Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of meteorological factors on the occurrence of trauma and motor vehicle collisions in Tokyo

Background: Previous studies have suggested a possible association between meteorological factors and the occurrence of trauma, but with conflicting results. This study investigated the relation of the occurrence of trauma with meteorological factors, including barometric pressure, ambient temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Methods: Hourly data were collected on traumatic injuries through ambulance transport records of the Tokyo Fire Department from 1 January to 31 December 2005. Hourly meteorological data for Tokyo were also collected from the Japan Meteorological Agency during the same period. A time-series analysis was performed using an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to control for autocorrelations in time-series data. Results: Of a total of 643 849 patients who were transported to hospitals by ambulance, there were 226 339 trauma patients, including 94 916 patients from motor vehicle collisions (42% of all trauma patients). Based on the ARIMA model, higher temperature (p<0.001), greater rainfall (p<0.05) and holidays (p<0.001) were significantly associated with the occurrence of trauma. These factors were also significantly associated with the occurrence of motor vehicle collisions. Barometric pressure and humidity were not associated with the occurrence of trauma. Conclusions: This population-based study shows that, in addition to high temperature, rainfall and holidays are associated with the occurrence of trauma including motor vehicle collisions.
Oral Tolerance Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Oral tolerance is a long-recognized method of inducing immune tolerance or systemic hyporesponsiveness induced by feeding protein. Oral tolerance has been used to prevent and/or treat a variety of T-cell-mediated autoimmune disorders. Feeding colonic extracts prevented colitis in animal model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the clinical efficacy of oral tolerance in human IBD was unknown. In this issue, the study by Margalit and colleagues suggested that oral administration of autologous colonic extracts to moderately severe Crohn's disease patients might reduce disease activity; however, the study did not employ conventional clinical endpoints. These data provide an important first step to developing “Ag-specific” treatment strategies for IBD in the future. Larger scale studies using variable dosages, modes, and durations of Ag delivery will be required to optimize oral tolerance therapy in IBD.
Closed Incision Management With Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (CIM)

A novel closed incision management with negative pressure wound therapy (CIM) has been developed for convenient use with closed incisions that has the potential to be beneficial for patients at risk for postoperative complications. Incisions are typically under lateral tension. This study explored the biomechanical mechanisms by which integrity of the incisional closure is enhanced by CIM. CIM was hypothesized to affect local stresses around closed incisions in a beneficial manner. Finite element analyses (FEA) indicated that application of CIM decreased the lateral stresses ~50% around the incision and changed the direction of the stresses to a distribution that is typical of intact tissue. Bench evaluations corroborated findings that CIM significantly increased the force required to disrupt the closed incision by ~50% as compared with closure alone. In conclusion, using 2 FEAs and bench modeling, CIM was shown to reduce and normalize tissue stresses and bolster appositional forces at the incision.
African American Women Wealth Builders in the $100k Club: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of the Motivation and Success Strategies

African American women have been considered a double jeopardy due to being both Black and female. The existing literature does not offer research on African American women wealth builders as there is very little research on various subjects on African American women. This study of the motivation and success strategies of African American women wealth builders in the $100K Club sought to bridge the gap in literature. The purpose of this research was to explore the lived experiences of 20 African American women wealth builders who have savings of at least $100K regarding their motivation and success strategies. A semi structured interview was designed to capture the lived experiences of these African American women as they described what motivated them, how they saved at least $100K of earned income, and who or what contributed to their successes and failures along the way. The data was entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that was used to analyze the data to provide textural data, patterns, and themes. This study examined the financial strategies participants used during their financial growth. The findings of this study revealed the participants’ saving strategies of financial plans, 401[k]s, deferred comp., real estate investments, investment retirement accounts, stock portfolios, savings accounts, and company matched programs.
Topical HPMPC inhibits adenovirus type 5 in the New Zealand rabbit ocular replication model.

PURPOSE To evaluate the antiviral inhibitory activity of HPMPC against ocular adenoviral serotypes in vitro and to determine the therapeutic efficacy and ocular toxicity of treatment with topical HPMPC on established adenovirus type 5 (AD5) McEwen infection in the New Zealand (NZ) rabbit ocular replication model. METHODS The 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) of HPMPC was determined for various clinical isolates of AD5 and AD8 by plaque assay in A549 cells. In vivo inhibitory effects were measured by serial ocular titers and duration of viral shedding in the AD5-NZ rabbit ocular model. Local ocular toxicity was evaluated by external and slit lamp examination for blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and iritis. RESULTS The mean ID50 for seven isolates of AD8 was 0.47 (range, 0.02 microgram/ml to 0.82 microgram/ml), and the mean ID50 for seven isolates of AD5 was 1.03 (range, 0.15 microgram/ml to 2.80 micrograms/ml). In a series of in vivo experiments, topical administration of HPMPC for as long as 10 days (total dose, > 2.8 mg) significantly reduced both AD5 ocular titers and the number of days of viral shedding compared to that for vehicle-treated control eyes. Local ocular toxicity was not clinically significant at a total dose of < 10 mg administered for as long as 10 days. CONCLUSIONS HPMPC, a broad-spectrum, long-acting nucleoside monophosphate analog, is a promising candidate for the treatment of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis infections. Further studies to ensure safety and efficacy in humans are warranted.
The efficacy of repeated radiofrequency medial branch neurotomy for lumbar facet syndrome.

OBJECTIVE Radiofrequency (RF) medial branch neurotomy is an effective management of lumbar facet syndrome. However, pain may recur after period of time. When pain recurs, it can be repeated, but the successful outcome and duration of relief from repeated procedures are not clearly known. The objective of this study was to determine the success rate and duration of pain relief from repeated radiofrequency medial branch neurotomy for lumbar facet syndrome. METHODS A retrospective review of medical records was done on 60 consecutive patients, from March of 2006 to February of 2009, who had an initial successful RF neurotomy but subsequently underwent repeated procedures due to recurrence of pain. All procedures were done in carefully selected patients after at least two responsive medial branch nerve blocks. C-arm fluoroscopic guide, impedance, sensory and motor threshold monitoring tools were used for the precise placement of electrodes. Responses of repeated procedures were compared with initial radiofrequency neurotomy for success rates and duration of pain relief. RESULTS There were 48 females and 12 males. Mean age was 52.4 years (range, 26-83). RF medial branch neurotomy was done on one side in 38 and both sides in 22 patients, each covering at least three segments. Average visual analog scale at last procedure was 6.8. Twelve patients had previous lumbar operations, including 4 patients with instrumentations. Fifty-five patients had two procedures and five patients had three procedures. Mean duration of successful pain relief (> 50% of previous pain for at least 3 months period) after initial radiofrequency neurotomy was 10.9 months (range, 3-28) in 51 (85%) patients. From repeated procedures, successful pain relief was seen in 50 (91%) patients with average duration of 10.2 months (range, 3-24). Five patients had third procedure, which was successful in 4 (80%) patients with mean duration of 9.8 months (range, 5-16). This was not statistically different from initial results. There were no permanent neurological complications from the procedures. CONCLUSION Results of this study indicate that the frequency of success and durations of relief from repeated RF medial branch neurotomy for lumbar facet syndrome are similar to initial results that provided relatively prolonged period of pain relief without major side effects. Each procedure seems to provide successful pain relief for about 10 months in more than 85% of carefully selected patients when properly done.
Racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of depressive symptoms among middle-aged women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

OBJECTIVES We examined racial/ethnic differences in significant depressive symptoms among middle-aged women before and after adjustment for socioeconomic, health-related, and psychosocial characteristics. METHODS Racial/ethnic differences in unadjusted and adjusted prevalence of significant depressive symptoms (score >/= 16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression [CES-D] Scale) were assessed with univariate and multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS Twenty-four percent of the sample had a CES-D score of 16 or higher. Unadjusted prevalence varied by race/ethnicity (P <.0001). After adjustment for covariates, racial/ethnic differences overall were no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS Hispanic and African American women had the highest odds, and Chinese and Japanese women had the lowest odds, for a CES-D score of 16 or higher. This variation is in part because of health-related and psychosocial factors that are linked to socioeconomic status.
Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Heights in Normal Subjects and Patients with Disc Herniation

A method for the measurement of intervertebral disc heights from lateral radiographs obtained in controlled conditions was examined for intra- and interobserver errors. The use of a strict criterion for the positioning of marks on the images of the vertebrae was shown to enable reproducible measurements to be made with a maximum error of 0.7 mm. Measurements of anterior and posterior disc heights and disc depths were made for 11 normal subjects and ten male patients with prolapsed intervertebral discs, while standing upright. The level of the prolapsed discs were shown to have reduced height compared with normal before surgery, and further narrowing 3 months after surgery. The unaffected discs of the patients were the same height as those of the controls. The technique is proposed as suitable for the investigation of the effect on intervertebral discs of procedures such as the injection of chymopapain.
Alterations in gene expression profiles and the DNA‐damage response in ionizing radiation‐exposed TK6 cells

Identifying genes that are differentially expressed in response to DNA damage may help elucidate markers for genetic damage and provide insight into the cellular responses to specific genotoxic agents. We utilized cDNA microarrays to develop gene expression profiles for ionizing radiation‐exposed human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells. In order to relate changes in the expression profiles to biological responses, the effects of ionizing radiation on cell viability, cloning efficiency, and micronucleus formation were measured. TK6 cells were exposed to 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 20 Gy ionizing radiation and cultured for 4 or 24 hr. A significant (P < 0.0001) decrease in cloning efficiency was observed at all doses at 4 and 24 hr after exposure. Flow cytometry revealed significant decreases in cell viability at 24 hr in cells exposed to 5 (P < 0.001), 10 (P < 0.0001), and 20 Gy (P < 0.0001). An increase in micronucleus frequency occurred at both 4 and 24 hr at 0.5 and 1 Gy; however, insufficient binucleated cells were present for analysis at the higher doses. Gene expression profiles were developed from mRNA isolated from cells exposed to 5, 10, and 20 Gy using a 350 gene human cDNA array platform. Overall, more genes were differentially expressed at 24‐hr than at the 4‐hr time point. The genes upregulated (> 1.5‐fold) or downregulated (< 0.67‐fold) at 4 hr were those primarily involved in the cessation of the cell cycle, cellular detoxification pathways, DNA repair, and apoptosis. At 24 hr, glutathione‐associated genes were induced in addition to genes involved in apoptosis. Genes involved in cell cycle progression and mitosis were downregulated at 24 hr. Real‐time quantitative PCR was used to confirm the microarray results and to evaluate expression levels of selected genes at the low doses (0.5 and 1.0 Gy). The expression profiles reflect the cellular and molecular responses to ionizing radiation related to the recognition of DNA damage, a halt in progression through the cell cycle, activation of DNA‐repair pathways, and the promotion of apoptosis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2005. Published 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heat tolerance in Drosophila subobscura along a latitudinal gradient: Contrasting patterns between plastic and genetic responses

Susceptibility to global warming relies on how thermal tolerances respond to increasing temperatures through plasticity or evolution. Climatic adaptation can be assessed by examining the geographic variation in thermal‐related traits. We studied latitudinal patterns in heat tolerance in Drosophila subobscura reared at two temperatures. We used four static stressful temperatures to estimate the thermal death time (TDT) curves, and two ramping assays with fast and slow heating rates. Thermal death time curves allow estimation of the critical thermal maximum (CTmax), by extrapolating to the temperature that would knock down the flies almost “instantaneously,” and the thermal sensitivity to increasing stressful temperatures. We found a positive latitudinal cline for CTmax, but no clinal pattern for knockdown temperatures estimated from the ramping assays. Although high‐latitude populations were more tolerant to an acute heat stress, they were also more sensitive to prolonged exposure to less stressful temperatures, supporting a trade‐off between acute and chronic heat tolerances. Conversely, developmental plasticity did not affect CTmax but increased the tolerance to chronic heat exposition. The patterns observed from the TDT curves help to understand why the relationship between heat tolerance and latitude depends on the methodology used and, therefore, these curves provide a more complete and reliable measurement of heat tolerance.
Effectiveness of routine visits and routine tests in detecting isolated locoregional recurrences after treatment for early-stage invasive breast cancer: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

PURPOSE To review the effectiveness of routine visits and routine tests in detecting isolated locoregional recurrences in asymptomatic patients after treatment for early-stage invasive breast cancer. METHODS Systematic review and meta-analysis. The proportion of isolated locoregional recurrences diagnosed during routine visits or routine tests in asymptomatic patients was compared with the proportion of isolated locoregional recurrences in symptomatic patients. RESULTS Twelve studies that involved a total of 5,045 patients and 378 isolated locoregional recurrences were identified. Pooling data showed an overall estimate of 40% of isolated locoregional recurrences diagnosed during routine visits or routine tests in asymptomatic patients (95% CI, 35 to 45). Of these, 47% (95% CI, 39 to 54) were diagnosed after mastectomy, and 36% (95% CI, 28 to 43) were diagnosed after breast-conserving therapy (relative risk, 1.327; 95% CI, 1.014 to 1.738). Apart from differences in therapy, we have not been able to discern subgroups of patients for whom results were different. CONCLUSION Approximately 40% of isolated locoregional recurrences are diagnosed during routine visits and routine tests in asymptomatic patients treated for early-stage invasive breast cancer. We could not assess whether these were detected by either physical examination or other tests, nor if the detection of asymptomatic isolated recurrences had any influence on potential for cure or quality of life. As the overall quality of the included studies and the overall incidence of isolated locoregional recurrences are low, this systematic review highlights the need for prospective comparative studies on cost-effective strategies for the follow-up of patients after a diagnosis of breast cancer.
DISC HAEMORRHAGE AND GLAUCOMA

The present material comprises 51 patients with at least one disc haemorrhage in at least one eye. A total of 127 hh were observed. The probability of finding a disc h increases with the number of examinations. The hypothesis that hh occur in all cases of glaucomatous destruction of the papillary tissue cannot be rejected, though not proven. H. seems to be connected with progression of field defects, though its effects are not immediately recognized. H. is detectable very early in the glaucomatous process; the denotation ‘forerunner’ is most likely justified. Hh. are highly specific for a glaucomatous process, but it has not been possible to connect h. with some clearly delimited group of glaucoma.
Childhood maltreatment and risk of suicide attempt: a nationally representative study.

BACKGROUND Previous research suggests that various types of childhood maltreatment frequently co-occur and confer risk for attempting suicide. However, it is unknown whether the effect of childhood maltreatment on this risk occurs through diverse, specific mechanisms or through a generalized liability, independently of psychopathology. Although these competing explanations have different implications for intervention, they have never been evaluated empirically. METHOD Structural equation modeling was used to examine the effect of different types of childhood maltreatment (ie, sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse and neglect) on suicide attempt risk, and on age at first suicide attempt and repeated suicide attempts among attempters. Analyses controlled for demographic characteristics and DSM-IV Axis I and Axis II disorders. Data were drawn from a nationally representative survey of US adults, the 2004-2005 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (N = 34,653). RESULTS Childhood maltreatment was associated with an increased risk for attempting suicide and an earlier age at first suicide attempt among attempters, independently of psychopathology (P < .005). These associations operated mainly through the latent variable representing effects shared by the different types of childhood maltreatment, although sexual abuse had an additional, direct effect on the risk of suicide attempt. Childhood maltreatment types were not significantly associated with a history of multiple suicide attempts (all P values > .05). CONCLUSIONS The association between childhood maltreatment and suicide attempt operates mainly through a single broad liability, suggesting that the mechanisms underlying this dimension should be considered as an important therapeutic target for suicide prevention.
Primary Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmnd-2 Infection in Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx)

ABSTRACT Mandrills are the only nonhuman primate (NHP) naturally infected by two types of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV): SIVmnd-1 and SIVmnd-2. We have already reported that the high SIVmnd-1 replication during primary infection contrasts with only transient changes in CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts. Since early virus-host interactions predict viral control and disease progression in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, we investigated the dynamics of SIVmnd-2 primary infection in mandrills to examine the impact on immune effectors in blood and lymph nodes (LNs). To avoid in vitro strain selection, all mandrills in this study received plasma from SIVmnd-2-infected mandrills. SIVmnd-2 plasma viremia peaked at 107 to 108 RNA copies/ml between days 7 and 10. This peak was followed in all four monkeys by a decline in virus replication, with a set point level of 105 to 106 RNA copies/ml at day 42 postinfection (p.i.). Viral DNA load in PBMC and LNs also peaked between days 7 and 10 (105 to 106 DNA copies/106 cells) and stabilized at 103 to 104 DNA copies/106 cells during the chronic phase. Anti-SIVmnd-2 antibodies were detected starting from days 28 to 32. A transitory decline of CD3+ CD4+ cells in the LNs occurred in animals with high peak VLs. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell activation in blood and LNs was noted between days 5 and 17 p.i. , surrounding the peak of viral replication. This was most significant in the LNs. Activation markers then returned to preinfection values despite continuous and active viral replication during the chronic infection. The dynamics of SIVmnd-2 infection in mandrills showed a pattern similar to that of SIVmnd-1 infection. This might be a general feature of nonpathogenic SIV natural African NHP models.
Cadherin-Defined Segments and Parasagittal Cell Ribbons in the Developing Chicken Cerebellum

In the developing chicken cerebellar cortex, three cadherins (Cad6B, Cad7, and R-cadherin) are expressed in distinct parasagittal segments that are separated from each other by ribbons of migrating interneurons and granule cells which express R-cadherin and Cad7, respectively. The segment/ribbon pattern is respected by the expression of other types of molecules, such as engrailed-2 and SC1/BEN/DM-GRASP. The cadherin-defined segments contain young Purkinje cells which are connected to underlying nuclear zones expressing the same cadherin, thereby forming parasagittal cortico-nuclear zones of topographically organized connections. In addition, R-cadherin-positive mossy fiber terminals display a periodic pattern in the internal granular layer. In this layer, Cad7 and R-cadherin are associated with synaptic complexes. These results suggest that cadherins play a pivotal role in the formation of functional cerebellar architecture by providing a three-dimensional scaffold of adhesive information.
Biochemical and Structural Studies of the Large Ycf4-Photosystem I Assembly Complex of the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii[W]

Ycf4 is a thylakoid protein essential for the accumulation of photosystem I (PSI) in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Here, a tandem affinity purification tagged Ycf4 was used to purify a stable Ycf4-containing complex of >1500 kD. This complex also contained the opsin-related COP2 and the PSI subunits PsaA, PsaB, PsaC, PsaD, PsaE, and PsaF, as identified by mass spectrometry (liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry) and immunoblotting. Almost all Ycf4 and COP2 in wild-type cells copurified by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation and subsequent ion exchange column chromatography, indicating the intimate and exclusive association of Ycf4 and COP2. Electron microscopy revealed that the largest structures in the purified preparation measure 285 × 185 Å; these particles may represent several large oligomeric states. Pulse-chase protein labeling revealed that the PSI polypeptides associated with the Ycf4-containing complex are newly synthesized and partially assembled as a pigment-containing subcomplex. These results indicate that the Ycf4 complex may act as a scaffold for PSI assembly. A decrease in COP2 to 10% of wild-type levels by RNA interference increased the salt sensitivity of the Ycf4 complex stability but did not affect the accumulation of PSI, suggesting that COP2 is not essential for PSI assembly.