Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire using multiple-day records and biochemical markers: application of the triads method.

BACKGROUND A food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) used to assess usual food intake in Southern France has been validated by the classical means of multiple-day food records. To minimise over-estimation of the correlation between the dietary assessments by the FFQ and the reference method, which occurs if the random errors of questionnaire and reference measurement are positively correlated, a triangular comparison, the method of triads, was used. METHODS We applied the triads model by comparing the FFQ with two multiple-day food records and three biomarkers. Only 87 subjects were included and completed the protocol. One biomarker (beta-carotene) was used for the 87 subjects and two biomarkers (urinary nitrogen and potassium) were measured in only 40 subjects. RESULTS For beta-carotene intake assessment, the triad model, including the weighed multiple records (PETRA), was the best with estimates of validity coefficient of 0.39 [confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.60] for the FFQ, 0.52 (CI 0.24-0.86), for PETRA and 0.85 (CI 0.43-1) for plasma levels of the nutrient. For protein and potassium intake assessment, the triad model including the estimated multiple records was the best only for the estimates of FFQ validity coefficient (0.61; CI 0.28-0.96 and 0.31; CI 0.09-0.66 respectively). CONCLUSION Accuracy of the dietary assessment methods permitted a satisfactory estimation of the validity coefficient for beta-carotene intake by the FFQ, despite a small sample. However, the validity coefficients for protein and potassium showed wide CI values, indicating that a sample size < 50 subjects appears unsatisfactory for validation.
Therapeutic plasma exchange in children: One center's experience

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has evolved to an accepted therapy for selected indications. However, it is technically challenging in children. Moreover, data on safety and efficacy are mainly derived from adult series. The aim of this study was to review the procedure in the context of clinical indications, effectiveness, and safety.
Association of aspirin and other non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use with incidence of non‐hodgkin lymphoma

Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, seem to have chemopreventive properties against several types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Persons with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease for which NSAIDs are used commonly, have been reported to be at lower risk of colon cancer but at elevated risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), raising the possibility that NSAIDs may be a risk factor for NHL. We evaluated the association of use of NSAIDs, arthritis history, and risk of NHL in a prospective cohort of 27,290 postmenopausal women from the state of Iowa. The frequency of use of aspirin and of other NSAIDs excluding aspirin (e.g., ibuprofen), as well as a physician diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA), were self‐reported on a questionnaire mailed in 1992. The incidence of NHL was ascertained through annual linkages to the Iowa SEER Cancer Registry. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Through 7 years of follow‐up, 131 cases of NHL were identified. Compared to women who did not use either aspirin or other non‐aspirin NSAIDs, women using aspirin exclusively (RR = 1.71; 95% CI = 0.94–3.13), non‐aspirin NSAIDs exclusively (RR = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.18–4.83), or both types of drugs (RR = 1.97; 95% CI = 1.06–3.68) were at increased risk of NHL. A diagnosis of RA (RR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.09–2.79), but not OA (RR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.67–1.68), was associated with risk of NHL, but the positive association of use of aspirin and other NSAIDs with NHL was independent of RA history. Multivariate adjustment for other NHL risk factors only attenuated slightly these associations, whereas exclusion of cases occurring during the first 2 years of follow‐up strengthened the associations. These data suggest that use of NSAIDs, either aspirin or other non‐aspirin NSAIDs, are associated positively with risk of NHL, and that this association is independent of RA history. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Evaluation of Some Factors Affecting the Detection of Blood Group Antibodies by Automated Methods

Some factors affecting the sensitivity of the automated methods for blood group antibody detection have been evaluated. The experiments revealed influencing differences between various albumin preparations. In the BMC method, one lot of albumin permitted no significant antibody detection. In the LISP technique, a plateau of maximum Polybrene activity was found. The beginning of this plateau depended on both the albumin preparation and the Polybrene lot. In the BMC method, methyl cellulose gave optimal sensitivity within a concentration range of 0.3 to 0.5 per cent. The stability of test cells stored in ACD at 4 C was studied. All test cells could be used safely up to two weeks. Cells from different donors showed variable reactivity after three weeks.
A home-based, self-administered stimulation program to improve selected hand functions of chronic stroke.

OBJECTIVES To test if a combined stimulation-training program can improve selected hand functions and impairments of chronic stroke survivors. DESIGN Pretest-Posttest, multi-site 5-week training program. Stroke survivors (N = 77) with chronic upper limb paresis completed a home-based stimulation program combining activation of the wrist-fingers flexors and extensors with functional grasp, hold and release training. Subjects trained 2-3 times each day, 7 days a week. Outcome measures included: the Jebsen-Taylor simulated feeding (S-feed); light object lift (J-T light); heavy object lift (J-T heavy); Box and Blocks test (B+B); Nine-Hole Peg (9-HP); Ashworth scale (Spasticity); Visual analog scale-VAS (Pain). Paired t-tests (alpha < 0.01) were performed on each study outcome. RESULTS Simulated feeding time decreased from 39.1 +/- 30.9 sec to 25.5 +/- 23.3 sec (34.8% improvement). The task time of the J-T light decreased by 13.3 sec and the J-T heavy by 11.5 sec (44.9% and 40.9% improvement respectively). The number of blocks moved increased from 19.4 +/- 11.6 to 24.5 +/- 12.5 (26.3% improvement) and the time to complete the 9-HP decreased from 178.8 +/- 170.8 to 105.0 +/- 117.1 sec (58.7% improvement). Mean reduction of spasticity was 0.87 and 0.78 points at the elbow and wrist respectively. Patients with persistent pain (N = 33) reported mean reduction from 3.5 +/- 2.5 to 1.9 +/- 1.8. CONCLUSIONS Five weeks of daily home training with a task-specific stimulation program improved selected hand functions and upper limb impairments associated with chronic post-stroke paresis.
Terlipressin and Hyponatremia

A new study published in the October issue of the journal Hepatology (Solà et al. 2010) and being frequently cited in news media and popular science panels found that patients with severe portal-hypertensive bleeding who are treated with terlipressin may experience an acute reduction of sodium in their blood. This reduction in serum sodium, known as hyponatremia, can cause adverse reactions such as neurological complications. The reduction in serum sodium is rapidly reversible upon terlipressin withdrawal. The authors suggest that serum sodium levels should be closely monitored in these patients and caution that use of solutions with high sodium content to treat this condition may cause a too rapid recovery of sodium, leading to adverse events.
Addition of Rye Bran and Pea Fiber to Pork Meatballs Enhances Subjective Satiety in Healthy Men, but Does Not Change Glycemic or Hormonal Responses: A Randomized Crossover Meal Test Study.

Background: The development of high-protein, fiber-rich foods targeting appetite control could be an efficient tool in obesity prevention.Objectives: We investigated whether ad libitum energy intake (EI), appetite, and metabolic markers in a meal context were affected by 1) fiber addition (rye bran and pea fiber) to pork meatballs, 2) the food matrix of the fiber (fiber meatballs compared with fiber bread), or 3) the protein source (animal compared with vegetable protein patties). Methods: In a crossover design, 40 healthy men [mean ± SD: body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2), 22.2 ± 1.9; age, 23.3 ± 2.9 y] consumed 4 test meals: a low-fiber meal consisting of pork meatballs plus wheat bread (LF meal); pork meatballs plus fiber bread; fiber meatballs plus wheat bread, and vegetable patties with a natural fiber content plus wheat bread (∼3000 kJ; protein ∼18% of energy, carbohydrate ∼50% of energy, fat ∼30% of energy; 13 g fiber in the fiber meals). Ad libitum EI after 4 h was the primary endpoint. Moreover, appetite sensations and postprandial responses of glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide YY 3-36, and plasma amino acids were measured.Results: Ad libitum EI did not differ significantly between the meals. Satiety and fullness increased 11% and 13%, respectively, and hunger and prospective intake decreased 17% and 15%, respectively, after the meal of fiber meatballs plus wheat bread compared with the LF meal (P < 0.01). Hormonal and metabolic responses did not differ between the meals. In general, plasma amino acid concentrations were higher after the fiber-rich meals than after the LF meal.Conclusions: Meals based on meatballs and bread with differences in the fiber content, food matrix of fiber, and protein source had similar effects on ad libitum EI in healthy men. However, fiber addition to pork meatballs favorably affected appetite sensations but without changes in hormonal and metabolic responses. Moreover, animal- and vegetable-protein-based, fiber-matched meals had similar effects on appetite regulation. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02521805.
Monthly Ambient Sunlight, Infections and Relapse Rates in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Monthly variation in multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses has been found. The relationship between seasonal environmental factors, infections, serum vitamin D [25(OH)D] and MS relapses is undetermined. Methods: We prospectively followed a population-based cohort of relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients in Southern Tasmania for a mean 2.3 years (January 2002–April 2005). Associations between monthly ambient environmental factors, estimated serum 25(OH)D, upper respiratory tract (URT) infections and relapse rates were examined using weighted Pearson’s correlation and linear regression. Results: Of 199 definite MS patients, 142 had RRMS. The lowest relapse rate of 0.5 per 1,000 days (95% CI: 0.2–1.3) occurred in February (mid-late summer) versus the March–January RR of 1.1 per 1,000 days (95% CI: 0.9–1.3; p = 0.018, weighted regression). Monthly relapse rates correlated with: (1) prior erythemal ultraviolet radiation (EUV): lagged 1.5 months, r = –0.32, p = 0.046; (2) URT infection rate: no lag, r = 0.39, p = 0.014; (3) 25(OH)D: no lag, r = –0.31, p = 0.057. The association between URT infections and relapses was reduced after adjustment for monthly EUV. Conclusions: Relapse rates were inversely associated with EUV and serum 25(OH)D levels and positively associated with URT infections. The demonstrated lag between EUV but not 25(OH)D and relapse rates is consistent with a role for EUV-generated 25(OH)D in the alteration of relapse rates. Future work on the association between URT infections and relapses should be considered in the context of ultraviolet radiation and vitamin D.
Induction of T-cell Immunity Overcomes Complete Resistance to PD-1 and CTLA-4 Blockade and Improves Survival in Pancreatic Carcinoma

Winograd and colleagues used an engineered KPC mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) reflecting that of human PDA to show that baseline refractoriness to checkpoint inhibitors can be rescued by priming a T-cell response with αCD40 plus chemotherapy with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Disabling the function of immune checkpoint molecules can unlock T-cell immunity against cancer, yet despite remarkable clinical success with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that block PD-1 or CTLA-4, resistance remains common and essentially unexplained. To date, pancreatic carcinoma is fully refractory to these antibodies. Here, using a genetically engineered mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in which spontaneous immunity is minimal, we found that PD-L1 is prominent in the tumor microenvironment, a phenotype confirmed in patients; however, tumor PD-L1 was found to be independent of IFNγ in this model. Tumor T cells expressed PD-1 as prominently as T cells from chronically infected mice, but treatment with αPD-1 mAbs, with or without αCTLA-4 mAbs, failed in well-established tumors, recapitulating clinical results. Agonist αCD40 mAbs with chemotherapy induced T-cell immunity and reversed the complete resistance of pancreatic tumors to αPD-1 and αCTLA-4. The combination of αCD40/chemotherapy plus αPD-1 and/or αCTLA-4 induced regression of subcutaneous tumors, improved overall survival, and conferred curative protection from multiple tumor rechallenges, consistent with immune memory not otherwise achievable. Combinatorial treatment nearly doubled survival of mice with spontaneous pancreatic cancers, although no cures were observed. Our findings suggest that in pancreatic carcinoma, a nonimmunogenic tumor, baseline refractoriness to checkpoint inhibitors can be rescued by the priming of a T-cell response with αCD40/chemotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 3(4); 399–411. ©2015 AACR.
Tissue Culture-Induced Novel Epialleles of a Myb Transcription Factor Encoded by pericarp color1 in Maize

Plants regenerated from tissue culture often display somaclonal variation, that is, somatic and often meiotically heritable phenotypic variation that can result from both genetic and epigenetic modifications. To better understand the molecular basis of somaclonal variation, we have characterized four unique tissue culture-derived epialleles of the pericarp color1 (p1) gene of maize (Zea mays L.). The progenitor p1 allele, P1-wr, is composed of multiple head-to-tail tandemly arranged copies of the complete gene unit and specifies brick-red phlobaphene pigmentation in the cob glumes. The novel epialleles identified in progeny plants regenerated from tissue culture showed partial to complete loss of p1 function indicated by pink or colorless cob glumes. Loss of pigmentation was correlated with nearly complete loss of p1 steady-state transcripts. DNA gel-blot analysis and genomic bisulfite sequencing showed that silencing of the epialleles was associated with hypermethylation of a region in the second intron of P1-wr. Presence of Unstable factor for orange1 (Ufo1), an unlinked epigenetic modifier of p1, restored the cob glume pigmentation in the silenced alleles, and such reactivation was accompanied by hypomethylation of the p1 sequence. This observation confirmed that silencing of the epialleles is indeed due to epigenetic modifications and that the p1 epialleles were capable of functioning in the presence of the correct trans-acting factors. While the low-copy regions of the genome generally undergo hypomethylation during tissue culture, our study shows that the tandemly repeated genes are also prone to hypermethylation and epigenetic silencing.
Fractional Erbium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser Versus Microneedling in Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Randomized Split-Face Clinical Study

BACKGROUND Ablative fractional erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser and microneedling have been popularized in recent years and their effectiveness and side effects individually reported. No previous study, however, has directly compared the efficacy and safety between the 2 different treatments. OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of the ablative fractional Er:YAG laser and microneedling for the treatment of atrophic acne scars. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty patients with atrophic acne scars were randomly treated in a split-face manner with a fractional Er:YAG laser on one side and microneedling on the other side. All patients received 5 treatments with a 1-month interval. Objective and subjective assessments were obtained at baseline and at 3 months after the final treatment. RESULTS At the 3-month follow-up, both treatment modalities induced noticeable clinical and histological improvement, with significantly better results in fractional Er:YAG laser versus microneedling (70% vs 30%), respectively (p < .001). Fractional Er:YAG laser sides had significantly lower pain scores. Total downtime was significantly shorter in microneedling sides. CONCLUSION Both treatment modalities are effective and safe in the treatment of atrophic acne scars, with significantly higher scar response to the fractional Er:YAG laser treatment.
Efficient Evaluation of Substrate Warpage by Finite Element Method and Factorial Design Analysis

Warpage of flip chip package is mainly dominated by the substrate stack-up. Mismatch by coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and Young's modulus (E) in package materials should be responsible to this phenomenon. Also, glass transition temperature of polymeric materials such as solder mask and dielectric dominate the warping direction. In general, the substrate is modeled as a bulk material composed of anisotropic material properties, which overlooks detail may influencing mechanical behaviors. Within this study, a four-layer 21x2 lmm organic substrate is cited as an instance. This presentation will demonstrate the mechanical behavior, i.e. warpage, by ANSYSreg in two manners, the conventional heavy resource-demanding solid element and reduced layered element. The results will manifest the efficiency of layered element in modeling such a lamination structure. An in-situ, full field, and high precision optical metrology for measuring the out-of-plane displacement is conducted for correlation between simulation and experiment. The flip-chip substrate warpage under various temperature stages is captured by shadow moire. The simulation results are in excellent agreement with experiment. Base on the above discussion, we will show how to perform parametric study to provide a design reference by a scientific and statistic way. Therefore, analysis of variance (ANOVA) is adopted. Two effects of eight stack-up layer thicknesses and four copper-layer coverage are selected for 2 level factorial designs and result in 28 and 24 simulation runs, respectively. Through the statistical analysis, thickness of dielectric layers is the major factor which has dramatic effect on the warpage as temperature elevation, while coverage of copper contributes less significantly.
fMRI BOLD response to the eyes task in offspring from multiplex alcohol dependence families.

BACKGROUND Increased susceptibility for developing alcohol dependence (AD) may be related to structural and functional differences in brain circuits that influence social cognition and more specifically, theory of mind (ToM). Alcohol dependent individuals have a greater likelihood of having deficits in social skills and greater social alienation. These characteristics may be related to inherited differences in the neuroanatomical network that comprises the social brain. METHODS Adolescent/young adult participants from multiplex AD families and controls (n = 16) were matched for gender, age, IQ, education, and handedness and administered the Eyes Task of Baron-Cohen during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). RESULTS High-risk (HR) subjects showed significantly diminished blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response in comparison with low-risk control young adults in the right middle temporal gyrus (RMTG) and the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG), areas that have previously been implicated in ToM tasks. CONCLUSIONS Offspring from multiplex families for AD may manifest one aspect of their genetic susceptibility by having a diminished BOLD response in brain regions associated with performance of ToM tasks. These results suggest that those at risk for developing AD may have reduced ability to empathize with others' state of mind, possibly resulting in diminished social skill.
Expression of Fas Ligand and Apoptosis of Disc Cells in Herniated Lumbar Disc Tissue

Study Design. An examination of surgically obtained herniated lumbar disc tissues performed by using immunohistochemical staining and the DNA nick end labeling method. Objective. To investigate the cell type that expresses Fas ligand (FasL) and any evidence of apoptosis of the disc cells in herniated lumbar disc tissues. Summary of Background Data. The Fas/FasL system is involved in delivering a death signal that rapidly commits the cells to apoptosis. In the authors’ previous study, the expression of Fas on disc cells was identified in herniated lumbar disc tissue. Methods. Twenty-three herniated lumbar disc tissues (contained disc, n = 9; noncontained disc, n = 14) were examined to investigate the cell type that expresses FasL and any evidence of apoptosis of the disc cells by using immunohistochemical staining and the DNA nick end labeling method, respectively. The percentage of FasL-positive disc cells was calculated and compared with clinical and radiologic data. Results. FasL was expressed in the cytoplasm of the disc cells, and nuclear DNA fragmentation in a few disc cells was identified. A higher degree of FasL expression in disc cells was found in noncontained discs than in contained discs (P < 0.05). The percentage of FasL-positive disc cells significantly increased with the patient’s age (P < 0.05), but not with the degree of disc degeneration (P > 0.05). Conclusion. The current results indicate that disc cells, after herniation, undergo apoptotic cell death via autocrine or paracrine FasL mechanisms by the disc cells themselves.
Varicella in pediatric oncology patients in the post-vaccine era—Analysis of routine hospital data from Bavaria (Germany), 2005–2011

ABSTRACT Varicella in oncology patients can result in serious complications. We analyzed trends in hospitalization rates and characteristics of pediatric oncology and non-oncology patients hospitalized with varicella during the first 7 years after introduction of routine varicella vaccination. Our data included children <17 years of age with an International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10) main or secondary discharge diagnosis of varicella identified by annual database queries in 22–29 pediatric hospitals in Bavaria (Germany) in 2005–2011. Of a total of 1,245 varicella-associated hospitalizations, 42 children (median age 4 years, interquartile range 3–5) had an underlying malignancy (67% with acute lymphoblastic leukemia). Overall, additional diagnoses potentially associated with varicella were reported less often in oncology than in non-oncology varicella patients (62% vs. 77%, p = 0.041), suggesting earlier hospitalization of high-risk patients. Acute hematological diagnoses (29% vs. 3%, p < 0.001) and coinfections (invasive 12% vs. 2%, p = 0.001; noninvasive 19% vs. 8%, p = 0.019) were more frequent, whereas neurological (5% vs. 19%, p = 0.023) and upper respiratory tract diagnoses (2% vs. 16%, p = 0.014) were less frequent in oncology compared to non-oncology varicella patients. Oncology varicella patients showed a longer hospital stay (median 5 vs. 3 days, p < 0.001). Hospitalization rates in non-oncology varicella patients declined constantly since 2006, from 114.8 (2006) to 30.5 (2011) per 1,000 pediatric beds. The rates of varicella-associated hospitalizations in oncology patients indicated an overall decreasing trend (3.8, 1.9, 4.6, 3.5, 0.4, 2.1 and 0.6 cases per 1,000 pediatric beds in 2005–2011). Thus, pediatric oncology patients potentially profit from herd protection effects, resulting from increasing vaccine coverage in the general population.