Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salivary Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Dental Caries in Children and Adolescents

Background: Dental caries is one of the most common diseases during childhood. Saliva can modulate the process of decay, as a rich source of host factors. It has been shown that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is secreted more in the saliva of individuals with active caries. No study has addressed the relationship between TNF-α levels and age or compared children’s immune response at different age groups and during adolescence. Objectives: The present study aimed at evaluating the pro-inflammatory cytokine level of TNF-α in saliva and its association with caries in different age groups of children and adolescents. Methods: In this case-control study, 128 children and adolescents were divided to four age groups of 32. In each group, half of the individuals had no decay (control group) and the other half had > 4 decayed teeth (case group). Overall, 5 mL of non-stimulated saliva was spitted in sterile tubes for 15 minutes. Furthermore, 1 mL of each sample was centrifuged for five minutes at 12000 rpm. Salivary level of TNF-α was measured using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) standard kit. Results: A total of 79 children were studied. The mean TNF-α levels in the case group was 35.20 ± 16.23 Pg/mL and in the control group, this was 26.20 ± 6.25 Pg/mL (P value = 0.001). The mean TNF-α level was significantly higher in the age group of six to 12 years than the age group of 13 to 18 years (P value = 0.01). Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that decay plays an important role in increasing cytokine TNF-α in non-stimulatory saliva, there is no confirming evidence of the direct effect of age on immune function yet.
EFFECT OF MATERNAL BODY WEIGHT OF QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) ON PROGENY PERFORMANCE

SUMMARY 1. The effect of maternal body weight of Japanese quail on the progeny performance was investigated. 2. Forty five female and male Japanese quail were weighted individually and divided into three groups (light: 180-210 g, medium:211-240 g, and heavy:241-270 g) based on individual body weights. Egg quality characteristics were measured individually for each bird/maternal weight group. Hatching weight, body weights at 4 and 5 weeks, and carcass part weights of the offsprings from each maternal weight group were obtained. Nutrient composition of breast meat was analyzed. 3. The response to maternal body weight for egg quality characteristics could be explained by second order polynomial equation. 4. Body weights of progenies at 4 and 5 weeks of age were lighter when birds were produced from light females than those birds produced from medium and heavy females. Breast part weight of progenies was significantly and linearly affected by the maternal weight group. Nutrient composition of breast was not affected by maternal weight group. 5. The results suggested that removing females lighter than flock average, may improve uniformity in weight of birds at the hatchery and processing plant.
Macular Atrophy Development and Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits in Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treated Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose To explore the association between presence of subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) at baseline in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with the development of macular atrophy (MA) during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Methods There were 74 eyes without pre-existing MA receiving anti-VEGF therapy for nAMD for 2 years or longer analyzed. At least two image modalities that included spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, near-infrared reflectance, fluorescein angiography, and color fundus photos were used to assess for SDD presence, phenotype (dot and ribbon), and location, neovascularization type, and MA. Logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations assessed the association between SDD and the development of MA adjusting for age, neovascularization type, and choroidal thickness. Results SDD were present in 46 eyes (63%) at baseline. MA developed in 38 eyes (51%) during the mean of 4.7 ± 1.2 years of follow-up. Compared with eyes without SDD, those with SDD at baseline were 3.0 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–8.5, P = 0.0343) more likely to develop MA. Eyes with SDD present in the inferior macula and inferior extramacular fields at baseline were 3.0 times and 6.5 times more likely to develop MA at follow-up than eyes without SDD in these locations (95% CI 1.0–8.9, P = 0.0461 and 95% CI 1.3–32.4, P = 0.0218, respectively). MA development was not associated with a specific SDD phenotype. Conclusions MA frequently developed in eyes during anti-VEGF treatment. SDD were independently associated with MA development. The extension of SDD into the inferior fundus, particularly in the inferior extramacular field, conferred higher odds of subsequent MA development.
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Southern Part of Iran

Background: There are clear variations between and within countries regarding the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori. In addition, there are no estimations of its prevalence in the general population in the south of Iran. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori in the rural population of Kavar, a southern city of Iran. Methods: A random sample of 500 individuals were selected from the Kavar cohort study. Serum total IgG against H. pylori was checked. The serum positive patients recalled for stool sampling and the H. pylori stool antigen was checked using sandwich ELISA. Moreover, age and gender were recorded for all patients. Results: Among the remained 441 who participated, 254 patients (57.6%) were positive for serum IgG. A total of 14 patients (5.5%) gave up due to stool sampling unsatisfaction. Overall, the rate of H. pylori infection based on both serum IgG and stool Ag of H. pylori was 41.5%. There were no significant association between gender and H. pylori stool antigen positivity (P = 0.776). Furthermore, no differences were detected between different ages categorized in positivity for stool antigen of H. pylori (P = 0.327). The mean and SD of age for negative and positive groups were 40.98 ± 15.42 and 43.65 ± 15.65 years, respectively (P = 0.267). Conclusions: The prevalence of the H. pylori infection in our study based on serum IgG and stool Ag positivity was 41.5%, which are lower than many previous reported rates. Further studies in larger sample size and in different rural populations are needed.
Genomic targeting and mapping of agronomically important genes in wheat

The wild relatives of crop plants are sources of u sef l genes, but such genes when transferred to agricultural crops are often associa ted with deleterious traits. Because most of the recombination and the disease resistance genes are localized towards the ends of wheat chromosomes, cryptic terminal alien segments, carry ing rust resistance genes, were transferred from Aegilops geniculata (UM) and Ae. triuncialis (UC) into common wheat without the usual linkage drag. The alien segment with the leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes Lr57 and Yr40 in translocation T5DL·5DS-5MS(0.95) was found to be less than 3.3 cM in genetic l ngth and spans less than four overlapping BAC/PAC clones of the syntenic rice chromosome arm 12L. The alien segment with leaf rust resistance gene Lr58, transferred from Ae. triuncialis, was found to be less than 5% of the chromosome arm 2BL of wheat in T2BS·2BL-2 L(0.95), further suggesting that it is feasible to transfer small al ien segments with disease resistance genes. Resistance genes Lr57, Yr40 and Lr58 were transferred to Kansas hard red winter wheat c ultivars by backcrossing and marker assisted selection. Tillering, a key component of grain yield, and see d color which influences seed dormancy and pre-harvest sprouting in wheat, are ag onomically important domestication traits in wheat. A tiller inhibition mutant with monoculm phenotype was isolated and th e mutated gene (tin3) was mapped on the distal region of chromosome arm 3AL of T. monococcum. As a first step towards isolating candidate gene(s), the tin3 and the seed color gene ( R-A1) of chromosome 3A were mapped in relation to physically mapped ES Ts and STS markers developed based on synteny with rice. Physically mapped wheat ESTs pro vided a useful framework to identify closely related rice sequences and to establish the most likely syntenous region in rice for the wheat tin3 and R-A1 region. Comparative genomic analysis of the in3 and R-A1 genomic regions with the corresponding region in rice local ized the tin3 gene to a 324 kb region spanned by two overlapping BACs and the R-A1 gene was mapped to a single BAC of the colinear ri ce chromosome arm 1L GENOMIC TARGETING AND MAPPING OF AGRONOMICALLY IMPORTANT GENES IN WHEAT
Vertebrate blood cells.

First published in 1988, Vertebrate Blood Cells provided a comprehensive review of our knowledge of the structure and function of vertebrate blood cells. This was the first book to attempt to draw together such a guide, and this volume was essential reading for this subject. The book consists of six chapters on general evolutionary aspects, fish, amphibian, reptilian, avian and mammalian haematology written by experts in his/her field. Of particular importance is the standardized format used from chapter to chapter which allows the reader to compare the information available on a particular aspect from one group of animals to another. The book should be of interest to immunologists, haematologists and general biologists as well as undergraduate students of zoology, cell biology, microbiology and veterinary and human medicine.
Short Communication PGP9.5 As a Candidate Tumor Marker for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

PGP9.5 is a neurospecific peptide that functions to remove ubiquitin from ubiquitinated proteins and prevents them from targeted degradation by proteasomes. Using the serial analysis of gene expression method (SAGE), we observed that the PGP9.5 transcript was highly expressed in primary lung cancers and lung cancer cell lines but was not detectable in the normal lung. Here we examined the expression of PGP9.5 protein in normal lung epithelium, lung tumor cell lines, and 98 resected primary non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). We found PGP9.5 reactivity in normal lung in a pattern compatible with Kcells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. However, the PGP9.5 was present in both small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and NSCLC cell lines (22/24) independent of neuronal differentiation. In primary NSCLCs, 54% (53/98) of the cases had positive PGP9.5 staining, and the expression of protein was strongly associated with pathological stage of the cancer. It was present in 44% (29/66) of stage I NSCLCs and in 75% (24/32) of stage II and IIIA NSCLCs (p 0.0032). These results suggest that the increased expression of PGP9.5 is specifically associated with lung cancer development and may serve as a potential marker for the detection of lung cancer. (Am J Pathol 1999, 155:711–715)
Effectiveness of Alizapride for Prophylaxis of Nausea and Vomiting after Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section

Background: Nausea and vomiting are common side effects in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery performed under spinal anesthesia can be very unpleasant to the patients. The reported incidence of nausea and vomiting during cesarean performed under regional anesthesia varies from 50% to 80% when no prophylactic antiemetic is given. Therefore, use of prophylactic antiemetics in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery is recommended by some authors. Objective: In this study, alizapride was evaluated, as a D2 receptor antagonist, on the prevention of nausea and vomiting following Spinal Anesthesiain parturients undergoing elective cesarean section. Patients and Methods: The study was carried out in AL-Azhar University Hospitals, Obstetric and gynaecology department on 90 patients undergoing an elective, lower segment cesarean section (LSCS). All patients were identified by code number to maintain the privacy of the patients. Any unexpected risks appeared during the course of the research was cleared to the participants and the ethical committee on time. A written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups, 30 patients for each group. Group I (Alizapride 50 group): Received intravenous (IV) Alizapride 50 mg diluted in 10 ml of normal saline over 1-5 minutes, immediately after clamping umbilical cord. Group II (Alizapride 100 group): Received intravenous (IV) Alizapride 100 mg diluted in 10 ml of normal saline over 1-5 minutes, immediately after clamping umbilical cord. Group III (Saline group): Received normal saline 10 ml, immediately after clamping umbilical cord. Results: The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly decreased in group 2 (Alizapride100 group) compared with group 1 (Alizapride 50 group) and both group was better than group 3 (control group). The use of ondansetron and chlorpheniramine was significantly decreased in group 1 and 2 when compared with group 3. Conclusion: This study concluded that Alizapride 100 mg, given intravenously immediately after clamping umbilical cord would reduce PONV and pruritus in parturients undergoing an elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.
Genomic Predictions for Age at Puberty and Reproductive Longevity in Sows Using Bayesian Methods

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv TABLE OF CONTENTS v CHAPTER 1 1.1 Literature Review 1 1.1.1 Economic Importance of Reproductive Traits 1 1.1.2 Genetic Variation of Reproductive Traits 2 1.1. 3 Selection Response for Reproductive Traits 3 1.1. 4 Mapping Loci that Influence the Variation of Reproductive Traits . 5 1.1. 4.1 QTL Mapping 5 1.1. 4.2 Candidate Gene Approach 8 1.1. 5 Bayesian Analyses in Genome-wide Association Studies 11 1.1. 6 Genomic Predictions 13 1.1. 7 Conclusion 17 1.2 Literature Cited 18 CHAPTER 2 Genomic Predictions for Age at Puberty and Reproductive Longevity in Sows Using Bayesian Methods 25 2.
Expression of CD34 and CD31 in Central and Peripheral Giant Cell Granulomas

Statement of the Problem: There are some differences between clinical features of central giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) and peripheral giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) despite their same microscopic features. The possible role of angiogenesis in this issue is still a matter of debate. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to compare microvessel density (MVD) between CGCGs and PGCGs of the oral cavity using CD31 and CD34. Materials and Method: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 18 PGCGs and 19 CGCGs using a monoclonal antibody against CD34 and CD31. MVD was assessed and compared between the lesions using t-test for statistical analysis. p< 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The expression levels of both CD34 and CD31 were significantly higher in CGCGs compared to PGCGs (p< 0.002 and p< 0.001, respectively). Significant differences in MVD assessed by both markers were observed between males and females in PGCGs (p< 0.05), but not CGCGs (p< 0.2). Conclusion: The combined evaluation of old- and newly-formed vessels by pan-endothelial cell markers showed differences between CGCGs and PGCGs, supporting the possible vascular-proliferative nature of the former. Whether this difference has a part in their diverse biologic behaviors and the role which pre-existent vessels play in comparison to neo-formed vasculature, requires further investigation.
Effect of Exercise on Quality of Life and Physiological Parameters in Obese Nursing Students

Aim: This study aims to determine the effects of exercise on the quality of life and physiological parameters of obese nursing students. Methods: The study used a pretest-posttest and quasi-experimental design. It was conducted March–May 2012 and November 2012– January 2013. The study sample comprised nursing 18 obese students with a Body Mass Index≥25 kg / m2 after screening a total of 583 students. An exercise program was continued for about 3 months (12 weeks), three days a week and 45 minutes (16:00-17:00) per day. Evaluation of the data was used by arithmetic mean, Wilcoxon signedrank test and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Results: After the exercise program, statistically significant reductions were shown in students' weight, plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, and systolic blood pressure (p<0.05); however, no statistically significant reductions were shown in Body Mass Index and diastolic blood pressure (p>0.05). Additionally, the students’ level of activity (p=0.01) and all the subscales of quality of life increased significantly (p=0.000). Conclusion: In conclusion, it is thought that the development of exercise habits will set an example for raising nursing students’ professional awareness of overweight and obese individuals in the development community health.
Efficacy of Hepatitis B Vaccination in Under Five-Year-Old Children in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study

Context: Hepatitis B viral infection, specially in children, is an unsolved global health issue. National and international vaccination programs, as the main means to prevent this infection, have been operating for years. This meta-analysis study was launched to investigate the vaccination efficacy in under five-year-old children in Iran. Evidence Acquisition: In this research, all national databases including, SID, Magiran, Iran medex, Iran doc, and Medlib, as well as international databases, including PubMed, Medline, and ISI were searched for published articles associated with evaluation of seroconversion rates after hepatitis-B vaccination in Iranian children. The search was performed in the Persian and/or English language and in under five-year-old children in Iran. The variance of each study was calculated using the binomial distribution formula. The results of studies were combined using random-effects meta-analysis model. Data were analyzed using STATA version 12. Results: In the present research, 11 studies, performed from 2000 to 2017, were investigated. The number of samples in these 11 studies were 3063 children (1592 males and 1471 females). In the studies, the efficacy range of the hepatitis-B vaccine in under five-year-old children in Iran was 89 (95 CI: 86 -93) with high heterogeneity (P value for heterogeneity was 0.001, I-2 = 92.9). Range of efficacy for males and females was 85 (95 CI: 78 to 91) and 88 (95 CI: 83 to 93), respectively. Conclusions: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination program in Iran seems to be highly effective although some questions, such as the effect of gender on responsiveness to vaccine and heterogeneity of different data, remain unclear.
Drug-resistant tuberculosis in Île-de-France children under eighteen years of age : descriptive observational retrospective study in Île-de-France over a period of five years

Background. Paediatric drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a neglected concern and evidence-based guidance regarding management and outcome is lacking. Microbiologically-confirmed diagnosis is hard and a large proportion of pediatric cases is thus diagnosed on anamnestic and clinical criteria. Furthermore, litterature offers limited assessment of the second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs safety in children. Methods. In a retrospective descriptive cohort study conducted in Paris and ile de France hospitals, we analysed demographic, clinical, microbiological and radiological features, management and outcome in children treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). All patients under 18 years of age with a confirmed or probable diagnosis were included from 1 january 2011 to 31december 2015, with a follow-up documented until 31 June 2017. Data were collected through folder review and CNR-MyrMA microbiological database. For each patient, the related DR-TB index case, if existed, was reported. Standardised definitions were used for diagnosis, adverse reactions and outcome. Results. The 24 children with DR-TB included had a median age of 10,7 years old (interquartile range IQR, 3.4-14.2 years) with a sex ratio 1/1; 3 (12.5%) had tuberculosis history, 17 (70.9%) declared BCG vaccinated, none had HIV infection. Twelve patients (50.0%) were symptomatic but most of cases (62.5%) were diagnosed by systematic contact tracing. Of 16 drug-resistant strains, 8 (50.0% of strains – 10 children of 24, 41.6%) were imported from countries with an increasing incidence of DR-TB. A confirmed diagnosis was made in 13 children (54.2%) and 11 (45.8%) had probable diagnosis;15 children (62.5%) had multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain, 8 (33.3%) monoresistant(mDR)-to-isoniazid strains and 1 a pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) strain. The median delay from microbiological diagnosis to onset of appropriate DR-TB treatment was 78.0 days (IQR 40.5-119.5) for all cases ; Eleven source cases were found and reported. Ten children (41.7%) were treated with an injectable drug and the total treatment duration was a median of 12.0 months (IQR 9.3-16.0) with 18.6 months for the pre-XDR case, 13.3 months (IQR 12.0-18.0) for MDR cases and 8.1 months (IQR 6.0-9.3) for mDR cases. Twelve children (50.0%) were cured, 11(45.8%) probably cured. Five (20.8%) were lost to follow-up. No death was reported. Conclusion. A confirmed diagnosis of DR-TB is not possible in all cases but should not impede the treatment of DR-TB in children. Systematic screening around source case and contact-cases follow-up is crucial for DR-TB management in paediatric cases. More than 90% of children with DR-TB can be successfully treated. However, pharmacokinetic studies are missing for the understanding of child's metabolism and the adaptation of treatment’s doses.
Salmon decay and nutrient contributions to riparian forest soils

Empirical evidence links salmon-derived nutrients to riparian vegetation production and quality, but mechanisms regulating transformation of salmon tissues into plant tissues are still largely unknown. We measured salmon carcass nutrient contributions to riparian soils of Kennedy Creek, WA, a coastal rainforest system. We used ion exchange resins to estimate cumulative bioavailability of major ions in soils, and soil extracts to examine timing and lateral movement of ammonium (NH 4 + ) and nitrate (NO 3 - ) from carcasses. Over the period of skeletonization (76 days), bioavailability of NH 4 + was ∼250x, soluble P (primarily P0 4 - 2 ) was ∼2x, and sulfur (SO x ) was ∼5.5x higher than baseline within 20 cm of carcasses, while availability of other ions was not affected. Maximum NH 4 + and NO 3 - within 10 cm of carcasses occurred at ∼240 degree days (dd; 56 days). NO 3 - and NH 4 + maxima 20 and 50 cm from carcasses occurred between 300 dd (70 days) and 600 dd (150 days). When protected from large scavengers, an average minimum of 49.3% of total carcass N was contributed to soils, and NH 4 + and NO 3 - moved through soils laterally at least 50 cm. Approximately 97% of salmon N is in quickly decaying soft tissues, while 88% of Ca and 50% of P is in the slowly decaying skeleton. Different lag-times in bioavailability of nutrients result; NH 4 + becomes bioavailable within weeks, NO 3 - within months, and P and Ca + 2 over months to years. These findings provide a potential timing mechanism for feedbacks between salmon and riparian vegetation in the context of local conditions.