Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders in sewing machine operators of a shoe manufacturing factory in Iran.

INTRODUCTION A 15-year research conducted in USA showed that compensation expenses paid to workers for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of back exceeded 128 million Dollars calculated on the basis of 0.97 Dollars per hour of work. In addition, according to the latest studies carried out in relation with disease burdens with risk factors in Iran, DALYs indices for low back pain, knee arthrosis and other musculoskeletal disorders have been reported to be 307772, 291305 and 872633 respectively, which have caused the work related diseases to occupy the second position in the country, after cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, in accordance with occupational health indices of Iranian health ministry, 37% of all working population had had poor work postures with 15% of all working population had been working with inappropriate working tools in the year 2009. METHODS This was a case study comparing exposed workers with control group using Standard Nordic Questionnair in sewing machine operators of a shoe manufacturing factory in Iran. In this study, the mentioned questionnaires were filled out for the exposed group (25 sewing machine operators with average age of 43.5 years with work records of 16.8 years) and control group (15 employees from administrative department with average age of 39.8 years with work records of 13.4 years) which both were selected through simple random method. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences in age between musculoskeletal disorders of right elbow (p = 0.033), thigh (p = 0.044), both knees (p = 0.019) and ankles (p = 0.039). There were also statistically significant association between gender and musculoskeletal disorders of right elbow (p = 0.028), thigh (p = 0.026) both knees (p = 0.011); right shoulder disorders (p = 0.018) and work records; disorders of both knees (p = 0.031) and number of cigarettes smoked. CONCLUSIONS In general, prevalence of disorders of cervical area, shoulders with hands, vertebral column, back, knees, thigh with feet were higher in exposed group due to poor work posture. Meanwhile, female workers were inflicted more than males. On the other hand, these disorders were seen more with increased work records and age in which, improvement of work postures, training for better execution of tasks and conducting periodic screening tests are being recommended.
Efficacy and safety of tapentadol extended release for the management of chronic low back pain: results of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled Phase III study

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tapentadol extended release (ER) for the management of moderate to severe chronic low back pain. Research design: Patients (N = 981) were randomized 1:1:1 to receive tapentadol ER 100 – 250 mg b.i. d. , oxycodone HCl controlled release (CR) 20 – 50 mg b.i. d. , or placebo over 15 weeks (3-week titration period, 12-week maintenance period). Main outcome measures: Efficacy was assessed as change from baseline in average pain intensity (11-point NRS) at week 12 of the maintenance period and throughout the maintenance period; last observation carried forward was used to impute missing pain scores. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored throughout the study. Results: Tapentadol ER significantly reduced average pain intensity versus placebo at week 12 (least squares mean difference vs placebo [95% confidence interval], −0.8 [−1.22, −0.47]; p < 0.001) and throughout the maintenance period (−0.7 [−1.06,−0.35]; p < 0.001). Oxycodone CR significantly reduced average pain intensity versus placebo at week 12 (−0.9 [−1.24,−0.49]; p < 0.001) and throughout the maintenance period (−0.8 [−1.16,−0.46]; p < 0.001). Tapentadol ER was associated with a lower incidence of treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) than oxycodone CR. Gastrointestinal TEAEs, including constipation, nausea, and vomiting, were among the most commonly reported TEAEs (placebo, 26.3%; tapentadol ER, 43.7%; oxycodone CR, 61.9%). The odds of experiencing constipation or the composite of nausea and/or vomiting were significantly lower with tapentadol ER than with oxycodone CR (both p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tapentadol ER (100 – 250 mg b.i.d.) effectively relieved moderate to severe chronic low back pain over 15 weeks and had better gastrointestinal tolerability than oxycodone HCl CR (20 – 50 mg b.i.d.).
Genetic diversity and structure of urban populations of Pieris butterflies assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphism

Conservation programs in urban ecosystems need to determine the genetic background in populations of urban dwellers. We examined the genetic diversity and structure of Pieris rapae and P. melete using AFLP markers, and compared them between species and between urban and rural environments. As a result: (i) in both species, there was no reduction in genetic diversity within urban populations by direct comparison of diversity measurements, although the analysis of molecular variance suggested significant reductions in the variance within seasonal subpopulations in urban populations; (ii) P. rapae retained greater genetic diversity within species and populations; (iii) populations of both species showed significant genetic differentiation, and P. melete was more strongly subdivided; (iv) in both species, geographically close populations did not cluster with one another in the upgma analysis; (v) there was no genetic isolation due to geographical distance in either species; (vi) the genetic composition of seasonal subpopulations differed in urban populations of both species, and the genetic distances among subpopulations were correlated with seasonal differences in P. rapae and with temporal differences in P. melete. These results indicate that the genetic diversity in urban populations of both species was reduced at times, but was maintained by dispersal from genetically differentiated populations. Differences in the ability and mode of dispersal in the two species may be reflected in the degree of population subdivision and patterns of seasonal change in the genetic composition.
Chemoembolization versus chemotherapy in elderly patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and contrast uptake as prognostic factor.

BACKGROUND Age is considered one of the important contraindications to surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhosis patients. We therefore evaluated the safety and prevalence of side effects in endoarterial therapy (EAT) in subjects aged over 65 years compared with younger treated patients. METHODS Thirty-eight patients with HCC aged 65 years and over underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) (n = 28) or intraarterial chemotherapy (IAC) (n = 10). The survival rate was calculated using Kaplan-Meier's method with respect to a control group consisting of younger treated subjects (44 TACE; 21 IAC) comparable for stage of HCC and severity of the underlying cirrhosis. RESULTS The comparison between the two groups regarding side effects, procedure-related death, and survival did not show any difference considering the whole EAT procedure. TACE in elderly subjects reached a statistically lower outcome with respect to younger patients (p < .025) but remained statistically superior in survival versus both older and younger patients treated with IAC (p < .05, respectively). Stratifying the patients following the degree of Lipiodol uptake of tumor mass in the three groups (Group I, > 75%; Group II, 50-75%; Group III, < 50%), in the young subjects a higher probability of survival was strictly correlated to a degree of uptake over 75%, while in the elderly patients an impregnation over 50% was sufficient to obtain a satisfactory survival curve. CONCLUSIONS EAT is a reliable and safe therapeutic option for the geriatric patient with HCC, with TACE showing a better efficacy than IAC, requiring a lesser degree of Lipiodol uptake to achieve an improvement of outcome.
Neuropeptide Y polymorphism and alcohol consumption in middle-aged men.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays an important role in the hypothalamic regulation of food intake and energy balance. According to recent findings in animals, NPY also seems to be a potent regulator of alcohol consumption. We used the recently identified Leu(7) to Pro(7) polymorphism in the signal peptide part of NPY to investigate whether the NPY system is associated with alcohol consumption in humans. The subjects (N = 889) were an ethnically homogeneous, nonselected population sample of middle-aged men from Eastern Finland. The gene variant producing Pro(7) substitution was associated with a 34% higher average alcohol consumption, even after adjustment for a number of covariates (P = 0.03). The proportion of heavy drinkers (over 230 g of ethanol/week) was also somewhat higher in this group (13.1% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.10). Our study provides the first evidence that alcohol preference in humans is likely to be regulated by the NPY system.
Ramosetron vs granisetron for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of ramosetron with granisetron for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind study, 80 female inpatients received 3 mg granisetron or 0.3 mg ramosetron i.v. (n=40 of each) at the completion of surgery The standardized anesthetic included isoflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. RESULTS Complete response, defined as no PONV, during the first 24 hr (0-24 hr) after anesthesia was 85% with granisetron and 93% with ramosetron, respectively (P=0.241); the corresponding incidence during the next 24 hr (24-48 hr) after anesthesia was 63% and 90% (P=0.004). No clinically important adverse events due to the study drug were observed in any of the groups. CONCLUSION Ramosetron was more effective than granisetron for prevention of PONV during 0-48 hr after anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Analysis of cis and trans Requirements for DNA Replication at the Right-End Hairpin of the Human Bocavirus 1 Genome

ABSTRACT Parvoviruses are single-stranded DNA viruses that use the palindromic structures at the ends of the viral genome for their replication. The mechanism of parvovirus replication has been studied mostly in the dependoparvovirus adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) and the protoparvovirus minute virus of mice (MVM). Here, we used human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) to understand the replication mechanism of bocaparvovirus. HBoV1 is pathogenic to humans, causing acute respiratory tract infections, especially in young children under 2 years old. By using the duplex replicative form of the HBoV1 genome in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells, we identified the HBoV1 minimal replication origin at the right-end hairpin (OriR). Mutagenesis analyses confirmed the putative NS1 binding and nicking sites within the OriR. Of note, unlike the large nonstructural protein (Rep78/68 or NS1) of other parvoviruses, HBoV1 NS1 did not specifically bind OriR in vitro, indicating that other viral and cellular components or the oligomerization of NS1 is required for NS1 binding to the OriR. In vivo studies demonstrated that residues responsible for NS1 binding and nicking are within the origin-binding domain. Further analysis identified that the small nonstructural protein NP1 is required for HBoV1 DNA replication at OriR. NP1 and other viral nonstructural proteins (NS1 to NS4) colocalized within the viral DNA replication centers in both OriR-transfected cells and virus-infected cells, highlighting a direct involvement of NP1 in viral DNA replication at OriR. Overall, our study revealed the characteristics of HBoV1 DNA replication at OriR, suggesting novel characteristics of autonomous parvovirus DNA replication. IMPORTANCE Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) causes acute respiratory tract infections in young children. The duplex HBoV1 genome replicates in HEK293 cells and produces progeny virions that are infectious in well-differentiated airway epithelial cells. A recombinant AAV2 vector pseudotyped with an HBoV1 capsid has been developed to efficiently deliver the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene to human airway epithelia. Here, we identified both cis-acting elements and trans-acting proteins that are required for HBoV1 DNA replication at the right-end hairpin in HEK293 cells. We localized the minimal replication origin, which contains both NS1 nicking and binding sites, to a 46-nucleotide sequence in the right-end hairpin. The identification of these essential elements of HBoV1 DNA replication acting both in cis and in trans will provide guidance to develop antiviral strategies targeting viral DNA replication at the right-end hairpin and to design next-generation recombinant HBoV1 vectors, a promising tool for gene therapy of lung diseases.
Oral adhesion and survival of probiotic and other lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in vitro.

INTRODUCTION Most probiotic products are consumed orally and hence it is feasible that the bacteria in these products may also attach to oral surfaces; however, the effects of these bacteria on the oral ecosystem are mostly unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the oral colonization potential of different probiotic, dairy, and fecal Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains in vitro. METHODS The binding of 17 Lactobacillus and seven Bifidobacterium strains to hydroxyapatite and microtitre wells coated with human saliva was tested. Binding of selected strains to human buccal epithelial cells and co-adherence with Fusobacterium nucleatum were also investigated. In addition, the survival in sterilized human whole saliva was examined. RESULTS There was a large variation in binding to saliva-coated surfaces and buccal epithelial cells but all strains survived in saliva. The binding pattern of the probiotics did not differ from the binding of the fecal strains. F. nucleatum altered the binding of both the low-binding bifidobacteria and the high-binding lactobacilli. CONCLUSION The differences in binding in vitro may indicate that there are also differences in the persistence of the different probiotic strains in the oral cavity in vivo.
Identification of Genes Controlled by the Essential YycG/YycF Two-Component System of Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The YycG/YycF essential two-component system (TCS), originally identified in Bacillus subtilis, is very highly conserved and appears to be specific to low-G+C gram-positive bacteria, including several pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. By studying growth of S. aureus cells where the yyc operon is controlled by an isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible promoter, we have shown that this system is essential in S. aureus during growth at 37°C and that starvation for the YycG/YycF regulatory system leads to cell death. During a previous study of the YycG/YycF TCS of B. subtilis, we defined a potential YycF consensus recognition sequence, consisting of two hexanucleotide direct repeats, separated by five nucleotides [5′-TGT(A/T)A(A/T/C)-N5-TGT(A/T)A(A/T/C)-3′]. A detailed DNA motif analysis of the S. aureus genome indicates that there are potentially 12 genes preceded by this sequence, 5 of which are involved in virulence. An in vitro approach was undertaken to determine which of these genes are controlled by YycF. The YycG and YycF proteins of S. aureus were overproduced in Escherichia coli and purified. Autophosphorylation of the YycG kinase and phosphotransfer to YycF were shown in vitro. Gel mobility shift and DNase I footprinting assays were used to show direct binding in vitro of purified YycF to the promoter region of the ssaA gene, encoding a major antigen and previously suggested to be controlled by YycF. YycF was also shown to bind specifically to the promoter regions of two genes, encoding the IsaA antigen and the LytM peptidoglycan hydrolase, in agreement with the proposed role of this system in controlling virulence and cell wall metabolism.
Patient's Expectations of Lingual Orthodontic Treatment: A Qualitative Study

Objective To investigate patients' expectations of lingual orthodontic treatment. Design In-depth interviews were conducted. A framework analysis was carried out to identify themes, concepts and a typology. Setting Two secondary care hospital departments and four primary care orthodontic practices, UK. Materials and methods Fifteen new orthodontic patients aged 16–60 years participated in the interviews. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis, including identification of themes within the responses, and typologies of respondents. Results Patients seeking lingual orthodontics reported expectations that were similar in quality but different in extent to those seeking labial orthodontics. These patients were well informed about lingual orthodontic treatment before they decide to start treatment. Two typologies were identified. Firstly, males less than 30 years of age, undergoing changes in their lives, who were confident that they wanted a hidden brace, but were not entirely sure of the specifics of the system. Secondly, females aged 30–45, who request a hidden brace and had actively researched what particular systems were available. Conclusions This study shows that patients requesting lingual orthodontics have expectations that are similar in quality but greater in extent when compared to those seeking labial orthodontics.
Cancer-preventive Properties of an Anthocyanin-enriched Sweet Potato in the APCMIN Mouse Model

Background Anthocyanin-rich foods and preparations have been reported to reduce the risk of life-style related diseases, including cancer. The SL222 sweet potato, a purple-fleshed cultivar developed in New Zealand, accumulates high levels of anthocyanins in its storage root. Methods We examined the chemopreventative properties of the SL222 sweet potato in the C57BL/6J-APCMIN/+ (APCMIN) mouse, a genetic model of colorectal cancer. APCMIN and C57BL/6J wild-type mice (n=160) were divided into four feeding groups consuming diets containing 10% SL222 sweet potato flesh, 10% SL222 sweet potato skin, or 0.12% ARE (Anthocyanin rich-extract prepared from SL222 sweet potato at a concentration equivalent to the flesh-supplemented diet) or a control diet (AIN-76A) for 18 weeks. At 120 days of age, the mice were anaesthetised, and blood samples were collected before the mice were sacrificed. The intestines were used for adenoma enumeration. Results The SL222 sweet potato-supplemented diets reduced the adenoma number in the APCMIN mice. Conclusions These data have significant implications for the use of this sweet potato variant in protection against colorectal cancer.
Cytochrome oxidase activity in bovine and human retinal pigment epithelium: topographical and age-related differences.

Cytochrome c oxidase (CO) is a mitochondrial enzyme complex that was used in this study as a marker enzyme of aerobic metabolism. The activity of the enzyme was measured in the RPE of posterior and peripheral regions of bovine and human eyes. The posterior regions included the bovine area centralis or human macula. To determine if aging affected CO activity, activity was compared in RPE cells from human donors of varying age. An in vitro aging model was also used in which CO activity was measured in bovine and human RPE cells that were aged by repeated culture passage. CO activity was found to be significantly lower in posterior RPE cells from both bovine and human eyes suggesting that aerobic metabolism in RPE cells differs regionally. For human RPE samples, CO activity was lower in posterior cells at all donor ages and no significant age-related changes in CO activity were observed except that the highest activity samples were from older donors. Similarly, RPE cells that were aged in culture showed no significant changes in CO activity per cell although there were some high activity samples among the aged cultures. With aging, RPE cell density at confluency declined resulting in lower total CO activity in the aged epithelial monolayer. The data suggest that the ability of individual RPE cells to generate energy via respiration is maintained in the aged eye, but because RPE cell number declines with age and the activity of remaining RPE cells does not increase commensurately, there may declines in the ability of the aged pigment epithelium to perform tissue-level functions (e.g., transepithelial transport). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Differential effectiveness of methylphenidate and Adderall in school-age youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of a single dose of Adderall (q.d.) with that of 2 daily doses of methylphenidate (b.i.d.; MPH) as a treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in youths ranging in age from 5 to 17 years. Forty-two youths treated with MPH were compared with 42 youths treated with Adderall. Subjects were matched for age, sex, and DSM-IV diagnostic subtype. METHOD Youths were assigned to the Adderall or MPH condition by their prescribing physician. All youths were evaluated under 5 conditions, including baseline, placebo, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg. The best dose was assigned prior to breaking the medication blind and was assigned by the consensus of the psychologist and psychiatrist. Subjective ratings by both teachers and parents were examined for dosage level effects and medication type effects. RESULTS Best dose was always superior to baseline and placebo conditions. No differences between MPH and Adderall were observed on either teacher or parent ratings of behavior. CONCLUSIONS Both MPH and Adderall have been shown to be effective treatments for children with ADHD. Both medications appear to improve teachers' and parents' ratings of behavior. Single-dose treatments of Adderall appear to be as effective as 2 daily doses of MPH and therefore increase the possibility of managing treatment without involving the school in medication administration. In addition, youths who have previously been unsuccessfully treated with MPH because of adverse side effects or poor response may be successfully treated with Adderall.
Defining Thumb Reach Envelopes for Handheld Devices

Objective: Our objective is to provide thumb reach envelopes to help guide the placement of controls on handheld devices and to provide useful methods to gather and analyze thumb reach data. Background: With the proliferation of handheld, interactive devices, such as cameras, mobile phones, game systems, and remote controls, human factors professionals involved in designing these products need data to help guide the placement of controls. Previous studies have not provided adequate two-dimensional thumb reach envelopes for the primary control surfaces of handheld devices. Method: A total of 90 participants in three groups (adolescent females, young mothers, and young fathers) placed representations of primary controls in preferred locations on a device model and “painted” their individual reach envelopes on a touch-screen device running a paint application. Results: We present two-dimensional thumb reach envelopes on the primary control surface for handheld devices. The primary reach zone for adolescent females is slightly larger and more circular than that of the adults. The preferred location for controls matches the primary thumb reach zones fairly well. Conclusion: The reach envelopes presented are the first of their kind and are likely to be useful to human factors professionals. The method used to obtain the data may also be useful. Application: The thumb reach envelopes should be applicable to the design of many handheld, interactive devices with dimensions similar to the models used in this study. The method presented allows design teams to collect and analyze thumb reach data quickly and inexpensively for different target user populations or product dimensions.