Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Positive correlation between microalbuminuria and severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most prevalent metabolic disease worldwide and is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore it is very important to find a clue to diagnose the presence of CAD as early as possible in DM patients. The aim of this study was to find any correlation between microalbuminuria (MAU) and the severity of CAD in patients with DM type 2. This was a cross sectional study that included 77 DM type 2 patients with suspected CAD that all of whom were performed coronary angiography in our hospital (from 2010 to 2011). Patients were divided into two groups, the case group (group 1) that includes patients with MAU and the control group (group 2) that include patients without MAU. Severity of CAD was estimated by using Gensini score and MAU was defined as the ratio of urine albumin to urine creatinine. Of 77 patients forty three (55.8%) were female, mean ± SD of their ages was 55.8 ± 10.3 and sixteen (21%) of them had MAU. Gensini score of case group was significantly higher than control group (94.94 ± 12 versus 33.25 ± 25.4, P<0.001). The linear regression analysis revealed urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UA/CR) as an independent predictor for the severity of CAD (P<0.001). Based on the ROC curve, 10.25 was the best albumin level cut off point for differentiating Gensini score over and below 70. Area under curve was 0.9; sensitivity and specificity were 72% and 80%, respectively (P<0.001). According to this study, in patients with DM type2, MAU is an independent predictor of severity of coronary artery stenosis and reveals a positive correlation between MAU and the Gensini score.
Journal of Neuroinflammation Inhibition of Nf-κb Activation by 5-lipoxygenase Inhibitors Protects Brain against Injury in a Rat Model of Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States of America. Brain ischemia-reperfusion (IR) triggers a complex series of biochemical events including inflammation. Leukotrienes derived from 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) cause inflammation and are thus involved in the pathobiology of stroke injury.
THE ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE OF THE POLYPEPTIDE CHAINS OF HUMAN ~/-GLOBULIN BY D. E. OLINS mtvD

One of the goals of chemical and immunological studies of T-globulins is to relate the biological activities of the whole molecules to structural features of their constituent polypeptide chains. 7S ~'-globulin molecules consist of multiple polypeptide chains linked by disulfide bonds and non-covalent interactions (1). Two types of chains have been described (2, 3): light (L) chains, having molecular weights of approximately 20,000; and heavy (H) chains, having molecular weights greater than 50,000. Certain physicochemical characterisitics of L chains have been associated with differences in the specificity of antibodies (4), with the individuality of myeloma proteins (5), and with the unique thermosolubility properties of Bence-Jones proteins (3). The current evidence and hypotheses relating the properties of normal and pathological "y-globulins to properties of their L and H chains have been reviewed (6). The present study is concerned with an analysis of the antigenic characteristics of the polypeptide chains of normal human 7S %globulin and of a human myeloma protein. The antigenic determinants of L and H chains have been correlated with the previously described S and F determinants (7), which comprise two major non-cross-reacting antigenic groups of the whole "},-globulin molecule. Antigenic identity has been found between the L chains of a myeloma protein and the Bence-Jones protein from the same patient, thus providing further evidence of their structural similarity, and corroborating the results of previous chemical studies (3). These results furnish a basis for relating the polypeptide chains of qt-globulin molecules to the fragments produced by hydrolysis with papain.
Proposal for the use in emergency departments of cardiac troponins measured with the latest generation methods in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome without persistent ST-segment elevation

Abstract The purpose of this document is to develop recommendations on the use of the latest generation of cardiac troponins in emergency room settings for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS). The main points which have been addressed reaching a consensus are represented by: Suitability and appropriateness of the terminology. Appropriateness of the request. Confirmation of the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (rule-in). Exclusion of the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (rule-out). Work method: Each point has been analyzed by taking into account the evidence presented in medical publications. Recommendations were developed using the criteria adopted by the European Society of Cardiology and the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (www.escardio.org/guidelines). Each point of the recommendation was submitted for validation to an external audit by a Group of Experts (named above).
Acute‐on‐chronic liver failure: Excellent outcomes after liver transplantation but high mortality on the wait list

Acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by high short‐term mortality. Liver transplantation (LT) is a potential therapy for patients who do not improve with supportive measures, but the efficacy of LT has not been shown. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of LT and to determine the postoperative outcomes of patients with ACLF. All patients referred to our liver unit between 2002 and 2010 were registered in a database. The diagnosis of ACLF was made in accordance with the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver consensus. The post‐LT outcomes were compared with the outcomes of a cohort of patients with chronic liver disease who underwent transplantation for other indications during the same period. One hundred forty four of 238 patients fulfilled the ACLF criteria. In an intention‐to‐treat analysis, the median transplant‐free survival time was 48 days. Multiorgan failure was the most common cause of death. Ninety‐four patients (65%) were evaluated for LT, 71 patients (49%) were listed, and 33 patients (23%) finally underwent deceased donor LT; this resulted in a wait‐list mortality rate of 54%. Patients who developed infectious complications (particularly pneumonia and/or sepsis) and patients who received renal replacement therapy or mechanical ventilation were less likely to undergo LT. The 1‐ and 5‐year survival rates of 87% and 82% were comparable to the rates for non‐ACLF patients. In conclusion, this study shows that LT remains the only therapeutic option for the vast majority of patients with ACLF. However, LT was feasible in less than one fourth of the patients with a 5‐year survival rate greater than 80%. Liver Transpl 19:879‐886, 2013. © 2013 AASLD.
The Keith–Wagener–Barker and Mitchell–Wong grading systems for hypertensive retinopathy: association with target organ damage in individuals below 55 years

Background: The usefulness of the hypertensive retinopathy classification by Keith–Wagener–Barker (KWB) in clinical practice remains controversial. The simplified Mitchell–Wong grading, combining the two initial KWB’ grades in one stage, is proposed as an alternative method; both systems are poorly validated regarding their association with target organ damage. Objective: In a population free of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, we aimed to investigate the interobserver and intraobserver agreement of both grading systems, their association with aortic stiffness, carotid hypertrophy or plaques and the role of age and sex on this association. Methods: Digital retinal images were obtained and graded – according to both classifications – by two independent and blinded observers; aortic stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, m/s) and common carotid hypertrophy (cross-sectional area, mm2) or plaques were assessed by tonometry and ultrasound, respectively. Results: From the gradable retinal photos obtained by 200 eyes of 107 consecutive patients (age: 54 ± 13 years, 51% men, 79% hypertensive patients) and after adjustments for confounders, the intraobserver and interobserver level of agreement was as following: KWB 88/64% and Mitchell–Wong 91/71%, respectively; exclusively in younger, not older, individuals aortic stiffness, carotid hypertrophy, but not plaques, were significantly associated with both systems, independently from confounders; no differences regarding target organ damage were found between stages 1 and 2 of KWB. Conclusion: Detecting early signs of hypertensive retinopathy may be of value in young individuals; the Mitchell–Wong seems preferable to the KWB classification system only for reasons of simplifying clinical practice.
Drawing on mind's canvas: Differences in cortical integration patterns between artists and non‐artists

Our primary question was to learn whether mentally composing drawings of their own choice produce different brain electric features in artists and laymen. To this purpose, we studied multichannel electroencephalograph (EEG) signals from two broad groups (all participants were females): artists (professionally trained in visual arts) and non‐artists (without any training in art). To assess the underlying synchronization, which is assumed to be the platform for general cognitive integration between different cortical regions, three measures inspired by nonlinear dynamical system theory were applied as follows: (1) index based on generalized synchronization; (2) index based on mean phase coherence; and (3) index of phase synchrony based on entropy. Results consistent over all three measures were as follows: comparing the tasks to rest, the artists showed significantly stronger short‐ and long‐range delta band synchronization, whereas the non‐artists showed enhancement in short‐range beta and gamma band synchronization primarily in frontal regions; comparing the two groups during the tasks, the artists showed significantly stronger delta band synchronization and alpha band desynchronization than did the non‐artists. Strong right hemispheric dominance in terms of synchronization was found in the artists. In artists, the higher synchrony in the low‐frequency band is possibly due to the involvement of a more advanced long‐term visual art memory and to extensive top‐down processing. The results demonstrate that in artists, patterns of functional cooperation between cortical regions during mental creation of drawings were significantly different from those in non‐artists. Hum. Brain Mapping, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Community perceptions of health and chronic disease in South Indian rural transitional communities: a qualitative study

Background Chronic diseases are now the leading cause of death and disability worldwide; this epidemic has been linked to rapid economic growth and urbanisation in developing countries. Understanding how characteristics of the physical, social, and economic environment affect behaviour in the light of these changes is key to identifying successful interventions to mitigate chronic disease risk. Design We undertook a qualitative study consisting of nine focus group discussions (FGDs) (n=57) in five villages in rural Andhra Pradesh, South India, to understand people's perceptions of community development and urbanisation in relation to chronic disease in rural transitional communities. Specifically, we sought to understand perceptions of change linked to diet, physical activity, and pollution (because these exposures are most relevant to chronic diseases), with the aim of defining future interventions. The transcripts were analysed thematically. Results Participants believed their communities were currently less healthy, more polluted, less physically active, and had poorer access to nutritious food and shorter life expectancies than previously. There were contradictory perceptions of the effects of urbanisation on health within and between individuals; several of the participants felt their quality of life had been reduced. Conclusions In the present study, residents viewed change and development within their villages as an inevitable and largely positive process but with some negative health consequences. Understanding how these changes are affecting populations in transitional rural areas and how people relate to their environment may be useful to guide community planning for health. Measures to educate and empower people to make healthy choices within their community may help reduce the spread of chronic disease risk factors in future years.
Cross‐Cultural Examination of the Tripartite Model in Adults

Clark and Watson's (1991) tripartite model is commonly viewed as the preferred model for examining the relationship between anxiety and depression. The tripartite model proposes that the overlap and distinction between anxiety and depression can be best understood along three dimensions: positive affect, negative affect, and physiological hyperarousal. Although the tripartite model has received support in a wide variety of samples, little has been done to examine whether the tripartite model holds cross‐culturally. Using a highly diverse sample of undergraduate students (n = 923), this study set out to determine the generalizability of the tripartite model among students who identified themselves as African American/Black (non‐Hispanic), Caucasian/White (non‐Hispanic), Hispanic/Latino(a), and Asian. The results of the present study suggest that the model fits generally for each group, but the study did not find cross‐group equivalence in the relationships between constructs. Possible reasons for the lack of cross‐group equivalence, as well as limitations of this study, are also discussed.
Physiologically based GPS speed zones for evaluating running demands in Women’s Rugby Sevens

Abstract High-speed running (>5 m · s−1) is commonly reported in men’s rugby union and sevens; however, the appropriateness of using the same speed threshold for Women’s Rugby Sevens players is unclear, and likely underestimates the degree of high-intensity exercise completed by female players. The aim of this study was to establish, for international Women’s Rugby Sevens players, a physiologically defined threshold – speed at the second ventilatory threshold (VT2speed) – for the analysis of high-intensity running, using mean and individualised thresholds. Game movement patterns (using 5 Hz GPS) of 12 international Women’s Rugby Sevens players (23.5 ± 4.9 years, 1.68 ± 0.04 m, 68.2 ± 7.7 kg; mean ± s) were collected at an international tournament. Seven of these players also completed a treadmill VO2max test to estimate VT2speed. Compared to the mean VT2speed threshold (3.5 m · s−1), the industry-used threshold of 5 m · s−1 underestimated the absolute amount of high-intensity running completed by individual players by up to 30%. Using an individualised threshold, high-intensity running could over- or underestimating high-intensity running by up to 14% compared to the mean VT2speed threshold. The use of individualised thresholds provides an accurate individualised assessment of game demands to inform the prescription of training.
Residual effects of different manures and fertilizers applied to preceding potato crop on succeeding Mung bean (vigna radiate l.) crop in potato-mung bean-rice cropping pattern

The present study was done at Bangladesh Agricultural University farm to evaluate the field performances of different types of manures viz. cowdung (CD), cowdung slurry (CD slurry), trichocompost (TC), vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM) and poultry manure slurry (PM slurry) with chemical fertilizers in the potato-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping pattern during 2011-12 and 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, with three replications and eight treatments including T1 (Control), T2 [HYG based 100% chemical fertilizer (CF)], T3 [CD + CF (IPNS basis)], T4 [CD slurry + CF (IPNS basis)], T5 [PM + CF (IPNS basis)], T6 [PM slurry + CF (IPNS basis)], T7 [TC + CF (IPNS basis)] and T8 [VC + CF (IPNS basis)]. Trichocompost + CF and vermicompost + CF containing treatments produced higher crop yield followed by poultry manure slurry and cowdung slurry. Integrated use of manures and fertilizers gave on an average 6.7-33.7%, 8.3-33.8% and 2.9-18.3% yield increase in potato, mungbean and T. aman rice, respectively over sole application of chemical fertilizers (data not shown). Use of IPNS improved nutrient content and uptake of mungbean. The present study thus indicates that use of manure, especially trichocompost, vermicompost, PM slurry and CD slurry integrated with chemical fertilizers would help increase crop yield and improve soil fertility. However, Trichocompost + CF was the best option in this regard. SAARC J. Agri. , 16(2): 167-179 (2018)
Cognitive Metaphor and Empirical Methods

In the intellectual marketplace, different theories of language compete among themselves vying for their niche. One effective way of achieving such a goal is by offering some distinctive feature that makes them stand out from the rest. Such a ’difference’ can rest on several grounds: for example, a specific methodology specially suited to the study of a particular linguistic level (e.g. morphology), a new perspective from which to look at linguistic phenomena (e.g. by combining insights from two different disciplines, say, linguistics and sociology), etc. Cognitive linguistics (henceforth, CL) is a theory of language that attempts to describe language in connection to the rest of cognition. This aspiration was explicitly formulated by one of the founders of the movement, George Lakoff. In his “Cognitive Commitment” (Lakoff 1990: 40), he emphasized the need to provide an account of language that was consistent with what other cognitive science disciplines (neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, psycholinguistics, etc) have revealed about cognition and the brain. Put in another way, linguists need to take empirical evidence from other cognitive sciences seriously. This very same point has also been stressed by Gibbs (1996) when commenting on the adjective cognitive in CL:
Comparison of Supervised-Learning Models and Auditory Discrimination of Infant Cries for the Early Detection of Developmental Disorders / Vergleich von Supervised-Learning Klassifikationsmodellen und menschlicher auditiver Diskriminationsfähigkeit zur Unterscheidung von Säuglingsschreien mit kongeni

Abstract Infant cry classification can be performed in two ways: computational classification of cries or auditory discrimination by human listeners. This article compares both approaches. An auditory listening experiment was performed to examine if various listener groups (naive listeners, parents, nurses/midwives and therapists) were able to distinguish auditorily between healthy and pathological cries as well as to differentiate various pathologies from each other. Listeners were trained in hearing cries of healthy infants and cries of infants suffering from cleft-lip-and-palate, hearing impairment, laryngomalacia, asphyxia and brain damage. After training, a listening experiment was performed by allocating 18 infant cries to the cry groups. Multiple supervised-learning classifications models were calculated on the base of the cries’ acoustic properties. The accuracy of the models was compared to the accuracy of the human listeners. With a Kappa value of 0.491, listeners allocated the cries to the healthy and the five pathological groups with moderate performance. With a sensitivity of 0.64 and a specificity of 0.89, listeners were able to identify that a cry is a pathological one with higher confidence than separating between the single pathologies. Generalized linear mixed models found no significant differences between the classification accuracy of the listener groups. Significant differences between the pathological cry types were found. Supervised-learning classification models performed significantly better than the human listeners in classifying infant cries. The models reached an overall Kappa value of up to 0.837.
Significance of prostate-specific antigen--alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin complex for diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical significance of measuring the prostate-specific antigen-alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (PSA-ACT) for differentiating prostate cancer from benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and for the staging of prostate cancer. METHODS Before treatment, total PSA (tPSA) and PSA-ACT were measured in 120 patients with prostate cancer and in 150 patients with BPH using immunofluorometric techniques with different monoclonal antibodies against PSA and ACT. Furthermore, the tPSA and PSA-ACT densities of the whole prostate (PSAD and ACTD, respectively) were calculated. RESULTS tPSA, PSAD, PSA-ACT and ACTD levels in patients with prostate cancer paralleled the clinical stage and were significantly higher than those in patients with BPH. Furthermore, these four values were significantly higher in patients with pathologically extraprostatic disease than those with organ-confined disease. Receiver operating characteristics analysis among patients with PSA values of 4.1-10 ng/ml revealed that the areas under the curve for tPSA and ACTD were similar to those for PSA-ACT and ACTD, respectively and that no significant differences in the differentiation between prostate cancer and BPH were observed among these parameters. CONCLUSIONS Measurement of PSA-ACT provides useful information for the clinical staging of prostate cancer and differential diagnosis between prostate cancer and BPH; however, compared with tPSA, PSA-ACT may not be significantly superior in the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer.
Microbial agents in macroscopically healthy mammary gland tissues of small ruminants

Background Health of mammary glands is fundamental for milk and dairy products hygiene and quality, with huge impacts on consumers welfare. Methods This study aims to investigate the microbial agents (bacteria, fungi and lentiviruses) isolated from 89 macroscopically healthy udders of regularly slaughtered small ruminants (41 sheep, 48 goats), also correlating their presence with the histological findings. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between lesions and positivity for different microbial isolates, animal age and bacteria. Results Twenty-five samples were microbiologically negative; 138 different bacteria were isolated in 64 positive udders. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most prevalent bacteria isolated (46.42%), followed by environmental opportunists (34.76%), others (10.14%) and pathogens (8.68%). Most mammary glands showed coinfections (75%). Lentiviruses were detected in 39.3% of samples. Histologically, chronic non-suppurative mastitis was observed in 45/89 glands, followed by chronic mixed mastitis (12/89) and acute suppurative mastitis (4/89). Only 28 udders were normal. Histological lesions were significantly associated with the animal species and lentiviruses and coagulase-negative staphylococci infections. Goats had significantly higher risk to show chronic mixed mastitis compared to sheep. Goats showed a significantly lower risk (OR = 0.26; 95% CI [0.06–0.71]) of being infected by environmental opportunists compared to sheep, but higher risk (OR = 10.87; 95% CI [3.69–37.77]) of being infected with lentiviruses. Discussion The results of the present study suggest that macroscopically healthy glands of small ruminants could act as a reservoir of microbial agents for susceptible animals, representing a potential risk factor for the widespread of acute or chronic infection in the flock.