julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
A Combined Anatomical and Clinical Study for Quantitative Analysis of the Microcirculation in the Classic Perfusion Zones of the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap
2011-02-01

The authors' combined study showed varying perfusion characteristics between anatomical and clinical settings, which could be caused by a number of complex systemic and local processes. Thus, the selection of the DIEP zones should be assessed individually depending on the anatomy in question and the characteristics of the perforators until the mentioned issues are clarified in detail.
The role of the innate immune recognition system in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis: a conceptual view
2011-02-01

The aetiology of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains unknown. Infectious and non-infectious noxious insults in combination with tissue-specific factors may precipitate PBC. Activation of innate immune response because of impending danger signals seems to be a key event in early PBC, as evidenced by granuloma formation, eosinophilic reaction and IgM elevation. Aberrant mitophagy in 'stressed' biliary epithelia cells may initiate the immune response against mitochondrial antigens. Antimitochondrial autoantibodies recognize evolutionarily conserved molecules. The question arises, whether they are pathogenic or rather an expression of beneficial autoimmunity. The generally stable course of PBC suggests that stimulatory and inhibitory autoimmune reactions govern the inflammatory biliary process. Tissue repair and defense are the heart of innate immunity. But continuous exposure of exogenous stimuli may precipitate functional antireceptor autoantibodies that are no more protective but rather harmful. Mitophagy, apoptosis and bile duct proliferation define the inflammatory response within bile ducts. Autoantigens may be clustered in different blebs on the surface of apoptotic cells targeting a variety of membrane and non-membrane-associated antigens. Thus, the autoantibody response in PBC may target, for instance, the pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family or receptors of the adrenergic or cholinergic system, hereby interfering with the programme of apoptosis and the proliferation of biliary epithelial cells. Consideration of there being functional autoantibodies into the pathogenesis of PBC may help to improve our understanding of the aetiopathogenesis of PBC.
How well do mean breakthrough curves predict mixing‐controlled reactive transport?
2011-02-01

Macroscopic transport models calibrated by flux‐averaged breakthrough curves of conservative compounds do not necessarily characterize mixing well because such breakthrough curves do not provide information on fluctuations of concentration within the solute flux, which may influence mean reaction rates. We numerically examine the validity of macroscopic transport models, which are capable of describing all details of flux‐averaged breakthrough curves, for predicting a mixing‐controlled bimolecular precipitation reaction in heterogeneous media. We consider a homogeneous, isotropic medium with an elliptical, low‐permeability inclusion and random heterogeneous fields. For the single‐inclusion case, slow advection through the inclusion results in a multimodal breakthrough curve with enhanced tailing. We vary the hydraulic conductivity contrast and Peclet number to investigate the performance of a “perfect” macroscopic transport model for predicting the total precipitated mass within the domain and the peak concentration difference between the conservative and reactive cases at the outflow boundary. The results indicate that such a model may perform well in media with either very small or very high permeability contrast or at low Peclet number. In the high‐contrast case, most flow takes place in preferential flow paths, resulting in a small variance of the flux‐weighted concentration, even though the offset in the breakthrough between the slow and fast travel paths is substantial. Maximum relative errors in terms of total precipitated mass and the peak concentration difference between the conservative and reactive cases occur at intermediate permeability contrasts and large Peclet numbers. Numerical simulations on random heterogeneous fields confirm the finding of the single‐inclusion case. Thus, in cases with intermediate hydraulic conductivity contrast, making macroscopic models fit flux‐averaged concentration breakthrough curves better may not improve the prediction of mixing‐controlled reactive transport, and it becomes necessary to quantify and account for the variability of conservative concentrations in the flux in order to formulate an appropriate macroscopic transport model that predicts mixing‐controlled reactive transport.
Threonine peptidases as drug targets against malaria
2011-02-01

While PfHslV is an attractive drug target in malaria, more investigation is required to clarify its functional role in the parasite. More efforts should also be invested in assessing the plasmodial proteasome as a drug target. The few papers investigating the effect of proteasome inhibitors on different stages of the life cycle point towards important roles not only during asexual, but also in hepatic and sexual stages, in humans and the mosquito. If this holds true, this is a key argument to further develop proteasome inhibitors for use against malaria.
Reproducibility of concentric isokinetic and isometric strength measurements at the hip in patients with hip osteoarthritis: A preliminary study
2011-02-01

To determine the reproducibility of isokinetic and isometric hip flexion, extension, abduction and adduction strength scores in patients with hip osteoarthritis (N=16) and healthy subjects, testing was conducted twice 7 days apart. The patient group (PG) consisted of 16 subjects with unilateral or bilateral osteoarthritis of the hip (11 women, 5 men; age 56–75y). The control group (CG) included 13 age-matched healthy subjects (9 women, 4 men; age 54–73y). The standard error of measurement (SEM) served as the reproducibility outcome parameter. The highest SEM values were obtained for hip extension measurements (15.4–16.7 Nm), followed by hip adduction (7.9–11.8 Nm) and hip flexion measurements (5.2–7.5 Nm). The smallest values were quantified for hip abduction measurements (4.7–7.7 Nm). PG showed larger values in all isometric measures except for hip extension and isokinetic hip abduction. When the 95% confidence interval is incorporated, these SEMs become significant. Thus clinicians should be aware of the large measurement error in patients with hip OA. Adequate preparations and firm fixation of the pelvis are key elements to achieve reproducible results.
Werden niedrige Steuersätze in Osteuropa durch Verzicht auf Verlustverrechnung erkauft?
2011-02-01

Abstract This paper investigates whether countries in the EU finance low tax rates by restrictive loss offset rules. As effects from intertemporal loss offset rules are difficult to anticipate, restrictions only marginally affect overall investments. In contrast, tax rates have a significant bearing on investment decisions. Therefore, the combination of low tax rates with restrictive loss offset rules can increase investments without affecting the tax revenue. Our analysis for the EU reveals that countries with low tax rates restrict loss offset possibilities while “high tax” countries allow an unlimited loss carryforward or even a loss carryback.
Molecular characterization of regulatory polymorphisms in the promoter region of the STAT6 gene in a Gabonese population
2011-02-01

Parasites remain competent invaders of host immunity. Their invasion strategies have proven to impact immunorelevant genes leading to diversity among gene families. We focussed on signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT6) factor that plays a fundamental role in signal transduction and activation of transcription. Recent studies have highlighted the role of STAT6 variants in control of infection levels. We identified and investigated regulatory single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of the STAT6 gene in a group of Gabonese individuals exposed to a variety of parasitic infections. Three promoter variants were identified in 40 individual subjects. We further validated these promoter variants for their allelic gene expression using transient transfection assays. One promoter variant, rs3024944 (G/C), revealed an altered expression of the marker gene. The identification of function-altering SNPs in the promoter may facilitate studying parasite susceptibility in association studies.
Urinary calculi composed of uric acid, cystine, and mineral salts: differentiation with dual-energy CT at a radiation dose comparable to that of intravenous pyelography
2011-02-01

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate radiation dose, image quality, and the ability to differentiate urinary calculi of differing compositions by using low-dose dual-energy computed tomography (CT).Materials and Methods: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study; informed consent was waived.A low-dose dual-energy CT protocol (tube voltage and reference effective tube current-time product, 140 kV and 23 mAs and 80 kV and 105 mAs; collimation, 64 × 0.6 mm; pitch, 0.7) for the detection of urinary calculi was implemented into routine clinical care.All patients (n = 112) who were examined with this protocol from July 2008 to August 2009 were included.The composition of urinary calculi was assessed by using
Black Holes and Neutron Stars in Tensor-Vector-Scalar Theory
2011-02-01

Bekenstein's Tensor-Vector-Scalar (TeVeS) theory has had considerable success as a relativistic theory of Modified Newtonian Dynamics. In the strong-field regime it makes many predictions that differ from General Relativity implying this regime provides an excellent testing ground for the theory using both current and future observations of neutron stars and black holes in both the electromagnetic and gravitational wave spectrum. I look at the current status of black hole and neutron star solutions in both the original TeVeS theory and its generalisation, including some key observational properties that differ from General Relativity.
Positive predictive value of CT urography in the evaluation of upper tract urothelial cancer
2011-02-01

The authors have shown the 8 years clinical follow-up analyzing different treatment modalities for localized prostate cancer.I believe this assessment should be followed by health care providers managing patients with prostate cancer so we can better serve our patients.
Effect of changes in the glycolytic metabolism on tumor progression and dissemination in gastric cancer.
2011-02-01

47 Background: Metastases are a frequent finding in gastric cancer patients and are associated with a poor prognosis. Recent data indicate that there might be a link between metabolic changes in the glycolytic system and dissemination in gastric cancer. The enhanced expression of the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) and its signalling targets CXCR4 and CXCL12 seem to play a crucial role in enabling gastric tumours to develop dissemination. Methods: Microarray analysis was conducted investigating human specimens from consecutive gastric cancer patients with dissemination versus gastric cancer patients without dissemination. Subsequently siRNA-knock- down concerning PGK1 and CXCR4 and transfection (overexpression) of PGK1 was performed. Further, our thesis was investigated in a metastatic nude mouse model simulating human gastric cancer behavior by orthotopic tumour implantation. Tumour growth was detected by PET-MR-imaging and section of the animals. Results: Microarray analysis revealed a significant overexpression of PGK1, CXCR4 and CXCL12 in gastric cancer specimens with dissemination. Further siRNA-knock-down of PGK1 and CXCR4 showed a significant co-regulation on expression and protein level in vitro. The transfection (overexpression) of PGK1 also revealed a significant upregulation of its signalling targets CXCR4 and CXCL12 on expression and protein level. In addition the transfected cells showed a 50-fold distinctive property in the invasion assay compared to cancer cells without PGK1 overexpression. The in-vivo results obtained in the mouse model showed that elevated PGK1 expression increased invasive and metastatic behavior of implanted gastric tumours significantly and PET-MR-imaging and section correlated very well comparing tumour growth and metastasis. Conclusions: The overexpression of the glycolytic enzyme PGK1 and its signalling targets in gastric cancer might be a promising regulation-pathway promoting dissemination. This data may provide new prognostic markers and/or potential therapeutic targets to prevent migration of gastric carcinoma cells and has intriguing connection to an old hypothesis advocated by Otto Warburg for tumour metabolism. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Prognostic Factors in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation From Matched Unrelated Donors: Lessons From Extended Follow Up of a Randomized Trial on GVHD Prophylaxis With or Without Anti T-Cell Globulin ATG-Fresenius (ATG-F)
2011-02-01

GvHD is a major problem in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) fom unrelated donors (UD). In our prospective randomized multicenter trial we could show the efficacy of additional ATG-F to standard GvHD prophylaxis with cyclosporine A and Mtx in reducing all grades of acute and chronic GvHD without negatively affecting NRM, relapse rate or DFS in 201 adult patients (median age 40 (range 18-60) years) with leukemia or MDS in early (n = 107) and advanced (n = 94) disease transplanted after myeloablative conditioning with marrow (n = 37) or blood (n = 134). (Finke et al., Lancet Oncol, 2009). Risk factors for the outcome after UD-HCT have been postulated from retrospective analyses of registry data, however data from randomized trials are lacking. With an extended follow of median 3 years we present mature data on outcome and multivariate analysis of risk factors: Incidence of grade III-IV aGvHD was 11.7% in the ATG-F group and 25.5% in the control group (p = 0.039), the incidence of extensive chronic GvHD (cGvHD) after three years was 12.2% versus 45.0% (p < 0.0001), DFS was 48.0% and 38.4%, (p = 0.71), incidence of relapse was 32.6% and 28.2% (p = 0.47), incidence of NRM was 19.4% and 33.5% (p = 0.18), and OS was 55.2% and 43.3% in the ATG-F and control groups, respectively (p = 0.39). The following factors were analyzed with regard to OS, DFS, risk of relapse, aGvHD III/IV, extensive cGvHD and NRM: patient age ([ > / < ] 40 y), donor age (> / < ] 40 y), male patient/ female donor v. other, CMV negative v. seropositive, HLA-C mismatch, type and status of disease, conditioning regimen (TBI v. no TBI), source of stem cells (marrow v. PBSC), mean cyclosporine trough levels during the first months (> / < median 220ng/ml), graft cell count in PBSC (> / < ] median 7.5x106 CD34/kg). In multivariate analyses advanced disease was a negative factor for aGvHD III-IV (HR = 2.1, p = 0.018), DFS (HR 1.7, p = 0.004), relapse (HR = 1.7, p = 0.038), and OS (HR = 1.9, p = 0.002). Patient age 40 years or more negatively affected NRM (HR = 1.8. p = 0.041). Interestingly, donor age 40 years or more adversely affected the risk of aGvHD III-IV (HR = 2.6, p = 0.009), extensive cGvHD (HR = 2.1, p = 0.021) and OS (HR = 1.7, p = 0.016), whereas CMV status, male patient/female donor, HLA-C mismatch, conditioning, graft source, CD34 count or cyclosporine levels had no influence. ATG-F significantly reduces acute and chronic GvHD. By choosing younger donors outcome can be improved in unrelated donor transplantation.
Cortical network dynamics of perceptual decision-making in the human brain
2011-02-01

Goal-directed behavior requires the flexible transformation of sensory evidence about our environment into motor actions. Studies of perceptual decision-making have shown that this transformation is distributed across several widely separated brain regions. Yet, little is known about how decision-making emerges from the dynamic interactions among these regions. Here, we review a series of studies, in which we characterized the cortical network interactions underlying a perceptual decision process in the human brain. We used magnetoencephalography to measure the large-scale cortical population dynamics underlying each of the sub-processes involved in this decision: the encoding of sensory evidence and action plan, the mapping between the two, and the attentional selection of task-relevant evidence. We found that these sub-processes are mediated by neuronal oscillations within specific frequency ranges. Localized gamma-band oscillations in sensory and motor cortices reflect the encoding of the sensory evidence and motor plan. Large-scale oscillations across widespread cortical networks mediate the integrative processes connecting these local networks: Gamma- and beta-band oscillations across frontal, parietal, and sensory cortices serve the selection of relevant sensory evidence and its flexible mapping onto action plans. In sum, our results suggest that perceptual decisions are mediated by oscillatory interactions within overlapping local and large-scale cortical networks.
Sleep Selectively Enhances Memory Expected to Be of Future Relevance
2011-02-02

The brain encodes huge amounts of information, but only a small fraction is stored for a longer time. There is now compelling evidence that the long-term storage of memories preferentially occurs during sleep. However, the factors mediating the selectivity of sleep-associated memory consolidation are poorly understood. Here, we show that the mere expectancy that a memory will be used in a future test determines whether or not sleep significantly benefits consolidation of this memory. Human subjects learned declarative memories (word paired associates) before retention periods of sleep or wakefulness. Postlearning sleep compared with wakefulness produced a strong improvement at delayed retrieval only if the subjects had been informed about the retrieval test after the learning period. If they had not been informed, retrieval after retention sleep did not differ from that after the wake retention interval. Retention during the wake intervals was not affected by retrieval expectancy. Retrieval expectancy also enhanced sleep-associated consolidation of visuospatial (two-dimensional object location task) and procedural motor memories (finger sequence tapping). Subjects expecting the retrieval displayed a robust increase in slow oscillation activity and sleep spindle count during postlearning slow-wave sleep (SWS). Sleep-associated consolidation of declarative memory was strongly correlated to slow oscillation activity and spindle count, but only if the subjects expected the retrieval test. In conclusion, our work shows that sleep preferentially benefits consolidation of memories that are relevant for future behavior, presumably through a SWS-dependent reprocessing of these memories.
ABCB1 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Determine Tacrolimus Response in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis
2011-02-02

Tacrolimus (Tac) is effective in the treatment of steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC); however, nonresponse and unpredictable side effects are major limitations. Because Tac response in patients who have undergone solid-organ transplantation has been associated with the presence of variants in CYP3A and ABCB1, we elucidated the contributions of CYP3A4*1B and CYP3A5*3 and of ABCB1 1236C>T, 2677G>T,A, and 3435C>T polymorphisms to Tac response in 89 patients with UC. Short-term remission and response were achieved in 61 and 14% of the patients, respectively, and were associated with colectomy-free survival. In a linear logistic regression model, patients with homozygous variants for one of the three ABCB1 alleles showed significantly higher short-term remission rates as compared with those of other genotypes. The effects held true after multivariate analysis including multiple comparisons and were more pronounced after correction for dose-adjusted Tac blood trough levels. We suggest that ABCB1, but not CYP3A5, may predict short-term remission of Tac in steroid-refractory UC.
Sourcing Premia with Incomplete Contracts: Theory and Evidence
2011-02-02

Abstract Drawing on Grossman &amp; Helpman (2004) and Antràs &amp; Helpman (2004), we identify general conditions that result in an unambiguous mapping of a firm’s productivity level into the organizational form and location of its input sourcing. Using a detailed 2006-2008 data set for Spanish manufacturing firms, we then establish a number of stylized facts about firm-level heterogeneity in sourcing strategies that have largely gone unnoticed in existing literature on input sourcing. Finally, we explore this heterogeneity through econometric estimation of productivity premia associated with different sourcing strategies. We find a robustly significant premium on a strategy that features offshore production of intermediate inputs through a related party (vertical integration). Lower productivity premia are found for strategies that rely on outsourcing to unrelated parties abroad or on vertical integration within the home economy. Across all specifications employed, estimated mean productivity is lowest for domestic-outsourcing firms.
Different spatial and temporal protein expressions of repulsive guidance molecule a and neogenin in the rat optic nerve after optic nerve crush with and without lens injury
2011-02-02

Abstract The failure of lesioned mammalian CNS neurons to regenerate their axons remains a challenge. Evidence is emerging that repulsive proteins contribute to this failure. The repulsive guidance molecule A (RGMA) induces growth cone collapse in vitro, accumulates in the scar after spinal cord injury, and is up‐regulated in glaucoma. In this study, we evaluated the spatial and temporal localization pattern of RGMA and its receptor neogenin in the optic nerve after optic nerve crush (ONC) without or with lens injury (LI) at up to nine time points (6 hr to 20 days) postsurgery by performing immunohistochemistry and Western blots. We found RGMA at the crush site (CS) and in the developing scar of ONC rats at every time point investigated, whereas it was absent in the CS of ONC + LI rats. Independent of the model, many cells were RGMA + in the ON: nerve fibers, blood vessels, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, some microglia, some macrophages, and the sheath of the ON. Western blots showed a significantly lowered amount of RGMA in ONC + LI animals at 2, 4, and 6 days after crush compared with ONC animals. Furthermore, LI in sham‐operated animals showed an increase of RGMA in six of eight time points compared with the sham‐operated animals. Moreover, the effects of LI on the morphology of the ON were characterized at a level of detail never reported before. Our results show that RGMA is present and might contribute to the inhibitory environment in the ON, especially in and around the CS after ONC. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.