Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The North–South gap in overweight and obesity in England

Regional differences in overweight and obesity levels in England have mirrored those of CVD, with higher levels in the North. It is unclear whether the increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity over the last 15 years has been consistent in different regions of the country. BMI data from each of the health surveys for England conducted between 1993 and 2004 were analysed. Annual grouped estimates of the prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) for the North and the South of England were produced by appropriately combining regional administrative authorities. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the independence of the geographical effect after adjustment for age and social class. The prevalence of both overweight and obesity in women has risen more quickly in the North than in the South between 1993 and 2004, leading to a widening of inequalities. The prevalence of both overweight and obesity in women in the South has remained reasonably stable since 1997. The prevalence rates of both conditions in men have risen in parallel in the North and the South between 1993 and 2004 by approximately 8 %. The OR for obesity for young women increased between 1993/98 and 1998/2004 from 1·07 (1·00, 1·14) to 1·21 (1·13, 1·30). Widening geographical inequalities in overweight and obesity rates in women could lead to widening inequalities in cardiovascular and other diseases.
How is dietary diversity related to haematological status of preschool children in Ghana?

ABSTRACT Background: The role of dietary diversity on blood biomarkers may be significant, but the evidence is limited. Objective: This study assessed the association between dietary diversity and haematological status of children aged 6-59 months controlling for various known confounders. Design: The analysis in this study is based on the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health survey data.The study involved 2,388 pre-school children aged 6-59 months who constituted the sub-sample for anaemia assessment. Results: The mean haemoglobin concentration (Hb) was 10.2 g/dl ± 1.50 (95 % CI: 10.1 to 10.3), and anaemia prevalence (Hb < 11 g/dl) among children aged 6-59 months was 66.8 % (CI: 63.7 to 69.8). In multivariable logistic regression analysis,continued breastfeeding [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.9 (95% CI: 1.19–2.91], 12–23 months of age (AOR = 2.4 (95% CI: 1.40–3.98), having fever in last two weeks (AOR = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.20–2.45, birth interval ≤ 24 months (AOR = 1.9 (1.20–2.84), and poorest wealth quintile (AOR = 2.6 (95% CI: 1.48–4.48) were positively associated with anaemia. Conclusion: The current study showed that factors other than poor dietary diversity predicted anaemia among children aged 6–59 months in Ghana.
Staging of renal cell carcinoma: current concepts

become particularly important in the context of the increased popularity of nephronsparing surgery. The more widespread and now mainstream use of partial nephrectomy for small T1 tumours has made the T1 threshold not only important in terms of prognostic value but also in relation to eligibility for nephron-sparing surgery. Hafez et al. [7] attempted to better delineate the optimal size threshold for tumours amenable to partial nephrectomy, ands in so doing showed significantly better survival for patients undergoing nephron-sparing surgery for T1 tumours of £ 4 cm. As a result, they recommended that the TNM T1 category be amended to T1a and T1b, based on a 4 cm threshold [7].
UL34, the target of the herpes simplex virus U(S)3 protein kinase, is a membrane protein which in its unphosphorylated state associates with novel phosphoproteins

Previous studies (F. C. Purves, D. Spector, and B. Roizman, J. Virol. 65:5757-5764, 1991) have shown that the protein kinase encoded by the U(S)3 gene mediates posttranslational modification of a viral phosphoprotein with an apparent M(r) of 30,000 encoded by the UL34 gene. Here we report the following. (i) UL34 protein is not phosphorylated in cells infected with recombinant viruses deleted in the U(S)3 gene. (ii) Several new phosphoproteins (apparent M(r)s, 25,000 to 35,000) are present in cells infected with recombinant viruses deleted in the U(S)3 gene or with viruses carrying a mutation in the UL34 gene that precluded phosphorylation of the UL34 gene product by the U(S)3 protein kinase, but not in cells infected under conditions which permit phosphorylation of the UL34 protein. These proteins are genetically unrelated to the product of the UL34 gene. (iii) Polyclonal rabbit anti-UL34 protein serum precipitated not only the UL34 protein but also the other (25,000- to 35,000-M(r)) phosphoproteins from lysates of cells infected with U(S)3- virus. (iv) The UL34 gene product is a membrane protein inasmuch as the polyclonal anti-UL34 serum reacted with surfaces of intact, unfixed, infected cells and the antigen-antibody complex formed in this reaction contained the UL34 protein. (v) Small amounts of the UL34 protein were present in virions of infected cells. We conclude that the UL34 gene product is a membrane protein exclusively phosphorylated by the U(S)3 protein kinase which can either directly or indirectly form complexes with several other phosphoproteins. Experiments done thus far suggest that these phosphoproteins are present only under conditions in which the UL34 protein is not phosphorylated.
TOXIFY: a deep learning approach to classify animal venom proteins

In the era of Next-Generation Sequencing and shotgun proteomics, the sequences of animal toxigenic proteins are being generated at rates exceeding the pace of traditional means for empirical toxicity verification. To facilitate the automation of toxin identification from protein sequences, we trained Recurrent Neural Networks with Gated Recurrent Units on publicly available datasets. The resulting models are available via the novel software package TOXIFY, allowing users to infer the probability of a given protein sequence being a venom protein. TOXIFY is more than 20X faster and uses over an order of magnitude less memory than previously published methods. Additionally, TOXIFY is more accurate, precise, and sensitive at classifying venom proteins.
Lectinophagocytosis of encapsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae mediated by surface lectins of guinea pig alveolar macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages

Macrophages express a mannose/N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectin which serves as a receptor for nonopsonic phagocytosis of mannose-coated particles. We have examined the binding to guinea pig alveolar macrophages in a serum-free medium of 16 Klebsiella pneumoniae serotypes and of the capsular polysaccharides isolated from 7 of these serotypes. Only five polysaccharides containing the repeating sequence Man alpha 2/3Man or L-Rha alpha 2/3-L-Rha bound to the macrophages. Of the 11 bacterial serotypes expressing such disaccharides in their capsular polysaccharides, 7 bound efficiently, 2 bound poorly, and 2 did not bind at all. No binding occurred with five serotypes lacking these disaccharides. Binding of the bacteria was inhibited by homologous and heterologous capsular polysaccharides that contain the disaccharide sequences, by mannan, and by (Man)25BSA (where BSA is bovine serum albumin). Man alpha 2/3Man-containing oligosaccharides were potent inhibitors compared with monosaccharides. Binding was dependent on Ca2+, modulated by cultivating the macrophages on mannan-coated surfaces, and increased in human monocyte-derived macrophages compared with monocytes. The bulk of the bacteria bound to the macrophages was internalized and killed. The data taken together suggest that Klebsiella pneumoniae cells undergo lectinophagocytosis mediated by capsular disaccharides recognized by the mannose/N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectin of macrophages. This may enhance clearance of the organisms from the serum-poor environment of the lung.
No effect of tocolytic therapy with atosiban on maternal serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in threatened preterm labor

Objectives. We aimed to evaluate the effect of intravenous administration of tocolytic therapy with an oxytocin antagonist drug (atosiban) on maternal serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in women with threatened preterm labor. Methods. The study population consisted of 46 women with a singleton pregnancy admitted to our department with a diagnosis of threatened preterm labor at between 26 and 34 weeks of gestation. Atosiban was administered to all women. Nine women (group A) progressed to delivery within 48 hours of admission. The remaining 37 women were divided in two groups: group B consisted of 16 women who remained undelivered at 48 hours but experienced delivery within 7 days and group C consisted of 21 women who did not deliver within the next 7 days. Maternal serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were assessed in duplicate by a high sensitivity ELISA kit on patient admission and again at the end of treatment with atosiban (36 hours post-admission). Results. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations on admission were significantly higher in group A compared to those found in group B (p = 0.01) and group C (p = 0.04). Comparisons of serum IL-6 values on admission and at 36 hours after the initiation of atosiban treatment were comparable in group A (p = 0.95), group B (p = 0.39), and group C (p = 0.79). Similarly serum TNF-α levels on admission were not significantly different compared to those at the end of treatment in all groups (p = 0.85 for group A, p = 0.45 for group B, and p = 0.21 for group C). Conclusions. No effect of tocolytic therapy with atosiban was observed on serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels in women with threatened preterm labor.
BMP-2 Incorporated in a Tricalcium Phosphate Bone Substitute Enhances Bone Remodeling in Sheep

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is a well-known osteoinductive protein, which requires a carrier for local application. As an alternative to the previously described carriers, an in situ hardening, resorbable, and osteoconductive β-tricalcium phosphate cement (TCP) is tested. Trepanation defects in the bovine distal femoral epiphysis are filled with a composite consisting of TCP and 200 μg rhBMP-2 per cm3 TCP, autologous bone graft, pure TCP, or left empty. A radiological follow-up is performed after 7 weeks and 3 months. The sheep are euthanized and bone samples are analyzed by microradiography, histology, and histomorphometry. Microradiography and histology show similar results for pure TCP and the composite. The defects are filled with trabecular bone and newly formed bone is in close contact with the remaining TCP-particles. The majority of the cement is resorbed, in the composite group the amount of remaining cement particles is reduced. Defects treated with autologous bone graft are filled completely, while untreated defects shows only a small amount of bone originating from the rim of the defect. Histomorphometry of the defects treated with pure TCP shows a significantly increased bone content in comparison to defects treated with the composite or autologous bone graft. Analysis of the remaining cement particles shows significantly less cement in the TCP/rhBMP-2 group in comparison to pure TCP. The sum of bone and cement content in the rhBMP-2 group shows amounts comparable to the calcified structures found following autologous bone grafting. The addition of rhBMP-2 to the TCP leads to faster remodeling of the defect comparable to autologous bone graft, while defects treated with pure TCP are not completely remodeled.
Impact of Discrepancies between the Abbott RealTime and Cobas TaqMan Assays for Quantification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Group M Non-B Subtypes

ABSTRACT Viral loads in 249 clinical samples from individual patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 non-B subtypes were determined with both the Abbott RealTime and Cobas TaqMan assays. The differences exceeded 0.5 log for about 20% of samples and 1 log for 3%, with higher values always from the Abbott assay in the latter cases.
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza–Specific Signaling in Rice Transcends the Common Symbiosis Signaling Pathway[W]

Knowledge about signaling in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses is currently restricted to the common symbiosis (SYM) signaling pathway discovered in legumes. This pathway includes calcium as a second messenger and regulates both AM and rhizobial symbioses. Both monocotyledons and dicotyledons form symbiotic associations with AM fungi, and although they differ markedly in the organization of their root systems, the morphology of colonization is similar. To identify and dissect AM-specific signaling in rice (Oryza sativa), we developed molecular phenotyping tools based on gene expression patterns that monitor various steps of AM colonization. These tools were used to distinguish common SYM-dependent and -independent signaling by examining rice mutants of selected putative legume signaling orthologs predicted to be perturbed both upstream (CASTOR and POLLUX) and downstream (CCAMK and CYCLOPS) of the central, calcium-spiking signal. All four mutants displayed impaired AM interactions and altered AM-specific gene expression patterns, therefore demonstrating functional conservation of SYM signaling between distant plant species. In addition, differential gene expression patterns in the mutants provided evidence for AM-specific but SYM-independent signaling in rice and furthermore for unexpected deviations from the SYM pathway downstream of calcium spiking.
Evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance

Abstract. Antibiotic resistance is a clinical and socioeconomical problem that is here to stay. Resistance can be natural or acquired. Some bacterial species, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, show a high intrinsic resistance to a number of antibiotics whereas others are normally highly antibiotic susceptible such as group A streptococci. Acquired resistance evolve via genetic alterations in the microbes own genome or by horizontal transfer of resistance genes located on various types of mobile DNA elements. Mutation frequencies to resistance can vary dramatically depending on the mechanism of resistance and whether or not the organism exhibits a mutator phenotype. Resistance usually has a biological cost for the microorganism, but compensatory mutations accumulate rapidly that abolish this fitness cost, explaining why many types of resistances may never disappear in a bacterial population. Resistance frequently occurs stepwise making it important to identify organisms with low level resistance that otherwise may constitute the genetic platform for development of higher resistance levels. Self‐replicating plasmids, prophages, transposons, integrons and resistance islands all represent DNA elements that frequently carry resistance genes into sensitive organisms. These elements add DNA to the microbe and utilize site‐specific recombinases/integrases for their integration into the genome. However, resistance may also be created by homologous recombination events creating mosaic genes where each piece of the gene may come from a different microbe. The selection with antibiotics have informed us much about the various genetic mechanisms that are responsible for microbial evolution.
What's new in cardiac pacing in children?

Purpose of review To review and prioritize data on pediatric cardiac pacing published during the period of the last 18 months. Recent findings New approaches to preservation of ventricular function in pediatric pacing are based on recent publications confirming major influence of the ventricular pacing site on left ventricular (LV) function and synchrony. Current studies on epicardial vs. transvenous pacing continue to show survival superiority of endocardial leads. Long-term outcome of epicardial pacing may, however, be positively influenced by technical refinements. Recent amendments of the guidelines for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in adult idiopathic and ischemic cardiomyopathy are likely to influence CRT indications in children. Novel data give interesting insights into implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) lead survival as well as the use of ICDs in young patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Summary Pediatric cardiac pacing and ICD therapy is still a developing field likely to improve with technical refinements, proper lead placement and more specific therapy indications. The current review will give the reader information about recent developments and directions for the future.
Leadership style and action routines: best practice manufacturing and R&D projects

This paper compares leadership styles and action routines in best practice manufacturing and product development. The study is based on changes in work and work processes, with manufacturing progressing towards higher complexity and product development attempting to decrease complexity. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. The results regarding leadership styles showed a stronger leadership style in the product development sample, but similar profiles in both samples. Also, for action routines the results were in favour of the product development sample. This implies that interaction patterns within groups are related to tasks - complex and non-routinised tasks induce behaviours that favour learning. Furthermore, adaptive leadership is used in successful environments. "Super leaders" are not necessary for success.
Mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, produces clinical and metabolic benefits in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

CONTEXT Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to prolonged exposure to high cortisol concentrations. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, in endogenous CS. DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a 24-wk multicenter, open-label trial after failed multimodality therapy at 14 U.S. academic medical centers and three private research centers. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 50 adults with endogenous CS associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose tolerance (C-DM) or a diagnosis of hypertension alone (C-HT). INTERVENTION Mifepristone was administered at doses of 300-1200 mg daily. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We evaluated change in area under the curve for glucose on 2-h oral glucose test for C-DM and change in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to wk 24 for C-HT. RESULTS In the C-DM cohort, an area under the curve for glucose (AUC(glucose)) response was seen in 60% of patients (P < 0.0001). Mean ± sd glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased from 7.43 ± 1.52% to 6.29 ± 0.99% (P < 0.001); fasting plasma glucose decreased from 149.0 ± 75.7 mg/dl (8.3 ± 4.1 mmol/liter) to 104.7 ± 37.5 mg/dl (5.8 ± 2.1 mmol/liter, P < 0.03). In C-HT cohort, a diastolic blood pressure response was seen in 38% of patients (P < 0.05). Mean weight change was -5.7 ± 7.4% (P < 0.001) with waist circumference decrease of -6.78 ± 5.8 cm (P < 0.001) in women and -8.44 ± 5.9 cm (P < 0.001) in men. Overall, 87% (P < 0.0001) had significant improvement in clinical status. Insulin resistance, depression, cognition, and quality of life also improved. Common adverse events were fatigue, nausea, headache, low potassium, arthralgia, vomiting, edema, and endometrial thickening in women. CONCLUSIONS Mifepristone produced significant clinical and metabolic improvement in patients with CS with an acceptable risk-benefit profile during 6 months of treatment.
Floc stabilization for multiple microscopic techniques

A nondestructive stabilization technique for the characterization of microbial flocs which permits the application of correlative microscopic techniques is described. Flocs embedded in agarose are retained in a porous, resilient medium which allows for the transport, staining, washing, and subsampling of the flocculated material directly within a plankton chamber with minimal or no destructive forces. A single agarose disc can be subdivided into numerous sections for analysis by several microscope types and associated techniques.
Single gold nanoparticles as real-time optical probes for the detection of NADH-dependent intracellular metabolic enzymatic pathways.

Plasmonics, is an emerging subfield of nanophontonics, and it attracts increasing attention because of its potential applications in controlling and manipulating light at nanoscale dimensions. The advent of dark-field microscopy (DFM) has enabled the study of plasmonic nanoparticles, especially the coinage metals and the effects of their size, shape, composition as well as the local environment, which further facilitate its use in biological-labeling and detection. DFM provides a direct means to probe chemical reactions, real-time optical sensing with high sensitivity, and the in vivo imaging of cancer cells. Recently, redox reactions were directly monitored on single gold nanocrystals using DFM. Actually, every individual nanoparticle (NP) in the assembly could potentially act as an independent probe. Single-nanoparticle sensing platforms offer advantages since they are readily implemented in multiplex detection. Single nanoparticle probes offer improved absolute detection limits and also enable higher spatial resolution. Single nanoparticles have promising applications for measurements in vitro and in vivo events that are non-reachable by fixed solid array. However, the use of plasmonic nanoparticles for the detection of biomolecules or biological processes is still scarce. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD/NADH) plays an important role as cofactor in numerous biocatalyzed processes, including energy metabolism, mitochondrial responses, immunological functions, aging and cell death. The catalytic deposition of copper on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by the NADH cofactor has been applied for the optical and electrochemical detection of NADH and NAD-dependent biocatalytic processes. Herein, we describe a novel method to detect enzymatic activity at the single particle level inside and outside cells by DFM. To our knowledge, it is the first time to monitor the intracellular metabolism and the effect of anticancer drugs on the cell metabolism using copper growth on the AuNP probes. To investigate the application of single Au@Cu nanoparticles for nano-sensing, the plasmon resonance Rayleigh scattering (PRRS) spectra lmax of a single particle was used to probe the gold-catalyzed reduction of Cu ions on AuNPs by NADH or by NAD-cofactor-dependent enzyme/substrate system that generates NADH (Scheme 1). Compared with the scattering spectra in the absence of NADH, the scattering spectra acquired with NADH exhibit a distinct peak shift