Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution and genetic analysis of TTV and TTMV major phylogenetic groups in French blood donors

TTV and TTMV (recently assigned to the floating genus Anellovirus) infect human populations (including healthy individuals) at high prevalence (>80%). They display notably high levels of genetic diversity, but very little is known regarding the distribution of Anellovirus genetic groups in human populations. We analyzed the distribution of the major genetic groups of TTV and TTMV in healthy voluntary blood donors using group‐independent and group‐specific PCR amplifications systems, combined with sequence determination and phylogenetic analysis. Analysis of Anellovirus groups revealed a non‐random pattern of group distribution with a predominant prevalence of TTV phylogenetic groups 1, 3, and 5, and of TTMV group 1. Multiple co‐infections were observed. In addition, TTMV sequences exhibiting a high genetic divergence with reference sequences were identified. This study provided the first picture of the genetic distribution of the major phylogenetic groups of members of the genus Anellovirus in a cohort of French voluntary blood donors. Obtaining such data from a reference population comprising healthy individuals was an essential step that will allow the subsequent comparative analysis of cohorts including patients with well‐characterized diseases, in order to identify any possible relationship between Anellovirus infection and human diseases. J. Med. Virol. 78:298–304, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in Lean Mass and in Organs of Nutrient Assimilation in a Long‐Distance Passerine Migrant at a Springtime Stopover Site

The primary energy source for migration is fat, but nonfat body components can vary in concert with lipid stores in some migrants. The goals of this study were (1) to validate for a small Old World warbler (the blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla) non‐destructive methods to measure lean and fat mass, (2) to quan‐tify the relative contribution of lean mass to body‐mass change of migrants, and (3) to ascertain what lean tissues might be involved. Using total‐body electrial conductivity and dilution space of isotope‐labeled water, we measured lean and fat mass with precision of 3%‐4% and 10%‐15%, respectively, In newly arrived migrants with apparently similar structural size (tarsus length), there was as significant prositivie correlation be‐tween lean mass and fat mass; 37% of each unit change was lean mass and 63% fat. Captive blackcaps, fed ad lib. for 7d, gained body mass, with 40% being lean mass. When captives were fasted 1.5‐3 d, both body mass and lean mass declined; lean mass accounted for 42% of body mass lost. In Fasted birds, the masses of liver, stomach, and small intestine declined and accounted for 44% of the total lean mass decline, a dispropor‐tionate amount considering that these organs make up only 11% of a blackcap's lean mass. In freshly captured blackcaps, organ masses were positively correlated with lean mass minus the organ masses, suggesting that these organs are a source of lean mass catabolized by migrants. We conclude that migrants' need for protein to rebuild lean mass during stopover could constrain diet selection and require increased foraging time, thus slowing mass gain and lengtheing overall migration time.
The Icelandic and Nordic cervical screening programs, Trends in incidence and mortality rates through 1995

BACKGROUND The objective of cervical cancer screening is to lower the incidence and mortality rates of the disease. This study evaluates the effectiveness of cervical screening and the UICC and EC screening recommendations based on the Nordic screening experience. METHODS The study analyzes the features of the Icelandic and the Nordic screening programs and the observed trends in the incidence and mortality rates in these countries through 1995. RESULTS Organized screening started in all the Nordic countries soon after 1960 and had nation-wide coverage in all these countries, except in Denmark (45% coverage in 1991), by around 1973 but in Norway screening was only spontaneous up to late in 1994. Up to 1985 the target age group and screening interval were most intensive in Iceland, followed by Finland, Sweden and Denmark. All countries except Finland lowered the lower age limit and intensified the screening intervals after 1985. Through the period 1986-1995 the reduction in both the mortality and the incidence rates was greatest in Iceland (mortality: 76% and incidence: 67%) and Finland (73% and 75%, respectively), intermediate in Sweden (60% and 55%, respectively) and Denmark (55% and 54%, respectively), and lowest in Norway (43% and 34%, respectively). The age-specific incidence in the 20-29 age group has been increasing since 1971 in all the Nordic countries, except in Finland, where the yearly registered age-specific incidence has been increasing in the targeted 30-54 age group since 1991. In Iceland screening has greatly affected the rate of all stages of squamous cell carcinoma, but not the rate of adeno- and adenosquamous carcinomas. In fact the rate of adenocarcinoma has been increasing. CONCLUSIONS Organized screening is more effective than spontaneous screening in reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Although differences in environmental, biological and ethnic factors may call for different screening strategies, screening should preferably start soon after age 20 with a screening interval of 2-3 years.
Abrogation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats by Ajwa date fruit extract through ameliorating oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Ajwa, a variety of date palme Phoenix dactylifera L. , has long been used and considered as one of the most popular fruits in the North Africa and Middle East region. For Muslims this fruit is of religious importance and is mentioned several times in Quran. Besides being a part of the Arabian essential diet, dates have been used traditionally for number of complications. This study aimed to evaluate the possible potential of Ajwa date extract to guard against carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced liver damage in rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were given Ajwa date extract and silymarin (a standard reference drug) at doses of 300 & 50mg/kg, p.o. , respectively for 2 weeks before CCl4 (2 ml/kg, s. c., twice weekly for 8 consecutive weeks), and concomitantly administered with CCl4 for 8 consecutive weeks. Like silymarin, Ajwa date extract produced significant decrease in serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and LDL-cholesterol as well as lipid peroxides measured as malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyproline and caspase-3 contents of liver tissue with marked increase in serum albumin, HDL-cholesterol and reduced glutathione (GSH) content as well as enzyme activities of super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). In conclusion, Ajwa date extract afforded significant protection against CCl4-induced hepatocellular injury; an effect that could be attributed to its antioxidant, antiapoptotic and antifibrotic activities.
Hepatic arterial 90Yttrium glass microspheres (Therasphere) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Interim safety and survival data on 65 patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) generally arises in a cirrhotic liver and, in most cases, is multifocal and bilobar. Although trans‐hepatic artery chemoembolization (TACE) can be highly affective in shrinking tumors, it is limited by virtue of the damage that it can cause to the liver that is already damaged by chronic disease. A high priority in HCC research, after primary prevention and early detection, is to find new treatment modalities that are both effective and non‐toxic to the underlying cirrhotic liver. A cohort of 65 patients with biopsy‐proven unresectable HCC have been treated with hepatic arterial 90Yttrium microspheres (Therasphere), and the interim results are reported here. Only 1 cycle of Therasphere treatment ever was performed on 46 patients, 17 patients had 2 cycles, and 2 patients had 3 cycles of therapy. The median dose delivered was 134 Gy, typically as either 5 or 10 GBq (2–4 million microspheres). Clinical toxicities include 9 episodes of abdominal pain and 2 episodes of acute cholecystitis, requiring cholecystectomy. A main lab toxicity was elevated bilirubin which increased by more than 200 % in 25 patients (30.5 %) during 6 months of therapy, although 18 of these patients had only transient elevation. A prominent finding was prolonged and profound (> 70%) lymphopenia in more than 75% of the patients, but without clinical significance. Forty‐two patients (64.6%) had a substantial decrease in tumor vascularity in response to therapy, and 25 patients (38.4%) had a partial response, by computed tomography scan. Median survival for Okuda stage I patients (n = 42) was 649 days (historical comparison 244) and for Okuda stage II patients (n = 23) was 302 days (historical comparison 64 days). All patients were followed after therapy for a minimum of 6 months. There were 42 deaths, 21 due to liver failure, 6 from HCC progression, and 3 from metastases. Therasphere appears to be a relatively safe and effective therapy for advanced‐stage unresectable HCC. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:S107–S110.)
Inactivated pbp4 in Highly Glycopeptide-resistant Laboratory Mutants of Staphylococcus aureus *

Both vancomycin- and teicoplanin-resistant laboratory mutants of Staphylococcus aureus produce peptidoglycans of altered composition in which the proportion of highly cross-linked muropeptide species is drastically reduced with a parallel increase in the representation of muropeptide monomers and dimers (Sieradzki, K., and Tomasz, A. (1997) J. Bacteriol. 179, 2557–2566; and Sieradzki, K. , and Tomasz, A. (1998) Microb. Drug Resist. 4, 159–168). We now report that the distorted peptidoglycan composition is related to defects in penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4); no PBP4 was detectable by the fluorographic assay in membrane preparations from the mutants, and comparison of the sequence of pbp4 amplified from the mutants indicated disruption of the gene by two types of abnormalities, a 17-amino acid long duplication starting at position 305 of thepbp4 gene was detected in the vancomycin-resistant mutant, and a stop codon was found to be introduced into the pbp4 KTG motif at position 261 in the mutant selected for teicoplanin resistance. Additional common patterns of disturbances in the peptidoglycan metabolism of the mutants are indicated by the increased sensitivity of mutant cell walls to the M1 muramidase and decreased sensitivity to lysostaphin, which is a reversal of the susceptibility pattern of the parental cell walls. Furthermore, the results of high performance liquid chromatography analysis of lysostaphin digests of peptidoglycan suggest an increase in the average chain length of the glycan strands in the peptidoglycan of the glycopeptide-resistant mutants. The increased molar proportion of muropeptide monomers in the cell wall of the glycopeptide-resistant mutants should provide binding sites for the “capture” of vancomycin and teicoplanin molecules, which may be part of the mechanism of glycopeptide resistance inS. aureus.
Choice of material for above‐knee femoropopliteal bypass graft

Autogenous saphenous vein is generally considered to be the best material for arterial bypass grafts below the inguinal ligament. Recent results have suggested that the advantage of vein over prosthesis is more pronounced in a distal situation, but it is not immediately apparent whether the difference is sufficient to justify a policy of using prosthesis for the initial above‐knee graft to preserve the vein in case later surgery is required. An attempt has been made to answer this question. The literature has been reviewed to obtain estimates of the patency rates for grafts in different situations and a mathematical model has been set up using these figures to predict the outcome of different treatment policies. The model can be used to predict the result of alteration or inaccuracy in the data or to make use of the results of newly reported studies. The model predicts that the use of prosthesis for an initial graft will reduce the overall patency and substantially increase the requirement for reoperation, even if the present data give a substantial overestimate of the advantages of vein above the knee.
Possible case of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome in sibs.

In this article, we describe two sibs, a brother and sister, with severe mental retardation and multiple congenital anomalies including "coarse" facial features, short stature, seizures, hypertrichosis, short great toes, and overbreathing. Comparison of these patients with previous reports suggests that they could represent the first familial cases of the Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. The recurrence in sibs within the same family supports autosomal recessive inheritance for the condition. Variable expression of the respiratory symptoms, which has not been reported earlier, is underlined.
Successful outcomes of EMR-L with 3D-EUS for rectal carcinoids compared with historical controls.

AIM To assess the results of endoscopic mucosal resection with a ligation device (EMR-L) combined with three dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography (3D-EUS) using an ultrasonic probe for rectal carcinoids. In addition, diagnosis of the depth and size of lesions by EUS was evaluated. METHODS Between January 2003 and March 2007, 20 patients underwent EMR-L with 3D-EUS using an ultrasonic probe (group A). 3D-EUS was combined with EMR-L at the time of injection of sterile physiological saline into the submucosal layer. For comparison, 14 rectal carcinoids that had been treated by EMR-L without 3D-EUS between April 1998 and December 2002 were evaluated as historical controls (group B). EUS was conducted for all of the patients before treatment to evaluate tumor diameter and depth of invasion. The percentage of complete resection and the vertical resection margin were compared between the two groups. RESULTS The depth of invasion upon histopathological examination was in complete agreement with the pre-operative findings by EUS. The tumor diameter determined by EUS approximated that found in the tissue samples. There were no significant differences in the gender, tumor sites or tumor diameters between the two groups. The rate of complete resection for groups A and B was 100% and 71%, respectively (P<0.05). The vertical resection margin of group A was longer than that of group B. CONCLUSION EMR-L is effective as an endoscopic treatment for rectal carcinoids. In combination with 3D-EUS, safe and complete resection is further assured.
Efficacy of the African weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the control of Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) and Pseudotheraptus wayi (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in cashew crop in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND Cashew, Anacardium occidentale, is an economically important cash crop for more than 300 000 rural households in Tanzania. Its production is, however, severely constrained by infestation by sap-sucking insects such as Helopeltis anacardii, H. schoutedeni and Pseudotheraptus wayi. The African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda, is an effective biocontrol agent of hemipteran pests in coconuts in Tanzania, but its efficacy in the control of Helopeltis spp. and P. wayi in Tanzanian cashew has not been investigated so far. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the efficacy of O. longinoda in the management of these insect pests in the cashew crop at different sites of the Coast region of Tanzania. RESULTS Colonisation levels of O. longinoda, expressed as weaver ant trails, varied from 57.1 to 60.6% and from 58.3 to 67.5% in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The mean number of leaf nests per tree varied from five to eight nests in 2010 and from five to nine nests in 2011. There was a negative correlation between numbers of nests and pest damage. Oecophylla longinoda-colonised cashew trees had the lowest shoot damage by Helopeltis spp. of 4.8 and 7.5% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, as opposed to uncolonised cashew trees with 36 and 30% in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Similarly, nut damage by P. wayi was lowest in O. longinoda-colonised trees, with only 2.4 and 6.2% in 2010 and 2011 as opposed to uncolonised trees with 26 and 21%. CONCLUSION Oecophylla longinoda is an effective biocontrol agent of the sap-sucking pests of cashew in the Coast region of Tanzania and should be considered as an important component of IPM.
Characteristics of people with recurrent ankle sprains: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Objective To examine whether people with recurrent ankle sprain, have specific physical and sensorimotor deficits. Design A systematic review of journal articles in English using electronic databases to September 2009. Included articles compared physical or sensorimotor measures in people with recurrent (≥2) ankle sprains and uninjured controls. Main outcome groups Outcome measures were grouped into: physical characteristics, strength, postural stability, proprioception, response to perturbation, biomechanics and functional tests. A meta-analysis was undertaken where comparable results within an outcome group were inconsistent. Results Fifty-five articles met the inclusion criteria. Compared with healthy controls, people with recurrent sprains demonstrated radiographic changes in the talus, changes in foot position during gait and prolonged time to stabilisation after a jump. There were no differences in ankle range of motion or functional test performance. Pooled results showed greater postural sway when standing with eyes closed (SMD=0.9, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.4) or on unstable surfaces (0.5, 0.1 to 1.0) and decreased concentric inversion strength (1.1, 0.2 to 2.1) but no difference in evertor strength, inversion joint position sense or peroneal latency in response to a perturbation. Conclusion There are specific impairments in people with recurrent ankle sprain but not necessarily in areas commonly investigated.
Primary pupils' recall of interactive storybooks on CD-ROM: inconsiderate interactive features and forgetting

The use of interactive storybooks in the primary classroom has the potential to facilitate pupils' reading, in small groups or individually. However, critics have expressed concern at the exposure of pupils to interactive storybooks. In particular, concern has been expressed that the interactive animations and sound effects in such storybooks may adversely affect pupils' responses to the written text. These small scale studies examined whether story recall of small groups of pupils, respectively in Year 5 and Year 4, was affected by the provision of cued animations and sound effects. Consideration of the outcomes of both studies indicates that access to cued animations and sound effects did have adverse effects on pupils' story recall.
The Synergistic Effects of Stochasticity and Dispersal on Population Densities

Using laboratory experiments, simulation models, and analytical techniques, we examined the impact of dispersal on the mean densities of patchily distributed populations. Even when dispersal leads to no net additions or removals of individuals from a population, it may nonetheless increase mean population densities if the net immigration rate is positive when populations are growing and negative when they are declining. As a model system for exploring this phenomenon, we used the yeastlike fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. In a laboratory experiment, we showed that dispersal can both ensure persistence and increase mean population densities even when dispersal among populations causes no direct addition or loss of fungal cells. From the laboratory data, we constructed a plausible model of A. pullulans dynamics among apple leaves within an orchard. This simulation model demonstrated that the effect of dispersal on mean densities is enhanced by three factors: weak density dependence of the dynamics within populations, high environmental variability affecting population growth rates, and lack of synchrony among the fluctuations of populations. Using an analytical model, we showed that the underlying mechanisms for this phenomenon are general, suggesting that a large effect of dispersal on mean population densities is possible in many natural systems.
Effects of ratios of non-fibre carbohydrates to rumen degradable protein in diets of Holstein cows: 1. Feed intake, digestibility and milk production

To evaluate the effect of different ratios of non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC) to rumen degradable protein (RDP) on lactation responses, digestion and dry matter intake (DMI), nine multiparous mid-lactation Holstein cows, averaging 171 +-17 days in milk and 24.1+-3.3 kg of milk/d were assigned to a 3 x 3 Latin square design. The total mixed rations (TMR) included 45% forage on a dry matter (DM) basis and 55% concentrates. The RDP (g/kg of DM) and NFC : RDP ratios of diets were respectively: 1) 98 and 4.10 (LRDP), 2) 108 and 3.71 (MRDP), 3) 118 and 3.34 (HRDP). Ratios were achieved through altering the RDP content of the diets while the NFC was held constant at 401 g/kg of DM. Urea was supplemented as a source of RDP to decrease the ratio. DMI and organic matter intake (OMI) were affected by treatment and tended to decrease linearly from LRDP to HRDP. Crude protein intake (CPI) increased linearly as the amount of RDP in the diets increased. Apparent organic matter digestion in the total tract decreased significantly in the HRDP diet. Percentage of protein and solid non-fat (SNF) and concentration of milk urea-nitrogen (MUN) in milk increased linearly when cows were fed diets with the higher amounts of RDP. Results showed that low producing cows are less likely to respond to altering NFC : RDP ratios than high producing cows, but digestibility in the MRDP treatment was higher and RDP level equal to 108 (g/kg of DM). A NFC : RDP ratio equal to 3.71 was useful and recommendable for mid-lactation dairy cow. Keywords: Dairy cows, milk production, non-fibre carbohydrates, rumen degradable protein
Chromatin Association of Human Origin Recognition Complex, Cdc6, and Minichromosome Maintenance Proteins during the Cell Cycle: Assembly of Prereplication Complexes in Late Mitosis

ABSTRACT Evidence obtained from studies with yeast and Xenopusindicate that the initiation of DNA replication is a multistep process. The origin recognition complex (ORC), Cdc6p, and minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins are required for establishing prereplication complexes, upon which initiation is triggered by the activation of cyclin-dependent kinases and the Dbf4p-dependent kinase Cdc7p. The identification of human homologues of these replication proteins allows investigation of S-phase regulation in mammalian cells. Using centrifugal elutriation of several human cell lines, we demonstrate that whereas human Orc2 (hOrc2p) and hMcm proteins are present throughout the cell cycle, hCdc6p levels vary, being very low in early G1 and accumulating until cells enter mitosis. hCdc6p can be polyubiquitinated in vivo, and it is stabilized by proteasome inhibitors. Similar to the case for hOrc2p, a significant fraction of hCdc6p is present on chromatin throughout the cell cycle, whereas hMcm proteins alternate between soluble and chromatin-bound forms. Loading of hMcm proteins onto chromatin occurs in late mitosis concomitant with the destruction of cyclin B, indicating that the mitotic kinase activity inhibits prereplication complex formation in human cells.