Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A simple strategy to identify acute hepatitis C virus infection among newly incarcerated injection drug users

Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is underdiagnosed because most patients are asymptomatic. The majority of new infections occur among people who inject drugs (PWID), many of whom have a history of incarceration. In a previous pilot study, we identified symptomatic HCV cases, mainly among Caucasian inmates. We designed a cross‐sectional study to evaluate whether risk factor–based screening of newly incarcerated inmates would enhance identification of asymptomatic acute HCV infection and elucidate any demographic shifts in HCV acquisition. From October 2006 to March 2008, 6,342 inmates underwent health assessments and 3,470 inmates (55%) were screened. The racial distribution was as follows: African American, 24.0%; Caucasian, 49.5%; Hispanic, 22.2%. One hundred seventy‐one inmates (4.9%) were classified as high‐risk. After further evaluation, 35 (20.5%) inmates were diagnosed with acute HCV with a mean age of 29 years; 62.9% were female and 91% were Caucasian. No African Americans were diagnosed with acute HCV. Our case‐finding rate was 1.9 patients/month nearly a three‐fold increase compared with our historical control period with a higher proportion of asymptomatic cases. We estimate a prevalence of ∼1.0% (95% confidence interval, 0.7%‐1.4%) of acute HCV infections among newly incarcerated inmates. Conclusion: Within the correctional system, systematic screening based on risk factors successfully identifies acute HCV infection among PWID, including asymptomatic patients. Our data also reflect changing nationwide patterns of injection drug use that vary by age, ethnicity, and race, leading to a marked reduction of acute HCV infections among African Americans compared with non‐Hispanic whites. The nationwide implementation of this simple low‐cost strategy in prison‐based settings could identify more than 7,000 acute HCV infections among PWID, provide insight into changing epidemiologic trends, and facilitate appropriate therapeutic and preventive interventions. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
NAD and axon degeneration: From the Wlds gene to neurochemistry

Neurodegenerative diseases have become a global issue due to the aging population. These disorders affect a vast patient population and represent a huge area of unmet therapeutic need. Axon degeneration is a common pathological character of those neurodegenerative diseases. It results in the loss of communication between neurons. Two decades ago, the Wallerian degeneration slow (Wlds) mouse strain was identified, in which the degeneration of transected axons is delayed. The phenotype is attributed to the over-expression of a chimeric protein Wlds which contains a short fragment of the ubiquitin assembly protein UFD2 and the full-length nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) synthetic enzyme Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyl-transferase-1 (Nmnat-1). However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Recently, it’s reported by independent researchers that the full length coding sequence of mouse Nmnat-1 could mimic the axonal protective effect of the Wlds gene when over-expressed in primary neural cultures. Together with a significant number of subsequential reports, this finding highlighted the substantial role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the process of axon degeneration. Here we reviewed the history of axon degeneration research from a neurochemical standpoint and discuss the potential involvement of NAD synthesis, NAD consumption, and NAD-dependent proteins and small molecules in axon degeneration.
[Main infectious agents involved in the etiology of lung diseases of small ruminants in northern Cameroon].

Between 1990 and 1992, 91 necropsies of small ruminants affected with pulmonary illness led to the isolation of the following strains of Mycoplasma (M.): M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC, M. ovipneumoniae, M. agalactiae, M. sp. type D2 and M. arginini. Eleven Pasteurella multocida strains (serotypes A1, A3, A5, A7 and D2) and 11 Pasteurella haemolytica strains (serotypes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9) were isolated. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Actinomyces pyogenes, Staphylococcus sp. , Streptococcus sp. , Bacillus sp. and Mycobacterium sp. were also isolated. Thirty-two antibiograms were performed on Pasteurella, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and Actinomyces pyogenes strains. Eighty eight p. cent were sensitive to penicillin G and oxytetracycline, and 84% to chloramphenicol; 50% were not sensitive to spiramycin and 47% to streptomycin. One Capripoxvirus strain was isolated on sheep. Pest of small ruminants (PPR) virus was detected by immunocapture ELISA test performed on some lung samples. Two serological surveys, one for contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (898 goats), between 1991 and 1993, and one for PPR (902 sheep and goats) in 1993, were conducted in the North and Far North provinces. No antibody against contagious caprine pleuropneumonia was detected. Among the animals in the sample, PPR prevalence was 64 +/- 7% in the Far North province and 14 +/- 3% in the North province. Concerning control measures, a vaccination campaign against small ruminant pasteurellosis appears to be hardly feasible because of the antigenic diversity of the isolated Pasteurella strains. PPR is endemic especially in the Far North province. The efficiency of a vaccination campaign against PPR must be estimated with a field survey.
Variants of the Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 (TCF7L2) Gene Are Associated With Type 2 Diabetes in an African-American Population Enriched for Nephropathy

OBJECTIVE—Recently, variants in the TCF7L2 gene have been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes across multiple Europid populations, but only one small sample of African-American type 2 diabetic patients has been examined. Our objective was to investigate the importance of TCF7L2 in a larger African-American case-control population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in six known type 2 diabetes genes in 577 African-American case subjects with type 2 diabetes enriched for nephropathy and 596 African-American control subjects. Additionally, we genotyped 70 ancestry-informative markers (AIMs) to apply adjustments for differences in ancestral proportions. RESULTS—The most significant associations were observed with TCF7L2 intron 3 SNPs rs7903146 (additive P = 4.10 × 10−6, odds ratio [OR] 1.51; admixture-adjusted Pa = 3.77 × 10−6) and rs7901695 (P = 0.001, OR 1.30; Pa = 0.003). The 2-SNP haplotype containing these SNPs was also associated with type 2 diabetes (P = 3 × 10−5). Modest associations were also seen with TCF7L2 intron 4 SNPs rs7895340, rs11196205, and rs12255372 (0.01 < P < 0.05; 0.03 < Pa < 0.08), as well as with ATP-sensitive inwardly rectifying potassium channel subunit Kir6.2 (KCNJ11) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-α (HNF4A) SNPs (0.01 < P < 0.05; 0.01 < Pa < 0.41). No significant associations were detected with genotyped calpain 10 (CAPN10), peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ (PPARG), and transcription factor 1 (TCF1) SNPs. CONCLUSIONS—This study indicates that variants in the TCF7L2 gene significantly contribute to diabetes susceptibility in African-American populations.
Pneumolysin with Low Hemolytic Activity Confers an Early Growth Advantage to Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Blood

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of human diseases such as pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, and otitis media. Pneumolysin (Ply) is an important virulence factor of S. pneumoniae and a promising future vaccine target. However, the expansion of clones carrying ply alleles with reduced hemolytic activity has been observed in serotypes associated with outbreaks of invasive disease and includes an allele identified in a highly virulent serotype 1 isolate (ply4496). The virulence of Ply-deficient and ply allelic-replacement derivatives of S. pneumoniae D39 was compared with that of wild-type D39. In addition, the protective immunogenicity of Ply against pneumococci with low versus high hemolytic activity was also investigated. Replacement of D39 ply with ply4496 resulted in a small but statistically significant reduction of virulence. However, both native Ply- and Ply4496-expressing strains were significantly more virulent than a Ply-deficient mutant. While the numbers of both Ply- and Ply4496-expressing isolate cells were higher in the blood than the numbers of Ply-deficient mutant cells, the growth of the Ply4496-expressing strain was superior to that of the wild type in the first 15 h postchallenge. Ply immunization provided protection regardless of the hemolytic activity of the challenge strain. In summary, we show that low-hemolytic-activity Ply alleles contribute to systemic virulence and may provide a survival advantage in the blood. Moreover, pneumococci expressing such alleles remain vulnerable to Ply-based vaccines.
Volume changes upon heating of aerosol particles from biomass burning using transmission electron microscopy

ABSTRACT The responses of aerosol particles to heating are important for measurements of their chemical, physical, and optical properties, classification, and determination of origin. However, the thermal behavior of organic aerosol particles is largely unknown. We provide a method to analyze such thermal behavior through heating from room temperature to >600°C by using a heating holder within a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Here we describe in-situ shape and size changes and variations in the compositions of individual particles before and after heating. We use ambient samples from wildland and agricultural biomass fires in North America collected during the 2013 Biomass Burning Observation Project (BBOP). The results indicate that individual tar balls (TB; spherical organic material) from biomass burning retained, on average, up to 30% of their volume when heated to 600°C. Chemical analysis reveals that K and Na remain in the residues, whereas S and O were lost. In contrast to bulk sample measurements of carbonaceous particles using thermal/optical carbon analyzers, our single-particle results imply that many individual organic particles consist of multiple types of organic matter having different thermal stabilities. Beyond TBs, our results suggest that because of their thermal stability some organic particles may not be detectable by using aerosol mass spectrometry or thermal/optical carbon analyzers. This result can lead to an underestimate of the abundance of TBs and other organic particles, and therefore biomass burning may have more influence than currently recognized in regional and global climate models. Copyright © 2018 American Association for Aerosol Research
GROWTH AND MINERAL NUTRITION IN SEEDLINGS OF JACARANDÁ-DA-BAHIA SUBJECTED TO NUTRIENT DEPRIVATION

Abstract With the objective of evaluating the nutritional requirements and the effects of nutrient deprivation in developing of Jacaranda da Bahia seedlings ( Dalbergia nigra (Vellozo) Freire Allemao ex Bentham), a greenhouse experiment was conducted. The experiment had fully randomized design, with 12 treatments and 8 replications. The following treatments were applied: Complete 1 (C1-fertilized with N, P, K, S, B, Cu, Zn and liming as Ca and Mg sources), complete 2 (Complete 1 – liming with CaSO 4 .2H 2 O and MgSO 4 .7H 2 O as Ca and Mg sources), C1-N, C1-P, C1-K, C1-S, C1-B, C1-Zn, C1-liming, C2-Ca, C2-Mg and control. Diameter and height were measured and plants were separated into aerial part and root system. Samples were dried, weighed and levels of nutrients in the aerial dry matter were measured. Phosphorus was the most growth limiting factor, the sequence of nutritional requirements presented by Jacaranda da Bahia seedlings in relation to the complete treatment was: P > Ca > B > K > S > Zn > Mg > N. Keywords : Missing element; Dalbergia nigra ; rainforest; hardwood. Resumo Crescimento e nutricao mineral de mudas de jacaranda-da-bahia sob efeito da omissao de nutrientes. Com o objetivo de avaliar exigencias nutricionais e os efeitos da omissao de nutrientes no desenvolvimento de mudas de Jacaranda da Bahia ( Dalbergia nigra (Vellozo) Freire Allemao ex Bentham), conduziu-se um experimento com o uso da tecnica de elemento faltante. Foram empregados 12 tratamentos, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com oito repeticoes. Adotaram-se os seguintes tratamentos: Completo 1 (adubado com N, P, K, S, B, Cu, Zn e calagem como fonte de Ca e Mg e corrigindo acidez do solo), completo 2 (completo 1 – calagem tendo CaSO 4 .2H 2 O e MgSO 4 .7H 2 O como fontes de Ca e Mg sem corrigir acidez do solo), C1-N, C1-P, C1-K, C1-S, C1-B, C1-Zn, C1-calagem, C2-Ca, C2-Mg e testemunha. Foram medidos diâmetro e altura das plantas e separadas em parte aerea e sistema radicular. As mudas foram secas, pesadas e foram determinados os teores de nutrientes na materia seca da parte aerea. O fosforo foi o nutriente mais limitante ao crescimento de jacaranda da Bahia; a sequencia de exigencia nutricional apresentada pelas mudas de Jacaranda da Bahia em relacao ao tratamento completo em ordem decrescente foi: P > Ca > B > K > S > Zn > Mg > N. Palavras-chave : Elemento faltante; Dalbergia nigra ; Mata Atlântica; Madeira nobre.
A generalized two-sex logistic model

We provide a generalization of the logistic two-sex model with ephemeral pair-bonds and with stable couples without assuming any specific mathematical form for fertility, mortality and the mating function. In particular, we establish a necessary and sufficient condition on the fertility/mortality density-dependent ratio that ensures the existence of the logistic behaviour. Several differences and similarities between the two models are also provided.
Maternal transmission of immunity to Eimeria maxima: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis of protective antibodies induced by infection

Vaccination of broiler chickens against Eimeria infection is problematic because of the need to ensure that birds are protected from the time of hatching. We have therefore investigated the feasibility of protecting hatchling broilers via maternal transfer of protective antibodies from hens to their offspring. Oral infection of broiler breeder hens with 20,000 sporulated Eimeria maxima oocysts caused production of antibodies which were passed into the egg yolk and subsequently to hatchlings. The level of specific antibodies in the yolks to unsporulated oocysts, sporulated oocysts, merozoites, and gametocytes was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The levels in yolks of antibodies to all developmental stages peaked 3 to 4 weeks after infection of the hens. Groups of 10 hatchlings were challenged at 3 days of age by oral infection with 100 sporulated E. maxima oocysts. In the first experiment, the mean 4-day (days 6 to 9 post-infection) total number of oocysts excreted in the feces of chicks from eggs collected 3 weeks after infection of the hens was (0.6 +/- 0.4) x 10(6) (mean +/- standard error) compared with (9.9 +/- 1.4) x 10(6) for the progeny of uninfected hens, which represents a greater than 90% reduction. However, oocyst excretion by chicks from eggs collected 7 or 8 weeks after infection of the hens was only 47 or 68% lower than control values, reflecting declining levels of protective antibodies. In a second experiment, in which the hens were somewhat older and pretreated by intramuscular injection of saline in the emulsifying agent, Arlacel A, the period for which protective antibodies were transferred to hatchlings was prolonged. Thus, oocyst excretion by challenged hatchlings from eggs collected for an 8-week period after infection of the hens was more than 90% lower than oocyst excretion by control chicks, and even hatchlings of eggs collected 19 weeks after infection of the hens showed a 60% reduction in oocyst output. In both experiments, the levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to all developmental stages in yolks or hatchling sera were very strongly correlated with maternally derived immunity to E. maxima. In contrast, parasite-specific IgM or IgA was not detectable, either in egg yolk or egg white. These results demonstrate the ability of IgG antibodies to protect against E. maxima in poultry, thus raising the possibility of using protective maternally derived IgG antibodies to identify potentially protective parasite antigens and indicating the feasibility of using maternal immunization as a means for parasite control.
Independent association of urinary F2-isoprostanes with survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVES Within the past decade, biochemical markers have emerged as attractive tools to assess pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) prognosis, being noninvasive and easily repeatable.The objective of this study was to determine whether biomarkers measured at initial diagnostic right-sided heart catheterization predict 3-year all-cause mortality for incident cases of PAH independently of clinical and hemodynamic parameters. METHODS Patients with incident PAH were enrolled between December 2003 and April 2006 in six centers from the French Network on Pulmonary Hypertension and followed for 3 years.Venous blood samples were taken during right-sided heart catheterization, and analyses were centralized. RESULTS Among 110 enrolled patients, 11 underwent lung or heart/lung transplantation, and 27 died during follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival were 91%, 78%, and 75% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Plasma big endothelin-1 (hazard ratio [HR] per 1-SD increase, 1.48; 95% CI,1.14-1.92), serum troponin T . 0.01 mg/L (HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.05-5.29), and urinary F 2 -isoprostanes(15-F2t -isoprostane) (HR per 1-SD increase, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.31-2.36) were associated with increased unadjusted hazard of death. In multivariate analysis adjusting for patient characteristics, the level of urinary F 2 -isoprostanes was the only biomarker that remained independently associated with increased hazard of death (HR per 1-SD increase, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.28-2.60). CONCLUSIONS This study shows that levels of urinary F 2 -isoprostane, a biomarker of lipid peroxidation,quantified at initial diagnostic right-sided heart catheterization are independently associated with mortality in a cohort of patients with incident PAH.
Optic disc and visual field changes in a prospective longitudinal study of patients with glaucoma: comparison of scanning laser tomography with conventional perimetry and optic disc photography.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between optic disc changes measured with scanning laser tomography and those measured with conventional perimetry and optic disc photography. METHODS In a prospective longitudinal study, we followed up 77 patients with early glaucomatous visual field damage. Scanning laser tomography (using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph) and conventional perimetry (using the Humphrey Field Analyzer) were carried out every 6 months. Disc progression was determined by a procedure recently described by us for scanning laser tomography, with confirmed progression requiring repeatable changes based on probability limits for both the depth (using individual test-retest variability values) and size of change (determined in a group of 37 healthy individuals also followed up prospectively). Field progression was determined with the Statpac Glaucoma Change Probability Analysis. The agreement between scanning laser tomography and conventional disc photography was determined in a subgroup of patients. RESULTS Patients were followed up for a median of 5.5 years, with a median of 12 sets of examinations with scanning laser tomography and conventional perimetry. Twenty-one patients (27%) showed no progression with either technique. Thirty-one patients (40%) progressed with scanning laser tomography only, while 3 (4%) progressed with conventional perimetry only. Of the 22 patients (29%) who progressed with both techniques, 10 (45%) progressed with scanning laser tomography first (median, 18 month earlier) and 9 (41%) with conventional perimetry first (median, 12 months earlier), while 3 (14%) progressed at the same time. Of the 16 patients with disc photographs that closely overlapped the follow-up, there was concordance between scanning laser tomography and disc photography in 13 patients (81%). CONCLUSIONS Glaucomatous disc changes determined with scanning laser tomography occur more frequently than field changes. Most patients with field changes also had disc changes; however, less than half of those with disc changes had field changes.
Human Macrophage Inflammatory Gene: Rethinking the Role of Nitric Oxide in NOS2 Epigenetic Silencing of the Human

Philibert, Mohammed M. Milhem and Martha M. MonickBrink, Tina Knutson, Frederick E. Domann, Robert A. Thomas J. Gross, Karol Kremens, Linda S. Powers, Brandiol.1301758http://www.jimmunol.org/content/early/2014/01/28/jimmunJ Immunol€ published online 29 January 2014MaterialSupplementary8.DCSupplemental. htmlhttp://www.jimmunol.org/content/suppl/2014/01/28/jimmunol.130175Subscriptionshttp://jimmunol.org/subscriptionsInformation about subscribing to The Journal of Immunology is online at: Permissionshttp://www.aai. org/ji/copyright.htmlSubmit copyright permission requests at: Email Alertshttp://jimmunol.org/cgi/alerts/etocReceive free email-alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up at:
Circulating concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and soluble leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 in overweight/obese men and women consuming fructose- or glucose-sweetened beverages for 10 weeks.

CONTEXT Results from animal studies suggest that consumption of large amounts of fructose can promote inflammation and impair fibrinolysis. Data describing the effects of fructose consumption on circulating levels of proinflammatory and prothrombotic markers in humans are unavailable. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine the effects of 10 wk of dietary fructose or glucose consumption on plasma concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, C-reactive protein, and IL-6. DESIGN AND SETTING This was a parallel-arm study with two inpatient phases (2 wk baseline, final 2 wk intervention), conducted in a clinical research facility, and an outpatient phase (8 wk) during which subjects resided at home. PARTICIPANTS Participants were older (40-72 yr), overweight/obese (body mass index = 25-35 kg/m(2)) men (n = 16) and women (n = 15). INTERVENTIONS Participants consumed glucose- or fructose-sweetened beverages providing 25% of energy requirements for 10 wk. Blood samples were collected at baseline and during the 10th week of intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Fasting concentrations of MCP-1 (P = 0.009), PAI-1 (P = 0.002), and E-selectin (P = 0.048) as well as postprandial concentrations of PAI-1 (P < 0.0001) increased in subjects consuming fructose but not in those consuming glucose. Fasting levels of C-reactive protein, IL-6, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were not changed in either group. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of fructose for 10 wk leads to increases of MCP-1, PAI-1, and E-selectin. These findings suggest the possibility that fructose may contribute to the development of the metabolic syndrome via effects on proinflammatory and prothrombotic mediators.