Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health, employment, and financial outcomes in workers with occupational asthma.

OBJECTIVE--To study the health, employment, and financial outcome of occupational asthma. DESIGN--A follow study of workers with confirmed occupational asthma. SETTING--A specialist occupational lung disease clinic. SUBJECTS--All workers had a diagnosis of occupational asthma made at least one year earlier. Diagnosis was confirmed by serial peak expiratory flow measurement, specific bronchial provocation testing, or specific immunology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Respiratory symptoms, medication, pulmonary function, employment state, and financial position. RESULTS--112 of a total of 140 eligible workers were followed up. 32% of patients remained exposed to the causative agent. These workers had more symptoms at follow up than those removed and a greater number were taking inhaled steroids. Continued exposure was also associated with a fall in % predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 3% compared with that at presentation. Their median loss of annual income due to occupational asthma was 35%. Those removed from exposure were worse off financially (median loss 54% of annual income), had fewer respiratory symptoms than the group who remained exposed, and their % predicted FEV1 had improved by 4.6%. Statutory compensation and that obtained by common law suits did not match the loss of earnings due to the development of occupational asthma. Of the workers removed from exposure, those who no longer complained of breathlessness had been diagnosed significantly earlier after the onset of their first symptom (48 v 66 months, p = 0.001) and had a significantly higher FEV1 at presentation (90% v 73% predicted, p = 0.008) compared with those who were still breathless. They had developed symptoms earlier after first exposure (48 v 66 months, p > 0.05) and had been removed from exposure sooner (eight v 12 months, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION--Removal from exposure after diagnosis of occupational asthma is beneficial in terms of symptoms and lung function, but is associated with a loss of income. Early diagnosis is important for symptomatic improvement after removal from exposure. Inadequate compensation may contribute to the workers' decision to remain exposed after diagnosis.
Increased immortalization‐upregulated protein 2 (IMUP‐2) by hypoxia induces apoptosis of the trophoblast and pre‐eclampsia

In regulation of the developmental process, the balance between cellular proliferation and cell death is critical. Placental development tightly controls this mechanism, and increased apoptosis of placental trophoblasts can cause a variety of gynecological diseases. Members of the immortalization‐upregulated protein (IMUP) family are nuclear proteins implicated in SV40‐mediated immortalization and cellular proliferation; however, the mechanisms by which their expression is regulated in placental development are still unknown. We compared IMUP‐2 expression in normal and pre‐eclamptic placental tissues and evaluated the function of IMUP‐2 in HTR‐8/SVneo trophoblast cells under hypoxic conditions. IMUP‐2 was expressed in syncytiotrophoblasts and syncytial knots of the placental villi. IMUP‐2 expression was significantly higher in preterm pre‐eclampsia patients than in patients who went to term (P < 0.001); however, we observed no differences in IMUP‐2 expression between normal term patients with and without pre‐eclampsia. Hypoxic conditions increased apoptosis of HTR8/SVneo trophoblast cells and induced IMUP‐2 expression. Also, apoptosis of HTR‐8/SVneo trophoblast cells was increased after IMUP‐2 gene transfection. These results suggest that IMUP‐2 expression is specifically elevated in preterm pre‐eclampsia and under hypoxic conditions, and that IMUP‐2 induces apoptosis of the trophoblast. Therefore, IMUP‐2 might have functional involvement in placental development and gynecological diseases such as pre‐eclampsia. J. Cell. Biochem. 110: 522–530, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determination of hepatocyte growth factor at early phase of acute pancreatitis.

AIM The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as a new predictor of severity in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) at early phase of disease. MATERIALS AND METHOD The studied group involved 40 patients (16 women and 24 men) with AP admitted to Ist Dept. of Surgery Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow. Twenty-four patients had mild and twelve severe form of AP. Glasgow and Imrie scores were calculated to evaluate severity of AP. HGF concentrations were measured by ELISA (R&D Systems) on days 1, 3 and 5 after admission within 48 hours after onset of symptoms. RESULTS Serum median concentrations of HGF was significantly higher in patients with severe versus mild clinical course of AP on each of the study days (7.61 vs 3.30 ng/mL, p = 0.05 on day 1; 7.19 vs 3.43, p = 0.04 on day 3 and 5.76 vs 2.42, p = 0.02 on day 5). HGF positively correlated with Glasgow and Imrie scores (R = 0.57 and R = 0.51). HGF negatively correlated with fetuin A, a negative acute phase protein (R = -0.60 on day 3 and R = -0.45 on day 5) and positively with CRP (R = 0.93; R = 0.80), SAA (R = 0.78; R = 0.82), IL-6 (R = 0.61; R = 0.77; R = 0.85 on day 1, 3 and 5, respectively) and PMN-elastase (R = 0.58; R = 0.64; R = 0.77). On day 1 of the study, HGF reached the diagnostic sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 50% for the detection of severe and moderate AP. CONCLUSIONS Serum HGF correlates with several inflammatory markers and clinical scores (Glasgow, Imrie) in patients with AP and may be considered a new promising tool in assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis.
Effects of Light on the Microcystin Content of Microcystis Strain PCC 7806

ABSTRACT Many cyanobacteria produce microcystins, hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides that can affect animals and humans. The effects of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on microcystin production by Microcystis strain PCC 7806 were studied in continuous cultures. Microcystis strain PCC 7806 was grown under PAR intensities between 10 and 403 μmol of photons m−2 s−1 on a light-dark rhythm of 12 h -12 h. The microcystin concentration per cell, per unit biovolume and protein, was estimated under steady-state and transient-state conditions and on a diurnal timescale. The cellular microcystin content varied between 34.5 and 81.4 fg cell−1 and was significantly positively correlated with growth rate under PAR-limited growth but not under PAR-saturated growth. Microcystin production and PAR showed a significant positive correlation under PAR-limited growth and a significant negative correlation under PAR-saturated growth. The microcystin concentration, as a ratio with respect to biovolume and protein, correlated neither with growth rate nor with PAR. Adaptation of microcystin production to a higher irradiance during transient states lasted for 5 days. During the period of illumination at a PAR of 10 and 40 μmol of photons m−2 s−1, the intracellular microcystin content increased to values 10 to 20% higher than those at the end of the dark period. Extracellular (dissolved) microcystin concentrations were 20 times higher at 40 μmol of photons m−2 s−1 than at 10 μmol of photons m−2 s−1 and did not change significantly during the light-dark cycles at both irradiances. In summary, our results showed a positive effect of PAR on microcystin production and content of Microcystis strain PCC 7806 up to the point where the maximum growth rate is reached, while at higher irradiances the microcystin production is inhibited.
Changes in Immunostaining of Inner Ears After Antigen Challenge Into the Scala Tympani

To study the mechanisms of immune responses and immune injuries in inner ears, labyrinthitis was induced by inoculation of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) into the scala tympani of systemically sensitized guinea pigs. Inner ears were then immunostained for KLH, immunoglobulin G (IgG), albumin, connexin26 (Cx26), and sodium‐potassium adenosine triphosphate (Na,K‐ATPase). Inflammatory cells containing KLH were observed in the scala tympani and in the collecting venule of the spiral modiolar vein (SMV). Spiral ligament, spiral limbus, and blood vessels including the SMV were diffusely positive for IgG and albumin. Immunoreactivity for Cx26 and Na,K‐ATPase was decreased compared with the normal ears in the fibrocytes of the spiral ligament. These results suggest that inflammatory cells and blood constituents could extravasate into the cochlea from blood vessels and that fibrocyte damage in the spiral ligament could cause cochlear dysfunction.
Effects of diabetes on creatine kinase activity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of diabetes on the creatine kinase (CK) activity in different tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS Serum samples, heart, extensor digitorum longus, brain and bladder were collected from both streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat and control group. Ck was measured by enzymologic method. RESULTS The body weight, heart weight and brain weight were reduced significantly compared with control group (P < 0.001), but bladder weight was increased significantly (P < 0.001). CK activity in serum and extensor digitorum longus in diabetic rat was significantly lower (P < 0.001); CK activity in diabetic heart was lower (P < 0.01); and in brain also lower (P < 0.05). A higher CK activity in diabetic bladder was found (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Diabetes can result in a lower CK activity in serum, heart, brain and extensor digitorum longus that may affect the energy metabolism in the tissues. A higher CK activity in diabetic bladder may reflect a functional compensatory mechanism.
Helicobacter pylori infection in elderly Bulgarian patients.

Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic gastritis that can trigger peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancy (Marshall, 1994). The serious complications of peptic ulcers (bleeding or perforation) affect many elderly patients worldwide (Pilotto, 2001). Successful eradication of the infection results in ulcer healing (Adamek et al., 1998) and may prevent the progression of intestinal metaplasia in elderly patients (Pilotto & Malfertheiner, 2002); however, clinical interest in H. pylori infection in elderly people remains low (Pilotto & Salles, 2002). Furthermore, gastroduodenal diseases are associated with other diseases in many old patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and primaryH. pylori resistance to antimicrobial agents in elderly Bulgarian patients with gastroduodenal diseases.
Hysteria and its historiography: the future perspective

Within the history of science and medicine, perhaps no field of enquiry is expanding more energetically today than psychiatric history. More books and articles are appearing on psychiatry’s famous, fascinating past all the time. Judging from academic dissertations either recently completed or in preparation, a generation of young scholars from a range of countries and disciplinary backgrounds is entering the field. Two new collections of reprinted primary texts Tavistock Classics in the History of Psychiatry and Classics in the History of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences promise to bring to prominence a series of important writings of past psychiatric figures. The present journal is the first English-language periodical devoted specifically to scholarly work on the subject, and a major
Review of optical breast imaging and spectroscopy

Abstract. Diffuse optical imaging and spectroscopy of the female breast is an area of active research. We review the present status of this field and discuss the broad range of methodologies and applications. Starting with a brief overview on breast physiology, the remodeling of vasculature and extracellular matrix caused by solid tumors is highlighted that is relevant for contrast in optical imaging. Then, the various instrumental techniques and the related methods of data analysis and image generation are described and compared including multimodality instrumentation, fluorescence mammography, broadband spectroscopy, and diffuse correlation spectroscopy. We review the clinical results on functional properties of malignant and benign breast lesions compared to host tissue and discuss the various methods to improve contrast between healthy and diseased tissue, such as enhanced spectroscopic information, dynamic variations of functional properties, pharmacokinetics of extrinsic contrast agents, including the enhanced permeability and retention effect. We discuss research on monitoring neoadjuvant chemotherapy and on breast cancer risk assessment as potential clinical applications of optical breast imaging and spectroscopy. Moreover, we consider new experimental approaches, such as photoacoustic imaging and long-wavelength tissue spectroscopy.
Mean platelet volume in ST elevation and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction -

Platelet activation is thought to play a key pathogenetic mechanism in acute coronary syndromes. We investigated the mean platelet volume and platelet count in patients with both ST elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Fifty two patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and 56 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled in the study. Age- and gender-matched 50 healthy subjects constituted the control group. Venous blood samples for whole blood analysis were drawn on admission and analyzed by an autoanalyser. The difference in mean platelet volume was statistically significant in ST elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction patients, which was 8.7±1 and 7.9±0.7 fl (p
Cardiac computed tomography and conventional angiography in the diagnosis of congenital cardiac disease in children: recent trends and radiation doses

Abstract Background The use of imaging that employs ionising radiation is increasing in the setting of paediatric cardiology. Children's high radiosensitivity and the lack of contemporary radiation data warrant a review of the radiation doses from the latest “state-of-the-art” angiography and computed tomography systems. Objectives In children aged less than 16 years with congenital cardiac disease, we aimed to report: recent trends in the use of diagnostic angiography and cardiac dual-source computed tomography; the characteristics, lesions, and imaging histories of patients undergoing these procedures; and the average radiation doses imparted by each modality. Study design Retrospective review of consecutive cases undergoing cardiac computed tomography or diagnostic angiography in a teaching hospital between January, 2008 and December, 2009. Radiation doses were converted to effective doses (millisievert) using published conversion factors. Results Angiography was performed 3.7 times more often than computed tomography. Computed tomography examinations increased by 92.5%, whereas angiography decreased by 26.4% in 2009 compared with 2008. Patients undergoing computed tomography were younger and weighed less than those undergoing angiography, but lesions were similar between the 2 groups. Multiple lifetime angiography was more prevalent than multiple lifetime computed tomography (p < 0.001). The median procedural dose – range – from angiography and computed tomography was 5 (0.2–27.8) and 1.7 (0.5–9.5) millisieverts, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion Despite not being completely analogous investigations, computed tomography should be considered prior to angiography and not withheld on radiation dose concerns, given that it imparts lower and more consistent doses than conventional angiography.
Scholarly Foraging and Network Discovery Tools

Parallels between subsistence foraging and scholarly information seeking are described in the context of the World‐Wide Web. It is suggested that the prevailing information retrieval paradigm lacks requisite variety to capture the complex of behaviours and stimuli that drives scholars' quests for new ideas and insights. The authors outline a variety of research questions suggested by extended use of the optimal foraging metaphor in relation to distributed multimedia information resources.
AUTHENTICATION GROUPS WITH PRIVACY-PROTECTION OF MACHINE-TO-MACHINE IN LTE / LTE-A NETWORKS

Machine-type Communication (MTC) is a form of data communication which involves one or more entities that do not necessarily need human interaction, which has become the hotspot in industry area. Furthermore, Machine-Type Communication (MTC) has shown the advantages, including better coverage and lower network deployment cost, which makes it become the hotspot in industry area. However, the current cellular network is designed for human-to-human communication (H2H), and less optimal for machine-to-machine, machine-tohuman or human-to-machine applications. In addition, current cellular network is less optimal for MTC applications, and now facing some urgent issues, e.g. congestion and overload caused by the access of masses of MTC devices. This paper shows the techniques that used in MTC for LTE/LTE-A networks to enhance the authentication protocols with reduce signaling overhead and computational cost. Furthermore, this work discussed the problems that causing signaling overload in the core network especially, when a group of MTCD try to get authenticate to the system at the same time.
Codificación (s, c)-Densa: optimizando la compresión de texto en lenguaje natural

Resumen Este trabajo presenta un nuevo método para la compresión de textos, que permite la búsqueda directa de palabras y frases dentro del texto sin necesidad de descomprimirlo. Este método es directamente comparable, en tasa de compresión, con las técnicas basadas en Huffman orientadas a palabras y proporciona una compresión más simple y rápida, manteniendo sus caracteŕısticas más destacables de cara a la realización de búsquedas directas de palabras sobre el texto comprimido, al generar códigos con “marca” y de prefijo libre. De este modo esta técnica es extremadamente adecuada para la compresión de textos sobre los que haya que realizar operaciones de Text Retrieval, pues facilita la indexación y preprocesado sin necesidad de descomprimirlos. En el presente art́ıculo se describe la Codificación (s,c)-Densa y se muestra el proceso de obtención de los parámetros s y c que maximizan la compresión de un corpus determinado. Este proceso se basa en analizar la distribución de frecuencias de las palabras para, de este modo, generar códigos que minimicen la redundancia del código generado. Además se muestran resultados emṕıricos que demuestran la efectividad de esta nueva técnica de compresión.
Being Successful with Dyslexia

Several readers of this journal have expressed appreciation for our occasionally publishing articles by individuals with learning disabilities. In the following, David Wambsgans, an adult with learning disabilities, offers an autobiographical account of his educational, social, and vocational experiences. The article has not been edited and appears as he wrote it for publication. —JLW
The emerging role of leukocyte immunoglobulin‐like receptors (LILRs) in HIV‐1 infection

LILRs represent a group of immunomodulatory molecules that regulate the functional properties of professional APCs and influence immune activation in a variety of disease contexts. Many members of the LILR family recognize peptide/MHC class I complexes as their physiological ligands, and increasing evidence suggests that such interactions are prominently influenced by polymorphisms in HLA class I alleles or sequence variations in the presented antigenic peptides. Emerging data show that LILRs are involved in multiple, different aspects of HIV‐1 disease pathogenesis and may critically influence spontaneous HIV‐1 disease progression. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the role of LILR during HIV‐1 infection by focusing on the dynamic interplay between LILR and HLA class I molecules in determining HIV‐1 disease progression, the effects of HIV‐1 mutational escape on LILR‐mediated immune recognition, the contribution of LILR to HIV‐1‐associated immune dysfunction, and the unique expression patterns of LILR on circulating myeloid DCs from elite controllers, a small subset of HIV‐1‐infected patients with natural control of HIV‐1 replication. Obtaining a more complete understanding of LILR‐mediated immune regulation during HIV‐1 infection may ultimately allow for improved strategies to treat or prevent HIV‐1‐associated disease manifestations.
Induction of labor and pain: a randomized trial between two vaginal preparations of dinoprostone in nulliparous women with an unfavorable cervix

Objective. To compare pain associated with vaginal dinoprostone pessary vs. gel for induction of labor in women with an unfavorable cervix. Study design. A randomized controlled trial in a large academic public general hospital. A total of 52 nulliparous women of gestational age ≥38 weeks, with Bishop score ≤4 and intact membranes were allocated either to a controlled-release vaginal dinoprostone pessary or repeat doses of vaginal dinoprostone gel. Pain was recorded hourly from early induction until the onset of labor. Results. Mean pain experienced by women belonging to the two groups differed significantly (p < 0.01). Women in the controlled-release device group were also significantly more often severe pain-free than women receiving gel (p < 0.05). Both methods had similar rates of oxytocin infusion and vaginal deliveries. Conclusions. The two induction procedures should be considered equivalent as far as ripening the cervix and initiating labor. In view of this finding, the low Bishop score should be considered an indication to prefer the controlled-release device, since it reduces pain thereby improving the physical and emotional wellbeing of the parturient.