Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing in a student population.

INTRODUCTION The prevalence of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in young adults in Southeast Asian countries is unknown. We aim to determine the symptoms and prevalence of SDB in a university student population using a questionnaire survey followed by home sleep monitoring. METHODS The Sleep and Health Questionnaire (a modified version of the Specialized Centers of Research Sleep Questionnaire, translated into Chinese) was distributed to all first-year students (1,306 male and 1,757 female) enrolled in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Subsequently, those students who returned the questionnaires were randomly chosen to undergo portable home sleep monitoring using the MESAM IV device (Madaus Medizin-Elektronik; Freiburg, Germany). RESULTS A total of 1,910 replies were obtained from 3,063 questionnaires sent by mail (response rate, 62.4%). The female to male ratio was 1.8:1, with mean age of 19.4 years (SD, 1.3 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) of 20.0 (SD, 2.5). Overall, 25.7% of subjects reported snoring; 10.7% and 42.1% reported impaired performance ability and daytime sleepiness, respectively. Of the 88 subjects who underwent overnight sleep monitoring, 66 subjects (75%) were snorers and 8 subjects (9%) snored > 10% of the night. Male subjects had a higher BMI (p < 0.001) and tended to snore more often than female subjects (p = 0.06). Subjects with an oxygen desaturation index (ODI) > or = 3 had a BMI > 22 (p < 0.05). On sleep study, nine subjects (10.2%) and two subjects (2.3%) had a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) > or = 3 and an RDI > or = 5, respectively, associated with self-reported sleepiness, giving a minimum estimated prevalence of SDB as 0.1% (RDI > or = 5) in the study population. There was no correlation between recorded snoring with either RDI or self-reported sleepiness. Questionnaire responses, neck circumference, and alcohol consumption did not predict the occurrence of SDB. CONCLUSION Snoring was prevalent, while SDB was uncommon in this student population. However, snoring and self-reported symptoms by questionnaire were poor predictors for SDB. Male gender showed a trend as an independent predictor for snoring, but not for SDB.
Emerging fungal pathogens: evolving challenges to immunocompromised patients for the twenty‐first century

Opportunistic fungi have emerged during the past decade as important causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Candida species constitute the third to fourth most common causes of nosocomial blood stream infections, and Aspergillus species have emerged as the most common infectious cause of pneumonic mortality in bone marrow/stem cell transplant recipients. Among HIV‐infected patients, meningoencephalitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans ranks among the most common AIDS‐defining infections. Hyaline septated filamentous fungi, such as Fusarium species, Acremonium species, Paecilomyces species, and Trichoderma species, are increasingly reported as causing invasive mycoses refractory to conventional therapy. Dematiaceous septated filamentous fungi, such as Pseudallescheria boydii, Bipolaris species, and Cladophialophora bantiana cause pneumonia, sinusitis, and CNS infection unresponsive to current therapy. An increasing number of different members of the class of Zygomycetes are reported as causing lethal infections, despite aggressive medical and surgical interventions. Yet the treatment for zygomycosis has not changed in approximately 40 years. The prevalence of the endemic mycoses, such as those due to Penicillium marneffei, Coccidioides immitis, and Histoplasma capsulatum, has been reported to expand rapidly in response to environmental exposures and increased numbers of vulnerable hosts in endemic regions of the world. Dermatophytoses are occurring with increasing prevalence and morbidity in elderly and immunocompromised patients. As we enter the next millennium, we may anticipate that emergent fungal infections will continue to develop in the settings of permissive environmental conditions, selective antifungal pressure, and an expanding population of immunocompromised hosts. Note
Effect of aliskiren and carvedilol on expression of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II δ-subunit isoforms in cardiac hypertrophy rat model

Abstract Context: The critical role of CaMKIIδ isoforms in cardiac hypertrophy is well documented. Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the possible inhibitory effects of aliskiren (ALS) and/or carvedilol (CAV) on CaMKIIδ isoforms expression in experimental cardiac hypertrophy. Materials and methods: Male Wistar albino rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (ISO) (5 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks to induce cardiac hypertrophy. Hypertrophied rats were daily treated with either ALS (10 mg/kg) and/or CAV (10 mg/kg). At the end of the treatment, rats were killed; blood and hearts were collected for assessing different biochemical parameters. Results: ISO treatment significantly increased heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) ratio, serum creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and troponin T (Tn-T) levels, and plasma renin activity (PRA) as compared to control rats. Additionally, ISO treatment produced a significant increase in the expression of myocardial CaMKIIδ2 and CaMKIIδ3 that were associated with significant elevation in myocardial caspase-3 protein expression. Histopathological examination of rats exposed to ISO treatment showed severe myocardial cell degeneration. ALS and/or CAV treatment significantly reduced the altered HW/BW ratio, serum CK-MB and Tn-T levels, PRA, and caspase-3 protein expression in hypertrophied rats, with maximal improvement in the combination group. These biochemical findings were supported by the histopathological examination of the heart tissue. Additionally, treatment with ALS and CAV significantly inhibited ISO-induced increase in CaMKIIδ2 and CaMKIIδ3 expression levels. Discussion and conclusion: The present study indicated that ALS and CAV treatment ameliorated ISO-induced hypertrophy via inhibiting the expression and the activity of CaMKIIδ isoforms and the associated myocardial apoptosis.
Correlation of Dietary Intakes and Biochemical Determinates of Nutrition in Hemodialysis Patients

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary intakes on nutritional indicators of patients on hemodialysis. Method. This study was carried out at the hemodialysis unit at the Ministry of Health, Ankara Hospital, from 2003–2004. Sixty-seven patients on regular hemodialysis were enrolled in the study. Nutritional status was assessed by biochemical parameters (urea, uric acid, creatinine, Na, K, Cl, Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, SGPT, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit) and anthropometric measurements (height, dry weight, body mass index), and dietary intakes were calculated. Results. In this study, the mean age of the patients was 45.3 ± 13.49, and the duration of hemodialysis was 4.9 ± 3.64 year. Dialysis time was 12.4 ± 2.7 h/week. The ratio of individuals with BMI of 20 kg/m2 or below this value was 19.4%. Blood hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were below than the recommended level. Mean serum urea (148.0 ± 27.76 mg/dL) and creatinine (8.8 ± 2.13 mg/dL) were found to be high, while a significant negative correlation was found between blood urea level and dietary fat (p < 0.01, r = −0.31). A significant positive correlation was found between vitamin B1, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, iron, and magnesium; between uric acid and vitamin D; between blood creatinine level and dietary vitamin B1, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, potassium, iron, magnesium; between blood potassium level and dietary vitamin C only; and between blood cholesterol level and dietary vitamin D only (p < 0.01).
Intraoperative subcortical stimulation mapping of language pathways in a consecutive series of 115 patients with Grade II glioma in the left dominant hemisphere.

OBJECT Despite better knowledge of cortical language organization, its subcortical anatomofunctional connectivity remains poorly understood. The authors used intraoperative subcortical stimulation in awake patients undergoing operation for a glioma in the left dominant hemisphere to map the language pathways and to determine the contribution of such a method to surgical results. METHODS One hundred fifteen patients harboring a World Health Organization Grade II glioma within language areas underwent operation after induction of local anesthesia, using direct electrical stimulation to perform online cortical and subcortical language mapping throughout the resection. RESULTS After detection of cortical language sites, the authors identified 1 or several of the following subcortical language pathways in all patients: 1) arcuate fasciculus, eliciting phonemic paraphasia when stimulated; 2) inferior frontooccipital fasciculus, generating semantic paraphasia when stimulated; 3) subcallosal fasciculus, inducing transcortical motor aphasia during stimulation; 4) frontoparietal phonological loop, eliciting speech apraxia during stimulation; and 5) fibers coming from the ventral premotor cortex, inducing anarthria when stimulated. These structures were preserved, representing the limits of the resection. Despite a transient immediate postoperative worsening, all but 2 patients (98%) returned to baseline or better. On control MR imaging, 83% of resections were total or subtotal. CONCLUSIONS These results represent the largest experience with human subcortical language mapping ever reported. The use of intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation gives a unique opportunity to perform an accurate and reliable real-time anatomofunctional study of language connectivity. Such knowledge of the individual organization of language networks enables practitioners to optimize the benefit-to-risk ratio of surgery for Grade II glioma within the left dominant hemisphere.
Body composition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: which method to use in clinical practice?

The objective of the present study was to compare anthropometry with bioelectrical impedance (BIA) in relation to densitometry (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; DEXA) as methods of nutritional assessment and body composition in out-patients with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD). We conducted a cross-sectional clinical study with sixty-one patients with COPD (forty-two men and nineteen women), mean age of 66·5 (sd 7·9) years and forced expiratory volume in 1s of 1·3 (sd 0·6) litres (52·2 (sd 19·8) % predicted), referred to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center. The patients were evaluated regarding nutrition status and body composition as determined by anthropometry, BIA and DEXA. In the results, 34·4% showed mild obstruction, 31·2%, moderate and 34·4%, severe obstruction. According to the BMI (mean 24·5 (sd 4·5) kg/m2), 45·9% of the patients exhibited normal weight, while 27·9% were underweight and 26·2% were obese. Related to fat-free mass (FFM), anthropometry and BIA compared with DEXA presented high correlations (r 0·96 and 0·95 respectively; p<0·001) and high reliability between the methods (α 0·98; p<0·001). Agreement analysis between the methods shows that anthropometry overestimates (0·62 (sd of the difference 2·89) kg) while BIA underestimates FFM (0·61 (sd of the difference 2·82) kg) compared with DEXA. We concluded that according to the nutritional diagnosis, half of our population of patients with COPD showed normal weight, while the other half comprised equal parts obese and underweight patients. Body composition estimated by BIA and anthropometry presented good reliability and correlation with DEXA; the three methods presented satisfactory clinical accuracy despite the great disparity of the limits of agreement.
Bulbar and spinal muscular atrophy (Kennedy’s disease): a review

Bulbar and spinal muscular atrophy (BSMA) is an adult‐onset, X‐linked recessive trinucleotide, polyglutamine disorder, caused by expansion of a polymorphic CAG tandem‐repeat in exon 1 of the androgen‐receptor (AR) gene on chromosome Xq11‐12. Pathogenetically, mutated AR accumulates in nuclei and cytoplasm of motor neurons, resulting in their degeneration and loss. Phenotypically, patients present with amyotrophic, proximal or distal weakness and wasting of the facial, bulbar and limb muscles, occasionally sensory disturbances, and endocrinologic disturbances, such as androgen resistance, gynecomastia, elevated testosterone or progesterone, and reduced fertility. There may be mild hyper‐CK‐emia, abnormal motor and sensory nerve conduction studies, and neuropathic and myopathic alterations on muscle biopsy. The golden standard for diagnosing BSMA is genetic analysis, demonstrating a CAG‐repeat number >40. No causal therapy is available, but symptomatic therapy should be provided for tremor, endocrinologic abnormalities, sensory disturbances, or muscle cramps. The course is slowly progressive, the ability to walk lost only late in life, only few patients require ventilatory support, and life expectancy only slightly reduced.
Simian Virus 40 Strains with Novel Properties Generated by Replacing the Viral Enhancer with Synthetic Oligonucleotides

ABSTRACT Typical enhancers of viral or cellular genes are approximately 100 to 400 bp long and contain several transcription factor binding sites. Previously, we have shown that simian virus 40 (SV40) genomic DNA that lacks its own enhancer can be used as an “enhancer trap” since it reacquires infectivity upon incorporation of heterologous enhancers. Here, we show that SV40 infectivity can be restored with synthetic enhancers that are assembled by the host cell. We found that several oligonucleotides, cotransfected with enhancerless SV40 DNA into host cells, were incorporated into the viral genome via cellular DNA end joining. The oligonucleotides tested included metal response elements (MREs), the binding sites for the transcription factor MTF-1, which induces gene activity in response to heavy metals. These recombinant SV40 strains showed preferential growth on cells overloaded with zinc or cadmium. We also cotransfected enhancerless SV40 DNA with oligonucleotides corresponding to enhancer motifs of human and mouse cytomegalovirus (HCMV and MCMV, respectively). In contrast to SV40 wild type, the viruses with cytomegalovirus-derived patchwork enhancers strongly expressed T-antigen in human HEK293 cells, accompanied by viral DNA replication. Occasionally, we also observed the assembly of functional viral genomes by incorporation of fragments of bovine DNA, an ingredient of the fetal calf serum in the medium. These fragments contained, among other sites, binding sites for AP-1 and CREB transcription factors. Taken together, our studies show that viruses with novel properties can be generated by intracellular incorporation of synthetic enhancer DNA motifs.
Proxy Validation of Patient Self-Reports of ADL and IADL Function Before and After Electroconvulsive Therapy

Objective To determine whether electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients' self-reported functional status is similar to that reported by a proxy. Background Increasing levels of depression are associated with deteriorating functional status as reflected in the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale. Depressed patients referred for ECT have poorer IADL status compared with depressed patients receiving medications, suggesting that IADL status may shape physicians' decision to recommend ECT (1). Further, IADL status improves with treatment of depression, both in ECT-and medication-treated patients. Given the potential importance of IADL status for ECT patients, we examined whether IADL status as reported by patients prior to ECT was comparable to IADL status as described by a proxy. Design/Methods Forty depressed patients (23 men and 17 women, mean age 58.1 ± 17.5) were each interviewed alone with the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, and an IADL scale. We then privately interviewed a first-degree relative who lived with each patient and recorded their impression of the patient's ADL and IADL function before ECT, and at 2 and 4 weeks after ECT. Results Baseline scores for HDRS and MMSE were consistent with a severe level of depressive symptoms and intact global cognitive function. Patients' and proxies' IADL scores were highly correlated before ECT, 2 weeks after ECT, and 4 weeks after ECT. Significant, but slightly weaker correlations were seen for ADL scores. Conclusions Ideally, ADL and IADL function would be measured by direct observation rather than either patient or proxy report. At this time it is unknown whether the patient or the proxy report should be considered the “gold standard. ” In this study, the patients' self-reported functional scores were highly correlated with the proxies' scores. We conclude that patients' reports of their function are roughly comparable to proxies' impressions before and after ECT.
patients with heart failure volume relationship in − end-diastolic pressure Single-beat estimation of the left ventricular

Aims To test a method to predict the end-diastolic pressureevolume relationship (EDPVR) from a single beat in patients with heart failure. Methods and results Patients (New York Heart Association class IIIeIV) scheduled for mitral annuloplasty (n1⁄49) or ventricular restoration (n1⁄410) and patients with normal left ventricular function undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (n1⁄412) were instrumented with pressure-conductance catheters to measure pressureevolume loops before and after surgery. Data obtained during vena cava occlusion provided directly measured EDPVRs. Baseline enddiastolic pressure (Pm) and volume (Vm) were used for single-beat prediction of EDPVRs. Root-mean-squared error (RMSE) between measured and predicted EDPVRs, was 2.7960. 21 mm Hg. Measured versus predicted end-diastolic volumes at pressure levels 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm Hg showed tight correlations (R1⁄40.69e0.97). BlandeAltman analyses indicated overestimation at 5 mm Hg (bias: pre-surgery 44 ml (95% CI 29 to 58 ml); post-surgery 35 ml (23 to 47 ml)) and underestimation at 20 mm Hg (bias: pre-surgery 57 ml ( 80 to 34 ml); post-surgery 13 ml ( 20 to 7.0 ml)). End-diastolic volumes were significantly different between groups and between conditions, but these differences were not dependent on the method (ie, measured versus predicted). RMSEs were not different between groups or conditions, nor dependent on Vm or Pm, indicating that EDPVR prediction was equally accurate over a wide
Mutations in Actin-Related Proteins 2 and 3 Affect Cell Shape Development in Arabidopsis Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.011676.

ACTIN-RELATED PROTEINS 2 and 3 form the major subunits of the ARP2/3 complex, which is known as an important regulator of actin organization in diverse organisms. Here, we report that two genes, WURM and DISTORTED1, which are important for cell shape control in Arabidopsis, encode the plant ARP2 and ARP3 orthologs, respectively. Mutations in these genes result in misdirected expansion of various cell types: trichome expansion is randomized, pavement cells fail to produce lobes, hypocotyl cells curl out of the normal epidermal plane, and root hairs are sinuous. At the subcellular level, cell shape changes are linked to severe filamentous actin aggregation and compromised vacuole fusion. Because all seven subunits of the ARP2/3 complex are present in plants, our data indicate that this complex may play a pivotal role during plant cell morphogenesis.
Biochemical and structural analysis of 14 mutant adsl enzyme complexes and correlation to phenotypic heterogeneity of adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency

Adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) deficiency is neurometabolic disease characterized by accumulation of dephosphorylated enzyme substrates SAICA‐riboside (SAICAr) and succinyladenosine (S‐Ado) in body fluids of affected individuals. The phenotypic severity differs considerably among patients: neonatal fatal, severe childhood, and moderate phenotypic forms correlating with different values for the ratio between S‐Ado and SAICAr concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid have been distinguished. To reveal the biochemical and structural basis for this phenotypic heterogeneity, we expressed and characterized 19 ADSL mutant proteins identified in 16 patients representing clinically distinct subgroups. Respecting compound heterozygosity and considering the homotetrameric structure of ADSL, we used intersubunit complementation and prepared and characterized genotype‐specific heteromeric mutant ADSL complexes. We correlated clinical phenotypes with biochemical properties of the mutant proteins and predicted structural impacts of the mutations. We found that phenotypic severity in ADSL deficiency is correlated with residual enzymatic activity and structural stability of the corresponding mutant ADSL complexes and does not seem to result from genotype‐specific disproportional catalytic activities toward one of the enzyme substrates. This suggests that the S‐Ado/SAICAr ratio is probably not predictive of phenotype severity; rather, it may be secondary to the degree of the patient's development (i.e., to the age of the patient at the time of sample collection). Hum Mutat 31:1–11, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Beliefs About the Use of Nonprescribed Antibiotics Among People in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia

Although antibiotics are prescription-only medicine in Indonesia, they can be purchased without prescription. This qualitative study elicited beliefs about nonprescribed antibiotics use informed by the theory of planned behavior to develop a questionnaire for an expanded theory of planned behavior survey. Twenty-five (N = 25) adults with experience of using nonprescribed antibiotics were interviewed. Content analysis was applied. Participants reported that the use of nonprescribed antibiotics was advantageous in term of saving time and money and of reducing the number of medicines that need to be purchased, in contrast to a perception of what occurs with medical prescriptions. Potential adverse effects, poor health outcomes, and antimicrobial resistance were the perceived disadvantages. Facilitators of such use were the availability of over-the-counter antibiotics and successful experience in using antibiotics. Medication for children was the perceived barrier to such use. Family members and friends, especially those with health education background, approved of such use.
Statistical Industry Classification

We give complete algorithms and source code for constructing (multilevel) statistical industry classifications, including methods for fixing the number of clusters at each level (and the number of levels). Under the hood there are clustering algorithms (e.g., k-means). However, what should we cluster? Correlations? Returns? The answer turns out to be neither and our backtests suggest that these details make a sizable difference. We also give an algorithm and source code for building "hybrid" industry classifications by improving off-the-shelf "fundamental" industry classifications by applying our statistical industry classification methods to them. The presentation is intended to be pedagogical and geared toward practical applications in quantitative trading.