Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A time series analysis of the rabies control programme in Chile

SUMMARY The classical time series decomposition method was used to compare the temporal pattern of rabies in Chile before and after the implementation of the control programme. In the years 1950–60, a period without control measures, rabies showed an increasing trend, a seasonal excess of cases in November and December and a cyclic behaviour with outbreaks occurring every 5 years. During 1961–1970 and 1971–86, a 26-year period that includes two different phases of the rabies programme which started in 1961, there was a general decline in the incidence of rabies. The seasonality disappeared when the disease reached a low frequency level and the cyclical component was not evident.
Measurement of kidney perfusion by magnetic resonance imaging: comparison of MRI with arterial spin labeling to para-aminohippuric acid plasma clearance in male subjects with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance imaging with arterial spin labeling (MRI-ASL) is a non-invasive approach to measure organ perfusion. We aimed to examine whether MRI-ASL kidney perfusion measurements are related to measurements of renal plasma flow (RPF) by para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) plasma clearance and whether changes of kidney perfusion in response to treatment with telmisartan can be detected by MRI-ASL. METHODS Twenty-four patients with metabolic syndrome and an estimated creatinine clearance according to Cockroft and Gault of > or =60 ml/min were included in the study. Kidney perfusion was assessed by MRI-ASL measurements of a single coronal kidney slice (with flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery and true fast imaging with steady-state processing sequence) and by measurements of RPF using PAH plasma clearance before and after 2 weeks of treatment with the angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan. All MRI-ASL examinations were performed on a 1.5 T scanner. RESULTS Two weeks of therapy with telmisartan led to a significant increase of RPF (from 313 +/- 47 to 348 +/- 69 ml/min/m, P = 0.007) and MRI-ASL kidney perfusion measurements (from 253 +/- 20 to 268 +/- 25 ml/min/100 g, P = 0.020). RPF measurements were related with MRI-ASL kidney perfusion measurements (r = 0.575, P < 0.001). Changes of RPF measurements and changes of MRI-ASL kidney perfusion measurements in response to treatment with telmisartan revealed a close relationship when expressed in absolute terms (r = 0.548, P = 0.015) and in percentage changes (r = 0.514, P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS Perfusion measurement of a single coronal kidney slice by MRI-ASL is able to approximate kidney perfusion and to approximate changes in kidney perfusion due to pharmacological intervention.
Ungual melanoma – controversies in diagnosis and treatment

Ungual melanomas are considered rare, being difficult to diagnose, and having a poor prognosis. The aim of the present study was to discuss the epidemiology, potential causes, treatment options, and outcome of ungual melanomas. In contrast to assumptions in many articles, ungual melanomas are not rare when calculated for the cumulative size of the nail apparatus of both the fingers and toes. The prognosis is not worse than that of melanomas with the same thickness, mitotic rate, or presence of ulceration on other sites. Melanomas of the nail apparatus behave similar to melanomas in other localizations. What makes them enigmatic is the high rate of misdiagnoses and very late diagnoses.
Ascochlorin activates p53 in a manner distinct from DNA damaging agents

Ascochlorin, a prenylphenol antitumor antibiotic, profoundly increases the expression of endogenous p53 by increasing protein stability in the human osteosarcoma cells and human colon cancer cells. Ascochlorin also increases DNA binding activity to the p53 consensus sequence in nuclear extract and enhances transcription of p53 downstream targets. Ascochlorin specifically induces p53 phosphorylation at ser 392 without affecting ser 15 or 20, whereas DNA damaging agents typically phosphorylate these serines. Moreover, ascochlorin does not induce phosphorylation of ATM and CHK1, an established substrate of ATR that is activated by genotoxins, nor does it increase DNA strand break, as confirmed by comet assay. The structure‐activity relationship suggests that p53 activation by ascochlorin is related to inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, which is further supported by the observation that respiratory inhibitors activate p53 in a manner similar to ascochlorin. These results suggest that ascochlorin, through the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, activates p53 through a mechanism distinct from genotoxins. © 2009 UICC
Immunolocalization of BRCA1 protein in normal breast tissue and sporadic invasive ductal carcinomas: a correlation with other biological parameters

BRCA1, a nuclear phosphoprotein, normally functions as a negative regulator of the cell cycle and may be an active inhibitor of neoplastic progression. Mutation of the BRCA1 gene has been demonstrated in 80% of familial breast cancer. Decreased mRNA levels or aberrant subcellular locations of BRCA1 have been identified in breast cancer lines and in sporadic cases of breast cancer tissues. The expression of BRCA1 in large series of variously differentiated breast carcinomas with correlation with other biological parameters has not been clarified.
Pharmacokinetics and dynamics of intravenous, intrathecal, and epidural clonidine in sheep.

Epidural clonidine administration produces analgesia by a spinal action but may produce hemodynamic depression by activating other central or peripheral alpha 2-adrenoceptors. To determine clonidine's distribution and cardiorespiratory effects 300 micrograms clonidine was injected epidurally, intrathecally, and intravenously in six chronically prepared sheep, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and arterial plasma clonidine were measured. Dural transfer of epidurally administered clonidine was rapid and extensive: time to maximal concentration (Tmax) in CSF was 32 +/- 8 min, bioavailability in CSF was 14 +/- 4% of the administered dose, and maximal CSF concentrations following epidural administration (820 +/- 30 ng/ml) were three orders of magnitude greater than those following iv injection (0.71 +/- 0.06 ng/ml). Systemic absorption of epidurally administered clonidine occurred rapidly: Tmax in plasma was 34 +/- 6 min and plasma concentrations were similar to those following iv injection at all time points beyond 20 min. Elimination half-lives from plasma were similar for all three routes of administration (81-95 min). Clonidine's effect on blood pressure differed with route of administration. Blood pressure increased and heart rate decreased following iv injection when plasma clonidine concentrations were high (greater than 2 ng/ml). Clonidine, following all routes of administration, numerically decreased blood pressure, but this decrease was significant only following epidural (mean arterial pressure = 97 +/- 6 mmHg before, 86 +/- 6 mmHg after; P less than 0.05) and intrathecal (93 +/- 9 mmHg before, 79 +/- 10 mmHg after; P less than 0.05) injection. Blood pressure decreased earlier following intrathecal than following epidural injection, corresponding with higher CSF clonidine concentrations. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
PERIPHERAL NERVE SHEATH TUMOURS IN CATTLE

Samples of morbid bovine tissues obtained from slaughterhouse were submitted to histopathological examination. Neoplastic growth within the peripheral nerves was observed microscopically, with the presence of Antoni A and Antoni B patterns, and sporadically Verocay bodies. Additionally, immunohistochemical examination of the sections revealed positive reaction to vimentine, neuron specific enolase, protein S100, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The results indicate that the examined neoplasms may belong to the type of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumours called schwannoma.
Children's emotional security and sleep: longitudinal relations and directions of effects.

BACKGROUND We examined longitudinal relations between children's sleep and their emotional security in the mother-child, father-child, and parental marital relationships, with the goal of explicating the direction of association over time. Gender-related effects were also examined. METHOD Sleep duration was examined through actigraphy, and sleep quality was assessed via both actigraphy and self-reports. Children were in 3rd (T1) and 5th (T2) grades. The sample was composed of 78 boys and 98 girls at T1, and 62 boys and 80 girls at T2. RESULTS Security in the child-mother, child-father, and marital relationships at T1 were predictive of sleep problems two years later even after controlling for children's sleep at T1. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, results were more supportive of security predicting sleep parameters than the other direction of effects. Results highlight the important associations between family functioning and children's sleep, and extend the literature through the longitudinal design.
Comparison between conventional lenses and an electrically thin lens made using a phase shifting surface (PSS) at Ka Band

This paper compares the performance of a thin lens based on a new phase shifting surface (PSS) concept to three conventional lenses at Ka-Band. The pros and cons of each lens antenna are highlighted and verified by experimental results. It is shown that a 90° phase-correcting PSS lens antenna can achieve almost the same gain as the corresponding dielectric plano-hyperbolic lens antenna within a specific operating band along with significant improvements in weight, thickness and cost.
Transduodenal sphincteroplasty and transampullary septectomy for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

BACKGROUND The diagnosis and management of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction are controversial issues. Both surgical and endoscopic series report modest success in the treatment of this condition. There is evidence from endoscopic series that the Milwaukee classification could predict the clinical outcome after sphincterotomy. We reviewed our long-term results of surgical sphincter ablation for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, in order to correlate outcome with underlining pathology (biliary versus pancreatic) and Milwaukee biliary group classification. PATIENTS AND METHODS During a 10 year period (1987-1996), 36 patients with either biliary (n = 26) or pancreatic (n = 10) presentation of suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction were selected for surgery according to a standard protocol of investigation and management. All patients were classified according to the Milwaukee classification for the biliary group or its version for the pancreatic group and had transduodenal sphincteroplasty and transampullary septectomy. RESULTS Despite a trend towards a better outcome in the biliary group (good result 62%, moderate 23%, poor 15%) compared to the pancreatic (good result 40%, moderate 40%, poor 20%) the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.48). Milwaukee classification for the biliary group correlated well with a favourable outcome (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The modest outcome despite careful patient selection for surgery emphasises the need for more objective diagnostic tools. Milwaukee classification appears to be of good predictive value, and a good result can be anticipated in type I or even type II patients. The trend towards a better outcome in the biliary group may reflect the weakness of a drainage procedure to treat patients with parenchymal pancreatic disease.
HCF 243 Encodes a Chloroplast-Localized Protein Involved in the D 1 Protein Stability of the Arabidopsis Photosystem II Complex 1 [ W ] [ OA ]

Molecular Ecology Group, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming System, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People’s Republic of China (D.Z., B.L., Y.K., N.C., Q.Q., H.Y., J.A.); Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266101, People’s Republic of China (D.Z., G.Z.); and Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China (F.Z., F.C.)
The utility of a portable sleep monitor to diagnose sleep-disordered breathing in a pediatric population.

BACKGROUND Central and⁄or obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children represents a spectrum of abnormal breathing during sleep. SDB is diagnosed using the gold standard, overnight polysomnography (PSG). The limited availability and access to PSG prevents its widespread use, resulting in significant delays in diagnosis and treatment of SDB. As such, portable sleep monitors are urgently needed. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the utility of a commercially available portable sleep study monitor (PSS-AL) (ApneaLink, ResMed, USA) to diagnose SDB in children. METHODS Children referred to a pediatric sleep facility were simultaneously monitored using the PSS-AL monitor and overnight PSG. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was calculated using the manual and autoscoring function of the PSS-AL, and PSG. Sensitivity and specificity were compared with the manually scored PSS-AL and PSG. Pearson correlations and Bland-Altman plots were constructed. RESULTS Thirty-five children (13 female) completed the study. The median age was 11.0 years and the median body mass index z-score was 0.67 (range -2.3 to 3.8). SDB was diagnosed in 17 of 35 (49%) subjects using PSG. The AHI obtained by manually scored PSS-AL strongly correlated with the AHI obtained using PSG (r=0.89; P<0.001). Using the manually scored PSS-AL, a cut-off of AHI of >5 events⁄h had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 61% to detect any SDB diagnosed by PSG. CONCLUSIONS Although PSG is still recommended for the diagnosis of SDB, the ApneaLink sleep monitor has a role for triaging children referred for evaluation of SDB, but has limited ability to determine the nature of the SDB.
Role of acetaldehyde in alcohol addiction : current evidence and future perspectives

The effects of alcohol have been widely studied during the past century, corroborating the idea that this tiny chemical compound acts throughout most of our neurotransmitter systems since it is capable of inducing addictive behaviour. Two of the most serious problems of alcohol addiction are craving and relapse; several studies have demonstrated that relapse is related to the anxious state which occurs during withdrawal, and it has been proved that this behavioural modifications results from an alteration of the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems. An important role in the neurobiology of alcohol addiction is played by acetaldehyde (ACD), ethanol first metabolite.
INFECTIVITY OF TWO ISOLATES OF HELICOSPORIDIUM SPP. (CHLOROPHYTA: TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE) IN HETEROLOGOUS HOST INSECTS

Abstract Members of the genus Helicosporidium are the first described algal insect pathogens. They have a close affinity to the non-photosynthetic algae of the genus Prototheca, and have a wide host range, infecting many species of aquatic and terrestrial insects. In this study the infectivity of two Helicosporidium spp. isolates, originating from a black fly (SjHe) and an aquatic weevil (CsHe), was tested against a weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) and three mosquito species Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Aedes aegypti (L.). The weevil constitutes a new experimental host record for helicosporidia. The CsHe isolate was more virulent than the SjHe isolate in D. abbreviatus. Anopheles quadrimaculatus was the most susceptible mosquito species measured by infection rate and mortality. The infectivity and virulence of SjHe and CsHe isolates did not differ in any of the mosquito species.
Staphylococcus aureus infection of the nose.

To the Editor. — I would like to propose an alternative antibiotic therapy for Dr Martin's patient with recurrentStaphylococcus aureusinfection of the nose.1Your consultant appropriately emphasized the difficulty of eradicating the nasal carrier state. Because of rifampin's unique ability to achieve high concentrations in body secretions, it is very useful for this purpose.2However, because many microorganisms can develop one-step resistance through an alteration in the drug target, DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, it is important to combine rifampin with an antistaphylococcal antibiotic. If the patient wears contact lenses, he must be cautioned to remove them during therapy, as similarly high concentrations achieved in lacrimal secretions will permanently stain contact lenses yellow. Finally, if relapse occurs, Dr Martin should consider the possibility that other household members are colonized with the same strain and may be reinfecting the patient. In that case, the risks and benefits of treating the
Profiling of CD4+ T Cells with Epigenetic Immune Lineage Analysis

Proper transcriptional control of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses of the immune system is important for a fine-tuned balance between protection and tolerance. Emerging evidence suggests a key role for epigenetic regulation in governing the Th cell differentiation, where effector cytokines direct the overall immune response. In this study, we describe a method to pinpoint the location of isolated human CD4+ T cells on any T cell effector axis based on specific CpG methylation of cytokine and transcription factor loci. We apply the method on CD4+ cells obtained from rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis patients and show that synovial fluid infiltrating CD4+ T cells are committed toward both Th1 and regulatory T cell phenotype, whereas the Th2 response is suppressed. Furthermore, we show that the IL-17A gene is regulated by promoter methylation and that Th17 commitment is not a common feature in the inflamed joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients. We conclude that the method described in this paper allows for accurate profiling of Th lineage commitment in ex vivo-isolated CD4+ T cells.
Nursing Care of the Patient Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

The role of the professional nurse in the perioperative care of the patient undergoing open heart surgery is beneficial for obtaining a positive outcome for the patient. This article focuses on the preoperative and postoperative nursing care of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Risk assessment, preoperative preparation, current operative techniques, application of the nursing process immediately after surgery, and common postoperative complications will be explored.
Gross and microscopic histopathological findings in aneurysms of the human brain treated with Guglielmi detachable coils.

OBJECT The histopathological characteristics of aneurysms obtained at autopsy or surgery 3 days to 54 months after being treated with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) were assessed. METHODS Seventeen aneurysms were obtained at autopsy and one was removed at surgery. Fourteen were examined histologically with the coils in situ. Naked coils embedded in an unorganized thrombus were found in those aneurysms that had been treated with coils within 1 week earlier. An incomplete replacement of the intraluminal blood clot by fibrous tissue and a partial membranous covering at the aneurysm orifice were observed in those aneurysms that had been treated with coils between 2 and 3 weeks prior to examination. One small aneurysm treated 6 weeks before harvesting showed formation of an endothelium-lined layer of connective tissue at the orifice. Collagen-rich vascularized tissue surrounding the coils was found in an aneurysm removed at surgery 54 months after coil implantation. Interestingly, six (50%) of 12 aneurysms (two small, three large, and one giant) that had been deemed 100% occluded on initial angiography showed tiny open spaces between the coils at the neck on gross examination. CONCLUSIONS Endothelialization of the aneurysm orifice following placement of GDCs can occur; however, it appears to be the exception rather than the rule. In large aneurysms the process of intraaneurysm clot organization seems to be delayed and incomplete; tiny open spaces between the coils and an incomplete membranous covering in the region of the neck are frequently encountered. Further longitudinal studies are required to establish the spectrum of healing profiles that may direct our efforts in modifying the GDC system to produce a more stable long-term result.
Predicting CCHF incidence and its related factors using time-series analysis in the southeast of Iran: comparison of SARIMA and Markov switching models

SUMMARY Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is endemic in the southeast of Iran. This study aimed to predict the incidence of CCHF and its related factors and explore the possibility of developing an empirical forecast system using time-series analysis of 13 years’ data. Data from 2000 to 2012 were obtained from the Health Centre of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Climate Organization and the Veterinary Organization in the southeast of Iran. Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) and Markov switching models (MSM) were performed to examine the potential related factors of CCHF outbreaks. These models showed that the mean temperature (°C), accumulated rainfall (mm), maximum relative humidity (%) and legal livestock importation from Pakistan (LIP) were significantly correlated with monthly incidence of CCHF in different lags (P < 0·05). The modelling fitness was checked with data from 2013. Model assessments indicated that the MSM had better predictive ability than the SARIMA model [MSM: root mean square error (RMSE) 0·625, Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) 266·33; SARIMA: RMSE 0·725, AIC 278·8]. This study shows the potential of climate indicators and LIP as predictive factors in modelling the occurrence of CCHF. Our results suggest that MSM provides more information on outbreak detection and can be a better predictive model compared to a SARIMA model for evaluation of the relationship between explanatory variables and the incidence of CCHF.
Cutting Edge: IL-1β Mediates the Proangiogenic Activity of Osteopontin-Activated Human Monocytes1

Inflammation plays an important role in the onset of angiogenesis. In the present study, we show that osteopontin (OPN), a proinflammatory mediator involved in tissue repair, induces IL-1β up-regulation in human monocytes. This was accompanied by the enhanced production of TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-6, a decreased release of IL-10, and increased p38 phosphorylation. The supernatants of OPN-treated monocytes were highly angiogenic when delivered on the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane. The angiogenic response was completely abrogated by a neutralizing anti-IL-1 Ab, thus indicating that this cytokine represents the major proangiogenic factor expressed by OPN-activated monocytes. Accordingly, rIL-1β mimicked the proangiogenic activity of OPN-treated monocyte supernatants, and IL-1R (type I) was found to be expressed in the chorioallantoic membrane. In conclusion, OPN-activated monocytes may contribute to the onset of angiogenesis through a mechanism mediated by IL-1β.