Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PcP) in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PcP) is a potentially life-threatening complication in renal transplant recipients with increased reports during the past few years. Individual risk factors for susceptibility to PcP are incompletely understood. METHODS We retrospectively analysed 60 cases of confirmed PcP, diagnosed in six German transplant centres between 2004 and 2008, as well as 60 matched controls. RESULTS Compared with controls, PcP cases revealed the following significant differences: PcP cases had a poorer renal function (eGFR 31 vs. 42 mL/min in controls), more biopsy-proven rejections (18 vs. 5 patients), more frequent treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (53 vs. 44 patients) and less frequent treatment with interleukin-2 receptor antagonist (20 vs. 32 patients). According to centre policy, in those years, none of the patients or controls had received PcP prophylaxis after transplantation. Of the 60 patients with PcP, 30% developed the disease after the currently recommended duration of prophylactic treatment, 27% died in the course of the disease and 45% required treatment in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS Our case-control study reveals a novel risk profile for PcP. Renal transplant recipients with more pronounced renal insufficiency following rejection episodes and treated with intensified immunosuppression are at particular risk for PcP.
Mental Health Among Immigrant and Refugee Children of Divorced Parents

The mental status of 27 children in divorced immigrant families and 17 children in divorced refugee families was examined, and compared to that of 113 children in divorced Swedish families. Differences in divorce-pattern between these families and Swedish divorced families were analysed. Viewed together, the immigrant and refugee children displayed a significantly higher symptom load compared to Swedish children from both divorced and intact homes. When examined separately, the refugee children but not the immigrant children were more troubled than Swedish children from divorced families. The shorter time the children had spent in Sweden, the higher was their symptom load. In comparison to Swedish divorced couples, the immigrant and refugee couples had been married for a shorter time, had been unhappy for a longer time prior to divorce, and joint custody was less common. Most of the marriages had been unhappy before the arrival in Sweden, but a dissolution had not been seen as feasible earlier. As among the Swedish couples, it was the woman who had initiated the divorce in most cases, and it was also the mother who became the residential parent in most cases.
Inducible expression of the α2‐macroglobulin signaling receptor in response to antigenic stimulation: A study of second messenger generation

Thioglycollate (TG)‐elicited murine, peritoneal macrophages express two receptors for activated forms of the proteinase inhibitor α2‐macroglobulin (α2M*)—namely, the low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein (LRP) and the α2M signaling receptor (α2MSR). We now report that resident peritoneal macrophages express only 400 ± 50 α2MSR receptors/cell compared to 5000 ± 500 receptor/TG‐elicited macrophage. By contrast, LRP expression is only 2–2.5‐fold greater on elicited cells. The low level of α2MSR expression by resident cells is insufficient to trigger signal transduction in contrast to TG‐elicited cells which when exposed to α2M* demonstrate a rapid rise in inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate and a concomitant increase in cytosolic free Ca2+. We then studied a variety of preparations injected subcutaneously for their ability to upregulate α2MSR. Macroaggregated bovine serum albumin (macroBSA) injection upregulated α2MSR and triggered signaling responses by splenic macrophages. Nonaggregated BSA injection alone or in the presence of alum, by contrast, did not alter α2MSR expression. Recombivax (hepatitis B antigen adsorbed to alum) injection also upregulated α2MSR on splenic macrophages while the alum carrier had no effect. We conclude that macrophage α2M* receptors are inducible and their expression may be regulated, in part, by potential antigens. J. Cell. Biochem. 82: 260–270, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hospital ethical climates and registered nurses' turnover intentions.

PURPOSE To investigate (a) the effects of hospital ethical climates on positional and professional turnover intentions of registered nurses, and (b) the relationships among demographic factors, employment characteristics, and positional and professional turnover intentions of registered nurses. DESIGN A cross-sectional study of randomly selected registered nurses (n=463) in Missouri, USA, conducted in 2003 and 2004. METHODS A self-administered questionnaire containing the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey, the Anticipated Turnover Scale, and the Nursing Retention Index was used to assess registered nurses' perceptions of the hospital ethical climate and their intentions to leave their position or the nursing profession. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlations, and hierarchical regression techniques were used to analyze the data. FINDINGS The hospital ethical climate explained 25.4% of the variance in positional turnover intentions and 14.7% of the variance in professional turnover intentions. Together, hospital ethical climate, control over practice, the use of educational reimbursement as a retention strategy, gender, and staff sufficiency explained 29.7% of the variance in positional turnover intentions. Hospital ethical climate, patient load, and control over practice together explained 15.8% of the variance in professional turnover intentions. CONCLUSIONS Of the variables included in this analysis, the hospital ethical climate was most important in explaining nurses' positional and professional turnover intentions.
The Effect of Resistance Exercise on Recovery Blood Pressure in Normotensive and Borderline Hypertensive Women

Nine normotensive and 7 borderline hypertensive women were studied to investigate the effects of an acute bout of resistance exercise on recovery blood pressure. The investigation was conducted over 3 sessions. During the first session, subjects were assessed for muscular strength while performing the following exercises: chest press, seated leg press, biceps brachii curl, knee extension, and triceps brachii extension. In a subsequent session, subjects completed 3 circuits of the aforementioned exercises at 50% (15 repetitions) of the estimated 1 repetition maximum (1RM), followed by a 60-minute recovery period. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressures were assessed via auscultation at 10-minute intervals throughout the recovery period. Subjects were also monitored in a similar manner on a control day in which exercise was excluded. The data were analyzed using a 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a predetermined alpha level of p ≤ 0.05. Women in the borderline hypertensive group exhibited higher SBP (126.5 ± 3.1 mm Hg) and higher DBP (85.4 ± 1.8 mm Hg) than their normotensive counterparts (103.5 ± 2.7 mm Hg; 69.3 ± 1.6 mm Hg) throughout the study. SBP was significantly lower during recovery from the exercise session (113.8 ± 2.1 mm Hg) compared with the control session (116.1 ± 2.1 mm Hg). DBP did not vary between sessions. Although blood pressure was higher in borderline hypertensive subjects, the response of both groups during seated recovery was the same. In conclusion, a single bout of resistance exercise appears to invoke a slight systolic hypotensive response during recovery in normotensive and borderline hypertensive women.
Thyroid involvement in patients with overt HCV-related mixed cryoglobulinaemia.

BACKGROUND Mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC), a systemic vasculitis associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in >90% of cases, is frequently complicated by multiple organ involvement. The prevalence of thyroid disorders in MC has not yet been studied. AIM To investigate the prevalence and clinical features of thyroid involvement in patients with HCV-associated MC (HCV + MC). DESIGN Case-control study. METHODS HCV + MC patients (n = 93, 17 men and 76 women, mean +/- SD age 63 +/- 10 years, mean disease duration 14 +/- 7 years) consecutively referred to the Rheumatology Unit were matched by sex and age (+/- 2 years) to (i) 93 patients with chronic C hepatitis (CH) without MC and (ii) 93 healthy (HCV-negative) controls from the local population. Measurements included prevalence of hypo- or hyperthyroidism, thyroid autoantibodies, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. RESULTS By McNemar's chi(2) test, the following thyroid abnormalities were significantly more frequent in HCV + MC patients than in HCV-negative controls: serum anti-thyroperoxidase autoantibody (AbTPO) (28% vs. 9%, p = 0.001); serum AbTPO and/or anti-thyroglobulin autoantibody (31% vs. 12%, p = 0.004); subclinical hypothyroidism (11% vs. 2%, p = 0.038); thyroid autoimmunity (35% vs. 16%, p = 0.006). Serum AbTPO were also significantly more frequent in HCV + MC patients than in CH controls (28% vs. 14%, p = 0.035). DISCUSSION The prevalence of thyroid disorders is increased in patients with HCV-related mixed cryoglobulinaemia. We suggest careful monitoring of thyroid function in these patients.
Reticulocyte‐binding protein homologue 1 is required for sialic acid‐dependent invasion into human erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum

The Apicomplexan parasite responsible for the most virulent form of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, invades human erythrocytes through mutiple ligand–receptor interactions. Some strains of P. falciparum are sensitive to neuraminidase treatment of the host erythrocyte and these parasites have been termed sialic acid‐dependent as they utilize receptors containing sialic acid. In contrast, other strains can efficiently invade neuraminidase‐treated erythrocytes and hence are sialic acid‐independent. The molecular interactions that allow P. falciparum to differentially utilize receptors for merozoite invasion are not understood. The P. falciparum reticulocyte‐binding protein homologue (PfRh or PfRBL) family have been implicated in the invasion process but their exact role is unknown. PfRh1, a member of this protein family, appears to be expressed in all parasite lines analysed but there are marked differences in the level of expression between different strains. We have used targeted gene disruption of the PfRh1 gene in P. falciparum to show that the encoded protein is required for sialic acid‐dependent invasion of human erythrocytes. The ΔPfRh1 parasites are able to invade normally; however, they utilize a pattern of ligand–receptor interactions that are more neuraminidase‐resistant. Current data suggest a strategy based on the differential function of specific PfRh proteins has evolved to allow P. falciparum parasites to utilize alternative receptors on the erythrocyte surface for evasion of receptor polymorphisms and the host immune system.
Pain and satisfaction in hospitalized trauma patients: The importance of self-efficacy and psychological distress

BACKGROUND: Unmanaged pain has been found to predict delayed return to work, psychologic distress, and chronic pain and disability in patients with traumatic injury. However, little is known about the pain experience during hospitalization. The primary objective of this study was to determine pain intensity, pain interference, and satisfaction with pain treatment in orthopedic trauma patients at hospital discharge. A secondary objective was to examine whether patient self-efficacy and psychologic distress were associated with pain and satisfaction. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-three orthopedic trauma patients were enrolled and completed a discharge assessment at a Level I trauma center. Pain was measured with the Brief Pain Inventory and satisfaction with the American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire. RESULTS: Ninety-seven percent of patients reported pain at the time of hospital discharge, with 59% and 73% reporting moderate to severe pain intensity and interference, respectively. Overall, 86% of patients were satisfied with pain treatment. Multivariable regression analyses demonstrated that decreased self-efficacy was associated with moderate to severe pain intensity, increased depression was associated with moderate to severe pain intensity and interference, and increased pain intensity was associated with decreased satisfaction (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that orthopedic trauma patients have a significant pain burden but are satisfied with pain treatment during the hospital stay. Efforts are needed to improve pain assessment and management and findings imply that addressing self-efficacy and depressive symptoms may decrease pain and increase satisfaction at hospital discharge. Brief educational interventions that incorporate pain coping skills and self-management techniques may be a feasible approach to improving self-efficacy in the acute care setting. Additional recommendations include routine hospital screening for depression and increased communication between surgeons and mental health providers to identify patients at high risk for unmanaged pain and facilitate provision of early mental health services. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.
Bovine papillomavirus DNA in neoplastic and nonneoplastic tissues obtained from horses with and without sarcoids in the western United States.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of bovine papillomavirus (BPV) type 1 or 2 in sarcoids and other samples of cutaneous tissues collected from horses in the western United States. ANIMALS 55 horses with sarcoids and 12 horses without sarcoids. PROCEDURE Tissue samples (tumor and normal skin from horses with sarcoids and normal skin, papillomas, and nonsarcoid cutaneous neoplasms from horses without sarcoids) were collected. Tissue samples were analyzed for BPV-1 or -2 DNA, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The PCR products from 7 sarcoid-affected horses were sequenced to evaluate percentage homology with expected sequences for BPV-1 or-2. RESULTS Most (94/96, 98%) sarcoids contained BPV DNA. Sixty-two percent of the tumors examined had restriction enzyme patterns consistent with BPV-2. Thirty-one of 49 (63%) samples of normal skin obtained from horses with sarcoids contained BPV DNA. All samples subsequently sequenced had 100% homology with the expected sequences for the specific viral type. All tissues from healthy horses, nonsarcoid neoplasms, and papillomas were negative for BPV DNA. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Bovine papillomaviral DNA was detected in essentially all sarcoids examined. There appears to be regional variation in the prevalence of viral types in these tumors. The fact that we detected viral DNA in normal skin samples from horses with sarcoids suggests the possibility of a latent viral phase. Viral latency may be 1 explanation for the high rate of recurrence following surgical excision of sarcoids.
Topological transformation of liposomes by a membrane-affecting domain of recombinant human erythropoietin

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-Epo) is well accepted as a hematopoietic drug, but many other pleiotropic properties are currently under investigation. Rh-Epo-induced receptor-mediated signal transductions are accompanied with membrane dynamic processes, which facilitate the activation of individual pathways. However, its direct effect on membrane dynamics is still unknown. In the present study, we have proven the capability of rh-Epo to associate to and transform artificial lipid membranes. Association studies using neutral, negatively, and positively charged liposomes with the native as well as modified rh-Epo were performed and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. By these studies, we demonstrated that rh-Epo has the capability to transform negatively charged unilamellar vesicles into so-called disc-like micelles. Rh-Epo association to the negatively charged head groups via lysine and arginine initiates this transformation. At physiological temperatures, conformational changes within the rh-Epo structure expose a defined amino-acid sequence, which is able to induce the formation of discoid membrane structures. Enzymatic digestion, analysis, and isolation of related peptides by rp-HPLC and characterization by MS/MS enabled the identification of the membrane-affecting domain of rh-Epo (MAD-E) that represents the exposed helix B of rh-Epo. Finally, association studies performed with these peptides confirmed that the MAD-E is responsible for the formation of disc-like micelles. Since this helix B of rh-Epo has recently been supposed to be involved in the activation of neuroprotective pathways, we believe that the membrane-transforming capacity of rh-Epo participates in the proliferative activity of rh-Epo.
Need of improvement in emergency medical service in urban cities.

INTRODUCTION An effective Emergency Medical Service system does not exist in Nepal. For an effective EMS system to be developed the scale of the problem and the existing facilities need to be studied. METHODS Prospective observational study was carried out on 1964 patients attending Emergency Department at Patan Hospital during one month period of September 2006. The patients were specifically enquired on mode of transport used, place of origin and whether they called for an ambulance or not. Patients triage category at the time of triaging was also noted. Information on ambulance service were collected by direct interview with the service providers and the total number of patients attending Emergency Departments daily were collected from the major hospitals of the urban Lalitpur and Kathmandu. MS Excel and SPSS software were used for data entry, editing and analysis. RESULTS Total 9.9% patients arrived in ambulance whereas 53.6% came in a Taxi, 11.4% came in private vehicle, 13.5 % came by bus, 5.4% came by bike and the rest 6.2% came by other modes of transportation. Only 13.5% of triage category I patients took the ambulance. There were 31 service providers with 49 ambulances and 720 patients per day attend Emergency Departments in the surveyed area. CONCLUSIONS Very less number of patients use the ambulance service for emergency services. The available ambulances are not properly equipped and do not have trained staff and as such are only a means of transportation to the hospitals of urban Lalitpur and Kathmandu.
Executive functioning differences between adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic spectrum disorder in initiation, planning and strategy formation

Executive functioning deficits characterize the neuropsychological profiles of the childhood neurodevelopmental disorders of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). This study sought to determine whether similar impairments exist in adults with ADHD (N = 53) and ASD (N = 45) in comparison with a healthy control group (N = 31), whether the two disorders can be distinguished on the basis of their executive functioning features, and whether these impairments are related to symptom severity. Both clinical groups were found to exhibit executive functioning deficits. The ADHD group had difficulty withholding a response, with relative preservation of initiation and planning abilities. In contrast, the ASD group exhibited significant impairments in initiation, planning and strategy formation. The specific executive functioning deficits were related to severity of response inhibition impairments in ADHD and stereotyped, repetitive behaviours in ASD. These findings suggest the pattern of executive functioning deficits follows a consistent trajectory into adulthood.
Music Genre Classification Based on Entropy and Fractal Lacunarity

In this letter, we present an automatic music genre classification scheme based on a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) classifier. The proposed technique adopts entropies and lacunarities as features for the classifications. Tests were carried out with four styles of Brazilian music, namely Ax ´e, Bossa Nova, Forro ´, and Samba.
Mutations of the UMOD gene are responsible for medullary cystic kidney disease 2 and familial juvenile hyperuricaemic nephropathy

Introduction: Medullary cystic kidney disease 2 (MCKD2) and familial juvenile hyperuricaemic nephropathy (FJHN) are both autosomal dominant renal diseases characterised by juvenile onset of hyperuricaemia, gout, and progressive renal failure. Clinical features of both conditions vary in presence and severity. Often definitive diagnosis is possible only after significant pathology has occurred. Genetic linkage studies have localised genes for both conditions to overlapping regions of chromosome 16p11-p13. These clinical and genetic findings suggest that these conditions may be allelic. Aim: To identify the gene and associated mutation(s) responsible for FJHN and MCKD2. Methods: Two large, multigenerational families segregating FJHN were studied by genetic linkage and haplotype analyses to sublocalise the chromosome 16p FJHN gene locus. To permit refinement of the candidate interval and localisation of candidate genes, an integrated physical and genetic map of the candidate region was developed. DNA sequencing of candidate genes was performed to detect mutations in subjects affected with FJHN (three unrelated families) and MCKD2 (one family). Results: We identified four novel uromodulin (UMOD) gene mutations that segregate with the disease phenotype in three families with FJHN and in one family with MCKD2. Conclusion: These data provide the first direct evidence that MCKD2 and FJHN arise from mutation of the UMOD gene and are allelic disorders. UMOD is a GPI anchored glycoprotein and the most abundant protein in normal urine. We postulate that mutation of UMOD disrupts the tertiary structure of UMOD and is responsible for the clinical changes of interstitial renal disease, polyuria, and hyperuricaemia found in MCKD2 and FJHN.
Melatonin synergistically increases resveratrol‐induced heme oxygenase‐1 expression through the inhibition of ubiquitin‐dependent proteasome pathway: a possible role in neuroprotection

Abstract: Melatonin is an indoleamine secreted by the pineal gland as well as a plant‐derived product, and resveratrol (RSV) is a naturally occurring polyphenol synthesized by a variety of plant species; both molecules act as a neuroprotector and antioxidant. Recent studies have demonstrated that RSV reduced the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke, while melatonin supplementation was found to reduce the progression of the cognitive impairment in AD. The heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) is an inducible and redox‐regulated enzyme that provides tissue‐specific antioxidant effects. We assessed whether the co‐administration of melatonin and RSV shows synergistic effects in terms of their neuroprotective properties through HO‐1. RSV significantly increased the expression levels of HO‐1 protein in a concentration‐dependent manner both in primary cortical neurons and in astrocytes, while melatonin per se did not. Melatonin + RSV showed a synergistic increase in the expression levels of HO‐1 protein but not in the HO‐1 mRNA level compared to either melatonin or RSV alone, which is mediated by the activation of PI3K‐Akt pathway. Treatment of melatonin + RSV significantly attenuated the neurotoxicity induced by H2O2 in primary cortical neurons and also in organotypic hippocampal slice culture. The blockade of HO‐1 induction by shRNA attenuated HO‐1 induction by melatonin + RSV and hindered the neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress induced by H2O2. The treatment of MG132 + RSV mimicked the effects of melatonin + RSV, and melatonin + RSV inhibited ubiquitination of HO‐1. These data suggest that melatonin potentiates the neuroprotective effect of RSV against oxidative injury, by enhancing HO‐1 induction through inhibiting ubiquitination‐dependent proteasome pathway, which may provide an effective means to treat neurodegenerative disorders.