Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Attributable Risk of Smoking on Surgical Complications

Objective:This study aimed to assess the attributable risk and potential benefit of smoking cessation on surgical outcomes. Summary Background Data:Risk reduction with the implementation of surgical care improvement project process measures has been the primary focus for improving surgical outcomes. Little emphasis has been placed on preoperative risk factor recognition and intervention. Methods:A retrospective cohort analysis of elective operations from 2002 to 2008 in the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program for all surgical specialties was performed. Patients were stratified by current, prior, and never smokers. Adjusted risk of complication and death was calculated using multilevel, multivariable logistic regression. Results:Of 393,794 patients, 135,741 (34.5%) were current, 71,421 (18.1%) prior, and 186,632 (47.4%) never smokers. A total of 6225 pneumonias, 11,431 deep and superficial surgical-site infections, 2040 thromboembolic events, 1338 myocardial infarctions, and 4792 deaths occurred within 30 days of surgery. Compared with both never and prior smokers individually and controlled for patient and procedure risk factors, current smokers had significantly more postoperative pneumonia, surgical-site infection, and deaths (P < 0.001 for all). There was a dose-dependent increase in pulmonary complications based on pack-year exposure with greater than 20 pack years leading to a significant increase in smoking-related surgical complications. Conclusions:This is the first study to assess the risk of current versus prior smoking on surgical outcomes. Despite being younger and healthier, current smokers had more adverse perioperative events, particularly respiratory complications. Smoking cessation interventions could potentially reduce the occurrence and costs of adverse perioperative events.
Infectious agents associated with rabbit pneumonia: isolation of amyxomatous myxoma virus strains.

Sixty-six rabbits, with no history of vaccination against myxomatosis and which had died of pulmonary lesions, were submitted for virological and serological tests for Myxoma virus (MV) infection and for bacteriological examinations. At post mortem, the diagnoses based on observed lesions were as follows: acute haemorrhagic pneumonia (38%); acute suppurative bronchopneumonia (35%); and fibrinohaemorrhagic bronchopneumonia with fibrinous pleuritis (27%). MV was isolated from 10% of the rabbits, mainly from those with acute haemorrhagic pneumonia. Serological evidence of MV infection was demonstrated in 44% of rabbits. Pathogenic bacteria species isolated from lungs were Pasteurella (spp. and multocida), Escherichia coli, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, from 41, 11, 7 and 6% of samples. No relationship could be established between the presence of specific antibodies to MV and the observed pulmonary lesions or the results of the bacteriological examinations. A significant trend was established between the severity of the lesions and the results of the bacteriological examinations.
THE IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE DEPENDENT FATHERS' ABSENCE ON THE INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION OF ADDICTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Adolescent drug use is a fast-growing epidemic in the United States. As counselors strive to identify the antecedents of adolescent drug use, considerable attention has been given to the intergenerational transmission of drug use from parents to children, including the impact of parental absence on adolescent substance use. However, the majority of research has focused on the impact of maternal substance use and maternal absence, often ignoring the impact of paternal substance use and paternal absence. By understanding the relationship between paternal drug use, paternal absence and adolescent drug use, counselors can engage in prevention and treatment efforts that better serve both populations. Counselors can assist substance-dependent fathers develop insight into the impact of their substance use on their children, educate substance-dependent fathers on how to be more effective in their parental role, help adolescents develop insight into how their substance use may have been influenced by their fathers’ use and absence, educate adolescents on ways in which they can cope in adaptive ways, and work toward preventing at-risk adolescents from initiating drug use. INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION iv
Anti‐Sclerostin Antibody Treatment in a Rat Model of Progressive Renal Osteodystrophy

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with abnormalities in bone quantity and quality, leading to increased fractures. Recent studies suggest abnormalities of Wnt signaling in animal models of CKD and elevated sclerostin levels in patients with CKD. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of anti‐sclerostin antibody treatment in an animal model of progressive CKD with low and high parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Cy/+ male rats (CKD) were treated without or with calcium in the drinking water at 25 weeks of age to stratify the animals into high PTH and low PTH groups, respectively, by 30 weeks. Animals were then treated with anti‐sclerostin antibody at 100 mg/kg i.v. weekly for 5 doses, a single 20‐µg/kg subcutaneous dose of zoledronic acid, or no treatment, and were then euthanized at 35 weeks. As a positive control, the efficacy of anti‐sclerostin antibody treatment was also evaluated in normal littermates. The results demonstrated that the CKD animals with high PTH had lower calcium, higher phosphorus, and lower FGF23 compared to the CKD animals with low PTH. Treatment with anti‐sclerostin antibody had no effect on any of the biochemistries, whereas zoledronic acid lowered dkk‐1 levels. The anti‐sclerostin antibody increased trabecular bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) and trabecular mineralization surface in animals with low PTH, but not in animals with high PTH. Neither anti‐sclerostin antibody nor zoledronic acid improved biomechanical properties in the animals. Cortical porosity was severe in high‐PTH animals and was unaffected by either treatment. In contrast, in normal animals treated with anti‐sclerostin antibody, there was an improvement in bone volume, cortical geometry, and biomechanical properties. In summary, this is the first study to test the efficacy of anti‐sclerostin antibody treatment on animals with advanced CKD. We found efficacy in improving bone properties only when the PTH levels were low. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Epidemiological Aspects and Clinicopathological Findings in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and/or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Infections produced by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), two of the most prevalent pathogens in cats, range from passing unnoticed to presenting a wide variety of clinical signs. Different epidemiological, clinical, hematological and virological parameters were analyzed in 78 FIV- and/or FeLV-infected cats. FeLV-infected (FeLV+) cats were considerably younger than FIV-infected (FIV+) cats, and in general were seen to have a more severe disease than FIV+ cats. Around one third of the cats presented anemia, and neutropenia was also frequently observed. Though a higher percentage of FIV+ than FeLV+ cats had altered leukocyte counts, FeLV+ cats had altered counts of both neutrophils and lymphocytes more frequently than FIV+, which usually presented only either altered neutrophils or lymphocyte counts. Virological markers were only detected in FeLV+cats, either as mono- or dual-infection, and correlated with the severity of the disease, but not in FIV+ cats. In conclusion, these results suggest that FeLV affects more blood cell types and provokes death of affected animals at a much earlier age than FIV and that the severity of the disease seemed to depend on the viral status of the cat.
Corruption and International Business Community Is Integration into International Business ameans of Reducing Corruption?The case of Russia

The article examines an opportunity of corruption restriction exercised by international business community in Russia. Integration of Russian economy into the international business does not reduce corruption inside the country. Foreign actors investing in Russia under the condition of obtaining their required rates of returns will be reluctant to harm their investments by involving into anticorruption activities. Furthermore, many Russian firms’ competitive advantage could be directly related to their corruption connections. In this case, foreign investments would only accentuate corrupt companies’ success by supporting them financially Keywords—Corrution, FDI, Russian Federation
Erratum: “Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Prenatal Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticides: The CHARGE Study”

Erratum: “Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Prenatal Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticides: The CHARGE Study” In “Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Prenatal Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticides: The CHARGE Study” by Shelton et al. [Environ Health Perspect 122:1103–1109 (2014); doi:10.1289/ehp.1307044], the following disclaimer was inadvertently omitted from the Competing Financial Interest Declaration:
Head Injuries in Airbag-Equipped Motor Vehicles with Special Emphasis on AIS 1 and 2 Facial and Loss of Consciousness Injuries

Objectives:Safety of the airbag supplemental restraint system (airbag) is a well-known concern. Although many lives are saved each year through airbag use, injuries continue to occur, especially to the head. Airbag safety research has focused primarily on severe injuries, while minor and moderate injuries have been largely ignored. Methods:In this study, 205,977 injury cases from the 1995 to 2001 National Automotive Sampling System (NASS)/ Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) were surveyed to determine the prevalence of AIS 1 and 2 facial and brain loss of consciousness (LOC) injuries and determine if these injuries are a concern. The query was focused on frontal impacts in vehicles equipped with airbags. Only occupants wearing appropriate seatbelts were included in this study so that the airbag would provide occupant protection under optimal conditions. Of the 205,977 injury cases studied, 2.4% met this criterion. Results: From the data gathered, the trends seem to indicate an increase in these specific injuries, both in terms of the total number and the proportion to all injury cases. In 1995, AIS 1 and 2 head injuries accounted for 96.5% of all head injuries caused by airbags. By 2001, the percentage had risen 3.0% to 99.5%. Injuries occurring in vehicles equipped with first-generation versus second generation airbags were compared, and data seem to suggest that there is a higher rate of minor and moderate head injuries when occupants are in second-generation airbag-equipped vehicles, even when appropriate lap and shoulder belts are used. Conclusions:The short timeframe surveyed prevents drawing meaningful conclusions about statistical significance, but the graphical representations of the data in this study underscore an urgent need for further investigation based on current trends in order to understand the issue of minor and moderate head injury prevention in regard to airbags.
In Vitro Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Aspergillus spp. to Anidulafungin, Caspofungin, and Micafungin: a Head-to-Head Comparison Using the CLSI M38-A2 Broth Microdilution Method

ABSTRACT We determined the in vitro activities of anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin against 526 isolates of Aspergillus spp. (64 A. flavus, 391 A. fumigatus, 46 A. niger, and 25 A. terreus isolates) collected from over 60 centers worldwide from 2001 through 2007. Susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI M38-A2 method. All three echinocandins—anidulafungin (50% minimum effective concentration [MEC50], 0.007 μg/ml; MEC90, 0.015 μg/ml), caspofungin (MEC50, 0.015 μg/ml; MEC90, 0.03 μg/ml), and micafungin (MEC50, 0.007 μg/ml; MEC90, 0.015 μg/ml)—were very active against Aspergillus spp. More than 99% of all isolates were inhibited by ≤0.06 μg/ml of all three agents.
Parents' reports of barriers to care for children with special health care needs: development and validation of the barriers to care questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE To describe the development and validation of the Barriers to Care Questionnaire (BCQ). METHODS The 39-item BCQ was developed through review of the literature, focus groups, and cognitive interviews of Spanish- and English-speaking parents of children with chronic health conditions. Barriers to care are conceptualized as a multidimensional construct consisting of pragmatics, health knowledge and beliefs, expectations about care, skills, and marginalization. The BCQ was field tested in 3 samples of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). RESULTS Response rate for the field test was 77.2%. There were minimal missing data (0.08%), no floor effects, and minimal ceiling effects (3.8%, total scale). Internal consistency reliability (alpha) for the BCQ total scale was.95 and subscale alpha ranged from.75 to.91. The BCQ total scale and subscales correlated in the expected direction with validated measures of primary care characteristics and health-related quality of life. BCQ scores were higher (fewer barriers) for children with a primary care physician and for those who reported no problems getting care or foregone care. CONCLUSION The BCQ is a feasible, reliable, and valid instrument for measuring barriers to care for CSHCN. Its use may inform efforts to support consumer choice, enhance provider accountability, and spur quality improvement.
Validity of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP–64) for Predicting Assertiveness in Role-Play Situations

The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP–64; Horowitz, Alden, Wiggins, & Pincus, 2000) is a self-report measure of maladaptive relationship behavior. Ninety-five adult female participants completed the IIP-64 and then interacted with a same-sex confederate in three diagnostic role plays, designed to evoke assertive responses. After each role play, both the participant and the confederate judged how assertive the participant had been, using two subscales from the Interpersonal Adjective Scales (IAS; Wiggins, 1995). The participants' general self-images, assessed with the IIP-64, were quite congruent with how they judged their own assertiveness in the role plays. But when role-play assertiveness was judged by the confederate, the match with the participants' general self-images was considerably lower. Our results indicate that self-reported interpersonal problems do not converge well with external judgments of interpersonal behavior.
The effects of a genetic information leaflet on public attitudes towards genetic testing

Genetics opinion surveys often include information to ensure that respondents have sufficient understanding to give informed responses. The information is assumed to be neutral but may skew responses. We assessed the impact of a seemingly “neutral” information leaflet on attitudes towards genetic testing among 1,024 survey respondents, half of whom received the leaflet. The leaflet group reported higher levels of subjective understanding of genetic testing (68 percent vs. 53 percent), were more interested in genetic testing (81 percent vs. 77 percent), and held more positive attitudes towards genetics than people who did not receive the leaflet. Information leaflets may have the intended effect of increasing understanding, but may also unintentionally influence reported views on genetics. In the light of the weight given to public consultation in today’s governance and regulation of human genetics, increased awareness of how even seemingly neutral information can influence public attitudes is recommended.
Food and Drug Administration Protecting and Promoting Your Health White Paper : FDA Update / Review of Potential Adverse Health Risks Associated with Exposure to Mercury in Dental Amalgam

Appendix A – Literature Search Criteria for Identification of Relevant Studies Appendix B – Literature Search Strategy and Terms Appendix C – Bibliography of Articles Reviewed as Additional Scientific Information Appendix D – Other Literature Cited Appendix E Table Summary of Exposure and Effects from Articles Reviewed Appendix F ATSDR-2005 and EPA-2002 update summary documents Appendix G1 and G2 – Table of contents listing documents available on CD
CREB-binding protein activation by presenilin 1 but not by its M146L mutant

The transcriptional coactivator CREB-binding protein plays a key role in regulating gene expression in a number of different cell types. Recently, a report has suggested a link between CREB-binding protein and presenilins, which are mutated in many cases of early onset Alzheimer's disease. Thus, presenilin 1 and 2 double knockout mice showed reductions in CREB-binding protein levels and in cAMP response element-dependent gene expression in the cerebral cortex, which is likely to contribute to the subsequent neuronal degeneration. This suggests that the inactivation of CREB-binding protein caused by mutation in presenilin 1 may be involved in the disease process. We have shown that wild-type presenilin 1 stimulates the transcriptional activity ability of CREB-binding protein whereas presenilin 1 M146L mutant did not produce such an effect. The activation of CREB-binding protein by wild-type presenilin 1 involves the PI 3-kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p42/p44 MAPK pathways and targets primarily the C terminus of CREB-binding protein. To our knowledge, this is the first report that shows regulation of CREB-binding protein activity by wild-type presenilin 1 and not by its M146L mutant, and suggests a mechanism in which mutation of presenilin 1 may lead to neurodegeneration.
Antibiotic resistance in typhoid fever. Chloramphenicol resistance among clinical isolates of Salmonella typhosa in Los Angeles, 1972--epidemiologic and bacteriologic characteristics.

MANY authorities1 , 2 have recognized chloramphenicol as the preferred drug for the treatment of clinical typhoid fever. During the early months of 1972, an epidemic strain of Salmonella lyphosa resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin and sulfadiazine was identified in the area of Mexico City.3 , 4 Since June, 1972, a small number of cases among American citizens who had traveled to endemic areas of Mexico have been reported to the Center for Disease Control.5 , 6 The drug resistance is mediated in a degraded Vi(A) phage type of typhoid bacillus by an R-factor,7 , 8 and it is currently postulated that this same pattern of antibiotic resistance .
Type 1‐like immune response is found in children with respiratory syncytial virus infection regardless of clinical severity

The immunological response of infants younger than six months to infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was studied in relation to clinical severity. IL‐6 and IL‐8 were found more frequently and at higher levels in the plasma samples of more severely ill patients and no significant differences were found in the levels of cytokines differentiating between Type 1 and Type 2 responses. Cellular infiltrates in nasopharyngeal washings consisted mainly of polymorphonuclear granulocytes and monocytes. Eosinophils, IgE positive cells and tryptase positive cells were found sporadically. Analyses of RSV stimulated T cell cultures established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, for intracellular and secreted cytokines showed that, irrespective of clinical severity, the responses were dominated by the production of IFN‐γ, and that only low levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10 were detectable. Collectively these data do not indicate an association between clinical severity and a Type 2‐like T cell response. J. Med. Virol. 62:267–277, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diagnostic Value of PSA and AP Tests for the Detection of Spermatozoa in Postmortem Swabs from the Genital and Anal Region in Males

The aim of this study was to clarify whether positive results for prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and acid phosphatase (AP) occur in postmortem swabs from the genito‐anal region in males (n = 80; 4 regions) and females (n = 20; 3 regions) and to calculate the positive predictive value (PPV) concerning the presence of spermatozoa. In male subjects, the highest incidence of positive test results was found in urethral swabs (PSA 76%, AP 71%) and the lowest frequencies appeared in perianal and rectal swabs (15–20%). Microscopic evaluation for spermatozoa was positive between 39% in urethral swabs and 1% in rectal swabs. PPV regarding positive identification of spermatozoa was 33.3% for PSA and 31.5% for AP. The combination of both tests yielded a PPV of 38.2%. In female cases, no spermatozoa were identified, and one case was PSA‐ and AP‐positive in perianal swabs. Our findings indicate that PSA and AP tests are of limited value for the postmortem detection of spermatozoa in male subjects.
Effects of Channel Width and Nitride Passivation Layer on Electrical Characteristics of Polysilicon Thin-Film Transistors

SiN passivation layers were found to yield better performance, suppress the kink effect, and improve the gate leakage current and gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) of polysilicon thin-film transistors (TFTs). The SiN passivation layers deposited under different deposition conditions possess different characteristics due to their varying passivation effect. A physical mechanism is proposed to explain the double-hump phenomenon induced by incomplete trap passivation. Based on the analysis of width dependence, the better performance of the samples with SiN passivation layers was attributed not only to radical passivation of the defect states but also to radical passivation of preexisting defects in the gate oxide. Furthermore, using SiN passivation layers improves immunity to positive gate bias stress, negative gate bias stress, and hot-carrier stressing. Moreover, the manufacturing processes are simple (without the long processing time plasma treatment requires) and compatible with TFT processes.
Title Cilostazol Strengthens Barrier Integrity in Brain Endothelial Cells

Title Cilostazol Strengthens Barrier Integrity in Brain Endothelial Cells Author(s) Horai, Shoji; Nakagawa, Shinsuke; Tanaka, Kunihiko; Morofuji, Yoichi; Couraud, Pierre-Oliver; Deli, Maria A. ; Ozawa, Hiroki; Niwa, Masami Citation Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 33(2), pp.291-307; 2013 Issue Date 2013-03 URL http://hdl.handle. net/10069/33097 Right © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York. ; The final publication is available at link.springer. com NAOSITE: Nagasaki University's Academic Output SITE