Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Renal Transplantation in the United Kingdom for Patients From Ethnic Minorities

Background. To investigate any differences in access to transplant and post-transplant outcomes for ethnic minority patients in the United Kingdom, national data on ethnicity of patients on the waiting list, those receiving a transplant, and deceased donors were analyzed. Methods. Adult patients and donors were included. Ethnic origin was classified as white, Asian, black, or “other. ” National data were analyzed, and 2001 U.K. National census data were used for comparative purposes. Median waiting times to transplant were obtained from Kaplan-Meier estimates for patients registered 1998–2000. Transplant survival was estimated for patients transplanted from 1998 to 2003. Results. A total of 92% of the U.K. population was white, compared with 77% of waiting list patients, 88% of transplant recipients, and 97% of deceased donors. Median waiting time to transplantation for white patients was 719 days (95% confidence interval 680–758) compared with 1368 (1131–1605) days for Asian patients and 1419 (1165–1673) days for black patients. The degree of human leukocyte antigen matching achieved was inferior for Asian and black patients. There is some evidence of inferior 3-year transplant survival for black patients compared with white and Asian patients (P=0.03). Conclusions. There are imbalances in the ethnic make up of the waiting list, the donor pool, and renal transplant recipients. There are significant differences in both post-transplant outcomes and time to transplantation between patients of different ethnic origin. Waiting times are influenced by allocation schemes, and the 2006 U.K. National Kidney Allocation Scheme is designed to achieve greater equity of access to transplant for all patients, regardless of geography, blood group, or ethnicity.
Indications for computed tomography in patients with minor head injury.

BACKGROUND Computed tomography (CT) is widely used as a screening test in patients with minor head injury, although the results are often normal. We performed a study to develop and validate a set of clinical criteria that could be used to identify patients with minor head injury who do not need to undergo CT. METHODS In the first phase of the study, we recorded clinical findings in 520 consecutive patients with minor head injury who had a normal score on the Glasgow Coma Scale and normal findings on a brief neurologic examination; the patients then underwent CT. Using recursive partitioning, we derived a set of criteria to identify all patients who had abnormalities on CT scanning. In the second phase, the sensitivity and specificity of the criteria for predicting a positive scan were evaluated in a group of 909 patients. RESULTS Of the 520 patients in the first phase, 36 (6.9 percent) had positive scans. All patients with positive CT scans had one or more of seven findings: headache, vomiting, an age over 60 years, drug or alcohol intoxication, deficits in short-term memory, physical evidence of trauma above the clavicles, and seizure. Among the 909 patients in the second phase, 57 (6.3 percent) had positive scans. In this group of patients, the sensitivity of the seven findings combined was 100 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 95 to 100 percent). All patients with positive CT scans had at least one of the findings. CONCLUSIONS For the evaluation of patients with minor head injury, the use of CT can be safely limited to those who have certain clinical findings.
Perceived Control and Emotional Status in Abusive College Student Relationships

The authors assessed perceived control, dysphoria, hopelessness, self-esteem, and optimism in 280 college students involved in abusive and nonabusive relationships. Women reported higher levels of dysphoria and lower levels of self-esteem and optimism than men. Women in abusive relationships reported more psychological symptoms than men in abusive relationships. After controlling for gender differences in emotional status, participants in abusive relationships showed more psychological symptoms than those in nonabusive relationships. Women showed lower perceived control of relationship conflicts than men. Men experiencing high levels of abuse reported higher perceived control of relationship conflict than females experiencing low levels of abuse. Perceived control was affected more by gender than emotional status, abuse level, and gender-affected emotional status. The authors discuss the results in terms of their implications for future investigations of emotional reactions to abuse.
Platelet indices in dogs with Babesia rossi infection.

BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia without clinical bleeding is a consistent finding in virulent canine babesiosis. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study was to investigate the platelet index phenotype in Babesia rossi-infected dogs and the association with disease outcome. We hypothesized that an increased proportion of large, activated platelets would be present. METHODS Ninety-six infected and 15 control dogs were included. Babesia-infected dogs were further divided into survivors and nonsurvivors. Platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet volume distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT), mean platelet mass (MPM), mean platelet component concentration (MPC), and platelet component distribution width (PCDW) were measured at presentation, and at 24 and 48 hours in admitted survivors. RESULTS Mortality rate was 13% (12/96). At presentation, compared to controls, PLT and PCT were significantly decreased in survivors and nonsurvivors (P < .001 for both). Mean platelet volume was significantly increased in survivors and nonsurvivors compared to the controls (P < .001 for both); however, MPM was only significantly increased in the survivors (P < .001). There were no differences between the survivors and nonsurvivors for any of the indices at presentation. Platelet count and PCT were significantly increased at 24 and 48 hours, and MPC significantly increased at 24 hours for admitted survivors compared to the values at presentation. CONCLUSION Large, activated platelets were significantly increased and may play a role in the lack of a bleeding phenotype, despite severe thrombocytopenia, in canine babesiosis.
Iron status of inner‐city African‐American infants

The iron status of African‐American infants continues to be subject to debate. We characterized the iron status of 198 9‐month‐old inner‐city infants (94% fed iron‐fortified formula) using a comprehensive panel of measures and assessing lead and inflammation markers. The proportion with iron deficiency was calculated based on three approaches (≥ 2 abnormal iron measures with or without anemia for MCV model—NHANES II, ferritin model—NHANES III, or Sweden/Honduras study) and a promising new measure—body iron, calculated from ferritin and transferrin receptor (TfR). There were no sex differences for any iron measure. Hb < 110 g/l was observed in 25%; Hb ≤ 105 g/l in 10.1%. Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) values were elevated without elevated lead concentrations or an inflammatory response: mean FEP = 86.6 μg/dl red blood cells [75.5 μmol/mol heme]; 52.3% were > 80 μg/dl (1.42 μmol/l), almost half of which were accompanied by a second abnormal iron measure. The estimated prevalence of iron deficiency was 14.4, 5.3, and 2.5% for the MCV model, ferritin model, and Sweden/Honduras cutoffs, respectively, and 4.1% for body iron < 0 mg/kg. Regulation of iron storage is immature at < 1 year of age, making estimates of iron deficiency that depend on ferritin, including body iron, suspect in this age period. Thus, the “true” prevalence of iron deficiency could not be established with confidence due to major differences in the results, depending on the guidelines used. Functional indicators of poor iron status in young infants are urgently needed. Am. J. Hematol. 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Metabolic Sources of Hydrogen Peroxide in Aerobically Growing Escherichia coli(*)

Exposure of cells to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mediates adaptive responses or oxidative damage, depending on the magnitude of the challenge. Determining the threshold for peroxide-mediated oxidative stress thus requires quantitation of the changes in endogenous H2O2 production. The intracellular steady-state concentrations of H2O2 were measured in intact Escherichia coli under different conditions. Compounds that block electron transport at NADH dehydrogenase (rotenone) or between ubiquinone and cytochrome b (antimycin) showed that univalent reduction of O2 can occur at these sites in vivo to form superoxide anion (O2), in agreement with reports for mammalian mitochondria. Mutational inactivation of different components of the respiratory chain showed that H2O2 production also depended on the energy status of the cell and on the arrangement of respiratory chain components corresponding to particular growth conditions. Production rates for O2 and H2O2 were linearly related to the number of active respiratory chains that reached maximal values during exponential growth. In the strains defective in respiratory chain components, catalase activity was regulated to compensate for changes in the H2O2 production rates, which maintained intracellular H2O2 at 0.1-0.2 μM during aerobic growth over a wide range of cell densities. The expression of a katG′::lacZ fusion (reporting transcriptional control of the catalase-hydroperoxidase I gene) was increased by H2O2 given either as a pulse or as a steady production. This response not only depended on the type and severity of the stimulus but was also strongly influenced by the growth phase of the cells.
Video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus posterolateral thoracotomy lobectomy: A more patient‐friendly approach on postoperative pain, pulmonary function and shoulder function

We evaluated the physiological benefits following video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy or posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) lobectomy for lung cancer patients. One hundred and three patients were included in this study, who underwent either a VATS approach (n= 51) or a PLT approach (n= 52) lobectomy for clinical stage I lung cancer. Pain scores were measured preoperatively and on postoperative day (POD) one, three, seven, 30, and 90, by using a visual analog scale. Pulmonary function and shoulder function were measured preoperatively and on POD seven, 30 and 90 by using a portable spirometer and by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) standardized shoulder assessment form, respectively. Postoperative pain was experienced less in the VATS group than in the PLT group on POD one, three, seven, 30, and 90 (P= 0.060, 0.055, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). Analgesic requirements were significantly less in the VATS group than in the PLT group during hospital stay (90.2 ± 60.8 mg vs. 119.2 ± 70.8 mg, P= 0.028). The pain score returned to the preoperative reference level on POD seven in the VATS group, but not until POD 30 in the PLT group. The recovery of forced vital capacity (FVC) was statistically better in the VATS group on POD seven, postoperative month (POM) one, and POM three (P= 0.000, 0.000, 0.002, respectively). The recovery of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was better in the VATS group, but the differences were not significant. The shoulder function in the VATS group was significantly well preserved on POD seven, 30 and 90, compared with the PLT group. Lobectomy by the VATS approach generates less pain, and preserves better pulmonary function and shoulder function in the early postoperative phase.
Differential Effects of Right Wing Authoritarianism and Social Dominance Orientation on Outgroup Attitudes and Their Mediation by Threat From and Competitiveness to Outgroups

A dual-process model of individual differences in prejudice proneness proposes that Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) will influence prejudice against particular outgroups through different motivational mechanisms. RWA should cause negative attitudes toward groups seen as threatening social control, order, cohesion, and stability, such as deviant groups, and negativity toward these groups should be mediated through perceived threat from them. SDO should cause negative attitudes toward groups that activate competitiveness over relative dominance and superiority, such as socially subordinate groups low in power and status, and negativity toward these groups should be mediated through competitiveness toward them. Findings from four student samples that assessed attitudes toward seven social groups selected as likely to vary systematically in social threat and social subordination supported these predictions. The findings have implications for reconciling intergroup and individual difference explanations of prejudice and for interventions to reduce prejudice.
The Toxoplasma gondii Rhoptry Protein ROP4 Is Secreted into the Parasitophorous Vacuole and Becomes Phosphorylated in Infected Cells

ABSTRACT Many intracellular pathogens are separated from the cytosol of their host cells by a vacuole membrane. This membrane serves as a critical interface between the pathogen and the host cell, across which nutrients are imported, wastes are excreted, and communication between the two cells takes place. Very little is known about the vacuole membrane proteins mediating these processes in any host-pathogen interaction. During a screen for monoclonal antibodies against novel surface or secreted proteins of Toxoplasma gondii, we identified ROP4, a previously uncharacterized member of the ROP2 family of proteins. We report here on the sequence, posttranslational processing, and subcellular localization of ROP4, a type I transmembrane protein. Mature, processed ROP4 is localized to the rhoptries, secretory organelles at the apical end of the parasite, and is secreted from the parasite during host cell invasion. Released ROP4 associates with the vacuole membrane and becomes phosphorylated in the infected cell. Similar results are seen with ROP2. Further analysis of ROP4 showed it to be phosphorylated on multiple sites, a subset of which result from the action of either host cell protein kinase(s) or parasite kinase(s) activated by host cell factors. The localization and posttranslational modification of ROP4 and other members of the ROP2 family of proteins within the infected cell make them well situated to play important roles in vacuole membrane function.
Dynamics of the Pool of Infected Resting Cd4 Hla-Dr- T Lymphocytes in Patients Who Started a Triple Class Five-Drug Antiretroviral Regimen During Primary HIV-1 Infection

Starting standard antiretroviral therapy within 10 days after the onset of a primary HIV-1 infection cannot prevent the establishment of a reservoir of HIV-1-infected memory CD4 T cells. Here we studied the reservoir of HIV-1-infected memory CD4 T cells in four patients who started a triple class, five-drug regimen during primary HIV-1 infection. There was a strong correlation between the proportion of productively infected CD4 HLA-DR- T lymphocytes and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (r=0.852; P<0.001) during the first 24 weeks of therapy. Within 45 weeks of treatment, in three of the four patients the proportion of productively infected CD4 HLA-DR- T lymphocytes was reduced below the level of quantification. In the fourth patient the cellular reservoir remained quantifiable. In two patients who stopped therapy 44 weeks after initiation an immediate rebound of the plasma HIV-1 RNA level and the proportion of productively infected CD4 HLA-DR– T lymphocytes occurred. In conclusion, initiation of a potent five-drug, triple class regimen during primary HIV-1 infection does not result in virus-specific immune control upon discontinuation of therapy after 44 weeks. Therefore, longer or even stronger suppression of viral replication might be necessary to achieve this goal in primary HIV-1 infection.
Case-control study of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among children aged 0-4 years living in west Berkshire and north Hampshire health districts.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate the relation between parental employment in the nuclear industry and childhood leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. DESIGN--Case-control study. SETTING-West Berkshire and Basingstoke and North Hampshire District Health Authorities. SUBJECTS--54 children aged 0-4 years who had leukaemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed during 1972-89, who were born in the study area and were resident there when cancer was diagnosed. Six controls were selected for each case: four from hospital delivery registers and two from livebirth registers maintained by the NHS central register. Controls were matched for sex, date of birth (within six months), and area of residence at birth and time of diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Parents' employment by the nuclear industry and exposure to ionising radiation at work. RESULTS--Five (9%) of the 54 cases and 14 (4%) of the 324 controls had fathers or mothers, or both, who had been employed by the nuclear industry (relative risk 2.2, 95% confidence interval 0.6 to 6.9). Nuclear industry employees who work in areas where exposure to radiation is possible are given film badges to monitor their exposure to external penetrating ionising radiation. Three fathers of cases and two fathers of controls (and no mothers of either) had been monitored in this way before their child was conceived (relative risk 9.0, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 107.8). No father (of a case or control) had accumulated a recorded dose of more than 5 mSv before his child was conceived, and no father had been monitored at any time in the four years before his child was conceived. A dose-response relation was not evident among fathers who had been monitored. CONCLUSIONS--These results suggest that the children of fathers who had been monitored for exposure to external penetrating ionising radiation in the nuclear industry may be at increased risk of developing leukaemia before their fifth birthday. The finding is based on small numbers and could be due to chance. If the relationship is real the mechanisms are far from clear, except that the effect is unlikely to be due to external radiation; the possibility that it could be due to internal contamination by radioactive substances or some other exposure at work should be pursued. The above average rates of leukaemia in the study area cannot be accounted for by these findings.
Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Growth-Related Traits in a New Arabidopsis Recombinant Inbred Population1

Arabidopsis natural variation was used to analyze the genetics of plant growth rate. Screening of 22 accessions revealed a large variation for seed weight, plant dry weight and relative growth rate but not for water content. A positive correlation was observed between seed weight and plant area 10 d after planting, suggesting that seed weight affects plant growth during early phases of development. During later stages of plant growth this correlation was not significant, indicating that other factors determine growth rate during this phase. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis, using 114 (F9 generation) recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross between Landsberg erecta (Ler, from Poland) and Shakdara (Sha, from Tadjikistan), revealed QTLs for seed weight, plant area, dry weight, relative growth rate, chlorophyll fluorescence, flowering time, and flowering-related traits. Growth traits (plant area, dry weight, and relative growth rate) colocated at five genomic regions. At the bottom of chromosome 5, colocation was found of QTLs for leaf area, leaf initiation speed, specific leaf area, and chlorophyll fluorescence but not for dry weight, indicating that this locus might be involved in leaf development. No consistent relation between growth traits and flowering time was observed despite some colocations. Some of the QTLs detected for flowering time overlapped with loci detected in other recombinant inbred line populations, but also new loci were identified. This study shows that Arabidopsis can successfully be used to study the genetic basis of complex traits like plant growth rate.
Exploring the Relations between Student Cynicism and Student Burnout

Research on the negative effects of student cynicism has been limited, especially regarding its relation to student burnout. This study examined the relations among student cynicism (policy cynicism, academic cynicism, social cynicism, and institutional cynicism) and student burnout, as evidenced by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, in a sample of 276 Chinese undergraduates. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that four aspects of student cynicism together explained substantial variance in student burnout. Policy cynicism was the strongest contributor to emotional exhaustion. Social cynicism was the primary contributor to depersonalization, and also to reduced personal accomplishment. Student cynicism overall had the strongest relationship with reduced sense of personal achievement. The findings outline the negative functional relations between student cynicism and student burnout.
In VivoL-DOPA Production by Genetically Modified Primary Rat Fibroblast or 9L Gliosarcoma Cell Grafts via Coexpression of GTPcyclohydrolase I with Tyrosine Hydroxylase

To investigate the biochemical requirements for in vivo L-DOPA production by cells genetically modified ex vivo in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD), rat syngeneic 9L gliosarcoma and primary Fischer dermal fibroblasts (FDFs) were transduced with retroviral vectors encoding the human tyrosine hydroxylase 2 (hTH2) and human GTP cyclohydrolase I (hGTPCHI) cDNAs. As GTPCHI is a rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway for synthesis of the essential TH cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), only hTH2 and GTPCHI cotransduced cultured cells produced L-DOPA in the absence of added BH4. As striatal BH4 levels in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats are minimal, the effects of cotransduction with hTH2 and hGTPCHI on L-DOPA synthesis by striatal grafts of either 9L cells or FDFs in unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned rats were tested. Microdialysis experiments showed that those subjects that received cells cotransduced with hTH2 and hGTPCHI produced significantly higher levels of L-DOPA than animals that received either hTH2 or untransduced cells. However, animals that received transduced FDF grafts showed a progressive loss of transgene expression until expression was undetectable 5 weeks after engraftment. In FDF-engrafted animals, no differential effect of hTH2 vs hTH2 + hGTPCHI transgene expression on apomorphine-induced rotation was observed. The differences in L-DOPA production found with cells transduced with hTH2 alone and those cotransduced with hTH2 and hGTPCHI show that BH4 is critical to the restoration of the capacity for L-DOPA production and that GTPCHI expression is an effective means of supplying BH4 in this rat model of PD.