Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional magnetic resonance imaging movers and shakers: Does subject‐movement cause sampling bias?

Head movement during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) degrades data quality. The effects of small movements can be ameliorated during data postprocessing, but data associated with severe movement is frequently discarded. In discarding these data, it is often assumed that head‐movement is a source of random error, and that data can be discarded from subjects with severe movement without biasing the sample. We tested this assumption by examining whether head movement was related to task difficulty and cognitive status among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Thirty‐four persons with MS were scanned while performing a working memory task with three levels of difficulty (the N‐back task). Maximum movement (angle, shift) was estimated for each difficulty level. Cognitive status was assessed by combining performance on a working memory and processing speed task. An interaction was found between task difficulty and cognitive status (high vs. low cognitive ability): there was a linear increase in movement as task difficulty increased that was larger among subjects with lower cognitive ability. Analyses of the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) confirmed that increases in movement degraded data quality. Similar, though far smaller, effects were found in a cohort of healthy control (HC) subjects. Therefore, discarding data with severe movement artifact may bias MS samples such that only those with less‐severe cognitive impairment are included in the analyses. However, even if such data are not discarded outright, subjects who move more (MS and HC) will contribute less to the group‐level results because of degraded SNR. Hum Brain Mapp 35:1–13, 2014. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of laser versus lens-sparing vitrectomy on myopia in children with retinopathy of prematurity

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the refractive error outcomes in the eyes of premature babies with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who underwent laser plus lens-sparing vitrectomy (LSV) in one eye and laser alone in the fellow eye. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Fourteen babies with Stage 4A of ROP or worse who underwent laser plus LSV in one eye (Group 1) and laser alone in the fellow eye (Group 2) were followed at 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, one and a half year, and 2 years. The main outcome variable studied was cycloplegic refraction at the baseline and follow-up visits. The change in spherical and cylindrical power at each visit was compared in Groups 1 and 2. The changes in spherical equivalent in subgroups were analyzed. Results: Mean gestational age at birth was 29.43 ± 2.10 weeks (range 26–32 weeks). Mean chronological age at the time of surgery was 4.11 ± 3.00 months (range 2–10 months). Mean postmenstrual age was 45.86 ± 12.13 weeks (range 39–75 weeks). Mean birth weight was 1340.71 ± 361.59 g (range 860–1980 g). All the babies in both groups had progressive myopia till 2 years follow-up; laser group had less myopia than LSV group till 1 year, thereafter, there was no difference in median till 2-year follow-up. The mean ± standard deviation of spherical equivalent in LSV versus laser group was: −4.36 ± 5.52 versus −3.21 ± 4.59 at 2 months; −5.09 ± 5.82 versus −4.04 ± 4.68 at 6 months; −7.14 ± 5.36 versus −5.36 ± 5.09 at 1 year; and −7.47 ± 1.38 versus −6.41 ± 1.91 at 2 years. Spherical equivalent difference across the visits did not differ significantly between Groups 1 and Group 2 in children whose birth weight was <1500 g (P = 0.247) and those who had more than 1500 g (P = 0.748), in those with gestational age between 20 and 30 weeks (P = 0.215) compared to those >30 weeks (P = 0.602). Conclusion: No difference in the progression of myopia was noted in eyes that underwent additional LSV following laser photocoagulation in one eye and laser alone in the fellow eye.
Effects of photoperiod history on body mass and energy metabolism in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)

SUMMARY Many small mammals respond to seasonal changes in photoperiod via alterations in morphology, physiology and behaviour. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the preweaning (from embryo to weaning) photoperiod experience can affect subsequent development in terms of body mass and thermogenesis. Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) were gestated and reared to weaning under either a short (SD, 8 h:16 h L:D) or a long photoperiod (LD, 16 h:8 h L:D) at a constant ambient temperature (23°C). At weaning, male juveniles were either maintained in their initial photoperiod or transferred to the alternative photoperiod for 8 weeks. Postweaning SD voles had a lower body mass but higher thermogenic capacity compared with LD voles. At the same time, preweaning photoperiod conditions had long-lasting effects on thermogenic capacity later in life. Serum leptin concentration was positively correlated with body mass and body fat mass, whereas it was negatively correlated with energy intake and uncoupling protein 1 content in brown adipose tissue. Our results suggest that postweaning development in terms of body mass and thermogenesis is predominantly influenced by the postweaning photoperiod, while the preweaning photoperiod experience could chronically modify thermogenesis but not body mass. Furthermore, serum leptin, acting as a potential adipostatic signal, may be involved in the regulation of both energy intake and energy expenditure.
Sublingual misoprostol compared to artificial rupture of membranes plus oxytocin infusion for labour induction in nulliparous women with a favourable cervix at term.

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of labour induction using sublingual misoprostol versus combined artificial rupture of membranes and oxytocin infusion for nulliparous women with a favourable cervix at term. DESIGN Open randomised controlled trial. SETTING Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS Fifty nulliparous women with a favourable cervix (Bishop score 6 or more) at term and indications for labour induction. INTERVENTIONS With their informed consent, 100 eligible women were to be randomised to receive either sublingual misoprostol 50 micrograms every 4 hours for up to five doses or oxytocin infusion after artificial rupture of membranes. Interim analysis was planned at a sample size of 50. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Vaginal delivery within 24 hours of induction. RESULTS The study was terminated when interim analysis of the first 50 recruits showed that a significantly smaller proportion of misoprostol-treated women delivered vaginally within 24 hours of induction than in the conventional treatment group (68% vs 100%; relative risk, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.91; P=0.009), although comparable numbers of women eventually delivered vaginally. The mean induction to vaginal delivery interval was 4.5 hours longer in the misoprostol group (P=0.027). After misoprostol treatment, all women went into labour. Forty percent of them delivered without oxytocin. There was no significant difference in uterine hyperstimulation rate, operative delivery rate, and neonatal outcomes. Maternal satisfaction was higher in the misoprostol group (92% vs 60%; relative risk, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-2.16; P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS Despite being well accepted by women, labour induction using this regimen of sublingual misoprostol is less effective in achieving vaginal delivery within 24 hours.
Community treatment with azithromycin for trachoma is not associated with antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae at 1 year

Aims: To determine if macrolide resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae will be a major concern in areas that receive annual mass azithromycin distributions for trachoma. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted of nasopharyngeal S pneumoniae isolates for susceptibility to azithromycin 1 year after administering a single dose of azithromycin to treat trachoma in a village in Nepal. Results: S pneumoniae was isolated from 50 (86%) of 57 nasopharyngeal cultures and no resistance to azithromycin was detected. Conclusion: The authors were unable to demonstrate that mass azithromycin therapy for trachoma produced macrolide resistant S pneumoniae that persists until the next scheduled annual treatment.
Oligosaccharides in 4 Different Milk Groups, Bifidobacteria, and Ruminococcus obeum

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify a link between the total amount of breast milk oligosaccharides and faecal microbiota composition of newborns at the end of the first month of life, with special attention paid to bifidobacteria, and establish the role, if any, of the different oligosaccharides in determining the gut microbiota composition. Subjects and Methods: Milk oligosaccharide groups were identified by high-performance anion exchange chromatography analysis. DPCRNA from newborns' faecal samples at 30 days of life was isolated and processed by polymerase chain reaction analyses that allow the identification of 6 species of bifidobacteria (adolescentis, bifidum, breve, catenulatum, longum, infantis) and Ruminococcus spp; denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis was also performed. Results: No substantial differences in bifidobacteria species composition within milk groups 1, 2, and 3 were observed; however, infants fed with group 4 milk show a microbiota characterised by a greater frequency of Bifidobacteria adolescentis and the absence of Bifidobacteria catenulatum. For the first time, a high percentage of the Ruminococcus genus in infants fed with all milk groups was found. Conclusions: Our data show that milk groups 1, 2, and 3, containing an amount of oligosaccharides ranging within 10 to 15 g/L, share a substantially identical composition of the intestinal microbiota in breast-fed infants, despite quali-quantitative difference in oligosaccharides content. Newborns taking milk with only 5 g/L of oligosaccharides (group 4) harbour a different intestinal microbiota.
Nucleotide sequence analysis and DNA hybridization studies of the ant(4')-IIa gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The ant(4')-IIa gene was previously cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on a 1.6-kb DNA fragment (G. A. Jacoby, M. J. Blaser, P. Santanam, H. Hächler, F. H. Kayser, R. S. Hare, and G. H. Miller, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 34:2381-2386, 1990). In the current study, the ant(4')-IIa gene was localized by gamma-delta mutagenesis. A region of approximately 600 nucleotides which contained the ant(4')-IIa gene was identified, and DNA sequence analysis revealed two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) within this region. Northern (RNA) blot analysis demonstrated expression of both ORFs in P. aeruginosa; therefore, site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify the ORF which encodes the ant(4')-IIa gene. No homology was found between ant(4')-IIa and ant(4')-Ia DNA sequences. Hybridization experiments confirmed that the ant(4')-Ia probe hybridized only to gram-positive presumptive ANT(4')-I strains and that the ant(4')-IIa probe hybridized only to gram-negative strains presumed to carry ANT(4')-II. Seven gram-negative strains which had been classified as having ANT(4')-II resistance profiles did not hybridize with probes for either ant(4')-Ia or ant(4')-IIa, suggesting that at least one additional ant(4') gene may exist. The predicted amino-terminal sequences of the ANT(4')-Ia and ANT(4')-IIa proteins showed significant sequence similarity between residues 38 and 63 of the ANT(4')-Ia protein and residues 26 and 51 of the ANT(4')-IIa protein.
Genome-Based In Silico Identification of New Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigens Activating Polyfunctional CD8+ T Cells in Human Tuberculosis

Although CD8+ T cells help control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, their M. tuberculosis Ag repertoire, in vivo frequency, and functionality in human tuberculosis (TB) remains largely undefined. We have performed genome-based bioinformatics searches to identify new M. tuberculosis epitopes presented by major HLA class I supertypes A2, A3, and B7 (covering 80% of the human population). A total of 432 M. tuberculosis peptides predicted to bind to HLA-A*0201, HLA-A*0301, and HLA-B*0702 (representing the above supertypes) were synthesized and HLA-binding affinities determined. Peptide-specific CD8+ T cell proliferation assays (CFSE dilution) in 41 M. tuberculosis-responsive donors identified 70 new M. tuberculosis epitopes. Using HLA/peptide tetramers for the 18 most prominently recognized HLA-A*0201-binding M. tuberculosis peptides, recognition by cured TB patients’ CD8+ T cells was validated for all 18 epitopes. Intracellular cytokine staining for IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α revealed mono-, dual-, as well as triple-positive CD8+ T cells, indicating these M. tuberculosis peptide-specific CD8+ T cells were (poly)functional. Moreover, these T cells were primed during natural infection, because they were absent from M. tuberculosis-noninfected individuals. Control CMV peptide/HLA-A*0201 tetramers stained CD8+ T cells in M. tuberculosis-infected and noninfected individuals equally, whereas Ebola peptide/HLA-A*0201 tetramers were negative. In conclusion, the M. tuberculosis-epitope/Ag repertoire for human CD8+ T cells is much broader than hitherto suspected, and the newly identified M. tuberculosis Ags are recognized by (poly)functional CD8+ T cells during control of infection. These results impact on TB-vaccine design and biomarker identification.
The predictive value of early CT and angiography for fatal hemispheric swelling in acute stroke.

PURPOSE Our goal was to analyze the predictive value of early CT and arteriographic morphologic criteria to achieve a more reliable prediction of fatal outcome in patients undergoing fibrinolytic stroke treatment. METHODS In 74 patients with acute carotid artery stroke, early signs of cerebral ischemia were determined by CT. The site of vascular occlusion was identified by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The patients were subsequently treated by intraarterial (n = 68) or intravenous (n = 6) fibrinolysis by means of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), urokinase, or rt-PA combined with lys-plasminogen and followed-up for a period of 3 months. CT and DSA data were compared with the clinical course, with special emphasis on signs of early fatal deterioration (ie, death by intracranial mass effect) as determined by corresponding CT and clinical observations, occurring within 7 days after stroke. RESULTS Seventeen patients died, all of intracranial mass effect, and all within a week after stroke. In nine of these fatalities, DSA revealed carotid "T" occlusion (CTO), which affected 19 patients. In five of the fatalities, a major early sign of ischemia (MESI, referring to cortical hypodensity in more than a third of the territory of the middle cerebral artery, as seen in 14 patients) was recognizable on the initial CT scan. This led to a higher predictive value and sensitivity of CTO relative to MESI for estimating early fatality. CONCLUSION CTO as determined by DSA is a substantially better predictor of fatal outcome in patients undergoing intraarterial thrombolytic therapy than is MESI as determined by CT.
Effect of azithromycin on patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis: retrospective study of 51 cases.

BACKGROUND Patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) are routinely treated with erythromycin, clarithromycin, and roxithromycin. The clinical effect of azithromycin on DPB has not been confirmed in a large cohort. OBJECTIVE The present study was undertaken to investigate the clinical effects of azithromycin on patients with DPB. METHODS Fifty-one patients with DPB treated with azithromycin in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, China, from July 2001 to April 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Azithromycin (500 mg a day) was administrated intravenously in the first 1-2 weeks, taken orally (500 mg, once a day) for 3 months, and tapered to 3 times a week for 6-12 months. The patients were followed up until September 1, 2009. The therapeutic effect, according to their clinical and radiological findings, arterial gas analysis, lung function, and sputum bacterium before and after the therapy, was categorized into the following five grades: 1) cured; 2) improved; 3) no response; 4) aggravation, and 5) relapse. RESULTS With azithromycin therapy, 14 (27.5%) patients with DPB were completely cured. The symptoms were eliminated to certain degrees for the other 36 cases (70.6%) of DPB. Five-year survival in this cohort was 94.1%. CONCLUSION Azithromycin is effective and well tolerated for patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis.
Evidence for a disseminated plasmid in Streptococcus mutans

Based on a survey of 86 isolates, approximately 5% of all naturally occurring strains of Streptococcus mutans contains a 3.6 X 10(6)-dalton (3.6-megadalton) multicopy plasmid of unknown function. The amount of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid per chromosome varies from 2 to 6% depending on the host strain. About 13% of the total covalently closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid in each of the four plasmid-containing strains consists of dimeric molecules, with interlocked circular forms predominating. Site-specific restriction endonucleases have been identified that cleave this 3.6-megadalton plasmid at single and at multiple sites. Each of the four plasmids is cleaved once by the HindIII and BamHI restriction enzymes. The HpaI, TaqI, and HhaI enzymes generate two, five, and six components, respectively, and the digestion products of each of the four plasmids are identical. Because the four plasmid-containing S. mutans strains are physiologically unique with respect to one another, we conclude this plasmid to be a disseminated extrachromosomal element in S. mutans.
Impact of an Educational Intervention on Increasing the Knowledge and Changing the Attitude and Beliefs towards Organ Donation among Medical Students.

INTRODUCTION Organ transplantation saves thousands of lives worldwide. Organ transplantation is a boon to the medical profession, as it helps in saving the lives of many diseased people. Globally, the prevalence of knowledge on organ donation was found to range from 60% to 85%, on using different knowledge variables. Knowledge, attitude and actions are interrelated and previous studies have shown that culture and religion were important external influences which affected the decision making process. So, students require further information on the organ donation process and they need opportunities to examine their own beliefs and attitudes, which can be addressed through educational interventions. OBJECTIVE Purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude and belief on/towards organ donation and the impact of an educational intervention on them. METHODS An educational interventional study with pre structured questions being administered to study subjects. RESULTS In the present study, a total of 70 students consented to participate and all the 70 attended the pre-test and post-test after the classroom teaching. Among the 70 participants, 35(50%) were males and 35(50%) were females. A majority of the subjects were Hindus 64(91.4%) and only 3(4.30%) were Muslims. Sixty seven (95.7%) of the students had heard of the term, 'organ donation'. Most common reason given by the participants for organ donation was that it was done to save someone's life [61 (87.11%)]. Among the 70 study subjects, only 19(27.10%) knew about the organs that could be donated, whose number increased to 56(80%) after providing the educational intervention. The difference which was observed in their knowledge before and after providing the educational intervention was found to be statistically significant (t= 39.315, p< 0.0000). The awareness of the legislation regarding organ donation was poor. Thiry one(444.3%) subjects were unaware about the existence of laws which were related to organ donation and its process. CONCLUSION The study emphasizes the need of an intervention which incorporates the knowledge, motivational messages, facts and figures, to bring necessary changes in the perceptions and intentions of the students regarding organ donations.
Prevalence of HIV infection among former commercial plasma donors in rural eastern China.

BACKGROUND Sporadic reports of HIV-1 infection among commercial plasma donors in China between 1994 and 1995. OBJECTIVES (1) To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among repeat plasma donors; (2) to identify factors associated with HIV infection; and (3) to describe characteristics associated with secondary transmission. METHODS Plasma/blood donors who had a history of donating plasma/blood before March 1, 1995, their spouses, and their children under 5 years were recruited for a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire and an HIV test were collected anonymously. Information collected included demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, recreational drug use and history of medical care and blood/plasma donation. HIV antibody was identified by the Hema-Strip rapid test and confirmed by Western blot. The prevalence of HIV infection was calculated and risk factors associated with infection determined by univariate analyses followed by multivariate modelling. RESULTS A total of 1517 individuals were interviewed and tested, of whom 1043 adults admitted to donating plasma. The prevalence of HIV infection among plasma donors was 12.5% and among their non-donor spouses was 2.1%. Prevalence was inversely related to educational level and was higher in married participants, but was not associated with medical care, drug abuse or multiple sexual partners. A higher frequency of plasma donation was directly associated with a higher risk of HIV infection. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that being HIV-positive was associated with being 30 to 49 years old [odds ratio (OR) = 1.9], donating both plasma and blood (OR = 2.5), and the frequency of plasma donation (OR = 14 for >10 donations per month). CONCLUSION The study demonstrated that the prevalence of HIV infection in the commercial plasma donor population was alarmingly high. Many married individuals and those getting married in the future will transmit the virus to their spouses and future children. Plasma donors need to be alerted to the risk of being infected with HIV and of transmitting HIV to their families and others. Other countries can benefit from the experience of China in reducing the risk of HIV transmission from plasma donating.
Initiation of latent DNA replication in the Epstein-Barr virus genome can occur at sites other than the genetically defined origin

Our laboratory has previously shown that replication of a small plasmid, p174, containing the genetically defined Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent origin of replication, oriP, initiates within oriP at or near a dyad symmetry (DS) element and terminates specifically at a family of repeated sequences (FR), also located within oriP. We describe here an analysis of the replication of intact approximately 170-kb EBV genomes in four latently infected cell lines that uses two-dimensional gel replicon mapping. Initiation was detected at oriP in all EBV genomes examined; however, some replication forks appear to originate from alternative initiation sites. In addition, pausing of replication forks was observed at the two clusters of EBV nuclear antigen 1 binding sites within oriP and at or near two highly expressed viral genes 0.5 to 1 kb upstream of oriP, the EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) genes. In the Raji EBV genome, the relative abundance of these stalled forks and the direction in which they are stalled indicate that most replication forks originate upstream of oriP. We thus searched for additional initiation sites in the Raji EBV and found that the majority of initiation events were distributed over a broad region to the left of oriP. This delocalized pattern of initiation resembles initiation of replication in several well-characterized mammalian chromosomal loci and is the first described for any viral genome. EBV thus provides a unique model system with which to investigate factors influencing the selection of replication initiation and termination sites in mammalian cells.