Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association between diabetes mellitus and incident infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Objective To quantify the association between diabetes and the risk of incident infections by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Research design and methods Two reviewers independently screened articles identified from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, IPA, and Web of Science databases. Cohort studies (CS) or case–control studies (CCS) evaluating the incidence of infections in adults with diabetes were included. Infections were classified as: skin and soft tissue, respiratory, blood, genitourinary, head and neck, gastrointestinal, bone, viral, and non-specified infections. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Summary crude and adjusted OR with 95% CIs were calculated using random effects models, stratified by study design. Heterogeneity was measured using the I2statistic and explored using subgroup analyses. Results A total of 345 (243 CS and 102 CCS) studies were included. Combining adjusted results from all CS, diabetes was associated with an increased incidence of skin (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.78 to 2.12), respiratory (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.43), blood (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.00), genitourinary (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.42 to 1.82), head and neck (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.22), gastrointestinal (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.57), viral (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.46), and non-specified (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.66 to 2.04) infections. A stronger association was observed among CCS: skin (OR 2.64, 95% CI 2.20 to 3.17), respiratory (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.37 to 1.92), blood (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.68 to 3.42), genitourinary (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.60 to 4.17), gastrointestinal (OR 3.61, 95% CI 2.94 to 4.43), and non-specified (OR 3.53, 95% CI 2.62 to 4.75). Conclusion Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of multiple types of infections. A high degree of heterogeneity was observed; however, subgroup analysis decreased the amount of heterogeneity within most groups. Results were generally consistent across types of infections.
Iron deficiency anaemia and evaluation of the utility of iron deficiency indicators among healthy Nigerian children

Abstract The hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS) and serum ferritin (SF) values of 240 apparently healthy children were determined in a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Standard colorimetric and enzyme immunoassay procedures were used for the estimation all variables. The mean values of all parameters in this study population were; Hb (11.2 ± 1.83 gldl), TIBC (361.4 ± 245.7 ugldl, logc SI (1.807 ± 0.45), logc SF (1.51 = 0.47) and TS (29.3 ± 18.5%). There was an age-dependent statistical significant difference in the Hb, TIBC and TS values (P < 0.01). Sex was not found to exert any significant influence on the parameters except TIBC. TS had the highest sensitivity and efficiency values of 48 and 95%, respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV), likelihood ratio (LR+) and post-test probability values were highest with SF (58%, 3.3 and 62.2%, respectively) as a diagnostic indicator. Hb values correlated positively and significantly with TS (P < 0.01), logc SI and logc SF concentrations (P < 0.05). Logc SF also correlated positively and significantly with Hb and TIBC (P < 0.05). The overall prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among these children was 33.75%. We conclude that there is a high prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among apparently healthy children under the age of five years in this part of the world and these results may justify the need for the introduction of a broad intervention programme for this highly vulnerable group. This study is also in support of the hypothesis that SF is the best test for diagnosing or excluding iron deficiency anaemia. The combination of SF, Hb and TS determinations may prove more useful in a resource-limited moderate setting.
Antigenic variation and cytoadherence of PfEMP1 of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocyte from malaria patients.

OBJECTIVE To approve a theoretical basis for the molecular pathogenesis of human cerebral malaria and treatment with prevention. METHODS The blood samples were collected from 24 patients with cerebral malaria, 143 with falciparum malaria, 34 with vivax malaria and 20 healthy controls from the endemic areas of Yunnan Province, China. Using the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) technique, we determined the molecular mass (Mr) of these Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) molecules. RESULTS Our findings indicate that higher molecular mass (260 kDa-320 kDa) forms of PfEMP1 were expressed on parasitized erythrocyte (PE) from human cerebral malaria patients. Compared with PfEMP1 expressed on PE from human cerebral malaria patients, the expression of PfEMP1 and Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PvEMP1) on PE from falciparum malaria patients and vivax malaria patients did not have multiple bands of PfEMP1 of > or = 260 kDa, but had a PfEMP1 with molecular mass of 240 kDa and a PvEMP1 with molecular mass of 180 kDa band separately. Healthy controls expressed an EMP of molecular mass of 140 kDa. CONCLUSION Results confirm the antigenic variation of higher molecular mass of PfEMP1 whose molecular mass is equal to or exceeds 260 kDa-320 kDa on PE of patients with cerebral malaria. Our results show that the binding of large antigenic variability PfEMP1 molecular mass of 260 kDa-320 kDa on PE from human cerebral malaria patients with diverse receptor molecules on the endothelial cell (EC) of the cerebral microvessels may be involved in the molecular pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.
Pregnancy and delivery with an intrauterine device in situ: outcomes in the National Inpatient Sample Database

Abstract Background: Pregnancy with intrauterine device in place is rare and there are limited data that exist regarding associated perinatal outcomes. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the association between presence of an intrauterine device during pregnancy and spontaneous abortion, induced abortion, and preterm or small for gestational age delivery outcomes. Study design: The National Inpatient Sample database was analyzed for the years 2010 and 2011. Maternal records with an intrauterine device in situ during delivery were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnostic codes. Primary outcome was incidence of spontaneous abortion. Secondary outcomes were incidence of induced abortion, preterm delivery, and small for gestational age. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of abortion in association with intrauterine device in situ during pregnancy. Maternal birth records were further analyzed for adverse neonatal outcomes using logistic regression models, controlling for possible confounding variables. Results: The data included 8,597,284 maternal birth records; 0.02% with an intrauterine device in situ. Patients with an intrauterine device in situ experienced a higher frequency of the pregnancy ending in spontaneous abortion (OR: 7.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.06–10.09; p < . 001) and induced abortion (OR: 23.12; 95% CI: 15.55–34.36; p < .001) than patients without an intrauterine device in place. Adjusted odds ratio for preterm delivery among women with an intrauterine device in situ was 2.04 (95% CI: 1.71–2.43; p < .001) compared with women without an intrauterine device, and adjusted odds ratio for delivery of a small for gestational age infant among intrauterine device cohort was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.34–0.92; p = .022), after controlling for associated demographic and clinical variables. Conclusion: The presence of an intrauterine device in situ during pregnancy was associated with increased spontaneous and induced abortions, and increased incidence of delivery of a preterm, but not small for gestational age infant.
Association between genetic polymorphisms involved in the hypoxia‐inducible factor pathway and lung cancer risk: a case–control study in Japan

Hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) contributes to the adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxic conditions, so genetic polymorphisms involved in this pathway may affect cellular response to hypoxia and be associated with cancer risk. Thus, we examined the association between the lung cancer risk and genetic polymorphisms involved in the HIF pathway.
Family burden with substance dependence: a study from India

Background & objectives: A substance dependent person in the family affects almost all aspects of family life. This leads to problems, difficulties or adverse events which impact the lives of family members and causes enormous burden on family caregivers. The present study aimed to assess the pattern of burden borne by the family caregivers of men with alcohol and opioid dependence. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with ICD-10 diagnosed substance dependence subjects and their family caregivers attending a de-addiction centre at a multispecialty teaching hospital in north India. Family Burden Interview Schedule was used to assess the pattern of burden borne by the family caregivers of 120 men with alcohol and/or opioid dependence. Results: Compared to opioid and alcohol+opioid dependence groups, more often the alcohol dependence group was older, married, currently working, having a higher income and with the wife as a caregiver. Family burden was moderate or severe in 95-100 per cent cases in all three groups and more for ‘disruption of family routine’, ‘financial burden’, ‘disruption of family interactions’ and ‘disruption of family leisure’. Family burden was associated with low income and rural location. It was associated neither with age, education or duration of dependence of the patients, nor with family size, type of caregiver or caregiver's education and occupation. Interpretation & conclusions: Almost all (95-100%) caregivers reported a moderate or severe burden, which indicates the gravity of the situation and the need for further work in this area.
Development of an anatomically detailed MRI-derived rabbit ventricular model and assessment of its impact on simulations of electrophysiological function

Recent advances in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technology have unveiled a wealth of information regarding cardiac histoanatomical complexity. However, methods to faithfully translate this level of fine-scale structural detail into computational whole ventricular models are still in their infancy, and, thus, the relevance of this additional complexity for simulations of cardiac function has yet to be elucidated. Here, we describe the development of a highly detailed finite-element computational model (resolution: ∼125 μm) of rabbit ventricles constructed from high-resolution MR data (raw data resolution: 43 × 43 × 36 μm), including the processes of segmentation (using a combination of level-set approaches), identification of relevant anatomical features, mesh generation, and myocyte orientation representation (using a rule-based approach). Full access is provided to the completed model and MR data. Simulation results were compared with those from a simplified model built from the same images but excluding finer anatomical features (vessels/endocardial structures). Initial simulations showed that the presence of trabeculations can provide shortcut paths for excitation, causing regional differences in activation after pacing between models. Endocardial structures gave rise to small-scale virtual electrodes upon the application of external field stimulation, which appeared to protect parts of the endocardium in the complex model from strong polarizations, whereas intramural virtual electrodes caused by blood vessels and extracellular cleft spaces appeared to reduce polarization of the epicardium. Postshock, these differences resulted in the genesis of new excitation wavefronts that were not observed in more simplified models. Furthermore, global differences in the stimulus recovery rates of apex/base regions were observed, causing differences in the ensuing arrhythmogenic episodes. In conclusion, structurally simplified models are well suited for a large range of cardiac modeling applications. However, important differences are seen when behavior at microscales is relevant, particularly when examining the effects of external electrical stimulation on tissue electrophysiology and arrhythmia induction. This highlights the utility of histoanatomically detailed models for investigations of cardiac function, in particular for future patient-specific modeling.
Inhibitory effects of geranium essential oil and its major component, citronellol, on degranulation and cytokine production by mast cells

We investigated the effects of geranium essential oil (GEO) on anaphylaxis. GEO can exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but its roles in allergic reactions are incompletely understood. Here, we used mouse cells to show that GEO inhibited the degranulation of cultured mast cells (CMCs). Citronellol is the major component of GEO and inhibited CMC degranulation. The l-enantiomer of citronellol more effectively suppressed CMC degranulation than did d-citronellol. We also examined whether citronellol could inhibit the immunoglobulin (Ig) E-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Treatment with various concentrations of citronellol before CMC activation with IgE significantly inhibited the induction of TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, citronellol suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK), which is critical for ERK activation and the production of inflammatory cytokines in mast cells. These findings suggest that citronellol may represent a candidate compound for the effective treatment of allergic diseases. Graphical Abstract Citronellol inhibited degranulation and TNF-α production by mast cells.
Long-term non-pharmacologic weight loss interventions for adults with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Most persons with type 2 diabetes are overweight and obesity worsens the metabolic and physiologic abnormalities associated with diabetes. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review is to assess the effectiveness of lifestyle and behavioral weight loss and weight control interventions for adults with type 2 diabetes. SEARCH STRATEGY Studies were obtained from computerized searches of multiple electronic bibliographic databases, supplemented with hand searches of selected journals and consultation with experts in obesity research. The last search was conducted May, 2004. SELECTION CRITERIA Studies were included if they were published or unpublished randomized controlled trials in any language, and examined weight loss or weight control strategies using one or more dietary, physical activity, or behavioral interventions, with a follow-up interval of at least 12 months. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Effects were combined using a random effects model. MAIN RESULTS The 22 studies of weight loss interventions identified had a 4,659 participants and follow-up of 1 to 5 years. The pooled weight loss for any intervention in comparison to usual care among 585 subjects was 1.7 kg (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.3 to 3.2), or 3.1% of baseline body weight among 517 subjects. Other main comparisons demonstrated nonsignificant results: among 126 persons receiving a physical activity and behavioral intervention, those who also received a very low calorie diet lost 3.0 kg (95% CI -0.5 to 6.4), or 1.6% of baseline body weight, more than persons receiving a low-calorie diet. Among 53 persons receiving identical dietary and behavioral interventions, those receiving more intense physical activity interventions lost 3.9 kg (95% CI -1.9 to 9.7), or 3.6% of baseline body weight, more than those receiving a less intense or no physical activity intervention. Comparison groups often achieved significant weight loss (up to 10.0 kg), minimizing between-group differences. Changes in glycated hemoglobin generally corresponded to changes in weight and were not significant when between-group differences were examined. No data were identified on quality of life and mortality. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Weight loss strategies using dietary, physical activity, or behavioral interventions produced small between-group improvements in weight. These results were minimized by weight loss in the comparison group, however, and examination of individual study arms revealed that multicomponent interventions including very low calorie diets or low calorie diets may hold promise for achieving weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Outer membrane protein A renders dendritic cells and macrophages responsive to CCL21 and triggers dendritic cell migration to secondary lymphoid organs

Outer membrane protein A (OmpA) is a class of bacterial cell wall protein that is immunogenic without adjuvant. As specific immune responses are initiated in the lymph nodes (LN), we analyzed the effect of the OmpA from Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpOmpA) on chemokine/chemokine receptor expression by APC and on cell migration to the LN. Upon contact with KpOmpA, human immature DC andmacrophages acquire CCR7 expression and responsiveness to CCL21. In parallel, CCR1 and CCR5 expression is down‐regulated and CXCL8, CCL2, CCL3 and CCL5 production is up‐regulated. Mice injected subcutaneously with KpOmpA present a transient inflammatory reaction at the site of injection accompanied by an enlargement of the draining LN with a higher proportion of DC and macrophages. Lastly, when exposed to KpOmpA prior injection, DC but not macrophages migrate to the draining LN. In conclusion, KpOmpA confers a migratory phenotype to DC and triggers their migration to the regional LN. This property contributes to explain how innate cells initiate adaptive immune response upon recognition of conserved bacterial components and also why OmpA is immunogenic in the absence of adjuvant.
Millimeter-wave MEMS tunable low pass filter with reconfigurable series inductors and capacitive shunt switches

In this paper, a new type of reconfigurable inductor is proposed for mm-waves based on the reconfiguration of slow-wave coplanar waveguide (CPW) lines using multiple-contact switches. It is then employed together with micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) capacitive shunt switches to realize a reconfigurable low-pass filter, where the values of both inductors and capacitors are changed independently to achieve optimum filter characteristics. The measured 3-dB cut-off frequency of the reconfigurable low-pass filter changes from 53 GHz to 20 GHz while maintaining Tchebycheff low-pass prototype characteristics. The out-of-band rejection characteristics are also improved in this way. To our knowledge, this is among the first demonstrations that both types of MEMS contact switches and capacitive switches are used simultaneously to construct a monolithic tunable filter with independent L/C controlling capability.
Stock Fund Returns and Macroeconomic Variables in Brazil

ABSTRACT This article tested the Burmeister, Roll, and Ross (1994) version of the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) with Brazilian stock funds from 2002 to 2012 using the market and four macroeconomic risk factors as innovations. The market timing and time horizon risk factors were the only ones displaying consistent coefficient sign and high significance frequency across all periods and fund categories. Confidence, inflation, and business cycle risks were not as consistent. The APT explains historical fund returns better than the single Capital Asset Pricing Model, but it was not possible to obtain reliable estimates for the factors risk premia.
Phosphorylation sites in the PDGF receptor with different specificities for binding GAP and PI3 kinase in vivo.

Tyrosine residues have been identified in the human platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor beta‐subunit whose phosphorylation is stimulated by PDGF. These sites are also in vitro autophosphorylation sites. There are a total of three phosphorylation sites in the kinase insert region, tyrosines 740, 751 and 771. Mutagenesis studies show that Tyr740 and 751 are involved in the PDGF‐stimulated binding of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3 kinase, and Tyr771 is required for efficient binding of GAP, the GTPase activator of Ras. The requirement for Tyr751 is only detected at low PDGF receptor levels, suggesting that it increases the affinity of binding of PI3 kinase but is not absolutely required. Small deletions in the kinase insert only 10 residues from Tyr740 and Tyr771 do not significantly reduce binding of PI3 kinase or GAP, indicating that distant sequences are probably unimportant for recognition. The data suggest that the receptor signals to different pathways via different phosphorylated tyrosines, and that certain proteins, such as PI3 kinase, can recognize two phosphorylated tyrosines in a single receptor.
The correlation between magnetic resonance imaging features of the brainstem and cerebellum and clinical features of spinocerebellar ataxia 3/Machado-Joseph disease.

BACKGROUND Brainstem and cerebellar atrophy are the most important features in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD). However, the correlation between brainstem and cerebellar atrophy and the clinical features has not been well studied. AIM To study the correlation between MRI features of the brainstem and cerebellum and predominant clinical features in SCA3/MJD. DESIGN AND SETTING University teaching hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS By using the linear measurement method, we assessed 32 patients with SCA3/MJD to study the correlations between the morphometric data of the brainstem and cerebellum and clinical features: Duration of the disease, age of onset, total international cooperative ataxia rating scale (ICARS) score; total scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) score; ICARS subscores, and SARA subscores. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Pearson correlation test. RESULTS There was a significant inverse correlation between anteroposterior diameter of the midbrain and pons and total ICARS scores, total SARA scores, ICARS and SARA subscores (r = -0.381 approximately -0.57, P < 0.05 or 0.01) and disease duration (r = -0.42 approximately -0.51, P < 0.05 or 0.01). Additionally, superoinferior diameter of the cerebellum was inversely correlated with total SARA scores and ICARS and SARA subscores except for ataxia of posture and gait in both scales (r = - 0.37 approximately -0.44, P < 0.05). The superoinferior diameter of the fourth ventricle was inversely correlated with age of onset (r = -0.45, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The effect on the cerebellum and brainstem is related to predominant clinical features in SCA3/MJD patients.
Comparison of intermittent ethambutol with rifampicin-based regimens in HIV-infected adults with PTB, Kampala.

BACKGROUND The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a key factor responsible for the high rates of tuberculosis (TB) in sub-Saharan Africa. Treatment of TB with rifampicin (R, RMP) containing short-course regimens is highly effective in HIV-infected adults. We conducted a study to compare the efficacy and safety of intermittent ethambutol (E, EMB) with two RMP-containing regimens to treat pulmonary TB in HIV-infected patients. SETTING National Tuberculosis Treatment Centre, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. DESIGN This was a prospective cohort compared to two non-randomised control groups. The study group and the two control arms were treated with 2 months of isoniazid (H), RMP, pyrazinamide (Z) and EMB followed by 6 E3H3 for the study group and 4HR or 6HR for controls. RESULTS Between April 1993 and March 2000, 136 patients were enrolled in the 2EHRZ/E3H3 arm, 147 in the 2EHRZ/4HR arm and 266 in the 2EHRZ/6HR arm. The relapse rate was 18.2 per 100 person-years observation (PYO) for the study regimen compared to 9.7/100 PYO (P = 0.0063) and 4.8/100 PYO (P = 0.0001) in patients treated with 2 EHRZ/4HR or 2EHRZ/6HR, respectively. CONCLUSION The 2EHRZ/6E3H3 regimen is safe and effective but has a significant risk of relapse.