Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Home Care Services among the Elderly in Eastern Canada

RÉSUMÉ But: Comparer au moyen d'un plan d'étude transversale les caractéristiques démographiques et fonctionnelles des utilisateurs âgés et des non-utilisateurs de services de soins à domicile dans les centres urbains de la Nouvelle-Écosse (n = 533) et de la Terre-Neuve (n = 449). Résultats: Plus de Néo-Écossais et Néo-Écossaises (24%) que de Terre-Neuviens et Terre-Neuviennes (11%) reçoivent des services de soins à domicile. Dans les deux provinces, la plupart des gens dépendants par rapport aux activités de la vie quotidienne (AVQ) ne reçoivent pas des services de soins à domicile, et la plupart des utilisateurs de soins à domicile n'ont pas de dépendence par rapport aux AVQ. À Terre-Neuve, la dépendence et la démence sont plus fréquentes chez les utilisateurs de soins à domicile, contrairement aux utilisateurs en Nouvelle-Écosse ou le fait d'avoir 85 ans ou plus, de ne pas avoir de soutien dans la même habitation, de ne pas être marié et d'être limité par rapport aux activitiés instrumentales de la vie quotidienne (ATVQ) a pour conséquence une augmentation importante de la probabilité d'utilisation de soins à domicile. À Terre-Neuve, la tendance à recourir à des soins à domicile est plus forte chez les gens ayant une dépendence par rapport aux AIVQ. Conclusions: Si les soins à domicile doivent se substituer à des soins en établissement, il faut être prêt à adapter à un nouveau type d'utilisateur les programmes existants de soins à domicile. ABSTRACT Objective: To compare demographic and functional characteristics of elderly users and non-users of home care services in urban Nova Scotia (n = 533) and Newfoundland (n = 449) using a cross sectional study design. Results: More Nova Scotians (24%) than Newfoundlanders (11%) received home care services. In both provinces, most ADL-dependent people do not receive home care services, and most home care users are not ADL dependent. In Newfoundland, home care users were more likely to be ADL dependent and to have dementia; this was not the case in Nova Scotia. In Nova Scotia being over age 85 without a supporter in the same residence, not being married, and having an IADL limitation significantly increased the likelihood of home care use. IADL impaired subjects in Newfoundland were also more likely to receive home care. Conclusions: If home care is to substitute for institutional care, existing home care programs must be prepared to adapt to a new type of user.
Comparison of the Sensitivity to Change of the 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey and the Lupus Quality of Life Measure Using Various Definitions of Minimum Clinically Important Differences in Patients With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF‐36) and Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL) are health‐related quality of life questionnaires used in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We first determined the hypothesis‐testing construct validity of the SF‐36 and LupusQoL against disease activity in patients with active SLE and then compared the sensitivity to change of SF‐36 and LupusQoL domains according to different definitions of minimum clinically important differences (MCIDs) for improvement and worsening in the current cohort.
From Childhood to Adulthood: Disease Activity Trajectories in Childhood‐Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

No previous study has studied the longitudinal disease course of childhood‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). Our objectives are to assess distinguishable differences in disease activity trajectories in cSLE patients, determine baseline factors predictive of disease trajectory membership, and assess if the different disease activity trajectories are associated with different damage trajectories.
Cloning of bovine growth hormone gene and its expression in bacteria

A hybrid plasmid was constructed containing beta-lactamase gene of plasmid pBR322 and cloned coding sequences of bovine growth hormone (BGH). The constructed plasmid contains all DNA sequences required to encode BGH, and when used as a hybridization probe it detects one growth hormone gene in the bovine genome. The cloned DNA sequences are inserted into the beta-lactamase gene in the correct reading frame for BGH synthesis. The hybrid gene is expressed in bacteria and the product, a fused beta-lactamase-bovine growth hormone protein, is specifically immunoprecipitated with anti-serum to BGH. Unlike beta-lactamase, very little growth hormone containing sequences can be detected in the periplasmic space.
Predictive factors of visual outcome in open globe injuries in Thailand: a prospective study

Abstract Background: Eye injuries, especially open globe injuries, cause visual morbidities and socioeconomic burden. It is an urgent task to require good database and stakeholder involvement for open globe injuries. Objectives: Investigate the epidemiology and predictive factors of visual outcome in open globe injuries in an industrial area in Thailand. Methods: Consecutive cases of in-patient open globe injuries in Mettapracharak Eye Centre between February 2009 and January 2010 were examined. Patients were interviewed at first visit and followed-up for six months. The Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology was used to classify types of injuries. Demographic data, cost of treatment, length of stay, and predictive factors (initial visual acuity, presence of relative afferent pupillary defect, hyphema, vitreous hemorrhage, intraocular foreign bodies, retinal detachment, time-duration to surgery, and wound length) were assessed. Results: Fifty-two out of 60 eyes were included. Most (82.7%) of patients were men and average age was 34.1 years (range: 8-68 years). About half (51.9%) were graduated from primary school and 65.3% were laborers. Most patients had not used protective devices. The endophthalmitis rate was 13.5%, and panophthalmitis rate was 5.8%. The enucleation rate was 9.6%. The median length of stay was nine days. Poor initial visual acuity and intraocular foreign bodies were significant predictive factors (p <0.05). Conclusion: Open globe injuries caused visual morbidity especially in young adult male, laborers with low education. Initial visual acuity and intraocular foreign bodies were significant predictive factors.
Emotional work, emotional wellbeing and professional practice: the lived experiences of women community health nurses providing palliative care in the home environment in Australia

This research set out to explore the relationship between emotional work, emotional wellbeing and professional practice of community nurses who provided palliative care to clients living at home. Three specific aims were investigated; the concept of emotional wellbeing; the relationship between emotional work, emotional wellbeing and professional practice; and the strategies utilised by the nurses that promote their emotional wellbeing. An emancipatory framework was applied to this study. The research was epistemologically and ontologically located within a critical and feminist framework. It was believed that the chosen methodological approach was well situated to address the subjective experiences of the sixteen women community nurses who participated in this study. The participants were all registered nurses employed by New South Wales Health and were geographically located across rural and urban New South Wales, Australia. Data collection was undertaken over a fifteen-month period. The chosen methods were semi-structured interviews and reflective journaling. The findings revealed that the concept of emotional wellbeing was complex and multifaceted. The participants associated emotional wellbeing with feeling energetically balanced or out of balance. There was a pervasive interconnectedness between emotional work, emotional wellbeing and professional practice that was influenced by multiple factors including the emotional impact of emotional work and various workplace challenges. Three main themes emerged, those being: Demanding; Rewarding; and Comfortability. Self-care was recognised as being important to the nurses and strategies to enhance their wellbeing were identified. These included healthy lifestyle choices, debriefing, self-validation, assertiveness and the need for emotional support. It is argued that community health nurses are well positioned to critically examine their work environments and explore the issues that hinder or enhance their professional satisfaction and emotional wellbeing. The profession of nursing has traditionally promoted holistic healthcare practice in client care. Yet the holistic and humanistic care of nurses has been relegated to the margins, particularly when exploring emotional issues. Emancipatory inquiries provide valuable opportunities for researchers to address the complex issues faced by nurses as it enables nurses to speak from their hearts, thus creating transformative opportunities that have benefits for educators, nurses, the nursing profession and recipients of nursing care.
Genital Infections of HIV-Infected Women Assisted by a Specialized Service

The present study aimed at analyzing the persistence/recurrence of genital infections and its associated factors in HIV-infected women. Fifty-eight women treated for chlamydial infection, trichomoniasis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and/or bacterial vaginosis (BV) and who had specimens collected for cure control up to one year after treatment were studied. Diagnoses were performed by the Gram staining method for cases of BV and candidiasis and by T. vaginalis culture and qualitative PCR for C. trachomatis. Antiretroviral therapy was used by 79.3% of patients, and 62.1% showed an undetectable HIV plasma load. The most frequent infection was BV with persistence/recurrence of 52.4%, which was associated with a longer time period between treatment and cure control (), postmenopausal period (), and having a steady partner (). Persistence/recurrence of vulvovaginal candidiasis was observed in 25%, trichomoniasis in 23.1%, and chlamydial infection in 10.5%. The latter was associated with inadequate treatment of the partner (). There was a tendency to higher persistence/recurrence of BV () and trichomoniasis () among patients with low T CD4
In vitro RNP assembly and methylation guide activity of an unusual box C/D RNA, cis‐acting archaeal pre‐tRNATrp

Among the large family of C/D methylation guide RNAs, the intron of euryarchaeal pre-tRNA(Trp) represents an outstanding specimen able to guide in cis, instead of in trans, two 2'-O-methylations in the pre-tRNA exons. Remarkably, both sites of methylation involve nucleotides within the bulge-helix-bulge (BHB) splicing motif, while the RNA-guided methylation and pre-tRNA splicing events depend on mutually exclusive RNA folding patterns. Using the three recombinant core proteins of archaeal C/D RNPs, we have analyzed in vitro RNP assembly of the pre-tRNA and tested its site-specific methylation activity. Recognition by L7Ae of hallmark K-turns at the C/D and C'/D' motifs appears as a crucial assembly step required for subsequent binding of a Nop5p-aFib heterodimer at each site. Unexpectedly, however, even without L7Ae but at a higher concentration of Nop5p-aFib, a substantially active RNP complex can still form, possibly reflecting the higher propensity of the cis-acting system to form guide RNA duplex(es) relative to classical trans- acting C/D RNA guides. Moreover, footprinting data of RNPs, consistent with Nop5p interacting with the non-canonical stem of the K-turn, suggest that binding of Nop5p-aFib to the pre-tRNA-L7Ae complex might direct transition from a splicing-competent structure to an RNA conformer displaying the guide RNA duplexes required for site-specific methylation.
Evaluation of a systemic antibiotic treatment of chronic endometritis in buffaloes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a systemic treatment of chronic endometritis in buffaloes with antibiotics targeted against both aerobic (ciprofloxacin) and anaerobic (metronidazole) infections. Fifteen buffaloes (9 heifers, 6 pluriparous,) diagnosed with chronic endometritis based upon the reproductive history and (muco) purulent alkaline vaginal discharges were included in the present study. All the buffaloes received 2 gm of ciprofloxacin and 2.5 gm of metronidazole intravenously for 5 consecutive days. The cure rate was monitored by observing colour, consistency and pH of vaginal discharge and pregnancy rate after artificial insemination at estrus next to the treatment. The cure rate based upon the characteristics of vaginal discharge at estrus following treatment was 100% and, thereafter observed pregnancy rate was 40–50%. The remaining buffaloes failed to conceive due to chronic endometritis-induced alterations in the reproductive tract. In conclusion, systemic treatment of chronic endometritis in buffaloes with ciprofloxacin and metronidazole is highly effective.
Significance of Monocytosis in Varicella and Herpes Zoster

Percent ratios and absolute numbers of peripheral blood monocytes in patients with varicella and herpes zoster were determined and compared with those in patients with herpes simplex virus infection, measles and rubella. Monocytosis during the acute stage (p<0.01) was statistically significant in varicella and generalized and localized herpes zoster, compared with the levels in herpes simplex virus infection, measles and rubella. Absolute monocyte counts in varicella and HZ were significantly increased (p<0.02) beyond those of measles and rubella. The high % ratios of monocytes in varicella and herpes zoster during the acute stage decreased to normal ranges with cure.
Noninvasive Transdermal Vaccination Using Hyaluronan Nanocarriers and Laser Adjuvant

Vaccines are commonly administered by injection using needles. Although transdermal microneedles are less invasive promising alternatives, needle‐free topical vaccination without involving physical damage to the natural skin barrier is still sought after as it can further reduce needle‐induced anxiety and is simple to administer. However, this long‐standing goal has been elusive since the intact skin is impermeable to most macromolecules. Here, we show an efficient, noninvasive transdermal vaccination by employing two key innovations: the use of hyaluronan (HA) as vaccine carriers and non‐ablative laser adjuvants. Conjugates of a model vaccine ovalbumin (OVA) and HA—HA–OVA conjugates—induced more effective maturation of dendritic cells in vitro, compared to OVA. Following topical administration in the skin, HA–OVA conjugates penetrated into the epidermis and dermis in murine and porcine skins, as revealed by intravital microscopy and fluorescence assay. Topical administration of HA‐OVA conjugates significantly elevated both humoral and mucosal antibodies, with peak levels at four weeks. An OVA challenge at week eight elicited strong immune‐recall responses. With pretreatment of the skin using non‐ablative fractional laser beams as adjuvant, strong immunization was achieved with much reduced doses of HA–OVA (1 mg kg–1 OVA). Our results demonstrate the potential of the noninvasive patch‐type transdermal vaccination platform.
Nanoscale Thermal Phenomena in the Vicinity of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Alternating Magnetic Fields

Magnetic nanoparticles can be made to dissipate heat to their immediate surroundings in response to an applied alternating magnetic field. This property, combined with the biocompatibility of iron oxide nanoparticles and the ability of magnetic fields to penetrate deep in the body, makes magnetic nanoparticles attractive in a range of biomedical applications where thermal energy is used either directly to achieve a therapeutic effect or indirectly to actuate the release of a therapeutic agent. Although the concept of bulk heating of fluids and tissues using energy dissipated by magnetic nanoparticles has been well accepted and applied for several decades, many new and exciting biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles take advantage of heat effects that are confined to the immediate nanoscale vicinity of the nanoparticles. Until recently the existence of these nanoscale thermal phenomena had remained controversial. In this short review we summarize some of the recent developments in this field and emerging applications for nanoscale thermal phenomena in the vicinity of magnetic nanoparticles in alternating magnetic fields.
EG: a database of essential genes

Essential genes are genes that are indispensable to support cellular life. These genes constitute a minimal gene set required for a living cell. We have constructed a Database of Essential Genes (DEG), which contains all the essential genes that are currently available. The functions encoded by essential genes are considered a foundation of life and therefore are likely to be common to all cells. Users can BLAST the query sequences against DEG. If homologous genes are found, it is possible that the queried genes are also essential. Users can search for essential genes by their function or name. Users can also browse and extract all the records in DEG. Essential gene products comprise excellent targets for antibacterial drugs. Analysis of essential genes could help to answer the question of what are the basic functions necessary to support cellular life. DEG is freely accessible from the website http://tubic.tju. edu.cn/deg/.
Inhibitor of nuclear factor κB kinase β is a key regulator of synovial inflammation

Objective Inhibitor of nuclear factor κB kinase β (IκB kinase β, or IKKβ) has emerged as a key regulator of the transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Since IKKβ could have both pro- and antiinflammatory activity, we examined whether its constitutive activation was sufficient to cause a chronic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Normal Lewis rats were evaluated for paw swelling by plethysmometry and histologic assessment after intraarticular injection of an adenoviral construct encoding the IKKβ wild-type gene (Ad.IKKβ-wt); controls received an adenoviral construct encoding green fluorescent protein (Ad.GFP). The rats were killed after 7 days. Additionally, rats were killed 48 hours after intraarticular injection of Ad. IKKβ-wt or Ad.GFP for studies of IKK activity and NF-κB binding. For studies of the effects of inhibition of IKKβ activity, Lewis rats were immunized with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mineral oil. The ankle joints were injected on day 12 with an adenoviral construct encoding IKKβ KM (dominant negative, IKKβ-dn) or Ad.GFP. We evaluated paw swelling and NF-κB expression on day 25. Results Intraarticular gene transfer of IKKβ-wt into the joints of normal rats resulted in significant paw swelling and histologic evidence of synovial inflammation. Increased IKK activity was detectable in the IKKβ-wt–injected ankle joints, coincident with enhanced NF-κB DNA binding activity. Intraarticular gene transfer of IKKβ-dn significantly ameliorated the severity of adjuvant arthritis, accompanied by a significant decrease in NF-κB DNA expression in the joints of Ad. IKKβ-dn–treated animals. Conclusion IKKβ plays a key role in rodent synovial inflammation. Intraarticular gene therapy to inhibit IKKβ activity represents an attractive strategy for the treatment of chronic arthritis.
Japanese version of Cutaneous Body Image Scale: Translation and validation

Cutaneous body image, defined as the individual’s mental perception of the appearance of their skin, hair and nails, is an important psychodermatological element in skin diseases. To measure individuals’ cutaneous body image, a practical and accurate instrument is necessary. In this study, we translated the Cutaneous Body Image Scale (CBIS), a 7‐item instrument originally created by Gupta et al. in 2004, into Japanese using a forward‐ and back‐translation method and evaluated the reliability and validity of the instrument by psychometric tests. A total of 298 healthy adults (64 men and 234 women, aged 28.9 ± 9.9 years) and 165 dermatology patients (56.7% eczema/dermatitis, 9.8% acne, 7.5% alopecia, 6.9% psoriasis, 19.1% skin tumor/fleck/other) (30 men and 135 women, aged 37.9 ± 15.2 years) responded to the Japanese version of the CBIS. The internal‐consistency reliability of the instrument was high (Cronbach’s α, healthy adults 0.88, patients 0.84). The CBIS measure demonstrates good test–retest reliability (healthy adults γ = 0.92, P < 0.0001; patients γ = 0.79, P < 0.001). Compared to the healthy adults (4.11 ± 1.80), the CBIS scores among dermatology patients (3.18 ± 1.69, P = 0.000) were significantly low. The CBIS scores showed moderate correlation with the “emotions“ and “global” scores of Skindex‐16 in healthy adults (γ = −0.397 and −0.373, respectively) and in patients (γ = −0.431 and −0.38, respectively). A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that an emotional aspect of skin‐condition related quality of life was the best predictor of cutaneous body image in both healthy adults and patients (β = −0.31 and −0.41, respectively) followed by “body dissatisfaction” (β = −0.17, and −0.23, respectively). Adjusted R2 was 0.246 in healthy adults and 0.264 in patients. These were consistent with the results from the original the CBIS. These results suggest that the Japanese version of the CBIS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure the cutaneous body image of Japanese adults and also dermatology patients.
Role of the RNA polymerase α subunits in CII‐dependent activation of the bacteriophage λ pE promoter: identification of important residues and positioning of the α C‐terminal domains

The bacteriophage λ CII protein stimulates the activity of three phage promoters, pE, pI and paQ, upon binding to a site overlapping the –35 element at each promoter. Here we used preparations of RNA polymerase carrying a DNA cleavage reagent attached to specific residues in the C-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase α subunit (αCTD) to demonstrate that one αCTD binds near position –41 at pE, whilst the other αCTD binds further upstream. The αCTD bound near position –41 is oriented such that its 261 determinant is in close proximity to σ70. The location of αCTD in CII-dependent complexes at the pE promoter is very similar to that found at many activator-independent promoters, and represents an alternative configuration for αCTD at promoters where activators bind sites overlapping the –35 region. We also used an in vivo alanine scan analysis to show that the DNA-binding determinant of αCTD is involved in stimulation of the pE promoter by CII, and this was confirmed by in vitro transcription assays. We also show that whereas the K271E substitution in αCTD results in a drastic decrease in CII-dependent activation of pE, the pI and paQ promoters are less sensitive to this substitution, suggesting that the role of αCTD at the three lysogenic promoters may be different.
Collagen‐derived dipeptide, proline‐hydroxyproline, stimulates cell proliferation and hyaluronic acid synthesis in cultured human dermal fibroblasts

Orally ingested collagen undergoes degradation to small di‐ or tripeptides, which are detected in circulating blood 2 h after ingestion. The influence of collagen‐derived peptides on dermal extracellular matrix components and cell proliferation was studied using cultured human dermal fibroblasts. Of the various collagenous peptides tested here, the dipeptide proline‐hydroxyproline (Pro‐Hyp) enhanced cell proliferation (1.5‐fold) and hyaluronic acid synthesis (3.8‐fold) at a dose of 200 nmol/mL. This was concomitant with a 2.3‐fold elevation of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) mRNA levels. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐mediated knockdown of the HAS2 gene in human dermal fibroblasts inhibited Pro‐Hyp‐induced HAS2 mRNA transcription and cell mitotic activity. Addition of genistein or H7, a protein kinase inhibitor, abolished the Pro‐Hyp‐induced HAS2 mRNA stimulation. Pro‐Hyp elevated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) within a short time period (60 min). These results suggest that Pro‐Hyp stimulates both cell mitotic activity and hyaluronic acid synthesis, which is mediated by activation of HAS2 transcription.