Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Should studies of risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders be stratified by gender? Lessons from the 1998 Québec Health and Social Survey.

OBJECTIVES Several studies have reported male-female differences in the prevalence of symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), some arising from workplace exposure differences. The objective of this paper was to compare two strategies analyzing a single dataset for the relationships between risk factors and MSD in a population-based sample with a wide range of exposures. METHODS The 1998 Québec Health and Social Survey surveyed 11 735 respondents in paid work and reported "significant" musculoskeletal pain in 11 body regions during the previous 12 months and a range of personal, physical, and psychosocial risk factors. Five studies concerning risk factors for four musculoskeletal outcomes were carried out on these data. Each included analyses with multiple logistic regression (MLR) performed separately for women, men, and the total study population. The results from these gender-stratified and unstratified analyses were compared. RESULTS In the unstratified MLR models, gender was significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain in the neck and lower extremities, but not with low-back pain. The gender-stratified MLR models identified significant associations between each specific musculoskeletal outcome and a variety of personal characteristics and physical and psychosocial workplace exposures for each gender. Most of the associations, if present for one gender, were also found in the total population. But several risk factors present for only one gender could be detected only in a stratified analysis, whereas the unstratified analysis added little information. CONCLUSIONS Stratifying analyses by gender is necessary if a full range of associations between exposures and MSD is to be detected and understood.
Fusaproliferin, Terpestacin and Their Derivatives Display Variable Allelopathic Activity Against Some Ascomycetous Fungi

Herbivorous mammal dung supports a large variety of fimicolous fungi able to produce different bioactive secondary metabolites to compete with other organisms. Recently, the organic extracts of the Solid State Fermentation (SSF) cultures of Cleistothelebolus nipigonensis and Neogymnomyces virgineus, showing strong antifungal activity, were preliminarily investigated. This manuscript reports the isolation of the main metabolites identified, using spectroscopic and optical methods, as fusaproliferin (1) and terpestacin (2). Furthermore, some key hemisynthetic derivatives were prepared and their antifungal activity was tested against the same fungi previously reported to be affected by the organic extracts obtained from SSF. These metabolites and their derivatives resulted able to reduce the growth of Alternaria brassicicola, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium graminearum in a variable extent strongly dependent from chemical modifications and test fungi. The hydroxy enolic group at C(17) appeared to be a structural feature important to impart activity. This study represents the first report of these secondary metabolites produced by C. nipigonensis and N. virgineus.
Autocrine fibronectin directs matrix assembly and crosstalk between cell–matrix and cell–cell adhesion in vascular endothelial cells

Cellular fibronectin (cFN) variants harboring extra FN type 3 repeats, namely extra domains B and A, are major constituents of the extracellular matrix around newly forming blood vessels during development and angiogenesis. Their expression is induced by angiogenic stimuli and their assembly into fibrillar arrays is driven by cell-generated tension at α5β1 integrin-based adhesions. Here, we examined the role and functional redundancy of cFN variants in cultured endothelial cells by isoform-selective RNA interference. We show that FN fibrillogenesis is a cell-autonomous process whereby basally directed secretion and assembly of cellular FN are tightly coupled events that play an important role not only in signaling at cell–matrix adhesions but also at cell–cell contacts. Silencing of cFN variants differentially affects integrin usage, cell spreading, motility and capillary morphogenesis in vitro. cFN-deficient cells undergo a switch from α5β1- to αvβ3-based adhesion, accompanied by a Src-regulated disruption of adherens junctions. These studies identify a crucial role for autocrine FN in subendothelial matrix assembly and junctional integrity that provides spatially and temporally restricted control of endothelial plasticity during angiogenic blood vessel remodeling.
Neighbourhood, Disorder, Safety and Reputation and the Built Environment: Perceptions of Low Income Individuals and Relevance for Health

Abstract Studies have consistently shown that living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods is associated with poor health. There is also some evidence that low income individuals may benefit from living in more advantaged neighbourhoods. However, while neighbourhoods are regarded by policy makers as key social determinants of health and important intervention sites for addressing health inequalities, the exact mechanisms linking neighbourhoods to health remain unclear. Key aspects of neighbourhoods previously shown to be associated with neighbourhood health are neighbourhood reputation, safety and disorder, which have also been linked to the built environment. Residents in disadvantaged neighbourhoods tend to perceive these aspects of their neighbourhood less favourably than residents of advantaged areas. This paper uses Bourdieu’s critical theory of the social reproduction of inequalities to explore how different perceptions of safety, disorder and reputation in contrasting socioeconomic neighbourhoods may influence the health and wellbeing of low-income residents. We identified a group of low income individuals residing in divergent socioeconomic areas in Adelaide, South Australia and explored their neighbourhood perceptions, using survey, in-depth and photo voice interviews. Our findings suggest that low-income individuals benefited from living in an advantaged area where the built environment was well resourced by the economic, cultural and social capital present in the neighbourhood resulting in a more positive perception of the built environment with few signs of disorder, which in turn promoted healthy behaviour and community engagement. However, the impact of the built environment and perception of disorder and safety seemed to affect individual’s health behaviour and wellbeing differently depending on their individual circumstances. Overall this study found that perception of the neighbourhood’s built environment reflected the area’s reputation and levels of disorder and safety, which were influenced by resources of neighbourhood capital suggesting that neighbourhoods can be sites of inequalities for people who are already disadvantaged.
Method for estimating soil carbon stock changes in Finnish mineral cropland and grassland soils

ABSTRACT This study presents a method for estimating the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes in mineral agricultural soils developed for the Finnish GHG inventory. SOC stock changes in mineral cropland and grassland soils from 1990 to 2013 were calculated by combining agricultural statistics and national conversion factors to estimate the organic inputs to soil, along with the Yasso07 soil carbon model. The effects of selected key assumptions on the simulation results were studied. The method yielded SOC change estimates closer to the observed SOC change than were the results of the previously used Tier 1 method. The SOC stocks of croplands in 1-m soil profiles were slightly decreasing in most regions of the country. At the national level, the decrease was on average 0.05 Mg C ha–1 year–1 (0.01%). Selection of climate data (annual vs. long-term mean) and the initialization procedure had large impacts on the simulated SOC stock and change results, whereas the simulations at regional and subnational levels provided similar results. The method was found to be suitable for the GHG inventory and preferable to the Tier 1 method. The modular structure of the system allows for continuous improvements when more information and data are gathered.
Neutralizing IL‐17 Prevents Obliterative Bronchiolitis in Murine Orthotopic Lung Transplantation

Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is the key impediment to the long‐term survival of lung transplant recipients and the lack of a robust preclinical model precludes examining OB immunopathogenesis. In the current study, lungs from C57BL/10 H‐2b mice that are MHC compatible, but minor histocompatability antigen incompatible, were transplanted into C57BL/6 mice. Histological features and cytokine profiles of OB were assessed. Moderate rejection (grade A3) developed by day 14, with evidence of OB at that time point. At 21 days, OB was present in 55% of grafts and moderate to severe rejection (grade A3‐A4) was present in all mice. At 28 days, OB was present in 44% of mice and severe rejection (grade A4) was present in all. IL‐17A, but not IL‐17F, splenic mRNA transcripts and serum protein levels were increased only in mice that developed OB, whereas IL‐10 transcripts and protein were increased only in non‐OB mice. Neutralizing IL‐17 prevented OB, down regulated acute rejection, and upregulated systemic IL‐10. Collectively, these data show that transplantation of minor histoincompatible lungs from C57BL/10 mice into C57BL/6 mice results in a highly reproducible preclinical model of OB. In addition, these data indicate that neutralizing IL‐17A or augmenting IL‐10 could be therapeutic interventions to prevent OB.
Evaluation of the impact on human salmonellosis of control measures targeted to Salmonella Enteritidis and Typhimurium in poultry breeding using time-series analysis and intervention models in France

SUMMARY In France, salmonellosis is the main cause of foodborne bacterial infection with serotypes Enteritis (SE) and Typhimurium (ST) accounting for 70% of all cases. French authorities implemented a national control programme targeting SE and ST in poultry and eggs from October 1998 onwards. A 33% decrease in salmonellosis has been observed since implementation. We designed an evaluation of the impact of this control programme on SE and ST human infections in France. Using monthly Salmonella human isolate reports to the National Reference Centre we defined two intervention series (SE and ST) and one control series comprising serotypes not know to be associated with poultry or eggs. The series, from 1992 to 2003, were analysed using autoregressive moving average models (ARMA). To test the hypothesis of a reduction of SE and ST human cases >0 after the programme started and to estimate its size, we introduced an intervention model to the ARMA modelling. In contrast to the control series, we found an annual reduction of 555 (95% CI 148–964) SE and of 492 (95% CI 0–1092) ST human infections, representing respectively a 21% and 18% decrease. For SE, the decrease occurred sharply after implementation while for ST, it followed a progressive decrease that started early in 1998. Our study, suggests a true relation between the Salmonella control programme and the subsequent decrease observed for the two targeted serotypes. For ST, however, the decrease prior to the intervention may also reflect control measures implemented earlier by the cattle and milk industry.
Women on Corporate Boards

How do a country’s basic institutions enable or hinder women’s rise to the boards of public companies? The study evaluates this question with reference to the five basic institutions that research suggests are common across all countries: family, education, economy, government, and religion. The study draws on a sample, which consists of 23 countries, and the study is framed in neo-institutional theory. In analyzing the role of these institutions, the article seeks to understand better the relationships between specific institutions and the share of board seats held by women. The results suggest that four of the five basic institutions are related to the share of board seats women hold. Family, education, economy, and government influence women’s rise to the board; however, religion does not influence women’s rise to the corporate board of directors.
Genetic testing in the clinical care of patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Purpose of reviewParaganglioma and pheochromocytoma (PGL/PCC) are tumours of neural crest origin that can present along a clinical spectrum ranging from apparently sporadic, isolated tumours to a more complex phenotype of one or multiple tumours in the context of other clinical features and family history suggestive of a defined hereditary syndrome. Genetic testing for hereditary PGL/PCC can help to confirm a genetic diagnosis for sporadic and syndromic cases. Informative genetic testing serves to clarify future risks for the patient and family members. Recent findingsGenetic discovery in the last decade has identified new PGL/PCC susceptibility loci. We summarize a contemporary approach adopted in our programme for genetic evaluation, testing and prospective management involving biochemical monitoring and imaging for hereditary PGL/PCC. A clinical vignette is presented to illustrate our practice. SummaryCurrent estimates that up to 40% of PGL/PCC are associated with germline mutations have implications for genetic testing recommendations. Prospective management of patients with defined hereditary susceptibility is based on established guidelines for well characterized syndromes. Management of tumour risk for rare syndromes, newly defined genetic associations and undefined genetic susceptibility in the setting of significant family history presents a challenge. Sustained discovery of new PGL/PCC genes underscores the need for a practice of continued genetic evaluation for patients with uninformative results. All patients with PGL/PCC should undergo genetic testing to identify potential hereditary tumour susceptibility.
Sliding Door Technique for the Repair of Midline Incisional Hernias

&NA; We describe a technique that enables the autologous repair of large midline incisional hernias by restoring the functional musculoaponeurotic support of the abdominal wall. Unlike other methods of hernia repair, the essential step of the sliding door technique is the complete release of the rectus abdominis muscles from the anterior and posterior layers of their sheaths. The released muscles are thus overlapped and sutured together without tension. Another step of the technique is the release of both rectus sheaths by incising the aponeuroses of the external oblique muscles. We report on the use of this technique in 10 patients with midline incisional hernias (mean size of the abdominal musculofascial defect 14 × 11 cm). The patients were examined 14 months to 5.5 years after hernia repair. Two postoperative complications occurred: one marginal skin necrosis and one subcutaneous seroma. Recurrences were not observed. Ultrasound examination showed that the rectus muscles maintained their overlapped position postoperatively. Clinical muscle testing indicated that the strength of the released rectus muscles provides functional support to the reconstructed anterior abdominal wall. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 101: 1235, 1998.)
Severe vitamin D deficiency in chronic renal failure patients on peritoneal dialysis.

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to correlate the findings with various demographic and renal osteodystrophy markers. METHOD This cross-sectional, multicenter study was carried out in 273 PD patients with a mean age of 61.7 +/- 10.9 years and mean duration of PD 3.3 +/- 2.2 years. It included 123 female and 150 male patients from 20 centers in Greece and Turkey, countries that are on the same latitude, namely, 36-42 degrees north. We measured 25(OH)D3 and 1.25(OH)2D3 levels and some other clinical and laboratory indices of bone mineral metabolism. RESULTS Of these 273 patients 92% (251 patients) had vitamin D deficiency i.e. serum 25(OH)D3 levels less than 15 ng/ml, 119 (43.6%) had severe vitamin D deficiency i.e., serum 25(OH)D3 levels, less than 5 ng/ml, 132 (48.4%) had moderate vitamin D deficiency i.e., serum 25(OH)D3 levels, 5-15 ng/ml, 12 (4.4%) vitamin D insufficiency i.e., serum 25(OH)D3 levels 15 - 30 ng/ml and only 10 (3.6%) had adequate vitamin D stores. We found no correlation between 25(OH)D3 levels and PTH, serum albumin, bone alkaline phosphatase, P, and Ca x P. In multiple regression analyses, the independent predictors of 25(OH)D3 were age, presence of diabetes (DM-CRF), levels of serum calcium and serum 1.25(OH)2D3. CONCLUSION We found a high prevalence (92%) of vitamin D deficiency in these 273 PD patients, nearly one half of whom had severe vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is more common in DM-CRF patients than in non-DM-CRF patients. Our findings suggest that these patients should be considered for vitamin D supplementation.
Self-discrepancy and reduced autobiographical memory specificity in ruminating students and depressed patients

This work uses self-discrepancies as a unifying framework to understand the relationship between autobiographical memory specificity (AMS) and components of rumination (reflection and brooding). Rumination can be triggered by the awareness of a discrepancy between one's current state of being and one's desired state of being. Such discrepancies may partly underlie the phenomenon of reduced AMS (a.k.a. overgeneral memory), which is a phenomenon of great clinical importance especially for depression. The aim of the present studies was to experimentally investigate the impact of a self-discrepancy manipulation on AMS in a student sample (Study 1) and in a depressed sample (Study 2). Results failed to reveal a direct effect of a self-discrepancy manipulation on AMS, but in both studies, actual–ideal discrepancies interacted with the reflection component of rumination with respect to memory specificity. In the self-discrepancy condition, there was a negative association between reflection and change in AMS: Higher reflection was associated with a greater decrease in AMS from pre- to post-testing. The results of these two studies suggest that the interplay between components of rumination and self-discrepancy has an effect on memory specificity.
Oral Concentration of Volatile Sulphur Compounds in Stressed Rats

Stress has been identified as a halitosis-inducing factor. Halitosis may be measured by the determination of oral volatile sulphur compound levels (VSC). Since immobilization and swimming are two experimental protocols widely used to induce stress in laboratory animals, the aim of this work was to investigate the influence of stress on VSC in rats. Male Wistar rats were submitted to three swimming or immobilization sessions over consecutive days. The oral VSC increased 3 h after the first and third swimming or immobilization sessions. The results in the present study support the hypothesis that stress may be an etiological factor in halitosis. Also, the animal experimental design may represent a new approach to research concerning the relationship between halitosis and stress.
Young people and work injuries: an examination of jurisdictional variation within Canada

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors of work injuries among Canadian adolescents and young adults and to examine provincial differences in work injury rates. Methods: Information on work and injuries were obtained from a representative sample of 14 541 Canadians aged 15–24 years. Respondents reported medically attended, work related injuries in the past 12 months, work hours, and type of occupation. A multivariate logistic regression on likelihood of work injury included demographic and work variables, as well as province of residence. Results: Even when factors expected to vary by province such as occupation were statistically controlled, Saskatchewan youth were about twice as likely to be injured at work compared to Ontario youth. Type of job was a major correlate of injury risk, with all jobs showing higher risk than administrative clerical jobs. Even with type of job controlled, visible minorities, students, and 15–17 year olds had a reduced likelihood of work injury than their counterparts. Conclusions: Many young Canadians sustain work injuries that have clear medical costs and potential long term health consequences. Individual level explanations for youth’s increased risk for workplace injuries (for example, inexperience or developmental factors) need to be supplemented with a better understanding of the broader social, economic, and political factors across jurisdictions.
Effect of Normal Synovial Fluid on the Metabolism of Articular Chondrocytes In Vitro

It is thought that articular cartilage gains most of its nutrition in vivo, via diffusion, from synovial fluid. There have been few studies investigating the effect of synovial fluid on chondrocyte metabolism in vitro. In the current study, bovine articular chondrocytes were isolated and cultured in agarose using normal allogenic synovial fluid as culture medium. Dulbecco's minimal essential medium + 20% fetal calf serum and Earle's balanced salt solution were used as control media. Cell viability at the end of the experiment showed that neither synovial fluid nor Earle's balanced salt solution had a significant effect on viability when compared with Dulbecco's minimal essential medium + 20% fetal calf serum during the period assessed. Results indicate that levels of glycosaminoglycan synthesis can be maintained when Dulbecco's minimal essential medium + 20% fetal calf serum is diluted with Earle's balanced salt solution to levels of 80% Earle's balanced salt solution. When Dulbecco's minimal essential medium + 20% fetal calf serum was diluted with synovial fluid, glycosaminoglycan synthesis was stimulated in a dose dependent manner to 80% synovial fluid. Even at 100% synovial fluid, synthesis levels were significantly higher than for Dulbecco's minimal essential medium + 20% fetal calf serum. Tritiated thymidine uptake decreased with increasing concentrations of either Earle's balanced salt solution or synovial fluid. The results suggest that culture in synovial fluid induces a state similar to that seen in vivo, with high levels of glycosaminoglycan synthesis and low levels of cell division.
A Different Kind of Holding Environment: A Case Study of Group Work with Pediatric Staff

ABSTRACT This paper reports a nearly two-year intervention with staff at a major urban pediatric facility. The authors worked as trainers and consultants for two groups–the Emergency Department (ED) and Chronic Care units (CC). Following two days of training about grief and loss, highlighting skill building for work with traumatized and grieving children and parents, the consultants worked to develop teams which could provide a Winnicottian holding environment for staff. The efficacy of this staff training is analyzed and support needs of staff members are identified. Findings include varied willingness to make use of group support. Chronic care participants are more likely to express willingness to engage in on-going support for one another, while ED staff members seem to prefer structured, educational training and episodic support. The holding environment of the processing groups must be adapted to fit the needs of the medical sub-culture.