Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Flaxseed Oil on Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins in Hemodialysis Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION One of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease is lipid abnormalities among hemodialysis patients. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of flaxseed oil consumption on serum lipids and lipoproteins in hemodialysis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a randomized double-blinded controlled trial, 34 hemodialysis patients were assigned to either the flaxseed oil or the control group. The patients in the flaxseed oil group received 6 g/d of flaxseed oil for 8 weeks, whereas the control group received 6 g/d of medium chain triglycerides oil. At baseline and the end of week 8, blood samples were obtained after a 12- to 14-hour fast and serum concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) were measured. RESULTS Serum triglyceride concentration decreased significantly up to 23% in the flaxseed oil group at the end of week 8 compared to baseline, and the reduction was significant in comparison with the medium chain triglycerides oil group (P < .01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the mean changes of serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a). CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that daily consumption of 6 g of flaxseed oil reduces serum triglyceride concentration, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients, whereas it has no effects on other lipid parameters, especially lipoprotein(a).
H–Y antigen-binding B cells develop in male recipients of female hematopoietic cells and associate with chronic graft vs. host disease

B cells are known to play an important role in pathogenesis of human chronic graft vs. host disease (cGVHD). Our group has previously shown that IgG allo-antibodies recognize Y chromosome-encoded proteins (H–Y) and a dominant H–Y epitope, DEAD box protein (DBY-2) detectable 6–12 mo after transplant in male patients who receive grafts from female donors (F→M) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Here we present FACS studies of peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected 6 mo after transplant showing that 16 of 28 (57%) F→M HCT patients have circulating donor B cells that express B-cell receptor (mainly IgM and Igλ) specific for DBY-2. The detection of these DBY-2 B cells 6 mo after HCT are associated with cGVHD development (P = 0.004). Specifically, 15 of 16 F→M with DBY-2 B cells developed cGVHD. In contrast, cGVHD developed in only 5 of the 12 who did not have DBY-2 B cells detected. This demonstrates circulating human B cells binding an alloantigen (DBY-2) and that these DBY-2–specific B cells appear before development of cGVHD in roughly half of the F→M patients. Our study suggests that detection of anti–DBY-2 B cells may predict cGVHD and that this prediction may have clinical utility. Validation of this hypothesis will require larger prospective studies.
Quantitative assessment of DNA damage directly in lens epithelial cells from senile cataract patients

Purpose Most of the studies regarding DNA damage in lens epithelial cells (LECs) of cataract patients have been done on lymphocyte or human LECs cultures. Studies of DNA damage directly in LECs of cataract patients are scanty and, to our knowledge, neither photographic evidence nor has a quantitative assessment of DNA damage have been put forward. In our study, we assessed and quantified DNA damage directly in the LECs of senile cataract patients, right after cataract surgery. Methods LECs were taken from different morphologic types of senile cataract patients after surgery and DNA damage was immediately assessed by comet assay. Quantitative assessment of DNA damage was conducted using CometScore ™ software. Results There were no prominent comets in most of the LECs of the control subjects, but comets were found in cataractous LECs. DNA fragments in the tail of the comet gave smearing (not banded), which was indicative of chemical damage (i.e., not site specific). DNA damage in the LECs of cataract patients was highly significant (p<0.001). DNA damage in cortical cataracts was significant (p<0.01) when compared to that of nuclear or posterior subcapsular cataracts, but the DNA damage between nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataracts was not significant. Furthermore, we found disrupted nuclear membranes in some of the nuclei in LECs of patients, but not in the control subjects. Conclusions In senile cataract patients, LECs DNA was randomly damaged and this type of damage was possible by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The damage was found maximally in the cortical type of cataracts. Oxidative DNA damage of the LECs may be one of the etiology of senile cataractogenesis.
Rifabutin‐based ‘rescue therapy’ for Helicobacter pylori infected patients after failure of standard regimens

The ideal treatment for patients who have failed eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection after standard proton pump inhibitor‐based triple therapies has still to be determined. Although either a second course of triple therapy or a quadruple therapy (proton pump inhibitor plus bismuth‐based triple therapy) has been proposed, the efficacy of these second‐line therapies is relatively unknown. Therefore, alternative strategies are needed.
Recurrence of tuberculosis.

The performance of activities in the area of public health care depends a great deal on the combination of various factors, starting with the political decision of implementing such activities. However, the planning phase of such activities certainly implies the existence or discovery of appropriate indicators that can translate the magnitude of the problem in question. Planning without an epidemiological diagnosis of the current situation of the problem could result in a significant waste of time and in a waste of financial resources. In the area of tuberculosis (TB), various indicators that translate the magnitude of each stage of the disease and the rate at which individuals change from one state to another are used to analyze the epidemiological situation. There are also operational indicators that portray how the activities are being performed (assessing their effectiveness, cost, benefits, etc.) Historically, it is worthwhile to recall that the mere occurrence of tuberculous meningitis was, some time ago, an important indicator (for epidemiologists) of the recent existence of sources of infection (patients with active tuberculosis) in the community. Similarly, recurrence of TB is an important indicator: what information can this indicator provide? A very important (and well-written) article on the theme is presented in this issue of the Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology. It is the study conducted by Picon et al.(1) on ‘Risk factors for recurrence of tuberculosis’. Just for the sake of a theoretical reflection on the problem, I will resort to a historical formula for the pathogenicity of TB proposed by Rich,(2) (a formula that does not have mathematical significance, but that is rather a way of expressing the problem):
De novo acute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia: treatment results and prognostic evaluation from a series of 44 patients treated with fludarabine, cytarabine and G‐CSF (FLAG)

Abstract: Objectives : To evaluate therapeutic results and prognostic factors from a series of 44 patients affected by de novo acute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia (MD‐AML), treated with the combination of fludarabine, cytarabine and G‐CSF (FLAG). Methods : Forty‐four patients with de novo MD‐AML were treated with the FLAG regimen. The median age was 61 yr (range 31–75 yr). Induction therapy consisted of the FLAG regimen; consolidation included idarubicin plus cytarabine. Patients with a compatible donor and aged less than 55 yr were programmed to receive allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), while in those without a donor and aged less than 65 yr autologous transplantation with peripheral blood stem cells mobilized by a consolidation regimen plus G‐CSF was planned. Bone marrow harvest was performed in poor mobilizers. Results : Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 28 out of 44 patients (64%). Death in induction occurred in four patients (9%), while 12 patients (27%) were resistant to FLAG. Toxicity of consolidation was negligible. Most patients aged less than 60 yr and achieving CR were eligible for transplantation procedures, the main reason of exclusion being early relapse. Median overall survival and disease free survival were 16 and 22 months, respectively. Unfavorable cytogenetics was the only parameter significantly related to inferior clinical outcome following multivariate analysis. Conclusion : Multilineage dysplasia per se is not an adverse prognostic factor in AML patients treated with the FLAG regimen. Favorable results are obtained in patients with intermediate karyotype, while in those with adverse cytogenetics new approaches are clearly needed. The toxicity of the regimen is also acceptable in the elderly, and following induction/consolidation, most patients may be submitted to transplantation procedures.
Patient-specific instrumentation does not improve radiographic alignment or clinical outcomes after total knee arthroplasty

Background and purpose — Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been introduced to improve alignment and reduce outliers, increase efficiency, and reduce operation time. In order to improve our understanding of the outcomes of patient-specific instrumentation, we conducted a meta-analysis. Patients and methods — We identified randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing patient-specific and conventional instrumentation in TKA. Weighted mean differences and risk ratios were determined for radiographic accuracy, operation time, hospital stay, blood loss, number of surgical trays required, and patient-reported outcome measures. Results — 21 RCTs involving 1,587 TKAs were included. Patient-specific instrumentation resulted in slightly more accurate hip-knee-ankle axis (0.3°), coronal femoral alignment (0.3°, femoral flexion (0.9°), tibial slope (0.7°), and femoral component rotation (0.5°). The risk ratio of a coronal plane outlier (> 3° deviation of chosen target) for the tibial component was statistically significantly increased in the PSI group (RR =1.64). No significance was found for other radiographic measures. Operation time, blood loss, and transfusion rate were similar. Hospital stay was significantly shortened, by approximately 8 h, and the number of surgical trays used decreased by 4 in the PSI group. Knee Society scores and Oxford knee scores were similar. Interpretation — Patient-specific instrumentation does not result in clinically meaningful improvement in alignment, fewer outliers, or better early patient-reported outcome measures. Efficiency is improved by reducing the number of trays used, but PSI does not reduce operation time.
Semi-phenomenological classification models of the genetic code(s) using q-deformed numbers

The mathematical concept of q-deformations, in particular the one of qnumbers, is used to study the genetic code(s). After considering two kinds of q-numbers, for comparison, a phenomenological classification scheme of the genetic code together with its numerous minor variants is, first, established. Next, numbers describing the presence of additional amino acids, such as Selenocysteine or/and Pyrrolysine, are also produced. Finally, a minimal number of amino acids, which could fit the small number of them which are thought to have been involved, at the origin of life on Earth, is found. All together, these results constitute our final semi-phenomenological model.
Iterated Aluthge transforms: a brief survey

Given an r × r complex matrix T, if T = U|T| is the polar de- composition of T, then the Aluthge transform is defined by �(T) = |T| 1/2 U|T| 1/2 . Letn (T) denote the n-times iterated Aluthge transform of T, i.e. � 0 (T) = T andn (T) = �(� n 1 (T)), n 2 N. In this paper we make a brief survey on the known properties and applications of the Aluthge trasnsorm, particularly the recent proof of the fact that the sequence {� n (T)}n2N converges for every r ×r matrix T. This result was conjectured by Jung, Ko and Pearcy in 2003.
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY STUDIES IN A CASE OF DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS DEMONSTRATE COMPLEX PATTERNS OF REACTIVITY

Introduction: Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an autoimmune, clinically pleomorphic, papulovesicular disorder sometimes associated with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. DH is categorized by subepidermal vesicles and bullae on hematoxylin and eosin (HE within the blister lumen, numerous neutrophils were present, with occasional eosinophils and lymphocytes also seen. DIF examination revealed linear deposits of IgA along the epidermal basement membrane zone, associated with other immunoglobulins and complement. IHC examination showed similar patterns of reactivity to IgA, and also to other immunoreactants. Cells positive for CD1a were present within the blisters, correlating with S-100 staining. Cells staining positive for CD8, CD45 and occasionally CD4 and Granzyme B were seen not only in the blister lumens, but also around neurovascular packages under the blisters. Finally, CD2 positive cells were found around the upper dermal blood vessels. Discussion: Focal DIF linear IgA deposition is the classic hallmark diagnostic finding in DH. However, it is possible that genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers also play a crucial role in the pathogenesis, often acting via cellular pathways exhibiting disease-associated polymorphisms. In tolerance breakthrough, the initiating antigen presenting cells likely lead to immune system cell differentiation, and activation of adaptive immunity.
Winner determination in combinatorial auction generalizations

Combinatorial markets where bids can be submitted on bundles of items can be economically desirable coordination mechanisms in multiagent systems where the items exhibit complementarity and substitutability. There has been a surge of research on winner determination in combinatorial auctions. In this paper we study a wider range of combinatorial market designs: auctions, reverse auctions, and exchanges, with one or multiple units of each item, with and without free disposal. We first theoretically characterize the complexity of finding a feasible, approximate, or optimal solution. Reverse auctions with free disposal can be approximated (even in the multi-unit case), although auctions cannot. When XOR-constraints between bids are allowed (to express substitutability), the hardness turns the other way around: even finding a feasible solution for a reverse auction or exchanges is &Ngr;&Pgr;-complete, while in auctions that is trivial. Finally, in all of the cases without free disposal, even finding a feasible solution is &Ngr;&Pgr;-complete.We then ran experiments on known benchmarks as well as ones which we introduced, to study the complexity of the market variants in practice. Cases with free disposal tended to be easier than ones without. On many distributions, reverse auctions with free disposal were easier than auctions with free disposal---as the approximability would suggest---but interestingly, on one of the most realistic distributions they were harder. Single-unit exchanges were easy, but multi-unit exchanges were extremely hard.
Changes in Metabolic Syndrome Variables Since Childhood in Prehypertensive and Hypertensive Subjects: The Bogalusa Heart Study

That essential hypertension is associated with metabolic syndrome is known. However, information is scant regarding the course of development of adverse levels of blood pressure and other risk variables of metabolic syndrome in youth at risk for developing hypertension. This aspect was studied, retrospectively, in a community-based cohort of normotensive (n=2206), prehypertensive (n=721), and hypertensive (n=328) subjects examined serially during childhood (4 to 11 years), adolescence (12 to 18 years), and adulthood (19 to 42 years). Prehypertensive subjects versus normotensive subjects had significantly higher body mass index and subscapular skinfold, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, and triglycerides beginning in childhood; higher glucose in adolescence; and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance index in adulthood. Hypertensive subjects versus normotensive subjects had higher adiposity measures, SBP and DBP, glucose, and triglycerides beginning in childhood; higher insulin and insulin resistant index in childhood and adulthood; and lower high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol in adulthood. Most of these variables progressed adversely at an increased rate in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects. In a multivariate analysis, adverse changes in adiposity, SBP, and DBP were independently associated with prehypertensive status; and adverse changes in adiposity, SBP and DBP, insulin resistant index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides with hypertension status. As young adults, prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects showed significantly higher prevalence of obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemias. Thus, excess adiposity and blood pressure beginning in childhood and accelerated adverse longitudinal changes in risk variables of metabolic syndrome through young adulthood characterize the early natural history of hypertension.
VLSI implementation of the sphere decoding algorithm

Maximum likelihood detection is an essential part of high-performance multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems. While it is attractive due to its superior performance (in terms of BER) its complexity using a straightforward exhaustive search grows exponentially with the number of antennas and the order of the modulation scheme. Sphere decoding is a promising method to reduce the average decoding complexity significantly without compromising performance. This paper discusses the VLSI implementation of the sphere decoder and presents the first implementation of the algorithm that does not compromise BER performance.
Bilinear CNN Models for Fine-Grained Visual Recognition

We propose bilinear models, a recognition architecture that consists of two feature extractors whose outputs are multiplied using outer product at each location of the image and pooled to obtain an image descriptor. This architecture can model local pairwise feature interactions in a translationally invariant manner which is particularly useful for fine-grained categorization. It also generalizes various orderless texture descriptors such as the Fisher vector, VLAD and O2P. We present experiments with bilinear models where the feature extractors are based on convolutional neural networks. The bilinear form simplifies gradient computation and allows end-to-end training of both networks using image labels only. Using networks initialized from the ImageNet dataset followed by domain specific fine-tuning we obtain 84.1% accuracy of the CUB-200-2011 dataset requiring only category labels at training time. We present experiments and visualizations that analyze the effects of fine-tuning and the choice two networks on the speed and accuracy of the models. Results show that the architecture compares favorably to the existing state of the art on a number of fine-grained datasets while being substantially simpler and easier to train. Moreover, our most accurate model is fairly efficient running at 8 frames/sec on a NVIDIA Tesla K40 GPU. The source code for the complete system will be made available at http://vis-www.cs. umass.edu/bcnn.
Differences and Similarities Between Spontaneous Dissections of the Internal Carotid Artery and the Vertebral Artery

Background and Purpose— To compare potential risk factors, clinical symptoms, diagnostic delay, and 3-month outcome between spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (sICAD) and spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD). Methods— We compared patients with sICAD (n=668) and sVAD (n=302) treated in 3 university hospitals. Results— Patients with sICAD were older (46.3±9.6 versus 42.0±10.2 years; P<0.001), more often men (62.7% versus 53.0%; P=0.004), and presented more frequently with tinnitus (10.9% versus 3.4%; P<0.001) and more severe ischemic strokes (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, 10±7.1 versus 5±5.9; P<0.001). Patients with sVAD had more often bilateral dissections (15.2% versus 7.6%; P<0.001) and were more often smokers (36.0% versus 28.7%; P=0.007). Thunderclap headache (9.2% versus 3.6%; P=0.001) and neck pain were more common (65.8% versus 33.5%; P<0.001) in sVAD. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (6.0% versus 0.6%; P<0.001) and ischemic stroke (69.5% versus 52.2%; P<0.001) were more frequent in sVAD. After multivariate analysis, sex difference lost its significance (P=0.21), and all other variables remained significant. Time to diagnosis was similar in sICAD and sVAD and improved between 2001 and 2012 compared with the previous 10-year period (8.0±10.5 days versus 10.7±13.2 days; P=0.004). In sVAD, favorable outcome 3 months after ischemic stroke (modified Rankin Scale, 0–2: 88.8% versus 58.4%; P<0.001), recurrent transient ischemic attack (4.8% versus 1.1%; P=0.001), and recurrent ischemic stroke (2.8% versus 0.7%; P=0.02) within 3 months were more frequent. Conclusions— sICAD and sVAD patients differ in many aspects. Future studies should perform separate analyses of these 2 entities.
Dissecting the End-to-end Latency of Interactive Mobile Video Applications

In this paper we measure the step-wise latency in the pipeline of three kinds of interactive mobile video applications that are rapidly gaining popularity, namely Remote Graphics Rendering (RGR), Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR), and Mobile Virtual Reality (MVR). The applications differ from each other by the way in which the user interacts with the application, i.e., video I/O and user controls, however in all the user experience is highly sensitive to end-to-end latency. Long latency between a user control event and display update renders the application unusable. Hence, understanding the nature and origins of latency of these applications is of paramount importance. We show through extensive measurements that control input and display buffering have a substantial effect on the overall delay. Our results shed light on the latency bottlenecks and the maturity of technology for seamless user experience with these applications.
Lubiprostone targets prostanoid EP4 receptors in ovine airways

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lubiprostone, a prostaglandin E1 derivative, is reported to activate ClC‐2 chloride channels located in the apical membranes of a number of transporting epithelia. Lack of functioning CFTR chloride channels in epithelia is responsible for the genetic disease cystic fibrosis, therefore, surrogate channels that can operate independently of CFTR are of interest. This study explores the target receptor(s) for lubiprostone in airway epithelium.