Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impaired synthesis and action of antiaggregating cyclic nucleotides in platelets from obese subjects: possible role in platelet hyperactivation in obesity

Background Subjects with central obesity exhibit platelet hyperactivity, which is involved in the atherosclerotic process and therefore can account for the increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether alterations of platelet function in obesity involve synthesis and/or action of the two antiaggregating cyclic nucleotides adenosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cGMP).
Recent Advances in Research on Radiofrequency Fields and Health: 2004–2007

The widespread use of wireless telecommunications devices, particularly mobile phones and wireless networks, has resulted in increased human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields. Although national and international agencies have established safety guidelines for exposure to RF fields, concerns remain about the potential for adverse health outcomes to occur in relation to RF field exposure. The extensive literature on RF fields and health was reviewed by a number of authorities, including the Royal Society of Canada (1999). This report is the third in a series of updates to the original report of the Royal Society of Canada, covering the period 2004–2007. In particular, the present study examined new data on (1) dosimetry and exposure assessment, (2) biological effects of RF fields such as enzyme induction, and (3) toxicological effects, including genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Epidemiological studies of the potential health effects of RF exposure, particularly from mobile phones, were determined, along with human and animal studies of neurological and behavioural effects. Within the last 4 yrs investigators concluded that there is no clear evidence of adverse health effects associated with RF fields, although continued research is recommended to address specific areas of concern, including exposure to RF fields among children using mobile phones. The results of the ongoing 13-country World Health Organization INTERPHONE study of mobile phones may provide important new information on the potential cancer risks associated with mobile phone use.
Changes in Viral Load in People with Virological Failure who Remain on the Same Haart Regimen

Objectives To assess the rate of change in viral load and CD4 count over time in HIV-infected patients experiencing virological failure on a HAART regimen. Design Study population included patients from EuroSIDA, a large, multicentre, observational study enrolling HIV-infected patients across Europe. Methods Median change in viral load and CD4 count per month were estimated using the viral load and CD4 measurements obtained over a 12-month period after confirmed virological failure between 3 and 4 log10 copies/ml in a population of 488 HIV-infected patients who were left on a failing HAART regimen. Results The estimated median viral load change in our study population was 0.024 log10 copies/ml per month, statistically different from 0 (P=0.0001). In 20.9% of the patients studied viral load showed a tendency to decrease, in 47.8% showed a tendency to increase by a positive rate no higher than 0.04 log10 copies/ml per month and in the remaining 31.3% showed a tendency to increase by a rate greater than 0.04 log10 copies/ml per month. On average, CD4 counts were estimated to remain stable (decrease at a slow rate of about –0.53 cells/μl per month). Conclusions In patients that remained on a stable, but virologically failing HAART regimen (with viral load ranging 1000–10000 copies/ml), the viral load over the ensuing 12-month period increased at a relatively slow rate. In contrast, the CD4 count remained stable, possibly because of partial but sustained viral suppression below the viral load natural set-point. The time-course of selecting more replication-competent virus in patients with virological failure remains to be fully clarified.
Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia: A Genealogic, Stereomicroscope, and Scanning Electron Microscope Study

Abstract: This is a report of three patients with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. or Christ‐Siemens‐Touraine syndrome, their genealogic backgrounds and the stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopic appearances of the hair, the skin of their fingertips and palms as well as skin studies of members of their families. The skin morphology was recorded by means of silicone monomer rubber impressions and epoxy resin dies. In two of the patients the disease was acquired by X‐linked inheritance, while in the third, a boy. it appeared to follow an autosomal dominant pattern. Defects of the skin of the fingertips and palms of the propositi and members of the families included abnormalities of the morphology and pattern of the epidermal ridges, reduction of sweat pores varying from 13 to 87% of normal, and changed anatomy of the openings of the sweat glands. The openings were shallow and with less whorl‐ing compared to the normal, funnel‐shaped sweat pores. Among the sweat pores, micropores. or openings with an average diameter of 5.3 μm, were observed. One of the propositi and the affected father of another had orifices on their fingertips resembling hair sheaths. Two propositi and the affected father of one exhibited grooving of the hair. The findings confirm the necessity for genealogic investigations in patients with or suspected of having the disease in order to advise parents or prospective parents. They also illustrate the usefulness of stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy in observing skin and hair abnormalities.
Carboxy-terminal five amino acids of the nucleocapsid protein of vesicular stomatitis virus are required for encapsidation and replication of genome RNA.

The encapsidation of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) genome RNA, a prerequisite step to the replication process by the nucleocapsid protein (N) was studied by its ability to package VSV leader RNA in vitro in a RNase-resistant form. The VSV leader RNA was derived from the SP6 transcription vector while the N protein was made in rabbit reticulocyte lysate. The in vitro encapsidation was carried out by translating N mRNA in the presence of 32P-labeled presynthesized leader RNA. The RNA encapsidation property of the N protein was completely abrogated when the C-terminal five amino acids (VEFDK-COOH) were deleted. Systematic mutational analyses within the C-terminal five amino acid regions reveal that the RNA encapsidation activity was lost in all mutants except K --> A and K --> R, indicating that C-terminal five amino acids, in particular the lysine residue play critical role in genome RNA encapsidation. To correlate the in vitro encapsidation abilities of these mutant N proteins with genome RNA replication, we have used a full-length cDNA clone of VSV genome RNA to rescue infectious virions from cells expressing L, P, and wt or mutant N proteins and measured the recovery of plaque forming units. The results indicate that the N mutants that are defective in in vitro encapsidation of leader RNA do not support replication, establishing the requirement of C-terminal five amino acids of the N protein in viral replication.
HPLC analysis and extraction method of SN-38 in brain tumor model after injected by polymeric drug delivery system

SN-38 is a highly potent anticancer drug but its poor solubility in aqueous solvent and adverse side effects limit clinical applications. To overcome these limitations, SN-38-loaded-injectable drug delivery depots have been intratumorally administered in xenograft tumor model in nude mice. The extraction and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were performed in order to determine the amount of SN-38 inside tumors. SN-38 was extracted from tumors using DMSO. HPLC analysis was validated and resulted in linearity over the concentration range from 0.03 to 150 µg/mL (r2 ≥ 0.998). Lower limit of detection (LLOD) and lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) were 0.308 µg/mL and 1.02 µg/mL, respectively. The extraction efficiency (% recovery) of SN-38 in porcine tissues was similar to that of tumors which provided more than 90% recovery in all concentrations. Moreover, the variability of precision and accuracy within and between-day were less than 15%. Therefore, this extraction and HPLC protocol was applied to determine the amount of SN-38 in tumors. Results show higher remaining amount of SN-38 in tumor from SN-38-loaded polymeric depots than that of SN-38 solution. These results reveal that SN-38-loaded polymeric depots can prevent the leakage of free-drug out of tumors and can sustain higher level of SN-38 inside tumor. Thus, the therapeutic efficacy can be elevated by SN-38-loaded polymeric depots.
Real time super resolution reconstruction for video stream based on GPU

This paper proposes an efficient and structure-based image/video (interframe independent) super resolution (SR) scheme. Image/video SR is currently a very active area of research because it is used in various applications. The basic idea of the proposed scheme is based on the concepts of pattern redundancy and parallel computing. Global and local motions of pixels are well estimated by exploiting the repeated and structured patterns existing in the most nature images. The value of a missing pixel in the desired high resolution image is obtained by calculating the weighted average of the selected pixels according to the estimated motions, which is able to preserve the intrinsic geometric structure of the original low resolution image/video stream. After that, the estimated pixels' values will be re-corrected by using iterative back projection (IBP) approach in which auxiliary high frequency information embedded. The proposed scheme is mainly implemented in parallel programming strategy based on Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA), to reconstruct desired high resolution image/video steam from its low resolution counterparts. Experimental results show that the proposed method has high performance on both the visual quality and real time processing speed.
Probiotics for the Prevention of Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea

BACKGROUND Antibiotic treatment may disturb the resistance of gastrointestinal flora to colonization. This may result in complications, the most serious of which is Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD). PURPOSE To assess the efficacy and safety of probiotics for the prevention of CDAD in adults and children receiving antibiotics. DATA SOURCES Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Web of Science, and 12 gray-literature sources. STUDY SELECTION Randomized, controlled trials including adult or pediatric patients receiving antibiotics that compared any strain or dose of a specified probiotic with placebo or with no treatment control and reported the incidence of CDAD. DATA EXTRACTION Two reviewers independently screened potentially eligible articles; extracted data on populations, interventions, and outcomes; and assessed risk of bias. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation guidelines were used to independently rate overall confidence in effect estimates for each outcome. DATA SYNTHESIS Twenty trials including 3818 participants met the eligibility criteria. Probiotics reduced the incidence of CDAD by 66% (pooled relative risk, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.49]; I(2) = 0%). In a population with a 5% incidence of antibiotic-associated CDAD (median control group risk), probiotic prophylaxis would prevent 33 episodes (CI, 25 to 38 episodes) per 1000 persons. Of probiotic-treated patients, 9.3% experienced adverse events, compared with 12.6% of control patients (relative risk, 0.82 [CI, 0.65 to 1.05]; I(2) = 17%). LIMITATIONS In 13 trials, data on CDAD were missing for 5% to 45% of patients. The results were robust to worst-plausible assumptions regarding event rates in studies with missing outcome data. CONCLUSION Moderate-quality evidence suggests that probiotic prophylaxis results in a large reduction in CDAD without an increase in clinically important adverse events. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE None.
The use of radiofrequency energy during arthroscopic surgery and its effects on intraarticular tissues

Summary The use of radiofrequency (RF) energy has become very popular in human and veterinary arthroscopic surgery since the late 1990's. Both monopolar and bipolar RF units are available. Application of RF energy to joint capsular tissue leads to immediate tissue shrinkage that is both power and temperature dependent. Changes in joint capsular tissue have been noted at temperatures greater than 65°C. Treatment of articular cartilage with RF energy leads to immediate chondrocyte damage. This damage is also power and temperature dependent and is observed at temperatures as low as 45°C. Caution should be used when applying RF energy within a joint to prevent or minimize articular cartilage injury.
Comparison of the effects of salbutamol and adrenaline on airway smooth muscle contractility in vitro and on bronchial reactivity in vivo.

BACKGROUND--The effect of adrenergic agonists in asthma depends on their net effect on microvascular leakage, mucosal oedema, vascular clearance of spasmogens, inhibition of cholinergic neurotransmission, and airway smooth muscle contractility. It has been postulated that adrenaline, by virtue of its alpha effects on the vasculature and cholinergic neurotransmission, may have additional useful properties in asthma compared with selective beta agonists such as salbutamol. METHODS--The airway effects of adrenaline (a non-selective adrenoreceptor agonist) were compared with the selective beta 2 agonist salbutamol. Their airway smooth muscle relaxant potencies and effect on histamine contraction in human bronchi in vitro were compared with their effects on airway calibre and histamine reactivity in asthmatic subjects in vivo. For the in vitro studies changes in tension were measured in response to these agents in thoracotomy specimens of human airways. In vivo the effects of adrenaline and salbutamol on airway calibre and histamine reactivity were measured in eight subjects with mild to moderate asthma in a randomised crossover study. RESULTS--Salbutamol and adrenaline had approximately equivalent airway smooth muscle relaxant potencies in vitro and bronchodilator potency in vivo. However, their effects on histamine induced contraction in vitro were significantly different from their effects on histamine reactivity in vivo. Salbutamol was less potent in vitro producing a mean (SE) 2.4 (0.15) doubling dose increase in the histamine EC20 and adrenaline a 5.2 (0.18) doubling dose increase (mean difference between salbutamol and adrenaline 2.8 doubling doses; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.5). Salbutamol had no effect on the maximal response to histamine whereas adrenaline reduced it by 54%. In contrast, salbutamol was more potent in vivo producing a mean (SE) increase in PD20 histamine of 1.84 (0.5) doubling doses whereas adrenaline was without effect increasing PD20 by only 0.06 (0.47) doubling doses (mean difference between adrenaline and salbutamol 1.78, 95% CI 0.26 to 3.29 doubling doses). CONCLUSIONS--These findings suggest that the alpha adrenergic airway effects of non-selective adrenoreceptor agonists such as adrenaline offer no additional protection against histamine-induced broncho-constriction in vivo than beta 2 selective drugs such as salbutamol, despite adrenaline providing greater protection against histamine-induced contraction in vitro. The differences between the effects of these agents in vitro and in vivo may be related to their opposing vascular effects in vivo.
MaRKSoNe: A Tool for Supporting Knowledge Management in Software Projects

Over the last decades, knowledge management has become one of the most significant factors of organizational success. However, as analyzed in the software factories literature, the adoption of knowledge management processes is not a common practice in this kind of organization. The factors are the most diverse, among is possible to cite the costs in preparing the necessary infrastructure and the recruitment of skilled professionals to carry out knowledge management activities. Besides, this paper presents MaRKSoNe, a system which the main objective is to automatically manage and recommend knowledge to software project professionals. The deployment of MaRKSoNe in a software factory indicated very positive and promising results, such as, a decrease of the necessary effort to perform knowledge management in software projects, and also a decrease of time needed to insert new professionals in the software project context.
Mite Vectors (Acari: Trombiculidae) of Scrub Typhus in a New Endemic Area in Northern Kyoto, Japan

Abstract Between 1983 and 1999, 27 human cases of scrub typhus (two fatal) occurred in the Nodagawa River basin of northern Kyoto, Japan, an area where no cases had been previously reported. Antibody screening of infected patients’ sera showed that nine of 15 patients had high titers against the Gilliam type of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Hayashi). To determine the vector mite transmitting the disease, we studied rodent and chigger populations in and near a rice field alongside the Nodagawa River between 1996 and 1999. The most common rodent species was Microtus montebelli (Milne-Edwards), representing 73.3% (33/45) of the population. The mite index (average number of mites per infested host) was highest (190.8) in Leptotrombidium pallidum Nagayo, Mitamura & Tamiya parasitizing on M. montebelli, followed by Leptotrombidium intermedium (Nagayo, Mitamura & Tamiya) (174.9) on the same host species. Orientia tsutsugamushi was isolated from 60.5% (23/38) of rodents and from 71.2% (37/52) of pools of engorged L. pallidum. The Gilliam type of O. tsutsugamushi was most prevalent in rodents, and in engorged L. pallidum and it was the only type recovered from 10 isolates inoculated into L 929 cells for indirect immunofluorescence examination. Orientia tsutsugamushi infected 14.3% (181/1263) and 14.8% (306/2066) of engorged and unfed L. pallidum larvae, respectively, and was also detected in 0.055% (2/3634) of unfed L. intermedium, although previous studies suggest that this mite rarely bites humans. These results show that L. pallidum is the primary vector species of scrub typhus in this new endemic area in Japan.
Expression of glutathione S‐transferase‐π messenger rna in human esophageal cancers

The expression of human glutathione S‐transferase‐π (GST‐π) in resected primary esophageal tumors and in matching normal esophageal mucosa from 25 patients undergoing radical surgery was measured by RNA blot hybridization. The RNA transcript levels of GST‐π in the tumor tissues were higher than those in normal tissues in 20 of 25 cases (80%). The mean GST‐π mRNA value in the tumor tissues (n = 25) was significantly (P < 0.01) elevated as compared with that in background mucosa (n = 29), and in ten of 25 tumors (40%) the level of GST‐π mRNA exceeded the mean normal tissue value by two standard deviations (normal mean value + 2 × SD). The results obtained from the current experiment thus suggests that GST‐π might be a useful marker for human esophageal cancer. No correlation between GST‐π mRNA level and clinical stage or histologic characteristics was apparent.
Biochemical and Genetic Analysis of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase in Leishmania Metabolism and Virulence*

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR; EC 1.5.1.20) is the sole enzyme responsible for generation of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, which is required for methionine synthesis and provision of methyl groups via S-adenosylmethionine. Genome analysis showed that Leishmania species, unlike Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, contain genes encoding MTHFR and two distinct methionine synthases. Leishmania MTHFR differed from those in other eukaryotes by the absence of a C-terminal regulatory domain. L. major MTHFR was expressed in yeast and recombinant enzyme was produced in Escherichia coli. MTHFR was not inhibited by S-adenosylmethionine and, uniquely among folate-metabolizing enzymes, showed dual-cofactor specificity with NADH and NADPH under physiological conditions. MTHFR null mutants (mthfr–) lacked 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the most abundant intracellular folate, and could not utilize exogenous homocysteine for growth. Under conditions of methionine limitation mthfr– mutant cells grew poorly, whereas their growth was normal in standard culture media. Neither in vitro MTHFR activity nor the growth of mthfr– mutants or MTHFR overexpressors were differentially affected by antifolates known to inhibit parasite growth via targets beyond dihydrofolate reductase and pteridine reductase 1. In a mouse model of infection mthfr– mutants showed good infectivity and virulence, indicating that sufficient methionine is available within the parasitophorous vacuole to meet the needs of the parasite.
Concurrent Chemotherapy and Short Course Radiotherapy in Patients with Stage IIIA to IIIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Not Eligible for Radical Treatment: Results of a Randomized Phase II Study

Introduction: The optimal treatment for patients with stage IIIA to IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not eligible for surgery and definitive chemoradiotherapy is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate concurrent chemotherapy and palliative radiotherapy. Methods: Patients with stage IIIA to IIIB NSCLC with tumor >8 cm and/or forced expiratory volume ≤40%, performance status 0 to 2, and tumor-related chest symptoms were randomly assigned to arm A: radiotherapy alone (30 Gy/10 fractions) or arm B: chemoradiotherapy (two cycles of cisplatin and vinorelbine followed by radiotherapy together with third cycle). Primary end point was response rate, the power of the study was 90%, and the significance level was p = 0.1. Results: A total of 99 patients were eligible for response, overall survival, and progression-free survival evaluation. Median age was 66 years (45–78 years). Response rate was 27% versus 53%, p = 0.08; median overall survival was 9.0 versus 12.9 months, p = 0.0342; and median progression-free survival was 4.7 versus 7.3 months, p = 0.046, in arm A versus arm B, respectively. There were no deaths during treatment in arm A and six deaths in arm B; no hematological G3 to G4 toxicities in arm A and 14 toxicities in arm B. Symptom control was high and similar in both arms. Conclusions: Upfront chemotherapy combined with palliative radiotherapy (30 Gy) is a promising treatment option in the subpopulation of patients with stage IIIA to IIIB NSCLC not amenable for definitive chemoradiotherapy and deserves further investigation.
Are Polyfunctional Cells Protective in M. tuberculosis Infection

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to claim almost 2 million lives each year, and causes active TB disease in over 9 million new cases yearly. Control of TB is further impeded by the strong increase in TB morbidity and mortality due to HIV co-infection, and the rise of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains (WHO. Global tuberculosis control: surveillance, planning, financing: WHO 10 report 2008). Clinical disease does not develop in the vast majority (90-98%) of all Mtb infected individuals, providing compelling evidence that the human system is capable of controlling the pathogen. However, these clinically asymptomatic subjects do not achieve sterile eradication of the pathogen and consequently remain latently infected lifelong, but 2-10% of them will progress to developing TB during their lifetime.