Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of three anthelmintic schedules on the incidence of colic in horses.

Four privately owned herds (25 to 49 animals per herd) were used in a five-year trial designed to evaluate the effect of anthelmintic schedules on the incidence of colic. These herds had been treated bi-monthly with non-ivermectin, non-benzimidazole drugs for two years before the trial. Prior parasitological studies showed that they had substantial pre-treatment faecal egg counts (900 to 2200 eggs per gramme), and that they were infected with benzimidazole-resistant cyathostomes. In Years 1 and 2 of the trial, all herds (A, B, C, D) were treated bi-monthly with non-ivermectin anthelmintics (Schedule I). In Years 3 to 5, Herd A received monthly non-ivermectin anthelmintics (Schedule II) and Herd C was treated with bi-monthly ivermectin (Schedule III). Herd B was treated with Schedule II in Years 3 and 4 and Schedule III in Year 5. Herd D was maintained on Schedule I throughout the study period. In each herd, the incidence of colic, while on Schedule I, was compared to the incidence while on Schedule II or III. The risk of colic for horses on Schedule I was 2.61 to 13.04 times that of the same horses while on Schedule II and 2.27 to 9.64 times that of the same horses while on Schedule III. In Herd D, treated according to Schedule I for five years, the incidence of colic did not vary significantly throughout the study period. More effective anthelmintic treatment schedules decreased the incidence of colic in these herds, supporting the conclusion that bimonthly treatment with non-ivermectin drugs may not maximise horses' health in all management conditions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Severe extra-articular disease manifestations are associated with an increased risk of first ever cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Objective: To assess the effect of severe extra-articular rheumatoid arthritis (ExRA) manifestations on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Patients with ExRA (n = 81) according to predefined criteria and controls (n = 184) without evidence of extra-articular disease were identified from a large research database of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In a structured review of the medical records, the occurrence and the date of onset of clinically diagnosed CVD events were noted. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the effect of ExRA on the risk of first ever CVD events after the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. ExRA manifestations were modelled as time-dependent covariates, with adjustment for age, sex and smoking at the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Onset of erosive disease and rheumatoid factor seropositivity were entered as time-dependent variables. Patients were followed until onset of CVD, death or loss to follow-up. Results: ExRA was associated with a significantly increased risk of first ever CVD events (p<0.001), and also with an increased risk of new-onset coronary artery disease, adjusted for age, sex and smoking (hazard ratio (HR): 3.16; 95% confidence interval (95% CI: 1.58 to 6.33). The association between ExRA and any first ever CVD event remained significant when controlling for age, sex, smoking, rheumatoid factor and erosive disease (HR: 3.25; 95% CI: 1.59 to 6.64). Conclusion: Severe ExRA manifestations are associated with an increased risk of CVD events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This association is not due to differences in age, sex, smoking, rheumatoid factor or erosive joint damage. It is suggested that systemic extra-articular disease is a major determinant of cardiovascular morbidity in rheumatoid arthritis.
Comparison of cell cultures for rapid isolation of enteroviruses

Cell culture isolation is still the most reliable method for the detection of enteroviruses from clinical specimens. Rapid diagnosis of enterovirus infection affects patient management. To increase yield and enhance the rapidity of enterovirus isolation in cell cultures, we used Buffalo green monkey kidney (BGM) cells and subpassages of primary human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells in addition to the human diploid fibroblast (MRC-5) cells and primary cynomolgus or rhesus monkey kidney (MK) cells routinely used for enterovirus culturing. Growth characteristics of enteroviruses from 421 specimens were studied. All specimens were cultured in MRC-5, MK, and BGM cells, and 204 of these specimens were also cultured in HEK cells. Forty-two percent of the enteroviruses became positive within 3 days, and 85% did so within 7 days. MRC-5 cells provided the highest yield of enteroviruses overall and were the best cell type for the recovery of poliovirus and echovirus. MK cells provided the second best yield but were more useful than MRC-5 cells for coxsackievirus. BGM cells supported the growth of additional isolates of coxsackievirus and enhanced the speed of isolation. HEK cells supported the growth of additional isolates of both coxsackievirus and echovirus, but subculturing was always required for definite enterovirus cytopathic effects. The recovery rate increased 11% when two additional cell lines were used. The use of two tubes of MK cells significantly increased the yield of all enterovirus types. We conclude that the use of multiple appropriate cell lines increases yield and enhances the rapidity of enterovirus isolation.
A survey of prescribing patterns for tuberculosis treatment amongst doctors in a Bolivian city.

SETTING A sample survey of knowledge about prescribing tuberculosis treatment among private physicians in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. OBJECTIVES To study the anti-tuberculosis regimens prescribed by private physicians and to assess the number of tuberculosis patients treated by them. DESIGN Questionnaire survey of a random sample of 401 private physicians in Santa Cruz. RESULTS Of the 401 physicians, 165 (41%) could not be located or did not want to participate. Among the 236 completed questionnaires, 137 physicians (58%) stated that they did not see patients with tuberculosis, 16 (7%) referred them to other centres and 83 (35%) treated them in their practice. Among 80 prescribed regimens that could be evaluated there were 58 different regimens: 17 (21%) followed the National Tuberculosis Control Programme's standard regimen, but overall 35 regimens (60%) were incorrect-18 regimens (31%) were non-curative and 17 (29%) could not be recommended. Frequent errors were the prescription of medications not available in the market (7%) or not included in the national regimen (34%), the prescription of insufficient medications (9%), or of only one in the continuation phase (16%), or for too short (9%), or too long (12%) a period. Eighty physicians estimated that they attended in their practice an average total of 404 patients with tuberculosis per month. CONCLUSIONS A significant number of physicians in private practice did not adhere to the standard norms for prescribing anti-tuberculosis treatment. This study also suggests that in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, there is a not insignificant number of patients with tuberculosis treated outside the National Tuberculosis Control Programme.
Does water fluoridation affect the prevalence of enamel fluorosis differently among racial and ethnic groups?

OBJECTIVES There are reports showing higher prevalence of enamel fluorosis among African-American children. This study was conducted to assess whether the effect of water fluoride level on enamel fluorosis is different among different race/ethnicity groups among US school children. METHODS Data from the National Survey of Oral Health of US School Children 1986-1987 were analyzed to determine the prevalence of enamel fluorosis among 7-17 year-old children. The association between race/ethnicity and enamel fluorosis was examined using logistic regression modeling after controlling for potential confounders age, gender, water fluoridation, other sources of fluoride, and region of residence. RESULTS The prevalence of very mild to severe enamel fluorosis was 20.8 (95% CI, 15.4, 26.3) and 25.7 (95% CI, 15.0, 36.5) percent among non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black children, respectively. Neither the adjusted odds ratio of 1.3 (0.8, 2.0) for the non-Hispanic Black group nor the interaction effect between non-Hispanic Black and water fluoridation were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Enamel fluorosis was not associated with race/ethnicity. Our analysis suggests that exposure to similar levels of fluoride in the water does not appear to place certain race/ethnic groups at a higher risk for developing enamel fluorosis, and lowering the optimal range of drinking water fluoride to a single value of 0.7 ppm will provide a level of protection against enamel fluorosis that will benefit all race/ethnicity groups.
Sympathetic Potentiation of Cyclic ADP-ribose Formation in Rat Cardiac Myocytes*

We examined the role of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADP-ribose) as a second messenger downstream of adrenergic receptors in the heart after excitation of sympathetic neurons. To address this question, ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity was measured as the rate of [3H]cADP-ribose formation from [3H]NAD+ in a crude membrane fraction of rat ventricular myocytes. Isoproterenol at 1 μm increased ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity by 1.7-fold in ventricular muscle; this increase was inhibited by propranolol. The stimulatory effect on the cyclase was mimicked by 10 nm GTP and 10 μmguanosine 5′-3-O-(thio)triphosphate, whereas 10 μm GTP inhibited the cyclase. Cholera toxin blocked the activation of the cyclase by isoproterenol and GTP. The above effects of isoproterenol and GTP in ventricular membranes were confirmed by cyclic GDP-ribose formation fluorometrically. These results demonstrate the existence of a signal pathway from β-adrenergic receptors to membrane-bound ADP-ribosyl cyclase via G protein in the ventricular muscle cells and suggest that increased cADP-ribose synthesis is involved in up-regulation of cardiac function by sympathetic stimulation.
Changes in Ocular Hemodynamics after Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting (CAAS) in Patients with Different Severity of Ocular Ischemic Syndrome

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the effects of carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAAS) on patients who were diagnosed with ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS). Methods: Sixty-four eyes of 64 OIS patients with ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis ≥70% were included in the study. The study eyes were divided into two groups according to the presence of iris neovascularization: NVI-absent group and NVI-present group, with 32 eyes, respectively. All patients received ocular treatment modality according to the presence of non-perfusion area (pan-retinal photocoagulation) and intraocular pressure (medical treatment included timolol maleate eye drops combined with brinzolamide eye drop; trabeculectomy and cyclophotocoagulation). All patients went through CAAS surgery for treatment of internal carotid artery stenosis. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); intraocular pressure (IOP), slit lamp examination, iris fluorescence angiography, fundus fluorescein angiography and color Doppler ultrasound of the internal carotid artery (ICA), ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and short posterior ciliary arteries (PCA) were performed pre-operatively and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-operatively. Results: There was no significant BCVA change postoperatively in the NVI-absent group, while postoperative BCVA in the INV-present group decreased significantly. There was no significant BCVA difference at pre-operative and 1month post-operative follow-up between the two groups. However, post-operative BCVA of NVI-present group starting from 3-months follow-up was significantly worse than NVI-absent group. Arm-retinal artery circulation time and arteriovenous circulation time decreased significantly in NVI-absent group, while showed no statistical difference in NVI-present group during the 12-months follow-up. Postoperative peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the ophthalmic artery, the central retinal artery, and short posterior ciliary artery showed significant increases at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months follow-up in both groups. Conclusion: CAAS can greatly improve ocular blood in OIS patients with and without iris neovascularization. However, CAAS improved BCVA only in patients without iris neovascularization.
Selective suppressive effects of Trypanosoma cruzi on activated human lymphocytes

The acute phase of Chagas' disease is accompanied by immunosuppression. To explore the underlying mechanism(s), we used an in vitro culture system in which the capacities of activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to express interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) and proliferate are markedly inhibited in the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent. The present work was designed to define the earliest time at which T. cruzi-induced suppression is manifested in terms of IL-2R expression on the cell surface and establish whether expression of other lymphocyte activation markers is also suppressed by the parasite. We found that expression of IL-2R by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells cocultured with T. cruzi and stimulated with either phytohemagglutinin or anti-CD3 (a monoclonal antibody specific for an epitope of the T cell receptor complex T3-Ti) was significantly suppressed as early as 12 h after culture initiation. Both the percentage of IL-2R+ cells and the surface density of IL-2R, measured by flow cytometry, were affected. However, expression of EA1, a human lymphocyte activation antigen known to be expressed 4 to 6 h after stimulation, was not altered by T. cruzi whether phytohemagglutinin or anti-CD3 was used. On the other hand, expression of transferrin receptors (TfR), which first occurs between 20 and 24 h after lymphocyte activation, was markedly suppressed by T. cruzi. This effect was denoted by significant reductions in both the percentage of TfR+ cells and the cell surface density of TfR whether phytohemagglutinin or anti-CD3 was used as the mitogen and was observed at all test times, i.e., at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Because expression of IL-2R and TfR is required for lymphoproliferation but that of the EA1 lymphocyte activation marker is apparently not, these results are consistent with the possibility that T. cruzi, at a relatively early stage during lymphocyte activation, selectively affects certain key events on which clonal expansion is dependent. Inhibition of IL-2R and TfR expression by the parasite might play a role in causing the suppressive effects associated with acute Chagas' disease.
Combination allele-specific real-time PCR for differentiation of beta 2-adrenergic receptor coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

The β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) is a GTP-binding-protein-coupled receptor produced by a wide variety of cell types. Stimulation of ADRB2 by catecholamines or synthetic therapeutic agonists promotes physiologic processes as varied as smooth muscle relaxation and lipolysis. Stimulation of ADRB2 is characterized by rapid desensitization governed by receptor internalization, which plays a direct role in the response to catecholamines and synthetic agonists governing cellular responses (1). ADRB2 is transcribed from an intronless gene on chromosome 5q32 that encodes a 413-residue protein with 7 transmembrane domains (2). Within the ADRB2 gene, 13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified (3), including 3 coding ADRB2 missense polymorphisms that alter protein function (4). A threonine-to-isoleucine (T164I) substitution in the fourth transmembrane domain alters ligand binding and decreases adenylate cyclase activation but is rare in the population (5). The extracellular domain N-terminal arginine-to-glycine (R16G) and glutamine-to-glutamic acid (Q27E) polymorphisms are common and widely distributed within the population. These polymorphisms strongly influence the degree of agonist-mediated receptor down-regulation. Whereas Q27E induces complete resistance to down-regulation in combination with R16, R16G increases agonist-mediated receptor down-regulation in both haplotypes (5). The importance of developing rapid ADRB2 screening protocols that differentiate codon 16/27 diplotypes is emphasized by the number of studies linking these genotypes to clinical and pharmacologic responses. SNPs representing the partial haplotype at codons 16 and 27 are variously associated with altered vasodilation (6) and high blood pressure (7), play roles in the development of type II diabetes (8), and have been linked to preterm delivery (9), agonist desensitization (10), albuterol responses (11), increased IgE in asthmatic families (12), obesity (13), hypertriglyceridemia, and development of fatty liver (14). Methods to routinely detect the common codon 16 and 27 polymorphisms have relied on preliminary amplification of ADRB2 sequences by PCR and subsequent identification by …
Analysis of Renal Trauma in Adult Patients: A 6-Year Own Experiences of Trauma Center.

PURPOSE Abdominal trauma itself accounts for approximately 3% of all trauma cases. Among cases of multiple organ trauma, abdominal trauma accounts for 8-10% of cases. The frequency of genitourinary tract trauma is 10%. The renal trauma is 1-5% of all trauma cases. The aim of this study was to determine treatment's strategy according to analysis of renal trauma severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Since 2008, the Military Institute of Medicine, followed by the Trauma Center, treated 1119 trauma patients, of which 52 were renal trauma cases. In most cases, renal trauma was concomitant with multiple organ trauma. RESULTS Of the 52 renal trauma cases, 35 (67%) were caused by transportation, 5 (10%) by falls, 8 (15%) by iat­rogenic factors, 2 (4%) by batteries, and 2 by idiopathic factors. In our study cohort, 31 cases (60%) experienced renal trauma concomitant with multiple organ trauma. Renal trauma involved injury to both kidneys in 9 (20%) patients, and to only 1 kidney in 34 (80%) patients. CONCLUSION The use of computed tomography scan in combination with strict observation of conservative treat­ment protocols and intravascular techniques results in effective treatment of renal trauma.
Amniotic membrane transplantation for ocular disease: a review of the first 233 cases from the UK user group

Background: Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT), as a new tool in the armamentarium of therapies available for ocular surface problems, became widely available in the UK in 1998. This study evaluates the indications for treatment, the surgical procedures used, and the results of a subset of the first AMT cases carried out by the group using this nationally available supply. This user group model provides data which is different from that obtained from uncontrolled case series, or clinical trials, and may be more representative of the outcomes that can be expected when a procedure becomes widely available. Methods: The first 233 AMTs, performed by the UK user group, were evaluated by audit and outcomes were assessed at 3 months. Results: Of the 233 transplants, there were 126 (54.1%) valid outcome returns: the outcome for persistent epithelial defects was a healed and stable surface in 11/35 (31.4%, 95% CI 16.9 to 49.3); for chemical/thermal injuries, a healed uninflamed eye with clear cornea in 5/18 (27.8%, 95% CI 9.7 to 53.4); for bullous keratopathy a pain-free, stable surface without bullae in 4/18 (22.2%, 95% CI 6.4 to 47.6); for ocular surface reconstruction, an epithelialised uninflamed conjunctiva without scarring in 12/23 (52.2%, 95% CI 30.6 to 73.2); and for limbal stem cell deficiency, a corneal phenotype in 4/7 (57.1%). The operative technique least associated with failure was use of a bandage contact lens at the end of the procedure (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.59, p = 0.004). Previous treatment with topical steroids was significantly associated with failure (OR 5.70, 95% CI 1.77 to 18.43, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Although the outcome criteria used in this study were stringent, and the follow-up duration was short, the results of AMT by this user group were generally less favourable than those of previously reported case series. Controlled clinical trials would improve the quality of evidence for use of amniotic membrane in ocular disease.
Imaging attentional and attributional bias: an fMRI approach to the paranoid delusion

Background. The pathophysiology of auditory hallucinations and delusions of control has been elucidated using functional imaging. Despite their clinical importance, there have been few similar attempts to investigate paranoid delusions. We have examined two components of social cognition (attentional and attributional biases) that contribute to the formation and maintenance of paranoid delusions, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Method. Normal subjects performed tasks requiring attentional and attributional judgements. We investigated the neural response particularly associated with attention to threatening material relevant to self and with the ‘self-serving’ attributional bias. Results. The determination of relevance to self of verbal statements of differing emotional valence involved left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (left inferior frontal gyrus, BA 47), right caudate and right cingulate gyrus (BA 24). Attention to threatening material relevant to self differentially activated a more dorsal region of the left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 44). Internal attributions of events, where the self was viewed as an active intentional agent, involved left precentral gyrus (BA 6) and left middle temporal gyrus (BA 39). Attribution of events in a non ‘self-serving’ manner required activation of the left precentral gyrus (BA 6). Conclusions. Anomalous activity or connectivity within these defined regions may account for the attentional or attributional biases subserving paranoid delusion formation. This provides a simple model for paranoid delusion formation that can be tested in patients.
Better the Devil You Know: Exposing the Data Sharing Practices of Smartphone Apps

Most users of smartphone apps remain unaware of what data about them is being collected, by whom, and how these data are being used. In this mixed methods investigation, we examine the question of whether revealing key data collection practices of smartphone apps may help people make more informed privacy-related decisions. To investigate this question, we designed and prototyped a new class of privacy indicators, called Data Controller Indicators (DCIs), that expose previously hidden information flows out of the apps. Our lab study of DCIs suggests that such indicators do support people in making more confident and consistent choices, informed by a more diverse range of factors, including the number and nature of third-party companies that access users' data. Furthermore, personalised DCIs, which are contextualised against the other apps an individual already uses, enable them to reason effectively about the differential impacts on their overall information exposure.