Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a New Assay for Vi Antibody in Chronic Carriers of Salmonella typhi

The assay for serum antibody to the Salmonella typhi capsular polysaccharide (Vi) antigen has recently been revised because of the availability of a purified, highly polymerized Vi antigen. We compared this revised Vi antibody assay to the traditional one for potential usefulness in the surveillance of chronic enteric carriers of S. typhi. The purified Vi antigen of Citrobacter freundii was incorporated into a passive hemagglutination assay for serum Vi antibody; the standard Vi antibody assay was also a hemagglutination assay that employed as the Vi antigen a crude extract of Citrobacter (Ballerup O group 29). As determined by the revised assay, Vi antibody was found in the sera of 22 (71%) of 31 current typhoid carriers, none of 6 resolved carriers, and none of 22 control subjects. According to the traditional assay, Vi antibody was present in 23 of those current carriers (74%), 1 of the resolved carriers (17%), and 4 of the control subjects (18%). The rate of false-positive Vi antibody tests among resolved carriers and control subjects was less with the revised assay (P < 0.05). Successful antimicrobial therapy resulted in a reversion to seronegativity within 1 year in 8 of 10 Vipositive carriers according to the revised assay, but in only 3 of 11 according to the standard assay (P < 0.05). During a 2-year period of observation, 15 (94%) of 16 current typhoid carriers had at least one positive purified Vi antibody test; among 12 of those patients with Vi titers of 1:40 or greater, 9 (75%) were continuously Vi positive. Thus, the revised Vi antibody assay is more specific and no less sensitive than the standard assay for the condition of current enteric carriage of S. typhi. This serological test could be of value in the surveillance of typhoid carriers by public health agencies.
Analysis of disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with luminal a breast cancer stratified according to TNM.

BACKGROUND AND AIM The TNM classification of malignant tumours is the most commonly used system to assess the stage as well as the prognosis of cancer. However, one of the biggest challenges in treatment of breast cancer is the understanding of tumour heterogeneity typical of these carcinomas. The aim of this study was to analyse the disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with luminal A subtype of breast cancer, stratified by TNM staging system. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN A total of 363 medical records from January 2001 to May 2006 were evaluated for data collection. There were 136 patients with luminal A breast cancer, selected for the cohort. The main objective was the analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with luminal A breast cancer, stratified according to the TNM classification. RESULTS The group of 136 patients with immunohistochemically defined luminal A subtype represented 53% of the 253 patients with breast cancer. There was no significant difference in the number and type of patients as for TNM stage and histological grading among patients treated with chemotherapy and HT in comparison to patients treated with HT alone. CONCLUSION Our analysis did not prove any significant difference in survival of patients treated with chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy in comparison to patients treated with HT alone. We suggest that the IHC luminal A subtype of breast cancer generally warrants a good prognosis independently on other prognostic factors such as TNM stage. We conclude that patients might not benefit of adding a chemotherapy to hormonal therapy in adjuvant settings.
Confocal scanning laser tomography of the optic nerve head of glaucoma patients: inter-correlation of disc parameters.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the scanning laser tomography characteristics of the optic nerve head in patients with primary open angle (POAG) glaucoma using the Heidelberg retina tomography (HRT II). DESIGN A clinic-based retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS A total of 84 eyes of 42 POAG patients with good quality HRT II Images were studied at Charles Nicolle Hospital University department of Ophthalmology out-patient clinic, Tunis. METHODS Characteristics of optic disc pattern of glaucoma patients were documented using the HRT II. Association of disc area with the other HRT parameters and inter-eye difference in the HRT parameters were assessed using simple and multiple regression analysis. MAIN OUT-COME MEASURES: Disc area, cup area, rim area, cup-to-disc area ratio, cup volume, rim volume, mean cup depth, maximum cup depth and mean retinal nerve fibre layer thickness. RESULTS Twenty-seven males and 15 females were studied. The mean age of glaucoma patients was 48.9±2.7 years. The mean disc area, cup area, cup-to-disc area ratio and rim area were 2.19±0.46 (range, 1.23 - 3.16mm2), 0.95±0.94 (range 0.08 - 2.15), 0.42±0.21(range 0.004-0.92), 1.25± 0.46 (range 0.18-2.64) respectively. Disc area was positively correlated to the cup area (p=0.001), rim area (p=0.001), cup to disc area ratio (p=0.03), and mean cup depth (p=0.02). The glaucoma diagnosis score was strongly correlated with the rim area (p< 0.001), cup area (p< 0.001), mean cup depth (p< 0.001) and cup disc area ratio (p< 0.001). Absolute inter eye parameter between the two eyes were positively correlated with disc area (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS There was a significant correlation of the parameters between the two eyes and between the disc area and some other HRT parameters.
To Determine the Head Posture in Oral Breathing Children: A Cephalometric Study

Objective: Mouth breathing, being a cause for various orthodontic problems, has been a subject of concern to orthodontists since years. This study was aimed to analyze the influence, mouth breathing on the head posture and to compare variations in head posture between physiologic breathing and mouth breathing groups. Materials and methods: Lateral cephalograms of 25 physiologic breathing (PB) and 25 mouth breathing (MB) children within the age group of 8 to 14 years were analyzed using standard cephalometric parameters. The Student’s t-test was used to determine, if significant cephalometric differences existed between the MB and the PB children. Values in male and female subjects were determined and expressed as mean and standard deviation. Results: The findings revealed that craniofacial morphology in mouth breathers differs profoundly when compared to that of the physiologic breathers. Conclusion: There should be an early interception of mouth breathing in growing children as these postural changes, if maintained for long periods, could lead to severe skeletal deformities.
Corridor disease in South Africa: a review of the current status.

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a reservoir host of Theileria parva lawrencei the causative organism of Corridor or buffalo disease of cattle. This organism can apparently transform its behaviour when tick-passaged through cattle to resemble that of Theileria parva parva, causing classic East Coast fever (ECF). These are major considerations for the strict quarantine measures imposed on buffaloes from Corridor disease endemic areas in South Africa. Results of continuing studies on diagnosis, chemotherapy, transmission and attempts to transform the behaviour of T.p. lawrencei in the laboratory, are discussed.
Gingival plasma cell granuloma

Plasma cell granuloma, also known as inflammatory pseudotumor is a tumor-like lesion that manifests primarily in the lungs. But it may occur in various other anatomic locations like orbit, head and neck, liver and rarely in the oral cavity. We here report an exceedingly rare case of gingival plasma cell granuloma in a 58 year old woman who presented with upper gingival polypoidal growth. The histopathological examination revealed a mass composed of proliferation of benign spindle mesenchymal cells in a loose myxoid and fibrocollagenous stroma along with dense infiltrate of chronic inflammatory cells predominantly containing plasma cells. Immunohistochemistry for kappa and lambda light chains showed a polyclonal staining pattern confirming a diagnosis of plasma cell granuloma.
Retinol-binding protein 4 and insulin resistance.

To the Editor: Graham et al. (June 15 issue)1 report that serum levels of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) correlated with the magnitude of insulin resistance in various subjects. However, RBP4 and plasma insulin levels were dissociated in subjects who did not have an improvement in insulin sensitivity after exercise.1 Thus, we believe that the importance of RBP4 should be assessed in more diverse groups. We assessed serum RBP4 levels in 473 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (fasting blood glucose level, <110 mg per deciliter) who were randomly selected from the Suita Study, an epidemiologic cohort study.2 Serum RBP4 levels correlated with triglyceride and uric acid levels and tended to correlate with glycated hemoglobin values and levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (Table 1). However, RBP4 levels did not correlate with the fasting blood glucose level, waist-to-hip ratio, body-mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, or fasting insulin level. Even in the 38 subjects with a family history of diabetes, RBP4 did not correlate with the fasting insulin level. Thus, it seems unlikely that RBP4 will be useful for assessing the risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese people. The biologic action of RBP4 in relation to the action of insulin will need to be clarified to explain this inconsistency. Naoyuki Takashima, M.D. Hitonobu Tomoike, M.D., Ph.D. Naoharu Iwai, M.D., Ph.D.
High Resolution Structures of Periplasmic Glucose-binding Protein of Pseudomonas putida CSV86 Reveal Structural Basis of Its Substrate Specificity*

Periplasmic substrate-binding proteins (SBPs) bind to the specific ligand with high affinity and mediate their transport into the cytoplasm via the cognate inner membrane ATP-binding cassette proteins. Because of low sequence identities, understanding the structural basis of substrate recognition by SBPs has remained very challenging. There are several structures available for the ligand-bound sugar SBPs, but very few unliganded structures are reported. No structural data are available for sugar SBPs from Pseudomonas sp. to date. This study reports the first high resolution crystal structures of periplasmic glucose-binding protein from Pseudomonas putida CSV86 (ppGBP) in unliganded form (2.5 Å) and complexed with glucose (1.25 Å) and galactose (1.8 Å). Asymmetric domain closure of ppGBP was observed upon substrate binding. The ppGBP was found to have an affinity of ∼ 0.3 μm for glucose. The structural analysis showed that the sugars are bound to the protein mainly by hydrogen bonds, and the loss of two strong hydrogen bonds between ppGBP and galactose compared with glucose may be responsible for lowering its affinity toward galactose. The higher stability of ppGBP-glucose complex was also indicated by an 8 °C increase in the melting temperature compared with unliganded form and ppGBP-galactose complex. ppGBP binds to monosaccharide, but the structural features revealed it to have an oligosaccharide-binding protein fold, indicating that during evolution the sugar binding pocket may have undergone structural modulation to accommodate monosaccharide only.
Changes in type 1 diabetes health indicators from high school to college

ABSTRACT Objective: Evaluate trajectories of type 1 diabetes health indicators from high school through the first year of college. Participants: Seventy-four students with type 1 diabetes who maintained pediatric endocrinology care during the first year of college. Methods: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose monitoring frequency, body mass index (BMI), and clinic attendance data were collected via retrospective medical chart review in spring 2012. Group-based trajectory models evaluated diabetes-related health indicators over time and identified distinct growth trajectory groups. Results: BMI increased and clinic attendance decreased in the first year of college. Trajectories for other health indicators were heterogeneous and stable over time; 69% of students were classified as having stable good glycemic control. Racial minority youth and youth on conventional insulin regimens were disproportionally represented in higher-risk groups. Conclusions: Diabetes health indicators are stable or decline upon college entrance. Results signal the need for targeted support for college students with type 1 diabetes.
Comparison of scheduled and episodic treatment strategies of infliximab in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS This analysis of Crohn's disease patients treated with infliximab in ACCENT I compared episodic and scheduled treatment strategies under conditions that simulate clinical practice. METHODS After 5 mg/kg infliximab at week 0, 573 patients were randomized to infusions at weeks 2 and 6 and every 8 weeks until week 46 of placebo (episodic), infliximab 5 mg/kg at weeks 2 and 6 followed by 5 mg/kg (5 mg/kg scheduled) every 8 weeks, or infliximab 5 mg/kg at weeks 2 and 6 followed by 10 mg/kg (10 mg/kg scheduled) every 8 weeks. At or after week 14, treatment could be given with a dose of infliximab 5 mg/kg higher upon loss of response. RESULTS The efficacy of scheduled infliximab therapy was better than episodic treatment. Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores were consistently significantly better in the 10 mg/kg scheduled maintenance group from weeks 10 to 54, and response and remission rates (combined scheduled) were significantly higher from weeks 10 to 30. A greater proportion of patients achieved complete mucosal healing at week 54 (P = 0.041). A lower proportion developed antibodies to infliximab in the scheduled groups than in the episodic group (9% [5 mg/kg], 6% [10 mg/kg], 28% [episodic], respectively). Scheduled strategy patients had fewer Crohn's disease-related hospitalizations (P = 0.014) and surgeries (P = 0.01) than episodic strategy patients. CONCLUSIONS The scheduled infliximab groups, particularly the 10 mg/kg group, had better CDAI and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) responses than those in the episodic group. Both scheduled groups had fewer hospitalizations, higher rates of mucosal healing, and fewer developed antibodies than those in the episodic group, with no increase in side effects.
The role of tests of frontal executive function in the detection of mild dementia

To compare the performance of patients with mild dementia (Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) >23), depression (Montgomery–Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS) >12) and controls on tests of frontal executive function (FEF), to see if simple tools could be an adjunct to early recognition of dementia in primary care.
A model‐based assessment of non‐compliance of phosphorus standards for lakes in England and Wales

Abstract High phosphorus concentrations causing eutrophication will prevent many lakes in England and Wales from reaching good ecological status by 2015 according to the EC Water Framework Directive (WFD). The aim of this study was to estimate the percentage of lakes in England and Wales that are likely to fail recently agreed WFD phosphorus standards. As measured lake phosphorus concentrations are only available for a small number of lakes a model‐based approach was adopted. This involved estimating phosphorus loads from a wide range of sources including agricultural loads, sewage effluents, septic tanks, diffuse urban sources, atmospheric deposition, groundwater and bank erosion. Lake phosphorus concentrations were predicted using the Vollenweider model, and the model framework was satisfactorily tested against available observed lake concentration data. Applying the model to all lakes in England and Wales greater than 1 ha, it was estimated that under current conditions, roughly two thirds of the lakes would fail good ecological status with respect to phosphorus. According to our estimates, agricultural phosphorus loads represent the dominant source for the majority of catchments, but diffuse urban runoff also is important in many lakes and sewage effluents are the most frequent dominant source for lake catchments greater than 100 km2. Required reductions of phosphorus loads to increase the number of lakes achieving good ecological status and potential delays because of internal loading and biological resistances are briefly discussed.
Obstetric Complications and Asthma in Childhood

Studies have shown that perinatal factors are associated with childhood asthma. The current analyses examined the association between obstetric complications and risk of asthma at the age of 7 years using a prospectively population-based birth cohort in northern Finland. Results indicated that obstetric complications were associated with a higher risk of asthma among children. Those children who were administered special procedures at birth, i.e., cesarean section, vacuum extraction, and other procedures, including use of forceps, manual auxiliary, and extraction breech, had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for asthma of 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.92), 1.32 (95% CI 0.80–2.19), and 2.14 (95% CI 1.06–4.33), respectively, as compared to children who were delivered normally. Children who had a lower Apgar score at the first and the fifth minute after birth also had a higher risk as compared to those who had an Apgar score of 9–10. The results encourage further evaluation of the association between obstetric complications and risk of asthma among children in other populations, and further exploration of possible mechanisms underlying the association.
An evaluation of antiseptics used for hand disinfection in wards

SUMMARY The antibacterial effectiveness of hand antiseptics commonly used in wards was studied by laboratory and in-use tests and their acceptability assessed by means of a questionnaire passed to hospital staff. To determine the immediate and long-term antibacterial effects of the preparations the in-use tests were performed by groups of students. The greatest immediate reduction in bacterial counts on hands was obtained by products containing chlorhexidine. The longterm antibacterial effect was recorded with emulsions containing 3% hexachlorophane, 2% Irgasan CF3R or 4% chlorhexidine when used constantly on several consecutive days. Considerable discrepancies were recorded in the antibacterial effectiveness of some preparations when comparing laboratory and in-use test results. Therefore it is suggested that antiseptics should be tested by in-use tests which more closely resemble practical conditions before their use, or further trial, in hospital.
CT of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric recipients of lung allograft.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the CT and clinical findings of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric lung allograft recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the medical records and CT examinations of 260 lung transplantations in pediatric patients and found 26 recipients who had 29 episodes of histologically proven posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder. The clinical and CT features of the disease, the time to diagnosis, and the outcomes were assessed. RESULTS The clinical presentation of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder varied from asymptomatic pulmonary nodules (14/29 [48%]) detected on chest CT to specific (organ-related) and nonspecific symptoms (15/29 [52%]). Intrathoracic posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder occurred in 20 (69%) of 29 cases and manifested as multiple pulmonary nodules (n = 17), alveolar infiltrates (n = 2), and combined nodules and infiltrates (n = 1). In eight (28%) of 29 cases, there was extraparenchymal disease, including adenopathy, pleural effusion, and esophageal thickening and erosions. Extrathoracic posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder occurred in 13 cases and involved the abdomen (n = 10), paranasal sinuses (n = 2), and brain (n = 1). In the abdomen, extranodal disease was more common than nodal disease and presented as bowel wall thickening, focal mass lesions, and splenomegaly. In 18 of 29 episodes of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder, the histologic diagnosis was lymphoma. The median time to diagnosis after transplantation for the 29 episodes of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder was 10 months. Thirteen of the 26 patients died. The median time of survival after the diagnosis of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder was 17 months. CONCLUSION Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric lung transplant recipients occurs with relatively high frequency in both the chest and abdomen, tends to have lymphomatous features, and results in substantial mortality rates.
Piecing the puzzle together: case studies of international research in health-promoting sports clubs

This paper seeks to review the current international health-promoting sports club (HPSC) research, drawing together findings based on case studies from various countries to illustrate the status of HPSCs. In addition, future challenges for HPSC research and implementation are considered. The review includes six case studies from five countries. In summary, there are two major research themes in this area, namely ‘research into HPSC activity’ and ‘research into HPSC networks’. The first theme investigates the extent to which sports clubs and/or national sports organisations invest in health promotion (HP) – both in policy and practice. The latter theme is driven by an intention to widen the scope of HPSCs to reach novel internal actors, like parents, siblings, etc., and/or external non-sporting bodies, like communities, schools, etc. The future challenges for HPSC research require a better understanding of the motives, barriers and capacities of sports clubs and coaches. Sports organisations, clubs and coaches generally support the intent of the HPSC concept, but even with the best evidence- or theory-based HP programmes/guidelines/standards, nothing will happen in practice if the nature and capacities of sports clubs are not better acknowledged. Therefore, a call for embracing implementation science is finally made to enhance implementation.
Bile acid feeding increased proliferative activity and apical bile acid transporter expression in both small and large rat cholangiocytes

Bile acids (BA) enter cholangiocytes by the Na+‐dependent apical BA transporter (ABAT). By this mechanism, taurocholate (TC) and taurolithocholate (TLC) increase cholangiocyte proliferation. No in vivo studies exist regarding the anatomical sites involved in BA‐regulation of cholangiocyte growth. Specific cholangiocyte subpopulations participate in BA‐regulated proliferation. Proliferation was assessed in liver sections by determining the number of proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA)‐positive cholangiocytes and cytokeratin‐19 (CK‐19)‐positive ducts. We isolated small and large cholangiocytes from rats fed for 1 week TC, TLC, or BA control diet and determined PCNA and ABAT expression and BA transport activity. We evaluated if TC and TLC induction of ABAT expression was dependent on activation of PKC alpha. DNA replication was active only in large normal cholangiocytes. TC and TLC feeding increased proliferation of large cholangiocytes, induced the de novo activation of proliferation of small cholangiocytes, overexpression of ABAT and BA transport activity in large cholangiocytes, and de novo expression of ABAT and BA transport activity in small cholangiocytes. BA‐stimulated ABAT expression was dependent on PKC activation in cholangiocytes. TC and TLC stimulate proliferation of small and large cholangiocytes associated with PKC‐dependent up‐regulation of ABAT.