Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal serum levels of free β‐hCG and PAPP‐A in the first trimester of pregnancy are not associated with subsequent fetal growth retardation or preterm delivery

The purpose of this case–control study was to examine the association of first‐trimester concentrations of free β‐human chorionic gonadotropin (free β‐hCG) and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A (PAPP‐A) in maternal serum with subsequent preterm delivery or small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) fetuses. We collected all the blood samples before chorionic villus sampling in the first trimester. Concentrations of free β‐hCG and PAPP‐A were expressed in multiples of the median (MOM) for gestational age. We compared the levels of both analytes in 73 SGA pregnancies (birth weight below the fifth percentile) with those in 292 normal controls, who were matched for gestational age, maternal age, parity, maternal weight, and smoking habits. We also compared the levels in 87 pregnancies with a preterm delivery (delivery before 37 completed weeks) with those in 348 matched controls. The median concentrations of PAPP‐A and free β‐hCG, expressed in MOMs, in the 73 SGA pregnancies were 0·83 and 0·95, respectively, compared with 0·98 and 1·01, respectively, in the 292 matched controls (P=0·08 and 0·19, respectively). In the 87 pregnancies with a preterm delivery, the median concentrations of PAPP‐A and free β‐hCG were 0·98 and 0·94, respectively, compared with 0·99 and 0·99, respectively, in the 348 matched controls (P=0·82 and 0·10, respectively). In contrast with the maternal serum analytes used in second‐trimester screening—alpha‐fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin—this study showed that concentrations of PAPP‐A and free β‐hCG in the first trimester were not associated with subsequent fetal growth retardation or preterm delivery. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Switch of PMCA4 Splice Variants in Bovine Epididymis Results in Altered Isoform Expression during Functional Sperm Maturation*

Ca2+ and Ca2+-dependent signals are essential for sperm maturation and fertilization. In mouse sperm the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) isoform 4 plays a crucial role in Ca2+ transport. The two major splice variants of PMCA4 are PMCA4a and PMCA4b. PMCA4a differs from PMCA4b in the mechanism of calmodulin binding and activation. PMCA4a shows a much higher basal activity and is more effective than PMCA4b in returning Ca2+ to resting levels. Knock-out mice carrying a PMCA4-null mutation are infertile because their sperm cannot achieve a hyperactivated state of motility. As sperm reach functional maturity during their transit through the epididymis, the expression of PMCA4a and 4b was assessed in bull testis and epididymis. Quantitative PCR revealed that PMCA4b is the major splice variant in testis, caput, and corpus epididymidis. In contrast, PMCA4a is the major splice variant in cauda epididymidis, whereas sperm are transcriptionally silent. Immunohistochemical staining using a new antibody against bovine PMCA4a located the PMCA4a to the apical membrane of the epithelium of cauda epididymidis, whereas testis, caput, and corpus epididymidis were negative. Western blotting of testis, epididymis, and sperm isolated from caput and cauda epididymidis showed a much higher level of PMCA4a in cauda epididymidis and sperm from cauda epididymidis compared with testis membranes and sperm from caput epididymidis. These findings suggest that PMCA4a is transferred to bovine sperm membranes in cauda epididymidis. This isoform switch may facilitate a higher calcium turnover in sperm necessary to traverse the female genital tract.
Mortality Patterns Among Workers Exposed to Acrylamide: Updated Follow Up

Objective: The objective of this study was to update the mortality experience of a cohort of workers with and without potential exposure to acrylamide (AMD) at three U.S. plants (n = 8508) and one plant in The Netherlands (n = 344). Methods: We computed standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) using national and local rates and modeled internal cohort rates to assess site-specific cancer risks by demographic and work history factors and several exposure indicators for AMD. Results: For the 1925–2002 study period, we observed both deficit and excess overall mortality risks among the U.S. cohort for cancer sites implicated in experimental animal studies: brain and other central nervous system (SMR = 0.67, confidence interval [CI] = 0.40–1.05), thyroid gland (SMR = 1.38, CI = 0.28–4.02), testis and other male genital organs (SMR = 0.64, CI = 0.08–2.30); and for sites selected in earlier exploratory analyses of this cohort: respiratory system cancer (RSC) (SMR = 1.17, CI = 1.06–1.27), esophagus (SMR = 1.20, CI = 0.86–1.63), rectum (SMR = 1.25, CI = 0.84–1.78), pancreas (SMR = 0.94, CI = 0.70–1.22), and kidney (SMR = 1.01, CI = 0.66–1.46). Except for RSC, attributed earlier to muriatic acid exposure, none of the mortality excesses was statistically significant. In the Dutch cohort, we observed deficits in deaths for all sites of a priori interest. An updated analysis of our previous exploratory findings for pancreatic cancer in the U.S. cohort revealed much less evidence of a possible exposure–response relationship with AMD. Conclusion: AMD exposure at the levels present in our study sites was not associated with elevated cancer mortality risks.
Five year results of viscocanalostomy

Aim: To prospectively study the success rate and complications of viscocanalostomy, a non-penetrating glaucoma surgery. Methods: Prospective non-randomised consecutive case series of 57 eyes (57 patients) with medically uncontrolled primary and secondary open angle glaucoma. Viscocanalostomy was performed on all participants with injection of viscoelastic in the surgically created ostia of Schlemm’s canal as well as in the scleral bed, the superficial scleral flap was loosely sutured. Intraocular pressure, visual acuity, and number of goniopunctures were measured. Results: The mean follow up period was 34.1 months. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 24.6 mm Hg; while the mean postoperative IOP was 5.6 mm Hg at day 1 and 13.9 mm Hg at 36 month. Patients who achieved IOP below 21 mm Hg with or without medication were 90% at 60 months, complete success rate (IOP<21 mm Hg without medication) was 60% at 60 months. 21 patients (37%) needed Nd:YAG goniopuncture postoperatively to control raised IOP, mean time for goniopuncture application was 9.4 months, mean pre-goniopuncture IOP was 20.4 mm Hg and mean postgoniopuncture IOP was 12.6 mm Hg (p <0.0001). Conclusion: Viscocanalostomy appears to be a promising modification of filtering surgery.
Transient aphasia and persistent amnesia after surgery for internal carotid artery – posterior communicating artery aneurysm

We report a case of transient aphasia and persistent amnesia after clipping of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm to treat a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Postoperatively, aphasia was identified and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an abnormal intensity area in the left anterior thalamus. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) revealed a wider area of low perfusion surrounding the left thalamus and left frontotemporal lobe than that shown by the MRI. His aphasia resolved over the subsequent 12-week period. He was left with an isolated disturbance of memory; in the absence of any dementia, aphasia or disturbance of consciousness, his condition was classified as one of amnesia. SPECT 14 weeks after admission revealed an area of low perfusion limited to the left thalamus. These findings suggest that the persistence of amnesia in this case was caused by the infarction of the mammillothalamic tract, and the recovery from aphasia may have resulted from the disappearance of surrounding edema.
Signal transduction by the high‐affinity GM‐CSF receptor: two distinct cytoplasmic regions of the common beta subunit responsible for different signaling.

The high‐affinity receptors for granulocyte‐macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), interleukin 3 (IL‐3) and IL‐5 consist of two subunits, alpha and beta. The alpha subunits are specific to each cytokine and the same beta subunit (beta c) is shared by these three receptors. Although none of these receptor subunits has intrinsic kinase activity, these cytokines induce protein tyrosine phosphorylation, activation of Ras, Raf‐1 and MAP kinase, and transcriptional activation of nuclear proto‐oncogenes such as c‐myc, c‐fos and c‐jun. In this paper, we describe a detailed analysis of the signaling potential of the beta c subunit by using a series of cytoplasmic deletion mutants. The human beta c consists of 881 amino acid residues. A C‐terminal deletion mutant of beta c at amino acid 763 (beta 763) induced phosphorylation of Shc and activation of Ras, Raf‐1, MAP kinase and p70 S6 kinase, whereas a deletion at amino acid 626 (beta 626) induced none of these effects. The beta 763 mutant, as well as the full‐length beta c, induced transcription of c‐myc, c‐fos and c‐jun. Deletions at amino acid 517 (beta 517) and 626 (beta 626) induced c‐myc and pim‐1, but no induction of c‐fos and c‐jun was observed. GM‐CSF increased phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3‐K) activity in anti‐phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates from cells expressing beta 763 as well as beta c, whereas it was only marginally increased from cells expressing beta 517 or beta 626. Thus, there are at least two distinct regions within the cytoplasmic domain of beta c that are responsible for different signals, i.e. a membrane proximal region of approximately 60 amino acid residues upstream of Glu517 is essential for induction of c‐myc and pim‐1, and a distal region of approximately 140 amino acid residues (between Leu626 and Ser763) is required for activation of Ras, Raf‐1, MAP kinase and p70 S6 kinase, as well as induction of c‐fos and c‐jun.
High-Resolution Digital Elevation Modeling from TLS and UAV Campaign Reveals Structural Complexity at the 2014/2015 Holuhraun Eruption Site, Iceland

Fissure eruptions are commonly linked to magma dikes at depth, associated with elastic and anelastic surface deformation. Elastic deformation is well described by subsidence above, uplift and lateral widening perpendicular to the dike plane. The anelastic part is associated with the formation of a graben, bordered by graben parallel faults that might express as sets of fractures at the surface. Additionally secondary structures, like push ups, bends and step overs yield information about the deforming domain. The formation of such structures associated with fissure eruptions, however, is barely preserved in nature because of the rapid erosion or sediment coverage. Therefore, simple normal fault displacements are commonly assumed at dikes. At the 2014/2015 Holuhraun eruption sites (Iceland), evidence is increasing that the developing fractures are showing variations in their displacement modes. In an attempt to investigate these variations, a fieldwork mapping project combining Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based aerophoto analysis was realized. From this data, we generated locally high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and a structural map that allows for identification of kinematic indicators and assessing particularities of the observed structures. We identified 315 fracture segments from satellite data. For single segments we measured strike directions including the amount of opening and opening angles, indicating that many of the measured fractures show transtensional dislocations. Out of these, 81 % are showing significant left-lateral slip, only 17% right-lateral slip and 2% pure tensile opening. We show that local complexities in the fracture traces and geometries are closely related to variations in the transtensional opening direction. Moreover, we identified local changes in fracture azimuths and offsets close to eruption sites, which we speculate to be associated with geometrical changes in the magma feeder itself. Results highlight that opening of fractures associated with an erupting fissure commonly show transtensional modes having both, left-lateral and right-lateral slip, with important implications for interpreting the expression of surface structures at rift zones elsewhere. Results further highlight the great value of UAV based high resolution data to contribute to the integrity of observations of structural complexities at local geologic events.
A Novel Zero-Drift Detection Method for Highly Sensitive GMR Biochips

In this paper, we present a novel drift compensation mechanism for highly sensitive biodetection based on giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors and magnetic nanoparticles. Micromagnetic simulations showed the quantitative detection ability of this new method. The proposed detection scheme uses both ac current sources and ac magnetic fields along with two dc bias states. Experiments were carried out to detect Miltenyi Biotec (MACS) magnetic nanoparticles on the spin-valve sensor (0.2 mumtimes4 mum). The experimental results show that sub-microvolt drifts can be achieved by this dual bias-double modulation (DBDM) method
Ventricular Tachycardia as an Electrocardiography Artifact during Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Background Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is frequently performed during conscious sedation not provided by an anesthesiologist. Several monitors are used during conscious sedation, one of which is the electrocardiogram (EKG). Equipment used in the operating room may interfere with the EKG tracing. Methods A 30-year-old man underwent his fourth functional endoscopic sinus surgery during general anesthesia. For the procedure, a Xomed Straight Shot microdebrider was used. Results Because of stray electrical current, the use of the microdebrider caused the EKG waveform to resemble ventricular tachycardia. Conclusion This case alerts the clinician to this possible occurrence to prevent inappropriate therapeutics from being initiated.
Prevention of fall-related injuries in 7-year-old to 12-year-old children: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Introduction To counteract the recently observed increase in forearm fractures in children worldwide, an educational programme to improve fall skills was developed. In this 8-week programme children learned basic martial arts falling techniques in their physical education classes. In this study, the effectiveness of this educational programme to improve fall skills was evaluated. Methods A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in 33 primary schools. The intervention group received the educational programme to improve falling skills during their physical education (PE) classes whereas the control group received their regular PE curriculum. At baseline (October 2009) and follow-up (May 2010), a questionnaire was completed by the children about their physical activity behaviours. Furthermore, fall-related injuries were registered continuously during an entire school-year. Results A total of 36 incident injuries was reported in the intervention group, equalling an injury incidence density (IID) of 0.14 fall-related injuries per 1000 h of physical activity (95% CI 0.09 to 0.18). In contrast, 96 injuries were reported by the control group corresponding to an IID of 0.26 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.32). However, because intracluster correlation was high (ICC=0.46), differences in injury incidence were not statistically significant. When activity level was taken into account, a trend was shown suggesting that the ‘falling is a sport’ programme was effective in decreasing falling-related injury risk, but only in the least active children. Discussion and conclusion Although results did not reach significance because of strong clustering effects, a trend was found suggesting that a school-based educational programme to improve falling skills may be more beneficial for the prevention of falling-related injuries in children with low levels of habitual physical activity.
Pharmacy Professionals' Dispensing Practice, Knowledge, and Attitude towards Emergency Contraceptives in Gondar Town, Northwestern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Pharmacy professionals, as the most available members of medical team, have an important role in educating patients about the effective and appropriate use of contraceptives. The purpose of this study was to assess pharmacy professionals' dispensing practice, knowledge, and attitude towards emergency contraceptives use in Gondar town, northwestern Ethiopia. Methods An institution based cross-sectional study was employed from May 14 to June 14, 2016, on 60 pharmacy professionals, who have been working in 8 randomly selected pharmacies and 6 drug stores. The collected data was entered to and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Result More than half 33 (55.0%) of the participants were druggist with 5–9 years of experience. About 56 (93.3%) of the participants knew about the dosing schedule (when and how much to take) and side effects of emergency contraceptives. More than two-thirds of the participants (39, 65%) agreed that the existence of emergency contraceptives is a positive thing and considered their use is ethical (42, 63.3%). The majority of participants (51, 85%) also reported that they counsel all women when dispensing emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). Conclusion This study revealed that knowledge, attitude, and dispensing practice of emergency contraceptives are very good even though there were variations with respect to different factors. Findings suggested that additional training and proper counseling technique on emergency contraceptives will improve the service delivery.
Neurotransplantation of Fetal Porcine Cells in Patients with Basal Ganglia Infarcts: A Preliminary Safety and Feasibility Study

Background: Cell transplantation is safe in animal models and enhances recovery from stroke in rats. Methods: We studied the safety and feasibility of fetal porcine transplantation in 5 patients with basal ganglia infarcts and stable neurological deficits. To prevent rejection, cells were pretreated with an anti-MHC1 antibody and no immunosuppressive drugs were given to the patients. Results: The first 3 patients had no adverse cell, procedure, or imaging-defined effects. The fourth patient had temporary worsening of motor deficits 3 weeks after transplantation, and the fifth patient developed seizures 1 week after transplantation. MRI in both patients demonstrated areas of enhancement remote from the transplant site, which resolved on subsequent imaging. Two patients showed improvement in speech, language, and/or motor impairments over several months and persisted at 4 years. The study was terminated by the FDA after the inclusion of 5 patients. Conclusion: This is the first report on the transplantation of nontumor cells in ischemic stroke patients.
La recherche translationnelle chez le blé tendre : comprendre l'évolution de son génome pour améliorer ses caractères agronomiques

Dans l’alimentation humaine, le ble joue un role capital du fait de sa valeur nutritive. Une hausse de la production de plus de 20 % sera necessaire d’ici 2050 simplement pour garantir aux populations les standards actuels de consommation alimentaire. Prenant en compte les bouleversements climatiques creant des contraintes environnementales consequentes, l’amelioration du rendement en ble sans perte de qualite devient un reel defi mondial. C’est dans ce contexte que s’inscrit ma these.La genomique translationnelle est une approche integrative qui fait le lien entre Recherche Fondamentale et Appliquee, ou les especes modeles jouent le role de pivot pour etudier les especes d’interet agronomique. J’ai mis en œuvre cette approche de recherche translationnelle pour etudier finement l’histoire evolutive, l’organisation et la regulation du genome du ble. Le ble est une espece polyploide qui a subi des duplications chromosomiques recentes (500 000 et 10 000 ans) et anciennes (<90 millions d’annees). Mes travaux ont consiste a utiliser les especes de cereales apparentees pour etudier l’impact de ces duplications sur la plasticite structurale et expressionnelle des copies de genes dupliques du ble moderne.Mes travaux ont montre que la polyploidie chez le ble est suivie d’une diploidisation. Cette diploidisation est en cours chez le ble moderne ; elle consiste en l’accumulation de mutations, de perte de genes ou de modification de l’expression des genes dupliques. Cette diploidisation est non aleatoire ; elle genere des blocs chromosomiques dominants a forte stabilite et d’autres plus sensibles, a forte plasticite. Au travers de l’analyse du genome du ble, la polyploidie apparait comme une force majeure de l’evolution, voire de l’adaptation, en permettant la specialisation structurale et fonctionnelle des genes surnumeraires. Cette asymetrie de plasticite structurale et expressionnelle post-polyploidie entraine in fine la diploidisation des phenotypes. Mes travaux de these l’illustre au travers de l’analyse des bases genetiques de l’inhibition du tallage, controlee par une insertion de 109bp codant pour un microRNA porte uniquement par la region chromosomique 1A, dite sensible.Mes travaux montrent une quasi-complete diploidisation structurale, expressionnelle et phenotypique du ble tendre moderne ouvrant la question d’une re-definition du concept « d’especes polyploides » au regard des analyses genomiques qui peuvent etre conduites aujourd’hui, comme cette these en est une illustration.
Prevalence and disability of headache among Norwegian adolescents: A cross-sectional school-based study

Background Headache is common in adolescents and affects schoolwork and relations with friends and family. In most previous epidemiological surveys, only the most bothersome headache has been documented. The aim was to determine headache prevalence not only taking into account the most bothersome headache, but also to compare characteristics of the most bothersome and less bothersome headaches, and to investigate headache-related disability. Methods A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted in which 493 representative adolescents aged 12–18 years were recruited by stratified cluster sampling and interviewed. Headache diagnosis was made according to the new classification system of the International Headache Society (ICHD-3 beta), and the Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMIDAS) was used to evaluate disability. Results The one-year prevalence of any headache type, definite migraine, probable migraine and tension-type headache was 88%, 23%, 13% and 58%, respectively. The point prevalence of any headache was 38%. Nine percent of participants fulfilled criteria for more than one headache diagnosis. The most bothersome headache had a significantly longer duration (p < 0.001) and higher intensity (p < 0.001) than the less bothersome headache, but similar frequency (p = 0.86). Adolescents with headaches lost up to nine days of activity each year, implicating headache as a major health issue. Conclusions Headaches are very common and disabling among adolescents. The full extent of this health problem is better appreciated if inquiry is not limited to the most bothersome subtypes.