Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blood safety & prevalence of transfussion transmissible viral infections among donors at the Red Cross Blood Bank in Gondar University Hospital.

BACKGROUND Although millions of lives are saved by blood transfusion, unsafe transfusion is also putting millions of people at risk of Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTI). In Ethiopia the safety and magnitude of blood transfusion and TTIs is not well investigated OBJECTIVE to investigate the magnitude of TTIs and assess TTI related risk factors among blood donors. METHODS Cross-sectional study among blood donors at the Red Cross Society Blood Bank in Gondar University Hospital, North West Ethiopia. RESULTS The study was conducted among 600 adult blood donors between April and July 2004. Their mean age was 28 +/- 10.4 years (range: 16-64) and 66% of them were urban dwellers. The donors included farmers (30.7%), daily laborers (22.7%) and students (20%). All the donors were first time donors and 75% of the donations were replacement donations by remunerated donors or family members. The prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections were 4.5% (95%CI: 3.0-6.6), 8.2% (95%CI: 6.2-10.7) and 5.8% (95%CI: 4.2-8.1), respectively. The overall discard rate of donated blood because of these viral markers was 16.3%. In univariate analysis, HCV infection was significantly associated with presence of HIV (OR: 5.36, 95%CI: 2-14.3). Experiences of traditional surgical incisions or phlebotomy were present in 93.8% of donors. While 6.5% of donors admitted a history of multiple sexual partners, none of them admitted a history of any sexually transmitted infections (STI). CONCLUSION The prevalence of TTIs among blood donors is very high. The majorities of blood donors are replacement or paid donors with one or more of the risk factors for TTIs implying that blood transfusion is unsafe. These findings call for the urgent implementation of the national strategy for safe blood transfusion in Ethiopia. As the utilization of advanced technology and skilled-personnel-based screening of blood are not in the immediate horizon, establishing stringent selection criteria of donors and setting clinical indications for transfusion would be indispensable and cost-effective interventions to minimize the risk of TTIs to blood recipients in Ethiopia.
Clinical studies on the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of selected natural substances.

BACKGROUND The average blood levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerol in population are generally considered to be indicators of cardiovascular risk. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of our study was to present representative data of selected fractions of blood lipids, and the trend of their levels during the last 35 years in the adult population of Slovakia. RESULTS This study demonstrates the risk of the elevated average cholesterolaemia and triacylglycerolaemia in men aged 35-39 years and above 60 years, as compared to womens' increased blood level that were detected only in the age group above 60 years. Strong gender differences in HDL-cholesterol were found, women having higher values than men, with these differences fading in the age group above 60 years. The results of two clinical studies present the hypolipemic effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in individuals with dyslipidaemia, the hypotriacylglycerolemic effect being dominant (p < 0.001). The hypocholesterolemic effect was less significant (p < 0.05) than in cases when lyophilized powder of the Pleurotus ostreatus was applied (p < 0.01). In both cases, a stabilizing effect on serum HDL-cholesterol had been observed. In case of polyunsaturated fatty acid n-3, its increase was borderline with statistical significance (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION The study emphasises the necessity of improving the average blood level of lipids in the population of Slovakia and the pertinence of using natural substances with a hypolipemic effect in secondary and even primary prevention of atherosclerosis and its serious complications (Tab. 3, Fig. 4, Ref. 27).
Visual phototransduction components in cephalopod chromatophores suggest dermal photoreception

ABSTRACT Cephalopod mollusks are renowned for their colorful and dynamic body patterns, produced by an assemblage of skin components that interact with light. These may include iridophores, leucophores, chromatophores and (in some species) photophores. Here, we present molecular evidence suggesting that cephalopod chromatophores – small dermal pigmentary organs that reflect various colors of light – are photosensitive. RT-PCR revealed the presence of transcripts encoding rhodopsin and retinochrome within the retinas and skin of the squid Doryteuthis pealeii, and the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis and Sepia latimanus. In D. pealeii, Gqα and squid TRP channel transcripts were present in the retina and in all dermal samples. Rhodopsin, retinochrome and Gqα transcripts were also found in RNA extracts from dissociated chromatophores isolated from D. pealeii dermal tissues. Immunohistochemical staining labeled rhodopsin, retinochrome and Gqα proteins in several chromatophore components, including pigment cell membranes, radial muscle fibers, and sheath cells. This is the first evidence that cephalopod dermal tissues, and specifically chromatophores, may possess the requisite combination of molecules required to respond to light. Highlighted Article: Squid and cuttlefish skin chromatophores contain rhodopsin, Gqα and sTRP channels, which are necessary components for photoreception.
The Effects of Residual Hearing in Traditional Cochlear Implant Candidates After Implantation With a Conventional Electrode

Objective To analyze the effects of residual hearing on postoperative speech performance in traditional cochlear implant (CI) patients implanted with a conventional electrode. Study Design Retrospective review. Setting Academic tertiary referral center. Patients A total of 129 adults implanted by a single surgeon at a tertiary care facility between June 2005 and November 2010 with measurable preoperative pure tone thresholds at any frequency were included. Intervention Cochlear implantation with a conventional electrode via an anterior inferior cochleostomy. Main Outcome Measure Speech perception using monosyllabic word scores in quiet and sentences in quiet and noise in the electric (CI-only) condition of the implanted ear. Preservation of hearing was defined as complete for postoperative thresholds within 10 dB of preimplant values and partial if greater than 11 dB. Pure tone audiometry and speech perception testing were performed preoperatively and at regular intervals postoperatively, with the 1-year evaluation being the final outcome period. Results Preservation at any frequency or level was not a factor in speech perception outcome, although preservation was more common in low frequencies. Hearing preservation was correlated with younger age at implantation, but was not related to length of hearing loss, cause of deafness, device type, sex, preoperative speech performance, or low-frequency pure-tone average. Conclusion Hearing can be preserved in traditional CI patients implanted with a conventional electrode. Although preservation of hearing may have implications for future technology, it is not currently correlated with speech performance in the CI-only condition.
Distinct Subclasses of Small GTPases Interact with Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors in a Similar Manner

ABSTRACT The Ras-related GTPases are small, 20- to 25-kDa proteins which cycle between an inactive GDP-bound form and an active GTP-bound state. The Ras superfamily includes the Ras, Rho, Ran, Arf, and Rab/YPT1 families, each of which controls distinct cellular functions. The crystal structures of Ras, Rac, Arf, and Ran reveal a nearly superimposible structure surrounding the GTP-binding pocket, and it is generally presumed that the Rab/YPT1 family shares this core structure. The Ras, Rac, Ran, Arf, and Rab/YPT1 families are activated by interaction with family-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). The structural determinants of GTPases required for interaction with family-specific GEFs have begun to emerge. We sought to determine the sites on YPT1 which interact with GEFs. We found that mutations of YPT1 at position 42, 43, or 49 (effector loop; switch I), position 69, 71, 73, or 75 (switch II), and position 107, 109, or 115 (alpha-helix 3–loop 7 [α3-L7]) are intragenic suppressors of dominant interfering YPT1 mutant N22 (YPT1-N22), suggesting these mutations prevent YPT1-N22 from binding to and sequestering an endogenous GEF. Mutations at these positions prevent interaction with the DSS4 GEF in vitro. Mutations in the switch II and α3-L7 regions do not prevent downstream signaling in yeast when combined with a GTPase-defective (activating) mutation. Together, these results show that the YPT1 GTPase interacts with GEFs in a manner reminiscent of that for Ras and Arf in that these GTPases use divergent sequences corresponding to the switch I and II regions and α3-L7 of Ras to interact with family-specific GEFs. This finding suggests that GTPases of the Ras superfamily each may share common features of GEF-mediated guanine nucleotide exchange even though the GEFs for each of the Ras subfamilies appear evolutionarily unrelated.
Development and validation of a core outcome measure for palliative care: the palliative care outcome scale. Palliative Care Core Audit Project Advisory Group.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an outcome measure for patients with advanced cancer and their families which would cover more than either physical symptoms or quality of life related questions. To validate the measure in various specialist and non-specialist palliative care settings throughout the UK. DESIGN: A systematic literature review of measures appropriate for use in palliative care settings was conducted. In conjunction with a multidisciplinary project advisory group, questions were chosen for inclusion into the scale based on whether they measured aspects of physical, psychological, or spiritual domains pertinent to palliative care, and whether similar items had shown to be valid as part of another measure. A staff completed version was developed to facilitate data collection on all patients throughout their care, and a patient completed version was designed to enable the patient to contribute to the assessment of their outcomes when possible. A full validation study was conducted to evaluate construct validity, internal consistency, responsiveness to change over time, and test-retest reliability. Assessments were timed. SETTING: Eight centres in England and Scotland providing palliative care, including inpatient care, outpatient care, day care, home care, and primary care. PATIENTS: A total of 450 patients entered care during the study period. Staff collected data routinely on patients in care long enough to be assessed (n = 337). Of these, 262 were eligible for patient participation; 148 (33%) went on to complete a questionnaire. MAIN MEASURES: The Palliative Care Outcome Scale (POS), the European Organisation for Research on Cancer Treatment, and the Support Team Assessment Schedule. RESULTS: The POS consists of two almost identical measures, one of which is completed by staff, the other by patients. Agreement between staff and patient ratings was found to be acceptable for eight out of 10 items at the first assessment. The measure demonstrated construct validity (Spearman rho = 0.43 to 0.80). Test/re-test reliability was acceptable for seven items. Internal consistency was good (Cronbach's alpha = 0.65 (patients), 0.70 (staff)). Change over time was shown, but did not reach statistical significance. The questionnaire did not take more than 10 minutes to complete by staff or patients. CONCLUSION: The POS has acceptable validity and reliability. It can be used to assess prospectively palliative care for patients with advanced cancer.
Activity of a new triazole, Sch 56592, compared with those of four other antifungal agents tested against clinical isolates of Candida spp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sch 56592 is a new triazole agent with potent, broad-spectrum antifungal activity. The in vitro activities of Sch 56592, itraconazole, fluconazole, amphotericin B, and flucytosine (5-FC) against 404 clinical isolates of Candida spp. (382 isolates) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (22 isolates) were investigated. In vitro susceptibility testing was performed by a broth microdilution method performed according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. Overall, Sch 56592 was very active (MIC at which 90% of isolates are inhibited [MIC90], 0.5 microgram/ml) against these yeast isolates. Sch 56592 was most active against Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, candida lusitaniae, and Candida stellatoidea (MIC90, < or = 0.12 microgram/ml) and was least active against Candida glabrata (MIC90, 2.0 micrograms/ml). Sch 56592 was 2- to 32-fold more active than amphotericin B and 5-FC against all species except C. glabrata. By comparison with the other triazoles, Sch 56592 was equivalent to itraconazole and greater than or equal to eightfold more active than fluconazole. On the basis of these results, Sch 56592 has promising antifungal activity, and further in vitro and in vivo investigations are warranted.
The Ectodomain of Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein H Contains a Membrane α-Helix with Attributes of an Internal Fusion Peptide, Positionally Conserved in the Herpesviridae Family

ABSTRACT Human herpesviruses enter cells by fusion with target membranes, a process that requires three conserved glycoproteins: gB, gH, and gL. How these glycoproteins execute fusion is unknown. Neural network bioinformatics predicted a membrane α-helix contained within the ectodomain of herpes simplex virus (HSV) gH, positionally conserved in the gH of all examined herpesviruses. Evidence that it has attributes of an internal fusion peptide rests on the following lines of evidence. (i) The predicted membrane α-helix has the attribute of a membrane segment, since it transformed a soluble form of gD into a membrane-bound gD. (ii) It represents a critical domain of gH. Its partial or entire deletion, or substitution of critical residues inhibited HSV infectivity and fusion in the cell-cell fusion assay. (iii) Its replacement with the fusion peptide from human immunodeficiency virus gp41 or from vesicular stomatitis virus G partially rescued HSV infectivity and cell-cell fusion. The corresponding antisense sequences did not. (iv) The predicted α-helix located in the varicella-zoster virus gH ectodomain can functionally substitute the native HSV gH membrane α-helix, suggesting a conserved function in the human herpesviruses. We conclude that HSV gH exhibits features typical of viral fusion glycoproteins and that this property is likely conserved in the Herpesviridae family.
Vaccinia virus induces cellular mRNA degradation

The infection of mouse L cells with vaccinia virus induced a rapid inhibition of cellular polypeptide synthesis and a diversion of protein synthesis to the exclusive production of viral polypeptides. This shutoff of cell-specific protein synthesis was achieved by a novel mechanism by which the virus induced the rapid degradation of cellular mRNAs. Concurrent with the degradation of cellular mRNA, the virus proceeds in the orderly temporal expression of its own genetic information. The effect of vaccinia virus infection upon two abundant L-cell mRNAs was assessed by using the highly conserved cDNA sequences that encode chicken beta-actin and rat alpha-tubulin. Hybridization analyses demonstrated that throughout infection there is a rapid and progressive degradation of both of these mRNAs. In fact, after 3 h of infection they are reduced to less than 50% of their concentration in uninfected L cells, and between 8 to 10 h they are almost entirely degraded. This observation explains in part the mechanism by which vaccinia virus inhibits host cell protein synthesis.
Evaluation of Feasibility of 2 Novel Heart Failure Monitoring Instruments to Facilitate Patient Recognition of Symptoms

Purpose:To maintain clinical stability, patients with heart failure (HF) must recognize often subtle but clinically significant symptoms that can precede decompensation. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of 2 patient self-monitoring instruments designed to facilitate both HF symptom recognition and reporting of these symptoms to providers. Secondary goals included assessment of actions taken by patients when their symptoms indicated potential HF decompensation, changes in self-care management, and patients’ perceptions of the usefulness of the instruments in symptom monitoring. Methods:A pretest-posttest longitudinal design was used for the study. Data were collected at a Midwestern Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Participants used 2 paper-based graphs to monitor weight and dyspnea daily for 3 months. The participants were interviewed at baseline about self-care activities and, at study completion, about perceptions and use of the graphs. The Self-Care of HF Index was administered at baseline and completion to assess for changes in self-care. Results:Thirty-one participants completed the study. Most participants (97%) were men, white (94%) with a mean age of 68 years (range, 45–81). At baseline, systolic ejection fraction mean was 37.6% with a range of 10% to 65%. Most participants demonstrated a willingness to use the instruments for monitoring (range of adherence, 63–84 d [75%–100% of the study period], with a mean [SD] use rate of 79.9 [6.4] d). The participants with potential exacerbations rarely took action based on the data. The use of the instruments had no significant effect on self-management behaviors during the 3-month period. The participants reported that they found the instruments helpful and would recommend them to other patients with HF. Conclusions:New strategies and instruments are needed to promote a patient-clinician partnership and actively engage patients in symptom monitoring and recognition. Easy-to-use and practical instruments for patients to monitor symptoms may lead to appropriate and accurate reporting as well as improved symptom management. Although the instruments used in this study resulted in symptom monitoring, appropriate action was not undertaken as a result of such monitoring.
Parent–child attachment: meta-analysis of associations with parenting behaviors in middle childhood and adolescence

ABSTRACT Maternal sensitivity predicts mother–child attachment in young children, but no meta-analysis has investigated the link between parenting and parent–child attachment in older children. This study examined the relationship between parent–child attachment and multiple components of parenting in children 5–18 years of age. A series of meta-analyses showed that parents of children with more secure attachment are more responsive, more supportive of the child’s autonomy, use more behavioral control strategies, and use less harsh control strategies. Parents of children with more avoidant attachment were less responsive and used less behavioral control strategies. Ambivalent attachment was not significantly related to any of the parenting behaviors, and there were not enough studies to reliably test the relationship between disorganized attachment and parenting. There were few significant moderators. The findings inform new areas for future research, as well as family interventions for at-risk youth.
Late acute thrombosis after paclitaxel eluting stent implantation

Late (more than six months) total occlusion after coronary stenting is a progressive phenomenon occurring in approximately 4% of patients, leading to acute myocardial infarction in less than 0.5%. The process must be related to severe and progressive intimal hyperplasia. In patients receiving coronary stenting with simultaneous brachytherapy, late total occlusion has been reported at a higher rate and to be related to stent thrombosis rather than intimal hyperplasia. Late total occlusion presenting with an acute clinical event seven months after the implantation of a paclitaxel drug eluting stent is reported. The occlusion developed soon after the interruption of ticlopidine treatment, suggesting that the event had a thrombotic genesis and that the risk is not confined to the first six month period.
Oesophageal defensin expression during Candida infection and reflux disease

Objective Alpha (α-) and beta (β-) defensins are major constituents of the innate defence system, providing rapid antimicrobial action. The expression of α- and β-defensins in the oesophagus and stomach by quantitative, real-time, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in healthy individuals was studied to define the influence of oesophageal Candida infection on their expression in comparison to oesophageal reflux disease. Material and methods Biopsy samples were taken from the upper gastrointestinal tract, mRNA was extracted, reverse transcribed into cDNA and real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) analysis measuring transcript number of α-defensins and β-defensins performed. Standard curves allowed quantification of gene copies per weight of mRNA. Results hBD-1, hBD-2 and hBD-3 had their highest expression levels in the oesophagus with factor 3 to 5 lower in the stomach. Candida oesophagitis resulted in massive up-regulation of hBD-2 (800-fold), while hBD-1 and hBD-3 expression were slightly increased. In addition, expression of HNP 1–3 was detected, indicating infiltration of neutrophil granulocytes. In reflux disease, an up-regulation of hBD-2 (20-fold) and hBD-3 (50-fold) could also be observed, while hBD-1, hBD-4 and HD5 remained unaffected. Cytokine expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 were increased in both groups, while interleukin-10 expression was elevated only in reflux lesions. Conclusions Candida colonization induced a high expression of antimicrobial peptides. In oesophageal reflux disease, induction of defensin expression could also be observed but to a lower degree. Therefore, up-regulation of defensins might protect against invasive candidiasis and keep the Candida infection limited to the mucosal surface.
Triangular relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CYP2R1 gene (rs10741657 and rs12794714), 25-hydroxyvitamin d levels, and coronary artery disease incidence

Abstract Objective: To investigate the relationship between the rs10741657 and rs12794714 polymorphisms in the CYP2R1 gene, 25(OH)D levels, and coronary artery disease (CAD) incidence. Methods: In total, 134 male patients with verified CAD were recruited, alongside 109 age- and sex-matched controls. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, using the corresponding restriction enzyme for each polymorphism, whereas 25(OH)D levels were analyzed by HPLC-UV. Results: 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in patients. The genotypic and allelic distributions of the rs10741657 polymorphism were significantly different between patients and controls, whereas insignificant results were obtained for the rs12794714 polymorphism. Furthermore, rs10741657, but not rs12794714, predicted 25(OH)D levels. Conclusion: The rs10741657 polymorphism is a novel genetic marker for CAD.