Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overweight children and adolescents: a risk group for iron deficiency.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of obesity has increased at an epidemic rate, and obesity has become one of the most common health concerns in the United States. A few small studies have noted a possible association between iron deficiency and obesity. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between weight status, as measured by body mass index (BMI), and iron deficiency in a nationally representative sample of children and adolescents. DESIGN National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-1994) provides cross-sectional data on children 2 to 16 years of age. Recorded measures of iron status included transferrin saturation, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels, and serum ferritin levels. Children were considered iron-deficient if any 2 of these values were abnormal for age and gender. With the use of age- and gender-specific BMI percentiles, at risk for overweight was defined as a BMI of > or =85th percentile and <95th percentile, and overweight was defined as a BMI of > or =95th percentile. The prevalence of iron deficiency was compared across weight groups. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between iron status and overweight, controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, poverty status, and parental education level. RESULTS In this sample of 9698 children, 13.7% were at risk for overweight and 10.2% were overweight. Iron deficiency was most prevalent among 12- to 16-year-old subjects (4.7%), followed by 2- to 5-year-old subjects (2.3%) and then 6- to 11-year-old subjects (1.8%). Overweight 2- to 5-year-old subjects (6.2%) and overweight 12- to 16-year-old subjects (9.1%) demonstrated the highest prevalences of iron deficiency. Overall, the prevalence of iron deficiency increased as BMI increased from normal weight to at risk for overweight to overweight (2.1%, 5.3%, and 5.5%, respectively), and iron deficiency was particularly common among adolescents (3.5%, 7.2%, and 9.1%, respectively). In a multivariate regression analysis, children who were at risk for overweight and children who were overweight were approximately twice as likely to be iron-deficient (odds ratio: 2.0; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-3.5; and odds ratio: 2.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.4-3.9; respectively) as were those who were not overweight. CONCLUSIONS In this national sample, overweight children demonstrated an increased prevalence of iron deficiency. Given the increasing numbers of overweight children and the known morbidities of iron deficiency, these findings suggest that guidelines for screening for iron deficiency may need to be modified to include children with elevated BMI.
The type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase is expressed in the rat uterus and induced during pregnancy.

Thyroid hormones are of considerable importance for vertebrate reproductive function and during development. To further assess the role of these compounds in this capacity, we examined the expression pattern of the type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (D2), which converts T(4) to the more active hormone T(3), in the rat uterus in both the nonpregnant and the pregnant state. D2 activity was identified as the predominant, if not only, 5'-deiodinase in the nonpregnant rat uterus. The expression of D2 messenger RNA was located by in situ hybridization to the endometrial stromal cells, where the signal was particularly enriched in the region adjacent to the epithelial cells of the uterine lumen. During pregnancy, D2 activity increased, peaking on day 17 of gestation (embryonic day 17). At that time, uterine D2 activity exceeded that in the placenta, as well as that in the fetal tissues. In the earlier stages of pregnancy before placental formation (e.g. embryonic days 10-11), D2 messenger RNA in the rat uterus was located outside the decidual tissue, which was observed, as in previous studies, to highly express the inactivating type 3 deiodinase. In summary, the rat uterus, particularly during pregnancy, seems to be a site of active thyroid hormone metabolism, presumably designed to maintain the optimal thyroid hormone environment for both the fetus and the maternal uterine tissue.
Support for tenure mix by residents local to the Carlton Housing Estate, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract In this paper, we report on the level of support for tenure mix policies of residents living proximate to the Carlton Housing Estate mixed tenure redevelopment in Melbourne Australia. In a telephone survey of 200 residents living in the area surrounding the estate, the majority of respondents were supportive of tenure mix. Those who were financially comfortable or only spoke English were significantly more supportive than those reporting more difficult financial circumstances or who spoke a language other than English. The reasons for support for tenure mix included avoiding ghettoization, building community and social role modelling. The reasons for opposing tenure mix reflected a concern for the loss of public housing, a view that public and private tenants would not want to be co-located and that public tenants weren’t as deserving as others of living in a good inner city location. There were also concerns from both groups about how tenure mix might work in practice. Policy implications are discussed.
Relationship between adiponectin and metabolic variables in Caribbean offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM To examine the relationship between adiponectin and metabolic variables in the offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS Fasting blood samples and anthropometric indices were taken from 34 subjects, offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes, and 24 healthy control subjects without any immediate family history of diabetes. Plasma glucose and serum adiponectin, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were measured, and insulin resistance (IR) was calculated based on the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) method. RESULTS Offspring and control subjects were sex-matched, but the offspring were older and had higher body mass index and waist circumference than the control subjects (p < 0.05). The offspring had significantly higher mean fasting plasma glucose concentrations; however, their mean serum insulin, adiponectin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol and HOMA-derived IR levels did not significantly differ from those of the control subjects (p > 0.05). While the negative correlation between serum adiponectin and HDL cholesterol levels in the offspring remained statistically significant after adjusting for the effect of age, sex and BMI (r = -0.37, p < 0.05), the negative correlation between adiponectin and serum triglyceride, LDL cholesterol or IR levels became non-significant after controlling for the above variables (p > 0.05 in all cases). CONCLUSION The correlation between adiponectin and some known biochemical risk factors for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the offspring of patients with diabetes warrants further study to evaluate its potential in assessing the risk of developing these disorders.
Molecular Characterization of the Nonphotosynthetic Partner Bacterium in the Consortium “Chlorochromatium aggregatum”

ABSTRACT Phototrophic consortia represent valuable model systems for the study of signal transduction and coevolution between different bacteria. The phototrophic consortium “Chlorochromatium aggregatum” consists of a colorless central rod-shaped bacterium surrounded by about 20 green-pigmented epibionts. Although the epibiont was identified as a member of the green sulfur bacteria, and recently isolated and characterized in pure culture, the central colorless bacterium has been identified as a member of the β-Proteobacteria but so far could not be characterized further. In the present study, “C. aggregatum” was enriched chemotactically, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the central bacterium was elucidated. Based on the sequence information, fluorescence in situ hybridization probes targeting four different regions of the 16S rRNA were designed and shown to hybridize exclusively to cells of the central bacterium. Phylogenetic analyses of the 1,437-bp-long sequence revealed that the central bacterium of “C. aggregatum” represents a so far isolated phylogenetic lineage related to Rhodoferax spp. , Polaromonas vacuolata, and Variovorax paradoxus within the family Comamonadaceae. The majority of relatives of this lineage are not yet cultured and were found in low-temperature aquatic environments or aquatic environments containing xenobiotica or hydrocarbons. In CsCl-bisbenzimidazole equilibrium density gradients, genomic DNA of the central bacterium of “Chlorochromatium aggregatum” formed a distinct band which could be detected by quantitative PCR using specific primers. Using this method, the G+C content of the central bacterium was determined to be 55.6 mol%.
Utilization of cytokeratin-based biomarkers for pharmacodynamic studies

Cytokeratin (CK)18 is a useful serum biomarker for the determination of cell death of epithelial-derived tumors (carcinomas). ELISAs are available for caspase-cleaved CK18 (M30) released from apoptotic cells, or total CK18 (M65) released by cells undergoing cell death by any cause. These assays have been demonstrated to have prognostic or predictive utility in various types of carcinomas. Encouraging data have been reported by different investigators with regard to the potential use of CK18 as a serum efficacy biomarker for monitoring therapy efficiency in carcinoma patients. The ratio of caspase-cleaved to total CK18 can be determined conveniently in serum or plasma using commercially available ELISA kits (M30-Apoptosense® and M65® ELISA, Peviva AB, Bromma, Sweden). M30:M65 ratios potentially provide information as to whether tumor cells undergo apoptosis or necrosis. However, as discussed in this review, M30:M65 ratios should be interpreted with caution and, preferably, only be applied to samples that contain significant levels of CK18. We conclude that M30 and M65 biomarkers provide both quantitative and qualitative information on carcinoma cell death.
An Index of Global Economic Policy Uncertainty

Building on Baker, Bloom and Davis (2016), I construct a monthly index of Global Economic Policy Uncertainty (GEPU) from January 1997. The GEPU Index is a GDP-weighted average of national EPU indices for 16 countries that account for two-thirds of global output. Each national EPU index reflects the relative frequency of own-country newspaper articles that contain a trio of terms pertaining to the economy, uncertainty and policy-related matters. The GEPU Index rises sharply in reaction to the Asian Financial Crisis, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Global Financial Crisis in 2008-09, the European immigration crisis, concerns about the Chinese economy in late 2015, and the Brexit referendum in June 2016. It fluctuates around consistently high levels from mid 2011 to early 2013, a period characterized by recurring sovereign debt and banking crises in the Eurozone, intense partisan battles over fiscal and healthcare policies in the United States, and a generational leadership transition in China. The average value of the GEPU Index is 60 percent higher from July 2011 to August 2016 than in the previous fourteen and one-half years and 22 percent higher than in 2008-09.
Methylphenidate improves Stroop naming speed, but not response interference, in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of methylphenidate (MPH) on response interference, as measured by the Stoop Color and Word Test, in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Response interference is a core component of response inhibition that has been shown to be impaired in children with ADHD. METHODS A clinic-referred sample of school-aged children with a confirmed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) diagnosis of ADHD and good reading skills (n = 31) completed the Stroop Color and Word Test in an acute, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with three single fixed doses of MPH. RESULTS MPH did not improve response interference on the Stroop Color and Word Test but did significantly improve color naming and word naming abilities. CONCLUSION Response interference, as measured by the Stroop Color and Word Test, is not improved by MPH in children with ADHD. In addition, findings demonstrate strongly positive MPH effects on the highly effortful process of color naming, which has previously been demonstrated as impaired in children with ADHD. MPH was also shown to have a positive but smaller effect on word naming speed.
Histone Deacetylases and Mood Disorders: Epigenetic Programming in Gene‐Environment Interactions

Epigenetics involves molecular mechanisms related to gene expression independent of DNA sequence, mostly mediated by modification of chromatin histones. It has recently been suggested that these transcriptional changes may be implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. In addition, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been shown to control epigenetic programming associated with the regulation of cognition and behavior, and may reverse dysfunctional epigenetic regulation associated with early life events in preclinical models. In this context, the active and continuous adaptation of chromatin, and the access of gene promoters to transcription factor mechanisms may represent a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of mood disorders such as bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Notably, the standard mood stabilizer valproate (VPA) has been shown to modulate the epigenome by inhibiting HDACs. However, several potential limitations are associated with this class of agents, including lack of selectivity for specific HDAC isoforms as well as risk of potentially serious side effects. Further studies regarding the potential role of chromatin remodeling in the mechanism of action of antidepressants and mood stabilizers are necessary to clarify the potential role of this class of agents as therapeutics for mood disorders.
Influence of Age at First Calving on Milk Quantity at Holstein-Friesian Cows

Recommendations for age at first calving referred in the literature are too contradictory. In a study of Gergovska (2011) had been established average age of first calving 30 months, which according to other authors (Petraskiene et al., 2007) it is too high. Pirlo et al. (2000) established average age 28 months to a study in Italy, Perez et al. (1999) 28.6 months in Spain, Hare et al. (2006) 27 months in USA and Nilforooshan and Edriss (2004) 27 months in Iran.
LH Measurements by in Vitro Bioassay and a Highly Sensitive Immunofluorometric Assay Improve the Distinction between Boys with Constitutional Delay of Puberty and Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism

ABSTRACT: The basal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulated levels of LH were measured in 21 boys with delayed puberty using conventional RIA, mouse interstitial cell in vitro bioassay (B-LH), and a highly sensitive immunofluorometric method (F-LH). On the basis of subsequent clinical follow-up, the subjects were diagnosed as idiopathic constitutional delay of puberty (CD, n = 13) or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH, n = 8). The basal RIA LH levels were similar in the two diagnostic groups (HH, 2.92 ± 0.76, CD 3.53 ± 1.37 IU/L). In contrast, the mean basal B-LH was significantly lower in boys with HH than with CD (1.10 ± 0.45 versus 2.91 ± 1.23 IU/L; p < 0.01). A similar finding was made by F-LH measurements which were clearly lower in the HH than the CD group (0.073 ± 0.04 versus 1.71 ± 0.97 IU/L, p < 0.01). Also upon GnRH stimulation (3.5 μg/kg i.v.), the distinction between the CD and HH groups was better with the B-LH and F-LH measurements. The basal B/I ratio of the CD group (0.90 ± 0.43) was more than that of the HH group (0.42 ± 0.25, p < 0.01) and this ratio increased significantly (more than 2-fold, p < 0.01) during GnRH stimulation in the CD group, but not in the HH patients. Such differences were not found between the B/F ratios of the CD and HH groups. Measurements of basal and GnRH stimulated B- and F-LH levels clearly improved the distinction between CD and HH in comparison to the conventional RIA method, due to the low sensitivity and likely cross-reactions with some non-LH constituents of serum in the latter assay. This problem is, to a great extent, eliminated by better sensitivity and specificity of B-LH and F-LH measurements. For the same reasons, the difference in B/I ratios between the CD and HH samples, and the increased B/I ratio after GnRH stimulation in the CD group, were not observed in B/F ratios. In conclusion, the measurements of basal and GnRH-stimulated concentrations of serum B-LH and F-LH clearly improve the differential diagnostics between CD and HH. The discrepancies measured between the B/I and B/F ratios in these samples call for reevaluation of the bio/immuno ratios of circulating LH.
Taxonomic Status of Tetraophasis obscurus and Tetraophasis szechenyii (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae) Based on the Complete Mitochondrial Genome

Tetraophasis szechenyii and T. obscurus are endangered phasianid birds endemic to China. Historically, the question of whether T. obscurus and T. szechenyii are valid species or subspecies has been controversial. In order to clarify their phylogenetic relationship, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of T. obscurus and, using the complete mitochondrial genome of T. szechenyii, which our lab had already sequenced, conducted Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of 12 concatenated heavy-strand encoded protein-coding genes. Genetic distance and divergence time between the two species were also calculated. The complete mitochondrial genome of T. obscurus was 16,707 bases (accession no.: NC_018034), and its structure was similar to mitochondrial genomes reported for other phasianids. The genetic distance between T. obscurus and T. szechenyii was 0.028, and the divergence time of T. obscurus and T. szechenyii was 1.75 Myr. Considering the genetic distance and divergence time, as well as geographical distribution and morphological differences, we suggest that T. obscurus and T. szechenyii are two valid species. The Pleistocene glacial events in the Hengduan Mountains region may have played an important role in the speciation of T. obscurus and T. szechenyii.
XELIRI compared with FOLFIRI as a second-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy, safety and survival rate of a treatment regimen comprising capecitabine plus irinotecan (XELIRI) to those of a standard regimen comprising leucovorin, fluorouracil and irinotecan (FOLFIRI), to determine the correlation among the inherited genetic variations in UGT1A1, UGT1A7 and UGT1A9. A total of 84 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were included in the study. All patients were treated with FOLFIRI or XELIRI. The median progression-free survival time was 4.4 months for FOLFIRI and 5.7 months for XELIRI (hazard ratio=1.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–2.21; P=0.22). When compared with FOLFIRI (6.34%), XELIRI was associated with lower rates of severe toxicity (3.29) (P=0.026) and similar disease control rates (69.57% for FOLFIRI and 61.11% for XELIRI; P=0.49). In total, 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified, five of which revealed an association with grade 3/4 neutropenia, including UGT1A7*4; however, UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6, which have been previously reported, were not significant. Additionally, H2 haplotypes, which include UGT1A9*22, and H5 and H7 haplotypes, which include UGT1A7*2, UGT1A7*3 and UGT1A7*4, were associated with a higher risk of severe neutropenia. In conclusion, XELIRI is an effective treatment regimen with acceptable response rates and tolerability for mCRC patients as a second-line treatment. Furthermore, inherited genetic variations in UGT1A1, UGT1A7 and UGT1A9 are associated with grade 3/4 neutropenia.
Sexual Counseling of MI Patients: Nurses' Comfort, Responsibility, and Practice

Myocardial infarction patients ofren have unanswered questions about resuming sexual activity afrer this life-threatening event. Critical care nurses can play apivotal role in educating patients in this sensitive area. However, sexual counseling is an area of nursing practice that isji-equently neglected. llhe authors assessed comfort and responsibility levek and their relationship to the practice of sexual counseling by critical care nurses.
The validity, reliability and responsiveness of the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living scale in patients undergoing total hip replacement

Purpose: The Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (EADL) scale is a popular outcome measure in stroke research. Its psychometric properties have not been tested in other conditions. Methods: EADL has been measured before, three and six months after hip arthroplasty. A sample was retested for reliability. Comparisons were made with the SF-36 and London Handicap Scale. Standard psychometric parameters were calculated. Results: The sub-scales and total score were approximately unidimensional on factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha, but did not form an adequate hierarchical (Guttmann) scale. Associations with other scales were in the expected direction and of approximately the expected strength, supporting concurrent and construct validity. Reliability was good. Responsiveness was poor compared with the other scales. Conclusions: The EADL is valid in patients with arthritis of the hip, and is reliable. However, it underestimates the size of health gain after hip arthroplasty compared with other scales.
Interprofessional teamwork in stroke care: Is it visible or important to patients and carers?

Abstract Interprofessional teamwork is seen in healthcare policy and practice as a key strategy for providing safe, efficient and holistic healthcare and is an accepted part of evidence-based stroke care. The impact of interprofessional teamwork on patient and carer experience(s) of care is unknown, although some research suggests a relationship might exist. This study aimed to explore patient and carer perceptions of good and poor teamwork and its impact on experiences of care. Critical incident interviews were conducted with 50 patients and 33 carers in acute, inpatient rehabilitation and community phases of care within two UK stroke care pathways. An analytical framework, derived from a realist synthesis of 13 ‘mechanisms’ (processes) of interprofessional teamwork, was used to identify positive and negative ‘indicators’ of teamwork. Participants identified several mechanisms of teamwork, but it was not a subject most talked about readily. This suggests that interprofessional teamwork is not a concept that is particularly important to stroke patients and carers; they do not readily perceive any impacts of teamwork on their experiences. These findings are a salient reminder that what might be expected by healthcare professionals to be important influences on experience may not be perceived to be so by patients and carers.