Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of distinct human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 circulating recombinant forms in Northeast Brazil

The extraordinary genetic diversity and immune evasion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pose significant challenges for vaccine development and antiretroviral therapy efficacy. The objective of this study was to characterize the molecular profile of HIV‐1 epidemic in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, determining the genetic subtypes and the presence of antiretroviral resistance mutations. HIV‐1 pol DNA sequences from 57 individuals infected with HIV were obtained by PCR, followed by sequencing. The subtypes were determined by phylogenetic analyses and the intersubtype recombination was investigated by bootscanning. The pol subtypes were compared with gag and env subtypes. Antiretroviral susceptibility was evaluated through the Stanford HIV resistance Database. The subtypes frequencies were: 77.2% of subtype B, 1.8% of subtype F1, and 21.0% of BF recombinant forms. Two intergenic and three intragenic BF recombinant patterns were observed. Six (10.5%) viruses were related to CRF28/CRF29, two were related to CRF12 (3.5%), and one (1.8%) was CRF39. Fourteen (24.6%) strains carried one or more mutations associated with at least intermediate resistance: 24.6% had resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 21.0% to non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and 7% to protease inhibitors. The substitutions I54V (7.0%), M184V (14.0%), and K103N (10.5%) were the most frequent within each class of drugs. The results show a high diversity of BF genotypes and a lower prevalence of major reverse transcriptase and protease drug resistance mutations in Salvador, compared with other regions of Brazil. These findings may contribute to improve treatment strategies of patients infected with HIV‐1 from this Brazilian region. J. Med. Virol. 83:2066–2072, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
[A comparative study on health promotion lifestyles between employed and unemployed women].

This comparative survey research was conducted to compare the relationship between health promotion lifestyles, self-esteem, health locus of control and health perception for employed and unemployed women. The sample consisted of 58 employed women and 63 unemployed women residing in Seoul and over 35 years old. The tool used for this study was a structured questionnaire which was revised by the researcher. The tool consisted of 8 items related to demographic characteristics, 47 items on health promotion lifestyle profile, 10 items on self-esteem measurement, 18 items on health locus of control, 21 items on health perception questionnaire. The data collected from the interviews were analyzing using SPSS, yielding frequencies, percentiles, means, standard deviations, t-test, x2-test, Pearson's product moment correlation. The result of this study are as follows: 1) The demograpic variables for the two groups were homogenous except for age. 2) No significance differences were found between the two groups on the health promotion lifestyle (t = -.06, p = .954), but there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups on 2 subscale (self actualization and nutrition) of the health promotion lifestyle. Comparison of the order of the scores between the two groups for the employed women showed that the highest score was for nutrition, then self actualization, interpersonal support, stress management, health responsibility and exercise in that order. For the unemployed women, the highest score was for nutrition, then interpersonal support, self actualization, stress management, health responsibility and exercise in that order. 3) There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups on the self-esteem, employed women had lower score on self-esteem than unemployed women (t = -3.37, p = .001). 4) The result of the comparison between the two groups were significantly different for future health status, employed women (mean 3.57) had higher scores than unemployed women (mean 3.25) (t = 2.14, p = .034). 5) Comparison of the order of the scores between the two groups showed that the highest score was for internal health locus of control, but there was a statistically no significant difference. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups on the external health locus of control (t = -3.90, p = .000). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Prognosis of occupational hand eczema: a follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE To identify prognostic risk factors in patients with occupational hand eczema (OHE). DESIGN Cohort study with 1-year follow-up. SETTING Danish National Board of Industrial Injuries Registry. PATIENTS All patients with newly recognized OHE (758 cases) from October 1, 2001, through November 10, 2002. INTERVENTIONS Participants received a questionnaire covering self-rated severity, sick leave, loss of job, depression, and health-related quality of life. One year after the questionnaire was returned, all responders (N = 621) received a follow-up questionnaire, and 564 (91%) returned it. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Persistently severe or aggravated OHE, prolonged sick leave, and loss of job after 1-year follow-up. RESULTS During the follow-up period, 25% of all patients with OHE had persistently severe or aggravated disease, 41% improved, and 34% had unchanged minimal or mild to moderate disease. Patients with atopic dermatitis fared poorly compared with other patients. Patients younger than 25 years fared clearly better than older groups. Furthermore, severe OHE, age 40 years or greater, and severe impairment of quality of life at baseline appeared to be important predictors of prolonged sick leave and unemployment. Patients with lower socioeconomic status also had a high risk of prolonged sick leave, job change, and loss of job. Contact allergy was not found to be a risk factor for poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Atopic dermatitis, greater age, and low socioeconomic status may be reliable prognostic factors in early OHE. Quality of life and standardized severity assessment may also be valuable tools to identify patients at high risk of prolonged sick leave and unemployment.
mda-9/Syntenin promotes metastasis in human melanoma cells by activating c-Src

The scaffold PDZ-domain containing protein mda-9/syntenin functions as a positive regulator of cancer cell progression in human melanoma and other tumors. mda-9/Syntenin regulates cell motility and invasion by altering defined biochemical and signaling pathways, including focal adhesion kinase (FAK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-κB, but precisely how mda-9/syntenin organizes these multiprotein signaling complexes is not well understood. Using a clinically relevant human melanoma model, we demonstrate that mda-9/syntenin physically interacts with c-Src and this communication correlates with an increase in FAK/c-Src complex formation and c-Src activation. Inhibiting mda-9/syntenin, using an adenovirus expressing antisense mda-9/syntenin or addition of c-Src siRNA, suppresses melanoma cell migration, anchorage-independent growth, and spontaneous tumor cell dissemination in vivo in a human melanoma animal metastasis model. These data are compatible with a model wherein interaction of MDA-9/syntenin with c-Src promotes the formation of an active FAK/c-Src signaling complex, leading to enhanced tumor cell invasion and metastatic spread. These provocative findings highlight mda-9/syntenin and its interacting partners as promising therapeutic targets for intervention of metastasis.
Impact of the donor risk index on the outcome of hepatitis C virus–positive liver transplant recipients

We have investigated the impact of the donor risk index (DRI) on the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV)–infected patients undergoing liver transplantation (LTx). Retrospective analysis was performed from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database (January 1, 2000 to June, 2006). The DRI was calculated as described by Feng et al. (Am J Transplant 2006;6:783–790). Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exceptions were excluded from the analysis. Relative risk (RR) estimates of patient and graft loss were derived from Cox regression models. The Wald test was used to test the effect of the MELD score at transplant on the HCV‐DRI interaction. Of the LTx recipients (16,678), 76.1% were Caucasian, and 66.7% were male; the median age was 52 (range, 18–80 years), and the mean follow‐up time was 1148 days (range, 0–2959 days). Forty‐six percent (n = 7675) of LTx recipients were HCV(+). The median DRI was 1.3 (range, 0.77–4.27). Increasing DRI was associated with a statistically significant increase in the RR of graft failure and patient death for both HCV(+) and HCV(−) recipients. However, HCV(+) recipients demonstrated a significantly higher increase in the RR of patient and graft loss as a function of the DRI than HCV(−) subjects, even after adjustments for several recipient factors, including MELD. In conclusion, a synergistic interaction between donor DRI and recipient HCV status exists, such that an allograft from a high‐DRI donor more adversely affects the outcome of an HCV(+) recipient than that of an HCV(−) recipient. Liver Transpl 15:592–599, 2009. © 2009 AASLD.
Multi-gene phylogenies and phenotypic characters distinguish two species within the Colletogloeopsis zuluensis complex associated with Eucalyptus stem cankers

Colletogloeopsis zuluensis, previously known as Coniothyrium zuluense, causes a serious stem canker disease on Eucalyptus spp. grown as non-natives in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. This stem canker disease was first reported from South Africa and it has subsequently been found on various species and hybrids of Eucalyptus in other African countries as well as in countries of South America and South-East Asia. In previous studies, phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequence data of the ITS region suggested that all material of C. zuluensis was monophyletic. However, the occurrence of the fungus in a greater number of countries, and analyses of DNA sequences with additional isolates has challenged the notion that a single species is involved with Coniothyrium canker. The aim of this study was to consider the phylogenetic relationships amongst C. zuluensis isolates from all available locations and to support these analyses with phenotypic and morphological comparisons. Individual and combined phylogenies were constructed using DNA sequences from the ITS region, exons 3 through 6 of the β-tubulin gene, the intron of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene, and a partial sequence of the mitochondrial ATPase 6 gene. Both phylogenetic data and morphological characteristics showed clearly that isolates of C. zuluensis represent at least two taxa. One of these is C. zuluensis as it was originally described from South Africa, and we provide an epitype for it. The second species occurs in Argentina and Uruguay, and is newly described as C. gauchensis. Both fungi are serious pathogens resulting in identical symptoms. Recognising them as different species has important quarantine consequences.
Total Ionizing Dose Effects in NOR and NAND Flash Memories

We irradiated floating gate (FG) memories with nor and nand architecture by using different TID sources, including 2 MeV, 98 MeV, and 105 MeV protons, X-rays, and Upsi-rays. Two classes of phenomena are responsible for charge loss from programmed FGs: the first is charge generation, recombination, and transport in the dielectrics, while the second is the emission of electrons above the oxide band. Charge loss from programmed FGs irradiated with protons of different energy closely tracks results from Upsi-rays, whereas the use of X-rays results in dose enhancement effects.
Quality of life after laparoscopy-assisted Billroth I gastrectomy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of life of patients who had undergone laparoscopy-assisted Billroth I gastrectomy (LAG) for cure of cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA In 1994, the authors reported the first case of LAG for early gastric cancer, and this approach quickly has been adopted by Japanese surgeons. However, little is known about the subjective clinical results of this less invasive surgery. METHODS Quality of life was estimated using the 24-item questionnaire with a scoring system of 1, 2, and 3 and was compared between 41 consecutive patients with LAG and 35 with conventional open gastrectomy. All patients underwent Billroth I gastrectomy for early gastric cancer from January 1993 to July 1997 and were alive without recurrence. RESULTS Patients who had undergone LAG were taking a normal diet (100%) with >66% of volume at each meal (90%), showed no decreased performance status (90%), and were satisfied with their surgical results (88%). Patients with LAG, when compared with open gastrectomy, showed significantly better results with regard to weight loss, difficulty in swallowing, heartburn and belch, early dumping syndrome, and total score. LAG was better accepted by the patients. CONCLUSIONS Quality of life after Billroth I gastrectomy was significantly better in patients in whom a laparoscopic technique was used than in those who underwent a conventional method. LAG is less invasive and better accepted by patients and is the procedure of choice for the treatment of early gastric cancer.
Cellular Neuroinflammation in a Lateral Forceps Compression Model of Spinal Cord Injury

Postinjury inflammation has been implicated in secondary degeneration following injury to the spinal cord. The cellular inflammatory response to injury has not been described in the lateral compression injury model, although various types of compression injuries account for ∼20% of human spinal cord injuries (SCI). Here, we used forceps to induce a moderate compression injury to the thoracic spinal cord of female Sprague‐Dawley rats. We evaluated innate and adaptive components of the inflammatory response at various times postinjury using immunohistochemical techniques. We show that components of innate immunity (e.g., macrophages and dendritic cells) peak between 1 and 2 weeks postinjury but persist through 42 days postinjury (dpi). CD163 and CD206 expression, associated with an anti‐inflammatory, reparative phenotype, was upregulated on activated macrophages in the injury site, as were MHC class II antigens. The expression of MHC class II antigens is necessary for the initiation of adaptive immunity and was accompanied by an influx of T cells. T cells were initially restricted to gray matter at the injury epicenter but were later observed throughout the lesioned parenchyma. In summary, we demonstrate that lateral forceps compression of the spinal cord produces a neuroinflammatory response similar to that described in human spinal cord trauma and in other experimental models of spinal cord trauma, thus is an appropriate model to study secondary neurodegeneration in SCI. Anat Rec, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effect of Research on Readmission to a Psychiatric Hospital

The effects on outcome of research into the course of psychiatric illness are controversial. This study examines a cohort of research patients involved in an outcome study in which the research and clinical teams were kept separate. While research intervention of this nature would not be expected to influence outcome, the research cohort had fewer readmissions than non-research controls. This occurred despite the presence of factors which would be expected to be associated with a contrary result. It is stressed that the confounding effects of research need to be taken into account when designing follow-up studies and evaluating outcome results.
Status Epilepticus-Induced Somatostatinergic Hilar Interneuron Degeneration Is Regulated by Striatal Enriched Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase

Excitotoxic cell death is one of the precipitating events in the development of temporal lobe epilepsy. Of particular prominence is the loss of GABAergic hilar neurons. Although the molecular mechanisms responsible for the selective vulnerability of these cells are not well understood, activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) pathway has been implicated in neuroprotective responses to excitotoxicity in other neuronal populations. Here, we report that high levels of the striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase (STEP), a key regulator of ERK/MAPK signaling, are found in vulnerable somatostatin-immunoreactive hilar interneurons. Under both control conditions and after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE), ERK/MAPK activation was repressed in STEP-immunoreactive hilar neurons. This contrasts with robust SE-induced ERK/MAPK activation in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus, a cell region that does not express STEP. During pilocarpine-induced SE, in vivo disruption of STEP activity allowed activation of the MAPK pathway, leading to immediate-early gene expression and significant rescue from cell death. Thus, STEP increases the sensitivity of neurons to SE-induced excitotoxicity by specifically blocking a latent neuroprotective response initiated by the MAPK pathway. These findings identify a key set of signaling events that render somatostatinergic hilar interneurons vulnerable to SE-induced cell death.
Poroelastic Effects on Fracture Characterization

Reverse water‐level fluctuations have been widely observed in aquitards or aquifers separated from a pumped confined aquifer (Noordbergum effect) immediately after the initiation of pumping. This same reverse fluctuation has been observed in a fractured crystalline‐rock aquifer at the Coles Hill uranium site in Virginia in which the reverse water‐level response occurs within a pumped fracture and results from an instantaneous strain response to pumping that precedes the pore‐pressure response in observation wells of sufficient distance from the pumped well. This response is referred to as the Mandel‐Cryer effect. The unique aspect of this water level rise during a controlled 24 h pumping test was that the reverse water levels lasted for approximately 100 min and reached a magnitude of nearly 1 cm prior to a typical drawdown response. The duration and magnitude of the response reflects the poromechanical properties of the fractured host rock and hydraulic properties of the pumped fracture. An axisymmetric flow and deformation model were developed using Biot2 in an effort to simulate the observed water‐level response along an assumed 0.5 to 1.0 cm aperture horizontal fracture 176 m from the pumping well and to identify the importance of the poroelastic effect. Results indicate that traditional aquifer‐testing methods that ignore the poromechanical response are not significantly different than results that include the response. However, the poroelastic effect allows for more accurate and efficient parameter calibration.
Comparison of temporal bone fractures in children and adults

Abstract Conclusion: Contrary to our expectation, that the clinical characteristics of temporal bone fracture would differ in children and adults, we found that the two groups were similar. Objectives: Most studies of temporal bone fractures have been performed in adults. To our knowledge, no study has investigated differences in temporal bone fractures in children and adults. We therefore investigated differences in temporal bone fractures in adults and children by examining the manifestations and clinical symptoms of temporal bone fractures in pediatric patients. Methods: The demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed in 32 children and 186 adults with temporal bone fractures. All patients underwent computed tomography of the temporal bone. Results: Causes of fracture, gender distribution, manifestations of temporal bone fracture, and clinical symptoms were similar in adults and children (p > 0.05 each). Petrous fracture, ear fullness, dizziness, and tinnitus were significantly more frequent in adults than in children (p < 0.05 each).
Fetal and maternal plasma homocysteine levels during the second half of uncomplicated pregnancy

Abstract Objective: To measure fetal and maternal plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations in uncomplicated pregnancies. Methods: Paired maternal venous and fetal umbilical cord blood (n = 81) samples were evaluated for plasma Hcy and vitamin B12 levels, in addition to eight neonatal umbilical cord blood samples obtained immediately following delivery. Results: Both fetal and maternal Hcy concentrations were positively correlated with advancing gestational age (ρ = 0.44, p < 0.0001; and ρ = 0.27, p < 0.05, respectively). Fetal plasma Hcy concentrations [2.2 µmol/l (IQR: 2.0–3.2)] were significantly lower than both neonatal umbilical vein [5.0 µmol/l (IQR: 4.4–6.5); p < 0.001] and maternal plasma Hcy levels [4.4 μmo/l (IQR: 3.4–5.4); p < 0.001]. In addition, Hcy values at term were higher in the umbilical vein compared with the umbilical artery [5.0 μmol/l (IQR: 3.4–5.4) versus 4.2 μmol/l (IQR: 3.7–5.5), respectively; p = 0.016]. Significant correlation was noted and between fetal and maternal Hcy levels (ρ = 0.50, p < 0.0001), while fetal Hcy was negatively correlated with maternal B12 concentrations (ρ = −0.32, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Fetal Hcy levels were significantly lower than maternal and neonatal levels and correlated with gestational age across the second half of pregnancy.
Oxysterols Regulate Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Pro‐Bone and Anti‐Fat

Pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells can undergo lineage‐specific differentiation in adult organisms. However, understanding of the factors and mechanisms that drive this differentiation is limited. We show the novel ability of specific oxysterols to regulate lineage‐specific differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic cells while inhibiting their adipogenic differentiation. Such effects may have important implications for intervention with osteoporosis.
Initial Experience in Using Continuous Arterial Spin-Labeled MR Imaging for Early Detection of Alzheimer Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR imaging of the brain has significant potential in the early detection of neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. The purpose of this work was to determine if perfusion MR imaging can be used to separate AD from normal cognition in individual subjects. We investigated the diagnostic utility of perfusion MR imaging for early detection of AD compared with structural imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were analyzed from 32 participants in the institutional review board−approved CHS-CS: 19 cognitively healthy individuals and 13 with clinically adjudicated AD. All subjects underwent structural T1-weighted SGPR and CASL MR imaging. Four readers with varying experience separately rated each CASL and SPGR scan finding as normal or abnormal on the basis of standardized qualitative diagnostic criteria for observed perfusion abnormalities on CASL or volume loss on SPGR and rated the confidence in their evaluation. RESULTS: Inter-rater reliability was superior in CASL (κ = 0.7 in experienced readers) compared with SPGR (κ = 0.17). CASL MR imaging had the highest sensitivity (85%) and accuracy (70%). Frontal lobe CASL findings increased sensitivity to 88% and accuracy to 79%. Fifty-seven percent of false-positive readings with CASL were in controls with cognitive decline or instability within 5 years. Three of the 4 readers revealed a statistically significant relationship between confidence and correct classification when using CASL. CONCLUSIONS: Readers were able to separate individuals with mild AD from those with normal cognition with high sensitivity by using CASL but not volumetric MR imaging. This initial experience suggests that CASL MR imaging may be a useful technique for detecting AD.