Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coffee and Cancer of the Pancreas: An Italian Multicenter Study

While cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for pancreatic cancer, the role of alcohol, coffee, and tea consumption remains controversial. In view of this, and because of the limited information on possible environmental risk factors of pancreatic cancer in Italy, we carried out this study. Five hundred seventy patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer and 570 controls from 14 Italian centers were studied. Using a standardized questionnaire, all were interviewed personally about their smoking habits, as well as habitual alcohol, coffee, and tea consumption throughout their lives prior to clinical onset of the disease. Details were also obtained on exposure to potential occupational carcinogens. A moderate association, statistically significant only in women (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.30–3.68), was found between pancreatic cancer and cigarette srnoking, but none was observed with alcohol or tea consumption or with any particular occupational exposure. Consumption of 1 or 2 cups of coffee per day was not associated with increased risk; 3 coffees per day increased the risk, but not significantly (odds ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.97–2.30); with consumption of more than 3 coffees per day the increase in risk was highly significant (odds ratio, 2.53; 95% confidence interval, 153–4.18). A statistically significant dose-response relationship (p < 0.001) was observed in each sex. The association between coffee use and pancreatic cancer still held after controlling for potential confounding factors such as cigarette smoking or alcohol use, and when the analysis was restricted to nonsmoking coffee drinkers. The results of this study, one of the largest of its type so far published, suggest that a causal relationship may exist between coffee consumption and pancreatic cancer.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Factors Associated With Morbidity in Cocaine Abusers With Psychiatric Illness

We conducted a study to characterize a population of cocaine users who were referred to a state psychiatric institution, identify treatment problems including reasons for relapse, and develop strategies to improve treatment outcome. Using a data base system from a tertiary‐care hospital emergency department, we identified a sample of 80 patients with a cocaine‐related presentation who came to the emergency department and were referred to the psychiatric facility. Forty‐six percent had consumed crack cocaine, and 65% reported ingesting cocaine with other drugs, half of them with alcohol. Suicidal ideation or attempt was the most common reason for referral. A retrospective review of 58 of the 80 referrals to the psychiatric facility showed that over half of the patients were given a concurrent psychiatric diagnosis and required hospitalization on an acute‐care psychiatric unit. Sixty‐two percent of those admitted had prior hospitalizations at the psychiatric facility, yet only five patients had received treatment for substance abuse. Seventy‐four percent were readmitted to the psychiatric facility within 1 year of their index episode, with a higher rate of relapse among persons with dual diagnoses compared to cocaine users without dual diagnoses (p<0.05). Possible reasons for relapse included lack of referral for substance abuse treatment, nonintegrated treatment of psychiatric illness and substance abuse, lack of psychosocial support, and unresolved financial or job‐related stressors. The data support increased funding to facilities that treat persons with dual diagnoses, and suggest the need to develop comprehensive treatment approaches involving a multidisciplinary team to address issues of mental illness and substance abuse concomitantly, and to identify and resolve stressors leading to relapse.
Tissue penetration of ciprofloxacin after single and multiple doses

The pharmacokinetics and the suction-induced blister fluid penetration of ciprofloxacin were compared after a single dose (500 mg) and after multiple dosing (500 mg q8h for 13 doses). Significantly higher peak levels of ciprofloxacin in serum were observed after multiple dosing (3.51 versus 2.26 micrograms/ml; P less than 0.01). Increased elimination half-life occurred after multiple dosing; this seems to be mostly related to decreased systemic clearance secondary to a diminished nonrenal clearance (240.0 versus 125.0 ml/min). Ciprofloxacin appeared rapidly in the blister fluid, and the percentage of penetration (AUC0-tBF/AUC0-t serum) yielded values of 88.8 versus 84.7% after single and multiple doses, respectively. Ciprofloxacin levels in serum and blister fluid at the end of the dosing interval (8 h) were superior or almost superior to MICs for sensitive organisms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Comparative studies of ciprofloxacin metabolite excretion after multiple doses in healthy subjects and in renal insufficiency patients are needed.
No Association of Antibodies to Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase and Diabetic Complications in Patients With IDDM

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD-ab) and diabetic complications (neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropa-thy) in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We examined the prevalence of GAD-ab (immunoprecipitation assay) and islet cell antibodies (ICAs) (indirect immu-nofluorescence) in a representative sample of IDDM patients (n = 146) with different disease duration (2–52 years, median 13.2 years). Of all patients characterized for the existence of diabetic complications, 56 of 146 had peripheral neuropathy, 24 of 142 had autonomie neuropathy, 67 of 141 had retinopathy, and 39 of 146 had nephrop-athy. RESULTS GAD-ab (>2 SD) were detected more frequently than ICA (>5 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units) in IDDM patients of different disease duration (GAD-ab+ 37% [54 of 146] vs. ICA+ 22% [32 of 146], P = 0.011; diabetes duration less than median: GAD-ab+ 47% vs. ICA+ 23%, P = 0.0046; diabetes duration greater than median: GAD-ab+ 27% vs. ICA+ 22%, P < 0.05). For GAD-ab and for ICA, respectively, no difference was observed in frequency of positivity or titers between patients with or without diabetic complications. CONCLUSIONS Both GAD-ab and, to a lesser extent, ICA persist for a long time in several individuals. This persistence is not related to diabetic neuropathy or any other diabetic complication.
A method of moments based indoor propagation model

This paper presents initial efforts to develop a full-wave propagation model for indoor electromagnetic wave propagation. The model is based on the Volume Electric Field Integral Equation (VEFIE) which when discretised by the Method of Moments (MoM) results in a linear system whose iterative solution can be expedited through use of the FFT. Although the formulation requires the discretisation of the entire volume, only unknowns placed in the scattering material (walls, etc) contribute to the scattered field. Consequently, unknowns placed in free space can effectively be removed from the update process in each iteration leading to rapid convergence. Results are presented documenting the computational efficiencies of the formulation and simple path loss models are created from the full-wave simulations which are in accordance with those reported in the literature.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Muscle

&NA; Muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to compare the relative involvement of different muscles recruited during exercise. The method relies on the activity‐induced increase in the nuclear magnetic resonance transverse relaxation time (T2) of muscle water, which is caused by osmotically driven shifts of fluid into the myofibrillar space. In addition to imaging of whole muscle recruitment, muscle MRI may reveal changes in motor unit organization during disease.
Factors associated with noncommunicable disease among adults in Mecha district, Ethiopia: A case control study

Background In Ethiopia, the incidence and prevalence of noncommunicable diseases are rising. Within the country, the magnitude of these diseases varies from region to region. However, information about factors associated with noncommunicable disease is limited in the study area. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify factors associated with noncommunicable disease among adults in Mecha district. Methods Community-based case-control study was carried out among 728 cases and 2907 controls from February1-August 30/2017. The study participants were chosen using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Fasting blood glucose level was measured in the morning after 8hours of fasting. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 software was used to enter and analyze data. Crude and adjusted Odds ratios were done for each explanatory variable at 95% confidence level. Results The likelihood of developing noncommunicable disease was higher among participants who drank alcohol [AOR = 1.72, 95% CI: (1.3, 2.1)] and coffee [AOR = 4.54, 95% CI: (3.4, 5.9)], did not take vegetables [AOR = 2. 30, 95% CI: (1.6, 3.1)] and fruits [AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: (1.4, 2.9)], took packed oil [AOR = 2.35, 95% CI: (1.7, 3.1)], overweight or obesity [AOR = 2.23, 95% CI: (1.3, 3.8)] and physically inactive [AOR = 1.71, 95% CI: (1.2, 2.4)]. Conclusion Of those assessed, the main factors associated with noncommunicable disease were drinking alcohol and coffee, not taking vegetables and fruits, taking packed oil, being overweight and physically inactive. Thus, the finding suggests changing the dietary habit of the community to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, use of unsaturated fat for cooking, to avoid consumption of alcohol and to decrease taking coffee, to do physical activity and weight reduction.
Efficient Fludarabine‐Activating PNP From Archaea as a Guidance for Redesign the Active Site of E. Coli PNP

The combination of the gene of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) from Escherichia coli and fludarabine represents one of the most promising systems in the gene therapy of solid tumors. The use of fludarabine in gene therapy is limited by the lack of an enzyme that is able to efficiently activate this prodrug which, consequently, has to be administered in high doses that cause serious side effects. In an attempt to identify enzymes with a better catalytic efficiency than E. coli PNP towards fludarabine to be used as a guidance on how to improve the activity of the bacterial enzyme, we have selected 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (SsMTAP) and 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine phosphorylase II (SsMTAPII), two PNPs isolated from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. Substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency of SsMTAP and SsMTAPII for fludarabine were analyzed by kinetic studies and compared with E. coli PNP. SsMTAP and SsMTAPII share with E. coli PNP a comparable low affinity for the arabinonucleoside but are better catalysts of fludarabine cleavage with kcat/Km values that are 12.8‐fold and 6‐fold higher, respectively, than those reported for the bacterial enzyme. A computational analysis of the interactions of fludarabine in the active sites of E. coli PNP, SsMTAP, and SsMTAPII allowed to identify the crucial residues involved in the binding with this substrate, and provided structural information to improve the catalytic efficiency of E. coli PNP by enzyme redesign. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1126–1135, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinicoepidemiological Profile of Elderly PLHIV Attending a Tertiary Care Center in South India

Background: Physicians are coming across a considerable number of HIV-positive patients belonging to older age-group, in practice. They pose a challenge as they might present with advanced forms and comorbid conditions. We aimed to describe the clinicoepidemiological profile of elderly people living with HIV. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. We analyzed the record of 120 patients from 2009 to 2014. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients. Results: Of 786 HIV-positive patients, 120 were elderly. Mean age was 55.9 ± 6.1 years. Majority 68% were male. In all, 63.33% were male. Commonest route of transmission was heterosexual intercourse, most presented at World Health Organization (WHO) stage 1 (64.17%). In all, 77.5% had hypertension and 26.6% had tuberculosis. The median CD4 count at presentation was 245 cells/mm3 (145-426 cells/mm3). Forty-two percent were late presenters (CD4 <200 cells/mm3). Conclusion: Treating physician should have a high index of suspicion in diagnosing HIV among elderly age-group.
Clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural observations on Enzootic Nasal Adenocarcinoma in five goats.

Bu calismanin amaci, 5 kecide Enzootic Nazal Adenokarsinomun klinik, patolojik, immunohistokimyasal ve elektron makroskobik olarak incelenmesi ve bu tumorlerin degisik markirlar ile immunoreaktivitesinin incelenmesidir. Bu calismada tumorlerin histopatolojik incelemesinde tubuler, papiller ve asiner subtipler teshis edildi. Tumor interstiyel hucreleri S100, NSE, SMA ve Vimentin ile epitel hucreleri ise PCK, CEA ve GCDFP ile pozitif reaksiyon verdi. Caspase-3, Ki-67 ve PCNA ile hem epitel hemde intertisyel hucrelerde pozitif reaksiyon saptanirken, AFP butun hucrelerde negatif reaksiyon gosterdi. Immunohistokimyasal incelemesi sonucunda ENA’da hem epitel hemde intertisyel hucrelerde artis oldugu PCNA ve Ki-67 artisi ile saptandi. Elektron makroskobik incelemede neoplastik epitel hucrelerinde retrovirus-benzeri yapilar saptandi. Bu calisma ayni zamanda Turkiye’de kecilerde saptanan ilk ENA olgusudur.
Neurological Damage Related to Cardiac Surgery: Pathophysiology, Diagnostic Tools and Prevention Strategies. Using Actual Knowledge for Planning the Future

Even in milder cases, neurologic complications related to cardiac surgery increase mortality, hospitalization time, and rehabilitation costs, and so contribute to the decrease in quality of life. The incidence of neurologic complications has remained unchanged during the last years, despite age and comorbidity increasing. Improvement in technical approaches has probably contributed to maintain these percentages. Although most of the complications may be related to cardiopulmonary bypass, others factors are also involved. Identifying high risk patients could reduce incidence of complications within high risk groups, but this is probably an insufficient preventive strategy. In a population progressively older and presumably affected by an increasing number of diseases, preventive strategies should be focused on 3 aspects: first, technical improvements in cardiac surgery and cerebral protection; second, pharmacologic therapy; and, finally, identification of reliable techniques to evaluate neuropsychological dysfunction after cardiac surgery. Future efforts will be necessary to identify surrogate markers of neurologic damage and its functional outcome, perhaps related to genetic susceptibility. Only with all of these instruments, really effective preventive or palliative strategies could be planned and applied.
Predictors of adherence and contamination in a randomized trial of exercise in colorectal cancer survivors

The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of exercise adherence (i.e. exercise in the intervention group) and exercise contamination (i.e. exercise in the control group) in a randomized controlled trial of home‐based exercise in colorectal cancer survivors. At baseline, 102 participants completed measures of the theory of planned behavior, personality, past exercise, exercise stage of change, physical fitness, and medical/demographics and then were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to an exercise (n=69) or control (n=33) group. Exercise was monitored weekly for 16 weeks using self‐reports by telephone. Ninety‐three (91%) participants completed the trial. Adherence was 76% in the exercise group and contamination was 52% in the control group. Hierarchical stepwise regression analyses indicated that baseline exercise stage of change (β=0.35; p=0.001), employment status (β=−0.28; p=0.010), treatment protocol (β=−0.26; p=0.018), and perceived behavioral control (β=0.20; p=0.055) explained 39.6% of the variance in exercise adherence. Intentions (β=0.36; p=0.049) and baseline exercise stage of change (β=0.30; p=0.095) explained 29.9% of the variance in exercise contamination. These findings may have implications for conducting clinical trials of exercise in colorectal cancer survivors and for promoting exercise to colorectal cancer survivors outside of clinical trials. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential Use of CCR 5 by HIV-1 Clinical Isolates Resistant to Small-Molecule CCR 5 Antagonists

Timothy J. Henrich, Nicolas R. P. Lewine, Sun-Hee Lee, Suhas S. P. Rao, Reem Berro, Roy M. Gulick, John P. Moore, Athe M. N. Tsibris, and Daniel R. Kuritzkes Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea; and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York City, New York, USA
Epitheliocystis in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farmed in fresh water in Ireland is associated with 'Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola' infection.

Intracellular inclusions containing chlamydia-like organisms are frequently observed in the gill epithelial cells of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. , cultured in fresh water in Ireland. In this study, the causative agent was identified in four separate freshwater sites, using 16s rRNA sequencing, as 'Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola'. Histopathology and real-time (RT) PCR were used to further assess infections. The prevalence of infection ranged from 75-100% between sites and infection intensity was highly variable. No significant lesions were associated with these infections. As a diagnostic tool, RT-PCR proved marginally more sensitive than histopathology. The fate of 'Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola' in Atlantic salmon post-seawater transfer was investigated in a 12-week marine longitudinal study. Both RT-PCR and histopathological examination indicate that the organism disappears from the gills 4-6 weeks post-transfer.
Putative endogenous mediators of preconditioning‐induced ischemic tolerance in rat brain identified by genomic and proteomic analysis

In brain, a brief ischemic episode induces protection against a subsequent severe ischemic insult. This phenomenon is known as preconditioning‐induced neural ischemic tolerance. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to preconditioning helps in identifying potential therapeutic targets for preventing the post‐stroke brain damage. The present study conducted the genomic and proteomic analysis of adult rat brain as a function of time following preconditioning induced by a 10‐min transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. GeneChip analysis showed induction of 40 putative neuroprotective transcripts between 3 to 72 h after preconditioning. These included heat‐shock proteins, heme oxygenases, metallothioneins, signal transduction mediators, transcription factors, ion channels and apoptosis/plasticity‐related transcripts. Real‐time PCR confirmed the GeneChip data for the transcripts up‐regulated after preconditioning. Two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with MALDI‐TOF analysis showed increased expression of HSP70, HSP27, HSP90, guanylyl cyclase, muskelin, platelet activating factor receptor and β‐actin at 24 h after preconditioning. HSP70 protein induction after preconditioning was localized in the cortical pyramidal neurons. The infarct volume induced by focal ischemia (1‐h MCA occlusion) was significantly smaller (by 38 ± 7%, p < 0.05) in rats subjected to preconditioning 3 days before the insult. Preconditioning also prevented several gene expression changes induced by focal ischemia.
Determination of the Localization of Gangliosides Using Anti-ganglioside Antibodies: Comparison of Fixation Methods

Many studies have examined the localization of gangliosides using anti-ganglioside antibodies, although widely differing conclusions have been reached. We now demonstrate that the apparent localization of gangliosides can be greatly influenced by the fixation method. Using monoclonal antibody (MAb) A2B5 (which reacts with a variety of gangliosides), hippocampal neurons were labeled at the cell surface when incubated with the antibody before fixation, but when incubated after fixation the cells displayed a variety of labeling patterns, depending on the fixation method. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that some of the fixatives (particularly acetone and methanol) significantly reduced or completely depleted cellular gangliosides, implying that the immunoreactivity observed with A2B5, and with other antibodies, was not due to gangliosides. When neurons were incubated with an anti-GD1b antibody prefixation, uniform labeling of the plasma membrane was observed, but after ganglioside depletion using biochemical inhibitors of ganglioside synthesis no cell surface labeling was detected. However, even in cells depleted of gangliosides, labeling of both the cell surface and intracellular compartments was observed when the anti-GD1b antibody was applied after fixation. Moreover, after fixation, antibodies to GM4 and GD2 reacted with hippocampal neurons, although these ganglio-sides are absent from these neurons. In contrast, the JONES antibody (which reacts with 9-O-acetylated GD3) labeled neurons with a similar pattern, essentially irrespective of the fixation method. These observations demonstrate that great care must be taken in assigning gangliosides to specific cell populations or to intracellular locations solely on the basis of use of anti-ganglioside antibodies, and suggest that optimal fixation conditions must be established for each anti-ganglioside antibody.
Mortality and ionising radiation exposures among workers employed at the Fernald Feed Materials Production Center (1951–1985)

Objectives To examine mortality patterns and dose-response relations between ionising radiation and mortality outcomes of a priori interest in 6409 uranium workers employed for at least 30 days (1951–1985), and followed through 2004. Methods Cohort mortality was evaluated through standardised mortality ratios (SMR). Linear excess relative risk (ERR) regression models examined associations between cause-specific mortality and exposures to internal ionising radiation from uranium deposition, external gamma and x-ray radiation, and radon decay products, while adjusting for non-radiologic covariates. Results Person-years at risk totalled 236 568 (mean follow-up 37 years), and 43% of the cohort had died. All-cause mortality was below expectation only in salaried workers. Cancer mortality was significantly elevated in hourly males, primarily from excess lung cancer (SMR=1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.42). Cancer mortality in salaried males was near expectation, but lymphohaematopoietic malignancies were significantly elevated (SMR=1.52, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.12). A positive dose-response relation was observed for intestinal cancer, with a significant elevation in the highest internal organ dose category and a significant dose-response with organ dose from internal uranium deposition (ERR=1.5 per 100 μGy, 95% CI 0.12 to 4.1). Conclusions A healthy worker effect was observed only in salaried workers. Hourly workers had excess cancer mortality compared with the US population, although there was little evidence of a dose-response trend for any cancer evaluated except intestinal cancer. The association between non-malignant respiratory disease and radiation dose observed in previous studies was not apparent, possibly due to improved exposure assessment, different outcome groupings, and extended follow-up.