Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation between Microalbuminuria and Severity of Coronary Artery Stenosis in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus = العلاقة بين الزلال الدقيق بالبول و شدة ضيق الشرايين التاجية في مرضى النوع الثاني من مرض السكري

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in patients with diabetes mellitus. Microalbuminuria (MAU) is defined as persistent subclinical elevation of urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), which is insufficient to be demonstrated by reagent strips. Objective: to determine the correlation between microalbuminuria and the severity of coronary artery stenosis assessed by Gensini score in patients with type II diabetes mellitus Patients and methods: This study included sixty-one patients with type II diabetes mellitus and suspected coronary artery disease that underwent elective coronary angiography in Al-Azhar University Hospital, New Damietta, during the period between October 2013 and October 2014. Patients were classified into two groups based on the level of urinary albumin: creatinine ratio (UACR): Group I included 32 patients (52.5 %) with microalbuminuria (UACR level ranging from 30 to less than 300 mg/g), and Group II included 29 patients (47.5 %) with normoalbuminuria (UACR level less than 30 mg/g). All patients were subjected to full history taking,clinical assessment, standard 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography,laboratory investigations, andcoronary angiography. Results: This study showed that UACR and Gensini score increased with age. There was a significant positive correlation between UACR and total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C and glycosylated hemoglobin (HgbA1c), while there was a significant negative correlation with HDL-C and smoking. There was a significant positive correlation between Gensini score and urinary albumin level. The Gensini score was correlated with LDL- C and no correlation with total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and glycosylated hemoglobin (HgbA1c) or smoking. In the present study, the number of coronary vessels affected was higher in patients with microalbuminuria than those without microalbuminuria. The severity of coronary artery disease assessed by Gensini score was significantly higher in patients with microalbuminuria than those without microalbuminuria, and there was a correlation between UACR and Gensini score as a measurement of severity of coronary artery stenosis. Conclusion: In patients with type II DM, microalbuminuria can be used as a predictor for coronary artery disease severity.
Comparison of the change in QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube results after preventive therapy for latent tuberculosis infection

Background We investigated changes in the interferon-γ levels before and after treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) using QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assays. The objective was to assess whether QFT-Plus could serve as a biomarker of LTBI treatment response. Methods We prospectively enrolled 44 individuals whose baseline QFT-GIT and QFT-Plus showed positive results at a tertiary referral center in South Korea between March 2017 and March 2018. The results of the QFT-Plus assay were defined as positive if either or both of the antigen tubes (TB1 and/or TB2) were positive. After LTBI treatment, both tests were repeated. Results The mean age of the participants was 47.6 years. The QFT-GIT and QFT-Plus assays revealed positive results in 42/44 (95.5%) and 41/44 (93.2%) participants after LTBI treatment, showing overall agreement of 93.2%, with a Cohen’s kappa value of 0.37 (fair agreement). The differences between pre- and post-LTBI treatment interferon-γ levels were measured using the QFT-GIT and QFT-Plus assays. No significant differences were noted among the 3 values: the median difference in interferon-γ value with QFT-GIT, QFT-Plus TB1, and QFT-Plus TB2 was 0.211 IU/mL (IQR, −0.337–3.347), 0.025 IU/mL (IQR, −0.338–1.368), and 0.180 IU/mL (IQR, −0.490–2.278), respectively (P = 0.401). Conclusion The change in interferon-γ levels before and after LTBI treatment measured using the QFT-Plus assay showed a similar trend to that of the QFT-GIT assay. Considering that the QFT-GIT assay is not a useful biomarker of LTBI treatment response, QFT-Plus also appears not to be useful for this purpose.
Evolutionary and Comparative analysis of bacterial Non-Homologous End Joining Repair

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are a threat to genome stability. In all domains of life, DSBs are faithfully fixed via homologous recombination. Recombination requires the presence of an uncut copy of duplex DNA that is used as a template for repair. Alternatively, in the absence of a template, cells utilize error-prone Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Although ubiquitously found in eukaryotes, NHEJ is not universally present in bacteria. It is unclear as to why many prokaryotes lack this pathway. To understand what could have led to the current distribution of bacterial NHEJ, we carried out comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis across ~6000 genomes. Our results show that this pathway is sporadically distributed across the phylogeny. Ancestral reconstruction further suggests that NHEJ was absent in the eubacterial ancestor, and can be acquired via specific routes. Integrating NHEJ occurrence data for archaea, we also find evidence for extensive horizontal exchange of NHEJ genes between the two kingdoms as well as across bacterial clades. The pattern of occurrence in bacteria is consistent with correlated evolution of NHEJ with key genome characteristics of genome size and growth rates; NHEJ presence is associated with large genome sizes and/or slow growth rates, with the former being the dominant correlate. Given the central role these traits play in determining the ability to carry out recombination, it is possible that the evolutionary history of bacterial NHEJ may have been shaped by requirement for efficient DSB repair.
Maternal anaemia and morbidity in South-Western Nigeria.

489 pregnant Nigerian women aged 16 to 45 years randomly selected from antenatal clinics of a peri-urban slum and two rural coastal areas in South-western Nigeria were followed up throughout pregnancy. They were interviewed individually and in focus groups to enquire about their use of iron, folic acid and antimalarials, and their health status before their first antenatal clinic attendance. The prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 1 1 0 g/1) and severe anaemia (Hb < 80 g/1) was 70.3% and 8.6% respectively. Among women who booked in the first, second and third trimesters, the prevalence of anaemia was 54.3%, 77.3% and 69.2% respectively. Although a high proportion of women claimed to consume iron (43.9%) and antimalarials (43.3%), there were no significant differences in haemoglobin (Hb) values between those who took these haematinics and those who did not. Rather fewer women (18.4%) took folic acid tablets. Of 441 blood films examined, malaria parasitaemia was present in 63 (14.3%), with a higher prevalence among rural women. Of these, 49 (77.8%) were P. malariae and 9 (14.3%) were P. falciparum. There was no association between malaria parasitaemia and anaemia. One (0.2%) of the women had Sickle Cell Anaemia (Hb SS), 18.9% had Hb AS and 6.5% were Hb AC. 25 (21.9%) of 114 stool samples examined for parasites were positive. Of these, 19 (76%) were due to Ascaris lumbricoides, 2 (8%) had Trichuris trichuria, 1 (4%) had Ancylostoma duodenale and 3 (12%) had multiple parasites. The prevalence of anaemia was similar in infected and uninfected subjects. The highest levels of serum ferritin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) occurred in the most anaemic women. Presumably elevated ferritin here is a result of infection, making the assessment of iron status rather difficult. These subjects also had lower levels of serum retinol and there was a significant association between serum retinol and Hb values. The contributions of infection and vitamin A deficiency to anaemia of pregnancy are discussed. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract.2 Table of contents. 3 List of figures . 11 List of tables . 12 Acknowledgements. 18 CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION 1.1 Definition of anaemia.19 1.1.1 WHO definition of cut-off points . 19 1.1.2 Prevalence of anaem ia. 19 1.1.3 Pathophysiology and maternal effects of anaemia in pregnancy 23 1.1.4 Fetal effects of anaemia in pregnancy. 24 1.1.5 Aetiology of anaemia in pregnancy.25 1.2 Blood volume changes during normal pregnancy. 27 1.3 Iron . 28 1.3.1 Iron requirements.28 1.3.2 Dietary iron . 30 1.3. 3 Iron losses. 32 1.3. 3.1 Basal physiological iron lo sse s . 32 1.3. 3.2 Pathological iron loss.32 1.3. 4 Storage iron . 32 1.4 Folate . 33 1.4. 1 Increased folate requirements.34 1.4. 2 Diagnosis of folate deficiency.36 1.5 Vitamin A . 37 1.5. 1 Sources of vitamin A . 37 1.5. 2 Vitamin A requirements.37 1.5. 3 Absorption of vitamin A . 38 1.5. 4 Methods of assessment of vitamin A sta tu s . 38 1.5. 5 Bioavailahility of vitamin A . 39 1.5. 6 Vitamin A and iron interrelationships . 40
Neuroimaging biomarkers differentiate Parkinson disease with and without cognitive impairment and dementia

Mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease places a high burden on patients and is likely a precursor to Parkinson disease-related dementia. Studying the functional connectivity and morphology of subcortical structures within basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits may uncover neuroimaging biomarkers of cognitive dysfunction in PD. We used an atlas-based seed region-of-interest approach to investigate resting-state functional connectivity of important subdivisions of the caudate nucleus, putamen and thalamus, between controls (n = 33), cognitively unimpaired Parkinson disease subjects (n = 33), Parkinson disease subjects with mild cognitive impairment (n = 22) and Parkinson disease subjects with dementia (n = 17). We then investigated how the morphology of the caudate, putamen and thalamus structures and differed between groups. Results indicate that cognitively unimpaired Parkinson disease subjects, compared to controls, display increased functional connectivity of the dorsal caudate, anterior putamen and mediodorsal thalamic subdivisions with areas across the frontal lobe, as well as reduced functional connectivity of the dorsal caudate with posterior cortical and cerebellar regions. Compared to cognitively unimpaired subjects, Parkinson disease subjects with mild cognitive impairment demonstrated reduced functional connectivity of the mediodorsal thalamus with midline nodes within the executive-control network. Compared to subjects with mild cognitive impairment, subjects with dementia demonstrated reduced functional connectivity of the mediodorsal thalamus with the posterior cingulate cortex, a key node within the default-mode network. Extensive volumetric and surface-based deflation was found in Parkinson disease subjects with dementia. Our research demonstrates how functional connectivity of the caudate, putamen and thalamus are implicated in the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment and dementia in Parkinson disease, with mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Parkinson disease associated with a breakdown in functional connectivity of the mediodorsal thalamus with para- and posterior cingulate regions of the brain.
Effect of Homoeopathic treatment on Activity of Daily Living (ADL) in Knee Osteoarthritis: A prospective observational study

Objectives: To investigate the effect of individualized homoeopathic medicines in improving ADL by reducing pain, stiffness and limiting the disease progress. Materials and Methods: 131 consecutive patients with OA of knee were recruited and followed up for minimum period of twelve months. Two orthopaedic surgeons diagnosed the disease based on clinical examination of the patients. Three trained homoeopathic physicians prescribed individualized homoeopathic simillimum and the patients were evaluated for pain on WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index LK3.1 (IK) survey form measuring pain, stiffness and ADL. The pain was also measured on Numerical pain rating scale for confirmation. Result: Individualized homoeopathic medicines prescribed as per law of similia improved the mean ADL from 35.85 to 19.08 (p- 0.0001). Mean pain on WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index survey form improved from 10.50 to 5.48 (p-0.0001). The mean pain score on NRS improved from 6.34 to 3.77 (p-0.0001) and the mean morning stiffness also improved from 4.55 to 2.18 (p-0.0001). Conclusion: Homoeopathic medicines have potential to improve the ADL of OA patients by reducing pain and stiffness and limiting progress of the disease without any adverse systemic effects and can safely be employed as a comprehensive health care therapeutics.
Secondary education as a group marker in St. Louis, Missouri

ABSTRACT This article calls attention to the saliency of secondary education within the community and its utility in constructing social categories, in order to consider how it affects linguistic variation. Older St. Louisans draw on secondary education to construct a divide between those who attended Catholic high schools and those who attended public schools. I show that speakers in a sample of older St. Louisans differ in production of the thought vowel based on education type. This effect is weakened in apparent time when we consider a larger sample that includes both older and younger speakers. I draw on Brubaker's (2004) view of groups as events and actions to argue that these categories were indexed only while they had a high degree of groupness, and suggest that social changes that led to diminished groupness between Catholics and Publics also resulted in the loss of a linguistic distinction between the groups. (Education, groups, Northern Cities Shift, Catholicism)*
Electronic Performance-Oriented Mold Sharing Method and Application in QTT 110 m Large Radio Telescope

The reflector surface of a large reflector antenna may even consist of thousands of panels, and if the panel molds with high-precision requirements are fabricated uniquely for each ring, the overall cost will be very high. Therefore, from a perspective of reducing the cost, the mold sharing design is of particular significance. In order to obtain the minimum number of molds satisfying the given electronic performance index, the electronic performance-oriented mold sharing design is suggested, in which the effective surface accuracy is used to evaluate electrical performance. The smaller the combined effective root-mean-square (rms) error value introduced after sharing the mold, the more preferential these rings should share the mold to reduce the number of molds. Based on such idea, a fast mold reduction process is presented, which can give the minimum number of molds quickly according to the electrical performance requirements. During this process, a combined effective rms value matrix and a mold sharing discriminant matrix are defined and used. To construct these two matrices, the panel normal error induced by mold sharing is derived, and the optimal mold position is determined first. As a test problem, application of the proposed method to mold reduction of a 110 m radio telescope is presented, and the discussions of the results are given.
Proprioception is subject-specific and improved without performance feedback

Accumulating evidence indicates that the human’s proprioception map appears subject-specific. However, whether the idiosyncratic pattern persists across time with good within-subject consistency has not been quantitatively examined. Here we measured the proprioception by a hand visual-matching task in multiple sessions over two days. We found that people improved their proprioception when tested repetitively without performance feedback. Importantly, despite the reduction of average error, the spatial pattern of proprioception errors remained idiosyncratic. Based on individuals’ proprioceptive performance, a standard convolutional neural network classifier could identify people with good accuracy. We also found that subjects’ baseline proprioceptive performance could not predict their motor performance in a visual trajectory-matching task even though both tasks require accurate mapping of hand position to visual targets in the same workspace. Using a separate experiment, we not only replicated these findings but also ruled out the possibility that performance feedback during a few familiarization trials caused the observed improvement in proprioception. We conclude that the conventional proprioception test itself, even without feedback, can improve proprioception but leave the idiosyncrasy of proprioception unchanged.
Physical training improves cardiopulmonary functional capacity and increases cytokine IL-10 levels in individuals with Chagas disease

Purpose : To evaluate cardiopulmonary functional capacity and the production of cytokines in patients with and without Chagas disease, and with and without hypertension, after short and long-term exercise. Methods : In a case-controlled study, 56 participants who attended the Chagas Disease Laboratory at the State University of Maringa (LDC/UEM) and Basic Health Units (UBS) in Maringa that agreed to participate. The participants were divided into the following groups: 16 with Chagas disease (CHD group), 21 with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH group) and 19 normal individuals without these morbidities (NI group). Each participant performed the 6-min walk test (6MWT), and a 12-week physical training program. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured before and after physical training. Results : The CHD group presented good performance in the 6MWT, with no significant differences in distance traveled or perceived exertion (p > 0.05) compared with the NI group. After physical training, the 6MWT results were significantly better, with significant decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, in the SAH group (p = 0.0409; and p = 0.0377, respectively) and NI group (p = 0.0180; and p = 0.0431, respectively) and a significant increase in the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10; p < 0.05) in all three groups. The NI group exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor (all p < 0.05). Conclusion : All of the participants presented improvements in cardiopulmonary functional capacity and good prognosis, indicating the protective effect of IL-10 production and the benefits of physical training. Keywords : Chagas disease, Six-minute walk test, Physical training, Cytokines, Cardiopulmonary function capacity, Hypertension
THE UTILIZATION OF INTERNET RESOURCES FOR LEARNING THE UTILIZATION OF INTERNET RESOURCES FOR LEARNING AND RESEARCH AMONG STUDENTS OF TARABA STATE AND RESEARCH AMONG STUDENTS OF TARABA STATE UNIVERSITY,

The primary purpose of this work is to examine the utilization of internet resources for learning and research among students of Taraba state university. This study, which is anchored on the uses and gratification adopted a survey among 350 students. The students perceived that the lack of digital readiness among their staff and institution, the absence of electronic library for easy accessibility to journals from the scientific database, and inefficient cybercafe and internet facility within their university settings were the main issues discouraging the utilization of the internet within their institutions. Yet, they still strive to find ways through self-organization, resilience and resourcefulness to make use of the internet to facilitate their studies. Most of them stated that they use their smartphone/handsets to access the internet through subscription from other internet providers. Google and Google Scholar was found to be the most preferred search engine. The students affirmed that the use of internet enabled them to perform research ahead of time, tackle multiple homework, widens the scope of reading and learning, promotes self-learning, encourages and enhances peer learning as well as ameliorates student’s examination preparation. It was proposed that tertiary institutions in Nigeria most especially TSU should provide an electronic library where the students can easily access scientific journals from databases such as Elsevier, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Wiley, and Emerald. This will lessen the reliance on Google and Google Scholar as well as provide the means to explore other related scientific papers which will improve their academic research and learning.
The co-stimulatory activity of Tim-3 requires Akt and MAPK signaling and immune synapse recruitment

Expression of the transmembrane protein Tim-3 is increased on dysregulated T cells undergoing chronic T cell activation, including in chronic infection and solid tumors. We and others previously reported that Tim-3 exerts apparently paradoxical co-stimulatory activity in T cells (and other cells), including enhancement of ribosomal S6 protein phosphorylation (pS6). Here we examined the upstream signaling pathways that control Tim3-mediated increases in pS6 in T cells. We have also defined the localization of Tim-3 relative to the T cell immune synapse and impacts on downstream signaling. Recruitment of Tim-3 to the immune synapse was mediated exclusively by the transmembrane domain, replacement of which impaired Tim-3 co-stimulation of pS6. Strikingly, enforced localization of the Tim-3 cytoplasmic domain to the immune synapse in the context of a chimeric antigen receptor still allowed for robust T cell activation. Our findings are consistent with a model whereby Tim-3 enhances TCR-proximal signaling under acute conditions. One Sentence Summary Here we define elements of signaling and localization associated with Tim-3 co-stimulatory function in T cells.
Natural progression and clinical significance of incidentally detected pulmonary nodules in radiotherapy planning CT scans of breast cancer patients: a retrospective cohort

Abstract Aim Indeterminate pulmonary nodules incidentally detected during radiological imaging completed for radiotherapy planning always creates dilemma for the oncologist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of pulmonary nodules incidentally detected in patients undergoing locoregional radiotherapy for breast cancer and present a retrospective analysis of the natural progression of such nodules. Methods A retrospective review of computed tomography scans of breast cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy over a period of 3 years to screen out patients with indeterminate lung nodules was undertaken. This was correlated with the patient and tumour characteristics and the status of the disease at last follow-up. Results Of the 132 patients reviewed 28 had indeterminate lung nodules. Of the 28 patients, four had progressive lung nodules on follow-up. Subgroup analyses did not show any significant correlation. Discussion and conclusion One fifth of patients may present with incidentally detected lung nodules. Multiple nodules, ER negative status and locally advanced breast cancer may point to a higher risk of these nodules progressing to metastatic cancer. There is no indication to stop locoregional therapy in the presence of indeterminate nodules, but close follow-up of high-risk group is recommended.