Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Respiratory tract colonization with mycoplasma species increases the severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

There is controversy regarding the role of mycoplasmas (MP) colonizing the neonatal respiratory tract in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). To determine the association of respiratory MP colonization and BPD. Retrospective analysis of neonates (26-32 weeks of gestation) intubated for respiratory insufficiency. Tracheal aspirate cultures were obtained for MP if the lung disease was not improving by 7-10 days or there were radiographic changes suggestive of inflammation. Of 63 infants who had tracheal aspirates sent, 17 had positive MP cultures. We found no significant difference in the gestational ages (27.6 +/- 0.4 vs 27.8 +/- 0.2 weeks) or birth weights (1097 +/- 86 vs 997 +/- 42 grams) in MP positive vs negative infants. No differences were noted in antenatal or postnatal steroid use, gender, race, sepsis, RDS, PDA, air leaks, NEC, GER, days on positive pressure ventilation or days on oxygen. There were significantly (p = 0.04) more infants with severe BPD (defined as oxygen requirement at 36 weeks corrected post menstrual age) among MP positive (n = 14; 82%) versus MP negative (n = 25; 54%) infants. Presence of MP in the tracheal aspirates is associated with an increased likelihood of developing severe BPD.
On the use of age-intensity data to detect immunity to parasitic infections, with special reference to Schistosoma mansoni in Kenya

SUMMARY We consider two phenomena, related to the host age-intensity profiles of parasitic infections, which have been suggested to be indicative of acquired immunity: (i) a lower age of peak intensity among more intensely infected hosts; and (ii) a decline with age in the dispersion of the distribution of parasites between hosts. We demonstrate that these phenomena occur among Kenyan schoolchildren infected with Schistosoma mansoni, although the magnitude of both is small. We also examine the mathematical models underlying these predictions and conclude that both phenomena are possible in the absence of acquired immunity or, indeed, in the absence of any density-dependent effect. In our opinion, insufficient attention has been focused upon mathematical models, describing the null hypothesis, i.e. density-independent models. In particular, we regard the usual assumptions made for the two stochastic components of these models, describing the heterogeneity between hosts and the probabilistic nature of infection and death of parasites, as too rigid and unrealistic. We demonstrate that deviation from these assumptions undermines the qualitative distinctions between models which describe acquired immunity or density dependence and those which are density-independent.
Does one gene determine whether a C57BL/6J-Y(POS) mouse will develop as a female or as an hermaphrodite?

Two studies were conducted to further our understanding of the inherited condition in mice known as C57BL/6J-Y(POS) (B6-Y(POS)) sex reversal. One study determined what proportion of B6 XY(POS) mice develop as females or hermaphrodites. We found that 75% develop as females and the remainder develop as hermaphrodites regardless of whether the analysis is conducted at 14.5-16 days of embryonic development (based on gonad phenotype) or at weaning (based on the appearance of external genitalia and presence of mammary-associated yellow pigmented hair). We also found that 75 % of the gonads in B6 XY(POS) mice develop as ovaries and the remainder develop as ovotestes; none develop as a testis. We conclude that if any testicular tissue develops, sufficient testosterone is produced to cause at least some masculinization of the external genitalia. The second study tested the hypothesis that development of testicular tissue in B6 XY(POS) mice is due to the presence of a POS-derived gene, whereas B6 homozygosity of this gene guarantees ovarian development. The results did not support the POS gene theory. Therefore, we conclude it is a matter of chance that 75 % of B6 XY(POS) mice develop as females and 25 % develop as hermaphrodites.
Examining the contributions of automatic speech transcriptions and metadata sources for searching spontaneous conversational speech

The searching spontaneous speech can be enhanced by combining automatic speech transcriptions with semantically related metadata. An important question is what can be expected from search of such transcriptions and different sources of related metadata in terms of retrieval effectiveness. The Cross-Language Speech Retrieval (CL-SR) track at recent CLEF workshops provides a spontaneous speech test collection with manual and automatically derived metadata fields. Using this collection we investigate the comparative search effectiveness of individual fields comprising automated transcriptions and the available metadata. A further important question is how transcriptions and metadata should be combined for the greatest benefit to search accuracy. We compare simple field merging of individual fields with the extended BM25 model for weighted field combination (BM25F). Results indicate that BM25F can produce improved search accuracy, but that it is currently important to set its parameters suitably using a suitable training set.
Carbohydrate metabolism in the ruminant

1. Samples of mixed bacteria were separated from rumen digesta taken from calves, kept out of contact with adult animals, and from sheep and cows. 2. For calves receiving a diet made up of equal amounts of roughage and cereals with 13–16 g nitrogen/kg dry matter, samples of mixed bacteria taken 4–6 h after feeding contained, on average, 140 g glucose in α-linked polymers (α-dextran), 25 g galactose and a total of 25 g other non-glucose, non-galactose sugars (mainly rhamnose, ribose and mannose) in combined forms per kg dry matter. 3. The α-dextran content of similar bacteria samples from sheep or cows receiving diets of similar composition was 70 g/kg dry matter. Samples from animals receiving all-roughage diets contained only 25 g α-dextran/kg dry matter, but those from cows given more than 70% of their ration as concentrates (mainly cereal) contained 150 g α-dextran/kg dry matter. 4. Addition of supplementary protein or urea to cereal–roughage diets given to calves greatly depressed the amount of α-dextran in the rumen bacterial samples to an average value of 60 g/kg dry matter. 5. Samples taken before a morning feed (i.e. after 16 h fasting) contained less α-dextran than samples taken 4–6 h after feeding for both calves and cows. 6. Under different conditions, variations in the amounts of galactose in rumen bacteria sometimes paralleled variations in α-dextran. Amounts of other non-glucose sugars did not vary greatly. 7. It was estimated, from a comparison of the compositions of rumen bacteria and duodenal contents, that, in the latter, the rhamnose, ribose and mannose came mainly from the bacteria, the arabinose, xylose and cellulose-glucose mainly from the diet and the galactose and α-dextran-glucose from both sources.
In utero smoke exposure and role of maternal and infant glutathione s-transferase genes on airway responsiveness and lung function in infancy.

RATIONALE Xenobiotics in the maternal circulation are capable of crossing the placental barrier so a reduction in the mother and fetus's detoxification ability due to genetic variation in the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) could expose the fetus to higher levels of toxins. OBJECTIVES To investigate the interactive effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy with maternal and infant GST genotypes on airway responsiveness (AR) and lung function in infancy. METHODS GSTT1, GSTP1 and GSTM1 were genotyped in infants and mothers, in utero smoke exposure was evaluated by questionnaire, AR was assessed by histamine challenge and Vmax(FRC) was measured using the rapid thoracoabdominal compression technique. We investigated the interactive effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy with maternal and infant GST genes on AR and lung function at 1, 6, and 12 months and longitudinally throughout the first year. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Infant and/or maternal GSTT1 nonnull was associated with reduced AR at 12 months and throughout the first year and increased Vmax(FRC) at 6 months. Maternal GSTP1 Val/Val or Ile/Val was associated with increased Vmax(FRC) at 6 months. In infants exposed to in utero smoke, infant and/or maternal GSTT1 nonnull was associated with reduced AR at 1 month and throughout the first year and increased Vmax(FRC) throughout the first year. Maternal GSTP1 Val/Val or Ile/Val was associated with increased Vmax(FRC) at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS GST genes may be especially important during fetal development as they may modify, through proficient detoxification, the effects of in utero maternal smoke exposure on AR and lung function in infants.
Adverse Effects of Methylene Blue on the Central Nervous System

Background:An increasing number of clinical observations suggest adverse neurologic outcome after methylene blue (MB) infusion in the setting of parathyroid surgery. Hence, the aim of the current study was to investigate the potentially neurotoxic effects of MB using a combination of in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches. Methods:Isoflurane-anesthetized adult rats were used to evaluate the impact of a single bolus intravascular administration of MB on systemic hemodynamic responses and on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane using the tail clamp test. In vivo, MB-induced cell death was evaluated 24 h after MB administration using Fluoro-Jade B staining and activated caspase-3 immunohistochemistry. In vitro, neurotoxic effects of MB were examined in hippocampal slice cultures by measuring excitatory field potentials as well as propidium iodide incorporation after MB exposure. The impact of MB on dendritic arbor was evaluated in differentiated single cell neuronal cultures. Results:Bolus injections of MB significantly reduced isoflurane MAC and initiated widespread neuronal apoptosis. Electrophysiologic recordings in hippocampal slices revealed a rapid suppression of evoked excitatory field potentials by MB, and this was associated with a dose-dependent effect of this drug on cell death. Dose–response experiments in single cell neuronal cultures revealed that a 2-h-long exposure to MB at non–cell-death-inducing concentrations could still induce significant retraction of dendritic arbor. Conclusions:These results suggest that MB exerts neurotoxic effects on the central nervous system and raise questions regarding the safety of using this drug at high doses during parathyroid gland surgery.
LASIK for presbyopia correction in emmetropic patients using aspheric ablation profiles and a micro-monovision protocol with the Carl Zeiss Meditec MEL 80 and VisuMax.

PURPOSE To evaluate the monocular and binocular visual outcomes of LASIK with an aspheric micro-mono-vision protocol in emmetropic patients with presbyopia. METHODS A retrospective, noncomparative case series included 296 eyes from 148 consecutive emmetropic patients with presbyopia who were treated with LASIK-induced micro-monovision. The CRS-Master software was used to generate ablation profiles for the MEL 80 excimer laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec) and flaps were created using the VisuMax femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec). The target refraction was plano for distance eyes (dominant eye) and between -1.00 and -1.88 diopters (D) for near eyes. Patients were followed for 1 year. Emmetropia was defined for inclusion as spherical equivalent refraction ⩾- 0.88 D, sphere ⩽+1.00 D, and cylinder ⩽1.25 D. Median patient age was 55 years (range: 44 to 65 years). Median follow-up was 12.9 months. RESULTS Mean deviation from intended correction was +0.02±0.35 D, with 91% within ±0.50 D and 100% within ±1.00 D. Of distance eyes, 95% achieved uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 20/20 or better and 100% achieved 20/32 or better. Binocularly, 98% of patients achieved UDVA of 20/20 or better and 100% achieved 20/32 or better; 96% achieved uncorrected near visual acuity of J2 and 99% could read J3 or better. No eyes lost 2 or more lines of corrected distance visual acuity. An average increase of 0.05 logMAR was noted in distance-corrected near visual acuity. A small increase occurred in mesopic contrast sensitivity (CSV-1000, VectorVision Inc) at 3 cycles per degree (cpd) (P=.016) and no change at 6, 12, or 18 cpd. CONCLUSIONS This aspheric micro-monovision protocol was a well-tolerated and effective procedure for treating emmetropic patients with presbyopia.
Donor-Specific Anti-HLA Antibodies and Endothelial C4d Deposition—Association With Chronic Liver Allograft Failure

Background The significance of humoral immune response for allograft survival after liver transplantation (LT) is still a matter of debate. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess immunological and clinical factors associated with advanced fibrosis (F3-F4) and chronic graft failure in LT recipients. Methods Serum samples from 174 patients prospectively enrolled and followed up for 12 months were tested for anti-HLA antibodies and compared against donor HLA types. Immunohistochemical C4d staining was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissue. Results Mean time period from LT to enrollment was 66.9 ± 51.9 months. Independent predictive factors for graft failure included donor-positive cytomegalovirus serostatus (P = 0.02), donor-specific antibodies (DSA) against HLA class II (P = 0.03), donor age (P = 0.01), hepatitis C virus allograft reinfection (P = 0.0008), and biliary complications (P = 0.003). HLA class II DSA and HLA class I antibody positivity, hepatitis C virus reinfection, and mycophenolate mofetil-free regimens were significant risk factors for advanced fibrosis after LT. There was a significant association between C4d deposition on allograft endothelial cells and presence of class II DSA (P < 0.0001). Patients with C4d deposits had a 4.3 times higher risk of graft failure than those with negative staining and a significantly lower median time to graft failure (94.6 months [range, 3.6-158.9 months] vs 176.4 months [range, 9.4-217.8 months], P < 0.0001). Conclusions Screening for HLA DSA might be useful for early identification of LT recipients at increased risk of graft failure who could benefit from closer surveillance and tailored immunosuppressive regimens.
Attachment to and Penetration of Conventional and Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses by Fusarium solani and Ulocladium sp. In Vitro

Purpose: To analyze the relative capacities of Fusarium solani and Ulocladium sp. to attach to and penetrate silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses. Methods: Representative silicone hydrogel (SH, siloxy complexes) and conventional [hydroxyethylmethylacrylate (HEMA)] soft contact lenses were exposed to suspensions of F. solani and Ulocladium sp. in vitro (104 conidia/mL in phosphate-buffered saline). The lenses were incubated with shaking at ambient temperatures and examined after rinsing in a multipurpose contact lens solution (MPS) by light and scanning electron microscopy. Results: Isolates of both genera firmly attached to and penetrated both lens types, but Ulocladium sp. did so in greater density and more rapidly than F. solani. The extent of firm attachment and time needed for penetration into the lenses varied with strain and substratum, particularly with the isolates of F. solani. Morphologic characteristics (eg, penetration pegs, microcycle conidiation, and chlamydospores) of F. solani in the SH and HEMA lenses were similar to those observed in several lenses from patients with ReNu with MoistureLoc (RML)-associated Fusarium keratitis. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report that F. solani produces coiled penetration pegs in the matrices of SH hydrophilic soft contact lenses similar in morphology to those found in HEMA lenses. F. solani attaches firmly to SH lenses and rarely penetrates the lens matrix, but viable fungal propagules may remain on the lens after vigorous rinsing with MPS. Failure to use a manual cleaning-disinfection procedure may help to explain the increased incidence of Fusarium keratitis associated with contact lens wear.
Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Liver Disease Quality of Life (LDQOL 1.0) Instrument

Objective: Chronic liver disease affects physical, psychological, social, economic problems and medical side effects in different levels. Because of these problems, the specific nature of a disease is best evaluated by a specific instrument. Specific instruments provide for nurses to capture the specific status of disease and make specific interventions to client and disease. Design: A cross-sectional and methodological design. Methods: The study data was collected from 170 patients with chronic liver disease. The validity of the instrument was examined with translation procedures, face validity, construct validity and concurrent validity. The reliability of instrument was examined with test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Results: It showed that factor analysis consisted of 3 levels which are Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social/Cognitive health. A negative relation was found between the mean score of CTP and the mean score of instrument (r=− 0.26, p<0.001). The test-retest reliability of instrument was found as 0.94 (ICC) p<0.01. The internal consistency Cronbach Alfa Coefficient of LDQOL 1.0 had good level and it was 0.80. Conclusion: At the end of study “LDQOL 1.0” was found that it is very reliable and a valid instrument for Turkish society in chronic liver disease.
REVIEWARTICLE Point of Care Testing — Current and Emerging Quality Perspectives

The volume and repertoire of point-of-care testing (POCT) is increasing rapidly, and it is now used in a variety of settings, including patient self-testing. Point-of-care testing offers the significant advantage of rapidly available test results, which have the potential to expedite clinical decision making and improve patient outcomes. Modification of traditional patient care pathways may be required to attain the maximum clinical benefit from POCT. Although POCT simplifies the testing process, it may be more prone to error than conventional laboratory testing. Operator-related error has emerged as a significant risk factor. Efforts to minimize POCT-related quality errors should focus on better and more robust instrument design with increased automation, improved training, and assessment of POCToperators and an enhanced regulatory and governance framework. A key quality measure is the impact of POCT on clinical outcomes, but this generally has been less well documented. Evidence on the effect of self-monitoring of blood glucose in diabetes and selfInternational Normalized Ratio testing for patients on long-term anticoagulant therapy in improving clinical outcomes measures highlight the potential for POCT to enhance patient care.
Better than better-than-average (or not): Elevated and depressed self-evaluations following unfavorable social comparisons

Two experiments were designed to investigate perceivers' self-evaluations when they received objectively positive above-average performance feedback but were told about another coactor who performed either moderately or much better than the participant. Results indicated that participants responded negatively to this comparison information even though they received better-than-average performance feedback. Participants were given the opportunity to evaluate themselves relative to another coactor who was described as performing at an average level. When the negative implications of the unfavorable social comparisons were relatively mild, both low and high self-esteem participants raised their self-evaluations vis-à-vis the inferior coactor who performed at an average level on the task. However, when the upward comparisons were especially unfavorable (i.e., when there was a large discrepancy between the performance level of the participant and the coactor—the comparison target), only high self-esteem participants raised their self-evaluations. Results provided evidence for active compensation and relatively passive spreading activation, supporting a schema-maintenance through compensation model (e.g., Seta & Seta, 1982, 1993; Seta, Seta, & McElroy, 2003).
Comparison of Salmonella typhimurium TA102 with Escherichia coli WP2 tester strains.

In 1982, Levin et al. published a paper describing a new Salmonella typhimurium strain, TA102, for detecting mutagenic agents that react preferentially with AT base pairs. This strain has an AT base pair at the critical mutation site within the hisG gene, which is located on a multicopy plasmid, pAQ1; the chromosomal copy of the hisG gene has been deleted. It also has an intact excision repair system, thus facilitating the detection of cross-linking agents, and carries the mutator plasmid, pKM101. Although TA102 has been shown to be reverted by certain mutagenic agents that are not detected in the usual battery of strains (TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA98 and TA100), there has been a general reluctance within the field to include TA102 as one of the standard screening strains. This may in part result from the difficulties which have been experienced in many laboratories in maintaining the strain, and in obtaining reproducible spontaneous and induced revertant counts. At Glaxo we routinely include certain Escherichia coli strains in our microbial test battery, and were aware that some of the genetic features offered by TA102 were already being covered by these strains. For example, E.coli WP2 (pKM101) has an AT base pair at the critical mutation site within the trpE gene, is excision proficient (and thus will detect cross-linking agents) and carries the pKM101 plasmid to enhance error-prone repair. From the published literature it was apparent that a number of the 'TA102 specific' mutagens could be detected in E.coli e.g. neocarzinostatin, UV and 8-MOP plus UV. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Vasopressin decreases endogenous catecholamine plasma concentrations during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pigs

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vasopressin vs. saline placebo on catecholamine plasma concentrations during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Design: Prospective, randomized laboratory investigation by using an established procine CPR model with instrumentation for measurement of hemodynamic variables, vital organ blood flow, and return of spontaneous circulation. Setting: University hospital laboratory. Subjects: Sixteen domestic pigs. Interventions: After 15 mins of untreated cardiac arrest and 3 mins of CPR, 16 pigs were randomized to be treated with either 0.8 U/kg vasopressin (n = 8) or placebo (normal saline; n = 8). Arterial epinephrine and norepinephrine plasma concentrations were sampled at prearrest, after 1.5 mins of chest compressions, and at 1.5 mins and 5 mins after drug administration during CPR. Measurements and Main Results: In comparison with placebo pigs at 1.5 and 5 mins after drug administration, animals resuscitated with vasopressin had significantly (p < .01) higher mean ± SEM left ventricular myocardial (131 ± 27 vs. 10 ± 1 mL·mins−1·100 g−1 and 62 ± 13 vs. 9 ± 2 mL·mins−1·100 g−1); total cerebral (90 ± 8 vs. 14 ± 3 mL·mins−1·100 g−1 and 51 ± 4 vs. 12 ± 2 mL·mins−1·100 g−1); and adrenal gland perfusion (299 ± 36 vs. 38 ± 7 mL·mins−1·100 g−1 and 194 ± 23 vs. 29 ± 5 mL·mins−1·100 g−1). Significantly lower mean ± SEM epinephrine concentrations in the vasopressin pigs compared with the placebo group were measured 1.5 mins and 5 mins after drug administration, (24167 ± 7919 vs. 80223 ± 19391 pg/mL [p < .01] and 8346 ± 1454 vs. 71345 ± 10758 pg/mL [p < .01]). Mean ± SEM norepinephrine plasma concentrations in the vasopressin animals in comparison with placebo were at 1.5 and 5 mins after drug administration significantly lower (41729 ± 13918 vs. 82756 ± 9904 pg/mL [p = .01] and 10642 ± 3193 vs. 62170 ± 8797 pg/mL [p < .01]). Conclusions: Administration of vasopressin during CPR resulted in significantly superior vital organ blood flow, but significantly decreased endogenous catecholamine plasma concentrations when compared with placebo.