Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation to reduce side-effects of anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment].

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication fails in about 10% of patients because of the occurrence of resistance to antibiotics and side-effects. During anti H.pylori therapy, probiotics have been used to reduce the incidence of side-effects. OBJECTIVES To determine whether adding the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamhousus GG to an anti-H. pylori regimen could help to prevent or minimize the gastrointestinal side-effect burden. MATERIAL AND METHODS 66 subjects screening positive for H. pylori infection (male/female: 45/21, mean age 56,6 DS ± 16,7 year ), 59 subjects receiving 7 days of Omeprazole 20 mg b.i. d, Amoxicillin 1000 mg b.i. d and Clarithromycin 500 mg b.i. d were randomly assigned to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (6 x 9 ufc b.i.d ) (n = 29) or placebo (n = 30). Patients completed questionnaires after the treatment to determine the type and 10 severity of side-effects. RESULTS Side effects occurred mainly during the eradication therapy; none of them caused therapy discontinuation. Bloating, diarrhea, taste disturbance and epigastric discomfort were the most frequent side effects: (10.3% versus 16%, 13.8% versus 20%, 13.7% versus 20% and 13.7 % versus 20% respectively). No significant differences were found between the two groups for individual symptoms. CONCLUSION In this study, probiotic supplementation did not diminish significantly the frequency of new or aggravated symptoms during H. pylori eradication.
Health–promoting schools in Australia: models and measurement

Abstract: Schools represent a very attractive setting for health promotion. Most children and young people attend school, professional educators are in place, and most school communities are microcosms of the larger community, providing opportunities for children to develop and practise the skills necessary to support a healthy life–style. In response to this opportunity, the precepts of contemporary health promotion have been synthesised into the ‘health—promoting school’ model, which is guided by a holistic view of health and by the principles of equity and empowerment. Although there are different conceptions of the model, the key components are: the formal curriculum; school ethos (the social climate); the physical environment; the policies and practices of the school; school health services; and the school–home–community interaction. The health–promoting school model offers a comprehensive, systematic approach to health promotion in the school setting, which is widely accepted internationally. There have been few studies in Australia that have attempted to determine the prevalence of activities related to the model or to evaluate interventions. Unfortunately, conceptual and practical advances have far outstripped the development of research and evaluation instruments. There is an urgent need to create valid research tools to support the development and implementation of this potentially fruitful health promotion model.
Molecular imaging of T4 phage in mammalian tissues and cells

Advances in phage therapy encourage scientific interest in interactions of phages with human and animal organisms. This has created a need for developing tools that facilitate studies of phage circulation and deposition in tissues and cells. Here we propose a new green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based method for T4 phage molecular imaging in living systems. The method employs decoration of a phage capsid with GFP fused to the N-terminus of Hoc protein by in vivo phage display. Fluorescent phages were positively assessed as regards their applicability for detection inside living mammalian cells (by phagocytosis) and tissues (filtering and retention by lymph nodes and spleen). Molecular imaging provides innovative techniques that have brought substantial progress in life sciences. We propose it as a useful tool for studies of phage biology.
On the Protection of Personal Information by Administrative Law

The collection and disposal of information by administrative subjects are administrative factual acts.So China should pass Law of Personal Information Protection as soon as possible to make it clear that individual has the right to ask administrative subjects not to dispose personal information at random,and require them to reveal the process of how they collected it and how they are going to use it.And more importantly,the law should also give the scope,principle,supervision and relief system of personal information protection.At present,interests-balance system is the best way to settle the relations between personal information protection and public information publicity.
Comparison of the CELLEX™ and UVAR‐XTS™ closed‐system extracorporeal photopheresis devices in the treatment of chronic graft‐versus‐host disease

Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) is a cellular immunotherapy frequently used for steroid‐refractory graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). Chronic GVHD (cGVHD), response to ECP is associated with survival benefit. The UVAR‐XTSTM system and the more recently developed CELLEXTM device (both TherakosTM) are the mainstay for ECP‐delivery in the UK and US. No comparison of treatment outcomes has been reported. We retrospectively compared cGVHD response and steroid reduction and withdrawal in patients treated exclusively over 12 months with either the XTS (n = 51) or CELLEX (n = 50). Our hypothesis was that there would be no difference in clinical outcome or steroid changes in the 2 matched cohorts. We also compared infection incidence, infection‐related death (IRD), and treatment time. Significant clinical improvement and regular capacity to reduce or cease steroids was encountered in both cohorts; at 6 months of ECP 70% of cutaneous cGvHD patients had partial or complete responses and 85% of patients receiving steroids pre‐ECP had reduced dosage. In the XTS group we unexpectedly encountered both superior steroid reduction (86% dose at least halved vs. 61% for CELLEX, P = 0.01) and withdrawal (15 vs. 5 CELLEX, P = 0.01) and a trend for superior skin disease response in the CELLEX‐treated cohort at 3 months. No inter‐relationship was evident. Halving or greater reduction of steroid dose by 3 or 6 months was associated with reduced risk of IRD in the XTS cohort as was withdrawal at 6 months for the combined cohorts. By 6 months, XTS‐treated patients had experienced fewer antibiotic‐requiring infections (mean 1.9 vs. 2.8, P = 0.025). Origins for the disparities are unclear and warrant investigation.
Universal Prophylaxis With Fluconazole for the Prevention of Early Invasive Fungal Infection in Low-Risk Liver Transplant Recipients

Background. Although antifungal prophylaxis in high-risk liver transplant recipients (LTR) seems to be clearly justified, the efficacy of universal prophylaxis (UP) including low-risk patients is controversial. Methods. From the study cohort RESITRA-REIPI, which prospectively analyzed 1010 LTR (September 2003 to February 2005) in 12 Spanish hospitals, we compared the incidence of early invasive fungal infection (IFI, first 90 days) between centers performing or not UP with fluconazole (for a minimum of 7 days) in low-risk LTR (none of the following: posttransplant renal failure, urgent transplant/retransplant, or choledochojejunostomy). Results. Three of 12 centers used UP. A total of 799 LTR were considered as low-risk patients (206 included in the UP group and 593 did not). We reported a total of 11 episodes of early IFI (six due to Candida albicans, one due to C. guillermondii, and three due to Aspergillus fumigatus) in 10 patients (incidence: 1.2%), with two cases of death attributable to IFI (18%) in both patients with invasive aspergillosis. There were no differences in the incidence of IFI between the patients receiving or not UP (4/206:1.9% vs. 6/593:1%, respectively; P=0.36). Conclusions. IFI is infrequent in LTR not fulfilling major high-risk factors criteria, and prophylaxis with fluconazole in this low-risk group does not seem to be justified.
Increased carbon monoxide in exhaled air of patients with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND Inflammation, oxidative stress, and recurrent pulmonary infections are major aggravating factors in cystic fibrosis. Nitric oxide (NO), a marker of inflammation, is not increased, however, probably because it is metabolised to peroxynitrite. Exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), a product of heme degradation by heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) which is induced by inflammatory cytokines and oxidants, was therefore tested as a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation and oxidative stress. METHODS Exhaled CO and NO concentrations were measured in 29 patients (15 men) with cystic fibrosis of mean (SD) age 25 (1) years, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 43 (6)%, 14 of whom were receiving steroid treatment. RESULTS The concentration of exhaled CO was higher in patients with cystic fibrosis (6.7 (0.6) ppm) than in 15 healthy subjects (eight men) aged 31 (3) years (2.4 (0.4) ppm, mean difference 4.3 (95% CI 2.3 to 6.1), p<0.001). Patients not receiving steroid treatment had higher CO levels (8.4 (1.0) ppm) than treated patients (5.1 (0.5) ppm, mean difference 3.3 (95% CI –5.7 to -0.9), p<0.01). Normal subjects had higher NO levels (6.8 (0.4) ppb) than patients with cystic fibrosis (3.2 (0.2) ppb, mean difference 3.8 (95% CI 2.6 to 4.9), p<0.05) and were not influenced by steroid treatment (3.8 (0.4) ppb and 2.7 (0.3) ppb for treated and untreated patients, respectively, mean difference 0.8 (95% CI –0.6 to 2.3), p>0.05). Patients homozygous for the ΔF508 CFTR mutation had higher CO and NO concentrations than heterozygous patients (CO: 7.7 (1.8) ppm and 4.0 (0.6) ppm, respectively, mean difference 3.7 (95% CI –7.1 to –0.3), p<0.05; NO: 4.1 (0.5) ppb and 1.9 (0.7) ppb, respectively, mean difference 2.2 (95% CI –3.7 to –0.6), p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS High exhaled CO concentrations in patients with cystic fibrosis may reflect induction of HO-1. Measurement of exhaled CO concentrations may be clinically useful in the management and monitoring of oxidation and inflammatory mediated lung injury.
Probing the Peptidylglycine α‐Hydroxylating Monooxygenase Active Site with Novel 4‐Phenyl‐3‐butenoic Acid Based Inhibitors

Specific inhibition of the copper‐containing peptidylglycine α‐hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM), which catalyzes the post‐translational modification of peptides involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression, constitutes a new approach for combating cancer. We carried out a structure–activity study of new compounds derived from a well‐known PHM substrate analogue, the olefinic compound 4‐phenyl‐3‐butenoic acid (PBA). We designed, synthesized, and tested various PBA derivatives both in vitro and in silico. We show that it is possible to increase PBA affinity for PHM by appropriate functionalization of its aromatic nucleus. Compound 2 d, for example, bears a meta‐benzyloxy substituent, and exhibits better inhibition features (Ki=3.9 μM, kinact/Ki=427 M−1 s−1) than the parent PBA (Ki=19 μM, kinact/Ki=82 M−1 s−1). Docking calculations also suggest two different binding modes for PBA derivatives; these results will aid in the development of further PHM inhibitors with improved features.
Bone marrow stromal cells attenuate lung injury in a murine model of neonatal chronic lung disease.

RATIONALE Neonatal chronic lung disease, known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), remains a serious complication of prematurity despite advances in the treatment of extremely low birth weight infants. OBJECTIVES Given the reported protective actions of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs; mesenchymal stem cells) in models of lung and cardiovascular injury, we tested their therapeutic potential in a murine model of BPD. METHODS Neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia (75% O(2)) were injected intravenously on Day 4 with either BMSCs or BMSC-conditioned media (CM) and assessed on Day 14 for lung morphometry, vascular changes associated with pulmonary hypertension, and lung cytokine profile. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Injection of BMSCs but not pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) reduced alveolar loss and lung inflammation, and prevented pulmonary hypertension. Although more donor BMSCs engrafted in hyperoxic lungs compared with normoxic controls, the overall low numbers suggest protective mechanisms other than direct tissue repair. Injection of BMSC-CM had a more pronounced effect than BMSCs, preventing both vessel remodeling and alveolar injury. Treated animals had normal alveolar numbers at Day 14 of hyperoxia and a drastically reduced lung neutrophil and macrophage accumulation compared with PASMC-CM-treated controls. Macrophage stimulating factor 1 and osteopontin, both present at high levels in BMSC-CM, may be involved in this immunomodulation. CONCLUSIONS BMSCs act in a paracrine manner via the release of immunomodulatory factors to ameliorate the parenchymal and vascular injury of BPD in vivo. Our study suggests that BMSCs and factor(s) they secrete offer new therapeutic approaches for lung diseases currently lacking effective treatment.
Identi cation and Nonlinear Controller Design for the Bouncing Ball Experiment

The dynamics of a ball driven by a massive sinusoidally vibrating plate are highly nonlinear and undergo a number of bifurcations of xed points with various periodicities. This paper is concerned with a rst step on experimentally analyzing these dynamics using the "Bouncing Ball Apparatus". Signal processing methods and parameter identi cation routines have been implemented and a straight forward predictor as well as a robust nonlinear controller were designed using phase as a control variable. Fast global convergence was gained for periodic orbits of di erent order and periodicity within a wide range of frequencies. Additional enhancement was achieved by cascading the controller structure and adding adaptive algorithms.
Alzheimer's disease or Alzheimer's syndrome?: a longitudinal computed tomography neuroradiological follow‐up study of 56 cases diagnosed clinically as Alzheimer's disease

Some 200 patients, including those with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, stay year‐round in Yokohama – Houyuu Hospital. They undergo computed tomography (CT) neuroradiological examination at least once or twice a year. For this study, the accumulative data, including clinical and neuroradiological, were analyzed.
A 0.6-V, 6.8-μW Embedded SRAM for Ultra-low Power SoC

A novel embedded SRAM is proposed with features of high reliability and low power consumption. The critical control signals are made in correspondence to clock-duty cycle for high reliability. A hybrid precharge scheme is adopted for low power consumption. Additionally, an asymmetric read-write scheme is useful in a slow-but-steady write situation such as a control SoC for BSN (body sensor network). The fabricated 128-kb embedded SRAM consumes 117-μW at the worst case and 6.8-μW at normal write operation in a 0.6-V supply voltage.
Effects of dietary calcium content and vitamin D source on skeletal properties in growing turkeys

1. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of feeding fast growing turkeys with differentiated dietary calcium (Ca) content, and the partial replacement of vitamin D3 in the feed with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3), on skeletal properties. 2. One-day-old Big-6 male turkeys (n = 1008) were randomly divided into 4 groups, and two subgroups were created within each group. The groups were differentiated with 4 levels of Ca provision in the feed, namely 85% of the National Research Council (NRC) recommendation (Group Ca1); 95% as above (Group Ca2); 105% as above (Group Ca3); and 115% as above (Group Ca4). The first subgroup received the recommended dosage of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3 subgroup) in the feed, while in the second subgroup (Hy-D subgroup), half of the dosage of cholecalciferol was replaced with 25(OH)D3. At the ages of 4, 8, 12 and 20 weeks, 7 turkeys from each subgroup were randomly selected and killed to obtain the right tibia for densitometric, geometric and mechanical analyses. 3. This study showed advantageous effects of increased calcium supply in the diet on skeletal system properties, that were increased and produced the most desirable traits in turkeys receiving 95%, 105% and 115% of the NRC calcium recommendation. Benefits resulting from administration of 25(OH)D3 in the diet were also obtained in the skeletal formation of turkeys, and the most advantageous effects were present in the group receiving 105% of recommended dietary Ca. 4. Effects on the metabolic response of the skeleton of turkeys to manipulation of dietary calcium content and vitamin D3 source were the most evident in the groups between 4 and 12 weeks of life, and demonstrated a limited ability to induce a positive influence on bone properties at advanced stages of the production cycle by alteration of these dietary factors.
Community integration, social support and life satisfaction in relation to symptoms 3 years after mild traumatic brain injury

Primary objective: To investigate the relation between psychosocial functioning (community integration, life satisfaction and social support) and symptoms (post-concussion, post-traumatic stress and depression) in persons with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) 3 years after the trauma. Methods: Population-based follow-up study of 163 patients. At follow-up, an assessment of community integration, social support, life satisfaction and symptoms was made. Results: Total score of Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) was negatively correlated to total score of the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ, r = −0.270, p < 0.001) and to total score of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI, r = −0.332, p < 0.001). Life satisfaction (LiSat-11) was negatively correlated to the RPQ (r = −0.459, p < 0.001), to total score of the Impact of Event Scale (IES, r = −0.365, p < 0.001) and to the BDI (r = −0.642, p < 0.001). Low levels of life satisfaction were common at follow-up. Conclusions: A large proportion of the individuals with MTBI experienced both psychosocial difficulties, with low levels of life satisfaction in particular and symptoms (post-concussion, post-traumatic stress and depression) 3 years after trauma. Since the possibility of pre-injury factors contributing to the condition at follow-up cannot be ruled out, the study indicates that all these factors should be taken into consideration in the management of persons with MTBI.
Exploratory Analyses of Geoscience Ontology Infrastructure

With the development of geoscience and semantic technologies, more and more earth systems begin to use ontology in its system model designing. In this paper, we analyze the current main works of designing and using ontologies in geo-science domain from their architecture and components. By the analysis, we conclude that geo-science ontology infrastructure will be the key of new geo-science system, and we also widely discuss its significance and characteristics here.
Zinc effect on the in vitro formation of calcium phosphates: relevance to clinical inhibition of calculus formation.

PURPOSE To determine the effect of zinc on the in vitro formation of calcium phosphates and its relevance to calculus inhibition. MATERIALS AND METHODS Different types of calcium phosphate phases (amorphous calcium phosphate, ACP; dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, DCPD; octacalcium phosphate, OCP; and carbonate hydoxyapatite, CHA) were precipitated from solutions containing increasing concentrations of zinc (Zn) ions. The precipitates were characterized using x-ray diffraction, infrared absorption spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS The presence of Zn ions affected the type and amount of calcium phosphate phases formed. Zn, even at concentrations as low as 0.1 mM/L, inhibited the crystal growth of DCPD, OCP and AP; and, at higher concentrations (0.5 mM to 2 mM/L), promoted the formation of amorphous calcium phosphate, ACP, or Zn-substituted tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) depending on the reaction pH and temperature.
Positional Scanning-Synthetic Peptide Library-Based Analysis of Self- and Pathogen-Derived Peptide Cross-Reactivity with Tumor-Reactive Melan-A-Specific CTL1

Synthetic combinatorial peptide libraries in positional scanning format (PS-SCL) have recently emerged as a useful tool for the analysis of T cell recognition. This includes identification of potentially cross-reactive sequences of self or pathogen origin that could be relevant for the understanding of TCR repertoire selection and maintenance, as well as of the cross-reactive potential of Ag-specific immune responses. In this study, we have analyzed the recognition of sequences retrieved by using a biometric analysis of the data generated by screening a PS-SCL with a tumor-reactive CTL clone specific for an immunodominant peptide from the melanocyte differentiation and tumor-associated Ag Melan-A. We found that 39% of the retrieved peptides were recognized by the CTL clone used for PS-SCL screening. The proportion of peptides recognized was higher among those with both high predicted affinity for the HLA-A2 molecule and high predicted stimulatory score. Interestingly, up to 94% of the retrieved peptides were cross-recognized by other Melan-A-specific CTL. Cross-recognition was at least partially focused, as some peptides were cross-recognized by the majority of CTL. Importantly, stimulation of PBMC from melanoma patients with the most frequently recognized peptides elicited the expansion of heterogeneous CD8+ T cell populations, one fraction of which cross-recognized Melan-A. Together, these results underline the high predictive value of PS-SCL for the identification of sequences cross-recognized by Ag-specific T cells.
Empirical Research on Technology Trading Rules Effectiveness in Chinese Stock Market

This paper test two of the simplest and most popular trading rules—moving average and trading range break—by utilizing the shanghai stock complex index from Nov.1990 to Mar.2008. We find that buyer signals consistently generate higher returns than sell signals.For TRB rules,the difference of buy signals and sell signals greater than zero at the 1 percent significance level using a two-tailed test;However,For VMA and FMA rules,the difference of buy signals and sell signals has no significance level with zero at the 10 percent significance level using a two-tailed test.It shows that TRB is useful to predict stock price.
Functional Upgrading of Partially Recovered Facial Palsy by Cross-Face Nerve Grafting with Distal End-to-Side Neurorrhaphy

Background: Cross-face nerve grafting combined with functional muscle transplantation has become the standard in reconstructing an emotionally controlled smile in complete irreversible facial palsy. A special problem exists in incomplete or partially recovered facial palsies, when the little existing function should be preserved but the existing function alone is clinically insufficient. Methods: In this situation, cross-face nerve grafting performed by means of end-to-end coaptation to a zygomatic branch of the healthy side and by end-to-side neurorrhaphy to a corresponding branch of the incompletely paralyzed side is proposed to upgrade smile function on the latter side and contribute to more static and dynamic overall symmetry. The interposition nerve graft is set in overlength to preserve the possibility of a later muscle transplantation in case of unsatisfying functional result through the additional neuronal input. The authors have used this concept in seven patients with irreversible partial facial palsy. Three cases have a sufficiently long follow-up to be presented here. Outcome was objectively quantified with three-dimensional video analysis of facial movements. Results: In all three cases, functional improvement and a positive effect on the static and dynamic symmetry of the face could be measured. None of the patients was disappointed by the smile function achieved or wanted to undergo additional muscle transplantation. Conclusion: On the basis of these first clinical experiences, the authors recommend cross-face nerve grafting with overlength and a distal end-to-side neurorrhaphy in patients with irreversible incomplete facial palsy affecting the smile.