Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors, health behaviors, and injury among adults employed in the transportation, warehousing, and utilities super sector.

BACKGROUND The TWU super sector is engaged in the movement of passengers and cargo, warehousing of goods, and the delivery of services. The purpose of this study is to describe employee self-reported personal risk factors, health behaviors and habits, disease and chronic conditions, and employer-reported nonfatal injury experiences of workers in the TWU super sector. METHODS National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for 1997-2007, grouped into six morbidity and disability categories and three age groups, were reviewed. Demographic characteristics and prevalence estimates are reported for workers in the TWU super sector and the entire U.S. workforce, and compared with national adult population data from the NHIS. Bureau of Labor Statistics employer-reported TWU injury data from 2003 to 2007 was also reviewed. RESULTS An average of 8.3 million workers were employed annually in the TWU super sector. TWU workers 65 or older reported the highest prevalence of hypertension (49%) across all industry sectors, but the 20% prevalence is notable among middle age workers (25-64). TWU workers had the highest prevalence of obesity (28%), compared to workers in all other industry sectors. Female TWU workers experienced the highest number of lost workdays (6.5) in the past year across all TWU demographic groups. CONCLUSIONS Self-reported high proportions of chronic conditions including hypertension and heart disease combined with elevated levels of being overweight and obese, and lack of physical activity-particularly among TWUs oldest workers-can meaningfully inform wellness strategies and interventions focused on this demographic group. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:556-568, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cancer of the Tongue in Young Subjects: With Report of a Case

Cancer of the tongue in young people is known to be rare. Of eleven leading radiologists in various countries whom we approached on the subject, eight had never observed a case. In the literature at our disposal, there are a few instances in persons between twenty and twenty-five years of age (3, 6, 9, 11, 16); in persons up to twenty years old eight cases are on record, in addition to which there are two cases in newborn infants (1, 2). Case Report CASE 51003: Bertha B. , an Armenian girl, fifteen years of age, was first seen Nov. 20, 1937. About ten weeks earlier she had noticed a pinpoint papule at the left border of the tongue, slightly tender during mastication. In the course of two months this enlarged rapidly to the size of an olive, after which it began to ulcerate, but there was no bleeding and no noticeable discharge. The history was otherwise negative. There was no record of cancer in the family. The patient was a healthy looking girl, well nourished and normally developed. On the mid-third of the left border of the tongue was a shallow ulcer 1.5 cm. in diameter, of a pale gray color and hard to the touch. There was no bleeding, no debris, and no hyperemia in the neighborhood. The edges of the lesion were slightly elevated and everted at the anterior margin and bevelled at the posterior border (Fig. 1). A hard, cord-like mass extended from the ulcer backward along the lower surface of the tongue. The teeth were in good condition, with no caries, cavities, sharp edges, or malpositions. The tonsils were slightly enlarged, smooth, and not red. Submaxillary lymph nodes were palpable, but neither enlarged nor hardened. The physical findings otherwise were entirely normal. The blood Wassermann reaction was negative and the blood count normal. Dark-field examination (Dr. D. Berberian) after the use of a mouth wash demonstrated many kinds of spirochetes on the lesion, so that the presence or absence of Treponema pallidum could not be ascertained.
Men?s preferences for treatment of early stage prostate cancer: Results from a discrete choice experiment, CHERE Working Paper 2006/14

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Australia; each year over 10,000 Australians are diagnosed with this disease. There are a number of treatment options for early stage prostate cancer (ESPC); radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, hormonal therapy and combined therapy. Treatment can cause serious side-effects, including severe sexual and urinary dysfunction, bowel symptoms and fatigue. Furthermore, there is no evidence as yet to demonstrate that any of these treatments confers a survival gain over active surveillance (watchful waiting). While patient preferences should be important determinants in the type of treatment offered, little is known about patients? views of the relative tolerability of side effects and of the survival gains needed to justify these. To investigate this, a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted in a sample of 357 men who had been treated for ESPC and 65 age-matched controls. The sample was stratified by treatment, with approximately equal numbers in each treatment group. The DCE included nine attributes: seven side-effects and two survival attributes (duration and uncertainty). An orthogonal fractional set of 108 scenarios from the full factorial was used to generate three versions of the questionnaire, with 18 scenarios per respondent. Multinomial logit (MNL) and mixed logit (MXL) models were estimated. A random intercept MXL model provided a significantly better fit to the data than the simple MNL model, and adding random coefficients for all attributes dramatically improved model fit. Each side-effect had a statistically significant mean effect on choice, as did survival duration. Most attributes had significant variance parameters, suggesting considerable heterogeneity among respondents in their preferences. To model this heterogeneity, we included men? s health-related quality of life scores following treatment as covariates to see whether their preferences were influenced by their previous treatment experience. This study demonstrate how DCEs can be used to quantify the trade-offs patients make between side-effects and survival gains. The results provide useful insights for clinicians who manage patients with ESPC, highlighting the importance of patient preferences in treatment decisions.
Hyperadrenocorticism associated with hepatic lymphosarcoma in a dog - case report.

Hyperadrenocorticism or canine Cushing ́s syndrome is a hormonal disturbance due to excessive endogenous glucocorticoid production or glucocorticoid excessive administration, resulting in high cortisol plasma levels. In Brazil, criterious mitotane administration is the most available efficient treatment. ACTH stimulation tests must be performed periodically with the aim of avoid hypocortisolism crisis in these patients. The purpose of this work was to report a pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) associated to hepatic lymphosarcoma in a 10 years old female Poodle that was being treated for PDH during one year. In a clinical revision owners report sickness, inappetence and prostration. Clinical examination evidenced icterus and abdominal pain. Leptospirosis was excluded by sorologic trial and by urinary PCR, as well as hypoadrenocorticism from ACTH stimulation test. Ultrassonography evidenced hepatomegalia with many heterogenic mass with irregular boards. Fine needle aspirative biopsia ultrassom guided evidenced lymphosarcoma. The patient died few days after biopsia.
Comparison between colour duplex sonography findings and different histological patterns of temporal artery.

OBJECTIVE To assess the findings of temporal artery colour duplex sonography (CDS) in GCA characterized by a histological pattern of periadventitial small vessel vasculitis (SVV) and/or vasa vasorum vasculitis (VVV) and compare it with those observed in classic GCA with transmural vasculitis. METHODS We studied 30 patients with SVV and/or VVV, 63 patients with classic GCA and 67 biopsy-negative patients identified over a 9-year period. CDS of the temporal arteries was performed in all patients by one ultrasonographer. Temporal artery biopsy was used as the reference standard. Sensitivities, specificities and likelihood ratios (LRs) were calculated. RESULTS The frequency of the halo sign on CDS was significantly lower in the patients with SVV and/or VVV compared with those with classic GCA (20% vs 82.5%, P = 0.0001). The halo sign had a sensitivity of only 20% (95% CI 8.4, 39.1%) and a specificity of 80.6% (95% CI 68.7, 88.9%) for the diagnosis of SVV and/or VVV. The negative LR was 0.992 (CI 0.824, 1.195), and the positive LR was 1.030 (CI 0.433, 2.451). The halo sign for the diagnosis of biopsy-proven classic GCA had a higher sensitivity of 82.5% (CI 70.5, 90.5%), the same specificity of 80.6% (CI 68.7, 88.9%) and a higher positive LR (4.253; CI 2.577, 7.021). CONCLUSION The halo sign is infrequently found in GCA characterized by a histological pattern of SVV and/or VVV. This limits the sensitivity of CDS in correctly identifying patients with GCA.
Vitamin D deficiency does not predict progression of coronary artery calcium, carotid intima-media thickness or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE Vitamin D deficiency is common in SLE. Cardioprotective effects of vitamin D have been postulated due to modulation of inflammatory cytokines. However, the effects of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory cytokines in trials have been inconsistent. We determined whether levels of vitamin D at baseline were associated with subclinical measures of atherosclerosis, or with changes in subclinical measures over 2 years. METHODS Of the 200 patients enrolled in the Lupus Atherosclerosis Prevention Study, complete baseline and follow-up data [including coronary artery calcium (CAC), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) levels] were available for 154 patients. Assessments were repeated 2 years later. RESULTS 25(OH)D values ranged from 4 to 79 ng/ml. Among African American patients, 25(OH)D values ranged from 4 to 55 ng/ml. With low 25(OH)D (vitamin D <21 ng/ml), a higher proportion had a CAC score >100 (11%) compared with those with vitamin D insufficiency (21-32 ng/ml) (10%) and normal (≥32 ng/ml) 25(OH)D (3%), which was not statistically significant. 25(OH)D was neither associated with nor did it predict progression of CAC or carotid IMT over 2 years. The mean hsCRP decreased over 2 years. CONCLUSION 25(OH)D was not associated with any measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. 25(OH)D deficiency was associated with higher hsCRP at baseline, but did not predict a change in hsCRP over 2 years.
Cyclic Pseudo-Fusion in a Dual-Chamber Pacemaker

Studies have shown that avoidance of right ventricular pacing results in a decrease in the incidence of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. Newer algorithms which promote intrinsic conduction and decrease the frequency of ventricular pacing have been developed. However some of these new pacing algorithms are complex and can create potential pitfalls for the clinician. Additionally, these features may not be applicable to a reasonable amount of patients. We describe an example of a pacemaker pseudo-malfunction caused by one of these new algorithms.
Identification of the gene encoding pro‐phenoloxidase A3 in the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster

The fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, has three proPO genes (DoxA1, CG8193 and CG2952). DoxA1 has been shown to encode proPO A1, one of the two proPO isoforms (A1 and A3). However, which of CG8193 or CG2952 encodes proPO A3 has so far remained elusive. In Northern analysis, CG8193 expression was strong during the larval stage, yet expression of CG2952 was not detected at any stage. Immunoblot analyses with specific antibodies detected CG8193 in the larval hemolymph at the mobility of the endogenous proPO A3, though no signal for CG2952. These results indicate that the expression of CG2952 is very low and that CG8193 is the gene that encodes proPO A3. Processing of A1 and A3 isoforms in adult homogenate and activity of recombinant proPOs were also investigated.
Cognate Hsp70 gene is induced during deep larval diapause in the moth Sesamia nonagrioides

The complete cDNA sequences of Heat shock cognate protein 70 (SnoHsc70) and Heat shock protein 70 (SnoHsp70) were determined from the corn stalk borer Sesamia nonagrioides (Lef.). They encode 653 amino acids (Hsc70) and 633 amino acids (Hsp70), with calculated molecular masses of 71.5 kDa and 70.2 kDa respectively. SnoHsc70 is constitutively expressed, and SnoHsp70 is heat‐inducible in non‐diapausing insects. SnoHsp70 is down regulated during diapause, while SnoHsc70 is induced as the larvae enter deep diapause. High temperature stress during diapause has no further effect on transcript levels of SnoHsc70. Our results show that SnoHsc70 may play important roles in assisting protein conformation during specific stages of diapause.
The Collision Auto Repair Safety Study (CARSS): a health and safety intervention.

BACKGROUND Collision repair employs approximately 205,500 people in 33,400 shops. Workers are exposed to a diverse array of chemical, physical, and ergonomic hazards. METHODS CARSS was based on a random and purposeful sample. Baseline and one baseline and one-year evaluations consisted of 92 questions addressing issues, such as Right-to-Know, fire protection, painting-related hazards, ergonomics, electrical safety, and personal protective equipment. Owners received a report and selected at least 30% of items found deficient for remediation. In-person and web-based services were provided. RESULTS Forty-nine shops were evaluated at baseline and 45 at follow-up. At baseline, 54% of items were present. This improved to 71% at follow-up (P < 0.0001). Respiratory protection improved 37% (P < 0.0001) and Right-to-Know training increased 30% (P < 0.0001). Owners completed 61% of items they selected for remediation. CONCLUSIONS Small businesses' interventions should address the lack of personnel and administrative infrastructure. Tailored information regarding hazards and easy-to-use training and administrative programs overcome many barriers to improvement.
Kinezologija - egzaktna znanost ili holistička disciplina prirodne medicine

Sažetak: Nova otkrića i spoznaje s područja kinezioloških znanosti izmijenili su shvaćanje i pristup kineziologiji, pa time ona u procesu primjene pokreta u terapijske i zdravstvene svrhe dobiva sve više na značenju. Naziv ‘kineziologija’ odnosi se na proučavanje mišića i tijela u pokretu, pa ga obično u tom značenju rabe nastavnici/profesori tjelesnog vježbanja, kineziterapeuti, fi zioterapeuti, liječnici, treneri i stručnjaci za fi tness. Danas, nakon što je u upotrebi već više od 40 godina u čitavom svijetu, kineziologija je evoluirala i razvila se u veliku i zasebnu granu prirodne medicine i liječenja. U liječenju se primjenjuju raznovrsne tehnike, s ciljem poboljšanja cjelokupnog zdravlja, a ne samo otklanjanja pojedinih simptoma. Više nego ikada dosad u praksi se ostvarila predodžba o raznovrsnosti kineziologije i njezina poimanja. Tome su u velikoj mjeri pridonijeli G. Goodheart (1964.) i njegov tim stručnjaka iz različitih znanstvenih disciplina, a nešto kasnije i A. Bearll, F. Mahuna, F. J. Thie, J. Diamond i mnogi drugi. Slijedom navedenoga može se pretpostaviti da je kineziologija od početka bila višestrana (holistička) disciplina, te da je s vremenom prešla u različita predmetna područja. Osim osnivanja pojedinih nacionalnih saveza kineziologije velik poticaj njezinom daljnjem razvoju dalo je osnivanje ICAK-a (Međunarodnog udruženja za specijalizirane kineziologije) s ciljem podupiranja novih ideja i vrsta kineziologije. ICAK je istodobno uredio i sveobuhvatni istraživački odjel, koji razvija različite istraživačke metode u kineziologiji, obogaćujući na taj način kineziologiju u cjelini.
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells inhibit the differentiation of circulating T follicular helper cells in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome through the secretion of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells in primary SS (pSS) patients. METHODS The percentage of CXCR5(+)PD-1(+)CD4(+) T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was analysed by flow cytometry. PBMCs were co-cultured with UC-MSCs by cell-to-cell contact or in a trans-well system. Naive CD4(+) T cells were isolated from PBMCs and then co-cultured with UC-MSCs under Tfh cell-polarizing conditions. The percentage of CXCR5(+)PD-1(+)CD4(+) T cells, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) fluorescence intensity and annexin V were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Real-time PCR and Luminex cytokine assay were performed to detect mRNA expression and supernatant protein levels. The activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) was measured by HPLC. RESULTS Increased frequency of cTfh cells was found in pSS patients and was positively correlated with serum anti-La/SSB levels and the European League Against Rheumatism SS Disease Activity Index score. In vitro, UC-MSCs suppressed the differentiation and proliferation of cTfh cells. Real-time PCR analysis showed significantly higher IDO mRNA expression on UC-MSCs when co-cultured with naive CD4(+) T cells under Tfh cell-polarizing conditions in pSS patients. However, IDO mRNA expression on UC-MSCs was only a little higher when UC-MSCs were co-cultured with naive CD4(+) T cells in a trans-well system. In addition, HPLC showed increased IDO enzymic activity in the supernatant of UC-MSCs co-cultured with naive CD4(+) T cells under Tfh cell-polarizing conditions in pSS. The addition of the IDO inhibitor 1-MT partly reversed the suppressive effect of UC-MSCs on the differentiation of cTfh cells. CONCLUSION These results suggest an inhibitory effect of UC-MSCs on the differentiation of cTfh cells via the secretion of IDO, and soluble factors secreted by activated CD4(+) T cells might contribute to IDO secretion by UC-MSCs.
Functional Implications of an Intermeshing Cogwheel-like Interaction between TolC and MacA in the Action of Macrolide-specific Efflux Pump MacAB-TolC*

Macrolide-specific efflux pump MacAB-TolC has been identified in diverse Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli. The inner membrane transporter MacB requires the outer membrane factor TolC and the periplasmic adaptor protein MacA to form a functional tripartite complex. In this study, we used a chimeric protein containing the tip region of the TolC α-barrel to investigate the role of the TolC α-barrel tip region with regard to its interaction with MacA. The chimeric protein formed a stable complex with MacA, and the complex formation was abolished by substitution at the functionally essential residues located at the MacA α-helical tip region. Electron microscopic study delineated that this complex was made by tip-to-tip interaction between the tip regions of the α-barrels of TolC and MacA, which correlated well with the TolC and MacA complex calculated by molecular dynamics. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the MacA hexamer interacts with TolC in a tip-to-tip manner, and implies the manner by which MacA induces opening of the TolC channel.
Adaptive evolution in subterranean termite antifungal peptides

We identified and analysed mRNA sequences of two immune proteins from the subterranean termites Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes virginicus. These proteins correspond to two immune proteins described in the distantly related termite genus Nasutitermes; termicin, which is a small antifungal peptide, and GNBP2, which functions both as a broad pattern recognition receptor and a direct antifungal effector. A population genetic analysis of nucleotide intraspecific polymorphism and interspecific divergence indicates that a selective sweep has reduced polymorphism in the termicins. Moreover, this selective sweep appears to have been driven by the positive selection of beneficial amino acid changes in the antifungal peptide. In contrast, the pattern of polymorphism and divergence in GNBP2 corresponds to the standard neutral model of evolution.
Reversible High Affinity Inhibition of Phosphofructokinase-1 by Acyl-CoA

The enzyme phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) catalyzes the first committed step of glycolysis and is regulated by a complex array of allosteric effectors that integrate glycolytic flux with cellular bioenergetics. Here, we demonstrate the direct, potent, and reversible inhibition of purified rabbit muscle PFK-1 by low micromolar concentrations of long chain fatty acyl-CoAs (apparent Ki ∼1 μm). In sharp contrast, short chain acyl-CoAs, palmitoylcarnitine, and palmitic acid in the presence of CoASH were without effect. Remarkably, MgAMP and MgADP but not MgATP protected PFK-1 against inhibition by palmitoyl-CoA indicating that acyl-CoAs regulate PFK-1 activity in concert with cellular high energy phosphate status. Furthermore, incubation of PFK-1 with [1-14C]palmitoyl-CoA resulted in robust acylation of the enzyme that was reversible by incubation with acyl-protein thioesterase-1 (APT1). Importantly, APT1 reversed palmitoyl-CoA-mediated inhibition of PFK-1 activity. Mass spectrometric analyses of palmitoylated PFK-1 revealed four sites of acylation, including Cys-114, Cys-170, Cys-351, and Cys-577. PFK-1 in both skeletal muscle extracts and in purified form was inhibited by S-hexadecyl-CoA, a nonhydrolyzable palmitoyl-CoA analog, demonstrating that covalent acylation of PFK-1 was not required for inhibition. Tryptic footprinting suggested that S-hexadecyl-CoA induced a conformational change in PFK-1. Both palmitoyl-CoA and S-hexadecyl-CoA increased the association of PFK-1 with Ca2+/calmodulin, which attenuated the binding of palmitoylated PFK-1 to membrane vesicles. Collectively, these results demonstrate that fatty acyl-CoA modulates phosphofructokinase activity through both covalent and noncovalent interactions to regulate glycolytic flux and enzyme membrane localization via the branch point metabolic node that mediates lipid flux through anabolic and catabolic pathways.
Reducing case fatality in HIV-infected TB patients in sub-Saharan Africa

HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis (TB) have much higher case fatality rates compared with non-HIV-infected patients. There are various reasons for this high mortality that include delayed presentation and advanced TB at the time of diagnosis, incorrect diagnosis of smear-negative TB and HIV-related diseases. More attention must be paid to reducing the time from symptoms to diagnosis of TB, ensuring as far as possible that the diagnosis of TB is correct and administering rifampicin-throughout anti-tuberculosis treatment. In high HIV prevalence areas, all TB patients should routinely be offered HIV testing as this is the gateway to cotrimoxazole preventive therapy and antiretroviral therapy, both of which will reduce case fatality if started soon enough. Despite severe malnutrition often being present in HIV-infected TB patients, two randomised controlled trials have demonstrated no effect of nutritional supplements in reducing case fatality. The jury is still out about whether adjunctive corticostero.