Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interleukin‐6 and lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein in acute appendicitis in children

The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein (LBP) in children with acute appendicitis (AA) and to compare this with the diagnostic accuracy of routinely used C‐reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count. Eighty‐two consecutive children admitted to our Department because of suspected AA were enrolled in this prospective study and classified into two groups: group 1 (49 children who underwent surgery for AA) and group 2 (33 children with no surgery with diagnosis of non‐specific abdominal pain or sonographic mesenteric lymphadenitis). There were no negative appendectomies during the time of the study. The patients were further classified into three subgroups: subgroup 1A (43 patients with advanced AA), subgroup 2A (11 patients with mesenteric lymphadenitis) and subgroup 2B (10 patients with non‐specific abdominal pain). The perforation rate was 32.7 %. WBC count and serum CRP, IL‐6 and LBP were measured on admission. Area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were evaluated. Serum IL‐6 and LBP were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. The highest AUC for AA was that for IL‐6 (0.776), followed by WBC count (0.684), CRP (0.637) and LBP (0.635). In conclusion, only IL‐6, determined on admission, showed medium diagnostic accuracy, while other laboratory markers showed low diagnostic accuracy for AA in children. The new laboratory markers therefore do not significantly improve the diagnosis of AA.
NaF induces early differentiation of murine bone marrow cells along the granulocytic pathway but not the monocytic, or preosteoclastic pathway in vitro

SummaryThe stimulatory effects of sodium fluoride (NaF) on bone formation have been explained solely, by its activation of osteoblasts. However, whether and how NaF acts on the osteoclast linearge is poorly understood. We previously found that NaF differentiates HL-60 cells to granulocytic cells. To further test this action, we have employed here primary cultures of progenitor cells derived from murine bone marrow. NaF at subtoxic concentations (<0.5 mM) significantly up-regulated activities of several intracellular enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, β-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase), cellular reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium, and nitric oxide (NO) production; which are all accepted as general differentiation markers. NaF (<0.5 mM) also up-regulated granulocyte-specific markers (chloroacetate esterase, cell surface antigens[Mac-1, Gr-1]) but not any of the monocyte-specific markers (nonspecific esterase, cell surface antigens [F4/80, MOMA-2]). Although other general differentiation markers (phagocytosis, adhesion, appearance, nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio) were not appreciably influenced by NaF, essentially in support of our prevous data from HL-60 cells, the present findings suggest that NaF induces early differentiation of bone marrow hemopoietic progenitor cells along the granulocytic pathway but not the monoicytic pathway that is linked to osteoclast formation. Therefore, in addition to its potent stimulatory effects on osteoblastic bone formation, NaF applied to patients with osteoporosis could be expected to indirectly reduce osteoclastic bone resorption.
Life satisfaction related to work re-entry after brain injury: a longitudinal study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the subjective life satisfaction after brain injury and its relation to work re-entry. Method: The research design was a longitudinal study. Thirty-six individuals answered a questionnaire at 3 and 6 years after admittance to a rehabilitation programme. The questionnaire addressed work status, job satisfaction, subjective symptoms of illness and life satisfaction. Results: The reported life satisfaction both for life as a whole and for different domains of life was low. No significant difference between follow-ups was found for satisfaction with life as a whole. For the domain IADL activities, the subjects reported a statistically significant lower satisfaction at the second follow-up than at the first. No correlation between work status and subjective satisfaction with life as a whole was found in this population. At the second follow-up, significantly more people were satisfied with IADL in the group that had returned to work. Conclusions: The results from this study indicate that brain injury has a lasting effect on a person’s life also many years after onset. The decreasing satisfaction with the ability to perform IADL-activities in a long-term perspective should give implications for clinical practice. More research in this area is needed.
Long-term outcomes of adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injuries as a function of neurological impairment

Abstract Objective: To identify outcomes of participation, life satisfaction, and medical complications as a function of impairment in adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Study participants were adults who sustained SCI at age 18 years or younger and were interviewed at age 24 years or older (M = 26.9, SD = 3.5). The telephone interview included a questionnaire and several standardized measures: FIM® instrument (FIM®), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), SF-12® Health Survey, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Using the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS), subjects were grouped into four impairment categories: C1–C4 ABC, C5–C8 ABC, T1–L4 ABC, and AIS D. Results: Of the 410 participants, 62% were male, 54% had tetraplegia, 70% had AIS A lesions, and average age at injury was 14 years (SD = 4.3). Of the 407 subjects who had complete neurological information, 59 had C1–C4 ABC, 140 had C5–C8 ABC, 168 had T1–L4 ABC, and 40 had AIS D lesions. The outcomes were delineated for education, employment, independent living and driving, marriage, participation, medical complications, health-related quality of life, and global life satisfaction, in addition to the ASIA motor score and FIM® motor scores, for each of the four impairment groups. Conclusions: This information should help focus interventions that facilitate positive outcomes in relationship to the severity of impairment. In addition, these data can provide a level of expectation about long-term outcomes for newly injured children and their parents.
Escherichia coli RNase III (rnc) autoregulation occurs independently of rnc gene translation

Control of mRNA stability is an established means of regulating gene expression. However, the detailed mechanisms by which such control is achieved are only now emerging. In particular, there remains a question about the involvement of translation. Escherichia coli ribonuclease III (RNase III) negatively autoregulates expression of its own gene (rnc) approximately 10‐fold, by cleaving the untranslated leader and initiating approximately 10‐fold more rapid decay of the rnc mRNA, after which RNase III plays no further role. Here, we define the mechanism of this control further. Mutations that increase rnc gene translation abolish autoregulation by increasing the stability of the RNase III‐cleaved transcript RNA approximately 10‐fold, with no effect on the uncleaved species. Mutations that decrease translation destabilize the rnc mRNA in the presence or absence of RNase III. In so doing, they reveal a pathway of rnc transcript decay distinct from the RNase III‐dependent pathway. Stability of a ‘mini‐rnc’ transcript containing the rnc leader and only the first two codons of the rnc gene is unaffected by decreased translation, presumably because sequences required for this pathway were removed. Importantly, this mini‐rnc transcript is regulated normally by RNase III. Moreover, rnc transcripts synthesized in vitro do not decay in cell‐free extracts lacking ribosomes, unless they are first cleaved by RNase III. These two results show that RNase III cleavage can initiate rnc transcript decay independently of rnc gene translation, unambiguously establishing that control of mRNA decay need not involve changes in translation. How rnc gene translation is optimized for efficient autoregulation will also be discussed.
Resource document on mandatory outpatient treatment.

Mandatory outpatient treatment, or outpatient commitment, refers to court-ordered treatment for patients who suffer from severe mental illness and who are unlikely to be compliant with such treatment without a court order. Many states already have commitment statutes that permit mandatory outpatient treatment, and others are considering enacting new legislation or amending existing statutes. This Resource Document was prepared under the auspices of the American Psychiatric Association's Council on Psychiatry and Law to provide information to those who are drafting mandatory outpatient treatment legislation. It begins with a review of the history of mandatory outpatient treatment and recent empirical findings, followed by a detailed discussion of the salient issues in mandatory outpatient treatment. The document concludes with a statement of recommendations concerning key provisions in statutory schemes of mandatory outpatient treatment programs. This Resource Document endorses the view that mandatory outpatient treatment can be a useful intervention for a small subset of noncompliant patients with severe and chronic mental illness who go in and out of psychiatric hospitals through the so-called "revolving door. "
Occupational polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and risk of larynx cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are genotoxic substances formed during combustion. Occupational PAH exposure has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer and may be associated with other respiratory cancers. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between occupational PAH exposures and larynx malignancies. We searched EMBASE and MEDLINE (until July 2014) using a series of search strings developed to seek case–control studies or longitudinal studies of workers (Population) exposed to PAHs (Exposure) and their risk for larynx cancer incidence and/or mortality (Outcome). Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts for eligible articles and a third reviewer negotiated consensus. Further assessments of eligibility and sources of bias were conducted in a similar manner. The study results were pooled with random effects meta-analysis. The search resulted in 3377 records. The data of 92 full-text articles representing 63 studies were included and extracted. The majority of studies (n=47) was judged likely to be biased; only 16 studies were judged as methodologically adequate. The pooled effect size was 1.45 (95% CI 1.30 to 1.62; I2=30.7%; =0.03) for larynx cancer incidence and 1.34 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.53; I2=23.8%; =0.03) for larynx cancer mortality. While few studies allowed an investigation of dose–response, these indicate a positive dose–response effect. Although most studies may underestimate the true effect due to inexact approximations of PAH exposure, the meta-analysis suggests a robust positive association between PAH and larynx cancer.
Vicious circles

Picture, if you will, a husband and wife bedding down in the evening with a dual control electric blanket. Each one is able to control the heat individually without affecting the other. As it turns out this particular evening, the electric blanket was on upside down. Everything would have been fine if they both liked the same temperature, but the husband liked it cool and the wife liked it a bit warm. No problem. The wife turns up the heat a bit. His side gets warmer. Too warm, he thinks. He turns his control down. She is too cool, so she turns her control up. This process continues until he his burning and she is freezing. Fortunately, it does not take them very long to figure out the problem and find the solution.
The period–luminosity relation for type II Cepheids in globular clusters

We report the result of our near-infrared observations (JHK s ) for type II Cepheids (including possible RV Tau stars) in galactic globular clusters. We detected variations of 46 variables in 26 clusters (10 new discoveries in seven clusters) and present their light curves. Their periods range from 1.2 d to over 80 d. They show a well-defined period-luminosity relation at each wavelength. Two type II Cepheids in NGC 6441 also obey the relation if we assume the horizontal branch stars in NGC 6441 are as bright as those in metal-poor globular clusters in spite of the high metallicity of the cluster. This result supports the high luminosity which has been suggested for the RR Lyr variables in this cluster. The period-luminosity relation can be reproduced using the pulsation equation (P√ρ = Q) assuming that all the stars have the same mass. Cluster RR Lyr variables were found to lie on an extrapolation of the period-luminosity relation. These results provide important constraints on the parameters of the variable stars. Using Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) data, we show that the type II Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) fit our period-luminosity relation within the expected scatter at the shorter periods. However, at long periods (P > 40 d, i.e. in the RV Tau star range) the LMC field variables are brighter by about one magnitude than those of similar periods in galactic globular clusters. The long-period cluster stars also differ from both these LMC stars and galactic field RV Tau stars in a colour-colour diagram. The reasons for these differences are discussed.
Molecular cloning and characterization of the obg gene of Streptomyces griseus in relation to the onset of morphological differentiation

Morphological differentiation in microorganisms is usually accompanied by a decrease in intracellular GTP pool size, as has been demonstrated in bacillaceae, streptomycetaceae, and yeasts. The obg gene, which codes for a GTP-binding protein belonging to the GTPase superfamily of proteins, was cloned from Streptomyces griseus IFO13189. The gene is located just downstream of the genes for ribosomal proteins L21 and L27, encoded a protein of 478 amino acids (51 kDa), and possessed three consensus motifs which confer GTP-binding ability; Obg protein expressed in Escherichia coli bound GTP, as demonstrated using a UV cross-linking method. Introduction of multiple copies of obg into wild-type S. griseus suppressed aerial mycelium development in cells on solid media. However, no effect on streptomycin production was detected, indicating that Obg is involved in the regulation of the onset of morphological but not physiological differentiation. Multiple copies of obg also suppressed submerged spore formation in liquid culture. Southern hybridization studies indicated that genes homologous to obg exist widely in streptomycetes, and an obg homolog was successfully cloned from S. coelicolor A3(2). We propose that by monitoring the intracellular GTP pool size, the Obg protein is involved in sensing changes in the nutritional environment leading ultimately to morphological differentiation.
Diagnostic value of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract The aim of this study was to ascertain the diagnostic value of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) and SCCA-IgM for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). After a comprehensive search of PubMed and Web of Science databases, we identified eligible studies on the diagnostic value serum SCCAs for HCC. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed using the revised Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy (QUADAS-2) tool. The overall diagnostic value of SCCAs for HCC was pooled using a bivariate model. Twelve studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivities for SCCA and SCCA-IgM were 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.81) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.55–0.82), respectively. The corresponding specificities were 0.80 (95% CI, 0.52–0.94) and 0.62 (95% CI, 0.51–0.72), respectively. The areas under summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curves for SCCA and SCCA-IgM were 0.76 (95% CI, 0.72–0.80) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.66–0.74), respectively. Major design deficiencies of the included studies were two-gate design and partial verification bias. Therefore, we concluded that both serum SCCA and SCCA-IgM have a fair diagnostic value for HCC.
Validation of a robust proteomic analysis carried out on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissues of the pancreas obtained from mouse and human

A number of reports have recently emerged with focus on extraction of proteins from formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues for MS analysis; however, reproducibility and robustness as compared to flash frozen controls is generally overlooked. The goal of this study was to identify and validate a practical and highly robust approach for the proteomics analysis of FFPE tissues. FFPE and matched frozen pancreatic tissues obtained from mice (n = 8) were analyzed using 1D‐nanoLC‐MS(MS)2 following work up with commercially available kits. The chosen approach for FFPE tissues was found to be highly comparable to that of frozen. In addition, the total number of unique peptides identified between the two groups was highly similar, with 958 identified for FFPE and 1070 identified for frozen, with protein identifications that corresponded by approximately 80%. This approach was then applied to archived human FFPE pancreatic cancer specimens (n = 11) as compared to uninvolved tissues (n = 8), where 47 potential pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma markers were identified as significantly increased, of which 28 were previously reported. Further, these proteins share strongly overlapping pathway associations to pancreatic cancer that include estrogen receptor α. Together, these data support the validation of an approach for the proteomic analysis of FFPE tissues that is straightforward and highly robust, which can also be effectively applied toward translational studies of disease.
The effect of antiseptic oral sprays on dental plaque and gingival inflammation: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

OBJECTIVES To review the effectiveness of antiseptic oral sprays on oral health. METHODS AND MATERIALS Three electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science) were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of oral sprays to placebo/control spray or mouthrinse on dental plaque and gingival inflammation were included. RESULTS Among a total of 996 papers, 20 effective studies fulfilled the selection criteria, and 8 studies were suitable for inclusion in meta-analyses. A meta-analysis of three studies using a 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) spray intervention, without prophylaxis at baseline, showed reductions in Plaque Index (PI) (Silness and Löe) and Gingival Index (GI) (Silness and Löe) scores of 0.74 (95% CI: -1.03 to -0.45) and 0.22 (95% CI: -0.38 to -0.06), respectively. Five studies provided a prophylaxis for subjects before study initiation. Three of these five studies used 0.2% CHX spray. A meta-analysis demonstrated an increase of 0.18 (95% CI: -0.01 to 0.37) in PI (Silness and Löe) scores. Two RCTs compared 0.12% and 0.2% CHX spray, and a meta-analysis showed increases of 1.71 (95% CI: 1.27 to 2.14) and 1.58 (95% CI: 1.23 to 1.93), respectively, in PI (Quigley and Hein) scores. Of the RCTs not amenable to meta-analysis, eight studies reported significant improvements in PI and GI scores. CONCLUSIONS Available evidence suggests that oral sprays are an acceptable delivery method for antiseptic agents. Further high-quality studies are warranted to determine the effectiveness of alternative chemotherapeutic agents delivered via oral sprays on oral health.
Effects of Ethephon on Fresh In-Husk Walnut Preservation and its Possible Relationship with Phenol Metabolism.

Fresh walnuts (Juglans regia L.) are in demand due to their high nutrition value and unique flavor of the kernel. In this study the effects of ethephon on decay control and kernel quality of fresh walnuts and its possible relationship with phenolic metabolism were investigated. Fresh in-husk walnuts treated with 0, 10, 500, and 800 mg/L ethephon were stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C for 42 d. Decay incidence, total phenolic (TP) compounds, phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), polyphenol-oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD) activities of green husks, and acid values (AV) and peroxide values (PV) of kernels were assessed at 6-d intervals. The respiration rate of the whole walnut was assessed at 3-d intervals. Treatment with 500 mg/L ethephon enhanced respiration, reduced the decay index, and inhibited PPO and POD activity and browning of green husks, and also promoted PAL activity and TP content of green husks. This treatment also reduced the PV and AV of kernels. A concentration of 10 mg/L ethephonhad similar, but weaker, effects on walnuts. Treatment with 8000 mg/L ethephon, however, had opposite effects. These data indicate ethephon treatment at a proper concentration can extend storage life and maintain kernel quality of fresh in-husk walnuts through the manipulation of phenolic metabolism.
Model-Based Estimation of the Communication Cost of Hybrid Data-Parallel Applications on Heterogeneous Clusters

Heterogeneous systems composed of CPUs and accelerators sharing communication channels of different performance are getting mainstream in HPC but, at the same time, they show a complexity that makes it difficult to optimize the deployment of a data parallel application. Recent analytical tools such as Functional Performance Models, combined with advanced partitioning algorithms, manage to achieve a balanced configuration by distributing the workload unevenly, according to the performance of the different processing units. Unfortunately, such uneven distribution of the computation load leads to communication unbalances that, very often, render worthless the previous workload balancing efforts. Finding the optimal communication scheme without expensive testing on the executing platform requires an analytical approach to the estimation of the communication cost of different configurations of the application. With this goal in mind, we propose and discuss an extension of the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\tau$</tex-math><alternatives><inline-graphic xlink:href="ricogallego-ieq1-2715809.gif"/> </alternatives></inline-formula>-Lop communication performance model to cover heterogeneous architectures. In order to provide a quantitative assessment of this extended model, we conduct experiments with two representative computational kernels, the SUMMA algorithm and the 2D wave equation solver. The <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\tau$ </tex-math><alternatives><inline-graphic xlink:href="ricogallego-ieq2-2715809.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> -Lop predictions are compared against the HLogGP model and the observed costs for a variety of configurations, hardware resources and problem sizes.