Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Mysterious Role of Arginine Vasopressin Levels in Ménière's Disease-Meta-analysis of Clinical Studies.

OBJECTIVE There are contradicting claims that patients with Ménière's disease (MD) have elevated levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP). The results of published studies regarding the difference of AVP level between MD patients and non-MD control subjects are inconsistent. We propose that the discrepancy of AVP levels during different MD phases may be a potential reason. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to analyze the precise estimate of this hypothesis. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane databases from the earliest publication, up until September 2016; references from meta-analyses and related review articles. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION Clinical studies that reported AVP level in MD patients and non-MD controls were independently reviewed according to the inclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess quality of studies. DATA SYNTHESIS Random effects model was used to calculate the weighted mean difference. CONCLUSION Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. AVP levels of MD patients in acute phase (WMD = 2.29, 95% CI = 0.84-3.74, Z = 3.10, p = 0.002) were significantly higher than non-MD subjects. For MD patients in remission phase the difference of AVP levels between the MD patients and the non-MD controls was found (WMD = 0.54, 95% CI = -0.06 to 1.02, Z = 2.20, p = 0.03). However, AVP level was not an ideal biomarker of MD patients. Regardless of MD phase, there were no significant differences in the AVP level of MD patients (WMD = 0.27, 95% CI = -0.10 to 0.64, Z = 1.43, p = 0.15). Future investigations with larger sample sizes are needed to verify the results.
Cytokine-induced killer cells/dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cells immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy for treatment of colorectal cancer in China: a meta-analysis of 29 trials involving 2,610 patients

Purpose To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cytokine-induced killer cells/dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cells (CIK/DC-CIK) immunotherapy in treating advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Results 29 trials including 2,610 CRC patients were evolved. Compared with chemotherapy alone, the combination of chemotherapy with CIK/DC-CIK immunotherapy significantly prolonged the overall survival rate (OS) and disease-free survival rate (DFS) (1–5 year OS, P < 0.01; 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year DFS, P < 0.01). The combined therapy also improved patients’ overall response, disease control rate and life quality (P < 0.05). After immunotherapy, lymphocyte subsets percentages of CD3+, CD3−CD56+, CD3+CD56+ and CD16+CD56+ (P < 0.01) and cytokines levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ (P < 0.05) were increased, while CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+CD25+ and IL-6 and TNF-α did not show significant change (P > 0.05). Materials and Methods Clinical trials reporting response or safety of CIK/DC-CIK immunotherapy treating advanced CRC patients and published before September 2016 were searched in Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, Wanfang and CNKI database. Research quality and heterogeneity were evaluated before analysis. Pooled analyses were performed using random or fixed-effect models. Conclusions The combination of CIK/DC-CIK immunotherapy and chemotherapy prolong CRC patients’ survival time, enhanced patients’ immune function and alleviates the adverse effects caused by chemotherapy.
“You Sort of Go Down a Rabbit Hole...You’re Just Going to Keep on Searching”: A Qualitative Study of Searching Online for Pregnancy-Related Information During Pregnancy

Background The Web is becoming increasingly popular for gaining information on medical or health issues; with women in particular likely to search online for this type of information and support. Despite the increased use of the Web for health-related information, we need to question whether the Web and the ease of seeking health information that it provides leads to more (patient) empowerment. As well as being a time of joy and expectations, pregnancy can be a worrying time for women, especially first time mums-to-be, with unfamiliar experiences and symptoms and concerns for the baby as well as the self. Objective Our aim was to explore how and why pregnant women use the Web to gain information and support during pregnancy and what they consider a reliable source. Methods To meet the objectives of the study, a qualitative approach was required to gather information on the experiences of currently pregnant women who use the Web to gain information and support during their pregnancy. Sixteen pregnant women took part in a semistructured interview, either face-to-face or via telephone. The interviews took place from January to March 2016, all participants were from England, and the health professionals are all employed by the National Health Service (NHS). Qualitative analytical procedures were employed using inductive thematic analysis supported by NVivo software (QSR International). Results Pregnant women found reassurance from the experiences of others. This reassurance resulted in them feeling less alone, as well as enabling them to normalize any symptoms or experiences they were undergoing. The women understood that caution was needed at times while reading the stories of others, acknowledging the potential for extreme cases or worst case scenarios. This is particularly pertinent to the Web, as this wide range of stories may not be as easily accessible if stories where confined to those in a woman’s offline social circle. The interviews provide insights into how and why pregnant women search online for information and perhaps more so, support while pregnant. Conclusions Searching for health information and advice online during pregnancy is viewed as quick, easy, and accessible. The affordances of the Web have provided women the opportunity to go online as a first port of call. Knowing they were not alone and reading the experiences or symptoms of other pregnant women enabled women to normalize their experience and was ultimately reassuring for pregnant women.
The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology The degree of disparateness of event details modulates future simulation construction, plausibility, and recall

Several episodic simulation studies have suggested that the plausibility of future events may be in ﬂ uenced by the disparateness of the details comprising the event. However, no study had directly investigated this idea. In the current study, we designed a novel episodic combination paradigm that varied the disparateness of details through a social sphere manipulation. Participants recalled memory details from three different social spheres. Details were recombined either within spheres or across spheres to create detail sets for which participants imagined future events in a second session. Across-sphere events were rated as signi ﬁ cantly less plausible than within-sphere events and were remembered less often. The presented paradigm, which increases control over the disparateness of details in future event simulations, may be useful for future studies concerned with the similarity of the simulations to previous events and its plausibility.
A Survey on Routing Protocols for Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks

With the advances in micro-electronics, wireless sensor devices have been made much smaller and more integrated, and large-scale wireless sensor networks (WSNs) based the cooperation among the significant amount of nodes have become a hot topic. “Large-scale” means mainly large area or high density of a network. Accordingly the routing protocols must scale well to the network scope extension and node density increases. A sensor node is normally energy-limited and cannot be recharged, and thus its energy consumption has a quite significant effect on the scalability of the protocol. To the best of our knowledge, currently the mainstream methods to solve the energy problem in large-scale WSNs are the hierarchical routing protocols. In a hierarchical routing protocol, all the nodes are divided into several groups with different assignment levels. The nodes within the high level are responsible for data aggregation and management work, and the low level nodes for sensing their surroundings and collecting information. The hierarchical routing protocols are proved to be more energy-efficient than flat ones in which all the nodes play the same role, especially in terms of the data aggregation and the flooding of the control packets. With focus on the hierarchical structure, in this paper we provide an insight into routing protocols designed specifically for large-scale WSNs. According to the different objectives, the protocols are generally classified based on different criteria such as control overhead reduction, energy consumption mitigation and energy balance. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of each protocol, we highlight their innovative ideas, describe the underlying principles in detail and analyze their advantages and disadvantages. Moreover a comparison of each routing protocol is conducted to demonstrate the differences between the protocols in terms of message complexity, memory requirements, localization, data aggregation, clustering manner and other metrics. Finally some open issues in routing protocol design in large-scale wireless sensor networks and conclusions are proposed.
Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems ( PACIS ) July 2009 ROLE OF COGNITIVE ABSORPTION AND TRUST FOR COLLABORATION IN VIRTUAL WORLD

Virtual worlds (VWs) have paved a new and important channel for user collaboration and information sharing. Businesses are now considering using VWs as innovative means for collaboration and information sharing among its organizational members. Despite the huge potential of VWs for harnessing and increasing the flow of ideas among organizations, research on the subject is rather sparse. Drawing on the social cognitive theory, we re-specify the concept of cognitive absorption (CA) in the context of VWs by theorizing environmental factors in addition to the individual factors as antecedents of CA. Further, by integrating CA with ‘trust’ we develop a VW usage model. We test the specified model with data collected from 197 VW users in Singapore. Results display the important roles that both CA and ‘trust’ play in the usage of VW. Further, through a posthoc analysis we demonstrate the imperative need for considering both CA and ‘trust’, together in the proposed VW usage model. The study also delineates a set of implications for research and practice.
Face Attribute Prediction with classification CNN

Predicting facial attributes from faces in the wild is very challenging due to pose and lighting variations in the real world. The key to this problem is to build proper feature representations to cope with these unfavorable conditions. Given the success of convolutional neural network (CNN) in image classification, the high-level CNN feature as an intuitive and reasonable choice has been widely utilized for this problem. In this paper, however, we consider the mid-level CNN features as an alternative to the high-level ones for attribute prediction. This is based on the observation that face attributes are different: some of them are locally oriented while others are globally defined. Our investigations reveal that the mid-level deep representations outperform the prediction accuracy achieved by the high-level abstractions. We demonstrate that the mid-level representations achieve state-of-the-art prediction performance on CelebA and LFWA datasets. Our investigations also show that by utilizing the mid-level representations one can employ a single deep network to achieve both face recognition and attribute prediction.
Acute physical exercise and long‐term individual shear rate therapy increase telomerase activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Physical activity is a potent way to impede vascular ageing. However, patients who suffer from peripheral artery disease (PAD) are often unable to exercise adequately. For those patients, we have developed individual shear rate therapy (ISRT), which is an adaptation of external counterpulsation and enhances endovascular fluid shear stress to increase collateral growth (arteriogenesis). To evaluate the effects of physical exercise and ISRT on the telomere biology of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we conducted two clinical trials.
Energy-efficient TDMA MAC protocol for wireless sensor networks applications

The availability of low-powered and cheap microprocessors, radio frequency integrated circuits and the development of new wireless communication techniques, make the wireless sensor networks (WSN) one of todays most promising technologies. Minimizing energy consumption and maximizing the lifetime of the networks are key requirements in the design of sensor network applications. Optimally designed medium access control (MAC) and routing protocols minimize energy consumption and prolong the network life. In this study, we have investigated an energy-efficient adaptive TDMA (EA-TDMA) protocol for railway applications that used in communication between sensor nodes and the cluster-head (CH) placed in a railway wagon. This protocol is suitable for medium traffic applications and reduces energy consumption by shortening the idle period when devices have no data to transmit. We have developed an analytical model for EA-TDMA and compared its performance with conventional TDMA and bit-map-assisted (BMA) protocols.
Ketamine Action in the In Vitro Cortical Slice Is Mitigated by Potassium Channel Blockade

Background: Ketamine is a general anesthetic thought to act by antagonizing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. However, ketamine acts on multiple channels, many of which are potential targets─including hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated and potassium channels. In this study we tested the hypothesis that potassium leak channels contribute to the anesthetic action of ketamine. Methods: Adult mouse cortical slices (400 µm) were exposed to no-magnesium artificial cerebrospinal fluid to generate seizure-like event activity. The reduction in seizure-like event frequency after exposure to ketamine (n = 14) was quantified as a signature of anesthetic effect. Pharmacologic manipulation of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated and potassium channels using ZD7288 (n = 11), cesium chloride (n = 10), barium chloride (n = 10), low-potassium (1.5 mM) artificial cerebrospinal fluid (n = 10), and urethane (n = 7) were investigated. Results: Ketamine reduced the frequency of seizure-like events (mean [SD], –62 [22]%, P < 0.0001). Selective hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel block with ZD7288 did not significantly alter the potency of ketamine to inhibit seizure-like event activity. The inhibition of seizure-like event frequency by ketamine was fully antagonized by the potassium channel blockers cesium chloride and barium chloride (8 [26]% and 39 [58%] increase, respectively, P < 0.0001, compared to ketamine control) and was facilitated by the potassium leak channel opener urethane (–93 [8]%, P = 0.002 compared to ketamine control) and low potassium artificial cerebrospinal fluid (–86 [11]%, P = 0.004 compared to ketamine control). Conclusions: The results of this study show that mechanisms additional to hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel block are likely to explain the anesthetic action of ketamine and suggest facilitatory action at two-pore potassium leak channels.
Sensitivity Distribution of CCERT Sensor Under Different Excitation Patterns

This paper focuses on the study of sensitivity distribution of the capacitively coupled electrical resistance tomography (CCERT) and the influences of excitation patterns on sensitivity distributions. The sensitivity distributions of a 12-electrode CCERT sensor under three excitation patterns (the one-electrode excitation pattern, the three-electrode excitation pattern, and the five-electrode excitation pattern) are investigated and compared. The simulation study was implemented by the COMSOL Multiphysics FEM simulation software and MATLAB. The research results show that there is no negative region in the sensitivity distributions of the CCERT sensor and all the sensitivity distributions are not uniform. The research results also indicate that as the number of excitation electrodes increases, the sensitivity distributions have higher average sensitivity and better distribution uniformity.
Placenta-derived exosomes: potential biomarkers of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality, due to ineffective treatment and diagnostic strategies, compounded by the lack of clarity on the etiology of the disorder. Although several clinical and biological markers of preeclampsia have been evaluated, they have proven to be ineffective in providing a definitive diagnosis during the various stages of the disorder. Exosomes have emerged as ideal biomarkers of pathological states, such as cancer, and have more recently gained interest in pregnancy-related complications, due to their role in cellular communication in normal and complicated pregnancies. This occurs as a result of the specific placenta-derived exosomal molecular cargo, which may be involved in normal pregnancy-associated immunological events, such as the maintenance of maternal–fetal tolerance. This review provides perspectives on placenta-derived exosomes as possible biomarkers for the diagnosis/prognosis of preeclampsia. Using keywords, online databases were searched to identify relevant publications to review the potential use of placenta-derived exosomes as biomarkers of preeclampsia.
Acetylcholine Modulates the Hormones of the Growth Hormone/Insulinlike Growth Factor-1 Axis During Development in Mice

Pituitary growth hormone (GH) and insulinlike growth factor (IGF)-1 are anabolic hormones whose physiological roles are particularly important during development. The activity of the GH/IGF-1 axis is controlled by complex neuroendocrine systems including two hypothalamic neuropeptides, GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SRIF), and a gastrointestinal hormone, ghrelin. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) is involved in tuning GH secretion, and its GH-stimulatory action has mainly been shown in adults but is not clearly documented during development. ACh, together with these hormones and their receptors, is expressed before birth, and somatotroph cells are already responsive to GHRH, SRIF, and ghrelin. We thus hypothesized that ACh could contribute to the modulation of the main components of the somatotropic axis during development. In this study, we generated a choline acetyltransferase knockout mouse line and showed that heterozygous mice display a transient deficit in ACh from embryonic day 18.5 to postnatal day 10, and they recover normal ACh levels from the second postnatal week. This developmental ACh deficiency had no major impact on weight gain and cardiorespiratory status of newborn mice. Using this mouse model, we found that endogenous ACh levels determined the concentrations of circulating GH and IGF-1 at embryonic and postnatal stages. In particular, serum GH level was correlated with brain ACh content. ACh also modulated the levels of GHRH and SRIF in the hypothalamus and ghrelin in the stomach, and it affected the levels of these hormones in the circulation. This study identifies ACh as a potential regulator of the somatotropic axis during the developmental period.
Molecular Pathogenesis of Cholangiocarcinoma

It has become increasingly apparent of late that inflammation plays an integral role in a spectrum of malignancies including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Primary sclerosing cholangitis with chronic inflammation is the most common risk factor for CCA in the Western world. Recent work has highlighted that inflammatory pathways are essential in carcinogenesis and tissue invasion and migration. Inflammation advances carcinogenesis by induction of DNA damage, evasion of apoptosis, promotion of cell proliferation, and neoangiogenesis. CCA is characterized by the presence of a desmoplastic stroma consisting of cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. This rich inflammatory milieu is vital to the cancer ecosystem, and targeting its components represents an attractive therapeutic option.
Job satisfaction of primary care physicians in Switzerland: an observational study.

BACKGROUND Job satisfaction of physicians is an important issue for performance of a health care system. The aim of the study was to evaluate the job satisfaction of primary care physicians in Switzerland and to explore associations between overall job satisfaction, individual characteristics and satisfaction with aspects of work within the practice separated by gender. METHODS This cross-sectional study was based on a job satisfaction survey. Data were collected from 176 primary care physicians working in 91 primary care practices. Job satisfaction was measured with the 10-item Warr-Cook-Wall job satisfaction scale. Stepwise linear regression analysis was performed for physicians separated by gender. RESULTS The response rate was 92.6%. Primary care physicians reported the highest level of satisfaction with 'freedom of working method' (mean = 6.45) and the lowest satisfaction for 'hours of work' (mean = 5.38) and 'income' (mean = 5.49). Moreover, some aspects of job satisfaction were rated higher by female physicians than male physicians. Within the stepwise regression analysis, the aspect 'opportunity to use abilities' (β = 0.644) showed the highest association to overall job satisfaction for male physicians while for female physicians it was income (β = 0.733). CONCLUSIONS The presented results contribute to an understanding of factors that influence levels of satisfaction of female and male physicians. Therefore, research and intervention about job satisfaction should consider gender as well as the stereotypes that come along with these social roles.
Risks of Infection and Mortality Among Patients Colonized With Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase–Producing K. pneumoniae: Validation of Scores and Proposal for Management

Background The management and indication of empiric treatment in Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp)-colonized patients should be improved. Methods A prospective cohort of 94 patients colonized by KPC-Kp was followed for 90 days to validate (i) the Giannella risk score (GRS) to predict the development of any type of KPC-Kp infection and (ii) the INCREMENT-CPE score (ICS) to predict 30-day mortality in patients with infection. Both scores were combined to recommend appropriate empiric treatment. The predictive ability of the scores was measured by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Results The GRS showed an AUROC curve for infection due to KPC-Kp of 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], .87-.98). The optimal cutoff point was fixed at <7 and ≥7 (92.9% sensitivity, 84.8% specificity); infection developed in 6.3% patients in the 0-6 GRS group and in 84.8% patient in the ≥7 GRS group. According to the ICS, the severity of the infection was also significantly higher in the ≥7 GRS group. The ICS showed an AUROC of 0.78 (95% CI, .65-.91) for 30-day all-cause mortality among patients with infection. A classification and regression tree analysis confirmed the GRS cutoff point at 7, and selected ≥12 points to predict a KPC-Kp infection with a high ICS. Conclusions Our results validate the GRS and ICS for indicating empiric therapy in KPC-Kp-colonized patients.