Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extensive Hyperpigmented Plaques in a Chinese Singaporean Woman: A Case of Cutaneous Plasmacytosis

Cutaneous plasmacytosis is a rare disease entity presenting with multiple extensive red-brown plaques, histopathology showing marked hyperplasia of mature polyclonal plasma cells, and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia on serum protein electrophoresis, in the absence of an underlying secondary cause. We report in this article the first case of cutaneous plasmacytosis from Singapore. A 33-year-old Chinese woman presented with mildly pruritic reddish brown papules and plaques over her trunk and arms for 2 years. Physical examination, laboratory investigations, and radiographic examination were negative for systemic involvement and lymphadenopathy. Serum immunoelectrophoresis showed polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia with immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A. Two sets of skin biopsies performed 2 years apart essentially showed similar histopathological findings of a superficial and deep perivascular infiltrate with numerous mature plasma cells and small typical lymphocytes. There were lymphoid follicles with well-formed germinal centers and mantle zones, surrounded by mature lymphocytes. No light chain restriction was present on immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction for heavy chain gene rearrangement was negative for monoclonality. Despite potent topical corticosteroids and 8 months of phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet light, there was no improvement. Intralesional triamcinolone injections to a few lesions afforded temporary relief of itch and flattening of lesions.
Species identities of enterococci isolated from clinical specimens

Conventional tests and commercially available systems were used to determine the species identities of clinical isolates of enterococci. Strict adherence to the conventional test scheme of Facklam and Collins (R. R. Facklam and M. D. Collins, J. Clin. Microbiol. 27:731-734, 1989) resulted in the misidentification of lactose-negative Enterococcus faecalis isolates as Enterococcus solitarius, but this problem was overcome by the application of additional tests. The commercially available systems tested were unable to recognize some of the more recently described enterococcal species. E. faecalis accounted for 87.1% of 302 consecutive isolates. Enterococcus faecium (8.6%), Enterococcus avium (0.7%), Enterococcus durans (0.3%), Enterococcus gallinarum (1.0%), Enterococcus casseliflavus (1.0%), Enterococcus hirae (0.3%), and Enterococcus raffinosus (0.3%) isolates were also identified. None of the isolates produced beta-lactamase, but 15.4% of 235 isolates tested, including 1 strain of E. gallinarum, displayed high-level resistance to gentamicin.
NodeGame : Real-Time Social Experiments in the Browser

NodeGame is a software framework for conducting behavioral experiments online and in the lab directly in the browser window. It allows both real time and discrete time experiments, and with zero-install it can run on a great variety of devices, from desktop computers to laptops, smartphones, and tablets. The source code is modular and the programming language is HTML5 / JavaScript. Extensive documentation is available on the wiki pages about how to configure the platform, and how to create new strategic environments.
Casein kinase 1 (α, δ and ε) localize at the spindle poles, but may not be essential for mammalian oocyte meiotic progression

CK1 (casein kinase 1) is a family of serine/threonine protein kinase that is ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic organism. CK1 members are involved in the regulation of many cellular processes. Particularly, CK1 was reported to phosphorylate Rec8 subunits of cohesin complex and regulate chromosome segregation in meiosis in budding yeast and fission yeast.1-3 Here we investigated the expression, subcellular localization and potential functions of CK1α, CK1δ and CK1ε during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation. We found that CK1α, CK1δ and CK1ε all concentrated at the spindle poles and co-localized with γ-tubulin in oocytes at both metaphase I (MI) and metaphase II (MII) stages. However, depletion of CK1 by RNAi or overexpression of wild type or kinase-dead CK1 showed no effects on either spindle organization or chromosome segregation during oocyte meiotic maturation. Thus, CK1 is not the kinase that phosphorylates Rec8 cohesin in mammalian oocytes, and CK1 may not be essential for spindle organization and meiotic progression although they localize at spindle poles.
The Management of Developmental Apraxia

Of 39 children with developmental apraxia and agnosia who were assessed neurologically, 19 were also given simple standardized tests of motor ability. Only four items from this supplementary test were required to confirm the presence of undue clumsiness. Assessment and explanation should form the basis for reassurance of both the children and their parents. Referral for occupational therapy in a hospital setting or for remedial physical education within the school is advocated.
Unexpected Interaction of a Siderophore with Aluminum and Its Receptor

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen, and one of the major factors contributing to its virulence is the capacity to produce a high-affinity iron-scavenging siderophore, pyoverdine ([10][1], [11][2], [21][3]). Pyoverdines form a family of peptidic siderophores comprising a
EFFECT OF INCREASED RAT BRAIN TRYPTOPHAN ON 5‐HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE AND 5‐HYDROXYINDOLYL ACETIC ACID IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS AND OTHER BRAIN REGIONS

—Tryptophan was found at higher concentration in the rat hypothalamus than in other brain regions. This difference was explicable neither by regional differences in blood content nor by differences in tryptophan recovery from different weights of tissue. It was not due to interference by other known brain indoles. After food deprivation or tryptophan injection the tryptophan concentration rose in all regions. Total 5‐hydroxyindole increases showed regional differences but relative changes were similar after both procedures. Increases in 5‐hydroxytryptamine were clearest in midbrain + hippocampus. In general, 5‐hydroxyindolylacetic acid increased more markedly than 5‐hydroxytryptamine. The hypothalamus appeared refractory with negligible increases of both 5‐hydroxyindoles upon either food deprivation or tryptophan administration even though hypothalamic tryptophan concentration rose considerably. Results are discussed in relation to other evidence suggesting special characteristics of 5‐HT regulation in the hypothalamus.
Life Review With the Terminally Ill

Life review is the systematic and structured process of recalling past events and memories in an effort to find meaning in and achieve resolution of one's life. Although traditionally used in gerontology, life review is applicable with any person facing the end of life. The hospice nurse, as a provider of end-of-life care, is well positioned to holistically assist the unit of care. This article chronicles the origins, theory, and varied applications of life review. Specific clinical examples and techniques are included to assist the nurse in initiating the life review process for one's patients and becoming an effective therapeutic listener. As life review becomes an integral part of core clinical practice, it may be used to provide emotional and spiritual support for all recipients of hospice care.
Reconstitution of an Endothelial Nitric-oxide Synthase (eNOS), hsp90, and Caveolin-1 Complex in Vitro

The activity of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) is regulated by its subcellular localization, phosphorylation and through its interaction with different proteins. The association of eNOS with caveolin-1 (Cav) is believed to maintain eNOS in an inactive state; however, increased association of eNOS to heat shock protein 90 (hsp90) is observed following activation. In this study, we investigate the relationship between caveolin and hsp90 as opposing regulatory proteins on eNOS function. Immunoprecipitation of Cav-1 from bovine lung microvascular endothelial cells shows that eNOS and hsp90 are present in the Cav-1 complex. eNOS and hsp90 from the lysate also interact with exogenous glutathione S-transferase-linked caveolin-1 (GST-Cav), and the addition of calcium-activated calmodulin (CaM) to the GST-Cav complex partially inhibited the association of eNOS and hsp90. Purified eNOS associates with GST-Cav specifically through the caveolin-scaffolding domain (residues 82–101); however, the addition of CaM slightly, but nonstatistically, reduces eNOS binding to GST-Cav. When hsp90 is present in the binding reaction, the addition of increasing concentrations of CaM significantly displaces eNOS and hsp90 from GST-Cav. eNOS enzymatic activity is also less sensitive to inhibition by the caveolin scaffolding peptide (residues 82–101) when eNOS is prebound to hsp90. Collectively, our results show that the actions of CaM on eNOS dissociation from caveolin are facilitated in the presence of hsp90.
Frequency of Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer among Unselected Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Germany

Introduction: Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is a major form of familial colorectal cancer (CRC). It is diagnosed when either the Amsterdam criteria (AC) are fulfilled or mutations in one of the mismatch repair (MMR) genes have been identified. This project aims at estimating the proportion of HNPCC among unselected patients with CRC. Patients and Methods: During a period of 2 years, a total of 351 non-selected patients with CRC were registered prospectively. 92 patients met the Bethesda criteria (9 of them fulfilled the AC) and 259 did not. 348 tumours were examined for microsatellite instability (MSI) and expression of MMR proteins. Results: MSI-H and MSI-L were identified in 17 and 6%, respectively. Loss of MSH2 or MLH1 was found in 1.5 and 8.8%, respectively. Based on the results of tumour tissue analyses, 80 patients with MSI and/or loss of MSH2 or MLH1 expression were identified as candidates for germline mutation screening. DNA of 40/80 patients was available. These patients were screened for MSH2 and MLH1 mutations; 19/40 patients with MSI and normal MSH2 or MLH1 expression were screened for mutations in MSH6. Three patients had relevant MMR gene mutations and six variants of unknown functional relevance were detected. Conclusions: After adjusting for the cases not evaluable for germline mutations, 1.7% of the CRC patients had HNPCC proven by molecular genetics.
Management of community-acquired respiratory tract infections in an era of increasing antibiotic resistance

Community-acquired respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are prevalent conditions in the U.S. and represent a major burden in health care. This article provides an overview of empirical antibiotic treatment options for patients with community- acquired RTIs, including newer classes of agents, such as the respiratory fluoroquinolones and the ketolides. We also dis- cuss the clinical and economic utility of these agents in the current era of high levels of antibiotic resistance. biotics may be able to overcome the effects of such resistance in vitro, the bioavailability and tolerability characteristics of current oral therapies generally prevent the use of higher doses of these agents in the outpatient setting. Furthermore, the intravenous (IV) route provides a means of administering high-dose antibiotics to hospitalized patients, but the costs associated with IV therapy have resulted in a preference for moving patients to oral therapy as soon as they are clinically stable. 10 Such factors highlight the need for new oral antibiotics with activity against key respiratory pathogens, in particular, strains of S. pneumoniae resistant to currently available agents. In this article, we review the extent of the resistance prob- lem in the U.S., assess the clinical and economic implications of such resistance, and provide an over view of the key characteristics of antibiotics currently available for the empir- ical treatment of outpatients with community-acquired RTIs, including newer classes of agents such as the respiratory fluoroquinolones and ketolides.
Xylulokinase Overexpression in Two Strains ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae Also Expressing Xylose Reductase and Xylitol Dehydrogenase and Its Effect on Fermentation of Xylose and Lignocellulosic Hydrolysate

ABSTRACT Fermentation of the pentose sugar xylose to ethanol in lignocellulosic biomass would make bioethanol production economically more competitive. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an efficient ethanol producer, can utilize xylose only when expressing the heterologous genes XYL1 (xylose reductase) andXYL2 (xylitol dehydrogenase). Xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase convert xylose to its isomer xylulose. The geneXKS1 encodes the xylulose-phosphorylating enzyme xylulokinase. In this study, we determined the effect ofXKS1 overexpression on two different S. cerevisiae host strains, H158 and CEN.PK, also expressingXYL1 and XYL2. H158 has been previously used as a host strain for the construction of recombinant xylose-utilizing S. cerevisiae strains. CEN.PK is a new strain specifically developed to serve as a host strain for the development of metabolic engineering strategies. Fermentation was carried out in defined and complex media containing a hexose and pentose sugar mixture or a birch wood lignocellulosic hydrolysate.XKS1 overexpression increased the ethanol yield by a factor of 2 and reduced the xylitol yield by 70 to 100% and the final acetate concentrations by 50 to 100%. However, XKS1overexpression reduced the total xylose consumption by half for CEN.PK and to as little as one-fifth for H158. Yeast extract and peptone partly restored sugar consumption in hydrolysate medium. CEN.PK consumed more xylose but produced more xylitol than H158 and thus gave lower ethanol yields on consumed xylose. The results demonstrate that strain background and modulation of XKS1 expression are important for generating an efficient xylose-fermenting recombinant strain of S. cerevisiae.
1 μ-Conotoxins Modulating Sodium Currents in Pain 2 Perception and Transmission 3

The Conus genus includes around 500 species of marine mollusks with a peculiar 9 production of venomous peptides known as conotoxins (CTX). Each species is able to produce up 10 to 200 different biological active peptides. Common structure of CTX is the low number of 11 aminoacids stabilized by disulfide bridges and post-translational modifications that give rise to 12 different isoforms. μ and μO-CTX are two isoforms that specifically target voltage-gated sodium 13 channels. These, by inducing the entrance of sodium ions in the cell, modulate the neuronal 14 excitability by depolarizing plasma membrane and propagating the action potential. 15 Hyperxcitability and mutations of sodium channels are responsible for perception and transmission 16 of inflammatory and neuropathic pain states. In this review, we describe the current knowledge of 17 μ-CTX interacting with the different sodium channels subtypes, the mechanism of action and their 18 potential therapeutic use as analgesic compounds in the clinical management of pain conditions. 19
Defective granulation tissue formation in mice with specific ablation of integrin-linked kinase in fibroblasts – role of TGFβ1 levels and RhoA activity

Wound healing crucially relies on the mechanical activity of fibroblasts responding to TGFβ1 and to forces transmitted across focal adhesions. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a central adapter recruited to integrin β1 tails in focal adhesions mediating the communication between cells and extracellular matrix. Here, we show that fibroblast-restricted inactivation of ILK in mice leads to impaired healing due to a severe reduction in the number of myofibroblasts, whereas inflammatory infiltrate and vascularization of the granulation tissue are unaffected. Primary ILK-deficient fibroblasts exhibit severely reduced levels of extracellular TGFβ1, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) production and myofibroblast conversion, which are rescued by exogenous TGFβ1. They are further characterized by elevated RhoA and low Rac1 activities, resulting in abnormal shape and reduced directional migration. Interference with RhoA–ROCK signaling largely restores morphology, migration and TGFβ1 levels. We conclude that, in fibroblasts, ILK is crucial for limiting RhoA activity, thus promoting TGFβ1 production, which is essential for dermal repair following injury.
Comparison of primary tumor maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on preoperative [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and histological subtype in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

7571 Background: The routine preoperative use of PET/CT in patients with potentially resectable NSCLC is rapidly expanding. The SUVmax is a semiquantitative measure of metabolic activity that can distinguish benign from malignant tissue but published data are conflicting regarding its ability to discriminate between major histological subtypes. METHODS Pathology and PET/CT reports of 39 NSCLC patients who underwent a preoperative scan and curative resection at the McGill University Health Centre were reviewed. Only patients with Adenocarcinoma (AC), Squamous Cell carcinoma (SC), or Large Cell carcinoma (LC), and definitive pathological staging, were included. The SUVmax values for each histological subtype, along with primary tumor sizes, were compared using F test and t-test analyses. RESULTS The 15 patients with SC and 5 with LC histology were found to have significantly greater preoperative SUVmax values than the 19 patients with AC (mean 12.7 and 17.2 vs. 9.4, respectively, P < 0.05), despite the fact that no significant differences in tumor size were observed between histological subtypes. Patients with LC histology displayed higher SUVmax values than patients with SC histology, but this was not found to be significant (P = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that SC pulmonary tumors have significantly greater uptake on PET/CT than AC tumors. This finding may be helpful in the future when sufficient tissue cannot be obtained for pathological diagnosis or to identify the predominant pathology of mixed tumors. Larger studies are required to confirm our results. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Pronuclear stage porcine embryos do not possess a strict asymmetric distribution of lysine 9 dimethylation of histone H3 based solely on parental origin

Epigenetic modification of core histone proteins plays an important role in gene transcription and chromatin structure. It is known that the methylation status of the lysine 9 residue of histone H3 (H3K9) is closely linked with repression of transcription and heterochromatin formation. It has been reported that a strict asymmetric distribution of the dimethylated form of H3K9 exists between the two parental genomes in murine embryos. The aim of this study was to characterize the H3K9 dimethylation pattern in cleavage stage porcine embryos. Indirect immunocytochemical analysis showed that this modification is present throughout the nuclei of pronuclear, 2‐cell, 4‐cell and blastocyst stage porcine embryos. However, at the pronuclear stage the pronuclei within in vitro‐fertilized porcine embryos possessed an asymmetric distribution of the dimethylated form of H3K9; this distribution was not based solely on the parent‐of‐origin. These results show that dimethylation of H3K9 is differentially regulated in pronuclear stage porcine embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 2–7, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An abattoir-based study of the prevalence of subclinical Johne's disease in adult cattle in south west England

SUMMARY The prevalance of subclinical Johne's disease was estimated in adult cattle slaughtered at three major abattoirs in south west England. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on IS900 was used to detect Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in intestinal lymph nodes of 1553 cattle. Culture was also carried out on all PCR positive and inconclusive samples. The prevalence of subclinical disease in adult cattle was 3·5% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 2·6–4·7) by PCR and 2·6% (CI 1·8–3·6) by culture. The proportion of the disease in each month ranged from 1·6% (CI 0·2–5·5) in April to 4·6% (CI 2·8–6·9) in November, but the difference was not significant (P > 0·05). The proportion of PCR positive lymph nodes in each abattoir ranged from 2·8% (CI 1·6–4·6) to 4·9% (CI 2·9–7·6), this difference was not significant either (P > 0·05). The prevalence in young cattle was 2·0% (CI 0·6–4·5). The difference between age groups was not statistically significant (P > 0·05).
A neuronal beta subunit (KCNMB4) makes the large conductance, voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ channel resistant to charybdotoxin and iberiotoxin.

Large conductance voltage and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (MaxiK) channels couple intracellular Ca(2+) with cellular excitability. They are composed of a pore-forming alpha subunit and modulatory beta subunits. The pore blockers charybdotoxin (CTx) and iberiotoxin (IbTx), at nanomolar concentrations, have been invaluable in unraveling MaxiK channel physiological role in vertebrates. However in mammalian brain, CTx-insensitive MaxiK channels have been described [Reinhart, P. H. , Chung, S. & Levitan, I. B. (1989) Neuron 2, 1031-1041], but their molecular basis is unknown. Here we report a human MaxiK channel beta-subunit (beta4), highly expressed in brain, which renders the MaxiK channel alpha-subunit resistant to nanomolar concentrations of CTx and IbTx. The resistance of MaxiK channel to toxin block, a phenotype conferred by the beta4 extracellular loop, results from a dramatic ( approximately 1,000 fold) slowdown of the toxin association. However once bound, the toxin block is apparently irreversible. Thus, unusually high toxin concentrations and long exposure times are necessary to determine the role of "CTx/IbTx-insensitive" MaxiK channels formed by alpha + beta4 subunits.
Nutrition, inflammation and chronic kidney disease

Purpose of reviewProtein-energy wasting and chronic inflammation are important comorbid conditions that predict poor clinical outcome in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. The current article aims to provide a brief overview of the etiology and nutritional consequences of chronic inflammation with an outline of potential treatment options. Recent findingsThe exact mechanisms leading to these unfavorable conditions are not fully elucidated and are most likely multifactorial. Irrespective of the specific etiologic mechanisms, it appears that the common pathway for all the metabolic derangements is related to exaggerated protein degradation relative to protein synthesis. Several studies suggest that chronic inflammation can predispose advanced chronic kidney disease patients to a catabolic state leading to worsening of protein-energy wasting by both increasing protein breakdown and decreasing protein synthesis. Chronic administration of nutritional supplementation, both parenterally and orally, improves nutritional status even in inflamed hemodialysis patients. Several pilot studies indicate that antiinflammatory intervention can also improve the metabolic and nutritional profiles. SummaryWhile a single common etiology has not been identified in this complex process, nutritional and antiinflammatory interventions can provide potential treatment options to improve the high mortality and morbidity in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.