Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum Lipid Profile And Its Association With Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors In An Urban Chinese Population

&NA; The lipid profile of a Chinese population, which has a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease compared with Caucasians, is studied to determine whether lipid‐modifying disease prevention programs are necessary. The study population consisted of 910 men (mean age 36.7 ± 9.2 yrs) and 603 women (mean age 38.6 ± 9.1 yrs), who were employees of a public utility company and non‐medical staff of a district hospital. Indices of obesity, fasting cholesterol (TC), and its various subfraction, triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A‐1 (Apo A‐1), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) concentrations were measured. Glucose tolerance was also estimated by measuring fasting and 2 h glucose after a 75 g oral glucose load. The lipid profile was similar to that of the North American population, with an overall prevalence of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) ≥ 4.1 mmol/L of 21% and 11% in men and women respectively. Similar variations with age, sex, smoking and glucose tolerance compared with Caucasian populations were observed. The high prevalence of subjects with “undesirable” lipid values in this Chinese population, which at present has a coronary artery disease prevalence of one‐eighth to one‐quarter compared with that in Caucasians, suggests that the incidence of the disease may well rise in the future to pose a similar problem to that in Caucasian populations. Cut off values of lipids conferring increased cardiovascular risks need to be determined in this population, so that public health strategies may be formulated.
Beclomethasone dipropionate: absolute bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and metabolism following intravenous, oral, intranasal and inhaled administration in man.

AIMS To assess the absolute bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and metabolism of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) in man following intravenous, oral, intranasal and inhaled administration. METHODS Twelve healthy subjects participated in this seven-way cross-over study where BDP was administered via the following routes: intravenous infusion (1000 microg), oral (4000 microg, aqueous suspension), intranasal (1344 microg, aqueous nasal spray) and inhaled (1000 microg ex-valve, metered dose inhaler). The contribution of the lung, nose and gut to the systemic exposure was assessed by repeating the inhaled, intranasal and oral dosing arms together with activated charcoal, to block oral absorption. Blood samples were collected for 24 h postdose for the measurement of BDP, beclomethasone-17-monopropionate (B-17-MP) and beclomethasone (BOH) in plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS Intravenous administration of BDP (mean CL 150 l h-1, Vss 20 l, t(1/2) 0.5 h) was associated with rapid conversion to B-17-MP which was eliminated more slowly (t1/2 2.7 h). In estimating the parameters for B-17-MP (mean CL 120 l h-1, Vss 424 l) complete conversion of BDP to B-17-MP was assumed. The resultant plasma concentrations of BOH were low and transient. BDP was not detected in plasma following oral or intranasal dosing. The mean absolute bioavailability (%F, 90% CI; nominal doses) of inhaled BDP was 2% (1-4%) and not reduced by coadministration of charcoal. The mean percentage F of the active metabolite B-17-MP was 41% (31-54%), 44% (34-58%) and 62% (47-82%) for oral, intranasal and inhaled dosing without charcoal, respectively. The corresponding estimates of nasal and lung absorption, based on the coadministration of charcoal, were < 1% and 36% (27-47%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Unchanged BDP has negligible oral and intranasal bioavailability with limited absorption following inhaled dosing due to extensive (95%) presystemic conversion of BDP to B-17-MP in the lung. The oral and intranasal bioavailabilities of the active metabolite B-17-MP were high and similar, but direct absorption in the nose was insignificant. The total inhaled bioavailability of B-17-MP (lung + oral) was also high (62%) and approximately 36% of this was due to pulmonary absorption. Estimates of oral bioavailability and pulmonary deposition based on total BOH were approximately half those found for B-17-MP.
Germline DNA Variations in Breast Cancer Predisposition and Prognosis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of death in women worldwide. The disease is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and reproductive risk factors. Linkage and family-based studies have identified many pathological germline mutations, which account for around 20% of the genetic risk of familial breast cancer. In recent years, single nucleotide polymorphism-based genetic association studies, especially genome-wide association studies (GWASs), have been very successful in uncovering low-penetrance common variants associated with breast cancer risk. These common variants alone may explain up to an additional 30% of the familial risk of breast cancer. With the advent of available genetic resources and growing collaborations among researchers across the globe, the much needed large sample size to capture variants with small effect sizes and low population frequencies is being addressed, and hence many more common variants are expected to be discovered in the coming days. Here, major GWASs conducted for breast cancer predisposition and prognosis until 2013 are summarized. Few studies investigating other forms of genetic variations contributing to breast cancer predisposition and disease outcomes are also discussed. Finally, the potential utility of the GWAS-identified variants in disease risk models and some future perspectives are presented.
Giant cell tumour of the hyoid – first reported case

Abstract Giant cell tumours of bone are most commonly found in the epiphyses of weight-bearing long bones. They are rarely found in the head and neck and only 17 cases involving the laryngeal framework have been reported. To date, there have been no reports of a giant cell tumour arising from the hyoid bone. We present such a case which presented as a lump overlying the greater cornu of the hyoid, review the literature and discuss the management of this locally aggressive tumour.
Photomovement of the Gliding Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Abstract— Using a computerized videomicroscope motion analysis system, we investigated the photomovements of two Synechocystis sp. (PCC 6803 and ATCC 27184). Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 displays a relatively slow gliding motion. The phototactic and photokinetic speeds of this cyanobacterium in liquid media were 5μm/min and 15.8 μm/min, respectively, at 3μmol/m2/s of stimulant white light. Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 senses light direction rather than intensity for phototaxis. Synechocystis sp. ATCC 27184 showed a weak photokinesis but no phototaxis. Analysis of Synechocystis sp. ATCC 27184 suggests that the loss of phototaxis results from spontaneous mutation during several years of subculture. When directional irradiation was applied, the cell population of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 began to deviate from random movement and reached maximum orientation at 5 min after the onset of stimulant white light. Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 showed high sensitivity to the stimulant white light of fluence rates as low as 0.002 |unol/m2/s. Neither 1,3‐dichlorophenyldimethyl urea nor cyanide affected phototactic orientation, whereas cyanide inhibited gUding speed. This result suggests that the phototaxis of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is independent of photosynthetic phosphorylation and that its gliding movement is primarily powered by oxidative phosphorylation. In the visible wavelength region, 560 nm, 660 nm and even 760 nm caused positive phototaxis. However, 360 nm light induced strikingly negative phototaxis. Therefore, at least two independent photoreceptors may exist to control phototaxis. The photoreceptor for positive phototaxis appears likely to be a phytochrome‐like tetrapyrrole rather than chlorophyll a.
Comparison of nurse staffing based on changes in unit-level workload associated with patient churn.

AIM This analysis compares the staffing implications of three measures of nurse staffing requirements: midnight census, turnover adjustment based on length of stay, and volume of admissions, discharges and transfers. BACKGROUND Midnight census is commonly used to determine registered nurse staffing. Unit-level workload increases with patient churn, the movement of patients in and out of the nursing unit. Failure to account for patient churn in staffing allocation impacts nurse workload and may result in adverse patient outcomes. METHOD(S) Secondary data analysis of unit-level data from 32 hospitals, where nursing units are grouped into three unit-type categories: intensive care, intermediate care, and medical surgical. RESULT Midnight census alone did not account adequately for registered nurse workload intensity associated with patient churn. On average, units were staffed with a mixture of registered nurses and other nursing staff not always to budgeted levels. Adjusting for patient churn increases nurse staffing across all units and shifts. CONCLUSION Use of the discharges and transfers adjustment to midnight census may be useful in adjusting RN staffing on a shift basis to account for patient churn. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nurse managers should understand the implications to nurse workload of various methods of calculating registered nurse staff requirements.
Student opinions on a rural placement program in New South Wales, Australia.

INTRODUCTION Australia's dental workforce is largely metropolitan, with a corresponding lack of dentists in rural areas. Some evidence from the discipline of medicine suggests that providing a rural placement program for undergraduates may encourage them work in a rural area post-graduation. Therefore, the University of Sydney Faculty of Dentistry implemented a rural placement program for final year dental undergraduates with funding provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. METHODS In 2009, a one-month Rural Placement Program was introduced for 4th (final) year dental undergraduates. Of the 80 fourth year students, 40% volunteered to participate in the program. Their views on the program were collected in pre- and post-questionnaires which were self-completed. Framework analysis was used to identify common themes in the student responses. This article focuses on the placement experience of the participants with particular emphasis on the factors and barriers which influenced their intention to work in a rural location post-graduation. RESULTS Participants' characteristics included a mean age of 27 years, 59% female and 77% had been raised in a city environment. All the participants completed the pre- and post-placement questionnaires. The most common pre-placement hopes were to increase their clinical skills and to experience a rural environment. Pre-placement concerns related to missing lecture time at the university and having less time there to complete their clinical quota requirements. Over half of the students (57%) were considering employment in a rural location prior to the placement. Post-placement the students reported being pleased with the clinical experience provided, with increased time management skills and clinical confidence emphasised. The rural clinical supervisors and staff were highly rated by students for their support, helpfulness and teaching ability. After the placement the majority of students (97%) were considering working in a rural environment once qualified. Positive factors identified as influencing their decision were the broad clinical range of procedures available, good clinical mentors, reduced commuting and a quieter lifestyle. Barriers to working in a rural location were identified as missing friends, partners and the number of available job opportunities. All participants would recommend the placement to future students. CONCLUSIONS In this successful undergraduate Rural Placement Program the students valued both personal and educational components. They became more aware of the potential advantages of working in a rural location and almost all would consider working in a rural area after graduation.
Pharmacological inhibitors to identify roles of cathepsin K in cell-based studies: a comparison of available tools

Abstract Cathepsin K (Cat K) degrades bone type I collagen and is a target for the pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis. Further roles for Cat K have been recently described, some of which are supported by the use of purportedly selective Cat K inhibitors in human and rodent cell-based assays. Twelve commercial and non-commercial Cat K inhibitors were profiled against a panel of purified human, rat, and mouse cysteine cathepsins and in two cell-based enzyme occupancy assays for activity against Cat K, B, and L. Ten inhibitors, including the carbohydrazide Cat K inhibitor II (Boc-Phe-Leu-NHNH-CO-NHNH-Leu-Z), the non-covalent K4b, and the epoxide NC-2300, have either little Cat K selectivity, or appear poorly cell penetrant. The amino-acetonitrile-containing inhibitors L-873724 and odanacatib show greater than 100-fold human Cat K enzyme selectivity and have similar IC50 values against each cathepsin in cell-based and enzyme assays. The basic inhibitor balicatib has greater cellular potencies than expected on the basis of purified enzyme assays. The accumulation of [14C]-balicatib in fibroblasts is blocked by prior treatment of the cells with NH4Cl, consistent with balicatib having lysosomotropic properties. These results support the use of L-873724 and odanacatib as tools to identify novel roles for Cat K using human cell-based systems, but suggest using caution in the interpretation of studies employing the other compounds.
EVOLUTIONARY POTENTIAL OF CHAMAECRISTA FASCICULATA IN RELATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE. II. GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF THREE POPULATIONS RECIPROCALLY PLANTED ALONG AN ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENT IN THE GREAT PLAINS

Abstract Climate change will test the evolutionary potential of populations. Information regarding the genetic architecture within and among populations is essential for prediction of evolutionary outcomes. However, little is known about the distribution of genetic variation for relevant traits in natural populations or alteration of genetic architecture in a changing environment. In this study, pedigreed families from three populations of the annual prairie legume Chamaecrista fasciculata were reciprocally transplanted in three environments across a broad latitudinal range in the Great Plains. The underlying premise of this work is that northern populations will in the future experience climates similar to current-day climates further south. Estimates of narrow-sense heritability ranged from 0.053 to 0.481, suggesting the potential for evolutionary change is possible for most traits. In general, the northern population harbored less genetic variation and had lower heritability for traits than the southern population. This population also experienced large reductions in fitness, as measured by estimated lifetime fecundity, when raised in either the intermediate or the southern climate, whereas the difference between the intermediate and southern population was less extreme. For fecundity, the pattern of cross-environment additive genetic correlations was antagonistic to evolutionary change in four of six cases when native and nonnative sites were compared. Six additional antagonistic positive correlations were found for the rate of phenological development and leaf thickness. Overall, the data suggest that if climate changes as predicted, the northern population will face a severe evolutionary challenge in the future because of low heritabilities, cross-environment genetic correlations antagonistic to selection, and demographic instability due to lower seed production in a hotter and drier climate.
Elastomeric biodegradable polyurethane blends for soft tissue applications

Four biodegradable polyurethane blends were made from segmented polyurethanes that contain amino acid-based chain extender and diisocyanate groups. The soft segments of these parent polyurethanes were either polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polycaprolactone (PCL) diols. The blends were developed to investigate the effect of varying soft segment compositions on the overall morphological, mechanical, and degradative properties of the materials, with a view to producing a family of materials with a wide range of properties. The highly hydrophilic PEO material was incorporated to increase the blend's susceptibility to degradation, while the PCL polyurethane was selected to provide higher moduli and percent elongations (strains) than the PEO parent materials can achieve. All four blends were determined to be semi-crystalline, elastomeric materials that possess similarly shaped stress-strain curves to that of the PCL-based parent polyurethane. As the percent composition of PEO polyurethane within the blend increased, the material became weaker and less extensible. The blends demonstrated rapid initial degradation in buffer followed by significantly slower, prolonged degradation, likely corresponding to an initial loss of primarily PEO-containing polymer, followed by the slower degradation of the PCL polyurethane. All four blends were successfully formed into three-dimensional porous scaffolds utilizing solvent casting/particulate leaching methods. Since these new blends possess a range of mechanical and degradation properties and can be shaped into three-dimensional objects, these materials may hold potential for use in soft tissue engineering scaffold applications.
Effects of epidural steroid injection on pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis or herniated disks: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES To describe the extent of pain relief two weeks after an epidural steroid injection in patients with herniated disks and lumbar spinal stenosis, and to identify predictors of changes in pain ratings in each population. METHODS The study design was a prospective evaluation of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and herniated disks (HDs) referred to a hospital-based pain clinic for an epidural steroid injection (ESI). A complete history, detailed physical examination, comprehensive pain questionnaire, and Brief Symptom Inventory were obtained for all patients. Pain was assessed at baseline and two weeks following a single ESI using a visual analog scale. RESULTS Two hundred twelve patients (mean age 54 years) were enrolled, and 78 of these provided pain ratings before and two weeks after the injection. LSS patients improved less two weeks following the ESI than HD patients (P = 0.04). Just 38% of LSS patients reported improvement in pain score compared with 61% of HD patients. In analyses that combined LSS and HD patients, predictors of worse response included a report of health problems and a diagnosis of LSS. CONCLUSIONS LSS patients have worse response to ESIs than HD patients. The poor response to ESI in patients with LSS underscores the need for randomized controlled trials of ESI in this population.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong in 2003: stress and psychological impact among frontline healthcare workers

Background. The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) posed an unprecedented threat and a great challenge to health professionals in Hong Kong. The study reported here aimed at investigating the origin of stress and psychological morbidity among frontline healthcare workers in response to this catastrophe. Method. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to frontline healthcare workers in three hospitals. The General Health Questionnaire was used to identify psychological distress. Sociodemographic and stress variables were entered into a logistic regression analysis to find out the variables associated with psychological morbidity. Results. The response rate was 40%. Sixty-eight per cent of participants reported a high level of stress. About 57% were found to have experienced psychological distress. The healthcare workers' psychological morbidity was best understood by the perceptions of personal vulnerability, stress and support in the workplace. Conclusion. These findings shed light on the need for hospital administrators to be aware of the extent and sources of stress and psychological distress among frontline healthcare workers during disease outbreak.
Family, school, peer and individual influences on early adolescent alcohol use: first-year impact of the Resilient Families programme.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS This study aimed to examine: (a) the influence of family factors relative to school, peer and individual influences on the development of adolescent alcohol use during the first year of secondary school; and (b) the feasibility of preventing adolescent alcohol use by modifying family factors. DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-four schools in Melbourne, Australia were randomly assigned to either the 'Resilient Families' intervention or a control condition. A baseline cohort of 2315 grade 7 students (mean age 12.3 years) were followed-up one year later (n=2128 for longitudinal analyses). A sub-set of parents (n=1166) also returned baseline surveys. RESULTS The prevalence of lifetime alcohol use in year 7 was 33% and rose to 47% by year 8. Student-reported predictors of year 8 alcohol use included baseline alcohol [Odds Ratio (OR) 3.64] and tobacco use (2.68), and school friend's alcohol (1.41) and tobacco use (1.64). After adjusting for other influences, student-reported family factors were not maintained as significant predictors of year 8 alcohol use. Parent-report predictors of student-reported alcohol use included allowing alcohol use in the home (2.55), parental alcohol use (1.88) and child hyperactivity (1.85). Protective factors included attendance at brief parent education (0.60) and parent involvement in school education (0.65). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The intervention appeared to benefit education-related outcomes, but no overall effect in reducing student alcohol use was found in year 8. Intervention effects on alcohol misuse may become significant in later secondary school once the entire program has been implemented. Considerable alcohol use was detected in early secondary school, suggesting that interventions to reduce alcohol use may be usefully implemented prior to this period.
Prevalence and types of glaucoma among an indigenous African population in southwestern Nigeria.

PURPOSE To determine the prevalence and identify the types of glaucoma in the Akinyele district of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria. METHODS Residents of Akinyele district of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria aged 40 years and older were randomly selected in a stratified manner. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including visual acuity assessment, anterior segment biomicroscopy, IOP measurement, gonioscopy, optic nerve head and disc evaluation, and central visual field assessment. Glaucoma was diagnosed using the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology (ISGEO) classification scheme. RESULTS A sample of 811 subjects (90% response rate) was examined. The crude prevalence of all forms of glaucoma was 7.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.5%-9.1%) with an age and sex standardized rate of 6.9% (95% CI 6.88%-6.92%). Primary open angle glaucoma was found in 6.2% (95% CI 4.5%-7.8%) and primary angle closure glaucoma in 0.2% (95% CI 0.0%-0.6%). Secondary glaucoma accounted for 0.9% of the cases, with couching and neovascular process being the main causes (0.2% each). Prevalence of glaucoma increased significantly with increasing age (P for trend < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of glaucoma (7.3%) in the Akinyele district in southwestern Nigeria is comparable with those in predominantly black populations in the Akwapim-South district of Ghana and Barbados. Primary open angle glaucoma remains the most prevalent form of glaucoma.