Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Culture-confirmed whooping cough in a tertiary center over a twelve-year period].

OBJECTIVE To study the characteristics of patients diagnosed with whooping cough at a tertiary center in Barcelona, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed a retrospective study of patients aged less than 18 years treated for pertussis-like cough or clinically-suspected whooping cough over a 12-year period (1989-2000). Only patients with isolated Bordetella spp. were included. The variables of age, sex, vaccination status, hospitalization, clinical manifestations, severity, and lethality were analyzed. RESULTS One hundred sixty-one patients with positive Bordetella spp. culture were identified. Of these, complete information was available in 149 (79 boys and 70 girls) with a median age of 3 months (range: 13 days-17 years); 77.2 % were aged 6 months or less. All the isolated strains corresponded to B. pertussis except three that corresponded to B. parapertussis. Three epidemic cycles (in 1989, 1992 and 2000) were observed during the study period. A total of 72.5 % of cases occurred between May and September. Bordetella spp. was associated with other bacteria in 28.2 % of the patients, viruses in 13.4 % and a bacterium and a virus in 4.7 %. One hundred twenty-one patients required hospitalization, of which 14.9 % were admitted to the intensive care unit. Age was the only factor associated with risk for hospitalization, which was more frequent in younger infants (p < 0.0001). Paroxysmal cough with cyanosis was present in 53.4 % of the patients, leucocytosis with lymphocytosis occurred in 67.5 % and apneas were present in 21.5 %. Chest X-ray revealed atelectasis in 34.1 %. The mean length of hospital stay was 11 days (range: 1-70 days). Three boys aged less than 3 months with malignant pertussis syndrome died (lethality: 2 %). More than half the patients (59.7 %) were not vaccinated (55.4 % for being under the age of 3 months) and only 16 % had received three or more vaccination doses. CONCLUSIONS Whooping cough continues to be a severe disease in infants, with a high admission rate during the first 6 months of life. New preventive strategies are required to protect infants who have not yet developed full immunity to this infection.
Zinc, copper and immunological markers in the circulation of well nourished patients with ulcerative colitis

Objective Few studies have been carried out on the trace element status in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Many trace elements are critical for the normal development and function of the immune system. This study was conducted in order to assess the serum levels of zinc and copper and the possible interrelation(s) between them and various immunological markers in the circulation of well nourished patients with UC. Design/methods The serum levels of zinc, copper, soluble interleukin-2 receptors (slL-2Rs), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), non-organ specific autoantibodies (RF, ANA, ANCA, anti-dsDNA and anticardiolipin), C3C and C4 components of the complement system and ceruloplasmin were determined in 75 well nourished patients with UC (32 patients with active and 43 with inactive disease). Thirty-three healthy individuals were also investigated. Results The mean concentrations (μg/dl) of zinc and copper were significantly higher (P < 0.0005 and P = 0.0001, respectively) either in active (202.3 ±115.2 and 141.7 ± 31.4, respectively) or in inactive disease (204.5 ±170.3 and 137.4 ± 24.5, respectively) compared with healthy controls (93.6 ± 49.8 and 85 ± 41.2, respectively). The levels of copper were positively correlated with the C3C (r = 0.41, P < 0.0005), C4 (r=0.38, P < 0.001) and ceruloplasmin (r=0.44, P < 0.0005), whereas zinc was correlated with C3C (r=0.32, P = 0.0005) and ANA (P = 0.01). Autoantibodies of at least one specificity (AUBS) were found in 77.3% of the patients. The mean levels (U/ml) of slL-2Rs were significantly higher (P= 0.0001) in active disease (604.3 ± 213.0) than in inactive UC (411.5 ±165.1) and in patients with ANA (P < 0.05), ANCA (P=0.01) or AUBS (P < 0.05). The sIL-2Rs were correlated with the C4 (r=0.40, P < 0.005) and the ESR (r=0.43, P=0.0001). Conclusion These findings indicate that even in well nourished patients with UC, high serum levels of copper and zinc are present. The latter alterations of zinc and copper are correlated with haematological parameters of relapse of the disease or with acute phase proteins suggesting a relationship with the inflammatory process of UC. Further studies on the colonie tissue will address the role of zinc and copper in the inflammatory and immune reactions observed in this disease process.
Permanent cell cycle exit in G2 phase after DNA damage in normal human fibroblasts

Although the Cdk inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1, one of the transcriptional targets of p53, has been implicated in the maintenance of G2 arrest after DNA damage, its function at this stage of the cell cycle is not really understood. Here, we show that the exposure of normal human fibroblasts (NHFs) to genotoxic agents provokes permanent cell cycle exit in G2 phase, whereas mouse embryo fibroblasts and transformed human cells progress through mitosis and arrest in G1 without intervening cytokinesis. p21Waf1/Cip1 exerts a key role in driving this G2 exit both by inhibiting cyclin B1–Cdk1 and cyclin A–Cdk1/2 complexes, which control G2/M progression, and by blocking the phosphorylation of pRb family proteins. NHFs with compromised pRb proteins could still efficiently arrest in G2 but were unable to exit the cell cycle, resulting in cell death. Our experiments show that, when under continuous genotoxic stress, normal cells can reverse their commitment to mitotic progression due to passage through the restriction point and that mechanisms involving p21Waf1/Cip1 and pocket proteins can induce exit in G2 and G1.
Immunization in End‐Stage Renal Disease: Opportunity to Improve Outcomes

Infection is the second most common cause of death in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), following cardiovascular causes. Immunization is a fairly simple, but underutilized, strategy for prevention of infectious morbidity and mortality in patients with kidney failure. It is imperative for nephrologists and primary care providers to have an understanding of immunization as an essential component of preventive healthcare measures in this high‐risk population. Patients with ESRD represent a unique population due to their immunosuppressed state, dialysis‐related exposures and suboptimal response to routine vaccines. While the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides guidelines for vaccination of patients with renal disease against Hepatitis B, influenza and pneumococcal disease, the data on immunization against other commonly preventable infectious diseases are lacking. This article reviews the recent evidence on immunization in the ESRD population and synthesizes the related implications for maximizing prevention of infectious diseases in this high‐risk population.
Chemical composition of water buffalo milk and its low-fat symbiotic yogurt development

Background : Water buffalos are the second most widely available milk source in countries around the world. While typical average milk compositions are readily available, information on seasonal variation in chemical composition of buffalo milk is limited -especially in the Northeastern region of the United States. Data collected in this study can be useful for the manufacture of a wide variety of specialty dairy products such as symbiotic buffalo milk yogurt. To analyze functionality, symbiotic low fat buffalo milk yogurt prototypes (plain and blueberry) were developed using a commercial starter containing probiotics. Methods : During a one-year cycle, physicochemical and mineral contents of buffalo milk were analyzed. Prototype yogurts were manufactured commercially and samples of the yogurt prototypes were analyzed for physicochemical and microbiological properties and for the survivability of probiotics during ten weeks of storage. Results : Average contents of total solids, fat, lactose, crude protein, ash, specific gravity, and conjugated linoleic acid in the milk ranged from 16.39-18.48%, 6.57-7.97%, 4.49-4.73%, 4.59-5.37%, 0.91-0.92%, 1.0317-1.0380%, and 4.4-7.6 mg/g fat, respectively. The average mineral contents of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and zinc in the milk were 1798.89, 1216.76, 843.72, 337.20 and 7.48 mg/kg, respectively, and remained steady throughout the year. The symbiotic low fat buffalo milk yogurts evaluated in this study contained higher amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and calcium than similar yogurts manufactured with cows’ milk. During refrigerated storage, the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus was viable (>1×106 CFU/g) for the first two weeks, while Bifidobacterium spp . and Lactobacillus casei remained viable during the entire ten weeks. Reducing the acidity and enhancing the flavor of the yogurts could improve the overall acceptability. Conclusion : The results indicated that the low fat buffalo milk yogurt are a rich source of nutrients and are nutritionally preferable to cows’ milk yogurts. The shelf life analysis indicated it to be a good vehicle for developing symbiotic yogurt. Keywords : Buffalo milk, conjugated linoleic acid, symbiotic yogurt, probiotic survivability, physicochemical properties, acceptability
Towards further reduction and replacement of animal bioassays in prion research by cell and protein misfolding cyclic amplification assays

Laboratory animals have long since been used extensively in bioassays for prions in order to quantify, usually in terms of median infective doses [ID50], how infectious these pathogens are in vivo. The identification of aberrant prion protein as the main component and self-replicating principle of prions has given rise to alternative approaches for prion titration. Such approaches often use protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) for the cell-free biochemical measurement of prion-associated seeding activity, or cell assays for the titration of in vitro infectivity. However, median seeding and cell culture infective doses (SD50 and CCID50, respectively) of prions are neither formally congruent nor definitely representative for ID50 titres in animals and can be therefore only tentatively translated into the latter. This may potentially impede the acceptance and use of alternative methods to animal bioassays in prion research. Thus, we suggest performing PMCA and cell assays jointly, and to check whether these profoundly different test principles deliver consistent results in order to strengthen the reliability and credibility of prion ID50 assessments by in vitro methods. With regard to this rationale, we describe three pairs of PMCA and glial cell assays for different hamster-adapted prion agents (the frequently used 263K scrapie strain, and 22A-H scrapie and BSE-H). In addition, we report on the adaptation of quantitative PMCA to human variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) prions on steel wires for prion disinfection studies. Our rationale and methodology can be systematically extended to other types of prions and used to further reduce or replace prion bioassays in rodents.
Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of the Protein Template Controlling Biosynthesis of the Lipopeptide Lichenysin

ABSTRACT Lichenysins are surface-active lipopeptides with antibiotic properties produced nonribosomally by several strains of Bacillus licheniformis. Here, we report the cloning and sequencing of an entire 26.6-kb lichenysin biosynthesis operon from B. licheniformis ATCC 10716. Three large open reading frames coding for peptide synthetases, designated licA, licB(three modules each), and licC (one module), could be detected, followed by a gene, licTE, coding for a thioesterase-like protein. The domain structure of the seven identified modules, which resembles that of the surfactin synthetases SrfA-A to -C, showed two epimerization domains attached to the third and sixth modules. The substrate specificity of the first, fifth, and seventh recombinant adenylation domains of LicA to -C (cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli) was determined to be Gln, Asp, and Ile (with minor Val and Leu substitutions), respectively. Therefore, we suppose that the identified biosynthesis operon is responsible for the production of a lichenysin variant with the primary amino acid sequencel-Gln–l-Leu–d-Leu–l-Val–l-Asp–d-Leu–l-Ile, with minor Leu and Val substitutions at the seventh position.
Does Early Versus Delayed Active Range of Motion Affect Rotator Cuff Healing After Surgical Repair?

Background: The timing of passive range of motion (ROM) after surgical repair of the rotator cuff (RC) has been shown to affect healing. However, it is unknown if early or delayed active ROM affects healing. Purpose: To determine whether early versus delayed active ROM affects structural results of RC repair surgery. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review of articles published between January 2004 and April 2014 was conducted. Structural results were compared for early (<6 weeks after surgery) versus delayed (≥6 weeks after surgery) active ROM using chi-square and Fisher exact tests, as well as relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs. The analyses were stratified by tear size and repair method. Results: A total of 37 studies (2251 repairs) were included in the analysis, with 10 (649 repairs) in the early group and 27 (1602 repairs) in the delayed group. For tears ≤3 cm, the risk of a structural tendon defect was higher in the early versus delayed group for transosseous plus single-row suture anchor repairs (39.7% vs 24.3%; RR, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.28-2.08]). For tears >3 cm, the risk of a structural tendon defect was higher in the early versus delayed group for suture bridge repairs (48% vs 17.5%; RR, 2.74 [95% CI, 1.59-4.73]) and all repair methods combined (40.5% vs 26.7%; RR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.17-1.97]). For tears >5 cm, the risk of structural tendon defect was higher in the early versus delayed group for suture bridge repairs (100% vs 16.7%; RR, 6.00 [95% CI, 1.69-21.26]). There were no statistically significant associations for tears measuring ≤1, 1-3, or 3-5 cm. Conclusion: Early active ROM was associated with increased risk of a structural defect for small and large RC tears, and thus might not be advisable after RC repair.
Cell Death Triggered by Yersinia enterocolitica Identifies Processing of the Proinflammatory Signal Adapter MyD88 as a General Event in the Execution of Apoptosis

Many pathogenic microorganisms have evolved tactics to modulate host cell death or survival pathways for establishing infection. The enteropathogenic bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica deactivates TLR-induced signaling pathways, which triggers apoptosis in macrophages. In this article, we show that Yersinia-induced apoptosis of human macrophages involves caspase-dependent cleavage of the TLR adapter protein MyD88. MyD88 was also cleaved when apoptosis was mediated by overexpression of the Toll–IL-1R domain–containing adapter inducing IFN-β in epithelial cells. The caspase-processing site was mapped to aspartate-135 in the central region of MyD88. MyD88 is consequently split by caspases in two fragments, one harboring the death domain and the other the Toll–IL-1R domain. Caspase-3 was identified as the protease that conferred the cleavage of MyD88 in in vitro caspase assays. In line with a broad role of caspase-3 in the execution of apoptosis, the processing of MyD88 was not restricted to Yersinia infection and to proapoptotic Toll–IL-1R domain–containing adapter inducing IFN-β signaling, but was also triggered by staurosporine treatment. The cleavage of MyD88 therefore seems to be a common event in the advanced stages of apoptosis, when caspase-3 is active. We propose that the processing of MyD88 disrupts its scaffolding function and uncouples the activation of TLR and IL-1Rs from the initiation of proinflammatory signaling events. The disruption of MyD88 may consequently render dying cells less sensitive to proinflammatory stimuli in the execution phase of apoptosis. The cleavage of MyD88 could therefore be a means of conferring immunogenic tolerance to apoptotic cells to ensure silent, noninflammatory cell demise.
Getting into Shape

Creativity is fascinating, because although ideas may start with the creative insight of one individual, they won’t be adopted unless they fit in with the way society thinks about things. This means that if you want your ideas to be adopted, you have to consider both the “internal” factors, such as whether you and your idea are worth paying attention to, as well as the “external” aspects, like why people are resisting it.
The Nonlinear Contribution of Nitrous Oxide at Sub‐MAC Concentrations to Enflurane MAC in Rats

The presumed linear relationship describing the contribution of nitrous oxide (N2 O) to the enflurane requirement necessary to achieve a 1.0 MAC level of anesthesia was tested in rats (N = 84). Each rat received one of six different concentrations of N2 O, and enflurane was adjusted to attain 1.0 MAC with the use of a standard tail clamp method. The resultant group MAC anesthetic concentrations were Group I-N2 O = 0.0%, enflurane = 2.30%; Group II-N2 O = 10.4%, enflurane = 2.19%; Group III-N2 O = 30.7%, enflurane = 1.85%; Group IV-N2 O = 61.8%, enflurane = 1.75%; Group V-N2 O= 70.9%, enflurane = 1.56%; and Group VI-N2 O = 80.3%, enflurane = 1.54%. Increasing the N2 O concentration from 0--10%, from 30--60%, or 70--80% did not significantly decrease the enflurane requirement; however, increasing the N2 O concentration from 10--30% or 60--70% produced a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the concentration of enflurane required for 1.0 MAC of anesthesia. Thus, in rats, increasing the concentration of N2 O in sub-MAC ranges did not produce a linear decrease in the enflurane concentration required to add up to 1.0 MAC of anesthesia. These results are consistent with a dose-dependent interaction between N2 O and the excitatory properties of enflurane; this interaction could represent synergism at low concentrations or antagonism at higher concentration of N2 O.
Understanding public users' adoption of mobile health service

With the rapid development of mobile communication technology, the increase in the usage rate of mobile phones, recent advances in healthcare technology and current concerns arising over public health, mobile health has been attracting increasing attention. Although previous studies on the adoption of mobile services are quite extensive, few focus on public users' adoption of mobile health service MHS. In this study, we examine the determinants of user adoption of mobile health service based on the technology acceptance model TAM and health belief model HBM. We find that perceived usefulness and benefits, perceived barriers and external cues positively affect user attitude toward MHS. Likewise, perceived service availability significantly influences the perceived ease of use as well as perceived usefulness and benefits, which with attitude directly enhances intention. We also find that the usage purpose of MHS has moderating effects. Finally, implications for mobile health marketing are discussed.
Epidemiological transition in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies 1953-1992.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to describe trends in age-specific mortality from diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease and ischaemic heart disease in Trinidad and Tobago between 1953 and 1992 and to relate them to earlier changes in infant mortality rates. METHODS Average annual age-specific mortality rates per 100 000 were calculated for 5-year time periods from 1953-1957 to 1988-1992 and plotted by mid-year of birth for cohorts born 1874-1882 to 1944-1952. Regression analyses were performed to test associations between adult mortality rates, and infant mortality rates for the same birth cohorts and period of death. RESULTS Infant mortality declined from 180 per 1000 in 1901 to 10 per 1000 in 1992. Age-standardized mortality from diabetes mellitus increased, in men, from 60 in 1958-1962 to 278 in 1988-1992, in women the increase was from 89 to 303. Mortality from hypertension declined, in men, from 232 in 1953-1957 to 73 in 1988-1992, and in women, from 206 to 67. Cerebrovascular mortality increased, in men, from 341 in 1953-1957 to 451 in 1963-1967 before declining to 224 in 1988-1992. In women cerebrovascular mortality increased from 292 in 1953-1957 to 361 in 1963-1967 before declining to 196 in 1988-1992. There was evidence of a deceleration in cerebrovascular mortality for cohorts born after 1908-1918. Ischaemic heart disease mortality remained constant. Mid-cohort infant mortality rates were not associated with adult mortality after adjusting for age and period of death. CONCLUSION Declining infant mortality was subsequently associated with declining mortality from cerebrovascular disease and hypertensive disease and increasing mortality from diabetes mellitus but there was no association with ischaemic heart disease mortality. These relationships were confounded by secular changes associated with year of death.
Molecular and functional analysis of occult hepatitis B virus isolates from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Occult HBV infection is characterized by the persistence of HBV DNA in the liver of individuals negative for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). Occult HBV may exist in the hepatocytes as a free genome, although the factors responsible for the very low viral replication and gene expression usually observed in this peculiar kind of infection are mostly unknown. Aims of this study were to investigate whether the viral genomic variability might account for the HBsAg negativity and the inhibition of the viral replication in occult HBV carriers, and to verify in vitro the replication capability of occult HBV strains. We studied liver viral isolates from 17 HBV patients, 13 with occult infection and 4 HBsAg‐positive. Full‐length HBV genomes from each case were amplified and directly sequenced. Additionally, full‐length HBV DNA from eight occult‐HBV and two HBsAg‐positive cases were cloned and sequenced. Finally, three entire, linear HBV genomes from occult cases were transiently transfected in HuH7 cells. Direct sequencing showed the absence of mutations capable of interfering with viral replication and gene expression in the major viral population of each case. Cloning experiments showed highly divergent HBV strains both in HBsAg‐positive and HBsAg‐negative individual cases (range of divergence 1.4%‐7.1%). All of the 3 transfected full‐length HBV isolates showed normal patterns of replication in vitro. Conclusion: Multiple viral variants accumulate in the liver of occult HBV‐infected patients. Occult HBV strains are replication‐competent in vitro, suggesting that host, rather than viral factors are responsible for cryptic HBV infection. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:277–285.)
The spectrum of somatic mutations in high‐risk acute myeloid leukaemia with ‐7/del(7q)

‐7/del(7q) occurs in half of myeloid malignancies with adverse‐risk cytogenetic features and is associated with poor survival. We identified the spectrum of mutations that co‐occur with ‐7/del(7q) in 40 patients with de novo or therapy‐related myeloid neoplasms. ‐7/del(7q) leukaemias have a distinct mutational profile characterized by low frequencies of alterations in genes encoding transcription factors, cohesin and DNA‐methylation‐related proteins. In contrast, RAS pathway activating mutations occurred in 50% of cases, a significantly higher frequency than other acute myeloid leukaemias and higher than previously reported. Our data provide guidance for which pathways may be most relevant in the treatment of adverse‐risk myeloid leukaemia.