Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of Ferritin Level and Total Iron Binding Capacity in Pregnancy and Postpartum Subjects in Owerri

This study was carried out to determine the ferritin level and total iron binding capacity in pregnancy and postpartum. The study was carried out at federal medical center Owerri (FMC). Sixty (60) samples were used for the study, thirty (30) pregnant women and (30) thirty postpartum women were studied. Serum iron and TIBC were determined using standard haematological method. The results obtained were 115.6±41.3 for pregnant women and 121.3±44.85 for postpartum. When the two results were analyzed statistically, there is a statistical significant difference between the two p<0.05. The results obtained in TIBC were 265.3±79.1 for pregnant women and 473.5±82.6 for postpartum women. When the two results were analyzed statistically there is a statistical significant difference between the two P<0.05. From this study, there is a statistical significant decrease in serum iron for pregnant women (115.6±41.3) than in postpartum women (121.3±44.85) P < 0.05. And also a statistical significant decrease in TIBC for pregnant women (265.3±79.1) than in postpartum women (473.5±82.6) P < 0.05.
Energy expenditure responses to exercise training in older women

Previous studies have shown inconsistent findings regarding how structured exercise affects energy expenditure (EE). This study was designed to determine the changes in EE and physical activity following exercise training in older women. Nonobese (body mass index = 25.8 ± 3.4 kg·m−2) women (60–75 years, n = 72) completed a 4‐month supervised aerobic exercise training of lower‐ or higher‐dose (33.6 and 58.8 kJ·kg−1 body weight weekly, respectively) at 50–55% of heart rate reserve. Total daily EE (TDEE) by the doubly labeled water method, resting metabolic rate (RMR) via indirect calorimetry, and physical activity by accelerometer were determined before and at the end of exercise training. Nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) was calculated. Following exercise training, the changes in components of TDEE and total physical activity did not differ by group. In the entire sample, TDEE, RMR, NEAT and total physical activity did not change (P > 0.05 for all). However, a significant baseline physical activity × time interaction was found for several of the variables. Data were therefore stratified into tertiles of baseline physical activity. In the high tertile, TDEE remained unchanged, but total physical activity decreased (P = 0.012). In contrast, in the middle and low tertiles, NEAT remained unchanged, and total physical activity increased (P < 0.05 for both). In conclusion, aerobic exercise training did not change TDEE, RMR, NEAT, or total physical activity in this sample of older women. Exercise dose did not, but baseline physical activity levels might, influence EE responses and total physical activity changes.
Beneficial 2-years results of drug-eluting stents in saphenous vein graft lesions.

AIMS There are limited data regarding clinical outcomes of drug-eluting stents (DES) in saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) compared to bare metal stents (BMS). Here we compared outcomes of DES in de novo SVG lesions versus BMS in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS We compared in-hospital, 6-month, 1-year and two years outcomes in 68 patients (72 grafts) who underwent PCI of SVG lesions using DES and a control BMS group composed of 43 patients (46 grafts) who underwent angioplasty in de novo SVG lesions. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularisation (TLR), and target vessel revascularisation (TVR). The rates of TLR and TVR at the 1-year evaluation were lower in the DES group than the BMS group (TLR per patient, 7.4% vs. 21%, P=0.04; TVR per patient, 10.3% vs. 23.3%, P=0.1). MACE-free survival was 88.2% in the DES group and 69.8% in the BMS group (P=0.02). At two years clinical follow-up: death 2.9% vs. 4.7% (P=0.6); MI: 8.8% vs. 7% (P=0.6). The rates of TLR and TVR were significantly lower in the DES group compared to the BMS group (TLR per patient, 14.7% vs. 32.6%, P=0.03; TVR per patient, 10.3% vs. 27.9%, P=0.02). The rate of MACE-free survival was 79.4% in the DES group and 58.1% in the BMS group (P=0.02). Between one to two years after PCI, no cases of angiographic stent thrombosis were recorded in either group. CONCLUSIONS DES implantation in SVG lesions was safe and had favourable outcomes after two years without excess cardiac mortality.
Depression and Pesticide Exposures in Female Spouses of Licensed Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study Cohort

Objective: This nested case–control study evaluated the association between depression and pesticide exposure among women. Methods: The study population included 29,074 female spouses of private pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study between 1993 and 1997. Cases were women who had physician-diagnosed depression requiring medication. Lifetime pesticide use was categorized as never mixed/applied pesticides, low exposure (up to 225 days), high exposure (>225 days), and a history of diagnosed pesticide poisoning. Results: After adjustment for state, age, race, off-farm work, alcohol, cigarette smoking, physician visits, and solvent exposure, depression was significantly associated with a history of pesticide poisoning (odds ratio [OR] = 3.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.72–6.19) but not low (OR = 1.09; CI = 0.91–1.31) or high (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.91–1.31) cumulative pesticide exposure. Conclusion: Pesticide poisoning may contribute to risk of depression.
Energy costs of physical activities in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE The primary aim was to determine the energy expenditure (EE: kcal.kg(-1). h(-1)) in terms of caloric cost and metabolic equivalents of activities commonly performed by children and adolescents. Secondary aims were to determine at what age and pubertal developmental stage values approach those of adults. METHODS In this descriptive study, 295 volunteer youth 8-18 yr of age completed 18 common physical activities (including rest) while EE was measured continuously with a portable metabolic system. Three sets of activities were assigned in random order for each subject. Activities ranged from television viewing and video game play to running and rope skipping. Pubertal development was estimated from a self-report questionnaire. RESULTS At rest, VO(2) and EE were highest in the youngest children and decreased with advancing age and higher pubertal stage in both genders. The age-adjusted and puberty-adjusted energy expenditure values were generally lower than the compendium MET values for sedentary and moderate activities but were more varied for high-intensity activities. However, the ratio of activity EE to REE was comparable in children and adults. CONCLUSIONS Energy expenditure per kilogram of body mass at rest or during exercise is greater in children than adults and varies with pubertal status, thus using the definition of a MET in the compendium of physical activities without adjustment is inadequate for energy estimation in children, until a child reaches Tanner Stage 5. However, the ratio of activity EE to resting EE in children appears to be similar or slightly less than in the compendium, suggesting that the compendium MET increments used with our adjusted EE values more closely approximate the true EE of activities in children than present adult norms.
Increased thalamic resting‐state connectivity as a core driver of LSD‐induced hallucinations

It has been proposed that the thalamocortical system is an important site of action of hallucinogenic drugs and an essential component of the neural correlates of consciousness. Hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD can be used to induce profoundly altered states of consciousness, and it is thus of interest to test the effects of these drugs on this system.
Blue sclerae with keratoglobus and brittle cornea.

Family history (Figure) The father was 33 and the mother 25 years old. The father was healthy. The mother, who had slightly blue sclerae, had had three pregnancies; the first child was a stillborn girl, the second was the proband, and the third was a 3-year-old girl with blue sclerae. There was parental consanguinity in that the parents were second-cousins. All members of the family were dark-haired. Absence of bone fractures or deafness or any significant family history or clinical signs excluded osteogenesis, the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan's syndrome.
EFFECTIVE SPEED AND AGILITY CONDITIONING METHODOLOGY FOR RANDOM INTERMITTENT DYNAMIC TYPE SPORTS

Different coaching methods are often used to improve performance. This study compared the effectiveness of 2 methodologies for speed and agility conditioning for random, intermittent, and dynamic activity sports (e.g., soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, rugby, and netball) and the necessity for specialized coaching equipment. Two groups were delivered either a programmed method (PC) or a random method (RC) of conditioning with a third group receiving no conditioning (NC). PC participants used the speed, agility, quickness (SAQ) conditioning method, and RC participants played supervised small-sided soccer games. PC was also subdivided into 2 groups where participants either used specialized SAQ equipment or no equipment. A total of 46 (25 males and 21 females) untrained participants received (mean ± SD) 12.2 ± 2.1 hours of physical conditioning over 6 weeks between a battery of speed and agility parameter field tests. Two-way analysis of variance results indicated that both conditioning groups showed a significant decrease in body mass and body mass index, although PC achieved significantly greater improvements on acceleration, deceleration, leg power, dynamic balance, and the overall summation of % increases when compared to RC and NC (p ≤ 0.05). PC in the form of SAQ exercises appears to be a superior method for improving speed and agility parameters; however, this study found that specialized SAQ equipment was not a requirement to observe significant improvements. Further research is required to establish whether these benefits transfer to sport-specific tasks as well as to the underlying mechanisms resulting in improved performance.
Performance comparison of the medtronic sof-sensor and enlite glucose sensors in inpatient studies of individuals with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Knowledge of the accuracy of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices is important for its use as a management tool for individuals with diabetes and for its use to assess outcomes in clinical studies. Using data from several inpatient studies, we compared the accuracy of two sensors, the Medtronic Enlite™ using MiniMed Paradigm(®) Veo™ calibration and the Sof-Sensor(®) glucose sensor using Guardian(®) REAL-Time CGM calibration (all from Medtronic Diabetes, Northridge, CA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Nocturnal data were analyzed from eight inpatient studies in which both CGM and reference glucose measurements were available. The analyses included 1,666 CGM-reference paired glucose values for the Enlite in 54 participants over 69 nights and 3,627 paired values for the Sof-Sensor in 66 participants over 91 nights. RESULTS The Enlite sensor tended to report glucose levels lower than the reference over the entire range of glucose values, whereas the Sof-Sensor values tended to be higher than reference values in the hypoglycemic range and lower than reference values in the hyperglycemic range. The overall median sensor-reference difference was -15 mg/dL for the Enlite and -1 mg/dL for the Sof-Sensor (P<0.001). The median relative absolute difference was 15% for the Enlite versus 12% for the Sof-Sensor (P=0.06); 66% of Enlite values and 73% of Sof-Sensor values met International Organization for Standardization criteria. CONCLUSIONS We found that the Enlite tended to be biased low over the entire glucose range, whereas the Sof-Sensor showed the more typical sensor pattern of being biased high in the hypoglycemic range and biased low in the hyperglycemic range.
Molecular mechanisms of melanoma metastasis

The molecular changes associated with the transition of melanoma cells from radial growth phase to vertical growth phase (metastatic phenotype) are not very well defined. Expression of the tyrosine‐kinase receptor c‐KIT progressively decreases during local tumor growth and invasion of human melanomas. To provide direct evidence that c‐KIT plays a role in metastasis of human melanoma, we transfected the c‐KIT gene into c‐KIT‐negative, highly metastatic human melanoma cells and subsequently analyzed their tumorigenic and metastatic potential in nude mice. Enforced c‐KIT expression significantly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. Exposure of c‐KIT‐positive melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo to stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand for c‐KIT, triggered apoptosis of these cells but not of normal melanocytes. These results suggest that the loss of c‐KIT receptor may allow malignant melanoma cells to escape SCF/c‐KIT‐mediated apoptosis, thus contributing to tumor growth and eventually metastasis. The expression of c‐KIT and other genes associated with malignant melanoma (such as MCAM/MUC18) is highly regulated by the transcription factor AP‐2. The AP‐2 protein is not expressed in malignant melanoma cells. Therefore, loss of AP‐2 expression might be a crucial event in the progression of human melanoma. J. Cell. Physiol. 173:275–278, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Numerical study of water clusters at protein interfaces

We simulate by Monte Carlo method how the protein interface in aqueous solution affects the formation of clusters whose connectivity length is related to the thermodynamic correlation length of water, following the definition of the "correlated percolation". We consider a model for a protein in a water monolayer that has been shown to reproduce the anomalies of water, including the occurrence of two specific heat maxima at low temperature and pressure in a region that approaches a liquid-liquid critical point. We show that the maxima can be characterized in terms of percolation quantities at any temperature and pressure. Furthermore, we find that the protein interface promotes the formation of water clusters, a result that might be relevant for the biological functions of the proteins.
Numerical optimization of sequential cryogen spray cooling and laser irradiation for improved therapy of port wine stain

Despite application of cryogen spray (CS) precooling, customary treatment of port wine stain (PWS) birthmarks with a single laser pulse does not result in complete lesion blanching for a majority of patients. One obvious reason is nonselective absorption by epidermal melanin, which limits the maximal safe radiant exposure. Another possible reason for treatment failure is screening of laser light within large PWS vessels, which prevents uniform heating of the entire vessel lumen. Our aim is to identify the parameters of sequential CS cooling and laser irradiation that will allow optimal photocoagulation of various PWS blood vessels with minimal risk of epidermal thermal damage.
Institutions, Volatility and Investment

Countries with strong executive constraints have lower growth volatility but similar average growth to those with weak constraints. This paper argues that this may explain a strong reduced-form correlation between executive constraints and inflows of foreign investment. It uses a novel dataset of Dutch sector-level investments between 1983 and 2010 to explore this issue. It formulates an economic model of investment and uses data on the mean and variance of productivity growth to explain the relationship between investment inflows and executive constraints. The model can account for the aggregate change in inflows when strong executive constraints are adopted in terms of the reduction in the volatility in productivity growth. The data and model together suggest a natural way of thinking about country-specific heterogeneity in investment inflows following the adoption of strong executive constraints.
Increased CD40 Expression Enhances Early STING-Mediated Type I Interferon Response and Host Survival in a Rodent Malaria Model

Both type I interferon (IFN-I) and CD40 play a significant role in various infectious diseases, including malaria and autoimmune disorders. CD40 is mostly known to function in adaptive immunity, but previous observations of elevated CD40 levels early after malaria infection of mice led us to investigate its roles in innate IFN-I responses and disease control. Using a Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis N67 and C57BL/6 mouse model, we showed that infected CD40-/- mice had reduced STING and serum IFN-β levels day-2 post infection, higher day-4 parasitemia, and earlier deaths. CD40 could greatly enhance STING-stimulated luciferase signals driven by the IFN-β promoter in vitro, which was mediated by increased STING protein levels. The ability of CD40 to influence STING expression was confirmed in CD40-/- mice after malaria infection. Substitutions at CD40 TRAF binding domains significantly decreased the IFN-β signals and STING protein level, which was likely mediated by changes in STING ubiquitination and degradation. Increased levels of CD40, STING, and ISRE driven luciferase signal in RAW Lucia were observed after phagocytosis of N67-infected red blood cells (iRBCs), stimulation with parasite DNA/RNA, or with selected TLR ligands [LPS, poly(I:C), and Pam3CSK4]. The results suggest stimulation of CD40 expression by parasite materials through TLR signaling pathways, which was further confirmed in bone marrow derived dendritic cells/macrophages (BMDCs/BMDMs) and splenic DCs from CD40-/-, TLR3-/- TLR4-/-, TRIF-/-, and MyD88-/- mice after iRBC stimulation or parasite infection. Our data connect several signaling pathways consisting of phagocytosis of iRBCs, recognition of parasite DNA/RNA (possibly GPI) by TLRs, elevated levels of CD40 and STING proteins, increased IFN-I production, and longer host survival time. This study reveals previously unrecognized CD40 function in innate IFN-I responses and protective pathways in infections with malaria strains that induce a strong IFN-I response, which may provide important information for better understanding and management of malaria.
Risks of congenital malformations and perinatal events among infants exposed to calcium channel and beta‐blockers during pregnancy

Calcium channel blockers and beta‐blockers (BBs) are widely used during pregnancy, but data on their safety for the developing infant are scarce. We used population‐based data from 5 HMOs to study risks for perinatal complications and congenital defects among infants exposed in‐utero.
Transfusion-transmitted virus infection in HIV-1-seropositive patients.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the prevalence, persistence and genome heterogeneity of transfusion-transmitted (TTV) in HIV-1-infected patients, a group at high risk both of contracting blood-borne viruses and having viral persistence relating to immunodepression. METHODS Plasma samples from 238 HIV-1 seropositive subjects and 226 healthy blood donors were examined for TTV-DNA both by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers from the conserved regions in the N22 clone and PCR using primers deduced from the untranslated region (UTR). Direct DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were used to characterize 27 TTV isolates from HIV-1 patients or healthy controls. RESULTS Using PCR with the UTR primers, TTV DNA was detected in a very high percentage (> 80%) of samples both from HIV-1 seropositive subjects and from blood donors. Using PCR with N22 primers, shown to detect viral strains associated with hepatitis of unknown etiology, TTV DNA was found in 103 of 238 (43.3%) HIV-1-infected patients and in 22 of 226 (9.7%) blood donors. There was no difference in the prevalence of the TTV DNA in HIV seropositive subjects with regard to clinical features related to immunosuppression, markers of HCV infection or intravenous drug use; presence of TTV DNA was associated significantly only with male gender (P = 0.003). Persistent or intermittent viremia was detected in plasma samples taken up over a period of 19 months in all (15 of 15) HIV-infected patients tested. CONCLUSIONS The persistence and high frequency of infection detected by PCR with N22 primers in HIV-1 seropositive patients suggest that further clinical investigation of immunocompromised hosts will provide information to clarify the pathogenic role of TTV.
Female Labor Supply and Child Care Supply in Chile

We use a specially designed survey to evaluate the effect of several public policies on female labor force participation in Chile. First, we estimate a self-selection model to find the determinants of female labor participation and wages. Our participation estimates show that schooling is highly positively correlated with participation and being married or having a partner is negatively correlated with participation. Also, we found that having a daycare center close to either their home or place of work and that the center’s hours of operation match labor hours are positively correlated with participation. We simulate changes in these two variables: closeness and compatible hours, which can be subject to public intervention, and evaluate the effect on labor participation, poverty, household income and income inequality. All these policies have a positive impact on labor force participation, which could increase by eight percentage points. The per capita income of these women’s households increases by and 8%, however there is almost no effect on poverty and inequality since most of the women who benefit from these policies come from middle class households.
International and Multicenter Comparison of EUCAST and CLSI M27-A2 Broth Microdilution Methods for Testing Susceptibilities of Candida spp. to Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Posaconazole, and Voriconazole

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare MICs of fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole obtained by the European Committee on Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and CLSI (formerly NCCLS) methods in each of six centers for 15 Candida albicans (5 fluconazole-resistant and 4 susceptible-dose-dependent [S-DD] isolates), 10 C. dubliniensis, 7 C. glabrata (2 fluconazole-resistant isolates), 5 C. guilliermondii (2 fluconazole-resistant isolates), 10 C. krusei, 9 C. lusitaniae, 10 C. parapsilosis, and 5 C. tropicalis (1 fluconazole-resistant isolate) isolates. CLSI MICs were obtained visually at 24 and 48 h and spectrophotometric EUCAST MICs at 24 h. The agreement (within a 3-dilution range) between the methods was species, drug, and incubation time dependent and due to lower EUCAST than CLSI MICs: overall, 94 to 95% with fluconazole and voriconazole and 90 to 91% with posaconazole and itraconazole when EUCAST MICs were compared against 24-h CLSI results. The agreement was lower (85 to 94%) against 48-h CLSI endpoints. The overall interlaboratory reproducibility by each method was ≥92%. When the comparison was based on CLSI breakpoint categorization, the agreement was 68 to 76% for three of the four species that included fluconazole-resistant and S-DD isolates; 9% very major discrepancies (≤8 μg/ml versus ≥64 μg/ml) were observed among fluconazole-resistant isolates and 50% with voriconazole (≤1 μg/ml versus ≥4 μg/ml). Similar results were observed with itraconazole for seven of the eight species evaluated (28 to 77% categorical agreement). Posaconazole EUCAST MICs were also substantially lower than CLSI MIC modes (0.008 to 1 μg/ml versus 1 to ≥8 μg/ml) for some of these isolates. Therefore, the CLSI breakpoints should not be used to interpret EUCAST MIC data.