Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasmid-linked Resistance to Inorganic Salts in Staphylococcus aureus

The penicillinase plasmids, a series of extrachromosomal resistance factors in Staphylococcus aureus, were found to carry determinants of resistance to a series of inorganic ions as well as resistance to penicillin and, in some cases, erythromycin. Most of the ions involved were inhibitory but not lethal to the bacteria; the resistance markers conferred an increase in resistance by comparison with susceptible organisms of between 3- and 100-fold, depending on the ion involved. Separate genetic loci for resistance to arsenate, arsenite, lead, cadmium, mercuric, and bismuth ions were demonstrated. Resistance to antimony and resistance to zinc were also found but were not separated genetically from resistance to arsenite and cadmium, respectively. The ion resistance markers appeared to form a cluster on the plasmid, with no other known marker within it. Naturally occurring plasmids were observed that lacked one or more of these ion resistance markers, as well as penicillinase-negative strains that were resistant to one or more of the ions. The patterns of markers carried by these various strains may provide some understanding of the evolution of a plasmid linkage group.
The social burden and quality of life of patients with haemophilia in Italy.

BACKGROUND In Italy, the project on the social burden and quality of life (QoL) of patients with haemophilia investigates costs from a society perspective and provides an overview of their quality of life. Moreover, as life expectancy increased in recent years along with new treatment strategies implemented in the last decades, it analyses trends of costs other than drugs simulating impacts during patient whole life. MATERIAL AND METHODS We ran a web-based cross-sectional survey supported by the Italian Federation of Haemophilia Societies in recruiting patients with haemophilia and their caregivers. We developed a questionnaire to collect information on demographic characteristics, healthcare and social services consumption, formal and informal care utilisation, productivity loss and quality of life. In particular, quality of life was assessed through the EuroQoL tool. Last, we applied the illness cost method from a society perspective. RESULTS On average, quality of life is worse in adult patients compared to child and caregivers: more than 75% of adult patients declare physical problems, 43% of adult patients and 54% of their parents have anxiety problems. Assuming a society perspective, the estimated mean annual total cost per patient in 2012 is 117,732 €. Drugs represent 92% of total costs. Focusing on costs other than drugs, each additional point of EuroQoL tool implies a costs' reduction of 279 €. The impact of age varies across age groups: each added year implies a total decrease of costs up to 46.6 years old. Afterwards, every additional year increases costs. DISCUSSION Quality of life of patients with haemophilia and their caregivers improved and it influences positively on consumed resources and on their contribution to the social-economic system. Costs other than drugs for patients with haemophilia follow the same trends of general population.
Surgery for subacromial impingement syndrome in relation to intensities of occupational mechanical exposures across 10-year exposure time windows

Objectives We aimed to identify intensities of occupational mechanical exposures (force, arm elevation and repetition) that do not entail an increased risk of surgery for subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) even after prolonged durations of exposure. Additionally, we wanted to evaluate if exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) is an independent risk factor. Methods We used data from a register-based cohort study of the entire Danish working population (n=2 374 403). During follow-up (2003–2008), 14 118 first-time events of surgery for SIS occurred. For each person, we linked register-based occupational codes (1993–2007) to a general population job exposure matrix to obtain year-by-year exposure intensities on measurement scales for force, upper arm elevation >90° and repetition and expert rated intensities of exposure to HAV. For 10-year exposure time windows, we calculated the duration of exposure at specific intensities above minimal (low, medium and high). We used a logistic regression technique equivalent to discrete survival analysis adjusting for cumulative effects of other mechanical exposures. Results We found indications of safe exposure intensities for repetition (median angular velocity <45°/s), while force exertion ≥10% of maximal voluntary electrical activity and upper arm elevation >90° >2 min/day implied an increased risk reaching ORs of 1.7 and 1.5 after 10 years at low intensities. No associations were found for HAV. Conclusions We found indications of safe exposure intensities for repetition. Any intensities of force and upper arm elevation >90° above minimal implied an increased risk across 10-year exposure time windows. No independent associations were found for HAV.
Elongation of centriolar microtubule triplets contributes to the formation of the mitotic spindle in γ-tubulin-depleted cells

The assembly of the mitotic spindle after depletion of the major γ-tubulin isotype by RNA-mediated interference was assessed in the Drosophila S2 cell line. Depletion of γ-tubulin had no significant effect on the cytoskeletal microtubules during interphase. However, it promoted an increase in the mitotic index, resulting mainly in monopolar and, to a lesser extent, asymmetrical bipolar prometaphases lacking astral microtubules. This mitotic accumulation coincided with the activation of the mitotic checkpoint. Immunostaining with an anti-Asp antibody revealed that the spindle poles, which were always devoid of γ-tubulin, were unfocused and organized into sub-spindles. Despite the marked depletion of γ-tubulin, the pericentriolar proteins CP190 and centrosomin were recruited to the spindle pole(s), where they formed three or four dots, suggesting the presence of several centrioles. Electron microscopic reconstructions demonstrated that most of the monopolar spindles exhibited three or four centrioles, indicating centriole duplication with a failure in the separation process. Most of the centrioles were shortened, suggesting a role for γ-tubulin in centriole morphogenesis. Moreover, in contrast to metaphases observed in control cells, in which the spindle microtubules radiated from the pericentriolar material, in γ-tubulin-depleted cells, microtubule assembly still occurred at the poles but involved the elongation of centriolar microtubule triplets. Our results demonstrate that, after depletion of γ-tubulin, the pericentriolar material is unable to promote efficient microtubule nucleation. They point to an alternative mechanism of centrosomal microtubule assembly that contributes to the formation of abnormal, albeit partially functional, mitotic spindles.
Structural Change and Economic Dynamics

a b s t r a c t This paper presents a comprehensive set of stylized facts for business cycles in India from 1950 to 2010. We show that most macroeconomic variables are less volatile in the post reform period, even though the volatility of macroeconomic variables is still high and similar to other emerging market economies. Consistent with other emerging market economies, relative consumption volatility has gone up in the post reform period. In terms of co- movement and persistence however, India looks similar to advanced economies, and less like other emerging market economies. We report evidence that these changes are driven primarily by structural changes caused by market oriented reforms, and not by "good luck. "
The Value of Legislative Versus Electoral Experience and Gender in Explaining Candidate List Placement in Closed-List PR

Candidates’ political qualities and personal characteristics reflect what priorities political parties have when they nominate for viable seats. The limited research on the link between candidate characteristics and ranking on closed lists is an important hiatus in understanding legislative recruitment since in closed list PR nomination to top positions on viable lists virtually guarantees election. We address the issue by analyzing longitudinally the determinants of candidate list placement in Romania, an intriguing case given its low proportion of reelected incumbents and women MPs. Our findings indicate that while male candidates are placed higher up on the lists than women, the positive effect of incumbency is larger for female than male incumbents.
[Prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia according to infant nutrition regime].

UNLABELLED Iron deficiency is the world most prevalent nutritional disorder. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in a population of infants with nine months of age, and the variation of this prevalence according to infants feeding regimes. MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred eighty eight infants with nine months of age were studied for anthropometry, socio-economic factors and feeding regime. Blood samples were taken for blood cell counts, serum ferritin, iron and transferrin. Infants were labelled anaemic if haemoglobin level was less than 110 g/L and with iron deficiency anaemia if, in addition, they had a ferritin value of less than 12 g/L. RESULTS The mean (standard deviation) values for haemoglobin were 111.8 g/L (9.1 g/L). Seventy-nine infants (42%) were anaemic. The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia was 20%. Infants with iron deficiency anaemia were fed with iron fortified formula for 2.3 months in average in contrast with 3.8 months of those without iron deficiency anaemia (.005). Cereals fortified with iron were introduced in the nourishment of infants with iron deficiency anaemia at 4.3 months in average in contrast with 3.9 months among those without it (.009). The infants with iron deficiency anaemia were breast fed for 4.8 months in average in contrast with 3.7 months among those without it (.079). Age of the introduction of cow's milk, social class and Graffar, vitamin C supplementation and anthropometric parameters were not significantly associated with iron deficiency anaemia. CONCLUSIONS This study points information about which groups are more at risk of developing iron deficiency anaemia in infants but when this evidence is only based in feeding practices one can not completely separate infants with and without iron deficiency anaemia; therefore a universal screening seems an indispensable tool for identification of iron deficiency anaemia.
Physical Activity and Renal Transplantation

Renal transplantation is burdened by high cardiovascular risk because of increased prevalence of traditional and disease-specific cardiovascular risk factors and, consequently, patients are affected by greater morbidity and mortality. In renal transplanted patients, healthy lifestyle and physical activity are recommended to improve overall morbidity and cardiovascular outcomes. According to METs (Metabolic Equivalent Task; i.e. the amount of energy consumed while sitting at rest), physical activities are classified as sedentary (<3.0 METs), of moderate-(3.0 to 5.9 METs) or vigorous-intensity (≥6.0 METs). Guidelines suggest for patients with chronic kidney disease an amount of physical activity of at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five times per week (min 450 MET-minutes/week). Data on physical activity in renal transplanted patients, however, are limited and have been mainly obtained by mean of non-objective methods. Available data suggest that physical activity is low either at the start or during renal transplantation and this may be associated with poor patient and graft outcomes. Therefore, in renal transplanted patients more data on physical activity obtained with objective, accelerometer-based methods are needed. In the meanwhile, physical activity have to be considered as an essential part of the medical care for renal transplanted recipients.
Adverse Drug Effects and Preoperative Medication Factors Related to Perioperative Low-Dose Ketamine Infusions

Abstract High-dose opioid administration is associated with significant adverse events. Evidence suggests that low-dose ketamine infusions improve perioperative analgesia over conventional opioid management, but usage is highly variable. Ketamine's adverse drug effects (ADEs) are well known, but their prevalence during low-dose infusions in a clinical setting and how often they lead to infusion discontinuation are unknown. The purposes of this study were 3-fold: (1) to identify patient factors associated with initiation of ketamine infusions during spine surgery, (2) to identify specific spine procedures in which ketamine has been used most frequently, and (3) to identify ADEs associated with postoperative ketamine infusions and which ADEs most frequently led to discontinuation. Spine surgery was chosen because of its association with moderate to severe pain and a relatively high use of ketamine infusions in this population at our hospital.
Arthrodesis for chronic static scapholunate dissociation: a prospective study in 12 patients

Twelve patients had limited arthrodesis between the scaphoid and the lunate for chronic static scapholunate dissociation using internal plate osteosynthesis. The median time between the injury and surgery was 50 months (range 9–180). They were followed up for a year postoperatively. Preoperative symptoms were pain, functional impairment, and restricted movement. During operation the scapholunate interosseous ligament was completely torn and the scaphoid malrotated in all patients. The range of motion was measured preoperatively and postoperatively, and the unaffected side used for control. For all patients except one postoperative extension, flexion, and radial deviation had considerably decreased. However, supination increased in seven of 12 patients postoperatively and so did pronation in seven of 12 patients. One patient (case 12) had an improved range of motion postoperatively in all directions. The mean grip strength was 76% of the unaffected side preoperatively, and has increased to 85% postoperatively. We found that bone healing was rare and most arthrodeses healed by a fibrous union. We found no correlation with preoperative arthrosis and clinical outcome. One patient had retired from work before operation because of back pain and one because of age. Two patients had taken early retirement because of wrist pain, and one patient was still on sick‐leave at the follow‐up a year postoperatively. Five patients returned to full‐time work and two patients to part‐time work. Four patients were on long‐term sick‐leave preoperatively and three of them returned to their previous occupations. Analysis of the patients' subjective outcome (including pain and functional scores) showed overall satisfaction, and objective data show that scapholunate arthrodesis for chronic static scapholunate dissociation provides substantial improvement over the preoperative condition.
Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus in squamous cell carcinoma and intraepithelial neoplasia of the vulva

In this updated systematic review and meta‐analysis, we estimate the pooled prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and HPV type distribution in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (vulvar cancer) and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were used to identify studies published between 1990 and 2015 and using a PCR‐based or hybrid capture test to evaluate the presence of HPV DNA in vulvar cancer or VIN. Pooled estimates of the HPV prevalence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated based on a random effects model. The I2 statistic was used to describe the amount of heterogeneity. In meta‐regression analyses, potential sources of heterogeneity were evaluated. We identified 92 eligible papers, comprising altogether 5,015 cases of vulvar cancer (64 papers) and 2,764 cases of VIN (48 papers). The pooled prevalence of HPV in vulvar cancer was 39.7% (95% CI: 35.1–44.4%). Overall, 76.3% (95% CI: 70.1–82.1%) of VIN lesions tested HPV‐positive, while the HPV prevalence in new subcategories of VIN, uVIN and dVIN, was 86.2% (95% CI: 73.5–95.5%) and 2.0% (95% CI: 0–10.0%), respectively. Substantial between‐study heterogeneity was observed (vulvar cancer: I2 = 88.4%; VIN: I2 = 90.7%) with the largest variation between geographical regions. Among HPV‐positive cases, the predominant high‐risk HPV type was HPV16, followed by HPV33 and HPV18. HPV6 was detected as a single infection in a small subset of VIN and vulvar cancer samples. Thus, HPV vaccination targeting these HPV types may prevent a substantial number of vulvar lesions.
A Study on the Urban Consumption of the Floating Population's Families and Its Determinants:Evidence from the National Floating Population's Dynamic Monitoring Survey

Based on data from the National Floating Population's Dynamic Monitoring Survey in2012,this paper analyzes the current situation of urban consumption of the floating population's families.The results suggest that although the floating population's lives in the cities have reached a well- off stage,they are still characterized by low- level consumption and high — level saving,and their weak position in consumption in comparison to local urban residents is particularly reflected in the low- level development- and- enjoyment — oriented consumption.The paper then uses the stepwise regression method to examine factors affecting the floating population's family consumption.The results show that the floating population's income level and human capital are positively related to the urban consumption of their families,but their remittances and institutional constraints restrain the increase of their urban consumption.The urban consumption level of married members of the floating population and families of the floating population with female and new generational members as the household heads is higher than that of their unmarried counterparts and those families with male and older generational members as their household heads.Moreover,urban consumption of the floating population exhibits an inverted U- shaped life- cycle pattern.On the basis of the above findings,we put forward some suggestions for policy making to improve the floating population's family lives in the cities.
Panic and Prolapse: Meta-Analysis

Studies concerning the association of panic disorder and mitral valve prolapse have produced mixed results. Meta-analysis was used to quantitatively review the literature and explain conflicting results. Only 19 published and two unpublished studies have documented both panic and mitral valve prolapse in addition to including a control group, and were therefore included. The strength of association between panic disorder and mitral valve prolapse was measured as the odds ratio and study variables were included in the analysis. The overall weighted relative risk was 2.3 (confidence interval, 1.6 to 3.5). Important study variables were often not addressed in the literature and stepwise multiple regression found that auscultatory criteria, control group diagnosis, and sample size predicted relative risk (F=11.34, p<.001). p-Values differed with publication status (t=2.32, p=.033). Although the quality of literature is uneven, there appears to be a significant association between panic disorder and mitral valve prolapse. However, the suggestion of publication bias indicates that the published literature may present a biased view.
Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Rectal Cancer

In the last few years the clinical management of rectal cancer has become very complex. A wide spectrum of therapeutic options is available. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) could play a pivotal rule in the prognostic and therapeutic assessment of rectal cancer (Chen et al., 2005). As known, MRI can provide information about the stage of the disease according to TNM classification focussing on the depth of mesorectal invasion and on lymph node involvement inside and outside the mesorectum (Beets-Tan & Beets, 2004; Gunderson et al., 2004). Due to its intrinsic multiparametricity and multiplanarity MRI is considered the ‘gold standard’ particularly in differentiating between intramural and extramural disease, and in the management of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (LARC) (Beets-Tan & Beets, 2004; Petrillo et al., 2006). The common use of total mesorectal excision (TME) and the shift from a postoperative to a preoperative chemo-radiotherapy (pre-CRT) approach have substantially reduced the risk of local recurrences, increasing curative resection and the rate of anal sphincter preservation and improving local control and overall survival rates (Avallone et al., 2006; 2011; Delrio et al., 2005; 2003). Although morphological tumour assessment performed by MRI has been repeatedly shown to be the most accurate modality in evaluating the presence of a positive circumferential resection margin (CRM), MRI is considered not to be conclusive in pre-CRT tumor response evaluation since histopathological downstage is not always associated with tumour effective reduction (Petrillo et al., 2007). The main difficulty regarding post-chemoradiation MRI includes discrimination of active tumour and post-treatment fibrosis, particularly when differentiating stage T2 and stage T3 carcinomas, according to different recurrence and overall survival rates between Low Risk (T1/T2N0) and Intermediate Risk (T3/N0) as reported by Gunderson et al. (2002; 2004). Previous considerations support a Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) approach that could gain a renewed role to MRI adding functional data to 5
Dystrophic thoracic spine dislocation associated with type-1 neurofibromatosis: Case report and rationale for treatment

The authors report a rare case of spontaneous dystrophic thoracic spine dislocation in a 14-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Anteroposterior and lateral standing radiographs showed a dysplastic kyphoscoliotic deformity, with the thoracic kyphosis and scoliosis measuring 75° and 69°, respectively. Three-dimensional reconstruction after computed tomography demonstrated spondyloptosis at T5-T6 with overlapping of T5 over T6 and T7. The patient underwent circumferential fusion with anterior fibular strut grafting mechanically secured between the inferior and superior endplates of T5 and T7 followed by an instrumented posterior fusion from T2 to L1 and thoracoplasty. There was satisfactory resolution of the deformity with stabilization at the last follow-up evaluation.
Sanitization of Contaminated Footwear from Onychomycosis Patients Using Ozone Gas: A Novel Adjunct Therapy for Treating Onychomycosis and Tinea Pedis?

Background: Ozone gas possesses antimicrobial properties against bacteria, viruses, and yeasts. Previously, we demonstrated the efficacy of ozone in killing ATCC strains of the dermatophyte fungi Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Objective: To test the efficacy of ozone gas in sanitizing onychomycosis patient footwear contaminated with fungal material as a means of minimizing the risk of reinfection. Methods: Swabs of footwear from onychomycosis patients were cultured prior to and after ozone exposure to test the ability of ozone to sanitize these items. Results: We identified contamination of footwear from most onychomycosis patients, a potential source of reinfection in these individuals. Furthermore, ozone gas was effective in sanitizing contaminated footwear. Conclusion: Ozone gas is effective in sanitizing footwear and represents a novel adjunct therapy to be used in conjunction with antifungal medications and/or devices to better treat onychomycosis and tinea pedis patients in both the short and the long term.