Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hemolytic uremic syndrome: pathogenesis and update of interventions

The typical form of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the major complication of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections. HUS is a critical health problem in Argentina since it is the main cause of acute renal failure in children and the second cause of chronic renal failure, accounting for 20% of renal transplants in children and adolescents in Argentina. Despite extensive research in the field, the mainstay of treatment for patients with HUS is supportive therapy, and there are no specific therapies preventing or ameliorating the disease course. In this review, we present the current knowledge about pathogenic mechanisms and discuss traditional and innovative therapeutic approaches, with special focus in Argentinean contribution. The hope that a better understanding of transmission dynamics and pathogenesis of this disease will produce better therapies to prevent the acute mortality and the long-term morbidity of HUS is the driving force for intensified research.
Effects of Daily Treatment with Parathyroid Hormone on Bone Microarchitecture and Turnover in Patients with Osteoporosis: A Paired Biopsy Study *

We examined paired iliac crest bone biopsy specimens from patients with osteoporosis before and after treatment with daily injections of 400 U of recombinant, human parathyroid hormone 1–34 [PTH(1–34)]. Two groups of patients were studied. The first group was comprised of 8 men with an average age 49 years. They were treated with PTH for 18 months. The second group was comprised of 8 postmenopausal women with an average age 54 years. They were treated with PTH for 36 months. The women had been and were maintained on hormone replacement therapy for the duration of PTH treatment. Patients were supplemented to obtain an average daily intake of 1500 mg of elemental calcium and 100 IU of vitamin D. The biopsy specimens were subjected to routine histomorphometric analysis and microcomputed tomography (CT). Cancellous bone area was maintained in both groups. Cortical width was maintained in men and significantly increased in women. There was no increase in cortical porosity. There was a significant increase in the width of bone packets on the inner aspect of the cortex in both men and women. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in eroded perimeter on this surface in both groups. Micro‐CT confirmed the foregoing changes and, in addition, revealed an increase in connectivity density, a three dimensional (3D) measure of trabecular connectivity in the majority of patients. These findings indicate that daily PTH treatment exerts anabolic action on cortical bone in patients with osteoporosis and also can improve cancellous bone microarchitecture. The results provide a structural basis for the recent demonstration that PTH treatment reduces the incidence of osteoporosis‐related fractures.
Localization of Collagen XVIII and Endostatin in the Human Eye

Purpose: To investigate the localization of endostatin, a potent angiogenesis inhibitor, and its progenitor collagen XVIII in the human eye. Methods: Twelve normal human eyes were investigated. Immunohistochemistry of the anterior and posterior eye segment was performed using a polyclonal endostatin and collagen XVIII antibody and a monoclonal collagen XVIII antibody. Specificity of the antibodies was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Results: The antibody against collagen XVIII stained Bowman's membrane, the lens capsule, the trabecular meshwork, and all epithelial and endothelial basal membranes in the anterior and posterior eye segment. In contrast, the antibody against endostatin showed a more distinct staining pattern. Intense intracellular staining for endostatin was present in the lens epithelium and in the non-pigmented epithelium of the ciliary body. Extracellular presence of endostatin could be detected in the lens capsule and all border membranes lining the aqueous humor including the anterior surface of the iris. The choroid was unstained. In the retina, staining was restricted to the inner limiting membrane and to endothelial cells of larger vessels. Conclusions: Our results show that there is a ring of specifically endostatin expressing structures forming a "barrier" around the anterior chamber and the vitreous. This might physiologically prevent vessels from sprouting into these avascular compartments.
Recovery from Deep Alexia to Phonological Alexia: Points on a Continuum

Reports of five patients whose deep alexic reading all evolved into phonological alexia in a similar fashion point to the hypothesis that deep alexia and phonological alexia represent different points on the same continuum. This hypothesis is explored further through an examination of previously published case reports of eleven patients with phonological alexia. Data from these patients suggest that there is a predictable succession of symptoms which form a continuum of severity of phonological alexia, with deep alexia as its endpoint. An account of the recovery from deep to phonological alexia, based upon a lexical (no-rules) model of reading, is provided (Glosser & Friedman, 1990), and the implications for therapy are considered. The significance of the notion of a continuum of phonological/deep alexia is discussed.
MIKROENKAPSULASI MINYAK ATSIRI DAUN CENGKEH (SYZYGIUM AROMATICUM) DENGAN ENKAPSULAN GELATIN KERBAU MENGGUNAKAN METODE SPRAY DRYING

ABSTRAK Gelatin merupakan protein yang diperoleh dari hidrolisis parsial kolagen yang ditemukan di dalam kulit, tulang, dan jaringan ikat hewan. Pada umumnya, gelatin diekstrak dari kulit sapi dan babi yang mempunyai permsalahan terkait isu penyakit sapi gila dan kehalalanya. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui karakteristik gelatin yang diesktrak dari kulit kerbau dan aplikasinya sebagai enkapsulan pada mikroenkapsulasi minyak atsiri daun cengkeh. Gelatin kulit kerbau diekstrak menggunakan larutan asam klorida (Tipe A) 1%, 70 °C selama 5 jam. Gelatin kulit kerbau diaplikasikan sebagai enkapsulan pada mikroenkapsulasi (spray drying) minyak atsiri daun cengkeh menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) dengan faktor perbedaan konsentrasi gelatin (5%, 7.5%, dan 10%) dan rasio antara minyak atsiri daun cengkeh dengan gelatin (1:10, 1:15 dan 1:20). Karakteristik gelatin kulit kerbau mempunyai kadar air 7.4%, kadar abu 0.06%, kadar lemak 0.04%, kadar protein 89.1%, viskositas 4.8 cP dan kekuatan gel gelatin 155.39 g Bloom. Karakteristik mikrokapsul minyak atsiri daun cengkeh mempunyai kelarutan 79.79%, total minyak 1.10 mg/ml, minyak terperangkap 0.87 mg/ml, dan minyak dipermukaan 0.23 mg/ml. Morfologi mikrokapsul minyak atsiri daun cengkeh berbentuk oval dan tidak beraturan. ABSTRACT Gelatin is protein obtained from partial hydrolysis of collagen contained in the animal skin, bone, connective tissue. In general, gelatin is extracted from cow and pig skin that have problems related to the issue of mad cow disease and halal. In the present study, gelatin was extracted from buffalo skin collagen and then applied as wall material in microencapsulation of clove leaves essential oil. Characteristics of buffalo skin gelatin and its application in microencapsulation of clove leaves essential oil were studied. Buffalo skin gelatin was extracted using 1% hydrochloric acid (type A) at 70 °C for 5 hours. Gelatin is used as wall material in clove leaf essential oil microencapsulation with spray drying using a completely randomized design (CRD) with different concentrations of gelatin (5%, 7.5%, and 10%) and the ratio between clove leaf essential oil and gelatin. The results showed that gelatin have yield 56.73%, moisture content 7.4%, ash content 0.06%, protein 89.1%, viscosity 4.7 cP, and gel strength 155.39 g Bloom. Microcapsule of clove leaves oil have solubility 79.72%, total oil content 1.10 mg/ml, trapped oil 0.87 mg/ml, and surface oil 0.23 mg/ml. Morphology of microcapsule have oval and irregular shape of granules.
Inhibition of immune functions by antiviral drugs.

Immune functions were evaluated in vitro for PBMC isolated from healthy donors and cultured with the antiviral agents, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), ribavirin, ganciclovir, 2'3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI), or acyclovir. To identify methods for assessing the effects of antiviral drugs on immune cells, the PBMC response to mitogens, Con A, or phytohemagglutinin was evaluated from measurements of [3H]thymidine and [14C]-leucine incorporation, cell growth, cellular RNA, DNA, and protein levels, and the PBMC proliferative cycle (i.e., progression from G0----G1----S----G2 + M). At clinically relevant concentrations, AZT, ribavirin, or ganciclovir diminished PBMC responsiveness to mitogen. The numbers of proliferating cells in G1, S, and G2 + M phases of the cell cycle, DNA content, and [3H]thymidine uptake were decreased in cultures treated with AZT, ribavirin, or ganciclovir. AZT or ribavirin but not ganciclovir reduced RNA and protein in the cultures and inhibited cell growth. Whereas AZT, ribavirin, or ganciclovir were antiproliferative, ddI or acyclovir had little, if any, effect on PBMC mitogenesis. The inhibitory effects of antivirals on immune cells may contribute to the immune deterioration observed in patients following prolonged use of the drugs.
Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens of the Arm

The term Phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) describes the most severe form of deep venous thrombosis which can lead to compartment syndrome and may threaten a limb and the patient’s life unless treated at an early stage (1). Patients usually present with the typical triad of massive edema, severe pain, and cyanosis of the affected extremity (2). While quite uncommon but well described in the lower extremity (3), PCD of the upper extremity is exceptionally rare (4-6). PCD is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality (4). Multiple factors have been reported that predispose to PCP, including low cardiac output states, malignancy, placement of central venous catheters, and hematologic diseases (6,7). A 65-year-old man with previously-diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy presented with an acute onset of cardiac decompensation in another hospital. A central venous catheter was placed as part of intensive care treatment. The left basilica vein was chosen for vascular access. Seven days later the patient developed a rapid, massive, and painful swelling of the left arm and was referred to our hospital. On clinical examination no peripheral pulses were palpable. Sensibility of the radial, median, and ulnar nerve was impaired. Immediately performed color-coded Doppler sonography (Siemens Sonoline Antares®; 10 MHz linear array transducer, Siemens AG Sector Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) revealed an extensive thrombosis of the entire deep vein system of the left arm (brachial, basilic, axillary, and cephalic vein) reaching into the left subclavian vein. There was absence of venous compressibility and no flow in the venous system (Fig. 1). Color-coded Doppler sonography of the brachial artery revealed an atypical and decreased arterial spectrum, suggesting peripheral artery occlusion. (Fig. 2). At the distal forearm neither radial nor ulnar arterial flow spectrums could be derived. Clinical presenting and examination as well as findings of color-coded Doppler sonography provided the diagnosis of Phlegmasia cerulea dolens of the left upper extremity. The patient suffered cardiac arrest before any treatment could be commenced. Fulminant pulmonary embolism was suspected as a triggering factor. Prolonged mechanical and pharmacologic resuscitation were unsuccessful. Phlegmasia cerulea dolens is an extreme variant of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). In our case we postulate the placement of a central venous catheter as a trigger for PCD, which is certainly a rare cause of an JV A -D -1 100 08 3R 1 DOI: 10.5301/jva.5000038
Segmentation-free quasi-Newton method for polyenergetic CT reconstruction

X-ray polychromaticity is a well-known source of artifacts in clinical CT imaging. As a polyenergetic X-ray beam passes through an object, rays with lower energy are preferentially attenuated, and thus the spectrum of the beam becomes increasingly skewed towards high-energy rays. This beam hardening phenomenon results in inconsistent projection data, and produces artifacts in images reconstructed using filtered backprojection (FBP). Methods for reducing or eliminating beam hardening artifacts can be broadly categorized into postreconstruction approaches, which attempt to eliminate artifacts from an image reconstructed using FBP, or iterative reconstruction approaches, which attempt to reconstruct an artifact free image from the projection data, by incorporating X-ray polychromaticity directly into the system model. In this paper we compare a well-known post-reconstruction approach with an iterative approach that uses a quasi-Newton minimization algorithm. The post-reconstruction approach is a two-step process consisting of a soft-tissue correction and bone correction, while our iterative approach is based on modeling energy-dependent attenuation coefficients as a sum of photoelectric and Compton scattering components. Two numerical phantom experiments are used to demonstrate that the postreconstruction approach does not compensate for artifacts caused by more than one different type of high attenuation material, while the iterative approach is able to reconstruct artifact-free images in both experiments. The presented iterative approach does not require any segmentation and can readily incorporate attenuation models other than the one used in this paper.
Novel Therapeutic Targets of Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal disease caused by small pulmonary artery obstruction by vascular proliferation and remodeling.1 PH is characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure and increased pulmonary vascular resistance, frequently leading to right heart failure and death. PH is defined as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mm Hg at rest with right heart catheterization.2 The classification of PH includes 5 major categories of the disorder.2 Group 1, which is called as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a clinical condition defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mm Hg and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤15 mm Hg, which is characterized by the presence of precapillary PH in the absence of other causes of precapillary PH, such as PH caused by lung diseases, chronic thromboembolic PH (CTEPH), or other rare diseases. Pulmonary veno-occlusive diseases and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (Group 1) are caused by occlusion of pulmonary vein and should be a distinct category. These diseases are not completely separated from PAH because they share similar characteristics with PAH. Group 2 PH is caused by left heart disease, which is characterized by the passive backward transmission of the pressure elevation (postcapillary PH). Group 3 PH is caused by lung diseases and hypoxia, which is caused by hypoxic vasoconstriction as a result of lung diseases. Group 4 PH is called as CTEPH, which is caused by chronic and mechanical obstruction of central and distal pulmonary arteries by organized thrombi. Group 5 PH is caused by rare diseases, such as sarcoidosis and aortitis. Although the treatment of PH has been developed, including prostaglandin I2,3 endothelin receptor antagonists,4 phosphodiesterase V inhibitor,5 and soluble guanylate cyclase,6 PH still remains a fatal disease. Thus, the novel therapeutic targets for PH remain to be elucidated. Indeed, significant progresses have been …
The effect of retirement on health: a panel analysis using data from the Swiss Household Panel.

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY Despite the importance of the relationship between retirement and health only a limited amount of empirical research has addressed this issue, particularly concerning physical health. This study examines whether retirement has a short-term influence on six health measures. METHODS Using data from the Swiss Household Panel from 1999 to 2003, we perform an ordinal regression on changes in health for each of the six health measures. RESULTS We found that retirement has no shortterm effect on the health of the large majority of individuals. Moreover, for those individuals whose health status did change, retirement had a primarily positive effect. This positive impact of retirement is mainly reflected by less frequent depression and anxiety, and by the lower degree to which health is an impediment in everyday activities. CONCLUSIONS The positive changes in health after retirement may be due to the cessation of work-related stress and to an increase in physical and leisure activities.
Identifying active, reactive, and inactive targets of socialbots in Twitter

Online social networks are facing serious threats due to presence of human-behaviour imitating malicious bots (aka socialbots) that are successful mainly due to existence of their duped followers. In this paper, we propose an approach to categorize Twitter users into three groups - active, reactive, and inactive targets, based on their interaction behaviour with socialbots. Active users are those who themselves follow socialbots without being followed by them, reactive users respond to the following socialbots by following them back, whereas inactive users do not show any interest against the following requests from anonymous socialbots. The proposed approach is modelled as both binary and ternary classification problem, wherein users' profile is generated using static and dynamic components representing their identical and behavioural aspects. Three different classification techniques viz Naive Bayes, Reduced Error Pruned Decision Tree, and Random Forest are used over a dataset of 749 users collected through live experiment, and a thorough analyses of the identified users categories is presented, wherein it is found that active and reactive users keep on frequently updating their tweets containing advertising related contents. Finally, feature ranking algorithms are used to rank identified features to analyse their discriminative power, and it is found that following rate and follower rate are the most dominating features.
Heritability of telomere variation: it is all about the environment!

Individual differences in telomere length have been linked to survival and senescence. Understanding the heritability of telomere length can provide important insight into individual differences and facilitate our understanding of the evolution of telomeres. However, to gain accurate and meaningful estimates of telomere heritability it is vital that the impact of the environment, and how this may vary, is understood and accounted for. The aim of this review is to raise awareness of this important, but much under-appreciated point. We outline the factors known to impact telomere length and discuss the fact that telomere length is a trait that changes with age. We highlight statistical methods that can separate genetic from environmental effects and control for confounding variables. We then review how well previous studies in vertebrate populations including humans have taken these factors into account. We argue that studies to date either use methodological techniques that confound environmental and genetic effects, or use appropriate methods but lack sufficient power to fully separate these components. We discuss potential solutions. We conclude that we need larger studies, which also span longer time periods, to account for changing environmental effects, if we are to determine meaningful estimates of the genetic component of telomere length. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics'.
Title Positional Information Generated by Spatially DistributedSignaling Cascades Author ( s )

The temporal and stationary behavior of protein modification cascades has been extensively studied, yet little is known about the spatial aspects of signal propagation. We have previously shown that the spatial separation of opposing enzymes, such as a kinase and a phosphatase, creates signaling activity gradients. Here we show under what conditions signals stall in the space or robustly propagate through spatially distributed signaling cascades. Robust signal propagation results in activity gradients with long plateaus, which abruptly decay at successive spatial locations. We derive an approximate analytical solution that relates the maximal amplitude and propagation length of each activation profile with the cascade level, protein diffusivity, and the ratio of the opposing enzyme activities. The control of the spatial signal propagation appears to be very different from the control of transient temporal responses for spatially homogenous cascades. For spatially distributed cascades where activating and deactivating enzymes operate far from saturation, the ratio of the opposing enzyme activities is shown to be a key parameter controlling signal propagation. The signaling gradients characteristic for robust signal propagation exemplify a pattern formation mechanism that generates precise spatial guidance for multiple cellular processes and conveys information about the cell size to the nucleus. Citation: Muñoz-Garcı́a J, Neufeld Z, Kholodenko BN (2009) Positional Information Generated by Spatially Distributed Signaling Cascades. PLoS Comput Biol 5(3): e1000330. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi. 1000330 Editor: Herbert M. Sauro, University of Washington, United States of America Received October 8, 2008; Accepted February 10, 2009; Published March 20, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Muñoz-Garcı́a et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This work was supported by the NIH grants GM059570 and R33HL088283 (a part of the NHLBI Exploratory Program in Systems Biology). The authors wish to acknowledge the SFI/HEA Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) for the provision of computational facilities. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: boris.kholodenko@jefferson.edu
Predicting phase equilibria in oxide and sulphide systems.

Phase equilibria for multi-component systems can be calculated reliably from critically assessed thermodynamic data for sub-systems using software packages like MTDATA, developed by the National Physical Laboratory, UK (NPL). Models and data resulting from an ongoing project make such calculations possible for the complex systems encountered during sulphide smelting, involving interactions between matte, slag, metal, and gas phases. Predictive calculations can be made which are directly relevant to industrial processes, covering composition and temperature ranges beyond the scope of hard-copy phase diagram compilations, allowing the feasibility of more economic and environmentally sound routes to be explored, better choice of materials to be made and pilot plant studies to be directed more efficiently. Current applications include the selection of suitable fluxing practices in copper and nickel smelting, analysing the operation of the Kennecott copper smelter, optimising the recovery of precious metals and investigating refractory wear.