Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Presence of Torque teno sus virus in porcine circovirus type 2-associated disease in Croatia

Torque teno virus (TTV) is ubiquitous and species-specific, and two different TTV species, Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) and Torque teno sus virus 2 (TTSuV2), have been described in domestic pigs and wild boars. Whether these two species are involved in clinical cases of porcine circovirus type 2-associated disease (PCVDs) remains unknown. This study investigates the presence of TTSuV in 85 fetuses, pigs and wild boars infected by PCV2 and affected by PCVDs other than postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome. It also explores the genetic diversity of identified strains using phylogenetic analysis. The presence or absence of TTSuV was determined in 85 samples of PCV2-containing organs from 85 infected animals using a specific, one-step PCR method. A nucleotide distance matrix between sequences was computed to infer phylogeny based on a median-joining (MJ) network. TTSuV2 showed high prevalence in animals affected by nephropathy and proliferative and necrotising pneumonia (PNP), and both TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 showed high prevalence in wild boars affected by PMWS. TTSuV1 showed low prevalence in animals affected by nephropathy and PNP, and both TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 showed low prevalence in animals with reproductive disorders. MJ network analysis revealed significant genetic diversity among Croatian isolates.
Influence of different storage conditions and anticoagulants on the measurement of total and acylated ghrelin in dogs: a preliminary study

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare different sample treatments and storage conditions in order to determine optimal conditions for total and acylated canine ghrelin measurement using ELISA assays. Under the conditions assessed in this study, total ghrelin concentration was stable when stored at room temperature or under cooled conditions (4°C) for approximately six hours regardless of the type of anticoagulant used. When samples were stored at under −20°C, three freeze/thaw cycles during storage did not alter total ghrelin concentration if serum or plasma treated with EDTA or with EDTA-aprotinin is used. When samples were stored at under −80°C, no significant differences were observed after three freeze/thaw cycles in total ghrelin concentrations in serum or plasma treated with EDTA, EDTA-aprotinin or heparin. While acylated ghrelin showed to be very instable, its analysis should be performed within an hour of sample collection or stored at −80°C preferably in serum in order to acquire accurate data. Addition of HCl did not improve total or acylated ghrelin stability. Furthermore, acidification of plasma samples decreased the stability of total ghrelin and impeded determination of acylated ghrelin with the ELISA used in this study.
Sarcoptic mange in vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) population in Peru

Cutaneous cysts are common non-neoplastic, non-inflammatory tumor-like lesions defined as epithelial-lined sac-like structures filled with keratin, hair and sebum (Scott and others 2001). Follicular cysts are classified as infundibular, isthmus-catagen, matrical and hybrid, based on the type of lining epithelium indicative of the origin of the cyst (Scott and others 2001, Gross and others 2006). In particular, infundibular cysts are characterised by squamous epithelium with an evident granular layer, and arise from the infundibulum of the hair follicle (Gross and others 2006). Very few reports of multiple/disseminated follicular cysts have been described in species including dogs, alpacas, sheep, pet birds, horses and human beings (Scott and others 2001, Ginel and others 2007, Ginn and others 2007, Newkirk and Frank 2011). This case series describes the development of disseminated infundibular cysts in five dogs and one cat. The term ‘disseminated’ is preferred over ‘multiple’ to better describe the presence of multifocal lesions involving the entire body. The cases enrolled in this series are characterised by a history of progressive development of multiple cutaneous cysts over the entire body. Cases 1–4 were presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), while cases 5 and 6 were submitted to the diagnostic laboratory for histopathological evaluation only. See Table 1 for the signalment for each case. View this table: TABLE 1: ​Case signalment table Historical information revealed that the first lesions were noticed as single to …
Retrospective propensity score matching and the selection of surgical procedures: how precise can a propensity estimate be?

TO THE EDITOR: An article by Kim et al 1 was recently published comparingthesurgicalandoncologicoutcomesbetweenlaparoscopic andopengastrectomyforgastriccancer.Theauthorsusedpropensity scorematchingtominimizetheselectionbiasinaretrospectivecohort of patients from multiple centers. Kim et al tried to adjust for confounding factors by using propensity score matching, and they concluded that laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer seems comparable with open surgery. However, we have several significant concernsaboutthecase-matchingmethodthatwasusedinthisstudy. The propensity score analysis was developed to minimize the differences in patients’ covariates, which could become confounding factors in the examination of treatment effects in observational stud
Phylogenetic analysis of canine distemper viruses from red foxes, Greece

In 2005, the US Government withdrew its financial support for horsemeat inspection. This combined with court action and state bans in 2007 caused the cessation of the equine slaughter industry in the USA (Cowan 2010, 2012). Following from that, many horses in the USA were instead exported live to abattoirs in Canada and Mexico. In Europe, most countries consume some horsemeat, and the supply is sourced locally or transported to consumption centres as meat or live animals. One of the incentives for transporting meat in place of the live animals has been reducing the risk of spreading infectious equine anaemia within Europe. Many different types of equid can be procured for slaughter, but little has been documented on the quality features of the different breeds and species that supply this trade. Breed differences have been noted within and between Spanish and Italian horse breeds (Juarez and others 2009, Lanza and others 2009), and based on conformation, differences in head size, skin thickness and fore plus hind leg length, it seems likely that there can be sizeable differences in dressing-out per cent. Potential sources of equids for the meat trade in Great Britain (GB) include recreational ponies and horses, racehorses and pet donkeys. The present study …
Motor dysfunction and behavioural problems frequently coexist with congenital heart disease in school‐age children

Patients with congenital heart disease are at risk of neurodevelopmental deficits. Impairments in motor and behavioural function occur frequently, but no information is available concerning the coexistence of deficits in these two developmental domains. This study explored the occurrence of motor and behavioural deficits and their coexistence in children with surgically corrected congenital heart disease.
Prospective approach to breast cancer risk prediction in African American women: the black women's health study model.

PURPOSE Breast cancer risk prediction models have underestimated risk for African American women, contributing to lower recruitment rates in prevention trials. A model previously developed for African American women was found to underestimate risk in the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS). METHODS We developed a breast cancer risk model for African American women using relative risks derived from 10 years of follow-up of BWHS participants age 30 to 69 years at baseline. Using the subsequent 5 years of follow-up data, we evaluated calibration as the ratio of expected to observed number of breast cancers and assessed discriminatory accuracy using the concordance statistic. RESULTS The BWHS model included family history, previous biopsy, body mass index at age 18 years, age at menarche, age at first birth, oral contraceptive use, bilateral oophorectomy, estrogen plus progestin use, and height. There was good agreement between predicted and observed number of breast cancers overall (expected-to-observed ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.05) and in most risk factor categories. Discriminatory accuracy was higher for women younger than age 50 years (area under the curve [AUC], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.65) than for women age ≥ 50 years (AUC, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.59). Using a 5-year predicted risk of 1.66% or greater as a cut point, 2.8% of women younger than 50 years old and 32.2% of women ≥ 50 years old were classified as being at elevated risk of invasive breast cancer. CONCLUSION The BWHS model was well calibrated overall, and the predictive ability was best for younger women. The proportion of women predicted to meet the 1.66% cut point commonly used to determine eligibility for breast cancer prevention trials was greatly increased relative to previous models.
Partnerships among Health Professionals and Self-Help Group Members

Occupational therapy practice in partnership with self-help groups is consistent with the principles of client-centred practice and health promotion. This qualitative research study examined the meanings and interactional mechanisms of effective partnerships with a theoretical sample of 47 health professionals, including seven occupational therapists, and 49 self-help group members. Inductive analysis of semi-structured interview transcripts resulted in a number of themes: roles of health professionals and self-help group members, relationships between them, characteristics of effective partnerships, tensions/barriers to effective partnerships, and strategies to promote partnerships. Themes with particular implications for occupational therapy practice include trust and trust building; knowledge, empathy and understanding; and the balance of power between health professionals and self-help group members. Effective partnership relationships require a continued commitment by occupational therapists, other health professionals and self-help group members to understand the experiences and perceptions of each other.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma classification system that associates normal B-cell subset phenotypes with prognosis.

PURPOSE Current diagnostic tests for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma use the updated WHO criteria based on biologic, morphologic, and clinical heterogeneity. We propose a refined classification system based on subset-specific B-cell-associated gene signatures (BAGS) in the normal B-cell hierarchy, hypothesizing that it can provide new biologic insight and diagnostic and prognostic value. PATIENTS AND METHODS We combined fluorescence-activated cell sorting, gene expression profiling, and statistical modeling to generate BAGS for naive, centrocyte, centroblast, memory, and plasmablast B cells from normal human tonsils. The impact of BAGS-assigned subtyping was analyzed using five clinical cohorts (treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone [CHOP], n = 270; treated with rituximab plus CHOP [R-CHOP], n = 869) gathered across geographic regions, time eras, and sampling methods. The analysis estimated subtype frequencies and drug-specific resistance and included a prognostic meta-analysis of patients treated with first-line R-CHOP therapy. RESULTS Similar BAGS subtype frequencies were assigned across 1,139 samples from five different cohorts. Among R-CHOP-treated patients, BAGS assignment was significantly associated with overall survival and progression-free survival within the germinal center B-cell-like subclass; the centrocyte subtype had a superior prognosis compared with the centroblast subtype. In agreement with the observed therapeutic outcome, centrocyte subtypes were estimated as being less resistant than the centroblast subtype to doxorubicin and vincristine. The centroblast subtype had a complex genotype, whereas the centrocyte subtype had high TP53 mutation and insertion/deletion frequencies and expressed LMO2, CD58, and stromal-1-signature and major histocompatibility complex class II-signature genes, which are known to have a positive impact on prognosis. CONCLUSION Further development of a diagnostic platform using BAGS-assigned subtypes may allow pathogenetic studies to improve disease management.
Corynebacterium species nasal carriage in pigs and their farmers in Bavaria, Germany: implications for public health

Reports on cases of human diphtheria caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans that were linked to occupational swine contact as well as isolation of C ulcerans from wild boars have suggested that pigs might serve as reservoir for human infections. Therefore, a prevalence study on Corynebacterium species nasal carriage in pigs and their farmers was performed between August 1 and December 31, 2009, in 41 swine farms from Bavaria, Germany. All 411 asymptomatic pigs and 29 of 30 healthy farmers were colonised with Corynebacterium strains of up to 11 different species. No potentially toxigenic Corynebacterium strain was isolated either from the pigs or from their farmers, respectively. The patterns of the species composition in the pigs and the farmers were very similar, suggesting a potential transmission of strains between animals and humans.
Assessment of liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a new evidence-based approach-the ALBI grade.

PURPOSE Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have associated chronic liver disease, the severity of which is currently assessed by the Child-Pugh (C-P) grade. In this international collaboration, we identify objective measures of liver function/dysfunction that independently influence survival in patients with HCC and then combine these into a model that could be compared with the conventional C-P grade. PATIENTS AND METHODS We developed a simple model to assess liver function, based on 1,313 patients with HCC of all stages from Japan, that involved only serum bilirubin and albumin levels. We then tested the model using similar cohorts from other geographical regions (n = 5,097) and other clinical situations (patients undergoing resection [n = 525] or sorafenib treatment for advanced HCC [n = 1,132]). The specificity of the model for liver (dys)function was tested in patients with chronic liver disease but without HCC (n = 501). RESULTS The model, the Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) grade, performed at least as well as the C-P grade in all geographic regions. The majority of patients with HCC had C-P grade A disease at presentation, and within this C-P grade, ALBI revealed two classes with clearly different prognoses. Its utility in patients with chronic liver disease alone supported the contention that the ALBI grade was indeed an index of liver (dys)function. CONCLUSION The ALBI grade offers a simple, evidence-based, objective, and discriminatory method of assessing liver function in HCC that has been extensively tested in an international setting. This new model eliminates the need for subjective variables such as ascites and encephalopathy, a requirement in the conventional C-P grade.
Effect of early lactation foot trimming in lame and non-lame dairy heifers: a randomised controlled trial

Foot trimming is a common management intervention in prevention of lameness in dairy cattle. Despite this, there is surprisingly limited experimental evidence on its efficacy, especially in regard to primiparous heifers. A randomised, negatively controlled trial was conducted to investigate the association between an early lactation foot trim on primiparous animals and production outcomes. 282 heifers were enrolled from eight farms in the UK, and randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. Milk yield (305-day-adjusted whole-milk yield) was not significantly different between groups (trimmed 7727 litres, untrimmed 7646 litres). However, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that this relationship was confounded by lameness state. Animals that were lame at the time of trimming gave significantly more milk (734 litres, P=0.02) than those that were non-lame and untrimmed. The present results suggest that, based on milk production alone, it would not have been cost beneficial to trim all heifers; however, a targeted intervention aimed at lame animals would have delivered a substantial return on investment. As a very minimum, the authors recommend heifers should be regularly assessed in early lactation, and treated as soon as they are identifiably lame. The high prevalence of lesions identified suggests routine trimming for all heifers may be justifiable on welfare grounds even if the milk-yield benefits are marginal.
Therapeutic potential of RNA interference in neurodegenerative diseases

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular process that eventually leads to the degradation of mRNAs and silencing of gene expression (for detailed reviews see [1–3]). This powerful mechanism of gene silencing at a post-transcriptional level has been identified in a wide spectrum of eukaryotes, including plants, yeast, worms, flies and mammals. The signals that trigger RNAi are small double-stranded (ds)RNA molecules. RNAi-mediated gene silencing is a step-wise biochemical process: the dsRNAs are converted by the cellular enzyme Dicer, to socalled short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The siRNAs are incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and guide the RISC to complementary mRNA molecules, thereby triggering gene-specific mRNA degradation. Small dsRNAs can be generated during infection with RNA viruses. Another important class of RNAi triggers are short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) and micro RNAs (miRNAs) that form stem-loop structures. miRNAs are generated from longer RNA molecules that are encoded in the genome of worms, flies and mammals. Mature miRNAs bind to the 3 untranslated region of mRNAs and suppress translation of the bound mRNA. In addition, miRNAs have been shown to induce degradation of the target mRNA molecule. To date, more than 500 miRNAs have been identified and approximately 30% of human genes have been postulated to be regulated by miRNAs. RNAi is a potent tool to suppress specific genes in human cells and has great potential for therapeutic use in neurological disorders. Exogenouslyproduced siRNA molecules can be directly used to silence cellular gene expression. However, this requires chemical or enzymatic synthesis, as well as efficient RNA transfer to the target cells (e.g., by RNA transfection or electroporation) [4]. An alternative approach is to produce siRNAs or shRNAs within the target cell from RNA polymerase III transcription units. Presently, the most widespread siRNA/shRNA-expression cassettes contain either the promoter of RNAse P, RNA H1, or small nuclear RNA U6. Transfer of these expression cassettes into neuronal cells can be efficiently achieved by viral vectors in vitro and in vivo. In this editorial, I will focus on viral vectors for the induction of RNAi.
Impact of Bleomycin and Vincristine Dose Reductions in Patients With Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated With BEACOPP: An Analysis of the German Hodgkin Study Group HD12 and HD15 Trials.

PURPOSE The role of bleomycin and vincristine in the treatment of patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is unclear, and the impact of dose reductions of these drugs on outcome and tolerability has not been systematically assessed. Because both drugs can cause significant toxicity and are frequently discontinued, we performed an analysis of patients with HL treated with BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) in the German Hodgkin Study Group HD12 and HD15 trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS Characteristics and outcome of patients were analyzed with respect to discontinuation of bleomycin and/or vincristine. RESULTS With 3,309 patients with HL analyzed, bleomycin was discontinued in 17.6% and vincristine in 32.6%. A total of 157 patients (4.7%) received ≤ four cycles of bleomycin, and 218 (6.6%) received ≤ three cycles of vincristine; these were compared with patients receiving > four cycles of bleomycin or > three cycles of vincristine, respectively. After a median follow-up of 59 and 67 months for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), respectively, there was no significant difference in PFS or OS in patients receiving ≤ or > four cycles of bleomycin (5-year PFS difference, 1.7%; 95% CI, -4.2% to 7.6%; 5-year OS difference, 1.5%; 95% CI, -2.6% to 5.5%). Similarly, there was no significant difference in patients receiving ≤ or > three cycles of vincristine (5-year PFS difference, -1.3%; 95% CI, -5.6% to 3.1%; 5-year OS difference, -0.1%; 95% CI, -3.1% to 2.9%). CONCLUSION Bleomycin and vincristine discontinuation because of drug-specific adverse effects does not affect the efficacy of treatment in this setting.
Adjuvant Hormone Therapy May Improve Survival in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Results of the AHT Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE To assess the effects of adjuvant hormone therapy (AHT) on survival and disease outcome in women with epithelial ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Participants were premenopausal and postmenopausal women who had been diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (any International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage) 9 or fewer months previously. Ineligible patients included those with deliberately preserved ovarian function, with a history of a hormone-dependent malignancy, or with any contraindications to hormone-replacement therapy. Patients were centrally randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either AHT for 5 years after random assignment or no AHT (control). Main outcome measures were overall survival (OS), defined as time from random assignment to death (any cause), and relapse-free survival, defined as time from random assignment to relapse or death (any cause). Patients who continued, alive and relapse free, were censored at their last known follow-up. RESULTS A total of 150 patients (n = 75, AHT; n = 75, control) were randomly assigned from 1990 to 1995 from 19 centers in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Hungary; all patients were included in intention-to-treat analyses. The median follow-up in alive patients is currently 19.1 years. Of the 75 patients with AHT, 53 (71%) have died compared with 68 (91%) of 75 patients in the control group. OS was significantly improved in patients who were receiving AHT (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.90; P = .011). A similar effect was seen for relapse-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.97; P = .032). Effects remained after adjustment for known prognostic factors. CONCLUSION These results show that women who have severe menopausal symptoms after ovarian cancer treatment can safely take hormone-replacement therapy, and this may, in fact, infer benefits in terms of OS in addition to known advantages in terms of quality of life.