NewsImages : Addressing the Depiction Gap with an Online News Dataset for Text-Image Rematching

We present NewsImages, a dataset of online news items, and the related NewsImages rematching task. The goal of NewsImages is to provide researchers with a means of studying the depiction gap, which we define to be the difference between what an image literally depicts and the way in which it is connected to the text that it accompanies. Online news is a domain in which the image-text connection is known to be indirect: The news article does not describe what is literally depicted in the image. We validate NewsImages with experiments that show the dataset's and the task's use for studying occurring connections between image and text, as well as addressing the depiction gap, which include sparse data, diversity of content, and importance of background knowledge.Peer reviewe

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in ISIAH rats with stressinduced arterial hypertension

Because the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has a wide range of opportunities in the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance and arterial pressure, it is currently hypothesized that alterations in systemic circulating or local tissue RAS are some of the most important pathogenetic factors in the development of essential hypertension. The aim of the study was to investigate circulating and local tissue RAS activities in ISIAH rats with stress-induced arterial hypertension. We estimated the serum levels of renin, the angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensin II and aldosterone by an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, and mRNA expression of RAS genes in kidney, adrenals and brain tissues was measured by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA expression of the renin gene (Ren) in the ISIAH rats was significantly decreased as compared to the normotensive WAG rats, but plasma renin concentrations had no difference. At the same time, the serum levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone in the ISIAH rats were enhanced, which suggests the existence of an ectopic site of angiotensin synthesis. Expression of RAS genes in the adrenals of hypertensive rats was unchanged. By contrast, a significant increase of RAS genes expression was found in the brain tissues. The mRNA of the Ren gene was increased in the hypothalamus, and the mRNA of Ace gene was increased in the brain stem of the ISIAH rats. This may be indicative of a local increase of RAS activity in the brain tissues of ISIAH rats. Nevertheless, the results of the study define ISIAH rat strain as a model of human low-renin hypertension

Menadione Suppresses Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Activation of Cytochromes P450 1A : Insights into a Possible Molecular Mechanism

Oxidative reactions that are catalyzed by cytochromes P450 1A (CYP1A) lead to formation of carcinogenic derivatives of arylamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as the widespread environmental pollutant benzo(a) pyrene (BP). These compounds upregulate CYP1A at the transcriptional level via an arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent signaling pathway. Because of the involvement of AhR-dependent genes in chemically induced carcinogenesis, suppression of this signaling pathway could prevent tumor formation and/or progression. Here we show that menadione (a water-soluble analog of vitamin K-3) inhibits BP-induced expression and enzymatic activity of both CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in vivo (in the rat liver) and BP-induced activity of CYP1A1 in vitro. Coadministration of BP and menadione reduced DNA-binding activity of AhR and increased DNA-binding activity of transcription factors Oct-1 and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), which are known to be involved in negative regulation of AhR-dependent genes, in vivo. Expression of another factor involved in downregulation of CYP1A-pAhR repressor (AhRR)-was lower in the liver of the rats treated with BP and menadione, indicating that the inhibitory effect of menadione on CYP1A is not mediated by this protein. Furthermore, menadione was well tolerated by the animals: no signs of acute toxicity were detected by visual examination or by assessment of weight gain dynamics or liver function. Taken together, our results suggest that menadione can be used in further studies on animal models of chemically induced carcinogenesis because menadione may suppress tumor formation and possibly progression.Peer reviewe

Local Knowledge and Single IRBs for Multisite Studies: Challenges and Solutions

New federal policies require single IRB review for multisite studies, but many questions remain about how these IRBs will use local knowledge. The findings from our study, the first to examine how single IRBs perceive needs for local knowledge, reveal several challenges. Study respondents identified four potentially relevant types of local knowledge: about culture and linguistics, about geography and socioeconomics, about the researchers, and about the institutions. Such knowledge can potentially be obtained through local sites, but single IRBs may be unaware of potentially relevant local information, and lack of informal relationships may impede single IRBs’ reviews and interactions with researchers. While a recent, commonly used, standardized single‐IRB form asks three basic questions about local information, our findings suggest potential needs for additional information and, thus, have important implications for practice, policy, and research

Hypoxia-induced factor-1α and markers of inflammation in patients with ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS) occurs as a result of local disturbance of hemocirculation and hypoxia in the brain tissue. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which is involved in the regulation of tissue oxygen levels, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of stroke, including neuronal survival, neuroinflammation, angiogenesis, glucose metabolism, blood-brain barrier permeability, and is important in IS outcomes. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between blood levels of HIF-1α and the degree of neurological deficit in the acute period of IS and the outcome of the disease. We examined 58 people with IS aged 73 (67-81) years. Patients were divided into two groups – discharged and dead. The severity of stroke (NIHSS), neurological deficit, comorbidity index, blood levels of HIF-1α, p53 protein, interleukin-6, cystatin C, CRP, creatinine, hematological parameters were determined at admission, on days 3 and 10 of the disease. At admission the blood levels of HIF-1α was lower than in the comparison group and remained reduced until the 10th day. On day 10 the association of HIF-1α with neurological deficit, comorbidity index and disease outcome was determined. We observed a feedback of HIF-1α with the content of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit, which can be regarded as a reflection of the hemic component of mixed hypoxia. In dead patients, an increased blood level of cystatin C was detected, which was associated with HIF-1α concentrations. In all periods of observation of IS, a correlation between cystatin C and creatinine and CRP levels was noted. These results may indicate dysfunction of endotheliocytes, inflammation associated with hypoxia in IS. The prognostic significance of the blood level of HIF-1α on the 10th day for the outcome of IS was AUC = 0.900. Blood levels of HIF-1α in the acute period was associated with the severity of IS and the outcome of the disease

КЛИНИКО-ДИАГНОСТИЧЕСКОЕ ЗНАЧЕНИЕ УРОВНЯ ПРОКАЛЬЦИТОНИНА У ПОСТРАДАВШИХ С ТЯЖЁЛОЙ СОЧЕТАННОЙ ТРАВМОЙ

Mortality due to pyoseptic complications after severe mechanical injury is rather high. Some hopes for its reduction are associated with the timely detection of infectious complications. In this case an important role is, in terms of early diagnosis, attached to the calcitonin prohormone procalcitonin that is positioned itself as a marker for the progression of a bacterial infectious process. At the same time, there is evidence for elevated PCT levels after extensive surgical interventions and in massive injuries directly unassociated with the development of an infectious process. Objective: to estimate the significance of its changes early after injury. A prospective investigation was conducted, which enrolled 76 victims of severe concomitant mechanical injury (patients with severe brain injury and victims whose death had occurred within the following few days were excluded from the study). The time course of changes in the blood levels of PCT, C-reactive protein, activated monocytes expressing receptors for lipopolysaccharide and other bacterial antigens (CD14+ and HLA-R+), cytokines (IL-6, IL-10), glucose, and lactate was studied on admission, at 12 and 24 hours, 3, 7, and 10 days. The diagnosis of bacteremia involved blood microbiology tests for sterility and polymerase chain reaction to detect antigens of blood opportunistic microorganisms. The findings were analyzed in view of injury severity scores (ISS), the development of infectious complications, and an outcome. PCT concentrations were shown to rise significantly within the first 24 hours after injury in the absence of clinical manifestations of infectious complications. The increase in PCT levels was preceded by the highest rise of HLA-DR+ within the first 24 hours and CD14+ just 12 hours after injury, which could not preclude the bacterial translocation inducing, along with other factors, the development of a systemic inflammatory response. At the same time, the findings could suggest that the role of this indicator must not boil down exclusively to the function of that of infectious complications. Смертность в результате гнойно-септических осложнений после перенесённой тяжёлой механической травмы довольно высока. Определённые надежды на её снижение связывают со своевременным выявлением инфекционных осложнений. При этом с точки зрения ранней диагностики важную роль придают прогормону кальцитонина - прокальцитонину, который позиционируется в качес­тве маркёра прог­рессирования инфекционного процесса бактериальной природы. В то же время есть данные об увеличении уровня прокальцитонина после обширных оперативных вмешательств и при массивных повреждениях, не связанном напрямую с развитием инфекционного процесса. Цель работы - оценка значимости его изменений в ранние сроки после травмы. Проведено ­проспективное исследование, в которое включено 76 пострадавших с тяжёлой сочетанной механической травмой (пациентов с тяжёлой черепно-мозговой травмой, а также пострадавших, летальный исход у которых наступал в течение ближайших суток, из исследования исключали). Изучена динамика (этапы - при поступлении, через 12 ч, 24 ч, на 3-и, 7-е и 10-е сут) уровня прокальцитонина, С-рективного белка, активированных моноцитов, экспрессирующих рецепторы к липополисахариду и другим бактериальным антигенам (CD14+ и HLA-­DR+), цитокинов (IL-6, IL-10), глюкозы и лактата крови. Диагностика бактериемии предусматривала микробиологическое исследование крови на стерильность и использование ПЦР для выявления антигенов условно-патогенных микроорганизмов в крови. Анализ полученных данных проводили с учётом тяжести полученных повреждений (ISS), факта развития инфекционных осложнений и исхода. Показано, что значимое повышение кон­центрации ПКТ происходило в первые сутки после травмы при отсутствии клинических проявлений инфекционных осложнений. Повышению уровня прокальцитонина предшествовало увеличение до максимальных значений уровня HLA-DR+ в первые часы и CD14+ уже через 12 ч после травмы, что не позволяло исключить возможность бактериальной транслокации, индуцирующей, наряду с другими факторами, развитие системной воспалительной реакции. Вместе с тем полученные данные позволили предположить, что роль этого показателя не должна сводиться исключительно к функции сигнализатора инфекционных осложнений