Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-term exposure to air pollution in a road tunnel enhances the asthmatic response to allergen

The aim of this study was to assess whether air pollution in road tunnels would promote asthmatic reactions in persons with mild allergic asthma. Twenty volunteers with mild allergic asthma were exposed, inside a car, for 30 min in a Stockholm city road tunnel. As a control, the subjects were exposed to much lower pollution levels in a suburban area. Four hours after the exposure, the subjects inhaled a low dose of allergen. Asthmatic reaction during the early phase was measured as the increase in specific airway resistance 15 min after allergen inhalation and during the late phase as the decrease in lung function forced expiratory volume in one second 3-10 h after allergen inhalation. Asthma symptoms and drug use were monitored up to 18 h after allergen inhalation. The median nitrogen dioxide level during exposure was 313 microg x m-3 (range 203-462). The median levels of particles with 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameters of 10 (PM10) and 2.5 microm (PM2.5) were 170 (range 103-613) and 95 (range 61-218) micro x m-3, respectively. Subjective symptoms during tunnel exposure were not pronounced. However, subjects exposed to tunnel N02 levels of > or = 300 microg x m-3 had a significantly greater early reaction, following allergen exposure, as well as lower lung function and more asthma symptoms during the late phase, compared to control. Also, subjects with PM2.5 exposure > or = 100 microg x m-3 had a slightly increased early reaction compared to control. In conclusion, exposure to air pollution in road tunnels may significantly enhance asthmatic reactions to subsequently inhaled allergens.
Heathland Restoration Techniques: Ecological Consequences for Plant-Soil and Plant-Animal Interactions

We compare the soil and plant community development during heathland restoration on improved farmland when achieved through soil stripping with that achieved through soil acidification. We also test the potential for toxic metals to be made more available to plant and animal species as a result of these treatments. Acidification with elemental sulphur was found to be more effective than soil stripping for establishing an ericaceous sward despite the high levels of phosphate still present within the soil. However, both soil acidification and soil stripping were found to have the potential to increase the availability of potentially toxic metals. Acidification increased uptake of both aluminium and zinc in two common plant species Agrostis capillaris and Rumex acetosella and decreased the abundance of surface active spiders. The potential consequences for composition of restored heathland communities and for functioning of food chains are discussed.
Higher relative, but lower absolute risks of myocardial infarction in women than in men: analysis of some major risk factors in the S heep study

Abstract. Reuterwall C, Hallqvist J, Ahlbom A, de Faire U, Diderichsen F, Hogstedt C, Pershagen G, Theorell T, Wiman B, Wolk A, the S heep Study Group (National Institute for Working Life; Karolinska Institute; Karolinska Hospital; and National Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health, Solna; and the Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden). Higher relative, but lower absolute risks of myocardial infarction in women than in men: analysis of some major risk factors in the S heep study. J Intern Med 1999; 246: 161–174.
The Association of Plasma Endothelin with Clinical Parameters in Preeclampsia

Objective: To determine whether there are any asSociations between maternal plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels and clinical parameters in pre-eclampsia.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 32 healthy pregnant women, 21 women with preeclampsia, and 11 women with gestational hypertension in the third trimester. ET-1 was measured by radioimmunoassay from Sep-Pak C18--extracted plasma.Results: The ET-1 levels were significantly higher in preeclamptic women [median 6.2 pmol/L (range 3.9–13.0)] than in healthy pregnant controls [4.8 pmol/L (1.8–6.8)], P < 0.0041. There was a positive correlation between plasma ET-1 levels and an umbilical arterial systolic/diastolic ratio (r = 0.42, P < 0.02) and an inverse, although statistically not significant, correlation between plasma ET-1 levels and platelet count (r = -0.35, P = 0.059) in women with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.Conclusions: These findings suggest increased release of ET-1 in preeclampsia and an asSociation between the plasma ET-1 level.
Alzheimer disease: functional abnormalities in the dorsal visual pathway.

PURPOSE To evaluate whether patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) have altered activation compared with age-matched healthy control (HC) subjects during a task that typically recruits the dorsal visual pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, with institutional ethics committee approval, and all subjects provided written informed consent. Two tasks were performed to investigate neural function: face matching and location matching. Twelve patients with mild AD and 14 age-matched HC subjects were included. Brain activation was measured by using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Group statistical analyses were based on a mixed-effects model corrected for multiple comparisons. RESULTS Task performance was not statistically different between the two groups, and within groups there were no differences in task performance. In the HC group, the visual perception tasks selectively activated the visual pathways. Conversely in the AD group, there was no selective activation during performance of these same tasks. Along the dorsal visual pathway, the AD group recruited additional regions, primarily in the parietal and frontal lobes, for the location-matching task. There were no differences in activation between groups during the face-matching task. CONCLUSION The increased activation in the AD group may represent a compensatory mechanism for decreased processing effectiveness in early visual areas of patients with AD. The findings support the idea that the dorsal visual pathway is more susceptible to putative AD-related neuropathologic changes than is the ventral visual pathway.
Risk Factors of Birth Asphyxia in Pregnancy 37 Complete Weeks and Over by Apgar Score Less Than 7 at 5 Minutes

Objectives : To identify risk factors of birth asphyxia determine by Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes in pregnant women delivered at ≥ 37 weeks, of gestation. Materials and Methods: Medical records of pregnant women with gestational age ≥ 37 weeks delivered at Rajavithi Hospital between January 1,1999 - June 30,2005 were reviewed. A total number of cases was 130 pregnancies with neonatal Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes and 260 pregnancies with newborns Apgar score ≥ 7 at 5 minutes during that period were chosen for controls. Risk factors were analyzed by univariate and multiple regression analysis. Results: Risk factors that significantly associated with birth asphyxia in pregnancy ≥ 37 weeks were: small for gestational age(SGA) (OR=12.72;95%CI 5.12 - 31.61,p<0.001), prolonged PROM (OR=8.72;95%CI 1.26 - 60.12,p=0.028), narcotic analgesic used (OR=6.78;95%CI 1.31 - 35.11,p=0.023), no antenatal care (OR=5.87;95%CI 1.56 - 21.82,p=0.008), vaginal breech delivery (OR=5.64;95%CI 1.21 - 26.29,p=0.028), advance maternal age (OR=4.76;95%CI 2.15 - 10.55,p<0.001), large for gestational age (LGA) (OR=3.95;95%CI 1.09 - 14.30,p=0.037), cord compression (OR=3.78;95%CI 1.01 - 14.14,p=0.048), oxytocin usage (OR=3.50;95%CI 1.16-10.62,p=0.027) and meconium-stain amniotic fluid (OR=3.16;95%CI 1.22 - 8.23,p=0.018). Conclusion: Risk factors significantly associated with birth asphyxia in pregnancy ≥ 37 weeks were SGA, prolonged PROM, narcotic analgesic used, no antenatal care, vaginal breech delivery, elderly maternal age, LGA, cord compression, oxytocin usage and meconium-stain amniotic fluid.
Effect of cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy on serum lipids and blood glucose parameters

Background: Association between gallstone disease (GSD) and dyslipidemia has been shown in many studies. The aim of this study was to compare the serum lipid and serum glucose levels in patients with and without gallstone and also to determine changes in same parameters in gallstone patients before and after cholecystectomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 71 patients with gallstone (Group A) and 96 without gallstone (Group B) were studied prospectively. Patients in both groups were investigated for GSD. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), atherogenic index (AI) and fasting glucose (FG) levels were estimated in both groups pre-operatively. Further, same parameters were studied in Group A post-operatively at 1 week and 1 month intervals. Results: The serum levels of TC, TGs, LDL-c, AI and FG were found to be higher and levels of serum HDL-c were lower in gallstone patients than that of the control group, though not statistically significant. In patients with gallstone, significant decrease in TC, LDL-c, TG, AI and increase in HDL-c levels were observed post-cholecystectomy at both intervals. Post-operatively, rise in serum glucose levels at 1 week interval and decrease at 1 month interval were noticed in patients with GSD. Conclusion: GSD is associated with abnormal lipid profile and serum glucose. Cholecystectomy leads to a significant decrease in these parameters except HDL-c in patients with GSD. The presence of gall stones should be perceived in the context of metabolic disorder, which may be investigated and treated. Asymptomatic gallstone patients may also be treated surgically resulting in improvement of above mentioned biochemical parameters.
Drug Courts and Recidivism: The Results of an Evaluation Using Two Comparison Groups and Multiple Indicators of Recidivism

Increases in the number of drug offenders appearing in state and federal courts, coupled with mounting evidence of both the linkages between drug use and crime and the efficacy of drug treatment programs, led many jurisdictions to implement drug treatment courts. Although these courts vary on a number of dimensions, most are designed to reduce drug use and criminal behavior among drug-involved offenders. This study evaluates the effectiveness of one drug court–the Douglas County (Omaha), Nebraska Drug Court–in reducing offender recidivism. We use a variety of analytical techniques to compare drug court participants and offenders in two matched comparison groups on a number of measures of recidivism. Our results reveal that drug court participants have substantially lower rates of recidivism than traditionally adjudicated felony drug offenders, and that the differences in recidivism rates between drug court participants and drug offenders who participated in a diversion program prior to the implementation of the drug court disappeared once we controlled for the offender's assessed level of risk, as indicated by his/her LSI score.
Physiotherapy and low back pain - Part II: Outcomes research utilising the biopsychosocial model: Biological outcomes

A comprehensive understanding of low back pain (LBP) has evolved that necessitates the use of a biopsychosocial model, focusing on illness rather than disease and incorporating the biological, psychological and social aspects that are important to understand and to study LBP in its chronic form. Traditional outcome measures that measure elements within the biological component are limited to assess the spectrum of impacts caused by chronic low back pain (CLBP) and the validity, reliability and sensitivity of some of these measures has been questioned.Few physiologic tests of spine function are clinically meaningful to patients, objective physical findings can be absent, and in CLBP disability and activity intolerance are often disproportional to the original injury. Biological outcomes should be complemented by outcomes of the psychosocial aspects of back pain that measure the considerable functional and emotional impact on the quality of life of patients experiencing low back dysfunction. Outcomes research is an analysis of clinical practice as it actually occurs and can make a valuable contribution to understanding the multidimensional impact of LBP. Psychosocial aspects of the biopsychosocial model for outcomes research are discussed in part III: functional status/disability, psychological impairment, patient satisfaction, health related quality of life
Use of the Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator in High-Risk Cardiac Patients: Data From the Prospective Registry of Patients Using the Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WEARIT-II Registry)

Background— Prospective data on the safety and efficacy of the wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) in a real-world setting are lacking. The Prospective Registry of Patients Using the Wearable Defibrillator (WEARIT-II) Registry was designed to provide real-world data on the WCD as a strategy during a period of risk stratification. Methods and Results— The WEARIT-II Registry enrolled 2000 patients with ischemic (n=805, 40%), or nonischemic cardiomyopathy (n=927, 46%), or congenital/inherited heart disease (n=268) prescribed WCD between August 2011 and February 2014. Clinical data, arrhythmia events, implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation, and improvement in ejection fraction were captured. The median age was 62 years; the median ejection fraction was 25%. The median WCD wear time was 90 days, with median daily use of 22.5 hours. There was a total of 120 sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in 41 patients, of whom 54% received appropriate WCD shock. Only 10 patients (0.5%) received inappropriate WCD therapy. The rate of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias by 3 months was 3% among patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and congenital/inherited heart disease, and 1% among nonischemic patients (P=0.02). At the end of WCD use, 840 patients (42%) were implanted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The most frequent reason not to implant an implantable cardioverter defibrillator following WCD use was improvement in ejection fraction. Conclusions— The WEARIT-II Registry demonstrates a high rate of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias at 3 months in at-risk patients who are not eligible for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and suggests that the WCD can be safely used to protect patients during this period of risk assessment.
Glycosylated Chromogranin A in Heart Failure: Implications for Processing and Cardiomyocyte Calcium Homeostasis.

BACKGROUND Chromogranin A (CgA) levels have previously been found to predict mortality in heart failure (HF), but currently no information is available regarding CgA processing in HF and whether the CgA fragment catestatin (CST) may directly influence cardiomyocyte function. METHODS AND RESULTS CgA processing was characterized in postinfarction HF mice and in patients with acute HF, and the functional role of CST was explored in experimental models. Myocardial biopsies from HF, but not sham-operated mice, demonstrated high molecular weight CgA bands. Deglycosylation treatment attenuated high molecular weight bands, induced a mobility shift, and increased shorter CgA fragments. Adjusting for established risk indices and biomarkers, circulating CgA levels were found to be associated with mortality in patients with acute HF, but not in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Low CgA-to-CST conversion was also associated with increased mortality in acute HF, thus, supporting functional relevance of impaired CgA processing in cardiovascular disease. CST was identified as a direct inhibitor of CaMKIIδ (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIδ) activity, and CST reduced CaMKIIδ-dependent phosphorylation of phospholamban and the ryanodine receptor 2. In line with CaMKIIδ inhibition, CST reduced Ca2+ spark and wave frequency, reduced Ca2+ spark dimensions, increased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content, and augmented the magnitude and kinetics of cardiomyocyte Ca2+ transients and contractions. CONCLUSIONS CgA-to-CST conversion in HF is impaired because of hyperglycosylation, which is associated with clinical outcomes in acute HF. The mechanism for increased mortality may be dysregulated cardiomyocyte Ca2+ handling because of reduced CaMKIIδ inhibition.
The Effect of Stocking Density on the Welfare and Behaviour of Broiler Chickens Reared Commercially

An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of two levels of house stocking density (34kg m 2 and 40kg m’2) on broiler welfare and behaviour. The trial monitored 121 900 birds housed in eight flocks under commercial conditions and used a range of behavioural and productivity measures to assess welfare.At the higher stocking density: i) the daily mortality was greater for part of the rearing period; ii) the incidence of leg problems, contact dermatitis and carcase bruising increased; Hi) the birds’ resting behaviour was increasingly disturbed; iv) locomotion and ground pecking decreased; and v) lying and preening patterns were affected, probably due to increased disruption by other birds.Aspects of welfare were adversely affected at the higher stocking density. Further research is required to determine how stocking density affects welfare under different commercial conditions.
Kinase activity-independent anchoring function of protein kinase C-. Focus on “ Protein kinase C-regulates the subcellular localization of Shc in H 2 O 2-treated cardiomyocytes ”

PROTEIN KINASE C (PKC) plays a pivotal role in mediating cellular responses to extracellular stimuli and is involved in various fundamental cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, hypertrophic growth, and exocytotic release in the cardiovascular system as well as in noncardiovascular cells such as neurons, islet cells, chromaffin cells, and paramecium (3, 16, 20, 22, 25). The PKC family consists of about 10 serine/threonine protein kinases that share certain basic structural features (19). A highly conserved COOH-terminal catalytic domain is required for ATP/substrate-binding and catalysis, whereas an isoenzyme-specific NH2-terminal regulatory domain contains an autoinhibitory pseudosubstrate domain and two discrete membrane-targeting modules (termed C1 and C2) (19, 25). On the basis of the properties of their NH2-terminal regulatory domains, the PKC family is further classified into three subfamilies, conventional (cPKC including PKC , I, II, and ), novel (nPKC including PKC , -ε, , and ), and atypical PKC (aPKC including PKC and ). The classic view of the activation of PKC is based on studies of cPKCs such as PKC , a key event of the signal transduction of G protein-coupled receptors, particularly Gq/11-coupled receptors. Under resting conditions, PKC localizes to the cytosolic fraction. Agonist stimulation of Gq/11-coupled receptors leads to an increase in two second messengers, Ca and diacylglycerol (DAG), which bind to the regulatory domain of PKC, resulting in activation and membrane translocation of the kinase (18). In contrast, aPKCs are not allosterically regulated by Ca or DAG, while the activation of nPKCs depends on the presence of DAG but not Ca (19, 25).
Squamous cell carcinoma arising in ovarian mature cystic teratoma: report of three cases

Malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is rare. A wide variety of malignant tumors may arise within benign mature cystic teratoma. The most common form of malignant transformation of a mature cystic teratoma is squamous cell carcinoma. We report a series of three cases that developed squamous cell carcinoma in a benign ovarian cystic teratoma. Two of the carcinomas occurred in postmenopausal women: 51-year-old (case # 2) and 60 year-old (case # 3). The first case occurred in a 33-year-old woman. Histologically, all three cases were moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas and were confined to the ovaries. The aim of this study was to review our experience with this disease and to review the literature. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/jpn.v2i3. 6032 JPN 2012; 2(3): 248-250
Unusual Cases of Adult Intersexuality in the European Eel Anguilla anguilla

Two cases of intersexuality are reported for the first time in European eel, Anguilla anguilla (at the beginning of the silver eel stage), within 140 fish caught as glass eels in the south-west of France and reared in tanks at 17°C. Cysts containing spermatozoa were observed in ovaries with pre-vitellogenic oocytes. This feature is very uncommon, especially owing to the fact that male cells do not normally reach this stage in captivity, and an environmentally controlled transdifferentation process may not be excluded. Besides, the expression of the gonadal aromatase gene (cyp19a1a) was found to be higher in these 2 intersexual fish compared to normal females, although these results must be considered with caution since only 2 intersexual fish were available. A possible feminizing effect of this ‘abnormal’ upregulation of aromatase is discussed.
Mediators of University Students ‘Self-Rated Health Status: A Study in Jahangirnagar University

Self-rated health status (SRHS) is a reliable and valid measure for assessing the subjective health of individuals. University students' physical health's are important and comprise many variables. This study assessed perceived health status of 303 students from Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Of 303 students, about 65% students rated their health as healthy while 35% rated as unhealthy. Majority of the student's (about 70%) bears a standard body mass index (kg/m 2 ) where as 30% are not standard (19.5% are under weight and 9.5% are over-weight). About 42% student mentioned their mental health condition as strong and 58% as weak. Logistic regression analyses revealed that age, female status, low level of Mother's education, weak mental health and under/over-weight were associated with lower self-rated health. The results suggest that SRHS can be reasonably used to compare students' health across countries.
Representation of Number in Animals and Humans: A Neural Model

This article addresses the representation of numerical information conveyed by nonsymbolic and symbolic stimuli. In a first simulation study, we show how number-selective neurons develop when an initially uncommitted neural network is given nonsymbolic stimuli as input (e.g., collections of dots) under unsupervised learning. The resultant network is able to account for the distance and size effects, two ubiquitous effects in numerical cognition. Furthermore, the properties of the network units conform in detail to the characteristics of recently discovered number-selective neurons. In a second study, we simulate symbol learning by presenting symbolic and nonsymbolic input simultaneously. The same number-selective neurons learn to represent the numerical meaning of symbols. In doing so, they show properties reminiscent of the originally available number-selective neurons, but at the same time, the representational efficiency of the neurons is increased when presented with symbolic input. This finding presents a concrete proposal on the linkage between higher order numerical cognition and more primitive numerical abilities and generates specific predictions on the neural substrate of number processing.