Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of and factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in the spine attributed to computer use in undergraduate students.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the 3-month prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms at the spine attributed to computer use and to identify biopsychosocial factors associated with the prevalence in undergraduate students. PARTICIPANTS Undergraduate students who studied at a public university in Thailand. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a self-administered questionnaire delivered to 3,545 students. RESULTS A total of 2,511 students (73.7%) returned the questionnaires. Cervical symptoms (22.3%) were the most frequently reported, followed by thoracic (11%) and lumbar symptoms (10.7%). Females, daily computer use greater than three hours and too-high keyboard's position were significantly associated with a high prevalence of cervical symptoms. A significant association was found between higher undergraduate year of the study and too-high keyboard's position and a high prevalence of thoracic symptoms. Higher undergraduate year of the study and daily computer use greater than three hours were significantly related to a high prevalence of lumbar symptoms. Better-than-normal mental health status was associated with a low prevalence of lumbar symptoms. CONCLUSION Spinal symptoms are common among undergraduate students. Various factors were identified to be associated with high prevalence of spinal symptoms. Further research investigating the causal relation between these factors and musculoskeletal symptoms should be conducted.
De novo mutations of KIAA2022 in females cause intellectual disability and intractable epilepsy

Background Mutations in the KIAA2022 gene have been reported in male patients with X-linked intellectual disability, and related female carriers were unaffected. Here, we report 14 female patients who carry a heterozygous de novo KIAA2022 mutation and share a phenotype characterised by intellectual disability and epilepsy. Methods Reported females were selected for genetic testing because of substantial developmental problems and/or epilepsy. X-inactivation and expression studies were performed when possible. Results All mutations were predicted to result in a frameshift or premature stop. 12 out of 14 patients had intractable epilepsy with myoclonic and/or absence seizures, and generalised in 11. Thirteen patients had mild to severe intellectual disability. This female phenotype partially overlaps with the reported male phenotype which consists of more severe intellectual disability, microcephaly, growth retardation, facial dysmorphisms and, less frequently, epilepsy. One female patient showed completely skewed X-inactivation, complete absence of RNA expression in blood and a phenotype similar to male patients. In the six other tested patients, X-inactivation was random, confirmed by a non-significant twofold to threefold decrease of RNA expression in blood, consistent with the expected mosaicism between cells expressing mutant or normal KIAA2022 alleles. Conclusions Heterozygous loss of KIAA2022 expression is a cause of intellectual disability in females. Compared with its hemizygous male counterpart, the heterozygous female disease has less severe intellectual disability, but is more often associated with a severe and intractable myoclonic epilepsy.
Polymorphisme génétique et phylogénie de bactéries du genre bifidobacterium : études du gène ribosomique 16s et de la séquence intergénique 16s-23s

Le polymorphisme genetique de bacteries du genre bifidobacterium a ete mis en evidence par l'analyse des profils de restriction de l'ADN total des souches par des endonucleases a haute et basse frequence de coupure. De plus, les experiences de PFGE ont permis d'estimer a 2,1 mb la taille du genome des souches de l'espece b. Breve. Le ribotypage met en evidence un polymorphisme interspecifique aussi bien qu'intra-specifique. Les sequences de l'ARN 16s (1450 pb) de cinq souches ont ete comparees a celles disponibles dans les banques de donnees. L'arbre phylogenetique construit, montre que les bifidobacteries sont regroupees en six groupes monophyletiques. Les regions intergeniques 16s-23s (appelees ITS) de 29 souches appartenant a 19 especes differentes du genre bifidobacterium ont ete amplifiees par PCR puis sequencees. L'arbre phylogenetique base sur l'analyse de ces regions confirme la topologie de celui obtenu avec les ARN 16s. L'analyse des sequences des ITS permet en outre la determination des liens de parente entre souches proches, ce qui confirme les groupes taxinomiques etablis sur des criteres phenotypiques. La validite des especes b. Adolescentis, b. Animalis, b. Bifidum, b. Breve a ainsi ete reconnue, tandis que celle de l'espece b. Infantis a ete invalidee. De meme, des erreurs de classification ont ete mises en evidence. Ainsi, ce travail demontre que les ITS constituent un excellent outil pour la determination des liens de parente entre souches proches. De plus, l'utilisation simultanee des sequences des ARN 16s et des ITS permet la determination des liens de parente a differents niveaux taxinomiques
Association between precocious puberty and some endocrine disruptors in human plasma

Endocrine disruptors that mimic natural hormones and inhibit the action of hormones have recently attracted attention as one of the main cause of precocious puberty. In this study, the levels of 7 EDCs and 3 isoflavones that exhibit estrogen-like actions were measured in the plasma of precocious puberty patients and compared to control subjects to determine if there is an association between the onset of precocious puberty and the levels of EDCs in the plasma. EDCs examined in this study were bisphenol-A (BPA), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), n-nonyl phenol (n-NP), and t-octylphenol (t-OP), and whereas the isoflavones were equol, genistein, and diadzein. The level of MBP in the plasma of patients was 1.3 times higher than that of the controls. The levels of t-OP and n-NP in the plasma of patients were respectively 1.15 and 1.2 times higher than those of the control group. Finally, the levels of the diadzein, equol and genistein were 1.37, 1.3 and 2.67 times higher than those of the control group, and genistein showed a statistically meaningful result (P = 0.0008). The results suggest that these six substances (MBP, t-OP, n-NP, daidzein, equol, and genistein) have an effect on precocious puberty.
In vivo and in vitro effects of different anaesthetics on platelet function

Different effects of thiopental, propofol and sevoflurane on platelets have been reported. Patients undergoing thyroid surgery were anaesthetized with thiopental–fentanyl–sevoflurane (n = 11) or propofol–fentanyl–sevoflurane (n = 9). Platelet aggregation and thromboxane A2 generation were studied at baseline, and at the end of anaesthesia induction and surgery. Dose–response experiments were also performed in vitro with single agents. Thiopental–fentanyl–sevoflurane significantly reduced collagen‐induced aggregation by the end of induction, while ADP‐induced aggregation and thromboxane generation were unaffected. Propofol–fentanyl–sevoflurane had no effect on platelets. Thiopental dose‐dependently inhibited platelets in vitro, while fentanyl or propofol did not. In conclusion, thiopental reduces platelet function both ex vivo and in vitro and propofol might be considered haemostatically safer.
Impaired coagulation is a risk factor for clinical and radiologic deterioration in patients with traumatic brain injury and isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND Isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (itSAH) is found in approximately 25% of all patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical course and identify risk factors for potential clinical and radiologic deterioration in consideration of impaired coagulation in patients with itSAH. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 735 patients with TBI resulting in a pathologic computer-assisted tomography (CAT) was performed. Only those patients with itSAH and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of greater than 8 points and follow-up CAT scan were included. Patients with hemorrhage in any other brain compartment (subdural, epidural, and intracerebral) were excluded. Impaired coagulation was operationally defined. RESULTS Of the 735 patients, 89 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of these patients experienced mild TBI. The rate of radiologic expansion or conversion of the SAH was 28.1%. The rate of clinical deterioration was 6.7%. Neither the initial pattern of itSAH on different intracranial localizations nor the number of sulci involved in the itSAH was associated with clinical worsening. The rate of patients with impaired coagulation was 38%; 17.9% of all patients showed elevated international normalized ratio (INR). Radiologic and clinical deterioration was significantly associated with elevated INR. INR was shown to be independent of age in a logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION TBI patients with itSAH and impaired coagulation especially those who showed elevated INR are at risk of clinical and radiologic deterioration. Despite coagulation status, routine repetition of cranial CAT scan is advised in patients with itSAH to detect potential radiologic worsening, which if occurring should result in close clinical monitoring. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV; prognostic study, level III.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) focusing on oral symptoms: a questionnaire study.

OBJECTIVES To study the prevalence of oral problems reported among a large group of adults with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Furthermore, to compare proportions of disorders and general psychological well-being with those in a cohort of randomized population-based controls. DESIGN A questionnaire study. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION A total of 265 persons with EDS (response rate 77%) and 750 controls (response rate 63%) in a population-based cohort. Sixty persons were excluded from the EDS group (support members, children, undiagnosed EDS) leaving a final study group of 144 adults. The final control group consisted of 331 persons since many had sent back unanswered questionnaires. EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES Questions concerning general and oral symptoms, VAS scales for masticatory muscle pain ratings and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) questions were included. OUTCOME MEASURE Proportions of affirmative answers in EDS group and controls were compared. Mean values for ratings on VAS scales. Proportions of GHQ12 scores with a threshold score of four or more. RESULTS The proportions of affirmative answers for persons with EDS concerning general health problems, oral problems and masticatory muscle symptoms were significantly higher compared with controls. In the EDS group those who had daily pain in the masticatory muscles had significantly higher mean values on the VAS scales compared with those who had pain a few days per month. A GHQ12 score of four or more was significantly more common in the EDS group than in the controls, suggesting that a decline in psychological well-being was also more common in this group. CONCLUSION It is important that dental practitioners should be aware of the oral problems associated with EDS and the impact the disease has on quality of life.
Angiotensin II receptor antagonist CV‐11974 and cerebral blood flow autoregulation

Objective: To investigate whether the angiotensin II (Ang II) subtype 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist CV-11974 had a similar effect to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on cerebral blood flow autoregulation in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods: Sixteen WKY r ats and 16 SHR were given CV-11974 0.1 mg/kg intravenously and compared with two control groups (n = 16). Their cerebral blood flow was measured with the intracarotid xenon-133 injection method and blood pressure was raised by noradrenaline infusion and lowered by controlled haemorrhage in separate groups of rats. The limits of autoregulation were determined by computed least-sum-of-squares analysis. Results: The dose of CV-11974 given lowered blood pressure but did not influence baseline cerebral blood flow. In WKY rats the lower limit of autoregulation in control rats was 60$3 mmHg, whereas after CV-11974 administration it was 48$2 mmHg, respectively (P<0.01). In SHR the corresponding values were 85$2 and 78$2 mmHg, respectively (P<0.05). In WKY rats the upper limit of autoregulation in control rats was 144$5 mmHg, whereas after CV-11974 administration it was 126$7 mmHg (P<0.05). In SHR the corresponding figures were 174$8 and 144$6 mmHG, respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion: Thus, the AT1 receptor antagonist, although it did not influence baseline cerebral blood flow, shifted the autoregulation curve towards lower blood pressure. This effect is similar to that of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and might be due to release of Ang II-dependent tone in the larger cerebral resistance vessels.
Role of P‐selectin in radiation‐induced intestinal inflammatory damage

The aims of our study were to characterize the dose‐ and time‐dependent changes in endothelial P‐selectin expression and the role of this adhesion molecule as a mediator of radiation‐induced inflammation. For that purpose, endothelial P‐selectin expression was measured by the radiolabeled antibody technique in control and irradiated mice at 2, 6, and 24 hr following abdominal irradiation with 4 or 10 Gy; leukocyte endothelial cell interactions were assessed using intravital microscopy in intestinal venules following irradiation at the aforementioned doses and times in C57BL/6 and P‐selectin‐deficient mice. In wild‐type mice, radiation induced a time‐ and dose‐dependent up‐regulation of P‐selectin and a significant increase in the flux of rolling leukocytes 2 hr after irradiation. Irradiation induced a significant increase in leukocyte adhesion that was dose‐dependent. Following irradiation, P‐selectin‐deficient mice did not show any increase in leukocyte rolling but did demonstrate a response in leukocyte adhesion similar to that of the wild‐type mice. Radiation‐induced dose‐dependent histological inflammatory damage that did not differ between P‐selectin‐deficient and wild‐type mice. We conclude that P‐selectin is up‐regulated following irradiation and is a key molecular determinant of leukocyte rolling but not leukocyte adhesion in this inflammatory condition. Therefore, isolated neutralization of this adhesion molecule is not an effective means for preventing radiation‐induced inflammation. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor With Rhabdomyosarcomatous and Glandular Elements

Divergent differentiation occurs in a subset of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), but differentiation toward epithelial elements is unusual. MPNST with both heterologous rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation (malignant Triton tumor), and glandular epithelial differentiation is exceedingly rare, with only 11 cases reported since 1973, and only 1 with histologically proven metastasis. We describe a case occurring in the mediastinum (between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery) of a 40-year-old man with neurofibromatosis type-1. Despite treatment, the tumor metastasized to the right frontal lobe 16 months after diagnosis. Histologically, the primary neoplasm comprised cellular fascicles of atypical spindle cells, with discrete foci of well-formed or more primitive glandular epithelial structures, while the metastases comprised spindle cell sarcoma, including rhabdomyosarcoma, without epithelial elements. We review and discuss the literature on these little characterized neoplasms, including histology and clinical features, adding to the spectrum of documented cases of divergent epithelial differentiation in Triton tumor.
Analysis of direct-on-line synchronous reluctance machine (DOLSynRM) start-up using a magnetic field decomposition

Direct-on-line synchronous reluctance motors (DOLSynRM) combine the characteristics of the induction motor (IM) and the synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM). Saturation of core materials, the eddy currents, and the asymmetry of the rotor core and cage make it difficult to predict to which kind of loads the motor can synchronize. In this paper, the DOLSynRM start-up is analyzed with a magnetic field decomposition that makes it possible to quantify and isolate forces between any two distinct parts of an electric machine using a time-stepping finite element (FE) field solution. The results show explicitly, which portion of the motor torque is produced by the rotor core and which by the rotor cage. Compared to conventional static and quasi-stationary analyses used to distinguish between the torque on rotor core and cage, the presented method gives a more detailed view.
L'essaimage en PME : enjeux et modalités

L'objectif de cette recherche est de comprendre les enjeux et les modalites de l'essaimage en PME. La these defendue est que cette " structure specifique " est favorable a l'essaimage a la fois dans une problematique entrepreneuriale – creation d'une entreprise en etant salarie dans une entreprise existante – et dans une problematique de developpement organisationnel, la PME qui aide l'un de ses salaries a entreprendre a son tour, grandit par " excroissance ". L'analyse repose sur l'etude approfondie de huit cas d'essaimage au sein de six PME de taille et de secteurs varies (BTP, mecanique et jeu video). Du cote de la PME, trois enjeux de l'essaimage sont identifies : l'innovation ex-croissante, l'externalisation incrementielle et la gestion transfrontaliere des competences individuelles. Il est demontre que l'essaimage permet de resoudre certaines dilemmes specifiques de la PME : rupture/continuite ; productivite/specificite et retention/reconversion. En retour, l'inflexion strategique et la modularite strategique, egalement typiques de la PME, contribuent a faciliter le processus de creation d'entreprises par essaimage. Du cote de l'entreprise en phase de creation, trois enjeux et modalites sont analyses : une incubation intense, une maturation personnalisee et des relations post-creation durables. Il est demontre que le parrainage du dirigeant intensifie l'incubation, que les " investissements " techniques et affectifs par la reciprocite personnalisent les ressources obtenues et enfin, l'inflexion strategique et le modularite structurelle des deux entites (la PME etablie et la nouvelle entreprise creee en son sein) accroissent la durabilite de leur cooperation.
Clinical features of hepatitis C–infected patients with persistently normal alanine transaminase levels in the southwestern United States

Approximately one third of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. We studied the clinical, biochemical, virological, and histological features in patients with persistently normal ALT. A case‐control study was conducted on 275 patients with chronic HCV infection, including 75 patients with persistently normal ALT and 200 patients with abnormal ALT. Persistently normal ALT was defined as 4 consecutive ALT values in each patient within a period of 12 months. The average age of the patients was 44 years (range 18 to 69 years). More non‐Hispanic whites had persistently normal ALT. The mean serum ferritin level was significantly lower in patients with persistently normal ALT as compared with abnormal ALT (128 ± 92 ng/mL and 224 ± 128 ng/mL), respectively (P= .017). The mean HCV‐RNA level was significantly lower in patients with persistently normal ALT as compared with abnormal ALT (12 × 105 ± 2.8 × 106 copies/mL and 33 × 105 ± 8.0 × 106), respectively (P= .02). Histologically, patients with persistently normal ALT had less severe portal inflammation (P< .05), lobular inflammation (P= .003), piecemeal necrosis (P= .002), fibrosis (P< .05), lower prevalence of cirrhosis (P= .007), as well as a slower fibrosis progression rate (P< .001). Chronic hepatitis C patients with persistently normal ALT have low‐activity grade and stage on liver biopsy. In these patients the hepatitis C RNA level was lower compared with abnormal ALT patients, which may explain the slower fibrosis progression rate.
Pathological, clinical and prognostic characteristics of breast cancer in Central Sudan versus Northern Italy: implications for breast cancer in Africa

Aims: In patients of Black African ethnicity, breast cancer is reportedly characterized by aggressive, poorly differentiated phenotype(s). To highlight possible differences between breast cancer in indigenous sub‐Saharan African and European patients, two breast cancer case series, from Central Sudan (Khartoum) and Northern Italy (Milan), were compared for clinicopathological characteristics, expression of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Her‐2/neu, basal cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and CK17, and breast cancer subtypes.
EFFECTS OF SERIAL INBREEDING ON FITNESS COMPONENTS IN IMPATIENS CAPENSIS

Studies of inbreeding depression in wild plants customarily compare the fitness of outcrossed progeny to progeny derived from one generation of self‐pollination. We compare levels of inbreeding depression in a greenhouse in two populations of jewelweed using progeny derived from random outcrosses, one generation of self‐pollination, and three generations of selling. The progeny have expected inbreeding coefficients of, respectively, 0, 0.5, and 0.875. Seedling survivorship declined linearly with the level of inbreeding in both populations. Inbreeding also increased the variability of emergence date. Maternal family membership affected early seedling performance and often interacted significantly with the level of inbreeding. In contrast, path analyses reveal that inbreeding had both negative linear and positive quadratic direct effects on seed and final plant weight, causing the highly inbred progeny to outperform progeny derived from one generation of selfing. These results suggest either the rapid purging of deleterious alleles or diminishing epistasis among the loci affecting these characters. It is not clear why the loci affecting survival responded differently.
Eukaryotic 20S proteasome catalytic subunit propeptides prevent active site inactivation by N‐terminal acetylation and promote particle assembly

Proteins targeted for degradation by the ubiquitin‐proteasome system are degraded by the 26S proteasome. The core of this large protease is the 20S proteasome, a barrel‐shaped structure made of a stack of four heptameric rings. Of the 14 different subunits that make up the yeast 20S proteasome, three have proteolytic active sites: Doa3/β5, Pup1/β2 and Pre3/β1. Each of these subunits is synthesized with an N‐terminal propeptide that is autocatalytically cleaved during particle assembly. We show here that the propeptides have both common and distinct functions in proteasome biogenesis. Unlike the Doa3 propeptide, which is crucial for proteasome assembly, the Pre3 and Pup1 propeptides are dispensable for cell viability and proteasome formation. However, mutants lacking these propeptide‐encoding elements are defective for specific peptidase activities, are more sensitive to environmental stresses and have subtle defects in proteasome assembly. Unexpectedly, a critical function of the propeptide is the protection of the N‐terminal catalytic threonine residue against Nα‐acetylation. For all three propeptide‐deleted subunits, activity of the affected catalytic center is fully restored when the Nat1‐Ard1 Nα‐acetyltransferase is mutated. In addition to delineating a novel function for proteasome propeptides, these data provide the first biochemical evidence for the postulated participation of the α‐amino group in the proteasome catalytic mechanism.