Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent outbreak of scrub typhus in North Western part of India.

BACKGROUND Scrub typhus usually affects previously healthy active persons and if undiagnosed or diagnosed late, may prove to be life-threatening. Diagnosis of scrub typhus should be largely based on a high index of suspicion and careful clinical, laboratory and epidemiological evaluation. OBJECTIVE To describe the diverse clinical and laboratory manifestations of scrub typhus diagnosed in Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. MATERIALS AND METHODS All cases of febrile illness diagnosed as scrub typhus over a period of 3 months were analysed. Diagnosis was based on ELISA test for antibody detection against 56 kDa antigen. RESULTS Forty-two cases of scrub typhus were seen over a period of 3 months (October, 2012-December, 2012). Common symptoms were high grade fever of 4-30 days duration, cough, haemoptysis and breathlessness. Eschar was not seen even in a single patient. Liver enzymes were elevated in nearly all cases (95.9%). Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was present in 16.66% of our patients (7 out of 42). Hypotension (6 patients, 14.2%), renal impairment (9 out of 15 patients, 60%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (4 patients, 9.52%) and meningitis (4 patients, 9.52%) were some of the important complications. There was a dramatic response to doxycycline in nearly all the patients, but initially when the disease was not diagnosed, seven patients had died. CONCLUSION Scrub typhus has emerged as an important cause of febrile illness in Jaipur. Empirical treatment with doxycycline is justified in endemic areas.
Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor I Receptors Utilize Different G Protein Signaling Components*

We examined the role of heterotrimeric G protein signaling components in insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) action. In HIRcB cells and in 3T3L1 adipocytes, treatment with the Gαi inhibitor (pertussis toxin) or microinjection of the Gβγ inhibitor (glutathioneS-transferase-βARK) inhibited IGF-I and lysophosphatidic acid-stimulated mitogenesis but had no effect on epidermal growth factor (EGF) or insulin action. In basal state, Gαi and Gβ were associated with the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), and after ligand stimulation the association of IGF-IR with Gαi increased concomitantly with a decrease in Gβ association. No association of Gαi was found with either the insulin or EGF receptor. Microinjection of anti-β-arrestin-1 antibody specifically inhibited IGF-I mitogenic action but had no effect on EGF or insulin action. β-Arrestin-1 was associated with the receptors for IGF-I, insulin, and EGF in a ligand-dependent manner. We demonstrated that Gαi, βγ subunits, and β-arrestin-1 all play a critical role in IGF-I mitogenic signaling. In contrast, neither metabolic, such as GLUT4 translocation, nor mitogenic signaling by insulin is dependent on these protein components. These results suggest that insulin receptors and IGF-IRs can function as G protein-coupled receptors and engage different G protein partners for downstream signaling.
Relevant Gender Differences in Epidemiological Profile, Exposure to First Antiretroviral Regimen and Survival in the Spanish Aids Research Network Cohort

Background The possible differences in the disease spectrum and prognosis of HIV infection in women and men is a major point of concern. Women are under-represented in randomized clinical trials and in some cohorts. Discordant results have often been obtained depending on the setting. Methods We assessed gender differences in clinical and epidemiological features, antiretroviral treatment (ART) exposure and survival in two multicentre cohorts of HIV-positive subjects in Spain: CoRIS-MD and CoRIS. Competing risk regression models were used to assess gender effect on time to start ART and time to first ART change, and a Cox regression model to estimate gender effect on time to death. Results Between January 1996 and December 2008, 1,953 women and 6,072 men naive to ART at study entry were included. The trend analysis over time showed the percentage of women in the younger (<20 years) and older (>50 years) strata increased significantly (P<0.001) from 0.5% and 1.8% in 1996 to 4.9% and 4.2% in 2008, respectively. By competing risk analysis women started ART earlier than men (adjusted subhazard ratio [ASHR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.11, 1.31) in CoRIS cohort, while in CoRIS-MD none of these differences were observed. In both cohorts women showed a shorter time to the first ART change (ASHR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01, 1.19). Pregnancy and patient's/physician's decisions as reasons for changing were more frequent in women than in men in CoRIS. In the Cox regression model, gender was not associated with differences in survival. Conclusions In two large cohorts in Spain, we observed relevant gender differences in epidemiological characteristics and antiretroviral exposure outcomes, while survival differences were not attributable to gender.
False normal Lung Clearance Index in infants with cystic fibrosis due to software algorithms

Lung clearance index (LCI), a marker of ventilation inhomogeneity, is elevated early in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, in infants with CF, LCI values are found to be normal, although structural lung abnormalities are often detectable. We hypothesized that this discrepancy is due to inadequate algorithms of the available software package.
Effects of Sarin on the Nervous System of Subway Workers Seven Years after the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack

Effects of Sarin on the Nervous System of Subway Workers Seven Years after the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack: Koichi Miyaki, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University—This study was designed to assess the after effects of sarin exposure on the nervous system in victims of the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack, which occurred on 20 March, 1995. We performed a similar study 3 yr after the disaster. This time, we newly enrolled 36 staff of the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (Tokyo Eidan subway) to assess the 7 yr after effects on the nervous system, and merged previous data including unpublished data to enhance statistical power. New subjects consisted of 23 male exposed subjects and 13 referent subjects matched for age and working types. Neurobehavioral tests for psychomotor function and memory, stabilometry, and Benton visual retention test were performed. As reported previously, the exposed group performed significantly less well in the psychomotor function test (tapping) than the referent group (117.8±1.2 vs. 105.6 ± 1.2 msec). Using merged data, this phenomenon was also observed in a dose‐dependent manner and the exposed group performed significantly less well in the backward digit span test (4.47 ± 1.17 vs. 5.11 ± 1.65 digits). These results indicate that chronic decline of psychomotor function and memory function still exist 7 yr after the sarin exposure.
Face recognition attendance system using Local Binary Pattern (LBP)

Attendance is important for university students. However, generic way of taking attendance in universities may include various problems. Hence, a face recognition system for attendance taking is one way to combat the problem. This paper will present an automated system that will automatically saves student’s attendance into the database using face recognition method. The paper will elaborate on student attendance system, image processing, face detection and face recognition. The face detection part will be done by using viola-jones algorithm method while the face recognition part will be carried on by using local binary pattern (LBP) method. The system will ensure that the attendance taking process will be faster and more accurate.
Effects of Bisphenol A on Testosterone Levels and Sexual Behaviors of Male Mice

Objective: To evaluate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on testosterone levels and sexual behaviors of male mice. Methods: Forty 12-week-old male mice, 22 - 25 g, were randomly allocated into four equal groups (n = 10 per group): the control group and three BPA exposure groups including low concentration group (10 mg/kg), middle concentration group (50 mg/kg) and high concentration group (100 mg/kg). Each mouse received BPA intraperitoneally injected for 21 consecutive days. Sexual behaviors and testosterone levels in serum and interstitial tissue of testis were measured after the last administration of BPA. Furthermore, we also observed the weights of sexual organs of each group, including testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle. Results: The mount latency in the high concentration group, the intromission latency in the middle and the high concentration group were 11.64 ± 2.67 min, 20.28 ± 3.40 min and 20.13 ± 2.06 min respectively. All of them were longer than the control group (all P < 0.05). The mount frequency, intromission frequency and copulatory efficacy in the high concentration group were 0.52 ± 0.15 numbers/min, 0.37 ± 0.12 numbers/min and 0.40 ± 0.03, which were all statistically lower than the control group (all P < 0.05). The average testis weights in the low, middle and high concentration group were 0.198 ± 0.032 g, 0.203 ± 0.037g and 0.183 ± 0.032 g, and the relative testis weight in the high concentration group was 0.637 ± 0.106. All of these data were lower than the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The epididymis weight and the relative epididymis weight, the weight of seminal vesicle and the relative weight of seminal vesicle were 0.069 ± 0.010 g, 0.242 ± 0.040, 0.219 ± 0.042 g and 0.760 ± 0.143, and all of them were lower than the control group (all P < 0.05). The serum testosterone levels in the high concentration group, the intratesticular testosterone levels in the middle and the high concentration group were 7.88 ± 1.62 ng/ml, 75.5 ± 7.18 ng/g and 73.00 ± 9.57 ng/g, which were all lower than the control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: BPA can decline the testosterone levels in mice and inhibit their sexual behaviors.
Acculturation and the prevalence of pain amongst South Asian minority ethnic groups in the UK.

BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal pain is reported more commonly by South Asians in the UK than by white Europeans. This may result from a variety of factors, including cultural differences, and thus we investigated the extent to which differences in the prevalence of pain within the South Asian population could be explained by differences in acculturation (the extent to which immigrants take on the culture of their host population). METHODS Nine hundred and thirty-three Europeans and 1914 South Asian (1165 Indian, 401 Pakistani and 348 Bangladeshi) subjects were recruited from the age-sex registers of 13 general practices in areas with high densities of South Asian populations (Bolton, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne and Birmingham). A 28-item acculturation scale was developed, based, on aspects including use of language, clothing style, and use of own-culture media. Principle component analysis generated a score (range 0-100), which was validated against constructs expected to relate to acculturation, such as years of full time education and time spent in the UK. The presence of widespread pain was assessed by the answer to the question 'Have you suffered from pain all over the body in the past month? ' RESULTS Widespread pain was more common in all three South Asian ethnic groups than in the white Europeans [odds ratio (OR) = 3.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9-4.9], with this increase ranging from 2.7 to 5.8 in the different South Asian subgroups. There was a similar increase in consultation rates for pain. Within the South Asians, pooling all three groups, there was a strong negative association between acculturation score and widespread pain, which remained after adjusting for age and sex: [OR (95% CI) per standard deviation decrease in acculturation score -1.2 (1.0-1.3)]. Adjusting for acculturation accounted for some, but not all, of the differences between the ethnic groups in the prevalence of widespread pain: OR 2.0 (95% CI 1.4-3.0). CONCLUSIONS Widespread pain is more commonly reported in South Asians though there are interesting differences within the South Asian community. Lower acculturation has a strong influence on the reporting of pain, but cannot explain all of the difference between South Asian and European populations.
Hyperphagia Alters Cholesterol Dynamics in Diabetic Rats

Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes stop growing and start eating more chow. These two events elicit an interacting series of changes in cholesterol dynamics. Hyperphagia increases dietary cholesterol intake and cholesterol synthesis by the small intestine. These increases are balanced by a decrease in cholesterol synthesis in the rest of the body so that total cholesterol input is normal. With growth failure, utilization of cholesterol for formation of new tissue ceases. This decrease is balanced by an increase in bile acid synthesis by the liver. The bile acid pool in the contents of the small intestine is enlarged by hyperphagia. Despite these changes, fecal sterol excretion and total utilization of cholesterol are normal. During the course of changes in growth and food intake and the attendant changes in cholesterol flux, the total tissue cholesterol pool does not change. Therefore influx equals efflux and the systems regulating cholesterol and bile acid synthesis are responding appropriately and are themselves unperturbed by insulin deficiency. However, plasma cholesterol level increases threefold. This elevation is due to increased influx of cholesterol from the small intestine and decreased synthesis in the rest of the body, so that a larger portion of total body cholesterol influx passes through the blood.
Malignant small cell tumor of the thoracopulmonary region in childhood. A distinctive clinicopathologic entity of uncertain histogenesis

This report describes a unique clinicopathologic entity characterized as a malignant small cell tumor of the thoracopulmonary region in 20 children and adolescents (average age 14.5 years). There was a female predilection (75%) for this tumor which appeared to originate in the soft tissues of the chest wall or the peripheral lung. The neoplasm tended to recur locally and did not seem to disseminate as widely as some of the other small cell tumors of childhood (rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, neuroblastoma and malignant lymphoma). However, the median survival was only 8 months. Electron microscopy of 3 cases suggested a neuroepithelial derivation, but, at the present, the histogenesis remains a subject for further investigation.
Risk of multiple myeloma in a case–spouse study

Abstract This study examined lifestyle, occupation, medical history and medication use with multiple myeloma risk in a case–spouse study (481 patients, 351 spouses). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression. Compared to spouse controls, cases were more likely to have a family history of multiple myeloma (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.2–6.4) and smoked cigarettes (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2–2.5), but less likely to have consumed alcohol (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4–0.9). Nurse/health practitioners (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.3–6.2) and production workers (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.0–13.7) had significantly increased risks; and some occupations linked to diesel exhaust had elevated, but non-significant, risks. History of herpes simplex (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2–2.4), shingles (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1–2.7), sexually transmitted diseases (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.0–3.7) and medication allergies (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2–2.4) were associated with higher risks. Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, anti-convulsants, antidepressants, statins and diuretics were associated with reduced risks. The results are consistent with previous population-based studies and support the utility of patient databanks and spouse controls as a resource in epidemiologic research.
Antimalarial drugs and malignancy: no evidence of a protective effect in rheumatoid arthritis

Antimalarial agents, particularly hydroxychloroquine, are frequently used drugs in rheumatology, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A growing awareness of increased malignancies in these autoimmune rheumatic conditions has raised suspicions that drugs may alter cancer risk in such patients. In vitro, antimalarial agents have been invoked as potentially increasing1 or decreasing2 neoplastic processes in breast cancer cells. It has also been suggested that these drugs may decrease the in vitro activity of lymphocytic leukaemia cells.3 However, there exists no definitive literature to show any explicit effect of antimalarial agents on cancer risk in clinical populations. We have examined malignancy risk after antimalarial drug exposures, using a case–control design nested within a population-based …
School leadership: Development of an evaluation instrument and process for administrators

Kathy L. McCormick SCHOOL LEADERSHIP: DEVELOPMENT OF AN EVALUATION INSTRUMENT AND PROCESS FOR ADMINISTRATORS 2010/2011 Robert B. Campbell, Ed.D. Educational Leadership This action research study was conducted for purposes of changing the formal evaluation for school administrators to one constructed around the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) 2008 standards, inclusive of multifaceted components aimed to increase the active participation of both the evaluator and the individual being evaluated. The previous instrument assessed leaders’ performance on a set of generic indicators. There were no requirements for pre-evaluation conferences, nor did the school leader have formal opportunity for self-reflection. Outcomes were not linked to district goals, to individual or district professional growth plans, nor to standards or criteriabased process of leadership assessment. The research design consisted of sequential mixed methods to include multiple stages of data collection and analysis. A quantitative approach was employed as the primary mechanism of analysis and a qualitative component assisted with further examination of participants’ perceptions and preferences regarding the development of a new school leader evaluation instrument and process. Quantitative research occurred as three distinct survey questionnaires to ascertain how administrators perceived the prior and new instruments. Qualitative methods consisted of observation, interview, and artifact review to obtain data relative to the prior and a newly development instrument. Results suggested an overall preference for a more contemporary administrator evaluation instrument comprised of multiple measures of performance assessment. Respondents indicated favorable perceptions associated with increased participation in the evaluation process and reciprocity between them and the evaluator. An unanticipated but welcome outcome was the degree to which the post-conferences were enhanced by the self-assessment component. This was further enhanced by administrators’ concomitant obligation to provide evidence perceived as important and relevant to the evaluation process.
Distribution and relationship to serotype of Haemophilus influenzae biotypes isolated from upper respiratory tracts of children and adults in Papua New Guinea

The relationship between serotypes and biotypes of 505 carriage strains of Haemophilus influenzae isolated from the upper respiratory tracts of well children, children with pneumonia, and healthy adults was studied. All except serotype c were significantly associated with one or two specific biotypes (P less than 0.001). No encapsulated organisms belonging to biotypes V, VI, or VII were encountered. No significant difference in the interaction of biotypes and serotypes isolated from well and sick children was present. Both encapsulated and nonserotypable biotype I H. influenzae strains were commonly carried in the upper respiratory tracts of healthy Melanesian children. The distribution of nonserotypable H. influenzae strains occurred throughout all biotypes, and the frequency of nonencapsulated biotype III and IV strains differed significantly from serotypable organisms with the same biotype (P less than 0.001).
Intragraft CD11b+IDO+ Cells Mediate Cardiac Allograft Tolerance by ECDI‐Fixed Donor Splenocyte Infusions

We have previously shown that pre‐ and post‐transplant infusions of donor splenocytes treated with 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3’‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐carbodiimide (ECDI‐SPs) provide permanent donor‐specific protection of islet allografts. The efficacy of donor ECDI‐SPs in protecting vascularized cardiac allografts and mechanism(s) of protection are unknown. In this study, we show that infusions of ECDI‐SPs significantly prolong cardiac allograft survival concomitant with an impressive accumulation of CD11b+IDO+ cells in the cardiac allograft, and that the presence of this population is dependent on Gr1+ cells. Consequently, depletion of Gr1+ cells or inhibition of indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) activity abrogates graft protection by ECDI‐SPs infusions. In addition, T cells from ECDI‐SPs treated recipients secrete high levels of interleukin 10 and interleukin 13 upon in vitro restimulation, which are also dampened in recipients treated with the IDO inhibitor. Furthermore, combination of donor ECDI‐SPs with a short course of rapamycin provides indefinite cardiac allograft survival in 100% of the recipients. These findings reveal a novel mechanism of donor ECDI‐SPs in inducing cardiac transplant tolerance and provide several targets that are amenable to therapeutic manipulations for tolerance induction for cardiac transplantation.
Value of amniotic fluid interleukin-8 for the prediction of histological chorioamnionitis in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether amniotic fluid levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) are of value in the antenatal diagnosis of acute histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). SETTING Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Charles University, Medical School and University Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. METHODS We compared amniotic fluid IL-8 levels in twenty-nine pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes between 24th and 36th gestational weeks with presence and absence acute histological chorioamnionitis or/and microbial invasion in the amniotic cavity using nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney test), given the non-normal distribution of analyte. Comparisons of proportions were performed with Shapiro-Wilk normality test. RESULTS Patients with HCA had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid IL-8 concentration than patients without the histological signs of chorioamnionitis (1867 pg/mL, 826-5577 versus 1045 pg/mL, 60-4133, p=0.013). Patients with MIAC had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid level than patients without invasion (1888 pg/mL, 519-5577 versus 1225 pg/mL, 60-2766, p= 0.017). Women with HCA and MIAC had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid IL-8 level than women without histological signs of chorioamnionitis and microbial invasion (3117 pg/mL, 826-5577 versus 1468 pg/mL, 394-2766, p=0.034). CONCLUSIONS HCA or/and MIAC are associated with a significant increase of amniotic fluid interleukin-8 levels. Amniotic fluid IL-8 seems to be a marker of intraamniotic inflammation.