Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Safety of Mesalamine 1 g HS Versus 500 mg BID Suppositories in Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Proctitis: A Multicenter Randomized Study

Background: Ulcerative proctitis (UP) usually presents as fresh rectal bleeding. Successful treatment using topical mesalamine 5‐aminosalicyclic acid (5‐ASA) 500 mg BID suppository led to developing a once‐a‐day formulation that could contribute to better acceptability and ease of use by patients. The objective of this randomized trial, conducted in 18 centers, was to compare efficacy of 2 modes of treatment with 5‐ASA suppositories. Methods: Ninety‐nine patients with mild or moderate UP limited to 15 cm of the anal margin, evidenced by a disease activity index (DAI) between 4 and 11, were randomized to 5‐ASA 500 mg suppository (Canasa; Axcan Pharma) BID or 1 g at bedtime (HS) for 6 weeks. The study used a noninferiority hypothesis based on the mean difference in DAI values after 6 weeks of treatment on an intent‐to‐treat basis using analysis of covariance. DAI was derived from a composite of the measures of stool frequency, rectal bleeding, mucosal visualization at endoscopy, and general well being. Results: There was no difference between groups at baseline for demographic and clinical parameters. Mean DAIs fell from 6.6 ± 1.5 (SD) to 1.6 ± 2.3 in the 500 mg BID group (n = 48) and from 6.1 ± 1.5 to 1.3 ± 2.2 in the 1 g HS group (n = 39). There was no significant difference (P = 0.74) in mean DAI at week 6 between the 2 groups. Both groups showed a significant reduction (P < 0.0001) in DAI over the course of the 6 weeks. Both formulations showed effectiveness in reducing each individual component of the DAI. There was no significant difference between treatments in adverse events, and both groups had an overall drug compliance of greater than 95%. Conclusion: This study showed that 1 g HS and 500 mg BID mesalamine suppository treatments of UP patients were equivalent in all facets of efficacy, safety, and compliance in a 6‐week trial.
Instrument-free nucleic acid amplification assays for global health settings

Many infectious diseases that affect global health are most accurately diagnosed through nucleic acid amplification and detection. However, existing nucleic acid amplification tests are too expensive and complex for most low-resource settings. The small numbers of centralized laboratories that exist in developing countries tend to be in urban areas and primarily cater to the affluent. In contrast, rural area health care facilities commonly have only basic equipment and health workers have limited training and little ability to maintain equipment and handle reagents.1 Reliable electric power is a common infrastructure shortfall. In this paper, we discuss a practical approach to the design and development of non-instrumented molecular diagnostic tests that exploit the benefits of isothermal amplification strategies. We identify modular instrument-free technologies for sample collection, sample preparation, amplification, heating, and detection. By appropriately selecting and integrating these instrument-free modules, we envision development of an easy to use, infrastructure independent diagnostic test that will enable increased use of highly accurate molecular diagnostics at the point of care in low-resource settings.
UNDERSTANDING HETEROGENEITY IN PTSD: FEAR, DYSPHORIA, AND DISTRESS

Fear, dysphoria, and distress are prominent components in the conceptualization of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, because our diagnostic categories are open concepts, relying on observed patterns of symptoms for classification, it is unclear whether these components represent core or auxiliary features of the disorder. Convergence across multiple indices is critical for this understanding. In this paper, we examine these components of PTSD across observed symptom patterns, broader theoretical conceptualizations, underlying information processing mechanisms of attention and memory, and underlying learning and neurobiological mechanisms. For each, evidence for similarity or distinctiveness of PTSD with other anxiety disorders and depression is examined. Throughout the review, key points of similarity to the anxiety disorders and divergence with depression argue for a distinction between core fear symptoms and auxiliary dysphoria and distress symptoms. Implications are discussed, noting that, as heterogeneity increases, core characteristics will become more diffused and ancillary constructs will gain an inflated degree of importance.
Sweet's syndrome associated with myelodysplasia: possible role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of the disease

Summary. The clinical course of a 56‐year‐old female patient with Sweet's syndrome (SS) preceded by a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is described. During the acute phase of the disease with high remittent fever, painful skin lesions and maximal leucocytosis IL‐6 and G‐CSF serum levels were extremely high, while TNF‐alpha was only slightly elevated and gamma‐interferon and IL1‐β were not increased. On clinical improvement IL‐6 serum levels rapidly fell, whereas G‐CSF values already slightly elevated before the manifestation of the disease slowly declined.
Effect of Temperature Cumulation on Milk Yield of Czech Fleckvieh‑Simmental Cattle

NAVRÁTIL STANISLAV, FALTA DANIEL, CHLÁDEK GUSTAV. 2017. Effect of Temperature Cumulation on Milk Yield of Czech Fleckvieh‐Simmental Cattle. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 65(5): 1579–1584. The aim of this study was to asses the effect of temperature cumulation on milk yield of Czech Fleckvieh‐Simmental cattle. Experiment for this study was executed on private farm in Czech Republic with permanently open‐sided barn, in which were cows stabled (49°12′36.7′′N 16°23′42.1′′E). Cows were stabled in free stall box system. Experiment lasted three months (May–July) of 2016. In total 114 cows were include in this study. They were divided according to yield to three groups: more than 25 kg of milk per day, 20.1–24.9 kg of milk per day and less than 20 kg of milk per day. The data loggers placed inside the stable collected data about temperature every 30 minutes. Data about milk yield were obtained from software in milk parlour. After data were collected, the sum of effective temperatures (SET) was calculated. The SET was calculated for temperatures surpassing 21 °C. Data shows that all groups were affected by rising SET. The group with yield above 25 kg of milk per day was the most affected by the high SET (r = −0.4931) in contrary with the group with less than 20 kg of milk per day (r = −0.1380). Our result suggest, that the SET might be better marker for evaluation of the impact of heat stress than temperature itself. The results of this paper also shows, that the high‐yield cows are affected by cumulation of temperature more.
Cancer in experimental animals exposed to arsenic and arsenic compounds

Inorganic arsenic is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that has long been considered a human carcinogen. Recent studies raise further concern about the metalloid as a major, naturally occurring carcinogen in the environment. However, during this same period it has proven difficult to provide experimental evidence of the carcinogenicity of inorganic arsenic in laboratory animals and, until recently, there was considered to be a lack of clear evidence for carcinogenicity of any arsenical in animals. More recent work with arsenical methylation metabolites and early life exposures to inorganic arsenic has now provided evidence of carcinogenicity in rodents. Given that tens of millions of people worldwide are exposed to potentially unhealthy levels of environmental arsenic, in vivo rodent models of arsenic carcinogenesis are a clear necessity for resolving critical issues, such as mechanisms of action, target tissue specificity, and sensitive subpopulations, and in developing strategies to reduce cancers in exposed human populations. This work reviews the available rodent studies considered relevant to carcinogenic assessment of arsenicals, taking advantage of the most recent review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that has not yet appeared as a full monograph but has been summarized (, IARC Special Report: Policy, Vol. 10. Lyon: IARC Press, 453–454). Many valid studies show that arsenic can interact with other carcinogens/agents to enhance oncogenesis, and help elucidate mechanisms, and these too are summarized in this review. Finally, this body of rodent work is discussed in light of its impact on mechanisms and in the context of the persistent argument that arsenic is not carcinogenic in animals.
Retinoic acid‐enhanced invasion through reconstituted basement membrane by human SK‐N‐SH neuroblastoma cells involves membrane‐associated tissue‐type plasminogen activator

Al‐trans retinoic acid (RA) enhanced human, S‐type, SK‐N‐SH neuroblastoma cell invasion of reconstituted basement membrane in vitro but did not induce terminal differentiation of this cell line. In contrast to basal invasion, which was urokinase (uPA)‐ and plasmin‐dependent, RA‐enhanced invasion was dependent on tissue‐type plasminogen activator (t‐PA) and plasmin activity. Neither basal nor RA‐enhanced invasion involved TIMP‐2 inhibitable metalloproteinases. Enhanced invasion was associated with the induction of t‐PA expression, increased expression of the putative t‐PA receptor amphoterin, increased association of t‐PA with cell membranes and increased net membrane‐associated PA activity. Enhanced invasion was not associated with significant changes in the expression of uPA or its membrane receptor UPAR; plasminogen activator inhibitors PAI‐1 and PAI‐2; metalloproteinases MMP‐1, MMP‐2, MMP‐3, MMP‐9 and membrane type MMP1; or tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2. RA stimulated the association of t‐PA with the external cell membrane surface, which could be inhibited by heparin sulphate but not by mannose sugars or chelators of divalent cations, consistent with a role for amphoterin. Our data indicate that RA can promote the malignant behavior of S‐type neuroblastoma cells refractory to RA‐mediated terminal differentiation by enhancing their basement membrane invasive capacity. We suggest that this results from the action of a novel, RA‐regulated mechanism involving stimulation of t‐PA expression and its association with the cell membrane leading to increased PA‐dependent matrix degradation. Int. J. Cancer 73:740–748, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bovine Rotavirus in Turkeys with Enteritis

SUMMARY. Rotaviruses are the main agents responsible for diarrhea in different animal species and for infantile gastroenteritis. These viruses have been isolated from various avian species and have often been associated with poult enteritis and mortality syndrome. Nevertheless, the knowledge of rotavirus infection in turkeys is scarce. Six group A rotavirus strains obtained from pooled enteric contents of diarrheic turkeys were isolated in MA-104 cell culture and typed as G6P1, a typical bovine rotavirus genotype. Additionally, the electropherotypes showed a migration pattern identical to the Nebraska calf diarrhea virus, and the complete NSP4 gene phylogeny showed that all six strains segregated in the genotype E2. Taken together, these results point toward a cattle-to-turkey rotavirus transmission. As a conclusion, bovine-origin rotavirus can be found in turkeys, and this transmission route must now be considered for the improvement of the health status in turkey farms.
The international tourism effect of hosting the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup

This study analyzes whether hosting mega-sporting events is a useful marketing platform for countries to promote international tourism on a longer term basis. Our model adopts the gravity equation of international trade to bilateral international tourist arrivals. We find a country-level tourism effect only for the Summer Olympic Games. Hosting increases international tourist arrivals significantly in the 8 years before, during, and in the 20 years after the event. In contrast, hosting the FIFA World Cup is overall ineffective in tourism promotion despite higher tourist arrivals in the event year. We attribute these differences in international tourism legacy to the level of strategic planning in promoting tourism, the impact of media on the broadcasting audience, and the participating countries.
Livelihood Diversification and Its Effect on Household Poverty in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The recently adopted 2030 SDGs shows the commitment of government of countries to reducing all forms of poverty among its citizens. Livelihoods and livelihood diversification have been identified as a tool in fighting poverty. However, relevance of livelihood diversification is an environment with robust social security programme like South Africa is unknown. The study utilized information obtained from the annual General Household Survey of South Africa carried out in 2014. Information which include demographic characteristics of households and individuals, education, health, access to public assets, ownership of private assets, household welfare, and household livelihoods among others were obtained using a structured questionnaire. A total number of 3033 households sampled from the province using a multi-stage design with probability proportionate to size was used in the study. Data were analysed using a modified Multidimensional Poverty Index which is the most recent approach to poverty assessment, descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model. The result of descriptive statistics shows that households in the province are not diversified (diversification is proxy by having other income sources), only 5.41 percent of the households have more than one sources of income. About 53 percent of diversified households are located in the urban area of the province. The descriptive statistics result also show that majority of households who are considered poor or severely poor have heads with low educational attainment and they are located in the rural area of the province. The result of Tobit regression shows that livelihood diversification is not significant in influencing household poverty in the Province. Other socioeconomic characteristics significant in influencing poverty are characteristics of head which include gender, education and employment status, access to electricity, engagement in agriculture, total income, asset score and geographical location. This study suggest among others things the need for the provincial government to initiate policies that will stimulate household economic investment, like further linking of government transfers to household investment grant. Also, there is a need for the provincial government to strengthen policies that promote affordable and accessible education, access to electricity for the poor, asset accumulation, engagement in home stead agriculture, and intensification of poverty reduction programmes in the rural areas.
Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer.

BACKGROUND The evidence of an association of lactation with a reduction in the risk of breast cancer among women has been limited and inconsistent. The effect of lactation appears to be confined to premenopausal women with a history of long lactation, but most studies of this relation have been limited in statistical power. We conducted a multicenter, population-based, case-control study with a sample large enough for us to describe more precisely the association between lactation and the risk of breast cancer. METHODS Patients less than 75 years old who had breast cancer were identified from statewide tumor registries in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. Controls were randomly selected from lists of licensed drivers if the case subjects were less than 65 years old, and from lists of Medicare beneficiaries if they were 65 through 74 years old. Information on lactation, reproductive history, and family and medical history was obtained by means of telephone interviews. After the exclusion of nulliparous women, 5878 case subjects and 8216 controls remained for analysis. RESULTS After adjustment for parity, age at first delivery, and other risk factors for breast cancer, lactation was associated with a slight reduction in the risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women, as compared with the risk among women who were parous but had never lactated (relative risk, 0.78; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.66 to 0.91); the relative risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women who had lactated, as compared with those who had not, was 1.04 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.95 to 1.14). With an increasing cumulative duration of lactation, there was a decreasing risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women (P for trend < 0.001) but not among postmenopausal, parous women (P for trend = 0.51). A younger age at first lactation was significantly associated with a reduction in the risk of premenopausal breast cancer (P for trend = 0.003). As compared with parous women who did not lactate, the relative risk of breast cancer among women who first lactated at less than 20 years of age and breast-fed their infants for a total of six months was 0.54 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.82). CONCLUSIONS There is a reduction in the risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women who have lactated. No reduction in the risk of breast cancer occurred among postmenopausal women with a history of lactation.
Cervical Necrotizing Fasciitis — The Flesh Eating Disease : Review of Literature and Report of Five Cases

Introduction: Necrotizing fasciitis is a disfiguring condition that can be fatal. It is an aggressive infection with high morbidity and mortality. This article reviews demographics, presentation, cause, clinical findings, treatment and prognosis of cervical necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin. Materials and methods: We present 5 cases of cervical necrotizing fasciitis of dental etiology and discussed salient diagnostic features and treatment. We have reviewed the published data on cervical necrotizing fasciitis till date, with special emphasis on morbidity, mortality and treatment. Results: With a timely diagnosis we were able to diagnose and appropriately treat these 5 patients. The most common significant medical condition in the patient history was diabetes, malnutrition. All patients were treated surgically and given broad spectrum antibiotics. All patients have survived. Of 144 patients, 27 reportedly died despite their aggressive therapy. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of cervical necrotizing fasciitis require a high index of suspicion, immediate operative intervention, intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics and appropriate supportive care. The key to successful management and reduce the mortality is early diagnosis of the disease with prompt surgical and medical intervention. On review of literature the mortality rate was 18.75% in our study, which suggest that flesh eating disease is still a fatal disease.
Role of the Coronary Sinus in Maintenance of Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: Bursts of tachycardia arising in the pulmonary veins may play an important role in perpetuating atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the role of the coronary sinus (CS) in the perpetuation of AF has been unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether the CS plays a role in perpetuation of AF.
The development of an efficient cultivar-independent plant regeneration system from callus derived from both apical and non-apical root segments of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

SummaryCallus induction and later plant regeneration were studied in four widely grown garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars from Europe. Root segments from in vitro plantlets were used as starting material. In addition to cultivar effects, the effects of auxin and cytokinin levels and the position of the segments on the root were studied. There were no statistically significant differences among cultivars for the number of root segments that induced callus in the two series of experiments. The average induction frequency was 34.7% in the first series of experiments. Callus induction on apical root segments was significantly higher compared to callus induction on non-apical root segments in the second series of experiments. Two months after callus induction, callus lines were transferred to a regeneration medium consisting of Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with 30gl−1 sucrose and 1 mgl−1 (4.6μM) kinetin. Calluses derived from different experiments were quite uniform with respect to their regeneration potential. Also it was found that our regeneration system was cultivar-independent. The average shoot regeneration frequency was 17.9% in the first series of experiments. Highly significant differences were found in the frequency of shoot regeneration among different callus induction treatments. When the cytokinin 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)purine (0.1mgl−1∶0.5 μM) was present during callus induction, shoot regeneration ranged from 30.10 to 47.60%. Shoot regeneration from callus induced on non-apical segments was higher, although not significant, compared to callus induction from apical root segments in the second series of experiments. All in all, an efficient callus induction and plant regeneration system was developed from both apical and non-apical segments taken along the entire length of the roots. This system has potential to be used for garlic transformation.
The blame game: analyzing gender bias in Danish local elections

ABSTRACT Diagnosing women’s under-representation in electoral politics often involves a “blame game,” seeking to identify the primary factor responsible for depressing the share of women among candidates as well as elected officials. The Danish electoral system – in which parties present ordered lists of candidates but voters have the option to cast preference votes that can rearrange the list order – provides an opportunity to assess the relative role of elite versus voter bias in shaping women’s electoral fortunes. Using data from local elections in 2009, we find greater evidence for elite bias against women. We also observe, however, that voters do not widely exploit their preference votes. In an original post-election survey, we discover that “candidate gender” is less important for male and female voters than a host of other characteristics when deciding for which candidate to cast a preference vote.
Suicide attempts among formerly hospitalized adolescents: a prospective naturalistic study of risk during the first 5 years after discharge.

OBJECTIVE To examine risk for suicide attempts among 180 consecutively referred adolescents during the first 5 years after discharge from an inpatient psychiatry unit. METHOD In a prospective naturalistic study, adolescents were assessed at psychiatric hospitalization and semiannually thereafter for up to 5 years with semistructured psychiatric diagnostic interviews and self-report questionnaires. RESULTS Approximately 25% of the adolescents attempted suicide and no adolescents completed suicide within the first 5 years after discharge. The first 6 months to 1 year after discharge represented the period of highest risk. The number of prior attempts was the strongest predictor of posthospitalization attempts. Affective disorders by themselves did not predict later suicide attempts but were related to posthospitalization attempts when accompanied by a history of past suicide attempts. Independent of psychiatric diagnoses, severity of depressive symptoms and trait anxiety also predicted suicide attempts. Similar to the effect with affective disorders, depressive symptoms were most strongly related to posthospitalization suicidality among adolescents with a prior history of suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS Particularly among youths with prior suicidal behavior, clinicians should be alert to the above constellation of psychiatric predictors of posthospitalization suicidal behavior.