Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The clinical utility of basophil activation testing in diagnosis and monitoring of allergic disease

The basophil activation test (BAT) has become a pervasive test for allergic response through the development of flow cytometry, discovery of activation markers such as CD63 and unique markers identifying basophil granulocytes. Basophil activation test measures basophil response to allergen cross‐linking IgE on between 150 and 2000 basophil granulocytes in <0.1 ml fresh blood. Dichotomous activation is assessed as the fraction of reacting basophils. In addition to clinical history, skin prick test, and specific IgE determination, BAT can be a part of the diagnostic evaluation of patients with food‐, insect venom‐, and drug allergy and chronic urticaria. It may be helpful in determining the clinically relevant allergen. Basophil sensitivity may be used to monitor patients on allergen immunotherapy, anti‐IgE treatment or in the natural resolution of allergy. Basophil activation test may use fewer resources and be more reproducible than challenge testing. As it is less stressful for the patient and avoids severe allergic reactions, BAT ought to precede challenge testing. An important next step is to standardize BAT and make it available in diagnostic laboratories. The nature of basophil activation as an ex vivo challenge makes it a multifaceted and promising tool for the allergist. In this EAACI task force position paper, we provide an overview of the practical and technical details as well as the clinical utility of BAT in diagnosis and management of allergic diseases.
Psychiatric symptoms in sleep apnea syndrome: effects of gender and respiratory disturbance index.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested an association between Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) and several psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of SAS with psychiatric symptoms as determined by the SCL-90 psychiatric questionnaire. METHODS The study comprised 2,271 patients (1,977 men, 294 women) referred to the Technion Sleep Laboratories with suspected SAS. They completed the SCL-90 Symptom Self-Report Inventory and then underwent a whole-night polysomnographic examination. The study population was stratified into subgroups according to gender, age, and respiratory disturbance index (RDI). RESULTS Among men, there were no body mass index, RDI, or age-related differences in anxiety, depression, or in any other SCL-90 dimension. The depression and anxiety scores were significantly higher in women than in men for all age groups and for all levels of RDI. The depression score was higher in women with severe SAS than in women with mild SAS, for all ages. Surprisingly, in women who were only simple snorers, the depression and anxiety scores were higher than in mild SAS sufferers, for all age groups. CONCLUSIONS In our large male population, neither the existence nor the severity of SAS was associated with depression or anxiety. Women had higher anxiety and depression scores, independent of other factors, than men. Women with severe SAS had higher depression scores than women with mild SAS.
InhA1, NprA, and HlyII as Candidates for Markers To Differentiate Pathogenic from Nonpathogenic Bacillus cereus Strains

ABSTRACT Bacillus cereus is found in food, soil, and plants, and the ability to cause food-borne diseases and opportunistic infection presumably varies among strains. Therefore, measuring harmful toxin production, in addition to the detection of the bacterium itself, may be key for food and hospital safety purposes. All previous studies have focused on the main known virulence factors, cereulide, Hbl, Nhe, and CytK. We examined whether other virulence factors may be specific to pathogenic strains. InhA1, NprA, and HlyII have been described as possibly contributing to B. cereus pathogenicity. We report the prevalence and expression profiles of these three new virulence factor genes among 57 B. cereus strains isolated from various sources, including isolates associated with gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal diseases. Using PCR, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, and virulence in vivo assays, we unraveled these factors as potential markers to differentiate pathogenic from nonpathogenic strains. We show that the hlyII gene is carried only by strains with a pathogenic potential and that the expression levels of inhA1 and nprA are higher in the pathogenic than in the nonpathogenic group of strains studied. These data deliver useful information about the pathogenicity of various B. cereus strains.
Daily behavior ratings among child and adolescent inpatients: the abbreviated Child Behavior Rating Form.

OBJECTIVE Child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient facilities are in need of standardized behavior rating scales to assess continuous change in patient behaviors. This study used daily staff ratings to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of an abbreviated version of the Child Behavior Rating Form (CBRF-A). METHOD Three hundred eighty-seven inpatients, aged 3 to 17 years, were rated daily by unit staff. Subsamples of patients and/or their parents completed additional measures of behavior problems (Child Behavior Checklist, Functional Impairment Scale for Children and Adolescents) to assess the instrument's validity. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analyses identified 5 behavior problem dimensions (Oppositionalism, Attention Problems, Overactivity, Withdrawal/Depression, and Anxiety), a second-order Externalizing dimension, and 2 positive behavior dimensions (Positive/Adaptive Social and Compliance/Self-Control). The scales were found to be internally consistent and showed expected age differences, and the scale factor structures were relatively stable over 1- and 2-week intervals. The scales correlated meaningfully with parent ratings of child behavior problems and functional impairment and were predictive of total hospital days. CONCLUSIONS The psychometric properties of the CBRF-A appear adequate for daily inpatient rating; additional research is needed to determine the usefulness of the CBRF-A in assessing treatment and medication effects over the hospital stay.
SCHOOL-BASED ASSESSMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN MALAYSIA

The purpose of this study is to explore the implementation of School-Based Assessment among Physical Education teachers in Malaysian secondary schools. This study was based on the qualitative method using semi-structured interviews. For the purpose of this research, 16 (8 male and 8 female) Physical Education teachers were selected from 4 secondary schools located in Perlis, a state situated along the northern border of Malaysia. These schools are national schools which follow the national curriculum endorsed by the Malaysia Ministry of Education. Furthermore, the schools adopt the co-educational system. Based on the findings, the teachers mentioned that the administrators were not positioning the Physical Education (PE) subject as one of the main subjects in the school curriculum. The teachers have complained that not all of them are specialist teachers whereby most PE teachers in Malaysian secondary schools are not specialist teachers. Time allotment for a PE subject is two 40-minute lessons in a week. In the Malaysian education system, both teaching periods are shared by Physical Education and Health Education respectively. Furthermore, this subject is often debated because it seems to appear as a subject that needs to be taught in the curriculum without having a clear objective. Even though the objectives were already set by the Ministry, this subject remains unpopular because it is not included in the public examination. As a result, more measures need to be taken to ensure that the implementation of Physical Education subject can be of more benefit to the students.
Serum Leptin Levels, Leptin Receptor Gene (LEPR) Polymorphism, and the Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Kashmiri Population

The study is conducted to evaluate relationship between LEPRQ223R (Gln > Arg) polymorphism, serum leptin levels, soluble leptin receptor (SOb-R) levels and SLE risk in Kashmiri population.LEPR genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 100 unrelated SLE patients and equal number of healthy control subjects. Leptin and SOb-R levels were measured by ELISA assays. The present study showed higher frequency of variant genotype (AG + GG) in cases compared to controls [OR = 2.52, CI = 1.18–5.35, p = 0.03]. Moreover the rare (G) allele was significantly more predominant in cases than controls [OR = 1.49, p = 0.04]. Interestingly a positive association between the variant genotype and the development of arthritis [OR = 11.8, CI = 1.6–85.1, p = 0.002] and an inverse association with cardiac disorder [OR = 0.09, CI = 0.02–0.46, p = 0.001] was observed in this study. Furthermore the study showed significant differences of leptin levels in SLE patients and controls (23.9 ± 19.5 vs 14.8 ± 10.4, p < 0.001). SLE patients in the highest quartile leptin levels (≥32.5 ng/mL) were significantly more likely to have higher BMI (p = 0.001) and increased risk of developing arthritis (p = 0.02). Furthermore positive association was observed between the variant genotype(AG + GG) and leptin levels (p = 0.001) in SLE patients. Thus, it is evident from our study that LEPRQ223R polymorphism and elevated leptin levels are associated with increased susceptibility of SLE in Kashmiri population.
The relationships between apathy and executive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in multiple sclerosis (MS). Among these, apathy is relatively frequent but its relationships with cognitive dysfunctions have been poorly investigated. OBJECTIVE To explore cognitive correlates of apathy with or without depression ("pure apathy") in MS patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD Nondemented MS patients (n = 125), consecutively referred to the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Moscati Hospital, in Avellino, Italy, underwent the Apathy Evaluation Scale Self-Rated (AES-S), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. RESULTS According to cut-off scores of AES-S (≥36), of HDRS (≥15) and criteria for diagnosis of apathy and major depression, the sample was divided into 4 subgroups: 49 patients without apathy or depression (A-D-), 20 patients with "pure" apathy (A+D-), 29 patients with depression only (A-D+), and 27 patients with apathy and depression (A+D+). Cognitive performance significantly differed in the 4 groups: in particular MS patients with apathy (A+D- and A+D+) performed significantly worse on executive tasks than patients without apathy, whereas patients with "pure" apathy (A+D-) performed significantly worse than patients without apathy only on executive tasks tapping cognitive control abilities. CONCLUSIONS We found a significant relationship between apathy and dysexecutive defects in MS, consistent with the hypothesis that dysfunctions of prefrontal cortico-subcortical circuits contribute to specific neuropsychiatric syndromes in MS patients. (PsycINFO Database Record
The need for orthodontic treatment in a school and referred population of Nigeria using the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN).

OBJECTIVES To determine the objective orthodontic treatment need of a group of school children and a referred population using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and establish the relationship between subjective and objective orthodontic treatment need. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS The study groups were 250 school children and 157 children referred to the orthodontic unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC). They assessed their need for treatment, their dental casts were also assessed by the examiner (K.A.K) using the IOTN. RESULTS The professional assessment of treatment need of the children in the school population based on the Aesthetic Component of IOTN were 62.8% no need, 30% moderate need and 7.2% great need for orthodontic treatment, the referred population had 19.7%, 36.3% and 43.9% respectively. The Dental health component resulted in 66% no need, 20% moderate need and 14% great need for treatment in the school population. These percentages were 20.4%, 16.6% and 63% respectively in the referred population. Statistically significant differences were found between subjective and professional assessment of orthodontic treatment need in both populations. There were no significant gender differences in objective orthodontic treatment need. CONCLUSION The results of the study indicate that there is a difference of opinion on orthodontic treatment need between laypersons and professionals. The IOTN reliably records deviant occlusal traits can be used to prioritize treatment need.
Post-earthquake outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a rural region of southern Iran

Abstract Human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is of increasing public-health importance in Iran. On 10 July 2003, two mild earthquakes struck the rural town of Zarindasht in the southern Iranian province of Fars. The results of passive detection of CL cases in this town (in which patients with any skin lesions were evaluated) from April 2002 to April 2004 indicated that the earthquakes may have led to an outbreak of the disease; annual incidence increased from 58·6 detected cases/100,000 in the 12 months before the earthquakes to (an outbreak peak of) 864 detected cases/100,000 in the following 12 months. In addition, the incidence of detected CL in the town that was struck by the earthquakes in 2003 was significantly higher in the 12 months after the earthquakes than that recorded, over the same 12 months, for Fars province as a whole (P<0·05). Most (70%) of the cases detected in the town were aged ⩽10 years, about half (50·4%) of the detected skin lesions were on the face, and most (89·7%) of the skin lesions were caused by Leishmania major. Incidence over the study period showed marked seasonality, with most (79·5%) of the detected cases occurring between November and February. In areas where the disease is endemic, CL may need to be considered among the health threats posed by natural disasters such as earthquakes, and increased surveillance for CL after future earthquakes may be justified.
Hypothesis: Uric acid, nephron number, and the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND Essential hypertension affects more than 25% of the world's population. Genetic, physiologic, and epidemiologic studies provide clues to its origins, but a clear understanding has been elusive. Recent experimental and clinical studies have implicated uric acid in the onset of essential hypertension. METHODS In a retrospective chart review, we identified 95 children with confirmed, new onset hypertension, and evaluated the cause of hypertension and parental history of hypertension, birth weight, and serum uric acid. In an open-label, cross-over trial we treated 5 children with confirmed essential hypertension with allopurinol as single treatment agent, and screened for change in blood pressure by casual and ambulatory methods. In tissue culture experiments, we evaluated the effect of uric acid on glomerular endothelial cell function. RESULTS Elevation of serum uric acid is related to the onset of essential hypertension in children, reduced birth weight, and endothelial dysfunction. Normalization of uric acid appears to ameliorate new onset essential hypertension. CONCLUSION These findings, combined with animal model data, support the hypothesis that uric acid has a key role in the pathogenesis of early onset essential hypertension, and may unify some of the disparate theories of the origins of essential hypertension.
Gallstone Pancreatitis: A Community Teaching Hospital Experience

Goals The current study reviews the Bridgeport Hospital experience with gallstone pancreatitis (GP) and examines its incidence by race and gender. Study Consecutive patients admitted with acute pancreatitis between October 1994 and October 1996 were identified using discharge diagnosis codes. Demographics and clinical information were abstracted. Patients were categorized as having definite GP, probable GP, and non-GP using the available information. Results One hundred twenty-three patients met criteria for acute pancreatitis. Of these, 40 met the criteria for definite GP; 14, probable; and 69, non-GP. The estimated incidence for acute pancreatitis was 45 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI = 41–58 per 100,000 person-years) for definite GP and was 20 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI = 14–25 per 100,000 person-years) for probably GP. Patients with definite or probable GP were predominantly white or Hispanic women and tended to be older. Only 16% of pancreatitis in black patients was associated with gallstones. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT > 120 U/L) was highly specific (97%) in predicting GP, with a positive likelihood ratio of 18.3. Abdominal ultrasound was the most widely used imaging study. Complication rates were low. There was only one intrahospital death. Conclusions The incidence of acute pancreatitis requiring hospitalization at our community hospital in 1994–1996 was 45 (95% CI = 41–58) per 100,000 person-years. Forty percent of these cases were associated with gallstones. Gallstone pancreatitis was more common among the elderly women and the white (white, non-Hispanic) population. Elevated ALT was highly specific in the prediction of GP.
It’s so hot: predicting climate change effects on urban tourists’ time–space experience

Abstract Progressive changes in mean annual temperatures are arguably the strongest evidence of ongoing climate change. In destinations with a Mediterranean climate, in contrast to the colder months, during summer, rising air temperatures are believed to inhibit tourist movements and activities, and consequently affect tourists’ evaluation of and satisfaction with their experiences. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has investigated the potential impact of climate change on tourists’ time–space activity using actual behavioural tracking-based information. Data collected via GPS technology and a post-visit survey of tourists (n = 404) visiting Lisbon during the summer were analysed via structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results report empirical evidence of the present impact of (summer) weather on urban tourists’ time–space activity and on their intra-destination experience evaluation. Specifically, maximum air temperature is found to have a significant negative effect on overall satisfaction, while the meteorological conditions of the entire day reveal a significant impact on tourists’ activities and movements. The results are particularly useful for the sustainable adaptive management of urban attractions and destinations that are especially vulnerable to climate change, as well as in managing its adverse impact on tourists’ experiences.
Individual and Combined Effects of Dietary Factors on Risk of Incident Hypertension: Prospective Analysis From the NutriNet-Santé Cohort

Dietary intake is pointed as one of the major determinants in hypertension development. Data in the area are mostly obtained from cross-sectional studies. We aimed to investigate the prospective association between (1) individual nutritional factors and (2) adherence to the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension and the risk of incident hypertension in a large cohort study. We prospectively examined the incidence of hypertension among 80 426 French adults participating in the NutriNet-Santé cohort study. Self-reported sociodemographic, lifestyle health questionnaires and dietary consumption assessed by three 24-hour records were completed at baseline and yearly thereafter. Associations between quartiles (Q) of nutrients and food groups and adherence to Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diet and hypertension risk were assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. During a mean follow-up of 3.4±2.1 years, 2413 cases of incident hypertension were documented. Dietary intakes of sodium (Q4 versus Q1): hazard ratio (HR)=1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.35), potassium: HR=0.82 (95% CI, 0.72–0.94), animal protein: HR=1.26 (95% CI, 1.11–1.43), vegetable protein: HR=0.85 (95% CI, 0.75–0.95), fiber: HR =0.81 (95% CI, 0.71–0.93), magnesium: HR=0.77 (95% CI, 0.67–0.89), fruit and vegetables: HR=0.85 (95% CI, 0.74–0.97), whole grain: HR=0.84(95% CI, 0.76–0.93), nuts: HR=0.72 (95% CI, 0.63–0.83), and red and processed meat: HR=1.25 (95% CI, 1.11–0.42) were associated with risk of hypertension. Besides, adherence to the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension was strongly inversely associated with incident hypertension: (Q4 versus Q1) HR=0.66 (95% CI, 0.58–0.75). Our results confirmed the association of several nutritional factors intake and incident hypertension and highlighted that adopting a global healthy diet could strongly contribute to the prevention of hypertension.
Induction of dendritic cell maturation in the skin microenvironment by soluble factors derived from colon carcinoma

Autologous tumor cell-based vaccines provide a wide range of tumor antigens and personalized neo-epitopes based on individual tumors’ unique antigenic mutanome signatures. However, tumor-derived factors may hamper in situ maturation of dendritic cells (DC) and thus interfere with the generation of effective anti-tumor immunity. As the skin is a preferred site for tumor vaccine delivery, we investigated the influence of primary colon carcinoma-derived soluble factors on the maturation state of migrating DC in a human skin explant model. Primary tumor-derived supernatants (TDSN) enhanced the phenotypic maturation state of skin-emigrated DC, resulting in an increased T-cell stimulatory ability in an allogeneic mixed leukocyte response. In case of monocyte-derived DC a similar TDSN-induced maturation induction was found to entirely depend on cyclooxygenase (COX)-regulated prostaglandins. In contrast, the increase in skin-emigrated DC maturation was completely prostaglandin-independent, as evidenced by the inability of the COX inhibitor indomethacin to abrogate this TDSN-induced effect. Although TDSN conditioning affected a drop in IL-12p70 release by the skin-emigrated DC and induced a predominant Th17/Th22 transcriptional profile in subsequently stimulated T-cells, Th cell subset differentiation, as assessed by intracellular cytokine expression upon polyclonal priming and re-stimulation, was not affected. Comparative analysis of phenotypic and transcriptional profiles suggests that the observed maturational effects in skin-derived DC may have been induced by tumor-derived GM-CSF. In conclusion, soluble factors derived from whole-cell colon tumor vaccines will not negatively impact DC migration and maturation in human skin, but rather induce DC maturation that will facilitate the priming of a poly-functional Th cell response.