Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intensive tuberculosis screening for HIV-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy in Durban, South Africa.

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends cough as the trigger for tuberculosis screening in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, with acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear as the initial diagnostic test. Our objective was to assess the yield and cost of a more intensive tuberculosis screening in HIV-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Durban, South Africa. METHODS We prospectively enrolled adults, regardless of tuberculosis signs/symptoms, who were undergoing ART training from May 2007 to May 2008. After the symptom screen, patients expectorated sputum for AFB smear, tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and mycobacterial culture. Sensitivity and specificity of different symptoms and tests, alone and in combination, were compared with the reference standard of 6-week tuberculosis culture results. Program costs included personnel, materials, and cultures. RESULTS Of 1035 subjects, 487 (59%) were female; median CD4 cell count was 100 cells/microL. A total of 210 subjects (20%) were receiving tuberculosis treatment and were excluded. Of the remaining 825 subjects, 158 (19%) had positive sputum cultures, of whom 14 (9%) had a positive AFB smear and 82 (52%) reported cough. The combination of cough, other symptoms, AFB smear, and chest radiograph had 93% sensitivity (95% confidence interval, 88%-97%) and 15% specificity (95% confidence interval, 13%-18%). The incremental cost of intensive screening including culture was $360 per additional tuberculosis case identified. CONCLUSIONS Nearly 20% of patients starting ART in Durban, South Africa, had undiagnosed, culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Despite WHO recommendations, neither cough nor AFB smear were adequately sensitive for screening. Tuberculosis sputum cultures should be performed before ART initiation, regardless of symptoms, in areas with a high prevalence of HIV and tuberculosis.
A REVIEW OF THE CLINICAL EFFECTS OF PHYTOESTROGENS

Objective To review the sources, metabolism, potencies, and clinical effects of phytoestrogens on humans. Data Sources The MEDLINE data base for the years 1980–1995 and reference lists of published articles were searched for relevant English-language aticles concerning phytoestrogens, soy products, and diets with high-phytoestrogen content. Methods of Study Selection We identified 861 articles as being relevant. Human cell line studies, human epidemiologic studies (case-control or cohort), randomized trials, and review articles were included. Animal studies regardig phytoestrogens were included when no human data were avilable concerning an important clinical area. Tabulation, Integration, and Results Included were studies containing information considered pertinent to clinical practice in the areas of growth and development, menopause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. When findings varied, those presented in this study reflect consensus. All studies concurred that phytoestrongens are biologically active in humans or animals. These compounds inhibit the growth of different cancer cell lines in cell culture and animal models. Human epidemiologic evidence supports the hypothesis that phytoestrogens inhibit cancer formation and growth in humans. Foods containing phytoestrongens reduce cholesterol levels in humans, and cell line, animal, and human data dhow benefit in treating osteoporosis. Conclusion This review suggests that phytoestrogens are among the dietary factors affording protection against cancer and heart disease in vegetarians. With this epidemiologic and cell line evidence, intervention studies are now an appropriate consideration to assess the clinical effects of phytoestrogens because of the potentially important health benefits associated with the consumption of goods containing these compounds.
Exploring family home food environments: Household resources needed to utilise weekly deliveries of free fruits and vegetables

AIM An adapted ethnographic approach was used to explore household factors that influence family fruit and vegetable consumption when access and cost barriers are removed. 'Structural' barriers, such as food affordability and accessibility, are likely to influence fruit and vegetable consumption in disadvantaged households, but households may require additional resources (human and social) to increase consumption. METHODS Five low-income and five high-income households with children (N = 39 individuals) were observed in their home environment for three months. Including both advantaged and disadvantaged families allowed exploration of socioeconomic factors influencing these households. Each household received a free box of fresh fruit and vegetables each week for 10-12 weeks, delivered to their home, and were home-visited twice a week by a researcher (40+ hours per household). An inductive analysis of rich observational and discussion data revealed themes describing factors influencing household fruit and vegetable consumption. RESULTS Household food cultures were dynamic and influenced by available resources. Even when free produce was delivered to homes, these households required human resource (personal drivers influenced by early life exposure and household dynamics) and external social networks to make use of them. When household finances and/or labour were limited, there was greater dependence on external organisations for tangible support. CONCLUSIONS Even when structural barriers were removed, disadvantaged families needed a range of resources across the life course to improve eating behaviours, including sufficient, motivated and skilled labour and harmonious family relationships. Strategies targeting these households must consider structural, social, cultural and intra-familial influences on food choice.
Simultaneous measurement of cortisol in serum and saliva after different forms of cortisol administration.

To prove the clinical usefulness of cortisol measurements in saliva for the exact assessment of a patient's corticoid status under therapeutic hormone substitution, we measured simultaneously total cortisol in serum and non-protein-bound cortisol in saliva after administration of different forms of hydrocortisone (cortisol) in eight cortisol-suppressed, healthy male volunteers. The intravenous and oral administration of 20 mg of cortisol exceeds the binding capacity of the corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), leading to an increase of the ratio between salivary and serum cortisol at the higher cortisol concentrations in blood. After rectal administration of 100 mg of cortisol acetate, the serum cortisol concentration does not exceed the binding capacity of CBG, so the ratio between salivary and serum cortisol remains nearly constant. However, this ratio was higher after rectal administration than after intravenous and oral administration, probably because of weaker binding of the acetate form of cortisol to CBG. Thus, the salivary measurement of the non-protein-bound (i.e., biologically active) cortisol offers a convenient way to monitor the effectiveness of various forms of systemic corticoid substitution.
Current Account Imbalances and Capital Flows

In this article, we attempt to evaluate the causality between the current account and foreign capital flows for the emerging markets over the period of 1980–2012, by applying the heterogeneous panel Granger causality framework. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that applies heterogeneous panel causality tests to explain the linkages between current account and the foreign capital flows. In addition to examining the effect of overall capital flows on the current account, we focus on the effects of different types of capital flows (foreign direct investment and portfolio investment) on the current account. We also investigate how the different types of capital flows affect gross domestic saving and gross domestic investment. We find that the causality relationship between foreign capital flows and current account is highly heterogeneous.
Patients' conceptions of quality care and barrier care.

AIM To describe patients' conceptions of quality care and barrier care. METHODS As this study concerned conceptions of care, a phenomenographic approach was chosen. Fourteen adult orthopaedic patients participated. Data-collection was performed by means of semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data were analysed with two foci, conceptions of quality care and conceptions of barrier care. Different categories of understanding, that is, conceptions, constitute the the essential outcome of phenomenographic analysis. The research was conducted in one county hospital and in one regional hospital situated in different cities in the south of Sweden. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Patients' conceptions of quality care resulted in six categories. When comparing the findings with previous research in this field, the findings of the present study confirmed to a large extent the findings from other studies of quality care. Patients' conceptions of barrier care resulted in five categoris. The conceptions of barrier care must be considered as elements in patients' conceptions of quality care, and this must be called atention to in efforts to measure patient satisfaction and in analyses of good care. It also can influence health care workers' compliance to guidelines in infection control procedures.
Genetic polymorphisms between altruism and selfishness close to the Hamilton threshold rb = c

Genes that in certain conditions make their carriers altruistic are being identified, and altruism and selfishness have shown to be heritable in man. This raises the possibility that genetic polymorphisms for altruism/selfishness exist in man and other animals. Here we characterize some of the conditions in which genetic polymorphisms may occur. We show for dominant or recessive alleles how the positions of stable equilibria depend on the benefit to the recipient, b, and the cost to the altruist, c, for diploid altruists helping half or full sibs, and haplodiploid altruists helping sisters. Stable polymorphisms always occur close to the Hamilton threshold rb = c. The position of the stable equilibrium moves away 0 or 1 with both increases in c, the cost paid by the altruist, and increasing divergence from the Hamilton threshold, and alleles for selfishness can reach frequencies around 50%. We evaluate quantitative estimates of b, c and r from field studies in the light of these predictions, but the values do not fall in the regions where genetic polymorphisms are expected. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see as genes for altruism are discovered whether they are accompanied by alternate alleles for selfishness.
Single mothers, poverty and depression

The present study set out to examine the relationship between marital status, poverty and depression in a sample of inner-city women. Single and married mothers were followed up over a 2-year period during which time rates of psychosocial risk factors, onset of depression and experience of chronic episodes were measured. Risk of onset was double among single mothers. Single mothers were twice as likely as their married counterparts to be in financial hardship, despite being twice as likely to be in full-time employment. Both of these factors were independently associated with onset in single mothers. The link between them and onset was via their association with humiliating or entrapping severe life events. Single parents were at a much raised risk of experiencing these events. Onset was also more likely to follow such an event when women had poor self-esteem and lack of support, both of which were more common among single mothers. These risk factors were more frequently found among those in financial hardship. Financial hardship was also related to risk of having a chronic episode (lasting at least a year), of which single parents were also at greater risk. The majority of chronic episodes among single mothers had their origins in prior marital difficulties or widowhood and rates of chronicity reduced with length of time spent in single parenthood. Results are discussed in terms of an aetiological model of onset in which financial hardship probably influences outcome at a wide variety of points.
Fog collecting biomimetic surfaces: Influence of microstructure and wettability

We analyzed the fog collection efficiency of three different sets of samples: replica (with and without microstructures), copper wire (smooth and microgrooved) and polyolefin mesh (hydrophilic, superhydrophilic and hydrophobic). The collection efficiency of the samples was compared in each set separately to investigate the influence of microstructures and/or the wettability of the surfaces on fog collection. Based on the controlled experimental conditions chosen here large differences in the efficiency were found. We found that microstructured plant replica samples collected 2–3 times higher amounts of water than that of unstructured (smooth) samples. Copper wire samples showed similar results. Moreover, microgrooved wires had a faster dripping of water droplets than that of smooth wires. The superhydrophilic mesh tested here was proved more efficient than any other mesh samples with different wettability. The amount of collected fog by superhydrophilic mesh was about 5 times higher than that of hydrophilic (untreated) mesh and was about 2 times higher than that of hydrophobic mesh.
Novel receptor-like kinase ALE2 controls shoot development by specifying epidermis in Arabidopsis

The epidermis plays crucial roles in the development of various organs and in water retention in both animals and plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the subtilase ABNORMAL LEAF SHAPE 1 (ALE1) and the Arabidopsis homolog of the Crinkly4 (ACR4) receptor-like protein kinase (RLK) have been implicated in the intercellular communication that is required for surface functions of the epidermis. We have identified a novel mutant gene in Arabidopsis, ale2, which is associated with various epidermal defects, including disorganization of epidermis-related tissues, defects in the leaf cuticle and the fusion of organs. ALE2 encodes a previously uncharacterized RLK with a cluster of basic amino acid residues followed by a cysteine-containing sequence in the putative extracellular domain. Our genetic investigations suggest that ALE2 and ACR4 function in the same process, whereas ALE1 has a different mode of action, and that these three genes play partially overlapping roles in positively regulating protoderm-specific gene expression and for the formation of leafy organs. We propose that at least two modes of intercellular communication facilitate the specification of epidermis, thereby promoting shoot organogenesis in Arabidopsis.
Immunochemical and biochemical analysis of the polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine PEV

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa polyvalent vaccine PEV and its 16 constituent monovalent extracts from International Antigenic Typing System serotypes 1 through 13 and 15 through 17 (J. J. Miler, J. F. Spilsbury, R. J. Jones, E. A. Roe, and E. J. L. Lowbury, J. Med. Microbiol. 10:19-27, 1977) were subjected to biochemical analysis and to detailed immunochemical analysis with rabbit anti-PEV immunoglobulins. The results of chemical analysis, of analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed in conjunction with silver staining, and of analysis by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel-crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and Western blotting showed clearly that lipopolysaccharide was a major constituent of each monovalent extract and that it was probably the dominant antigen present in at least 15 of the 16 monovalent extracts. A 16.2-kilodalton protein, which was pronase resistant and nonsedimentable at 105,000 X g and which appeared to be biochemically and antigenically unrelated to pili, was a common although minor antigen for all extracts. Several other proteins, some of outer membrane origin, were also detected in unformalinized extracts, but these were also minor antigenic constituents of the vaccine. Neither pilin nor flagellin appeared to be major protein constituents of tested monovalent extracts, although anti-flagella antibodies could be demonstrated in rabbit anti-PEV by Western blotting. Preliminary analysis by crossed immunoelectrophoresis of serum raised in volunteers to PEV also indicated the presence therein of antibodies to lipopolysaccharide antigens.
Protein Folding Based on Simulated Annealing Algorithm

Protein folding problem is one of the most important problems in bioinformatics, and hydrophobic polar model is a wide abstract model in study of this problem. Simulated annealing is a heuristic global optimization algorithm, which has been successfully applied to many difficult optimization problems. This paper proposes an improved simulated annealing algorithm to search the ground state of HP lattice model for protein folding. Numerical results show that the improved simulated annealing algorithm can find the known lowest ground state faster for the given HP sequences in simple lattice model.
Fast track initiation followed by confirmation based on amplitude information

In traditional radar systems, track initiation is usually performed by applying a high detection threshold at each scan, to guarantee a low false track rate. Decreasing the detection threshold will improve the track initiation performance, but will also result in more false tracks unexpectedly. In order to improve the target track initiation performance and keep a low false track rate at the same time, we study fast track initiation followed by confirmation based on amplitude information (test statistic). Explicitly, the track initiation process would firstly apply a lower detection threshold for a higher probability of target track initiation, and then based on the amplitude information, a track confirmation process is employed to eliminate false tracks. Numerical results indicate that, owing to the lower detection threshold, the track initiation process can achieve a much higher probability of target track initiation and confirmation, while a low false track rate can be achieved after the track confirmation process.
Cellular origin of the Bufo arenarum sperm receptor gp75, a ZP2 family member: its proteolysis after fertilization

Background information. The egg envelope is an extracellular matrix that surrounds oocytes. In frogs and mammals, a prominent feature of envelope modification following fertilization is the N‐terminal proteolysis of the envelope glycoproteins, ZPA [ZP (zona pellucida) A]. It was proposed that ZPA N‐terminal proteolysis leads to a conformational change in egg envelope glycoproteins, resulting in the prevention of polyspermy. Bufo arenarum VE (vitelline envelope) is made up of at least four glycoproteins: gp120 (glycoprotein 120), gp75, gp41 and gp38. The aim of the present study was to identify and characterize the baZPA (B. arenarum ZPA homologue). Also, our aim was to evaluate its integrity and functional significance during fertilization.
Recombinant Activated Factor VII in Patients at High Risk of Bleeding

Abstract Currently, recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) (NovoSeven ® ) is indicated for the treatment of spontaneous and surgical bleeding in congenital haemophilia A and B patients with inhibitors to factors VIII (FVIII) and IX (FIX) >5 Bethesda units (BU) worldwide, and in patients with acquired haemophilia, congenital FVII deficiency and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia in Europe. Until April 2003, almost three-quarters of a milion doses of rFVIIa have been administered proving its efficacy and excellent safety record. According to results from initial clinical trials and a large number of case reports, the rFVIIa may be effective not only in treating haemophilia patients but also in treatment of bleeding in patients on oral anticoagulation or heparin, patients with liver diseases, von Willebrand disease (vWD), thrombocytopenia, various platelet defects, congenital or acquired deficiency of FVII, and in subjects without any pre-existing coagulopathy with diffuse life-threatening bleeding triggered by surgery or trauma. This review will briefly summarize rFVIIa mode of action in haemostasis, the current clinical experience with rFVIIa and focus on the alternative use of rFVIIa in patients at the high risk of bleeding in both spontaneous cases and clinical trials reports. † stasko@jfmed.uniba. sk
Aquaporin‐5 is expressed in adipocytes with implications in adipose differentiation

Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane channels widely distributed in nature. Typically, multiple isoforms are expressed in a single tissue. The adipose tissue is no exception where several AQP members have been identified. The importance of overlapped AQPs expression is unclear, yet interisoforms interactions might be required for key cellular functions. Recently, AQP5 was described as a regulator of other AQP isoforms. Therefore, we hypothesized for a role of AQP5 in adipocyte biology. Gene expression analysis revealed the presence of AQP5 in both 3T3‐L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes, being more abundant in the later. AQP5 depletion impaired adipocyte differentiation, which was confirmed by decreased expression of specific differentiation markers. By overexpressing the human AQP5 in mature adipocytes it was possible to ascertain its role as a water channel in a gain‐of‐function scenario. To our knowledge, this is the first time that AQP5 is reported on adipose tissue. Our data revealed AQP5 as a new player in adipose tissue biology. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(1):54–60, 2015
Biological activity of pig islet‐cell reactive IgG antibodies in xenotransplanted diabetic patients

Abstract: Background: The IgG antibody response in type I diabetic patients, transplanted with fetal pig islet‐like cell‐clusters, was investigated using purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) fractions from sera collected 7 to 9 yr after transplantation. From our earlier studies, we knew that the immunological specificities of xenoreactive IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies are different, and that IgG1 antibodies, in contrast to the IgG2 population, are mainly directed against non‐Galα1,3Gal epitopes. In this study our goal was to establish whether xenoreactive IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies react with pig islet cells and, if so, to identify the target cell type, the biological function as well as the specificity of such antibodies for islet cell antigens. Sera from xenotransplanted patients were compared with those of patients with diabetes, selected for high titres of islet‐cell specific autoantibodies.
Generation of OPLS-like charges from molecular electrostatic potential using restraints

A new method for generating atom-centered charges for use in condensed phase computer simulations is presented, which is based on a Ž . restrained electrostatic potential RESP procedure. Charges are calculated from a least-squares fit to the quantum mechanical electrostatic potential with a restraint applied to reduce their magnitude. The restraint developed here offers advantages over that used in RESP. The magnitude of the restraint is optimized to yield charges as close to the equivalent OPLS values as possible while still reproducing the molecule’s electrostatic potential. A cross-validation analysis is used to show that the restraint is insensitive to the selection of OPLS molecules from which it is derived. Thus, with this method, OPLS-like charges may be produced from the electrostatic potential for atom types not in the OPLS force field. In addition, the restraint is shown to reduce the conformational dependence of the charges.  1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 483 498, 1999