Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pandemic influenza A(H1N1) outbreak among a group of medical students who traveled to the Dominican Republic.

BACKGROUND From the beginning of the influenza pandemic until the time the outbreak described here was detected, 77,201 cases of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) with 332 deaths had been reported worldwide, mostly in the United States and Mexico. All of the cases reported in Spain until then had a recent history of travel to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, or Chile. We describe an outbreak of influenza among medical students who traveled from Spain to the Dominican Republic in June 2009. METHODS We collected diagnostic samples and clinical histories from consenting medical students who had traveled to the Dominican Republic and from their household contacts after their return to Spain. RESULTS Of 113 students on the trip, 62 (55%) developed symptoms; 39 (45%) of 86 students tested had laboratory evidence of influenza A(H1N1) infection. Most students developed symptoms either just before departure from the Dominican Republic or within days of returning to Spain. The estimated secondary attack rate of influenza-like illness among residential contacts of ill students after return to Spain was 2.1%. CONCLUSIONS The attack rate of influenza A(H1N1) can vary widely depending on the circumstances of exposure. We report a high attack rate among a group of traveling medical students but a much lower secondary attack rate among their contacts after return from the trip. These findings may aid the development of recommendations to prevent influenza.
Camouflaged Indicators of Earnings Management†

Abstract We argue that, in response to increased scrutiny and greater attention to accruals versus sales, firms become more likely to engage in accrual conversion (AC) cash management aimed at aligning cash and accruals with earnings and sales (e.g. by factoring of receivables). In doing so, they reduce the statistical power of standard indicators of accrual-based earnings management – in effect, camouflaging their earnings management activity. This proposition is of interest because many influential papers on earnings management have utilized accrual-based indicators to reach their conclusions. Our results indicate that firms indeed became more likely to engage in AC cash management after the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and that this tendency was particularly pronounced among firms with strong incentives (or enhanced ability) to perform and hide earnings management. In particular, our findings suggest that the post-SOX decrease in standard measurements of accrual-based earnings management, identified in prior research, is partially attributable to firms’ increased engagement in AC cash management activity.
Nutritional Status is Associated with Faster Cognitive Decline and Worse Functional Impairment in the Progression of Dementia: The Cache County Dementia Progression Study1.

Nutritional status may be a modifiable factor in the progression of dementia. We examined the association of nutritional status and rate of cognitive and functional decline in a U.S. population-based sample. Study design was an observational longitudinal study with annual follow-ups up to 6 years of 292 persons with dementia (72% Alzheimer's disease, 56% female) in Cache County, UT using the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-sb), and modified Mini Nutritional Assessment (mMNA). mMNA scores declined by approximately 0.50 points/year, suggesting increasing risk for malnutrition. Lower mMNA score predicted faster rate of decline on the MMSE at earlier follow-up times, but slower decline at later follow-up times, whereas higher mMNA scores had the opposite pattern (mMNA by time β= 0.22, p = 0.017; mMNA by time2 β= -0.04, p = 0.04). Lower mMNA score was associated with greater impairment on the CDR-sb over the course of dementia (β= 0.35, p < 0.001). Assessment of malnutrition may be useful in predicting rates of progression in dementia and may provide a target for clinical intervention.
Parotidectomy for Benign Parotid Disease at a University Teaching Hospital: Outcome of 963 Operations

Objective/Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to analyze the perioperative and long‐term complications after standardized lateral and total parotidectomy for benign parotid tumors and chronic parotitis with special regard on the training skill of the surgeons at a university teaching center. All teaching operations were performed under strict microscopic control and supervision of experienced surgeons.
HMGN1 Modulates Nucleosome Occupancy and DNase I Hypersensitivity at the CpG Island Promoters of Embryonic Stem Cells

ABSTRACT Chromatin structure plays a key role in regulating gene expression and embryonic differentiation; however, the factors that determine the organization of chromatin around regulatory sites are not fully known. Here we show that HMGN1, a nucleosome-binding protein ubiquitously expressed in vertebrate cells, preferentially binds to CpG island-containing promoters and affects the organization of nucleosomes, DNase I hypersensitivity, and the transcriptional profile of mouse embryonic stem cells and neural progenitors. Loss of HMGN1 alters the organization of an unstable nucleosome at transcription start sites, reduces the number of DNase I-hypersensitive sites genome wide, and decreases the number of nestin-positive neural progenitors in the subventricular zone (SVZ) region of mouse brain. Thus, architectural chromatin-binding proteins affect the transcription profile and chromatin structure during embryonic stem cell differentiation.
Serum β-2 microglobulin predicts mortality in people with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Serum β-2 microglobulin (B2M) level predicts mortality in chronic kidney disease. Glycation of B2M is cytotoxic and may contribute to the risk of mortality in diabetic patients. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between B2M and mortality in diabetic patients. METHODS In this prospective study, 896 participants of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with diabetes were included in the analysis. Serum B2M level was used in multivariate Cox regression analysis to predict all-cause and diabetes-related mortality. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 11.8 years (range 0.1-18.2 years) and 9220.5 person/years, 541 (42.4%) and 207 (16.8%) participants died from all causes and diabetes-related causes respectively. One natural-log unit of B2M was significantly associated with all-cause (hazard ratio (HR)=6.53, 95% CI 2.07-20.6) and diabetes mortality (HR=7.35, 95% CI 1.01-53.38) after multivariable adjustment. Similar results were obtained when B2M was analyzed as tertiles or in the threshold model (T1+T2 vs. T3). Examination of regression splines suggests a linear increase in hazard for mortality with increasing B2M levels. CONCLUSIONS Serum B2M level is a novel predictor of all-cause and diabetes-related mortality in people with diabetes regardless of renal function.
Ketamine improves postoperative pain and emergence agitation following adenotonsillectomy in children. A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Management of postoperative pain and emergence agitation following adenotonsillectomy in pediatrics has been a major challenge for anesthesiologists. Although analgesic sparing effect of ketamine has been studied during tonsillectomy in pediatrics, there is a lot of controversy about its efficacy. Present study was designed to evaluate the effect of intravenous low dose ketamine (0.25 mg/kg) during induction of anesthesia on postoperative pain and emergence agitation following adenotonsillectomy in children. METHODS In this randomized clinical trial 66 children aged 5 to 15 years who underwent elective adenotonsillectomy were randomly allocated into two groups. Patients in the control group received 5 ml of normal saline while patients in the ketamine group received 0.25 mg/kg of ketamine in 5 ml volume during induction of anesthesia. After termination of surgeries and transferring the patients to recovery, emergence agitation, pain score, paracetamol requirements and incidence of postoperative nausea & vomiting were assessed every hour for 6 hours. RESULTS Emergence agitation score was significantly lower in the ketamine group (P = 0.002). Pain score at all hours was lower in the ketamine group than the control group (P < 0.05). The requirements for intravenous paracetamol were significantly lower in the ketamine group (P = 0.0036). There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting between the two groups (P = 0.99). CONCLUSION Low-dose ketamine during induction of anesthesia improves emergence agitation and postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy in children.
Lessons from Over 30 Years of Buy Versus Rent Decisions: Is the American Dream Always Wise?

Homeownership is touted as the “American Dream. ” It is credited with enhancing wealth; increasing civic pride; and improving self‐esteem, crime prevention, child development and educational outcomes, among other benefits. This article does not dispute any of these claims. Instead, this study hypothesizes that crowding toward homeownership raises the price of homes above their fundamental value resulting in the purchase of a home becoming a contraindicative action. After setting the holding period to the average American's tenure in a residence, renting (not buying) proves to be the superior investment strategy over most of the study period.
Methotrexate is an efficient therapeutic alternative in children with thiopurine-resistant Crohn’s disease

Abstract Objective. This study aimed to investigate the role of methotrexate (MTX) in the maintenance of clinical remission and mucosal healing in children with Crohn’s disease (CD), in whom azathioprine (AZA) treatment failed. Materials and methods. This was a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study which included all children who were diagnosed with CD during a period of 10 years and who received MTX for ≥12 months after failed AZA treatment. Remission was assessed clinically, defined by Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index as a score of ≤10 and no need for the reintroduction of the remission induction therapy. In the subset of patients with sustained clinical remission, the rate of mucosal healing was endoscopically assessed. Endoscopic lesions were assessed by Simple Endoscopic Score for CD. Each patient served as his or her own historical control. Results. Of the 32 included patients, 22 (68.7%) remained in the stable clinical remission after a period of 12 months and 14 (43.8%) did not experience relapse during the whole follow up (median duration 2.9 years; range 1–4.8 years). From all patients who were in clinical remission during the entire follow up (n = 14), endoscopy was performed in eight (57%) patients and showed complete mucosal healing macroscopically (Simple Endoscopic Score for CD score of 0) and microscopically in seven out of eight (87.5%) patients. Conclusion. MTX was found to be an efficient therapeutic alternative in the thiopurine-resistant patients, enabling the complete mucosal healing.
The transcriptional regulator TamR from Streptomyces coelicolor controls a key step in central metabolism during oxidative stress

Multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (MarR) family transcriptional regulators usually regulate gene activity by responding to specific ligands. Here we show that TamR (trans‐aconitate methyltransferase regulator), a MarR homologue from Streptomyces coelicolor, functions in oxidative stress responses to regulate a key step in central metabolism. The gene encoding TamR is oriented divergently from the tam gene, which encodes trans‐aconitate methyltransferase. Trans‐aconitate methyltransferase methylates trans‐aconitate, which is formed when cis‐aconitate is released during aconitase‐mediated isomerization of citrate to isocitrate; trans‐aconitate, but not its methyl ester, is a potent inhibitor of aconitase. We show that TamR binds with high affinity to the intergenic region between the tamR and tam genes. Notably, trans‐aconitate attenuates DNA‐binding by TamR, as do citrate, cis‐aconitate and isocitrate, which are the substrate, intermediate and product of aconitase respectively. In vivo, hydrogen peroxide and citrate induce significant upregulation of the tam (SCO3132), tamR (SCO3133) and aconitase (SCO5999) genes. Since oxidative stress leads to disassembly of the [4Fe‐4S] cluster that is essential for aconitase activity, resulting in accumulation of citrate and release of cis‐aconitate and its subsequent conversion to trans‐aconitate, we propose that TamR mediates a novel regulatory function in which the inhibitory effects of trans‐aconitate and accumulated citrate are alleviated.
An impending crisis in the provision of histopathology expertise for mouse functional genomics

The generation of new mouse models of human disease is accelerating rapidly, due to the completion of whole‐genome sequencing efforts and technological advances in the manipulation of the mouse genome. We sought to investigate manpower issues in the provision of histopathology expertise for mouse functional genomics and compared this to the perceived demand from principal investigators (PIs). Through the European Commission (EC)‐funded PRIME pathology training initiative, two questionnaires were devised to collect information from pathologists and EC‐funded PIs on the current provision of mouse histopathology expertise in Europe and the demands for this service. We find that pathological analysis is being performed almost exclusively by professionally qualified pathologists, generally employed in clinical diagnostic posts, where the work is undertaken as collaboration outside of their contractual commitments but without previous training in veterinary or comparative pathology. The results indicate that there is a lack of both trainees and provision of specialist training in this field. Unsurprisingly, the availability of diagnostic expertise and advice falls far short of the number of genetically engineered mice (GEM) being generated for analysis. We analyse these results with reference to previous studies and discuss solutions for the future recruitment, training and funding for pathologists in mouse functional genomics in Europe. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetics of alcohol and tobacco use in humans

The field of genetics holds great promise for furthering our understanding of the etiology of drug dependence and for identifying novel targets for treatment. Genetic studies utilizing twins and families have demonstrated a considerable role for genetics in nicotine and/or alcohol dependence. Risk for alcoholism or nicotine dependence is likely to be the result of a large number of genes, each contributing a small fraction of the overall risk. While this review will focus on studies in humans, many of the candidate genes for human nicotine and alcohol dependence listed here were originally postulated to be important, based on data from animal studies. The review will briefly summarize the results from twin and adoption studies that provide estimations of heritability, the results from chromosomal linkage studies that identify regions of chromosomes that may contain relevant genes, and the results of candidate gene studies. For each topic the data will be presented for nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, and for nicotine and alcohol dependence together. In addition, each section will review briefly some of the confounding issues in the specific type of approach utilized.
Complementary Sample Preparation Strategies for Analysis of Cereal β-Glucan Oxidation Products by UPLC-MS/MS

The oxidation of cereal (1→3,1→4)-β-D-glucan can influence the health promoting and technological properties of this linear, soluble homopolysaccharide by introduction of new functional groups or chain scission. Apart from deliberate oxidative modifications, oxidation of β-glucan can already occur during processing and storage, which is mediated by hydroxyl radicals (HO•) formed by the Fenton reaction. We present four complementary sample preparation strategies to investigate oat and barley β-glucan oxidation products by hydrophilic interaction ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), employing selective enzymatic digestion, graphitized carbon solid phase extraction (SPE), and functional group labeling techniques. The combination of these methods allows for detection of both lytic (C1, C3/4, C5) and non-lytic (C2, C4/3, C6) oxidation products resulting from HO•-attack at different glucose-carbons. By treating oxidized β-glucan with lichenase and β-glucosidase, only oxidized parts of the polymer remained in oligomeric form, which could be separated by SPE from the vast majority of non-oxidized glucose units. This allowed for the detection of oligomers with mid-chain glucuronic acids (C6) and carbonyls, as well as carbonyls at the non-reducing end from lytic C3/C4 oxidation. Neutral reducing ends were detected by reductive amination with anthranilic acid/amide as labeled glucose and cross-ring cleaved units (arabinose, erythrose) after enzyme treatment and SPE. New acidic chain termini were observed by carbodiimide-mediated amidation of carboxylic acids as anilides of gluconic, arabinonic, and erythronic acids. Hence, a full characterization of all types of oxidation products was possible by combining complementary sample preparation strategies. Differences in fine structure depending on source (oat vs. barley) translates to the ratio of observed oxidized oligomers, with in-depth analysis corroborating a random HO•-attack on glucose units irrespective of glycosidic linkage and neighborhood. The method was demonstrated to be (1) sufficiently sensitive to allow for the analysis of oxidation products also from a mild ascorbate-driven Fenton reaction, and (2) to be specific for cereal β-glucan even in the presence of other co-oxidized polysaccharides. This opens doors to applications in food processing to assess potential oxidations and provides the detailed structural basis to understand the effect oxidized functional groups have on β-glucan's health promoting and technological properties.
The Impact of Futures Trading Over Spot Market Intraday Volatility: Evidence From an Emerging Market, Borsa Istanbul

The objective of this article is to examine the impact of stock index futures on stock markets. Of particular interest is the evidence for change in overall volatility and liquidity after the introduction of stock index futures. The impact of derivatives trading on price volatility in the underlying spot market return is examined using the exponential GARCH (EGARCH) model which was proposed by Nelson (1991). Our empirical findings support the view that introducing futures trading decreases volatility in the spot market and the speed with which market information is reflected in spot market prices. However, volatility persistence increased in the post-futures period. In the light of these findings it can be said that the speed and nature of information differ between pre-futures period and post-futures period. JEL Classification : G13, G14, G32 Keywords : Futures Markets, Spot Markets, Volatility, GARCH Models, Emerging Markets DOI : 10.7176/RJFA/10-2-07
Controlled study of cytolethal distending toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections in Bangladeshi children

The role of cytolethal distending toxin (CDT)-producing Escherichia coli, a newly described category of E. coli, in the causation of diarrhea was studied by screening E. coli isolates from 546 children < 5 years of age with diarrhea and 215 matched controls without diarrhea by using a specific DNA probe. Although CDT-positive E. coli strains were isolated from more children with diarrhea than from healthy controls (3.1 versus 0.93%), this difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.082). All CDT-positive strains also possessed the virulence factors of enteropathogenic E. coli or enteroaggregative E. coli isolates.
Thermal balloon ablation for the treatment of menorrhagia in an outpatient setting

Background. Excessive menstrual bleeding, menorrhagia, is a common gynecological problem in women of reproductive age. Since 1994, thermal balloon ablation has become the treatment of choice for women with menorrhagia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short‐ and long‐term results of thermal balloon ablation for the treatment of menorrhagia in an outpatient setting. Methods. Fifty‐six women with menorrhagia had undergone a balloon ablation in an outpatient setting at the Gynecological Departments at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge. At follow‐up, all of the women were requested to complete a questionnaire concerning bleeding patterns, the degree of dysmenorrhea, side effects, or a need for further therapy after balloon ablation. Results. Thermal balloon ablation was successfully completed in 54 (97%) women. The two unsuccessful procedures consisted of one case, in which the woman had an allergic reaction to a paracervical block, and another case in which the balloon catheter could not be inserted into the uterine cavity. In three cases, short‐term complications occurred: an allergic reaction to a paracervical block, endometritis, and abdominal cramps. Completed outcome questionnaires were submitted by 42 (75%) of the women. The mean follow‐up period was 31 months. A reduction of menorrhagia was experienced by 34 (81%) of the women. One woman had undergone a hysterectomy and three had a hysteroscopical endometrial resection within two years after the ablation due to persistent menorrhagia. Conclusion. Thermal endometrial ablation is a safe and effective treatment for menorrhagia and is feasible in an outpatient setting.
Vitamin C metabolomic mapping in the lens with 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-ascorbic acid and high-resolution 19F-NMR spectroscopy.

PURPOSE Metabolomics, or metabolic profiling, is an emerging discipline geared to providing information on a large number of metabolites, as a complement to genomics and proteomics. In the current study, a fluorine-labeled derivative of ascorbic acid (F-ASA), a major antioxidant- and UV-trapping molecule in the aqueous humor and the lens, was used to investigate the extent to which the lens accumulates potentially toxic degradation products of vitamin C. METHODS Human lens epithelial cells (HLE-B3) and rat lenses were exposed to hyperglycemic or oxidative stress in vitro or in vivo and probed for accumulation of F-ASA, fluoro-dehydroascorbate (F-DHA), fluoro-2,3-diketogulonate (F-DKG), and their degradation products in protein-free extracts, by proton-decoupled 750-MHz (19)F-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. RESULTS F-ASA and F-DHA were taken up into HLE B-3 cells by an Na(+)-dependent transporter. Their uptake was unexpectedly only slightly affected by hyperglycemia in vitro, unless glutathione was severely depleted. Glycemic stress catalyzed oxidation of F-ASA into a single novel F-compound at -212.4 ppm, whereas F-DHA and F-DKG were the major degradation products observed after GSH depletion. In contrast, F-ASA uptake was markedly suppressed in diabetic cataractous rat lenses, which accumulated both the F-DHA and the -212.4-ppm compound. In an unexpected finding, the latter formed only from F-ASA and not F-DHA or F-DKG, suggesting a novel pathway of in vivo F-ASA degradation. Both the cells and the intact rat and human lenses were permeable to several advanced F-ASA and F-DHA degradation products, except F-DKG. The unknown compound at -212.4 ppm was the only F-ASA degradation product that spontaneously formed in rabbit aqueous humor upon incubation with F-ASA. CONCLUSIONS These studies suggest the existence of a novel ascorbic-acid-degradation pathway in the lens and aqueous humor that is influenced by the nature of the oxidant stress. Under similar culture conditions, intact lenses are more prone to hyperglycemia-mediated oxidant stress than are lens epithelial cells, but both are permeable to various F-ASA degradation products, the structure and biological roles of which remain to be established.