Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The creamatocrit, fat and energy concentration in human milk produced by mothers of preterm and term infants

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the composition of breast milk which had been gathered from mothers for over first 2 weeks of lactation and to compare the changes in composition of preterm and term milk. Methods: A prospective, single center study was provided in Warsaw, Poland. The samples of breast milk from 22 mothers who had delivered prematurely and 39 mothers who had given birth to term infants were collected. The creamatocrit, energy and fat concentration were estimated in each participant’s breast milk sample twice a day (morning and night hours). Results: The lowest creamatocrit, calories and fat concentration was indicated in the preterm milk obtained in the morning (4.86%, 663.8 kcal/L and 33.6 g/L, respectively). The highest milk parameters were observed in the night samples of full-term milk and measured (9.6%, 919.7 kcal/L, and 60.7 g/L, respectively). No significant differences in analysed parameters were observed between preterm and full-term milk (p > 0.05). In summary, creamatocrit, calories and lipid concentration in breast milk shows the daily differences. Colostrum and mature milk from mothers of preterm neonates differed from colostum and mature milk from mothers of term neonates. They had lipid contents, creamatocrit level and calorific value.
Polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in transient tachypnea of neonate and respiratory distress syndrome

Background: Transient tachypnea of neonate (TTN) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of the newborn are the most common cause of early respiratory distress in the immediate neonatal period. There is increasing evidence to support the role for the activation of the renin angiotensin system during acute lung injury. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism, ACE activity and TTN and respiratory distress syndromes. Methods: Nineteen neonates with TTN, 20 neonates with RDS and 21 control infants are studied for ACE polymorphism and serum ACE activity. Results: Twenty six (43.3%) patients have DD polymorphism, 19 (31.7%) patients have ID polymorphism and 15 (25%) patients have II polymorphism. Serum ACE activity is 43.5 ± 1.8 (40–46) U/L in DD, 31.5 ± 2.3 (28–36) U/L in ID and 22.1± 2.1(19–46) U/L in II patient. Conclusions: The study could not find any difference in DD alleles and ACE activity between control group and TTN group. ACE polymorphism was not different between RDS group and control group in this study.
Association between early preterm birth and periodontitis according to USA and European consensus definitions

Objective: Prospective case–control study assessing the association between maternal periodontitis according to the recently issued USA and European consensus definitions and early preterm delivery (<35 weeks gestation). Cases were women delivering between 22 and 346/7 weeks of gestation (n = 84) and controls were women delivering at term (≥37 weeks) (n = 345). Methods: Periodontal examination at the immediate postpartum period identified periodontitis according to both consensus definitions. A multivariate logistic model was used to assess the association between early preterm delivery and the presence of periodontitis adjusted for confounders. Results: All women had periodontitis by the European consensus definitions. When using the USA definitions, more cases had severe periodontitis than controls (34.5% vs. 17.72%); p = 0.003. After adjustment for main confounders, the association between severe (OR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.36–4.14) periodontitis and early preterm delivery persisted. The only other independent factor associated with early preterm delivery was vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. Conclusions: Early preterm delivery is associated with periodontitis when the USA consensus definitions are used. The European definitions revealed inadequate for the study population because of the lack of discrimination power.
Concentration of free vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptor, sFlt-1 in the maternal and fetal circulations of normal term pregnancies at high and low altitudes

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is regulated by hypoxia that is essential for placental development. It is antagonized by a soluble form of its receptor (sFlt-1). The purpose of this study was to measure these factors in the maternal and the cord bloods, at low and high altitude. Methods: Samples were collected from full term births normal pregnant women. Free (unbound) VEGF and sFlt-1 levels were measured in plasma samples from cord and maternal blood for each subject by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using commercially available kits from R&D systems, UK (Cat # DVE00 and Cat # SVR100B, respectively). Results: At high altitude, the average maternal free VEGF in pg/ml was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than that of the cord level (71.30 ± 282.14 and 431.35 ± 424.31, respectively). On the other hand, the average maternal sFlt-1 was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that of the cord level (8205.41 ± 6244.72 and 1811.74 + 3469.30, respectively). At low altitude, the average maternal free VEGF was significantly lower than that of the cord level (0.47 ± 0.89 and 483.44 ± 457.31, respectively, p < 0.001). On the other hand, the average maternal sFlt-1 was significantly higher than that of the cord level (9267.82 ± 6345.68 and 958.66 ± 1359.92, respectively, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences by altitude. Conclusion: Secretion of sFlt-1 appears to be polarized, in that concentrations are higher in the maternal compartment than on the fetal side at both high and low altitudes. This may be a normal physiological phenomenon to permit angiogenesis in the placenta and fetus while protecting the mother. Chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude does not affect these distributions.
Biomechanical Comparison of the Fixation after Curved Periacetabular Osteotomy Using Titanium and Bioabsorbable Screws

Purpose We performed curved periacetabular osteotomy, a modification of the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy, to treat hip dysplasia. The purpose of our study was to compare the biomechanical stability of acetabular fragments fixed in place with 3 titanium screws, or with 2 or 3 bioabsorbable screws composed of particulate resorbable uncalcined hydroxyapatite (HA) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) termed HA/PLLA screws. Methods Curved periacetabular osteotomy was performed on 24 composite model hemipelves. Three groups of 8 specimens were affixed with 1) 3 titanium screws, 2) 2 HA/PLLA screws, or 3) 3 HA/PLLA screws. After fixation, the hemipelves were biomechanically attested with simulated push-off phase of the gait cycle using a servohydraulic material testing system. Results The average failure loads were not significantly different among the3 groups tested. However, the group repaired with 3 HA/PLLA screws showed significantly greater stiffness than the other groups. Conclusions All 3 fixation methods provided sufficient stability to allow for early partial weight-bearing after surgery. The use of 3 HA/PLLA screws provided significantly greater stiffness for acetabular fragment fixation.
Effect of antenatal tocolysis on neonatal outcomes

Objective: Detail adverse neonatal effects in pregnancies treated with indomethacin (I), magnesium sulfate (M) or nifedipine (N). Methods: Women in acute preterm labor with cervical dilatation 1–6 cm were randomized to receive one of three first-line tocolytic drugs. Results: There were 317 neonates (I = 103, M = 95, N = 119) whose mothers were treated with tocolytic therapy. There was no difference in gestational age at randomization (average 28.6 weeks’ gestation) or at delivery (31.6 weeks’ gestation, p = 0.551), birth weight (p = 0.871) or ventilator days (p = 0.089) between the three groups. Neonatal morbidity was not different between the three groups; respiratory distress syndrome (p = 0.086), patent ductus arteriosus (p = 0.592), sepsis (p = 0.590), necrotizing enterocolitis (p = 0.770), intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.669) and periventricular leukomalacia (p = 0.124). Conclusions: There were no statistically significant differences between the three tocolytics as far as composite neonatal morbidity or mortality was concerned.
Sequential Emergence of Resistance to Multiple Antimicrobial Agents in KPC-Producing- Klebsiella pneumoniae

Introduction: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most important gram-negative bacteria causing hospital-acquired infections. Case Presentation: In this report is presented a patient with an abdominal infection caused by carbapenemase producing-Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia). In spite of administrating the combination therapy, successive resistance to last-resort antimicrobial agents (colistin and tigecycline) was observed. The use of combination therapy, in four successive isolates recovered from this patient, was analyzed by killing curves. The genetic relatedness among the isolates was assessed. Conclusions: All four isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) positive and showed resistance to all β-lactams including carbapenems and to other antimicrobial agents like aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, minocycline and trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol (TMS). Isolates 1 and 2 showed susceptibility to colistin, whereas isolate 3 was colistin-resistant and isolate 4 became tigecycline-resistant as well. Synergy was only observed with colistin plus rifampicin and with the triple combination of colistin, rifampicin and fosfomycin. The four isolates were indistinguishable genotypically. We described the sequential emergence of resistance to colistin and tigecycline in KPCproducing-K. pneumonia (KPC-Kp) isolates that occurred under treatment with these antimicrobial agents despite the use of combination therapy.
Detection of cow’s milk proteins and minor components in human milk using proteomics techniques

Cow’s milk proteins (CMPs) are the best characterized food allergens. The aim of this study was to investigate cow’s milk allergens in human colostrum of term and preterm newborns’ mothers, and other minor protein components by proteomics techniques, more sensitive than other techniques used in the past. Sixty-two term and 11 preterm colostrum samples were collected, subjected to a treatment able to increase the concentration of the most diluted proteins and simultaneously to reduce the concentration of the proteins present at high concentration (Proteominer Treatment), and subsequently subjected to the steps of proteomic techniques. The most relevant finding in this study was the detection of the intact bovine alpha-S1-casein in human colostrum, then bovine alpha-1-casein could be considered the cow’s milk allergen that is readily secreted in human milk and could be a cause of sensitization to cow’s milk in exclusively breastfed predisposed infants. Another interesting result was the detection, at very low concentrations, of proteins previously not described in human milk (galectin-7, the different isoforms of the 14-3-3 protein and the serum amyloid P-component), probably involved in the regulation of the normal cell growth, in the pro-apoptotic function and in the regulation of tissue homeostasis. Further investigations are needed to understand if these families of proteins have specific biological activity in human milk.
Soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST) presepsin in critically ill preterm newborns: preliminary reference ranges

Soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST), also named presepsin, is a 13 kDa truncated form of soluble CD14 (sCD14), consisting of 64 amino acid residues. Systemic inflammation and sepsis are characterized by an early, significant increase in sCD14-ST presepsin blood concentration and thus, this small polypeptide has been proposed as a novel, reliable biomarker for the management of sepsis. We enrolled twenty-six consecutive non-septic preterm newborns with gestational age (GA) between 26 and 36 weeks) admitted to NICU after the first day of life for various severe diseases. sCD14-ST presepsin was measure on whole blood samples by a rapid commercial available chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) based on a non-competitive CLEIA. The mean sCD14-ST presepsin blood level in 26 preterm newborns was 643.1 ng/L, with a standard deviation (SD) of 303.8 ng/L; the median value was 578 ng/L. Our results clearly suggest no correlation between GA and sCD14-ST presepsin blood level between 26 and 36 weeks and thus it is reasonable to adopt a unique reference range for preterm newborns.
Community nurses’ perceptions of and exposure to children with severe disabilities and their primary caregivers

In primary health care clinics nurses are faced with individuals of different ages with different problems, ranging from minor ailments to severe disabilities. ABSTRAK In primere gesondheidsorgklinieke kom verpleegkundiges in aanraking met individue van verskillende ouderdomme met ‘n verskeidenheid probleme, wat strek vanaf geringe kwale tot erge gestremdhede.
Midtrimester amniotic fluid concentrations of angiogenic factors in relation to maternal, gestational and neonatal characteristics in normal pregnancies

Objective: To describe associations among maternal/gestational/neonatal characteristics and midpregnancy amniotic fluid concentrations of the main angiogenic markers vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF). Methods: In a cohort of 206 normal full-term pregnancies, midpregnancy amniotic fluid VEGF and PlGF reference values were recorded. Possible associations among the above concentrations and various parameters, such as maternal age and body mass index, race, parity, smoking, gestational age, delivery mode, birth-weight and fetal gender were investigated. Results: Midpregnancy amniotic fluid concentrations of both VEGF and PlGF increased with increasing gestational age (r = 0.173, p = 0.013 and r = 0.255, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas PlGF concentrations positively correlated with birth-weight (r = 0.154, p = 0.027). The effect of the other above-mentioned parameters on VEGF and PlGF concentrations was not significant. Conclusions: In normal pregnancies, midgestation amniotic fluid VEGF and PlGF concentrations positively correlate with gestational age. Furthermore, midgestation amniotic fluid PlGF concentrations may be a predictor of neonatal birth weight.
Colostrum-derived B and T cells as an extra-lymphoid compartment of effector cell populations in humans

Colostrum contains cellular components that convey immunological protection to offspring. In the present study the main subsets of lymphocytes present in colostrum and in peripheral blood of healthy screened mothers were compared through the evaluation of >15 different flow cytometry markers. Colostrum and peripheral blood samples were collected within 3 days after full-term delivery. Flow cytometry assays and laboratory tests were performed soon after collection. Among B cells, percentages of CD19+CD5+ cells, pertaining to natural immunity system, were significantly higher in colostrum than in peripheral blood (33 vs. 5%, p = 0.047). CD4+ T cells, effector cells (CD45RA+/CD27–) and effector memory cells (CD45RA–/CD27–) were significantly higher in colostrum (p < 0.001) than in peripheral blood, as well as activated CD4+ T cells (HLA–DR+) (36% vs. 6% p = 0.0022) and CD4+ terminally differentiated effector T cells (CD57+) (p < 0.001). With regards to CD8+ T cells, a comparable significant increase in effector (p < 0.02) and effector memory cells (p < 0.001) was also observed. Moreover, an increased surface expression of HLA-DR and CD57 (p < 0.001) on CD8+ T cells in colostrum was detected. Colostrum contains a different distribution of lymphocyte subsets with respect to peripheral blood from mothers, confirming the observation that lymphocytes probably migrate in milk in a selective way. Colostrum T and B lymphocytes appear to be enriched with subsets possessing effector functions or belonging to the innate immune system, what could transfer a prompt line of defence to offspring.
Comparative in Vitro Study of Four Commercial Biomaterials Used for Bone Grafting

Purpose This work aimed to study and compare the behavior of macrophages and human osteoclast-like cells cultured in contact with four commercial bone substitute materials used as graft for ridge augmentation techniques. Two materials are of natural origin and two are synthetic bone substitutes. Methods Macrophage activation and cytokine release were assessed using SEM analysis and a sandwich ELISA kit while the activity of human osteoclast-like cells was studied quantifying calcium released from the substrata studied together with SEM analysis of cell morphology and pit formation on the bone substitutes. Results Hydroxyapatite proved to be the greatest macrophage activator, while the bovine derived material turned out to be the only bone substitute that does not induce macrophages to release IFNγ. No material had direct induction of osteoclast precursor differentiation even if mature osteoclasts showed the highest activity on the human derived material followed by bone ceramic, while the bovine derived material was the substrate with the least osteoclast activity. Conclusions The four materials reacted differently with the cells tested and between them, the bovine derived bone, being the lowest macrophage and osteoclast activator may be considered a good bone substitute for clinical situations requiring greater time of permanence of the material at the site of implantation, while human derived bone will be more suitable for clinical applications that require lower time of permanence.
Significant Association of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Polymorphism with Bladder Cancer Instead of Prostate and Kidney Cancer

Background Urological cancers occur worldwide. Many factors, among which the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism, are said to be associated with the cancer risk. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association between urological cancer susceptibility and COMT Val158Met in different genetic models. Methods This study was based on material obtained from the PubMed, HuGENet and Embase databases. Four models including dominant (AA + AG vs. GG), recessive (AA vs. AG + GG), codominant (AA vs. AG, AA vs. GG) and per-allele analysis (A vs. G) were applied. Odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to evaluate the power of the associations. Results Fourteen eligible studies comprising 3,285 cases and 3,594 controls were included. Although we could not detect a positive function of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism in urological cancers, the polymorphism might be significantly associated with bladder cancer risk (dominant model [AA + AG vs. GG]: OR = 0.736, 95% CI = 0.586-0.925, I2 = 0.00%; recessive model [AA vs. AG + GG]: OR = 0.822, 95%CI = 0.653-1.035, I2 = 6.30%; codominant model [AA vs. AG]: OR = 0.908, 95% CI = 0.710-1.161, I2 = 0.00%; codominant model [AA vs. GG]: OR = 0.693, 95% CI = 0.524-0.917, I2 = 30.20%; allele analysis [A vs. G]: OR = 0.826, 95%CI = 0.717-0.951, I2 = 30.20%). The same significant associations were not found for kidney cancer and prostate cancer risk in different ethnicities. There also seemed to be no distinct effect of the polymorphism on benign prostatic hyperplasia. Conclusions We suggest that bladder cancer but not prostate cancer and kidney cancer could be significantly associated with the Val158Met polymorphism. Interaction of COMT genetic and related environmental factors for urological cancers should not be ignored in future.
Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Therapy Using Human p21WAF-1/Cip-1to Prevent Wound Healing in a Rabbit Model of Glaucoma Filtration Surgery

Objective To determine if adenovirus-mediated p21 WAF-1/Cip-1 (p21) gene therapy can prevent fibroproliferation and wound healing in a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery. Methods In vitro studies were performed using rabbit Tenon fibroblasts harvested from fresh tissue. In vivo studies were conducted in New Zealand white rabbits. A full-thickness sclerotomy was performed under a limbal-based conjunctival flap. Reagents tested included a replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus containing the human p21 gene (rAd.p21); the nonspecific marker gene for green fluorescent protein or β-galactosidase; mitomycin, 0.5 mg/mL; and balanced saline solution. Each treatment was applied episclerally for 5 minutes before the sclerotomy using a soaked cellulose sponge placed under the surgically created conjunctival flap. Independent experiments were conducted to (1) monitor changes in intraocular pressure during a 30-day period after treatment and examine surgical site histological features, (2) examine changes in bleb morphologic features over 30 days, (3) determine outflow facility 14 days after treatment, and (4) examine the localization and persistence of rAd.p21 expression between 3 and 60 days after treatment. Results Treatment of Tenon fibroblasts with rAd.p21 resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell growth in vitro. In vivo, rAd.p21 inhibited wound healing and fibroproliferation after filtration surgery, comparably to mitomycin. Mitomycin caused notable thinning of the bleb wall. In addition, 2 of the 5 mitomycin-treated eyes exhibited an abscess with hypopyon and hyalitis 30 days after surgery, which was not observed in any of the rAd.p21-treated eyes. None of the treatments resulted in a significantly sustained decrease in intraocular pressure during the 30-day period, although mitomycin treatment resulted in a significant ( P = .02) increase in outflow facility 2 weeks after surgery in separate animals. Mitomycin- and rAd.p21-treated eyes had functioning blebs at the end of the experiment based on slitlamp examination. Conclusions Mitomycin and rAd.p21 were effective in preventing fibroproliferation and wound healing in a rabbit model of glaucoma surgery. Mitomycin treatment increased outflow facility in normal-pressure eyes. Clinical Relevance Gene therapy with rAd.p21 may provide an effective antiproliferative for glaucoma filtration surgery, without the complications associated with mitomycin.
Hemodialysis Catheter Thrombi: Visualization and Quantification of Microstructures and Cellular Composition

Purpose Despite the increasing use of central venous catheters (CVC) for hemodialysis in clinical practice, the role of CVC in thrombus development is poorly understood. This work aims at defining new methods and protocols for assessing the micromorphology and composition of thrombi formed into tunneled and non-tunneled hemodialysis CVC removed from patients. Methods Twenty-nine CVCs were collected and the microscopic features of intra-luminal thrombi were quantified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and visualized by two photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM). Results SEM quantification showed that fibrin was the most abundant structure in CVC thrombi. Specifically, the median micromorphologic composition of the surface layer resulted in: 42.6% of fibrin plaque, 16.3% of fibrin network, 0.4% of fibrin fibers, 9.3% of platelets, 10.3% of erythrocytes and 1.7% of white blood cells. TPLSM showed that sub-surface layers were instead composed by smaller amounts of fibrin and platelets and higher amounts of blood cells. Conclusions Integration of SEM and TPLSM was found to be an excellent tool for characterizing thrombi in hemodialysis CVC removed from patients. Protocols and techniques presented here may be useful in the development and testing of new strategies for limiting thrombus formation on vascular access because of CVC.