Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adolescent health in the Caribbean: a regional portrait.

OBJECTIVES This study assessed youth health in the Caribbean Community and Common Market countries and describes the prevalence of health-related factors. METHODS We used a self-administered classroom questionnaire; questions addressed general health, health care, nutrition, sexual history, drug use, mental health, violence, family characteristics, and relationships with others. RESULTS Most youths reported good health; however, 1 in 10 reported a limiting disability or significant health problems. Violence was a pervasive concern. Of those who reported history of sexual intercourse, many reported that their first intercourse was forced, and nearly half reported that they were aged 10 years or younger when they first had intercourse. CONCLUSIONS Although most young people are healthy, problems indicate the importance of monitoring trends and designing effective youth health programs.
Gait recognition based on EMG with different individuals and sample sizes

The electromyography (EMG) has important applications in human gait recognition. Five phases of gait were classified by support vector machine after EMG data de-nosing and feature extraction. The results show that both individual differences and sample sizes have influenced on gait classification accuracy. The work has a certain practical significance in gait recognition.
Mediterranean-style diet is associated with reduced blood pressure variability and subsequent stroke risk in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Mediterranean-style diet is widely advocated for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Meanwhile, blood pressure variability (BPV) is a novel risk factor for CVD. It is unknown whether dietary pattern plays a role in modulating BPV. METHODS We prospectively followed-up 274 consecutive patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). The Mediterranean diet score (MDS) was derived for all individuals upon recruitment, blood pressure (BP) was measured during each subsequent clinic visit and the visit-to-visit BPV was calculated. The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and all-cause mortality was monitored. RESULTS After a mean follow-up of 77±12 months, 16.1% of the study population developed MACEs. About 11.3% died from all causes. Patients who developed MACEs or all-cause mortality had a greater systolic BPV compared to those who did not develop an adverse event. Patients who developed a MACE had a lower MDS and further analysis revealed those who developed a stroke had a lower MDS compared with those who did not develop a stroke, but there were no significant differences in MDS between CAD patients with or without subsequent acute coronary syndrome, cardiovascular, or all-cause mortality. After adjusting for confounding variables, a high MDS was an independent predictor for low systolic BPV (B -0.74, 95% confidence interval -1.27 to -0.21, P < 0.01) and was noted to be protective against subsequent development of stroke (hazards ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.24 to 0.94, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Among patients with CAD, a higher MDS is associated with a lower visit-to-visit BPV and with lower stroke risk.
Accuracy of Handheld Echocardiography for Bedside Diagnostic Evaluation in a Tertiary Cardiology Center: Comparison with Standard Echocardiography

Aims: We aimed to assess the clinical role of a basic handheld echocardiographic device (HHE) used during cardiology training in evaluating different functional and morphological elements of the heart. Methods and results: 56 consecutive patients (pts), 26 women, mean age 60.0 ± 11.9 years admitted in our Cardiology Department had an echocardiogram performed by both cardiology trainees using a HHE with B‐mode capabilities only and by cardiologists with advanced training in echocardiography using a standard echocardiography device (SE). Several parameters were analyzed: the presence of wall motion abnormalities (WMA), aortic valve abnormalities (AVAbn), mitral valve abnormalities (MVAbn), the presence of pericardial effusion (PE), as well as the presence of a dilated (LVD) or hypertrophied left ventricle (LVH). The Kappa coefficient of correlation between the two methods (k) was determined, along with the sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV). Both HHE and SED examinations were possible in 52 of the 56 pts (92.8% feasibility). There was a moderate correlation in the assessment of WMA (k = 0.56) with a substantial agreement for MVAbn (k = 0.72), AVAbn (k = 0.76), LVH (k = 0.67) There was excellent agreement for LVD (k = 0.81). Valvular diseases were determined by HHE with good Sp (MVAbn – 97.4%, AVAbn – 100%), although the Sn and NPV were lower. Conclusions: Bedside evaluation using HHE is helpful for assessing LV chamber and walls dimensions, LV regional function, and morphological abnormalities of the valves. The device can be used by cardiology trainees with limited experience in echocardiography but only in combination with a standard examination. (Echocardiography 2011;28:136‐141)
Registered report: Diverse somatic mutation patterns and pathway alterations in human cancers

The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology seeks to address growing concerns about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of selected experiments from a number of high-profile papers in the field of cancer biology. The papers, which were published between 2010 and 2012, were selected on the basis of citations and Altmetric scores (Errington et al., 2014). This Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from "Diverse somatic mutation patterns and pathway alterations in human cancers" by Kan and colleagues published in Nature in 2010 (Kan et al., 2010). The experiments to be replicated are those reported in Figures 3D-F and 4C-F. Kan and colleagues utilized mismatch repair detection (MRD) technology to identify somatic mutations in primary human tumor samples and identified a previously uncharacterized arginine 243 to histidine (R243H) mutation in the G-protein α subunit GNAO1 in breast carcinoma tissue. In Figures 3D-F, Kan and colleagues demonstrated that stable expression of mutant GNAO1R243D conferred a significant growth advantage in human mammary epithelial cells, confirming the oncogenic potential of this mutation. Similarly, expression of variants with somatic mutations in MAP2K4, a JNK pathway kinase (shown in Figures 4C-E) resulted in a significant increase in anchorage-independent growth. Interestingly, these mutants exhibited reduced kinase activity compared to wild type MAP2K4, indicating these mutations impose a dominant-negative influence to promote growth (Figure 4F). The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology is a collaboration between the Center for Open Science and Science Exchange and the results of the replications will be published in eLife. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.11566. 001
Systemic magnesium to reduce postoperative arrhythmias after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of systemic magnesium on the prevention of postoperative cardiac arrhythmias after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. DESIGN A meta-analysis. SETTING Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of systemic magnesium on the incidence of postoperative arrhythmias. PARTICIPANTS Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. INTERVENTIONS Systemic perioperative administration of magnesium sulfate. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Twenty studies evaluating 3,696 subjects were included. The combined effect suggested that systemic magnesium reduced the incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias compared with saline (odds ratio [OR] = 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.90; number needed to treat [NNT] = 14). The effect was present for lower-quality studies (Jadad score ≤3; OR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.28-0.81; NNT = 8), but it was not detected for higher-quality studies (Jadad >3; OR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.66-1.11). There was no association between the total dose of magnesium administration and the incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias (p = 0.19). There was no effect of magnesium on the incidence of postoperative stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. In addition, magnesium did not reduce the hospital or intensive care unit lengths of stay (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The effect of magnesium sulfate in reducing postoperative supraventricular arrhythmias was significant when examined by lower-quality studies but not when examined by higher-quality studies. This fact probably is responsible for controversial findings reported in the literature. Also, magnesium sulfate did not reduce the incidence of complications associated with the development of postoperative cardiac arrhythmias. More effective strategies should be used to prevent complications caused by arrhythmias in this patient population.
Associations Between Diet Quality and Depressed Mood in Adolescents: Results from the Australian Healthy Neighbourhoods Study

Objective: Adolescence frequently coincides with the onset of psychiatric illness and depression is commonly observed in adolescents. Recent data suggest a role for diet quality in adult depression. Given the importance of adequate nutrition for brain development, it is of interest to examine whether diet quality is also related to depression in adolescents. Methods: The study examined 7114 adolescents, aged 10–14 years, who participated in the Australian Healthy Neighbourhoods Study. Healthy and unhealthy diet quality scores were derived from a dietary questionnaire. The Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire for adolescents measured depression. Adjustments were made for age, gender, socioeconomic status, parental education, parental work status, family conflict, poor family management, dieting behaviours, body mass index, physical activity, and smoking. Results: Compared to the lowest category of the healthy diet score, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for symptomatic depression across categories (C) was: C2 = 0.61 (0.45–0.84); C3 = 0.58 (0.43–0.79); C4 = 0.47 (0.35–0.64); and C5 = 0.55 (0.40–0.77). Compared to the lowest quintile, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for symptomatic depression across increasing quintiles of the unhealthy diet score were: Q2 = 1.03 (0.87–1.22); Q3 = 1.22 (1.03–1.44); Q4 = 1.29 (1.12–1.50); and Q5 = 1.79 (1.52–2.11). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate an association between diet quality and adolescent depression that exists over and above the influence of socioeconomic, family, and other potential confounding factors.
Decrease of β-Endorphin in the Brain of Rats Following Nitrous Oxide Withdrawal

beta-Endorphin levels in the whole rat brain were not changed during acute (25 min) or chronic (48 h) exposure of rats to N2O. However, a significant decrease of beta-endorphin was found in the whole brain, brain stem and subcortex during the withdrawal from chronic exposure to N2O. It has been suggested that decrease of beta-endorphin levels during N2O withdrawal could be ascribed to unspecific stress accompanying drug withdrawal. Decrease of central beta-endorphin during N2O withdrawal might have a significant modulatory effect on transmitter balance, neuronal excitability and corresponding withdrawal behaviour. Furthermore, the decrease of beta-endorphin levels in the whole brain during N2O withdrawal might contribute to the postanaesthesia N2O-excitatory syndrome in humans. This might explain the known therapeutic effect of the opioid drug, meperidine on the excitatory N2O withdrawal phenomena during recovery from N2O anaesthesia in man.
Hepatic steatosis in HIV/hepatitis C coinfection: Prevalence and significance compared with hepatitis C monoinfection

Liver disease in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has received increasing attention in recent years. Steatosis is accepted as an important contributor to liver disease in patients with HCV, but despite coinfected patients having several reasons to have steatosis, the prevalence and significance of such changes has received scant attention. We examined steatosis in an unselected cohort of coinfected patients and compared its prevalence and predictors with findings in monoinfected patients, where these relationships have been established. We studied 92 coinfected and 372 monoinfected patients undergoing staging liver biopsy. Baseline characteristics of the two groups differed significantly, pointing at different contributors to steatosis in each. Histological inflammation and fibrosis were very similar in the two groups, but steatosis was less in coinfected patients. Steatosis had a univariate association with fibrosis in both groups, but retained a multivariate association only in monoinfected patients. Other multivariate predictors of steatosis in monoinfected patients were the accepted variables of elevated body mass index, male sex, and genotype 3a infection, as well as age. In coinfected patients, however, age was the only multivariate predictor. Undetectable HIV viral load was associated with steatosis in coinfected patients in univariate analysis, but highly active antiretroviral therapy or its individual components could not be initially linked to steatosis. In conclusion, steatosis is less common in HIV/HCV coinfected patients than similar HCV monoinfected patients, and predictors of steatosis differ between the two groups. (HEPATOLOGY 2005;42:310–316.)
Follow-up of children’s oral health-related quality of life after dental general anaesthesia treatment

Abstract Objective: Our aim was to analyze longitudinally the impact of young children’s dental general anaesthesia (DGA) treatment on their OHRQoL and to determine their post-operative oral health status at the six-month follow-up together with parental ratings of their children’s oral health. Material and methods: We conducted a prospective follow-up study of OHRQoL among Lithuanian child patients treated under general anaesthesia (n = 144). The study consisted of clinical dental examinations performed by two examiners at the time of DGA and at the six-month recall, along with OHRQoL surveys and data collected from the patients’ files. The dmft index and Silness–Löe plaque index served as clinical measures. The survey tool for assessing the children’s OHRQoL was the previously tested Lithuanian version of the ECOHIS. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test served for the statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Results: The ECOHIS scores clearly decreased post-operatively, indicating a significant (p < 0.001) improvement in the children’s OHRQoL after the DGA treatment. The ECOHIS scores were lower immediately after the DGA treatment and remained low at the six-month recall. Parents rated their child’s oral health as higher after the DGA treatment (p < 0.001). The majority (75%) of the patients had poor or satisfactory oral hygiene at follow-up. Conclusions: This longitudinal study showed a sustained improvement in the children’s OHRQoL six months after their DGA treatment. Post-operative parental ratings of their child’s oral health were higher after the DGA treatment, but the children exhibited insufficient oral hygiene and new caries lesions. An appropriate follow-up system for children receiving DGA treatment with special focus on preventive care is needed.
Factors Influencing the Twisting and Untwisting Properties of the Left Ventricle during Normal Pregnancy

During pregnancy, important hemodynamic changes occur, consistent with an increase in preload and decrease in afterload and systemic vascular resistance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in left ventricular (LV) strain and rotational properties during the 3 trimesters of normal pregnancy and to examine the factors that drive these changes.
Identification of p300-targeted Acetylated Residues in GATA4 during Hypertrophic Responses in Cardiac Myocytes*♦

A zinc finger protein, GATA4, is one of the hypertrophy-responsive transcription factors and increases its DNA binding and transcriptional activities in response to hypertrophic stimuli in cardiac myocytes. Activation of GATA4 during this process is mediated, in part, through acetylation by intrinsic histone acetyltransferases such as a transcriptional coactivator p300. However, p300-targeted acetylated sites of GATA4 during myocardial cell hypertrophy have not been identified. By mutational analysis, we showed that 4 lysine residues located between amino acids 311 and 322 are required for synergistic activation of atrial natriuretic factor and endothelin-1 promoters by GATA4 and p300. A tetra-mutant GATA4, in which these 4 lysine residues were simultaneously mutated, retained the ability to localize in nuclei and to interact with cofactors including FOG-2, GATA6, and p300 but lacked p300-induced acetylation, DNA binding, and transcriptional activities. Furthermore, coexpression of the tetra-mutant GATA4 with wild-type GATA4 impaired the p300-induced acetylation, DNA binding, and transcriptional activities of the wild type. When we expressed the tetra-mutant GATA4 in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes using a lentivirus vector, this mutant suppressed phenylephrine-induced increases in cell size, protein synthesis, and expression of hypertrophy-responsive genes. However, its expression did not affect the basal state. Thus, we have identified the most critical lysine residues acting as p300-mediated acetylation targets in GATA4 during hypertrophic responses in cardiac myocytes. The results also demonstrate that GATA4 with simultaneous mutation of these sites specifically suppresses hypertrophic responses as a dominant-negative form, providing further evidence for the acetylation of GATA4 as one of critical nuclear events in myocardial cell hypertrophy.
Impact of treatment with raltegravir during primary or chronic HIV infection on RNA decay characteristics and the HIV viral reservoir

Background:Eradication of HIV-1 is prevented by the formation of viral reservoirs in peripheral blood, lymphoid tissues and other sanctuary sites. In most patients, rebound upon treatment cessation is prompt. We assessed whether early treatment with raltegravir can impact on the formation of the viral reservoir. Methods:We conducted an open-label, nonrandomized study, and assessed in detail the decay characteristics of HIV-1 RNA in plasma, HIV DNA in CD4+ T cells and colon tissue biopies (CTBs) in 16 treatment-naive patients during either primary (PHI, n = 8) or chronic (CHI, n = 8) HIV-1 infection after treatment with raltegravir and Truvada for 52 weeks. Results:HIV-1 RNA decreased rapidly with treatment in all patients; first and second phase levels were lower in PHI patients with no appreciable difference in residual viremia between the two groups at 52 weeks. Episomal HIV-1 DNA increased sharply in both groups with peak levels at 3–4 weeks. Total HIV-1 DNA levels were reduced in both groups with similar kinetics, but were markedly lower in PHI patients after 52 weeks. Integrated HIV-1 DNA levels were significantly lower at baseline in PHI patients and this difference widened on treatment. Finally, total HIV-1 DNA decayed substantially in both groups in CTB. Conclusion:Treatment with raltegravir resulted in a large number of abrogated integration events, reflected by the increase of episomal HIV-1 DNA after treatment initiation. Levels of total and integrated HIV-1 DNA were lower in PHI patients at the end of the study period.
Perfect secret sharing schemes for graph access structures on six participants

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to consider the problem of determining the exact values of the complexities of the three graph access structures on six participants, which are unsolved in van Dijk's paper [Des Codes Cryptogr 6 (1995), 143–169]. For each of these access structures, we obtain the upper bound 3/2 on the complexity, establishing the exact value of the complexity.
Immunological basis of stem cell therapy in liver diseases

Unbalanced immune cell populations or immune cell infiltration of the liver can disrupt the immune-privileged state of the liver, resulting in liver injury or fibrosis. Therefore, the treatment for liver diseases involves not only hepatic regeneration but also immunological regulation. Recent studies demonstrated that stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells, have the capacity for not only hepatic differentiation but also immunomodulation. In this respect, stem cell therapy could be a realistic aim for liver diseases by modulating the liver regenerative processes and down-regulating immune-mediated liver damage. In this review, we discuss in detail the importance of immune cells in liver injury and repair; the mechanism by which stem cells demonstrate an immune-tolerant phenotype that can be used for allogeneic transplantation; the effect of stem cell transplantation on immune-mediated diseases, especially liver diseases; and the mechanism by which stem cells improve the hepatic microenvironment.
Concordance Between Peri-Areolar Blue Dye and Peri-Incisional Radiotracer Injections for Sentinel Node Mapping in Patients with a History of Primary Breast Cancer Excisonal Biopsy

Abstract Background: We evaluated the concordance between peri-areolar blue dye and peri-incisional radiotracer injections for axillary sentinel node mapping of patients with the history of previous breast lesion excisional biopsy. Methods: 80 patients with the history of previous excisional biopsy of the breast lesions were included. All patients received two injections of 99mTc-antimony sulfide colloid in both ends of incision line in an intradermal fashion. 2 mL patient blue V dye was injection to all patients in the peri-areolar area of the index quadrant after induction of anesthesia. All blue or hot nodes were harvested as sentinel lymph nodes. Results: At least one sentinel node could be detected during surgery in 79 patients. In total 94 sentinel nodes were detected. All detected sentinel nodes were hot. In three patients sentinel nodes were detected by gamma probe but not blue dye. The tumor location in all of these patients was in the upper lateral quadrant and the incision line was extended into the axillary tail of the breast in all of them. 91 out of 94 sentinel nodes were stained blue, which amounts to 95.8% concordance between blue dye and radiotracer on a per node analysis. Conclusions: Single peri-areolar injection in the index quadrant would suffice for sentinel node mapping of patients with history of excisional biopsy. Care should be taken in patients with large excisional biopsy in the extreme proximity to axilla.