Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge about influenza and adherence to the recommendations for influenza vaccination of pregnant women after an educational intervention in Greece

ABSTRACT Pregnant women and young infants are at increased risk for influenza-associated severe disease, complications and hospitalizations. In Greece influenza vaccination during pregnancy remains extremely low. We studied the knowledge about influenza and the adherence to the recommendations for influenza vaccination of pregnant women following an educational intervention in a large maternity hospital. A standardized questionnaire was used. A knowledge score was calculated for each woman. A total of 304 pregnant women were studied [mean age: 31.5 years (standard deviation (SD): 5.4 years), mean gestational age: 27.8 weeks (SD: 9.6 weeks)]. Their mean knowledge score was 87%. Sixty pregnant women (19.5%) were vaccinated against influenza at a mean gestational age of 24.6 weeks (SD: 7.5 weeks). Multiple regression analysis revealed that previous influenza vaccination and information about the need to get vaccinated were the only significant factors associated with an increased probability for influenza vaccination during pregnancy (47% versus 17% in women with and without a history of influenza vaccination in the past, respectively; odds ratio = 3.6; p-value = 0.016, and 32% versus 4% in women informed compared to those uninformed about the need for vaccination during pregnancy, respectively; odds ratio = 17.8; p-value<0.001). Seventy women provided a reason for refusing influenza vaccination. “Fear of adverse events” (for them or the fetus) was the prevalent reason for refusing influenza vaccination (19 women; 27%), followed by the statements “influenza vaccination is not necessary” (13; 18.5%) and “not at risk to get influenza” (9; 13%). In conclusion, an educational intervention was associated with an influenza vaccination rate of 19.5% among pregnant women compared to <2% the past years. In order to improve vaccine uptake by pregnant women and protect them and their babies, more intensified interventions should be explored.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss during pregnancy: clinical characteristics, management and outcome

Abstract Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) may occur during pregnancy with a rare prevalence, and little is known about it. Aims: To retrospectively analyze cases of SSNHL during pregnancy and investigate their clinical characteristics, management and outcome. Material and methods: Records of 30 SSNHL patients during pregnancy were reviewed, including age, localization, duration from onset to treatment, gestation period, accompanying symptoms, initial hearing threshold, final hearing threshold, audiogram, treatment and outcome. Results: Twenty-four patients (80.0%) suffered SSNHL in the second trimester or the last trimester with a high rate of tinnitus (70.0%). The initial hearing threshold was 63.4 ± 25.1 dB, and most audiograms were flat and profound. The overall recovery rate was 60.0%, including complete recovery (33.3%) and partial recovery (26.7%). Further, 16 patients received adjuvant intratympanic steroid showed a better audiologic outcome (improvement 27.1 ± 16.4 vs. 15.7 ± 12.0 dB, p = .042) than those who had not. Conclusions and significance: SSNHL during pregnancy often occurred in the second trimester or the last trimester with a severe hearing loss, the most audiogram configurations are flat and profound. Dextran-40 is a safe and beneficial therapy for SSNHL patients during pregnancy and adjuvant intratympanic steroid increase the probability of hearing recovery.
Can Quercetin be an Option for Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury? An Experimental Study.

AIM To determine the neuroprotective functions of quercetin and compare them with methylprednisolone in an experimental spinal cord injury model in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty male, Wistar rats were assigned to five experimental groups: sham (n=6), trauma (n=6), methylprednisolone (n=6), single dose quercetin (n=6), and multiple doses of quercetin (n=6). An aneurysm clip compression method was used to produce spinal cord injury at level T7-9 after performing a laminectomy. In the sham group, only a laminectomy was performed. Clip compression was performed to the spinal cord after laminectomy in the trauma group. For Group 3, a single dose of intraperitoneal (ip) methylprednisolone (30mg/kg) was administered after laminectomy and trauma. A single dose of ip quercet in (100mg/kg) was administered after laminectomy and trauma in Group 4. For Group 5, multiple doses of ip quercetin (100 mg/kg) were administered on the first, second, and third days after laminectomy and trauma. Spinal cord and serum samples were obtained to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant levels (TAL) at the 72nd hour. Neurofunctional examinations of all the rats according to Drummond and Moore criteria and inclined-plane tests to evaluate functional healing were performed. All rats were sacrificed via intracardiac blood depletion after the procedure. RESULTS Quercetin and methylprednisolone both increased plasma and tissue levels of NO and MDA, and decreased TAL, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). NO and MDA levels in plasma and tissue were significantly higher in the trauma group (Group 2) when compared to the sham group (Group 1), and TAL levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant increase in the treatment group's inclined-plane test (p < 0.05), while there was no difference in motor examination evaluations. CONCLUSION The results of this experimental study suggest that quercetin can be thought as an option of treatment in spinal cord injury.
A review of the utility of tacrolimus in the management of adults with autoimmune hepatitis

Abstract Background: There is paucity of data on alternative drug therapies for patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Tacrolimus (TAC) is a promising salvage agent. We present a review of TAC therapy in AIH patients. Methods: A search for studies with keywords ‘autoimmune hepatitis’ and ‘tacrolimus’ was performed. Reviews, studies of AIH post-transplant and AIH in children were excluded. Diagnosis of AIH was based on criteria established by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. Complete biochemical response was defined as normalisation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST <45) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT <50). No biochemical response was defined as failure to return to normalisation at the end of follow-up. Demographic information and details of pre- and post-treatment liver biopsy were collected. Results: Seven articles achieved the inclusion criteria and reported data for a total of 162 adult patients. The majority of studies reported average ages approximately 35 years old. Treatment duration ranged from 1 to 136 months. Indications for therapy were mostly AIH refractory to steroid treatment or inability to tolerate standard steroid treatment. Eighty-three patients (51.2%) were reported to have pre-therapy liver biopsy. Of 49 patients for whom stage was reported, 6 patients were stage 1, 16 were stage 2, 14 were stage 3 and 13 were stage 4. Of 40 patients for whom grade was reported, 1 patient was grade 0, 3 were grade 1, 9 were grade 2, 14 were grade 3 and 13 were grade 4. Dosing regimens were between 1 and 8 mg/day. Target trough TAC serum concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 10.7 ng/mL TAC was discontinued in 28 (17.3%) patients for various reasons. Renal function remained stable in most patients. One hundred and twenty-one patients (74.7%) demonstrated complete biochemical response to treatment. Post-therapy liver biopsy was obtained for 30 (18.5%) patients, and 25 (15.4%) of these patients were noted to have histological remission according to the grade of inflammation or stage of fibrosis. Conclusion: TAC is relatively effective in the treatment of AIH refractory to traditional therapy. It appears that liver function can be enhanced at a minimal cost to renal function. Key Points There is a cohort of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who do not respond to standard therapy. Alternative treatment options for these patients have been explored, but outcomes have not been comprehensively examined. We report the use and efficacy of tacrolimus (TAC) in patients with AIH. We found that TAC can be safely and effectively used in patients with AIH with minimal side effects. TAC can be a potential treatment option for patients with AIH refractory to standard therapy.
Low‐Volume Tidal Peritoneal Dialysis Is a Preferable Mode in Patients Initiating Urgent‐Start Automated Peritoneal Dialysis: A Randomized, Open‐Label, Prospective Control Study

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of low‐volume tidal peritoneal dialysis (TPD) and intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) in ESRD patients initiating automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) after an acute catheter insertion. Clinical outcomes of patients who received either TPD or IPD using an APD system were compared in a randomized, open‐label, prospective control study in a single‐center setting. From May 2011 to May 2013, 49 patients were enrolled and 27 patients received low‐volume TPD treatment, whereas 22 patients underwent low‐volume IPD right after Tenckhoff catheter insertion. The incidence of complications during the 14‐day APD treatment were observed. After APD treatment, all the patients were transferred to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and followed up for 2 years. The IPD group demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of catheter‐related complications (omental wrapping 27.3% vs. 0% and suction pain 18.2% vs. 0%) than the TPD group after adjusting for age, gender, baseline diabetes, systolic blood pressure , BMI, and the experience of the operators. However, the short duration of APD treatment with either IPD or TPD mode did not affect the long‐time technical survival. In patients immediately after catheter insertion, low‐volume TPD mode demonstrated a lower incidence of catheter‐related complications compared to IPD. Although our results provided evidence that TPD is a preferable APD mode for this specific population, definitive conclusions about TPD benefit cannot be made, owing to early termination of the trial.
Iron overload in children with leukaemia: Experience of The Only Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology in Kuwait

Children with leukaemia are prone to severe anaemia dueto the disease itself and the medication; they usuallyreceive multiple blood transfusions throughouttheir treatment when they develop severe anaemia as a side effect of the disease and chemotherapy received. This is an observational cross-sectional study of 50 children who werediagnosed with leukaemia and treated at NBK paediatrichaematology and oncology department, Sabah hospital.The aim of this study was to see whether intensechemotherapy affects the amount of blood transfusionsreceived, hence leading to iron overload. Serum ferritinlevel was tested in each patient who were atdifferent stages of treatment (after parents' consent). Forty-four childrenwere receiving their chemotherapy at the time ofsampling and were at different stages of theirtreatment, whereas six children have already completedtheir chemotherapy in accordance to theirchemotherapy treatment protocol. Serum ferritin level was observed to be increasing as the patient progress in treatment. The risk of the disease and multiple blood transfusions might lead to increased level of serumferritin level (multiple correlation coefficient 0.664, coefficient of determination =38%) however they were not only the only determinant of the iron overload. Most children have received multiple blood transfusions by the end of chemotherapy treatment protocol(p=0.001). Iron overload has an accumulative effect that can still be clearly seen towards the end of chemotherapy protocol.
On Modeling of Plasmon-Induced Enhancement of the Efficiency of Solar Cells Modified by Metallic Nano-Particles

We demonstrate that the direct application of numerical packets like Comsol to plasmonic effect in solar cells metallically modified in nano-scale may be strongly inaccurate if quantum corrections are neglected. The near-field coupling of surface plasmons in metallic nanoparticles deposited on the top of a solar cell with band electrons in a semiconductor substrate strongly enhances the damping of plasmons in metallic components, which is not accounted for in standard numerical packets using the Drude type dielectric function for metal (taken from measurements in bulk or in thin layers) as the prerequisite for the numerical e-m field calculus. Inclusion of the proper corrections to plasmon damping causes additional enhancement of the plasmon-induced photo-effect efficiency growth of a metalized photo-diode by ten percent, at least, in comparison to only effect induced by the electric field concentration near metallic nanoparticles. This happens to be consistent with the experimental observations which cannot be explained by only local increases of the electrical field near the curvature of metallic nanoparticles determined by a finite-element solution of the Maxwell–Fresnel boundary problem as given by a numerical system like Comsol. The proper damping rate for plasmons can be identified by application of the Fermi Golden Rule approach to the plasmon-band electron coupling. We demonstrate this effect including the material and size dependence in two types of solar cells, multi-crystalline Si and CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-diselenide) as idealized photo-diode semiconductor substrate modified by various metallic nano-particles, in comparison to the experimental data and Comsol simulation.
A trace-driven analysis of name and attribute caching in a distributed system

This paper presents the results of simulating file name and attribute caching on client machines in a distributed file system. The simulation used trace data gathered on a network of about 40 workstations. Caching was found to be advantageous: a cache on each client containing just 10 directories had a 91 percent hit rate on name look ups. Entry-based name caches (holding individual directory entries) had poorer performance for several reasons, resulting in a maximum hit rate of about 83 percent. File attribute caching obtained a 90 percent hit rate with a cache on each machine of the attributes for 30 files. The simulations show that maintaining cache consistency between machines is not a significant problem; only 1 in 400 name component look ups required invalidation of a remotely cached entry. Process migration to remote machines had little effect on caching. Caching was less successful in heavily shared and modified directories such as /tmp, but there weren't enough references to /tmp overall to affect the results significantly. We estimate that adding name and attribute caching to the Sprite operating system could reduce server load by 36 percent and the number of network packets by 30 percent.
Breast cancer-related lymphedema in postmastectomy patients receiving adjuvant irradiation: A prospective study.

CONTEXT In India, most breast cancer patients present with advanced stage requiring postmastectomy radiotherapy. Lymphedema is a long-term side effect that causes both physical and psychological distresses. AIMS The present prospective study was carried out to study various factors affecting breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). SUBJECTS AND METHODS From January 2015 to March 2016, 100 postmastectomy patients who received adjuvant irradiation to chest wall were selected prospectively. Circumference of both arms was measured before surgery, at start, and at end of radiotherapy followed by 3 monthly intervals till last follow-up. Lymphedema was defined as a difference of ≥2 cm from the baseline in the arm circumference on the side of surgery. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 24 months, the cumulative incidence of BCRL was 13%. On multivariate analysis, risk of BCRL was significantly associated with higher body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.004), greater number of lymph nodes (LNs) dissected (P = 0.005), higher nodal ratio (P = 0.006), and regional LN radiation (RLNR) (P = 0.048) but not with the type of fractionation (P = 0.094). CONCLUSIONS Adjuvant RLNR, higher BMI, greater number of LNs dissected, and higher nodal ratio significantly increases the risk of development of BCRL. There was no significant difference in the lymphedema with the type of fractionation. Females receiving RLNR should be prospectively monitored for lymphedema to ensure early detection and possible intervention.
Longitudinal trajectories of physical activity and walking performance by gross motor function classification system level for children with cerebral palsy

Abstract Purpose: This study aims to present developmental trajectories for physical activity (PA) and walking performance for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and methods: Seventy-nine children with CP, 39 (49%) female, Gross Motor Functional Classification System levels I–V, and mean age 91.3 months (+/−27.7 SD) participated. Participants in levels I–V wore the Actigraph to capture PA and children in levels I-II also wore a StepWatch (SW) (n = 43) to measure walking performance. Trajectories for average PA counts/minute and number of minutes of moderate to vigorous PA were generated for levels I, II, and III/IV/V (aggregate). Single leg strides/day and average strides faster than 30 strides/min trajectories were generated for levels I–II. Results: Participants did not display plateaus in PA or walking performance based on functional level. Children in all levels showed a decrease in amount and intensity of PA from 3.0 to 12 years old, with participants in level I demonstrating the steepest decline. Children in level I decreased slightly, and level II increased slightly in both walking performance measures from 3.0 to 12 years old. Conclusions: Longitudinal curves demonstrate variations in PA and walking performance by functional level and provide prognostic information as to what changes may be anticipated for children with CP. Implications for rehabilitation Longitudinal developmental trajectories for physical activity and walking performance for children with cerebral palsy across functional levels are documented. Trajectories have potential to support collaborative intervention planning between therapists and families relative to physical activity and walking performance.
Genotype‐free estimation of allele frequencies reduces bias and improves demographic inference from RADSeq data

Restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing (RADSeq) facilitates rapid generation of thousands of genetic markers at relatively low cost; however, several sources of error specific to RADSeq methods often lead to biased estimates of allele frequencies and thereby to erroneous population genetic inference. Estimating the distribution of sample allele frequencies without calling genotypes was shown to improve population inference from whole genome sequencing data, but the ability of this approach to account for RADSeq‐specific biases remains unexplored. Here we assess in how far genotype‐free methods of allele frequency estimation affect demographic inference from empirical RADSeq data. Using the well‐studied pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) as a study system, we compare allele frequency estimation and demographic inference from whole genome sequencing data with that from RADSeq data matched for samples using both genotype‐based and genotype free methods. The demographic history of pied flycatchers as inferred from RADSeq data was highly congruent with that inferred from whole genome resequencing (WGS) data when allele frequencies were estimated directly from the read data. In contrast, when allele frequencies were derived from called genotypes, RADSeq‐based estimates of most model parameters fell outside the 95% confidence interval of estimates derived from WGS data. Notably, more stringent filtering of the genotype calls tended to increase the discrepancy between parameter estimates from WGS and RADSeq data, respectively. The results from this study demonstrate the ability of genotype‐free methods to improve allele frequency spectrum‐ (AFS‐) based demographic inference from empirical RADSeq data and highlight the need to account for uncertainty in NGS data regardless of sequencing method.
Serum miR-20a and miR-486 are potential biomarkers for discriminating colorectal neoplasia: A pilot study

Aim: Recent advances in circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as noninvasive biomarkers have provided promising prospect in detecting colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the capability of miRNAs for detecting colorectal neoplasia (CRN, including precancerous lesions and curable stage CRCs) remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the potential of serum miRNAs (miR-20a, miR-486, miR-92a, and miR-135b) selected from the literature for discriminating CRN patients. Materials and Methods: The serum samples from 46 CRN patients and 33 healthy controls were analyzed with quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Serum miR-20a and miR-486 were significantly downregulated in CRN patients compared to that of in healthy controls (fold change = 0.697 and 0.696, P = 0.01 and 0.05, respectively). The serum level of miR-92a was not significantly different between two groups, while miR-135b level in serum was too low to be accurately quantified. In addition, serum miR-486 level was much more downregulated in tubulovillous adenoma and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia patients than that of in healthy controls. For miR-20a and miR-486, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for discriminating CRN patients were 0.676 and 0.629, respectively, while their combined value was 0.698. No significant correlation was observed between miR-20a and miR-486 serum levels with age, gender, location, or lesion size. Conclusion: The results suggested that serum miR-20a and miR-486 could be potential noninvasive biomarkers for identifying CRN patients.
Epstein-Barr virus biomarkers have no prognostic value in HIV-related Hodgkin lymphoma in the modern cART era.

OBJECTIVES Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in lymphomagenesis of HIV-related classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HIV-cHL). The utility of EBV molecular and serological biomarkers has scarcely been examined in HIV-cHL in the recent combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) era. DESIGN We evaluated EBV DNA load and a panel of EBV antibodies in HIV-cHL patients prospectively enrolled in the French ANRS-CO16 Lymphovir cohort between 2008 and 2015. METHODS Pretreatment whole blood (WB), plasma EBV DNA load and serological profiles were analyzed in 63 HIV-infected patients diagnosed with cHL. For the 42 patients with available material, comparisons were performed between values at diagnosis and 6 months after the initiation of chemotherapy. RESULTS Pretreatment WB and plasma EBV DNA loads were positive in 84% and 59% of HIV-cHL patients, respectively. Two-year progression-free survival estimates did not differ between the patients with pretreatment WB (n = 53) or plasma (n = 37) EBV DNA(+) and the patients with pretreatment WB (n = 10) or plasma (n = 26) EBV DNA(-) (92% vs 80% or 89% vs 92%, p = 0.36 and 0.47, respectively). At diagnosis, 47% of patients harbored an EBV reactivation serological profile. Following chemotherapy, WB and plasma EBV DNA levels significantly declined from medians of 1570 (interquartile range, 230-3760) and 73 (0-320) copies/mL to 690 (0-1830) and 0 (0-0) copies/mL, respectively (p = 0.02 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Anti-EBV IgG antibody level significantly dropped at 6 month follow-up (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS WB and plasma EBV DNA loads do not constitute prognostic markers in HIV-cHL patients in the modern cART era.