Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Women in southern Nigeria with change in paternity do not have increased incidence of pre-eclampsia

Summary This was a prospective cohort study of women in their second pregnancies aimed at determining if there was a difference in the incidence of pre-eclampsia between those with changed paternity and those without change in paternity in an entirely black African population. Women in their second pregnancies receiving antenatal care between September 2006 and August 2007 were recruited into the study between 10 and 20 weeks’ gestational age and followed up until 37 weeks’ gestation. The main outcome measures included incidence of pre-eclampsia in relation to change in paternity at second pregnancy, incidence of pre-eclampsia in relation to duration of sexual cohabitation among those with changed paternity and inter-pregnancy interval. There was no significant difference in the incidence of pre-eclampsia between women who had changed paternity and those without change in paternity (3.5% vs 3.1%, p = 0.835). The inter-pregnancy interval was also similar in both groups. The mean duration of sexual cohabitation was similar between women who had changed paternity that developed pre-eclampsia and those that did not develop pre-eclampsia (7.9 ± 1.3 vs 7.5 ± 2.1 months, p = 0.531). It was concluded that Southern Nigerian women with change in paternity in their second pregnancies do not have increased incidence of pre-eclampsia.
Cytotoxicity and Gene Expression Changes of a Novel Homeopathic Antiseptic Oral Rinse in Comparison to Chlorhexidine in Gingival Fibroblasts

Most available antiseptic solutions available today have strong antibacterial effects, however most also possess major cytotoxic effects on human gingival tissues. The VEGA Oral Care Recovery Kit (StellaLife), previously evaluated in clinical studies, consists of 16 active ingredients that are monographed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of United States (HPUS) and recognized for their accelerated healing properties (reduction in post-op pain). The aim of this study was to compare VEGA to chlorhexidine (CHX) in vitro on gingival fibroblast viability, survival at various concentrations, migration assay, proliferation activity, expression of both regenerative growth factors as well as inflammatory markers, and collagen synthesis. A 10-fold dilution of standard CHX (0.02%) led to cell death, whereas cell viability was significantly better in the VEGA group for all tested parameters. Furthermore, VEGA also induced significantly greater fibroblast migration and proliferation. CHX negatively impacted the cellular inflammatory response of gingival fibroblasts, and also led to a reduction in collagen synthesis (50% decrease). Findings from the present study provide support from basic laboratory experiments that validate the previous clinical studies supporting the use of the VEGA oral rinse on its superior biocompatibility and wound healing properties when compared to CHX.
Identification of Subclinical Lung Involvement in ACPA-Positive Subjects through Functional Assessment and Serum Biomarkers

Lung involvement is related to the natural history of anti-citrullinated proteins antibodies (ACPA)-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), both during the pathogenesis of the disease and as a site of disease-related injury. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a subclinical, early lung involvement during the course of the disease, even before the onset of articular manifestations, which can potentially progress to a symptomatic interstitial lung disease. To date, reliable, non-invasive markers of subclinical lung involvement are still lacking in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic potential of functional assessment and serum biomarkers in the identification of subclinical lung involvement in ACPA-positive subjects. Fifty ACPA-positive subjects with or without confirmed diagnosis of RA (2010 ARC-EULAR criteria) were consecutively enrolled. Each subject underwent clinical evaluation, pulmonary function testing (PFT) with assessment of diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), surfactant protein D (SPD) serum levels dosage and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest. The cohort was composed of 21 ACPA-positive subjects without arthritis (ND), 10 early (disease duration < 6 months, treatment-naïve) RA (ERA) and 17 long-standing (disease duration < 36 months, on treatment) RA (LSRA). LSRA patients had a significantly higher frequency of overall HRCT abnormalities compared to the other groups (p = 0.001). SPD serum levels were significantly higher in ACPA-positive subjects compared with healthy controls (158.5 ± 132.3 ng/mL vs 61.27 ± 34.11 ng/mL; p < 0.0001) and showed an increasing trend from ND subjects to LSRD patients (p = 0.004). Patients with HRCT abnormalities showed significantly lower values of DLCO (74.19 ± 13.2% pred. vs 131.7 ± 93% pred.; p = 0.009), evidence of ventilatory inefficiency at CPET and significantly higher SPD serum levels compared with subjects with no HRCT abnormalities (213.5 ± 157.2 ng/mL vs 117.7 ± 157.3 ng/mL; p = 0.018). Abnormal CPET responses and higher SPD levels were also associated with specific radiological findings. Impaired DLCO and increased SPD serum levels were independently associated with the presence of HRCT abnormalities. Subclinical lung abnormalities occur early in RA-associated autoimmunity. The presence of subclinical HRCT abnormalities is associated with several functional abnormalities and increased SPD serum levels of SPD. Functional evaluation through PFT and CPET, together with SPD assessment, may have a diagnostic potential in ACPA-positive subjects, contributing to the identification of those patients to be referred to HRCT scan.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms in Japanese patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple system atrophy

We studied two genetic polymorphisms (240C/T and 480G/A) of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene in Japanese patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 172), Parkinson's disease (PD, n = 327), and multiple system atrophy (MSA, n = 122), as well as controls (n = 275). The distribution of the 240 C/T polymorphism was significantly different between AD patients and controls, whereas there was no difference in the genotype of the two polymorphisms between MSA and controls or between PD and controls. Our data suggest that BDNF might play a role in AD. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Chronic Diabetic Complications and Tissue Glycosylation: Relevant Concern for Diabetes-Prone Black Population

A significant segment of the Black population is affected by chronic diabetes, and most of them are subjected to severe cardiovascular, renal, and neurological complications that shorten survival and diminish quality of life. One of the important pathogenetic mechanisms under intensive investigation is advanced tissue glycosylation. Tissue and cell surface proteins modified nonenzymatically by glucose are shown to be highly active in protein cross-linking and have been implicated in tissue damage. Such protein-glucose interactions, called advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), are processed by macrophages through a high-affinity receptor. Coupling of AGE proteins to their AGE receptors results in their degradation and removal and, simultaneously, in synthesis and secretion of pluripotential cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1. This suggests that AGE may act normally as a signal for growth-promoting factor secretion in a coordinated replacement process during tissue remodeling. In chronic diabetes, however, where accelerated accumulation of tissue AGE occurs, a disturbance of this balance may lead to several pathological, lytic, and/or proliferative responses like those in the vasculopathy of diabetes. Progress has been made with the discovery of aminoguanidine HCI, an AGE inhibitor, which has prevented significant pathology in short-term diabetic animal studies.
Clinical Effectiveness of Interlaminar Epidural Injections of Local Anesthetic with or without Steroids for Managing Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Chronic neck pain is reportedly considered the fourth leading cause of disability. Cervical interlaminar epidural injections are among the commonly administered nonsurgical interventions for managing chronic neck pain, secondary to disc herniation and radiculitis, spinal stenosis, or chronic neck pain of discogenic origin. OBJECTIVES To systematically review the differences in the effectiveness of cervical epidural injections with local anesthetics with or without steroids for the management of chronic neck pain. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS A comprehensive search of the literature of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared epidural injections with local anesthetic with or without steroids was performed, including a search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for all years up to May 2019. Meta-analysis was done for pain relief based on the Numeric Rating Scale, functional status based on the Neck Disability Index, and opioid intake dosage. RESULTS Four studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 370 patients were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group received cervical epidural injection with steroid and local anesthetic, and the control group received injection with local anesthetic only. Regrading pain relief, no significant difference was observed between both groups (weighted mean difference [WMD], -0.006; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.275 to 0.263; P = 0.963; I² = 0.0% at 12 months). There was also no significant difference in the improvement of the functional status (WMD, 0.159; 95% CI, -1.231 to 1.549; P = 0.823; I² = 9.8% at 12 months). Similarly, there was no significant difference in opioid dosage (WMD, -0.093; 95% CI, -5.952 to 5.766; P = 0.975; I² = 0.0% at 12 months). LIMITATIONS Only a few studies on this premise were found in the literature. There was also a lack of heterogeneity of the included RCT studies. CONCLUSIONS The addition of steroids to anesthetic injectates was not associated with better pain and functional score outcomes compared with anesthetic injectate alone in patients with chronic neck pain. KEY WORDS Chronic neck pain, cervical radiculopathy, cervical disc disease, spinal stenosis, facet joint pathology, cervical epidural injections, steroid injections, local anesthetic injections, systematic review, meta-analysis, randomized control trial.
Work Related Diseases Work-Related Diseases Surveillance Programme in France

States [1] and the United Kingdom [2], France has set up epidemiologic surveillance systems to assess the impact of work on health, to identify the branches of economic activity, occupations, occupational status, and working conditions and situations associated with the highest health risks, and to facilitate the rapid identification and investigation of emerging phenomena. Results from these surveillance systems help to direct both prevention and compensation policies [3], to verify the efficacy of preventive measures, and to identify potentially hazardous trends.
Counts and activity of microorganisms participating in nitrogen transformations in soil, four years after application of sewage sludge

The objective of the study was to determine the direction, intensity and duration of changes in abundance and activity of certain microbial groups active in nitrogen transformations in soil subjected to a 4-year fertilization treatment with municipal and industrial sewage sludge. The study was conducted on podzolic soil, whose accumulation horizon had been fertilized in 1998 with fermented sewage sludge at doses of 30 Mg⋅ha-1(1%), 75 Mg⋅ha-1(2.5%), 150 Mg⋅ha-1(5%), 300 Mg⋅ha-1(10%) and 600 Mg⋅ha-1(20%) and planted with willow (Salix viminalis L.). Four years after the application of sludge, microbiological and biochemical analyses were made in two soil horizons (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm). It was found that in the soil from the 0-20 cm depth significant stimulation of the growth of proteolytic fungi and bacteria continued, but only under the effect of the highest dose of sludge. Moreover, there was a notable stimulation of protease activity and nitrification process alongside a slight inhibition of ammonification. In the soil from the 20-40 cm layer stimulation of the growth of protein-decomposing fungi was observed as well as that of proteolytic and nitrification activity of soil, while ammonification was inhibited. However, the effect of sludge was generally less pronounced in the deeper soil layer than in the surface soil horizon.
Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in the Finistère Area, France, Between 2002 and 2011 (1002 Cases): Population Characteristics, Treatment and Survival

Objectives The aims of the study were (a) to describe the characteristics of all incident cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed in the population of the Finistère area between 2002 and 2011, (b) to report on their therapeutic management, and (c) to analyze survival and prognostic factors. Methods All residents of the administrative region of Finistère who were diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma between January 2002 and December 2011 were registered in the digestive cancer registry. Survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using log-rank tests. Multivariate analysis was performed using a binary logistic regression model to identify prognostic factors. Results A total of 1002 patients with a pancreatic adenocarcinoma were registered, of whom 60% had metastases at diagnosis. Only 10% of patients underwent a potentially curative negative margin resection (R0); their median survival was 22.0 months. The median survival of the overall population was 4.1 months. The stages of the disease and the patient's age were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Our study confirms the dramatic prognosis of this cancer. Because the tumor stage is the main prognostic factor in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, efforts should focus on the earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Tissue Ingrowth Into Perforated Polymethylmethacrylate Orbital Implants: An Experimental Study

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical response and fibrovascular ingrowth into perforated acrylic orbital implants in a rabbit model. Methods: Perforated implants were manufactured by drilling channels interconnected at the center in conventional 12- to 13-mm acrylic spheres. The implants were placed in 16 eviscerated eyes with posterior sclerotomy of 16 New Zealand white rabbits. Clinical evaluation was performed daily for the first 14 days after surgery and at 7-day intervals until the end of the study (180 days). Histopathologic analysis was performed at 14, 45, 90, and 180 days after implantation. Hematoxylin-eosin and picrosirius red staining was used to assess the inflammatory reaction and collagen formation. Results: There were no signs of infection, implant exposure, or extrusion in any animal during the study. Tissue ingrowth in the implant center was already detected by 14 days. At the end of the study, there was a dense collagen ingrowth with just a few inflammatory cells inside the implant. No multinucleated giant cells were found in any implant. Conclusions: Similar to porous implants, perforated acrylic implants permit fibrovascular ingrowth from surrounding orbital tissues.
Is it all in the heart? Myocardial injury as major predictor of mortality among hospitalized COVID‐19 patients

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is an infection caused by the virus SARS‐CoV‐2, and has caused the most widespread global pandemic in over 100 years. Given the novelty of the disease, risk factors of mortality and adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients remain to be elucidated. We present the results of a retrospective cohort study including patients admitted to a large tertiary‐care, academic university hospital with COVID‐19. Patients were admitted with confirmed diagnosis of COVID‐19 between 1 March and 15 April 2020. Baseline clinical characteristics and admission laboratory variables were retrospectively collected. Patients were grouped based on mortality, need for ICU care, and mechanical ventilation. Prevalence of clinical co‐morbidities and laboratory abnormalities were compared between groups using descriptive statistics. Univariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of mortality, ICU care and mechanical ventilation. Predictors significant at P ≤ . 10 were included in multivariate analysis. Five hundred and sixty patients were included in the analysis. Age and myocardial injury were only independent predictors of mortality, in patients with/without baseline co‐morbidities. Body mass index, elevated ferritin, elevated d‐dimer, and elevated procalcitonin predicted need for ICU care, and these along with vascular disease at baseline predicted need for mechanical ventilation. Hence, inflammatory markers (ferritin and d‐dimer) predicted severe disease, but not death.
Promoting Evidence-Based Practice for Improved Occupational Safety and Health at Workplaces in Sweden. Report on a Practice-Based Research Network Approach

Despite the rapid growth in research and R&D expenditures, the translation of research into practice is limited. One approach to increase the translation and utilization of research is practice based research networks. With the aim of strengthening evidence-based practice (EBP) within occupational health services in Sweden (OH-Services), a practice-based research network (PBRN-OSH) was developed. The PBRN-OSH includes researchers and representatives from end-users. This paper reports on the development, outputs and lessons learned in the PBRN-OSH. The PBRN-OSH resulted in several practice-based research projects as well as different measures to ensure EBP in OSH such as the governmentally sanctioned national guidelines for the OH-services. Moreover, results show that the competence in EBP increased among practitioners at the OH-services. Conducting research in a PBRN is more resource demanding; however, this does not imply that it is less cost effective. To succeed in increasing the utility of research findings via PBRN, resources must be invested into an infrastructure that supports collaboration in the PBRN, including costs for a variety of means of dissemination. Further, translation activities need to be included in academic career paths and reward systems if a major improvement in the impact and return of investments from research is to be expected.
Lois de paroi adaptatives pour un modèle de fermeture du second ordre dans un contexte industriel

Les calculs de CFD industriels pour les ecoulements turbulents commencent par une phase complexe de realisation de maillage (calculs de fond de cuve, de plenum superieur ou d’assemblages combustibles par exemple dans le domaine nucleaire). Les premieres contraintes prises en compte sont le plus souvent geometriques (complexite, detail, intuition ou retour d'experience concernant les endroits « importants » ou le maillage doit etre raffine). On doit cependant respecter des contraintes inherentes aux modeles de turbulence RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) utilises notamment la taille de la premiere cellule de calcul a la paroi. Si on utilise un modele dit « Haut-Reynolds » (k- e standard, SSG, …), on ne devrait trouver que des cellules de paroi ayant un centre a une distance adimensionnelle au moins egale a 20 pour pouvoir d’une part justifier l'utilisation de la loi « universelle » logarithmique pour la vitesse et d’autre part, ce qui souvent occulte, respecter le fait que ces modeles ne sont pas concus pour des distances plus basses. En revanche, si on utilise un modele dit « Bas-Reynolds » (BL-v²/k, EB-RSM, …), on devrait partout avoir des cellules de paroi ayant un centre a une distance adimensionnelle de la paroi tres faible. Si ces modeles sont utilises avec une partie des cellules en paroi ayant une distance adimensionnelle nettement superieure, les resultats peuvent etre catastrophiques (le calcul peut ou bien diverger ou bien donner des resultats avec une physique totalement fausse). Cette these propose le developpement d'un nouveau modele de turbulence avec lois de paroi adaptatives qui donne des resultats satisfaisants quelque soit le type de maillage utilise, en particulier quand ce dernier contient a la fois des cellules dont le centre est a une distance « Bas-Reynolds » et « Haut-Reynolds ». Etant donne les ecoulements complexes des configurations industrielles, ce nouveau modele s'appuie sur l'utilisation d'un modele du second ordre connu pour son bon comportement : le modele EB-RSM. Ce modele permet de reproduire l'anisotropie de la turbulence et comble certaines lacunes des modeles du premier ordre. Ce modele est disponible dans Code_Saturne, code open source developpe par EDF et au sein duquel les developpements ont ete realises.
Nutritional controls of beef cow reproduction

The livestock industry and animal scientists have long recognized the importance of proper nutrition for cattle to achieve reproductive success. Timely resumption of estrus following parturition is a major milestone that a cow must reach for optimal reproduction. Dynamic interplay among all strata of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-ovarian axis occurs during the cow's transition from postpartum anestrus to reproductive competence. The reproductive axis integrates a milieu of nutritionally related signals that directly or indirectly affect reproduction. Directing nutritional inputs toward anabolic processes is critical to stimulating key events that promote reproductive success. Although prepartum and postpartum energy balance are the most important factors affecting duration of the postpartum interval to first estrus in beef cows, other nutritional inputs likely impinge on the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-ovarian axis to influence reproduction. For example, feeding fat to beef cows for approximately 60 d before calving may improve pregnancy rates in the upcoming breeding season. Supplementing postpartum diets with lipids high in linoleic acid can impede reproductive performance of beef cows. Precise mechanisms through which nutritional inputs mediate reproduction have not yet been fully elucidated. Scientists investigating nutritional mediators of reproduction, or how nutritional inputs affect reproduction, must be cognizant of the interactions among nutrients and nutritional cues responsible for mediating reproduction.
Hepatomegaly and steatosis in HIV-infected patients receiving nucleoside analog antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND A syndrome of hepatomegaly with severe steatosis has been described in case reports and case series in HIV-infected patients receiving nucleoside analog antiretroviral therapy. We wished to quantitate the incidence of this syndrome in a well characterized, demographically heterogeneous cohort of HIV-infected patients followed longitudinally. METHODS All patients enrolled into a comprehensive primary care HIV Clinic from July 1989 through July 1994 (N = 1836) were screened for evidence of steatosis and liver disease by assessment of hospital discharge diagnoses, pathology reports, out- and in-patient laboratory data, and clinic records. RESULTS A total of 322 (18%) patients had evidence of a liver abnormality. In these patients, viral hepatitis and alcohol-induced liver disease were the most common diagnoses. Only two patients had hepatomegaly with moderate to severe steatosis and acidosis. Both cases occurred in white men with very advanced HIV disease who were receiving nucleoside analog antiretroviral therapy. The incidence of the syndrome was 1.3 per 1000 person-yr of follow-up in antiretroviral users in our cohort (95% confidence interval: 0.2, 4.5 per 1000 person-yr). CONCLUSION The hepatic steatosis syndrome manifesting as a severe, potentially fatal complication of antiretroviral therapy in HIV disease is rare. Both men and women and patients in early and late stages of HIV infection appear to be susceptible. It is not currently known whether a milder form of this syndrome is occurring in a larger population.