Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The survival and growth of Bacillus cereus in boiled and fried rice in relation to outbreaks of food poisoning

Summary A number of outbreaks of food poisoning attributed to Bacillus cereus have been reported recently and all have been associated with cooked rice usually from Chinese restaurants and ‘take-away’ shops. Tests were made to assess the heat resistance of B. cereus spores in aqueous suspension, the growth of the organism in boiled rice stored at temperatures in the range 4–55° C. , and the effect of cooking and storage on the growth of the organism in boiled and fried rice. The spores of B. cereus survived cooking and were capable of germination and outgrowth. The optimum temperature for growth in boiled rice was between 30° and 37° C. and growth also occurred during storage at 15° and 43° C. To prevent further outbreaks it is suggested that rice should be boiled in smaller quantities on several occasions during the day, thereby reducing the storage time before frying. After boiling the rice should either be kept hot (> 63° C.) or cooled quickly and transferred to a refrigerator within 2 hr. of cooking. Boiled or fried rice must not be stored under warm conditions especially in the range 15–50° C.
Surgically treated aneurysms previously coiled: lessons learned.

OBJECTIVE Intravascular coil embolization of cerebral aneurysms has proved to be a safe and effective treatment in certain patient groups; however, this treatment is relatively new, and the long-term outcomes are unknown. One of the known complications is refilling of the aneurysm dome, which is seen in follow-up studies. This patient population poses unique technical difficulties for the neurosurgeon. We present a series of 18 patients who underwent surgery for residual aneurysms after coil remobilization. METHODS During a 5-year period, we performed surgery in 18 patients who had previously undergone coil embolization for their aneurysms. Of these aneurysms, four were in the anterior communicating artery, five were in the posterior communicating artery, three were in the internal carotid artery, three were in the posteroinferior cerebellar artery, and three were in the middle cerebral artery. One patient presented with rupture, one presented with acute IIIrd cranial nerve palsy, and the rest of the aneurysms were found on routine follow-up angiograms. Fifteen aneurysms were clipped, and in three patients, they were wrapped because the clip could not be placed adequately. RESULTS There were no major complications in any of the patients, and all had uneventful recoveries. The presence of coils in the aneurysm dome and/or neck made clipping and exposure of the aneurysm neck difficult, resulting in incomplete neck obliteration in three patients. CONCLUSION Operative clipping after previous coil embolization in aneurysms poses a unique problem for neurosurgeons. With the increasing use of coil embolization, this patient population will undoubtedly increase. The neurosurgeon should be aware of the difficulties and pitfalls encountered in these patients.
Expression and function of sonic hedgehog pathway components in pituitary adenomas: evidence for a direct role in hormone secretion and cell proliferation.

CONTEXT Sonic hedgehog (Shh) belongs to a family of signaling proteins involved in development and has been recently implicated in cancer. Shh signaling is active in the corticotrophs of the adult pituitary gland, where it cross-talks with the CRH pathway and regulates ACTH secretion. Because developmental pathways are involved in pituitary tumorigenesis, we hypothesized that Shh may be important in pituitary tumors. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the expression and function of Shh-pathway components in pituitary adenomas. METHODS Using immunohistochemistry, we determined the expression of Shh and its receptors Patched 1 (Ptc1) and Patched 2 (Ptc2) in 55 human pituitary adenomas compared with the normal pituitary gland. The AtT-20 and GH3 pituitary tumor cell lines were used as models for studying the role of Shh on cell proliferation and hormone secretion. The effect of Shh on hormone secretion was confirmed in primary cultures of normal rat pituitaries and human pituitary tumors. RESULTS Ptc1 and Ptc2 were present, whereas Shh was down-regulated in pituitary adenomas and completely absent in Cushing tumors. Shh inhibited cell proliferation in AtT-20 corticotrophinoma cells and the Shh-specific inhibitor cyclopamine increased proliferation in GH3 mammosomatotrophinoma cells. On the other hand, exogenous administration of Shh increased hormone secretion from normal rat pituitaries, pituitary cell lines, and 10 different pituitary tumors. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that Shh might maintain pituitary cells in a nonproliferative state. We conclude that Shh is a newly described hypophysiotropic cytokine and its down-regulation may be involved in the pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas.
Human Dendritic Cell Expression of HLA-DO Is Subset Specific and Regulated by Maturation1

Expression of HLA-DO (DO) in cells that express HLA-DM (DM) results in an altered repertoire of MHC class II/peptide complexes, indicating that DO modulates DM function. Human and murine B cells and thymic epithelial cells express DO, while monocytes/macrophages do not. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) also have been found to be DO-negative, leading to the assumption that DC do not express DO. In this study, we report that, in fact, certain types of human primary DC express DO. These include Langerhans cells (LC) and some subtypes of circulating blood DC. Specifically, the majority of BDCA-3+ DC, a small subset of uncertain function, are DO+, while smaller proportions of CD11c+, BDCA-1+ (myeloid) DC, at most a minority of CD123+/BDCA-2+ (plasmacytoid) DC, and no detectable CD16+ (myeloid) DC, express DO. Immunohistochemistry of human tonsil sections demonstrates that tonsillar interdigitating DC are also DO+. In a subset of immature LC with higher DO expression, an increased fraction of surface DR molecules carry CLIP peptides, indicating that DO functions as a DM inhibitor in these cells. LC expression of DO is down-regulated by maturation stimuli. DM levels also decrease under these conditions, but the DM:DO ratio generally increases. In the myeloid cell types tested, DO expression correlates with levels of DOβ, but not DOα, implying that modulation of DOβ regulates DO dimer abundance in these cells. The range of APC types shown to express DO suggests a broader role for DO in immune function than previously appreciated.
Cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum‐infected erythrocytes in the human placenta

In Plasmodium falciparum‐parasitized pregnant women, erythrocytes infected by mature stages of the parasite sequester into placental intervillous spaces. The presence of parasites in the placenta causes maternal anaemia and low birth weight of the infant. In‐vitro studies suggest placental sequestration may involve the cytoadherence of infected erythrocytes to chondroitin sulphate A (CSA) and/or intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) expressed by human placental syncytiotrophoblast. We identified P. falciparum receptors expressed on the surface of human syncytiotrophoblast using immunofluorescence of placental biopsies from Cameroon, a malaria‐endemic area. In all placentas, a strongly positive staining was observed on the syncytiotrophoblast for CSA, but not for ICAM‐1, vascular endothelium cell adhesion molecule‐1, E‐selectin, nor CD36. The cytoadherence ability of parasites from pregnant women and nonpregnant subjects was assessed on in‐vitro cultured syncytiotrophoblast. Parasites from pregnant women bound to the trophoblast via CSA but not ICAM‐1. Parasites from nonpregnant hosts either did not bind to the trophoblast culture or bound using ICAM‐1. Our data support the idea that placental sequestration may result from cytoadherence to placental trophoblast and that pregnant women are parasitized by parasites that differ from parasites derived from nonpregnant host by their cytoadherence ability.
An apparently new enterovirus isolated from patients with disease of the central nervous system.

An apparently new enterovirus was isolated in California from more than 20 patients with central nervous system (CNS) disease during the past four years; one strain was isolated from the brain of a fatal case of encephalitis. The representative BrCr strain had the physicochemical properties of an enterovirus. The human origin of the virus strains was confirmed by the reisolation from the original clinical specimens and the demonstration of increases in neutralizing antibody in patients from whom virus was isolated. Cross-neutralization and immunodiffusion tests indicated that the virus was distinct from the currently recognized enteroviruses of man. A few strains in the group were weakly pathogenic in suckling mice and produced symptoms similar to those produced by group A coxsackieviruses. A number of the strains required treatment with sodium deoxycholate to disaggregate the virus before neutralization could be demonstrated with homologous antiserum.
Ultrasound‐guided fine needle biopsy of the spleen: High clinical efficacy and low risk in a multicenter Italian study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the ultrasound‐guided fine needle biopsy (UG‐FNB) of the spleen in a large population of patients. We collected retrospectively the findings concerning the application of UG‐FNB of the spleen from eight Italian clinical centers that utilized this technique for at least ten years. A data schedule was sent to all centers to collect information about techniques, results, and complications of UG‐FNB of the spleen. We analyzed 398 biopsy procedures both on focal lesions (257 cases) and on splenic parenchyma (141 cases). The overall accuracy was 90.9% for the series as a whole, 84.9% for cytological sampling, 88.3% for microhistological sampling, and 90.3% for both cytological and histological sampling (double biopsy). Tissue core biopsy yielded better overall accuracy in patients with suspected splenic involvement by lymphoma (90.9% vs. 68.5% for cytology). The complication rate was low (no death cases, less than 1% for major complications, and 5.2% for all complications). No predictive factors were able to detect high‐risk situations. The operator's skill (higher number of performed procedures) was significantly related to better overall accuracy. Conversely, the complication rate was not affected. UG‐FNB of the spleen is a very effective diagnostic procedure with low risk for the patient. Aspiration cytology and core needle biopsy showed similar diagnostic yields, except for the diagnosis of splenic lymphoma, in which core needle biopsy obtained better results. Am. J. Hematol. 67:93–99, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Challenges of Inhaler Use in the Treatment of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The mainstay of the pharmacological management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the use of inhaled drugs. This route enables drugs to be delivered to the site of their action, minimising the risk of adverse effects caused by systemic absorption. Drugs that can be administered by the inhaled route include the most commonly prescribed drugs for asthma and COPD, namely short and long-acting β2 agonists and anticholinergic drugs and corticosteroids. There are two main types of inhalers: pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs). pMDIs were introduced in the mid-20th century. The active drug is held in suspension or solution in a canister with a propellant. Proper use of pMDIs requires the patient to apply a series of techniques correctly: i) fire the device, releasing the aerosol very shortly after the initiation of inspiration; ii) inspire slowly and deeply; and iii) hold their breath. Many patients find this procedure difficult. Modifications and add-ons include breath-activated pMDIs and spacers and valved holding chambers; these help to obviate some of the problems with pMDIs. DPIs are breath-activated devices. Following priming, which is different for each device, the aerosol is generated by the patient taking a deep, rapid inspiration. This de-aggregates the powdered drug from its carrier. A prolonged breath-hold is then required. Many studies have shown that errors that may impair the effective delivery of the drug to the lungs, including critical errors, are very common with both pMDIs and DPIs. Such inhaler misuse has been shown to be associated with poorer symptom control and more frequent emergency department attendances. Errors in the use of inhalers can be a consequence of device-related factors, patient-related factors, and health professionalrelated factors. Minimising inhaler misuse requires the prescribing physician to choose, in cooperation with the patient, the most suitable device for the individual patient. Education and training with subsequent monitoring and re-training are thereafter crucial. There remains a need for more user-friendly devices, which provide constant doses of the active agent, in addition to built-in dose counters and patient feedback.
30 Pharmacologic Inhibition of Cardiac Stem Cell Senescence

Mammalian aging may be viewed as a reduction in the capacity to adequately maintain tissue homeostasis or to repair tissues after injury(Sharpless and DePinho, 2007). When homeostatic control diminishes to the point at which tissue/organ integrity and function are no longer sufficiently maintained, physiological decline develops, and aging becomes apparent. Cells that express senescence markers accumulate at sites of chronic age-related pathology, such as osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis and chronic heart failure(Blasco, 2007; Campisi and d'Adda di Fagagna, 2007; Chimenti, et al., 2003; Deng, et al., 2008; Jeyapalan and Sedivy, 2008; Minamino and Komuro, 2008; Sharpless and DePinho, 2007; Shawi and Autexier, 2008; Torella, et al., 2004; Urbanek, et al., 2005). Thus, senescent cells are associated with aging and age-related diseases in vivo(Campisi, 2011).
Drug Dependence as a Disorder of Neural Plasticity: Focus on Dopamine and Glutamate

Drug addiction, as a disease, has grown to reach the level of a social illness. Psychostimulants, opiates, alcohol, nicotine and cannabis abuse affects millions worldwide and virtually all classes of modern society. In spite of the enormous proportions of its spread, intimate neurobiological mechanisms leading to distintictive features of this pathological status, such as craving for the abused substance and loss of control over intake, remain largely obscure and pharmacotherapies sadly unsatisfactory. In the last decade, preclinical and clinical research in this field has made great progress to improve our understanding of the brain mechanisms which form the basis of this illness. The review of recent literature, which represents the focus of the present paper, leads to the emerging consensus that an alteration of physiological mechanisms of neural plasticity within the brain dopamine and glutamate systems may underlie some of the behavioral abnormalities occurring during the dependence cycle. In particular, a reduction of dopamine neuronal activity and glutamate neurotransmission at the level of the ventrotegmental area, after withdrawal from chronic administration of drugs of abuse, may work in concert with alterations in other forebrain areas, such as the nucleus accumbens and the amygdaloid complex. In addition, following prolonged periods of abstinence, even after somatic withdrawal signs have vanished, responsiveness of these systems to drugs of abuse remains abnormal. This suggests that these two neurotransmitters may play a substantial role in the long-lasting, enduring changes typical of the addictive process and may represent ideal targets for pharmacological intervention aimed at normalizing forms of neural plasticity impaired after chronic drug intake.
Integrating evidence-based practice, cognitive–behavior therapy, and multicultural therapy: Ten steps for culturally competent practice.

During the past decade, 3 major developments in psychotherapy have been converging: the establishment of evidence-based practices in psychology (EBPP); enormous growth in cognitive–behavior therapy and research (CBT); and increasing recognition of the impact of multicultural influences, as highlighted in the field of multicultural therapy (MCT). Cognitive–behavioral research has produced many empirically supported treatments used in the establishment of the scientific research base of EBPP, and MCT research has provided a wealth of qualitative information that balances this scientific emphasis with recognition of the importance of culturally competent clinical judgment, expertise, and experience. This article describes the advantages and potential limitations involved in the integration of CBT and multicultural considerations, with limitations reframed as opportunities to improve the relevance and effectiveness of psychotherapy. Ten suggestions are provided for integrating multicultural considerations into the clinical practice of cognitive–behavior therapy.
Selection of the number and positions of measuring locations for electrocardiography.

This paper considers how many and which locations on the body surface must be measured (by taking ECGs at these positions) to be able to determine consistently the total-body QRS surface-potential distribution as it varies in time. The answers to these questions have implications about the complexity of models of heart electrical activity in addition to their experimental value. An advantage of using the ability to compute the total-body potential distribution as a criterion of quality is that untestable assumptions about the nature of heart electrical activity are avoided. The accuracy of computed potential distributions with respect to corresponding experimental ones is specified by the mean-square difference between them. Acceptable maps had an average relative mean square error of less than 4 percent in the presence of about 1 percent noise, since inspection of the surface maps showed this to be the maximum error allowable for the same clinical or physiological interpretation of the surface maps analyzed.
Web usage mining on the sequences of clicking patterns in a grid computing environment

Analyzing user's browsing sequences is an important task of web usage mining. It can help the web administrators or designers improve the web structure or tune the performance of the web servers. Mining on the sequences of such clicking patterns (MSCP) can be considered as a data mining task. MSCP is usually a costly task due to its considerable amount of time for computation and storage for archiving a huge amount of data. Running MSCP becomes inefficient or even not workable on a computer with limited resources. This paper explores the deployment of MSCP in a distributed grid computing environment and demonstrates its effectiveness by empirical cases. The use of a grid-environment and associated experimental results are presented and discussed.
Loss in body weight is an independent prognostic factor for mortality in chronic heart failure: insights from the GISSI‐HF and Val‐HeFT trials

Uncertainties remain on the biological and prognostic significance and therapeutic implications of loss in body weight (W‐LOSS) in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. We assessed whether W‐LOSS added additional prognostic value to classical clinical risk factors in two separate and large cohorts of patients with chronic HF. The factors associated with W‐LOSS were studied.
p21—Negative Regulator of the Cell Cycle

Abstract Progression through the cell cycle is regulated by cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks). The cyclin kinase inhibitor p21 (also known as WAF1, CIP1, SDI1, and MDA-6) can induce G1 arrest and block entry into S phase by inactivating Cdks or by inhibiting activity of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). In normal cells, p21 exists in quaternary complexes with cyclin, Cdk, and PCNA. Transcription of the p21 gene is activated by p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Mice deficient in p21 exhibit no apparent phenotype, although p21 function has been demonstrated to be necessary for p53-mediated G1 arrest following irradiation of p21-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Thus, the function of p21 under normal circumstances appears to be redundant. p21 is expressed in terminally differentiating cells of a variety of tissues in a p53-independent manner. Overexpression of p21 results in G1 arrest and has been shown to suppress effectively tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. We review the recent literature describing the functional characterization of p21. This protein plays a key role in regulating the cell cycle and may have potential gene therapy applications.
Influence of AlN quality on the transverse and longitudinal coupling coefficients of acoustic devices

The transverse and longitudinal piezoelectric response of AlN polycrystalline thin films is analyzed by means of measurements in surface acoustic wave (SAW) and bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices fabricated on films of identical characteristics. The crystal quality of the films is correlated with the measured coupling factors; it is found that the presence of grains with the c-axis tilted with respect to the substrate normal is detrimental to the piezoelectric response of AlN. However, the presence of tilted crystal affects differently the longitudinal and transverse response of the devices, degrading more severely the latter as the amount of tilted grains increases. The presence of such defects leads to the destruction of the mechanical coherence in the transverse deformation when the electric field parallel to the surface is applied.
Incidence of fimbriated strains amongst haemolytic Escherichia coli

A total of 23,007 clinical samples, 2,001 were identified as Escherichia coli (E.coli). Among these, 205 strains were haemolytic. One hundred eighty one E.coli were found haemolytic among urinary isolates. Two tests i.e. salt aggregation test (SAT) and haemagglutination test (HAT) with human type A erythrocytes were performed to know the incidence of fimbriated strains amongst haemolytic E.coli isolates. Mannose resistant haemagglutination and Mannose sensitive haemagglutination was observed in 95 (46.34%) and 15 (7.31%) strains respectively. Whereas cell surface hydrophobicity was shown by 139 (67.80%) strains. Seventy nine (38.53%) strains were both SAT and HAT positive. Twenty nine (14.14%) strains were both SAT and HAT negative i.e. non-fimbriated strains. Among urinary isolates, 21.8% were found to possess both haemolytic and haemagglutinating activity. Haemolytic activity of E.coli was found associated with fimbriated strains. Thus, both act as virulence factors for the pathogenesis of Urinary Tract Infection.