Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcome of cadaver kidney transplantation in 23 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing cause of end-stage renal failure worldwide. Yet, only a minority of type 2 diabetics are considered today for kidney transplantation (KT). The scarcity of data on the outcome of such patients after KT prompted us to review our experience. METHODS Between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 1996, 23 patients with type 2 DM received a first cadaver KT at a mean age of 57+/-9 (41-73) years, after a dialysis period ranging from 5 to 72 (mean 25+/-18) months. Only nine patients had a history of coronary and/or peripheral vascular disease before KT. All were given cyclosporin- or tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Post-KT follow-up ranged from 4 to 181 (mean 70+/-38) months. Outcome analysis focused on the impact of cardiovascular complications. RESULTS Patient survival at 1, 5 and 8 years was 91, 83 and 76% respectively. Death was due to infection in three patients and to a cardiovascular event in two. The actuarial risk of coronary, cerebrovascular, peripheral vascular, and any cardiovascular event after KT was 14, 13, 9 and 30% at 1 year, 20, 13, 50 and 58% at 5 years, and 20, 46, 66 and 72% at 8 years respectively. Post-KT hospital readmissions averaged 10 days/patient-year and were mostly related to the management of peripheral vascular disease. CONCLUSION KT is an excellent therapeutic option for selected patients with type 2 DM. Peripheral vascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity following KT. KT should be considered in type 2 diabetics with a low/medium cardiovascular risk.
Wages and Wage Growth in Poland: The Role of Foreign Direct Investment

In recent years Poland has received substantial inflows of foreign direct investment. This paper combines detailed labour market data with industry data from the Polish manufacturing sector to examine the effects of foreign direct investment inflows on wages and wage growth. The empirical evidence we assemble suggests that workers in industries with greater foreign presence enjoy higher wages and higher wage growth. This effect appears to be robust to a variety of empirical approaches, estimation techniques and specification checks.
Influence of Citric Acid and Microbial Phytase on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

Problem statement: The aim of this study was to investigated the effects of adding citric acid and microbial phytase supplementation (Natuphos ® ) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed corn soybean meal base diets. Approach: The experiment included nine treatments with 10 birds in each replicate using a 3×3 factorial design for two main factors of citric acid (0, 3 and 6%) and three phytase enzyme (0, 500 and 1000 IU kg −1 ). The diets were formulated based upon corn-soybean meal 7 to 21 and 22 to 42 day periods. Results: Using different levels of citric acid in diets had no effect on internal organs (except relative heart weight), whereas, diets containing 6% citric acid decreased feed intake, body weight gain and carcass yield (p<0.05) and improved feed conversion ratio and organs relative weight. Also, microbial phytase caused increase in feed intake, weight gain and relative neck weight (p<0.05). Conclusion: Depression of performance was differently affected by citric acid levels. Also, there was an additive effect between microbial phytase and citric acid.
Rapid Differentiation of Influenza A Virus Subtypes and Genetic Screening for Virus Variants by High-Resolution Melting Analysis

ABSTRACT We assessed the use of high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis for the rapid identification of influenza A virus subtypes and the detection of newly emerging virus variants. The viral matrix gene was amplified by LightCycler real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) in the presence of the LCGreen I fluorescent dye. Upon optimization of the assay conditions, all the major influenza A virus subtypes, including H1N1, H3N2, H5N1, H7N3, and H9N2, were amplifiable by this method and had a PCR product length of 179 bp. Real-time RT-PCR of in vitro-transcribed H3N2 RNA revealed a standard curve for quantification with a linear range (correlation coefficient = 0.9935) across at least 8 log units of RNA concentrations and a detection limit of 103 copies of viral RNA. We performed HRM analysis of the PCR products with the HR-1 instrument and used the melting profiles as molecular fingerprints for virus subtyping. The virus subtypes were identified from the high-resolution derivative plot obtained by heteroduplex formation between the PCR products of the viral isolates tested and those of the reference viral isolates. The melting profiles were consistent with minimal interassay variability. Hence, an HRM database and a working protocol were established for the identification of these five influenza A virus subtypes. When this protocol was used to test 21 clinical influenza A virus isolates, the results were comparable to those obtained by RT-PCR with hemagglutinin-specific primer sets. Sequence variants of the clinical isolates (n = 4) were also revealed by our HRM analytical scheme. This assay requires no multiplexing or hybridization probes and provides a new approach for influenza A virus subtyping and genetic screening of virus variants in a clinical virology laboratory.
Selective Binding of Borrelia burgdorferi OspE Paralogs to Factor H and Serum Proteins from Diverse Animals: Possible Expansion of the Role of OspE in Lyme Disease Pathogenesis

ABSTRACT The binding of Borrelia burgdorferi OspE, OspF, and family 163 (Elp) proteins to factor H/factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1) and other serum proteins from different animals was assessed. OspE paralogs bound factor H and unidentified serum proteins from a subset of animals, while OspF and Elp proteins did not. These data advance our understanding of factor H binding, the host range of the Lyme spirochetes, and the expanding role of OspE in pathogenesis.
Aortic Event Rate in the Marfan Population: A Cohort Study

Background— Optimal management, including timing of surgery, remains debated in Marfan syndrome because of a lack of data on aortic risk associated with this disease. Methods and Results— We used our database to evaluate aortic risk associated with standardized care. Patients who fulfilled the international criteria, had not had previous aortic surgery or dissection, and came to our center at least twice were included. Aortic measurements were made with echocardiography (every 2 years); patients were given systematic &bgr;-blockade and advice about sports activities. Prophylactic aortic surgery was proposed when the maximal aortic diameter reached 50 mm. Seven hundred thirty-two patients with Marfan syndrome were followed up for a mean of 6.6 years. Five deaths and 2 dissections of the ascending aorta occurred during follow-up. Event rate (death/aortic dissection) was 0.17%/y. Risk rose with increasing aortic diameter measured within 2 years of the event: from 0.09%/y per year (95% confidence interval, 0.00–0.20) when the aortic diameter was <40 mm to 0.3% (95% confidence interval, 0.00–0.71) with diameters of 45 to 49 mm and 1.33% (95% confidence interval, 0.00–3.93) with diameters of 50 to 54 mm. The risk increased 4 times at diameters ≥50 mm. The annual risk dropped below 0.05% when the aortic diameter was <50 mm after exclusion of a neonatal patient, a woman who became pregnant against our recommendation, and a 72-year-old woman with previous myocardial infarction. Conclusions— Risk of sudden death or aortic dissection remains low in patients with Marfan syndrome and aortic diameter between 45 and 49 mm. Aortic diameter of 50 mm appears to be a reasonable threshold for prophylactic surgery.
Meta-analysis of instrumented posterior interbody fusion versus instrumented posterolateral fusion in the lumbar spine.

OBJECT The authors compared the effectiveness of instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion (iPLIF) and instrumented posterolateral fusion (iPLF) for the treatment of low-back pain (LBP) due to degenerative lumbar disease. METHODS Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative observational studies through December 2009 were identified using a retrieval strategy of sensitive and specific searches. The study design, participant characteristics, interventions, follow-up rate and period, and outcomes were abstracted after the assessment of methodological quality of the trials. Analyses were performed following the method guidelines of the Cochrane Back Review Group. RESULTS Nine studies were identified-3 RCTs and 6 comparative observational studies. No significant difference was found between the 2 fusion procedures in the global assessment of clinical outcome (OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.71-3.22, p = 0.29) and complication rate (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.16-1.86, p = 0.34). Both techniques were effective in reducing pain and improving functional disability, as well as restoring intervertebral disc height. Instrumented PLIF was more effective in achieving solid fusion (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.35-5.00, p = 0.004), a lower reoperation rate (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.03-1.29, p = 0.09), and better restoration of segmental angle and lumbar lordotic angle than iPLF. There were no significant differences between the fusion methods regarding blood loss (weighted mean difference -179.63, 95% CI -516.42 to 157.15, p = 0.30), and operating time (weighted mean difference 8.03, 95% CI -45.46 to 61.53, p = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS The authors' analysis provided moderate-quality evidence that iPLIF has the advantages of higher fusion rate and better restoration of spinal alignment over iPLF. No significant differences were identified between iPLIF and iPLF concerning clinical outcome, complication rate, operating time, and blood loss.
High Prevalence of the CD14-159CC Genotype in Patients Infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Associated Coronavirus

ABSTRACT To investigate whether genetic factors of innate immunity might influence susceptibility and/or progression in individuals infected with SARS, we evaluated the CD14 gene polymorphism in 198 Hong Kong blood donors and 152 Hong Kong severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients who were previously genotyped for FcγRIIA polymorphisms. The prevalence of the CD14-159CC polymorphism was significantly higher in the patients with severe SARS than in the those with mild SARS or controls (31% versus 15% [mild SARS] or 20% [controls]; mild SARS: P = 0.029; odds ratio, 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.15 to 6.57; controls, P = 0.04; odds ratio, 2.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 5.54), and both CD14-159CC and FcγRIIA-RR131 are risk genotypes for severe SARS-CoV infection.
Rehabilitation of degraded coastal Mediterranean rangelands using Panicum turgidum Forssk.

Panicum turgidum Forssk. is a widely distributed species in the Egyptian desert. This species meets all criteria for a multipurpose plant and is capable of being used in the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems. The paper presents the most suitable methods for the propagation of and testing the possibility and capacity of germination and growth of different populations of Panicum turgidum. Besides investigating the socioeconomic value of this species through the documentation and survey of its traditional uses, the study illustrates the importance of P. turgidum for the local inhabitants as a very important fodder plant, for both domestic and wild animals. The main benefit from propagating this plant is an increase in grazing potentialities and reduction of the use of artificial feed. The results of the present study shows that individuals propagated by direct seed sowing attained the highest values of growth parameters, followed by those propagated by rhizomes, then those propagated by seedlings. The most suitable method for propagating it, in this region, is by grains and the best time is the first week of June. The results also show that the P. turgidum populations collected from the eastern desert attained the highest germination percentage and maximum values of growth parameters upon cultivation. Thus, eastern desert populations are recommended as a good source of grains for rehabilitation programs.
The efficacy of low-dose intranasal scopolamine for motion sickness.

INTRODUCTION Scopolamine is an effective motion sickness prophylactic, but oral and transdermal formulations are slowly absorbed. To enhance absorption and potentially efficacy, an intranasal formulation of scopolamine (INSCOP) was tested. METHOD There were 16 motion sickness susceptible subjects with an average age of 23.5 +/- 3.0 yr and an average score of 11.3 +/- 4.7 on the Modified Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire-Short Form who volunteered to participate in the study. Each subject was given 0.4 mg of INSCOP and a placebo in a randomized, double-blind crossover design and, at 40 min post-dose, experienced Coriolis cross-coupling in a staircase progression until moderate nausea. Efficacy data and cognitive, physiological, and alertness assessments were collected during baseline control and throughout experimental testing. RESULTS Intranasal scopolamine significantly increased the mean number of head movements tolerated [INSCOP 275.9 +/- 120.5, Placebo 230.7 +/- 76.4; t (15) = 2.21]. Estimation of medication absorption via plasma concentration indicated the drug was absorbed relatively rapidly to measurable levels by 15 min post-administration. Diastolic blood pressures and heart rate were significantly lower after administration of INSCOP compared to placebo. No significant cognitive or medication side effects were reported. Subjects reported no significant decrease in alertness as indicated by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. CONCLUSIONS Results of the current study strongly suggest that intranasal scopolamine is efficacious for the treatment of motion sickness in susceptible individuals with no significant cognitive or sedative effects. Intranasal delivery offers a promising alternative for use in dynamic operational environments without cognitive detriment or increased side effects.
Inhibitory Control in Siblings Discordant for Exposure to Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy

Maternal smoking during pregnancy (SDP) has been linked to poorer offspring executive function across development, but SDP does not occur independent of other familial risk factors. As such, poor and inconsistent control for potential confounds, notably shared familial (i.e., genetic and environmental) confounds, preclude concluding causal effects of SDP on child outcomes. We examined the within-family association between SDP and one component of executive function, inhibitory control, in a sample of families (N = 173) specifically selected for sibling pairs discordant for exposure to SDP. Thus, the present study examines if the SDP-inhibitory control association withstands rigorous control for potential child and familial confounds. 79% of the variation in child inhibitory control was attributable to within-family differences and 21% was attributable to differences between families, indicating that the variability in inhibitory control was primarily a function of differences between siblings rather than differences across families. Further, the association between SDP and inhibitory control was fully attenuated when confounds were considered. These findings suggest that co-occurring vulnerabilities act as more salient risk factors for poorer child inhibitory control than SDP and may serve as effective targets of interventions seeking to improve children’s inhibitory control in families with nicotine dependent mothers.
Response to letter regarding article, “smoking-thrombolysis paradox: recanalization and reperfusion rates after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in smokers with ischemic stroke”.

Response: We thank Plas et al1 for their interest in our article and for sharing their results about the smoking–thrombolysis paradox in ischemic stroke. A meta-analysis is an important further step to clarify the much debated and often conflicting results on this topic. Plas et al1 performed an analysis of 7 studies including 7494 patients receiving thrombolysis, which revealed an odds ratio of 1.38 (95% confidence interval, 1.24–1.53; P =0.02) for smoking in favor of a good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2) 3 …
ESTUDO DA CONTAMINAÇÃO MICROBIOLÓGICA EM EQUIPAMENTOS RADIOGRÁFICOS

A transmissao de doencas infecciosas e possivel em radiologia odontologica por decorrencia da contaminacao dos equipamentos radiograficos e do material para tomada e processamento das radiografias intrabucais que, a todo momento, podem contaminar as maos do operador e os locais por ele tocados. A presente pesquisa teve por objetivo verificar a contaminacao nas areas de maior contato entre operadores e equipamentos radiograficos (que foram subdivididos em locais suspeitos de maior contaminacao) utilizados nas clinicas do Departamento de Odontologia da UNITAU. Trezentos e vinte e cinco amostras de locais diferentes de dezessete equipamentos foram coletadas apos procedimentos rotineiros de atendimento a pacientes na clinica, utilizando placas Rodac e de Petri com os meios de cultura agar Sabouraud Dextrose com cloranfenicol, Mitis Salivarius Bacitracina sacarose, agar Mac Conkey, agar salgado e agar sangue, com o objetivo de identificar diferentes microrganismos. Os resultados comprovaram que os equipamentos radiograficos sao igualmente contaminados, apresentando indices de 50%, em media, de contaminacao microbiologica, e que a contaminacao foi diferente entre os grupos de microrganismos. O maior indice de contaminacao foi por Staphylococcus (50%), o menor indice por Bacilos Gram negativos (6%). Leveduras do genero Candida e Estreptococos do grupo mutans apresentaram contaminacoes equivalentes (30%).
The genotype–phenotype correlation of hereditary multiple exostoses

Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is an autosomal dominant condition with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the genotype and the phenotype in HME. Thirty‐two affected individuals from 10 families participated in the study. An extensive description of HME phenotype in terms of the anatomical burden of disease involved clinical and radiographic examinations and evaluation of 76 parameters. Mutations were determined by sequencing the EXT 1 and EXT 2 genes. Mutations were found in eight families (26 individuals), with one mutation previously reported in the literature and seven novel mutations. There were seven subjects with an EXT 1 mutation and 16 with an EXT 2 mutation. Patients with EXT 1 mutation were found to have more exostoses, more limb malalignment with shorter limb segments and height, and more pelvic and flatbone involvement. A genotype–phenotype correlation exists in HME, with patients with EXT 1 mutations having a higher degree of anatomical burden.
Cushing syndrome secondary to abuse of dexamethasone nasal spray.

Cushing syndrome, complicating orally administered steroid therapy, is well known, and adrenal suppression following intranasally applied steroids has been described. 1-3 A case of severe, incapacitating Cushing syndrome was induced by excessive amounts of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (Turbinaire Decadron Phosphate) taken for presumed allergic rhinitis. Patient Summary A 34-year-old man with classic Cushing syndrome was seen in August 1971. He had a four-year history of repeated electric shock therapy administered for depression and anxiety. In 1968, he developed back pain due to multiple thoracic vertebral compression fractures. In 1969, he noticed easy bruisability and abdominal and facial swelling. In 1970, purple abdominal striae appeared. Weakness of the quadriceps femoris and swelling and pain of lower extremities appeared in 1971, which eventually confined him to a wheelchair. On admission in August 1971, the patient was taking four psychotherapeutic drugs and dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Physical examination showed that his blood pressure was
Filial Responsibility as a Moderator of Witnessing Domestic Violence and Behavioral Outcomes in Latino Children

Children’s perceptions of the fairness of their filial responsibility was examined as a moderator between witnessing domestic violence and behavioral outcomes in children. Hierarchical Multiple Regressions revealed that children’s perceptions of the fairness of their family responsibility influenced the relation between the psychological violence in the household and child reports of internalizing behavior problems. Specifically, higher levels of psychological violence predicted higher levels of internalizing only under perceptions of unfair filial responsibility. In addition, increased levels of reported psychological violence in the household significantly predicted increased levels of mother-reported externalizing problems. Descriptive analyses revealed that for 12 of the 27 families all of the children had very small levels of reported behavior problems, as compared to the rest of the sample. These resilient families had lower level of psychological violence and physical violence in the household than the other families in the sample. INDEX WORDS: Domestic Violence, Witnessing, Fairness, Filial Responsibility, Latino, Children FILIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A MODERATOR OF WITNESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES IN LATINO CHILDREN
Clinical results of transferring a motor branch of the tibial nerve to the deep peroneal nerve for treatment of foot drop.

BACKGROUND Foot drop is a very debilitating condition affecting patients' daily activities, and its treatment has been a challenge for neurosurgeons. Grafting the peroneal or sciatic nerve usually results in poor outcomes. Our previous anatomic study demonstrated the feasibility of transferring a motor branch of the tibial nerve to the deep peroneal nerve at the level of the popliteal fossa. OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the outcomes obtained after the transfer of a branch of the tibial nerve to the peroneal nerve for recovery of foot drop. METHODS A retrospective review of 13 patients with foot drop caused by injuries to a lumbar root or the sciatic or peroneal nerve, who underwent a transfer of the nerve of the soleus muscle to the deep peroneal nerve. The results were evaluated using the British Medical Research Council grading system. RESULTS Three patients were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 10 patients, the outcomes were considered good (Medical Research Council grade M3 or M4) in 2 patients (20%) concerning ankle dorsiflexion and in 2 patients concerning toe extension (20%). One patient reported a reduced calf circumference. CONCLUSION The transfer of the nerve of the soleus muscle to the deep peroneal nerve demonstrated poor results in most of the patients, although favorable outcomes were observed in a few subjects. Due to the inconsistency of the results, we do not favor the routine use of this technique for the treatment of foot drop.
3′-AZIDO-3′-DEOXY-5′-O-ISONICOTINOYLTHYMIDINE, A NEW PRODRUG OF ZIDOVUDINE. SYNTHESIS, SOLID STATE CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTI HIV-1 ACTIVITY

ABSTRACT Synthesis, solid state characterization and anti HIV-1 activity of 3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-O-isonicotinoylthymidine (2), a new prodrug of zidovudine (AZT, 1), are described. Two solid forms of 2 prepared by crystallization from ethyl acetate-petroleum ether (form α) and from a melt sample of form α (amorphous form) were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TGA) techniques. The novel nucleoside exhibited antiviral activity against standard and resistant strain panels of HIV-1 as well as cytotoxicity similar to that of AZT.