Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in the subcomponents of fat‐free body in relation to height between black and white children

The individual subcomponents of fat‐free body (FFB) in relation to height were investigated in 131 white (N = 85) and black (N = 46) males (MW, MB) and 108 white (N = 63) and black (N = 45) females (FW, FB), aged 8 to 18 years. Bone mineral content (BM), bone width (BW), and bone mineral index (BMI) were measured using photon absorptiometry; total body water (TBW) was measured by deuterium dilution; body density was measured by hydrostatic weighing, correcting for residual lung volume; and estimates of lean body mass (LBM) were made from total body potassium (40K spectroscopy). The subcomponents of the FFB—BM, BW, BMI, TBW, and K—were regressed on the log of height to determine the exponent of the independent variable (Ht) that would most accurately predict the dependent variables (BM, BW, BMI, TBW, K) within gender and race. Regression equations were derived for each of the variables used to represent a subcomponent of the FFB on Ht. Significant (P < .05) racial differences were found in BW, with the MB having wider bones than the MW. Significant racial differences were observed in BMI with FB demonstrating a greater difference across height than FW. Racial differences in BM and TBW approached significance within the female sample. At heights greater than the mean of a typical pubescent child, the males had higher values for each of the variables, except for BMI, than did the females. The lower BMI values observed in males indicated that the rate at which male bones grow in width was greater than their rate of mineralization. Within the male sample, blacks had higher bone mineral than whites with the magnitude of these differences dependent on the variable under consideration. Within the female sample the blacks had greater amounts of BM and BMI in relation to height, while the whites had a greater amount of K. Therefore, the magnitude of the differences between blacks and whites in the subcomponents of the FFB are dependent on gender, stature, and the particular subcomponent of the FFB under consideration.
Height and weight differences among South African Urban schoolchildren born in various months of the year

Among 1,165 subjects aged 6–18 years who were examined once cross‐sectionally, a significant variation in body height and weight according to the month of birth of the subjects was found. All subjects belonged to the so‐called Cape Coloured community, were born locally, and their parents belonged to the most affluent sector of the community. Individuals born in February to July were shorter and weighed less (by 13 to 17% of the standard deviation) than those born in August to January. These results are similar to those obtained for Canadian children, who were measured on their birthdays. Since our individuals were measured only once, at the same time of the year, observed differences cannot be ascribed to seasonal fluctuations of growth rates prior to measurement but must constitute a persistent effect of seasonal fluctuation in earlier growth. Immediate environmental conditions (food, temperature, rainfall, and insolation) in the Southern Hemisphere fluctuate seasonally 6 months out of phase from those in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus the similarity of our findings to those from the Northern Hemisphere suggests a factor common for the entire earth, possibly related to the ellipsoid shape of the orbit of the planet.
Patient Education and Involvement in Care.

A study conducted on patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty indicated that participants who were offered preadmission education for their procedure had statistically better outcomes than patients who had not attended an educational class. The study further focused on patients’ confidence in their ability to take control of their health situations as well as the effect of encouragement and motivation to provide active involvement. Two surveys, the Krantz Health Opinion Survey and the Multi Dimensional Health Locus of Control, were used to assess patients’ innate desires to be involved in their care and if they felt they could render any control themselves on their health. The study showed a statistically significant better outcome when patients received education prior to their procedure. When patients were encouraged and motivated to participate and take control of their rehabilitation after knee surgery, the outcomes were better than with education alone. It is a worthy endeavor therefore for education to be provided before total knee arthroplasty and to identify those patients who need additional encouragement to gain confidence in their abilities in order to positively affect their outcomes. Providing healthcare professionals information about patients’ innate traits regarding their desire or self-confidence to engage in their care could also be useful to allow caretakers to work with patients in the most advantageous manner to achieve better outcomes. CHAPTER
PREDICTION OF TOLERANCE ON THE BASIS OF QUANTIFICATION OF EGG WHITE-SPECIFIC IgE ANTIBODIES IN CHILDREN WITH EGG ALLERGY

Wolkerstorfer A, Wahn U, Kjellman NIM, Diepgen TL, De Longueville M, Oranje AP. Clin Exp Allergy. 2002;32:70–73 To investigate the natural course of sensitization to egg and cow’s milk and its relationship to severity of atopic dermatitis (AD). Study subjects were 397 European children 12 to 24 months old with AD who had been randomized to the placebo group as part of the ETAC study, which is a study examining the effectiveness of treating at-risk atopic children with cetirizine (vs placebo) in preventing the development of asthma. The children were examined for objective assessment of AD severity using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) system and they underwent testing for food sensitivity to …
Involvement of the Serum Response Factor Coactivator Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (MKL) in the Activin-regulated Dendritic Complexity of Rat Cortical Neurons*

Dynamic changes in neuronal morphology and transcriptional regulation play crucial roles in the neuronal network and function. Accumulating evidence suggests that the megakaryoblastic leukemia (MKL) family members, which function not only as actin-binding proteins but also as serum response factor (SRF) transcriptional coactivators, regulate neuronal morphology. However, the extracellular ligands and signaling pathways, which activate MKL-mediated morphological changes in neurons, remain unresolved. Here, we demonstrate that in addition to MKL1, MKL2, highly enriched in the forebrain, strongly contributes to the dendritic complexity, and this process is triggered by stimulation with activin, a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily. Activin promoted dendritic complexity in a SRF- and MKL-dependent manner without drastically affecting MKL localization and protein levels. In contrast, activin promoted the nuclear export of suppressor of cancer cell invasion (SCAI), which is a corepressor for SRF and MKL. Furthermore, overexpression of SCAI blocked activin-induced SRF transcriptional responses and dendritic complexity. Collectively, these results strongly suggest that activin-SCAI-MKL signaling is a novel pathway that regulates the dendritic morphology of rat cortical neurons by excluding SCAI from the nucleus and activating MKL/SRF-mediated gene expression.
Enhanced research assessment performance in graduate vs. undergraduate-entry medical students: implications for recruitment into academic medicine.

BACKGROUND Studies investigating variance between the academic performance of direct-entry (DEM) versus graduate-entry (GEM) medical students have yielded conflicting results, but their performance in undergraduate research-based assessments has not been compared to-date. AIM We aimed to compare the results of DEM and GEM students with respect to their senior research dissertation module. METHODS This retrospective study examined the final year results between 2011-2012 in DEM, (n = 219) and GEM (n = 84) students. Between-group comparisons of dissertation module marks were conducted using independent t-tests. Correlations between marks in dissertation module and in other disciplines assessed during the final year were attained using Pearson's correlation. Multiple regression analysis was employed to adjust for potential confounding factors such as student age and gender. RESULTS No apparent difference was apparent between the DEM and GEM students with respect to results achieved across the clinical disciplines examined. However, GEM students performed significantly better than DEMs in their senior research dissertation assessment (Mean = 66.81% vs. 65.00%, fully adjusted p = 0.048). The variable which remained influential in regression analysis was nationality, where North American and Asian students were demonstrated to score lower than their Irish counterparts in the dissertation module (B coefficient = -1.90, SE = 0.94, P = 0.045 and B coefficient = -4.88, SE = 1.00, P < 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS Performance in the research-based module was significantly better in GEM relative to their DEM colleagues. This finding may have implications for future recruitment into academic medicine, as aptitude and interest in research at undergraduate level has been shown to be associated with increased likelihood of an academic career in medicine.
In Lynch syndrome adenomas, loss of mismatch repair proteins is related to an enhanced lymphocytic response

Aims: Lynch syndrome‐associated tumours are characterized by the presence of an increased number of tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes. This enhanced lymphocytic response may be elicited by genetically altered proteins that may arise as a result of a defective DNA mismatch repair system. The aim was to investigate this hypothesis by correlating loss of mismatch repair proteins and infiltration of lymphocytes in Lynch syndrome‐associated adenomas and hyperplastic polyps.
The Extracellular K+ Concentration Dependence of Outward Currents through Kir2.1 Channels Is Regulated by Extracellular Na+ and Ca2+*

It has been known for more than three decades that outward Kir currents (IK1) increase with increasing extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]o). Although this increase in IK1 can have significant impacts under pathophysiological cardiac conditions, where [K+]o can be as high as 18 mm and thus predispose the heart to re-entrant ventricular arrhythmias, the underlying mechanism has remained unclear. Here, we show that the steep [K+]o dependence of Kir2.1-mediated outward IK1 was due to [K+]o-dependent inhibition of outward IK1 by extracellular Na+ and Ca2+. This could be accounted for by Na+/Ca2+ inhibition of IK1 through screening of local negative surface charges. Consistent with this, extracellular Na+ and Ca2+ reduced the outward single-channel current and did not increase open-state noise or decrease the mean open time. In addition, neutralizing negative surface charges with a carboxylate esterifying agent inhibited outward IK1 in a similar [K+]o-dependent manner as Na+/Ca2+. Site-directed mutagenesis studies identified Asp114 and Glu153 as the source of surface charges. Reducing K+ activation and surface electrostatic effects in an R148Y mutant mimicked the action of extracellular Na+ and Ca2+, suggesting that in addition to exerting a surface electrostatic effect, Na+ and Ca2+ might inhibit outward IK1 by inhibiting K+ activation. This study identified interactions of K+ with Na+ and Ca2+ that are important for the [K+]o dependence of Kir2.1-mediated outward IK1.
High alcohol consumption and the risk of renal damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND The risk of renal damage in patients with high alcohol consumption is controversial. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the associations between high alcohol consumption and progression of kidney damage including chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and proteinuria. METHODS A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Databases from inception through August 2014 to identify studies investigating the association between high alcohol consumption and CKD, ESRD or proteinuria. Studies that reported odds ratios, relative risks or hazard ratios comparing the risk of CKD, ESRD or proteinuria in patients consuming high amount of alcohol versus those who did not consume alcohol were included. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method. RESULTS Twenty studies with 292 431 patients were included in our analysis to assess the associations between high alcohol consumption and progression of kidney damage. The pooled RRs of CKD, proteinuria and ESRD in patients with high alcohol consumption were 0.83 (95% CI: 0.71-0.98), 0.85 (95% CI: 0.62-1.17) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.55-1.82), respectively. Post hoc analysis assessing the sex-specific association between high alcohol consumption and CKD demonstrated pooled RRs of 0.72 (95% CI: 0.57-0.90) in males and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.58-1.03) in females. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates an inverse association between high alcohol consumption and risk for developing CKD in males. There is no significant association between high alcohol consumption and the risk for developing proteinuria or ESRD.
HER‐2/neu receptor gene status in endometrial carcinomas: a tissue microarray study

transformation of solitary papillomas have been rarely reported in main bronchi, these features are largely unknown in bronchiolar or more peripheral papillary ⁄ glandular lesions. Only one such case has been previously reported by Nakamura et al. as an ‘‘extremely well differentiated adenocarcinoma’’ in peripheral lung. The papillary growth, prominent ciliated cells, focal invasion and CEA expression were similar to ours. Our tumours share certain histopathological features with SPCGPs described by Aida et al., although the limited alveolar extension in their cases led to the benign diagnosis. A variable spectrum of invasive features may exist among our tumours and SPCGPs. Our tumours could have arisen from pre-existing such benign papillomas. CEA, c-erbB-2 and p63 immunohistochemistry supports such transformation, particularly in cases 1 and 2. Nevertheless, diffuse overexpression of EGFR, reported to be positive in 35–45% of adenocarcinomas but negative even in atypical adenomatous hyperplasias, in all cases may indicate that some or all of these tumours are totally adenocarcinoma. However, given the extraordinary rarity of such neoplasms, the histogenesis remains elusive. Although these adenocarcinomas are probably of low-grade malignancy based on the bland cytological features and indolent clinical course, longer follow-up and accumulation of more cases are needed to clarify their biological behaviour.
Seasonal effects on salivary testosterone levels among lese males of the Ituri Forest, Zaire

Salivary testosterone levels were measured in 33 Lese horticulturalist men in June and August 1989 in order to examine the effects of improved nutritional status on testicular function. The Lese experience an annual hunger season from March through June that varies in impact from year to year, and was particularly severe in 1989. Even before annual weight losses, the Lese are at the low end of the desirable range and are below the desirable population mean for the body mass index. Despite significant weight gain in August, both morning and evening testosterone levels declined, perhaps reflecting a lagged recovery period undetected in the 3‐month interval of the study. Lese mean salivary testosterone levels are lower, in general, than average levels in healthy Western controls. Lese males, however, exhibit similar, albeit suppressed, diurnal variation compared to healthy Western males and comparable age‐related decline in free testosterone levels. Chronic undernourishment and poor dietary composition are probably responsible for lower testosterone levels among the Lese and a lack of recovery in testosterone production following nutritional improvement. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Child Labour and Health: Evidence and Research Issues

The ILO definition of the worst forms of child labour includes work that is likely to jeopardise health and safety. Effective targeting of those child work activities most damaging to health requires both conceptual understanding and empirical evidence of the interactions between child labour and health. The aim of the paper is to review the current state of such knowledge, which is central to the design of policies that, whilst protecting children from work activities most damaging to their health, do not jeopardise the subsistence livelihood of their families. The relationships between child labour and health are complex. They can be direct and indirect, static and dynamic, positive and negative, causal and spurious. The diversity of potential relationships makes their empirical disentanglement a difficult exercise. A conceptual framework of analysis is required and important issues of measurement and of estimation must be given careful consideration.
Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome and nodular regenerative hyperplasia are frequent oxaliplatin‐associated liver lesions and partially prevented by bevacizumab in patients with hepatic colorectal metastasis

Rubbia‐Brandt L, Lauwers G Y, Wang H, Majno P E, Tanabe K, Zhu A X, Brezault C, Soubrane O, Abdalla E K, Vauthey J‐N, Mentha G & Terris B (2010) Histopathology56, 430–439 Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome and nodular regenerative hyperplasia are frequent oxaliplatin‐associated liver lesions and partially prevented by bevacizumab in patients with hepatic colorectal metastasis
Ectosomes Released by Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils Induce a MerTK-dependent Anti-inflammatory Pathway in Macrophages*

At the earliest stage of activation, human polymorphonuclear neutrophils release vesicles derived directly from the cell surface. These vesicles, called ectosomes (PMN-Ect), expose phosphatidylserine in the outer membrane leaflet. They inhibit the inflammatory response of human monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells to zymosan A (ZymA) and LPS and induce TGF-β1 release, suggesting a reprogramming toward a tolerogenic phenotype. The receptors and signaling pathways involved have not yet been defined. Here, we demonstrate that PMN-Ect interfered with ZymA activation of macrophages via inhibition of NFκB p65 phosphorylation and NFκB translocation. The MerTK (Mer receptor tyrosine kinase) and PI3K/Akt pathways played a key role in this immunomodulatory effect as shown using specific MerTK-blocking antibodies and PI3K inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin. As a result, PMN-Ect reduced the transcription of many proinflammatory genes in ZymA-activated macrophages. In sum, PMN-Ect interacted with the macrophages by activation of the MerTK pathway responsible for down-modulation of the proinflammatory signals generated by ZymA.
EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF THE COMBINATION OF FLUCONAZOLE AND SECNIDAZOLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMATIC VAGINAL DISCHARGE. BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA

Objectives: To describe the safety and the clinical and microbiological efficacy of a single oral dose of a combined treatment with secnidazole plus fluconazole for the syndromic management of symptomatic vaginal discharge.Materials and methods: A clinical trial without control group study was conducted including women with symptomatic vaginal discharge who assisted to a secondary level hospital in Bogota, Colombia. 118 women were included in a consecutive convenience sample who received the study treatment according to syndromic diagnosis approach. Microbiological diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) was confirmed by Nugent score, yeast infection by candida culture and trichomoniasis by wet mount. Prevalence, clinical and microbioogical efficacy and safety of the secnidazole and fluconazole combination pill was determined and a sensitivity analysis for treatment efficacy was performed.Results: The following infections were found: BV in 57.1%, candidiasis in 28.8%, and mixed infections in 10.8%. In 8.5% of the patients, the microbiology tests were negative. No trichomonas were found. The clinical cure rate was 90.4%, and the microbiological cure rate was 94.1% with the study medication. Twelve cases (12.90%) presented drug-related non serious adverse events.Conclusion: The most prevalent infection was BV, followed by candidiasis and mixed infection. The combination of a single dose of secnidazole plus fluconazole combined pill had an efficacy rate over 90% and was safe for the treatment of symptomatic women with vaginal discharge.
Invasive pattern grading score designed as an independent prognostic indicator in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Chang Y‐C, Nieh S, Chen S‐F, Jao S‐W, Lin Y‐L & Fu E (2010) Histopathology 57, 295–303 Invasive pattern grading score designed as an independent prognostic indicator in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Overexpression of aldo‐keto reductase 1C2 is associated with disease progression in patients with prostatic cancer

Huang K‐H, Chiou S‐H, Chow K‐C, Lin T‐Y, Chang H‐W, Chiang I‐P & Lee M‐C (2010) Histopathology 57, 384–394 Overexpression of aldo‐keto reductase 1C2 is associated with disease progression in patients with prostatic cancer
Complementary Roles for Exonuclease 1 and Flap Endonuclease 1 in Maintenance of Triplet Repeats*

Trinucleotide repeats can form stable secondary structures that promote genomic instability. To determine how such structures are resolved, we have defined biochemical activities of the related RAD2 family nucleases, FEN1 (Flap endonuclease 1) and EXO1 (exonuclease 1), on substrates that recapitulate intermediates in DNA replication. Here, we show that, consistent with its function in lagging strand replication, human (h) FEN1 could cleave 5′-flaps bearing structures formed by CTG or CGG repeats, although less efficiently than unstructured flaps. hEXO1 did not exhibit endonuclease activity on 5′-flaps bearing structures formed by CTG or CGG repeats, although it could excise these substrates. Neither hFEN1 nor hEXO1 was affected by the stem-loops formed by CTG repeats interrupting duplex regions adjacent to 5′-flaps, but both enzymes were inhibited by G4 structures formed by CGG repeats in analogous positions. Hydroxyl radical footprinting showed that hFEN1 binding caused hypersensitivity near the flap/duplex junction, whereas hEXO1 binding caused hypersensitivity very close to the 5′-end, correlating with the predominance of hFEN1 endonucleolytic activity versus hEXO1 exonucleolytic activity on 5′-flap substrates. These results show that FEN1 and EXO1 can eliminate structures formed by trinucleotide repeats in the course of replication, relying on endonucleolytic and exonucleolytic activities, respectively. These results also suggest that unresolved G4 DNA may prevent key steps in normal post-replicative DNA processing.