Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Type 1 Diabetes Postpartum in Patients With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus by Combined Islet Cell Autoantibody Screening: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a considerable risk of developing diabetes later in life. To determine the predictive value of autoantibody markers in gestational diabetic pregnancy for the development of type 1 diabetes postpartum, we tested 437 patients with GDM (289 women treated with diet only [GDM-A] and 148 requiring insulin treatment during pregnancy [GDM-B]) for antibodies to islet cells (ICAs), GAD (GADAs), and tyrosine phosphatase ICA512/IA-2 (IA2As). We prospectively followed them with repeated oral glucose tolerance tests and antibody determinations for up to 7 years postpartum (mean, 1.6 years; range, 0–7.2 years). The cumulative risk of diabetes up to 5 years postpartum was 17% (95% CI 12–22%). The risk of type 1 diabetes was 3% (2–5%) by 9 months and 7% (4–9%) 2 years after delivery. At delivery, 8.5% of all patients were ICA+, 9.5% were GADA+, 6.2% were IA2A+, and 18.1% were positive for at least one antibody (12.6% for GDM-A vs. 30.4% for GDM-B, P < 0.0001). During follow-up, GADAs persisted in 75%, ICAs in 35%, and IA2As in 30% of the subjects positive for the respective marker at delivery. By 2 years postpartum, 29% (19–39%) of patients positive for at least one antibody developed type 1 diabetes, compared with 2% (1–4%) of antibody-negative patients (P < 0.0001). Thereby, the risk for type 1 diabetes 2 years postpartum increased with the number of antibodies present at delivery from 17% (6–28%) for one antibody, to 61% (30–91%) for two antibodies, and to 84% (55–100%) for 3 antibodies. Risk of progression to type 1 diabetes postpartum was also associated with the status of parity. Women with one or more pregnancies before the index pregnancy had a higher risk for type 1 diabetes 2 years after delivery (14.7% [4.9.–24.5%]) than women having their first (i.e., index) pregnancy (5% [2.9–7.1%]) (P < 0.006). A comparison of different prediction strategies showed that single antibody screening with GADA yielded the highest sensitivity of 63% (45–75%), compared with ICA (48% [31–65%]) and IA2A (34% [13–47%]). Combined screening with two autoantibodies increased sensitivity to 74% (58–90%) and 75% (60–92%) when using GADA plus ICA or GADA plus IA2A, respectively. Screening with all three markers improved sensitivity further to 82% (67–100%). β-cell autoantibodies determined at delivery in women with GDM are highly predictive for the development of type 1 diabetes postpartum. Autoantibody screening in pregnant women with GDM from populations at high risk for type 1 diabetes should therefore be considered to allow early diagnosis and appropriate therapy.
Private locking and distributed cache management

For a data sharing database system, substantial costs are incurred for global locking, to support both transactions and cache management. Replacing global locks with local locks managed by local lock managers offers the opportunity to substantially reduce locking overhead. To do this requires the exploitation of global covering locks. We discuss covering in general, and describe the conflicts required for both covering and intention locks. We then describe how to generate new covering and intention modes when logical and physical resources are equated in a data sharing system, hence reducing locking overhead. The new intention modes, because they conflict, permit cache management without losing fine grained concurrency. Fine grained concurrency with combined resources was not previously possible. <<ETX>>
Adherence of Candida Albicans to Vaginal Epithelia: Significance of Morphological Form and Effect of Ketoconazole:Adhärenz von Candida albicans an Viginalepithelien: Einfluß verschiedener Wuchsformen und von Ketokonazol.

Summary: Candida albicans yeast cells, germ tubes and hyphae of equivalent ages were tested for their ability to adhere to vaginal epithelia when the viable biomasses of the different morphological forms were standardized by ATP measurment. No significant differences were found between mean numbers of yeasts and germ tubes adhering per epithelial cell, but numbers of 6‐hour‐old hyphae per epithelial cell were significantly lower. However, in terms of fungal biomass attached per epithelial cell, the 6h hyphae attached significantly better than the other cell forms, and in terms of surfaces areas of fungi per epitehlial cell, yeast cells were more poorly attached than either germ tubes or hyphae. No differences were seen in adherence of C. albicans to epithelia from pregnant and nonpregnant females, but previous observations that ketoconazole can reduce attachment of C. albicans to vaginal epithelia were confirmed. Scanning electron microscopy of adherent yeast and hyphal forms showed that only the tips of germ tubes and hyphae were involved in penetration of epithelial surfaces, and in some instances the hyphal tip appeared to be the only point truly attached to the epithelial cells.
ACTIVE VIBRATION SUPPRESSION R&D FOR THE NLC*

The nanometer scale beam sizes at the interaction point in linear colliders limit the allowable motion of the final focus magnets. We have constructed a prototype system to investigate the use of active vibration damping to control magnet motion. Inertial sensors are used to measure the position of a test mass, and a DSP based system provides feedback using electrostatic pushers. Simulation and experimental results for the control of a mechanically simple system are presented.
Prevalence and determinants of end‐of‐life chemotherapy use in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Cessation of chemotherapy in the last few weeks of life could be an important quality‐of‐care benchmark. Proportion of metastatic breast cancer patients who receive end‐of‐life chemotherapy is not well described. We aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of end‐of‐life chemotherapy use in patients with metastatic breast cancer. A retrospective cohort study using a prospectively collated database of patients with metastatic breast cancer who died between January 1, 2010, and September 30, 2014, was conducted. End‐of‐life chemotherapy (EOLC) use was defined as receipt of chemotherapy within 2 weeks of death (EOLC2) and receipt of chemotherapy within 4 weeks of death (EOLC4). Patients who did not receive any chemotherapy in the last 4 weeks before death were categorized as non‐EOLC. We identified 274 patients with metastatic breast cancer, of whom 28 received EOLC2 (10.2%) and 62 received EOLC4 (22.6%). In comparison with non‐EOLC, patients receiving EOLC4 were younger and had greater disease burden. Patients in EOLC4 group received more number of lines of chemotherapy. In a multivariable analysis, younger age at metastatic disease and greater number of metastatic organ systems involved were predictors of end‐of‐life chemotherapy use. Prevalence of the use of end‐of‐life chemotherapy in our cohort was higher than previously described. More end‐of‐life chemotherapy was used in younger women, and those with greater disease burden. Earlier initiation of end‐of‐life discussions may be targeted to such patients.
Antimicrobial activity observed among cultured marine epiphytic bacteria reflects their potential as a source of new drugs.

The surfaces of marine eukaryotes provide a unique habitat for colonizing microorganisms where competition between members of these communities and chemically mediated interactions with their host are thought to influence both microbial diversity and function. For example, it is believed that marine eukaryotes may use their surface-associated bacteria to produce bioactive compounds in defence against competition and to protect the host against further colonization. With the increasing need for novel drug discovery, marine epibiotic bacteria may thus represent a largely underexplored source of new antimicrobial compounds. In the current study, 325 bacterial isolates were obtained from the surfaces of marine algae Delisea pulchra and Ulva australis. Thirty-nine showed to have antimicrobial activity and were identified via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The majority of those isolates belonged to Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria. Interestingly, the most commonly isolated bacterial strain, Microbulbifer sp. , from the surface of D. pulchra has previously been described as an ecologically significant epibiont of different marine eukaryotes. Other antimicrobial isolates obtained in this study belonged to the phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Phylogenetically, little overlap was observed among the bacteria obtained from surfaces of D. pulchra and U. australis. The high abundance of cultured isolates that produce antimicrobials suggest that culturing remains a powerful resource for exploring novel bioactives of bacterial origin.
Blood pressure-lowering efficacy of loop diuretics for primary hypertension.

BACKGROUND Antihypertensive drugs from the thiazide diuretic drug class have been shown to reduce mortality and cardiovascular morbidity. Loop diuretics are indicated and used to treat hypertension, but a systematic review of their blood pressure-lowering efficacy or effectiveness in terms of reducing cardiovascular mortality or morbidity from randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence has not been conducted. OBJECTIVES To determine the dose-related decrease in systolic or diastolic blood pressure, or both, as well as adverse events leading to participant withdrawal and adverse biochemical effects (serum potassium, uric acid, creatinine, glucose and lipids profile) due to loop diuretics versus placebo control in the treatment of people with primary hypertension. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Hypertension Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, 2014, Issue 9), MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov to 27 October 2014. SELECTION CRITERIA We included double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials of at least three weeks duration comparing loop diuretic with a placebo in people with primary hypertension defined as blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg at baseline. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted data. We used weighted mean difference and a fixed effects model to combine continuous outcome data. We analysed the drop outs due to adverse effects using relative risk ratio. MAIN RESULTS Nine trials evaluated the dose-related blood pressure-lowering efficacy of five drugs within the loop diuretics class (furosemide 40 mg to 60 mg, cicletanine 100 mg to 150 mg, piretanide 3 mg to 6 mg, indacrinone enantiomer -2.5 mg to -10.0/+80 mg, and etozolin 200 mg) in 460 people with baseline blood pressure of 162/103 mmHg for a mean duration of 8.8 weeks. The best estimate of systolic/diastolic blood pressure-lowering efficacy of loop diuretics was -7.9 (-10.4 to -5.4) mmHg/ -4.4 (-5.9 to -2.8) mmHg. Withdrawals due to adverse effects and serum biochemical changes did not show a significant difference.We performed additional searches in 2012 and 2014, which found no additional trials meeting the minimum inclusion criteria. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Based on the limited number of published RCTs, the systolic/diastolic blood pressure-lowering effect of loop diuretics is -8/-4 mmHg, which is likely an overestimate. We graded the quality of evidence for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure estimates as "low" due to the high risk of bias of included studies and the high likelihood of publication bias. We found no clinically meaningful blood pressure-lowering differences between different drugs within the loop diuretic class. The dose-ranging effects of loop diuretics could not be evaluated. The review did not provide a good estimate of the incidence of harms associated with loop diuretics because of the short duration of the trials and the lack of reporting of adverse effects in many of the trials.
Contraceptive counselling for women with multiple unintended pregnancies: the abortion client’s perspective

Abstract Objectives: Some women have multiple unintended pregnancies. Appropriate interventions could prevent some of the abortions that follow. This article presents the opinions of some abortion clients about their contraception and the counselling they received. It also formulates suggestions for counselling strategies of health care providers (HCPs) and other interventions that can support effective contraceptive behaviour. Methods: A mixed method approach was used. A quantitative survey was carried out in one clinic in the Netherlands (N = 201), assessing topics related to contraceptive use and counselling. Semi-structured interviews (n = 11) were conducted with women who had had at least three unintended pregnancies. Interview topics included the type of contraceptive counselling, experience with contraceptive counselling and preferences regarding access to contraceptive information. Results: Women who had had multiple abortions were more likely to express a need for contraceptive counselling and more often discussed contraception with their HCP compared with women who had had one abortion. Several themes emerged from the semi-structured interviews that had partially contributed to further unplanned pregnancies: experience with counselling, acceptability of the contraceptive method, sources of information and cultural influences. Many women with multiple unintended pregnancies could not find suitable advice and stated preferences for future decision making. Conclusion: This study offers insight into the motives for contraceptive use of women with multiple unintended pregnancies. Contraceptive efficacy could be improved by implementing counselling that is adapted to individual needs. The respondents stated that they would appreciate other sources of information, such as support through other forms of communication. The formation of a working group would be helpful in developing these services.
The Effects of Diagrams and Relational Complexity on User Performance in Conditional Probability Problems in a Non-Learning Context

2 Approval . 3 Acknowledgements . 4 Table of contents . 5 List of Tables . 8 List of Figures . 9 Chapter 1. Research Problems, Objectives and Significance . 10 Chapter 2. Literature review . 14 Performance of Conditional Probability Problems . 14 Different verbal formats for conditional probability problems . 15 Conditional probability reasoning and other forms of reasoning . 17 Use of visuals in conditional probability problem solving . 19 Problems with Venn and Euler diagrams . 20 Relevant Cognitive Theories . 21 Baddeley and Hitch’s model of working memory . 21 Dual-coding theory . 22 Mental models . 23 Graph comprehension theory . 24 Cognitive load theory . 26 Working memory and short-term memory capacity . 27 Relational complexity . 31 Cognitive load theory and relational complexity in HCI Research . 33 Synthesis and key findings. 34 Chapter 3. Hypothesis Development . 36 How Visuals Can Improve Performance . 37 Hypotheses . 38 Hypothesis 1. 40 Hypothesis 2. 41 Hypothesis 3. 41 Hypothesis 4. 42 Chapter 4. Method . 43 Participants . 43 Experiment design . 44 Treatments . 45
Therapeutic cloning in the mouse

Nuclear transfer technology can be applied to produce autologous differentiated cells for therapeutic purposes, a concept termed therapeutic cloning. Countless articles have been published on the ethics and politics of human therapeutic cloning, reflecting the high expectations from this new opportunity for rejuvenation of the aging or diseased body. Yet the research literature on therapeutic cloning, strictly speaking, is comprised of only four articles, all in the mouse. The efficiency of derivation of embryonic stem cell lines via nuclear transfer is remarkably consistent among these reports. However, the efficiency is so low that, in its present form, the concept is unlikely to become widespread in clinical practice.
Ultradeep (>300 Kilometers) Ultramafic Xenoliths: Petrological Evidence from the Transition Zone

The seismologically delineated transition zone, at depths between 400 and 670 kilometers, is a fundamental discontinuity in the earth that separates the upper mantle from the lower mantle. Xenoliths from within or close to the transition zone are dominated by pyropic garnet and associated pyroxene or mineralogically heterogeneous garnet lherzolite. These xenoliths show evidence for the high-pressure (90 to 120 kilobars) transformation of pyroxene to a solid solution of pyroxene in garnet (majorite) and silicon in octahedral coordination; low-pressure (less than 80 kilobars) exsolution of clinopyroxene or orthopyroxene from the original majorite is preserved. Although mineral modes and rock proportions below the transition zone and the relative amount of eclogite present cannot be accurately assessed from the xenoliths, it is likely that both majorite and β-spinel help produce the observed seismic gradient of the transition zone.
RECK gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: Correlation with invasion‐related clinicopathological factors and its clinical significance

The RECK (reversion‐inducing‐cysteine‐rich protein with Kazal motifs) gene was initially isolated as a transformation suppressor gene. It encodes a membrane‐anchored glycoprotein with multiple serine protease inhibitor‐like domains. The RECK gene is expressed widely in normal organs but is undetectable in many tumor‐derived cell lines. When artificially expressed in such cell lines, RECK suppresses their invasive and metastatic activities. Clinical implications of these findings, however, remained undefined because of the lack of studies using fresh human tumor samples. In the present study, we have addressed this issue by analyzing the levels of RECK gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RECK mRNA was detectable by RNA blot hybridization in all the tumorous and contiguous nontumorous tissues obtained from 64 patients with HCC. In 26 cases, the RECK expression in tumorous tissues was higher than that in nontumorous tissues. The expression of RECK protein in these tissues could also be demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Patients with high RECK mRNA expression in tumorous tissues tended to show better survival (P = .02), and such tumors had a tendency to be less invasive. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that the RECK mRNA expression is a novel and independent variable affecting overall survival (P = .01). These findings support the hypothesis that RECK has negative effects on the invasiveness of HCC cells and suggest the feasibility of RECK mRNA as a promising prognostic molecular marker for HCC.
Profil evolutif de la drepanocytose homozygote suivie : Experience du service d'hematologie clinique du chu de yopougon

La drepanocytose constitue un probleme de sante publique en Cote d'Ivoire. Elle est responsable d'une morbidite importante qui impose une prise en charge medico-sociale reguliere a vie. Le but de cette etude est de preciser le profil evolutif et les caracteristiques de prise en charge de la forme homozygote SS. Pour cela 162 cas hospitalises dans notre service sur une periode de 10 ans (1990 a 1999) ont permis de tirer certaines conclusions : - L'âge des patients varie de 2 a 38 ans, avec un âge moyen de 14.6 ans, un ecart type de 8.8 ; un sex-ratio de 1.13; une predominance des groupes ethniques Kwa et Mande, ainsi que des eleves et etudiants ; - les crises sont toujours declenchees, et le plus souvent par une fievre d'origine palustre ; - on note une moyenne de 2 crises par an, et 2 hospitalisations par patient ; - la moyenne du taux d'hemoglobine (Hb) S est de 84.8 % et celle du taux d'Hb de 6.4 g/dl ; - l'âge de prise en charge est tres variable ( 1 a 35 ans) et la duree de cette prise en charge se situe entre 1 et 5 ans dans plus de la moitie des cas. Le suivi medical est le plus souvent irregulier ; - des complications d'ordre anemique surtout (144 cas), infectieux (80 cas), ischemique (14 cas) ont ete notees ; de meme que 12 cas de deces, l'anemie aigue constituant la premiere cause de deces.
Hippocampal Neuroprotection by Minocycline and Epigallo‐Catechin‐3‐Gallate Against Cardiopulmonary Bypass‐Associated Injury

Surgical correction of congenital cardiac malformations mostly implies the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, a possible negative impact of CPB on cerebral structures like the hippocampus cannot be neglected. Therefore, we investigated the effect of CPB on hippocampus CA1 and CA3 regions without or with the addition of epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) or minocycline. We studied 42 piglets and divided them into six experimental groups: control without or with EGCG or minocycline, CPB without or with EGCG or minocycline. The piglets underwent 90 minutes CPB and subsequently, a 120‐minute recovery and reperfusion phase. Thereafter, histology of the hippocampus was performed and the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was measured. Histologic evaluation revealed that CPB produced a significant peri‐cellular edema in both CA regions. Moreover, we found an increased number of cells stained with markers for hypoxia, apoptosis and nitrosative stress. Most of these alterations were significantly reduced to or near to control levels by application of EGCG or minocycline. ATP content was significantly reduced within the hippocampus after CPB. This reduction could not be antagonized by EGCG or minocycline. In conclusion, CPB had a significant negative impact on the integrity of hippocampal neural cells. This cellular damage could be significantly attenuated by addition of EGCG or minocycline.
Assessment of glycosaminoglycan concentration changes in the intervertebral disc via chemical exchange saturation transfer

In this study, it is shown that the chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) method for hydroxyl protons can be used to detect changes in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration in the intervertebral disc. The method, termed gagCEST, was demonstrated ex vivo by correlating the CEST effect with the fixed charge density (FCD) of the nucleus pulposus (NP), as well as by correlating tissue CEST images with their corresponding 23Na images. Incubation of five NP samples with trypsin produced samples with varying GAG content (n = 19). A good correlation was found between the –OH CEST effect and FCD, as well as with the N‐acetyl signal amplitude. gagCEST images in vitro further illustrated the amount of detail obtainable from this contrast mechanism when compared with conventional imaging. The large concentration of GAG and the relatively long T1 of water in NP make the method sensitive, in particular, for the assessment of GAG depletion in this tissue. It is the loss of GAG in NP that indicates the early stage of disc degeneration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient Activation of Vα14 Invariant NKT Cells by Foreign Lipid Antigen Is Associated with Concurrent Dendritic Cell-Specific Self Recognition1

A burst release of cytokines by Vα14 invariant NKT (iNKT) cells upon their TCR engagement critically regulates innate and adaptive immune responses. However, it remains unclear in vivo why iNKT cells respond efficiently to microbial or intracellular lipid Ags that are at low levels or that possess suboptimal antigenicity. We found that dendritic cells (DCs) potentiated iNKT cells to respond to a minimal amount of ligand α-galactosylceramide (αGalCer) through CD1d-dependent autoreactive responses that require endosomal processing and CD1d trafficking. The ability of potentiation of NKT cells was DC specific and did not depend on costimulatory signals and IL-12 production by DCs. However, DCs that failed to synthesize a major endogenous lipid Ag isoglobotrihexosylceramide were unable to potentiate NKT cells for efficient activation. Further analysis showed that differences in the level and pattern of endogenous lipid Ag presentation differentiate DCs and B cells for effective potentiation and subsequent activation of iNKT cells in the presence of an exogenous Ag. Thus, CD1d-dependent potentiation by DCs may be crucial for iNKT cell-mediated immunity against infectious agents.