Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter pylori infection predicts favorable outcome in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested a controversial role of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric cancer prognosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential impact of H. pylori status on the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer in a Chinese prospective cohort. METHODS Between 2007 and 2009, 261 patients with curatively resected gastric cancer were enrolled in the study. H. pylori status was defined by means of immunohistochemical staining in tumour and non-neoplastic tissues. Treatment prognosis was measured in terms of cancer-specific survival and disease-free survival (dfs). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to assess the association between H. pylori status and patient prognosis. RESULTS Positivity for H. pylori infection was observed in 188 of the 261 patients (72.0%). In patients positive for H. pylori, mean cancer-specific survival was 55.2 months [95% confidence interval (ci): 53.4 to 56.9 months] and mean dfs was 53.9 months (95% ci: 51.8 to 56.0 months); the same survivals were, respectively, 45.1 months (95% ci: 42.2 to 47.9 months) and 43.7 months (95% ci: 40.4 to 47.0 months) in patients negative for H. pylori. In univariate analysis, positive H. pylori status was associated with better cancer-specific survival [hazard ratio (hr): 0.486; 95% ci: 0.271 to 0.870; p = 0.015] and dfs (hr: 0.540; 95% ci: 0.307 to 0.950; p = 0.033). In multivariate analysis, H. pylori was an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival (hr: 0.485; 95% ci: 0.265 to 0.889; p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that positive H. pylori status is a beneficial prognostic indicator in patients with gastric cancer and might suggest possible therapeutic approaches for gastric cancer. Further research is required to better understand inflammation mechanisms and cancer progression.
Echocardiography for the detection of valvulopathy associated with the use of ergot-derived dopamine agonists in patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE The ergot-derived dopamine agonists, cabergoline and pergolide, are associated with valvulopathy risk. In Japan, product labels were revised in April 2007 to recommend periodic echocardiography for patients taking these dopamine agonists, however, the compliance of physicians to follow through with this recommendation is unknown. This study assessed changes in echocardiography evaluation of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) taking cabergoline or pergolide before and after the label revision and examined the factors related with echocardiography performance. METHODS AND PATIENTS Medical claim data from January 2005 to December 2008 were used. Patients were divided into a C-P group (prescribed either cabergoline or pergolide) or reference group (prescribed other anti-PD drugs), and further classified based on whether they were prescribed these drugs "pre-revision" or "post-revision. " The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to compare the proportion of echocardiograms obtained amongst these groups before and after the revision. The frequencies of echocardiograms performed among the treatment groups for each period were compared by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS A total of 222 subjects (C-P, 73; reference, 149) were assessed. The proportion of C-P patients undergoing echocardiography increased from 4.8% to 27.9% after revision of product labels (p=0.001), which was higher than those in the reference group following label revisions (11.0%) (p=0.014). Prescription duration of C-P after the revision was longer in the patients with echocardiography than without echocardiography (p=0.026). CONCLUSION Although echocardiography evaluations increased, more than 70% of PD patients prescribed cabergoline or pergolide did not undergo such assessment despite the product label recommendation. Adherence to drug safety recommendations should be facilitated with more feasible and effective measures.
Derangement of chick embryo retinal differentiation caused by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields

The possible adverse effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted from mobile phones present a major public concern. Biological electrical activities of the human body are vulnerable to interference from oscillatory aspects of EMF, which affect fundamental cellular activities, in particular, the highly active development process of embryos. Some studies highlight the possible health hazards of EMF, while others contest the hypothesis of biological impact of EMF. The present study was designed to observe the histomorphological effects of EMF emitted by a mobile phone on the retinae of developing chicken embryos. Fertilized chicken eggs were exposed to a ringing mobile set on silent tone placed in the incubator at different ages of development. After exposure for the scheduled duration the retinae of the embryos were dissected out and processed for histological examination. The control and experimental embryos were statistically compared for retinal thickness and epithelial pigmentation grades. Contrasting effects of EMF on the retinal histomorphology were noticed, depending on the duration of exposure. The embryos exposed for 10 post‐incubation days exhibited decreased retinal growth and mild pigmentation of the epithelium. Growth retardation reallocated to growth enhancement on increasing EMF exposure for 15 post‐incubation days, with a shift of pigmentation grade from mild to intense. We conclude that EMF emitted by a mobile phone cause derangement of chicken embryo retinal differentiation.
Humoral response against Cryptococcus neoformans mannoprotein antigens in HIV‐infected patients

Twenty‐four sera from healthy donors, 18 from HIV‐positive patients (< 200 CD4+/mm3) and 18 sera collected before and during cryptococcosis from HIV‐positive patients were analysed for the presence of humoral response to C. neoformans mannoproteins. Our results show that samples from healthy subjects and from HIV‐positive patients had one of three antibody response profiles: (i) presence of reactive antibodies against both 105 and 80 kilodalton mannoproteins; (ii) presence of reactive antibodies against one of the two mannoproteins; or (iii) absence of reactive antibodies. Importantly the percentage of unreactive sera increased 6‐fold in HIV‐positive patients and more than 10‐fold in patients with cryptococcosis. In addition, in the latter patients no variation of humoral response before and during cryptococcosis was observed. These results suggest that HIV‐positive patients show a marked difficulty in mounting or maintaining antibody response to mannoprotein and this could contribute to predisposition to cryptococcosis.
Evidence of the Specific Status ofAnopheles flavirostris (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract Anopheles flavirostris (Ludlow) from Lombok Island, Indonesia, was crossed withAn. minimus species A (CM strain) from Thailand and species E (ISG strain), a new sibling species, from Japan, to determine genetic compatibility. We also compare the scanning micrographs of female cibarial armature of these three species. BothAn. minimus CM and ISG females crossed withAn. flavirostris males produced eggs without embryos. OneAn. flavirostris female crossed with anAn. minimus CM male deposited unhatchable eggs with an 18% embryonation rate. The scanning micrographs of the cibarial armature clearly show significant differences amongAn. flavirostris and the two sibling species of theAn. minimus complex. These results support the specific status ofAn. flavirostris. Previous records ofAn. minimus Theobald in this country are also discussed.
Coughing, mucus accumulation, airway obstruction, and airway inflammation in control horses and horses affected with recurrent airway obstruction.

OBJECTIVE To investigate relationships between cough frequency and mucus accumulation, airway obstruction, and airway inflammation and to determine effects of dexamethasone on coughing and mucus score. ANIMALS 13 horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and 6 control horses. PROCEDURE 6 RAO-affected and 6 control horses were stabled for 3 days. Coughing was counted for 4 hours before and on each day horses were stabled. Before and on day 3 of stabling, tracheal mucus accumulation was scored, airway obstruction was assessed via maximal change in pleural pressure (deltaPpl(max)), and airway inflammation was evaluated by use of cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Effects of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h for 7 days) were determined in 12 RAO-affected horses. RESULTS To assess frequency, coughing had to be counted for 1 hour. In RAO-affected horses, stabling was associated with increases in cough frequency, mucus score, and deltaPpl(max). Control horses coughed transiently when first stabled. In RAO-affected horses, coughing was correlated with deltaPpl(max), mucus score, and airway inflammation and was a sensitive and specific indicator of deltaPpl(max) > 6 cm H2O, mucus score > 1.0, and > 100 neutrophils/microL and > 20% neutrophils in BALF Dexamethasone reduced cough frequency, mucus score, and deltaPpl(max), but BALF neutrophil count remained increased. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Because of its sporadic nature, coughing cannot be assessed accurately by counting during brief periods. In RAO-affected horses, coughing is an indicator of airway inflammation and obstruction. Corticosteroid treatment reduces cough frequency concurrently with reductions in deltaPpl(max) and mucus accumulation in RAO-affected horses.
General Piecewise Growth Mixture Model: Word Recognition Development for Different Learners in Different Phases

The General Piecewise Growth Mixture Model (GPGMM), without losing generality to other fields of study, can answer six crucial research questions regarding childrens word recognition development. Using child word recognition data as an example, this study demonstrates the flexibility and versatility of the GPGMM in investigating growth trajectories that are potentially phasic and heterogeneous. The strengths and limitations of the GPGMM and lessons learned from this hands-on experience are discussed.
HLA‐Cw6‐positive patients with psoriasis show improved response to methotrexate treatment

It is well documented that patients with human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐Cw6+ (type 1) psoriasis have increased severity and reduced age of onset of psoriasis. However, not much is known about any differential response of this genetic subgroup to various treatments. We set out to determine if there was any genetic association of the HLA‐Cw6 allele with the first‐line systemic treatment commonly used in psoriasis, methotrexate. A cohort of patients from Tayside in Scotland was recruited through a novel generic consenting process (GoShare); they were extensively phenotyped and analysed for an association of their HLA‐Cw6 genotype status with treatment outcomes. HLA‐Cw6+ patients showed notably improved response to methotrexate (P = 0.05), and further analysis demonstrated an even greater response in a subcohort of the HLA‐Cw6+ patients, who did not have concomitant psoriatic arthritis (P = 0.01). HLA‐Cw6+ patients also exhibited fewer treatment‐limiting adverse events. In addition to these findings, the methodology and primary clinical outcome phenotype, which we validate here, will greatly facilitate replication of the present results in independent cohorts.
Application of biochemical markers in development of drugs for treatment of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease for which no efficacious medical intervention is yet available. Recent disappointments in late-stage clinical development of disease-modifying osteoarthritic drugs (DMOADs) have precipitated efforts in biomarker discovery aimed at developing an analytical tool box with the potential to improve the clinical development process. In this review, we seek to provide an overview of the biochemical marker repertoire currently available with a special focus on data originating from their application in clinical development programmes. Finally, we discuss possible directions in future biomarker research.
Prevalence of Hookah smoking in relation to religiosity and familial support in college students of Tabriz, northwest of Iran.

BACKGROUND Hookah smoking has increased worldwide especially among youth and young adults and has been identified as an emerging threat to public health. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hookah use and related factors in a sample of Iranian college students. METHODS This study took place in Tabriz (northwest of Iran) in April and May 2011. The randomly selected sample consisted of 1837 college students. Data was collected in a survey. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure religious belief, parental support and risk taking behaviors including hookah smoking. Logistic regression model was performed in data analysis. RESULTS The prevalence of hookah smoking was 8.5% (CI95%: 7.3-9.9). After adjustment, being male (OR= 2.01), living in single house in comparison with living with parents (OR= 2.22), smoking (OR= 5.96) and ever drug abuse (OR= 3.02) were factors associated with students' hookah use. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed a low prevalence of hookah smoking in Iranian college female students and revealed some of its associated factors. We demonstrated the co-occurrence of risky behaviors which emphasizes the importance of interventions aimed at reducing or preventing different high risk behaviors simultaneously.
Characterization of long‐term mixed donor–donor chimerism after double cord blood transplantation

Double cord blood transplantation (DCBT) with two matched or partially matched cord blood units has been implemented successfully to circumvent the limitations of graft cell dose associated with single CBT. After DCBT, sustained haematopoiesis is derived almost exclusively from only one of the donated units. None the less, we previously observed two of six evaluable DCBT patients still having mixed donor–donor chimerism at 28 and 45 months post‐transplantation, respectively. In the present study we utilize flow cytometry techniques to perform the first thorough analysis of phenotype and functionality of cord blood units in patients with mixed donor–donor chimerism. Our results suggest that the two stable cord blood units are different phenotypically and functionally: one unit shows more naive T cells, lower T cell cytokine production and higher frequencies of natural killer cells, the other shows higher frequencies of well‐differentiated and functional lymphocytes. Additionally, in comparison with control patients having a single prevailing cord blood unit, the patients with donor–donor chimerism exhibit less overall T cell cytokine production and a smaller fraction of memory T cells. Furthermore, our results indicate that human leucocyte antigen‐C match of donor units may partly explain the development of a donor–donor mixed chimerism.
Sex comparisons of strength and coactivation following ten weeks of deadlift training.

OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of a ten week deadlift training program on peak torque and agonist-antagonist coactivation. METHODS Fifty-four untrained subjects (mean age=23 years) participated in this investigation, and were randomly assigned to a training (males, n=17; females, n=17) or control (males, n=9; females, n=11) group. The subjects in the training group performed deadlifts twice per week. Isometric peak torque for the leg extensors and flexors and surface electromyographic (EMG) amplitude for the superficial quadriceps and biceps femoris muscles were assessed. RESULTS Deadlift training increased leg extension peak torque for the males (P=.008, Cohen's d=0.43) and females (P=.003, d=0.48). Leg flexion peak torque improved for the females (P=.001, d=0.45). Increased EMG amplitude for the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles when they served as agonists was demonstrated for the females (P=.010, d=0.40), but not the males (P=.059, d=0.20). For both sexes, the effect sizes for the decline in biceps femoris coactivation were large. CONCLUSION Deadlift training elicited improvements in strength and agonist-antagonist coactivation in untrained subjects, and particularly, novice females.
Physiotherapy Management of Low Back Pain: A Survey of Current Practice in Northern Ireland

Study Design. A questionnaire survey of physiotherapists treating low back pain. Objective. To investigate current clinical practice in the physiotherapeutic management of low back pain in Northern Ireland. Summary of Background. Physiotherapists play an important role in the management of low back pain. However, there is relatively limited evidence about physiotherapy or about current physiotherapeutic management of low back pain. This survey aimed to establish current practice in this area. Methods. Two sets of questionnaires were completed by physiotherapists during the period 1996–1997: one in relation to their professional profile, and subsequently a questionnaire for each patient referred by physicians to physiotherapy departments in the (government-funded) National Health Service in Northern Ireland. Results. Physiotherapists (n = 157) recorded data for 1062 patients treated for low back pain in 35 outpatient centers across Northern Ireland. Of the patients treated, 70% had a duration of current episode more than 6 weeks; 26% of patients had previously received physiotherapy for low back pain. Physiotherapy treatment most commonly involved advice (89% of patients), McKenzie treatment (70%), Maitland mobilizations (42%), and interferential therapy (30.3%). Conclusion and Discussion. Physiotherapists typically treated subacute and chronic patients, principally using some types of manual techniques and advice, in keeping with current guidelines. However, high levels of the use of electrotherapy, and only limited use of manipulation, indicates the importance of further research to establish optimum management for this group of patients.
Afferent connectivity to different functional zones of the optic tectum in goldfish

This work studies the afferent connectivity to different functionally identified tectal zones in goldfish. The sources of afferents contributed to different degrees to the functionally defined zones. The dorsocentral area of the telencephalon was connected mainly with the ipsilateral anteromedial tectal zone. At diencephalic levels, neurons were found in three different regions: preoptic, thalamic, and pretectal. Preoptic structures (suprachiasmatic and preoptic nuclei) projected mainly to the anteromedial tectal zone, whereas thalamic (ventral and dorsal) and pretectal (central, superficial, and posterior commissure) nuclei projected to all divisions of the tectum. In the mesencephalon, the mesencephalic reticular formation, torus longitudinalis, torus semicircularis, and nucleus isthmi were, in the anteroposterior axis, topographically connected with the tectum. In addition, neurons in the contralateral tectum projected to the injected zones in a symmetrical point-to-point correspondence. At rhombencephalic levels, the superior reticular formation was connected to all studied tectal zones, whereas medial and inferior reticular formations were connected with medial and posterior tectal zones. The present results support a different quantitative afferent connectivity to each tectal zone, possibly based on the sensorimotor transformations that the optic tectum carries out to generate orienting responses.
The use of frenquel in the treatment of disturbed patients with psychoses of long duration.

In this double-blind study of the effect of Frenquel on 39 chronically hospitalized disturbed psychotic patients, the investigators were entirely unaware of whether the patients were receiving Frenquel or the placebo until after they had committed themselves on the patient's status. Despite the long-standing nature of the disturbances in behavior significant improvement was observed in a large proportion of the patients with various types of schizophrenic reactions. We feel these results are most encouraging for further use of this drug in patients with psychoses.
Antenatal care patterns and factors associated with perinatal outcome in two rural districts in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE To study antenatal care (ANC) patterns, to identify factors associated with poor perinatal outcome and quality of ANC. DESIGN Cross sectional community based survey. SETTING Murewa and Madziwa rural Districts. SUBJECTS 644 women aged between 15 to 50 years who had been pregnant in the immediate 24 months preceding the survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Perinatal outcome, ANC attendance, distance from health centre, ability to pay for ANC, gestation at first booking, frequency of ANC visits, use of herbs in pregnancy, pregnancy related morbidity and quality of ANC. RESULTS A total of 644 women were interviewed. Overall perinatal mortality was 115 per 1,000 births. 511/644 (79.3%) visited a health centre for ANC. The woman herself (41.8%) as well as husbands (41.8%) were commonly the decision makers regarding starting ANC. Only 298/510 (58.4%) of women used primary health care facilities for ANC. 211/629 (35.1%) of women lived more than 5 kms from the health care centre. 153/629 (24.3%) were not able to pay for ANC. Only 110/509 (21.6%) started ANC in the first trimester. 307/495 (62.0%) made five or less ANC visits. Pregnancy related morbidity was high 209/644 (32.5%) and use of traditional herbs was common 158/644 (24.%). There were significant differences between districts as far as perinatal outcome, ANC attendance, distance from health centre, ability to pay for ANC, gestation at first booking, frequency of ANC visits, use of herbs in pregnancy, pregnancy related morbidity and quality of care all having p values of 0.001 or less. On further analysis using logistic regression, having problems with pregnancy and vaginal bleeding were significant predictors of poor perinatal outcome with odds ratio (95% CI) of 2.8 (1.4 to 5.9) and 3.0 (1.1 to 8.6) respectively. Quality of ANC was rated as sub-optimal. CONCLUSION Majority of rural women attended clinics for ANC. Perinatal mortality rate and pregnancy related morbidity were high. Vaginal bleeding was the strongest predictor for mortality. There is need to improve quality of antenatal care as this was found to be suboptimal. More objective oriented antenatal care visits and waiting mother's shelters form part of the solutions. Further studies are called for.
Inter-relationships of nutrient intakes for urban Chinese spouses in Taiwan

This study was to examine dietary intakes and the inter-relationships in urban Chinese spouses in Taipei, Taiwan. We analyzed the dietary intakes and related household factors for 82 wives and their husbands by 24-h recalls and a Chinese food frequency questionnaire (CFFQ) designed with meal sequences in Taipei, Taiwan. The distributions of energy assessed from CFFQ by meals were similar for husbands and wives, with 16% for breakfast, 39% for lunch, 40% for dinner and 5% for snacks (afternoon and evening combined). Assessed by 24-h recalls, the means for total energy, the energy per kilogram body weight, and the percent energy from fat, protein, and carbohydrate were different: 2394 kcal, 34.4 kcal/kg, 31%, 15%, and 51% for husbands; and 1729 kcal, 32.0 kcal/kg, 34%, 16%, and 50% for wives, respectively. The P/M/S (polyunsaturated fat/monounsaturated fat/saturated fat) ratios were 1.5/1.2/1 for husbands and 1.3/1.2/1 for wives. A high eating-out frequency may account for the low correlations for most nutrient intakes between husbands and wives. Canonical correlation analysis for total energy, protein and carbohydrate reveals significant inter-relationships between husbands and wives. Carbohydrate is the consistent and important variable that weighted in an opposite direction with protein and energy intakes in both husbands and wives. These results support the observation that decreased rice consumption as a staple food, cooked at home, for urban Chinese couples, indicated by decreased carbohydrate intake in wives, may account for the increase of energy and protein intakes for husbands.