Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures: are we drilling in the wrong direction?

The possibility that bacteremia from the mouth could cause infective endocarditis (IE) was first suggested >100 years ago, and it was later reinforced by others who targeted the viridans group streptococci from poor oral hygiene and dental extractions.1–3 These observations, along with the advent of antibiotics, eventually led to the first guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) in 1955. Antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) became the primary focus for prevention of IE and a standard of care for countries around the world. Controversy concerning efficacy and safety issues has existed for >30 years, and there has been a progressive reduction in the patient populations and the procedures suggested for AP since that time. Of concern, and in spite of a decreasing emphasis on AP for cardiac patients, upwards of 25 noncardiac patient populations are recommended for AP by some clinicians out of concern for systemic infections that might originate from dental procedures (eg, prosthetic joints). 4 Article see p 60 Significant differences in recommendations from experts in the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries over the years highlight the lack of convincing data to either support or reject this practice. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom issued new recommendations in 2006, which took the bold step of eliminating AP altogether.5 Current (2007) AHA guidelines narrow the focus to only 4 cardiac groups at higher risk for a bad outcome from IE but who represent ≈10% of all people at risk for IE.6 The AHA-defined moderate-risk groups represent ≈90% of people at risk for IE, all of whom were recommended for AP before 2007. There are, therefore, no …
A naturally occurring mouse model of X-linked congenital stationary night blindness.

PURPOSE To describe a naturally occurring X-linked recessive mutation, no b-wave (nob), that compromises visual transmission between photoreceptors and second-order neurons in mice. METHODS Affected mice were identified by recording the light-evoked response of the retina, the electroretinogram (ERG). To evaluate visual transmission, cortical potentials were recorded with a scalp electrode. The inheritance pattern for nob was defined by breeding nob animals with normal mice. Retinal histologic analysis was performed by light microscopy. RESULTS Although the photoreceptor-mediated ERG component (a-wave) was normal in nob mice, the major response component reflecting postreceptoral neuronal activity (b-wave) was missing. Visually-driven cortical activity was also abnormal in nob animals. At the light microscopic level, the nob retina appeared to have a normal cytoarchitecture. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the nob defect interferes with the transmission of visual information through the retina and that these mice are a useful model for the study of outer retinal synaptic function. In addition, this mutant mouse seems to provide an animal model for the complete form of congenital stationary night blindness, a human disorder in which patients have a profound loss of rod-mediated visual sensitivity.
Spatio-Temporal Transcript Profiling of Rice Roots and Shoots in Response to Phosphate Starvation and Recovery[W][OPEN]

Using next-generation sequencing, this work reveals the complex genome-wide responses of rice roots and shoots to short-, medium-, and long-term phosphate deprivation as well as to recovery from phosphate starvation. In addition, analysis of miRNA expression profiles identified 20 miRNAs that were not previously associated with Pi starvation, thus paving the way for future research. Using rice (Oryza sativa) as a model crop species, we performed an in-depth temporal transcriptome analysis, covering the early and late stages of Pi deprivation as well as Pi recovery in roots and shoots, using next-generation sequencing. Analyses of 126 paired-end RNA sequencing libraries, spanning nine time points, provided a comprehensive overview of the dynamic responses of rice to Pi stress. Differentially expressed genes were grouped into eight sets based on their responses to Pi starvation and recovery, enabling the complex signaling pathways involved in Pi homeostasis to be untangled. A reference annotation-based transcript assembly was also generated, identifying 438 unannotated loci that were differentially expressed under Pi starvation. Several genes also showed induction of unannotated splice isoforms under Pi starvation. Among these, PHOSPHATE2 (PHO2), a key regulator of Pi homeostasis, displayed a Pi starvation–induced isoform, which was associated with increased translation activity. In addition, microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles after long-term Pi starvation in roots and shoots were assessed, identifying 20 miRNA families that were not previously associated with Pi starvation, such as miR6250. In this article, we present a comprehensive spatio-temporal transcriptome analysis of plant responses to Pi stress, revealing a large number of potential key regulators of Pi homeostasis in plants.
The Axon–Dendrite Targeting of Kv3 (Shaw) Channels Is Determined by a Targeting Motif That Associates with the T1 Domain and Ankyrin G

Kv3 (Shaw) channels regulate rapid spiking, transmitter release and dendritic integration of many central neurons. Crucial to functional diversity are the complex targeting patterns of channel proteins. However, the targeting mechanisms are not known. Here we report that the axon–dendrite targeting of Kv3.1 is controlled by a conditional interaction of a C-terminal axonal targeting motif (ATM) with the N-terminal T1 domain and adaptor protein ankyrin G. In cultured hippocampal neurons, although the two splice variants of Kv3.1, Kv3.1a and Kv3.1b, are differentially targeted to the somatodendritic and axonal membrane, respectively, the lysine-rich ATM is surprisingly common for both splice variants. The ATM not only directly binds to the T1 domain in a Zn2+-dependent manner, but also associates with the ankyrin-repeat domain of ankyrin G. However, the full-length channel proteins of Kv3.1b display stronger association to ankyrin G than those of Kv3.1a, suggesting that the unique splice domain at Kv3.1b C terminus influences ATM binding to T1 and ankyrin G. Because ankyrin G mainly resides at the axon initial segment, we propose that it may function as a barrier for axon–dendrite targeting of Kv3.1 channels. In support of this idea, disrupting ankyrin G function either by over-expressing a dominant-negative mutant or by siRNA knockdown decreases polarized axon–dendrite targeting of both Kv3.1a and Kv3.1b. We conclude that the conditional ATM masked by the T1 domain in Kv3.1a is exposed by the splice domain in Kv3.1b, and is subsequently recognized by ankyrin G to target Kv3.1b into the axon.
Telomere length maintenance – an ALTernative mechanism

The Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) mechanism is utilised by approximately 10% of human tumours and a higher proportion of some types of sarcomas. ALT+ cell lines and tumours show heterogeneous telomere length, extra-chromosomal circular and linear telomeric DNA, ALT associated promyelocytic bodies (APBs), a high frequency of post-replication exchanges in telomeres (designated as telomere-sister chromatid exchanges, T-SCE) and high instability at a GC-rich minisatellite, MS32 (D1S8). It is clear that there is a link between the minisatellite instability and the mechanism that underpins ALT, however currently the nature of this relationship is uncertain. Single molecule analysis of telomeric DNA from ALT+ cell lines and tumours has revealed complex telomere mutations that have not been seen in cell lines or tumours that express telomerase. These complex telomere mutations cannot be explained by T-SCE but must arise by another inter-molecular process. The break-induced replication (BIR) model that may explain the observed high frequency of T-SCE and the presence of complex telomere mutations is reviewed.
Design of CMOS class-E power amplifier for WLAN and bluetooth applications

A class-E power amplifier with modified driver for WLAN and Bluetooth applications is presented in this paper. It is shown that a parallel class-E power amplifier gives better output power at minimum input power levels compared to a conventional class-E power amplifier. A new modified driver stage is proposed which drives the power amplifier efficiently. Negative capacitance concept is implemented to reduce parasitic capacitances at the driver output node to shape the driver output voltage. The negative capacitance is implemented without external circuit and the driver circuit is fed with less than 5dBm input power at 2.4GHz operating frequency. The power amplifier gain is more than 20dBm with 40% PAE at 2.4GHz. The power amplifier and the modified driver circuitry were implemented in 0.18-μm UMC CMOS technology using Cadence tool.
Novel targeted therapies for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for the treatment of stage IV metastatic melanoma state that clinical trials should be the preferred treatment option for these patients; therefore, clinical trials for these patients are the "standard of care. " Our greater understanding of the molecular biology behind the development of melanoma has guided much of the translational research in this disease and has led to the development of novel targeted therapies. Specifically, advancement in our knowledge of alterations in signal transduction pathways in melanoma has led to the rapid development of a number of pharmacologic agents that inhibit these pathways. This review will discuss changes in signal transduction pathways involved in melanoma, specifically, activated mitogen-activated protein kinase, activated PI3 kinase, and inactivated p53/Rb pathways. This article will also review new targeted therapy in the context of the molecular biology of melanoma.
Receptor for advanced glycation end-products expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue is related to coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE Obesity, a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), is associated with inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, while advanced glycation end-products, through their receptor (AGER or RAGE), play an important role on these processes. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression levels of RAGE, NADPH oxidase subunits, and catalase in adipose tissue in relation with CAD. DESIGN AND METHODS Patients undergoing heart surgery were included in two groups: with and without CAD. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) biopsies were analyzed for gene expression by RT-quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry, or western blot. RESULTS RAGE mRNA and protein expression in SAT from patients with CAD was lower than in patients without CAD. However, there was no change in EAT from patients with or without CAD. P22-PHOX and RAGE gene expression were higher in EAT than in SAT, whereas catalase mRNA levels were lower. NADPH oxidase subunits and catalase mRNA expression were not influenced by CAD. Whereas NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidative response of SAT and EAT to lipid circulating levels could be different; glycemic levels were not related with the analyzed genes expression. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that RAGE expression in SAT, but not in EAT, is down-regulated in patients with CAD with respect to those without CAD. Although changes were not observed for NADPH oxidase subunits or catalase expression between CAD and non-CAD patients, a possible relationship between ROS production and RAGE expression in adipose tissues cannot be ruled out.
Hormonal determinants of erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms in middle-aged and elderly men with prediabetes

Abstract Objectives: Erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in diabetic men. The aim of this study was to investigate hormonal determinants, the prevalence and severity of ED and LUTS in middle-aged and elderly men with prediabetes (PD). Methods: We investigated 176 men with PD and 184 healthy peers. PD was defined according American Diabetes Association. ED according IIEF scale and LUTS according IPSS scale were assessed. Total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone (cFT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were measured. Results: The prevalence of ED in patients with PD was higher than in control group (30 versus 24%) as well as the prevalence and severity of ED and LUTS in elderly (60–80 years) and middle-aged (40–59 years) men with PD was higher than in healthy peers. In middle-aged pre-diabetic men, the more severe LUTS symptoms were associated with low TT and DHEAS, while in elderly men with low cFT and DHEAS. The higher prevalence of ED in middle-aged men with PD was associated with cFT and DHEAS, while in elderly pre-diabetic men with TT and IGF-1. Conclusions: The prevalence and severity of LUTS and ED symptoms were higher in pre-diabetic men than in healthy peers. Hormonal determinants of these symptoms are different in middle-aged and elderly patients with PD.
The Functional and Regulatory Mechanisms of the Thellungiella salsuginea Ascorbate Peroxidase 6 (TsAPX6) in Response to Salinity and Water Deficit Stresses

Soil salinization is a resource and ecological problem in the world. Thellungiella salsuginea is becoming a new model plant because it resembles its relative species, Arabidopsis thaliana, in small genome and short life cycle. It is highly tolerant to salinity and drought stresses. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is an enzyme that clears H2O2 in plants. The function and molecular and regulation mechanisms of APX in T. salsuginea have rarely been reported. In this study, an APX gene, TsApx6, was cloned from T. salsuginea and its responses to abiotic stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis were studied. Under high salinity treatment, the expression of TsApx6 was significantly induced. Under drought treatment, overexpression of TsApx6 increased the survival rate and reduced leaf water loss rate in Arabidopsis. Compared to the wild type plants, high salinity treatment reduced the concentrations of MDA, H2O2 and proline but elevated the activities of APX, GPX, CAT and SOD in the TsApx6-overexpressing plants. Meanwhile, germination rate, cotyledon greening, and root length were improved in the transgenic plants compared to the wild type plants under salt and water deficit conditions. Based on these findings, TsApx6 has an important function in the resistance of plants to certain abiotic stresses. The TsApx6 promoter sequence was obtained using Genome Walking technology. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that it contains some cis-acting elements related to stress response. The treatments of salt, dehydration, and ABA induced the expression of Gus gene under the regulation of the TsApx6 promoter. Mutation analysis showed that the MBS motif present in the TsApx6 promoter might be a key negative regulatory element which has an important effect on the growth and developmental process of plants.
Performance study of Markov modulated fluid flow models with priority traffic

The steady-state performance of generic high-speed queuing system with priority traffic is studied, using the Markov modulated fluid models. the focus is on systems with traffic partitioned into two priorities according to a splitting factor alpha , so that low priority traffic can be discarded when congestion occurs. The results are used to further study issues of congestion control with priority traffic. In particular, the expected values, waiting times, variances of the buffer contents, and tail distributions are evaluated. It is found that the waiting time is more sensitive to changes of alpha than the buffer contents. This shows that for time-constrained traffic, the priority assignment is important for properly balancing the tradeoff between packet loss and delays. This model can be considered as a direct extension of the fluid-flow model to include priorities. <<ETX>>
Musculoskeletal Model of the Upper Limb Based on the Visible Human Male Dataset

A mathematical model of Ihe human upper limb was developed based on high-resolution medical images of the muscles and bones obtained from the Visible Human Male ( HM) project. Three-dimensional surfaces of the muscles and bones were reconstructed from Computed Tomography (CT) images and Color Cryosection images obtained from the VHM cadaver. Thirteen degrees of freedom were used to describe the orientations of seven bones in the model: clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, carpal bones, and hand. All of the major articulations from the shoulder girdle down to the wrist were included in the model. The model was actuated by 42 muscle bundles, which represented the actions of 26 muscle groups in the upper limb. The paths of the muscles were modeled using a new approach called the Obstacle-set Method (33) The calculated paths of the muscles were verified by comparing the muscle moment arms computed in the model with the results of anatomical studies reported in the literature, In-vivo measurements of maximum isometric muscle torques developed at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist were also used to estimate the architectural properties of each musculotendon actuator in the model. The entire musculoskeletal model can be reconstructed using the data given in this paper, along with information presented in a companion paper which defines the kinematic structure of the model (26)
Effect of Increased Copayments on Pharmacy Use in the Department of Veterans Affairs

Objectives:In February 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) raised medication copayments from $2 to $7 per 30-day supply of medication for certain veteran groups. We examined the impact of the copayment increase on medication acquisition from VA. Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study using data from national VA databases from February 2001 through February 2003. We took a random sample of over 5% of male VA users in 2001. Of 149,107 veterans sampled, 19,504 (13%) had copayments for no drugs, 101,410 (68%) had copayments for some drugs, and 28,193 (19%) had copayments for all drugs. We used multivariable count models to examine changes in the number of 30-day medication supplies after the increase. Results:After the copayment increase, veterans subject to copayments for all drugs received 8% fewer 30-day supplies of medication annually relative to veterans with no copayments (P < 0.001). The effect of the copayment increased as the number of different medications veterans received increased. Among veterans subject to copayments for all drugs, acquisition of lower-cost drugs fell by 36%, higher-cost medications fell by 6%, over-the-counter medications fell by 40%, and prescription-only medications fell by 4% relative to veterans with no drug copayments. Conclusions:The number of medications veterans obtained from VA decreased after the copayment increase. There were relatively larger impacts on veterans with higher medication use and on lower-cost and over-the-counter medications.
Management of peptic ulcer disease not related to Helicobacter pylori or NSAIDs

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is widely accepted as the most important factor in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer. However, in parallel with more effective eradication of H. pylori, the prevalence of H. pylori is changing, and H. pylori-negative peptic ulcer disease appears to be increasing. When making a diagnosis of H. pylori-negative peptic ulcer disease, it is essential to avoid misclassification because of inaccurate diagnosis. In addition, secondary causes may need to be excluded with appropriate investigations. In the absence of H. pylori, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug usage is the most common cause of peptic ulcer; surreptitious nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug usage is a cause of unexplained ulcer disease in up to 60% of patients. Hypersecretory syndromes such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, although rare, need to be excluded. Once all known etiological factors are excluded, there remains a group of patients with so-called “idiopathic ulcers. ” The interplay of etiological factors in the pathogenesis of idiopathic peptic ulcer disease is poorly defined but may include a genetic predisposition, altered acid secretion, rapid gastric emptying, defective mucosal defense mechanisms, psychological stress, and smoking. The management of idiopathic peptic ulcers is not defined; they appear to be more resistant to standard therapy, can be associated with more frequent complications, and those that relapse may require long-term maintenance therapy.
Antibiotic treatment duration and long-term outcomes of patients with early lyme disease from a lyme disease-hyperendemic area.

BACKGROUND The length of antibiotic therapy and long-term outcomes in patients with early Lyme disease are incompletely described. We report the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with early localized and early disseminated Lyme disease based on the duration of antibiotic therapy prescribed. METHODS A retrospective cohort study and follow-up survey of patients diagnosed as having early localized and early disseminated Lyme disease from 1 January 2000 through 31 December 2004 was conducted in a Lyme disease-hyperendemic area. RESULTS Six hundred seven patients met the study inclusion criteria. Most patients (93%) were treated with doxycycline for treatment durations of 10 days, 11-15 days, or 16 days in 17%, 33%, and 47% of doxycycline-treated patients, respectively. Treatment failure criteria, defined before performing the study, were met in only 6 patients (1%). Although these 6 patients met a priori treatment failure criteria, 4 of these patients' clinical details suggested reinfection, 1 was treated with an inappropriate antibiotic, and 1 developed facial palsy early in therapy. Reinfection developed in 4% of patients. The 2-year treatment failure-free survival rates of patients treated with antibiotics for 10 days, 11-15 days, or 16 days were 99.0%, 98.9%, and 99.2%, respectively. Patients treated with antibiotics for 16 days had lower 36-item Short-Form Health Survey social functioning scores on the follow-up survey. No other differences were found in follow-up clinical status or 36-item Short-Form Health Survey scores by duration of antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS Patients treated for 10 days with antibiotic therapy for early Lyme disease have long-term outcomes similar to those of patients treated with longer courses. Treatment failure after appropriately targeted short-course therapy, if it occurs, is exceedingly rare.