Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cylindrical substratum induces different patterns of actin microfilament bundles in nontransformed and in ras-transformed epitheliocytes.

The influence of the cylindrical substratum surface on the actin microfilament bundle and the extracellular matrix (fibronectin and laminin) patterns in nontransformed epithelial cells of the IAR-2 rat line and in their N-ras-transformed descendants, IAR-ras-c4 cells, was studied. The cells were cultured on substrata with cylindrical surfaces-fused quartz glass fibers with a diameter of 32 microm. Quantitative analysis of actin microfilament bundle alignment and immunomorphological study of fibronectin and laminin were used. IAR-2 epitheliocytes on the cylindrical substrata formed straight actin microfilament bundles and fibronectin- or laminin-positive fibrils aligned predominantly transversely to the cylinder axis. In contrast, in the majority of IAR-ras-c4 cells on the cylindrical substrata, the revealed straight microfilament bundles and the fibrils of the extracellular matrix were oriented approximately longitudinally to the cylinder axis; a small part of the transformed cells formed microfilament bundles and extracellular matrix patterns similar to those in the normal epitheliocytes on the cylindrical substrata. These results show that transformed epitheliocytes that acquired polarized morphology react to the curvature of the cylindrical substratum surface by actin cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix reorganization changes essentially different from those characteristic of normal discoid epitheliocytes on the cylindrical substrata, but similar to those observed in normal polarized cells, e.g., fibroblasts.
Effects of 17 months treatment using recombinant insulin‐like growth factor‐I in two children with growth hormone insensitivity (Laron) syndrome

OBJECTIVE With the availability of recombinant insulin‐like growth factor‐I (recIGF‐I), it was possible to study whether this peptide could promote growth without noticeable side‐effects in patients with growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (Laron syndrome). We report data obtained before and during 17 months treatment using recIGF‐I, 40 μg/kg s.c. twice a day, in two Lebanese siblings.
Immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing hormone in human plasma during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

We previously reported that immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is present in human placenta and third trimester maternal plasma, and that such material is very similar to rat CRH and the predicted structure of human CRH. We suggested that maternal plasma immunoreactive CRH may be of placental origin. To further investigate this possibility, we measured plasma immunoreactive CRH in women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery and 1 and 2 h postpartum, and in nonpregnant women. Umbilical cord plasma and placental CRH concentrations were also measured. In the first trimester of pregnancy, the mean maternal plasma level was 5.9 +/- 1.0 pg (+/- SEM)/ml (n = 24), not significantly different from that in 10 nonpregnant women (5.8 +/- 0.8 pg/ml). Plasma CRH concentrations progressively increased during pregnancy (second trimester, 35.4 +/- 5.9 pg/ml (n = 39); early third trimester (28-34 weeks), 263 +/- 41 pg/ml (n = 14); late third trimester (35-40 weeks), 800 +/- 163 pg/ml (n = 20)]. There was a significant correlation between maternal plasma CRH levels and weeks of pregnancy. Plasma CRH concentrations were further elevated (2215 +/- 329 pg/ml; n = 9). During early labor, peaked at delivery (4409 +/- 591 pg/ml; n = 28), and declined rapidly after delivery [1 h postpartum, 1042 +/- (353 pg/ml (n = 13); 2 h postpartum, 346 +/- 91 pg/ml (n = 13)]. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.562; P less than 0.01) between matched maternal plasma and placental CRH concentrations. The mean umbilical cord plasma CRH level (50.6 +/- 6.1 pg/ml; n = 28) was much lower than that in the mother at the time of delivery. Umbilical venous plasma CRH levels were significantly greater than those in simultaneously obtained umbilical arterial plasma (70.8 +/- 11.3 and 41.8 +/- 4.9 pg/ml, respectively; n = 11). There was a significant correlation (r = 0.384; P less than 0.05) between maternal and fetal CRH concentrations. Gel filtration of plasma obtained from women during the third trimester, at delivery, and early postpartum and placental extracts revealed two major peaks of immunoreactive CRH: a high mol wt peak and one at the elution position of rat CRH. In contrast, only rat CRH-sized material was detected in plasma from nonpregnant women and umbilical cord plasma. Maternal plasma immunoreactive CRH-sized material stimulated ACTH release from anterior pituitary tissue in a dose-dependent manner and was equipotent with rat CRH. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Evidence-based recommendations for the prevention and long-term management of thrombosis in antiphospholipid antibody-positive patients: Report of a Task Force at the 13th International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by the presence of thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity in combination with the persistent presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies: lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies and/or anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies in medium to high titers. The management of thrombosis in patients with APS is a subject of controversy. This set of recommendations is the result of an effort to produce guidelines for therapy within a group of specialist physicians in Cardiology, Neurology, Hematology, Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, with a clinical and research focus on APS.
A hybrid model for recognizing cardiac murmurs from phonocardiogram signal

Heart murmurs are the sounds heard in addition to lub (S1) and dub (S2) due to valve dysfunction, septal defect and other abnormalities of heart which can be fatal. In this paper, a novel hybrid model involving machine learning and signal processing techniques is proposed for the diagnosis of heart sounds using Phonocardiogram (PCG) signals. A dataset comprising of 175 normal and 91 abnormal PCG signals is used. The authors propose a modular approach comprising of four levels of classification supported by preprocessing and segmentation. Preprocessing employs minimum statistics approach to suppress noise and enhance signal quality. At every stage of classification, the signal is characterized by parameters from its time-frequency, spectral and statistical analyses. In the first level, normal heart sounds are separated from the abnormal, using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier having 91.11% accuracy. In the second level, an abnormal signal is identified as a valvular or nonvalvular murmur with 93.70% precision by employing SVM. The properties of Shannon energy envelogram of PCG signal is used in segmentation process to obtain systole and diastole segments. In the third level, these segments are analyzed for systolic and diastolic murmurs by thresholding, the accuracy being 90.61%. In the final level, systolic murmurs are segregated across Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Regurgitation with 83.89% accuracy by using SVM and diastolic murmurs are identified as Mitral Stenosis or Aortic Regurgitation with 100% accuracy by thresholding approach. Sensitivity and Specificity are used as performance metrics to achieve a robust and competent system.
Epidemiology of Tension-Type Headache in Santiago, Chile: A Prevalence Study

Objective: To describe the importance of tension-type headache (TTH) in Santiago, Chile, by analyzing its prevalence, clinical features, and impact by age, gender, and socioeconomic status, using widely accepted international diagnostic criteria. Methods: In 1993, a representative sample of 1540 adults (older than 14) of the province of Santiago were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. A total of 1385 (89.9% response rate) subjects responded to the survey. Initially, a designated member of each household responded to the questionnaire. Subsequently, each household member with headache was asked to respond to questions about the severity, frequency, location, duration, associated symptoms, and impact in work and social activities of their most frequent headaches. TTH diagnoses were determined in accordance with the International Headache Society criteria of 1988. Results: Total prevalence was found to be 26.9% (95% CI: 24.6–29.3%); 35.2% in females (95% CI: 31.7–38.8%) and 18.1% in males (95% CI: 15.2–21.3%). The prevalence of episodic TTH was 24.3% (95% CI: 22.1–26.7%) and of chronic TTH 2.6% (95% CI: 1.8–3.6%). Overall, and by subtype, prevalence was significantly higher in females (ratio 1:9). There was no significant variation in prevalence by socioeconomic or age group except in chronic TTH, in which there was an increase with age. Conclusions: TTH is a prevalent condition in a sample of adults of Santiago, similar to that reported in previous studies using similar methodologies. Overall, TTH represents 72.3% of all recurrent headaches.
Functional characterization of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis zinc metallopeptidase Zmp1 and identification of potential substrates

Abstract Zinc metallopeptidases of bacterial pathogens are widely distributed virulence factors and represent promising pharmacological targets. In this work, we have characterized Zmp1, a zinc metallopeptidase identified as a virulence factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and belonging to the neprilysin (NEP; M13) family, whose X-ray structure has been recently solved. Interestingly, this enzyme shows an optimum activity toward a fluorogenic substrate at moderately acidic pH values (i.e., 6.3), which corresponds to those reported for the Mtb phagosome where this enzyme should exert its pathological activity. Substrate specificity of Zmp1 was investigated by screening a peptide library. Several sequences derived from biologically relevant proteins were identified as possible substrates, including the neuropeptides bradykinin, neurotensin, and neuropeptide FF. Further, subsequences of other small bioactive peptides were found among most frequently cleaved sites, e.g., apelin-13 and substance P. We determined the specific cleavage site within neuropeptides by mass spectrometry, observing that hydrophobic amino acids, mainly phenylalanine and isoleucine, are overrepresented at position P1′. In addition, the enzymatic mechanism of Zmp1 toward these neuropeptides has been characterized, displaying some differences with respect to the synthetic fluorogenic substrate and indicating that the enzyme adapts its enzymatic action to different substrates.
Co-infections with Plasmodium knowlesi and Other Malaria Parasites, Myanmar

To determine the frequency of co-infections with Plasmodium species in southern Myanmar, we investigated the prevalence of P. knowlesi. More than 20% of patients with malaria had P. knowlesi infection, which occurred predominantly as a co-infection with either P. falciparum or P. vivax.
The use of nuclear ribosomal DNA markers for the identification of bursate nematodes (order Strongylida) and for the diagnosis of infections

Abstract Many bursate nematodes are of major importance to animal health. Animals are often parasitized by multiple species that differ in their prevalence, relative abundance and/or pathogenicity. Implementation of effective management strategies for these parasites requires reliable methods for their detection in hosts, identification to the species level and measurement of intensity of infection. One major problem is the difficulty of accurately identifying and distinguishing many species of bursate nematode because of the remarkable morphological similarity of their eggs and larvae. The inability to identify, with confidence, individual nematodes (irrespective of their life-cycle stage) to the species level by morphological methods has often led to a search for species-specific genetic markers. Studies over the past 15 years have shown that sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of ribosomal DNA provide useful genetic markers, providing the basis for the development of PCR-based diagnostic tools. Such molecular methods represent powerful tools for studying the systematics, epidemiology and ecology of bursate nematodes and, importantly, for the specific diagnosis of infections in animals and humans, thus contributing to improved control and prevention strategies for these parasites.
Inhibition of nitrogenase activity by NH+4 in Rhodospirillum rubrum

Nitrogenase activities and the patterns of in vivo inhibition of nitrogenase by NH+4 were compared in Rhodospirillum rubrum grown under several conditions of nitrogen availability. In cells grown on N2 or glutamate plus N2, nitrogenase activity was relatively low and was totally inhibited by added NH+4 in 15 to 20 min. In contrast, cells grown on glutamate alone displayed higher nitrogenase activity, and NH+4 had very little effect. Cells grown on limiting amounts of NH+4 had lower nitrogenase activity, but NH+4 produced little inhibitory effect. Uptake of NH+4 could be demonstrated under all of these conditions, and this uptake was blocked by DL-methionine-dl-sulfoximine. The data indicated that cells not recently exposed to NH+4 had no mechanism for rapidly turning off nitrogenase activity in response to sudden additions of NH+4. In contrast, cells grown in the presence of N2, which form NH+4 internally, inhibited nitrogenase activity relatively quickly in response to added NH+4.
Effect of Fluid Ingestion on Orthostatic Responses Following Acute Exercise

Orthostatic tolerance is impaired following an acute bout of exercise. This study examined the effect of fluid ingestion following treadmill exercise in restoring the cardiovascular responses to an orthostatic stress. Five men (age, 29.6 +/- 3.4 yrs) were exposed to a graded lower body negative (LBNP) pressure protocol (0 to -50 mmHg) during euhydration without exercise (C), 20 minutes after exercise dehydration (D), 20 minutes after exercise and fluid ingestion (FI20), and 60 minutes after exercise and fluid ingestion (FI60). Fluid ingestion (mean +/- SE) consisted of water-ingestion equivalent to 50% of the body weight lost during exercise (520 +/- 15 ml). Exercise dehydration resulted in significantly higher heart rates (119 +/- 8 vs 82 +/- 7 bpm), lower systolic blood pressures (95 +/- 1.7 vs 108 +/- 2.3 mmHg), a smaller increase in leg circumference (3.7 +/- 4 vs 6.9 +/- 1.0 mm), and an attenuated increase in total peripheral resistance (2.58 +/- 1.2 vs 4.28 +/- 0.9 mmHg/L/min) at -50 mmHg LBNP compared to the C condition. Fluid ingestion (both 20 and 60), partially restored the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and total peripheral resistance responses to LBNP, but did not influence the change in leg circumference during LBNP (4 +/- 0.3 for R20 and 2.8 +/- 0.4 mm for R60). These data illustrate the effectiveness of fluid ingestion on improving orthostatic responses following exercise, and suggest that dehydration is a contributing factor to orthostatic intolerance following exercise.
Evaluating the clinical effectiveness of 90Y-SMT 487 in patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

UNLABELLED Because of the presence of cell membrane somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), many neuroendocrine tumors will bind analogs of somatostatin. (90)Y-Dodecanetetraacetic acid-Phe1-Tyr3-octreotide (SMT 487) is an SSTR radiopharmaceutical currently under investigation as a therapeutic option for neuroendocrine tumors. Although there are a variety of methods for evaluating response to a given cancer therapy, an important indicator of success is the impact on the clinical status of the patient. The purpose of this work was to develop a semiquantitative method and assess the clinical effectiveness of (90)Y-SMT 487 therapy in patients with neuroendocrine tumors. METHODS A scoring system was developed to evaluate clinical response that included the following parameters: weight, health status score (determined by the patient), Karnofsky score, and tumor-related symptoms. RESULTS We applied this scoring system to 21 patients who had completed 3 cycles of therapy with (90)Y-SMT 487. Fourteen of the 21 showed a favorable clinical response, whereas 5 were clinically stable after treatment and 2 showed evidence of clinical progression. There was also a significant reduction in the amount of octreotide being used after completion of (90)Y-SMT 487 therapy in the 20 patients who were on this medication. CONCLUSION Using this scoring method, (90)Y-SMT 487 appears effective in improving the clinical status of patients with (111)In-pentetreotide-positive neuroendocrine tumors.
Spatial clustering of average risks and risk trends in Bayesian disease mapping

Spatiotemporal disease mapping focuses on estimating the spatial pattern in disease risk across a set of nonoverlapping areal units over a fixed period of time. The key aim of such research is to identify areas that have a high average level of disease risk or where disease risk is increasing over time, thus allowing public health interventions to be focused on these areas. Such aims are well suited to the statistical approach of clustering, and while much research has been done in this area in a purely spatial setting, only a handful of approaches have focused on spatiotemporal clustering of disease risk. Therefore, this paper outlines a new modeling approach for clustering spatiotemporal disease risk data, by clustering areas based on both their mean risk levels and the behavior of their temporal trends. The efficacy of the methodology is established by a simulation study, and is illustrated by a study of respiratory disease risk in Glasgow, Scotland.
Differential effects of tetracaine on delayed potassium channels and displacement currents in frog skeletal muscle.

1. Delayed K+‐currents and displacement currents were studied with a voltage‐clamp technique. 2. In normal fibres, the conductance of the delayed channel grows e‐fold per 3 millivolts at sufficiently negative potentials and reaches a limiting value of 2‐10 m‐mho/cm2 (mean 5‐8 m‐mho/cm2) at positive potentials. Adding tetracaine (2 mM) reduces the limiting conductance, shifts the voltage‐dependence of the delayed channel to +25 mV more positive potentials and slows the kinetics fourfold. 3. By contrast, the displacement currents are virtually unaltered by 2 mM tetracaine. Their voltage‐dependence is shifted by less than 5 mV and their kinetics are unaffected. 4. Tetraethylammonium ions (TEA) are known to slow the kinetics of delayed K+‐channels fivefold but fail, like tetracaine, to change the kinetics of the displacement currents. 5. Both tetracaine and TEA have thus large effects on the 'gating' of the delayed channel, yet little or none on the displacement currents. This suggests that the displacement currents in skeletal muscle are for the most part unrelated to the opening and closing of delayed channels. It is estimated that 'gating' the delayed channel in muscle may require no more than 1 or 2% of the observed charge displacement.
Posttraumatic stress disorder and self-reported physical health status among U.S. Military personnel serving during the Gulf War period: a population-based study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relation between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and perceived physical health. Participants included 3,682 Gulf War veterans and control subjects of the same era who completed a telephone survey about their health status. PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Checklist-Military Version. Veterans screening positive for PTSD reported significantly more physical health symptoms and medical conditions than did veterans without PTSD. They were also more likely to rate their health status as fair or poor and to report lower levels of health-related quality of life. The results of this study are consistent with studies of other combat veterans and provide further support for an association between PTSD and adverse physical health outcomes. Stressful or traumatic life events, such as those encountered during a rapid military deployment and conflict, are associated with a variety of adverse health effects. These health effects may manifest themselves in both psychological and physical outcomes. Health care providers must be attentive to recognize and evaluate both of these dimensions.
Gaining Access and Constituent Correspondence in the U.S. House of Representatives

Abstract In this article, we use legislative correspondence to determine who gains access to key staffers in a congressional office. To evaluate our theory of the office power hierarchy, we test hypotheses using an original dataset of more than 3,000 correspondence records from the office of former member of Congress James R. Jones. Our empirical analysis is supplemented by an e-mail interview with Representative Jones. We find that key senior staffers are more likely to pay attention to powerful individuals and nonroutine matters. Letters from women and families and those dealing with routine legislation are more likely to be answered by lower-ranked staffers. These results are important because they reveal that even something as simple as constituent correspondence enters a type of power hierarchy within the legislative branch where some individuals are advantaged over others.
Impact of prone, supine and oblique patient positioning on CBCT image quality, contrast-to-noise ratio and figure of merit value in the maxillofacial region.

OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of supine, prone and oblique patient imaging positions on the image quality, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and figure of merit (FOM) value in the maxillofacial region using a CBCT scanner. Furthermore, the CBCT supine images were compared with supine multislice CT (MSCT) images. METHODS One fresh frozen cadaver head was scanned in prone, supine and oblique imaging positions using a mobile CBCT scanner. MSCT images of the head were acquired in a supine position. Two radiologists graded the CBCT and MSCT images at ten different anatomical sites according to their image quality using a six-point scale. The CNR and FOM values were calculated at two different anatomical sites on the CBCT and MSCT images. RESULTS The best image quality was achieved in the prone imaging position for sinus, mandible and maxilla, followed by the supine and oblique imaging positions. 12-mA prone images presented high delineation scores for all anatomical landmarks, except for the ear region (carotid canal), which presented adequate to poor delineation scores for all studied head positions and exposure parameters. The MSCT scanner offered similar image qualities to the 7.5-mA supine images acquired using the mobile CBCT scanner. The prone imaging position offered the best CNR and FOM values on the mobile CBCT scanner. CONCLUSIONS Head positioning has an impact on CBCT image quality. The best CBCT image quality can be achieved using the prone and supine imaging positions. The oblique imaging position offers inadequate image quality except in the sinus region.
Vaccination, evolution and changes in the efficacy of vaccines: a theoretical framework

The evolution of vaccine-resistant strains of infectious agents is potentially a huge problem for their control by immunization. Yet, for many infectious diseases, it has been possible to drive them to the verge of extinction without vaccine escape mutants arising. This paper establishes a theoretical framework within which to ask why this should be so, what properties of vaccines allow this situation and what might happen in situations where vaccine escape mutants do arise.