Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Galectin-3 Plasma Levels and Coronary Artery Disease: A New Possible Biomarker of Acute Coronary Syndrome

Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis. Galectin-3 is a macrophage- and endothelium-derived mediator actively involved in the regulation of many aspects of inflammatory cell behaviour. The aim of this study is to quantify plasma Galectin-3 in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and different clinical manifestation at the moment of observation in order to verify whether Galectin-3 could be a useful biomarker of atherosclerotic state. We enrolled 125 patients affected by CAD, angiographically documented (70 stable, 55 unstable). They underwent accurate examinations and anamnestic data was collected. The most important traditional risk factors, such as age, hypertension, and body mass index, were reported. Plasma Galectin-3 was quantified using an ELISA kit. Unstable patients (n = 55) had a higher plasma Galectin-3 levels in respect to the stable subjects (27.75 ng/mL (19.27–39.09) vs 6.48 ng/ml (4.88–8.83), p<0.001. A trend in correlation between plasma Galectin-3 levels and number of vessels compromised seems to be present: CAD patients with three-vessel disease had higher levels of Galectin-3 than patients with one-or two-vessel disease (17.39 ng/ml (10.75–29.82) vs 9.18 ng/ml (5.56–23.22), p= 0.058. The significantly higher plasma Galectin-3 levels in patients with unstable angina in respect to the stable angina confirm the involvement of Galectin-3 in promoting macrophage activation and monocyte attraction. Despite the distribution of CAD in patients with acute and chronic coronary disease being similar, we may hypothesize that Galectin-3 could be a useful biomarker of atherosclerotic plaque and in particular of its destabilization.
The Very Low Birth Weight Premature Infant Is Capable of Synthesizing Arachidonic and Docosahexaenoic Acids from Linoleic and Linolenic Acids

Infants fed formulas devoid of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) exhibit low plasma LCP concentrations and have poorer retinal and neurologic development in comparison with their human milk-fed counterparts. It is not known whether the low plasma LCP concentrations result from an impaired biosynthetic capacity, a high need, or a low dietary intake. With stable isotope technology and high sensitivity tracer detection using gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry we measured the conversion of[13C]linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) and [13C]linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) into their longer chain derivatives in five 1-mo-old formula-fed preterm infants (birth weight 1.17 ± 0.12 kg and gestational age 28.4 ± 1.3 wk). Carbon-13-labeled linoleic acid and inolenic were mixed with the formula and administered continuously for 48 h. Both tracers were rapidly incorporated in plasma phospholipids, and their metabolic products including arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) became highly enriched. We demonstrate that the preterm infant is capable of synthesizing LCP from their 18-carbon precursors, and our data do not support the hypothesis that a reduced δ6 desaturation is a main factor leading to low arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels.
Apoptosis in human cancer cells

Purpose of review Apoptosis, or programed cell death, is a vital physiologic process to eliminate damaged or unwanted cells. Defects in apoptosis promote tumor formation and make cancer cells resistant to therapy. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the understanding of apoptosis in human cancer cells. Recent findings Recent studies revealed that the apoptotic machinery in humans consists of a molecular network of a large number of proteins. These proteins regulate a cascade of events in signaling, commitment and execution stages of apoptosis through multiple parallel pathways. Delineation of the basic mechanisms of apoptosis has shed light on how apoptosis is deregulated in human cancer cells. Therapeutic strategies based on apoptosis have also been designed to selectively target tumor cells. Summary Understanding the basic mechanisms of apoptosis and determining how cancer cells evade apoptosis will afford discoveries of new molecular targets and better cancer therapies.
Differential time courses of skin blood flow and hyperalgesia in the human sunburn reaction following ultraviolet irradiation of the skin

The response of skin to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is an inflammation with pronounced vasodilation and hyperalgesia. Volunteers underwent UV irradiation of patches of forearm skin 3 cm in diameter. The intensity of the UV irradiation (290–320 nm) ranged between 133 mJ/cm2and 400 mJ/cm2. Changes in skin blood flow were measured with laser Doppler technique at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60, 72, 96 and 216 h post UV irradiation. The alteration in pain threshold was measured for heat with a Peltier thermode and for pressure with a metal stylus. The effect of repeated topical pre‐treatment 4 days prior to UV irradiation with 1.5 g of 0.04% capsaicin containing ointment was also investigated.
The vaginal microbiome: new information about genital tract flora using molecular based techniques

Please cite this paper as: Lamont R, Sobel J, Akins R, Hassan S, Chaiworapongsa T, Kusanovic J, Romero R. The vaginal microbiome: new information about genital tract flora using molecular based techniques. BJOG 2011;118:533–549.
Similar and differential behaviour between the nectin‐afadin‐ponsin and cadherin‐catenin systems during the formation and disruption of the polarized junctional alignment in epithelial cells

We have recently identified a novel cell‐cell adhesion system, named NAP system, which is localized at cadherin‐based cell‐cell adherens junctions (AJs). The NAP system is composed of at least nectin, afadin and ponsin. Nectin is an immunoglobulin‐like cell adhesion molecule. Afadin is an actin filament‐binding protein which associates nectin with the actin cytoskeleton. Ponsin is an afadin‐binding protein which furthermore binds to vinculin and provides a possible linkage of nectin‐afadin to cadherin‐catenin through vinculin. We compared here the behaviour of the NAP and cadherin‐catenin systems during the formation and disruption of the polarized junctional alignment in epithelial cells.
Impact of the invasion of the imported fire ant

The impact of the imported fire ant (IFA) is complex, in large part, because several very different species of “Fire Ants” have invaded and one of these has two forms, all of which are hard to separate by the public, as well as, some investigators not focused on the ant. Each of these different “IFA” species and forms differ in their impact. Further, these ants impact a number of “things” ranging from the environment and wildlife (plants and animals) as well as people, their environment and infrastructure. In addition, they can not only lead to death of living things (including people), but they can destroy many aspects of our environment and infrastructure at the cost of millions of dollars. But there are some beneficial aspects and some people can make many thousands of dollars due to their presence. This is an attempt to look at these issues.
IL-15 trans-presentation promotes human NK cell development and differentiation in vivo

The in vivo requirements for human natural killer (NK) cell development and differentiation into cytotoxic effectors expressing inhibitory receptors for self–major histocompatability complex class I (MHC-I; killer Ig-like receptors [KIRs]) remain undefined. Here, we dissect the role of interleukin (IL)-15 in human NK cell development using Rag2−/−γc−/− mice transplanted with human hematopoietic stem cells. Human NK cell reconstitution was intrinsically low in this model because of the poor reactivity to mouse IL-15. Although exogenous human IL-15 (hIL-15) alone made little improvement, IL-15 coupled to IL-15 receptor α (IL-15Rα) significantly augmented human NK cells. IL-15–IL-15Rα complexes induced extensive NK cell proliferation and differentiation, resulting in accumulation of CD16+KIR+ NK cells, which was not uniquely dependent on enhanced survival or preferential responsiveness of this subset to IL-15. Human NK cell differentiation in vivo required hIL-15 and progressed in a linear fashion from CD56hiCD16−KIR− to CD56loCD16+KIR−, and finally to CD56loCD16+KIR+. These data provide the first evidence that IL-15 trans-presentation regulates human NK cell homeostasis. Use of hIL-15 receptor agonists generates a robust humanized immune system model to study human NK cells in vivo. IL-15 receptor agonists may provide therapeutic tools to improve NK cell reconstitution after bone marrow transplants, enhance graft versus leukemia effects, and increase the pool of IL-15–responsive cells during immunotherapy strategies.
Short-term neurocognitive and symptomatic outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury: A prospective multi-centre observational cohort study

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the short-term cognitive and symptomatic outcome following mild traumatic brain injury. Methods: Setting: Emergency Departments of two UK tertiary referral hospitals. Participants: Adult patients presenting to the Emergency Departments of the Royal London Hospital and Salford Royal Hospital with suspected traumatic brain injury within 24 hours and Glasgow Coma Score > 8. A non-TBI comparison group included adult patients with no head or neck injury. Design: Prospective multi-centre cohort study. Main measures: The Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), the Concussion Symptom Inventory (CSI) and total number of symptoms, measured at baseline and 72 hours. Results: This study enrolled 189 patients with and 51 patients without TBI. Patients with TBI had marked cognitive impairment which persisted at 72 hours (SAC score at baseline = 25 [23–27] vs 72 hours = 25 [22–27]; p = 0.1). Patients with TBI had persistent high symptom severity, although this had decreased at 72 hours (CSI score at baseline = 9 [4–22] vs 72 hours = 5 [1–19], p = 0.002). A similar pattern was observed with the total number of symptoms (baseline = 4 [2–8] vs 72 hours = 0 [0–4]; p < 0.001). Patients with TBI had worse neurocognitive function, higher overall symptom severity and higher total number of symptoms compared with patients without TBI. Patients without TBI’ neurocognitive function and symptom severity remained constant, but the number of symptoms reduced between baseline and 72 hours. Conclusion: There is a cognitive deficit and symptom burden in patients with mild TBI presenting to the Emergency Department which persists at 72 hours.
Estimating the Relationship Between the Current Account, the Capital Account and Investment for India

Causality from the capital account (KA) to the current account (CA) of the balance of payments indicates disruption from capital flows while the reverse can indicate smooth financing of the CA that allows investment to exceed domestic savings. A three-variable vector autoregression tests for Granger causality between the Indian CA, KA, KA components, and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) over 2000–01Q1 to 2015–16Q3. Since a CA deficit indicates an excess of investment over savings it is useful to estimate which type of capital flows affect investment. No causality is found to exist in any direction between the KA and the CA. There is only indirect causality through some components. Of the capital flow components, only FDI affects GFCF. The latter consistently affects the CA. The CA affects debt portfolio flows and non-resident deposits, suggesting these were used to finance the CA, but they were not causal for GFCF. Volatile flows, therefore, did not deteriorate the CA, but they also did not contribute to GFCF. India’s gradual KA convertibility may have mitigated shocks from the KA. Long-term sustainability, however, requires FDI to increase as compared to other types of flows. JEL Codes: F21, F32
Detection of unexpected additional primary malignancies with PET/CT.

UNLABELLED This study evaluated the yield of whole-body (18)F-FDG PET/CT for the detection of unexpected (18)F-FDG-avid additional primary malignant tumors in patients being evaluated by PET/CT for known or suspected malignances. METHODS Reports from whole-body (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans from June 2001 to June 2003 were reviewed, and 1,912 patients (924 men and 988 women; mean age +/- SD, 58.9 +/- 13.9 y) who had been scanned for known or suspected malignant lesions were included in this study. The sites of known or suspected primary tumors included lung (28.6%), colon or rectum (12.4%), head or neck (12.1%), lymph nodes (10.9%), breast (7.6%), gynecologic organs (7.1%), genitourinary organs (4.2%), esophagus (3.6%), skin (melanoma) (3.5%), pancreas (2.5%), bone or soft tissue (2.2%), and other sites (5.4%). Lesions that were newly discovered on PET/CT, had not been previously detected by other modalities, and were atypical in location for metastases on the PET/CT study were interpreted as suggestive of a new primary malignant tumor. These abnormalities were compared with the final diagnosis obtained from the medical records, including pathologic reports. RESULTS PET-positive lesions suggestive of new primary malignant tumors were found in 79 (4.1%) of 1,912 patients. In 22 (1.2%) of 1,912 patients, these lesions were pathologically proven to be malignant. Proven sites were lung (7 lesions), thyroid (6 lesions), colon (4 lesions), breast (2 lesions), esophagus (2 lesions), bile duct (1 lesion), and head and neck other than thyroid (1 lesion). Two new lesions in the lung and the thyroid were proven malignant in 1 patient. In 17 patients, the treatment plan was changed and the new lesion was surgically resected after the PET/CT examination. In 10 patients, PET was falsely positive after pathologic assessment. False-positive sites included thyroid (5 lesions), uterus (2 lesions), head and neck other than thyroid (2 lesions), and lung (1 lesion). In 8 patients, the PET-positive lesions were considered benign after clinical follow-up of at least 8 mo. In 39 patients, the follow-up record was not yet available and the final diagnosis of the detected lesion has not yet been resolved. CONCLUSION Whole-body PET/CT detected new, unexpected (18)F-FDG-avid primary malignant tumors in at least 1.2% of patients with cancer.
Chronic renal allograft rejection in the rat. Transplantation-induced antibodies against basement membrane antigens.

BACKGROUND To obtain understanding of the immunologic mechanism of chronic rejection-associated glomerular and interstitial renal damage, we investigated the humoral immune response against donor type glomerular and tubular basement membrane proteins in rats with long-surviving renal transplants with and without chronic rejection. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Sera from Lewis and Fisher 344 rats with long-surviving Fisher 344 and Lewis renal allografts were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis using collagenase-digested renal basement membrane preparations from various strains of rats. RESULTS Kidneys from F344 strain donors transplanted into Lewis recipients developed glomerular lesions consistent with transplant glomerulopathy as well as chronic tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis. Indirect immunofluorescence studies of the Lewis anti-Fisher 344 post-transplant sera showed the presence of antibodies that gave punctate staining in the glomeruli and bright, linear staining of the proximal tubular basement membrane. Dot blot analysis of the sera showed the presence of antibodies against Fisher and third party Brown Norway glomerular basement membranes, whereas no reactivity was found with recipient strain basement membranes. Western blot analysis with glomerular basement membrane preparations showed that the antibodies recognized several antigens under nonreducing (> 200 and approximately 100 kilodaltons) and reducing (> or = 200, approximately 200, approximately 90, approximately 50 to 60, and < 45 kilodaltons) conditions. Western blots with tubular basement membrane proteins showed antibodies against various antigens. Anti-basement membrane antibodies were not found after conventional immunizations with kidney homogenates or after transplantation of cardiac allografts. Fisher 344 rats with long-surviving Lewis renal transplants produced antibodies against laminin fragments, but these antibodies were not associated with transplant glomerulopathy. CONCLUSIONS We found that Lewis rats that carry a Fisher 344 renal allograft with transplant glomerulopathy produce antibodies against one or more novel antigen(s) of donor glomerular and tubular basement membranes. The role of these antibodies in the pathogenesis of transplant glomerulopathy and chronic rejection-associated tubulointerstitial inflammation remains to be established.
Segmentation by recreation experience in island-based tourism: a case study of Taiwan's Liuqiu Island

ABSTRACT This study expands the profile characteristics of island-based tourists by assessing recreation experiences. In so doing, it aims to elucidate the market segmentation of island-based tourists by assessing the recreation experiences of tourists at Liuqiu Island in Taiwan. A total of 481 useable questionnaires were obtained and analyzed. The analytical results indicate that tourists can be segmented into four clusters according to their recreation experiences: multi-experience recreationists, aestheticists, hedonists and knowledge seekers. These four different tourist segments performed significantly differently in terms of environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). The market segmentation introduced in this study can be helpful for elucidating tourist experiences and ERB implementation. Understanding tourism experience preferences will help managers develop marketing strategies and design tourism products to meet tourists’ needs. This study's findings could be used to provide different strategies for different segments of tourists. To help manage natural resources, managers should design their environmental programs to encourage different segments of tourists to participate in ERBs. We provide valuable managerial implications for the sustainable development of island-based tourism.
Impacts of droop and deadband on generator performance and frequency control

This paper illustrates the impact of different governor deadband and droop controls on generating unit performance and its impact on primary frequency response. Actual interconnection frequency data is used for an open-loop analysis of steady-state controls. Additionally, simulated dynamic behavior of a generating unit under different droop and deadband settings have been shown in order to describe how units support primary frequency response. Synchronous machines as well as non-synchronous resources are considered, and for non-synchronous resources, a discussion of lost opportunity cost associated with frequency response is provided.
Diagnostic performances of CA125, HE4, and ROMA index in ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION HE4 (human epididymis protein 4) is suggested to be used as a potential new biomarker to identify ovarian malignancies from benign adnexal masses. The aim of this study was to evaluate HE4, in comparison with CA125 and Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) index in benign gynecological diseases and ovarian cancer, and additionally to determine the reference range for HE4 in healthy Turkish women. MATERIALS AND METHODS CA125 and HE4 serum levels were determined in 96 patients with benign gynecological diseases, 47 patients with ovarian cancer and 106 healthy women using a specific analyzer. CA125 and HE4 cut-offs were 35 U/ml and 70 pmol/L, respectively. RESULTS HE4 had significantly higher concentrations in ovarian cancer than benign gynecologic disorders (p < 0.005). Tumor marker sensitivity in ovarian cancer was 78% for HE4, 63% for CA125, and 88% for ROMA index at 95% specificity. A significantly higher area under the Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained with HE4 and ROMA index than CA125 in the differential diagnosis of benign gynecological diseases versus ovarian cancer (0.929, 0.955, and 0.781, respectively). Reference limits for serum HE4 in healthy Turkish women was determined as 28.9-62.4 pmol/L for pre-menopausal and 23.7-152.4 pmol/L for postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS In the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, HE4 had higher sensitivity, as a single tumor marker. The sensitivity of HE4 and ROMA index in postmenopausal women was higher than premenopausal women for detecting ovarian cancer.
Distortion-Fair Cross-Layer Resource Allocation for Scalable Video Transmission in OFDMA Wireless Networks

The design of optimized video delivery to multiple users over a wireless channel is a challenging task, especially when the objectives of maximizing the spectral efficiency and providing a fair video quality have to be jointly considered. In this paper we propose a novel cross-layer optimization framework for scalable video delivery over OFDMA wireless networks. It jointly addresses rate adaptation and resource allocation with the aim of maximizing the sum of the achievable rates while minimizing the distortion difference among multiple videos. After having discussed the feasibility of the optimization problem, we consider a “vertical” decomposition of it and propose the iterative local approximation (ILA) algorithm to derive the optimal solution. The ILA algorithm requires a limited information exchange between the application and the MAC layers, which independently run algorithms that handle parameters and constraints characteristic of a single layer. In order to reduce the overall complexity and the latency of the optimal algorithm, we also propose suboptimal strategies based on the first-step of the ILA algorithm and on the use of stochastic approximations at the MAC layer. Our numerical evaluations show the fast convergence of the ILA algorithm and the resulting small gap in terms of efficiency and video quality fairness between optimal and suboptimal strategies. Moreover, significant individual PSNR gains, up to 7 dB for high-complexity videos in the investigated scenario, are obtained with respect to other state-of-the-art frameworks with similar complexity.
Effects of barium ions on tubuloglomerular feedback.

The furosemide sensitivity of the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) response has suggested an important role for the Na-2Cl-K cotransporter in the mechanism by which increased luminal NaCl concentration causes afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction. The present experiments in anesthetized rats were performed to evaluate the effect of K channel blockade with Ba on TGF, since Ba has been shown to inhibit NaCl transport in the thick ascending limb. The presence of either 1.5 or 2 mM BaCl2 during retrograde perfusion with a 135 mM NaCl solution reduced the decrease of early proximal flow rate (VEP) by 2.7 +/- 0.76 (P < 0.02) and 4.2 +/- 0.8 nl/min (P < 0.01) compared with perfusion without BaCl2. Retrograde perfusion with 38 mM NaCl + 5 mM KCl reduced VEP by 10.4 +/- 1.3 nl/min, whereas 40 mM NaCl + 1.5 mM BaCl2 caused a reduction by only 6.1 +/- 1.4 nl/min (P < 0.001). In contrast to the inhibition caused by retrograde perfusion with low concentrations of BaCl2, increased vasoconstriction was seen during retrograde perfusion with 5 mM BaCl2 or during orthograde perfusion with 10 mM BaCl2. The addition of 10(-4) M furosemide to a solution containing 5 mM BaCl2 largely blocked the increased vasoconstrictor response. Peritubular perfusion with a solution containing 5 mM BaCl2 caused a fall in stop-flow pressure in an adjacent nephron by 10.7 +/- 1.5 mmHg (P < 0.001). These results indicate that under our experimental conditions Ba ions exert a dual effect on vascular responses to changes in luminal NaCl concentration. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)