Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of cancer in young in central India: An analysis of rural cancer hospital data

Abstract Background: Cancers in teenage and young adults (TYAs), though an increasing cause of mortality in our country, have been scarcely studied. The lack of studies of TYAs can significantly affect the outcomes of the youth in the prime of their lives. Aims: The aim of this study was to study the type of cancers in the TYA at a rural cancer center in central India. Design and Methods: A prospective study in the department of medical oncology, from the period of January 2013 till March 2016, was done. Data regarding socioepidemiological factors were collected for new cancer patients between the age group of 15–30 years in semi-structured questionnaire and from the hospital records. Cancers were classified according to the Birch classification. The cases were analyzed according to the epidemiological profile, classification of cancer, and age-wise distribution using descriptive analysis. Results: In this study, out of 5221 cancer patients, TYAs accounted for 327 (6.26%) with 189 males and 138 females (M: F– 1.37:1). The maximum cases were seen in 25–30 years' age group. Carcinoma was the most common malignancy (54.74%) with an increase from 19.56% in the 15–19 years' age group to 64.82% in the 25–30-year-old patients. Conclusion: The present study gives a glimpse of the TYA cancers in the central India. More than half of the young cancer patients suffer from carcinomas with about half of these being head and neck cancers.
Characterization and tissue‐specific expression of two lepidopteran farnesyl diphosphate synthase homologs: Implications for the biosynthesis of ethyl‐substituted juvenile hormones

The sesquiterpenoid juvenile hormone (JH) regulates insect development and reproduction. Most insects produce only one chemical form of JH, but the Lepidoptera produce four derivatives featuring ethyl branches. The biogenesis of these JHs requires the synthesis of ethyl‐substituted farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) by FPP synthase (FPPS). To determine if there exist more than one lepidopteran FPPS, and whether one FPPS homolog is better adapted for binding the bulkier ethyl‐branched substrates/products, we cloned three lepidopteran FPPS cDNAs, two from Choristoneura fumiferana and one from Pseudaletia unipuncta. Amino acid sequence comparisons among these and other eukaryotic FPPSs led to the recognition of two lepidopteran FPPS types. Type‐I FPPSs display unique active site substitutions, including several in and near the first aspartate‐rich motif, whereas type‐II proteins have a more “conventional” catalytic cavity. In a yeast assay, a Drosophila FPPS clone provided full complementation of an FPPS mutation, but lepidopteran FPPS clones of either type yielded only partial complementation, suggesting unusual catalytic features and/or requirements of these enzymes. Although a structural analysis of lepidopteran FPPS active sites suggested that type‐I enzymes are better suited than type‐II for generating ethyl‐substituted products, a quantitative real‐time PCR assessment of their relative abundance in insect tissues indicated that type‐I expression is ubiquitous whereas that of type‐II is essentially confined to the JH‐producing glands, where its transcripts are ∼20 times more abundant than those of type‐I. These results suggest that type‐II FPPS plays a leading role in lepidopteran JH biosynthesis in spite of its apparently more conventional catalytic cavity. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
T and B Cell Populations in Platelet Donors

T and B lymphocyte populations were monitored in the peripheral blood of two long-term plateletpheresis donors. The studies showed minimal fluctuation of both populations compared to the normal controls. The evidence so far accumulated seems to indicate that long-term manual plateletpheresis has no appreciable effect on the level of the T and B cell population of the peripheral blood. Further studies are needed to evaluate larger donor pools.
Race, Poverty and SAT Scores: Modeling the Influences of Family Income on Black and White High School Students’ SAT Performance

Background Educational policy makers and test critics often assert that standardized test scores are strongly influenced by factors beyond individual differences in academic achievement such as family income and wealth. Unfortunately, few empirical studies consider the simultaneous and related influences of family income, parental education, and high school achievement on college admissions test scores. Focus Of Study This research was animated by the nagging question of the association of family income with SAT performance. For example, is the relationship between family income and SAT performance non-linear? Does the relationship differ markedly by race? More importantly, how strong are the effects of poverty on SAT performance? Research Design This study is a secondary analysis of a large national sample of Black and White college-bound high school students who took the SAT in 2003 (N = 781,437). Data Collection and Analysis Employing data from the College Board's Student Descriptive Questionnaire, this study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to estimate the effects of family income on SAT scores for Black and White examinees accounting for the simultaneous effects of parental education and high school achievement. Findings/Results Results suggest the effects of family income on SAT scores, though relatively modest in contrasts to high school achievement, are substantial, non-linear, and nearly twice as large for Black students. Moreover, the unstandardized direct effect of high school achievement on SAT performance is not enough to address the substantial effects of poverty for Black students. Conclusions/Recommendations The findings are discussed with respect to social inequality and educational opportunity in college admissions.
Plasma histamine concentrations and complement activation during house dust mite‐provoked bronchia] obstructive reactions

Lung function and histamine levels in peripheral venous plasma samples were followed after challenge with house dust mite allergen. In eight patients the mean maximal histamine concentration showed a significant rise during the early obstructive reaction when compared with the concentrations at similar time intervals after inhalation of a control solution. In nine other patients treatment with disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) caused a significant fall in plasma histamine concentrations indicating that histamine liberation plays u role during the early obstructive reaction and was released from the lung compartment. Histamine during early obstructive reactions compared with the pre‐inhalation values did show a rise in mean maximal histamine concentration (1.5‐4.1 ng/ml) but this was statistically not significant. During the late reaction neither significant increase in histamine nor inhibition by DSCG was found. Measurement of complement degradation products did not support the role of complement activation during cither early or lute bronchial obstructive reactions.
Peroral Endoscopic Drainage/Debridement of Walled-off Pancreatic Necrosis

Background:Experience with minimal access, transoral/transmural endoscopic drainage/debridement of walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) after necrotizing pancreatitis is limited. We sought to determine outcome using this technique. Methods:Retrospective analysis. Results:From 1998 to 2006, 53 patients underwent transoral/transmural endoscopic drainage/debridement of sterile (27, 51%) and infected (26, 49%) WOPN. Intervention was performed a median of 49 days (range, 20–300 days) after onset of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. A median of 3 endoscopic procedures/patient (range, 1–12) were performed. Twenty-one patients (40%) required concurrent radiologic-guided catheter drainage of associated or subsequent areas of peripancreatic fluid and/or WOPN. Twelve patients (23%) required open operative intervention a median of 47 days (range, 5–540) after initial endoscopic drainage/debridement, due to persistence of WOPN (n = 3), recurrence of a fluid collection (n = 2), cutaneous fistula formation (n = 2), or technical failure, persistence of pancreatic pain, colonic obstruction, perforation, and flank abscess (n = 1 each). Final outcome after initial endoscopic intervention (median, 178 days) revealed successful endoscopic therapy in 43 (81%) and persistence of WOPN in 10 (19%). Preexistent diabetes mellitus, size of WOPN, and extension of WOPN into paracolic gutter were significant predictive factors for need of subsequent open operative therapy. Conclusions:Successful resolution of symptomatic, sterile, and infected WOPN can be achieved using a minimal access endoscopic approach. Adjuvant percutaneous drainage is necessary in up to 40% of patients, especially when WOPN extends to paracolic gutters or pelvis. Operative intervention for failed endoscopic treatment is required in about 20% of patients.
Migration of CXCR4 gene‐modified bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells to the acute injured kidney

Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can migrate to the injured kidney after acute kidney injury (AKI) with limited efficiency. This study investigated the effect of CXCR4 overexpression on BMSC migration to the AKI kidney and the possible mechanisms. CXCR4 gene‐modified BMSCs (CXCR4‐BMSCs) and null‐BMSCs were prepared and transplanted into the AKI mice. Blood indicators, histology, expression of stromal cell‐derived factor 1 (SDF‐1), and BMSC migration were investigated. Hypoxia/re‐oxygenation‐pretreated renal tubular epithelial cells (HR‐RTECs) were prepared to generate AKI in vitro. The chemotaxis experiment was performed using the transwell chamber. The phosphorylation of AKT and MAPK in the BMSCs was also investigated. The CXCR4‐BMSCs showed a remarkable expression of CXCR4. The SDF‐1 expression in the AKI renal tissue was increased. CXCR4‐BMSCs transplantation sharply increased the accumulation of BMSCs in the renal tissue, which was consistent with a greater improvement of renal function. The in vitro experiments showed that the migration of BMSCs to the HR‐RTEC culturing chamber was CXCR4‐dependent, and could be fully inhibited by AMD3100, a CXCR4‐specific antagonist. The migration could also be partly blocked by either LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) or PD98059 (MAPK inhibitor). Phosphorylated Akt and MAPK were increased in the BMSCs co‐cultured with HR‐RTECs and their expression was the highest in the CXCR4‐BMSCs, which could be recovered by AMD3100. Overexpression of CXCR4 gene could enhance BMSC migration to the kidney area after AKI. The SDF‐1/CXCR4 axis via its activation of PI3K/AKT and MAPK in BMSCs could be the possible mechanisms underlying this function. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 2677–2689, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improvement of transmission characteristics of a terahertz step attenuator

This paper presents a method of improving the transmission characteristics of a terahertz step attenuator. The transmittance of the step attenuator was measured using a terahertz time-domain spectrometer (THz-TDS). Flat transmittances at each attenuation step were obtained at frequencies up to 3 THz by combining several 6-μm-thick metalized film attenuators (MFAs). The attenuator had no significant polarization dependence over a wide frequency range. Good short-term and long-term repeatability were also confirmed.
Usability Testing of an Online Self-management Program for Adolescents With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Background A new bilingual (English and French) Internet-based self-management program, Teens Taking Charge: Managing Arthritis Online, for adolescents with arthritis and their parents was developed following a needs assessment. Objectives This study explored the usability (user performance and satisfaction) of the self-management program for youth with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and their parents to refine the health portal prototype. Methods A qualitative study design with semi-structured, audio taped interviews and observation by a trained observer was undertaken with two iterative cycles to determine the usability (ease of use, efficiency, errors, and user satisfaction) of the user interface and content areas of the intervention. A purposive sample of English-speaking (n = 11; mean age = 15.4, standard deviation [SD] 1.7) and French-speaking (n = 8; mean age = 16.0, SD 1.2) adolescents with JIA and one of their respective parents/caregivers were recruited from 2 Canadian tertiary care centers. Descriptive statistics and simple content analyses were used to organize data into categories that reflected the emerging usability themes. Results All of the participants had access to a computer/Internet at home; however, adolescents were more comfortable using the computer/Internet than their parents. Adolescents and parents provided similar as well as differing suggestions on how the website user interface could be improved in terms of its usability (navigation; presentation and control usage errors; format and layout; as well as areas for further content development). There were no major differences in usability issues between English- and French-speaking participants. Minor changes to the website user interface were made and tested in a second cycle of participants. No further usability problems were identified in the second iterative cycle of testing. Teens and parents responded positively to the appearance and theme of the website (ie, promoting self-management) and felt that it was easy to navigate, use, and understand. Participants felt that the content was appropriate and geared to meet the unique needs of adolescents with JIA and their parents as well as English- and French-speaking families. Many participants responded that the interactive features (discussion board, stories of hope, and video clips of youth with JIA) made them feel supported and “not alone” in their illness. Conclusions We describe the usability testing of a self-management health portal designed for English- and French-speaking youth with arthritis and their parents, which uncovered several usability issues. Usability testing is a crucial step in the development of self-management health portals to ensure that the various end users (youth and parents) have the ability to access, understand, and use health-related information and services that are delivered via the Internet and that they are delivered in an efficient, effective, satisfying, and culturally competent manner.
The US3 Protein Kinase Blocks Apoptosis Induced by the d120 Mutant of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 at a Premitochondrial Stage

ABSTRACT Earlier studies have shown that the d120 mutant of herpes simplex virus 1, which lacks both copies of the α4 gene, induces caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in HEp-2 cells. Apoptosis was also induced by the α4 rescuant but was blocked by the complementation of rescuant with a DNA fragment encoding the US3 protein kinase (R. Leopardi and B. Roizman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:9583–9587, 1996, and R. Leopardi, C. Van Sant, and B. Roizman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:7891–7896, 1997). To investigate its role in the apoptotic cascade, the US3 open reading frame was cloned into a baculovirus (Bac-US3) under the control of the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter. We report the following. (i) Bac-US3 blocks processing of procaspase-3 to active caspase. Procaspase-3 levels remained unaltered if superinfected with Bac-US3 at 3 h afterd120 mutant infection, but significant amounts of procaspase-3 remained in cells superinfected with Bac-Us3 at 9 h postinfection with d120 mutant. (ii) The US3 protein kinase blocks the proapoptotic cascade upstream of mitochondrial involvement inasmuch as Bac-US3 blocks release of cytochrome c in cells infected with thed120 mutant. (iii) Concurrent infection of HEp-2 cells with Bac-US3 and the d120 mutant did not alter the pattern of accumulation or processing of ICP0, -22, or -27, and therefore US3 does not appear to block apoptosis by targeting these proteins.
Accuracy of indocyanine green pulse spectrophotometry clearance test for liver function prediction in transplanted patients.

AIM To investigate whether the non-invasive real-time Indocyanine green (ICG) clearance is a sensitive index of liver viability in patients before, during, and after liver transplantation. METHODS Thirteen patients were studied, two before, three during, and eight following liver transplantation, with two patients suffering acute rejection. The conventional invasive ICG clearance test and ICG pulse spectrophotometry non-invasive real-time ICG clearance test were performed simultaneously. Using linear regression analysis we tested the correlation between these two methods. The transplantation condition of these patients and serum total bilirubin (T. Bil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and platelet count were also evaluated. RESULTS The correlation between these two methods was excellent (r(2)=0.977). CONCLUSION ICG pulse spectrophotometry clearance is a quick, non-invasive, and reliable liver function test in transplantation patients.
Iron status and non-specific symptoms of female students.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between iron status and non-specific symptoms among female students. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING Data were collected from 255 female students, aged 15 to 30 years, attending Curtin University of Technology, Perth or secondary schools in the Perth metropolitan area. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Frequency of non-specific symptoms, psychological distress based on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and iron status measured by standard hematological and biochemical tests including serum transferrin receptor. RESULTS Anemic subjects (hemoglobin < 12.0 g/dL) scored significantly higher on the GHQ than non-anemic subjects (p < 0.05). Using univariate analysis, iron deficiency (serum ferritin < or = 12 micrograms/L) was not associated with non-specific symptoms or psychological distress. Among iron-deficient subjects, those using the oral contraceptive pill reported significantly more symptoms (depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating) than non-users. CONCLUSIONS The evidence of an association between iron status and non-specific symptoms was weak with the exception of iron-deficient women using the oral contraceptive pill. Further studies are warranted to determine the role of the oral contraceptive pill in the etiology of depression and other symptoms among iron deficient women.
Adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Assessed by Pharmacy Claims Predicts Survival in HIV-Infected South African Adults

Summary: It is unclear how adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may best be monitored in large HIV programs in sub-Saharan Africa where it is being scaled up. We aimed to evaluate the association between HAART adherence, as estimated by pharmacy claims, and survival in HIV-1-infected South African adults enrolled in a private-sector AIDS management program. Of the 6288 patients who began HAART between January 1999 and August 2004, 3805 (61%) were female and 6094 (97%) were black African. HAART adherence was ≥80% for 3298 patients (52%) and 100% for 1916 patients (30%). Women were significantly more likely to have adherence ≥80% than men (54% vs 49%, P < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) follow-up time was 1.8 (1.37-2.5) years. As of 1 September 2004, 222 patients had died-a crude mortality rate of 3.5%. In a multivariate Cox regression model, adherence <80% was associated with lower survival (relative hazard 3.23; 95% confidence interval: 2.37-4.39). When medication adherence was divided into 5 strata with a width of 20% each, each stratum had lower survival rates than the adjacent, higher-adherence stratum. Among other variables tested, only baseline CD4+ T-cell count was significantly associated with decreased survival in multivariate analysis (relative hazard 5.13; 95% confidence interval: 3.42-7.72, for CD4+ T-cell count ≤50 cells/&mgr;L vs >200 cells/&mgr;L). Pharmacy-based records may be a simple and effective population-level tool for monitoring adherence as HAART programs in Africa are scaled up.
Insulin resistance and upper-body obesity in polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy affecting 5-10% of premenopausal women. 50-90% characterized by insulin resistance. Obesity is common among patient with PCOS. Objective: To investigate insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell function ( βF) in upper -body obese women with PCOS. Materials and Methods: 51 Iraqi women with PCOS and 25 healthy age-matched controls were recruited in cross- sectional study from infertility clinic population. PCOS patients were divided into 2 groups according to waist-tohip ratio (WHR); either > 0.85 (upper body obesity) or ≤ 0.85 (lower body obesity). Fasting insulin, glucose, free testosterone (free T) were measured. Homeostatic model assessment values of IR (HOMA-IR) and percent β-cell function (HOMA -% β cell) were calculated. Statistical analyses used were student-t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson Correlation coefficient (r) as appropriate. Results: Patients with PCOS and Controls differed significantly in all parameters studied, except fasting glucose, FSH (p < 0.05). 60% of obese PCOS had upper – body obesity were found to be more insulin resistance and have higher β cell function than those with lower – body obesity who in turn were more insulin resistance than control women (p<0.0005 by ANOVA). In PCOS, upper – body obesity were correlated positively and significantly with (HOMA-IR), (HOMA -% β cell) and free T. (r=0. 371,p=0. 002;r=0. 383,p=0. 001;r=0. 254;p=0. 027 respectively). 76.5% of patient with PCOS had IR from whom 65% had upper – body obesity. Conclusion: About seventy four of patients with PCOS had insulin resistance. Upper-body obesity aggravates insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism of patients with PCOS and modulates β-cell function
The role of psychological factors in workplace safety

Workplace safety researchers and practitioners generally agree that it is necessary to understand the psychological factors that influence people's workplace safety behaviour. Yet, the search for reliable individual differences regarding psychological factors associated with workplace safety has lead to sparse results and inconclusive findings. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences between the psychological factors, cognitive ability, personality and work-wellness of employees involved in workplace incidents and accidents and/or driver vehicle accidents and those who are not. The study population (N = 279) consisted of employees employed at an electricity supply organisation in South Africa. Mann–Whitney U-test and one-way ANOVA were conducted to determine the differences in the respective psychological factors between the groups. These results showed that cognitive ability did not seem to play a role in workplace incident/accident involvement, including driver vehicle accidents, while the wellness factors burnout and sense of coherence, as well as certain personality traits, namely conscientiousness, pragmatic and gregariousness play a statistically significant role in individuals' involvement in workplace incidents/accidents/driver vehicle accidents. Safety practitioners, managers and human resource specialists should take cognisance of the role of specifically work-wellness in workplace safety behaviour, as management can influence these negative states that are often caused by continuously stressful situations, and subsequently enhance work place safety. Practitioner Summary: Differences in psychological factors between employees involved in workplace incidents/accidents and driver vehicle accidents were investigated. Certain work-wellness factors (burnout and sense of coherence) and personality traits (conscientiousness, pragmatic and gregariousness) were shown to play a role in workplace incidents/accidents and driver vehicle accidents.