Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii in oral wash from immunosuppressed patients as a diagnostic tool

Background Diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ) pneumonia ordinarily requires invasive procedures that could be avoided by PCR methodologies, if these could be designed with adequate cut-off values for confounding background carriage. Methods We designed a novel quantitative real-time PCR assay to detect the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene of PJ in oral washes. To benchmark levels of PJ carriage versus infection, we tested asymptomatic immunosuppressed patients including Danish (n = 88) and West African HIV-infected (n = 142) patients, renal transplant recipients (n = 51), rheumatologic patients (n = 102), patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (n = 98), and healthy blood donors (controls, n = 50). The fungal burden in patients with PJ pneumonia (PCP, n = 7) was also investigated. Results Danish HIV-infected patients (with viremia/low CD4) and recent transplant recipients were at most risk of being carriers (prevalence of 23% and 16.7% respectively), whereas PJ was rarely detected among rheumatologic patients, patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, and untreated West African HIV patients. PJ was not detected among healthy controls. The fungal burden in patients with PCP fell rapidly on treatment. Conclusions The quantitative PCR method described could conceivably discriminate between carriage and disease, given suitable threshold values for the former, and predict treatment efficacy by measures of the fungal burden in daily oral washes.
Relationship of tobacco smoking CYP1A1 GSTM1 gene polymorphism and esophageal cancer in Xi'an.

AIM To analyze the association of tobacco smoking polymorphism of CYP1A1 (7th exon) and GSTM1 genotype and esophageal cancer(EC) in Xi'an. METHODS A hospital based case-control study, with molecular epidemiological method, was carried out. Polymorphism of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 of samples from 127 EC cases and 101 controls were detected by PCR method. RESULTS There were no significant difference of age and gender between cases and controls. Tobacco smoking was the main risk factor OR=1.97;95% CI=1.12-3.48 for EC in Xi'an. The proportions of CYP1A1 Ile/Ile, Ile/Val and Val/Val gene types in cases and controls was 19.7% 45.7% 34.6% and 30.7%,47.5%, 21.8% respectively(P=0.049). Individuals with CYP1A1 Val/Val genotype compared to those with CYP1A1 Ile/Ile genotype had higher risk for EC increased (OR=2.48, 95%CI=1.12-5.54). The proportions of GSTM1 deletion genotype in cases and controls were 58.3% and 43.6%(OR=1.81, 95%CI=1.03-3.18, P=0.028). Analysis of gene-environment interaction showed that tobacco smoking and CYP1A1 Val/Val genotype; tobacco smoking and GSTM1 deletion genotype had synergism interaction respectively. Analysis of gene-gene interaction did not find synergistic interaction between these two genes. But in GSTM1 deletion group there was significant difference of distribution of CYP1A1 genotype between cases and controls (P=0.011). CONCLUSION CYP1A1 Val/Val and GSTM1 deletion genotypes are genetic susceptibility biomarkers for EC. The risk increases, when person with CYP1A1 Val/Val and/or GSTM1 deletion genotype. And these two-metabolic enzymes seem to have interactions with tobacco smoking, in which the mechanism still needs further study.
[Clinical study on effect of total panax notoginseng saponins on immune related inner environment imbalance in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

OBJECTIVE To study the therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of total panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to observe its safety and influence on RA immune related inner environment. METHODS Eighty-four patients were randomly assigned to two groups. All were treated with the routine therapy with diclofenac sodium, Leflunomide and prednisone, but for the 43 patients in the treatment group PNS was given additionally. The therapeutic course was 28 days for both groups. Clinical efficacy and change of indexes including platelet counts, immnuoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), complement (C)3, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin (CER), haptoglobin (HPT), and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were observed. RESULTS Significant improvement of clinical symptoms, including the joint swelling index, joint tenderness index, joint pain index, time of morning stiffness and VAS revealed in both groups after treatment, and the effect in the treatment group was better (P<0.05 or P<0.01). PLT, CER, AAG, HPT, CRP, IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and RF were lowered in both groups (P<0.01), but the lowering in PLT, CER, AAG and CRP in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION PNS can significantly improve the condition of patients, enhance the therapeutic effect in treating RA, through regulating the disordered immunity and improving the effect of anti-inflammatory and analgesia.
Evolution of mechanical ventilation in response to clinical research.

RATIONALE Recent literature in mechanical ventilation includes strong evidence from randomized trials. Little information is available regarding the influence of these trials on usual clinical practice. OBJECTIVES To describe current mechanical ventilation practices and to assess the influence of interval randomized trials when compared with findings from a 1998 cohort. METHODS A prospective international observational cohort study, with a nested comparative study performed in 349 intensive care units in 23 countries. We enrolled 4,968 consecutive patients receiving mechanical ventilation over a 1-month period. We recorded demographics and daily data related to mechanical ventilation for the duration of ventilation. We systematically reviewed the literature and developed 11 practice-change hypotheses for the comparative cohort study before seeing these results. In assessing practice changes, we only compared data from the 107 intensive care units (1,675 patients) that also participated in the 1998 cohort (1,383 patients). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In 2004 compared with 1998, the use of noninvasive ventilation increased (11.1 vs. 4.4%, P < 0.001). Among patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, tidal volumes decreased (7.4 vs. 9.1 ml/kg, P < 0.001) and positive end-expiratory pressure levels increased slightly (8.7 vs. 7.7 cm H(2)O, P = 0.02). More patients were successfully extubated after their first attempt of spontaneous breathing (77 vs. 62%, P < 0.001). Use of synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation fell dramatically (1.6 vs. 11%, P < 0.001). Observations confirmed 10 of our 11 practice-change hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS The strong concordance of predicted and observed practice changes suggests that randomized trial results have advanced mechanical ventilation practices internationally.
Impact of lipid-based nutrient supplementation (LNS) on children's diet adequacy in Western Uganda.

Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) can help treat undernutrition; however, the dietary adequacy of children supplemented with LNS, and household utilisation patterns are not well understood. We assessed diet adequacy and the quality of complementary foods by conducting a diet assessment of 128 Ugandan children, ages 6-59 months, who participated in a 10-week programme for children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM, defined as weight-for-age z-score < -2). Caregivers were given a weekly ration of 650 kcal day(-1) (126 g day(-1) ) of a peanut/soy LNS. Two 24-h dietary recalls were administered per child. LNS was offered to 86% of targeted children at least once. Among non-breastfed children, over 90% met their estimated average requirement (EAR) cut-points for all examined nutrients. Over 90% of breastfed children met EAR cut-points for nutrient density for most nutrients, except for zinc where 11.7% met cut-points. A lower proportion of both breastfed and non-breastfed children met adjusted EARs for the specific nutritional needs of MAM. Fewer than 20% of breastfed children met EAR nutrient-density guidelines for MAM for zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A and folate. Underweight status, the presence of a father in the child's home, and higher programme attendance were all associated with greater odds of feeding LNS to targeted children. Children in this community-based supplemental feeding programme who received a locally produced LNS exhibited substantial micronutrient deficiencies given the special dietary needs of this population. These results can help inform programme strategies to improve LNS targeting, and highlight potential nutrient inadequacies for consumers of LNS in community-based settings.
Detection of commercials in video content based on logo presence without its prior knowledge

Among many methods for commercial detection in TV video content the most precise and most used one in software today is the method of recognizing logo presence, and freeware as well as shareware software using it usually needs some data about the channel logo. In this paper a commercial detection method is described which is also based on logo recognition, but without need of any prior knowledge of logo data like shape, position or colors. Applying the method on several test videos showed a 100% recognition of commercial presence and about 80% of correct determination of the begin and the end of commercials whereby videos with noise were also used.
Blast cells in child and adult AML: comparative study of morphocytochemical, immunological and cytogenetic characteristics

Bone marrow blast cells of 174 child and 188 adult patients with AML were examined and characterized in terms of their FAB type, immunological phenotype (102 children, 123 adults) and karyotype (69 children, 95 adults). The incidence of FAB variants of AML proved similar in children and adults. In patients under 15 and over 60, peroxidase activity in myeloblasts was lower than in middle‐aged patients. Similar rates of HLA‐Dr, Thy‐1, CD11a, T‐cell antigens, CD19, Gly‐A and Eb antigens were found in cells of child and adult patients. The frequency of CD11b, CD38 and CD10 antigen expression on blast cells was higher in children than in adults. Abnormal blast karyotype was noted in 81.8% of children and 73.7% of adults. Translocation (8;21) was usually found in cases of M2 type (82%), significantly more frequently in children, predominantly in the group aged 6‐10. t(15;17) was detected in all age groups only in M3 type of cells (86%), t(9;22) occurred more frequently in adults than in children; t(11q23) incidence rates were somewhat higher in children than in adults. Three cases of AML in children are described with deletion of chromosome 5 in their leukaemic cells. The data obtained indicate different biological characteristics of blast cells in children and adults. It is likely that haemopoietic cell involvement in children under 2 years and adult patients over 60 occurs at earlier stages than in middle‐aged patients.
Transformer Winding Vibration Enveloping for Empirical Mode Decomposition Based on Non-uniform B-Spline Fitting

A new method of envelope fitting for empirical mode decomposing data based on non-uniform B-spline curve is developed. Empirical mode decomposition obtained local characteristic of data, which provided high-resolution time-frequency characteristics for non-stationary signal. This new method of envelope fitting was provided for overshoots and undershoots of polynomial spline. B-spline interpolation curves were obtained to use the knots of B-spline, control vertexes and control polygon determined by the extrema. Envelope fitting based on non-uniform B-spline curve handles the incomplete envelope effects of empirical mode decomposition. The decomposing results of transformer winding vibration show that intrinsic mode functions derived by B-spline fitting alleviate large swings. Left by themselves, the end swings can eventually propagate inward and corrupt the whole data span. It is demonstrated by actual analysis that the new envelope fitting method is one effective way for signal processing.
Dynamic resource sharing protection using label stacking and burst multiplexing in optical burst switched networks

A protection and restoration mechanism is essential to provide reliable traffic transmission in networks, but it is not easy to apply existing protection mechanisms to optical burst-switching (OBS) networks, because of the unique properties of OBS. The authors introduce a 1:1 link-based protection that minimises burst losses by deflecting bursts until a source ingress router arbitrates a working path to a backup path when a link failure occurs. The authors also propose a genuine dynamic resource sharing (DRS) link protection in order to achieve high efficiency in network resource allocation and reliable protection simultaneously in OBS networks. DRS employs burst-multiplexing and label-stacking techniques in backup channel selection and always reserves an optimal number of backup channels according to the changes in traffic load in a working link and the quality of service (QoS) requirements of bursts. Simulation results show that the DRS can provide the same protection reliability with just half of the backup channels needed in a normal 1:1 protection in a light-load case, while guaranteeing the QoS requirements of class bursts. The authors show that this property also makes backup link sharing among a number of working links possible.
Clinical characteristics of 15 children with juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia who developed blast crisis: MDS Committee of Japanese Society of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML) is a rare haematopoietic stem cell disease of early childhood, which can progress to blast crisis in some children. A total of 153 children diagnosed with JMML were reported to the Myelodysplastic Syndrome Committee in Japan between 1989 and 2007; 15 of them (9·8%) had 20% or more blasts in the bone marrow (blast crisis) during the disease course. Blast crisis occurred during observation without therapy (n = 3) or with oral 6‐mercaptopurine treatment (n = 9) and in relapse after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT; n = 3). Six patients had a complex karyotype (5 including monosomy 7) and an additional three patients had isolated monosomy 7 at blast crisis. Seven patients received HSCT after blast crisis and four of them achieved remission. Eleven out of the 15 patients died; the cause of death was disease progression in 10 patients and transplant‐related complication in one patient. In summary, patients with blast crisis have poor prognosis and can be cured only by HSCT. The emergence of monosomy 7 and complex karyotype may be characteristic of blast crisis in a substantial subset of children.
Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons subjective shoulder scale in patients with shoulder instability, rotator cuff disease, and glenohumeral arthritis.

BACKGROUND Outcomes assessment after the treatment of shoulder disorders has involved the use of various condition-specific outcome instruments. The purpose of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons subjective shoulder scale in patients with shoulder instability, rotator cuff disease, and glenohumeral arthritis. METHODS Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, content validity, criterion validity, construct validity, and responsiveness to change were determined for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder scale within subsets of an overall study population of 455 patients with shoulder instability, 474 patients with rotator cuff disease, and 137 patients with glenohumeral arthritis. RESULTS There was acceptable test-retest reliability for the overall American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder scale (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.94) and ten of eleven domains. There was acceptable internal consistency for patients with instability (Cronbach alpha = 0.61), rotator cuff disease (0.64), and arthritis (0.62). There were acceptable floor and ceiling effects for patients with instability (0% and 1.3%, respectively), rotator cuff disease (0% for both), and arthritis (0% for both). There was acceptable and appropriate criterion validity, with significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the overall American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scale and the physical functioning, role-physical, and bodily pain domains of the Short Form-12 scale, and nonsignificant correlations (p > 0.05) with the role-emotional, mental health, vitality, and social function domains. There was acceptable construct validity, with all twenty-three hypotheses demonstrating significance (p < 0.05), and acceptable responsiveness to change for patients with instability (standardized response mean, 0.93), rotator cuff disease (1.16), and arthritis (1.11). CONCLUSIONS The use of outcome instruments with psychometric properties that have been vigorously established is essential. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons subjective shoulder scale demonstrated overall acceptable psychometric performance for outcomes assessment in patients with shoulder instability, rotator cuff disease, and glenohumeral arthritis.
Plasticity in the adult vestibulo-ocular reflex arc.

Human subjects with maintained reversal of their horizontal field of vision exhibit very substantial adaptive changes in their 'horizontal' vestibulo-ocular reflex (v.o.r.). Short durations (8 min) of vision reversal during natural head movement led to 20% v.o. r. attenuation while long periods (4 weeks) eventually led to approximate reversal of the reflex. The reversed condition is approached by a complex, but highly systematic, series of changes in gain and phase of the reflex response relative to normal. Recovery after return to normal vision exhibits a similar duration, but different pattern, to that of the original adaptation. A chronic cat preparation with long-term optical reversal of vision has now been developed and shows similar adaptive and recovery changes at low test stimulus amplitudes, but different patterns of adaptive response at high amplitudes. An adaptive neural model employing known vestibulo-ocular pathways is proposed to account for these experimentally observed plastic changes. The model is used to predict the adapted response to patterns of stimulation extending beyond the range of experimental investigation.
Biological Activities of Ecalectin: A Novel Eosinophil-Activating Factor1

Ecalectin, produced by Ag-stimulated T lymphocytes, is a potent eosinophil-specific chemoattractant in vitro as well as in vivo and thus is implicated in allergic responses. Ecalectin differs structurally from other known eosinophil chemoattractants (ECAs); ecalectin belongs to the galectin family defined by their affinity for β-galactosides and by their conserved carbohydrate recognition domains. These characteristic features suggest that ecalectin has unique activities associated with allergic inflammation besides ECA activity. Conversely, ecalectin may mediate ECA activity by binding to a receptor of a known ECA via affinity for the β-galactosides present on this receptor. In this study, we have tested whether ecalectin mediates ECA activity by binding to a receptor of a known ECA, and we have assessed its effects on eosinophils. Ecalectin did not mediate ECA activity by binding to the IL-5R or to CCR3. Also, the ECA activity of ecalectin was mainly chemokinetic. In addition, ecalectin induced concentration-dependent eosinophil aggregation, a marker for eosinophil activation. Ecalectin induced concentration-dependent superoxide production from eosinophils but did not induce degranulation; usually these two events are coupled in eosinophil activation. Moreover, ecalectin directly prolonged eosinophil survival in vitro and did not trigger eosinophils to secrete cytokines that prolong eosinophil survival. These results demonstrate that ecalectin has several unique effects on eosinophils. Therefore, we conclude that ecalectin is a novel eosinophil-activating factor. Presumably, these effects allow ecalectin to play a distinctive role in allergic inflammation.
Why Labour Is Not Different

T I "Ihe notion that the labour market and the employment relationship are fun­ damentally different from other markets and contractual relationships unJ L derpins a great deal of government interference in the lives of Australians. The centralised approach to wage determination, the privileged status of trade un­ ions, and recent proposals that purport to ease the burden of the long-term unem­ ployed are all based on the idea that many of us lose the ability to perceive and pro­ tect our own interests when we are on the seller side of the labour market. Short shrift is given to the basic economic insight that labour-market outcomes for all parties can be improved simply by removing the huge number of policies that im­ pede the formation of employment relationships on terms that are acceptable to both buyer (employer) and seller (employee). Why do labour-market policies give so little weight to the goal of allowing and encouraging voluntary exchange between consenting adults? The standard argu­ ment is that the assumptions of economic theory are so drastically at odds with the realities of the labour market that economists have nothing to contribute. It is widely believed that the suspension of awards, monopoly unions, penalty rates, and ‘comparative wage justice’ would not move us closer to the ideal world of econom­ ics textbooks, in which employers and employees contribute to one another’s future prosperity. Rather, we would have, in the words of Paul Keating, Australia’s Prime Minister, ‘a return to the dark ages of master and servant. a matter of taking the bosses’ conditions or taking the sack’ (Australian Financial Review, 15 October 1992, p.15). The reality is that although many labour markets differ substantially from mar­ kets for stylised commodities, they do not do so in a way that invalidates basic eco­ nomic principles or policy prescriptions. The benefits of free choice in the terms and conditions of employment are, if anything, greater than those we enjoy in more mundane areas such as the supply and demand of foodstuffs, lawn mowers, or housing.
Dehydration in the Older Adult.

Dehydration affects 20% to 30% of older adults. It has a greater negative outcome in this population than in younger adults and increases mortality, morbidity, and disability. Dehydration is often caused by water deprivation in older adults, although excess water loss may also be a cause. Traditional markers for dehydration do not take into consideration many of the physiological differences present in older adults. Clinical assessment of dehydration in older adults poses different findings, yet is not always diagnostic. Treatment of dehydration should focus on prevention and early diagnosis before it negatively effects health and gives rise to comorbidities. The current article discusses what has most thoroughly been studied; the best strategies and assessment tools for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of dehydration in older adults; and what needs to be researched further. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 41(9), 8-13. ].