Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retreatment tuberculosis cases. Factors associated with drug resistance and adverse outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Risk factors associated with treatment failure and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were examined among HIV-seronegative patients who were previously treated for tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN Prospective, cohort study of patients referred to the study hospital for retreatment of TB between March 1986 and March 1990. PATIENTS The patients belonged to three groups, according to outcomes following their previous treatment: 37 patients who abandoned treatment or suffered relapse after completion of therapy (group A), 91 patients who failed to respond to the first-line drug regimen (group B), and 78 patients who failed to respond to the second-line drug regimen (group C). RESULTS Patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to rifampin and isoniazid were found in 2 (6%) in group A, 29 (33%) in group B, and 49 (65%) in group C. Cure was achieved in 77% in group A, 54% in group B, and 36% in group C. Death occurred in none of the patients in group A, 8% in group B, and 24% in group C. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, unfavorable response (failure to sterilize sputum culture, death, and abandonment) was significantly associated with infection with a multidrug-resistant M tuberculosis strain (p = 0.0002), cavitary disease (p = 0.0029), or irregular use of medications (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS These observations show that a previous treatment outcome and current clinical and epidemiologic histories can be used to predict the development of MDR-TB and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing retreatment for TB. Such information may be useful for identifying appropriate patient candidates for programs such as directly observed therapy.
Transparent CNT coatings for solar array and spacecraft charging applications

The adverse effects of spacecraft charging, electro static discharging (ESD), and solar array arcing in plasma environments as well as solar array design features resultant thereof are well studied and not further explored in this extended abstract. Modern and future spacecraft and space solar array designs both necessitate the need for, and enable the development of, lightweight, cost effective, and novel charge mitigation methods [1]. Transparent Carbon Nano Tube (CNT) coatings may offer a cost effective and technically equivalent (or superior) alternative to the multilayer Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) / Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2) coatings presently utilized on some high altitude (GEO and MEO) solar array coverglasses (CG) [2]. CNT based coatings may offer a discriminatory advantage in cost since they can be applied at ambient conditions by simple coating methods such as dip coating and spray methods. The feasibility of transparent CNT CG coatings and tolerance to space environmental conditions has been recently explored [3, 4]. The present study characterizes solar array performance and surface charging performance for higher level assemblies fabricated with transparent CNT coatings. Results presented herein may represent the first published results of this type for CNT coated space solar array CICs.
Chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 6 infection: response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

BACKGROUND To date, no study has evaluated pegylated interferon for the treatment of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6. We aimed to determine the efficacy of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for treating infection with genotype 6 versus genotype 1. METHODS Forty-two patients chronically infected with HCV (for genotype 1, n = 21; for genotype 6, n = 21) were treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a (n = 20) or alpha-2b (n = 22) combined with oral ribavirin for 48 weeks. RESULTS There was no difference between genotypes 1 and 6 in the rates of early virological response (76% vs. 81%; P > .05) and end-of-treatment response (71% vs. 81%; ). Patients infected with genotype 6 had a higher rate of sustained virological response (SVR) than did patients infected with genotype 1 (86% vs. 52%; P = .019). The overall adverse-effects profile was similar in both genotype groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of SVR between patients receiving pegylated interferon alpha-2a and those receiving alpha-2b. Multivariate analysis showed that genotype was the only significant factor associated with SVR (P = .039). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 48 weeks resulted in a significantly higher rate of SVR in patients infected with genotype 6 than in those infected with genotype 1. Further studies are required to determine whether lower dosages and 24 weeks of therapy may be sufficient for the treatment of genotype 6 infection.
Post-Socialist Capital Market: Why Not the Feldstein-Horioka Puzzle?

The Feldstein-Horioka puzzle is often referred to as evidence of poor capital mobility between countries. One might expect that integrated economies (such as in the EU) would lead to the end of this puzzle. On the contrary, disintegration would be likely to produce this puzzle. The Comecon’s members, especially former Soviet republics, have suffered such a destruction of common economic space last several decades. However, we find that the Feldstein-Horioka puzzle is not clearly observable among these countries.We try to find an explanation in the sense of ties between economic actors. The specific circumstances of the post-socialist transformation made it more or less difficult to run long-time investment projects. Therefore, investments in these countries were not constrained in this way and could “choose” their direction relatively freely.It brings us to the conclusion that the Feldstein-Horioka puzzle is a characteristic of economic actors and their environment to a greater extent than capital market frictions per se.
Sourcing With Unverifiable Performance Information

Firms often decide whether to purchase an input from an outside supplier or produce the input internally. For example, automobile and computer manufacturers routinely choose between subcontracting for component parts and producing them in-house. Similarly, large firms and government agencies must often decide whether to employ outside experts (e.g., law firms) or create internal staffs of experts. Among the many considerations that affect these "make-or-buy" sourcing decisions are the incentive issues that arise under the two modes of operation. We examine a setting where the decision to buy the input from an outside supplier gives rise to a two-sided moral hazard problem: the supplier's effort is unobservable, and the buyer receives private information about the quality of the input. Truthful reports from the buyer about product quality might be used to motivate the supplier to labor diligently, inducing stochastically higher quality from the buyer's perspective. However, the buyer may be tempted not to acknowledge high product quality when doing so contractually requires a higher payment to the supplier. The two-sided moral hazard problem we investigate is complicated by the absence of a third party who might manage the relationship between the buyer and supplier.
Pyruvate kinase expression (PKM1 and PKM2) in cancer-associated fibroblasts drives stromal nutrient production and tumor growth

We have previously demonstrated that enhanced aerobic glycolysis and/or autophagy in the tumor stroma supports epithelial cancer cell growth and aggressive behavior, via the secretion of high-energy metabolites. These nutrients include lactate and ketones, as well as chemical building blocks, such as amino acids (glutamine) and nucleotides. Lactate and ketones serve as fuel for cancer cell oxidative metabolism, and building blocks sustain the anabolic needs of rapidly proliferating cancer cells. We have termed these novel concepts the “Reverse Warburg Effect,” and the “Autophagic Tumor Stroma Model of Cancer Metabolism. ” We have also identified a loss of stromal caveolin-1 (Cav-1) as a marker of stromal glycolysis and autophagy. The aim of the current study was to provide genetic evidence that enhanced glycolysis in stromal cells favors tumorigenesis. To this end, normal human fibroblasts were genetically-engineered to express the two isoforms of pyruvate kinase M (PKM1 and PKM2), a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. In a xenograft model, fibroblasts expressing PKM1 or PKM2 greatly promoted the growth of co-injected MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, without an increase in tumor angiogenesis. Interestingly, PKM1 and PKM2 promoted tumorigenesis by different mechanism(s). Expression of PKM1 enhanced the glycolytic power of stromal cells, with increased output of lactate. Analysis of tumor xenografts demonstrated that PKM1 fibroblasts greatly induced tumor inflammation, as judged by CD45 staining. In contrast, PKM2 did not lead to lactate accumulation, but triggered a “pseudo-starvation” response in stromal cells, with induction of an NFκB-dependent autophagic program, and increased output of the ketone body 3-hydroxy-buryrate. Strikingly, in situ evaluation of Complex IV activity in the tumor xenografts demonstrated that stromal PKM2 expression drives mitochondrial respiration specifically in tumor cells. Finally, immuno-histochemistry analysis of human breast cancer samples lacking stromal Cav-1 revealed PKM1 and PKM2 expression in the tumor stroma. Thus, our data indicate that a subset of human breast cancer patients with a loss of stromal Cav-1 show profound metabolic changes in the tumor microenvironment. As such, this subgroup of patients may benefit therapeutically from potent inhibitors targeting glycolysis, autophagy and/or mitochondrial activity (such as metformin).
Webgis-based system of “monitoring and preventing geological disaster rely on the masses”

Increasingly frequent disasters generate a huge impact on human society. As complex and fragile geological environment area is approximately 69% in China, Geological disaster is a serious natural disaster. Modern information technologies, such as communication technology, network technology, remote sensing, geographic information systems, and global positioning systems, plays increasingly important role in disaster reduction. Government has increased the work of disaster information, established a number of disaster information systems and databases. On the other hand, Monitoring and Preventing Disaster by the Masses (MPDM) is a Chinese special method of geological disaster prevention, and is summarized from practical geological disaster prevention work. Although MPGDM in China has successfully forecasted many geological disasters, it still has significant deficiencies. In this paper, we designed an information framework to set the MPDM upon computer and WebGIS technology, took the advantages of information technology to realize a series of functions, such as information transmission, space decision analysis, data management, and landslide disaster susceptibility assessing model.
Nuclear Localization Signal Receptor Affinity Correlates with in Vivo Localization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

Nuclear localization signals (NLSs) target proteins into the nucleus through mediating interactions with nuclear import receptors. Here, we perform a quantitative analysis of the correlation between NLS receptor affinity and the steady-state distribution of NLS-bearing cargo proteins between the cytoplasm and the nucleus of live yeast, which reflects the relative import rates of various NLS sequences. We find that there is a complicated, but monotonic quantitative relationship between the affinity of an NLS for the import receptor, importin α, and the steady-state accumulation of the cargo in the nucleus. This analysis takes into consideration the impact of protein size. In addition, the hypothetical upper limit to an NLS affinity for the receptors is explored through genetic approaches. Overall, our results indicate that there is a correlation between the binding affinity of an NLS cargo for the NLS receptor, importin α, and the import rate for this cargo. This correlation, however, is not maintained for cargoes that bind to the NLS receptor with very weak or very strong affinity.
The MELD system and liver transplant waiting-list mortality in developing countries: lessons learned from São Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE The MELD system has not yet been tested as an allocation tool for liver transplantation in the developing countries. In 2006, MELD (Model for End-stage Liver Disease) was launched as a new liver allocation system in São Paulo, Brazil. This study was designed to assess the results of the new allocation policy on waiting list mortality. METHODS The State of São Paulo liver transplant database was retrospectively reviewed from July 2003 through July 2009. Patients were divided into those who were transplanted before (Pre-MELD Group) and those who were transplanted after (post-MELD Group) the implementation of the MELD system. Only adult liver transplant candidates were included. Waiting list mortality was the primary endpoint. RESULTS The unadjusted death rate in waiting list decreased significantly after the implementation of the MELD system (from 91.2 to 33.5/1,000 patients per year; p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed a significant drop in risk of waiting list death for post-MELD patients (HR 0.34; p<0.0001). Currently, 48% of patients are transplanted within 1-year of listing (versus 23% in the pre-MELD era; p<0.0001). Patient and graft survival did not change with MELD implementation. CONCLUSION There was a reduction in waiting time and list mortality after implementation of the MELD system in São Paulo. Patients listed in the post-MELD era had a significant reduction in risk for the waiting list mortality. There were no changes in post-transplant outcomes. MELD can be successfully utilized for liver transplant allocation in developing countries.
Traumatic Fracture of the Premaxilla in the Bilateral Cleft Patient

AbstractTraumatic fracture of the premaxilla is a rare event, and there is minimal data regarding the presentation, management, and outcome of these patients. This article reports 2 patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate who each presented with traumatic fracture and displacement of the premaxilla. To authors’ knowledge, the occurrence and management of a traumatic fracture and displacement of the premaxilla in a patient with cleft lip and palate has not been reported.
MOLECULAR FORMS OF SOMATOSTATIN IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND IN PATIENTS WITH PANCREATIC SOMATOSTATINOMA

Two patients with somatostatin‐secreting pancreatic tumours are described, one presenting with hypoglycaemia due to hyperinsulinism, and the other with Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic ACTH production. When plasma from these patients was subjected to gel chromatography under conditions designed to prevent somatostatin binding to larger proteins, a peak of monomeric immunoreactive somatostatin was observed as well as several large molecular weight forms. These larger forms of somatostatin could be dissociated into monomeric somatostatin by dithiothreitol. Similar studies on plasma obtained from normal subjects also showed heterogeneity of circulating somatostatin. Extracts of tumour tissue from both patients contained predominantly monomeric somatostatin, but only small amounts of high molecular weight somatostatin which differed from the profile seen in plasma. The site(s) of origin of the large molecular weight forms of somatostatin seen in plasma and their relative biological activities remain to be established.
Human papillomavirus infections as a marker to predict overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in multiple cancers, but its significance in lung cancer has remained controversial. As the prevalence of HPV 16/18 infection was higher in lung adenocarcinoma among Taiwanese females, the aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical impact of HPV infections in lung adenocarcinoma. Two hundred and ten patients were enrolled to investigate the associations of HPV status in tumors with clinical characteristics as well as its impact on overall survival. The methods to assess HPV status were by immunohistochemistry for HPV L1 capsid protein and E6 protein and by nested polymerase chain reaction for HPV 16 and HPV 18. HPV infections were identified in 35.2% of patients, and associated with localized and smaller sized tumors (p = 0.022 and p = 0.002, respectively). Patients with HPV infections had a significantly better survival (p = 0.023, by log‐rank test) and a significantly reduced mortality risk after adjustments of age, tumor extent, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations status and treatments [adjusted hazard ratio = 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49–0.96, p = 0.026, by multivariate Cox proportional hazards models]. Specifically, patients with both HPV infections and EGFR mutations had the best survival outcome [1‐year survival rate, 68.5% (95% CI = 52.2–4.8%)]. Our findings indicate that HPV infections represent an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
Essential Tremor After Ipsilateral Cerebellar Hemispherectomy: Support for the Thalamus as the Central Oscillator

Essential tremor is a long-recognized and common movement disorder, yet controversy still surrounds its pathophysiology. The olivo-cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway has been implicated in the genesis of essential tremor, and the inferior olive has been considered the central oscillator driving the peripheral tremor. We present the case of a patient who developed essential tremor ipsilateral to cerebellar hemispherectomy and propose that the central oscillator in patients with essential tremor may not be the inferior olive in all cases, but rather the nucleus ventralis intermedius of the thalamus.
Factors associated with continued participation in mammography screening.

BACKGROUND Relatively little is known about factors that predict ongoing participation in mammography screening at regular intervals. Members of managed care plans have access to this preventive service; yet, many still do not receive it routinely. METHODS Using administrative data from HIP Health Plan of New York, a group model HMO, 24,215 women ages 50-80 years identified as having a screening mammogram during the baseline period were followed for 2 years to determine demographic and utilization factors that might be related to having a subsequent mammogram within the recommended time interval. RESULTS Of the 24,215 women with an index mammogram, 71.8;pc had a subsequent screening mammogram within 2 years. Women ages 65-74 years and those with Medicare coverage had the highest mammogram rates among the age and coverage categories. Number of primary care and gynecology physician visits was strongly related to having a subsequent mammogram. The average (mean) time between index and subsequent mammogram was 14.4 months. CONCLUSION The significance of health plan visits in subsequent mammography underscores the importance of physician-patient communication in a managed care plan and the integration of health plan members into the HMO delivery system. Even in this environment with equal access for all types of coverage, Medicaid members were less likely to receive this preventive service.
A descriptive study of skeletal muscle metabolism in critically ill patients: free amino acids, energy-rich phosphates, protein, nucleic acids, fat, water, and electrolytes.

OBJECTIVE To characterize biochemical changes in skeletal muscle in critically ill patients. DESIGN Survey of critically ill patients. SETTING Intensive care unit (ICU) at a university hospital. PATIENTS Critically ill patients (n = 20) subjected to trauma, surgical complications, and/or bacteremia who were treated in the ICU and showed no risk of bleeding complications were included. Reference groups of metabolically healthy volunteers and patients served as the control/reference groups. INTERVENTIONS Percutaneous muscle biopsy was obtained from both patients and healthy volunteers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Total free amino acids in skeletal muscle decreased 59% (p < .001) and skeletal muscle glutamine concentration decreased 72% (p < .001) in the critically ill patients. Basic amino acids decreased 49% (p < .001). Branch-chain amino acids increased 39% (p < .01), and aromatic amino acids increased 88% (p < .001) in the patients. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was reduced by 12% (p < .01). Total creatine concentration increased by 26% (p < .001) due to an 80% increase in free creatine (p < .001). The phosphorylated creatine fraction of total creatine decreased 22% (p < .001) in the patients. Alkali-soluble protein/DNA decreased 24% (p < .01) and fat free solid/DNA decreased 21% (P <.01) in patients sampled on or after ICU day 5 compared with the reference group. Muscle water increased 10% due to a doubling of the extracellular water fraction. CONCLUSIONS Although critically ill patients are a very heterogeneous group from a clinical point of view, there is a remarkable homogeneity in many of the biochemical parameters regardless of the severity of illness and the length of the ICU admission. The three most consistent differences were the skeletal muscle low glutamine concentration, the decrease in protein content, and the increase in extracellular water in the patients.
Transient subversion of CD40 ligand function diminishes immune responses to adenovirus vectors in mouse liver and lung tissues

First-generation adenovirus vectors will have limited application in gene therapy for chronic diseases because of destructive host immune responses. Important immune effectors include CD8+ T cells, which mediate target cell destruction and ablate transgene expression, and B cells, which produce neutralizing antibodies that block effective readministration of vector. Previous studies indicated that activation of CD4+ T cells by virus capsid proteins is necessary for full realization of effector function of CD8+ T cells and B cells. In this paper, we present a strategy for preventing CD4+ T-cell activation by an adenovirus vector delivered to mouse liver and lung tissues which is based on interfering with T-cell priming via CD40 ligand-CD40 interactions. Adenovirus transgene expression was stabilized in mice genetically deficient in CD40 ligand (CD40L), and neutralizing antibody to adenovirus did not develop, allowing efficient readministration of vector. A transient blockade of T-cell activation with an antibody to CD40L infused into the animal at the time of adenovirus vector-mediated gene transfer led to stabilization of transgene expression and diminished production of neutralizing antibody, allowing readministration of vector. In vitro T-cell assays suggested that a block in the primary activation of CD4+ T cells was responsible for the lack of B-cell- and cytotoxic-T-cell-dependent responses. This suggests a strategy for improving the potential of adenovirus vectors based on administration of an antibody to CD40L at the time of vector administration.