Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of DNA and chromosomal damage in two human HaCaT and L02 cells treated with varying triclosan concentrations

ABSTRACT Triclosan has been used in a large number of consumer products and concerns have been raised over regarding potential genotoxicity. However, the genotoxicity of triclosan has not been assessed in normal human cells. The aim of this study was to examine the potential genotoxicity using the comet assay and micronucleus (MN) test to detect DNA damage and chromosomal breakage attributed to triclosan in human keratinocyte HaCaT and hepatic L02 cells. The concentrations of triclosan selected for the comet assay and MN test were based upon preliminary results from cytotoxicity testing in order to reduce cytotoxic effects. The mutagenicity of triclosan was assessed in Salmonella reverse mutation assay (Ames test). Results of comet assay showed that 5, 7.5 or 10 μM triclosan did not markedly affect olive tail moment (OTM) in HaCaT and L02 cells. In addition, no significant alterations in MN frequency were found in cells treated with triclosan. Further, treatment with 10 μg/plate triclosan produced inhibitory effects in bacterium using Ames test, while 1 and 0.1 μg/plate triclosan did not markedly affect the number of colonies or mutant frequencies of Salmonella strains. Taken together, triclosan did not cause DNA and chromosomal damage in HaCaT and L02 cells and did not induce gene mutations in Salmonella strains under our experimental conditions.
Increased risk of pelvic fracture after radiotherapy in rectal cancer survivors: A propensity matched study

To determine whether radiotherapy (RT) can increase pelvic fracture risk in rectal cancer survivors. Rectal cancer patients who underwent curative surgery between 1996 and 2011 in Taiwan were retrospectively studied using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. ICD‐9 Codes 808, 805.4‐805.7, 806.4‐806.7, and 820 (including pelvic, sacrum, lumbar, and femoral neck fracture) were defined as pelvic fracture. Propensity scores for RT, age, and sex were used to perform one‐to‐one matches between the RT and non‐RT group. Risks of pelvic and arm fractures were compared by multivariable Cox regression. Of the 32 689 patients, 7807 (23.9%) received RT, and 1616 suffered from a pelvic fracture (incidence rate: 1.17/100 person‐years). The median time to pelvic fracture was 2.47 years. After matching, 6952 patients each in the RT and non‐RT groups were analyzed. RT was associated with an increased risk of pelvic fractures in the multivariable Cox model (hazard ratio (HR): 1.246, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.037‐1.495, P = 0.019) but not with arm fractures (HR: 1.013, 95% CI: 0.814‐1.259, P = 0.911). Subgroup analyses revealed that RT was associated with a higher pelvic fracture rate in women (HR: 1.431, 95% CI: 1.117‐1.834) but not in men, and the interaction between sex and RT was significant (P = 0.03). The HR of pelvic fracture increased 2‐4 years after RT (HR: 1.707, 95% CI: 1.150‐2.534, P = 0.008). An increased risk of pelvic fracture is noted in rectal cancer survivors, especially women, who receive RT.
Estrogen-SIRT1 Axis Plays a Pivotal Role in Protecting Arteries Against Menopause-Induced Senescence and Atherosclerosis

Aim: Menopause causes arterial senescence and atherosclerotic development through decrease of estrogen. Recently, histone deacetylase SIRT1 has been reported to have protective effects against arterial senescence and atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between estrogen and SIRT1 in the context of menopause-induced arterial senescence is not well understood. The present study aims to investigate whether SIRT1 is involved in the etiology of menopause-induced arterial senescence and atherosclerotic development. Methods: Twelve-week old female apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-KO) mice underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery. Results: SIRT1 expression and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation in the aorta were significantly lower in OVX mice than they were in sham mice (OVX vs. sham, n = 5 per group). Senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, protein expression of Ac-p53 and PAI-1, and aortic atherosclerosis lesions were significantly greater in OVX mice than they were in sham mice. Administration of 17β-estradiol (E2) for eight weeks to OVX mice restored aortic SIRT1 expression, activated eNOS, and retarded OVX-induced arterial senescence and atherosclerotic development (E2 vs. control, n = 5 per group). The effects of E2 on SIRT1 upregulation, anti-senescence and anti-atherosclerosis were attenuated by administration of a SIRT1 inhibitor, sirtinol. In vitro experiment using human endothelial cells demonstrated that E2 also increased SIRT1 expression and retarded oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced premature senescence, which were also abolished by sirtinol. These results suggested that estrogen modulated arterial senescence and atherosclerosis through SIRT1. Additionally a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), bazedoxifene, also augmented SIRT1 and inhibited arterial senescence and atherosclerotic development (SERM vs. control, n = 3 per group). Conclusions: Downregulation of SIRT1 causes OVX-induced arterial senescence and atherosclerosis in ApoE-KO mice. Administration of estrogen or SERM enables OVX mice to restore these alterations by SIRT1 induction.
Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with trophectoderm biopsy.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether pregnancies achieved with trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) have different risks of adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes compared with pregnancies achieved with IVF without biopsy. DESIGN Observational cohort. SETTING University-affiliated fertility center. PATIENT(S) Pregnancies achieved via IVF with PGT (n = 177) and IVF without PGT (n = 180) that resulted in a live birth. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Maternal outcomes including preeclampsia and placenta previa and neonatal outcomes including birth weight and birth defects. RESULT(S) There was a statistically significant increase in the risk of preeclampsia among IVF+PGT pregnancies compared with IVF without PGT pregnancies, with an incidence of 10.5% versus 4.1% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.02; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.10, 8.29). The incidence of placenta previa was 5.8% in IVF+PGT pregnancies versus 1.4% in IVF without PGT pregnancies (aOR = 4.56; 95% CI, 0.93, 22.44). Similar incidences of gestational diabetes, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and postpartum hemorrhage were observed. IVF+PGT and IVF without PGT neonates did not have a significantly different gestational age at delivery or rate of preterm birth, low birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit admission, neonatal morbidities, or birth defects. All trends, including the significantly increased risk of preeclampsia in IVF+PGT pregnancies, persisted upon stratification of analysis to only singleton live births. CONCLUSION(S) To date, this is the largest and most extensively controlled study examining maternal and neonatal outcomes after trophectoderm biopsy. There was a statistically significant three-fold increase in the odds of preeclampsia associated with trophectoderm biopsy. Given the rise in PGT use, further investigation is warranted.
Chloroplast DNA variation and postglacial recolonization of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in Europe

We used chloroplast polymerase chain reaction‐restriction‐fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) and chloroplast microsatellites to assess the structure of genetic variation and postglacial history across the entire natural range of the common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), a broad‐leaved wind‐pollinated and wind‐dispersed European forest tree. A low level of polymorphism was observed, with only 12 haplotypes at four polymorphic microsatellites in 201 populations, and two PCR‐RFLP haplotypes in a subset of 62 populations. The clear geographical pattern displayed by the five most common haplotypes was in agreement with glacial refugia for ash being located in Iberia, Italy, the eastern Alps and the Balkan Peninsula, as had been suggested from fossil pollen data. A low chloroplast DNA mutation rate, a low effective population size in glacial refugia related to ash's life history traits, as well as features of postglacial expansion were put forward to explain the low level of polymorphism. Differentiation among populations was high (GST = 0.89), reflecting poor mixing among recolonizing lineages. Therefore, the responsible factor for the highly homogeneous genetic pattern previously identified at nuclear microsatellites throughout western and central Europe ( Heuertz et al. 2004 ) must have been efficient postglacial pollen flow. Further comparison of variation patterns at both marker systems revealed that nuclear microsatellites identified complex differentiation patterns in south‐eastern Europe which remained undetected with chloroplast microsatellites. The results suggest that data from different markers should be combined in order to capture the most important genetic patterns in a species.
Factors that affect health and well-being in dental hygienists; a comparison of Swedish dental practices.

PURPOSE This study was designed to focus on the health and well-being of dental hygienists as a function of work environment and background. METHODS A questionnaire was mailed to 471 randomly selected dental hygienists from members of the Swedish Dental Hygienists' Association (SDHA) to collect data on health, demographics, lifestyles, and working conditions in various delivery systems. Seventy-seven percent responded. RESULTS Small dental practices were associated with better job control, work relations, management support, and development of job skills. In contrast, large practices were associated with higher finance-related and personal job demand, anxiety, collegial pressure, and demands on social job skills. In discriminant analysis, finance-related job demands, physically demanding patients, and colleague cooperation showed significant differences in working condition variables between the delivery systems and dental practices. Dental hygienists' control over their job functions and the clarity of information explained by management had a variance in the applied competencies dimension by 41 percent. Thirty-seven percent of the variance of musculoskeletal problems in the upper-body region were attributed to physical exposure from clinical job tasks, work breaks, and anxiety over role competition with dentists. CONCLUSION More job control and clearer information from management enables dental hygienists to optimally apply their competencies in the workplace. Physical job exposure, such as demands on manual/motor job skills, should be decreased and work breaks, as well as working relationships, with dentists should be improved to promote health and well-being.
Potential for adaptation in response to thermal stress in an intertidal macroalga

Understanding responses of marine algae to changing ocean temperatures requires knowledge of the impacts of elevated temperatures and the likelihood of adaptation to thermal stress. The potential for rapid evolution of thermal tolerance is dependent on the levels of heritable genetic variation in response to thermal stress within a population. Here, we use a quantitative genetic breeding design to establish whether there is a heritable variation in thermal sensitivity in two populations of a habitat‐forming intertidal macroalga, Hormosira banksii (Turner) Descaisne. Gametes from multiple parents were mixed and growth and photosynthetic performance were measured in the resulting embryos, which were incubated under control and elevated temperature (20°C and 28°C). Embryo growth was reduced at 28°C, but significant interactions between male genotype and temperature in one population indicated the presence of genetic variation in thermal sensitivity. Selection for more tolerant genotypes thus has the ability to result in the evolution of increased thermal tolerance. Furthermore, genetic correlations between embryos grown in the two temperatures were positive, indicating that those genotypes that performed well in elevated temperature also performed well in control temperature. Chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements showed a marked decrease in maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) under elevated temperature. There was an increase in the proportion of energy directed to photoinhibition (nonregulated nonphotochemical quenching) and a concomitant decrease in energy used to drive photochemistry and xanthophyll cycling (regulated nonphotochemical quenching). However, PSII performance between genotypes was similar, suggesting that thermal sensitivity is related to processes other than photosynthesis.
Screening for metabolic syndrome within a minority ethnic group (adult Gypsy people) in Hungary.

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome occurs more often among people living in poorer social conditions. The health status of the largest minority ethnic group in Hungary lags in many aspects behind that of the general population. METHODS To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome a screening was initiated in the city of Győr among subjects aged 20-70 years who declared themselves as Gypsy. Subjects with known diabetes and cardiovascular disease were excluded. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the ATP-III criteria. RESULTS Among the 77 individuals screened (35 men, 42 women, age 46.9 ± 10.6 years, x ± SD) diabetes mellitus was found in 14 cases (18.2 %), and pre-diabetes (impaired fasting blood glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) could be diagnosed in further 14 cases (18.2 %). Individual components of the metabolic syndrome occurred as follows: hypertension in 47 subjects (61.0 %), abnormal waist circumference in 40 individuals (51.9 %), abnormal HDL-cholesterol in 39 cases (50.6 %), abnormal triglycerides in 35 individuals (45.5 %) and abnormal fasting blood glucose in 15 subjects (19.5 %). Within the cohort metabolic syndrome could be diagnosed in 39 individuals (50.6 %) without a significant gender difference (males 20/35 = 57.1 %; women: 19/42 = 45.2 %, p>0.05). CONCLUSION The occurrence of metabolic syndrome and that of glucose intolerance is high among adult Gypsy people in Hungary. In order to recognise cardio-metabolic risks and to prevent their cardiovascular consequences, continuous health promotion and adequate medical care should be provided for the Gypsy population in Hungary (Tab. 5, Ref. 32).
Effect of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident on radioiodine (131I) content in human breast milk

Background: Environmental pollution with radioiodine (iodine‐131, 131I) occurred after an accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant (FNP) on March 11, 2011, in Japan. Whether environmental pollution with 131I can contaminate human breast milk has not been documented.
Resurgent Tuberculosis in New York City: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Homelessness, and the Decline of Tuberculosis Control Programs

The resurgence of tuberculosis in New York City has been largely attributed to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. However, historical events predating the advent of AIDS, and worsening economic and social conditions, including a rise in homelessness, have contributed significantly to the increase. We prospectively studied 224 consecutive patients with tuberculosis admitted to a large public hospital in New York over the first 9 months of 1988. Initial assessment included medical status, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk factors, and detailed social information, including substance abuse history and housing status. All patients were tracked after discharge to determine compliance and cure rates. Tuberculosis patients were predominantly male (79 %), with high rates of alcohol use (53 %), intravenous drug and/or “crack” cocaine use (64 %), and homelessness or unstable housing (68 %). Half the patients had AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC) or were HIV antibody positive. A total of 178 patients were discharged on tuberculosis treatment, but 89% of these were lost to follow-up and failed to complete therapy. Of the 178 discharged patients, 48 (27 %) were readmitted within 12 months with confirmed active tuberculosis. Of these patients, 40 were discharged on treatment and at least 35 were again lost to follow-up. In a multivariate regression model noncompliance was significantly associated with the absence of AIDS or ARC (p<0.001), homelessness (p<0.005), and alcoholism (p<0.05). Because HIV infection and tuberculosis converge in a subpopulation with high rates of substance abuse and homelessness, the problem of ensuring treatment compliance may grow considerably in the future. Positive patient incentives will have to be offered, and mandatory detention may be necessary in some cases.
Green sulphur bacteria as a component of the photosynthetic plankton community in small dimictic humic lakes with an anoxic hypolimnion

High bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) concentrations in the anoxic water layers of some humic lakes have indicated that green sulphur bacteria (GSB) may be ecologically significant. The abundance and spatial distribution of GSB were therefore addressed in 13 small humic lakes using fragment analysis and sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. GSB were detected from lakes where the photosynthetically active radiation was at least 1.1 µE m �2 s �1 at the oxic� anoxic boundary layer. In these lakes, 13 to 42% of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the anoxic water column were assigned to GSB. The spatial distribution of GSB was tightly correlated with the spectrophotometrically measured BChl concentration during the summer season. Maximum BChl concentrations were observed in the uppermost part of the anoxic water layer, covering most of the chlorophyll pigment in these lakes. The GSB of the humic lakes typically belonged to a phylogenetically homogenous group closely related to Chlorobium clathratiforme.
Practical indoor tracking using Wireless Sensor Networks

RF techniques have attracted much attention for the indoor tracking, because of its better penetrability than traditional techniques, such as infrared or ultrasound. Generally, existing systems mostly focuses on the localization of the mobile entity. In fact, area information is also an important requirement for some applications, such as intelligent museum explanation, etc. Also, the area information may help to improve the location precision. This paper introduces the Area-Point Indoor Tracking (AIT) system which we have designed and developed on the platform with 22 MicaZ motes. The significant difference from the previous systems is that the proposed tracking procedure is divided into two major steps, i.e., area decision and point localization. And the beacon-correlation algorithm (BCA) and the shadowing-grid localization (SGL) algorithm are designed to solve the above two challenging problems respectively. The evaluation results on the platform show that the BCA algorithm can improve the precision of area decision of MERIT from 71% to 86%, and the SGL algorithm decreases 32% location error compared with Ecolocation algorithm.
Patient-family communication mediates the relation between family hardiness and caregiver positivity: Exploring the moderating role of caregiver depression and anxiety

Abstract Purpose: Despite the theoretical and empirical significance of positive aspects of caregiving in caregiver well-being, relatively little is known regarding family-related predictors of caregiver positivity. This study examines whether patient-family communication (p-f communication) mediates the relation between family hardiness and caregiver positivity and whether the mediating effects of p-f communication are moderated by the levels of caregiver depression and anxiety. Design/Sample: This study used secondary data obtained from a large-scale cross-sectional national survey conducted in South Korea. Participants were 544 spousal cancer patient-caregiver dyads recruited from the National Cancer Center and nine government-designated regional cancer centers in South Korea. Methods: To test the hypotheses, a simple mediation model and two moderated mediation tests were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Findings: Higher family hardiness was related to higher p-f positive communication and higher caregiver positivity. The effects of family hardiness were partially mediated by p-f communication, controlling for caregiver sex, education, health status, depression and anxiety, time spent caregiving, and patient depression and anxiety, cancer stage, and time since diagnosis. The mediating effects of p-f communication were not significantly moderated by caregiver depression and anxiety. Conclusions/Implications: Health care professionals could consider p-f communication as a reasonable target of intervention to increase caregiver positivity, even for caregivers with heightened depression and anxiety.
72-hour hospital readmission of older people after hospital discharge with home care services

ABSTRACT In this retrospective cohort study in Argentina, risk factors for hospital readmission of older adults, within 72 hours after hospital discharge with home care services, were analyzed. Fifty-three percent of unplanned emergency room visits within 72 hours after hospital discharge resulted in hospital readmissions, 65% of which were potentially avoidable. By multivariate logistic regression, low functionality, pressure ulcers, and age over 83 years predicted hospital readmission among emergency room attendees. It is important to identify and analyze barriers in current home care services and the high-risk population of hospital readmission to improve the strategies to avoid adverse outcomes.
Effects of positive airway pressure on patients with obstructive sleep apnea during acute ascent to altitude.

RATIONALE In acute ascent to altitude, untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is often replaced with central sleep apnea (CSA). In patients with obstructive sleep apnea who travel to altitude, it is unknown whether their home positive airway pressure (PAP) settings are sufficient to treat their obstructive sleep apnea, or altitude-associated central sleep apnea. METHODS Ten participants with positive airway pressure-treated obstructive sleep apnea, who reside at 1,320 m altitude, underwent polysomnography on their home positive airway pressure settings at 1,320 m and at a simulated altitude of 2,750 m in a hypobaric chamber. Six of the participants were subsequently studied without positive airway pressure at 2,750 m. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS At 1,320 m, all participants' sleep apnea was controlled with positive airway pressure on home settings; at 2,750, no participants' sleep apnea was controlled. At higher altitude, the apnea-hypopnea index was higher (11 vs. 2 events/h; P < 0.01), mostly due to hypopneas (10.5 vs. 2 events/h; P < 0.01). Mean oxygen saturations were lower (88 vs. 93%; P < 0.01) and total sleep time was diminished (349 vs. 393 min; P = 0.03). Four of six participants without positive airway pressure at 2,750 m required supplemental oxygen to prevent sustained oxygen saturation (as determined by pulse oximetry) less than 80%. Positive airway pressure also was associated with reduced central sleep apnea (0 vs. 1; P = 0.03), improved sleep time (358 vs. 292 min; P = 0.06), and improved sleep efficiency (78 vs. 63%; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Acute altitude exposure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with positive airway pressure is associated with hypoxemia, decreased sleep time, and increased frequency of hypopneas compared with baseline altitude. Application of positive airway pressure at altitude is associated with decreased central sleep apnea and increased sleep efficiency.