Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anaphylaxis: a decade of a nationwide allergy society registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening, multi-organ hypersensitivity reaction. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the causes of anaphylaxis in Portugal, contributing to a better knowledge of the anaphylaxis epidemiology and management. METHODS During a 10-year period a nationwide notification system for anaphylaxis was implemented, with voluntary reporting by allergists. Data on 1783 patients with anaphylaxis were included. Detailed characterization of etiopathogenesis, manifestations and clinical management was obtainedfrom pediatric and adult ages. RESULTS The mean age was 32.7±20.3 years, 30% under 18 years of age; 58% were female. The mean age at the first anaphylaxis episode was 27.5±20.4 years (ranging from 1-month-old to 88years). The main culprits of anaphylaxis were foods (48%), drugs (37%) (main trigger in adults, 48%) and hymenoptera-venoms (7%). The main culprit foods were shellfish (27%), fresh fruits (17%), cow's milk (16%), treenuts (15%), fish (8%), egg (7%) and peanut (7%). The main drugs were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(43%), antibiotics (39%) and anaesthetic agents (6%). Other causes were exercise (3%), latex (2%), cold-induced (2%) and idiopathic anaphylaxis (2%). Most patients (80%) were admitted to the emergency department; only 43% received adrenaline treatment. Recurrence of anaphylaxis occurred in 41% of patients (21% with ≥3 anaphylactic episodes); 7% used an adrenaline autoinjector device. CONCLUSIONS Food has been the leading cause of anaphylaxis in Portugal, while drugs were the main elicitors in adults. We highlight the undertreatment with adrenaline and recurrent episodes, pointing for the need to improve diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of anaphylaxis.
Diurnal trends in mood and performance do not all parallel alertness.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the hypothesis that alertness can be used to predict time-of-day effects on performance. METHODS For 6 or 7 days the volunteers (24, highly practiced young women) were required to retire to bed at 0000 and were awakened at 0800. A battery of mood and performance tests was completed every 2 hours while the women were awake; the result was 9 equally spaced measures per day. Measures of mood, serial reaction time, and memory scanning were recorded. Rectal temperature was recorded continuously. RESULTS After omitting the data from the first day to avoid any carry-over from the "first-night" effect on sleep, average time-of-day functions were calculated for each subject, for each variable, and were then z-transformed. Cross-correlations between the pooled time-of-day trends indicated that, while alertness was a reasonably good "predictor" of the simple perceptual-motor speed measures, it fared less well for some of the other measures. Two-way analyses of variance indicated that the time-of-day trend for all measures differed from that for alertness, although the magnitude of this difference varied substantially and, for some measures, was very largely due to the last reading of the day (0000). CONCLUSION It is clear from these results that, while alertness may successfully "predict" variations in some measures of performance capability, and especially those of simple perceptual motor speed, care should be exercised in extrapolating to other performance measures.
Aetiologies of diarrhoea in adults from urban and rural treatment facilities in Bangladesh

SUMMARY The objective of our analysis was to describe the aetiology, clinical features, and socio-demographic background of adults with diarrhoea attending different urban and rural diarrhoeal disease hospitals in Bangladesh. Between January 2010 and December 2011, a total of 5054 adult diarrhoeal patients aged ⩾20 years were enrolled into the Diarrhoeal Disease Surveillance Systems at four different hospitals (two rural and two urban) of Bangladesh. Middle-aged [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0·28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·23–0·35, P < 0·001] and elderly (aOR 0·15, 95% CI 0·11–0·20, P < 0·001) patients were more likely to present to rural diarrhoeal disease facilities than urban ones. Vibrio cholerae was the most commonly isolated pathogen (16%) of the four pathogens tested followed by rotavirus (5%), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (4%), and Shigella (4%). Of these pathogens, V. cholerae (19% vs. 11%, P < 0·001), ETEC (9% vs. 4%, P < 0·001), and rotavirus (5% vs. 3%, P = 0·013) were more commonly detected from patients presenting to urban hospitals than rural hospitals, but Shigella was more frequently isolated from patients presenting to rural hospitals than urban hospitals (7% vs. 2%, P < 0·001). The isolation rate of Shigella was higher in the elderly than in younger adults (8% vs. 3%, P < 0·001). Some or severe dehydration was higher in urban adults than rural adults (P < 0·001). Our findings indicate that despite economic and other progress made, conditions facilitating transmission of V. cholerae and Shigella prevail in adults with diarrhoea in Bangladesh and further efforts are needed to control these infections.
Importance of Urinary Tract Infection to Antibiotic Use Among Hospitalized Patients

Many patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria receive extended courses of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Antibiotic use was analyzed in patients admitted to the hospital with urinary tract infection. Strategies to optimize antibiotic use for such patients are discussed and include implementing a process whereby a urine culture is automatically performed if a urinalysis result suggests infection.
Angiogenesis of the blood‐brain barrier in vitro and the function of cerebral pericytes

Cerebral pericytes constitute an essential component of the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and are involved in blood vessel assembly. Recently, we reported on the induction of a BBB‐specific enzyme expressed by cerebral pericytes (pericytic aminopeptidase N/pAPN) in coculture with cerebral endothelial cells. We completed this in vitro BBB system by adding astrocytes to these mixed cultures of endothelial cells and pericytes. Under these triculture conditions, endothelial cells and pericytes reorganize into capillary‐like structures (CLSs). Capillary formation can also be achieved by the application of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF‐β1) in the culture medium of endothelial‐pericyte cultures lacking astrocytes. In contrast to the effect achieved by astrocytes, pericytes did not assemble with endothelial cells. In both cases (application of astrocytes or TGF‐β1), endothelial cells underwent apoptosis. However, endothelial cells that form CLSs in the presence of pericytes appeared to be resistant to induction of apoptosis. On the basis of these observations, we concluded that astrocytes have a profound influence on the morphogenetic events underlying the organization of the vessel wall; that the effect of TGF‐β1 is different from the astrocytic effect because it lacks induction of endothelial‐pericyte association; and that pericytes stabilize CLSs formed by endothelial cells in coculture with astrocytes.
Imbalanced Cytokine Secretion in Newborns

In adults, a balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokine networks has been proposed to be associated with a healthy status. Newborn babies are reported to express Th2-type immune reactions. Further, the impaired protection of newborn babies against infections has been attributed to a deficient secretion of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Using IFN-γ and IL-10 as surrogate markers of Th1 and Th2 orientation, we compared the patterns of IFN-γ and IL-10 secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells between 52 healthy newborns and 35 adults. The baseline secretion of IFN-γ in adults was similar to that of newborns. The lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IFN-γ secretion was higher in newborns than in adults, whereas the concanavalin-A-stimulated IFN-γ secretion was higher in adults. The unstimulated and stimulated IL-10 secretion was significantly lower in newborns than in adults. Using a threshold level of 1,000 pg/ml, we classified neonates and adults on the basis of their stimulated IL-10 and IFN-γ secretion. Four different groups were identified: IL-10-oriented secretion, IFN-γ- oriented secretion, balanced high secretion, and balanced low secretion. Only 25% of the neonates had a high IL-10 and a high IFN-γ secretion as compared with 77% of the adults. Eight percent of the newborns, but none of the adults, had a low secretion of both cytokines. Thirty-six percent of the neonates, but only 5% of the adults, had a high IL-10 and a low IFN-γ secretion. Thirty-one percent of the neonates and 18% of the adults had a high IFN-γ secretion, but a low IL-10 secretion. We conclude that neonates have an immature IL-10 and IFN-γ response as compared with adults. However, individual neonates may have a mature cytokine secretion, whereas others may have a Th1- or a Th2-directed immune response.
A Musical Profile for a Sample of Learning-Disabled Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Study

31 learning-disabled children and adolescents completed the Pitch, Loudness, Rhythm, Time, and Tonal Memory subtests of the Seashore Measures of Musical Talents. Results indicated that the Seashore test did not discriminate between subgroups of these learning-disabled children. However, differences were found in percentile equivalents between these learning-disabled and normal individuals. These data should be interpreted with caution due to the small size of this sample and the spread of percentiles presented by Seashore.
Evaluation of cerebral gray and white matter metabolite differences by spectroscopic imaging at 4.1T

Using a 4.1 T whole body system, we have acquired 1H spectroscopic imaging (SI) data of N‐acetyl (NA) compounds, creatine (CR), and choline (CH) with nominal voxel sizes of 0.5 cc (1.15 cc after filtering). We have used the SI data to estimate differences in cerebral metabolites of human gray and white matter. To evaluate the origin of an increased CWNA and CWNA ratios in gray matter relative to white matter, we measured the T1 and T2 of CR, NA, and CH in gray and white matter using moderate resolution SI imaging. In white matter the T2s of NA, CR, and CH were 233 ± 27,141 ± 18, and 167 ± 20 ms, respectively, and 227 ± 27,140 ± 16, and 189 ± 25 ms in gray matter. The T, values for NA, CR, and CH were 1267 ±141, 1487 ± 146, and 1111 ± 136 ms in gray matter and 1260 ± 154, 1429 & 233, and 1074 ± 146 ms in white matter. After correcting for T1 and T2 losses, creatine content was significantly lower in white matter than gray (P < e 0.01, t‐test), with a white/gray content ratio of 0.8, in agreement with biopsy and in vivo measurements at 1.5 and 2.0T.
Cytomegalovirus infection of the liver transplant: virological, histological, immunological, and clinical observations

Abstract: The most common organ‐specific manifestation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after liver transplantation is hepatitis. Here we retrospectively describe the detailed virological, histological, immunological, and clinical findings associated with CMV infection in 229 consecutive adult liver transplantation patients. CMV infection was diagnosed by pp65 antigenemia. From 439 liver biopsies, CMV antigens were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and CMV DNA by hybridization. The Banff criteria were used for histology. The expression of various adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 [ICAM‐1], vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 [VCAM‐1], endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule‐1 [ELAM‐1]), their ligands (leukocyte function antigen‐1 [LFA‐1], very late antigen‐4 [VLA‐4], Sialyl‐LewisX‐molecule [SLeX]), and lymphoid activation markers (major histocompatibility complex [MHC] Class II, interleukin‐2‐receptor [IL‐2R]) was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry.
Function and Evolution of Neurofilament Proteins a

The intermediate filament (IF) proteins have evolved by repeated duplications of a single ancestral gene (FIGURE 1). At least five subfamilies of IF proteins have been identified in mammals, and each subfamily is expressed preferentially in a particular type of differentiated cell: cytokeratins in epithelia, neurofilament (NF) proteins in neurons, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in glia, desmin in myogenic cells, and vimentin in early embryonic cells and in mesenchymal cells. ’-’ All of the IF proteins have a conserved 40 kD rod-shaped domain, which has probably been derived from the ancestral IF gene? -” This 40 kD domain is distinguished by its large content of alpha helical structure and by the presence of a highly conserved epitope that is recognized by a mouse monoclonal antibody that reacts specifically with all IF proteins. ” It appears that the 40 kD domain has been highly conserved because of its essential role in IF IF proteins also contain two hypervariable regions that flank the conserved 40 kD d ~ m a i n . ~ These regions form the amino-terminal (head) and the carboxy-terminal (tail) portions of the IF proteins. Evolutionary variation in both of these regions has led to substantial differences between the subfamilies of IF proteins? In particular, the tail segment of the NF proteins has varied extensively and now contains a number of features not found in other IF proteins. One of the most evident differences between the tail segment of the NF proteins and other IF proteins is size. The tail segment of many NF proteins is larger than 100 kD, whereas the typical tail segment of other IF proteins is less than 5 kD.5,’ The tail region is heavily phosphorylated in higher molecular weight NF subunits16 and amino acid sequencing of the 68 kD subunit has identified a unique domain, the b domain, at the carboxy-terminal end of the protein. ’ The b domain is characterized by an unusually high content of acidic residues (44% glutamic acid), and also contains the binding site for the Bodian
Complete Genome Sequences of 138 Mycobacteriophages

ABSTRACT Bacteriophages are the most numerous biological entities in the biosphere, and although their genetic diversity is high, it remains ill defined. Mycobacteriophages—the viruses of mycobacterial hosts—provide insights into this diversity as well as tools for manipulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We report here the complete genome sequences of 138 new mycobacteriophages, which—together with the 83 mycobacteriophages previously reported—represent the largest collection of phages known to infect a single common host, Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2 155.
Disease progression in patients with virological suppression in response to HAART is associated with the degree of immunological response

Objective:To determine if immunological response is associated with disease progression in patients with virological suppression after initiating HAART. Design:A cohort study of 1084 treatment-naive participants in the British Columbia HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program who had achieved viral loads < 500 copies/ml at 3–9 months after initiating triple-drug therapy. Methods:Cox proportional hazards was used to model the association with disease progression of baseline variables, change in CD4 cell counts and CD4 cell count strata at 6 months. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations with two definitions of poor immunological response. Results:Patients were followed for a median of 51.4 months. In univariate analyses, increases in CD4 cell counts of < 25 cells/μl and absolute CD4 cell counts of < 200 cells/μl were associated with an increased risk of death or new AIDS events. Two mulitivariate models, one including baseline CD4 cell count and change in CD4 cell count from baseline and the other including only absolute CD4 cell counts at 6 months, were found to predict disease progression in this setting. Increases in CD4 cell count of < 25 cells/μl were associated with increasing age and inversely associated with low baseline CD4 cell counts, high baseline viral loads and good adherence to therapy. CD4 cell counts of < 200 cells/μl at 6 months were associated with low baseline CD4 cell counts and having AIDS at baseline. Conclusion:Patients with virological suppression are still at risk for HIV disease progression if adequate immunological responses are not achieved.
Behavioral Management of Chronic Pain and Excess Disability: Long‐Term Follow‐Up of an Outpatient Program

ObjectiveTo assess the overall efficiency of an outpatient behavioral rehabilitation program for excess disability and chronic pain and to describe the program staff, treatment components and outcomes in sufficient detail to facilitate comparison with similar programs. DesignEight-year follow-up study of patients referred and treated. SettingOutpatient primary care and multispecialty group medical practice. Patients354 of 421 unselected patients referred for the behavioral management of excess disability, who completed the treatment program and participated in follow-up. Interventions15–20 sessions of physical and occupational therapy, 5–10 sessions of biofeedback, and one or two family sessions all based upon behavioral techniques described by Fordyce and by Roberts. Main Outcome MeasuresQuestionnaires, including analog scales, administered before treatment and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months posttreatment. ResultsPatients (n = 67) who dropped out did not differ systematically from those who participated (n = 354). The treatment program resulted in a marked and enduring reduction of pain, and a statistically and clinically significant improvement in patients' ability to function at work and in the home. Patients overwhelmingly endorsed the program. ConclusionsA brief, inexpensive, outpatient behavioral rehabilitation program for chronic pain and excess disability can achieve a clinically significant and lasting reduction of pain and improvement in function at work and at home.
Does snoring intensity correlate with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea?

STUDY OBJECTIVES It is commonly believed that louder snoring is associated with more severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We evaluated the association between snoring intensity and the severity of OSA to better understand this clinical correlation. We also investigated the relationships between body mass index (BMI), neck size, sleep stage, and body position with the intensity of snoring. METHODS Overnight polysomnography, including objective measurement of snoring intensity, in 1643 habitual snorers referred for evaluation of sleep apnea. RESULTS Sixty-five percent of patients were male; the cohort had a mean age of 48.7 +/- 13.7 y and BMI of 30.9 +/- 8.8 kg/m2. The mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 28.2 +/- 26. The severity of OSA was graded as no OSA (AHI < 5), mild (AHI 5 to 15), moderate (AHI 15 to 30), severe (AHI 30 to 50), and very severe OSA (AHI > 50). Snoring intensity increased progressively across all 5 categories of AHI frequency and ranged from 46.3 +/- 3.6 db in patients with AHI < 5 to 60.5 +/- 6.4 db in those with AHI > 50. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the intensity of snoring and the AHI (r = 0.66, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The intensity of snoring increases as OSA becomes more severe.
Optimal sofware release policies for software reliability growth models under imperfect debugging

Sont examines deux modeles de croissance de fiabilite de logiciels sous l'hypothese de correction imparfaite des erreurs, en se basant sur un processus de Poisson non homogene. Les parametres du modele sont estimes et les politiques optimales de mise a disposition publique sont examinees.
The Wisdom Development Scale: Further Validity Investigations

Researchers are gaining an interest in the concept of wisdom, a more holistic yet often ineffable educational outcome. Models of wisdom abound, but few have rigorously tested measures. This study looks at Brown's (2004a, 2004b) Model of Wisdom Development and its associated measure, the Wisdom Development Scale (WDS; Brown & Greene, 2006). The construct validity, measurement invariance, criterion validity, and reliability of scores from the WDS were assessed with over 3000 participants from two separate groups: one a sample of professionals and the other a sample of college students. Support for construct validity and reliability with these samples was found, along with measurement invariance. Latent means analyses showed predicted discrimination between the groups, and criterion validity evidence, with another measure of collegiate educational outcomes, was found.
Effects of temperature on the wall strength and compliance of frog mesenteric microvessels

1 In single perfused mesenteric microvessels of pithed frogs, we assessed wall strength from the critical pressure, PB, which has to be applied within the vessel in order to induce openings in the walls through which fluid and cells can extravasate. PB was determined in capillaries and venules of tissues at 12‐20°C and after cooling to 0‐5°C. 2 The PB (mean ± s.e.m.) in 22 vessels between 12 and 20°C was 52.64 ± 3.86 cmH2O. In 19 microvessels cooled to less than 5°C, PB was 92.0 ± 7.40 cmH2O which was significantly higher than at room temperature (P < 0.001). 3 The compliance of the vessel wall was estimated using both the red cell method and the oil meniscus technique. There was no measurable effect of temperature on wall compliance. The compliance of vessels from which the cells had been removed by previous perfusion with detergent solutions was very similar to that of intact vessels between 12 and 20°C and between 0 and 5°C. 4 The negligible effects of temperature upon compliance suggest that microvessel walls have to be distended to a greater extent in cold tissue before PB is reached. This, together with their rapid closure, is consistent with the hypothesis that pressure‐induced openings in microvascular walls are dependent on an active response of the endothelium rather than being the result of stress failure of the basement membrane.
Risk reduction through skeletal scintigraphy as a screening tool in suspected scaphoid fracture: a literature review

Fractures of the scaphoid are the most common carpal injuries. Suspected scaphoid injuries make up a large part of the work of an accident and emergency department, and unfortunately make up a significant percentage of litigation claims. Initial radiographs cannot always detect fractures while undisplaced and subsequently untreated fractures may give rise to premature carpal collapse and degenerative arthritis with alterations in the kinematics of the wrist. The use of scintigraphy in the diagnosis of fractures of the carpal scaphoid has been used routinely as a valuable supplementary examination. It has been shown to be more sensitive than routine radiography and it has been suggested that the results of early bone scanning should guide the treatment of patients with suspected scaphoid fractures. This literature review aims to look at the various studies performed regarding the use of bone scanning in suspected scaphoid fractures and an attempt to formulate a management protocol is made.