Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Voice Handicap Index as a Screening Tool in Dysphonic Patients

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the applicability of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) in the screening diagnostics of voice dysfunction and in the evaluation of the level of handicap due to dysphonia. Patients andMethods: A total of 165 patients with voice disorders (vocal paresis, benign vocal fold masses, and functional dysphonia) and 65 healthy controls completed the VHI questionnaire. All the participants were subjected to maximum phonation time (MPT) assessment, the patients also to laryngovideostroboscopy. Results: The VHI scores for the patients and controls differed significantly (p < 0.001). A significant correlation (p < 0.05) was found when MPT and VHI were compared. The cutoff point, at which VHI sensitivity (for distinguishing between subjects with voice dysfunction and with vocal health) reached its maximal value (98%) at the highest level of specificity (95%), was assumed to be 12. Conclusions: The study revealed that the VHI is a reliable tool for identifying patients who experience vocal dysfunction and should be used in multidimensional diagnostics of voice disorders. The level of 12 points in the VHI test should be considered to be a threshold for rating the biopsychosocial impact of dysphonia.
Effect of early fosfomycin treatment on prevention of hemolytic uremic syndrome accompanying Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection.

OBJECTIVE To clarify the effect of early fosfomycin treatment, an antimicrobial agent in common use in Japan, on children with E. coli O157 with the aim of preventing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). PATIENTS AND METHODS DESIGN Non-randomized prospective study for development of HUS among inpatients with E. coli O157. SETTING The hospitals where the 292 inpatients were treated. CASES A total of 292 inpatients aged six to eleven years with E. coli O157 infection, 36 (12.3%) of whom were HUS cases. RESULTS Most of the HUS inpatients (91.7%) developed this complication between the sixth and ninth day of illness. We therefore analyzed the effects of antimicrobial therapy, especially that of fosfomycin, on prevention of HUS within the first five days of illness, because fosfomycin was the most frequently used (88.0%). To clarify the effect of fosfomycin alone on prevention of HUS, we carried out an analysis using the data for 130 inpatients who received fosfomycin alone or did not receive any antimicrobial agents, within the first five days of illness. multivariate analysis, controlled for age, gender and presence of fever, showed that all adjusted odds ratios for the development of HUS with the use of fosfomycin within the first three days of illness were less than 1.0, with the use of fosfomycin on the second day of illness achieving statistical significance (adjusted OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.79). Furthermore, inpatients who took fosfomycin within the first two days of illness developed HUS significantly less often than those who did not (adjusted OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03-0.78). On the other hand, fosfomycin therapy on and after the third day of illness was not associated with the prevention of HUS. CONCLUSION The early use of fosfomycin within the first two days of illness might prevent the development of HUS.
Natural Resources : A Blessing or a Curse ?

It is commonly assumed that countries are blessed if they have an abundant reserve of natural resources. Poorer countries may be jealous of the luxurious living standard that comes from oil in the Middle East, which seems to be an easy success. At the same time, we are amazed at how gold and diamonds are concentrated in African countries through our classes in geography. However, despite such high income, the economic growth rates of Oman (0.36% in 2006) are incomparable to those of Japan (2.41% in 2006) or Korea (4.42% in 2006), resourcepoor countries. Diamonds and gold do not help the general prevailing poverty in African countries either. This surprising paradox raises the question of whether natural resource abundance is a blessing or actually a “curse. ”
Regulation of Class II MHC Expression in APCs: Roles of Types I, III, and IV Class II Transactivator1

Class II transactivator (CIITA) is necessary for expression of class II MHC (MHC-II) molecules. In mice, CIITA expression is regulated by three promoters (pI, pIII, and pIV), producing types I, III, and IV CIITA. The relative roles of different CIITA types remain unclear. Unstimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages expressed low levels of CIITA mRNA; type I CIITA was nine times more abundant than type IV (type III CIITA was barely detected). Exposure to IFN-γ (6 h) dramatically increased types I and IV CIITA mRNA to similar absolute levels. Type IV CIITA declined over time, but type I was stable for over 72 h. Thus, the dominant form of CIITA evolved with time during activation by IFN-γ, and type I CIITA explained prolonged expression of MHC-II by macrophages. mRNA half-life was shorter for type I than type IV CIITA, suggesting that sustained transcription contributed to stable expression of type I CIITA induced by IFN-γ. Splenic B cells expressed mRNA for type III CIITA but very little for types I or IV. Treatment with IL-4 increased surface expression of MHC-II protein, but mRNA for MHC-II and CIITA (total, I, III, and IV) remained unchanged, suggesting posttranslational regulation. Splenic dendritic cells expressed type I CIITA but little type III or IV; CpG DNA induced their maturation and decreased types I and III CIITA, consistent with decreased MHC-II protein synthesis. CIITA types differ in regulation in various APCs under different stimuli, and the predominant type of CIITA varies at different stages of APC activation.
Novel set of multiplex assays (SalPrint15) for efficient analysis of 15 microsatellite loci of contemporary samples of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

We report the development of new PCR assays and loading panels for the Atlantic salmon using 15 microsatellite loci. A total of 8, 3 and 4 loci were coamplified in three separate PCRs using labelled primers and loaded on the ABI DNA analyzer in two separate panels. Amplified alleles were clearly typed, and easily interpretable results were obtained. The method was successfully applied in different laboratories, even when different types of DNA polymerase were employed. The method is useful for analysing paternity, population genetics and conservation as well as for selective breeding programmes.
Superconductivity from correlated hopping.

We consider a chain described by a next-nearest-neighbor hopping combined with a nearest-neighbor spin flip. In two dimensions this three-body term arises from a mapping of the three-band Hubbard model for CuO{sub 2} planes to a generalized {ital t}-{ital J} model and for large O-O hopping favors resonance-valence-bond superconductivity of predominantly {ital d}-wave symmetry. Solving the ground-state and low-energy excitations by analytical and numerical methods we find that the chain is a Luther-Emery liquid with correlation exponent {ital K}{sub {rho}}=(2{minus}{ital n}){sup 2}/2, where {ital n} is the particle density.
Cost—Effectiveness of Regulations against Using a Cellular Telephone while Driving

Purpose: To evaluate the cost—effectiveness of regulations that prohibit using a cellular telephone while driving a motor vehicle. Design: Decision analysis of risks and benefits related to cellular telephones and driving. Setting: United States population in 1997. Measures: Health benefits measured as the quality-adjusted life years potentially saved. Financial benefits measured as health care and other services potentially averted. Costs of regulation measured as the lost productivity derived from willingness to pay for cellular telephone calls. Results: Under base-case conditions, cellular tele phone calls in the United States each day accounted for about 984 reported collisions, 1,729 total collisions, 2 deaths, 317 persons with injuries, 99 lost years of life expec tancy, 161 lost quality-adjusted life years, $1 million in health care costs, and $4 million in property damage and other costs. This reflected a total of about 35 million telephone calls while driving, 70 million calling minutes, and $33 million in total value to society. The estimated cost—effectiveness ratio for a regulation restricting cellular telephone usage while driving was $300,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved, but ranged from $50,000 to $700,000 under alternative assumptions and interpretations of data. Reg ulations applied to teenage males could be cost-saving to society if the value of a call fell below 37¢ per minute. Conclusions: Regulations restricting cellular telephone us age while driving are less cost-effective for society than other safety measures. Nev ertheless, regulations may be justifiable because the benefits and harms do not always involve the individual who has the cellular telephone. Increasing the price of a call (or adding a supplementary tax) might decrease the number of discretionary calls, be cost- saving for society, and be life-saving for individuals. Key words: cost—effectiveness; motor vehicle accidents; regulation; cellular telephones; driving. (Med Decis Making 1999;19:1-8)
Serological, biological, and molecular characterization of New Zealand white rabbits infected by intraperitoneal inoculation with cell-free human immunodeficiency virus

The availability of a small laboratory animal model suitable for the evaluation of methods for prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection would be a valuable resource for AIDS research. Here we describe the infection of a strain of domestic rabbits by intraperitoneal inoculation with cell-free human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Evidence of infection includes the presence of an immune response that has persisted for almost 3 years and the detection of an reisolation of infectious virus from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and other tissues during the first 2 years. Typical viral proteins, DNA and RNA patterns, were observed in rabbit PBMCs and in cells infected by cocultivation with rabbit PBMCs. While a number of possible pathological changes were evaluated in infected rabbits, the presence of changes in lymph node structure similar to those reported in infected humans merits further investigation.
Multivariate Empirical Mode Decomposition for Quantifying Multivariate Phase Synchronization

Quantifying the phase synchrony between signals is important in many different applications, including the study of the chaotic oscillators in physics and the modeling of the joint dynamics between channels of brain activity recorded by electroencephalogram (EEG). Current measures of phase synchrony rely on either the wavelet transform or the Hilbert transform of the signals and suffer from constraints such as the limit on time-frequency resolution in the wavelet analysis and the prefiltering requirement in Hilbert transform. Furthermore, the current phase synchrony measures are limited to quantifying bivariate relationships and do not reveal any information about multivariate synchronization patterns, which are important for understanding the underlying oscillatory networks. In this paper, we address these two issues by employing the recently introduced multivariate empirical mode decomposition (MEMD) for quantifying multivariate phase synchrony. First, an MEMD-based bivariate phase synchrony measure is defined for a more robust description of time-varying phase synchrony across frequencies. Second, the proposed bivariate phase synchronization index is used to quantify multivariate synchronization within a network of oscillators using measures of multiple correlation and complexity. Finally, the proposed measures are applied to both simulated networks of chaotic oscillators and real EEG data.
High isolation rate of MDR group B streptococci with reduced penicillin susceptibility in Japan.

OBJECTIVES In Japan, the isolation rate of group B Streptococcus (GBS) with reduced penicillin susceptibility (PRGBS) was 2.3% between 2005 and 2006. However, no data on this have been available since then; moreover, the isolation rate of MDR-PRGBS has never been reported. The aim of this study was to obtain recent data on the PRGBS isolation rate and to investigate, for the first time, the isolation rate of MDR-PRGBS. METHODS We collected 306 clinical GBS isolates from various regions in Japan between January 2012 and July 2013. The MICs of penicillin G, oxacillin, ceftizoxime and ceftibuten for all GBS isolates and the MICs of erythromycin and levofloxacin for PRGBS isolates were determined by the agar dilution method. The mutations in the genes involved in antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance genes were analysed by PCR and DNA sequencing. RESULTS We detected 45 clinical PRGBS isolates, with a PRGBS isolation rate among GBS of 14.7% (45/306). Among the PRGBS isolates, 32 (32/45, 71.1%) and 43 (43/45, 95.6%) were resistant/non-susceptible to erythromycin and levofloxacin, respectively. Furthermore, 31 PRGBS isolates, which constituted 68.9% of the PRGBS (31/45) and 10.1% of the GBS (31/306), respectively, were resistant/non-susceptible to both macrolides and fluoroquinolones, indicating multidrug resistance. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the number of clinical PRGBS isolates with a tendency to multidrug resistance increased rapidly between 2005-06 and 2012-13 in Japan.
Lean body mass by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and by urine and dialysate creatinine recovery in CAPD and pre-dialysis patients compared to normal subjects.

The urinary creatinine excretion rate is a function of the muscle mass which, in normal subjects, is shown to be correlated with lean body mass. Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) has been shown to correlate well with other methods for the measurement of body composition. The purpose of the present study was to compare estimates of lean body mass (LBM) by DEXA scan with urine and dialysate creatinine recovery in uremic patients and in normal subjects. We included 63 normal subjects with a creatinine clearance of 60-120 mL/min, 30 uremic predialysis patients with creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min, and 20 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. LBM was measured by DEXA scan on the same day as urine collection and was estimated from creatinine recovery with and without correction for extrarenal creatinine clearance. Results from the normal subjects showed no difference in estimates of LBM by the different methods but, in predialysis and CAPD patients, a significant difference between methods of estimating LBM was found, even when correction for extrarenal clearance in uremic patients was performed. In normal subjects: DEXA 43.6 kg versus creatinine excretion 43.2 kg (NS). In predialysis patients: DEXA 47.8 kg versus 37.6 kg (p < 0.001) corrected 44.8 kg (p < 0.05). In CAPD patients: DEXA 47.2 kg versus 32 kg (p < 0.001) corrected 42.6 kg (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the urine and dialysate creatinine excretion is an inaccurate estimate of LBM, but reflects the muscle mass and, in that respect, is an important tool in the nutritional evaluation of uremic patients. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ACROMEGALY IN THE NEWCASTLE REGION

In an attempt to derive estimates of the incidence and prevalence of acromegaly a survey of the population in the area served by the former Newcastle Regional Hospital Board has been conducted to detect cases of acromegaly alive after 1 January 1960 and diagnosed before 31 December 1971. Cases were detected by means of letters to general practitioners, hospital physicians, neurosurgeons and to hospital records officers, as well as from death certificates. From the population of 3.1 millions a firm diagnosis of acromegaly was made in 164 patients, in eighty‐one on clinical grounds alone and in eighty‐three with confirmation by assay of human growth hormone (hGH). The annual incidence of acromegaly appears to be close to three cases per million and the prevalence of diagnosed cases up to forty cases per million. In male acromegalics there was a significant increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, respiratory and malignant diseases but in females from cerebrovascular disease only.
Broad-specificity endoribonucleases and mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli

Crude extracts from Escherichia coli were screened for any broad-specificity endoribonuclease after the cell proteins were fractionated by size. In a mutant lacking the gene for RNase I (molecular mass, 27,156 Da), the only such activities were also in the size range of 23 to 28 kDa. Fractionation by chromatography on a strong cation-exchange resin revealed only two activities. One of them eluted at a salt concentration expected for RNase M and had the specificity of RNase M. It preferred pyrimidine-adenosine bonds, could not degrade purine homopolymers, and had a molecular mass of approximately 27 kDa (V. J. Cannistraro and D. Kennell, Eur. J. Biochem. 181:363-370, 1989). A second fraction, eluting at a higher salt concentration, was active against any phosphodiester bond but was about 100 times less active than are RNase I and RNase I* (a form of RNase I) in the wild-type cell. On the basis of sizing-gel chromatography, this enzyme had a molecular mass of approximately 24 kDa. We call it RNase R (for residual). RNase R is not an abnormal product of the mutant rna gene; a cell carrying many copies of that gene on a plasmid did not synthesize more RNase R. Our search for broad-specificity endoribonucleases was prompted by the expectation that the primary activities for mRNA degradation are expressed by a relatively small number of broad-specificity RNases. If correct, the results suggest that the endoribonucleases for this major metabolic activity reside in the 24- to 28-kDa size range. Endoribonucleases with much greater specificity must have as primary functions the processing of specific RNA molecules at a very limited number of sites as steps in their biosynthesis. In exceptional cases, these endoribonucleases inactivate a specific message that has such a site, and they can also effect total mRNA metabolism indirectly by a global disturbance of the cell physiology. It is suggested that a distinction be made between these processing and degradative activities.
Intrachromosomal serial replication slippage in trans gives rise to diverse genomic rearrangements involving inversions

Serial replication slippage in cis (SRScis) provides a plausible explanation for many complex genomic rearrangements that underlie human genetic disease. This concept, taken together with the intra‐ and intermolecular strand switch models that account for mutations that arise via quasipalindrome correction, suggest that intrachromosomal SRS in trans (SRStrans) mediated by short inverted repeats may also give rise to a diverse series of complex genomic rearrangements. If this were to be so, such rearrangements would invariably generate inversions. To test this idea, we collated all informative mutations involving inversions of ≥5 bp but <1 kb by screening the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD; www.hgmd.org) and conducting an extensive literature search. Of the 21 resulting mutations, only two (both of which coincidentally contain untemplated additions) were found to be incompatible with the SRStrans model. Eighteen (one simple inversion, six inversions involving sequence replacement by upstream or downstream sequence, five inversions involving the partial reinsertion of removed sequence, and six inversions that occurred in a more complicated context) of the remaining 19 mutations were found to be consistent with either two steps of intrachromosomal SRStrans or a combination of replication slippage in cis plus intrachromosomal SRStrans. The remaining lesion, a 31‐kb segmental duplication associated with a small inversion in the SLC3A1 gene, is explicable in terms of a modified SRS model that integrates the concept of “break‐induced replication. ” This study therefore lends broad support to our postulate that intrachromosomal SRStrans can account for a variety of complex gene rearrangements that involve inversions. Hum Mutat 26(4), 362–373, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pressure Ulcer Incidence in Patients Wearing Nasal-Oral Versus Full-Face Noninvasive Ventilation Masks.

BACKGROUND Device-related pressure ulcers from noninvasive ventilation masks alter skin integrity and cause patients discomfort. OBJECTIVE To examine the incidence, location, and stage of pressure ulcers and patients' comfort with a nasal-oral mask compared with a full-face mask. METHODS A before-after study of a convenience sample of patients with noninvasive ventilation orders in 5 intensive care units was conducted. Two groups of 100 patients each received either the nasal-oral mask or the full-face mask. Skin was assessed before the mask was applied and every 12 hours after that or upon mask removal. Comfort levels were assessed every 12 hours on a Likert scale of 1 to 5 (1, most comfortable). RESULTS A pressure ulcer developed in 20% of patients in the nasal-oral mask group and 2% of patients in the full-face mask group (P < .001). Comfort scores were significantly lower (more comfortable) with the full-face mask (mean [SD], 1.9 [1.1]) than with the nasal-oral mask (mean [SD], 2.7 [1.2], P < .001). Neither mean hours worn nor percentage adherence differed significantly: 28.9 (SD, 27.2) hours and 92% for full-face mask and 25 (SD, 20.7) and 92% for nasal-oral mask. No patients who had a pressure ulcer develop with the nasal-oral mask had a pressure ulcer develop with the full-face mask. CONCLUSION The full-face mask resulted in significantly fewer pressure ulcers and was more comfortable for patients. The full-face mask is a reasonable alternative to traditional nasal-oral masks for patients receiving noninvasive ventilation.
Increased Frequency of Regulatory T Cells Accompanies Increased Immune Activation in Rectal Mucosae of HIV-Positive Noncontrollers

ABSTRACT Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is a major site of HIV replication and CD4+ T cell depletion. Furthermore, microbial translocation facilitated by mucosal damage likely contributes to the generalized immune activation observed in HIV infection. Regulatory T cells (Treg) help maintain homeostasis and suppress harmful immune activation during infection; however, in the case of persistent viral infections such as HIV, their role is less clear. Although a number of studies have examined Treg in blood during chronic infection, few have explored Treg in the gastrointestinal mucosa. For this study, paired blood and rectal biopsy samples were obtained from 12 HIV noncontrollers (viral load of >10,000 copies/ml plasma), 10 HIV controllers (viral load of <500 copies/ml plasma for more than 5 years), and 12 HIV seronegative control subjects. Noncontrollers had significantly higher percentages of Treg in rectal mononuclear cells (RMNC), but not in blood, compared to seronegative subjects (P = 0.001) or HIV controllers (P = 0.002). Mucosal Treg positively correlated with viral load (P = 0.01) and expression of immune activation markers by CD4+ (P = 0.01) and CD8+ (P = 0.07) T cells. Suppression assays indicated that mucosal and peripheral Treg of noncontrollers and controllers maintained their capacity to suppress non-Treg proliferation to a similar extent as Treg from seronegative subjects. Together, these findings reveal that rather than experiencing depletion, mucosal Treg frequency is enhanced during chronic HIV infection and is positively correlated with viral load and immune activation. Moreover, mucosal Treg maintain their suppressive ability during chronic HIV infection, potentially contributing to diminished HIV-specific T cell responses and viral persistence.