Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induced production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6 in RAW 264.7 macrophages by streptomycetes from indoor air of moldy houses.

Dampness and mold growth in buildings cause spore generation into indoor air, which is associated with respiratory tract disorders. Specific agents or cellular mechanisms of diseases have not yet been identified. In this study, airborne spores of Streptomyces sp. , isolated from moldy houses, stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, which produced tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 and induced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, with subsequent nitric oxide production. Spores of other microorganisms typically found in moldy houses did not markedly increase the production of these inflammatory mediators. The data implied a mechanism by which Streptomyces sp. may lead to respiratory tract disorders in individuals who live in moldy houses.
Multi-professional communication for older people in transitional care: a review of the literature.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To synthesise research-reporting literature about multi-professional communication between health and social care professionals within transitional care for older people, with particular attention on outcomes, enabling contextual factors and constraints. BACKGROUND Older adults experience high rates of morbidity and health care usage, and frequently transit between health services, and community and social care providers. These transition episodes place elders at increased risk of adverse incidents due to poor communication of information. Integrated multi-professional models of care built on enhanced communication have been widely promoted as a strategy to improve transitional care for older people. However, a range of findings exist in the literature to guide service providers and researchers. DESIGN Comprehensive literature search and review strategies were employed to identify, describe and synthesise relevant studies. Ten databases were searched in addition to Google Scholar. CONCLUSIONS Specified discharge worker roles, multi-professional care coordination teams, and information technology systems promote better service satisfaction and subjective quality of life for older people when compared with standard hospital discharge. Improved multi-professional communication reduces rates of re-admission and length of stay indicating greater cost effectiveness and efficiency for the health and social care systems. Systems of care emphasizing information exchange, education and negotiation between stakeholders facilitate communication in transitional care contexts for older adults. Conversely, lack of dialogue and lack of understanding of others' roles are barriers to communication in transitional care. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Enhanced multi-professional communication, transitional pathways, and role clarity are required to improve the quality, sustainability and responsiveness of aged care into the future. Recommendations for further research include: (i) Investigation of pathways promoting person-centred care planning including the older person, their family and relevant practitioners; (ii) Development of interventions aimed at improving multi-professional communication and transitional aged care with marginalised and socially disadvantaged elders on indicators of equity and access; (iii) Investigation of changing roles for practitioners in multi-professional teams with a focus on community-based teams including nurses specialising in aged care and general practice.
Cutaneous malignant melanoma in women and the role of oral contraceptives

The role of oral contraceptives (OC) in the aetiology of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) has been controversially discussed over the last two decades. In an extensive literature search we identified 18 case‐control studies, published between 1977 and 1996, offering information on this relationship. Using a meta‐analytical approach we combined the study‐specific risk estimates and derived a summary odds ratio of 0.95 (95% confidence interval: 0.87–1.04). Based on the data of 3796 cases and 9442 controls, we thus found no evidence for an aetiological role of OC use in the development of CMM.
Use of routinely collected data on trihalomethane in drinking water for epidemiological purposes

OBJECTIVES To explore the use of routinely collected trihalomethane (THM) measurements for epidemiological studies. Recently there has been interest in the relation between byproducts of disinfection of public drinking water and certain adverse reproductive outcomes, including stillbirth, congenital malformations, and low birth weight. METHOD Five years of THM readings (1992–6), collected for compliance with statutory limits, were analysed. One water company in the north west of England, divided into 288 water zones, provided 15 984 observations for statistical analysis. On average each zone was sampled 11.1 times a year. Five year, annual, monthly, and seasonal variation in THMs were examined as well as the variability within and between zones. RESULTS Between 1992 and 1996 the total THM (TTHM) annual zone means were less than half the statutory concentration, at approximately 46 μg/l. Differences in annual water zone means were within 7%. Over the study period, the maximum water zone mean fell from 142.2 to 88.1 μg/l. Mean annual concentrations for individual THMs (μg/l) were 36.6, 8.0, and 2.8 for chloroform, bromodichloromethane (BDCM), and dibromochloromethane (DBCM) respectively. Bromoform data were not analysed, because a high proportion of the data were below the detection limit. The correlation between chloroform and TTHM was 0.98, between BDCM and TTHM 0.62, and between DBCM and TTHM −0.09. Between zone variation was larger than within zone variation for chloroform and BDCM, but not for DBCM. There was only little seasonal variation (<3%). Monthly variation was found although there were no consistent trends within years. CONCLUSION In an area where the TTHM concentrations were less than half the statutory limit (48 μg/l) chloroform formed a high proportion of TTHM. The results of the correlation analysis suggest that TTHM concentrations provided a good indication of chloroform concentrations, a reasonable indication of BDCM concentrations, but no indication of DBCM. Zone means were similar over the years, but the maximum concentrations reduced considerably, which suggests that successful improvements in treatment have been made to reduce high TTHM concentrations in the area. For chloroform and BDCM, the main THMs, the component between water zones was greater than variation within water zones and explained most of the overall exposure variation. Variation between months and seasons was low and showed no clear trends within years. The results indicate that routinely collected data can be used to obtain exposure estimates for epidemiological studies at a small area level.
Lung Cancer Risk in Workers in the Meat and Poultry Industries – A Review

Laboratory and in vivo studies in primates, and serological evidence in humans, indicate that food animal oncogenic viruses show potential for causing cancer in humans. However, until fairly recently, supporting analytic epidemiologic studies have been lacking and have concentrated on lung cancer. We conducted an extensive Medline search and reviewed 60 studies investigating lung cancer risk in highly exposed workers in the meat and poultry industries. The overwhelming majority of studies of different designs (including all the cohort mortality and cancer incidence studies) indicate at least a 30% excess risk of lung cancer in meat and poultry plant workers, even after controlling for smoking. Evidence points to food animal oncogenic microorganisms as one of the main causes. This has important public health implications because the general population is also widely exposed. Studies carried out thus far have not had sufficient statistical power to investigate other potentially carcinogenic exposures within the industries. Thus, large studies that can adequately control for occupational and non‐occupational confounding factors are needed, so that the possible role of food animal oncogenic viruses in the occurrence of human lung cancer can be clearly defined.
Decreased mortality by normalizing blood glucose after acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVES Hyperglycemia after cerebral ischemia exacerbates brain injury and worsens the outcome of stroke patients. The authors sought to examine the effect of glycemic control on mortality after acute stroke. METHODS This was a retrospective study of patients discharged with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke during a 40-month period from a large urban U.S. health system. Patients were compared by initial blood glucose (BG) levels and by glycemic control during the first 48 hours of hospitalization. RESULTS Of 960 patients with thromboembolic stroke, 373 (38.9%) were hyperglycemic (BG > or = 130 mg/dL) on hospital admission. Admission hyperglycemia was associated with a higher mortality rate than was euglycemia (odds ratio [OR] = 3.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.45 to 6.85; p = 0.004). Persistent hyperglycemia (PerHyp) during 48 hours of hospitalization was associated with even higher mortality rate (unadjusted logistic regression, OR = 6.54; 95% CI = 2.41 to 17.87; p < 0.001). Glycemic control (normalization of BG to < 130 mg/dL) was associated with a 4.6-fold decrease in mortality risk as compared with the case of patients with PerHyp (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression showed glycemic control to be a strong independent determinant of survival (OR = 5.95; 95% CI = 1.24 to 28.6; p = 0.026) after acute stroke even after adjustment for age, gender, concomitant hypertension and diabetes, and stroke severity. CONCLUSIONS Admission hyperglycemia is associated with a worse outcome after stroke than is euglycemia. Normalization of blood glucose during the first 48 hours of hospitalization appears to confer a potent survival benefit in patients with thromboembolic stroke.
Weight change and glycemic control in a population-based sample of adults with older-onset diabetes.

BACKGROUND Numerous clinic-based studies have observed improved glycemic control with even moderate weight reductions, for periods up to 1 year, in obese subjects with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Similar benefits of weight loss have not been well documented in free-living populations, particularly in older persons with NIDDM of long duration. METHODS Relations between weight change and glycosylated hemoglobin were evaluated in a population-based sample of persons with older-onset diabetes. Persons participating in baseline (1980-1982, n = 1370) and two follow-up examinations (1984-1986, n = 987; 1990-1992, n = 550) were included. Mean glycosylated hemoglobin levels among those losing, gaining, or remaining within 5 kg were compared in all subjects combined and stratified by insulin use, using ordinary least-squares regression to adjust for confounding variables. RESULTS Subjects who lost weight had higher mean glycosylated hemoglobin compared to those who gained weight (baseline to second exam only). This pattern remained in those not using insulin. Weight change was not related to glycosylated hemoglobin in persons using insulin. CONCLUSIONS Associations suggest that in older persons not using insulin, moderate weight loss over periods of 4-6 years has little beneficial impact on glycosylated hemoglobin. Weight loss may be reflecting disease processes that also result in poor glycemic control. Intentional weight loss achieved over a shorter time period and maintained through the later years in older diabetic persons remains to be evaluated.
Catalytic Combustion of Syngas

The catalytic combustion of syngas/air mixtures over Pt has been investigated numerically in a channel-flow configuration using 2D steady and transient computer codes with detailed hetero-/homogeneous chemistry, transport, and heat transfer mechanisms in the solid. Simulations were carried out for syngas compositions with varying H2 and CO contents, pressures of 1 to 15 bar, and linear velocities relevant to power generation systems. It is shown that the homogeneous (gas-phase) chemistry of both H2 and CO cannot be neglected at elevated pressures, even at the very large geometrical confinements relevant to practical catalytic reactors. The diffusional imbalance of hydrogen can lead, depending on its content in the syngas, to superadiabatic surface temperatures that may endanger the catalyst and reactor integrity. On the other hand, the presence of gas-phase H2 combustion moderates the superadiabatic wall temperatures by shielding the catalyst from the hydrogen-rich channel core. Above a transition temperature of about 700 K, which is roughly independent of pressure and syngas composition, the heterogeneous (catalytic) pathways of CO and H2 are decoupled, while the chemical interactions between the heterogeneous pathway of each individual fuel component with the homogeneous pathway of the other are minimal. Below the aforementioned transition temperature the catalyst is covered predominantly by CO, which in turn inhibits the catalytic conversion of both fuel components. While the addition of carbon monoxide in hydrogen hinders the catalytic ignition of the latter, there is no clear improvement in the ignition characteristics of CO by adding H2. Strategies for reactor thermal management are finally outlined in light of the attained superadiabatic surface temperatures of hydrogen-rich syngas fuels.
Adenomatous and Foveolar Gastric Dysplasia: Distinct Patterns of Mucin Expression and Background Intestinal Metaplasia

Gastric epithelial dysplasia (GED) can be morphologically categorized into adenomatous (or intestinal) and foveolar (or gastric) types. Although limited genetic differences have been demonstrated between these subtypes, the expression of various mucins has not been systematically evaluated in this context. Endoscopic mucosal resections from 69 cases of GEDs were evaluated for the expression of MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC6, and CD10. The results were correlated with morphologic categorization and clinicopathologic parameters. GED was classified as adenomatous, foveolar, or hybrid (showing features of both types), on the basis of histologic evaluation. The neighboring intestinal metaplasia (IM) was also evaluated. An adenomatous morphology was seen in 45%, hybrid type in 33.3%, and a “pure” foveolar type was seen in 21.7% of the cases. Foveolar GED was often depressed/flat on endoscopy and showed a statistically significant association with high-grade morphology (P=0.046). Immunohistochemistry confirmed the histologic stratification. The foveolar and hybrid types were more often positive for MUC5AC (P=0.0001 for both) and negative for CD10 (P=0.019 and 0.016, respectively) as compared with adenomatous GED. High-grade morphology was associated with MUC5AC expression regardless of the morphologic phenotype (P=0.026). Foveolar (73.3%) and hybrid (86.9%) GEDs were associated more often with IM showing a retained expression of gastric type mucin than adenomatous GED (29%) (P<0.01 for both). In contrast, adenomatous type (58.1%) of GED was significantly associated with IM showing a complete intestinal phenotype (CD10+) compared with the foveolar (13.3%) and hybrid types (17.4%) of GED (P=0.005 for both comparisons). In conclusion, our study indicates that foveolar and adenomatous types of GED have distinct clinicopathologic features, mucin profiles, and association with different types of IM.
Treatment of a stenosed arteriovenous fistula by balloon angioplasty with or without stenting: comparison of effects on haemodynamics

An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a permanent vascular access created by connecting a vein to an artery in patients with end-stage renal failure requiring haemodialysis. The formation of stenosis is one of the major complications that affect the AVF efficiency. The lesion can be treated endovascularly by balloon angioplasty combined or not with stent deployment. The clinical efficacy of stenting has been debated since the late 1980s (Zollikofer et al. 1992). The objective of this study was to model numerically the two treatment options and to estimate their impact on haemodynamics and wall mechanics.
Fungi associated with dieback of Semillon grapevines in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales

In the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, 180 km north of Sydney, 11 sites in six vineyards were surveyed for fungi associated with vine decline and dieback symptoms in Semillon grapevines from September 1995 to January 1996. Botryosphaeria obtusa (Schwein.) Shoemaker was detected in affected vines on most of the sites. Greeneria uvicola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Punithalingam and Pestalotiopsis sp. were also commonly isolated but the role of these fungi in the dieback symptoms remains uncertain. The occurrence of Eutypa lata (Pers.: Fr.) Tul. & C. Tul. in grapevines exhibiting dieback in the region remains unconfirmed. In pathogenicity studies, B. obtusa was shown to cause internal symptoms such as dark streaking in the wood of inoculated vines.
Comparative Studies on Vehicle Related Policies for Air Pollution Reduction in Ten Asian Countries

Asian countries are facing major air pollution problems due to rapid economic growth, urbanization and motorization. Mortality and respiratory diseases caused by air pollution are believed to be endemic in major cities of these countries. Regulations and standards are the first requirement for reducing emissions from both fixed and mobile sources. This paper emphasizes monitoring problems such as vehicle registration systems, inspection and maintenance (I/M) systems and fuel quality monitoring systems for vehicles in use. Monitoring problems in developing countries share similar characteristics such as a weakness in government initiatives and inadequate operation of government agencies, which results from a lack of human resources and availability of adequate facilities. Finally, this paper proposes a method to assure air quality improvements under the different shares of emission regulations in these Asian countries and introduces an example of an evaluation method based on a policy survey to improve air quality.
Validation of FLIPR Membrane Potential Dye for High Throughput Screening of Potassium Channel Modulators

A fluorescence-based assay using the FLIPR Membrane Potential Assay Kit (FMP) was evaluated for functional characterization and high throughput screening (HTS) of potassium channel (ATP-sensitive Ki channel; KATP) modulators. The FMP dye permits a more sensitive evaluation of changes in membrane potential with a more rapid response time relative to DiBAC4(3). The time course of responses is comparable to ligand-evoked activation of the channel measured by patch-clamp studies. The pharmacological profile of the K+ channel evaluated by using reference KATP channel openers is in good agreement with that derived previously by DiBAC4(3)-based FLIPR assays. Improved sensitivity of responses together with the diminished susceptibility to artifacts such as those evoked by fluorescent compounds or quenching agents makes the FMP dye an alternative choice for HTS screening of potassium channel modulators.
Feasibility of the mucosa-tracking technique in precut papillotomy with the iso-tome as an alternative to the needle-knife technique.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the mucosa-tracking technique is effective for improving precutting-related pancreatitis and the sustained failure of bile duct cannulation in precut papillotomy (PP) with the Iso-Tome (MTW Endoskopie). METHODS From September 2004 to June 2006, PP was performed with the Iso-Tome if biliary cannulation failed by conventional methods for approximately 5 minutes. The pink intrapapillary mucosa (PIPM) exposed by PP was tracked and classified into four groups: fully exposed and oriented to the direction of the bile duct (group A) or the pancreatic duct (group B), partially exposed (group C), or unexposed (group D). The success rate of bile duct cannulation (SRBC), the procedure time required for successful bile duct cannulation (PTBC), and the complications in the first session were compared between the mucosa-exposed groups (MEGs; group A, B, and C) and the mucosa-unexposed group (MUEG; group D). RESULTS A total of 59 patients (25 females, 34 males) with a mean age of 65.2 years were enrolled. The MEGs and MUEG comprised 52 (88.1%) and 7 (11.9%) patients, respectively. SRBC in the first session was 86.4% (51/59) in total and 92.3% (48/52) in the MEGs, compared to only 42.9% (3/7) in the MUEG (p=0.005). The mean PTBC in the MEGs and MUEG was 8.7 minutes and 16.3 minutes, respectively (p=0.23). Complications occurred in 6.8% of the patients (4/59; all pancreatitis); there were no differences between the MEGs (5.8%, 3/52) and MUEG (14.3%, 1/7; p=0.41). All four patients with pancreatitis were managed medically. CONCLUSIONS The mucosa-tracking technique in PP with the Iso-Tome is a feasible and useful method of enhancing SRBC. PIPM is an important endoscopic landmark for successful PP.
Analysis of Truck Downtimes Using Log Dispersion Plot

It is becoming increasingly clear that improved equipment availability is a key to optimising return on mine investment. Well-maintained equipment is safe and provides reliability to protect the operator as well as the equipment. Unplanned downtimes conflict with this maintenance function and result in costs to a mine in various causes. To minimise the occurrence of unplanned downtime, data should be recorded in logical and easily understood format which will enhance management decision making. This paper uses log dispersion plot to analyse downtimes of a fleet of 22 dump trucks from the Nchanga Open Pit, Zambia over a period of two months. Downtimes were categorised into breakdown codes to determine which ones were acute, chronic or a combination of both. The breakdown codes which were critical to the reduction of unplanned downtime and improvement of truck performance were prioritise.
Litigation and defensive clinical practice: quantifying the problem.

OBJECTIVE To assess the evidence for claims about a rise in defensive clinical practice, particularly within maternity care; to describe an attempt to quantify the extent of defensive practice; and to identify areas for further research. DESIGN Review of existing literature and a large scale postal survey. PARTICIPANTS Over 2000 midwives and obstetricians, mostly based in Scotland. FINDINGS Several claims have been made about the incidence of litigation, and its apparent effects on clinical practice. These effects, referred to as defensive practice, include both risk avoidance and risk-reduction strategies. Fears about recruitment to and retention within high-risk specialties have been expressed, especially in the USA. A majority of those midwives and obstetricians surveyed believed that litigation has caused a rise in defensiveness, and there was some agreement between the two groups about what constitutes defensive practice. However, there were discrepancies between the examples of defensive practice given by practitioners and what they admitted their own response to be. CONCLUSIONS Defensiveness is believed to be fairly commonplace, but because of difficulties in defining and quantifying the concept of defensiveness it is unclear what the exact implications for clinical practice may be. Further research is required to establish this.