Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recruitment and positioning of regulatory T cells and Th17/Tc17 in inflamed human liver

The liver is a unique tolerogenic organ with dual blood supply. Both regulatory lymphocytes and effector lymphocytes are present in the normal and inflamed liver along with innate immune cells. The balance between these two subsets of lymphocyte is crucial in maintaining immune homeostasis by adjusting either hepatic tolerance or mounting immunity against invading pathogens. Thus, it is important to understand the intrahepatic regulatory T cells phenotype and role played by distinct chemokine receptors expressed on regulatory T cells as they are major player in controlling hepatic tolerance. At the same time, it would be crucial to explore the role of new subset of Th17/Tc17 effector lymphocytes characteristic and their positioning in inflamed liver. This thesis demonstrates the crucial role of chemokine receptors in recruitment and positioning of both intrahepatic regulatory T lymphocytes and IL-17 secreting Th17/Tc17 effector lymphocyte in both normal and inflamed human liver.
Optimal Control of Epidemic Models Involving Rabies and West Nile Viruses

This research considers the application of Optimal Control theory to minimize the spread of viral infections in disease models. The population models under consideration are systems of ordinary differential equations and represent epidemics arising due to either rabies or West Nile virus. Optimal control strategies are analyzed using Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle and illustrated based upon computer simulations. The first model describes a population of raccoons and its interaction with the rabies virus, thus dividing the animals into four classes: susceptible, exposed, immune, and recovered (SEIR). The model includes a birth pulse during the spring of the year and an equation reflecting the dynamics of a potential vaccine. The vaccine equation contains a linear control variable representing the rate at which the vaccine is distributed. The goal is to minimize the number of infected raccoons and the cost of vaccine distributed. Due to linearity in the control, there is the possibility of a singular control and the generalized Legendre-Clebsch condition will be satisfied to obtain new necessary conditions for the singular case. A scenario with a limited amount of vaccine is also investigated. The system is modified to include a density-dependent death rate for each of the S, E, I, R classes, and the results of this model are compared with those of the non-density dependent model to determine how the different death rates affect control strategies. The second disease model considered describes the dynamics of mosquito, bird and human populations exposed to the West Nile virus. The mosquito and bird categories will be divided into susceptible and infected classes. In addition to these two groups, humans will also have the potential of entering the exposed, hospitalized and recovered classes. In this model, birth and death rates are assumed to be density-dependent. Two controls are
Acaricidal effect of Capsicum annum L. extracts on two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Arachnida: Tetranychidae)

Iki noktali kirmiziorumcek ulkemizde sebzeler, sus bitkileri, meyve ve pamuk gibi urunlerde onemli bir zararlidir. Zararli ile mucadelede cok sayida pestisit kullanilmaktadir. Kullanilan kimyasal pestisitlere dayaniklilik gostermesi nedeni ile zararlinin mucadelesi oldukca guc olmaktadir. Zararlilar ile mucadelede bitkisel ekstraktlarin kullanimi kimyasal pestisitlere bir alternatif olarak gorulmustur ve son zamanlarda bu konuda bircok calisma yapilmistir. Solanaceaefamilyasina ait Capsicum annum L.bitkisinden elde edilen etanollu ekstraktin Iki noktali kirmiziorumcek uzerine etkisi kimyasal ilaclara bir alternatif olusturmak amaciyla arastirilmistir. Ekstraktin akarisit etkisini belirlemek amaciyla, yaprak daldirma ve puskurtme olmak uzere iki farkli yontem kullanilmistir. Ayrica ekstraktin yumurta verimi ve ovisit etkisi belirlenmistir. Denemelerde besin olarak fasulye yaprak diskleri (3 cm capinda) kullanilmistir. Ekstraktin %1, 3, 6, 12 olmak uzere dort farkli konsantrasyonu calisilmistir. Denemeler 10 tekerrurlu olarak yapilmistir Sonuc olarak, larva, nimf ve ergin donemlerinde en yuksek olum orani ekstraktin % 12'lik konsantrasyonunda belirlenmistir. Bu konsantrasyonda larva, nimf ve erginlerde belirlenen olum orani goreceli olarak %97, %86 ve %95 olmustur. Yaprak daldirma ve puskurtme yontemleri arasinda olum orani bakimindan onemli bir fark belirlenmemistir. Ayni konsantrasyon erginlerde yumurta verimini onemli derecede azaltmistir. Ekstraktin ovisidal etkisi bulunmamistir.
ARE THERE ANY VARIATION IN NEUTROPHIL LYMPHOCYTE RATIO, MEAN PLATELET VOLUME AND PLATELET COUNT BETWEEN PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER AND BENIGN NODULAR THYROID DISEASES

Objective: Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (N/L) and mean platelet (Plt) volume (MPV), the markers of systemic inflammatory response, has been investigated in many cancers, but data for head and neck cancers and thyroid carcinoma are limited. It had been purposed to study N/L, MPV, and Plt levels in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) as a diagnostic marker. Material and Methods: A total of 104 patients, had undergone ultrasonography (US) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and thyroidectomy, for indicated cases, between April 2010 and August 2013, were enrolled in the study and the laboratory tests, regarding N/L, MPV, and Plt, of the cases had been collected retrospectively. Results: No any difference was stated between PTC and benign nodular thyroid diseases (BNTD) in terms of age, gender, size of the nodule, N/L, MPV, and Plt (p>0.05). Conclusion: The preoperative inflammatory hematological parameters, in terms of N/L, MPV, and Plt, may not be useful as a predictive diagnostic marker of the thyroid malignancy, PTC.
Étude du réassortiment génétique des virus influenza d’origines et de sous-types différents

Dans le contexte de la menace pandemique liee au virus influenza A(H5N1), un projet «GRIPPE AVIAIRE ET GRIPPE PANDEMIQUE » a emerge au sein de LyonBioPole avec comme objectif le developpement d’outils de caracterisation des virus influenza pour la production de vaccins. Pour etudier le reassortiment genetique entre virus influenza, nous avons developpe 3 systemes de genetique inverse : virus humain A(H3N2) et aviaires A(H5N2) et A(H5N1) et produit des virus reassortants de composition determinee. Leurs capacites replicatives ont ete evaluees par cinetiques de croissance virale sur MDCK avec quantification de la production virale par qRT-PCR temps reel. L’emergence du virus influenza A(H1N1)2009 pose deux questions sur l’acquisition par reassortiment genetique, d’une resistance a l’oseltamivir d’une part ou de facteurs de virulence d’autre part. Nous avons donc developpe un protocole de co-infection virale de cellules MDCK pour etudier les constellations de genes des reassortants entre differents virus: A(H1N1)2009-A(H1N1) H275Y et A(H1N1)2009-A(H5N1). Nous montrons par deux approches differentes, genetique inverse et co-infections virales, que le reassortiment genetique entre souches aviaires et humaines et surtout aviaires et porcines est possible, en privilegiant certaines constellations. Nous rapportons que le virus pandemique peut acquerir la NA H275Y des virus A(H1N1) Brisbane-like resistants a l’oseltamivir sans que ses capacites de replication ne soient alterees. De meme nous montrons que son reassortiment avec un virus hautement pathogene A(H5N1) est possible. Ces observations renforcent la necessite de promouvoir la vaccination afin de limiter les risques de co-infection virale chez un meme individu.
Chemical Fungal Taxonomy

Chemical fungal taxonomy - an overview numerical analysis of fungal chemotaxonomic data use of PCR and RFLP in fungal systematics proteins in fungal taxonomy the use of isoenzymes in fungal taxonomy and population studies fungal immunotaxonomy taxonomic applications of polysaccharides chemotaxonomy of fungi by unsaponifiable lipids fatty acids in fungal taxonomy carbohydrates and their impact on fungal taxonomy volatiles in fungal taxonomy the role and use of secondary metabolites in fungal taxonomy expression of secondary metabolite characters in relation to the conditions of growth the taxonomic use of metabolic data in lichen-forming fungi.
Etude de la signalisation du proNGF dans les cellules de cancer du sein

Le NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) induit la croissance des cellules cancereuses de sein, alors qu’il est sans effet sur les cellules normales. Il participe egalement au developpement tumoral in vivo et est une cible therapeutique potentielle dans le cancer du sein. Le NGF agit via les recepteurs TrkA et p75NTR. De meme, le precurseur du NGF, le proNGF, peut etre secrete et induire la mort neuronale en se liant a p75NTR et a la sortiline. Neanmoins, aucune donnee n’a ete rapportee sur l’expression et les effets potentiels du proNGF dans le cancer du sein. Au cours de ma these, nous avons demontre que le proNGF est produit et secrete par les cellules cancereuses de sein. Nous avons observe une surproduction du proNGF dans les biopsies cancereuses malignes par rapport aux biopsies normales et aux pathologies benignes. Cette surexpression est associee a l’envahissement des nœuds lymphatiques.J’ai confirme, in vitro, que le proNGF, comme le NGF, favorise l’invasion des cellules cancereuses de sein. Neanmoins, ces effets sont induits via des voies de signalisation distinctes. Ainsi, j’ai montre le role essentiel de la sortiline dans l’effet pro-invasif du proNGF. De meme, le proNGF, comme le NGF, est capable d’activer la phosphorylation de TrkA mais ceci conduit a des voies de transduction differentes. Une analyse de l’interactome de TrkA a permis d’identifier des proteines differentiellement recrutees en fonction du ligand. Ainsi, l’ensemble des resultats obtenus a permis de mettre en evidence l’intervention du proNGF dans le cancer du sein. La discrimination des voies induites par le proNGF et par le NGF offre la possibilite de nouvelles modulations therapeutiques dans ce cancer.
Motivations and Behaviors of New Forest Owners in Virginia

Forestry must find ways to remain relevant to its changing constituency and client base. Market segmentation techniques can help. This study assessed the motivations and forest practices of 661 people who recently purchased forested lands ranging in size between 0.8 and 20 ha in rapidly growing counties in Virginia. Cluster analysis techniques were used to identify six market segments: absentee investors (4%), professionals (13%), preservationists (16%), young families (19%), forest planners (21%), and farmers (21%). (The remaining 6% demonstrated no variance in their responses and were not clustered.) The results suggest that lifestyle and amenity concerns are much more important motivations for landownership than are timber production and economic concerns. We discuss communication strategies, management services, and landowner assistance programs that might appeal to people in each of the six market segments. FOR . S CI. 51(2):142-154.
Método Pilates y calidad de vida en pacientes con dolor de espalda

espanolObjetivo. Ver si una intervencion con ejercicios basados en el metodo Pilates tiene efectos positivos en el manejo del dolor de espalda, asi como en la calidad de vida en dichos pacientes. Metodo. Programa de Pilates desarrollado: ejercicios en suelo en grupo, 2 sesiones de 60 minutos por semana, durante 20 semanas, entre enero y agosto de 2013. Sujetos: 37 personas con dolor de espalda con edades entre 20 y 73 anos (media 46,62; DT 11,01), de las cuales 28 eran mujeres (75,7%). Medicion pre y postintervencion: valoracion del dolor mediante escala visual-analogica y de la calidad de vida con el cuestionario SF36v2. Analisis de datos mediante SPSS, version 19. Resultados. Reduccion significativa del dolor de espalda y mejora significativa de la calidad de vida de dichos pacientes. Conclusiones. El metodo Pilates parece mejorar tanto el nivel de dolor de espalda como los distintos parametros vinculados a la valoracion de la calidad de vida con el SF36v2, pero se necesitarian realizar mas estudios que confirmasen los datos obtenidos en la presente investigacion. EnglishObjective. To assess the effectiveness of an intervention based on Pilates method on the management of back pain and quality. Method. Pilates-based exercises programme: mat exercises in groups, two 60 minutes sessions per week, over 20 weeks, between January and August 2013. Participants: 37 patients with back pain, between the ages of 20 and 73 (mean 46,62; SD 11,01), and 28 of them were women (75,7%). Pre and post intervention assessment: pain evaluation by visual analogue scale and quality of life evaluation using the SF-36v2 questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS, v19. Results. A significant back pain reduction and an increase in quality of life of such simple were observed. Conclusions. Pilates method seems to improve both pain status and the different aspects related to quality of life based on the SF36v2 questionnaire. More researches to confirm the results observed in this study are necessary.
Neuroimaging Strategies Addressing Challenges in Using fMRI for the Children with Cerebral Palsy

Aim: This study sought to develop a process and methodology that could be a useful clinical and research tool for successfully completing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning in children with Cerebral Palsy. Method: Six children with CP (mean age of 8.83 years; five with spastic hemiplegia, one with spastic quadriplegia) and three children with typical development (mean age of 9.33 years) completed an fMRI scanning protocol that used real-time motion feedback as a means of minimizing head and trunk motion. Anatomical, resting-state, and motor-task scans were sequentially obtained from each subject. Precentral “hand-knob” regions were identified on the anatomical scan and served as seed regions to reveal the functional connectivity of each subject’s brain as associated with hand movement. Results: Real-time motion feedback aided children in successful completion of resting state scans. Functional connectivity and brain activity mapping were obtained based on anatomical landmarks, and laterality indices were developed based on the obtained functional-connectivity map to specify a dominant side of brain activity that was matched to a clinical profile, despite anatomical variations that occur with Cerebral Palsy. Interpretation: Real-time motion feedback and the development of laterality indices can improve the clinical and research utility of fMRI scanning. What this paper adds: 1) Presents a real-time imaging protocol for fMRI to help children complete scanning; 2) Presents an fMRI methodology to obtain laterality indices in the presence of abnormal anatomy; 3) Provides findings of LI that match clinical diagnosis.
Test procedures to assess somatosensory abnormalities in individuals with back pain: a systematic review of psychometric properties

Abstract Background: Identification of somatosensory abnormalities in patients with low back pain (LBP) is essential for targeted treatment strategies in an attempt to reduce or normalize altered sensory processing within the central nervous system. Several test procedures have been used to assess somatosensory abnormalities in patients with LBP, however, these test procedure should possess optimal psychometric properties (PMPs) to be used in clinical practice. Objectives: To systematically review the literature to evaluate the level of evidence for PMPs of test procedures administered to identify somatosensory abnormalities in individuals with LBP. Methods: A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted in seven databases from inception to March 2016. The QAREL checklist and the COSMIN tool were used to assess methodological quality of the included studies. The level of evidence was determined based on the methodological quality of included studies and the quality of statistical measures of measurement properties. Results: Nineteen studies related to LBP were included. Studies demonstrated limited evidence for reliability and discriminative validity for cross-friction algometry in sub-acute LBP. Additionally, moderate evidence of reliability and strong evidence of discriminative validity exists for: electronic pressure algometer in chronic LBP, and a decline of conditioned pain modulation using the electronic pressure algometer (test stimulus) and a cold presser (conditioning stimulus) in acute and chronic LBP. Conclusions: This systematic review identified test procedures which demonstrated acceptable PMPs. Further research with adequate methodological quality and standardized protocols is recommended to investigate the predictive ability and responsiveness of test procedures to ensure their extended clinical utility.
Severe asthma and eligibility for biologics in a Brazilian cohort

Abstract Objective This study aims to describe the eligibility for biologic therapies for severe asthma (SA) in a cohort of patients attending the Program for Control of Asthma (ProAR) in Bahia, Brazil. Methods Data from SA patients (≥18 years old) attending the ProAR, that were included in a case-control study conducted from 2013 to 2015, were used to reassess patients according to a modified ERS/ATS 2014 SA criteria. Patients were then classified according to the eligibility for SA biological therapy based on current prescription labels. Results From 544 patients in the cohort, 531 (97.6%) were included and 172 (32.4%) were identified as SA patients according to the ERS/ATS 2014 modified criteria. Of these 172 patients, 69 (40.1%) were ineligible for any of the biologicals approved for asthma (omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab and benralizumab), 60 (34.9%) patients were eligible for one of the biological therapies, and 10 (5.8%) patients were eligible for all biological therapies. Conclusions More than half of patients with SA were eligible for biologic therapy in our study, but none of them received this form of treatment. Almost half of them were not eligible to any of the approved biologics, however. The variability and overlap in patients’ eligibility highlight the importance of evaluating each patient individually for a more personalized treatment approach. While there is a need to increase access for some of those eligible that may really need a biologic treatment, continuous efforts are required to develop alternatives to those who are not eligible.
Contemporary Role of Robotics in Bariatric Surgery: Experience of CUF Infante Santo Hospital

INTRODUCTION: The use of robotics in bariatric surgery is increasing worldwide, with the main objective of reducing complications and optimising surgical outcome. This study presents a single centre 1.5-year experience and clinical outcome with robotic gastric bypass. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 42 consecutive patients who underwent a robotic gastric bypass. Patient files were analysed to obtain patient characteristics, weight loss results and per- and postoperative morbidity. RESULTS: In 32/42 patients, a primary gastric bypass was performed, the remaining 10 procedures were revision cases. Mean start weight was 111.1 (+/- 20.5) kg, mean start BMI was 39.7 (+/- 5.6) kg/m2. Almost half of the patients presented with pre-existing comorbidities. After a mean follow-up of 9.1 (+/-5.2) months, mean body mass index was 30.16 (+/-5.3) kg/m2 with a percentage excess weight loss of 66.16 (+/- 43.6)%. There were no conversions, no leaks and no mortality. Two patients presented with minor complications; one infected hematoma and one anastomotic ulcer. Mean length of stay in the hospital was 2.8 (2-5) days. All but one patients were satisfied with the weight loss result. CONCLUSION: The robotic gastric bypass is a safe and reproducible approach to treat morbid obesity. A secure handsewn gastrojejunal anastomosis, quick recovery and better ergonomics are the main advantages of this technique.
A Systematic Review Evaluating Psychometric Properties of Parent or Caregiver Report Instruments on Child Maltreatment: Part 2: Internal Consistency, Reliability, Measurement Error, Structural Validity, Hypothesis Testing, Cross-Cultural Validity, and Criterion Validity

Aims: Child maltreatment (CM) is global public health issue with devastating lifelong consequences. Global organizations have endeavored to eliminate CM; however, there is lack of consensus on what instruments are most suitable for the investigation and prevention of CM. This systematic review aimed to appraise the psychometric properties (other than content validity) of all current parent- or caregiver-reported CM instruments and recommend the most suitable for use. Method: A systematic search of the CINAHL, Embase, ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Sociological Abstracts databases was performed. The evaluation of psychometric properties was conducted according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines for systematic reviews of patient-report outcome measures. Responsiveness was beyond the scope of this systematic review, and content validity has been reported on in a companion paper (Part 1). Only instruments developed and published in English were included. Results: Twenty-five studies reported on selected psychometric properties of 15 identified instruments. The methodological quality of the studies was overall adequate. The psychometric properties of the instruments were generally indeterminate or not reported due to incomplete or missing psychometric data; high-quality evidence on the psychometric properties was limited. Conclusions: No instruments could be recommended as most suitable for use in clinic and research. Nine instruments were identified as promising based on current psychometric data but would need further psychometric evidence for them to be recommended.
Real-Time Interferometric Refractive Index Change Measurement for the Direct Detection of Enzymatic Reactions and the Determination of Enzyme Kinetics

Back scatter interferometry (BSI) is a sensitive method for detecting changes in the bulk refractive index of a solution in a microfluidic system. Here we demonstrate that BSI can be used to directly detect enzymatic reactions and, for the first time, derive kinetic parameters. While many methods in biomedical assays rely on detectable biproducts to produce a signal, direct detection is possible if the substrate or the product exert distinct differences in their specific refractive index so that the total refractive index changes during the enzymatic reaction. In this study, both the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate, catalyzed by hexokinase, and the conversion of adenosine-triphosphate to adenosine di-phosphate and mono-phosphate, catalyzed by apyrase, were monitored by BSI. When adding hexokinase to glucose solutions containing adenosine-triphosphate, the conversion can be directly followed by BSI, which shows the increasing refractive index and a final plateau corresponding to the particular concentration. From the initial reaction velocities, KM was found to be 0.33 mM using Michaelis–Menten kinetics. The experiments with apyrase indicate that the refractive index also depends on the presence of various ions that must be taken into account when using this technique. This study clearly demonstrates that measuring changes in the refractive index can be used for the direct determination of substrate concentrations and enzyme kinetics.