Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Turbulence and circulating cerebral emboli detectable at Doppler ultrasonography: a differentiation study in a stenotic middle cerebral artery model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Blood flow within the middle cerebral artery can be monitored by transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. Arterial stenosis can produce turbulent flow, but controversy remains regarding the degree of stenosis needed to cause TCD-detectable turbulence. Furthermore, cerebral emboli and turbulent flow may coexist in the same patient. The current study was designed to study the relationship between stenotic degree and TCD-detectable turbulent flow and its differentiation from cerebral emboli. METHODS A stenotic middle cerebral artery model was constructed to allow the study of different degrees of stenosis. TCD was used to detect the turbulent flow and embolic materials in the circulation model, and signal intensities were analyzed. RESULTS Turbulent flow was generated with a series of short, asymmetric stenoses in this test. Transition of turbulence from laminar flow began to occur at a moderate degree of stenosis (55% reduction of cross-sectional area) but became dampened at the high degrees of stenoses (>/=75%). Turbulence caused a notable increase in average Doppler signal intensity. However, the degree of stenosis was not associated with signal intensity at the region where turbulence existed, but rather was related to the mean flow velocity measured at the narrowed region. Embolic materials such as air bubbles (30 micro m) and platelet-rich clots (100 micro m) had notably higher Doppler signal intensity than that produced by turbulence. CONCLUSION TCD-detectable turbulence predominantly developed at a moderate arterial stenosis and its acoustic signature with TCD is different from that caused by air bubbles and platelet-rich clots.
Exosomal Proteome Profiling: A Potential Multi-Marker Cellular Phenotyping Tool to Characterize Hypoxia-Induced Radiation Resistance in Breast Cancer

Radiation and drug resistance are significant challenges in the treatment of locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic breast cancer that contribute to mortality. Clinically, radiotherapy requires oxygen to generate cytotoxic free radicals that cause DNA damage and allow that damage to become fixed in the genome rather than repaired. However, approximately 40% of all breast cancers have hypoxic tumor microenvironments that render cancer cells significantly more resistant to irradiation. Hypoxic stimuli trigger changes in the cell death/survival pathway that lead to increased cellular radiation resistance. As a result, the development of noninvasive strategies to assess tumor hypoxia in breast cancer has recently received considerable attention. Exosomes are secreted nanovesicles that have roles in paracrine signaling during breast tumor progression, including tumor-stromal interactions, activation of proliferative pathways and immunosuppression. The recent development of protocols to isolate and purify exosomes, as well as advances in mass spectrometry-based proteomics have facilitated the comprehensive analysis of exosome content and function. Using these tools, studies have demonstrated that the proteome profiles of tumor-derived exosomes are indicative of the oxygenation status of patient tumors. They have also demonstrated that exosome signaling pathways are potentially targetable drivers of hypoxia-dependent intercellular signaling during tumorigenesis. This article provides an overview of how proteomic tools can be effectively used to characterize exosomes and elucidate fundamental signaling pathways and survival mechanisms underlying hypoxia-mediated radiation resistance in breast cancer.
Electrocardiographic Strain Pattern and Prediction of New-Onset Congestive Heart Failure in Hypertensive Patients: The Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) Study

Background— The ECG strain pattern of ST depression and T-wave inversion is strongly associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) independently of coronary heart disease and with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. However, whether ECG strain is an independent predictor of new-onset congestive heart failure (CHF) in the setting of aggressive antihypertensive therapy in unclear. Methods and Results— The relationship of ECG strain at study baseline to the development of CHF was examined in 8696 patients with no history of CHF who were enrolled in the Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) study. All patients had ECG LVH by Cornell product and/or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria on a screening ECG, were treated in a blinded manner with atenolol- or losartan-based regimens, and were followed up for a mean of 4.7±1.1 years. Strain was defined as a downsloping convex ST segment with inverted asymmetrical T-wave opposite the QRS axis in lead V5 or V6. ECG strain was present in 923 patients (10.6%), and new-onset CHF occurred in 265 patients (3.0%), 26 of whom had a CHF-related death. Compared with patients who did not develop CHF, hypertensive patients who developed CHF were older; were more likely to be black, current smokers, and diabetic; were more like to have a history of myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease; and had greater baseline severity of LVH by Cornell product and Sokolow-Lyon voltage, higher baseline body mass indexes, higher serum glucose levels and albuminuria, similar baseline systolic and diastolic pressures, and reductions in diastolic pressure with treatment but greater reductions in systolic pressure. In univariate Cox analyses, ECG strain was a significant predictor of new-onset CHF (hazard ratio [HR], 3.27; 95% CI, 2.49 to 4.29) and CHF mortality (HR, 4.74; 95% CI, 2.11 to 10.64). In Cox multivariable analyses adjusting for baseline differences between patients with and without new-onset CHF, in-treatment differences in systolic and diastolic pressures, Sokolow-Lyon voltage, and Cornell product, and the impact of treatment with losartan versus atenolol on outcomes, ECG strain remained a significant predictor of incident CHF (HR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.30 to 2.48) and CHF-related death (HR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.02 to 7.63). Conclusions— ECG strain identifies hypertensive patients at increased risk of developing CHF and dying as a result of CHF, even in the setting of aggressive blood pressure lowering.
Perceived health status in patients over 70 before and after open-heart operations.

AIM to evaluate improvement and predictors of improvement in patients' perceived health status after cardiac surgery in older patients. METHODS three hundred and seventy-seven patients from three different departments of cardiac surgery completed the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire before and 1 and 2 years after open-heart surgery. We analysed pre- and postoperative data and pre- and postoperative Nottingham Health Profile scores. RESULTS the mean age was 74+/-3 years. The comparison between pre- and postoperative scores showed an improvement in all but the social isolation section. Logistic regression showed that the predictors of patients who became worse after surgery were (i) in the energy section: age over 75 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-3.2], coronary artery disease (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.04-3.6) and postoperative events (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.01-3.7); (ii) in the physical mobility section: diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.2-4.7); and (iii) in the social isolation section: physical mobility impairment (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.3-8.7). CONCLUSIONS cardiac surgery improves perceived health status in patients over 70. This improvement is better for those undergoing aortic valve replacement than for those undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Comparison with reference scores for a standard population shows that, even when successful, cardiac surgery results in fatigue and persistent sleep disturbance in older patients.
On the problem of resolution of singularities in positive characteristic (Or: A proof we are still waiting for)

Assume that, in the near future, someone can prove resolution of singularities in arbitrary characteristic and dimension. Then one may want to know why the case of positive characteristic is so much harder than the classical characteristic zero case. Our intention here is to provide this piece of information for people who are not necessarily working in the field. A singularity of an algebraic variety in positive characteristic is called wild if the resolution invariant from characteristic zero, defined suitably without reference to hypersurfaces of maximal contact, increases under blowup when passing to the transformed singularity at a selected point of the exceptional divisor (a so called kangaroo point). This phenomenon represents one of the main obstructions for the still unsolved problem of resolution in positive characteristic. In the present article, we will try to understand it.
Urinary schistosomiasis in school children of a southern nigerian community 8 years after the provision of potable water

Background: Urinary schistosomiasis, one of the neglected tropical diseases, is a major infection of public health importance in Nigeria. Control measures include the provision of potable water as the main strategy, population-based chemotherapy and health education. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the provision of potable water on the prevalence and intensity of infection with Schistosoma haematobium in Adim community, Cross River State, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among school and children aged 5–14 years in Adim community in Cross River State using the polyamide millipore filter technique and ova detection and count compared with the situation that obtained 8 years earlier before the provision of potable water. The prevalence and intensity of haematuria and proteinuria by reagent strips were also compared between the two eras. Results: The prevalence of schistosomiasis was 14.5% compared to 51% in the prepotable water era (P = 0.001). The intensity of the infection was also significantly reduced between the two eras with 1.3% of the children having a severe intensity compared to 4.5% in the prepotable water era. Conclusions/Recommendations: The prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium have significantly reduced in this community though not yet eliminated. More boreholes need to be provided to make the water more accessible. This could be combined with other measures to eradicate S. haematobium from this community.
A Model for the Characterization and Selection of Beeswaxes for use as base Substitute Tissue in Photon Teletherapy

This paper presents a model for the characterization and selection of beeswaxes for use as base substitute tissue for the manufacture of objects suitable for external radiotherapy using megavoltage photon beams. The model of characterization was divided into three distinct stages: 1) verification of aspects related to the origin of the beeswax, the bee species, the flora in the vicinity of the beehives and procedures to detect adulterations; 2) evaluation of physical and chemical properties; and 3) evaluation of beam attenuation capacity. The chemical composition of the beeswax evaluated in this study was similar to other simulators commonly used in radiotherapy. The behavior of the mass attenuation coefficient in the radiotherapy energy range was comparable to other simulators. The proposed model is efficient and enables convenient assessment of the use of any particular beeswax as a base substitute tissue for radiotherapy.
Expression of DNA methyltransferases in multistep hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hypermethylation of cell cycle regulators and increased DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) mRNA level have been reported in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the expression of Dnmts has not yet been examined in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). We examined 13 cases of HCCs in dysplastic nodules (DNs) and 28 cases of advanced HCCs for Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a, and compared the results with those of 9 cases of low-grade DNs, 24 cases of high-grade DNs, and 59 cases of nonneoplastic liver tissues from 59 cases of surgically resected livers by immunohistochemical staining. Nuclear expression of Dnmt1 was increased significantly in all HCCs in DNs and advanced HCCs compared with those of nonneoplastic livers, low-grade DNs, and high-grade DNs (P <0.05). Nuclear expression of Dnmt3a was not detectable in nonneoplastic liver and low-grade DN, whereas it was observed in high-grade DNs (7 of 24, 29.2%), HCCs in DNs (7 of 13, 53.8%), and advanced HCCs (11 of 28, 39.3%). Different from Dnmt1 immunostaining, cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for Dmnt3a was significantly decreased or absent in 13 of 24 cases of high-grade DNs (54.1%), 12 of 13 cases of HCCs in DNs (92.3%), and 22 of 28 cases of advanced HCCs (78.6%), compared with nonneoplastic livers and low-grade DNs (P <0.05). Our data suggest that Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a play a role in the early stage of hepatocarcinogenesis and that dysregulation of Dnmt3a may be involved in the progression of HCC. Furthermore, the significantly decreased cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for Dnmt3a in high-grade DNs and HCCs can be used as a diagnostic adjunct.
Influence of corona poling procedures on linear and non-linear optical properties of polymer materials containing indandione derivatives as a cromophores

SHG efficiency of the poled guest - host polymer system is proportional to the concentration and orientation degree of NLO active molecules (chromophores). Corona poling realized at elevated temperatures could cause concentration decrease of NLO- active molecules due to centrosymmetric crystallization. Our studies showed that number density of crystallites is depending on orientation procedure. To obtain the best orientation procedure for guest - host systems containing four different chromophores based on dimethylaminobenzylidene 1, 3 - indandione we have compared optical images and SHG efficiency of corona poled films. According to our observations external poling electric field applied from the very beginning of the sample heating process can reduce crystallite grow. The optical quality is improved and SHG efficiency in some cases is up to 1.6 (depending on molecule structure) times larger after our suggested orientation sequence compared to classic corona poling procedures.
Hypertension in Sub-Saharan African Populations

Background— Hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa is a widespread problem of immense economic importance because of its high prevalence in urban areas, its frequent underdiagnosis, and the severity of its complications. Methods and Results— We searched PubMed and relevant journals for words in the title of this article. Among the major problems in making headway toward better detection and treatment are the limited resources of many African countries. Relatively recent environmental changes seem to be adverse. Mass migration from rural to periurban and urban areas probably accounts, at least in part, for the high incidence of hypertension in urban black Africans. In the remaining semirural areas, inroads in lifestyle changes associated with “civilization” may explain the apparently rising prevalence of hypertension. Overall, significant segments of the African population are still afflicted by severe poverty, famine, and civil strife, making the overall prevalence of hypertension difficult to determine. Black South Africans have a stroke rate twice as high as that of whites. Two lifestyle changes that are feasible and should help to stem the epidemic of hypertension in Africa are a decreased salt intake and decreased obesity, especially in women. Conclusions— Overall, differences from whites in etiology and therapeutic responses in sub-Saharan African populations are graded and overlapping rather than absolute. Further studies are needed on black Africans, who may (or may not) be genetically and environmentally different from black Americans and from each other in different parts of this vast continent.
Repeatability of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Calcium Intake in Older Australians

Objective. To assess the repeatability of the validated Flinders Calcium Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQCA) for estimating dietary calcium intake in a sample of community dwelling older Australians. Methods. A test-retest repeatability study involving 100 subjects (≥65 years) living independently in metropolitan Adelaide, Australia. Estimates of daily calcium intake from the first (FFQCA1) and repeated administration (FFQCA2) were calculated from two versions (35-item and 15-item) of the FFQCA. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the repeatability. Results. Moderate and comparable ICC values (r = 0.5, r = 0.6) were found across the two versions of the FFQCA. Conclusion. Both FFQCA versions demonstrated moderate repeatability, supporting the results of previous studies.
Histocompatibility antigen-activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. I. Estimates of the absolute frequency of killer cells generated in vitro

A sensitive procedure employing limiting dilution of activated lymphocytes and 51Cr release from highly labeled target cells was used to derive minimal estimates of the absolute frequency of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) present in a population of mouse lymphocytes activated to alloantigens of the major histocompatibility complex in bulk mixed lymphocyte cultures. From this figure (0.7-1.2%), the maximal rate of target cell killing could be calculated to be approximately 4 targets/CTL/hour.
Mutations and treatment outcome in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND Mutations occur in several genes in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells: the nucleophosmin gene (NPM1), the fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3), the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha gene (CEPBA), the myeloid-lymphoid or mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL), and the neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS). We evaluated the associations of these mutations with clinical outcomes in patients. METHODS We compared the mutational status of the NPM1, FLT3, CEBPA, MLL, and NRAS genes in leukemia cells with the clinical outcome in 872 adults younger than 60 years of age with cytogenetically normal AML. Patients had been entered into one of four trials of therapy for AML. In each study, patients with an HLA-matched related donor were assigned to undergo stem-cell transplantation. RESULTS A total of 53% of patients had NPM1 mutations, 31% had FLT3 internal tandem duplications (ITDs), 11% had FLT3 tyrosine kinase-domain mutations, 13% had CEBPA mutations, 7% had MLL partial tandem duplications (PTDs), and 13% had NRAS mutations. The overall complete-remission rate was 77%. The genotype of mutant NPM1 without FLT3-ITD, the mutant CEBPA genotype, and younger age were each significantly associated with complete remission. Of the 663 patients who received postremission therapy, 150 underwent hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation from an HLA-matched related donor. Significant associations were found between the risk of relapse or the risk of death during complete remission and the leukemia genotype of mutant NPM1 without FLT3-ITD (hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32 to 0.61), the mutant CEBPA genotype (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.75), and the MLL-PTD genotype (hazard ratio, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.00 to 2.43), as well as receipt of a transplant from an HLA-matched related donor (hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.82). The benefit of the transplant was limited to the subgroup of patients with the prognostically adverse genotype FLT3-ITD or the genotype consisting of wild-type NPM1 and CEBPA without FLT3-ITD. CONCLUSIONS Genotypes defined by the mutational status of NPM1, FLT3, CEBPA, and MLL are associated with the outcome of treatment for patients with cytogenetically normal AML.
Public Health and Education Spending in Ghana in 1992-98: Issues of Equity and Efficiency

Using primary data from the health and education ministries, and household survey data from the Ghana Statistical Service, the authors analyze equity, and efficiency issues in public spending on health, and education in Ghana in the 1990s. Public expenditures in the education sector, declined in the second half of the 1990s. Basic education enrollment has been stagnant, or declining in public schools, but increasing in private schools, resulting in a moderate increase in total enrollment. Regional disparities are significant, with lower public resource allocations, and lower enrollment ratios in the three poorest regions. The quality of basic education in public schools remains poor, while it has steadily improved in private schools. Enrollments in higher levels are lagging behind those in basic education. Ghana ranks high among West African countries in health indicators, although its health expenditures tend to favor the non-poor. While more of the rural population have gained access to health services in recent years, many still have limited access, or none. Moreover, there is no link between the pattern of public expenditures - especially the pattern of immunization across Ghana - and health outcomes. To ensure that social services are efficiently, and equitably delivered in a fiscally constrained economy, the authors argue, public expenditures need to be linked to outcomes.
Identification and management of prisoners with severe psychiatric illness by specialist mental health services

Background The prevalence of mental disorders among prisoners is considerably higher than in the general population. This is an important public health issue as the vast majority of prisoners stay in custody for less than 9 months and, when not in prison, offenders' lifestyles are frequently chaotic, characterized by social exclusion, instability and unemployment. Multi-disciplinary mental health inreach services were introduced to target care towards prisoners with severe mental illness (SMI) in a similar way to that provided by Community Mental Health Teams outside prison. The aim was to establish the proportion of prisoners with SMI who were assessed and managed by prison mental health inreach services. Method A two-phase prevalence survey in six prisons in England measured SMI upon reception into custody. Case-note review established the proportion of those with SMI subsequently assessed and treated by inreach services. Results Of 3492 prisoners screened, 23% had SMI. Inreach teams assessed only 25% of these unwell prisoners, and accepted just 13% onto their caseloads. Conclusions Inreach teams identified and managed only a small proportion of prisoners with SMI. Prison-based services need to improve screening procedures and develop effective care pathways to ensure access to appropriate services. Improved identification of mental illness is needed in both the community and the Criminal Justice System to better engage with socially transient individuals who have chaotic lifestyles and complex needs.