Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utility of lactate dehydrogenase vs radiographic severity in the differential diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES In patients with HIV infection, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level is commonly stated to be more elevated in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) than in non-PCP. We hypothesized that LDH level reflects radiographic extent and severity of pneumonia rather than P carinii infection specifically and therefore is not useful in the differential diagnosis of lung infections in AIDS. DESIGN We compared radiographic features and LDH values in 93 sequential patients with HIV infection and a new hospital admission for pneumonia (53 PCP and 40 non-PCP) after excluding all patients with other potential causes for elevated LDH levels. The chest radiograph was graded using a quantitative scale (0 to 24) to assess radiographic extent and severity of pneumonia by two independent observers in blinded fashion. The relationship between radiographic score and hospital admission LDH level was analyzed by linear regression and Bayesian analysis was applied to different LDH ranges to calculate the clinical value of LDH measurements. SETTING Tertiary care teaching hospital and regional AIDS referral center. RESULTS Mean LDH level was higher in the PCP group (1.217 +/- 88 U/L compared with 776 +/- 55 U/L; p < 0.001), as was mean radiographic score (12.4 +/- 0.6 for PCP compared with 6.3 +/- 0.5 for non-PCP; p < 0.001). For the whole sample of 93, LDH level was significantly related to chest radiographic score (r = 0.43, p < 0.0001). Significant overlap occurred between the two groups at all levels of LDH such that no cutoff level could be established that impacted significantly on posttest probability of PCP, whereas a radiographic score of > 12 yielded a 96% posttest probability of PCP. CONCLUSIONS Serum LDH level reflects the degree of radiographic abnormality and is elevated in both PCP and non-PCP pneumonia to an extent that limits its utility in differentiating the two processes in hospitalized patients. The extent of radiographic involvement more clearly distinguishes the two conditions.
A Weighted Version of the Melbourne Low-Vision ADL Index: A Measure of Disability Impact

Objective. To develop a version of the Melbourne Low-Vision ADL Index that measures the personal impact of disability in activities of daily living (ADL’s). Also, to determine the relationship between clinical measures of vision impairment and disability impact. Methods. The Melbourne Low-Vision ADL Index (MLVAI) is a desk-based clinical assessment of disability in ADL’s. Ability to perform each item is rated on a five-level descriptive scale from zero to four. In this study, the original version of the MLVAI was modified to measure disability impact. The simple modification involved weighting each item by the importance of that item to the person being tested. Importance was also rated on a five-level scale from zero to four. The validity and reliability of the Weighted Melbourne Low-Vision ADL Index (MLVAIW) was determined for 97 vision-impaired subjects in a cross-sectional study. Results. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient indicated an internal reliability of 0.94, and an intraclass correlation coefficient indicated an overall reliability of 0.88. The standard error of measurement was 24.7 points (out of a possible score of 400). There was a statistically significant difference in test scores between normal subjects and vision-impaired subjects. All vision measures had a high, statistically significant correlation with MLVAIW score. Near-word acuity had the strongest correlation (rs = 0.78, p < 0.001), followed by Melbourne Edge Test contrast sensitivity (rs = −0.72, p < 0.001). Visual field had the weakest correlation (rs = −0.52, p < 0.001). The best predictive model of MLVAIW score incorporated the variables age, near-word acuity, and visual field. Together, these variables accounted for 65.1% of the variance in MLVAIW score. Conclusions. The MLVAI is highly valid and reliable when weighted by a scale that reflects the personal importance of ADL’s. The MLVAIW can provide information over and above that obtained with the usual clinical vision measures and may be used to assess low-vision patients and to measure low-vision rehabilitation outcomes. It is suggested that the assessment of disability using the original MLVAI and the assessment of the impact of disability using the MLVAIW should be kept separate to facilitate the clear interpretation of the outcomes of low-vision rehabilitation.
Collagen-based packaging films for nonfood applications and their comparison with commercial polyolefin (polypropylene block copolymer) films

The potential use of collagen as packaging film was investigated. Various chemical properties (permeability, resistance to chemicals, and weathering) and physical properties (resistance to puncture impacts, tearing, and temperature) of cast films were compared with those of a polyolefin (polypropylene block copolymer) car body paint protection film. The collagen films showed excellent resistance to nonpolar substances (oil and fuel mix) and they had tensile strengths (27 N/mm2) similar to those of polyolefin films (38 N/mm2). The collagen films tested, however, were brittle (elongation at break = 34%) and exhibited a high solubility in polar substances like deionized water (total soluble matter = 20 wt% at 20°C, 40 wt% at 60°C after 1 h). Due to the low water resistance their usage as packaging films is anticipated to be restricted to indoor applications or to applications which require water solubility.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Risk for Ovarian and Endometrial Cancers in the Iowa Women's Health Study

Background: Several epidemiologic studies have shown inverse associations between use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and incident ovarian cancer, but the results are inconsistent. There have been only a few studies examining possible links between NSAIDs and endometrial cancer risk. We investigated associations between use of NSAIDs and incident ovarian and endometrial cancers in a prospective cohort of about 20,000 women with ages from 58 to 76 years in 1992. Participants were asked how often they used aspirin and nonaspirin NSAIDs. Over 15 years, 311 endometrial and 167 ovarian incident malignancies were identified. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional regression. Results: Compared with women who reported no use of aspirin, the relative risks for ovarian cancer for those who used aspirin <2, 2 to 5 times, and ≥6 times per week were 0.83, 0.77, and 0.61, respectively (P trend = 0.04). We did not observe any association between nonaspirin NSAIDs use and ovarian cancer risk. Neither did we find associations between aspirin or nonaspirin NSAIDs use and risk for endometrial cancer. Conclusions: Our results suggest a possible inverse association between frequency of aspirin use and risk for ovarian cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(2); 435–42
A Multi-Subject, Dynamic Bayesian Networks (DBNS) Framework for Brain Effective Connectivity

As dynamic connectivity is shown essential for normal brain function and is disrupted in disease, it is critical to develop models for inferring brain effective connectivity from non-invasive (e.g., fMRI) data. Increasingly, (dynamic) Bayesian network (BNs) have been suggested for this purpose due to their flexibility and suitability. However, ultimately extrapolating BN results from one subject to an entire population first requires methods meaningfully addressing inter-subject, within-group variability. Here we explore two group analysis approaches in fMRI using DBNs: one is to construct a group network based on a common structure assumption across individuals, and the other is to identify significant structure features by examining DBNs individually-trained. By investigating real fMRI data from Parkinsons disease (PD) and normal subjects performing a motor task at three progressive levels of difficulty, we noted that both methods detected statistically significant, biologically plausible connectivity between task-related region-of-interest (ROIs) that differed between the PD and normal subjects. However, the second approach was more sensitive, finding more features that were also consistent with prior neuroscience knowledge. Determining highly reproducible DBN nodes/edges across subjects seems promising for inferring altered functional connectivity within a group.
Chloroquine Administration Does Not Prevent Nipah Virus Infection and Disease in Ferrets

ABSTRACT Hendra virus and Nipah virus, two zoonotic paramyxoviruses in the genus Henipavirus, have recently emerged and continue to cause sporadic disease outbreaks in humans and animals. Mortality rates of up to 75% have been reported in humans, but there are presently no clinically licensed therapeutics for treating henipavirus-induced disease. A recent report indicated that chloroquine, used in malaria therapy for over 70 years, prevented infection with Nipah virus in vitro. Chloroquine was assessed using a ferret model of lethal Nipah virus infection and found to be ineffective against Nipah virus infection in vivo.
Image-based food volume estimation

In this paper, we propose an extension to our previous work on food portion size estimation using a single image and a multi-view volume estimation method. The single-view technique estimates food volume by using prior information (segmentation and food labels) generated from food identification methods we described earlier. For multi-view volume estimation, we use ``Shape from Silhouettes'' to estimate the food portion size. The experimental results of our volume estimation methods demonstrate our results with respect to accuracy and reliability.
Prevalence and pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus in Luoyang, China.

BACKGROUND Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in Luoyang, China, has not been reported, and its pathogenesis is controversial. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the prevalence of BE and its underlying factors in the city of Luoyang. METHOD This was a prospective study in one center. Many patients were analyzed using endoscopy who showed upper gastrointestinal symptoms between August 2006 and June 2007. In addition, the effect of apoptosis-related proteins and heat shock proteins upon BE's pathogenesis were also investigated by an immunohistochemical protocol. RESULTS Prevalence of BE was at 4.55% and the mean age of those affected was about 10 years older than for esophagitis. Typical reflux symptoms were significantly lower than with esophagitis, whereas signs of caspase-3 and HSP105 elevation were significantly higher. Expression of TERT, HSP70 and HSP90α in BE cases was significantly lower than in esophagitis. However, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in expression of HSP27. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of BE is high in Luoyang, which could result from esophagitis despite typical reflux symptoms being relatively uncommon. Initiation and development of BE might be the result of accelerated proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of original cells to intestinal epithelium.
Multiple Types of Control by Identified Interneurons in a Sensory-Activated Rhythmic Motor Pattern

Modulatory interneurons that can drive central pattern generators (CPGs) are considered as good candidates for decision-making roles in rhythmic behaviors. Although the mechanisms by which such neurons activate their target CPGs are known in detail in many systems, their role in the sensory activation of CPG-driven behaviors is poorly understood. In the feeding system of the molluscLymnaea, one of the best-studied rhythmical networks, intracellular stimulation of either of two types of neuron, the cerebral ventral 1a (CV1a) and the slow oscillator (SO) cells, leads to robust CPG-driven fictive feeding patterns, suggesting that they might make an important contribution to natural food-activated behavior. In this paper we investigated this contribution using a lip–CNS preparation in which feeding was elicited with a natural chemostimulant rather than intracellular stimulation. We found that despite their CPG-driving capabilities, neither CV1a nor SO were involved in the initial activation of sucrose-evoked fictive feeding, whereas a CPG interneuron, N1M, was active first in almost all preparations. Instead, the two interneurons play important and distinct roles in determining the characteristics of the rhythmic motor output; CV1a by modulating motoneuron burst duration and SO by setting the frequency of the ongoing rhythm. This is an example of a distributed system in which (1) interneurons that drive similar motor patterns when activated artificially contribute differently to the shaping of the motor output when it is evoked by the relevant sensory input, and (2) a CPG rather than a modulatory interneuron type plays the most critical role in initiation of sensory-evoked rhythmic activity.
Evaluation of Hepcidin Isoforms in Hemodialysis Patients by a Proteomic Approach Based on SELDI-TOF MS

The hepatic iron regulator hormone hepcidin consists, in its mature form, of 25 amino acids, but two other isoforms, hepcidin-20 and hepcidin-22, have been reported, whose biological meaning remains poorly understood. We evaluated hepcidin isoforms in sera from 57 control and 54 chronic haemodialysis patients using a quantitative proteomic approach based on SELDI-TOF-MS. Patients had elevated serum levels of both hepcidin-25 and hepcidin-20 as compared to controls (geometric means: 7.52 versus 4.69 nM, and 4.06 versus 1.76 nM, resp., P < .05 for both). The clearance effects of a single dialysis session by different dialysis techniques and membranes were also investigated, showing an average reduction by 51.3% ± 29.2% for hepcidin-25 and 34.2% ± 28.4% for hepcidin-20 but only minor differences among the different dialysis modalities. Measurement of hepcidin isoforms through MS-based techniques can be a useful tool for better understanding of their biological role in hemodialysis patients and other clinical conditions.
Low Prevalence of Mutations in Known Loci for Autosomal Dominant Hypercholesterolemia in a Multiethnic Patient Cohort

Background—Autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia (ADH), characterized by elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, is caused by variants in at least 3 different genes: LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B-100, and proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9. There is paucity of data about the molecular basis of ADH among ethnic groups other than those of European or Japanese descent. Here, we examined the molecular basis of ADH in a multiethnic patient cohort from lipid clinics in a large, urban US city. Methods and Results—A total of 38 men and 53 women, aged 22 to 76 years, met modified Simon-Broome criteria for ADH and were screened for mutations in the exons and consensus splice sites of LDLR, and in selected exons of apolipoprotein B-100 and proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9. Deletions and duplications of LDLR exons were detected with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Heterozygous variants in LDLR were identified in 30 patients and in apolipoprotein B-100 in 1 patient. The remaining 60 patients (65%) had unexplained ADH. A higher proportion of blacks (77%) than either non-Hispanic whites (57%) or Hispanics (53%) had unexplained ADH. Compared with patients with LDLR variants, those with unexplained ADH had lower levels of LDL-cholesterol (292±47 mg/dL versus 239±42 mg/dL, respectively; P<0.0001) and higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (45±12 mg/dL versus 54±13 mg/dL, respectively; P=0.003). Conclusions—Our findings suggest that additional loci may contribute to ADH, especially in understudied populations such as blacks.
Gradient flows on nonpositively curved metric spaces and harmonic maps

The notion of gradient flows is generalized to a metric space setting without any linear structure. The metric spaces considered are a generalization of Hilbert spaces, and the properties of such metric spaces are used to set up a finite-difference scheme of variational form. The proof of the Crandall–Liggett generation theorem is adapted to show convergence. The resulting flow generates a strongly continuous semigroup of Lipschitz-continuous mappings, is Lipschitz continuous in time for positive time, and decreases the energy functional along a path of steepest descent. In case the underlying metric space is a Hilbert space, the solutions resulting from this new theory coincide with those obtained by classical methods. As an application, the harmonic map flow problem for maps from a manifold into a nonpositively curved metric space is considered, and the existence of a solution to the initial boundary value problem is established.
Metoprolol Versus Thiazide Diuretics in Hypertension Morbidity Results From the MAPHY Study

The present study in hypertensive men (40-64 years old) with untreated diastolic blood pressure above 100 mm Hg was aimed at investigating whether metoprolol (n = 1,609) given as initial treatment would lower the risk for coronary events (sudden death and myocardial infarction) more effectively than thiazide diuretics (n=1,625). A substantial part of this study was the metoprolol arm of the Heart Attack Primary Prevention in Hypertension (HAPPHY) study. The HAPPHY study was a pooling of the effect of different /J-blockers, mainly metoprolol and atenolol, in which no favorable effect in relative risk was observed for atenolol as compared with diuretics. In the present study, 255 patients suffered definite coronary events during follow-up; 25% of these events were fatal, 39% were acute myocardial infarctions, and 36% were silent myocardial infarctions. The risk for coronary events was significantly lower in patients on metoprolol than in patients on diuretics (111 versus 144 cases, p=0.001, corresponding to 143 versus 18.8 cases/1,000 patient years and a relative risk of 0.76 at the end of the trial; 95% confidence interval 0.58-0.98). This difference in risk has potentially important implications for clinical practice because of the large number of hypertensive patients who are at increased risk for coronary events. Because a placebo group, for ethical reasons, could not be included, relative risk can only be expressed in relation to diuretics. There was no difference between the two treatment groups in baseline characteristics, blood pressure during follow-up, or stroke rates. Thus, the difference in risk for coronary events is probably mediated via mechanisms other than blood pressure control. However, present data might suggest that different /3-blockers may have different efficacy in preventing coronary events. The reasons for this possibility are as yet unknown. (Hypertension 1991:17:)
Thrombosis and Behçet's syndrome in non-endemic regions.

Is there a way around? Behç et's syndrome (BS) is a rare, heterogeneous multi-system inflammatory condition, characterized by recurrent orogenital ulcers and uveitis. Vascular involvement affects 10–30% of patients, is most frequently observed in young males and usually presents as superficial or deep venous thrombosis (DVT) [1]. The spectrum of thrombosis also includes vena cava occlusion (inferior or superior), Budd–Chiari syndrome and dural sinus thrombi. Arterial aneurysms may occur and confer a serious bleeding risk, particularly when occurring in pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary artery aneurysms may also occur with DVT in isolation (Hughes–Stovin syndrome), although this is probably a forme fruste of BS [2]. In any event, the perceived increased risk of bleeding from aneurysms in association with venous thrombosis leads to a significant management conundrum. A number of studies have looked systematically for an intrinsic disorder of coagulation in BS, but no clinically useful correlates with thrombosis have been identified [3]. As the likely cause of thrombosis is venous inflammation , an immunosuppressive approach to management is therefore reasonable, although the evidence indicating specific treatments is very limited. Perhaps the best support comes from the well-cited 2-year randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial of AZA in BS, in which analysis of the extra-ocular outcomes showed that the number of patients who developed DVT was fewer in the AZA arm [4]. What then of anticoagulation? The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has recently published recommendations for the management of thrombosis in BS in which the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppres-sants (such as AZA, CSA or cyclophosphamide) is fully endorsed [5]. These guidelines discourage the use of anticoagulants and anti-platelet agents, both on account of the increased risk of bleeding and because protection from pulmonary embolism is seen as a low priority. Thus, pulmonary embolism in BS is thought by many to be unusual , perhaps because clots become tethered to the inflamed vessel wall. Some support for the EULAR guidelines on thrombosis in BS comes from a recent small study which compared the use of immune suppression and anticoagulation [6]. Thirty-seven patients with BS and venous thrombosis were retrospectively divided into three groups: immuno-suppression alone (16 patients), combination immunosuppression and anticoagulation (17 patients) and anticoagulation alone (4 patients). Re-thrombosis was the study efficacy end-point. Three of four patients who were treated using warfarin without immunosuppres-sion showed recurrence or progression of venous thrombosis , suggesting that anticoagulation therapy alone is not effective in treating …
Resting heart rate, mortality and future coronary heart disease in the elderly: the 3C study

Objectives: To investigate the association between resting heart rate (RHR) and mortality and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) in the elderly. Methods: Data derived from the Three-City Study, a French multicentre prospective study including 9294 community-dwelling elderly subjects aged ≥65 years at baseline examination between 1999 and 2001. The study population comprised 7147 participants (61% women) who were free of a pacemaker or any cardiac arrhythmias at baseline. RHR was measured twice at baseline in a seated position using an electronic tensiometer. Participants were then followed up bi-annually for vascular morbidity and mortality over 6 years. CHD events and cardiovascular death were adjudicated by an independent expert committee. Results: After 6 years of follow-up, 615 subjects died including 17.9% from cardiovascular causes. Subjects from the top quintile of RHR (>79 bpm) had respectively a 74% (95% CI, 1.3–2.3), a 87% (95% CI: 0.98–3.6, p = 0.06) and a 72% (95% CI, 1.3–2.3) increased risk of total, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality compared to those from the lowest quintile (<62 bpm), after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and beta-blocker (BB) use in a Cox regression analysis. Associations with total mortality were consistent according to age, gender, BB use, diabetes and hypertension status (all p values for interaction >0.10). Conversely, RHR was not predictive of incident CHD (n = 228 events; top vs lowest quintile: HR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6–1.5). Conclusions: RHR is an independent risk marker of mortality but not of incident CHD events in community-dwelling elderly. Its routine measurement may help identify those who are at increased risk of mortality in the short term.