Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D Status of Adults from Tropical Australia Determined Using Two Different Laboratory Assays: Implications for Public Health Messages

We measured serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels of ambulatory adults in tropical Australia to determine whether it is appropriate to continue promoting sun‐safety in this population. In August 2006 (winter), self‐administered questionnaires were completed by 145 Meals‐on‐Wheels volunteers (49.3% male; mean age 57.8 ± 14.7 years; 76.6% response) from Townsville, Queensland (Latitude 19oS). Serum 25(OH)D was analyzed using two common assays. Mean levels were 68.3 (SD ± 18.7; range 26–142) by DiaSorin Radioimmunoassay and 83.0 (SD ± 30.8; range 30–184) by DiaSorin Liaison® one. No participants were 25(OH)D deficient (<25 nmol L−1). Nine participants (6.2%) had 25(OH)D levels between 25 and 50 nmol L−1 (insufficient), by both methods (seven with a BMI ≥ 25). Twenty‐eight participants (19.3%) had one result in the insufficient range and the other in the adequate range. Thus, almost all of these free‐living adults in tropical Australia had adequate vitamin D levels at the end of winter. There was poor agreement between the two 25(OH)D assays. These results suggest it is appropriate to continue promoting sun‐safe messages to the ambulatory Caucasian adult population of North Queensland, which has an extremely high incidence of skin cancer. The lack of agreement between the two assays is a concern. Few doctors are aware of this measurement issue.
Multi-residue analysis of pesticides in traditional Chinese medicines using gas chromatography-negative chemical ionisation tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, a residue analysis method for the simultaneous determination of 107 pesticides in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), Angelica sinensis, A. dahurica, Leonurus heterophyllus Sweet, Pogostemon cablin and Lonicera japonica Thunb. , was developed using gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry in negative chemical ionisation mode (GC-NCI-MS/MS). NCI has advantages of high sensitivity and selectivity to chemicals with electron-withdrawing groups, and yields low background interference. For sample preparation, QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) was applied. Due to the unique characteristics of TCMs, the clean-up step was optimised by adjusting amounts of primary secondary amine, C18, graphitised carbon black and silica sorbents. Validation was mainly performed by determining analyte recoveries at four different spiking concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and 200 ng g−1, with seven replicates at each concentration. Method trueness, precision, linearity of calibration curves, lowest calibrated levels (LCLs) and matrix effects were determined to demonstrate method and instrument performance. Among the 107 pesticides tested, approximately 80% gave recoveries from 80% to 110% and < 10% relative standard deviation (RSD). The LCLs for nearly all pesticides were 5 ng g−1, and as low as 0.1 ng g−1 for dichlofenthion, endosulfan sulphate, flumetralin, isofenphos-methyl, methyl-pentachlorophenyl sulphide and trifluralin. The results indicate that GC-NCI-MS/MS is an excellent technique for quantitative and qualitative analysis of targeted GC-amenable pesticides at ultra-trace levels, especially in complex matrices such as TCMs.
CDKN2a mutation‐negative melanoma families have increased risk exclusively for skin cancers but not for other malignancies

Germline CDKN2A mutations are found in 5–20% of melanoma families. Numerous studies have shown that carriers of CDKN2A mutations have increased risks of non‐melanoma cancers, but so far there have been no studies investigating cancer risks in CDKN2A wild type (wt) melanoma families. In this prospective cohort study, index melanoma cases (n = 224) and their first‐degree relatives (n = 944) were identified from 154 confirmed CDKN2A wt melanoma families. Cancer diagnoses in family members and matched controls were obtained from the Swedish Cancer Registry. Relative risks (RR), odds ratios (OR) and two‐sided 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. In index cases and first‐degree relatives, the prospective RR for melanoma was 56.9 (95% CI 31.4–102.1) and 7.0 (95% CI 4.2–11.4), respectively, and for squamous cell skin cancers 9.1 (95% CI 6.0–13.7) and 3.4 (95% CI 2.2–5.2), respectively. In neither group, elevated risks were seen for non‐skin cancers. In a subgroup analysis, CDKN2A wt melanoma families with young (<40 years) melanoma cases were found to have increased risk of non‐skin cancers (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0–1.5). Further, MC1R gene variants were increased in familial melanoma cases compared to controls (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.6–3.4). Our findings suggest that in the majority of CDKN2A wt melanoma families, a segregation of variants in low‐risk melanoma genes such as MC1R causes increased skin cancer susceptibility, rather than mutations in high‐risk cancer predisposing genes, such mutations are more probable to be found in melanoma families with young melanoma cases. This study further supports an implication of CDKN2A mutation screening as a clinical test that determines counseling and follows up routines of melanoma families.
Multiresidue method for simultaneous analysis of aflatoxin M1, avermectins, organophosphate pesticides and milbemycin in milk by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

ABSTRACT A method developed for the simultaneous analysis of aflatoxin M1, abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin, moxidectin, acephate, azinphos-ethyl, azinphos-methyl, diazinon, methamidophos, methidathion, mevinphos, pirimiphos-ethyl and pirimiphos-methyl in whole raw milk, based on the QuEChERS method for extraction and clean-up, with detection and quantification by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) is described. The method was validated according to parameters of the Analytical Quality Assurance Manual from the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, and proved suitable for analysis of these analytes within the proposed working range, with recovery values between 77% and 110%, a standard deviation lower than 20%, limits of detection between 0.05 and 0.99 µg l−1, and limits of quantification between 0.15 and 1.98 µg l−1. Samples from animals treated with abamectin, doramectin, ivermectin and diazinon were analysed by the validated method. Residues of aflatoxin M1 were also found in field samples at levels below the established maximum residue limit.
Monitoring Microcirculation Changes in Port Wine Stains During Vascular Targeted Photodynamic Therapy by Laser Speckle Imaging

This study was conducted to test laser speckle perfusion imaging (LSPI) for imaging microcirculation and monitoring microcirculatory changes of port wine stains (PWS) during vascular targeted photodynamic therapy (V‐PDT). Before and 5 min after V‐PDT, PWS lesions and the corresponding contralateral healthy skins of 24 PWS patients were scanned, whereas seven PWS patients were scanned throughout V‐PDT. V‐PDT was conducted immediately after intravenous injection of photocarcinorin (4–5 mg kg−1). A 532 nm laser was used for irradiation (power density: 80–100 mW cm−2, exposure time: 20–50 min). Before V‐PDT, all 24 PWS patients demonstrated a significant difference in perfusion between the PWS lesion and the contralateral healthy control skin (1132 ± 724 and 619 ± 478 PU, respectively, P < 0.01). Five minutes after V‐PDT, the mean perfusion value of the 24 PWS lesions was 1246 ± 754 PU. There was no significant difference compared to the perfusion before V‐PDT (P > 0.05). During V‐PDT, the perfusion of seven PWS patients increased rapidly after initiation of V‐PDT, reached a maximum within 10 min, lasted for several minutes, and slowly returned to a relatively lower level at the end of V‐PDT. On the basis of these results, LSPI is capable of imaging PWS microvasculature and monitoring microvascular reactivity to V‐PDT.
Measurement and Analysis of Broadband UVB Solar Radiation in Spain

Measurements of broadband UVB irradiance (290–315 nm) at 14 locations in Spain for the period 2000–2009 have been used to generate instantaneous, hourly and daily values of irradiance (W m−2) and radiant exposure (kJ m−2). These measurements, and its statistical indices, have been analyzed. For the UVB irradiance, the values corresponding to July (maximum) and December (minimum) have been analyzed as representative of the year during the whole period for all locations. For the UVB radiant exposure, the temporal evolution of daily values has been evaluated for all locations to estimate an average yearly behavior. The accumulated radiant exposure for an average year has also been studied for each location. Finally, to determine possible trends in the evolution of the UVB levels, the linear regressions for the mean daily values for all locations have been determined.
Single-laboratory validation of an LC-MS/MS method for determining florfenicol (FF) and florfenicol amine (FFA) residues in chicken feathers and application to a residue-depletion study

ABSTRACT A suitable analytical method is required to study the behaviour of florfenicol (FF) and its metabolite florfenicol amine (FFA) in broiler’s feathers. An LC-MS/MS method was developed, assessed and intra-laboratory-validated for FF and FFA analyses. We chose cloramphenicol-d5 as an internal standard, acetone as a solvent for the extraction of the analytes and dichloromethane for the clean-up. Through LC-MS/MS analysis, we established a detection limit of 20 μg kg–1, as well as calculated quantification limits of 24.4 and 24.5 μg kg–1 for FF and FFA, respectively. Validation parameters such as linearity, recovery and precision were calculated following Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. For linearity, all standard curves showed a standard coefficient greater than 0.99. Recoveries ranged from 99% to 102% for all studied concentrations. The results show that this analytical method is precise and reliable. For the depletion study, 64 Ross 308 broilers were treated with a therapeutic dosage of 10% FF during 5 consecutive days and their feathers were then analysed. Samples were drawn on days 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 post-treatments. As for the control group, 16 broiler chickens were raised under the same regime. Throughout the whole study, the detected concentrations of FF and FFA in feather samples were above 100 µg kg–1. In fact, even on day 30 post-treatment we detected concentrations of 221.8 and 28.8 µg kg–1 for FF and FFA, respectively. Based on these results, we conclude that these analytes will persist for a long time and will deplete slowly in feathers of treated broiler chickens. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Giant esophageal squamous papilloma: a case report

Esophageal papilloma is a rare disorder that may cause hypopharyngeal symptoms. This patient was a 56‐year‐old man who presented with cough and choking symptoms. After the initial negative laryngoscopy, a fiberoptic endoscopy revealed a mass originating from the hypopharyngeal area, which was resected surgically and found to be non‐malignant.
Quantitative assessment of copper proteinates used as animal feed additives using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis

ABSTRACT The aim of the present work was to establish a reliable analytical method to determine the degree of complexation in commercial metal proteinates used as feed additives in the solid state. Two complementary techniques were developed. Firstly, a quantitative attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic method investigated modifications in vibrational absorption bands of the ligand on complex formation. Secondly, a powder X–ray diffraction (PXRD) method to quantify the amount of crystalline material in the proteinate product was developed. These methods were developed in tandem and cross-validated with each other. Multivariate analysis (MVA) was used to develop validated calibration and prediction models. The FTIR and PXRD calibrations showed excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99). The diagnostic model parameters showed that the FTIR and PXRD methods were robust with a root mean square error of calibration RMSEC ≤3.39% and a root mean square error of prediction RMSEP ≤7.17% respectively. Comparative statistics show excellent agreement between the MVA packages assessed and between the FTIR and PXRD methods. The methods can be used to determine the degree of complexation in complexes of both protein hydrolysates and pure amino acids.
Abbreviated Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A Pilot Study in Primary Care

There is increasing interest in the use of psychological therapies for depressive disorder in primary care. This paper describes a pilot study using an abbreviated form of cognitive therapy as an adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder in primary care. Seven primary care patients received an abbreviated cognitive intervention package in addition to their usual treatment. The patients were assessed before and after intervention using observer and self rating measures of depression and their subjective evaluation of the intervention was sought. Four of the subjects showed 50% change in depression ratings at the end of the intervention and only one of the group was taking antidepressant medication. The intervention was generally well accepted by patients and feasible within the time constraints. The initial results are encouraging and a randomized control trial of this brief intervention is now underway.
DERMATOPHYTOSIS AND OCCUPATIONAL DERMATITIS

One hundred years ago ridicule blasted the researches of Gruby, the founder of medical mycology. Fifty years later the discovery of bacteria overshadowed a brilliant revival by Sabouraud, who established a clinical differentiation of dermatophytes which still endures. New interest after World War I brought forth such a surge of literature on this subject that the old waste basket of dermatology, eczema, was replaced by the catch-all labeled fungous infections. Endemics of ringworm encouraged laboratory studies, and the finding of a threadlike strand or a small round body in a scraping or a filamentous growth on a culture medium was sufficient to assure the dermatologist that a cutaneous outbreak was a fungous disease. Molds and yeasts assumed a new role. Koch's laws were disregarded, and investigators attached their names to previously known fungi merely because change of medium, single spore transplant or environment had produced a change in color or
Risk assessment of patulin intake through apple-based food by infants and preschool children in Serbia

ABSTRACT This study reports for the first time in Serbia the occurrence of patulin in apple-based food and the risk assessment associated with patulin intake by infants and preschool children. In total, 214 samples of infant fruit juices (48), infant purée (66), and juices for children (small package with straw, 100) were collected over 3 years (2013–15) and analysed using HPLC with ultraviolet detection. Patulin was found in 43.8% of infant juices and 16.7% of infant purée, with all values below the legal limit of 10 μg kg−1 (maximum 8.3 and 7.7 μg kg−1, respectively). The proportion of contaminated samples among fruit juices for children was 43.0%, with the highest patulin concentration at 30.2 μg kg−1, not exceeding the maximum allowed level of 50 μg kg−1. Risk assessment of patulin intake by Serbian infants and preschool children, conducted by deterministic and probabilistic approaches, revealed a hazard quotient well below 1, indicating a tolerable exposure level and no health concern.
Increased expression of fibroblast growth factor 13 in prostate cancer is associated with shortened time to biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy

Fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (FHFs) belong to the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) superfamily, which plays an important role in prostate cancer (PCa). Mining of public database suggests that FGF13 (FHF2) mRNA expression is altered in over 30% of PCa cases. This study examined the FGF13 expression pattern in human PCa specimens and evaluated its potential as a biomarker for patient outcome after radical prostatectomy (RP). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed that FGF13 was detectable in the majority of human PCa samples, and FGF13 IHC scores were higher in high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, in primary PCa and in metastatic PCa than in benign prostatic tissue. There was a significant association between high cytoplasmic FGF13 staining and a risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP. This was also evident in the intermediate to high‐risk patient groups. In contrast, positive nuclear FGF13 staining along with low cytoplasmic FGF13 group showed a decreased BCR risk. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that high cytoplasmic FGF13 staining was associated with BCR and that this could serve as an independent prognostic marker in PCa. Several PCa cell lines showed increased FGF13 expression at the mRNA and protein levels compared to the immortalized prostate epithelial cell line PNT1a. Analysis of co‐labeled cells suggested a possible interaction of FGF13 with α‐tubulin and the voltage‐gated sodium channel proteins (NaVs/VGSCs). Our data indicate that, for PCa patients after RP, FGF13 serves as a potential novel prognostic marker that improves prediction of BCR‐free survival, in particular if combined with other clinical parameters.
Human papillomavirus mRNA and DNA testing in women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance: A prospective cohort study

In this prospective cohort study, we compared the performance of human papillomavirus (HPV) mRNA and DNA testing of women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC‐US) during cervical cancer screening. Using a nationwide Danish pathology register, we identified women aged 30–65 years with ASC‐US during 2005–2011 who were tested for HPV16/18/31/33/45 mRNA using PreTect HPV‐Proofer (n = 3,226) or for high‐risk HPV (hrHPV) DNA using Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) (n = 9,405) or Linear Array HPV‐Genotyping test (LA) (n = 1,533). Women with ≥1 subsequent examination in the register (n = 13,729) were followed for up to 9.5 years for high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cancer. After 3 years' follow‐up, mRNA testing had higher specificity for CIN3 or worse (CIN3+) than HC2 testing (88.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 86.8–89.6%] versus 59.3% [95% CI: 58.1–60.4%]) and higher positive predictive value (PPV) (38.2% [95% CI: 33.8%–43.1%] versus 19.5% [95% CI: 17.8–20.9%]). However, the sensitivity of mRNA testing was lower than that of HC2 testing (66.7% [95% CI: 59.3–74.5%] versus 97.0% [95% CI: 95.5–98.4%]), and women testing mRNA negative had higher 3‐year risk for CIN3+ than those testing HC2 negative (3.2% [95% CI: 2.2–4.2%] versus 0.5% [95% CI: 0.3–0.7%]). Patterns were similar after 18 months and 5 years'; follow‐up; for CIN2+ and cancer as outcomes; across all age groups; and when comparing mRNA testing to hrHPV DNA testing using LA. In conclusion, the HPV16/18/31/33/45 mRNA test is not optimal for ASC‐US triage due to its low sensitivity and the substantial risk for precancer following a negative test.
Anthropogenic factors and societal response to challenges in the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1)

Research suggested that human infection with the novel avian influenza virus might be derived from live poultry markets. The sale of freshly slaughtered poultry, live poultry transportation, and mixed trading of different domestic animals in the live poultry markets all provide environments conducive to genome segment reassortment, gene mutation, and interspecies transmission of avian influenza virus. Production methods, human lifestyle, and the earth environment have been dramatically altered owning to rapid expansion of cities, industrialization, transportation, and accelerated population growth, in contrast to preserving traditional culture. People are exposed to the double burden of continued increasing incidence and mortality of the disease. In response to the huge challenge in the transmission of the disease, especially to prevent the spread of future avian influenza outbreaks, changing lifestyle and production habit should partly control the spread of the infections such as temporally closing live poultry markets, together with efforts to control the movement of illegal poultry products and wild birds. It is anticipated that by constantly seeking better solutions new models of living and development throughout society will gradually come into being.
Night shift work and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the MCC‐Spain case–control study

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has few known modifiable risk factors. Recently, circadian disruption has been proposed as a potential contributor to lymphoid neoplasms' etiology. Serum melatonin levels have been found to be significantly lower in CLL subjects compared with healthy controls, and also, CLL prognosis has been related to alterations in the circadian molecular signaling. We performed the first investigation of an association between night shift work and CLL in 321 incident CLL cases and 1728 population‐based controls in five areas of Spain. Participants were interviewed face‐to‐face by trained interviewers to collect information on sociodemographic factors, familial, medical and occupational history, including work shifts and other lifestyle factors. We used logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Seventy‐nine cases (25%) and 339 controls (20%) had performed night work. Overall, working in night shifts was not associated with CLL (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.78–1.45, compared with day work). However, long‐term night shift (>20 years) was positively associated with CLL (OR(tertile 3 vs. day‐work) = 1.77; 95% = 1.14–2.74), although no linear trend was observed (P trend = 0.18). This association was observed among those with rotating (OR(tertile 3 vs. day‐work) = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.33–3.92; P trend = 0.07), but not permanent night shifts (OR(tertile 3 vs. day‐work) = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.60–2.25; P trend = 0.86). The association between CLL and long‐term rotating night shift warrants further investigation.