseases are re-emerging due to poor public health measures. Both microbial expertise and epidemiological surveillance are deficient in general health care and public health system in India; therefore infections disease that have been under control elsewhere remain prevalent in the country, but are also under diagnosed and under reported. Also empirical antimicrobial policy, lack of pharmacy vigilance and over the counter prescriptions lead to masking of clinical features. Further despite of advances in laboratory medicine, several tests though now available particularly for serodiagnosis; need validation. In the last few decades diseases like malaria, leptospira, dengue, anthrax, salmonella have re-emerged and multidrug resistant strains of HIV, Salmonelia, Ecoli, TB are on the rise. Plague re-appeared in two outbreaks in Maharasthra and in 1994, indicating a breakdown of the public health measures that had prevented its occurrence of for several decades. Leptospirosis appears to be the increase in Kerala, Tamilnadu and the Andamans during the last two decades, probably due to increased farming and inadequate rodent control is suggested that melioidosis due to the soil organism Burkholderia pseudomallei may be prevalent in many parts of India, but is underdiagnosed and under-reported. Since 1991, a completely new choleragenic Vibrio cholerae, designated 0139 has emerged in southern India and spread to parts of India and to neighbouring countries. Animal anthrax is very common in many parts of India, but North Arcot districts, its prevalence had increased in recent years. Since a multi-drug resistant variety of typhoid fever had been prevalent in many parts of India, caused by Salmonella typhi resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. Nosocomial methicilli resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection seems to be widely prevalent hospitals in many regions in India, and its prevalence seems to be on the these pathogens pose new threats to public health, and call for appropriate responses. 1 In the South Asia region vast human populations are exposed daily and considerable intensity to close contact with vast animal populations and excreta. Among the commonest zoonotic diseases prevalence member countries are rabies, brucellosis, Japanese encephalitis, echinococcosis, tuberculosis, visceral leishmaniasis, taeniasis, salmonel campylobacteriosis and
Endoplasmic reticulum‐associated degradation of the NR1 but not the NR2 subunits of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor induced by inhibition of the N‐glycosylation in cortical neurons

The N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is fundamental to normal and pathological functioning of neurons. The receptor subunits are N‐glycosylated proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that fold, mature, and oligomerize as they transit through the secretory pathway. Although the early processes of biogenesis are fundamental to NMDAR expression and function, our knowledge of them is nevertheless limited. Additionally, the investigation of NMDAR synthesis is highly relevant, in that ER dysfunction, frequently associated with acute and degenerative brain diseases, might alter this process. We characterize here the effect of ER stress produced by inhibition of N‐glycosylation on NMDAR synthesis and function. We use first heterologous systems of NMDAR expression in which NR1 and NR2A subunits are synthesized in nonneuronal cells. The function of these NMDARs as Ca2+ channels is repressed by tunicamycin, because of the inhibition of NR1, but no NR2A, synthesis. The regulation of NR1 is relevant to the central nervous system, in that a dramatic decrease in synthesis of this subunit and assembly of NMDARs is observed in cortical neurons treated with tunicamycin. The inhibition of NR1 synthesis is not due to changes in levels of mRNA but associated with the earliest stages in NMDAR biogenesis. The inhibition of N‐glycosylation activates ER‐specific stress responses in neurons, which include the ER‐associated degradation (ERAD) mechanism responsible for differential and extremely efficient degradation of nonglycosylated NR1 by the proteasome after ubiquitination. Because this is an obligatory NMDAR component, the significant sensitivity of NR1 to ER stress will have important consequences on receptor function. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.