Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peritoneal Dialysis in Childhood Acute Kidney Injury: Experience in Southwest Nigeria

♦ Background: The choices for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in childhood acute kidney injury (AKI) are limited in low-resource settings. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) appears to be the most practical modality for RRT in young children with AKI in such settings. Data from sub-Saharan Africa on the use of PD in childhood AKI are few. ♦ Methods: We performed a retrospective study of children who underwent PD for AKI at a tertiary-care hospital in southwest Nigeria from February 2004 to March 2011 (85 months). ♦ Results: The study included 27 children (55.6% female). Mean age was 3.1 ± 2.6 years, with the youngest being 7 days, and the oldest, 9 years. The causes of AKI were intravascular hemolysis (n = 11), septicemia (n = 8), acute glomerulonephritis (n = 3), gastroenteritis (n = 3), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (n = 2). Peritoneal dialysis was performed manually using percutaneous or adapted catheters. Duration of PD ranged from 6 hours to 12 days (mean: 5.0 ± 3.3 days). The main complications were peritonitis (n = 10), pericatheter leakage (n = 9), and catheter outflow obstruction (n = 5). Of the 27 patients, 19 (70%) survived till discharge. ♦ Conclusions: In low-resource settings, PD can be successfully performed for the management of childhood AKI. In our hospital, the use of adapted catheters may have contributed to the high complication rates. Peritoneal dialysis should be promoted for the management of childhood AKI in low-resource settings, and access to percutaneous or Tenckhoff catheters, dialysis fluid, and automated PD should be increased.
Contraceptive Use in Australia: Evidence from the 1995 National Health Survey

Summary: This paper analyses the patterns of contraceptive use among Australian women, using data from the 1995 National Health Survey. More than 44% of all women aged 18–49 years reported using a method of contraception. Among users, the 2 most commonly reported methods were the pill (60%) and condom (27%); IUD and natural methods accounted for less than 5% each. Sterilizing operations of the woman/partner were the most frequently reported reasons for nonuse of contraception in women aged over 35 years, while among the younger women the most reported reasons were pregnancy or trying to get pregnant and not being sexually active. Among pill‐users about a quarter were smokers, 20% overweight and 13% reported heart or circulatory disease. These figures were generally lower than in the general population but indicate a need for regular monitoring. The survey demonstrates the continuing evolution in the use of contraception among Australian women.
CRL4CDT2 Targets CHK1 for PCNA-Independent Destruction

ABSTRACT CDT2 targets proteins involved in replication licensing (CDT1), cell cycle control (p21), and chromatin modification (SET8) for destruction by the CUL4-based E3 ligase (CRL4). CRL4CDT2 recruits these substrates through interactions with chromatin-bound PCNA and ubiquitinates them exclusively on chromatin. Rereplication and G2 cell cycle arrest are observed in CDT2-depleted cells. The rereplication phenotype has been attributed to an inability to destroy CDT1, but the molecular target important for G2 cell cycle arrest in CDT2-depleted cells has not been identified. Here we identify CHK1 as a novel CRL4CDT2 substrate and demonstrate that CHK1 activity is required for maintaining G2 arrest in CDT2-depleted cells. We demonstrate that CRL4CDT2 targets the activated form of CHK1 for destruction in the nucleoplasm rather than on chromatin and that this occurs in a PCNA-independent manner. Although both CRL1 and CRL4 ubiquitinate CHK1, we report that they bind CHK1 in distinct cellular compartments. Our study provides insight into how elevated CDT2 expression levels may provide tumors with a proliferative advantage.
Influenza Virus Inactivation for Studies of Antigenicity and Phenotypic Neuraminidase Inhibitor Resistance Profiling

ABSTRACT Introduction of a new influenza virus in humans urges quick analysis of its virological and immunological characteristics to determine the impact on public health and to develop protective measures for the human population. At present, however, the necessity of executing pandemic influenza virus research under biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) high-containment conditions severely hampers timely characterization of such viruses. We tested heat, formalin, Triton X-100, and β-propiolactone treatments for their potencies in inactivating human influenza A(H3N2) and avian A(H7N3) viruses, as well as seasonal and pandemic A(H1N1) virus isolates, while allowing the specimens to retain their virological and immunological properties. Successful heat inactivation coincided with the loss of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) characteristics, and β-propiolactone inactivation reduced the hemagglutination titer and NA activity of the human influenza virus 10-fold or more. Although Triton X-100 treatment resulted in inconsistent HA activity, the NA activities in culture supernatants were enhanced consistently. Nonetheless, formalin treatment permitted the best retention of HA and NA properties. Triton X-100 treatment proved to be the easiest-to-use influenza virus inactivation protocol for application in combination with phenotypic NA inhibitor susceptibility assays, while formalin treatment preserved B-cell and T-cell epitope antigenicity, allowing the detection of both humoral and cellular immune responses. In conclusion, we demonstrated successful influenza virus characterization using formalin- and Triton X-100-inactivated virus samples. Application of these inactivation protocols limits work under BSL-3 conditions to virus culture, thus enabling more timely determination of public health impact and development of protective measures when a new influenza virus, e.g., pandemic A(H1N1)v virus, is introduced in humans.
Medical crises and therapeutic talk

Coexisting medical traditions operate at different levels of scale. In rural eastern Africa there are diviners and herbalists whose clients are drawn from the immediate neighbourhood. Some develop healing reputations more widely over a region or nation, sometimes with prophetic and witch-finding powers. Biomedical clinics and hospitals are also interlinked regionally, nationally and internationally. Patients or carers may seek healthcare by moving through these different levels, sometimes beginning with a neighbourhood healer and sometimes trying out different therapies simultaneously. Sicknesses and misfortunes are often first discussed within a family or homestead, with concern for the victim extending to all its members. The talk is based on assumed trust among its members. However, if unresolved, the affliction may trigger a crisis that breaks the trust, so that healers beyond the neighbourhood are sought, whether prophetic/witch-finding or biomedical. Taken out of the context of family and homestead intimacy, the talk blames the ailment on the malevolence or negligence of individuals in the community. Talk about sickness among sufferers and between them and healers, is thus transformed from that which seeks resolution in amity to that which seeks culpability and, sometimes, retribution. A similar process of sickness talk changing through its appropriation by wider scale and more powerful medical authority also occurs in western biomedical hospitals and clinics.
Predictive Value of Gastric Parietal Cell Autoantibodies as a Marker for Gastric and Hematologic Abnormalities Associated with Insulin-dependent Diabetes

The frequency and significance of gastric parietal cell autoimmunity was assessed in 771 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) of onset before 30 yr of age. Gastric parietal autoantibodies (PCA) were found 4 times more frequently in the patients with IDD (9%) than among 600 matched nondiabetic controls (2%). Caucasian female patients with IDD had PCA twice as frequently as male patients. Thyroid microsomal autoantibodies were more frequent in patients with IDD and PCA, than in those with IDD alone (Caucasian 46% versus 18%, black 25% versus 2.5%). A history of pernicious anemia and/or PCA was found in 25 of 40 families of IDD probands with PCA. Achlorhydria was demonstrated in 6 of 11 patients (54%) with PCA but in none of seven IDD patients without PCA. The six patients with achlorhydria had significantly lower uptakes of oral radiolabeled co-balamin, lower serum cobalamin levels, lower intrinsic factor-R protein ratios in their gastric aspirates, and lower plasma ferritin levels than patients with IDD but without PCA. None of the study group had IF antibodies in their serum or gastric juice. Overt pernicious anemia and neuropathy were found in one patient with PCA. Young patients with IDD at risk for atrophie gastritis and cobalamin deficiency can initially be identified by screening for PCA. Many of these young patients with PCA already have achlorhydria and evidence of decreased absorption of cobalamin. These patients can then be followed with cobalamin levels and/or with complete blood counts to identify those requiring therapy.
Patterns of Injury at Two University Teaching Hospitals in Rwanda: Baseline Injury Epidemiology Using the Rwanda Injury Registry

to: Introduction : Globally, more worldwide deaths in 2010 could be attributed to injuries than the total number of deaths from infection with AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined, with a disproportionate number of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, worldwide research and plans for prevention of injuries are far below other world health problems, especially in developing countries. Methods : A 31-item, 2-page registry form was adapted from regional trauma registries for use in Rwanda to collect data at the two main university referral hospitals in Kigali and Butare. Beginning in 2011, registrars recorded demographics, pre-hospital care, initial physiology, early interventions, and disposition of injured patients who met our selection criteria. Inpatient 30-day discharge status, mortality, and complications were abstracted from patient charts, ward reports and operating room logs. Descriptive analysis was used to evaluate patterns of injury and basic injury epidemiology at the two study hospitals from August 1, 2011-January 31, 2013. Results : A total of 3599 patients were registered from August 1, 2011 to January 31, 2013. Patients were predominantly male, and road traffic crashes were the leading cause of injury overall, contributing to a greater proportion of injuries in the more urban capital than the smaller city of Butare. The majority of patients were admitted to the hospital. All variables evaluated except for the percentage of injuries acquired via a penetrating mechanism showed statistically significant differences at an alpha significance level of 0.05, illustrating that the trauma population presenting at the two hospitals may be quite different. Conclusion : The Rwanda Injury Registry indicates a high burden of road traffic injuries in a predominantly working age male population over an eighteen-month period. This information can be useful in expanding injury surveillance programs and hopefully implementing population-based prevention programs.
Slc26a6: a cardiac chloride–hydroxyl exchanger and predominant chloride–bicarbonate exchanger of the mouse heart

Bicarbonate facilitate more than 50% of pH recovery in the acidotic myocardium, and have roles in cardiac hypertrophy and steady‐state pH regulation. To determine which bicarbonate transporters are responsible for this activity, we measured the expression levels of all known HCO3−–anion exchange proteins in mouse heart, by quantitative real time RT‐PCR. Bicarbonate–anion exchangers are members of either the SLC4A or the SLC26A gene families. In neonatal and adult myocardium, AE1 (Slc4a1), AE2 (Slc4a2), AE3 (Slc4a3) (AE3fl and AE3c variants), Slc26a3 and Slc26a6 were expressed. Adult hearts expressed Slc26a3 and Slc4a1–3 mRNAs at similar levels, while Slc26a6 mRNA was about seven‐fold higher than AE3, which was more abundant than any other. Immunohistochemistry revealed that Slc26a6 and AE3 are present in the plasma membrane of ventricular myocytes. Slc26a6 expression levels were higher in ventricle than atrium, whereas AE3 was detected only in ventricle. Cl−–HCO3− and Cl−–OH− exchange activity of SLC26A6 and AE3 were investigated in transfected HEK293 cells, using intracellular fluorescence measurements of 2′,7′‐bis (2‐carboxyethyl)‐5(6)‐carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), to monitor intracellular pH (pHi). Rates of pHi change were measured under HCO3−‐containing (Cl−–HCO3−) or nominally HCO3−‐free (Cl−–OH−) conditions. HCO3− fluxes were similar for cells expressing AE3fl, SLC26A6 or Slc26a3, suggesting that they have similar transport activity. However, only SLC26A6 and Slc26a3 functioned as Cl−–OH− exchangers. Activation of α‐adrenergic receptors, which stimulates protein kinase C, inhibited SLC26A6 Cl−–HCO3− exchange activity. We conclude that Slc26a6 is the predominant Cl−–HCO3− and Cl−–OH− exchanger of the myocardium and that Slc26a6 is negatively regulated upon α‐adrenergic stimulation.
Continuous Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia with 0.2% Ropivacaine Versus General Anesthesia for Perioperative Management of Modified Radical Mastectomy

We evaluated in this prospective study the effectiveness of continuous thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) and postoperative analgesia with ropivacaine and compared it with general anesthesia (GA) and opioids for pain relief, side effects, postanesthesia recovery, and hospital discharge after modified radical mastectomy. Sixty ASA physical status II and III patients undergoing mastectomy were randomly assigned to two study groups of 30 patients each. In the TEA group, an epidural catheter was inserted at T6-7, and 5–10 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine was injected to maintain anesthesia and to continuously administer adequate analgesia for 48 h. GA was induced with IV 1–2 mg of midazolam or 50–100 &mgr;g/mL of fentanyl followed by 50–150 mg of propofol and was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N2O in oxygen. The Aldrete score system was used to evaluate postanesthesia recovery, a verbal rating scale was used for assessment of pain intensity, and a postanesthesia discharge scoring system was used for discharge home. The demographic data and side effects (except for nausea and vomiting) (GA 43%, TEA 10%, P = 0.0074) and discharge home were similar in both groups. However, the number of patients ready for discharge from the recovery room during the first postanesthesia hour (Aldrete score of 10) was significantly larger after TEA (80%) than after GA (33%) (P = 0.0006). GA patients experienced significantly more (P < 0.001) substantial pain than TEA patients on Day 0 (70%), Day 1 (53%), and Day 2 (27%) after the surgery. Patient satisfaction was greater with TEA (70%) than with GA (30%) (P < 0.001). We conclude that TEA with ropivacaine provides better postoperative pain relief and less nausea and vomiting, facilitates postanesthesia recovery, and gives greater patient satisfaction than GA.
A Novice Researcher’s First Walk Through the Maze of Grounded Theory: Rationalization for Classical Grounded Theory

Being new to grounded theory the onus to understand the methodology and the various versionscan be daunting.Learning and understanding the differences between grounded theories methodologies can be as much a learning of one's own research philosophy and this philosophy is often the deciding factor in methodology selection. Learning the different methodologies is a difficult journey as terminology often sounds similar to the novice researcher, but only by exploring the differences can the researcher rationalize their own choice. This paper offers the new researcher a view into the confusing world of grounded theory, where common terms are usedbut the secret lies in understanding the philosophy of the researcher and the topic of discovery. Glaser was correct, the answer is in the data, but you need to understand the philosophy of the method and if it matches your philosophy of research.
NCI‐navy medical oncology branch cell line data base

The cell line data base described in this paper includes both clinical information about the patients from whom the cell line were derived and information about the in vitro analyses performed of the cell lines. The cell line data base has evolved as a part of a systematic effort by a research group at the NCI since 1976 to generate human cell lines as biological tools to study cancer and other diseases. The cell lines were generated from clinical specimens obtained as part of a series of Institutional Review Board‐approved clinical protocols. The preponderance of the data is on lung cancer cell lines, though a broad range of other cancers are represented. A bank of over 300 human cell lines including cancer cell and in some instances autologous B‐lymphoblastoid cells from the NCI‐VA and NCI‐Navy Medical Oncology Branch are reposited at the American Type Culture Collection. The cell lines are available for the research community. The entire data base is available on the American Type Culture Collection Web Site (http://www.atcc.org/). © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Multiagent Planning Supported by Plan Diversity Metrics and Landmark Actions

Problems of domain-independent multiagent planning for cooperative agents in deterministic environments can be tackled by a well-known initiator--participants scheme from classical multiagent negotiation protocols. In this work, we use the approach to describe a multiagent extension of the Generate-And-Test principle distributively searching for a coordinated multiagent plan. The generate part uses a novel plan quality estimation technique based on metrics borrowed from the field of diverse planning. The test part builds upon planning with landmarks by compilation to classical planning. Finally, the proposed multiagent planning approach was experimentally analyzed on one newly designed domain and one classical benchmark domain. The results show what combination of plan quality estimation and diversity metrics provide the best planning efficiency
It's not for the money; it's the motives - The mediating role of endogenous motivations on IT employees' entrepreneurial behavior

The traditional task of IT departments is currently undergoing a fundamental change from being a functional part of business, to playing a more strategic role in the development of new products (Bharadwaj 2013). The success of this shift is based on the individual employee’s willingness to go along with this new approach. But how can we influence employees’ individual entrepreneurial motivation and encourage them to develop new features? To answer this question we applied self-determination theory and different process constructs to build a model that explains how the workplace must be designed to encourage employees to work more innovatively. We collected a sample of 354 questionnaires to evaluate our model. The results indicate that job-design constraints in combination with the internal perceived locus of causality (PLOC) provide a starting point for managers to reshape their IT departments. This paper provides the necessary insights to overcome this new challenge.
Heart failure patients' perceptions and use of technology to manage disease symptoms.

BACKGROUND Technology use for symptom management is beneficial for both patients and physicians. Widespread acceptance of technology use in healthcare fuels continued development of technology with ever-increasing sophistication. Although acceptance of technology use in healthcare by medical professionals is evident, less is known about the perceptions, preferences, and use of technology by heart failure (HF) patients. This study explores patients' perceptions and current use of technology for managing HF symptoms (MHFS). MATERIALS AND METHODS A qualitative analysis of in-depth individual interviews using a constant comparative approach for emerging themes was conducted. Fifteen participants (mean age, 64.43 years) with HF were recruited from hospitals, cardiology clinics, and community groups. RESULTS All study participants reported use of a home monitoring device, such as an ambulatory blood pressure device or bathroom scale. The majority of participants reported not accessing online resources for additional MHFS information. However, several participants stated their belief that technology would be useful for MHFS. Participants reported increased access to care, earlier indication of a worsening condition, increased knowledge, and greater convenience as potential benefits of technology use while managing HF symptoms. For most participants financial cost, access issues, satisfaction with current self-care routine, mistrust of technology, and reliance on routine management by their current healthcare provider precluded their use of technology for MHFS. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge about HF patients' perceptions of technology use for self-care and better understanding of issues associated with technology access can aid in the development of effective health behavior interventions for individuals who are MHFS and may result in increased compliance, better outcomes, and lower healthcare costs.
Role of Pax‐5 in the regulation of a mid‐hindbrain organizer’s activity

The mes‐metencephalic boundary (isthmus) has been suggested to act as an organizer in the development of the optic tectum. Pax‐5 was cloned as a candidate for regulator of the organizing center. Isthmus‐specific expression of Pax‐5 and analogy with the genetic cascade in Drosophila suggest that Pax‐5 may be at a higher hierarchical position in the gene regulation cascade of tectum development. To examine this possibility, a gain‐of‐function experiment on Pax‐5 was carried out. In ovo electroporation on E2 chick brain with the eucaryotic expression vector that encodes chick Pax‐5 cDNA was used. Not only was a considerable amount of Pax‐5 expressed ectopically in the transfected brain, but irregular bulging of the neuroepithelium was induced in the diencephalon and mesencephalon. At Pax‐5 misexpressing sites, uptake of BrdU was increased. Histological examination of E7 transfected brain revealed that Pax‐5 caused transdifferentiation of diencephalon into the tectum‐like structure. In the bulges of the E7 mesencephalon, differentiation of laminar structure was repressed when compared to the normal side. In transfected embryos, En‐2, Wnt‐1 and Fgf8 were up‐regulated ectopically, and Otx2 was down‐regulated in the diencephalon to mesencephalon. Moreover, Ephrin‐A2, which is expressed specifically in the tectum with a gradient highest at the caudal end, is suggested to be involved in pathfinding of the retinal fibers, and was induced in the bulges. When the mouse Fgf8 expression vector was electroporated, Pax‐5 and chick Fgf8 were also induced ectopically. These results suggest that Pax‐5, together with Fgf8, hold a higher position in the genetic hierarchy of the isthmus organizing center and regulate its activity.