Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence of cancer in children perinatally exposed to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Context:Long-term studies of tolerance to perinatal exposure to antiretroviral nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are required, in view of the potential genotoxicity of some of these molecules. Objective:To evaluate the incidence of cancers in uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers. Method:Cancers were detected in a nationwide prospective cohort of children born to HIV-infected mothers by standardized questionnaire during the prospective follow-up period of 2 years; thereafter, they were detected by spontaneous pharmacovigilance declaration and by crosschecking data with the national registries of childhood cancer. Standardized incidence ratio for incidence comparisons with general population. Results:Ten cases of cancer were detected among the 9127 exposed HIV-uninfected children (median age: 5.4 years, 53 052 person-years of follow-up). The overall incidence did not differ significantly from that expected for the general population: 10 cases observed versus 8.9 and 9.6 expected depending on whether 1990–1999 or 2000–2004 national rates were used as reference [standardized incidence ratio of 1.1 (0.3–1.5) and 1.0 (0.5–1.9)]. Five cases of central nervous system cancer were observed (standardized incidence ratio of 3.1 [1.0–7.2] P = 0.05 and 2.4 [0.8–5.6], P = 0.12). The relative risk of cancer for children exposed to didanosine–lamivudine combination was higher than that for zidovudine monotherapy [hazard ratio: 13.6 (2.5–73.9)]. Conclusion:This study did not evidence an overall increase in cancer risk in nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor exposed children until 5 years of age. Results suggesting associations with specific nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor combinations need further investigations. A longer surveillance, including differential analysis of the different cancer sites and various nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors administered is warranted.
Bile Ducts and Ductules Are Positive for CD56 (N-CAM) in Most Cases of Extrahepatic Biliary Atresia

The diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia can be challenging as the histologic features can overlap with other pediatric cholestatic liver diseases. Several previous studies have noted that biliary epithelium is positive for CD56 in the setting of extrahepatic biliary tract disease. Thus, we explored the use of CD56 in evaluating liver biopsy specimens for extrahepatic biliary atresia. A total of 22 cases were selected and immunostained for CD56, including 14 cases of confirmed extrahepatic biliary atresia and 8 cases of other cholestatic liver diseases in which the differential diagnosis included extrahepatic biliary atresia. Bile ducts and proliferating ductules were positive for CD56 in 13 of 14 cases of extrahepatic biliary atresia. The staining intensity was generally strong with most cases showing positivity in more than two thirds of portal tracts. The one negative case was a very small biopsy (<0.3 cm), and sampling may have played a role. In contrast, 4 of 8 cases in the control group were completely negative for CD56, with the remaining cases showing weak and focal positivity. In conclusion, bile ducts and ductules are CD56 positive in most cases of extrahepatic biliary atresia, and CD56 immunostaining can be a useful supplemental stain for diagnosing extrahepatic biliary atresia in its early, ductular proliferative phase when used in conjunction with traditional hematoxylin and eosin morphology and clinical information.
False-positive results in immunoglobulin M (IgM) toxoplasma antibody tests and importance of confirmatory testing: the Platelia Toxo IgM test

Although tests for detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) toxoplasma antibodies have been reported to have a high degree of accuracy, it is well recognized by investigators in the United States and Europe that false-positive results may occur with many of these tests, at times to an alarming degree. Unfortunately, this information is not well documented in the literature. Studies on various toxoplasma IgM test kits are frequently flawed. The investigators often use reference tests which have not previously been carefully evaluated as well as sera that were not appropriate to answer the question of how often false-positive results might occur. We recently had the unique opportunity to evaluate the accuracy of the Platelia Toxo IgM test in 575 serum samples obtained during an outbreak of toxoplasmosis which occurred in 1995 in the Capital Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. When compared with results obtained in a reference IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the Platelia Toxo IgM test had a sensitivity of 99.4%, specificity of 49.2%, positive predictive value of 51.9%, negative predictive value of 99.3%, and an overall agreement of 67.0%. In an attempt to resolve discrepancies between these two tests, a serological profile (Sabin-Feldman dye test, IgA and IgE antibody tests, differential agglutination [AC/HS] test, and IgG avidity method) was performed. Of 153 serum samples that were positive in the Platelia Toxo IgM test and negative in the IgM ELISA, 71 (46.4%) were negative in the Sabin-Feldman dye test. Of the serum samples that were positive in the dye test, 77 (93.9%) had a serological profile most compatible with an infection acquired in the distant past. These results reveal high numbers of false-positive results in the Platelia Toxo IgM test and highlight the importance of appropriate evaluation of commercial tests that are currently being marked. Our results also emphasize the importance of confirmatory testing to determine whether the results of an IgM antibody test reflect the likelihood of a recently acquired infection.
Surgeon Information Transfer and Communication: Factors Affecting Quality and Efficiency of Inpatient Care

Objective:To determine the nature of surgeon information transfer and communication (ITC) errors that lead to adverse events and near misses. To recommend strategies for minimizing or preventing these errors. Summary Background Data:Surgical hospital practice is changing from a single provider to a team-based approach. This has put a premium on effective ITC. The Information Transfer and Communication Practices (ITCP) Project is a multi-institutional effort to: 1) better understand surgeon ITCP and their patient care consequences, 2) determine what has been done to improve ITCP in other professions, and 3) recommend ways to improve these practices among surgeons. Methods:Separate, semi-structured focus group sessions were conducted with surgical residents (n = 59), general surgery attending physicians (n = 36), and surgical nurses (n = 42) at 5 medical centers. Case descriptions and general comments were classified by the nature of ITC lapses and their effects on patients and medical care. Information learned was combined with a review of ITC strategies in other professions to develop principles and guidelines for re-engineering surgeon ITCP. Results:A total of 328 case descriptions and general comments were obtained and classified. Incidents fell into 4 areas: blurred boundaries of responsibility (87 reports), decreased surgeon familiarity with patients (123 reports), diversion of surgeon attention (31 reports), and distorted or inhibited communication (67 reports). Results were subdivided into 30 contributing factors (eg, shift change, location change, number of providers). Consequences of ITC lapses included delays in patient care (77% of cases), wasted surgeon/staff time (48%), and serious adverse patient consequences (31%). Twelve principles and 5 institutional habit changes are recommended to guide ITCP re-engineering. Conclusions:Surgeon communication lapses are significant contributors to adverse patient consequences, and provider inefficiency. Re-engineering ITCP will require significant cultural changes.
The relationship between eye-perception and voice-response in reading

In oral reading the eye always moves along the line of print in advance of the voice, at times keeping very far in the lead and at other times very little in advance. A mature reader tends to maintain a comparatively wide average span between the eye and the voice, which at times may amount to the space occupied by seven or eight words. An immature reader, however, tends to keep the eye and voice very close together, in many cases not moving the aye from a word until the voice has pronounced it. Reading of this type becomes little more that a series of spoken words because there is no opportunity to anticipate the meaning in large units. An eye-voice span of considerable width is necessary in order that the reader may have an intelligent grasp of the material read, and that he may read it with good expression. If words are encountered which are spelled alike but pronounced differently, such as "read" (present tense) and "read" (past tense), the correct pronunciation and meaning cannot be determined in many cases until the eye has observed the context by looking ahead. The need for a wide eye-voice span is also emphasized when marks of punctuation are encountered. The failure of immature readers to respond to a question mark by a rising inflec tion of the voice is clear evidence that a narrow eye-voice span has kept them unaware of its presence until it is too late to modify their expression.
Study of the Factors Leading to Fetal and Neonatal Dysthyroidism in Children of Patients With Graves Disease

Context: Neonatal hyperthyroidism was first described in 1912 and in 1964 was shown to be linked to transplacental passage of maternal antibodies. Few multicenter studies have described the perinatal factors leading to fetal and neonatal dysthyroidism. Objective: To show how fetal dysthyroidism (FD) and neonatal dysthyroidism (ND) can be predicted from perinatal variables, in particular, the levels of anti-thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAbs) circulating in the mother and child. Design and Patients: This was a retrospective multicenter study of data from the medical records of all patients monitored for pregnancy from 2007 to 2014. Setting: Among 280,000 births, the medical records of 2288 women with thyroid dysfunction were selected and screened, and 417 women with Graves disease and positive for TRAbs during pregnancy were included. Results: Using the maternal TRAb levels, the cutoff value of 2.5 IU/L best predicted for FD, with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 64%. Using the newborn TRAb levels, the cutoff value of 6.8 IU/L best predicted for ND, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94%. In our study, 65% of women with a history of Graves disease did not receive antithyroid drugs during pregnancy but still had infants at risk of ND. Conclusions: In pregnant women with TRAb levels ≥2.5 IU/L, fetal ultrasound monitoring is essential until delivery. All newborns with TRAb levels ≥6.8 IU/L should be examined by a pediatrician with special attention for thyroid dysfunction and treated, if necessary.
Effect of hand packing versus cement gun pressurization on cement mantle in total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND Gun pressurization in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may result in better cement penetration than hand packing, leading to fewer tibial plate failures. We compared cement intrusion characteristics between vacuum mixing and gun pressurization versus hand mixing and packing in the proximal tibia among patients undergoing TKA. METHODS We analyzed 6-week radiographs from 77 consecutive patients for cement area and zone-specific intrusion using computer-assisted image analysis. RESULTS Penetration into tibial anteroposterior zones 1-6 was not significantly different between the techniques. Intrusion depths in anteroposterior zone 7 and lateral zone 2 were significantly increased with gun pressurization, but this increase was associated with significantly longer operating room and tourniquet times. CONCLUSION We identified no obvious advantage of vacuum mixing with gun pressurization, suggesting that continued use of the hand-packing technique may be warranted. Additional long-term failure studies must be completed to compare these techniques.
Amount, Distribution, and Quality of Protein Intake Are Not Associated with Muscle Mass, Strength, and Power in Healthy Older Adults without Functional Limitations—An enable Study

To maintain muscle mass in older age, several aspects regarding the amount and distribution of protein intake have been suggested. Our objective was to investigate single and combined associations of daily protein intake, evenness of protein distribution across the three main meals, number of meals providing ≥0.4 g protein/kg body weight (BW), and number of meals providing ≥2.5 g leucine, with muscle mass, strength, and power in successful agers. In this cross-sectional study in 97 healthy community-dwelling adults without functional limitations aged 75–85 years, protein intake was assessed using 7-day food records. Muscle mass, leg muscle strength, leg muscle power, and handgrip strength were measured according to standardized protocols. Mean daily protein intake was 0.97 ± 0.28 g/kg BW and the coefficient of variance between main meals was 0.53 ± 0.19. Per day, 0.72 ± 0.50 meals providing ≥0.4 g protein/kg BW and 1.11 ± 0.76 meals providing ≥2.5 g leucine were consumed. No correlations between single or combined aspects of protein intake and skeletal muscle index, leg muscle power, leg muscle strength, or handgrip strength were observed (Spearman’s r of −0.280 to 0.291). In this sample of healthy older adults without functional limitations, aspects of protein intake were not associated with muscle mass, strength, or power.
Exposure of acrylic fingernail sculptors to organic vapors and methacrylate dusts.

Personal and area samples for organic vapors and polymethacrylate dust were collected in six different sculptured nail salons. Self-administered symptom questionnaires were completed by 20 female nail sculptors and 20 matched controls. Mean time-weighted average concentrations (TWACs) of ethyl methacrylate, isopropyl alcohol, butyl acetate and toluene in 17 personal organic vapors samples collected in these establishments were 4.5, 15.6, 0.4 and 0.8 ppm, respectively. The mean TWACs of polymethacrylate dust in 16 personal samples were 0.9 mg/m3 and 1.4 mg/m3 for respirable dust and total dust, respectively. The only statistically significant (p less than .05) health effect noted among sculptors was throat irritation. Also, nose and skin irritation, drowziness, dizzy spells and trembling of the hands were reported consistently more often by sculptors than the control group; however, the difference was not statistically significant.
Changes in human muscle protein synthesis after resistance exercise.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude and time course for changes in muscle protein synthesis (MPS) after a single bout of resistance exercise. Two groups of six male subjects performed heavy resistance exercise with the elbow flexors of one arm while the opposite arm served as a control. MPS from exercised (ex) and control (con) biceps brachii was assessed 4 (group A) and 24 h (group B) postexercise by the increment in L-[1-13C]leucine incorporation into muscle biopsy samples. In addition, RNA capacity and RNA activity were determined to assess whether transcriptional and/or translational processes affected MPS. MPS was significantly elevated in biceps of the ex compared with the con arms of both groups (group A, ex 0.1007 +/- 0.0330 vs. con 0.067 +/- 0.0204%/h; group B ex 0.0944 +/- 0.0363 vs. con 0.0452 +/- 0.0126%/h). RNA capacity was unchanged in the ex biceps of both groups relative to the con biceps, whereas RNA activity was significantly elevated in the ex biceps of both groups (group A, ex 0.19 +/- 0.10 vs. con 0.12 +/- 0.05 micrograms protein.h-1.microgram-1 total RNA; group B, ex 0.18 +/- 0.06 vs. con 0.08 +/- 0.02 micrograms protein.h-1.microgram-1 total RNA). The results indicate that a single bout of heavy resistance exercise can increase biceps MPS for up to 24 h postexercise. In addition, these increases appear to be due to changes in posttranscriptional events.
The Application of Minority Stress Theory to Marijuana Use Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

Previous research indicates that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents are at increased risk for substance use, including heightened rates of marijuana use. Minority stress theory suggests that difficult social situations create a state of chronic stress that leads to poor health outcomes for LGB adults; however, the applicability of this model has not been well explored in relation to substance use among LGB adolescents. The current study is a secondary analysis of the OutProud survey, conducted in 2000. The original study used purposive sampling to collect data from 1,911 LGB adolescents (age 12–17) across the United States, and represents the largest known study to explore experiences specific to identifying as LGB, such as homophobia and gay-related victimization. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the feasibility of applying a minority stress framework to understand marijuana use in this population. The final structural model for marijuana use in the LGB adolescent sample displayed excellent fit and modest explanatory power for marijuana use. Two of the five factors, community connectedness and internalized homophobia, were significantly (p < .05) associated with marijuana use. Findings suggest that minority stress theory may be appropriately applied to marijuana use in this population; however, better measurement of minority stress concepts for LGB adolescents is needed.
Mannose‐binding lectin‐2 genetic variation and stomach cancer risk

Deficiency of the mannose‐binding lectin (MBL) protein, an antigen‐recognition molecule involved in systemic and mucosal innate immunity, is determined by variant alleles in MBL2 gene promoter and exon‐1 regions. We conducted a population‐based study on 305 stomach cancer cases and 427 controls in Warsaw, Poland to determine whether MBL2 gene variants predispose to stomach cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MBL2 were determined by TaqMan™. The 5 tested MBL2 variants are in complete linkage disequilibrium and comprise 6 different haplotypes. The risk of stomach cancer was increased in subjects carrying the H/H promoter genotype (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.1–2.9; p = 0.020) relative to L/L carriers, after adjustment for age, gender, education and smoking. Carrying at least one D exon‐1 allele was associated with nonsignificant excess risk (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 0.9–2.4; p = 0.081). In haplotype analysis, the HYD haplotype was associated with increased risk of stomach cancer when compared with HYA, the most common haplotype (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.2; p = 0.021). In diplotype analysis, subjects carrying the YA/D haplotype combination showed the highest risk (OR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.2–7.1; p = 0.015), compared with YA/YA. Further analyses to examine the joint effect of MBL2 and IL‐1B polymorphisms, previously shown to predispose to stomach cancer, indicated that the combination of at‐risk IL‐1B genotypes (CT or TT at location ‐511) and HYD MBL2 haplotype was associated with a 3.5‐fold risk (OR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.6–7.6; p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that the codon 52 D MBL2 variant causing a cysteine > arginine replacement, but not B and C variants producing glycine substitutions, is specifically associated with gastric cancer risk. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diversity of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec Elements in Predominant Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clones in a Small Geographic Area

ABSTRACT Recent population genetic studies suggest that staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) was acquired much more frequently than previously thought. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the diversity of SCCmec elements in a local methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) population. Each MRSA isolate (one per patient) recovered in the Vaud canton of Switzerland from January 2005 to December 2008 was analyzed by the double-locus sequence typing (DLST) method and SCCmec typing. DLST analysis indicated that 1,884/2,036 isolates (92.5%) belong to four predominant clones. As expected from the local spread of a clone, most isolates within clones harbored an identical SCCmec type. However, three to seven SCCmec types have been recovered in every predominant DLST clone, suggesting that some of these elements might have been acquired locally. This pattern could also be explained by distinct importations of related isolates into the study region. The addition of a third highly variable locus to further increase the discriminatory power of typing as well as epidemiological data suggested that most ambiguous situations were explained by the second hypothesis. In conclusion, our study showed that even if the acquisition of new SCCmec elements at a local level likely occurs, it does not explain all the diversity observed in the study region.
Analysis of spatial patterns at a geographical scale over north-western Europe from point-referenced aphid count data

Abstract The spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE) technique was developed to evaluate the spatial pattern of point-referenced count data as well as the spatial association between two sets of data sharing the same point locations. This paper presents an analysis of spatial patterns in aphid count data and the association of these data with climate across north-west Europe. The paper tests the applicability of the technique to large geographical areas. Aggregation and cluster indices were calculated for the total annual abundance of the peach–potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and for the annual mean rainfall and temperature at aphid monitoring sites. Association indices demonstrated the stability in time of aphid spatial structures and the correlation between aphid density and climate patterns. Groups of relatively large numbers of aphids, termed patches, and groups of relatively small numbers of aphids, termed gaps, were located and their mean size estimated. The aphid patterns were quite stable in time and the spatial patterns of temperature and rainfall were weakly associated with M. persicae annual abundance. Similarities were observed between the results of SADIE and those from the more widely used technique of spatial autocorrelation (SAC). However, the SADIE association index has the advantage of quantifying the possible associations between aphid data and the factors that determine population distribution. Thus, high temperature and low rainfall were identified as environmental factors that were positively associated with aphid abundance across north-west Europe.
Noise exposure in the rural setting

Noise levels of 155 tractors on 36 farms were studied. The range of noise levels at the driver's ear level with radios off and windows closed (if so equipped) was from 78 to 103 dB. Seventy‐five percent of tractors without cabs had noise levels in excess of 90 dB, compared to only 18% of tractors with cabs. The use of a radio adds an average of 3.1 dB of noise. When some cab windows are open and the radio is on, an average of 4.2 dB is added to the cab noise. From the results of this study, the authors recommend hearing protection when time on a tractor with a cab approaches 3 to 4 hours and when time on a tractor without a cab approaches 1.5 to 2 hours. Limited use of the radio is also recommended.