Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study of Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy. The Application of Age‐Related Reference Values

The standardization of methodology and the provision of age‐related reference values have been addressed for the design of and interpretation of data from a multicentre neuropathy trial. Age‐related reference values were generated from 120 healthy volunteers. Vibration perception thresholds (VPT) deteriorated significantly with age (p < 0.001). Patients were selected on the basis of age‐related abnormal VPT and peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity. They were assessed at the beginning and end of a placebo run‐in period (baseline data). The coefficients of variation (CV%) for VPT at the medial malleolus (16.81 per cent, n = 316) and great toe (19.23 per cent, n = 313) were lower compared to results in healthy volunteers (29.7 per cent and 20.8 per cent, respectively, n = 49). The CV% for expiratory:inspiratory (E:I) ratio (4.82 per cent, n = 215), Valsalva manoeuvre (10.84 per cent, n = 249) and 30:15 ratio (7.73 per cent, n = 292) from patients corresponded to those recorded in volunteers (7.6 per cent, n = 45 11.0 per cent, n = 49 9.5 per cent, n = 48, respectively). Most patient values for VPT at the great toe fell beyond the 95 centile line for volunteers. E:I ratio for volunteers showed a more varible relationship with age, although patient values appeared to be located below the 5 centile line for volunteer data.
Inter-reader agreement in HRCT detection of pleural plaques and asbestosis in participants with previous occupational exposure to asbestos

Objectives To investigate inter-reader agreement for the detection of pleural and parenchymal abnormalities using CT in a large cross-sectional study comprising information on individual cumulative exposure to asbestos. Methods The project was approved by the hospital ethics committee, and all patients received information on the study and gave their written informed consent. In 5511 CT scans performed in a cohort of retired workers previously exposed to asbestos and volunteering to participate in a multiregional survey programme (Asbestos Related Diseases Cohort, ARDCO), double randomised standardised readings, triple in case of disagreement, were performed by seven trained expert radiologists specialised in thoracic imaging and blind to the initial interpretation. Inter-reader agreement was evaluated by calculating the κ-weighted coefficient between pairs of expert readers and results of routine practice and final diagnosis after expert reading. Results κ-Weighted coefficients between trained experts ranged from 0.28 to 0.52 (fair to good), 0.59 to 0.86 (good to excellent) and 0.11 to 0.66 (poor to good) for the diagnosis of asbestosis, pleural plaques and fibrosis of the visceral pleura, respectively. κ-Weighted coefficients between results of routine practice and final diagnosis after expert reading were 0.13 (poor), 0.53 (moderate) and 0.11 (poor) for the diagnosis of asbestosis, pleural plaques and fibrosis of the visceral pleura, respectively. Conclusions Interpretation of benign asbestos-related thoracic abnormalities requires standardisation of the reading and trained readers, particularly for participants asking for compensation, and with a view to the longitudinal survey of asbestos-exposed workers.
Executive Dysfunction and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Predict Lower Health Status in Essential Tremor

ObjectiveTo evaluate the hypothesis that increased neuropsychiatric distress and cognitive impairment are associated with lower perceived health status in essential tremor (ET). BackgroundMany patients with ET experience nonmotor complications, including lower perceived health status and poor health-related quality of life, which are associated with tremor severity, age, and personality factors. No studies, however, have examined the potential contribution of neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits to health status in ET. MethodForty-five patients with ET underwent comprehensive neurologic and neuropsychologic evaluations, including self-report measures of physical and psychosocial health status (ie, the Sickness Impact Profile) and neuropsychiatric distress (ie, the Profile of Mood States). ResultsA series of hierarchical multiple regressions showed that after considering the effects of ET disease severity, lower vigor, and deficits in executive functions were independently predictive of poorer physical health status, whereas increased symptoms of depression were uniquely associated with lower psychosocial health status. ConclusionsFindings indicate that reduced vigor (ie, apathy), executive deficits, and depression are important predictors of poorer perceived health status in ET. Given the prevalence of such nonmotor symptoms, these data highlight the potential value of considering neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive assessments in the management of patients with ET.
Association between adolescent suicide and sociodemographic factors in Chile: cross-sectional ecological study.

BACKGROUND Adolescent suicide rates (ASR) are a matter of concern worldwide. Causes of this trend are not understood and could correspond to socioeconomic factors such as inequality. AIM To investigate sociodemographic variables related to ASR, particularly the potential association with indicators of socioeconomic inequality. METHOD Cross-sectional ecological study analyzing data from 29 health districts with univariate and multivariable multilevel Poisson models. RESULTS ASR were higher in male adolescents and at increasing age. No association was found between ASR and inequality (Gini coefficient and 20/20 ratio). Analysis revealed that living in a single-parent family is associated with ASR. CONCLUSIONS The usual demographic patterns of adolescent suicide apply in Chile. An emerging variable of interest is single-parent family. No cross-sectional association between social inequality and ASR was found based on conflicting evidence. These results should be explored in future prospective population studies to further understand associated social factors.
Discoid lupus erythematosus in Iraqi patients: a clinical and histopathological study

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a relatively benign disorder of the skin, most frequently involving the face, and character­ ized by various-sized, reddish, well-defined scaly patches, which tend to heal with atrophy, scarring and pigmentary changes.1 It has been proposed that ge­ netic factors and somatic mutations are implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease.2 Classical DLE lesions, most frequently of the circumscribed or discoid type, occur most commonly on sun-exposed areas of the body,3 particularly on the cheeks, the bridge of the nose, the ears, and the side of the neck and scalp.1 Early classical DLE lesions typically evolve into sharply demarcated, coin-shaped erythematous plaques covered by a prominent, adherent scale that extends into the orifices of dilated hair follicles.4 Early DLE lesions typically expand with erythema and hyperpigmentation at the periphery, leaving atrophic central scarring, telangiecta­ sia and hypopigmentation.4 Localized DLE lesions occur only on the head or neck, whereas generalized DLE lesions occur both above and below the neck.4 Other variants of DLE include verrucous (hypertrophic) LE, LE profundus, LE panniculitis, mucosal DLE, LE-LP (lupus erythematosus-lichen planus) overlap syndrome, LE telangiectoides and chilblain LE.1,4,5 Laboratory abnormalities are found in about 55% of patients.5 The presence of persistently abnormal laboratory tests findings and a high titre of ANA in DLE appears to be an indication of the potential for SLE to develop.6 The aim of this study was to shed light on the various clinical and histopathological aspects of DLE among Iraqi patients.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Types 1 and 2 Differ in the Predominant Mechanism Used for Selection of Genomic RNA for Encapsidation

ABSTRACT Retroviral RNA encapsidation is a highly selective process mediated through recognition by the viral Gag proteins of cis-acting RNA packaging signals in genomic RNA. This RNA species is also translated, producing the viral gag gene products. The relationship between these processes is poorly understood. Unlike that of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the dominant packaging signal of HIV-2 is upstream of the major splice donor and present in both unspliced and spliced viral RNAs, necessitating additional mechanisms for preferential packaging of unspliced genomic RNA. Encapsidation studies of a series of HIV-2-based vectors showed efficient packaging of viral genomes only if the unspliced, encapsidated RNA expressed full-length Gag protein, including functional nucleocapsid. We propose a novel encapsidation initiation mechanism, providing selectivity, in which unspliced HIV-2 RNA is captured in cis by the Gag protein. This has implications for the use of HIV-2 and other lentiviruses as vectors.
Vesicle Targeting in Hair Cells

The mammalian hair cell has two distinct plasma membrane domains separated by tight junctions, the apical domain which contains the stereocilia and the basolateral domain which contains the presynaptic region. Little is known concerning the mechanisms that regulate vesicle trafficking to these two domains. Using SNAP 25 and syntaxin as baits, we carried out a yeast two-hybrid screen of the organ of Corti. We identified a novel syntaxin interacting protein, ocsyn, that is enriched in inner hair cells and concentrated at the apical pole. Our results are consistent with ocsyn playing a role in vesicle trafficking to the apical membrane of the hair cell.
Phonons, electron-phonon, and electron-plasmon coupling in C60 compounds.

We have performed ab initio calculations for the Ag and Hg intramolecular phonon frequencies, using a full-potential linear muffin-tin-orbital (LMTO) method. The deviation from experiment is typically 5%. We have further calculated the electron-phonon compling for these modes, as well as for some alkali-metal and libration modes, using both tight-binding and ab initio, full-potential LMTO methods. The tight-binding calculations illustrate that for the intramolecular modes the tedious Brillouin-zone sums can be replaced by calculations for a free molecule, while for the libration modes a simplification of this type is not possible
Developmental effects of environmental light on male nuptial coloration in Lake Victoria cichlid fish

Background Efficient communication requires that signals are well transmitted and perceived in a given environment. Natural selection therefore drives the evolution of different signals in different environments. In addition, environmental heterogeneity at small spatial or temporal scales may favour phenotypic plasticity in signaling traits, as plasticity may allow rapid adjustment of signal expression to optimize transmission. In this study, we explore signal plasticity in the nuptial coloration of Lake Victoria cichlids, Pundamilia pundamilia and Pundamilia nyererei. These two species differ in male coloration, which mediates species-assortative mating. They occur in adjacent depth ranges with different light environments. Given the close proximity of their habitats, overlapping at some locations, plasticity in male coloration could contribute to male reproductive success but interfere with reproductive isolation. Methods We reared P. pundamilia, P. nyererei, and their hybrids under light conditions mimicking the two depth ranges in Lake Victoria. From photographs, we quantified the nuptial coloration of males, spanning the entire visible spectrum. In experiment 1, we examined developmental colour plasticity by comparing sibling males reared in each light condition. In experiment 2, we assessed colour plasticity in adulthood, by switching adult males between conditions and tracking coloration for 100 days. Results We found that nuptial colour in Pundamilia did respond plastically to our light manipulations, but only in a limited hue range. Fish that were reared in light conditions mimicking the deeper habitat were significantly greener than those in conditions mimicking shallow waters. The species-specific nuptial colours (blue and red) did not change. When moved to the opposing light condition as adults, males did not change colour. Discussion Our results show that species-specific nuptial colours, which are subject to strong divergent selection by female choice, are not plastic. We do find plasticity in green coloration, a response that may contribute to visual conspicuousness in darker, red-shifted light environments. These results suggest that light-environment-induced plasticity in male nuptial coloration in P. pundamilia and P. nyererei is limited and does not interfere with reproductive isolation.
Regulation of the Rab5 GTPase-activating Protein RN-tre by the Dual Specificity Phosphatase Cdc14A in Human Cells*

The Cdc14 family of dual specificity phosphatases regulates key mitotic events in the eukaryotic cell cycle. Although extensively characterized in yeast, little is known about the function of mammalian Cdc14 family members. Here we report a genetic substrate-trapping system designed to identify substrates of the human Cdc14A (hCdc14A) phosphatase. Using this approach, we identify RN-tre, a GTPase-activating protein for the Rab5 GTPase, as a novel physiological target of hCdc14A. As a Rab5 GTPase-activating protein, RN-tre has previously been implicated in control of intracellular membrane trafficking. We find that RN-tre forms a stable complex with the catalytically inactive hCdc14A C278S mutant but not with the wild type protein in human cells, indicative of a substrate/enzyme interaction. In support, we show that RN-tre is regulated by cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation peaking at mitosis, which can be antagonized by hCdc14A activity in vitro as well as in vivo. Furthermore, we show that RN-tre phosphorylation is critical for efficient hCdc14A association and that RN-tre binding can be displaced by tungstate, a competitive inhibitor that binds to the active site of hCdc14A. Consistent with the preference of hCdc14A for phosphorylations mediated by proline-directed kinases, we find that RN-tre is a direct substrate of cyclin-dependent kinase. Finally, phosphorylation of RN-tre appears to finely modulate its catalytic activity. Our findings reveal a novel connection between the cell cycle machinery and the endocytic pathway.
Tropical aerosol in the Aleutian High

Stratospheric aerosol profiles at high northern latitudes from the Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM) II experiment are used to document the aerosol maxima that occur in the major wintertime anticyclones. Fourteen years (1978 -1991) of 1 mm extinction are used to calculate median values for each season in bins of 58 latitude by 308 longitude by 1 km altitude. Longitude-altitude sections of estimated surface area density show that tropical, aerosol rich air tends to accumulate in the Aleutian High from 15 to above 30 km, and in the North Atlantic High in the 15-25 km layer. A trajectory case study with winds from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting is used to investigate the hypothesis that the observed aerosol maxima are maintained by episodic poleward surges of high aerosol air from the tropical stratospheric reservoir. Lagrangian trajectories are initialized and run backward in time, from both a high- resolution grid and SAM II occultations, for selected days when high aerosol is found in the Aleutian High. Results show that during the case study provided, a deep sheet of aerosol rich air originating over Africa is advected poleward and eastward around the polar vortex and entrained into the Aleutian High.
Aerosol Bolus Inhalation in Subjects with Different Age – A Theoretical Approach

The behavior of aerosol boluses inhaled by subjects with different age (1 y – 20 y) was theoretically studied. Main parameters of pulmonary bolus transport were modeled by using (a) a stochastic lung architecture, (b) an algorithm assuming random particle trajectories, and (c) the mathematical concept of effective diffusivities. Adaptations of inhalative and morphometric factors to subject’s age were conducted by specific scaling functions. As demonstrated by the modeling results, both aerosol bolus dispersion and standard deviation increase with age according to a polynomial of degree 2. A contrary behavior may be attested for bolus mode-shift, showing a linear decrease from 1-y-old subjects to 20-y-old subjects. Bolus skewness and particle deposition from the bolus exhibit a linear increase with age, whereby in the first case regression calculation is characterized by noticeable uncertainties. Based on the theoretical results, it may be concluded that infants’ and children’s lungs react with lower sensitivity on inspired aerosol boluses than adults’ lungs. This has important consequences with regards to the use of bolus inhalation for therapeutical purposes.
Decontamination of green onions and baby spinach by vaporized ethyl pyruvate.

Foodborne illnesses associated with fresh produce continue to be a major concern as consumer demand for healthier and nonthermally processed food increases. The objective of this study was to evaluate vaporized ethyl pyruvate (EP; CAS 617-35-6) as a safe alternative antimicrobial agent for the decontamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on green onions and spinach. Baby spinach leaves and green onions were inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of E. coli O157:H7 (pGFP) by the dipping method. Samples were treated with concentrations of 0, 42, 105, and 420 mg/liter vaporized EP in a 2.6-liter enclosed container. The efficacy of EP vapors for reducing E. coli O157:H7((GFP)) populations on green onions and baby spinach at 4 and 10°C was monitored for 7 and 5 days, respectively. The lowest EP concentration (42 mg/liter) resulted in a 1.7-log reduction of E. coli O157:H7((GFP)) on green onions after 7 days at 4°C and a 1.9-log reduction after 5 days at 10°C (P < 0.05). In baby spinach, the same concentration resulted in 0.9-log and 1.4-log reductions (P < 0.05) of E. coli O157:H7((GFP)) after 7 days at 4°C and 5 days at 10°C, respectively. On green onions, the highest concentration of EP (420 mg/liter) reduced the population of E. coli O157:H7((GFP)) by >4.7 log CFU/g after 7 days at 4°C and 5 days at 10°C. The same concentration was also effective for reducing E. coli O157:H7((GFP)) populations in baby spinach by 4.3 log CFU/g after 7 days at 4°C and by >6.5 log CFU/g after 3 days at 10°C. Although the successful EP treatments minimally affected the sensory attributes of green onions, the treatments resulted in significant changes in the sensory attributes of baby spinach samples stored at 4 and 10°C. These results indicate that EP is an effective antimicrobial that could be used to enhance the safety of fresh produce depending on the sensory characteristics of the product.
Attentional biases and frontal functioning in anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE This study deals with executive functions such as abstraction, use of strategy, and response flexibility (focused attention) seen in patients with anorexia nervosa. The aim was to highlight any correlation between neuropsychological functioning and the degree of pathology for food style, body image, and physical state. METHOD A modified Stroop test, Wisconsin Card Sorting test, Body Shape Questionnaire, and Eating Disorder Inventory-2 were administered to 20 anorexia nervosa restricters (AN-R) and 20 control subjects. RESULTS The AN-R subjects showed nonspecific attentional biases, in addition to disorders regarding abstraction and flexibility of thought, similar to those seen in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The disturbance of body image showed a direct correlation to frontal alterations. DISCUSSION This evidence suggested that in the AN-R subjects the disturbances of body image might be linked to the alterations of abstraction and critical abilities and with an obsessive frontal functioning.
Oncocytoma of the parotid gland: a potential false-positive finding on 18F-FDG PET.

WEB This is a Web exclusive article. ET with 18F-FDG has been successfully used for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of many malignant tumors. PET is particularly useful for staging of head and neck tumors and for detecting recurrence [1]. Its utility in other settings, however, such as detection of non–squamous cell cancer of the head and neck and differentiating benign salivary gland tumors from malignant ones, is limited [2, 3]. This lack of usefulness may partly be explained by the poor anatomic localization of PET combined with variable physiologic uptake of FDG in the head and neck. These factors decrease the specificity of PET for head and neck cancer and thus increase the rate of false-positive findings. Combined PET/CT scanners, which fuse the functional data of PET with the anatomic data of CT, have shown promise in the evaluation of cancer of the head and neck [4]. Non–squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, particularly salivary gland tumors, however, have not been studied extensively with either PET or combined PET/CT. In cases that have been studied, the variable uptake from salivary gland tumors often causes false-negative results [4–6]. In addition, some benign tumors of the salivary glands, particularly Warthin’s tumor, show focal FDG uptake leading to false-positive results [2]. These false-positive findings reduce the utility of PET in differentiating benign salivary gland tumors from malignant tumors. We report a case of a benign parotid oncocytoma that had marked FDG avidity on PET/CT.
Evaluation of p16INK4a as a diagnostic tool in the triage of Pap smears demonstrating atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance

P16INK4a (p16) has emerged as a biomarker for the detection of high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) in Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. Many studies have confirmed a strong correlation between p16 immunohistochemical positivity and high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) of the cervix. Because p16 is predictive of HR‐HPV and HSIL, it seems plausible that p16 could be used as a diagnostic tool to triage atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) Pap smears. In this way, Pap smears with no p16 staining could be recategorized as negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) before final case disposition, thus preventing unnecessary and costly follow‐up.