Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Habitual Flavonoid Intake and Endothelial Function in Healthy Humans

Objective: Endothelial function, as measured by noninvasive techniques, is known to vary widely within populations. Our study was designed to test the hypothesis that this variation is determined in large part by a person's habitual dietary intake of flavonoids. Methods: This was an analytical study examining the relationship between endothelial function and dietary flavonoids in 19 healthy older adults (mean age 72 years). The study took place in the inpatient Clinical Research Center of the Brigham and Women's Hospital. Habitual flavonoid intake was assessed via a focused food frequency questionnaire. Endothelial function, measured as the reactive hyperemia response to 1 dose of flavonoid-rich cocoa, was recorded with a plethysmographic device via peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT). Results: Background flavonoid intake and the reactive hyperemia PAT (RH-PAT) response were significantly correlated (r = 0.7, p = 0.001); subjects with higher habitual flavonoid intake showed a significantly greater RH-PAT response than did lower consumers. PAT response to cocoa was also significantly correlated with simultaneous flavanol concentration in the blood (r = 0.5, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Individual variation in endothelial function among healthy older people, measured as PAT response to flavonoid-rich cocoa, is highly dependent upon usual daily flavonoid consumption. These data raise the possibility that the consumption of fruits and vegetables dictates basal endothelial function, likely related to their flavonoid content and influence on nitric oxide.
Effects of Short-term Supplementation with Vitamin C on Lipid Peroxidation in Cigarette Smokers

Background:Cigarette smoke has been reported to result in a depletion of body antioxidant vitamins. This study evaluated the association between smoking, dietary antioxidants and indices of oxidative stress in male cigarette smokers. Methods: Blood samples were collected at a baseline and at the end of 5 days supplementation with 500 mg vitamin C (two dosages/day) from 36 smokers and 43 nonsmokers. Serum levels of total and reduced forms of vitamin C, retinol, a-tocopherol were measured as antioxidants and malondialdehyde as an oxidative stress index. Results: The study showed that cigarette smokers were at higher risk of marginal vitamin C deficiency. Smokers retained significantly higher concentrations of dehydroascorbate and malondialdehyde levels as compared to nonsmokers implying that smoking enhanced lipid peroxidation. Vitamin C supplementation improved lipid peroxidation index with 18% reduction in serum malondialdehyde of smokers (P < 0.05), but did not significantly change that of nonsmokers. Conclusion: Vitamin C supplementation attenuated lipid peroxidation of smokers, which may reflect its protective role against oxidative stress. This may suggest the need for either a more prolonged vitamin C supplementation or the requirement of more than one constituent of the antioxidant system.
Allelic Forms of Merozoite Surface Protein-3 in Plasmodium falciparum Isolates From Southeast of Iran

Background: Genetic diversity has provided Plasmodium falciparum with the potential capacity of avoiding the immune response, and possibly supported the natural selection of drug or vaccine-resistant parasites. Merozoite surface protein-3 (MSP-3) has been used to develop vaccines and investigate the genetic diversity regarding P. falciparum malaria in Iran. Objectives: The main goal of this study was to analyze the polymorphic antigen MSP-3 genes across southeast of Iran among four different districts, to identify the differences in the allele frequency and genetic diversity. Materials and Methods: Nested polymerase chain reaction amplification was used to determine polymorphisms of N-terminal region of the MSP-3 gene. A total of 85 microscopically positive P. falciparum infected individuals from southeast of Iran were included in this study. Results: Of the 85 confirmed P. falciparum samples obtained from four different districts, 72 were successfully scored for MSP-3.The MSP-3 allele classes (K1 and 3D7 types) showed comparable prevalence in all districts. Overall frequencies of K1 and 3D7 allele classes were 94.5 % for both. Conclusions: Since no study has yet looked at the extent of P. falciparum MSP-3 in this geographic region, these data can be helpful to support development of a vaccine based on MSP-3 against malaria. There should be a comparative analysis in different seasonal peaks to indicate the allelic polymorphism of MSP-3 over a period.
Long-term outcomes of chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response at 6 months after the end of treatment.

AIM To assess the clinical, biochemical, and virological outcome during long-term follow-up of chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response following effective antiviral therapy. METHODS This study was a retrospective cohort study including 171 sustained responders defined as HCV RNA PCR negative at 6 mo after the end of effective antiviral treatment (SVR-6). Clinical signs and symptoms, biochemical hepatic parameters, ultrasonography and HCV RNA PCR were followed. RESULTS Mean follow-up period was 35.38 +/- 22.2 mo after the end of treatment. Twenty-seven (15.8%) responders had evidence of cirrhosis before treatment. Forty-eight (28.1%), 107 (62.6%) and 6 (3.5%) patients were genotype 1, 3, and 6 respectively, while 10 patients (5.8%) were unclassified. There were no virological and biochemical relapses during the period of follow-up. None of the patients showed evidence of hepatic decompensation. However, there were 3 patients (1.8%) developing hepatocellular carcinoma at 14, 18, 29 mo after treatment discontinuation, two of whom had evidence of cirrhosis prior to therapy. CONCLUSION The study shows that during a follow-up interval for about 3 years in 171 chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained viral response after effective antiviral treatment there were no evident signs of either biochemical or clinical relapse of liver disease in all but three patients who developed hepatocellular carcinoma.
A note on the holonomy of connections in twisted bundles

Recently twisted K-theory has received much attention due to its applications in string theory and the announced result by Freed, Hopkins and Telemann relating the twisted equivariant K-theory of a compact Lie group to its Verlinde algebra. Rather than considering gerbes as separate objects, in twisted K-theory one considers a gerbe as being part of the data for a twisted vector bundle. There is also a notion of a connection in a twisted vector bundle and Kapustin has studied some aspects of the holonomy of such connections. In this note I study the holonomy of connections in twisted principal bundles and show that it can best be defined as a functor rather than a map. Even for the case which Kapustin studied the results in this paper give a more general picture.
Fusion of Sentinel-1 data with Sentinel-2 products to overcome non-favourable atmospheric conditions for the delineation of inundation maps

ABSTRACT 729Sentinel-1 data are an alternative for monitoring flooded inland surfaces during cloudy periods. Supervised classification approaches with a single-trained model for the entire image demonstrate poor accuracy due to confusing backscatter conditions of the inundated areas in relation with the prevailing land cover features. This study follows instead a pixel-centric approach, which exploits the varying backscatter values of each pixel through a time series of Sentinel-1 images to train local Random Forest classification models per 3×3 pixels, and classifies each pixel in the target Sentinel-1 image, accordingly. Reference training data is retrieved from the timely close Sentinel-2-derived inundation maps. This study aims to identify the furthest mean day difference between the target Sentinel-1 image and available Sentinel-2 high accurate inundation maps (kappa coefficient— k > 0.9) that allows for the estimation of credible inundation maps for the Sentinel-1 target date. Various combinations of Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 training datasets are examined. The evaluation for eight target dates confirms that a Sentinel-1 inundation map with a k of 0.75 on average can be generated, when mean day difference is less than 30 days. The increment of the considered Sentinel-2 maps allows for the estimation of Sentinel-1 inundation maps with higher accuracy.
Studies in non-gonococcal urethritis therapy. The long-term value of tetracycline.

In the majority of cases of non-gonococcal urethritis the cause is unknown, but it is widely believed to be an infectious agent, or agents, transmitted during sexual intercourse. Treatment, necessarily empirical, is mainly based on this belief and usually consists of sulphonamides, sulphonamides combined with streptomycin, or broad spectrum antibiotics. The latter, and in particular members of the tetracycline group, are most frequently prescribed, and it is generally considered that tetracycline provides the most effective treatment (Morton and Morrison, 1963) although equally good results were earlier claimed for combined sulphonamide and streptomycin therapy (Jelinek, 1957). The natural course of non-gonococcal urethritis is obscure, and it is not easy to make an accurate assessment of the effect of treatment. Although Holmes, Johnson, and Floyd (1967), by means of a short-term cross-over trial, demonstrated conclusively that tetracycline was more effective than a placebo, the ultimate efficacy of this treatment is unknown, and reported cure rates have varied from about 14 per cent. (Fowler, 1958) to over 80 per cent. (Willcox, 1957). This is the report of a clinical trial carried out to determine, if possible, the real value of tetracycline, by comparing it with lactose and with streptomycin combined with sulphonamides. A computer was used to analyse the results of treatment and to see if any clinical or other features might be discerned which would indicate when specific therapy should be prescribed. The computer data sheets have been described previously (Fowler and Leeming, 1969). The trial was started on January 1, 1965 and ended on December 31, 1965. During this time 833 cases of non-gonococcal urethritis were registered in the clinic. Initially, 650 patients were included in the trial; these had no past history of Reiter's disease, presented no obvious cause for the urethritis, had not recently suffered from gonorrhoea, and had received no treatment before admission. Subsequently, fifty cases were removed from the trial either because a cause was established, or because the condition was
Recurrence risk of hyperemesis gravidarum.

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study is to describe the recurrence risk for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). METHODS Women who registered on a Web site sponsored by the Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation as having had one HG-complicated pregnancy were contacted to follow-up on a subsequent pregnancy. Participants completed an online survey. RESULTS One hundred women responded. Fifty-seven had become pregnant again, 2 were trying to conceive, 37 were not willing to get pregnant again because of HG, and 4 did not have a second pregnancy for other reasons. Among the 57 women who responded that they had become pregnant again, 81% reported having severe nausea and vomiting in their second pregnancy. Among the women reporting recurrent HG, 98% reported losing weight and taking prescribed medication for HG, 83% reported treatment with intravenous fluids, 20% reported treatment with total parenteral nutrition or nasogastric tube feeding, and 48% reported hospitalization for HG. DISCUSSION This study demonstrates both a high recurrence rate of HG and a large percentage of women who change reproductive plans because of their experiences with HG.
Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas – outcome following different modes of treatment

Background Mucinous cystadenocarcinomas (MCAC) of the pancreas are rare tumors. When localized to the pancreas alone, surgical resection is mostly associated with a favorable prognosis. The potential value of palliative treatment with chemotherapy for irresectable disease is scarcely described though. The aim of this study was to describe a single-center series of patients with MCAC of the pancreas focusing on the outcome following different treatment strategies. Methods 15 patients, 10 females and 5 males, with histologically or cytologically verified MCAC, were divided into three groups: surgical resection (n=7), chemotherapy (n=5) and no treatment (n=3). Results There was no obvious difference in gender distribution between the subgroups. A tendency towards higher age was seen in the group without treatment, as was a larger tumor size as compared to the chemotherapy group. Patients were administered chemotherapy and the group without treatment seemed to present with the same prevalence of metastatic disease (3/5 and 2/3, respectively). All patients in the group without treatment died after in median 1 month following pathological diagnosis. One patient in the chemotherapy group was alive at 9-month follow up, and the others survived a median of 11 months. In the surgically treated group, 4/7 were alive at follow-up of a median of 154 months. Of the three deceased patients who had survived 44, 53 and 151 months, respectively, two had microscopically non-radical resection. Conclusions MCAC of the pancreas is, when locally confined and without metastases, associated with fairly good prognosis after surgical resection. In inoperable patients and for metastatic disease, outcome is poor.
Off the beaten tracks: exploring three aspects of web navigation

This paper presents results of a long-term client-side Web usage study, updating previous studies that range in age from five to ten years. We focus on three aspects of Web navigation: changes in the distribution of navigation actions, speed of navigation and within-page navigation. "Navigation actionsö corresponding to users' individual page requests are discussed by type. We reconfirm links to be the most important navigation element, while backtracking has lost more than half of its previously reported share and form submission has become far more common. Changes of the Web and the browser interfaces are candidates for causing these changes.Analyzing the time users stayed on pages, we confirm Web navigation to be a rapidly interactive activity. A breakdown of page characteristics shows that users often do not take the time to read the available text or consider all links. The performance of the Web is analyzed and reassessed against the resulting requirements.Finally, habits of within-page navigation are presented. Although most selected hyperlinks are located in the top left corner of the = screen, in nearly a quarter of all cases people choose links that require scrolling. We analyzed the available browser real estate to gain insights for the design of non-scrolling Web pages.
GAMMA HAZARDS AND RISK ASSOCIATED WITH NORM IN SEDIMENT FROM AMANG PROCESSING RECYCLING PONDS

Amang processing is an important down stream activity of tin mining noted for technologically enhancing naturally occurring radioactive materials. A study was carried out to determine the gamma radiation hazards associated with amang processing with special reference to the sediment accumulated in amang processing ponds. Twenty eight sediment samples from two amang processing plants employing the recycling close water management system were collected and analysed. The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in sediments were measured using gamma spectrometry analysis, with a Hyper Pure Ge-Li detector coupled to a Multi Channel Analyzer detector system. The range of mean activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were between 40.94 – 189.58 Bq kg -1 , 104.90 – 516.17 Bq kg -1 and 74.8-848.0 Bq/kg respectively. The maximum activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K recorded were higher than Malaysia’s average and the world’s natural highest. Gamma Radiation Representative Level Index, Iγr associated with these levels of activity concentrations of radionuclides in sediments, warrants an immediate attention from the regulatory authorities. The contribution of amang processing and the use of recycling close water management system in enhancing potential environmental radiological risk are discussed.
A vascular risk factor index in relation to mortality and incident dementia

To develop a method for quantifying risks of death and dementia in relation to vascular risk factors the Gothenburg H‐70 1901–02 birth cohort was studied (n = 380, was followed over 20 years, with 103 incident dementia cases). Separate vascular risk factor indices were calculated using 23 vascular risk factors to predict: (i) dementia‐free‐survival, and (ii) incident dementia derived from post hoc optimal separation of affected and unaffected cases. Classification of adverse outcomes (dementia/non‐dementia; alive/dead) was assessed using receiver–operator characteristic (ROC) curves, and the area under the curve (AUC). Each index showed high separation between affected and unaffected cases. For dementia/non‐dementia, the AUC was 0.74 ± 0.02 for 10 year and 0.67 ± 0.02 for 20 year; for death/survival, the AUC was 0.75 ± 0.02 for 10 years and 0.79 ± 0.03 for 20 years. Of note, few items were important in both indexes, and most showed reciprocal effects (e.g. decreased the risk of death but increased the risk of dementia). Our results suggest that vascular risk factor indexes can give robust estimates of dementia and life span prognoses in elderly people, but death and dementia have different risk profiles. This may be because of death being a competing risk for incident late‐onset dementia.
Malarial hepatitis: a heterogeneous syndrome?

BACKGROUND The incidence of malarial hepatitis in patients with Plasmodium falciparum infection and jaundice is not known and it is not clear whether the condition is a single entity or a heterogeneous syndrome. METHODS We prospectively studied the natural history of all patients with falciparum malaria and jaundice admitted to military hospitals in Northeast India from 1988 to 1991. A possible drug or viral cause for the hepatitis was excluded by the history, serological tests and liver histology. RESULTS Of the 732 patients admitted with falciparum malaria, 39 had jaundice but only 18 had malarial hepatitis indicated by a rise in their serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels to more than three times the upper limit of normal and an absence of clinical or serological evidence to suggest drug or viral hepatitis. The liver in these patients was always enlarged. Their mean age was 27.6 years and 85% were males. The mean serum bilirubin was 12.7 +/- 10.3 mg/dl, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase was 212.8 +/- 144.9 IU, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase was 287.1 +/- 206.2 IU and the serum alkaline phosphatase was 20.4 +/- 10.1 KA. Clinically, 2 groups of patients were seen. Thirteen patients who presented with a severe form of disease had coma, deep jaundice and renal failure. The other 5 patients had a relatively mild illness with only fever, headache and vomiting for 2 days. Four patients with severe disease died. Liver histology (studied in 5 patients) showed Kupffer cell hyperplasia and deposition of malarial pigment. Plasmodium falciparum was demonstrated in sinusoidal red blood cells in only 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS Malarial hepatitis occurred in 18 out of 39 patients with jaundice and falciparum malaria. It is a heterogeneous syndrome with at least two clinical subsets and the severe disease should not be mistaken for fulminant hepatic failure as there is a better response to therapy.
Motor subtypes of delirium: Past, present and future

Clinical subtyping of delirium according to motor-activity profile has considerable potential to account for the heterogeneity of this complex and multifactorial syndrome. Previous work has identified a range of clinically important differences between motor subtypes in relation to detection, causation, treatment experience and prognosis, but studies have been hampered by inconsistent methodology, especially in relation to definition of subtypes. This article considers research to date, including a number of recent studies that have attempted to address these issues and identify a means of achieving greater consistency in approaches to subtyping. Possibilities for future work are discussed and a research plan for the field is outlined.
Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes

The article by Halabchi et al. provides a comprehensive, thoughtful and balanced analysis of the literature on sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes . The article is unique in providing a special perspective for Asia as contrasted with those in Europe and the United States. This aspect is extremely important to recognize for the management of young athletes in different parts of the world. In the United States, the history and physical examination has been the standard of cardiovascular screening for competitive athletes, although several studies have questioned the efficacy of the screening history and physical examination alone in identifying athletes at risk for cardiovascular adverse events.
Identification of the RLBP1 gene promoter.

PURPOSE Cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP), transcribed from the RLBP1 gene, is a 36-kDa water-soluble protein with 316 amino acids found in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and in retinal Müller cells. It is thought to play a critical role in the visual cycle by functioning as an acceptor of 11-cis-retinol from the isomerohydrolase reaction. The goal here was to evaluate the functional promoter of this gene. METHODS 5' RACE analysis, promoter-reporter assays, and semiquantitative PCR with exon-specific primers were performed using human-derived RPE cells (ARPE-19 and D407) in culture to evaluate the 5' sequence flanking the RLBP1 gene. In addition, the murine, bovine, and porcine RLBP1 genes were evaluated in silico to identify likely proximal promoter/exon 1 sequences similar to the human gene. RESULTS 5' RACE analysis revealed the presence of a previously undescribed exon in the RLBP1 gene. This was confirmed by analysis of the GenBank Human EST database, which revealed the presence of 18 sequences matching exon 1. Exon-specific PCR revealed that most CRALBP transcripts expressed in ARPE-19 cells contain both exon 1 and the final exon, suggesting that the primary promoter of CRALBP exists 5' of the newly identified exon 1. Highly homologous sequences in the murine, bovine, and porcine genes were also identified. Finally, promoter-reporter constructs revealed a minimal sequence necessary for promoter function and indicated significantly greater promoter activity compared with previously described RLBP1 promoters. CONCLUSIONS The findings presented here suggest that CRALBP transcripts in RPE cells contain a noncoding exon in addition to a newly described promoter and, by definition, an additional intron. This finding sets the stage for a mechanistic understanding of the high degree of cell type-specific expression of RLBP1.