Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and Management of Patients With Previous Excimer Laser Vision Correction Undergoing Cataract Surgery

For about the past 10 years, about 800,000 to 1 million corneal refractive procedures have been performed annually. This number has remained relatively steady since the introduction of modernized corneal refractive surgery. Cataract surgery has also been extremely common with over 3.2 million cataract surgeries performed annually. When viewed independently, both surgeries are highly successful. As the population that has had successful corneal refractive surgery ages, these patients will require cataract surgery. Although postrefractive cataract extraction is feasible without major technical obstacles, accurate intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation turns out to be problematic. Direct insertion of the measured average keratometry readings after myopic radial keratotomy, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), or LASIK into standard IOL power-predictive formulas commonly results in substantial under correction presenting as hyperopia and resulting in poor uncorrected visual acuity. The average cataract surgery patient may tolerate residual refractive error and opt to correct the visual acuity with spectacles or contact lenses. However, the postrefractive patient is typically motivated to decrease their dependence on glasses; thus, patient satisfaction can decrease if these high expectations are not met.
Erythromycin-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Oral Commensal Neisseria spp. Carry Known rRNA Methylase Genes

ABSTRACT Two Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Seattle and two isolates from Uruguay were resistant to erythromycin (MIC, 4 to 16 μg/ml) and had reduced susceptibility to azithromycin (MIC, 1 to 4 μg/ml) due to the presence of the self-mobile rRNA methylase gene(s)ermF or ermB and ermF. The two Seattle isolates and one isolate from Uruguay were multiresistant, carrying either the 25.2-MDa tetM-containing plasmid (Seattle) or a β-lactamase plasmid (Uruguay). Sixteen commensal Neisseria isolates (10 Neisseria perflava-N. sicca, 2 N. flava, and 4N. mucosa) for which erythromycin MICs were 4 to 16 μg/ml were shown to carry one or more known rRNA methylase genes, includingermB, ermC, and/or ermF. Many of these isolates also were multiresistant and carried thetetM gene. This is the first time that a complete transposon or a complete conjugative transposon carrying an antibiotic resistance gene has been described for the genus Neisseria.
Two New Triterpenoidal Saponins from Roots of Pachystela msolo

Two new triterpenoidal saponins, pachystelanosides A (1) and B (2), and six known compounds have been isolated from the roots of Pachystela msolo. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, HMBC), and ESI-MS as 3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-α-L-arabino-pyranosyl)-hydroxyprotobassic acid (1) and 3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)-7α-hydroxyprotobassic acid (2).
Association of Legionella pneumophila with the macrophage endoplasmic reticulum

Legionella pneumophila replicates within a membrane-bounded compartment that is studded with ribosomes. In this study we investigated whether these ribosomes originate from the cytoplasmic pool or are associated with host endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Immunofluorescence and electron microscopic localization studies of ER proteins in macrophages infected with L. pneumophila indicated that the bacteria reside in a compartment surrounded by ER. An L. pneumophila mutant that grows slowly in macrophages was slow to associate with host ER, providing genetic evidence in support of the hypothesis that this specialized vacuole is required for intracellular bacterial growth. Ultrastructural studies, in which the ER luminal protein BiP was labeled by immunoperoxidase cytochemistry, revealed that L. pneumophila replication vacuoles resemble nascent autophagosomes. Furthermore, short-term amino acid starvation of macrophages, which stimulated host autophagosomes. Furthermore, short-term amino acid starvation of macrophages, which stimulated host autophagy, increased association of the bacteria with the ER and enhanced bacterial growth. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that L. pneumophila exploits the autophagy machinery of macrophages to establish an intracellular niche favorable for replication.
Factors That Contribute to the Misidentification of Tyrosine Nitration by Shotgun Proteomics*S

The high selectivity and throughput of tandem mass spectrometry allow for rapid identification and localization of various posttranslational protein modifications from complex mixtures by shotgun approaches. Although sequence database search algorithms provide necessary support to process the potentially enormous quantity of MS/MS spectra generated from large scale tandem mass spectrometry experiments, false positive identifications of peptide modifications may exist even after implementation of stringent identification criteria. In this report, we describe factors that lead to misinterpretation of MS/MS spectra as well as common chemical and experimental artifacts that generate false positives using the proteomics-based identification of tyrosine nitration as an example. In addition to the proposed manual validation criteria, the importance of peptide synthesis and subsequent MS/MS characterization for validation of peptide nitration demonstrated by several examples from earlier publications is also presented.
Health-point survey of bacteria urinary tract infections among suspected diabetic patients attending clinics in Bushenyi district of Uganda

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Box 71, Bushenyi, Uganda Department of Medical Microbiology, Mbarara University of Science and technology, Mbarara, Uganda. Department of Public Health, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Box 71, Bushenyi, Uganda. Abstract Background: Although Urinary tract infections (UTI) and diabetes are individual public health pandemic, their comorbidities remain a global health dilemma. Regional surveillance holds the key for effective intervention. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and antibacterial resistance pattern of bacteria etiological agents of UTI among diabetic patients in Bushenyi district of Uganda. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 418 midstream urine from consenting 331 diabetic (230 females and 101 males) and 87 non-diabetic (60 females and 27 males) individuals were collected aseptically and processed using standard microbiological methods. Data generated were tested for statistical significance and scientific relevance. Results: Bacteria UTI were 31.1% prevalent in diabetic and 11.4% in non-diabetics. Diabetic patients yielded: 13.6%, Staphylococcus species, 8.8% E.coli, and 8.6% Klebsiella species. Klebsiella species showed 100% resistance to Erythromycin, 71.4% to Cotrimoxazole, and 92.9% to Ampicillin. Bacteria from diabetic patients remained sensitive to: Nitrofurantoin, Ciprofloxacin, Ceftazidime and Ceftriaxone. Extended Spectrum β-Lactamases was detected in 3.5% of Klebsiella species. Age and sex significantly (p<0.05) influenced diabetic UTI prevalence. Conclusion: Diabetes significantly (p<0.05) influenced the observed (27%) UTI distribution. Resistance to Ampicillin and Cotrimoxazole may affect their use in UTI management. Antibacterial misuse is highly discouraged and Nitrofurantoin remains urinary antiseptic.
Molecular and diagnostic features of apocrine breast lesions

Apocrine morphology in breast is observed in a wide variety of lesions ranging from simple cysts and atypical hyperplasia to invasive metastatic stages of disease. The accurate diagnosis of breast apocrine carcinoma remains controversial, mainly due to the subjectivity of histopathological criteria and the lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers for reliable categorization of this subtype of breast carcinoma. Thus, many efforts are currently being made to identify novel molecular marker signature(s) that can define apocrine carcinoma with high levels of accuracy and reliability, and determine with certainty the true clinical significance of these lesions. The purpose of this article is to review the data on apocrine lesions, with an emphasis on borderline apocrine differentiation. In particular, we address relevant issues in the context of the current state of research on benign and malignant apocrine lesions of the breast, with a focus on parameters for diagnosis and potential-targeted therapeutic options.
Association of Human Herpesvirus 6 and 8 in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Type during Exacerbation

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the CNS with assumed autoimmune etiology. Human herpes viruses have probable effects on relapsing-remitting MS pathogenesis presumably through molecular mimicry and/or bystander mechanisms. In this study we probed the possible contribution of the two herpes viruses, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), in clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) pa-tients-relapsing remitting type (RRMS) during clinical exacerbations. All patients had no history of immune modulating or suppressing drugs intake in the last 6 months. The peripheral blood samples, from CDMS patients (n = 20) (13F/7M, age (y) = 30.3 ± 3.21) and other immune mediated neurological disorders (OIND) (11F/9M, age = 25.2 ± 12.1), (My-asthenia Gravis, Guillain Barre Syndrome, ischemic stroke in adolescent and young adult with no clear risk factors), as a control group, had been enrolled within 15 months (January-2007-- March -2008). We investigated the existence of specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences belonging to HHV-6 and HHV-8, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in plasma. PCR demonstrated HHV-6 DNA in 7 cases (35%), HHV-8 sequences in only one cases (5%) in PBMCs from 20 relapsed CDMS patients; all HHV-6 posi-tive cases showed positive plasma results, while the blood samples from 20 OIND patients showed negative results ex-cept one case (5%) out of 9 cases of GBS was positive for HHV-8 in PBMCs. We consequently concluded that there is considerable evidence in this study that proposed the roles of HHV-6 and HHV-8 in MS pathogenesis and clinical ex-acerbation.
BVDV control program in Austria - is a monitoring of the BDV status in sheep in Austria necessary?

In cattle referred to the Clinic of Ruminants at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna by local veterinarians from Lower Austria, the number of animals positive for antibodies against pestiviruses decreased from 11.9% in 2004 to 7.4% in 2007. In other Austrian regions the seroprevalence of 17.6% in 2004 dropped to 12.2% in 2007. The seroprevalence rates were considerably higher in older animals than in younger indicating a marked decrease of new infections (8.2% in 7.5 years). These data nevertheless also demonstrate that new pestivirus infections occur, although at a lower rate. We report the case of a calf persistently infected with Border disease virus-3 (BDV-3) detected in a mixed cattle and sheep farm with the status "BVDV-free". Earlier investigations have shown that BDV-3 is endemic in Austrian sheep populations and seems to be a potential risk factor for the reintroduction of pestiviruses in BVDV free cattle herds. Serological findings among the investigated sheep population showed in four out of nine sheep samples considerably higher titres to the BDV strain Moredun than to the BVDV strain NADL. Seroconversion against pestiviruses was also detected in contact cattle and the mother of the persistently infected calf. Pestivirus specific RNA was neither detected in the blood samples collected from the patients of the Clinic for Ruminants nor in the sheep or cattle investigated on the farm described.
Real Estate and the Stock Market: A Meta‐Regression Analysis

The real estate finance literature provides diverse and contradictory findings regarding the relationship between the real estate market and the stock market. Despite the importance of this relationship to the economy in general relatively little is known of what causes such differences. In this paper, through applying the technique of meta‐regression analysis to the empirical studies in the area a significant step is made towards objectively integrating and synthesising the results and identifying systematic variations in the results of studies.
Dopamine antagonists ameliorate the dyskinesias, aggression, and inattention of persons with mental retardation referred to psychiatric clinics

Background: Although dopamine antagonists are often administered to people with mental retardation, the neuropsychiatric effects are controversial. Objective: To characterize the effect of dopamine antagonists on movements and behaviors of persons with mental retardation. Method: Dyskinesias and behavioral problems are assessed in nine people with mental retardation referred to psychiatric clinics, including five men treated with dopamine antagonists in a dosage range equivalent to 67 to 220 mg chlorpromazine, and two men and two women who receive no medication during the preceding three months. Results: The nonmedicated subjects have higher levels of akathisia, stereotypies, tics, and other dyskinesias and lower global adaptive functioning. Utilizing the Mann-Whitney Test, nonmedicated subjects have more tics (P < .006), attention deficit disorder (P < .018), and overt aggression (P < .015); however, the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons renders all results nonsignificant. Conclusions: Dopamine antagonists ameliorate the dyskinesias, aggression, and inattention of some persons with mental retardation and behavioral problems. However, beneficial effects of dopamine antagonists must be weighed against adverse effects including withdrawal and tardive dyskinesias.
Measurement of Voice Onset Time in Dysarthric Patients: Methodological Considerations

Voice onset time (VOT) reflects the timing control between laryngeal and supralaryngeal adjustments. It has been studied both in normal speakers and patients with speech disorders, but very little information has been published on the feasibility of this measure in clinical practice. We examined 10 repeated utterances involving the voiceless stop consonants [p], [t] and [k] in 110 subjects (27 controls, 48 with spastic dysarthria and 35 with hypokinetic dysarthria). The mean rate of measurable VOT was 95% for normal speech, 80% for hypokinetic dysarthria and 84% for spastic dysarthria. The main obstacle to successful measurement was lack of the burst signifying the release of the plosive. The posterior stop [k] presented the greatest measurement difficulties for the dysarthric subjects, which is in accordance with previous perceptual reports on dysarthria.
Correlates of leisure-time physical activity in an elderly population in Singapore.

OBJECTIVES This study assessed correlates of leisure-time physical activity among the elderly in Singapore. METHODS A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in 1998 with 2494 subjects 60 years and older. RESULTS Regular leisure-time physical activity was practiced by 47.0% of men and 38.5% of women. It was significantly correlated with family support, proportion of family members exercising, awareness of benefits of exercise, and healthy dietary habits. Other significant but negative correlates were smoking and barriers to exercise, such as lack of time and poor health. CONCLUSIONS Exercise programs for the elderly should aim at helping them overcome barriers to exercise, informing them of the benefits of exercise, and involving their families.
STAT4 Signal Pathways Regulate Inflammation and Airway Physiology Changes in Allergic Airway Inflammation Locally Via Alteration of Chemokines

Mice homozygous for the STAT4-null mutation were sensitized to cockroach Ag, challenged intratracheally 21 days later, and compared with STAT4-competent allergic mice. The STAT4−/− mice showed significant decreases in airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and peribronchial eosinophils compared with wild-type controls. In addition, pulmonary levels of chemokines were decreased in the STAT4−/− mice, including CC chemokine ligand (CCL)5, CCL6, CCL11, and CCL17. However, levels of Th2-type cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-13, as well as serum IgE levels were similar in the two groups. Transfer of splenic lymphocytes from sensitized wild-type mice into sensitized STAT4−/− mice did not restore AHR in the mutant mice. Furthermore, chemokine production and peribronchial eosinophilia were not restored during the cellular transfer experiments. Thus, it appears that STAT4 expression contributes to a type 2 process such as allergen-induced chemokine production and AHR. In additional studies, competent allergic mice were treated with anti-IL-12 locally in the airways at the time of allergen rechallenge. These latter studies also demonstrated a decrease in AHR. Altogether, these data suggest that STAT4-mediated pathways play a role locally within the airway for the exacerbation of the allergen-induced responses.
Pulsed optical pumping in a Rb vapor cell using a compact magnetron-type microwave cavity

A compact magnetron-type microwave cavity has previously been developed for a high performance Rb atomic clock based on conventional continuous-wave double-resonance (DR) interrogation. This magnetron-type cavity shows a homogenous microwave field distribution while having a cavity volume of only 35 cm3. So it is interesting for realizing a high performance Rb cell clock based on pulsed optical pumping (POP) technique with a reduced physics package size. In this proceeding we report on the evaluation of pulsed optical pumping with our magnetron-type cavity. Using the pulsed technique and optical detection, high-contrast Ramsey fringes were observed. The central fringe of the Ramsey signal has a linewidth of 160 Hz and contrast of 35%. Under these conditions, the shot-noise limit is estimated at a level around 2×10-14 τ-1/2 which shows the great potential of a POP clock based on the compact magnetron-type cavity. The Rabi oscillation result also indicates an acceptable uniform field distribution inside the cavity for a high-performance POP clock. Some optimizations of pumping and detection power for improving the contrast are also presented.
Septal Localization of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis MtrB Sensor Kinase Promotes MtrA Regulon Expression*

Background: The MtrB sensor kinase is a component of the essential MtrAB signal transduction system. Results: MtrB localizes to septa independent of phosphorylation; MtrB septal association and phosphorylation are necessary for cell division and expression of MtrA targets. Conclusion: MtrB septal localization and MtrA-regulon expression are linked. Significance: MtrB septal assembly triggers the activation of the MtrAB signal transduction pathway. The mechanisms responsible for activation of the MtrAB two-component regulatory signal transduction system, which includes sensor kinase MtrB and response regulator MtrA, are unknown. Here, we show that an MtrB-GFP fusion protein localized to the cell membrane, the septa, and the poles in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis. This localization was independent of MtrB phosphorylation status but dependent upon the assembly of FtsZ, the initiator of cell division. The M. smegmatis mtrB mutant was filamentous, defective for cell division, and contained lysozyme-sensitive cell walls. The mtrB phenotype was complemented by either production of MtrB protein competent for phosphorylation or overproduction of MtrAY102C and MtrAD13A mutant proteins exhibiting altered phosphorylation potential, indicating that either MtrB phosphorylation or MtrB independent expression of MtrA regulon genes, including those involved in cell wall processing, are necessary for regulated cell division. In partial support of this observation, we found that the essential cell wall hydrolase ripA is an MtrA target and that the expression of bona fide MtrA targets ripA, fbpB, and dnaA were compromised in the mtrB mutant and partially rescued upon MtrAY102C and MtrAD13A overproduction. MtrB septal assembly was compromised upon FtsZ depletion and exposure of cells to mitomycin C, a DNA damaging agent, which interferes with FtsZ ring assembly. Expression of MtrA targets was also compromised under the above conditions, indicating that MtrB septal localization and MtrA regulon expression are linked. We propose that MtrB septal association is a necessary feature of MtrB activation that promotes MtrA phosphorylation and MtrA regulon expression.
Developmental consistency in associations between depressive symptoms and alcohol use in early adolescence.

OBJECTIVE Despite frequent theorizing, prior literature on the association between depressive symptoms and alcohol use in adolescence has been inconsistent. Yet studies have varied widely with respect to age at assessments, time frame of prediction, and controls for comorbid conditions and demographic factors. The current study examined whether the associations between depressive symptoms and alcohol use were similar in valence and magnitude over a 4-year period in early adolescence. METHOD A sample of 521 young adolescents and their parents were interviewed every year from sixth (Mage = 12.0 years) through ninth grades. At each interview, symptom counts on depressive and conduct disorders were generated from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children. Adolescents also reported on their alcohol use, which was converted to a binary variable. Autoregressive, cross-lagged panel models specifying depressive and conduct disorder symptoms as predictors of alcohol use 1 year later with equality constraints were tested and compared with models allowing path coefficients to vary over time. RESULTS For youth self-report, depressive symptoms were positively associated with alcohol use 1 year later over and above conduct problems and earlier alcohol use throughout early adolescence. By parental report, only very early adolescent depressive symptoms (sixth to seventh grades) were associated with alcohol use. Gender did not moderate findings for analyses with self- or parental-report data. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that, even in the context of conduct disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms are important indicators of risk for use of alcohol across early adolescence.
A Tale of Two Contexts: U.S. Migration and the Labor Force Trajectories of Mexican Women 1

Even though women have long participated in Mexico–U.S. migration studies assessing the labor market implications of international mobility for women are rare. Especially lacking are studies that follow a life-course approach and compare employment trajectories across contexts and in connection with other transitions. Using life-history data collected in Mexico and the U.S., we explore the impact of migration on women's employment, focusing on how the determinants of employment vary across contexts. We show that U.S. residence eliminates or even reverses the employment returns to education found in Mexico and that the constraints imposed on women's work by marriage are actually stronger in the U.S. context. We also explicitly connect migration to other life-course events, documenting how the impact of context varies not only by marital status but also by where women's unions were formed.