Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gamma-glutamyltransferase is a predictor of incident diabetes and hypertension: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

BACKGROUND Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), which maintains cellular concentrations of glutathione, may be a marker of oxidative stress, and GGT itself may produce oxidative stress. We performed a prospective study to examine whether serum GGT predicts diabetes and hypertension. METHODS Study participants were 4844 black and white men and women 18-30 years of age in 1985-1986; they were reexamined 2, 5, 7, 10, and 15 years later. Year 0 GGT cutpoints were 12, 17, 25, and 36 U/L (overall 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles; the laboratory cutpoints for abnormal are 40 U/L in women and 50 U/L in men). We deleted 32 participants with prevalent diabetes and 140 participants with prevalent hypertension from the respective incidence analyses. RESULTS After adjustment for study center, race, sex, and age in proportional hazards regression, the hazard ratios across year 0 GGT categories were 1.0, 1.6, 1.7, 4.0 (95% confidence interval, 2.0-8.1), and 5.5 (2.7-11.1) for 15-year incident diabetes and 1.0, 1.2, 1.7 (1.2-2.2), 2.3 (1.7-3.2), and 2.3 (1.7-3.2) for hypertension. Additional adjustment for year 0 alcohol consumption, body mass index, cigarette smoking, and physical activity attenuated this relationship, but GGT remained a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS Serum GGT within a range regarded as physiologically normal is associated with incident diabetes and hypertension. Considering known functionality of GGT, these associations are consistent with a role for oxidative stress in risk for diabetes and hypertension.
Emerging Role of Lipid Droplets in Host/Pathogen Interactions*

Lipid droplets (LDs) are highly dynamic cell organelles involved in energy homeostasis and membrane trafficking. Here, we review how select pathogens interact with LDs. Several RNA viruses use host LDs at different steps of their life cycle. Some intracellular bacteria and parasites usurp host LDs or encode their own lipid biosynthesis machinery, thus allowing production of LDs independently of their host. Although many mechanistic details of host/pathogen LD interactions are unknown, a picture emerges in which the unique cellular architecture and energy stored in LDs are important in the replication of diverse pathogens.
Tuberculosis in the intensive care unit: a prospective observational study.

SETTING Data on the determinants of tuberculosis (TB) mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) are scarce. OBJECTIVE To describe factors influencing outcomes of patients admitted with TB requiring mechanical ventilation. DESIGN All TB patients admitted to the ICU of an academic hospital in South Africa from January 2012 to May 2013 were enrolled. Disease severity was graded according to the Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score. Comorbid diagnoses, clinical features, radiological and laboratory investigations and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS Of 83 patients (mean age 36.5 ± 12.9 years; 45 females; 44 human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] positive) admitted with pulmonary (n = 69) and/or extra-pulmonary (n = 37) TB, 39 died in the ICU (mortality 44.2%), and a further 10 died during hospitalisation (in-hospital mortality 59.0%). Few clinical parameters, special investigations or other ancillary tests predicted outcome. Only CD4 count <200 cells/mm(3) in HIV-co-infected patients (P = 0.043) and absence of lobar consolidation (P = 0.018) were associated with ICU mortality, whereas a high APACHE II score (22.6 vs. 18.1, P = 0.016) and development of renal failure (P = 0.016) were associated with hospital mortality. CONCLUSION The mortality of TB patients admitted to the ICU was extremely high. Very few parameters were associated with poor outcome, and no single parameter predicted both ICU and in-patient mortality.
Antimicrobial activity of some Clerodendrum species from Egypt

Chloroformic and methanolic extracts of four Clerodendrum species cultivated in Egypt were screened for antimicrobial activities. Chloroformic extracts of the flowers of Clerodendrum chinense and Clerodendrum splendens were active against Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 < 10 µg mL−1). Chloroformic extracts of the stem and flowers of C. chinense were active against Trypanosoma cruzi (IC50 = 1.21 and 1.12 µg mL−1, respectively) with marginal cytotoxicity. Chloroformic extracts of the leaves of C. chinense and C. splendens showed promising activities against T. cruzi (IC50 = 3.39 and 1.98 µg mL−1, respectively) without cytotoxic effect on a human cell line. None of the selected plants showed significant activity against Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria or Candida albicans. Verbascoside, a phenyl propanoid glycoside isolated from the leaves of C. chinense, showed marginal activity against T. cruzi. Rengyolone, a cyclohexyl ethanoid isolated from the leaves of C. chinense, showed a broad but not specific activity against the tested organisms.
Expression of an aromatic-dependent decarboxylase which provides growth-essential CO2 equivalents for the acetogenic (Wood) pathway of Clostridium thermoaceticum

The acetogen Clostridium thermoaceticum generates growth-essential CO2 equivalents from carboxylated aromatic compounds (e.g., 4-hydroxybenzoate), and these CO2 equivalents are likely integrated into the acetogenic pathway (T. Hsu, S. L. Daniel, M. F. Lux, and H. L. Drake, J. Bacteriol. 172:212-217, 1990). By using 4-hydroxybenzoate as a model substrate, an assay was developed to study the expression and activity of the decarboxylase involved in the activation of aromatic carboxyl groups. The aromatic-dependent decarboxylase was induced by carboxylated aromatic compounds in the early stages of growth and was not repressed by glucose or other acetogenic substrates; nonutilizable carboxylated aromatic compounds did not induce the decarboxylase. The decarboxylase activity displayed saturation kinetics at both whole-cell and cell extract levels, was sensitive to oxidation, and was not affected by exogenous energy sources. However, at the whole-cell level, metabolic inhibitors decreased the decarboxylase activity. Supplemental biotin or avidin did not significantly affect decarboxylation. The aromatic-dependent decarboxylase was specific for benzoates with a hydroxyl group in the para position of the aromatic ring; the meta position could be occupied by various substituent groups (-H, -OH, -OCH3, -Cl, or -F). The carboxyl carbon from [carboxyl-14C] vanillate went primarily to 14CO2 in short-term decarboxylase assays. During growth, the aromatic carboxyl group went primarily to CO2 under CO2-enriched conditions. However, under CO2-limited conditions, the aromatic carboxyl carbon went nearly totally to acetate, with equal distribution between the carboxyl and methyl carbons, thus demonstrating that acetate could be totally synthesized from aromatic carboxyl groups. In contrast, when cocultivated (i.e., supplemented) with CO under CO2-limited conditions, the aromatic carboxyl group went primarily to the methyl carbon of acetate.
Chiari Type 1 Deformity in Children: Pathogenetic, Clinical, Neuroimaging, and Management Aspects

Abstract Our understanding of cerebellar tonsillar herniation evolved over time and nowadays various pathomechanisms have been proposed. Causes of tonsillar herniation share a discrepancy between content (fore- and hindbrain) and container (supratentorial cranial vault, posterior fossa), may be associated with abnormalities of the craniocervical junction, and may have a developmental or acquired nature. In tonsillar herniation, the hindbrain is not malformed but deformed. Accordingly, “Chiari type 1 deformity,” not “Chiari type 1 malformation” is the correct term to characterize primary tonsillar herniation. Chiari type 1 deformity is commonly seen in pediatric neurology, neuroradiology, and neurosurgery and may have various clinical presentations depending on patient age. In addition, Chiari type 1 deformity is increasingly found by neuroimaging studies as an incidental finding in asymptomatic children. An accurate and reliable selection of patients based on clinical and neuroimaging findings is paramount for the success of neurosurgical treatment. Future studies are needed to provide selection criteria with a higher sensitivity and specificity.
Return to work after work-related traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND Work-related traumatic brain injury (wrTBI) comprises up to 24% of TBIs, yet relatively little is known about it even though wrTBI incurs high costs to employers, insurers, and injured. OBJECTIVES To compare demographic, clinical, and occupation-related factors following mild-to-moderate TBI of those who successfully returned to work (RTW) versus those who did not, and to determine perceived facilitators of and barriers to RTW. METHODS Retrospective cohort study from a consecutive sample of persons with TBI seen in an outpatient assessment clinic. Surveys were mailed to eligible potential participants. Consenting participants were interviewed by telephone or returned a completed survey via mail. RESULTS Fifty of 116 eligible individuals participated in the study. Half of the participants returned to work. Participants in this group were significantly younger and had more years of education than the no-RTW group. The most common factors perceived to assist the RTW group were support of family and friends (92%) and of treatment providers (80%), and employers who provided accommodations (76%). Difficulty thinking and concentrating (94%) and fatigue (94%) were the most common barriers to RTW. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of support from family, friends and employers as RTW facilitators. These factors merit further investigation in TBI rehabilitation studies.
3-M syndrome: a report of three Egyptian cases with review of the literature

The 3-M syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It is characterized by prenatal and postnatal growth retardation associated with characteristic features. In this study, we report on three patients from two unrelated families, including two male sibs, with the characteristic features and radiological findings of the 3-M syndrome. The main features in our cases were low birth weight, short stature, malar hypoplasia, anteverted nostrils with a fleshy nasal tip, long philtrum, pointed full chin, short broad neck, broad chest with transverse grooves of anterior thorax and hyperlordosis. An orodental examination revealed characteristic findings, some of which were not reported before. Prominent premaxilla, hypoplastic maxilla, thick patulous lips, high-arched palate, median fissured tongue, delayed eruption of teeth with enamel hypocalcification and malocclusion were present in our three studied cases. Radiographic studies showed slender long bones and ribs, a narrow pelvis and foreshortened vertebral bodies. Our reported cases are the offspring of healthy consanguineous parents, confirming the autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance in the syndrome. Cases were reported from different countries all over the world. To our knowledge, these are the first reported Egyptian patients with this rare disorder. This syndrome may be underreported because of the phenotypic overlap with other low birth dwarfism syndromes. Recent identification of a gene mutated in some cases of 3-M syndrome will aid diagnosis.
Paraoxonase-1 activity and oxidative status in patients with knee osteoarthritis and their relationship with radiological and clinical parameters

Abstract Background. The aim of this study was to investigate serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity and oxidative/anti-oxidative status in knee osteoarthritis (OA), and evaluate their relationship using radiological and clinical parameters. Materials and methods. The study population comprised 127 patients with knee OA and 107 healthy volunteers. Patients with knee OA were divided into four subgroups according to the Kellgren–Lawrence (K&L) grading scale. In addition, each patient was clinically evaluated by the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Serum PON1 activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Oxidative status was assessed by measuring serum lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) and total oxidant status (TOS). Anti-oxidative status was assessed by measuring serum free sulfydryl groups (–SH = total thiol) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. Lipid parameters were determined by routine laboratory methods. Results. Serum PON1 activity was significantly lower in the knee OA group compared to the control group (p < 0.001), whereas serum LOOH, TOS, and OSI levels of the knee OA group were significantly higher than those of the controls (p < 0.001 for all). However, TAC and –SH levels did not differ between the two groups (p > 0.05). The lowest and highest mean serum PON1 activities were detected in patients with grades 4 and 1, respectively (ANOVA p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, WOMAC score was independently associated with serum PON1 activity (β = –0.248, p = 0.027). Conclusions. Decreased serum PON1 activity and elevated LOOH, TOS, and OSI levels may be associated with knee OA, and serum PON1 activity may be a useful adjunctive indicator of the severity of knee OA for follow-up.
Detecting activation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase by complementary DNA and tissue microarray analysis.

BACKGROUND Studies by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) have shown that chromosomal region 17q23 is amplified in up to 20% of primary breast cancers. We used microarray analyses to measure the expression levels of genes in this region and to explore their prognostic importance. METHODS A microarray that contained 4209 complementary DNA (cDNA) clones was used to identify genes that are overexpressed in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line as compared with normal mammary tissue. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to analyze the copy number of one overexpressed gene, ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K), and to localize it to the 17q23 region. Northern and western blot analyses were used to measure S6K gene and protein expression, and an enzymatic assay was used to measure S6K activity. Tumor tissue microarray analysis was used to study amplification of S6K and the HER-2 oncogene, another 17q-linked gene, and the relationship between amplification and prognosis was analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for data analysis, and the log-rank test was used for statistical analysis. All P values are two-sided. RESULTS S6K was amplified and highly overexpressed in MCF-7 cells relative to normal mammary epithelium, and protein expression and enzyme activity were increased. S6K was amplified in 59 (8.8%) of 668 primary breast tumors, and a statistically significant association between amplification and poor prognosis (P =.0021) was observed. Amplification of both S6K and HER-2 implied particularly poor survival (P =.0001). CONCLUSIONS The combination of CGH information with cDNA and tissue microarray analyses can be used to identify amplified and overexpressed genes and to evaluate the clinical implications of such genes and genomic rearrangements. S6K is likely to be one of the genes at 17q23 that is amplified during oncogenesis and may adversely affect the prognosis of patients with this amplification.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among previously treated patients in the Philippines.

SETTING Prior treatment has been associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in many settings. The Philippines ranks fifth among 27 priority countries for MDR-TB. OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of MDR-TB among previously treated patients referred for MDR screening and management. DESIGN Descriptive study of the rate of MDR-TB among 4705 previously treated patients screened from 2003 to 2008. RESULTS MDR-TB was present in 76% of 2438 screened patients who had positive cultures. The proportion of patients with MDR-TB was the same among patients referred from public or DOTS facilities and private or non-DOTS facilities. MDR-TB occurred most frequently among patients who failed treatment with the Category 2 regimen (97%), those who did not demonstrate culture conversion after 3 months of Category 2 treatment (91%), and Category 1 failures (83%). MDR-TB rates were respectively 78% and 57% for Category 2 relapse and return after default (RAD), and respectively 33% and 22% for Category 1 relapse and RAD. CONCLUSION MDR-TB is frequent among previously treated patients in the Philippines. Screening with culture and drug susceptibility testing should be considered for these patients.
Gonadal steroids and visuo-spatial abilities in adult males: Implications for generalized age-related cognitive decline

The relationship between the gonadal steroids, testosterone and estrogen, and individual and group differences in performance on some cognitive tasks remains unclear but sex differences favoring males on some tests of visuo-spatial ability are large and robust. This aim of this review is to assess evidence for both organizational and activational effects of gonadal steroids as the principle cause of sex difference in visuo-spatial ability. Additionally, the implications of this relationship are discussed in the context of decreasing levels of gonadal steroids in aging males and psychological theories of generalized age-related cognitive decline. Based upon human and non-human research gonadal steroids have organizational effects on visuo-spatial ability in adulthood. Activational effects of gonadal steroids on visuo-spatial ability appear most dominant in older men and are necessary for maintaining optimal visuo-spatial ability; randomized clinical trials show that testosterone supplementation improves performance. Additionally, decreasing gonadal steroid levels in aging males may contribute to generalized age-related cognitive decline. Future supplementation studies in men should attempt to control for constituent abilities related to visuo-spatial task performance, and investigate interactions between dosage levels and baseline gonadal status. Further future animal research is required to investigate changes in gonadal steroid levels and their relationship to neurotransmitter systems, neural plasticity, and behavioral correlates.
Exposure of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA-Positive Recipients to HCV RNA-Positive Blood Donors Results in Rapid Predominance of a Single Donor Strain and Exclusion and/or Suppression of the Recipient Strain

ABSTRACT We have analyzed three cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected recipients who received blood from HCV-infected donors. Two recipients were exposed to two different HCV RNA-positive donors, and one was exposed to a single donor. All parental genomes from the actual infecting units of blood and the recipients were defined, and their presence in the follow-up serum samples was determined using sensitive strain-specific assays. The strain from one of the donors was found to predominate in all recipients' serum samples collected throughout the follow-up period of 10 to 30 months. In two recipients exposed to two infected donors, the strain from the second donor was occasionally found at very low level. However, the original recipients' strains were not detected. Our observations show that HCV-infected individuals can be superinfected with different strains, and this event may lead to eradication or suppression of the original infecting strain. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that simultaneous exposure to multiple HCV strains may result in concomitant infection by more than one strain, although a single strain could rapidly establish its dominance. The results of the present study suggest the existence of competition among infecting HCV strains which determines the ultimate outcome of multiple HCV exposure.
An exploration of the effect of corporate structure on service quality in child care

This article explores parental and child care staff perceptions of quality across alternative child care governance structures in Australia. Twenty-one child care staff and twenty parents of children attending community-based, independent-private and corporate chain centres were interviewed. Results show structural and procedural elements of service delivery to be significant, although parental age and caregiver experience moderates the importance assigned to quality dimensions. Overall, independent-private and community-based centres were rated above that offered by corporate chains. Future research should identify factors influencing centre under-performance, inform public policy and ensure consistent service quality provision regardless of ownership structure or centre administration.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, OWNERSHIP AND STOCK PRICE DURING FINANCIAL CRISIS

The financial crisis in the third quarter of 2008 devastated the global financial markets. This crisis has aroused great concern over the effectiveness of corporate governance mechanism to safeguard investor interests. This study examines the impact of the independence of the Board of Directors and share ownership structure on the market performance of 976 Hong Kong-listed companies during the period of 2008 to 2009. The results indicate that during this period of financial crisis, firms that do not have an independent outside director acting as the Chair of the Board and firms that have a smaller proportion of outside independent directors have better stock performance measured by market-adjusted cumulative stock return. Managerial ownership represented by proportion of shares held by CEO and directors as well as proportion of substantial shareholdings demonstrates a negative association with market-adjusted cumulative stock return. When focused on director ownership of shares in the audit committee, results in this study indicate a positive association between proportion of shares owned by independent directors and market-adjusted cumulative stock return.
Neutrophil function and cytokine‐specific signaling in chronic neutrophilic leukemia

We diagnosed an 86‐year‐old woman with chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) because she showed sustained leukocytosis dominated by mature neutrophils, hepatosplenomegaly, high neutrophilic alkaline phosphatase score, absence of the Ph chromosome, low serum level of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) and granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), and no evidence of leukemoid reaction. We found that the extent of stimulation of her neutrophil functions by G‐CSF and GM‐CSF was greatly reduced compared to healthy donars neutrophils. We showed that CNL neutrophils have intact expression of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor receptor (G‐CSFR) and granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor receptor (GM‐CSFR). This suggests that failure of enhancement by G‐CSF and GM‐CSF in CNL neutrophil functions might be due to disturbances in the intracellular domains of G‐CSFR and GM‐CSFR, regardless of external cytokine stimulation. However, the patient’s neutrophils did not show any mutations in the G‐CSFR and GM‐CSFR intracellular critical regions. We also showed that stat3 and mitogen‐activated protein kinase activation by G‐CSF or GM‐CSF in the patient’s neutrophils were significantly lower than those in healthy donor neutrophils. These results suggest that deficiency of CNL neutrophil function might be due to insufficiency of some inflammatory cytokine‐specific signaling. Hence, we are the first to show that CNL neutrophils have partially insufficiency in some cytokine‐specific signaling. Further studies are needed to elucidate the signal transduction pathways relating to functional defects in CNL neutrophils.