Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spread of chikungunya from the Caribbean to mainland Central and South America: a greater risk of spillover in Europe?

After a decade of outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean and Asia, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is stepping out of the shadow of dengue virus [1]. Although these two mosquito-borne viruses share clinical characteristics and their main vectors, Aedes albopictus (the tiger mosquito) and Ae. aegypti, CHIKV has long remained exotic to the western hemisphere [2]. The emergence of the Indian Ocean lineage changed the views on CHIKV when it caused an unprecedented disease burden in India and the islands of the Indian Ocean between 2005 and 2008 [3,4]. More than the reports of single events of locallyacquired cases of chikungunya fever in Italy and France [5,6], the recent occurrence of autochthonous transmission of CHIKV in the Americas has redesigned the geographic distribution of the virus. An outbreak in the Caribbean caused by an Asian strain of the virus started in Saint Martin in October 2013 with Ae. aegypti as the primary vector. The dynamics of the spread of CHIKV was in line with that in outbreaks that occurred in the Indian Ocean [2]. In this issue of Eurosurveillance, Cauchemez et al. estimate the basic reproductive number (the mean number of new host cases generated by one infectious host in a completely susceptible human population) at between 2 and 4 in the initial phase of the outbreak in the French Caribbean [7]. This is close to estimates from the outbreaks in Italy in 2007 and on Reunion Island in 2006 (3.5 and 3.7, respectively) [8,9]. Data from epidemiological surveillance suggest that so far, six months after its introduction to the Caribbean, CHIKV has been responsible for over 350,000 suspected cases of chikungunya fever that have occurred throughout the region [10].
Systemic Risk in an Interconnected Banking System with Endogenous Asset Markets

We analyze the emergence of systemic risk in a network model of interconnected bank balance sheets. The model incorporates multiple sources of systemic risk, including size of financial institutions, direct exposure from interbank lendings, and asset fire sales. We suggest a new macroprudential risk management approach building on a system wide value at risk (SVaR). Under the SVaR metric, the contribution of individual banks to systemic risk is well defined and can be approximated by a Shapley value-type measure. We show that, in a SVaR regime, a fair systemic risk charge which is proportional to a bank's individual contribution to systemic risk diverges from the optimal macroprudential capitalization of the banks from a planner's perspective. The results have implications for the design of macroprudential capital surcharges.
BT‐11 improves stress‐induced memory impairments through increment of glucose utilization and total neural cell adhesion molecule levels in rat brains

In Oriental medicine, roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow have been known to be an important herb that exhibits sedative effects in insomnia, palpitation with anxiety, restlessness, and disorientation in humans. We previously reported that BT‐11, extracted from those roots, improved scopolamine‐induced amnesia in rats and inhibited acetylcholinesterase activities in vitro. Therefore, we proposed that BT‐11 could remedy stress‐induced memory deficits in rats. In this study, the stress‐induced memory impairments in rats were significantly reversed almost to the control level by BT‐11 treatment. To seek an active component of BT‐11 that plays an important role in antipsychotic effects, we compared BT‐11 with 3,4,5‐trimethoxycinnamic acid (TMCA), which is a constituent of those root extracts. However, the effects of TMCA were less or were not consistent with those of BT‐11 in some of tests. In perticular, BT‐11 reversed the stress‐induced reduction of glucose utilization by [18fluorodeoxyglucose]FDG‐PET and the levels of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in rat brains to the control levels, whereas TMCA did not. Therefore, BT‐11 improved stress‐induced memory impairments through increment of glucose utilization and total NCAM levels in rat brains. In conclusion, BT‐11 may be strongly effective against stress‐induced amnesia in rats, through the combined effects of TMCA and other active components of BT‐11. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genome-wide Analysis of Substrate Specificities of the Escherichia coli Haloacid Dehalogenase-like Phosphatase Family*

Haloacid dehalogenase (HAD)-like hydrolases are a vast superfamily of largely uncharacterized enzymes, with a few members shown to possess phosphatase, β-phosphoglucomutase, phosphonatase, and dehalogenase activities. Using a representative set of 80 phosphorylated substrates, we characterized the substrate specificities of 23 soluble HADs encoded in the Escherichia coli genome. We identified small molecule phosphatase activity in 21 HADs and β-phosphoglucomutase activity in one protein. The E. coli HAD phosphatases show high catalytic efficiency and affinity to a wide range of phosphorylated metabolites that are intermediates of various metabolic reactions. Rather than following the classical “one enzyme-one substrate” model, most of the E. coli HADs show remarkably broad and overlapping substrate spectra. At least 12 reactions catalyzed by HADs currently have no EC numbers assigned in Enzyme Nomenclature. Surprisingly, most HADs hydrolyzed small phosphodonors (acetyl phosphate, carbamoyl phosphate, and phosphoramidate), which also serve as substrates for autophosphorylation of the receiver domains of the two-component signal transduction systems. The physiological relevance of the phosphatase activity with the preferred substrate was validated in vivo for one of the HADs, YniC. Many of the secondary activities of HADs might have no immediate physiological function but could comprise a reservoir for evolution of novel phosphatases.
QoS-CROMA: An On-demand Time-Slotted MAC Protocol with QoS support for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

This paper presents a new MAC protocol with QoS support for wireless ad-hoc networks. This protocol called QoS- CROMA is an extension of an interesting TDMA MAC protocol that makes use of a receiver-driven on-demand time-slot assignment policy. Our QoS extension concerns the receiver-side scheduling, sender-side slot selection policy and the protocol packet format modification. A real-time scheduler for CPU task is adapted for the slot scheduling in our TDMA MAC context and some modifications to the slot selection policy of CROMA are carried out. Simulation results, considered in terms of data packet delay, throughput and control overhead, have been evaluated. QoS-CROMA is more performing than original CROMA in terms of lower data packet delay and higher throughput.
Hiatal hernia and the risk of Barrett's esophagus

Background and Aim: Barrett's esophagus has been associated with the presence of hiatal hernia; however, to date no meta‐analysis of the relationship has been performed. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis, providing a quantitative estimate of the increased risk of Barrett's esophagus associated with hiatal hernia.
Electrolyte changes and metabolic effects of lisinopril/bendrofluazide treatment. Results from a randomized, double-blind study with parallel groups.

The metabolic effects of lisinopril and bendrofluazide therapy were studied in 61 patients with essential hypertension in a randomized, double-blind study with parallel groups. The insulin sensitivity index, measured by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp test, decreased by 22% (P < .01) during bendrofluazide treatment and by 15% (NS) during lisinopril treatment. The initial insulin response at intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) increased by 21% (P < .05) during lisinopril treatment but decreased by 13% (P < .05) during treatment with bendrofluazide, and in addition, the glucose disappearance rate decreased by 9% (P < .05) in the latter group. During oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the area under the glucose curve (AUCglucose) increased by 17% (P = .05) in the bendrofluazide-treated group but decreased by 19% (P = .05) in the lisinopril group, although there was no difference between the drug effects on AUCinsulin. The LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio increased during bendrofluazide treatment. The serum potassium concentration decreased by 10% (P = .0001) during bendrofluazide treatment but increased by 6% (P = .0001) in the lisinopril-treated group. The change in serum potassium was correlated to the change in initial insulin response and glucose disappearance rate at IVGTT, and inversely correlated to the change in AUCglucose at OGTT. In conclusion, alterations in serum potassium balance may affect the initial insulin release and glucose disposal. Bendrofluazide treatment decreases the serum potassium concentration, reduces the initial insulin release and the glucose disposal, and, in addition, impairs insulin sensitivity. Lisinopril treatment increases serum potassium concentration and the initial insulin response, and decreases AUCglucose, but does not improve insulin sensitivity per se.
Clinical and molecular characteristics of community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in Chinese neonates

This study aims to characterize the clinical features of community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) infections in Chinese neonates, as well as the molecular characteristics and expression of key virulence genes of isolates. Clinical information and molecular characteristics of 130 cases were analyzed. Up to 83.8% patients were affected with late‐onset infection. Cesarean delivery was the main delivery route, accounting for 74.6% of the total deliveries. Pneumonia (69, 53.1%) was the most common infection. A total of 38 patients (29.2%) suffered from complications. Moreover, 35 cases (26.9%) were invasive infections, among which 88.6% involved multiple organs and 45.7% suffered from complications. Cesarean section and premature birth were the risk factors for invasive CA‐MRSA infection. ST59‐MRSA‐SCCmecIVa‐t437 (54, 41.5%) was the most predominant CA‐MRSA clone. The hla expression in the ST59 isolates was higher than that in ST910 (p = 0.02) and the hla expression in ST59‐SCCmecV‐t437 was higher than that in ST59‐SCCmecIVa‐t437. Approximately, 46.4% (13/28) of the infections caused by ST59‐SCCmecV were invasive. This value is higher than that of ST59‐SCCmecVa caused infections (14/59, 23.7%) (p = 0.03). This study showed that neonatal CA‐MRSA infections in China readily become invasive, involve multiple organs, and are often accompanied by complications. The SCCmec V clone may be more pathogenic than the SCCmecVIa clone.
When teens self-treat headaches, OTC drug misuse is frequent result.

providing quality care under tight budget constrictions. “What is the right dollar amount, and how do we standardize the health care these people need? ” Plevak said. Inmates older than 55 years tend to have an average of three chronic conditions, and—on top of that—up to 20% have a mental illness. Plevak’s recommended funding information systems and studying inmate health needs to develop specific policies and procedures for treating the aging prison population. In addition, he suggested increasing the use of volunteers to improve the health delivery environment at little cost. Governments should also designate correctional quarters for elder housing in general, and offer health care facilities specifically for older and infirm inmates, he said. However, following guidelines or recommendations does not automatically ensure productive health care encounters with inmates, added Brown. With increasing age there will be more demand on the health care system, as patient-inmates develop such chronic conditions as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer disease, said Brown. “It’s a challenge. ”
Effect of Oral Administration of Losartan, Prazosin, and Verapamil on Peritoneal Solute Transport in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background Several intraperitoneally administered drugs have been shown to modify transport of peritoneal solute and fluid. Fewer studies, however, have evaluated the effect of orally administered drugs. The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of oral losartan, prazosin, and verapamil on peritoneal membrane transport during a peritoneal equilibration test (PET), as well as the effects on creatinine clearance (CrCl), Kt/V urea, 24-hour protein in drained dialysate, and drained volume. Methods This was an open, controlled, crossover clinical trial performed in 20 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. All subjects used four 2-L 1.5% glucose dialysis exchanges per day. After a 7-day washout period (without antihypertensives), they had a baseline standard PET and dialysis adequacy assessment performed. Subsequently, they were randomly allocated to receive the first of three study drugs (losartan, prazosin, and verapamil), which were administered orally for a 7-day period. Immediately after each drug period, patients had a new 3-day washout and subsequently started the next drug, until they had received each of the three drugs. On the last day of administration of each drug, patients were subjected to a new PET and adequacy of dialysis evaluation. Results None of the studied drugs significantly modified the peritoneal transport of creatinine, glucose, urea, sodium, potassium, or total protein as evaluated by PET. Verapamil significantly increased peritoneal CrCl [51.3 (44.3 – 53.3) vs baseline 45.8 (41.4 – 50.5) L/week/1.73 m2, p < 0.05], weekly Kt/V urea [1.75 (1.60 – 1.78) vs baseline 1.59 (1.54 – 1.73), p < 0.05], and drained dialysate volume [8.80 (8.30 – 8.96) vs baseline 8.44 (8.20 – 8.50) L/day, p < 0.05]. Conclusions Oral administration of losartan, prazosin, and verapamil did not modify the peritoneal transport of solutes during a 4-hour PET. Oral verapamil significantly increased CrCl, Kt/V urea, and 24-hour drained dialysate volume. It is most likely that verapamil increases peritoneal (hydraulic) conductivity, and then net ultrafiltration volume and convective transport of urea, creatinine, and protein. Verapamil could be considered as an alternative in patients requiring increased dialysis dose and/or ultrafiltration.
Incidence of diabetes mellitus requiring insulin treatment after renal transplantation in patients with hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with an increased incidence of diabetes mellitus, both in the general population and among transplant patients. METHODS To test this hypothesis, we reviewed the records of 1614 patients who had undergone renal transplant at six Spanish centres between 1992 and 1998. We established the rate of onset of diabetes mellitus requiring >1 month of treatment with insulin (insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, I-TDM) among the 177 patients showing HCV antibody seropositivity at the time of transplant (HCV+ group). As controls, 177 HCV patients were selected who had received a kidney allograft immediately before or after the study patients at the same centre. RESULTS The HCV+ patients were well matched with controls in terms of characteristics (except a longer time on dialysis) and immunosuppressive treatment. After a mean follow-up of 44 months, 28 cases of I-TDM were diagnosed (9.6% in HCV+ and 6.2% HCV-, not significant (NS); odds ratio 1.6; 95% confidence interval 0.75-3.50). The onset of I-TDM was somewhat later in HCV+ patients (467 days vs. 292 days in HCV- patients, NS). Multivariate analysis identified the following prognostic factors for I-TDM onset: age and BMI at the time of transplant, and polycystic kidney disease as the underlying cause of chronic renal insufficiency. No correlation was found with HCV positivity or time on dialysis. CONCLUSIONS We were unable to confirm a greater incidence of post-renal transplant insulin-requiring diabetes in association with HCV infection. However, the observed tendency towards such an association suggests that the follow-up period would need to be extended.
Comparison of a synthetic bone substitute composed of carbonated apatite with an anorganic bovine xenograft in particulate forms in a canine maxillary augmentation model.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a porous geometry in particulate bone on new bone formation by comparison of anorganic bovine carbonate apatite (ABCA) with synthetic carbonated apatite (SCA), which have similar properties but different micro-structures. MATERIAL AND METHODS Porous structures and anorganic components of ABCA and SCA were evaluated using scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared. They were implanted in maxillary augmentation models with the mouth split design in a total of 15 Beagle dogs. The animals were sacrificed 4, 8 and 16 weeks after surgery, and the histomorphometrical results were statistically analyzed for the material's geometrical relationship and new bone formation in relation to the available space and contact surface for osteoconduction. RESULTS Both materials showed a typical infrared pattern of CO(3)(2-) -substituted hydroxyapatite (HA). Porous structures and a bridging effect of osteoconductive bone material were relatively better observed in SCA. The ratio of the material area to the total area was higher (P<0.01) for ABCA (28.03±6.09) than for SCA (20.26±4.23). The ratio of the number of particles possessing a pore structure to the total number and the interparticular space was greater (P<0.001 and 0.01) for SCA (18.12±9.44 and 79.74±4.23) compared with ABCA (1.45±1.74 and 71.63±5.85). The new bone areas and the bone-material contact lengths were greater in SCA than in ABCA (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that porous structures may have an influence on new bone formation in osteoconductive bone substitutes.
Doctor, what are my chances of having a positive sentinel node? A validated nomogram for risk estimation.

PURPOSE Lymph node metastasis is a multifactorial event. Several variables have been described as predictors of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. However, it is difficult to apply these data-usually expressed as odds ratios-to calculate the probability of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis for a specific patient. We developed a user-friendly prediction model (nomogram) based on a large data set to assist in predicting the presence of SLN metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical and pathologic features of 3,786 sequential SLN biopsy procedures were assessed with multivariable logistic regression to predict the presence of SLN metastasis in breast cancer. The model was subsequently applied to 1,545 sequential SLN biopsies. A nomogram was created from the logistic regression model. A computerized version of the nomogram was developed and is available on the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) Web site. RESULTS Age, tumor size, tumor type, lymphovascular invasion, tumor location, multifocality, and estrogen and progesterone receptors were associated with SLN metastasis in multivariate analysis. The nomogram was accurate and discriminating, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.754 when applied to the validation group. CONCLUSION Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients are increasingly interested in information about their disease. This nomogram is a useful tool that helps physicians and patients to accurately predict the likelihood of SLN metastasis.
Penile Fracture Following Husband Abuse: A Case Report

The case of a 35-year-old fisherman who presented in a rural clinic with a sudden onset of painful penile swelling affecting the left lateral side with associated rapid detumescence is reported. He had tried to coerce his wife to a sexual intercourse when she forcefully bent his penis. He was initially managed with cold applications, oral diclofenac potassium, chymoral, and splinting of the penis and then referred to the urological services of a teaching hospital. He defaulted only to re-present about 2 weeks later with some improvement in his symptoms. Further advice to see the urologist was also rebuffed on financial grounds. When he reported about 1 month later, he was assessed to have grade 3 erectile dysfunction. In conclusion, penile fracture is a rare condition which follows unphysiological bending of the tumescent penis during sexual intercourse or masturbation. That following husband abuse is rarer. The sequelae can be devastating.
A comparative clinical study of three different endosseous implants in edentulous mandibles.

The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the clinical outcome and marginal bone resorption of three different endosseous implants placed in the anterior mandibles of 15 elderly patients. Eleven women and 4 men (ranging from 65 to 80 years, mean 71 years) had three different endosseous implants placed in the anterior mandible; one titanium plasma-sprayed cylinder implant (4-mm diameter), one titanium cylinder implant with hydroxyapatite coating (4-mm diameter), and one standard threaded titanium implant (3.75-mm diameter). Three months later, at the second-stage surgical procedure, ball abutments were connected and an overdenture was placed. At 12, 24, and 36 months, marginal bone resorption and Periotest values were recorded. None of the implants was lost in this period. An analysis of variance with repeated measurement was performed annually to test the existence of significant differences between the implants. When differences appeared, paired t tests were used to identify which differences were significant. Bonferroni multipliers were used to adjust for multiple testing. When marginal bone resorption was concerned, threaded titanium and hydroxyapatite-coated implants had significantly better scores than titanium plasma-sprayed cylinder implants. Periotest values for hydroxyapatite-coated implants were significantly better than test values for the other implants after 2 years. After 3 years significance was obtained between hydroxyapatite and screw-shaped implants only (P < .05). It was concluded that titanium plasma-sprayed cylinder implants have a less favorable prognosis than the other implants used in this study.
A Study of Targeted Enhanced Patient Care for Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis (STEP PAD)

Abstract: Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic skin condition in children. Treatment strategies often require stringent adherence to skin care regimens for symptom resolution. As many factors influence the course of the condition, we investigated the role of a designated “atopic dermatitis educator” in a pediatric dermatology clinic. We planned to determine whether the individual interaction with an atopic dermatitis educator affects the course of disease severity, resolution, and quality of life in atopic children. New and return pediatric atopic dermatitis patients from English‐speaking families were recruited from a pediatric dermatology clinic with a single pediatric dermatologist. The 151 subjects were randomized to either the control or the intervention group. A total of 106 subjects completed the study. Those in the intervention group received the atopic dermatitis educator’s individual counseling/education session. Subjects’ severity was determined by the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis severity index and quality of life by either the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index or the Infants’ Dermatitis Quality of Life index depending on the patient’s age. Analysis of covariance was measured. No significant difference was found in the percentage change of severity or quality of life between the groups.