Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low Plasma Lycopene Concentration is Associated with Increased Mortality in a Cohort of Patients with Prior Oral, Pharynx or Larynx Cancers

Objective: This analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between plasma beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, total carotenoids, retinol, alpha-tocopherol and subsequent mortality. Methods: Blood samples collected longitudinally from 259 participants in a chemoprevention trial aimed at the prevention of second cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography for selected micronutrients. All-cause mortality (primary outcome) and cause-specific mortality (secondary outcomes) were evaluated in relation to plasma micronutrient concentrations at baseline and longitudinally. Results: A total of 61 deaths occurred over a follow-up time of up to 90 months. Cox proportional hazards models with time-dependent covariates were used for data analyses. In models adjusted for age, plasma cholesterol, time-dependent smoking, treatment arm, study site and gender, only plasma lycopene was significantly inversely associated with total mortality [hazard ratio (HR) above versus below median = 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30–0.93]. Plasma alpha-carotene was inversely associated (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.08–0.75) while plasma retinol was positively associated (HR 5.12, 95% CI 1.54–17.05) with cardiovascular death. Smoking status modified plasma nutrient associations with total mortality. Lycopene (HR 0.08, 95% CI 0.02–0.36), alpha-carotene (HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09–0.73) and total carotenoids (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.07–0.70) were inversely associated with mortality in non-smokers, while plasma retinol (HR = 3.56, 95% CI 1.40–9.09) and alpha-tocopherol (HR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.02–5.98) were positively associated with mortality in smokers. Conclusions: Only plasma lycopene was significantly associated (inversely) with total mortality in the full study population. Smoking modifies associations between nutrients and mortality.
Zinc therapy and distribution in psoriasis.

Possible low plasma zinc in psoriasis and the similarity of psoriasis to zinc deficiency dermatosis in animals prompted this study. Using a double-blind, cross-over design we treated 19 psoriatic outpatients with 220 mg zinc sulfate or placebo three times daily for two months. No statistically significant improvement was detected in treated patients. Seven psoriatic inpatients had scale zinc higher than keratin zinc in five controls, whereas four patients had serum zinc lower than 12 controls. These four with low serum zinc also failed to improve on zinc therapy, although psoriatic scale zinc increased and serum zinc surpassed that of controls. These findings militate against gastrointestinal malabsorption or faulty cutaneous entry of therapeutic zinc in psoriasis. Although subcellular zinc metabolism might be abnormal in psoriasis, systemic zinc deficiency is probably not the basic error.
Alcohol , coffee , fish , smoking and disease progression in multiple

sclerosis M. B. D hooghe, P. Haentjens, G. Nagels and J. De Keyser National MS Center Melsbroek; Center for Outcomes Research and Laboratory for Experimental Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels; Service d orthopédagogie Clinique, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Mons, Mons; Department of Neurology UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; and Department of Neurology University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Social personalized e-learning framework

This thesis discusses the topic of how to improve adaptive and personalized e-learning in order to provide novel learning experiences. A recent literature review revealed that adaptive and personalized e-learning systems are not widely used. There is a lack of interoperability between adaptive systems and learning management systems, in addition to limited collaborative and social features. First of all, this thesis investigates the interoperability issue via two case studies. The first case study focuses on how to achieve interoperability between adaptive systems and learning management systems using e-learning standards and the second case study focuses on how to augment e-learning standards with adaptive features. Secondly, this thesis proposes a new social framework for personalized e-learning, in order to provide adaptive and personalized e-learning platforms with new social features. This is not just about creating learning content, but also about developing new ways of learning. For instance, in the presented vision, adaptive learning does not refer to individuals only, but also to groups. Furthermore, the boundaries between authors and learners become less distinct in the Web 2.0 context. Finally, a new social personalized prototype is introduced based on the new social framework for personalized e-learning in order to test and evaluate this framework. The implementation and evaluation of the new system were carried out through a number of case studies.
Recombination and linkage between structural and regulatory genes of herpes simplex virus type 1: study of the functional organization of the genome

Phenotypic and genetic properties of 12 markers in structural and regulatory functions of herpes simplex virus type 1 were characterized, and their recombination and segregation behavior was investigated and interpreted with reference to available information on their physical locations. The markers were: (i) ts markers in a structural glycoprotein (tsB5) and in alpha (immediate early; tsLB2, tsc75) or beta (early, delayed early; tsB1) functions with regulatory effects; together with (ii) plaque morphology (syn), phosphonoacetate resistance (Pr), and thymidine kinase (TK) phenotypes; and (iii) electrophoretically distinct variants of glycosylated (glycoprotein C, gpC; ICP10) and non-glycosylated [VP(13-14), VP23] structural and nonstructural [ICP(47-48)] polypeptides. Mean two-factor recombination frequencies ranged from 2% (for noncomplementing mutants tsLB2 and tsc75) to 35 to 40% (for unlinked markers) and were influenced by the relative contributions of parental viruses to the mixed infection. Even with control of this variable, standard deviations of mean measures of recombination frequency ranged from a minimum of 14% (with n greater than or equal to 10) to 65% (with n = 3) of mean values; no recombination frequencies higher than 55% were observed. Differences in mean two-factor recombination frequencies between a small number of loosely linked markers were, therefore, not reliable measures of real differences in linkage. Measurements of the segregation of unselected markers among recombinant progeny were, therefore, used as measures of linkage. These experiments (i) established a linkage group for markers in the long unique region of the genome additional to, but consistent with, existing physical data, i.e., TK-syn-tsB5-(tsB1.Pr)-[gpC.VP(13-14)]; (II) identified markers, e.g., ICP(47-48), linked to regulatory mutations (tsLB2, tsc75) in redundant DNA sequences; and (iii) used the segregation of these regulatory mutations and linked markers among unselected progeny to demonstrate the linkage groups: Pr-syn-TK-tsc75-ICP(47-48), [VP(13-14). gpC]-Pr-syn-TK, and TK-tsc75-[VP(13-14). gpC]. These results were most simply explained if bi- or intermolecular recombination occurred between circular molecules or molecules catenated "head-to-tail" and were incompatible with intermolecular recombination as the mechanism of isomerization of herpes simplex virus DNA.
Biological understanding of the cardiovascular risk associated with major depression and panic disorder is important

Abstract Introduction. Panic disorder (PD) and major depressive disorders (MDD) are serious mental disorders but the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology are poorly understood. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas considered to play an important role in mediating anxiety and stress response and is synthesised from nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The endothelial isoform (eNOS) has been found also in platelets. Homocysteine (Hcy) is an amino acid which naturally occurs in the human body. Elevated levels are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular, neurological and psychiatric diseases. In this study we aimed to evaluate NO, platelet aggregation and Hcy levels in PD and MDD patients. Materials and methods. Nineteen PD and 18 MDD patients participated in this study. NO levels were measured spectrophotometrically, platelet aggregation levels were measured in an aggregometer and Hcy levels were measured by HPLC. Results. NO levels were significantly lower in patients with MDD and PD than in control subjects (P < 0.05). Hcy and platelet aggregation levels were significantly higher in patients with MDD and PD than in control subjects (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Further more detailed studies are needed to find out the effects of drugs on these parameters or to disclose the exact mechanism underlying the alteration of these parameters.
In vivo recovery of repeatedly strained rat skin after systemic treatment with desmotropic drugs.

The mechanical behavior of rat skin during repeated strain in vivo and the restoration process thereafter were studied following 10 days' treatment with desmotropic drugs (300 mg/kg p.o. D-penicillamine or 10 mg/kg s.c. prednisolone acetate). Repeated (30 times) elongations of up to 40% were performed under anesthesia both longitudinally and perpendicularly to the body axis. Evaluation of this first run of 30 cycles showed stress values as well as the moduli of elasticity to be decreased after D-penicillamine, whereas they were greatly increased after prednisolone acetate treatment. The decay of stress values during repeated strain revealed similar effects of treatment. In the second part of the experiment, the restoration process was evaluated by a second run of 30 cycles after 1, 6 and 16 h. In the late phases of recovery, an even better restitution ad integrum was found in treated animals. Overall, in contrast to other biomechanical parameters, the restoration process is barely influenced by treatment with desmotropic compounds.
Application of the ‘Apt test’ in Prenatal Diagnosis to evaluate the Fetal Origin of Blood obtained by Cordocentesis: results of 30 pregnancies

This study aimed to set up a practical lab‐side approach to discriminate fetal from maternal blood in samples obtained by cordocentesis. To determine the fetal origin of the blood, a modified Apt test was applied to 30 cases of prenatal diagnosis. A change of colour of the fetal and adult blood during the procedure was the hallmark to assess fetal origin. At the end of 60 s of the test, fetal blood yielded a pink colour whereas adult blood was dark green‐brown. The test was repeated in mixtures of fetal and adult blood. The results suggest that the modified Apt test is a practical, quick, inexpensive, and efficient test to determine the origin of blood samples obtained by cordocentesis. However, it should be kept in mind that samples containing a mixture of both fetal and adult blood could also yield a fetal blood reaction. When maternal contamination is suspected, we propose that at least 30 metaphases from different slides should be counted. This could yield fetal as well as maternal chromosomes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chiroptical properties of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan and chromane chromophores in naturally occurring O-heterocycles.

The correlation between the helicity (absolute conformation) of the O-heterocyclic ring of chiral 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan (1) and chromane (2) derivatives and their (1)L(b) band CD was investigated. The same helicity rule was found for both unsubstituted chromophores: P/M helicity of the heterocyclic ring leads to a negative/positive CD within the (1)L(b) band. While the substitution of the fused benzene ring by achiral substituents does not change this helicity rule for the chromane chromophore, it leads to its inversion for the 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan chromophores. On the basis of these observations, the published absolute configurations of natural flavonol and pterocarpan derivatives were confirmed and the configurational assignments of several natural neolignans revised.
Hepatitis C virus infection causes hypolipidemia regardless of hepatic damage or nutritional state: An epidemiological survey of a large Japanese cohort

Aim: Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis that develops into hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous studies have shown in vitro that lipids within hepatocytes are crucially important for a series of HCV infection–proliferation–release processes. On the other hand, in the patients with HCV, the serum total cholesterol (Total‐C) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels have been reported to be lower. We conducted an epidemiological survey of a large cohort and investigated whether the lower serum lipid levels were caused by a direct or the secondary effects of HCV infection (i.e. hepatic damage or nutritional disorder).
Incidence of Incidental Findings on Pediatric Oncologic PET/CT

he purpose of this study is to determine the incidence and significance of incidental findings on pediatric oncologic PET/CT. A retrospective analysis of all PET/CT scans obtained at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital between 2004-2008 in pediatric oncology patients was performed. Specific data points for study including DOB, primary diagnosis, secondary diagnosis, treatment status (chemotherapy and radiation) and PET/CT findings were obtained.
Investigation of the TCA cycle and the glyoxylate shunt in Escherichia coli BL21 and JM109 using 13C‐NMR/MS

Acetate accumulation is a common problem observed in aerobic high cell density Escherichia coli cultures. A previous report has hypothesized that the glyoxylate shunt is active in a low acetate producer, E. coli BL21, and inactive in a high acetate producer, JM109. To further investigate this hypothesis, we now develop a model for the incorporation of 13C from uniformly labeled glucose into key TCA cycle intermediates. The 13C isotopomer distributions of oxaloacetate and acetyl‐CoA are first determined using NMR and MS techniques. These distributions are next validated by predicting the NMR spectrum of glutamate. Under steady state isotopic conditions, and with knowledge of the full isotopomer distributions of oxaloacetate and acetyl‐CoA, the flux ratios through the TCA cycle and the glycoxylate shunt are obtained with respect to the flux through the PPC anaplerotic shunt. We conclude that in BL21, the glyoxylate shunt is active at 22% of the flux through the TCA cycle, and is inactive in JM109. Further, in BL21, the flux through the TCA cycle equals the flux through the PPC shunt, while in JM109 the TCA cycle flux is only third of the flux through the PPC shunt. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 68: 316–327, 2000.
Preferences and Incentives of Appointed and Elected Public Officials: Evidence from State Trial Court Judges

We study how two selection systems for public officials, appointment and election, affect policy outcomes, focusing on state court judges and their criminal sentencing decisions. First, under appointment, policy congruence with voter preferences is attained through selecting judges with homogeneous preferences. In contrast, under election, judges face strong reelection incentives, while selection on preferences is weak. Second, the effectiveness of election in attaining policy congruence critically depends on payoffs from the job, which implies that the effectiveness of election may vary substantially across public offices. Third, reelection incentives may discourage judges with significant human capital from holding office.
High survival rate in infant acute leukemia treated with early high-dose chemotherapy and stem-cell support. Groupo Español de Trasplante de Médula Osea en Niños.

PURPOSE Infants with acute leukemia have a poor prognosis when treated with conventional chemotherapy. It is still unknown if stem-cell transplantation (SCT) can improve the outcome of these patients. In the present study, we review our experience with SCT in infant acute leukemia to clarify this issue. PATIENTS AND METHODS We report the results of 26 infants who were submitted to a SCT for acute leukemia. There were 15 cases of acute myeloid leukemia and 10 cases of acute lymphoid leukemia. One patient had a bilineal leukemia. Twenty-two patients were in their first complete response (CR1), three were in their second CR, and one was in relapse. Eight patients were submitted to allogeneic SCT, and 18 underwent autologous SCT. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 67 months, the 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) are 64% (SE = 9%) and 63% (SE = 10%), respectively. Autologous and allogeneic SCT offered similar outcome. There was not any transplant-related mortality, and all deaths were caused by relapse in the first 6 months after SCT. In multivariate analysis, the single factor associated with better DFS was an interval between CR1 and SCT of less than 4 months (P: <.025). CONCLUSION SCT is a valid option in the treatment of infant acute leukemia, and it may overcome the high risk of relapse with conventional chemotherapy showing very reduced toxicity. This study suggests that SCT should be performed in CR1 in the early phase of the disease.
An empirical study of physicians' acceptance of hospital information systems in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE This study investigates the key factors affecting the acceptance of hospital information systems (HIS) by physicians based on an extensive technology acceptance model. This model consists of six constructs: System quality, information quality, service quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and HIS acceptance. MATERIALS AND METHODS Survey research targeted physicians in the selected case hospital as subjects. Of 131 questionnaires sent out, 81 completed forms were returned (a valid response rate of 64.8%). The partial least squares approach was used to analyze the collected data. RESULTS This study shows that system quality and information quality are significant factors influencing perceived ease of use of HIS, while information quality and service quality are key factors affecting perceived usefulness of HIS. Results indicate that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly affect HIS acceptance (R(2)=0.545) from the physician's perspective. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study can help managers understand the key considerations affecting HIS development and use and provide important reference material for system improvement.
Experimental Characterization and In-Flight Observation of Weakened Cell in SDRAM

SDRAM devices exposed to radiation environment are subject to Single Event Upset. In-flight observations and SEU characterizations highlight an increase of SEU sensitivity on SDRAM devices. This behavior is induced by a higher SEU occurrence on some addresses of the memories. This effect is observed as weakened cell generated by energetic particles on several addresses on the memory array. This study presents weakened cell observations on CARMEN and PICARD in flight missions that embedded two different SDRAM references. Behaviors of these two components have also been tested under Cobalt 60, protons and neutrons irradiation in order to try to reproduce the weakened cell effect on ground.
Serum p53 antibody is a useful tumor marker in superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Patients with superficial (mucosal or submucosal) esophageal carcinoma (SEC) have significantly better survival rates than patients with advanced carcinoma. Some patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma have been reported to test positive for serum p53 antibodies (Abs). Because very few patients with superficial carcinoma have been examined, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of serum p53‐Abs in patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC).
Testing airway responsiveness using inhaled methacholine or histamine

Abstract Airway responsiveness assessed using histamine and methacholine is safe, reproducible and relatively easily undertaken in adults and children. Results are similar for methacholine and histamine although methacholine is better tolerated. Responsiveness is increased in children and the elderly, and in women compared to men, possibly due to body size effects. Baseline lung function confounds the interpretation of airway responsiveness and may explain the effect of smoking in most studies. Results are most usefully expressed as the provocative dose producing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PD20FEV1) or the dose‐response slope (DRS). When technical factors are controlled the reproducibility of the test is from one to two doubling doses. Measurements of airway responsiveness have been widely used in clinical and research practice. However, assessing their value in diagnosing asthma is limited by the lack of a gold standard for the definition of asthma. Using a cut‐off value of 8 mg/mL or 8 μmol for PD20, the tests will discriminate asthmatic from non‐asthmatic subjects (based on questionnaire definitions of asthma) with a sensitivity of around 60% and a specificity of around 90%. These properties of the test result in positive and negative predictive values of 86% and 69% when the prevalence of asthma is high (50%– as in the clinical setting) and 40% and 95% when the prevalence of asthma is low (10%, as in general population studies). In the usual clinical setting, assessing the significance of atypical or non‐specific symptoms, the tests are of intermediate value in predicting the presence of asthma and less useful in excluding asthma. The additional benefit of testing airway responsiveness to measuring peak flows or to a trial of therapy has yet to be fully assessed. Testing of airway responsiveness may be of value in assessing occupational asthma, asthma severity and the effects of potential sensitizers or treatments. In research, tests of airway responsiveness are more useful for excluding cases of asthma. In population studies, they serve as an objective marker of abnormal airway function which may be genetically determined and, like allergy, are strongly associated with asthma. The predictive value of airway hyperresponsiveness for the development of airway disease is yet to be clearly established. In epidemiology the benefits of measuring airway responses must be weighed against the added inconvenience and cost that is incurred.