Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immediate-and delayed-type allergic reactions to amide local anesthetics : clinical features and skin testing y

Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Médicale et Clinique, Unité de Pharmacoépidémiologie EA3696, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France Pôle d’Anesthésie-Réanimation, Service d’Orthopédie, CHU de Toulouse, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse cedex, France Service d’Anesthésie-Réanimation Chirurgicale, U684, Hôpital Central, CHU de Nancy, Nancy, France Service d’Immuno-Allergologie, Pierre-Bénite cedex, France Service Allergo-Anesthésie, CHU Edouard Herriot, Lyon cedex, France Service de Pneumo-Allergologie, Clinique des Voies Respiratoires, CHU de Toulouse, Hôpital Larrey, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse cedex, France Staff Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesia, Laval University Hospital, Quebec, Canada Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Centre Midi-Pyrénées de Pharmacovigilance, de Pharmacoépidémiologie, et d’Informations sur le médicament, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
Epidemiology of hepatitis A in Finland in 1990–2007

The seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) for the period 1990–2007 and the molecular epidemiology for the period 1994–2007 in Finland were studied. The incidence of hepatitis A has been very low since 1990, at 0.3–3.6/100,000 inhabitants, excluding two outbreaks in 1994–1995 and 2002–2003, both of which were connected to intravenous drug use. Serum samples (3,217) collected in the period 1997–1998 were tested for hepatitis A antibodies to assess the percentage of seropositive Finns. More than 50% of Finns aged over 55 were seropositive for hepatitis A, while less than 5% of those aged under 40 were seropositive. In addition, patient samples (52,012) from the period 1990 to 2007 were assessed for antibodies against HAV. In these samples the proportion of acute HAV infections stayed at around 2% per year (excluding outbreaks), whereas the overall seropositivity for hepatitis A increased from some 30% to 45%, which was most likely due to increased vaccinations. For molecular epidemiology, samples from 1994 to 2007 were analyzed by RT‐PCR and sequencing. The results showed that most of the strains (82%) of HAV were of genotype IA but with an increasing number of genotypes IB and IIIA appearing during the last years of the study. All the cases seemed to be travel related and there was no endemic strain circulating in Finland. The low seroprevalence, especially in younger age groups, makes the population vulnerable to infection, which can be compensated for by increasing the number of vaccinations. J. Med. Virol. 82:934–941, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Accurate Shadow Detection From High-Resolution Satellite Images

High-resolution satellite images contain a huge amount of information. Shadows in such images generate real problems in classifying and extracting the required information. Although signals recorded in shadow area are weak, it is still possible to recover them. Significant work is already done in shadow detection direction but, classifying shadow pixels from vegetation pixels correctly is still an issue as dark vegetation areas are still misclassified as shadow in some cases. In this letter, a new image index is developed for shadow detection employing multiple bands. Shadow pixels are classified from the index histogram by an automatic threshold identification procedure. The whole approach is applied on different study areas and high accuracies are achieved (average of 97%). The linear correlation method is then applied to compensate the classified shadow pixels. Two standard approaches of shadow detection are then applied to the same study areas to validate the proposed approach. The results show that the proposed approach achieves the best results. It also gives robust shadow detection results in classifying shadow from vegetation pixels comparable to the other two considered standard approaches.
Optic Nerve Damage in Highly Myopic Eyes with Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma

Purpose To compare the amount of optic nerve damage in relation to intraocular pressure in highly myopic eyes with chronic open-angle glaucoma versus non-highly myopic eyes with chronic open-angle glaucoma. Methods The comparative clinical observational study included 1841 eyes of 1100 patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma. The highly myopic study group consisted of 25 eyes with a myopic refractive error equal to or higher than −8 diopters. It was subdivided into eyes with an optic disc size larger than 2.7 mm2 and eyes with an optic disc smaller than 2.7 mm2. The control group included the remaining, non-highly myopic eyes (n=1816). For all patients, a morphometric analysis of color stereo optic disc photographs was performed. Main outcome measures were morphometric optic disc measurements and intraocular pressure. Results In the highly myopic, large-optic-disc study group compared with the control group, maximal and minimal intraocular pressure readings were significantly (p<0.05) lower and neuroretinal rim area corrected for optic disc size was slightly (p=0.16) smaller. Comparing the total highly myopic study group with a control group adjusted for optic disc area, neuroretinal rim area was significantly (p=0.039) smaller in the study group with no significant difference in intraocular pressure measurements between the groups. Conclusions At a given intraocular pressure in chronic open-angle glaucoma, optic nerve damage may be more pronounced in highly myopic eyes with large optic discs than in non-highly myopic eyes. This may suggest a higher susceptibility for glaucomatous optic nerve fiber loss in highly myopic eyes than in non-highly myopic eyes.
Association of human aging with a functional variant of klotho

Mice deficient in Klotho gene expression exhibit a syndrome resembling premature human aging. To determine whether variation in the human KLOTHO locus contributes to survival, we applied two newly characterized polymorphic microsatellite markers flanking the gene in a population-based association study. In a cohort chosen for its homogeneity, Bohemian Czechs, we demonstrated significant differences in selected marker allele frequencies between newborn and elderly individuals (P < 0.05). These results precipitated a search for functional variants of klotho. We identified an allele, termed KL-VS, containing six sequence variants in complete linkage disequilibrium, two of which result in amino acid substitutions F352V and C370S. Homozygous elderly individuals were underrepresented in three distinct populations: Bohemian Czechs, Baltimore Caucasians, and Baltimore African-Americans [combined odds ratio (OR) = 2.59, P < 0.0023]. In a transient transfection assay, secreted levels of klotho harboring V352 are reduced 6-fold, whereas extracellular levels of the S370 form are increased 2.9-fold. The V352/S370 double mutant exhibits an intermediate phenotype (1.6-fold increase), providing a rare example of intragenic complementation in cis by human single nucleotide polymorphisms. The remarkable conservation of F352 among homologous proteins suggests that it is functionally important. The corresponding substitution, F289V, in the closest human klotho paralog with a known substrate, cBGL1, completely eliminates its ability to cleave p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucoside. These results suggest that the KL-VS allele influences the trafficking and catalytic activity of klotho, and that variation in klotho function contributes to heterogeneity in the onset and severity of human age-related phenotypes.
Embryonic Stem Cell Transplantation Correlates With Endogenous Neurogenin 3 Expression and Pancreas Regeneration in Streptozotocin-injured Mice

Pancreatic β cell regeneration remains poorly understood, yet stimulation of adult β cell neogenesis could lead to therapies for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We studied the effect of embryonic stem (ES) cell transplantation on pancreas regeneration following β cell injury. Female Balb/c nude mice were treated with streptozotocin to induce hyperglycemia and received an ES cell transplant 24 hr later beneath the renal capsule. Transplantation of ES cells prevented hyperglycemia in a subset of mice, maintaining euglycemia and mild glucose tolerance up to 5 weeks. Pancreata of euglycemic mice showed histological evidence of β cell regeneration and expression of pancreas and duodenum transcription factor-1 (PDX-1) and neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) in ductal epithelium. Cell tracing analysis indicated that significant β cell neogenesis from progenitor cells occurred between 2 to 3 weeks following injury in ES cell-transplanted mice but not in sham-transplanted animals. Significantly, whereas pancreas-localized ES cells or their derivatives were adjacent to sites of regeneration, neogenic pancreatic epithelia, including Ngn3+ cells, were endogenous. In conclusion, transplanted ES cells can migrate to the injured pancreas. Transplantation is associated with enhanced endogenous regeneration characterized by expression of Ngn3 and increased β cell differentiation from endogenous progenitor cells. This manuscript contains online supplemental material at http://www.jhc. org. Please visit this article online to view these materials.
The lateral radiograph is useful in predicting shortening in 31A2 pertrochanteric hip fractures.

BACKGROUND We sought to determine if angulation or translation measured on the lateral preoperative injury radiographs of patients with 31A2 pertrochanteric fractures is related to excessive postoperative shortening when treated with a sliding hip screw. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the radiographs of consecutive patients with hip fractures treated at a level I university trauma centre between 2003 and 2008. Patients with 31A2 pertrochanteric fractures treated with a sliding hip screw were identified through a search of medical records. The study variables were angulation and translation on the preoperative injury lateral radiograph. The outcome measure was radiographic evidence of fracture shortening, measured as the change in length of sliding hip screw visible outside the barrel between the time of fixation and final follow up. RESULTS Of the 131 patients treated, 23 met our inclusion criteria and had sufficient follow-up (mean 6.4 mo). The average shortening for 31A2 fractures with angulation on the injury lateral radiograph was 1.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.47) cm, compared with 0.93 (95% CI 0.49-1.36) cm for fractures with no angulation (p = 0.019). There was no statistical difference in quality of reduction, tip-apex distance, Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification or incidence of lateral wall fracture across groups based on the presence of angulation. CONCLUSION Angulation on the lateral preoperative injury radiograph may be useful in predicting excessive shortening in 31A2 pertrochanteric fractures. Further investigation is warranted to confirm this result and to identify the role of other predictors, such as fracture comminution.
Multi-Engine Search and Comparison Using the MetaCrawler

Standard Web search services, though useful, are far from ideal. There are over a dozen different search services currently in existence, each with a unique interface and a database covering a different portion of the Web. As a result, users are forced to repeatedly try and retry their queries across different services. Furthermore, the services return many responses that are irrelevant, outdated, or unavailable, forcing the user to manually sift through the responses searching for useful information. This paper presents the MetaCrawler, a fielded Web service that represents the next level up in the information "food chain. " The MetaCrawler provides a single, central interface for Web document searching. Upon receiving a query, the MetaCrawler posts the query to multiple search services in parallel, collates the returned references, and loads those references to verify their existence and to ensure that they contain relevant information. The MetaCrawler is sufficiently lightweight to reside on a user's machine, which facilitates customization, privacy, sophisticated filtering of references, and more. The MetaCrawler also serves as a tool for comparison of diverse search services. Using the MetaCrawler's data, we present a "Consumer Reports" evaluation of six Web search services: Galaxy [5], InfoSeek [1], Lycos [15], Open Text [20], WebCrawler [22], and Yahoo [9]. In addition, we also report on the most commonly submitted queries to the MetaCrawler.
Removal of a detached head of the Brooks dilator from the corpora cavernosa during penile prosthesis implantation.

INTRODUCTION Several complications during and after penile implantation have been reported. The most difficult part of the procedure seems to be the dilatation of the corpora, especially in fibrotic cases. AIM To report a rare intraoperative complication during dilatation of the corpora and its management. METHODS During dilation of the corpora cavernosa with Brooks dilators for the implantation of penile prosthesis, its head was detached and stuck at the tip of the corpus cavernosum. Several trials to remove the head of the dilator using different kinds of clamps were unsuccessful. Finally, an incision was performed to the distal lateral part of the corpora cavernosa and the head of the dilator was removed. Implantation was completed uneventfully. RESULTS The patient instructed to inflate the prosthesis and use it for sexual intercourse after 6 weeks. Follow-up was 14 months and the patient is using properly the prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS Although this is a very rare complication not previously described, we recommend examination of the dilators before use.
Late Quaternary Planktic Foraminifer Fauna and Monsoon Upwelling Records from the Western South China Sea, Near the Vietnam Margin (IMAGES MD012394)

Marine sediment core MD012394 from the Vietnam coastal upwelling area in the western South China Sea was investigated in order to reconstruct the last Quaternary monsoon upwelling based on planktic foraminifer fauna assemblages and fauna-based sea surface temperature (SST) estimates. The age model of core MD012394 was constructed using oxygen isotope stratigraphy of the planktic foraminifer G. sacculifer, with 10 accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating of planktic foraminifers from the sediment samples. Our studies on the relative and absolute abundances of planktic foraminifer assemblages reveal eight dominant species in core MD012394: N. dutertrei+N. pachyderma (right coiling), G. ruber, G. glutinata, G. sacculifer, P. obliquiloculata, G. menardii + G. tumida, G. calida, and G. inflata. In a Q-mode factor analysis of the fauna abundance data, the fauna factors show variations that do not parallel the glacial/interglacial changes throughout the last 135 kyr. The relative abundance patterns of G. inflata and N. dutertrei (including N. pachyderma-R) are interpreted as hydrographic proxies for East Asian summer and winter monsoon, respectively, in the current study. We calculated the fluctuations in the SST using the Revised Analog Method (RAM) in MD012394 and found that the abundance changes of the summer monsoon upwelling indicator G. inflata were similar and nearly synchronous. This suggests that the summer monsoon-driven upwelling signal was strong near the local summer insolation maximum, which induced low SSTs, particular around ~11, 33, 59, and 83 kya. Our studies support the view that the strengths of both summer insolation and the East Asian summer monsoon have determined the relative abundance of planktic foraminifers and the SSTs in the western SCS during the last 135 kyr.
On Age and Species Richness of Higher Taxa

Many studies have tried to identify factors that explain differences in numbers of species between clades against the background assumption that older clades contain more species because they have had more time for diversity to accumulate. The finding in several recent studies that species richness of clades is decoupled from stem age has been interpreted as evidence for ecological limits to species richness. Here we demonstrate that the absence of a positive age-diversity relationship, or even a negative relationship, may also occur when taxa are defined based on time or some correlate of time such as genetic distance or perhaps morphological distinctness. Thus, inferring underlying processes from distributions of species across higher taxa requires caution concerning the way in which higher taxa are defined. When this definition is unclear, crown age is superior to stem age as a measure of clade age.
The retinoblastoma protein and PML collaborate to organize heterochromatin and silence E2F-responsive genes during senescence

Cellular senescence is characterized by silencing of genes involved in DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Stable repression is crucial for preventing inappropriate DNA synthesis and the maintenance of a prolonged senescent state. Many of these genes are targets for E2F transcription factors. The pRB pathway plays a major role in senescence by directly repressing E2Fs and also by regulating chromatin at the promoters of E2F target genes using its LXCXE cleft-dependent interactions. In this study, we sought to investigate the mechanisms by which pRB stably silences E2F target gene transcription during cellular senescence. We report that in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, endogenous promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) associates with E2F target genes in a pRB LXCXE-dependent manner during HrasV12-induced senescence. Furthermore, using a PML-IV-induced senescence model, we show that the pRB LXCXE binding cleft is essential for PML association with gene promoters, silencing of E2F target genes, and stable cell cycle exit. Binding assays show that pRB can interact with PML specifically during senescence, suggesting that signaling events in senescence regulate assembly of PML and pRB to establish heterochromatin and create a permanent cell cycle arrest.
CTLA-4 polymorphism 49A–G is associated with placental abruption and preeclampsia in Finnish women

Abstract Background: Our aim was to study genetic variability in the gene encoding cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen (CTLA-4) and individual susceptibility to the development of preeclampsia or placental abruption. Methods: A total of 361 women (132 with preeclampsia, 117 with placental abruption and 112 healthy controls) were genotyped for 49A–G polymorphism (dbSNP: rs231775) in the CTLA-4 gene. Results: The frequency of the G alleles was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than in controls (51.1% vs. 42.0%; OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.01–3.48, p<0.043). Women with placental abruption had decreased frequency of AA genotype (22.2% vs. 35.7%) and significantly more AG or GG genotypes compared with controls (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.09–2.07, p<0.024). No significant differences were detected in the frequencies of genotype GG (29.5%, 21.4% and 19.6%, respectively) between the three groups. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the 49A–G polymorphism in the CTLA-4 gene is associated with the development of placental abruption and preeclampsia, with women having the G allele being at risk. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:169–73.
Necessity of dual blockade of endothelin ETA and ETB receptor subtypes for antagonism of endothelin‐1‐induced contraction in human bronchi

1 Endothelin (ET)‐1 has been postulated to be involved in the development of obstructive airway diseases in man. In the present study, we attempted to characterize ET receptor subtypes mediating ET‐1‐induced contraction in human isolated bronchi. The ET receptor antagonists used in the present study were BQ‐123 (ETA receptor‐selective), BQ‐788 (ETB receptor‐selective) and BQ‐928 (ETA/ETB dual). Sarafotoxin S6c (S6c) was also used as an ETB receptor‐selective agonist. 2 In human bronchi, ET‐1 and S6c (10−12 m to 10−7 M) produced concentration‐dependent contraction with almost equal potency (pD2: 8.88± 0.16 for ET‐1 and 9.42±0.15 for S6c). The contraction induced by S6c was competitively antagonized by BQ‐788 alone (1 and 10 μm) with a pKB value of 7.49±0.21, suggesting that the stimulation of ETB receptors causes a contraction of human bronchi. However, contrary to expectation, the concentration‐response curves for ET‐1 were not affected by BQ‐788. The ET‐1‐ and S6c‐induced contractions were not affected by BQ‐123 (10 μm). Thus, ET‐1‐induced contraction of human bronchi is not antagonized by BQ‐123 alone or by BQ‐788 alone. 3 Combined treatment with 10 μm BQ‐123 and 10 μm BQ‐788 significantly antagonized the contraction induced by ET‐1 with a dose‐ratio of 11. BQ‐928 also significantly antagonized ET‐1‐induced contraction with a pKB value of 6.32±0.24. 4The specific binding of [125I]‐ET‐1 to human bronchial membrane preparations was inhibited by BQ‐123 (100 pM to 1 μm) by approximately 40%. Combination treatment with BQ‐788 (100 pM to 1 μm) completely inhibited the BQ‐123‐resistant component of [125I]‐ET‐1 specific binding. 5 In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that BQ‐788 alone cannot inhibit ET‐1‐induced contractions in human bronchi, although human bronchial ETB receptors are BQ‐788‐sensitive. Furthermore, it was shown that blockade of both receptor subtypes antagonizes ET‐1‐induced contraction, and that both receptor subtypes co‐exist in human bronchial smooth muscles. These findings suggest that ETA receptors as well as ETB receptors are involved in ET‐1‐induced contraction in human bronchi. If ET‐1 is involved in human airway diseases, dual blockade of ETA and ETB receptors may be necessary to treat the diseases.
Life in the Pocket--The Ambient Life Project: Life-Like Movements in Tactile Ambient

The work reported in this article is concerned with the relationship of the user to his mobile phone, especially with the habit of checking the mobile phone for missed events. We present two qualitative studies that have been conducted with mobile phones, symbolizing their status through life-like movements - breath and pulse. It was to be determined whether a continuous, rhythmic and life-like signal would be eligible to ambiently express the phoneâ€™s state. The results of the studies were mixed, as some users were simply annoyed by the permanent actuation, while others appreciated the functionality. The response times to occured events seem to be appropriate for an ambient display. The studies raised further questions, regarding the psychological and physiological consequences of such technology.
Chirp characteristics of 40-gb/s directly Modulated distributed-feedback laser diodes

For short-reach applications, 40-Gb/s directly modulated semiconductor lasers enable high-capacity transmission with a simple and low-cost configuration. We investigated the chirp characteristics of 40-Gb/s directly modulated 1.55-/spl mu/m distributed-feedback laser diodes (DFB-LDs) and measured the linewidth enhancement factor and dynamic chirp. We then evaluated the fiber-dispersion dependence of the bit error rates (BERs) and dispersion tolerance for 40-Gb/s transmissions.
Factors Associated With Specific Language Impairment and Later Language Development During Early Life: A Literature Review

It has been reported that 50% of children with specific language impairment (SLI) have persistent SLI, which has been associated with various risk factors. To date, however, there has not been a comprehensive review of studies into different risk factors that could be used by clinicians to facilitate parental counseling and individual case-management. Several studies about the factors associated with SLI were reviewed based on study design. This article presents a review of factors associated with later language development and SLI, and reviews the risk for children who have SLI during early life. The summary provides data including specific biologic and environmental factors that are significantly associated with SLI, to ensure early intervention for children with SLI in the presence of identified risk factors.