Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Alcohol Use Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

AIMS People with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) have a double increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and associated premature mortality. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components are highly predictive of CVD. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to describe pooled rates of MetS and its components in people with AUDs taking into account variations in demographic and clinical variables. METHODS Medline, Embase and CINAHL were searched until 03/2016 for cross-sectional and baseline data of longitudinal studies in adults with AUDs. Two independent reviewers extracted data. Random effects meta-analysis with a relative risk, subgroups and meta-regression analyses were employed. RESULTS The pooled MetS prevalence after adjusting for publication bias was 21.8% (95% CI = 19.1%-24.8%; N studies = 5; n participants = 865; age range = 34.8-51.1 years). Abdominal obesity was observed in 38.3% (N = 4, n = 389; 95%CI = 30.2%-47.0%), hyperglycemia in 14.3% (N = 4, n = 389; 95% CI = 3.7%-42.3%), hypertriglyceridemia in 43.9% (N = 4, n = 389; 95% CI = 31.7%-56.8%), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in 7.6% (N = 4, n = 389; 95% CI = 4.3%-13.2%) and hypertension in 46.5% (95% CI = 21.7%-73.1%). The MetS prevalence was similar across settings. A separate meta-regression analysis revealed that a higher MetS frequency was moderated by a higher percentage of psychiatric co-morbidity (coefficient = 3.651; standard error = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.50 to 5.80, z = 3.3, P < 0.001), CONCLUSIONS: Routine screening and multidisciplinary management of metabolic abnormalities in people with AUD is needed. Special attention should be given to people with AUDs with psychiatric co-morbidities. Future research should focus on how cardio-metabolic outcomes are moderated by clinical characteristics. SHORT SUMMARY The metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components are highly predictive of cardiovascular diseases. Our meta-analysis demonstrates that more than 1 in 5 persons with alcohol use disorder (AUDs) has the MetS. Routine screening and multidisciplinary management of metabolic abnormalities should be an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment of AUDs.
Origin of de novo KCNJ11 mutations and risk of neonatal diabetes for subsequent siblings.

CONTEXT Activating mutations in the KCNJ11 gene, which encodes the Kir6.2 subunit of the pancreatic beta-cell K(ATP) channel, result in permanent and transient neonatal diabetes. The majority of KCNJ11 mutations are spontaneous, but the parental origin of these mutations is not known. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine the parental origin of de novo KCNJ11 mutations and investigate the possibility of mosaicism in transmitting parents. DESIGN We identified 68 index cases with a KCNJ11 mutation where neither parent was known to be affected. DNA was available from both parents of 41 probands. The parental origin of the mutation was determined in 18 families by examination of pedigrees, microsatellite analysis, or allele-specific PCR. RESULTS A nonsignificant excess of paternally derived mutations was found with 13 of 18 (72%) shown to have arisen on the paternal allele. There was no evidence to suggest an association with increased age at conception. In two families, there were half-siblings with permanent neonatal diabetes born to an unaffected father, suggesting germline mosaicism that was confirmed by the presence of the R201C mutation in one father's semen. Somatic mosaicism was detected in one unaffected mother, and this mutation will also be present in her germ cells. CONCLUSION De novo KCNJ11 mutations can arise either during gametogenesis or embryogenesis. The possibility of germline mosaicism means that future siblings are at increased risk of neonatal diabetes, and we recommend that molecular genetic testing is routinely offered at birth for subsequent siblings of children with de novo KCNJ11 mutations.
Asymptotic Convergence of Backpropagation

We calculate analytically the rate of convergence at long times in the backpropagation learning algorithm for networks with and without hidden units. For networks without hidden units using the standard quadratic error function and a sigmoidal transfer function, we find that the error decreases as 1/t for large t, and the output states approach their target values as 1/t. It is possible to obtain a different convergence rate for certain error and transfer functions, but the convergence can never be faster than 1/t. These results are unaffected by a momentum term in the learning algorithm, but convergence can be substantially improved by an adaptive learning rate scheme. For networks with hidden units, we generally expect the same rate of convergence to be obtained as in the single-layer case; however, under certain circumstances one can obtain a polynomial speed-up for non sigmoidal units, or a logarithmic speed-up for sigmoidal units. Our analytic results are confirmed by empirical measurements of the convergence rate in numerical simulations.
Parents' cognitions and expectations about their pre-school children: The contribution of parental anxiety and child anxiety

This study investigated the relative associations between parent and child anxiety and parents' cognitions about their children. One hundred and four parents of children aged 3-5 years completed questionnaires regarding their own anxiety level, their child's anxiety level and their cognitions about the child, specifically parents' expectations about child distress and avoidance, and parents' perceived control over child mood and behaviour. Both parent anxiety and parent report of child anxiety were significantly associated with parents' cognitions. Specifically, parent report of child anxiety correlated significantly with parent locus of control generally and, more specifically, with parental expectations and perceived control of child anxious mood and behaviour. Parent anxiety correlated significantly with locus of control and parents' expectations of child anxious mood and behaviour. Furthermore, when both child and parent anxiety were taken into account, only parental anxiety remained significantly associated with parental locus of control and perceived control of child anxious behaviour. For parents' perceived control of child anxious mood, only child anxiety remained significantly associated. The results suggest that parents' perceived control over their children's behaviour may primarily reflect parental anxiety, rather than child anxiety. Parental anxiety may, therefore, present an important target for interventions that aim to change parent's cognitions and behaviour.
Nomenclatura, Clasificación y Percepciones Locales Acerca de los Hongos en dos Comunidades de la Selva Lacandona, Chiapas, México

Mediante un estudio etnomicografico se describen las formas de nombrar, clasificar y percibir a los hongos en la comunidad de Playon de la Gloria y Lacanja-Chansayab, en la Selva Lacandona. Se registraron 13 tipos de hongos que son reconocidos en la primera comunidad y 41 tipos en la segunda, que corresponden a 16 y 52 especies taxonomicas, respectivamente. Los nombres asignados, en su mayoria corresponden a alusiones morfologicas. Ambas comunidades nombran y clasifican especies en funcion de su significacion culturaL Ademas, existenpercepciones similares con respecto a los hongos, independientemente de su condicion etno-historica, sin embargo una diferencia trascendental es la percepcion con respecto a su importancia y a su papel en la sucesion vegetal de la selva.
Antihyperglycaemic flavonoids from Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. and Perry

2′,4′‐Dihydroxy‐3′,5′‐dimethyl‐6′‐methoxychalcone 1, its isomeric flavanone 5‐O‐methyl‐4′‐desmethoxymatteucinol 2 and 2′4′‐dihydroxy‐6′‐methoxy‐3′‐methylchalcone 3 were isolated from the leaves of S. samarangense using a bioassay‐directed scheme. In an oral glucose tolerance test, at a dosage of 1.0 mg[sol ]20 g mouse, 1 and 2 significantly (α = 0.05) lowered the blood glucose levels (BGLs) in glucose‐hyperglycaemic mice when administered 15 min after a glucose load. When co‐administered with glucose, only 1 showed a significant lowering of BGLs 45 min after its oral administration. When administered 15 min before glucose, none of the flavonoids showed a positive effect. Only 1 decreased significantly, at α = 0.05, the BGLs of alloxan‐diabetic mice at t = 90–150 min. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monozygotic Twin Differences in Non-shared Environmental Factors Associated with Chronotype

Twin studies have highlighted that a large proportion of variability in chronotype is accounted for by individual-specific environmental factors (non-shared environmental influences). However, little research has aimed to identify specific non-shared environmental influences on chronotype. Although epidemiological studies have shed light on possible environmental influences on chronotype, a substantial amount of research has highlighted the importance of genetic influences on exposure toward specific environments, a process termed gene-environment correlation. It is possible that associations between the environment and chronotype are in part determined by genetics, rather than being purely environmental in origin. One way of exploring the contribution of purely non-shared environmental components on associations between chronotype and the environment is to use the monozygotic twin differences design. This design allows us to tease apart the influences of genetics and the environment to identify purely environmental components. One hundred eighty-nine monozygotic twin pairs (mean age 19.81 years, SD = 1.26, range = 18-22 years, 66.1% female) completed the Horne and Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire as a measure of chronotype and questionnaires assessing the following candidate non-shared environmental influences: dependent and independent negative life events, educational attainment, employment status, relationship status, deviant peers, affiliation with deviant peers, general health, smoking, drug use, and alcohol use. Linear regression analyses indicated the presence of gene-environment correlation for the majority of associations between chronotype and candidate environmental influences. When controlling for genetic and shared environmental effects, within monozygotic twin-pair differences in chronotype were associated with within monozygotic twin-pair differences in dependent negative life events (β = −0.27, p < 0.001), educational attainment (β = −0.14, p < 0.05), smoking status (β = 0.22, p < 0.01), and drug use (β = −0.16, p < 0.01). These results suggest that some of the association between these variables is purely environmental in nature. The associations between the remaining environmental variables and chronotype, however, may be intertwined with underlying genetic factors. These findings add to our understanding of genetic and environmental mechanisms underlying the biological clock.
Advances in the treatment of root dentine sensitivity: mechanisms and treatment principles

There are limited studies specifically on the prevalence of root dentine hypersensitivity or root sensitivity per se ;m ostof the published information relates to the prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity (DH). Several investigators have suggested that there may be some justification on the basis of differing pathologies of distinguishing between those individuals complaining of DH who have relatively healthy mouths with those who complain of DH as a result of periodontal disease and/or its treatment. It is generally recognized that those individuals diagnosed with periodontal disease and having periodontal therapy including scaling procedures may have a higher prevalence than those who present with healthy mouths and evidence of gingival recession. The availability of a vast array of treatments, however, would indicate either that there is no one effective desensitizing agent for completely resolving the discomfort or that the condition, dueto its highly subjective nature, is difficultto treatirrespective of the availabletreatment options. The importance of implementing preventative strategies in identifying and eliminating predisposing factors in particularly erosive factors (e.g. dietary acids) cannot be ignored if the practitioner is going to treat this troublesome clinical condition successfully. This paper will review the published literature and provide information as to the prevalence of the condition, its etiology and causal factors, as well as recommendations for the clinical management of the problem.
2‐Picoline‐borane: A non‐toxic reducing agent for oligosaccharide labeling by reductive amination

Analysis of N‐glycans is often performed by LC coupled to fluorescence detection. The N‐glycans are usually labeled by reductive amination with a fluorophore containing a primary amine to allow fluorescence detection. Moreover, many of the commonly applied labels also allow improved mass spectrometric detection of oligosaccharides. For reductive amination, the amine group of the label reacts with the reducing‐end aldehyde group of the oligosaccharide to form a Schiff base, which is reduced to a secondary amine. Here, we propose the use of 2‐picoline‐borane as the reducing agent, as a non‐toxic alternative to the extensively used, but toxic sodium cyanoborohydride. Using dextran oligosaccharides and plasma N‐glycans, we demonstrate similar labeling efficacies for 2‐picoline‐borane and sodium cyanoborohydride. Therefore, 2‐picoline‐borane is a non‐toxic alternative to sodium cyanoborohydride for the labeling of oligosaccharides.
Safety of bronchoscopy, biopsy, and BAL in research patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND Bronchoscopy with biopsy and BAL is being performed increasingly in patients with COPD as a research tool. Previous reports have shown these procedures to be safe in asthmatic patients, but there is little safety data specific to COPD. METHODS We studied 57 patients with COPD (11 women and 46 men; median FEV(1), 1.2 L [range, 0.64 to 2.69 L]; percent predicted FEV(1), 44.5% [range, 25 to 74.8%]). Eleven patients had mild disease, 28 patients had moderate disease, and 18 patients had severe disease according to British Thoracic Society classification. Ninety-eight bronchoscopies were performed according to American Thoracic Society guidelines: 68 procedures with endobronchial biopsy and BAL and 30 procedures with biopsy alone. Controlled oxygen was administered via nasal cannula, and pulse oximetry and vital signs were monitored. RESULTS Five adverse events occurred. One patient in the moderate-disease group had severe bronchospasm requiring 4 days of inpatient treatment. One patient in the severe-disease group had a pneumothorax requiring 7 days of inpatient treatment. There were three episodes of hemoptysis, two with pleuritic pain (in the BAL group) that settled without intervention. No deaths or prolonged morbidity were observed. We found a 2.0% incidence of adverse events requiring hospital treatment and a 3.1% incidence of minor hemoptysis requiring no intervention. CONCLUSIONS Bronchoscopy, biopsy, and BAL can be performed safely in patients with COPD, including those with severe disease, provided careful assessment is performed and guidelines are adhered to.
Late Neogene history of the laurel tree (Laurus L., Lauraceae) based on phylogeographical analyses of Mediterranean and Macaronesian populations

Aim The post‐glacial range dynamics of many European plant species have been widely investigated, but information rapidly diminishes as one moves further back in time. Here we infer the historical range shifts of Laurus, a paradigmatic tree of the Tethyan flora that has covered southern Eurasia since the Oligo‐Miocene, by means of phylogenetic and phylogeographical analyses.
Phorbol ester enhances human immunodeficiency virus-promoted gene expression and acts on a repeated 10-base-pair functional enhancer element

T-cell activation pathways are involved in the regulation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expression. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) is a potent inducer of T-cell immune functions and has recently been demonstrated to increase viral replication in cell lines infected with HIV. To define sequences required for viral induction by PMA. T-cell lines were transiently transfected with viral long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences directing chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene expression. PMA added to transfected cell cultures 24 h before harvest reproducibly increased both CAT mRNA and enzyme expression 2- to 2-fold. Sequences necessary for basal and PMA-induced levels of CAT expression were determined by deletion and enhancer reconstitution constructs with fragments and oligonucleotides from the original LTR-CAT expression plasmid. PMA-inducible and basal activity required tandem repeats of a core enhancer element (GGGACTTTCC) located in the LTR between -105 and -82 relative to the RNA start site. The enhancerlike sequence could be inserted at a site distant to the CAT gene open reading frame and functioned in a position- and orientation-independent manner. The data thus define a transcriptionally active regulatory-enhancer element critical to the control of HIV gene expression.
Comparison during pregnancy of iron metabolism between adolescent and adult women in Côte d ' Ivoire

1. Laboratory of Physiology, Pharmacology and Phytotherapy, Training and Research Unit of Natural Sciences, Nangui Abrogoua University, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire. 2. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UFR Agroferesterie, Daloa University, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire 3. Laboratoire of haematology (Training and Research Unit of the Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences)/Félix Houphouët-Boigny University; 21 BP 632 Abidjan 21. Côte d’Ivoire. Corresponding author email: bleyere@yahoo.fr and chridandre@gmail.com
Prevalent aetiologies of non‐therapeutic warfarin anticoagulation in a network of pharmacist‐managed anticoagulation clinics

What is known and objective: There is wide inter‐patient and intra‐patient variability in the pharmacodynamic profile of warfarin. To determine the prevailing aetiologies of non‐therapeutic warfarin anticoagulation episodes among patients currently enrolled in an outpatient anticoagulation clinic and compare the relative frequency in which they occur compared to therapeutic anticoagulation regimens.
Foreign Direct Investment and Employment Rights in South Eastern Europe Abstract The dominant neo-liberal policy community holds that a reduction in employment rights and social protection is likely to promote economic recovery

The dominant neo-liberal policy community holds that a reduction in employment rights and social protection is likely to promote economic recovery and growth. It has been suggested that investors are likely to shun countries where such rights are strong; in contrast, radical labour market deregulation is seen as encouraging both local business and multinationals to invest. This study explores whether labour market deregulation in South Eastern Europe has really encouraged multinationals to invest in the region. We find that the weakening of important aspects of employment rights under the law appears to detract from, rather than encourage, foreign direct investment. We also show that stronger employment rights are more likely to attract FDI when the host country is located with the EU. This finding suggests that the complementarities associated with stronger employment rights and more committed labour (see Hall and Soskice, 2001) may offset the overall deterrent effects of the greater regulation associated with EU membership.
Racial Disparity in Survival of Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx

Background This study was designed to determine if race and age are independent prognostic factors for survival in patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and pharynx. Methods Retrospective study. Results Out of 909 patients registered, 815 (90%) were white and 94 (10%) were African-American. The median age was 60 years (range 1993). The African-American patients had a significantly lower 5 year survival rate of 27.6% (95% CI 19.938.3) compared with white patients with a survival rate of 52.0% (95% CI 48.755.6) (P < 0.001). The greatest racial disparities in survival were observed in patients under 60 years of age [29.2% (95% CI 19.543.6) vs 60.9% (95% CI 56.366.0) for AfricanAmerican and white patients, respectively, P < 0.001], and in African-American men compared with white men [20.2% (95% CI 12.630.2) vs 51.0% (95% CI 46.753.0), P < 0.001]. A multivariate Cox model, stratified according to stage of disease, indicated that race, age, and type of treatment were statistically significant predictors of survival. After adjusting for race and treatment received, African-American patients had a relative risk of dying of 1.61 (95% CI 1.232.10) compared with white patients. All patients 60 years of age and older had a higher risk of dying 1.59 (95% CI 1.311.92). Compared with surgical treatment alone, radiotherapy and other treatments were both associated with increased risk of dying with respective relative risks of 1.34 (95% CI 1.011.76) and 1.94 (95% CI 1.521.48). Conclusions African-American patients had poorer survival outcomes, with race and age emerging as significant independent predictors of survival after treatment for oral and pharyngeal cancer, compared with their white counterparts. Primary and secondary prevention programs that target younger patients at high risk might reduce environmental risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, which may play a greater role in the acquired susceptibility for oral and pharyngeal cancer in African-American males.
The frequency of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy female adolescents

Aim: To establish the frequency and causes of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy female adolescents in Izmir, Turkey. Methods: 64 adolescents from a low‐ (Ikinci Inönü) and a high‐ (Ilica) socio‐economic settlement were included. Parents’ monthly income was classified as low, middle and high. The blood samples were drawn at the end of the summer and winter periods. Results: Vitamin D insufficiency percentages for the end‐of‐winter period were 59.4% in Ikinci Inönü and 15.6% in Ilica, and for the end of summer 25% and 15.6%, respectively. Calcidiol levels of cases from Ikinci Inönü were found to be lower compared with the levels of cases from Ilica (34±15 vs 59±24 nmol/l for end of winter, p= 0.000; 51±22 vs 65±28 nmol/l for end of summer, p= 0.03). Calcidiol levels of cases whose parental monthly income was low and whose mothers were illiterate were significantly lower than the others (48±18 vs 65±29 nmol/l for end of summer, p= 0.01; 33±16 vs 56±23 nmol/l for end of winter, p= 0.000; 45±13 vs 64±29 nmol/l for end of summer, p= 0.007; 36±17 vs 51±25 nmol/l for end of winter, p= 0.02; respectively).
Suprahepatic caval anastomotic stenosis complicating orthotopic liver transplantation: treatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, Wallstent placement, or both.

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to evaluate, over a 5-year period, the nonsurgical treatment of three patients with suprahepatic caval anastomotic stenosis who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation. CONCLUSION Balloon angioplasty is a safe and effective method for treating chronic caval stenosis occurring in patients who have undergone orthotopic liver transplantation. Caval stenosis identified in the early postoperative period, especially when such stenosis is associated with caval torsion or kinking, may be effectively treated by stent placement.