Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Common heterozygous hemochromatosis gene mutations are risk factors for inflammation and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

Abstract: Background: Chronic hepatitis C is frequently associated with increased hepatic iron stores. It remains controversial whether heterozygous mutations of hemochromatosis genes affect fibrosis progression. Therefore our aim was to assess associations between HFE mutations and hepatic inflammation and stage of fibrosis in German hepatitis C patients.
Outcomes for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diverse regimens.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To compare the levels of self-care behaviour, social support and quality of life among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who underwent three regimens: taking medicine, taking-medicine-while dieting and taking-medicine-while-dieting-with exercise. BACKGROUND Diabetes treatment is a critical concern worldwide. However, studies on self-care behaviour, social support and quality of life based on diabetes patients' diverse regimens are few. DESIGN This study was a cross-sectional design. METHODS We enrolled 127 outpatients aged over 40 years who visited a metabolism clinic at a medical centre in Southern Taiwan. The Self-care Behaviour Scale, Social Support Scale and Quality of Life Scale were used to collect data. RESULTS The results indicated that patients with a combined regimen of taking-medicine-while-dieting-with-regular exercise had the highest score at the levels of social support, self-care behaviour and quality of life. CONCLUSION The study results could offer evidence-based knowledge for healthcare professionals to guide and promote social support, self-care behaviour and quality of life for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE These findings will help healthcare professionals to establish appropriate nursing strategies for type 2 diabetes patients who need to exercise regularly as part of their daily care to enhance their self-care behaviour, social support and quality of life.
Experimental Evaluation of a Mixed Controller That Amplifies Spatial Errors and Reduces Timing Errors

Research on motor learning suggests that training with haptic guidance enhances learning of the timing components of motor tasks, whereas error amplification is better for learning the spatial components. We present a novel mixed guidance controller that combines haptic guidance and error amplification to simultaneously promote learning of the timing and spatial components of complex motor tasks. The controller is realized using a force field around the desired position. This force field has a stable manifold tangential to the trajectory that guides subjects in velocity related aspects. The force field has an unstable manifold perpendicular to the trajectory, which amplifies the perpendicular (spatial) error. We also designed a controller that applies randomly-varying, unpredictable disturbing forces to enhance the subjects’ active participation by pushing them away from their “comfort zone. ” We conducted an experiment with thirty-two healthy subjects to evaluate the impact of four different training strategies on motor skill learning and self-reported motivation: i) No haptics, ii) mixed guidance, iii) perpendicular error amplification and tangential haptic guidance provided in sequential order, and iv) randomly-varying disturbing forces. Subjects trained two motor tasks using ARMin IV, a robotic exoskeleton for upper limb rehabilitation: Follow circles with an ellipsoidal speed profile, and move along a 3D line following a complex speed profile. Mixed guidance showed no detectable learning advantages over the other groups. Results suggest that the effectiveness of the training strategies depends on the subjects’ initial skill level. Mixed guidance seemed to benefit subjects who performed the circle task with smaller errors during baseline (i.e. initially more skilled subjects), while training with no haptics was more beneficial for subjects who created larger errors (i.e. less skilled subjects). Therefore, perhaps the high functional difficulty of the tasks limited the potential benefit of mixed guidance. Adding random disturbing forces during training reduced the learning effect size compared to no haptics. The unanticipated forces also decreased the subjects’ feelings of competence while did not increase their effort and interest. Further studies with mildly affected neurologically patients employing easier tasks need to be performed in order to evaluate the applicability of our approaches in rehabilitation.
Failure of NICE to resolve the question about the management of hyperglycaemia in acute coronary syndrome

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) that present with hyperglycaemia (≥11 mol) are associated with higher mortality across the whole spectrum of ACS, whether in the context of known diabetes or not.1 There is a near linear relation between admission glucose and the adjusted relative risk (RR) of death both in those with, and those without a prior diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, with the slope of the relationship being steeper in non-diabetic individuals.2 ACS presenting with hyperglycaemia, as defined above, are common. In England and Wales, 15% of patients presenting with troponin positive ACS are hyperglycaemic: 45% of those already known to have diabetes and 7.5% of those not known to have diabetes (data on file; Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) database 2010). 3 Despite the recognised association between admission glucose and outcome, and the very high frequency of dysglycaemia and adverse events in survivors of ACS,4 evidence to support management strategies that cover all ACS is lacking. Studies addressing the effect of control of hyperglycaemia with insulin on mortality are few, relatively small and underpowered; all experienced difficulties with recruitment.5–7 Only in DIGAMI-1 was a statistically significant reduction in mortality reported, and that was at 1 year rather than at the intended primary endpoint of 3 months.5 DIGAMI-2 failed to show any mortality benefit.6 The HI-5 study also failed to show benefit in the treatment arm, and in any event was not directed solely at hyperglycaemic subjects, as the mean admission glucose in the study was 11 mmol.7 While there have been many specific reasons advanced for the failure of these studies to show clinical benefit, a feature common to each study was a delay from onset of symptoms to treatment of …
A Measurement of Ω from the North American Test Flight of Boomerang

We use the angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background, measured during the North American test flight of the Boomerang experiment, to constrain the geometry of the universe. Within the class of cold dark matter models, we find that the overall fractional energy density of the universe Ω is constrained to be 0.85 ≤ Ω ≤ 1.25 at the 68% confidence level. Combined with the COBE measurement, the data on degree scales from the Microwave Anisotropy Telescope in Chile, and the high-redshift supernovae data, we obtain new constraints on the fractional matter density and the cosmological constant.
Molecular and Functional Characterization of Clathrin- and AP-2-binding Determinants within a Disordered Domain of Auxilin*

Uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles requires the J-domain protein auxilin for targeting hsc70 to the clathrin coats and for stimulating the hsc70 ATPase activity. This results in the release of hsc70-complexed clathrin triskelia and concomitant dissociation of the coat. To understand the complex role of auxilin in uncoating and clathrin assembly in more detail, we analyzed the molecular organization of its clathrin-binding domain (amino acids 547–813). CD spectroscopy of auxilin fragments revealed that the clathrin-binding domain is almost completely disordered in solution. By systematic mapping using synthetic peptides and by site-directed mutagenesis, we identified short peptide sequences involved in clathrin heavy chain and AP-2 binding and evaluated their significance for the function of auxilin. Some of the binding determinants, including those containing sequences 674DPF and 636WDW, showed dual specificity for both clathrin and AP-2. In contrast, the two DLL motifs within the clathrin-binding domain were exclusively involved in clathrin binding. Surprisingly, they interacted not only with the N-terminal domain of the heavy chain, but also with the distal domain. Moreover, both DLL peptides proved to be essential for clathrin assembly and uncoating. In addition, we found that the motif 726NWQ is required for efficient clathrin assembly activity. Auxilin shares a number of protein-protein interaction motifs with other endocytic proteins, including AP180. We demonstrate that AP180 and auxilin compete for binding to the α-ear domain of AP-2. Like AP180, auxilin also directly interacts with the ear domain of β-adaptin. On the basis of our data, we propose a refined model for the uncoating mechanism of clathrin-coated vesicles.
Ultra low loss and high linearity SPMT antenna switch using SOI CMOS process

Low loss and high linearity antenna switch is designed and implemented using 0.18 µm silicon-on-insulator(SOI) CMOS process for GSM/WCDMA mobile phone front-ends. Body-contacts(BC) NFETs from partially depleted (PD) SOI were chosen to implement low loss and high power antenna switch. The antenna switch employs a conventional multi-stacking FET structure to distribute voltage stress toward each FETs. Measurement results demonstrate less than 0.5 dB insertion loss up to 2 GHz and 80 dBc harmonics at all bands in the case of a single pole four throw(SP4T) switch design. This SP4T switch integrates controller to be used in the Tx module for GPRS/EDGE application. The controller operates from 3 V to 4.5 V. The design of antenna switches using multi-stack FETs can be extended by SP10T switch design with exceptional low loss and high linearity.
Second lineage of heart forming region provides new understanding of conotruncal heart defects

Abnormal heart development causes various congenital heart defects. Recent cardiovascular biology studies have elucidated the morphological mechanisms involved in normal and abnormal heart development. The primitive heart tube originates from the lateral‐most part of the heart forming mesoderm and mainly gives rise to the left ventricle. Then, during the cardiac looping, the outflow tract is elongated by the addition of cardiogenic cells from the both pharyngeal and splanchnic mesoderm (corresponding to anterior and secondary heart field, respectively), which originate from the mediocaudal region of the heart forming mesoderm and are later located anteriorly (rostrally) to the dorsal region of the heart tube. Therefore, the heart progenitors that contribute to the outflow tract region are distinct from those that form the left ventricle. The knowledge that there are two different lineages of heart progenitors in the four‐chambered heart provides new understanding of the morphological and molecular etiology of conotruncal heart defects.
Transversus abdominis plane block in renal allotransplant recipients: A retrospective chart review

Context: The efficacy of the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block appears to vary considerably, depending on the surgical procedure and block technique. Aims: This study aims to add to the existing literature and provide a more clear understanding of the TAP blocks role as a postoperative analgesic technique, specifically in renal allotransplant recipients. Settings and Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted by querying the intraoperative electronic medical record system of a 1200-bed tertiary academic hospital over a 5 months period, and reviewing anesthetic techniques, as well as postoperative morphine equivalent consumption. Materials and Methods: Fifty renal allotransplant recipients were identified, 13 of whom received TAP blocks while 37 received no regional analgesic technique. All blocks were performed under ultrasound guidance, with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine injected in the transversus abdominis fascial plane under direct visualization. The primary outcome was postoperative morphine equivalent consumption. Statistical Analysis Used: Morphine consumption was compared with the two-tailed Mann–Whitney U-test. Continuous variables of patient baseline characteristics were analyzed with unpaired t-test and categorical variables with Fischer Exact Test. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A statistically significant decrease in cumulative morphine consumption was found in the group that received the TAP block at 6 h (2.46 mg vs. 7.27 mg, P = 0.0010), 12 h (3.88 mg vs. 10.20 mg, P = 0.0005), 24 h (6.96 mg vs. 14.75 mg, P = 0.0013), and 48 h (11 mg vs. 20.13 mg, P = 0.0092). Conclusions: The TAP block is a beneficial postoperative analgesic, opiate-sparing technique in renal allotransplant recipients.
[Duplex ultrasound examinations of retinal circulation after inhalation of various mixed respiratory gases].

BACKGROUND Hyperoxic-hypercapnic inhalation is a therapeutic option in vascular disorders of the retina. The effect of hyperoxic and/or hypercapnic inhalation on the perfusion of the retina was examined. METHODS Twenty-five young adults between 18 and 35 years were investigated in a prospective study. They inhaled one of three different mixtures of breathing gases: (1) 100% O2, (2) Carbogen 240 (95% O2 and 5% CO2), (3) 92% O2 with 8% CO2 and were examined by color Doppler imaging of the CRA and OA before and after inhalation. The resistance index (RI) was calculated. RESULTS The majority of the subjects showed an Increase in the RI in both ophthalmic vessels after inhalation of pure O2, a decrease after breathing in 92% O2 and 8% CO2 and it remained almost constant with inhalation of 95% O2 and 5% CO2. CONCLUSIONS Inhalation of 92% O2 and 8% CO2 is a possibility for decreasing the peripheral resistance of OA and CRA. No change in blood flow was observed with Carbogen 240.
Freehand SPECT‐guided sentinel lymph node biopsy in early oral squamous cell carcinoma

In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), cervical lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor. Compared to elective neck dissection, reduced morbidity and better quality of life was demonstrated for sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is controversial because of the reduced detection rate of sentinel lymph nodes in close proximity to the injection site (also known as the shine‐through phenomenon).
Control of immune ligands by members of a cytomegalovirus gene expansion suppresses natural killer cell activation

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) US12 family consists of ten sequentially arranged genes (US12-21) with poorly characterized function. We now identify novel natural killer (NK) cell evasion functions for four members: US12, US14, US18 and US20. Using a systematic multiplexed proteomics approach to quantify ~1300 cell surface and ~7200 whole cell proteins, we demonstrate that the US12 family selectively targets plasma membrane proteins and plays key roles in regulating NK ligands, adhesion molecules and cytokine receptors. US18 and US20 work in concert to suppress cell surface expression of the critical NKp30 ligand B7-H6 thus inhibiting NK cell activation. The US12 family is therefore identified as a major new hub of immune regulation. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.22206. 001
High Resolution Structures of Highly Bulged Viral Epitopes Bound to Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I

Although HLA class I alleles can bind epitopes up to 14 amino acids in length, little is known about the immunogenicity or the responding T-cell repertoire against such determinants. Here, we describe an HLA-B*3508-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to a 13-mer viral epitope (LPEPLPQGQLTAY). The rigid, centrally bulged epitope generated a biased T-cell response. Only the N-terminal face of the peptide bulge was critical for recognition by the dominant clonotype SB27. The SB27 public T-cell receptor (TcR) associated slowly onto the complex between the bulged peptide and the major histocompatibility complex, suggesting significant remodeling upon engagement. The broad antigen-binding cleft of HLA-B*3508 represents a critical feature for engagement of the public TcR, as the narrower binding cleft of HLA-B*3501LPEPLPQGQLTAY, which differs from HLA-B*3508 by a single amino acid polymorphism (Arg156 → Leu), interacted poorly with the dominant TcR. Biased TcR usage in this cytotoxic T lymphocyte response appears to reflect a dominant role of the prominent peptide·major histocompatibility complex class I surface.
Observations on the metabolism of alcohol in man

Orthodox views are that alcohol has no specific dynamic action and that the rate of alcohol metabolism is not increased by muscular exercise. Both of these views have recently been challenged. Perman (1962) claims to have demonstrated an increased rate of oxygen utilization by man after ingestion of alcohol. Nagamine, Tezuka, Yamakawa & Suzuki (1961) produce evidence that the blood alcohol level falls faster in a subject who is exercising than in one at rest. In this paper we describe experiments in which we have failed to confirm the results of these authors and our observations substantiate the classical view. The experiments also show that at rest the ingestion of alcohol spares the utilization of fat but has no significant effect on the rate of carbohydrate and protein metabolism. We also record some observations on the water balance after the ingestion of alcohol.
Determination of age in dogs and cats by use of changes in lens reflections and transparency.

OBJECTIVE To develop and test a noninvasive technique for determining age in dogs and cats on the basis of changes in lens reflections and transparency. ANIMALS 85 dogs representing 5 breeds and 73 domestic shorthair cats. PROCEDURE While examining dilated eyes in a darkened room, using a penlight, 2 experienced examiners who were blinded to actual age of animals individually measured the diameter of reflections from the anterior (La) and posterior (Lb) surfaces of the lens and scored lens transparency (Ltr) from 1 (clear) to 5 (severe opacity). Models were developed to predict age on the basis of these measurements. RESULTS Aging models developed for dogs and cats were as follows: Age(dogs) = 2.197 - 0.070 x (La) + 1.361 x (Lb) + 1.193 x (Ltr) and Age(cats) = 1.988 + 1.024 x (La) + 2.220 x (Lb) + 1.019 x (Ltr), where age was expressed in years, and La and Lb were in millimeters. All variables, except La in dogs, contributed significantly to accuracy of the models. Correlation between predicted and actual ages, as measured by Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, was significant in both species (P < 0.0001). Significant differences were not found between examiners or between the first and second evaluations by the same examiner. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A noninvasive technique based on evaluation of lens reflections and transparency can provide clinically useful predictions of age in mature dogs and cats. This technique could be an important tool for veterinarians or humane shelters in determining differential diagnoses and assessing longevity and adoptability of mature animals of unknown age.
Psychosocial Risk Factors for Lung Cancer

&NA; The existence of psychosocial risk factors for the development of malignancy has been postulated by many investigators. This study investigated selected psychosocial factors as predictors of malignancy. 110 male patients with undiagnosed subacute or chronic pulmonary x‐ray lesions participated in a semistructured interview. Ratings were made of 5 subscales: 1) childhood instability, 2) job stability, 3) marriage stability, 4) lack of plans for the future, and 5) recent significant loss. The composite scale correctly predicted the diagnosis of 53 (80%) of the 66 patients with benign disease and 27 (61%) of the 44 with lung cancer. The scale was at least as important as smoking history in predicting diagnoses. Thus, significant psychosocial risk factors for the development of malignant disease might well be incorporated in selecting high‐risk individuals for cytological or other screening for lung cancer.
Approximation of stochastic Hammerstein integral equation with fractional Brownian motion input

This paper considers a stochastic Hammerstein integral equation with additive fractional Brownian motion input. The existence and uniqueness of its solution is established. A mean-square approximation to the equation together with a corresponding error estimate is also obtained. An application is given for a boundary value problem for a second-order stochastic differential equation with aditive fractional white noise.
Land of the Long White Cloud: The Spectrum of Uveitis at a Tertiary Referral Center in New Zealand

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the patterns of uveitis at a tertiary referral center in New Zealand. Methods: Retrospective data were collected for 1260 patients presenting to uveitis clinics in Auckland, New Zealand, between January 2008 and April 2014. Demographics, disease characteristics, and uveitis subtype were analyzed for all patients. Results: Among 1148 patients, 70.3% had anterior uveitis. The most common diagnosis causing anterior uveitis was HLA B27-associated disease. Toxoplasmosis was the most common cause of posterior uveitis, and sarcoidosis featured prominently in cases of panuveitis. Infectious etiologies represented 19.6% of all cases. Ethnic variations were noted, such as an increased prevalence of panuveitis in Pacific Islanders, TB-related uveitis in Indian patients, and Posner-Schlossman uveitis in East Asians. Patients over the age of 60 showed an increased prevalence of herpetic anterior uveitis and drug-induced uveitis. Conclusions: New Zealand has a multicultural population with a wide spectrum of ocular inflammation that varies with ethnicity and age.