Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Baseline IGF-I Levels Determine Insulin Secretion and Insulin Sensitivity during the First Year on Growth Hormone Therapy in Children Born Small for Gestational Age. Results from a North European Multicentre Study (NESGAS)

Objective: Developmental programming alters growth and metabolic outcome in children born small for gestational age (SGA). We explored insulin and glucose metabolism in SGA children treated with a fixed GH dose over 1 year. Methods: In the North European Small for Gestational Age Study (NESGAS), 110 short SGA children received GH at 67 µg/kg/day for 1 year. Insulin secretion was assessed by acute insulin response (AIR), insulin sensitivity (IS) by HOMA and disposition index (DI) by insulin secretion adjusted for IS. Results: First-year GH therapy led to increases in height and IGF-I standard deviation score (SDS), and reductions in IS (p < 0.0001). Compensatory increases in AIR (p < 0.0001) were insufficient and resulted in reduced DI (p = 0.032). Children in the highest IGF-I SDS tertile at baseline were the least insulin sensitive at baseline (p = 0.024) and 1 year (p = 0.006). IGF-I responses after 1 year were positively related to AIR (r = 0.30, p = 0.007) and DI (r = 0.29, p = 0.005). Conclusion: In SGA children treated with a high GH dose for 1 year, baseline IGF-I levels were related to IS whilst gains in height and IGF-I responses were associated with insulin secretion. Defining heterogeneity in IGF-I in SGA children may be useful in predicting growth and metabolic response.
Allelic diversities in rice starch biosynthesis lead to a diverse array of rice eating and cooking qualities

More than half of the world's population uses rice as a source of carbon intake every day. Improving grain quality is thus essential to rice consumers. The three main properties that determine rice eating and cooking quality—amylose content, gel consistency, and gelatinization temperature—correlate with one another, but the underlying mechanism of these properties remains unclear. Through an association analysis approach, we found that genes related to starch synthesis cooperate with each other to form a fine regulating network that controls the eating and cooking quality and defines the correlation among these three properties. Genetic transformation results verified the association findings and also suggested the possibility of developing elite cultivars through modification with selected major and/or minor starch synthesis-related genes.
In vivo verification of a 100 Mbps transcutaneous optical telemetric link

We report on an optical telemetric link capable of providing a high data rate at a low power consumption for the transcutaneous transmission of neural signals. The telemetric link is designed for operation as the interface between an implanted cortical array and an external receiver. By converting the digitized neural signals to a stream of infrared optical pulses, the optical telemetry wirelessly transmits the neural data through the skin. The implantable transmitter prototype PCB contains a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) driver with a VCSEL glued onto its chip surface. For protection, the transmitter PCB is coated with a thin layer of PDMS. The external receiver utilizes a large-size PIN silicon photodiode followed by a shunt shunt feedback transimpedance amplifier, a limiting amplifier and circuitry for clock and data recovery. In vivo tests performed on an anesthetized sheep show that the link is capable of transmitting data at a speed of 100 Mbps with a bit error rate (BER) of 2× 10-7 while consuming only 2.1 mW of electrical power.
Protective effect of exogenous fructose-1,6-diphosphate in cardiogenic shock.

The effect of intravenous fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) infusion on haemodynamic and biochemical variables was studied in dogs after ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. In the control series cardiogenic shock was present in every case 4 h after ligation. In FDP treated animals 4 h after ligation there was no fall in cardiac output and the systolic blood pressure was restored to pre-ligation values. Levels of serum creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), a highly specific indicator of myocardial cell damage, rose in the shocked (no FDP given) group, but remained low in the FDP treated group, equalling the levels measured in sham operated (no ligation) dogs. Samples of myocardium were taken from infarcted and adjacent normal regions 4 h after ligation for biochemical analysis. CK-MB concentrations in the infarcted region did not change from normal levels with FDP infusion; in the infarcted region lactate concentration (mumol.g-1 wet weight) fell from 18.48 in the control group to 7.90 in the FDP treated group. ATP levels in the infarcted region remained the same as those in the adjacent normal region with FDP treatment. It is concluded that infusion of FDP improves myocardial performance and metabolism following acute myocardial ischaemia.
Dynamics and origin of cytokinins involved in plant manipulation by a leaf‐mining insect

Several herbivorous insects and plant‐associated microorganisms control the phytohormonal balance, thus enabling them to successfully exploit the plant by inhibiting plant defenses and withdrawing plant resources for their own benefit. The leaf‐mining moth Phyllonorycter blancardella modifies the cytokinin (CK) profile of mined leaf‐tissues, and the insect symbiotic bacteria Wolbachia is involved in the plant manipulation to the benefit of the insect host. To gain a deeper understanding into the possible origin and dynamics of CKs, we conducted an extensive characterization of CKs in larvae and in infected apple leaves. Our results show the enhanced CK levels in mines, both on green and yellow leaves, allowing insects to control their nutritional supply under fluctuating environmental conditions. The spatial distribution of CKs within the mined leaves shows that hormone manipulation is strictly limited to the mine suggesting the absence of CK translocation from distant leaf areas toward the insect feeding site. Mass spectrometry analyses reveal that major CK types accumulating in mines and larvae are similar to what is observed for most gall‐inducers, suggesting that strategies underlying the plant manipulation may be shared between herbivorous insects with distinct life histories. Results further show that CKs are detected in the highest levels in larvae, reinforcing our hypothesis that CKs accumulating in the mines originate from the insect itself. Presence of bacteria‐specific methylthio‐CKs is consistent with previous results suggesting that insect bacterial symbionts contribute to the observed phenotype. Our study provides key findings toward the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying this intricate plant–insect–microbe interaction.
A comparison of symptoms after the consumption of milk or lactose-hydrolyzed milk by people with self-reported severe lactose intolerance.

BACKGROUND Ingestion of a large dose of the milk sugar lactose--for example, the 50-g load in 1 liter of milk--causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, and flatulence in the majority of people with lactose malabsorption. It is uncertain whether the ingestion of more common doses of lactose, such as the amount in 240 ml (8 oz) of milk, causes symptoms. Some people insist that even smaller quantities of milk, such as the amount used with cereal or coffee, cause severe gastrointestinal distress. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial, we evaluated gastrointestinal symptoms in 30 people (mean age, 29.4 years; range, 18 to 50) who reported severe lactose intolerance and said they consistently had symptoms after ingesting less than 240 ml of milk. The ability to digest lactose was assessed by measuring the subjects' end-alveolar hydrogen concentration after they ingested 15 g of lactose in 250 ml of water. Subjects then received either 240 ml of lactose-hydrolyzed milk containing 2 percent fat or 240 ml of milk containing 2 percent fat and sweetened with aspartame to approximate the taste of lactose-hydrolyzed milk; each type of milk was administered daily with breakfast for a one-week period. Using a standardized scale, subjects rated the occurrence and severity of bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatus and recorded each passage of flatus. RESULTS Twenty-one participants were classified as having lactose malabsorption and nine as being able to absorb lactose. During the study periods, gastrointestinal symptoms were minimal (mean symptom-severity scores for bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatus between 0.1 and 1.2 [1 indicated trivial symptoms; and 2, mild symptoms]). When the periods were compared, there were no statistically significant differences in the severity of these four gastrointestinal symptoms. For the lactose-malabsorption group, the mean (+/- SEM) difference in episodes of flatus per day was 2.5 +/- 1.1 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.2 to 4.8). Daily dietary records indicated a high degree of compliance, with no additional sources of lactose reported. CONCLUSIONS People who identify themselves as severely lactose-intolerant may mistakenly attribute a variety of abdominal symptoms to lactose intolerance. When lactose intake is limited to the equivalent of 240 ml of milk or less a day, symptoms are likely to be negligible and the use of lactose-digestive aids unnecessary.
Workload, work stress, and sickness absence in Swedish male and female white-collar employees

Aims: This study aimed to analyse, in a homogeneous population of highly educated men and women, gender differences in self-reported sickness absence as related to paid and unpaid work and combinations of these (double exposure), as well as to perceived work stress and work—home conflict, i.e. conflict between demands from the home and work environment. Methods: A total of 743 women and 596 men, full-time working white-collar employees randomly selected from the general Swedish population aged 32—58, were assessed by a Swedish total workload instrument. The influence of conditions in paid and unpaid work and combinations of these on self-reported sickness absence was investigated by multivariate regression analyses. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess differences between men and women. Results: Overtime was associated with lower sickness absence, not only for men but also for women, and a double-exposure situation did not increase the risk of sick leave. Contrary to what is normally seen, conflict between demands did not emerge as a risk factor for sickness absence for women, but for men. Conclusions: Our assumption that sickness absence patterns would be more similar for white-collar men and women than for the general population was not confirmed. However, the women working most hours were also the least sick-listed and assumed less responsibility for household chores. These women were mainly in top-level positions and therefore we conclude that men and women in these high-level positions seem to share household burdens more evenly, but they can also afford to employ someone to assist in the household.
Assessing Maladaptive Responses to the Stress of Being at Risk of HIV Infection among HIV-Negative Gay Men in New York City

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and preliminary validity of a newly developed 16-item measure to assess maladaptive responses to the stress of being at risk for HIV infection among HIV-negative gay men. The measure consisted of three factors: (a) fatalistic beliefs about maintaining an HIV-negative serostatus, (b) reduced perceived severity of HIV infection due to advances in medical treatment of HIV and AIDS, and (c) negative affective states associated with the risk of HIV infection. A total of 285 HIV-negative gay men at a counseling program in New York City participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the three-factor model as an acceptable model fit: non-normed fit index = . 91, comparative fit index = . 92, goodness-of-fit index = . 90, and root mean square error of approximation = . 07. The measure and its subscales obtained in this sample achieved adequate internal consistency coefficients. Construct validity was supported by significant and positive associations with internalized homophobia, depression, self-justifications for the last unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), and actual UAI with casual sex partners. Understanding the dynamics of maladaptive responses to the epidemic and intense anxieties elicited by HIV risk among HIV-negative gay men living in a place of high seroprevalence provides useful information to guide psychosocial interventions in the population.
The impact of illness disclosure and custody plans on adolescents whose parents live with AIDS

Objectives:To describe the disclosure and custody planning of parents living with AIDS and the impact of these on their adolescents’ adjustment. Methods:An examination of the association of multiple behaviour problems in children and the illness disclosure and custody plans of their parents living with AIDS. Results:Both mothers (87%) and fathers were significantly more likely to disclose their HIV serostatus to adolescents (73%), compared with younger children (23%); only 44% disclosed their illness to all their children; 11% disclosed to none. Most parents (80%) living with AIDS had discussed their custody plans. However, only 30% initiated legal plans, typically for younger children. Adolescents who were informed of their parents' serostatus engaged in more sexual risk acts, smoked more cigarettes, and reported more severe substance use and greater emotional distress than uninformed adolescents. Legal custody arrangements were not associated with adolescent adjustment at recruitment or follow-up. Conclusions:A longitudinal analysis of the impact on adolescents of the behaviours of parents living with AIDS is needed.
How does one assess early rheumatoid arthritis in daily clinical practice?

In past years, consensus has been reached on the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis in clinical trials. Next to a core set of disease activity variables, response criteria have been developed and validated. These criteria are, however, of limited value in daily clinical practice. In this situation, emphasis should be paid to accurate measurement of disease activity on a continuous scale using the lowest possible number of core set variables. Different studies have shown that the DAS28 is a valuable instrument for this purpose. Many factors have been identified to possess a prognostic value; however, the IgM rheumatoid factor is still the only one which is of any importance in daily clinical practice.
Varicose Veins in Women Cotton Workers. An Epidemiological Study in England and Egypt*

The prevalence of varicose veins was studied in 504 women cotton workers in England and 467 in Egypt, by a standardized questionary and a specially developed method of examination. The English mill population showed a much higher prevalence of varicose veins than the Egyptian, probably owing to environmental rather than ethnic reasons. Among the European women the prevalence of varicose veins was significantly related to age, parity, body weight, type of corsetry, and occupation—that is, whether or not they stood at their work. After standardizing for the other variables there was a statistically significant excess of varicose veins in women wearing corsets and roll-ons compared with those wearing less-constrictive garments. After a similar standardization a significant excess was found in women who stood at their work compared with those whose jobs entailed walking or sitting.
A Low-Complexity Multiuser Coding Scheme With Near-Capacity Performance

Nonorthogonal multiuser coding is an essential technique for superimposed transmission and improving spectrum efficiency of future wireless communication networks. In this paper, a low-complexity nonorthogonal coding scheme, called multiuser repetition-aided irregular repeat-accumulate (IRA) code, is proposed for a multiple access channel (MAC), and the scheme can be applied to fifth-generation (5G) nonorthogonal multiple access systems. The main idea is that not only parity checks, which are generated by an IRA encoder, but repetitions as well, are used in each user's codeword to reduce the coding and decoding complexities. Repetition is a simple way to construct a low-rate code and is shown to be beneficial for multiuser decoding iteration. With a deliberate control of the fraction of repetitions in the codeword and a degree distribution optimization of the IRA encoder, near MAC capacity performance is achieved. It is shown that as the number of users increases, more repetitions can be used, and therefore, very low encoding and decoding complexities are required.
Three-dimensional space changes after premature loss of a maxillary primary first molar.

BACKGROUND A space maintainer is generally preferred when a primary first molar is lost before or during active eruption of the first permanent molars in order to prevent space loss. However, controversy prevails regarding the space loss after eruption of the permanent first molars. AIM The purpose of this study was to examine spatial changes subsequent to premature loss of a maxillary primary first molar after the eruption of the permanent first molars. DESIGN Thirteen children, five girls and eight boys, expecting premature extraction of a maxillary primary first molar because of caries and/or failed pulp therapy, were selected. Spatial changes were investigated using a three-dimensional laser scanner by comparing the primary molar space, arch width, arch length, and arch perimeter before and after the extraction of a maxillary primary first molar. Also, the inclination and angulation changes in the maxillary primary canines, primary second molars, and permanent first molars adjacent to the extraction site were investigated before and after the extraction of the maxillary primary first molar in order to examine the source of space loss. RESULTS There was no statistically significant space loss on the extraction side compared to the control side (P = 0.33). No consistent findings were seen on the inclination and angulation changes on the extraction side. CONCLUSIONS The premature loss of a maxillary primary first molar, in cases with class I molar relationship, has limited influence on the space in permanent dentition.
[Unexpected discovery of a fetus with DMD gene deletion using single nucleotide polymorphism array].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the value of single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array) for the identification of de novo mutations in the DMD gene among fetuses. METHODS G-banded karyotyping and SNP array were performed on a fetus with intrauterine growth restriction but without family history of Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD). Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was subsequently applied on amniocytes and maternal peripheral blood sample to detect DMD gene deletion/duplication mutations. RESULTS Karyotyping of amniocytes showed a normal 46, XY karyotype. SNP array on amniocytes detected a 116 kb deletion (chrX: 32 455 741-32 571 504) at Xp21.1 with breakpoints at introns 16 and 30 respectively, encompassing exons 17-29 of the DMD gene. In addition, MLPA analysis of the DMD gene on amniocytes confirmed the deletion of exons 17 to 29 identified by SNP array. However, no deletion/duplication mutation was detected by MLPA in the mother. CONCLUSION The de novo deletion of exons 17 to 29 of the DMD gene detected in the fetus may result in BMD or DMD. SNP array can improve the efficiency for detecting genomic disorders in fetuses with unidentified pathogenic genes, negative family history and nonspecific phenotypes.
Fish, n-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular haemodynamics

Consistent evidence indicates that modest consumption of fish or fish oil supplementation lowers the incidence of cardiac death and possibly other cardiovascular events. Precise physiologic mechanisms accounting for such reduced clinical risk are not well understood. Animal-experimental studies, randomized trials, and large observational studies indicate that consumption of fish and marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) affects cardiac haemodynamics. Independent effects include lowering of systemic vascular resistance (reducing systolic blood pressure by ∼3–5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by ∼2–3 mmHg); reduction of resting heart rate (by ∼3 bpm); and improvement of cardiac diastolic filling (by means of potential improvement in both active relaxation and passive compliance). Stroke volume increases, apparently a secondary effect of lower vascular resistance, slower heart rate, and improved filling; direct effects on resting contractility or cardiac output are not evident. These haemodynamic effects could in part account for clinical benefits of fish or fish oil intake, including lower risk of cardiac death and possibly ischaemic stroke, heart failure, cognitive decline, and nonfatal coronary events.
The Potential Biases in Studying the Relationship between Asthma and Microbial Infection

Objective. To assess bias in parent reports of asthma status of children and detection bias of medical records-based asthma ascertainment and to examine effects of such bias on the association between asthma status and infections.Methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted to compare the correlations between the frequency of acute illnesses and that of medical evaluations between children with or without asthma according to parental report and medical record review by following a group of children who were enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Sick Child Care Program in Rochester, Minnesota. Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire to determine asthma status of their child. Also, comprehensive medical record reviews were conducted to determine asthma status of each subject by applying predetermined criteria for asthma.Results. A convenience sample of 115 parents and their children participated in this study. The mean age of the parents who participated in the study was 32.8 years (standard deviation: 5.4 years); 93% were female (mothers); and 90% were white. Of the 115 children who participated in this study, 84% were reported to be white and 49% were female. The mean age of the children was 2 years (standard deviation: 1.0 year). Parents whose children had asthma by report appeared to be less likely to seek medical evaluations (Spearman's rho: 0.42,p = 0.11) when their children had acute illnesses, compared to those of non-asthmatic children (rho: 0.64,p < 0.001). Concerns that asthmatic patients (rho: 0.62,p < 0.001) are more likely to see health care providers and undergo medical evaluations and laboratory tests when they have acute illnesses than non-asthmatic patients (rho: 0.64,p < 0.001) are not supported by our study.Conclusion. Parental report bias needs to be considered carefully when studying the relationship between asthma and microbial infection.