Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Electrophysiological Properties of the Muscle Fibers of a Transplanted Hand

Background. The muscle fibers in a transplanted hand remain denervated for a long period of time after the transplant. This prolonged inactivity may change the electrophysiological membrane properties of muscle fibers, as observed in long-term denervation. We investigated whether electrophysiological properties of the muscle fibers are preserved in a transplanted hand even after several months of denervation. Specifically, we assessed the dependence of muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) on discharge rate in motor units of the abductor digiti minimi muscle. Methods. Surface electromyography signals were recorded from the transplanted hand of a patient who was 35 years of age at the time of the transplant. In each of 11 experimental sessions performed over a period of 23 months after the transplant, the subject was asked to linearly increase the activation or to maintain a maximum activation of the abductor digiti minimi muscle for 60 sec. Individual motor unit action potentials were identified from the electromyography recordings and muscle fiber CV was estimated for each action potential as a function of the time interval separating the action potential from the preceding discharge (interspike interval [ISI]). Results. The baseline (ISI >1000 msec) CV was 3.8±0.3 m/sec. CV decreased monotonically with increasing ISI (R2=0.95). For ISI in the range 0 to 10 msec, muscle fiber CV was 24.9%±16.3% higher than the baseline value (P<0.05). Conclusions. The results indicate that in the investigated muscle, the baseline value of CV and its dependency on discharge rate were similar as in able-bodied individuals, despite a period of several months of denervation.
Who complied with national fruit and vegetable population goals? Findings from the dietary and nutritional survey of British adults.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of the British adult population which appeared to achieve the national consumption guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption and to compare their dietary, socioeconomic, demographic and behavioural characteristics with those of other British adults who did not comply with the guidelines. Methods: A representative national dietary survey using 7 day weighed records was employed. The sample was recruited using a multistage probability design. One thousand and eighty-seven men and 1,110 women aged 16-64 years living in private households in Great Britain in 1986-1987 took part. The main outcomes were food group, nutrient consumption and socioeconomic, demographic and behavioural variables. Results: Forty per cent of men and 38% of women were classified as fruit and vegetable compilers. By definition, compliers had higher fruit and vegetable intakes of 169 g for men and 193 g for women compared to 28 g for men non-compliers and 49 g for women non-compilers. Compliers had significantly higher intakes of 20 vitamins and minerals (p<0.001) compared to non-compilers. The majority of compliers came from social classes I, II and III non-manual. Non-smoking was significantly associated with being a compiler. Almost hah" of compliers lived in central and southern regions and one-third lived in northern regions and Scotland (p<0.001). Conclusion: The World Health Organisation supports the need for an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption to a daily intake of 400 g per person. To increase Intake there is a need for targeting the young, lower social class and those living in the north and Scotland. The approach should take into account current consumption, access to fruit and vegetables and current attitudes.
Emergence of lamivudine resistance hepatitis B virus mutations in pregnant women infected with HBV and HIV receiving antiretroviral prophylaxis for the prevention of mother‐to‐infant transmission in Malawi

HIV/HBV co‐infection is highly prevalent in sub‐Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of triple combination lamivudine‐containing prophylaxis for the prevention of mother‐to‐infant HIV transmission was associated with the emergence of lamivudine HBV mutations. The study included 21 pregnant co‐infected women in Malawi who received either zidovudine or stavudine plus lamivudine and nevirapine from week 25 of gestation until 6 months after delivery or indefinitely if they met the criteria for treatment (CD4+ <350/mm3). HBV‐DNA was determined using the Roche COBAS assay. Resistance mutations were assessed by the Trugene assay (Siemens Diagnostics). At baseline 33% of the women were HBeAg positive and had HBV‐DNA > 104 IU/ml. Median CD4 count was 237 cells/mm3 and median HIV‐RNA was 3.8 log10 copies/ml. After a median of 259 days of treatment, HBV‐DNA was detectable in 9 out of 21 patients (42.8%). In three cases the HBV‐DNA level was >104 IU/ml. Resistance mutations (M204I in five cases and L180M + M204I/V in one case) were present in 6 (28.6%) patients. Women with a resistant virus had significantly higher baseline HBV‐DNA levels than those not developing resistance (1.1 × 107 IU/ml vs. 20.8 IU/ml, P = 0.022). Levels of ALT and AST were higher in women with resistant viruses compared to those retaining a wild‐type virus. A high rate of lamivudine resistance was seen in this cohort of pregnant women. Follow‐up of these patients will clarify if the presence of resistance has a significant impact on liver disease. J. Med. Virol. 84:1553–1557, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dental students perception of orthodontic treatment

Introduction: The relationship between physical appearance and perception of an esthetic deviation, and the impact of such deviation on self-esteem and body image are important issues in determining the benefits of orthodontic treatment. Aim: To assess dental students′ perception of orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 230 undergraduate dental students of Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka formed the study group. Each classroom of the participants was visited, and self-administered questionnaire was given. An analysis of variance was done between the groups to test for statistical difference. Categorical variables were evaluated using a Chi-square test with the level of significance of P < 0.001. Results: About 75% of the students were aware of their dental esthetics. About 75% of females were satisfied with the attractiveness of their teeth when compared to 69% in males. House surgeons had more positive attitude compared to the 1 st year students. Conclusion: The dental students had good knowledge about the orthodontic treatment and had a positive attitude toward it. Females had very good knowledge, satisfaction and positive attitude compared to the males regarding dental esthetics and treatment. House surgeons were much more aware, very much satisfied and had a more positive attitude than 1 st year students.
Increased circulation of hepatitis A virus genotype IIIA over the last decade in St Petersburg, Russia

The current study, covering the period 2004–2009, is a part of long‐term monitoring for hepatitis A virus (HAV) strains circulating in St Petersburg, Russia. The HAV RNA was isolated directly from the sera of hepatitis A patients and RT‐PCR was carried out using primer pairs for VP1/2A and VP1 genomic regions. PCR products were sequenced and 324 nucleotides from VP1/2A and 332 from the VP1 region were used for phylogenetic analysis. The results show that the IA subtype was the most common circulating subtype during the follow‐up period, as found in the previous study: almost 90% of the isolated HAV strains belonged to the IA subtype. The large hepatitis A food‐borne outbreak in St Petersburg in 2005 was caused by HAV IA. However, the proportion of HAV isolates belonging to subtype IIIA significantly increased in the period 2001–2009 (7.9%) compared to the period 1997–2000 (none found). The subtype IIIA was first found in St Petersburg in 2001 among a group of intravenous drug users. The increase in its circulation during the decade suggests that this previously unusual genotype has been permanently introduced into the general population of St Petersburg. These results indicate the usefulness of molecular epidemiological methods for studying changes in the circulation of HAV strains. J. Med. Virol. 84:1528–1534, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever nosocomial infection in a immunosuppressed patient, Pakistan: Case report and virological investigation

Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is endemic in the Baluchistan province, Pakistan. Sporadic outbreaks of CCHF occur throughout the year especially in individuals in contact with infected livestock. Nosocomial transmission remains a risk due to difficulties in the diagnosis of CCHF and limited availability of facilities for the isolation of suspected patients. Rapid diagnosis of CCHF virus infection is required for early management of the disease and to prevent transmission. This study describes the case of a 43‐year‐old surgeon who contracted CCHF during a surgical procedure in Quetta, Baluchistan and who was transferred to a tertiary care facility at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi within 1 week of contracting the infection. Diagnosis of CCHF was made using a rapid real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay for CCHF viral RNA. The patient had chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis D infection for which he had previously received a liver transplant. He proceeded to develop classic hemorrhagic manifestations and succumbed to the infection 14 days post‐onset of disease. There was no further nosocomial transmission of the CCHF during the hospital treatment of the surgeon. Early diagnosis of CCHF enables rapid engagement of appropriate isolation, barrier nursing and infection control measures thus preventing nosocomial transmission of the virus. J. Med. Virol. 85:501–504, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of human metapneumovirus in children with acute lower respiratory infection in Changsha, China†

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) causes acute respiratory infections in children. The prevalence and clinical characteristics of hMPV were determined in nasopharyngeal aspirates of children in Changsha, China. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) or PCR was employed to screen for both hMPV and other common respiratory viruses in 1,165 nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens collected from children with lower respiratory tract infections from September 2007 to August 2008. All PCR products were sequenced, and demographic and clinical data were collected from all patients. Seventy‐six of 1,165 (6.5%) specimens were positive for hMPV, of which 85.5% (65/76) occurred in the winter and spring seasons. The hMPV coinfection rate was 57.9% (44/76), and human bocavirus was the most common virus detected in conjunction with hMPV. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 94.7% of the hMPV detected were of subgroup A2, 5.3% were subgroup B2, and none belonged to either the A1 or B1 subgroups. No significant differences were found in terms of the frequency of diagnosis and clinical signs between either the co‐ and mono‐infection groups, or between patients with and without underlying diseases. It was concluded that hMPV is an important viral pathogen in pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infections in Changsha. Only hMPV genotypes A2 and B2 were co‐circulating in this locality; human bocavirus was the most common coinfecting virus, and coinfection did not affect disease severity. J. Med. Virol. 85:546–553, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MR Neurography in Diagnosing Nondiabetic Lumbosacral Radiculoplexus Neuropathy

Here we describe the imaging findings in a 73‐year‐old woman who had pain in the right inguinal region, followed by progressive weakness of muscles innervated by the right femoral and obturator nerves, diagnosed as nondiabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy. Magnetic resonance neurography showed thickening and increase in signal intensity of the right femoral and obturator nerves.
Jugular Valve Incompetence in Transient Global Amnesia. A Problem Revisited

Previous studies have suggested that transient global amnesia (TGA) may be provoked by cerebral venous congestion due to a reflux during Valsalva maneuver (VM) caused by internal jugular venous valve incompetence (IJVVI). We investigated the hemodynamic consequences of postural changes on IJVVI and on intracranial veins in patients with TGA and control subjects.
CCR5 Δ 32 mutation is not prevalent in Iranians with chronic HBV infection

CCR5 is an important chemokine receptor involved in the recruitment of specific anti‐viral immune cells (e.g., NK cells and T cytotoxic cells) to the liver. Previous studies indicated that the Δ 32 mutation in CCR5 gene led to inactivation of CCR5. Several conflicting studies have suggested that this mutation may be associated with either recovery or persistence of HBV infection. The main purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of the Δ 32 mutation within the CCR5 gene in a group of patients infected chronically with HBV with healthy individuals from South‐East of Iran. Sixty patients with chronic HBV infection as well as 300 age‐, and sex‐match healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Gap‐PCR was applied to determine the frequency of CCR5 Δ 32 mutation in both groups. The results demonstrated that none of the patients infected with HBV carried the CCR5 Δ 32 mutation while, 3 (1%) of the healthy individuals were found to be heterozygotic for this mutation. The CCR5 Δ 32 mutation is not a prevalent mutation in either the patients infected chronically with HBV or their health counterparts in the South‐East region of Iran. This may be attributed to either different genetic settings of the investigated population or lack of any significant correlation between this mutation and HBV pathogenicity. J. Med. Virol. 85: 964–968, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Implications of Acute Rejection and Reduced Allograft Function on Health Care Expenditures in Contemporary US Kidney Transplantation

Background The economic ramifications of acute rejection (AR) are not well characterized in a contemporary population of kidney transplant recipients. Methods Data for Medicare-insured transplant recipients in 2000 to 2007 (n=45,250) were drawn from the United States Renal Data System. AR events were ascertained from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network reports covering months 0 to 12 (yr1), 13 to 24 (yr2), and 25 to 36 (yr3) after transplantation. AR was subclassified as antibody (Ab)-treated AR or other management (non-Ab–treated AR). The marginal cost impact of AR events during and before a period of interest was quantified by multivariate linear regression including covariates for recipient, donor, and transplant factors. Results Among recipients of standard criteria donor allografts, both Ab-treated AR events (yr1, $22,407; yr 2, $18,803; yr3, $13,909) and non-Ab–treated AR events (yr1, $14,122; yr2, $7852; yr3, $8234) were associated with significant increases in the cost of care. Patterns were similar among recipients of living donor and expanded criteria donor transplants. After weighting by population frequency, AR accounted for 2.3% to 3.8% of total costs incurred during 1 year of posttransplantation care. Subanalysis of recipients with yr1 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) information demonstrated markedly stronger cost variation across eGFR levels. For example, among those with non-Ab–treated AR, adjusted total yr2 costs were $22,747 with eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or higher but $43,881 with eGFR of 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 or lower. Conclusions AR is a significant contributor to individual posttransplantation costs. However, because of its low frequency, AR accounts for a small proportion of posttransplantation costs in the population. Healthcare costs in patients with AR are markedly higher among those with reduced compared with preserved allograft function.
Vitamin D status and serum ferritin concentration in chronic hepatitis C virus type 1 infection

The circulating 25‐hydroxylated form of vitamin D3, 25(OH)D, and serum ferritin concentrations have been described to be associated with disease progression in chronic hepatitis C. Both parameters also have been assessed with regard to treatment outcome, however, with divergent results. This study examined both the pre‐ and posttreatment serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and ferritin in 191 patients infected chronically with hepatitis C virus (HCV) type 1 with regard to liver inflammatory activity (grading), disease progression in terms of fibrosis (staging) and an antiviral treatment outcome. Mean pretreatment serum 25(OH)D and ferritin concentrations were 18 ± 10 ng/ml and 280 ± 225 µg/L, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed lower pretreatment serum 25(OH)D and higher ferritin concentrations to be significantly related to both severity of inflammatory activity and of fibrotic alterations. Pretreatment serum ferritin concentration, furthermore, unlike 25(OH)D concentration, was found to be associated with a sustained virological response by uni‐ and multivariate analyses. A sustained virological response was featured by a significant increase in serum 25(OH)D levels (18 ± 10 ng/ml vs. 22 ± 11 ng/ml; P < 0.01), a reduction of serum ferritin concentration (191 ± 156 µg/L vs. 103 ± 63 µg/L; P < 0.001) and a normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ‐glutamyl‐transferase (γ‐GT) activities. Taken together, decreased 25(OH)D and increased ferritin serum levels indicate the severity of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in patients infected chronically with HCV type 1. Elevated ferritin, furthermore, was found to be an independent predictor for standard IFN‐based therapy responsiveness. J. Med. Virol. 85:1534–1541, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DINITROPHENOL AND DESICCATED THYROID IN THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY: A COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL AND LABORATORY STUDY

Within the last three years, dinitrophenol burst upon the medical world with meteoric suddenness. The groundwork was laid as early as 1885,1when the effects, on the dog, of dinitro-alpha-naphthol (a compound closely related to dinitrophenol) were studied. Interest in the drug lapsed until the World War, when poisoning of those working with it in munition plants was frequent.2Since 1933,3when its possibilities, especially in the treatment of obesity, were first spread before physicians, the drug has enjoyed a phenomenal growth in usage. Recently, Tainter4has given as an estimate that 100,000 patients are taking, or have taken, dinitrophenol. A detailed study of the voluminous literature on dinitrophenol reveals surprising gaps in our knowledge of the drug. Although our knowledge of the pharmacology and clinical actions of the drug rests on a secure footing, studies of its clinical pathology are wofully inadequate. Accordingly, this paper
The Uncinate Fasciculus as a Predictor of Conversion from Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer Disease

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is associated with the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)‐based fractional anisotropy (FA) analyses have been used to evaluate white matter changes in patients with AD, it remains unknown how FA values change during the conversion of aMCI to AD. This study aimed to elucidate the prediction of conversion to AD and cognitive decline by FA values in uncinate fasciculus (UF) in aMCI patients.
Detection of unusual G6 rotavirus strains in Italian children with diarrhoea during the 2011 surveillance season

Two rare G6 rotavirus A (RVA) strains, designated as RVA/human‐wt/ITA/CEC06/2011/G6P[6] and RVA/human‐wt/ITA/PG05/2011/G6P[9], were identified in stool specimens from children hospitalized in Central Italy. After PCR genotyping, the samples CEC06 and PG05 gave G‐UD‐P[6] and G‐UD‐P[9] genotypes, respectively. To determine the G‐type and to characterize further the two strains, sequencing of 8 of the 11 genomic segments was performed. CEC06 and PG05 strains were found to possess unusual genotype constellations: G6‐P[6]‐I2‐A2‐N2‐T2‐E2‐H2 and G6‐P[9]‐I2‐A3‐N2‐T3‐E3‐H3, respectively. This study reports the first detection of rare G6P[6] and G6P[9] RVA strains in peninsular Italy. Phylogenetic analysis of VP4 (VP8*), VP7, VP6, and NSP1‐5 showed no evidence of zoonosis or inter‐species reassortment, revealing for both strains constellations previously associated to human cases. J Med. Virol. 85:1860–1869, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Herpesvirus detection and cytokine levels (IL‐10, IL‐6, and IFN‐γ) in ocular fluid from Tunisian immunocompetent patients with uveitis

Human herpesviruses (HHVs) are involved in the pathogenesis of different types of uveitis. Cytokine response plays an important role in virus‐induced immunopathology. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of HHVs in aqueous humor samples of immunocompetent patients with suspected viral uveitis and cytokine (IL‐10, IL‐6, and IFN‐γ) expression profiling. Forty‐seven aqueous humor samples were collected from immunocompetent patients with viral uveitis. Samples were assayed for HHV‐1 to HHV‐8 by in‐house real‐time polymerase chain reactions. IL‐6, IL‐10, and IFN‐γ were quantified with a cytometric bead array. Relations between viral detection, cytokine profiles, and clinical data were studied. At least one viral genome was detected in 21 aqueous humor samples analyzed. Varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) was detected in 14 of the positive samples, cytomegalovirus (CMV) in 8, HSV‐1 in 1, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in 4, and HHV‐6 in 2. More than one viral genome was detected in seven aqueous humor samples. Aqueous humor samples positive for HHV‐DNA contained significant levels of IL‐6, IL‐10, and IFN‐γ, compared to HHV‐DNA negative samples. High levels of IL‐6 were detected in patients with CMV‐DNA in their aqueous humor samples. Significantly higher levels of IL‐10 and IFN‐γ were found in positive samples for VZV, EBV, and HHV‐6 DNA than in negative aqueous humor ones. VZV was the principal etiologic agent of uveitis in this Tunisian series, with CMV the second most common agent. Knowledge of immunoregulatory interactions and dynamic changes in viral uveitis may be a key to understand the pathogenesis leading to more‐effective treatments. J. Med. Virol. 85:2079–2086, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.