Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Hemorheologic changes in patients with liver diseases].

BACKGROUND To study the variation of the hemorheology and microcirculation in different period of liver diseases. METHODS Indices for hemorheology, liver function, HBV DNA and transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) DNA were measured in 82 patients with liver diseases and correlative analysis was made. RESULTS The low-shear whole blood viscosity (BV) and RBC aggregation index were significantly higher in hepatitis B group than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). No correlation was found between HBV DNA and indices of hemorheology (P greater than 0.05). The high-shear and low-shear BV and hematocrit (HCT) were significantly lower in decompensated cirrhosis group than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). RBC aggregation index, plasma viscosity (PV) and the low-shear BV were significantly higher in compensated cirrhosis group than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). The high-shear and low-shear BV were significantly higher in TTV positive group than those in the control group. CONCLUSION There is disturbance of microcirculation in the body of patients with hepatitis B or TTV infection. The blood of patients with compensated cirrhosis is in highly viscose status and in low viscose status in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. TTV seems to be harmful to some degree to the body. The hemorheology should be an index in detecting liver diseases in addition to HBV markers.
Mobility in Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic Europe: evidence from the lower limb.

A growing body of archeological evidence suggests that the dramatic climatic events of the Last Glacial Maximum in Europe triggered important changes in foraging behavior, involving a significant decrease in mobility. In general, changes in mobility alter patterns of bending of the midshaft femur and tibia, resulting in changes in diaphyseal robusticity and shape. This relationship between levels of mobility and lower limb diaphyseal structure was used to test the hypothesized decrease in mobility. Cross-sectional geometric data were obtained for 81 Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic European femora and tibiae. The sample was divided into three time periods: Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP), Late Upper Paleolithic (LUP), and Mesolithic (Meso). In addition, because decreased mobility often results in changes in sex roles, males and females were analyzed separately. All indicators of bending strength decrease steadily through time, although few of the changes reach statistical significance. There is, however, a highly significant change in midshaft femur shape, with LUP and Meso groups more circular in cross-section than the EUP sample, supporting archeologically based predictions of decreased mobility. Sexual dimorphism levels in diaphyseal strength remain low throughout the three time periods, suggesting a departure in Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic foragers away from the pattern of division of labor by sex observed in modern hunter-gatherers. Results confirm that the onset of the Last Glacial Maximum represents a crucial stage in Late Pleistocene human evolution, and signals the appearance of some of the behavioral adaptations that are usually associated with the Neolithic, such as sedentism.
A mechanical comparison of high-flexion and conventional total knee arthroplasty

The question addressed in this study was whether high-flexion total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs improve the mechanical behaviour of TKAs in high flexion and whether they maintain the mechanical performance of conventional TKAs at normal flexion angles. A finite element study was performed in which the mechanical behaviour of the conventional Sigma RP and the new high-flexion Sigma RP-F were compared, during a dynamic simulation of a high-flexion squatting activity. Forces, stresses, and contact positions were calculated during different stages of the simulations. In general, higher stresses were found with larger flexion angles for both designs. Mechanical parameters were similar in normal flexion. In high flexion, lower stress and deformation values were found for the high-flexion Sigma RP-F, except for the contact stress at the post of the insert. This study confirms that a high-flexion design can improve mechanical behaviour at high-flexion without changing the performance in normal flexion. Hence, although a high-flexion TKA may show a similar or better performance in comparison with a conventional TKA, high-flexion activities still cause an increase in the implant stress levels. Therefore, the patient's demand for large flexion angles may reduce the longevity of TKA implants.
Modulation of Oscillator Interactions in the Crab Stomatogastric Ganglion by Crustacean Cardioactive Peptide

The modulation of the pyloric rhythm of the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab, Cancer borealis, by crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) is described. CCAP activated pyloric rhythms in most silent preparations, and altered the phase relationships of pyloric motor neuron firing in all preparations. In CCAP, the pyloric rhythms were characterized by long lateral pyloric (LP) neuron bursts of action potentials. The threshold for CCAP action was ∼10−10 M, with increasing effects at higher CCAP concentrations. The changes in motor pattern evoked by CCAP produced significant changes in LP-innervated muscle movement. These movements were additionally potentiated by CCAP applications to isolated nerve–muscle preparations. Thus, enhanced motor neuron firing and increase of the gain of the neuromuscular junctions are likely to operate coordinately in response to hormonally released CCAP. High CCAP concentrations sometimes resulted in modification of the normal 1:1 alternation between the pyloric dilator (PD) and LP neurons to patterns of 2:1, 3:1, or 4:1 alternation. CCAP seems to activate slow intrinsic oscillations in the LP neuron, as well as enhance faster oscillations in the pacemaker group of PD/anterior burster (AB) neurons. Simulations of fast and slow oscillators with reciprocal inhibitory coupling suggest mechanisms that could account for the mode switch from 1:1 alternation to multiple PD bursts alternating with one LP neuron burst.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: a review

Purpose of reviewThis purpose of this article is to review and provide an update of current publications on the evaluation and management of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Recent findingsAdenoid cystic carcinoma is an uncommon salivary gland malignancy that presents insidiously and is generally advanced when diagnosed. Current effective treatment modalities include surgery and irradiation, but locoregional recurrences are frequent and may present as early as 2 years. Patients survive with recurrent and metastatic disease for several years despite not being offered any treatment. Molecular analysis of the tumors is being undertaken, with optimistic results capable of selecting high-risk patients who may benefit from adjuvant treatment such as chemotherapy SummaryLittle progress has been made in advancing “curative” treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. The disease is said to have a fatal outcome. The time is now opportune for a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to identify patients who would benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in the control of locoregional recurrences and the prevention of distant metastases.
Projecting the impact of climate change on the transmission of Ross River virus: methodological challenges and research needs

SUMMARY Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common vector-borne disease in Australia. It is vitally important to make appropriate projections on the future spread of RRV under various climate change scenarios because such information is essential for policy-makers to identify vulnerable communities and to better manage RRV epidemics. However, there are many methodological challenges in projecting the impact of climate change on the transmission of RRV disease. This study critically examined the methodological issues and proposed possible solutions. A literature search was conducted between January and October 2012, using the electronic databases Medline, Web of Science and PubMed. Nineteen relevant papers were identified. These studies demonstrate that key challenges for projecting future climate change on RRV disease include: (1) a complex ecology (e.g. many mosquito vectors, immunity, heterogeneous in both time and space); (2) unclear interactions between social and environmental factors; and (3) uncertainty in climate change modelling and socioeconomic development scenarios. Future risk assessments of climate change will ultimately need to better understand the ecology of RRV disease and to integrate climate change scenarios with local socioeconomic and environmental factors, in order to develop effective adaptation strategies to prevent or reduce RRV transmission.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression and detection of apoptosis at the site of chronic periodontitis in AIDS patients.

BACKGROUND Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is associated with the regulation of the life cell cycle of leukocytes in healthy and diseased states. OBJECTIVES In the present study, we investigated the presence of apoptosis of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the periodontal lesion from adult periodontitis in healthy control patients and AIDS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tissue samples adjacent to a 5-6 mm gingival sulcus, measured with a periodontal probe, were obtained during routine periodontal surgical procedures. The direct immuno-peroxidase of digoxigenin-labeled genomic DNA method was used for in situ detection of apoptosis in gingival tissues. RESULTS Many tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-positive cells, detected by immunohistochemistry method, were observed in gingival samples of both groups of patients. In addition, a significant lower number ( p < 0.05) of mononuclear apoptotic cells were observed in AIDS patients when compared with healthy control patients. CONCLUSION These data suggested an important role of the apoptosis of mononuclear cells in the pathogenesis of chronic adult periodontitis in AIDS patients.
Neuroserpin, a Brain-associated Inhibitor of Tissue Plasminogen Activator Is Localized Primarily in Neurons

A cDNA clone for the serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin), neuroserpin, was isolated from a human whole brain cDNA library, and recombinant protein was expressed in insect cells. The purified protein is an efficient inhibitor of tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA), having an apparent second-order rate constant of 6.2 × 105 m −1 s−1 for the two-chain form. However, unlike other known plasminogen activator inhibitors, neuroserpin is a more effective inactivator of tPA than of urokinase-type plasminogen activator. Neuroserpin also effectively inhibited trypsin and nerve growth factor-γ but reacted only slowly with plasmin and thrombin. Northern blot analysis showed a 1.8 kilobase messenger RNA expressed predominantly in adult human brain and spinal cord, and immunohistochemical studies of normal mouse tissue detected strong staining primarily in neuronal cells with occasionally positive microglial cells. Staining was most prominent in the ependymal cells of the choroid plexus, Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, select neurons of the hypothalamus and hippocampus, and in the myelinated axons of the commissura. Expression of tPA within these regions is reported to be high and has previously been correlated with both motor learning and neuronal survival. Taken together, these data suggest that neuroserpin is likely to be a critical regulator of tPA activity in the central nervous system, and as such may play an important role in neuronal plasticity and/or maintenance.
Immune deficiencies , infection , and systemic immune disorders Morbidity and mortality from ataxia-telangiectasia are associated with ATM genotype

Romain Micol, MD, MPH, PhD,* Lilia Ben Slama, PhD, Felipe Suarez, MD, PhD, Lo€ıc Le Mignot, MSc, Julien Beaut e, MD, MSc, Nizar Mahlaoui, MD, MSc, Catherine Dubois d’Enghien, BSc, Anthony Laug e, BSc, Janet Hall, PhD, J erôme Couturier, MD, Louis Vall ee, MD, Bruno Delobel, MD, François Rivier, MD, PhD, Karine Nguyen, MD, Thierry Billette de Villemeur, MD, Jean-Louis Stephan, MD, Pierre Bordigoni, MD, Yves Bertrand,MD, Nathalie Aladjidi, MD, Jean-Michel Pedespan, MD, Caroline Thomas, MD, Isabelle Pellier, MD, MSc, Michel Koenig, MD, PhD, Olivier Hermine, MD, PhD, Capucine Picard, MD, PhD, Despina Moshous, MD, PhD, B en edicte Neven, MD, PhD, Fanny Lanternier, MD, St ephane Blanche, MD, Marc Tardieu, MD, PhD, Marianne Debr e, MD, Alain Fischer, MD, PhD, and Dominique Stoppa-Lyonnet, MD, PhD, for the CEREDIH Network Paris, Lille, Montpellier, Marseille, Saint Etienne, Nancy, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, Angers, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, Strasbourg, and Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
Participatory management of community-based tourism: A network perspective

Abstract Community-based tourism (CBT) aims to promote community development by combining income generation, social inclusion, gender equity, and environmental sustainability. In CBT projects, different sociocultural community groups with distinct roles, concerns, and priorities need to collaborate to manage tourism activities. However, little is known about how management and development outcomes of CBT are associated with patterns of collaboration among community groups. We applied social network analysis to map the collaboration network among individuals involved in tourism activities (n = 124) in a coastal community in Brazil. Community groups were defined by gender, age, birthplace, education level, participation in tourism associations, income-generating activity, tourism occupation, and years of experience in CBT. The network was highly connected, while the collaboration patterns among groups exhibit a modular structure with features of both horizontality and leadership. We discuss how this balanced collaborative structure can contribute to community development in accordance with the core principles of CBT.
Two distinct regulatory mechanisms of neurotransmitter release by phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase

Recent studies have indicated that various growth factors are involved in synaptic functions; however, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the growth factor‐mediated regulation of presynaptic functions, the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) on neurotransmitter release were studied in rat PC12 cells. Brief treatment with EGF and IGF‐1 enhanced Ca2+‐dependent dopamine release in a concentration‐dependent manner. EGF activated both mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3‐kinase) pathways, and the EGF‐dependent enhancement of DA release was suppressed by a MAPK kinase inhibitor as well as by PI3‐kinase inhibitors. In striking contrast, IGF‐1 activated the PI3‐kinase pathway but not the MAPK pathway, and IGF‐1‐dependent enhancement was suppressed by a PI3‐kinase inhibitor but not by a MAPK kinase inhibitor. The enhanced green fluorescent protein‐tagged pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of protein kinase B, which selectively binds to phosphatidylinositol 3,4‐bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5‐triphosphate, was translocated to the plasma membrane after treatment with either EGF or NGF. By contrast, no significant redistribution was induced by IGF‐1. These results indicate that PI3‐kinase participates in the enhancement of neurotransmitter release by two distinct mechanisms: EGF and NGF activate PI3‐kinase in the plasma membrane, whereas IGF‐1 activates PI3‐kinase possibly in the intracellular membrane, leading to enhancement of neurotransmitter release in a MAPK‐dependent and ‐independent manner respectively.
Blockade of RAGE Suppresses Alloimmune Reactions In Vitro and Delays Allograft Rejection in Murine Heart Transplantation

The receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE), a multiligand member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, interacts with proinflammatory AGEs, the products of nonenzymatic glycation and oxidation of proteins; high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), also known as amphoterin and S100/calgranulins to amplify inflammation and tissue injury. Previous studies showed that blockade of RAGE suppressed recruitment of proinflammatory mechanisms in murine models. We tested the hypothesis that RAGE contributes to alloimmune responses and report that in vivo, acute rejection of fully allogeneic cardiac allografts in a murine model of heterotopic cardiac transplantation is significantly delayed by pharmacological antagonism of RAGE. In parallel, allogeneic T‐cell proliferation in the mixed lymphocyte reaction is, at least in part, RAGE‐dependent. These data provide the first insights into key roles for RAGE in allorecognition responses and suggest that antagonism of this receptor may exert beneficial effects in allogeneic organ transplantation.
Frequency, risk factors, and outcome of hyperlactatemia after cardiac surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine the respective frequencies, risk factors, and outcomes of no hyperlactatemia (NHL), immediate hyperlactatemia (IHL), or late hyperlactatemia (LHL) > 3 mmol/L after cardiac surgery. DESIGN Prospective and observational study. SETTING Cardiac surgery ICU in a 130-bed private community nonteaching hospital. PATIENTS Consecutive patients (n = 325) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for cardiac surgery. INTERVENTION None. MEASUREMENTS Arterial blood gas levels and lactate concentrations were measured at ICU admission, 4 h after surgery, between 6 h and 16 h after surgery, and on day 1. MAIN RESULTS Sixty-seven patients (20.6%) had an IHL on ICU admission, and 56 patients (17.2%) acquired LHL during their ICU stay. ICU mortality was 1.5% for NHL, 3.6% for LHL, and 14.9% for IHL groups (p < 0.0001). The three groups differed significantly for elective surgery, type of operation, CPB duration, intraoperative mean arterial pressure, and intraoperative and postoperative use of vasopressor. Independent risk factors for IHL were nonelective surgery, CPB duration, and intraoperative use of vasopressor. Logistic regression identified hyperglycemia and epinephrine therapy for LHL as postoperative risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that IHL more accurately predicted ICU mortality than LHL. CONCLUSIONS Hyperlactatemia is common after cardiac surgery. A lactate threshold of 3 mmol/L at ICU admission is able to identify a population at risk of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.
Optimal National Burden Rate and an Aging Japan

This paper examines an optimal rate of national burden, to establish guidelines for fiscal reform in Japan’s graying society. The paper looks at the Japanese tax and social security systems through an extended life-cycle general equilibrium simulation model. It explicitly considers the benefit that the government gives to households, which enables us to evaluate comprehensively the balance between benefits and burdens. Simulation results show that an optimal rate of national burden is high when households put a great utility weight on the benefit from public services, and that it is low when the degree of publicness of government expenditure is high. They also suggest that an optimal rate of national burden would rise as Japan ages and may exceed 50% during raid aging of the Japanese population.
The 2006 K/DOQI Guidelines for Peritoneal Dialysis Adequacy Are Not Adequate

The 2006 National Kidney Foundation K/DOQI guidelines have lowered the peritoneal dialysis adequacy standard of Kt/Vurea from 2.1 to 1.7 in anuric patients, largely based on the patient survival results of 2 clinical trials in Mexico and Hong Kong. It is our contention that the guidelines may be misleading since they have chosen to ignore the bias in these trials and have ignored the adverse outcomes in control groups in the trials on which the guidelines are based, as well as the body size of the subjects in these trials. Body size has changed in the US and Canada over the last few decades and there are similar changes worldwide. We suggest that the minimum targets for peritoneal dialysis be reinstituted at the previous standard Kt/Vurea of 2.0.
Gender Differences in Competitive Positions: Experimental Evidence on Job Promotion

This paper analyzes gender differences in access to competitive positions. We implement an experiment where workers can apply for a job promotion by sending a signal to their employer. We control for gender differences in anticipation of discrimination in a treatment where a computer randomly recruits. Discriminatory behavior by the employer is isolated in a treatment where workers cannot send signals. We find that gender disparity among promoted workers is highest when workers can apply for promotion and employers recruit. Strikingly, the gender composition in competitive position is balanced in the absence of a signaling institution. When signaling is possible, we observe that female workers who do not request a promotion are discriminated against.
Cerecidins, Novel Lantibiotics from Bacillus cereus with Potent Antimicrobial Activity

ABSTRACT Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified antimicrobial peptides that are widely produced by Gram-positive bacteria, including many species of the Bacillus group. In the present study, one novel gene cluster coding lantibiotic cerecidins was unveiled in Bacillus cereus strain As 1.1846 through genomic mining and PCR screening. The designated cer locus is different from that of conventional class II lantibiotics in that it included seven tandem precursor cerA genes, one modification gene (cerM), two processing genes (cerT and cerP), one orphan regulator gene (cerR), and two immunity genes (cerF and cerE). In addition, one unprecedented quorum sensing component, comQXPA, was inserted between cerM and cerR. The expression of cerecidins was not detected in this strain of B. cereus, which might be due to repressed transcription of cerM. We constitutively coexpressed cerA genes and cerM in Escherichia coli, and purified precerecidins were proteolytically processed with the endoproteinase GluC and a truncated version of putative serine protease CerP. Thus, two natural variants of cerecidins A1 and A7 were obtained which contained two terminal nonoverlapping thioether rings rarely found in lantibiotics. Both cerecidins A1 and A7 were active against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria. Cerecidin A7, especially its mutant Dhb13A, showed remarkable efficacy against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), and even Streptomyces.
Pyrolysis of Ulva rigida by microwave heating

Pyrolysis of the macroseaweed Ulva rigida was conducted using microwave as eating source which is 2450Hz in frequency and 1kW in power. The gaseous, liquid and solid product was obtained and the gaseous product consists of CO2,CO,H2 and CH4, among which the first appears the earliest and the third appears at the later stage of pyrolysis with the irradiation time. The second component is absent or presents in trace amount, which might be due to the shift reaction spontaneously at the later stage of pyrolysis since hydrogen becomes predominant at this stage. The liquid yield is low, but it contains considerable organic components, including nitrogen containing substance.