Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Allergy development and macromolecular absorption in infants with different feeding regimens during the first three days of life. A three‐year prospective follow‐up

A group of 129 infants were randomly assigned at birth to one of three feeding regimens: human milk (HM), cow's milk formula (CMF) or a casein hydrolysate formula (CHF) during the first 3 days of life. Blood samples were taken on at 4 days and at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 months of age. Macromolecular absorption was analysed by measuring the serum concentration of human α‐lactalbumin (S‐α‐LA) with a competitive radioimmunoassay (RIA). Total serum IgE was measured by RIA. A family history of allergy correlated to the proportion of infants with allergic symptoms both at 24 and 36 months of age (p= 0.03 and p= 0.04 respectively). In none of the three groups did correlation exist between the duration of breastfeeding and serum α‐LA, serum IgE, family history of allergy, frequency of allergic symptoms and proportion of infants with infections.
Focal nodular hyperplasia-like nodules in alcoholic liver cirrhosis: radiologic-pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with three patients who had pathologically proven focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)-like nodules that radiologically mimicked hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CONCLUSION FNH-like nodules may radiologically mimic HCC, appearing as hypervascular masses on contrast-enhanced CT images and as high-signal-intensity masses on superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MR images. Pathologically, there is the presence of a high number of unpaired arteries and sinusoidal capillarization, which may mimic HCC. Thus, it is important to differentiate FNH-like nodules radiologically, pathologically, and clinically from HCC.
Is There Really a Teacher Shortage

Contemporary educational thought holds that one of the pivotal causes of inadequate school performance is the inability of schools to adequately staff classrooms with qualified teachers. It is widely believed that schools are plagued by shortages of teachers, primarily due to recent increases in teacher retirements and student enrollments. This report summarizes a series of analyses that have investigated the possibility that there are other factors tied to the organizational characteristics and conditions of schools that are behind school staffing problems. The data utilized in this investigation are from the Schools and Staffing Survey and its supplement, the Teacher Follow-up Survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics. These data indicate that school staffing problems are not primarily due to teacher shortages, in the sense of an insufficient supply of qualified teachers. Rather, the data indicate that school staffing problems are primarily due to a "revolving door" where large numbers of qualified teachers depart their jobs for reasons other than retirement. The data show that the amount of turnover accounted for by retirement is relatively minor when compared to that associated with other factors, such as teacher job dissatisfaction and teachers pursuing other jobs. This report concludes that teacher recruitment programs traditionally dominant in the policy realm will not solve the staffing problems of such schools if they do not also address the organizational sources of low teacher retention. Comments Reprinted from A Research Report Co-sponsored by The Consortium for Policy Research in Education and The Center for the Study of Teaching and Policy, September 2003, 30 pages. This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/gse_pubs/133 Is There Really a Teacher Shortage?
Age-ism: another form of bigotry.

MALCOLM X, the Kerner Commission Report, and a variety of other persons, events, and materials have made the concept of racism familiar. Social class discrimination also needs no introduction. However, we may soon have to consider very seriously a form of bigotry we now tend to overlook: age discrimination or age-ism, prejudice by one age group toward other age groups. If such bias exists, might it not be especially evident in America; a society that has traditionally valued pragmatism, action, power, and the vigor of youth over contemplation, reflection, experience, and the wisdom of age? In the affluent community of Chevy Chase, recent events have revealed a complex interweaving of class, color, and age discrimination that may highlight the impact of these forces in our national life. On January 30, 1969, the National Capital Housing Authority, the public housing agency of the District of Columbia, held hearings on its proposal to purchase Regency House, a high-rise apartment building in Chevy Chase, for the elderly poor. If finally approved, Regency House would be the first public housing project west of Rock Creek Park, the traditional boundary between black and white in Washington, D.C. The middle-class and middle-aged white citizenry of Chevy Chase appeared at both the hearings and at the Chevy Chase Citizens' Association meeting at a local public school on February 17. They vigorously protested on a variety of grounds the National Capital Housing Authority proposal. Some of these aroused citizens demonstrated that they could practice the politics of protest and confrontation in a manner as impassioned as that of the young and alienated. Chevy Chase residents were irritated and angered by a proposal to provide what they considered luxury housing (there is a swimming pool
Urban Land Use, Transport and Environment Models

Abstract This paper gives an overview of the ILUMASS project (2002–2006) funded by the German Federal Ministry of Science and Education. The objective of ILUMASS was to implement a fully microscopic model of urban land use, transport, and environment (LTE). Considerable progress was made in developing and testing individual microscopic models and the interfaces between them. However, for several reasons, the planned application of the full model system for the simulation of policy scenarios was not achieved. Possible reasons for this failure are analyzed and recommendations are made to improve future interdisciplinary projects of this kind.
How successful are first episode programs? A review of the evidence for specialized assertive early intervention

Purpose of review It has been hypothesized that the first 5 years after first episode of psychosis are a critical period with opportunities for ameliorating the course of illness. On the basis of this rationale, specialized assertive early intervention services were developed. We wanted to investigate the evidence basis for such interventions. Recent findings The evidence for the effectiveness of specialized assertive early intervention services is mainly based on one large randomized clinical trial, the OPUS trial, but it is supported by the findings in smaller trials, such as the Lambeth Early Onset trial, the Croydon Outreach and Assertive Support Team trial and the Norwegian site of Optimal Treatment trial. There are positive effects on psychotic and negative symptoms, on substance abuse and user satisfaction, but the clinical effects are not sustainable when patients are transferred to standard treatment. However, the positive effects on service use and ability to live independently seem to be durable. Summary Implementation of specialized assertive early intervention services is recommended, but the evidence basis needs to be strengthened through replication in large high-quality trials. Recommendation regarding the duration of treatment must await results of ongoing trials comparing 2 years of intervention with extended treatment periods.
Pattern of Injury After Rock-Climbing Falls Is Not Determined by Harness Type

Abstract Category 1 Continuing Medical Education credit for physicians is available to Wilderness Medical Society members for this article. Go to http://wms.org/cme/cme.asp? whatarticle=1813 to access the instructions and test questions. Objective. —Experimental data indicate that when using a sit harness alone, any major fall during rock climbing may cause life-threatening thoraco-lumbar hyperextension trauma or “head down position” during suspension. To clarify the actual influence of the type of harness on the pattern and severity of injury, accidents involving a major fall in a climbing harness were analyzed retrospectively. Methods. —Individuals with a height of fall equal to or exceeding 5 m were identified through a search of accident and emergency records for the period from 2000 to 2004. Data concerning the circumstances of the fall and the patterns of injury were obtained from personal interviews, flight and accident reports, as well as hospital medical records. Results. —Of a total of 113 climbers identified, 73 (64.6%) used a sit harness alone, whereas 40 (35.4%) used a body harness. Fractures and dislocations of the extremities, the shoulder, and the pelvic region were the most common injuries, while the most severe injuries occurred in the head and neck region. Although most falls were associated with mild or moderate injuries, 13 (11.5%) climbers sustained severe or critical multisystem trauma. Falls on more difficult routes were associated with less severe injury. The type of harness used did not influence the pattern or severity of injury. In particular, no evidence was found for the existence of a thoraco-lumbar hyperextension trauma. Conclusions. —The type of harness does not influence the pattern or severity of injury, and the forces transferred via the harness do not cause a specific harness-induced pathology. We did not find any evidence that hyperextension trauma of the thoraco-lumbar region is an important mechanism of injury in climbers using a sit harness alone. Rock contact during the fall, and not the force transferred through the harness, is the major cause of significant injury in climbing accidents.
Quantification of human cytomegalovirus DNA by a new capture hybrid polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of bone marrow transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVES Quantitative monitoring of human cytomegalovirus infections is helpful in determining appropriate antiviral management in patients who receive bone marrow transplants. We sought to design and evaluate a new cytomegalovirus capture hybrid polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells to monitor cytomegalovirus infection in bone marrow transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-six patients who received allogeneic bone marrow transplants, including 17 male patients and 9 female patients (9 adults, 17 children), were enrolled in this study. A total of 313 consecutive whole blood specimens, before and from 7 to 120 days after transplant, was evaluated in the study. A newly designed biotinylated probe-mediated quantitative competitive PCR-ELISA test was used to determine cytomegalovirus load in specimens of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma. RESULTS All 26 patients were cytomegalovirus seropositive before transplant. Capture hybrid PCR-ELISA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells detected cytomegalovirus DNA in 287 of 313 specimens (91.7%) even in cases with no active cytomegalovirus infection. In plasma, cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in 114 of 313 specimens (36.4%). Increasing titers of cytomegalovirus DNA were detected in 14 of 26 patients (53.8%). CONCLUSIONS The quantitative capture hybrid PCR-ELISA was able to diagnose and monitor cytomegalovirus infection in patients who received bone marrow transplants. Detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in plasma was more predictive of the onset of cytomegalovirus-related clinical symptoms, compared to detection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
The Use of Imagery by Athletes During Injury Rehabilitation

Objectives: To determine whether athletes use motivational and cognitive imagery during injury rehabilitation and to develop an instrument for measuring imagery use. Design: A survey concerning imagery use during rehabilitation was administered to injured athletes. Setting: The Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic in London, Ontario, Canada. Participants: Injured athletes (N = 71) receiving physiotherapy. Main Outcome Measure: The Athletic Injury Imagery Questionnaire (AIIQ). Results: As hypothesized, 2 distinct factors emerged from the items on the AIIQ: motivational and cognitive imagery. Motivational imagery was used more often than cognitive imagery in this context, yet less frequently than in other sport situations (eg, training and competition). Conclusions: The study indicates that the AIIQ is a potentially useful tool through which physiotherapists and sport psychologists can examine athletes' use of imagery in injury rehabilitation.
Epidemiology of Sports Injuries in the Swiss Organization "Youth and Sports" 1987-1989 - Injuries, Exposure and Risks of Main Diagnoses

In the Swiss organization "Youth and Sports" all acute injuries that are attended to by a physician are registered by the Military Insurance, and data on the number of participants in 32 sports together with the time of exposure are collected by the organization. Per year there are close to 350,000 participants (age 14-20 years) during 13.2 million hours causing more than 5,000 injuries. In a descriptive study the data on the activities in "Youth and Sports" from 1987-1989 have been combined with the injuries which occurred during the same time period. The exposure to risk per 10,000 hours (incidence rate) has been calculated and is presented as a mean of the three years. Icehockey, handball and soccer had the highest incidences in males (8.6, 7.2, and 6.6) followed by wrestling, hiking and basketball (6.3, 3.6, and 3.5). In females the ranking order was handball, soccer and basketball (7.6, 6.7, and 4.9) succeeded by alpine skiing, volleyball and alpinism (3.9, 3.8, and 3.0). A comparison between males and females of the incidence rates in eleven analogous sports showed five significantly higher rates, four in female sports: basketball, alpine skiing, volleyball and apparatus gymnastics, and one in a male sport, hiking. The overall rate was significantly higher in males, but the higher risk was explained by the predominance of male soccer (56% of the injuries in males). After standardization for total exposure the results were even reversed and female sports had a higher overall risk.
Linear Pitting and Splinter Haemorrhages Are More Commonly Seen in the Nails of Patients with Established Psoriasis in Comparison to Psoriatic Arthritis

Background: Recently the role of several ligament and tendon insertions around the nail matrix and nail plate have been identified as possible contributory factors that explain the higher prevalence of nail involvement in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The purpose of this study was to determine whether such anatomical factors might also be associated with different patterns of nail involvement in skin psoriasis and PsA. Methods: A total of 173 patients were recruited: 121 PsA cases and 52 psoriasis cases. All patients had a standardised assessment of the nails for lesions including pitting, splinter haemorrhages and onycholysis. Results: The overall modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index scores did not differ between the two groups (psoriasis mean 8.5, SD 7.1; PsA mean 8.3, SD 9.4). In the nail matrix, linear pitting appeared to be more common in skin psoriasis (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.18–0.41). There were no significant differences in the distribution of nail plate abnormalities other than splinter haemorrhages which were more commonly seen in psoriasis cases (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.14–0.39). Conclusion: The pattern of nail disease in psoriasis and PsA differed with respect to the frequency of linear pitting and splinter haemorrhages, with both features occurring more often in psoriasis.
Reduction and methylation of ziprasidone by glutathione, aldehyde oxidase, and thiol s-methyltransferase in humans: an in vitro study

In humans, approximately two-thirds of the metabolic clearance of ziprasidone proceeds through reduction of the N-S bond of the benzisothiazole moiety, which is followed by methylation of the resulting thiophenol to the major metabolite S-methyldihydroziprasidone. The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the underlying mechanism of this clearance route. Incubation of ziprasidone in human liver cytosol yielded the reduction product dihydroziprasidone. Heating the cytosol prior to incubation prevented the reaction, and the reaction was saturable (KM = 3.9 µM; Vmax = 0.24 nmol/min/mg protein), supporting that it was enzyme catalyzed. It was partially stimulated by 2-hydroxypyrimidine and inhibited by menadione, supporting a role for aldehyde oxidase in this reaction. However, incubation of ziprasidone with reduced glutathione, even in the absence of cytosol, readily yielded dihydroziprasidone indicating that there is also a chemical reduction component to this clearance pathway. The pathway was reversible because incubation of dihydroziprasidone in cytosol or with oxidized glutathione in buffer yielded ziprasidone. The methylation of dihydroziprasidone was observed in human liver microsomes in the presence of S-adenosylmethionine (KM = 14 µM; Vmax = 0.032 nmol/min/mg protein). This reaction was inhibited by 2,3-dichloro-α-methylbenzylamine supporting that thiol methyltransferase is the enzyme responsible for this reaction. Thus, the main metabolic pathway for ziprasidone in humans occurs via chemical reduction and aldehyde oxidase catalyzed reduction, followed by thiol methyltransferase catalyzed methylation.
[Epidemiology of birth defects among children in 8 provinces in China].

In 1988, birth defects (BD) among 85,170 children aged 0-14 were investigated in eight provinces and cities of China. The overall prevalence rate was 15.13% in urban, 15.40% in rural areas. The prevalence rate of BD was significantly higher in males than in females (16.66% vs 13.70%). The prevalence rate of BD was significantly higher in mothers aged > or = 35 years than in mothers aged < 35. 20 of 82 categories of BD accounted for > or = 1% of all BD. The 3 leading BD were: cutis angioma, congenital heart disease and indirect hernia. The incidence of mental retardation was significantly higher in children with BD than in children without BD.
Association Between Mechanical Axis of the Leg and Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee

Background: The cause of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is unknown, but mechanical factors seem to play a role. Purpose: To identify a relationship between localization of OCD and mechanical axis of the leg. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Using bilateral full-leg standing radiographs, we analyzed the position of the mechanical axis of the leg in a group of 93 adolescent and adult patients (103 knees) with OCD of the medial or lateral femoral condyle. Results: The location of OCD and the position of the mechanical axis in the same knee compartment was significantly correlated for both knees with medial (P < .001) as well as lateral (P < .012) compartment OCD. In the medial OCD group, the mean mechanical axis was located in the medial knee compartment (28% medial ± 2.8%; range, 100% medial to 14% lateral) with a statistically insignificant medial shift with respect to the unaffected side. In lateral OCD, the mean mechanical axis was located laterally (13% lateral ± 3.9%; range, 13% medial to 60% lateral) with a significant shift from the medial into the lateral knee compartment when comparing unaffected with affected knees. No significant difference was observed between adolescents with open growth plates compared with adults with closed growth plates (P > .05). Conclusion: We found an association between medial condyle OCD and varus axis and between lateral condyle OCD and valgus axis. This evokes higher loading of the affected than of the unaffected knee compartment, and therefore, axial alignment may be a cofactor in OCD of the femoral condyles.
Influence of the mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) infection on the growth of human tumors in the athymic mouse

The growth characteristics and histological appearance of tumors resulting from transplantation of the tumor lines HEp‐2 and SW480 into pathogen‐free and mouse hepatitis virus infected athymic mice were studied. Subcutaneous or intra‐peritoneal implantation 1 × 106 neoplastic cells into pathogen‐free animals resulted in tumor growth. Subcutaneous transplants grew locally, surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. The fibrovascular stroma supporting the neoplastic tissue was minimal and infiltration of tumor capsule was observed. Intraperitoneal tumors grew in a multifocal pattern, were not encapsulated, showed marked invasiveness and metastasized. The same number of neoplastic cells (1×106) transplanted into hepatitis‐positive animals failed to develop into grossly visible tumors. When the number of transplanted cells was increased to 2×107, tumors appeared in a few animals. All tumors, regardless of the site of transplantation, were characterized by the presence of severe fibrohistiocytic reaction at the site of implantation that possibly influenced the tumor growth. No evidence supporting T‐cell‐mediated tumor rejection was observed. It is concluded that the state of health of the athymic mice is critical for the growth of human tumors and may account for the variations in reporting successful transplantation of such tumors in nude mice.
High serum leptin levels in depressive disorders with atypical features

Abstract Leptin is thought to be related to vegetative symptoms of depression such as alterations in food intake and weight. Fifty‐seven drug‐free patients and 26 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. We have found that the serum leptin levels were higher in patients with atypical depressive disorder than in controls, but not in patients with nonatypical depressive disorder, however, body mass index, age, and gender were not significantly different between these groups. Probably, these findings seem to be associated with some features of the atypical depressive disorders such as weight gain, a result of hyperphagia.
BRCA1 Haploinsufficiency, but not Heterozygosity for a BRCA1-truncating Mutation, Deregulates Homologous Recombination

Humans heterozygous for BRCA1 mutations have a high risk of losing the remaining wild-type BRCA1 allele and developing breast/ovarian cancer, but a molecular basis for this has not yet been determined. It is thought that heterozygosity status — reduced wild-type BRCA1 protein dosage (haploinsufficiency) and/or the presence of a mutant BRCA1 protein — may affect BRCA1 functions and heighten the risk of cancer promoting mutations. BRCA1 maintains genome stability, at least in part, by regulating homologous recombination according to the type of DNA damage. To investigate whether this BRCA1 function is affected by heterozygosity status, we employed, as recombination reporters, human breast cancer MCF-7 cells known to have a single wild-type BRCA1 allele and reduced BRCA1 protein dosage. These cells revealed: 1) a spontaneous hyper-recombination phenotype; 2) reduced efficiency in homologous recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs); and 3) sensitivity to the DSB-inducing chemotherapeutic agent mitomycin C. Correction of BRCA1 protein dosage to the wild-type level reversed all these phenotypes, whereas physiological expression of the cancer-eliciting BRCA1 5382insC mutant allele had no effect on either phenotype. These findings implicate BRCA1 C-terminal domain in recombination control, and indicate that BRCA1 haploinsufficiency alone, which is also a feature of sporadic breast/ovarian cancer, is sufficient to compromise genome stability by triggering spontaneous recombination events that are likely to account for the loss of the remaining wild-type BRCA1 allele and increased cancer risk. Our observations may also have implications for the medical management of cancer patients and cancer prevention.