Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) polymorphisms cannot predict myelosuppression in systemic lupus erythematosus patients taking azathioprine.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the presence of polymorphisms associated with reduced or absent activity of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT), an enzyme involved in azathioprine metabolism, can predict side-effects, particularly myelosuppression, in patients taking this drug. METHODS The TPMT genotype was determined in 120 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) together with 15 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and correlated with the effects of clinical exposure to azathioprine. RESULTS TPMT polymorphisms were detected in eight patients. Severe marrow toxicity occurred in the single homozygote identified. Azathioprine was generally well tolerated, but 11 drug-associated neutropenias were detected. In only one of the 11 cases was a TPMT polymorphism identified. CONCLUSION Homozygous TPMT deficiency was associated with severe marrow suppression. In the majority of cases, however, TPMT genotyping prior to azathioprine therapy would not have predicted myelosuppressive events and may augment, but not replace, regular blood monitoring.
Basic Science and Clinical Aspects of Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is one of the common disorders seen in athletes. It is a degenerative rather than an inflammatory, condition. There is a lifetime risk of 52% in former elite male distance runners. This condition is difficult to manage and up to 29% of Achilles tendinopathy patients may require surgery. It often results in chronic pain and discomfort along with failure to regain full function. It can be complicated by partial tears or complete rupture causing long-term burden on healthcare system and making treatment quite difficult.
Exposure to enteroviruses and hepatitis A virus among divers in environmental waters in France, first biological and serological survey of a controlled cohort

SUMMARY An epidemiological study of hepatitis A and enteroviruses was conducted in a military diving training school, by evaluating the viral contamination of water using an ultrafiltration concentration technique, and assessing seroconversion and the presence of virus in stool specimens obtained from 109 divers and 48 controls. Three of 29 water specimens were positive for enterovirus by cell culture and 9 by molecular hybridization. There was little or no risk of virus infection during the training course (49 h exposure) because there was no significant difference between divers and controls for both viral isolation and seroconversion. However, a higher percentage of coxsackievirus B4 and B5 seropositive divers suggests that these were more exposed during previous water training. No hepatitis A virus (HAV) detection and no seroconversion to HAV was observed. The rate of HAV seropositive subjects was 17% in this 24·5-year-old population
Artificial intelligence and imagery

Research in cognitive psychology has suggested that images can be represented in terms of the spatial relationships of their meaningful parts. The author presents a formal scheme for knowledge representation based on a functional theory of arrays. Such a representation makes explicit the important features of an image by capturing both its spatial and hierarchical structure. The author also discusses the cognitive processes involved in mental imagery and how corresponding operations can be defined for the array representation. <<ETX>>
Shigella flexneri effectors OspE1 and OspE2 mediate induced adherence to the colonic epithelium following bile salts exposure

Shigella flexneri is a Gram‐negative pathogen that invades the colonic epithelium. While invasion has been thoroughly investigated, it is unknown how Shigella first attaches to the epithelium. Previous literature suggests that Shigella utilizes adhesins that are induced by environmental signals, including bile salts, encountered in the small intestine prior to invasion. We hypothesized that bile would induce adherence factors to facilitate attachment to colonic epithelial cells. To test our hypothesis, S. flexneri strain 2457T was subcultured in media containing bile salts, and the ability of the bacteria to adhere to the apical surface of polarized T84 epithelial cells was measured. We observed a significant increase in adherence, which was absent in a virulence plasmid‐cured strain and a type‐III secretion system mutant. Microarray expression analysis indicated that the ospE1/ospE2 genes were induced in the presence of bile, and bile‐induced adherence was lost in a ΔospE1/ΔospE2 mutant. Further studies demonstrated that the OspE1/OspE2 proteins were localized to the bacterial outer membrane following exposure to bile salts. The data presented are the first demonstration that the OspE1/OspE2 proteins promote initial adherence to the intestinal epithelium. The adhesins required for Shigella attachment to the colonic epithelium may serve as ideal targets for vaccine development.
Preventing renal failure in patients with severe lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS Advances in immunosuppressive treatment regimens, with increased efficacy, while minimizing the treatment-related toxicities, and better prevention and treatment of complications, have resulted in improved patient and renal survival in subjects with severe proliferative lupus nephritis over the past few decades. This review discusses the issues that are pertinent to the preservation of renal function in these patients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Treatment of severe proliferative lupus nephritis can be divided into an initial phase of induction followed by a prolonged maintenance phase, both of which impact upon the long-term renal and patient survival. The immunosuppressive potency of the treatment required for disease control varies according to the disease activity during the different phases. Despite variations in the choice, duration, and route of administration of antiproliferative agents, data to date suggest that immunosuppressive treatments combining cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil with corticosteroid appear to have similar efficacy in terms of inducing immunologic remission. In this regard, the immunologic efficacy of treatment is prerequisite to the prevention of irreversible loss of nephrons, but long-term renal outcome is also dependent on factors other than treatment efficacy, such as preexisting renal parenchymal damage and blood pressure control. Prompt diagnosis, early effective therapy, and reducing the risk of relapses are the disease specific measures that are essential to long-term renal preservation and the prevention of renal failure in subjects with severe proliferative lupus nephritis.
Epigenetic Control of Retrotransposon Expression in Human Embryonic Stem Cells

ABSTRACT Long interspersed element 1s (LINE-1s or L1s) are a family of non-long-terminal-repeat retrotransposons that predominate in the human genome. Active LINE-1 elements encode proteins required for their mobilization. L1-encoded proteins also act in trans to mobilize short interspersed elements (SINEs), such as Alu elements. L1 and Alu insertions have been implicated in many human diseases, and their retrotransposition provides an ongoing source of human genetic diversity. L1/Alu elements are expected to ensure their transmission to subsequent generations by retrotransposing in germ cells or during early embryonic development. Here, we determined that several subfamilies of Alu elements are expressed in undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and that most expressed Alu elements are active elements. We also exploited expression from the L1 antisense promoter to map expressed elements in hESCs. Remarkably, we found that expressed Alu elements are enriched in the youngest subfamily, Y, and that expressed L1s are mostly located within genes, suggesting an epigenetic control of retrotransposon expression in hESCs. Together, these data suggest that distinct subsets of active L1/Alu elements are expressed in hESCs and that the degree of somatic mosaicism attributable to L1 insertions during early development may be higher than previously anticipated.
A state-based approach to noninterference

We outline an alternative approach to modeling noninterference-style security policies using a state-based model (as opposed to an event-based or i/o-based model). We believe that this approach provides a richer, more intuitive formalism for security modeling than the event-based approach and provides a link to other current research in specification and verification of concurrent and distributed systems. We describe the state-based approach for deterministic and non-deterministic systems with both transitive and intransitive security policies. <<ETX>>
The use of "emotive imagery" in the treatment of children's phobias.

A Reciprocal Inhibition (3) technique for the treatment of children's phobias is presented which consists essentially of an adaptation of Wolpe's method of “systematic desensitization” (4). Instead of inducing muscular relaxation as the anxiety-inhibiting response, certain emotion-arousing situations are presented to the child's imagination. The emotions induced are assumed, like relaxation, to have autonomic effects which are incompatible with anxiety. This technique, which the authors have provisionally labelled “emotive imagery” was applied to nine phobic children whose ages ranged from 7 to 14 years. Seven children recovered in a mean of 3.3 sessions and follow-up enquiries up to 12 months later revealed no relapses or symptom substitution. An outstanding feature of this paediatric technique is the extraordinary rapidity with which remission occurs.
Combined evaluation of myocardial perfusion and coronary morphology in the identification of subclinical CAD

Summary Purpose: To evaluate the mean effective radiation dose of 13N-ammonia PET/CT and ECGpulsing CT angiography (CTA) in the evaluation of myocardial perfusion, myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary morphology for the identification of subclinical CAD. Patients, material, methods: Following rest-stress 13N-ammonia PET/CT perfusion imaging and MBF quantification, ECG-pulsing CTA at a pulse window of 70% of the R-R cycle was performed in ten healthy controls and in sixteen individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. Individual radiation dose exposure for ECG-pulsing CTA was estimated from the dose-length product. Results: PET demonstrated normal perfusion in all study individuals, while hyperemic MBFs during dipyridamole stimulation and the myocardial flow reserve (MFR) in cardiovascular risk individuals were significantly lower than in healthy controls (1.34 ± 0.26 vs. 2.28 ± 0.47 ml/g/min and 1.48 ± 0.39 vs. 3.24 ± 0.81, both p . 0.0001). Further, ECG-pulsing CTA identified mild calcified and non-calcified coronary plaque burden in 7 (43%) individuals of the cardiovascular risk group. Rest-stress 13N-ammonia PET/CT perfusion study yielded a mean effective radiation dose of 3.07 ± 0.06 mSv (2.07 ± 0.06 mSv from the rest-stress 13N-ammonia injections and 1.0 mSv from the 2 CT transmission scans), while ECG-pulsing CTA was associated with 5.57 ± 2.00 mSv. The mean effective radiation dose of the combined 13N-ammonia PET/CT and ECG-pulsing CTA exams in the evaluation of myocardial perfusion and coronary morphology was 8.0 ± 1.5 mSv. Conclusion: 13N-ammonia PET/CT and ECG-pulsing CTA affords cardiac hybrid imaging studies in the evaluation of subclinical CAD with a relatively low mean effective radiation exposure of 8.0 ± 1.5mSv.
Oscillometric measurement of ankle-brachial index in patients with suspected peripheral disease: comparison with Doppler method.

QUESTION UNDER STUDY Purpose was to validate accuracy and reliability of automated oscillometric ankle-brachial (ABI) measurement prospectively against the current gold standard of Doppler-assisted ABI determination. METHODS Oscillometric ABI was measured in 50 consecutive patients with peripheral arterial disease (n = 100 limbs, mean age 65 +/- 6 years, 31 men, 19 diabetics) after both high and low ABI had been determined conventionally by Doppler under standardised conditions. Correlation was assessed by linear regression and Pearson product moment correlation. Degree of inter-modality agreement was quantified by use of Bland and Altman method. RESULTS Oscillometry was performed significantly faster than Doppler-assisted ABI (3.9 +/- 1.3 vs 11.4 +/- 3.8 minutes, P <0.001). Mean readings were 0.62 +/- 0.25, 0.70 +/- 0.22 and 0.63 +/- 0.39 for low, high and oscillometric ABI, respectively. Correlation between oscillometry and Doppler ABI was good overall (r = 0.76 for both low and high ABI) and excellent in oligo-symptomatic, non-diabetic patients (r = 0.81; 0.07 +/- 0.23); it was, however, limited in diabetic patients and in patients with critical limb ischaemia. In general, oscillometric ABI readings were slightly higher (+0.06), but linear regression analysis showed that correlation was sustained over the whole range of measurements. CONCLUSIONS Results of automated oscillometric ABI determination correlated well with Doppler-assisted measurements and could be obtained in shorter time. Agreement was particularly high in oligo-symptomatic non-diabetic patients.
Early use of sodium nitroprusside in respiratory distress syndrome.

baby', making him easy to 'forget' and his mother was terrified that he would die silently without her noticing. She was at a further disadvantage by her own inability to use facial expression as a means of communication with her baby. Soon all those concerned in the baby's care, including the mother herself, were fearful for the baby's safety and help was sought before there was serious neglect or abuse. The family were then admitted to the Park Hospital for an intensive period of treatment where the mother learned to make appropriate signals and respond to her baby. Both mother and child could gaze fixate, even though it could not be coupled with smiling. Starting from this, the mother was helped to recognise the more subtle signs from the baby, such as tiny mouth movements and slight panting sounds in her presence. The baby, too, was encouraged in making chuckling noises in response to his mother's gaze. Marital therapy was also required and it was interesting to note that in the mother's family all the sufferers of myotonic dystrophy had had broken marriages. Several years later, this family remains united but the parents still require help from both health and social services in bringing up their 2 young handicapped children.
Efficient Broadcast on Hypercubes with Wormhole and E-Cube Routings

We consider the problem of broadcasting on an n-dimensional hypercube with wormhole e-cube routing, intermediate reception capability, and one-port communication. We give an algorithm, optimal to within a multiplicative constant, that broadcasts in this model in Θ(n/log2(n+1)) routing steps. We also give routing algorithms that achieve tight time bounds for n-cubes where n ≤ 6.
The Impact of Individual-Level Social Capital in Non-Medical use of Pain Medications Among Individuals 50 Years or Older from Diverse Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds

ABSTRACT Objectives: In 2014, there were 21.5 million Americans (12 years old or older) that had a substance abuse disorder and almost 2 million of them had a substance use disorder involving prescription pain relievers (SAMHSA, 2014). The misuse of non-medical pain medication (NMPM) is a significant public health problem. This study examines the impact of individual-level social capital in non-medical use of pain medications (NMPM) among individuals 50 years or older. Methods: Data from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 11,146) was analyzed using bivariate analysis and logistic regression analysis. Results: Perception of social capital varied by race/ethnicity; White respondents reported the highest rates of non-medical use of pain medications (NMPM) in the past year and lifetime. Social capital was associated with a decrease in the likelihood of NMPM across the various groups in the sample. Discussion: Features of social capital were associated with likelihood of non-medical use of pain medications. Future research should focus on understanding the mechanisms by which these features of social capital impact NMPM among diverse groups.
Theory of electroosmotic flow, retention and separation efficiency in capillary electrochromatography

This article reviews recent progress that has taken place in the past decade (1992–2002) in the areas of understanding of flow of ions, buffers, as well as neutral and charged sample components through open channels and porous media. Though, primarily dealing with open capillaries and packed columns that are often used in capillary electrochromatography (CEC), these fundamental concepts are applicable to the evolving area of separations on a microchip.
Evaluation of noise in the neonatal intensive care unit

Aim: The description of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit sound environment in the context of the effects of noise on proper development of the neonates hospitalized in the NICU was done. Methods: Using the integration sound level meter for 24 hours, LAeq, LASmax, LCMPk in open as well as closed incubators and LAeq, LASmax, LCPk generated by typical for NICU care situations were recorded. The measurements were performed in a room of the NICU at the Neonatal Department of Medical University in Bialystok, Poland. Results: LAeq was significantly lower in the closed incubator than in the open one (53.3 and 68.1 dBA during the day, 52.7 and 58.6 dBA at night respectively). LCMPk measurements did not exceed 100 dBC. LASmax generated by typical for NICU care situations were within the range of 43.0 ± 0.6 to 73.0 ± 1.3 dBA (with all the alarm devices on). Conclusion: The level of equipment and staff noise exceeds permissible levels. Applying sound reducing procedures significantly lowers the NICU sound level, and, consequently, reduces the risk of hearing system damage as well as the risk of homeostasis disorder in the hospitalized neonates.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Some Pyrimidine Glycosides

Reaction of ethyl 4-thioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate derivatives 1a,b and ethyl 4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate 1c with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl bromide in KOH or TEA afforded ethyl 2-aryl-4-(2′,3′,4′,6′-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosylthio or/ oxy)-6-methylpyrimidine-5-carboxylate 6a-c. The glucosides 6a and 6b were obtained by the reaction of 1a and 1b with peracetylated glucose3 under MW irradiation. Mercuration of 1a followed by reaction with acetobromoglucose gave the same product 6a. The reaction of 1a-c with peracetylated ribose 4 under MW irradiation gave ethyl 2-aryl-4-(2′,3′,5′-tri-O-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranosylthio)-6-methylpyrimidine-5-carboxylate 8a–c. The deprotection of 6a–c and 8a–c in the presence of methanol and TEA/H2O afforded the deprotected products 7a–c and 9a–c. The structure were confirmed by using 1H and 13CNMR spectra. Selected members of these compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity.
Reduction of patellofemoral contact forces following anterior displacement of the tibial tubercle

Retropatellar pain often accompanies malalignment syndromes and frequently is attributed to excessive patellofemoral contact stresses. Elevation (anterior displacement) of the tibial tubercle has been recommended to relieve these conditions. The degree to which patellar contact forces are decreased and the extent to which elevation alters medial‐lateral forces have not been studied directly. We performed anterior translation of the tibial tubercle in knees from cadavers and measured the effect on the magnitude of the three‐dimensional patellofemoral contact force with use of a specially designed 6‐degrees‐of‐freedom force transducer, with the natural patellar articular surface in place. Measurements were made in nine knees (average age 67 years, range 46–92 years). The resultant contact force decreased linearly with increasing tubercle elevations of as much as 2.5 cm. The average reduction per centimeter of elevation was 17% of the force measured with no elevation. Elevation of the tubercle had an inconsistent effect on the medial‐lateral component of the contact force. As the elevation was increased, six knees exhibited an increase in the medial‐lateral component of the contact force acting medially on the knee and three knees exhibited a decrease in this force component. The results of this study show that, while elevation of the tubercle without medialization reduced the total contact force on the patella, the medial‐lateral component of this force was altered it an unpredictable way.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND EXCHANGE RATE VOLATILITY IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the empirical evidence on the effect of exchange rate volatility on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nigeria, using secondary time series data from1970 to 2004. In doing this, the study utilized the error correction model as well as OLS method of estimation. The results suggest, among others, that exchange rate volatility need not be a source of worry by foreign investors. Also, the study further reveals a significant positive relationship between real inward FDI and exchange rate. This implies that, depreciation of the Naira increases real inward FDI. Also, the results indicate that the structural adjustment programme (introduced in Nigeria in 1986) had a negative impact on real inward FDI, which could be due to the deregulation that was accompanied by exchange rate volatility. As such, a major challenge before the Central Bank of Nigeria therefore, is to attain a stable and realistic exchange rate that will boost domestic production, increase real inward FDI and maintain internal and external balance.
Reduced rank detection algorithms for distributed array sensors

Distributed sensing systems provide an inherent spatial diversity by viewing a potential target from different aspect angles. Even though the centralized fully adapted processing scheme provides optimum performance, it is impractical for reasons of computational complexity and the sample support required for weight training. This paper presents two decentralized reduced rank STAP algorithms to overcome the drawbacks of centralized fully adapted processing.
AS A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY OF INDIGENOUS CHICKENS IN MALAWI . THE CURRENT STATUS IN MATAPWATA AND THUMBWE EXTENSION PLANNING AREAS

A survey was conducted to evaluate the current status of the Crossbreeding Programme of Indigenous Chickens using the Black Australorp (BA) in two Extension Planning Areas in Malawi. The study showed that poultry (76% of respondents) is the most prevalent types of livestock kept by farmers. The major species of poultry kept were chickens (85% of the respondents) and ducks (8% of the respondents). Only 11% of the chickens kept were of the Black Australorp (BA) breed while the rest were of the local indigenous type. The main objectives of keeping BA chickens were for increased egg and meat production (58% of respondents) and for crossbreeding with the local chicken (16% of respondents). Management of chickens is generally poor, characterised by poor housing and high mortality rates due to New Castle Disease and predation. The major constraints faced by farmers are low supply of improved birds (38%) and lack of capital (32%). Sixty six percent of the respondents indicated that they have never bought or kept a BA chicken before. Farmers felt there was very little impact of crossbreeding as a strategy for improving productivity of indigenous chickens in Malawi. Recommendations to improve the SPIP are included.