Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AND ANGIOGENIC AND ANTI-ANGIOGENIC FACTORS IN VITREOUS OF PATIENTS WITH PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND EALES’ DISEASE

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of angiogenesis in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and Eales’ disease (ED) on the basis of the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, angiogenic growth factor, and antiangiogenic factor in the vitreous humor. Methods: Twenty-five patients with PDR, 10 patients with ED, and 25 with macular hole (MH) as control subjects were studied. The concentration of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-1&bgr;; chemokine-monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1); angiogenic factor-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); and antiangiogenic factor-pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) in the vitreous fluid obtained from the eyes during vitrectomy were measured by sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and VEGF levels in the vitreous were significantly higher in PDR (P < 0.0001) and ED (P < 0.0001) than in MH patients. Conversely, the vitreous level of PEDF was significantly reduced in PDR (P < 0.0001) but not in ED. A significant correlation was observed between VEGF and IL-6 in ED patients. Conclusion: The authors demonstrate the importance of VEGF in retinal neovascularization of ED which is an idiopathic inflammatory venous occlusion. Further study is required to understand the interrelationship between VEGF and inflammatory cytokines in PDR and ED.
Potent Pyrimidine and Pyrrolopyrimidine Inhibitors of Testis‐Specific Serine/Threonine Kinase 2 (TSSK2)

Testis‐specific serine/threonine kinase 2 (TSSK2) is an important target for reversible male contraception. A high‐throughput screen of ≈17 000 compounds using a mobility shift assay identified two potent series of inhibitors having a pyrrolopyrimidine or pyrimidine core. The pyrrolopyrimidine 10 (IC50 22 nm; GSK2163632A) and the pyrimidine 17 (IC50 31 nm; ALK inhibitor 1) are the most potent TSSK2 inhibitors in these series, which contain the first sub‐100 nanomolar inhibitors of any TSSK isoform reported, except for the broad kinase inhibitor staurosporine. The novel, potent pyrimidine TSSK2 inhibitor compound 19 (IC50 66 nm; 2‐[[5‐chloro‐2‐[2‐methoxy‐4‐(1‐methylpiperidin‐4‐yl)anilino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl]amino]‐N‐methylbenzenesulfonamide) lacks the potential for metabolic activation. Compound 19 had a potency rank order of TSSK1>TSSK2>TSSK3>TSSK6, indicating that potent dual inhibitors of TSSK1/2 can be identified, which may be required for a complete contraceptive effect. The future availability of a TSSK2 crystal structure will facilitate structure‐based discovery of selective TSSK inhibitors from these pyrrolopyrimidine and pyrimidine scaffolds.
Stacking Interactions of Heterocyclic Drug Fragments with Protein Amide Backbones

Stacking interactions can be important enthalpic contributors to drug binding. Among the less well‐studied stacking interactions are those occurring between an arene and the π‐face of an amide group. Given the ubiquity of heterocycles in drugs, combined with the abundance of amides in the protein backbone, optimizing these noncovalent interactions can provide a potential route to enhanced drug binding. Previously, Diederich et al. (ChemMedChem 2013, 8, 397–404) studied stacked dimers of a model amide with a set of 18 heterocycles, showing that computed interaction energies correlate with the dipole moments of the heterocycles and providing guidelines for the optimization of these interactions. We considered stacked dimers of the same model amide with a larger set of 28 heterocycles common in pharmaceuticals, by using more robust ab initio methods. While the overall trends in these new data corroborate many of the results of Diederich et al., these data provide a more refined view of the nature of amide stacking interactions. We present a robust scoring function for amide stacking interaction energies based on the molecular dipole moment and strength of the electric field above the arene.
Community knowledge attitudes and practices on pulmonary tuberculosis and their choice of treatment supervisor in Tigray northern Ethiopia.

Background : We planned to raise public awareness and decentralize directly observed tuberculosis treatment at village level using volunteer community members in order to reduce prolonged delays in seeking care and improve compliance to tuberculosis treatment. We do not know the magnitude of tuberculosis knowledge gap and preferred modality of tuberculosis treatment supervision among the public in Tigray. Objectives : To assess knowledge of pulmonary tuberculosis and to determine level of acceptance regarding villagebased tuberculosis treatment using volunteers among the general public. Method : A cross sectional survey was conducted among 838 adults (915 years) in 8 districts of Tigray region. Respondents selected from 70 villages using a multistage cluster sampling technique were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire in July 2002. Result : The mean and median knowledge score of respondents about pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was 5.24 and 6.67 (maximum score of 10) respectively. Female respondents (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=1.86; 95% Confidence interval (CI)=1.39-2.47), illiterates (AOR=1.64; 95% CI=1.1-2.47) and rural residents (AOR=1.95; 95% CI=1.37- 2.76) were more likely to have a low level of knowledge score. Among respondents who had prior knowledge of PTB (n=717), 599 (83.5%) accepted the idea of tuberculosis (TB) treatment by volunteer community members. Illiterates, rural residents, married and respondents with large family size were more likely to support supervised TB-treatment using volunteers. Respondents' preferred treatment supervisors were: volunteer community health workers (60%), public health staff (16.5%) and family members (12.7%). Conclusion : There is a wide knowledge gap among the public regarding PTB. The idea of organizing directly observed TB treatment using volunteers appears to be accepted. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 19 2005: 21-27
BEVACIZUMAB PRETREATMENT IN VITRECTOMY WITH SILICONE OIL FOR SEVERE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab pretreatment in vitrectomy with silicone oil infusion for severe diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Forty-one eyes (39 patients) that underwent primary vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for severe diabetic retinopathy were enrolled in this prospective, comparative case–control clinical study. Cases were alternately divided into the following Group 1, intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) injection 1 week before surgery; or Group 2, no bevacizumab injection. Cases were followed-up for at least 6 months. Postinjection retinal changes, intra- and postoperative findings, and outcomes were compared between groups. Results: Bevacizumab injections induced regression of neovascularization after 1 week. One case developed increased retinal detachment. In Group 1, there were significantly more cases of subretinal bleeding (P < 0.01). The severity of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding was significantly lower in Group 1. The blood reabsorption time was 11.1 ± 6.3 days in Group 1 and 34.8 ± 12.0 days in Group 2 (P < 0.01). One case in Group 1 and 2 cases in Group 2 had ultimate retinal detachment. Multiple regression analyses indicated bevacizumab significantly reduced intra- and postoperative bleeding. Conclusion: Bevacizumab may reduce intra- and postoperative hemorrhage in diabetic vitrectomy with silicone oil infusion. Increased subretinal bleeding are potential complications.
Geochemical Risk Factors for Mental Functioning, Based on the Ontario Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSA) V. Comparisons of the Results, relevant to Aluminum Water Concentrations, obtained from the LSA and from Death Certificates mentioning Dementia

Abstract Previous studies in this series of papers investigated the associations between aluminum (Al) water concentrations and relatively high risks of a measure of mental impairment and also various possible other drinking water characteristics, particularly pH, turbidity, fluoride and silica. The results were based on one measure of mental impairment, which would not be expected to give the same results as the more definitive endpoint (outcome variable) of a record of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) as the underlying cause of death on a death certificate. The present paper therefore investigates the relevant associations, based both on the measure of mental impairment and on death certificates in which AD and presenile dementia are listed as the underlying causes of death. As expected, the associations were not identical, but they were similar. More specifically, Al water concentrations were strongly associated with the recording of AD on death certificates, as were pH, fluoride, and silica concentrations. The implications of these results are discussed, and it is suggested that the evidence is sufficiently strong for methods of water purification to be modified, at least on a trial basis, because of the likelihood that this will reduce the incidence of AD. Résumé Les études publiées antérieurement dans le cadre de cette série d'articles visaient à examiner le rapport entre le risque relativement élevé mesuré par un indicateur de déficience mentale et la concentration d'aluminium dans l'eau potable, ainsi que d'autres propriétés de cette dernière, en particulier le pH, la turbidité et la concentration de fluorures et de silice. Ces études se fondaient sur une mesure de la déficience mentale qui, en principe, ne devrait pas donner les mêmes résultats qu'un fait mieux établi (consideré comme un résultat) qu'est la mention de la maladie d'Alzheimer comme cause sous-jacente du décès sur un certificat de décès. La présente étude vise done à examiner des liens pertinents en se fondant, d'une part, sur la mesure de la déficience mentale et, d'autre part, sur les certificats de décès faisant état de la maladie d'Alzheimer et de la démence présénile comme causes sous-jacentes du décès. Tel que prévu, ces liens different, mais sont cependant similaires. Plus précisément, on note une forte corrélation entre l'enregistrement de la maladie d'Alzheimer sur les certificats de décès et la concentration d'aluminium dans l'eau, ainsi que le pH et la concentration de fluorures et de silice. Les auteurs discutent de la portée des résultats et laissent entendre qu'on dispose de preuves suffisamment concluantes pour justifier, au moins à titre d'essai, la modification des méthodes de purification de l'eau, puisqu'il est probable qu'une telle mesure réduira l'incidence de la maladie d'Alzheimer.
The global burden of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is of concern both to industrialized and developing countries. Preliminary unpublished estimates of the global burden of disease (GBD) attributable to HCV‐related chronic liver disease seem to be substantial. Therefore, the reduction of global mortality and morbidity related to chronic hepatitis C should be a concern to public health authorities, and primary, secondary and tertiary prevention activities should be implemented and monitored in each country, with precise targets set to be reached. In order to decide on national health policies, there is a need to estimate the burden of disease, globally, regionally and nationally. To evaluate the GBD, three components have to be assessed: 1) The global, regional and national burden of morbidity and mortality associated with HCV infection, based on prevalence, incidence, transmission and economics; 2) The natural history of HCV infection, including ‘healthy individuals’; and 3) The areas for which more research is needed. A working group was created to assist the World Health organization (WHO) in estimating the GBD associated with HCV infection.
ANTI-VEGF DRUGS AS THE 2009 FIRST-LINE THERAPY FOR CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION IN PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA

Background: Pathologic myopia is the second cause of choroidal neovascularization, after age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and the first cause in patients younger than 50 years. The current treatment of subfoveal myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) is verteporfin photodynamic therapy, but its long-term effectiveness has been disappointing. Antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs are now widely used not only to treat choroidal neovascularization in AMD but also for choroidal neovascularization in other conditions. This review summarizes the data supplied by published case series studies about anti-VEGF therapy in mCNV. Methods: Analysis of the current literature allowed discussion of the optimal parameters for mCNV treatment by anti-VEGF, including the choice of anti-VEGF drug, its dose, the treatment protocol, and indications for retreatment. Results: To date, the results of intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab for mCNV have been reported in at least 14 studies, but they were all pilot, monocentric, and noncomparative case series. Nevertheless, they provided useful information on >250 patients and showed similar results, with significant improvement of visual acuity and an excellent safety profile. Conclusion: Shifting from one treatment to another is always difficult in the absence of prospective and controlled comparative studies. However, in 2009, intravitreal ranibizumab or bevacizumab may be considered as first-line therapy for sub- and juxtafoveal mCNV for three reasons: the safety of anti-VEGF drugs and intravitreal injection procedures; the disappointing long-term results of other therapies, including verteporfin treatment; and the excellent convergent results of anti-VEGF therapy in all pilot studies.
Heart Rate Turbulence und Dezelerationskapazität des Herzens – zwei neue Verfahren zur Risikobeurteilung nach Myokardinfarkt

High risk post-infarction patients benefit from prophylactic implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Currently, identification of high risk patients is based on the finding of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, sensitivity of risk prediction is poor. Evidence exists that risk stratification based on LVEF can be significantly improved by combination of LVEF with markers of cardiac autonomic dysfunction. The present article describes two novel Holter-based risk predictors Heart-Rate Turbulence (HRT) and Deceleration Capacity (DC) related to autonomic reflex and tone.
The Relationships Between Youths' Identified Substance Use, Mental Health or Other Problems at a Juvenile Assessment Center and Their Referrals to Needed Services

ABSTRACT We report the results of a study of the processing of youths at the Hillsborough County (Tampa), Florida, Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) involving the preliminary screening, assessor staff service recommendations and service utilization outcomes of 143 youths processed at the Tampa JAC. The relationships between the youths' potential problems identified during the preliminary screening process and assessor recommendations for follow-up services are examined. The outcomes of youths referred for further services are described. The policy and service delivery implications of the findings are drawn.
Food intake increases liver stiffness in patients with chronic or resolved hepatitis C virus infection

Background and aims: Transient elastography is increasingly being used in patients with chronic liver disease. It has proven particularly useful to identify patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, while classification of no or little fibrosis appears to be difficult. In general, stiffness values <6 kPa are considered normal, whereas patients with higher levels are candidates for a disease‐specific treatment or further diagnostic evaluation. Parameters influencing liver stiffness may include food intake that increases liver blood flow.
Urinary leukotriene E4, eosinophil protein X, and nasal eosinophil cationic protein are not associated with respiratory symptoms in 1‐year‐old children

Background: Eosinophilic airways inflammation forms the pathophysiologic basis for a proportion of children at risk of developing recurrent wheezing. Early preventive measures and/or anti‐inflammatory treatment may be guided by the identification of such children. We aimed to study the relationship between respiratory symptoms and indirect markers of airway inflammation.
PILOT STUDY OF INTRAVITREAL INJECTION OF DICLOFENAC FOR TREATMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA OF VARIOUS ETIOLOGIES

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of intravitreal diclofenac, a potent nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, on visual acuity and central macular thickness in patients with macular edema of various etiologies. Methods: In this prospective noncomparative case series, 10 eyes of 10 patients with clinically significant diabetic macular edema (n = 5), neovascular age-related macular degeneration (n = 2), pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (n = 1), macular edema secondary to old branch retinal vein occlusion (n = 1), and cystoid macular edema secondary to chronic intermediate uveitis (n = 1) received 500 &mgr;g/0.1 mL of intravitreal diclofenac. The primary outcome measure was change in visual acuity. Results: After 2 weeks, visual acuity improved in 3 (30%) eyes (P = 0.78), did not change in 3 (30%) eyes, and decreased in 3 (30%) eyes. After 4 weeks, improvement of best-corrected visual acuity occurred in 5 (50%) eyes (P = 0.07), but in 3 eyes (30%), best-corrected visual acuity did not change, and in 1 eye (10%), visual acuity decreased. After 8 weeks, visual acuity improved in 7 (70%) eyes (P = 0.019), got worse in 1 eye (10%), and did not change in 2 eyes (20%). Central macular thickness did not decrease significantly at 8 weeks. On the basis of electroretinography, no significant changes in the amplitude of a-wave or b-wave in relation to baseline were noticed in any eye. Conclusion: Up to 8 weeks, intravitreal diclofenac treatment of eyes with macular edema of various etiologies yielded prominent improvement in visual acuity but was not associated with a significant decrease in central macular thickness. No toxic effect of intravitreal diclofenac was observed.
Functional and genetic characterization of hydrocarbon biodegrader and exopolymer-producing clones from a petroleum reservoir metagenomic library

ABSTRACT Microbial degradation of petroleum is a worldwide issue, which causes physico-chemical changes in its compounds, diminishing its commercial value. Biosurfactants are chemically diverse molecules that can be produced by several microorganisms and can enable microbial access to hydrocarbons. In order to investigate both microbial activities, function-driven screening assays for biosurfactant production and hydrocarbon biodegradation were carried out from a metagenomic fosmid library. It was constructed from the total DNA extracted from aerobic and anaerobic enrichments from a Brazilian biodegraded petroleum sample. A sum of 10 clones were selected in order to evaluate their ability to produce exopolymers (EPS) with emulsifying activity, as well as to characterize the gene sequences, harbored by the fosmid clones, through 454 pyrosequencing. Functional analyses confirmed the ability of some clones to produce surfactant compounds. Regarding hydrocarbon as microbial carbon sources, n-alkane (in mixture or not) and naphthalene were preferentially consumed as substrates. Analysis of sequence data set revealed the presence of genes related to xenobiotics biodegradation and carbohydrate metabolism. These data were corroborated by the results of hydrocarbon biodegradation and biosurfactant production detected in the evaluated clones.
ALLERGIE RESPIRATOIRE AU RICIN dans la région de Marseille

Nous avons signale dans des publications anterieures (6, 7) l'existence de cas assez nombreux d'allergie aux tourteaux de ricin a Marseille et dant notre region. Nous voulons dans ce travail faire le bilan des 283 observations que nous avons recueillies en date du 31 Juillet 1958. Pour situer l'importance de cette etiologie dans notre region, indiquons qu'au 31 Decembre 1957 nous avions examine 1719 malades atteints d'asthme ou de coryza spasmodique, 1067 etant classee comme « allergiques », 219 de ceux-ci etaient allergiques au ricin.
Influence of cell-internalization on relaxometric, optical and compositional properties of targeted paramagnetic quantum dot micelles.

Quantum dot micelles (pQDs) with a paramagnetic coating are promising nanoparticles for bimodal molecular imaging. Their bright fluorescence allows for optical detection, while their Gd payload enables visualization with contrast-enhanced MRI. A popular approach in molecular MRI is the targeting of abundantly expressed cell surface receptors. Ligand-receptor binding often results in cell internalization of the targeted contrast agent. The interpretation of molecular imaging with pQDs therefore requires knowledge about the consequences of cellular internalization for their relaxometric, optical and compositional properties. To study these, Cd-containing core-shell-shell QDs coated with a monolayer of lipids, of which 50 mol% was a Gd-containing lipid, were incubated with human umbilical vein-derived endothelial cells (HUVECs) for up to 24 h. α(ν) β(3)-integrin targeted (RGD) and non-targeted (NT) pQDs were compared. pQDs uptake was monitored by fluorescence microscopy, FACS, ICP-MS, relaxometry and MRI. Cell-associated pQDs displayed longitudinal relaxation rates and fluorescent intensities which were linear with the cell-associated Gd and Cd concentrations, implying that the Gd and Cd uptake by HUVECs can be quantified using relaxometric and optical measurements, respectively. However, the Gd-to-Cd molar ratio in pellets of pQD-incubated cells was consistently higher than the Gd-to-Cd molar ratio of the pQDs as prepared. It is proposed that this increase in Gd-to-Cd molar ratio was due to non-specific lipid-transfer between the pQDs and the cellular membranes. These findings show that, in the case of contrast agents that are formed by non-covalent interactions, experimental procedures are needed with which representative components of the probes can be monitored.
DeGowin & DeGowin's Bedside Diagnostic Examination

ABSTRACT The fifth edition of DeGowin and DeGowin's Bedside Diagnostic Examination is an improvement over an already exceptional book with an excellent track record.One thousand plus pages are separated into three sections. The largest of the sections, "Part I: Symptoms and Signs," is 852 pages of well-written, detailed clinical descriptions of basically every symptom or sign that a clinician in any specialty might encounter in evaluating his patients. Part II is a brief introduction to laboratory data, including normal values and reasons for common abnormalities. Part III is an alphabetized list of selected diseases indicating in one sentence the definition of the disease, followed by common symptoms, signs, and laboratory results.The book is illustrated with hand drawings by the late Dr Elmer L. DeGowin (the same endearing illustrations that graced the previous editions of the book). Although they are clearly not the work of a professional artist, each depicts
Safe as Houses? Ageing in Place and Vulnerable Older People in the UK

This article draws upon three different research projects involving the author. These were on home improvement and older people with dementia (funded by the Nuffield Foundation), the harassment of older tenants (funded by Help the Aged) and older homelessness (funded by Help the Aged/HACT). The article uses these three studies of older people in vulnerable housing situations to illustrate the need for an appreciation of the limitations of 'ageing in place' especially given its uncritical promotion by politicians and policy makers from nearly all European, North American and Australasian countries.