Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-term changes in the blood leucocyte and platelet count following different durations of high-intensity treadmill running.

Short-term changes in the blood leucocyte count after exercise are known to be dependent on the intensity of exercise performed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the duration of high-intensity exercise on changes in the leucocyte and platelet count during the early recovery period. On separate occasions following a standard warm-up, eight healthy subjects (six males, two females) ran at a constant speed of 5.6 m s-1 (20 km h-1) on a level treadmill for 30, 60, 90, 120 or 150 s or to fatigue. Heart rates were increased to near maximal levels within 30 s of exercise. Significant increases in the blood leucocyte count occurred after all exercise durations compared with baseline (pre-exercise) levels. Running for 30 s increased the blood leucocyte count by 35 +/- 10% (x +/- S.D.). Running for 60 s increased the blood leucocyte count by 57 +/- 16%, but running for longer durations did not produce any further significant increase in the immediately post-exercise blood leucocyte count. After exercise to exhaustion, the leucocyte count had increased by 63 +/- 17%. This was mainly due to an increase of lymphocytes (114 +/- 20%) rather than neutrophils (34 +/- 7%). At exhaustion, plasma volume had decreased by 15.9 +/- 2.6% compared with pre-exercise. During 5 min of recovery from exercise, the leucocyte count fell significantly (after 30 and 60 s of running), remained unchanged (90 and 120 s) or increased significantly (150 s and fatigue) compared with immediately post-exercise. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effectiveness of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff leaf extraction on blood glucose level in alloxan-induced Wistar rat

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that always increasing in prevalence. Excessive glucose intake and oxidative stress that can lead to damage to the pancreatic cell or insulin resistance, are such factors that influence the occurrence of diabetes mellitus. Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff leaf contains active metabolites such as flavonoid which able to decrease free radical levels. This study aimed to prove the effectiveness of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff leaves extract on blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced Wistar rats. In this study, twenty-five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. On day 0, the negative control and each treatment group injected with 125 mg/kg dose of alloxan and would be checked on 4th day. On the 4th day after the rats had diabetes, normal group (K-1) was given only standard feed, Negative control (K-2) was given only alloxan intraperitoneally on day 0, first treatment group (K-3) was given 50 mg/kg dose of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff, second treatment group (K-4) was given 100 mg/kg dose of the leaf extract, and the third treatment group (K-5) was given the leaf 200 mg/kg dose of the leaf extract. On the 10th day, fasting blood glucose was taken from the rats. Post-test only group design was used to be the experimental design. There were significant differences in the treatment groups (K-3, K-4, and K-5) compared to the negative control group (K-2) after treatment. The mean of blood glucose levels decreased with the increased doses of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff leaf extract treatment. The treatment groups (K-3, K-4, and K-5) were not significant compared to the normal group (K-1).
Fluoroscopically guided closed reduction and internal fixation of fractures of the lateral portion of the humeral condyle: prospective clinical study of the technique and results in ten dogs.

OBJECTIVE To report a technique for fluoroscopically guided closed reduction with internal fixation of fractures of the lateral portion of the humeral condyle (FLHC) and determine the long-term results in 10 clinical cases. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical case study. ANIMALS Ten dogs with 11 fractures. METHODS Fractures of the lateral portion of the humeral condyle were stabilized with transcondylar screws and Kirschner wires. Closed reduction and implant placement were achieved using intraoperative fluoroscopic guidance. After fracture repair, postoperative radiographs were evaluated for articular alignment and implant placement. Dogs were evaluated after surgery by means of lameness scores, elbow range of motion (ROM), radiographic assessment, and owner evaluation of function. RESULTS Postoperative reduction was considered anatomic in 6 fractures with all other fractures having <1.5 mm of malreduction. Follow-up was available for 9 patients from 9 to 21 months after surgery. All of the fractures had healed. One minor (wire migration) and one major (implant failure) complication occurred. Mean lameness scores were 0 (n = 6), 0.5 (n = 2), and 1 (n = 1) at the time of final follow-up. No significant differences were found in follow-up ROM values between affected and unaffected elbows. All of the dogs in this study regained 90-100% of full function, based on owner assessment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Fluoroscopic guidance for closed reduction and internal fixation of FLHC in dogs is an effective technique.
Recent enterovirus infection in type 1 diabetes: Evidence with a novel IgM method

Enterovirus (EV) infection has been associated with Type 1 (T1D) diabetes and on a few occasions virus could be isolated at onset of the disease. Using two such isolates as antigens in a quantitative PCR enhanced immunoassay (T1D‐EV‐QPIA) we have measured IgM antibodies against such potentially diabetogenic viruses in serum from 33 newly diagnosed T1D children, 24 siblings, and 27 healthy children. Sera were also analysed with regard to autoantibodies against GAD65, the cytokine TNF‐α and the chemokine IP‐10. EV‐RNA detection was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). IgM antibodies against this “new” EV antigen were more frequent in serum from T1D children than in serum from siblings and/or controls (P < 0.001). EV‐RNA was detected more frequently in PBMC from T1D children than in healthy control children (P < 0.001) and also compared to the siblings (P < 0.003). The cytokine TNF‐α was less frequently detected in serum from the T1D children compared with serum from siblings and/controls (P < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the results obtained with the T1D‐EV‐QPIA and the EV‐PCR (P < 0.001). These findings are in line with earlier findings of an increased frequency of enteroviral infections in newly diagnosed T1D patients. In addition, we found that T1D children at onset of the disease had lower frequencies of the chemokine TNF‐α in their serum than age‐ and sex‐matched controls had, suggesting an impaired immune response. J. Med. Virol. 79:1861–1867, 2007. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence and determinants of caesarean section in Jamaica

Summary The prevalence and determinants of primary caesarean section in Jamaica were estimated from a survey of women aged 14–49 years. Among 2328 women reporting 2395 live hospital births during the period January 1984 to May 1989, the prevalence of caesarean section was 4·1%. Repeat caesarean sections accounted for 1·3% of the hospital births during that period. Of the medical complications studied, prolonged labour and/or cephalopelvic disproportion carried the highest risks of primary caesarean section, followed by breech presentation, maternal diabetes, a high birth-weight baby, maternal hypertension, and a low birth-weight baby. The risk of primary caesarean section increased with maternal age, decreased with parity, was higher for urban than for rural residents, and was higher for births in private versus government hospitals.
Environmental and social cues can be used in combination to develop sustainable breeding techniques for goat reproduction in the subtropics.

Goat breeds from subtropical latitudes show different annual reproductive cycles. Some of them display large seasonal variations in their annual breeding season, while others display a moderate seasonality or sexual activity all year round. This reproductive seasonality causes seasonality of milk, cheese and meat productions and, as a consequence, induces wide variation in producer incomes. To solve this problem and provide methods allowing producers to breed animals during the anestrous period and stabilize production all year round, it is necessary to have a deep knowledge of their annual sexual activity and to identify the environmental factors controlling the timing of the annual reproductive cycle. Then, it is possible to build on these knowledge sustainable breeding techniques adapted to the environmental, economic and social characteristics of the local breeding system. In this review, I will illustrate this strategy through the example of our experiments in subtropical goats. First, we determined the characteristics of the annual breeding season in both male and female goats. Second, we identified the photoperiod as the major environmental factor controlling the timing of this annual breeding season. Third, we used the photoperiod to stimulate indirectly the sexual behavior of does. Indeed, we used photoperiodic treatments to stimulate the sexual activity of bucks during the non-breeding season. These sexually active male goats were then used to induce and synchronize the estrous behavior and ovulatory activity of anestrous females in confined or grazing conditions by using the 'male effect'. Under subtropical conditions, these results constitute an original manner to control the reproductive activity of local goats using the photoperiod combined with the 'male effect. '
Visual Storytelling: A Beneficial But Challenging Method for Health Research With Young People

Visual storytelling is a new research approach drawing on established methods of photovoice and photo elicitation. It appears well suited to research with young people. We explored the feasibility of this approach, reflecting on benefits and challenges encountered while using it during a study of chronic disease self-management in adolescents. During in-depth interviews, 68 participants were questioned about the value of visual storytelling. Thematic analysis was applied. Visual storytelling was valued for (a) being a draw card during recruitment and increasing positive feelings about the research; (b) being fun; (c) promoting self-understanding; and (d) promoting expression, communication, and focus during interviews. Deciding what to photograph was difficult. More time and effort was required by researchers than for a standard qualitative interview study. The technique facilitated rich interviews, drawing into focus details of young peoples’ lives that otherwise might not have been discussed.
The need to incorporate routine cervical cancer counselling and screening in the management of women at the outpatient clinics in Nigeria

Summary Although cervical cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in Nigeria, the use of cervical cancer screening is poor. This study aimed at determining the awareness and use of the available cervical cancer screening method (Pap smear) by women attending the outpatient clinics of a tertiary institution in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to 912 women from November 2005 to May 2006. A total of 550 (60.3%) respondents knew about cervical cancer but only 41.2% of them were aware of the Pap smear. Only 89 (9.0%) respondents had used the Pap smear. The majority (61.9%) of those who had not been screened despite knowledge of the Pap smear had no reason, while the remaining 112 (38.1%) felt they were not susceptible to cervical cancer. The use of the Pap smear among women attending the outpatient clinics in Enugu, Nigeria is very low. Routine cervical cancer counselling and screening with opt-out option should be offered to every eligible woman attending the outpatient clinics.
Gilbert's syndrome and the risk of death: A population‐based cohort study

Gilbert's syndrome is a common familial hyperbilirubinemia that may reduce the risk of various age‐related diseases because of the antioxidant properties of bilirubin. We conducted a large cohort study using The Health Improvement Network primary care database and compared all‐cause mortality rates in those with and without Gilbert's syndrome.
Aspects of the safety analysis of an on-board automatic train operation supervisor

In today's train operations the driver may no longer be the primary guardian of the safety of the train, that function being taken over by various forms of Automatic Train Protection (ATP) systems. What is left for the driver is still an important safety supporting function which is their capacity to review the set of train control actions that they intend to apply, and match those with the current state of the train and current external conditions. And as many in the industry would know, ATP systems are not always perfect. In Automatic Train Operation (ATO), where the driver is to be replaced, this residual safety function must be automated also. Where this becomes particularly important is in long heavy-haul trains where the driver's experience and the undesirability of relying on the emergency braking capability provided by the ATP system is a much more significant issue. This paper focuses on the safety analysis of a train control supervisor for ATO using timed Petri nets as the modelling approach.
Efficacy of Fluoroquinolones against Leptospira in a Hamster Model 1 2

45 Ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and levofloxacin were evaluated for their ability to prevent 46 mortality in hamsters infected with a lethal inoculum of Leptospira interrogans serovar 47 Portlandvere. Each agent produced a statistically significant survival advantage when 48 compared to no treatment and demonstrated survival similar to that seen with 49 doxycycline therapy. 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
Corporate Governance and Firm Value: the Impact of the 2002 Governance Rules

The 2001 to 2002 corporate scandals led to the Sarbanes–Oxley Act and to various amendments to the U.S. stock exchanges' regulations. We find that the announcement of these rules has a significant effect on firm value. Firms that are less compliant with the provisions of the rules earn positive abnormal returns compared to firms that are more compliant. We also find variation in the response across firm size. Large firms that are less compliant earn positive abnormal returns but small firms that are less compliant earn negative abnormal returns, suggesting that some provisions are detrimental to small firms.
Research exposure during pediatric residency: influence on career expectations.

OBJECTIVES To examine pediatric residents' research experiences during residency and to explore whether residents' attitudes toward research are related to their decision to pursue subspecialty fellowships. STUDY DESIGN A national random sample of 500 PL-3 pediatric residents completing training in 2001 was surveyed. Responses were obtained from 318 residents (64%). Resident research experiences and perceived competence were compared for residents planning to pursue subspecialty training (34%) and residents who were not (66%). RESULTS Residents interested in a subspecialty were more likely to have had formal research training (39% vs 27%) and to have assisted on a research project (26% vs 14%) during residency. Upon residency completion, residents in both groups rated their knowledge of most research skills as being fair or poor. A favorable rating toward research was the strongest predictor of whether residents have subspecialty rather than general pediatrics as their future clinical goal (OR=3.7). CONCLUSIONS Given residents' limited research exposure and the strong association found between residents' research attitudes and their plans to pursue subspecialty training, serious consideration should be given to the possible benefits of research promotion programs, which may lead to increased resident interest in pediatric fellowships and pediatric research.
p53 protein accumulation predicts poor response to tamoxifen therapy of patients with recurrent breast cancer.

PURPOSE Mutations of the p53 gene are frequently observed in primary breast cancer and accumulation of p53 protein has been used as a surrogate marker of p53 inactivation. Previous studies have shown that p53 accumulation is related to poor prognosis in primary breast cancer. We studied whether p53 protein accumulation is a predictive factor for response to tamoxifen treatment in patients with recurrent breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Levels of p53, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) were assayed in cytosolic extracts derived from primary tumors of 401 tamoxifen-naive patients who developed recurrent disease. All patients in the study received tamoxifen therapy upon relapse (median follow-up, 69 months). Association of tested factors with response to tamoxifen treatment was studied by logistic regression analysis, and with survival after the start of treatment by Cox univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS p53 levels (median, 0.23 ng/mg protein) were not related to ER or PgR levels, but positively correlated with uPA (P < .0001). In a test for trend, we observed an association of p53 protein levels with response to tamoxifen therapy. When dichotomized (at the median value), 42% in the p53-high versus 56% in the p53-low group showed a response. In multivariate analysis, including patient and tumor characteristics, p53 accumulation retained significance with the rate of response (odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31 to 0.74; P < .001). Also in multivariate analysis, reduced survival after the start of tamoxifen therapy was observed in the p53-high group (relative hazards rate [RHR], 1.56, 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.10; P = .002). A statistically significant association between p53 levels and decreased tamoxifen response was seen only in the subset of patients whose tumors expressed low levels of ER or PgR (<75 fmol/mg protein). CONCLUSION Measurement of primary tumor p53 levels may be effective in predicting response to tamoxifen therapy in recurrent breast disease. However, more confirming studies on the association between p53 protein accumulation and response to antiestrogen therapy are needed before tumor p53 levels can be used in routine clinical practice.
Role of Intermolecular Interactions of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Nucleoprotein in RNA Encapsidation

ABSTRACT The crystal structure of the vesicular stomatitis virus nucleoprotein (N) in complex with RNA reveals extensive and specific intermolecular interactions among the N molecules in the 10-member oligomer. What roles these interactions play in encapsidating RNA was studied by mutagenesis of the N protein. Three N mutants intended for disruption of the intermolecular interactions were designed and coexpressed with the phosphoprotein (P) in an Escherichia coli system previously described (T. J. Green et al., J. Virol. 74:9515-9524, 2000). Mutants N (Δ1-22), N (Δ347-352), and N (320-324, (Ala)5) lost RNA encapsidation and oligomerization but still bound with P. Another mutant, N (Ser290→Trp), was able to form a stable ring-like N oligomer and bind with the P protein but was no longer able to encapsidate RNA. The crystal structure of N (Ser290→Trp) at 2.8 Å resolution showed that this mutant can maintain all the same intermolecular interactions as the wild-type N except for a slight unwinding of the N-terminal lobe. These results suggest that the intermolecular contacts among the N molecules are required for encapsidation of the viral RNA.
Neuroinvasion during delayed primary HHV‐7 infection in an immunocompetent adult with encephalitis and flaccid paralysis

Antibody avidity tests have been used to detect primary human herpesvirus‐7 (HHV‐7) infection in an immunocompetent 19‐year‐old man with encephalitis and flaccid paralysis for which all other suspected causes had been excluded. The finding of the viral DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but not in serum samples suggests that primary HHV‐7 infection with invasion of the central nervous system and consequential disease had occurred. As almost all adults are infected with HHV‐7 in early childhood, the present case of delayed primary infection with serious symptoms must be exceptionally rare and no cases of such late acquisition of the virus have been documented in the literature. This report of HHV‐7 DNA in the CSF of an immunocompetent adult is also unique. J. Med. Virol. 67:538–541, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CD73: A potential biomarker for anti-PD-1 therapy

In our recent study, we show that tumoral CD73 expression limits the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy, and this is rescued by concomitant A2A blockade. Since CD73 is known to be overexpressed in several human cancers and A2A antagonists have undergone clinical trials for Parkinson's Disease, this combination warrants further investigation.
The characterization of somatic APC mutations in colonic adenomas and carcinomas in Ashkenazi Jews with the APC I1307K variant using linkage disequilibrium

Mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene play a critical role in the development of colorectal neoplasms. A novel mechanism involves a germline variant, at codon 1307 of the APC gene. The mutation is thought to create an unstable segment of DNA, which facilitates the development of somatic mutations. I1307K has been shown to be ancestral in Middle Eastern populations. The aim of the present study was to confirm this observation for a Western population and to utilize this information in the characterization of the somatic changes in colorectal neoplasia in carriers of I1307K. DNA from 182 US Ashkenazim was screened for the I1307K variant, which was found in 22 (12.1%), and the ancestral nature of this variant was confirmed in this population by showing that all of those with the I1307K variant carried a specific allele at the D5S346 locus, while the majority shared a D5S1385 allele. Subsequently, 79 neoplasms were analysed from 15 I1307K carriers for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the D5S346 locus. LOH was detected in 18 neoplasms (23%). Of these 18, four neoplasms showed loss of the I1307K‐associated allele, while 14 neoplasms had retained the I1307K‐associated allele and, by implication, the I1307K variant. PCR products were also cloned into a plasmid vector to isolate individual APC alleles. For those neoplasms with LOH, 13 of the 18 neoplasms (72%) had a somatic mutation, of which 12 involved the I307K‐bearing chromosome. This study is consistent with two previous studies in showing that additional somatic mutations close to codon 1307 are almost always on the I1307K‐bearing chromosome, but either allele may demonstrate LOH. Further evidence for the interpretation of the action of I1307K as producing DNA instability is provided by analysing multiple neoplasms from the same person and by showing that these neoplasms have differing patterns of LOH and associated somatic mutations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.