Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with health care-associated 2009 influenza a (H1N1) virus infection among Thai health care workers.

To the Editor—Unvaccinated health care workers (HCWs) are at risk for oc­ cupational exposure and infection with in­ fluenza and can serve as vectors for health care–associated (HA) influenza transmis­ sion to hospitalized patients [1, 2]. The World Health Organization reported 35,446 laboratory-confirmed cases of pan­ demic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) in Thai­ land by the end of March 2010 [3]. The vaccine for 2009 H1N1 influenza virus was not available in Thailand until 10 February 2010, and exposure of HCWs to patients infected with this virus increased as the pandemic evolved. We conducted a casecontrol study to identify factors associated with HA 2009 H1N1 influenza infection among Thai HCWs in a 500-bed tertiary care medical center during the period from 1 May 2009 through 15 January 2010. Data collected included age, sex, oc­ cupation, hospital units, unit hand hy­ giene compliance rates (before and after patient contact) during the month when index HCWs had confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza infection, and exposure to pa­ tients with suspected or confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza regardless of whether a surgical mask was used. Case patients were all HCWs with laboratory-confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza. For each case, 2 matched controls were randomly selected among HCWs who did not have influenza during the period 2 weeks before and after the case patient’s confirmed infection date and who were assigned to care for patients who were suspected of having 2009 H1N1 influenza. HCWs identified as having influenza-like illness underwent nasopha­ ryngeal swab specimen collection for in­ fluenza testing by means of a rapid influ­ enza diagnostic test (SD Bioline Influenza Antigen A/B; MT Promedt Consulting) and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction [4]. Influenza-like illness was defined according to criteria set by the Centers for Diseases Control and Preven­ tion [5]. A suspected case of HA influenza was defined as influenza-like illness if on­ set of illness occurred within 4 days of exposure to a HCW or patient with con­ firmed 2009 H1N1 influenza. A confirmed case of HA influenza was defined as a sus­ pected case that was laboratory confirmed as influenza and did not result from com-
Recombinant outer surface protein a from Borrelia burgdorferi induces antibodies protective against spirochetal infection in mice.

The outer surface protein A (OspA) of Borrelia burgdorferi was isolated in its native form from strains ZS7 and B31 and as a recombinant protein from strain ZS7. Amino acid sequence analysis of internal peptides of native OspA (strain ZS7) revealed identity with the sequence deduced from the OspA gene. Repeated immunization of C57BL/6 and C.B-17 mice with any of the three OspA structures resulted in the generation of monospecific hyperimmune sera reactive with both native and recombinant OspA. Upon transfer of immune sera specific for either native OspA (strain B31) or recombinant OspA (strain ZS7) but not of those reactive with the recombinant 41-kDa flagellin-associated antigen, severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice were completely protected against infection with strain ZS7. The finding that monoclonal antibodies to OspA and to OspB but not to non-outer surface spirochetal structures such as flagellin, p20, p65, and p70 conferred protection in SCID mice makes OspA (and possibly OspB) a promising candidate vaccine against Lyme disease.
Improved survival in children with esophageal perforation.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the cause, location, signs and symptoms, presence of underlying disease, time interval to diagnosis, treatment, and morbidity and mortality in 24 children (19 boys and 5 girls) with esophageal perforation who were treated from 1975 to 1995. DESIGN Data were collected retrospectively from hospital and office records. SETTING A tertiary care children's hospital. RESULTS The average age at diagnosis was 58 months (range, 1 day to 19 years). Fourteen children had underlying esophageal disease (atresia, n = 7 and gastroesophageal reflux, n = 7). Iatrogenic perforations occurred in 17 children: 8 during dilatation, 5 during an antireflux procedure, 2 during endoscopy, and 2 after passage of a feeding tube. Trauma was the cause of perforation in 6 children. In 2 cases the cause was unknown. Perforation occurred in the thoracic esophagus in 12 cases, abdominal esophagus in 7, cervical esophagus in 5, and involved both the thoracic and abdominal esophagus in 1. Signs and symptoms included dysphagia (15 patients), dyspnea (14), fever (12), cyanosis (8), abdominal pain (6), chest pain (5), and subcutaneous emphysema (3). Management of esophageal perforation included nonoperative management (7 patients), drainage alone (1), primary closure (16), and resection and diversion (1). Two perforations occurred in 1 child. Complications occurred in 11 (44%) of the 25 cases and were more common after delayed diagnosis (73%). The average hospital stay was 20 days. There was 1 death (4%) attributed to esophageal perforation. CONCLUSIONS Morbidity and mortality are directly related to delays in diagnosis and therapy. Most cases of esophageal perforation in children can be closed primarily and the esophagus salvaged despite delayed presentation. The mortality rate in children with esophageal perforation (4%) is significantly less than that for adults (25%-50%).
Hemodynamic Responses and Perceived Exertion During Continuous and Discontinuous Resistance Exercise

Abstract This study compared acute responses of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), cardiac output (Q), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), total peripheral resistance (TPR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) during resistance exercise performed continuously and discontinuously. Hemodynamic responses and RPE were assessed in the last of 4 sets of 12 repetitions of the knee extension with load corresponding to 70% of 12 repetition maximum, performed continuously (C) or discontinuously, with pauses of 5 s (D5) or 10 s (D10) interspersed in the middle of sets. The increase in SBP was higher for D10 (34.0±8.4%) and D5 (34.1±13.2%) vs. C (19.8±10.3%; P<0.001), while no difference was detected for DBP. Q (P=0.03) and SV (P=0.02) were higher, but HR was lower (P=0.04) in discontinuous vs. continuous. TPR remained stable during continuous, but significant decreases occurred during the pauses in the discontinuous protocols (P<0.001). The BP was higher in discontinuous than in continuous protocols, but the RPE was attenuated in discontinuous compared to continuous exercise. In conclusion, hemodynamic responses were exacerbated during resistance exercise performed discontinuously, but the perceived exertion was lowered.
KAJIAN POTENSI SUMBER DAYA PERKEBUNAN KABUPATEN BATANGHARI

Salah satu kebijakan ekonomi yang sangat strategis dalam rangka mempercepat laju pertumbuhan ekonomi daerah adalah melalui peningkatan investasi. Peningkatan investasi yang diharapkan dalam menentukan target pertumbuhan ekonomi tidak terlepas dari potensi dan peluang investasi yang dimiliki oleh Kabupaten Batang Hari, diantaranya dibidang perkebunan. Analisis tentang produk atau komoditas unggulan daerah menjadi penting untuk diketahui dan dikaji. Penelitian ini dilakukan guna mengungkap berbagai potensi sumberdaya perkebunan Kabupaten Batanghari yang dapat diandalkan sebagai produk atau komoditas unggulan daerah. Kajian tentang ungulan daerah dalam studi ini dilakukan dengan pendekatan LQ, ARC dan IKP. Penelitian ini diharapkan berguna bagi pengambil kebijakan ataupun bagi kalangan pelaku usaha sebagai salah satu instrumen dalam menentukan langkah investasi terutama dalam sub-sektor perkebunan di Kabupaten Batanghari. Pada akhirnya hasil studi ini diharapkan juga dapat menjadi salah satu pendukung guna percepatan pertumbuhan ekonomi daerah. Hasil penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa Kabapaten Batanghari merupakan salah satu kabupaten yang secara ekonomi sangat potensial dalam pengembangan subsektor perkebunan, terutama komoditas Karet dan Kelapa Sawit. Hasil pengkajian menunjukkan bahwa dua komoditas ini merupakan komoditas perkebunan andalan dan masih dapat diharapkan menjadi komoditas unggulan perkebunan di Provinsi Jambi. Beberapa masalah dapat menjadi faktor kendala dalam upaya pengembangan dua komoditas ini di masa mendatang, namun tidak dipungkiri bahwa faktor-faktor yang dapat diandalkan menjadi domain pendorong untuk komoditas ini berkembang secara ekonomi di masa yang akan datang tetap akan menjadi variabel yang menguntungkan. Apalagi kalau para pemangku kepentingan di daerah ini dapat menjawab dan menyelesaikan beberapa hal yang potensial menjadi faktor penghambat tumbuh kembangnya sektor perkebunan di wilayah ini.
Influence of graded inclusion of white lupin (Lupinus albus) meal on performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of white lupin (Lupinus albus) meal (WLM) addition on the intestinal viscosity, bird performance, nutrient utilisation and villi morphology of growing broiler chicks. The experiment was conducted with 480 broiler chicks divided into 6 dietary treatments, including a maize-soybean meal control diet (CON) and 5 experimental diets containing 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 g/kg WLM. During the period from d 0 to 35, birds fed on 200 or higher WLM/kg were characterised by lower body weight gain and feed intake than CON. The use of 150 g of WLM/kg increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to CON treatment. Apparent metabolisable energy corrected to zero N balance (AMEN) and apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, ether extract, crude protein and starch, linearly decreased as WLM increased from 0 to 300 g/kg. There was a quadratic effect of WLM dose on sialic acid excretion. A strong negative linear correlation was found between the excretion of sialic acid and AMEN. The viscosity of ileal digesta was linearly increased as WLM increased. The effect of WLM dose on ileum villus height (VH) was linear, while that on ileum villus area (VA) was quadratic. Both parameters decreased as WLM increased from 0 to 300 g/kg. In conclusion, the use of over 150 g/kg of WLM in broiler diets depressed performance results. However, depression of nutrient utilisation was only observed when 250 or 300 g/kg of WLM was used.
An Italian epidemiological multicentre study of nocturnal enuresis.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of enuresis in schoolchildren in Italy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The Italian Club of Nocturnal Enuresis promoted a prevalence study of nocturnal enuresis using a self-administered questionnaire in seven cities in Northern, Central and Southern Italy. The association between enuresis and potential risk factors, e.g. a family history of enuresis, stress, socio-economic status and abnormal diurnal voiding habits, was investigated. The perceived impact on the child and on the family was also evaluated. A random-cluster sampling scheme was used to obtain a sample of primary and secondary schoolchildren from each city. One primary school and one secondary school for each socio-economic level was sampled in each city, giving a total of 42 schools surveyed; 9086 children were covered by the survey. In a cluster sampling method, the variance of prevalence is divided into two components, binomial and extra-binomial variability. Both the DSM III and DSM IV definitions of enuresis were used because at present, there is no consensus on the diagnostic criteria. RESULTS Completed questionnaires were received from 7012 children, an overall response rate of 77.2%. Those aged 6-14 years were analysed, restricting the sample to 6892 children. There were 250 enuretic children using the DSM III definition of enuresis and 112 using the DSM IV definition. The overall prevalence was 3.88% and showed a decreasing trend with increasing age. Bedwetting was more frequent in boys than in girls. The prevalence of enuresis was higher when the child was from a family of low socio-economic status despite the child's age group. The logistic analysis showed that familiality, stress, birthweight, age of attaining diurnal continence, soiling and, for girls, menstruation, were statistically significant variables and thus contributed to predicting the probability of bedwetting, confirming the findings of previous studies. There was a large difference in prevalence using the two DSM definitions; a high percentage of DSM III enuretic children had more than two wet nights per week. CONCLUSION It is important that a consensus about the 'working definitions' of enuresis is reached to avoid bias in the recruitment step, to carry out comparable epidemiological studies and to obtain adequate therapeutic responses.
Metazoan Parasites of Geophagus proximus , a Cichlidae Fish from the Eastern Amazon (Brazil)

The present study investigated the fauna of metazoan parasites of a Geophagus proximus population from the lower Tapajos River, in the state of Para, northern Brazil. A total of 137 monogeneans were collected from the gills of G. proximus, including Sciadicleithrum kritskyi, Sciadicleithrum paranaensis and Sciadicleithrum geophagi, while 119 Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) lanfrediae nematodes and 28 metacercariaes of digenea undetermined were collected from the intestine. Hosts harboring four species of parasites were predominant. The parasites had an aggregated dispersion pattern. The present study represents the first record of S. geophagi parasitizing G. proximus, increasing the geographic distribution of these parasite species to the Tapajos River basin.
Comparison of clinical, microscopic and rapid diagnostic test methods in the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Enugu, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE To compare the use of clinical, microscopic and immunochromato-graphic methods in the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. METHODS Children with history of fever were consecutively recruited. Information on personal characteristics, and clinical features were obtained with the parental consent before enrolment. Malaria parasite density was done with quantitative microscopy, as well as specie identification in both local and reference laboratories. Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits were also used for parasite detection. RESULTS Eighty three children had clinical diagnosis of malaria, while the remaining 6 had other diagnoses. On microscopy 89 and 26 patients had parasitaemia by the local and reference laboratories respectively. With the RDT, 15 patients had parasitaemia with corresponding minimum densities of 1200 and 716 parasites per ul from the local and reference laboratories. The sensitivity and specificity of the RDT to the reference laboratory were 42.31% and 93.65% respectively, while concordance was 57.69% for RDT, 30.49% for clinical diagnosis (all symptoms), 43.75% for clinical diagnosis (fever alone), and 29.21% for local laboratory. CONCLUSION There was a significant deficiency in malaria diagnosis using any of the methods alone. For reliable diagnosis of malaria a combination of the methods of diagnosis is recommended. Degradation of the RDTs might have contributed to its low sensitivity. Training and better quality assurance should be established for the medical and laboratory workers in order to improve malaria diagnosis.
Head and Neck Cancer Susceptibility: A Genetic Marker in the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene

Progress in the elucidation of molecular genetic changes that lead to the development of tumors should soon bring novel diagnostic and therapeutic procedures into clinical practice. In this respect, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a central role in folate metabolism that affects DNA methylation and synthesis. DNA methylation is an epigenetic feature that influences cellular development and function. Germ line mutation C>T at nucleotide 677 of the MTHFR gene, which results in increased thermolability and diminished enzyme activity, is oncogenic, i.e. should be a contributor to molecular changes leading to cancerous phenotypes (it has also been shown independently to be implicated in cardiovascular disease phenotypes). Interestingly, it has been shown that MTHFR T677 allele homozygosity confers a sixfold increased risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Northern China. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to evaluate the putative association of MTHFR C677T and epithelial squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Pakistan, and (2) to investigate whether de novo MTHFR C677T mutations are involved in the determination of ESCC phenotypes. We recruited 50 ESCC patients referred to the Otolaryngology Clinic of the Aga Khan University Hospital, and 54 age- and gender-matched control (disease-free) subjects. Our results show that T allele frequencies were 0.18 ± 0.05 in cases vs. 0.24 ± 0.05 in controls (as compared with 0.63 vs. 0.41 in the report from China). Although the association is not statistically significant, T alleles are actually more common amongst controls in the Pakistani population, which is the opposite of what would be expected and what has been reported amongst Chinese. Yet the frequency of deleterious T alleles is lower in Pakistan (range 0.18–0.24) than in other parts of the world. Our results indicate that MTHFR C677T cannot form the basis for a genetic test aimed at evaluating an individual’s genetic susceptibility to ESCC in Pakistan. As the conversion of precancerous submucous fibrosis into overt cancer is a frequent occurrence in Pakistan, we proceeded to extract DNA samples in all ESCC patients, from whole blood, cancerous tissues and neighboring normal tissues. We sought to determine whether C677T genotypes were different in the three tissue samples from each ESCC patient. In all patients, identical genotypes (and therefore allele frequencies) were systematically observed in all three samples. This indicates that de novo MTHFR 677TC>T mutations are not part of the molecular etiology of ESCC. In conclusion, we can rule out a major involvement of the MTHFR gene in the determination of ESCC in Pakistan.
Fast and mechanistic ultrasound simulation using a point source/receiver approach

Ultrasound simulators relying on impulse response methods are faithful to the mechanisms of image formation from the underlying radio-frequency signals, but as a result tend to be relatively slow. At the other extreme are fast techniques, often motivated by the development of teaching and training simulators, which approximate the image formation processes rather than rigorously modeling the underlying physics. Previously, we have shown that transmit field distributions from linear phased-array transducers can be modeled accurately and efficiently using arrays of point sources. This approach is now extended to point sources/receivers, which allows for simulation of the transmit/receive fields, and thus the physical processes underlying ultrasound image formation. Field distributions and fast-time signals are shown to compare favorably to those obtained using the impulse response method. Doppler spectrogram and B-mode images derived from these signals also show excellent agreement with the results obtained using the impulse response method, but with a computational savings of nearly two orders of magnitude. Because of the inherent simplicity of our Fast and Mechanistic Ultrasound Simulation (FAMUS) approach, CPU parallelization was readily achieved, and further orders of magnitude speed improvements, and thus real-time performance, can be anticipated via extension to modern graphics processing units.
Correlation between selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity in serum and human prostate tissue

Low serum selenium concentration has been associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. A possible mechanism is through the antioxidant activity of selenoenzymes. However, the effect of selenium intake on selenoenzymes at target tissues is not well established. Hence, we investigated the correlation between serum and prostate tissue selenium concentrations and prostate tissue activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), a major selenoenzyme with antioxidant properties.
NaCI Reduces Indole-3-Acetic Acid Levels in the Roots of Tomato Plants Independent of Stress-Induced Abscisic Acid

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was measured in leaves and roots of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) genotypes subjected to salt stress. An abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient mutant of tomato (sitiens), the genetic parent (Rheinlands Ruhm, RR), and a commercial variety (Large Cherry Red, LCR) of tomato were treated with 50 to 300 mM NaCl in nutrient culture. Both LCR and RR had significantly higher levels of IAA in the roots compared with that in sitiens prior to treatment. The initial levels of IAA in the roots of LCR and RR declined by nearly 75% after exposure to NaCl, whereas those in roots from the sitiens mutant remained unchanged. IAA levels in the leaves of all genotypes remained unchanged or increased slightly in response to NaCl. ABA was highest in leaves from the normal genotypes after exposure to NaCl. ABA levels in the roots of sitiens were similar to the levels in the normal genotypes, whereas levels in the leaves were only 10% of the levels found in normal genotypes regardless of the salt treatment. Treatment of LCR and sitiens with exogenous ABA increased the ABA levels in leaves and roots, but there were no measurable changes in endogenous IAA. Therefore, the reduction in IAA appears to result from an ABA-independent effect of NaCl on IAA metabolism in the roots of stressed plants.
Folate Deficiency in the Alcoholic—its Relationship to Clinical and Haematological Abnormalities, Liver Disease and Folate Stores

Summary. Clinical and laboratory observations were made on 84 patients regularly taking more than 80 g of alcohol daily. Macrocytosis was present in 84.5%, but only 13% were anaemic. Twenty‐seven of the 57 bone marrows sampled were abnormal, 20 showing megaloblastic changes, mostly mild in degree. Serum, red cell, and liver folate levels were reduced in 28%, 35% and 31% of patients respectively. Liver folate concentration showed good correlation with serum and red cell folates. The folate deficiency was more severe in those patients, more often female, who had inadequate diets or drank wine and spirits rather than beer. The amount of alcohol consumption and extent of liver damage did not affect folate status. The findings suggest that folate deficiency is common among alcoholics in this country. More frequently, however, patients had macrocytosis, sometimes with megaloblastosis, in the absence of folate deficiency emphasizing the direct toxic effect of alcohol on the developing erythroblast.