Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Timing of laparoscopic surgery in gallstone pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of the timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy following acute gallstone pancreatitis. SETTING University-based county teaching hospital. DESIGN Retrospective case series. PATIENTS One hundred forty-two patients with gallstone pancreatitis treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy between April 1991 and September 1993. There were 16 men and 126 women, with a mean age of 39.5 years. The mean serum amylase level at admission was 1616 U/L. All patients were operated on more than 48 hours after admission, after clinical and biochemical resolution of pancreatitis. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed in 25 patients (more than 48 hours after admission), with common bile duct stones being identified and removed in 10. RESULTS Twenty patients had three or more Ranson's criteria. Of these, nine had laparoscopic cholecystectomy attempted within the first week of admission. Six (67%) of these patients required conversion to open procedures (two for common bile duct exploration, one for repair of a common hepatic duct injury, and three for anatomic distortion due to inflammation). The mean postoperative stay of the nine patients was 5.4 days. The other 11 patients with three or more Ranson's criteria were operated on after 1 week, and only two required conversion to open cholecystectomy (18%). The mean postoperative stay in these 11 patients was 2.3 days. The difference in conversion rate approached but did not reach statistical significance (P = .08). The postoperative stay, however, was significantly shorter in the group of patients who underwent late operations (P = .03). There were 122 patients with fewer than three Ranson's criteria. In this group, there was no difference in length of postoperative stay between patients operated on earlier and those operated on later (2.4 vs 3.9 days; P = .49; n = 74 and n = 48, respectively). Of these 122 procedures, eight were converted to open procedures (6.6%). There was no significant difference in conversion rates in these patients regardless of whether they were operated on earlier or later. CONCLUSIONS Based on these data, we believe, first, that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe in patients recovering from gallstone pancreatitis (mortality rate, 0%; bile duct injury, 0.7%). Furthermore, early operation can safely be recommended in patients with mild pancreatitis. However, in patients with three or more Ranson's criteria, operation during the first week following admission is associated with an increase in operative complications, an increased rate of conversion, and longer postoperative stays.
Long-term Follow-up Results of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy.

BACKGROUND Open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) has been considered the gold standard in the management of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) for its favorable outcomes in long-term follow-up. Nowadays, percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is gaining recognition. However, greatest limitation of studies of PELD is the lack of long-term follow-up outcomes. OBJECTIVE To investigate the long-term outcomes of PELD in terms of clinical and radiographic findings and revision surgery rate. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Spine hospital. METHODS Sixty-two patients who underwent PELD 10 years previously were contacted for follow-up. Clinical parameters such as the visual analog scale scores for the back and legs (VAS-B and VAS-L, respectively), the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and radiographic findings such as the disc-height ratio and change in the difference between flexion and extension were recorded and compared to the preoperative values. RESULTS For 62 followed patients, 38 met our inclusion criteria (35 transforaminal, 3 interlaminar). Excluded were 6 patients (9.4%) who underwent revision OLM at same level and 17 patients (26.6%) who underwent lumbar spine surgery at other levels. The average follow-up period was 11.22 (± 0.83) years. For the remaining 38 patients who had no further surgery, the postoperative VAS-B (2.53 ± 1.98), VAS-L (1.82 ± 1.92), and ODI (12.69 ± 11.26) were significantly different from the pre-operative values (8.45 ± 1.52, 7.40 ± 3.04, and 55.33 ± 24.63, respectively; all P = 0.01). The average disc-height ratio was 81.54% of the original disc height. There was no evidence of instability after long-term postoperative follow-up. LIMITATION Retrospective nature of data collection. CONCLUSION PELD has favorable long-term outcomes.Key words: Long-term, PELD, endoscopic lumbar discectomy, revision rate, disc height, instability.
Emerging drugs for actinic keratosis

Importance of the field: Actinic keratoses (AK) represent a worldwide problem with continuously increasing incidence. AK are characterized by a proliferation of atypical keratinocytes limited to the epidermis, but they may develop into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. In this regard, novel treatment modalities have been developed that allow treatment of the whole actinically damaged field. Areas covered in this review: An overview about current treatment modalities for AK including, among others, their mechanism of action, application scheme and common side effects. Furthermore, recent developments in the field are described and future aspects are discussed. What the reader will gain: The reader of this review will be informed about all current treatment modalities for AK. Furthermore, the reader will gain knowledge about ongoing research in this field and novel topical drugs for the treatment of AK. Take home message: Many treatment modalities are available for the treatment of AK. Recent developments have focused on the management of the whole actinically damaged field. In this regard, several topical drugs have been approved for AK, differing in clearance rates, side effects, application and cost. Research is continuing aiming in the development of the “ideal” treatment of AK which combines high clearance rates with few side effects, short treatment duration and low costs.
Puriﬁcation and Characterization of the Comamonas testosteroni B-356 Biphenyl Dioxygenase Components

In this report, we describe some of the characteristics of the Comamonas testosteroni B-356 biphenyl (BPH)- chlorobiphenyl dioxygenase system, which includes the terminal oxygenase, an iron-sulfur protein (ISP BPH ) made up of an (cid:97) subunit (51 kDa) and a (cid:98) subunit (22 kDa) encoded by bphA and bphE , respectively; a ferredoxin (FER BPH ; 12 kDa) encoded by bphF ; and a ferredoxin reductase (RED BPH ; 43 kDa) encoded by bphG . ISP BPH subunits were puriﬁed from B-356 cells grown on BPH. Since highly puriﬁed FER BPH and RED BPH were difﬁcult to obtain from strain B-356, these two components were puriﬁed from recombinant Escherichia coli strains by using the His tag puriﬁcation system. These His-tagged fusion proteins were shown to support BPH 2,3-dioxygenase activity in vitro when added to preparations of ISP BPH in the presence of NADH. FER BPH and RED BPH are thought to pass electrons from NADH to ISP BPH , which then activates molecular oxygen for insertion into the aromatic substrate. The reductase was found to contain approximately 1 mol E. coli strains carry- ing parts of the bph operon cloned from strain B-356. Fast-Flow DEAE-Sepha-rose chromatography separated B-356 BPH dox into three components including one fraction (designated fraction D) that contained the yellow RED BPH component, a second fraction (designated fraction E) which had typical Rieske protein spectral characteristics and was shown to contain both the (cid:97) and (cid:98) subunits of ISP BPH , and a third fraction containing FER BPH . Fraction D puriﬁed as described previously (5). Fraction E brought to 5% (wt/vol) ammonium sulfate, ﬁltered through a 0.22- (cid:109) m-pore-size membrane remove particulate material, and loaded onto a phenyl-Sepharose column (12 by cm) equilibrated with 25 mM HEPES buffer, pH 7.3, containing 5% ammonium sulfate and 10% glycerol. The sample was loaded at a ﬂow rate of 1.0 ml/min and then washed with the starting buffer for 30 min. The column was then eluted with the same HEPES buffer lacking ammonium sulfate. A protein peak eluting at approximately 80 ml had Rieske protein spectral characteristics. Fractions from this peak (45 ml) were combined and passed over an Econo-Pac Q cartridge (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) at a ﬂow rate of 1 ml/min. The Rieske-type protein was eluted with 25 mM HEPES buffer, pH 7.3, containing 0.2 M NaCl. The preparation obtained from the Econo-Pac Q cartridge was found to contain both the (cid:97) and (cid:98) subunits of the ISP BPH components, and this preparation was used for all of the experiments reported in this study.
Prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses and the role of perceived impairment: findings from an adolescent community sample.

The present study examined psychiatric functioning in a community sample of adolescents aged 14 to 17 years (average age of 15 years). We administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-2.25 (DISC-2.25) to 1,201 adolescents and their mothers to obtain prevalence estimates of DSM-III-R disorders and the amount of perceived impairment associated with these disorders. While adolescent females reported a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders than males (15.5% vs. 8.5%), mothers indicated no sex difference. Compared with adolescent males, females had significantly higher rates of internalizing, anxiety. and depressive disorders. In contrast, the prevalence of externalizing disorders was significantly higher among adolescent males. The inclusion of an impairment criterion had a significant impact in reducing the prevalence rates of overall psychiatric disorders. This reduction occurred mainly through impairment's effects on internalizing disorders, specifically anxiety-based disorders (i.e., simple and social phobia). Given the limited research on the effect of impairment on the prevalence of adolescent psychiatric disorders, future work in this area seems warranted.
Comparative analysis of thyroid carcinomas in Kingston and St Andrew, Jamaica, between two consecutive 15-year periods.

OBJECTIVE To compare the distribution of histological subtypes of thyroid cancer in Kingston and St Andrew (KSA), Jamaica, within two consecutive 15-year periods. METHODS We extracted all cases of thyroid carcinoma archived in the Jamaica Cancer Registry files over the 30-year period from 1978 to 2007. The cases were separated into two groups: 1978-1992 (Group I) and 1993-2007 (Group II). We analysed age, gender and histological subtype distribution within each group, and then made comparative analyses between the two periods. RESULTS There were 311 cases in which the histological subtype was documented. The patients ranged in age from 12 to 94 years, with male to female ratios of 1:4.2 (group I) and 1:5.6 (group II). The highest frequencies of cases occurred in patients between the ages of 20 and 59 years. The commonest histological subtype in group I was follicular (52.7%); in group II, it was papillary (60%), followed by follicular (26.7%) and medullary (6.7%). There was an overall 263% increase in the papillary to follicular cancer ratio from group I (0.62) to group II (2.25). The increase in papillary carcinomas was statistically significant (p < 0.001) overall, and in patients less than 50 years of age (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The recent KSA thyroid cancer data show a histological profile similar to that described globally, with papillary carcinomas being commonest, followed by follicular and then medullary. The significant increase in papillary cancer frequency in KSA is most likely the result of gradual recognition of the entity follicular variant of papillary cancer
Identification of a Tissue-Specific, C/EBPβ-Dependent Pathway of Differentiation for Murine Peritoneal Macrophages

Macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) are distributed throughout the body and play important roles in pathogen detection and tissue homeostasis. In tissues, resident macrophages exhibit distinct phenotypes and activities, yet the transcriptional pathways that specify tissue-specific macrophages are largely unknown. We investigated the functions and origins of two peritoneal macrophage populations in mice: small and large peritoneal macrophages (SPM and LPM, respectively). SPM and LPM differ in their ability to phagocytose apoptotic cells, as well as in the production of cytokines in response to LPS. In steady-state conditions, SPM are sustained by circulating precursors, whereas LPM are maintained independently of hematopoiesis; however, both populations are replenished by bone marrow precursors following radiation injury. Transcription factor analysis revealed that SPM and LPM express abundant CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-β. Cebpb−/− mice exhibit elevated numbers of SPM-like cells but lack functional LPM. Alveolar macrophages are also missing in Cebpb−/− mice, although macrophage populations in the spleen, kidney, skin, mesenteric lymph nodes, and liver are normal. Adoptive transfer of SPM into Cebpb−/− mice results in SPM differentiation into LPM, yet donor SPM do not generate LPM after transfer into C/EBPβ-sufficient mice, suggesting that endogenous LPM inhibit differentiation by SPM. We conclude that C/EBPβ plays an intrinsic, tissue-restricted role in the generation of resident macrophages.
Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite serum levels in Parkinson's disease: correlation of oxidative stress and the severity of the disease.

BACKGROUND Nitric oxide (NO) and its toxic product peroxynitrite contribute to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). The relationship of serum levels of these oxidants with the severity of the disease [evaluated by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)] is not established. AIM This study was designed to evaluate whether patients with PD had higher NO and peroxynitrite serum level or not. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty eight patients with PD and 15 healthy volunteers entered this study. The concentrations of serum NO and peroxynitrite were assayed and their correlation with the UPDRS score was assessed. RESULTS Mean serum NO levels in patient group was 29.8 ± 21.631 versus 7.49 ± 2.573 in control group, which was significantly higher in patients (p ≤ 0.0001). Peroxynitrite levels in patient and control groups were 7.37±3.501 µmol/L and 3.94 ±1.389 µmol/L respectively. Patients had a significantly higher peroxynitrite level (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of NO and peroxynitrite leads to higher UPDRS scores. It seems since current PD treatments do not affect the pathology of the disease, using drugs that exert neuroprotective properties should be considered for the treatment of PD in order to prevent further neuronal cell loss.
Hypoxia‐induced astrocytic reaction and increased vascular permeability in the rat cerebellum

Hypoxia is an important factor linked to induction of vascular leakage and formation of brain edema. In this connection, astrocytes associated closely with the blood vessels are deemed to be involved. This study investigated the response of astrocytes to hypoxia in the adult rat cerebellum, and along with this, the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) was assessed using fluorescent and electron dense tracers. In rats subjected to hypoxia, mRNA and protein expression of hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and aquaporin‐4 (AQ4) was significantly increased. VEGF and AQ4 immunoreactive cells were identified as astrocytes by double immunofluorescence labeling. Increased VEGF tissue concentration and astrocytic swelling as observed in hypoxic rats were reduced after melatonin administration. Following intraperitoneal or intravenous injection of rhodamine isothiocyanate (RhIC) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP), leakage of both tracers was observed in hypoxic rats but not in the controls indicating that functional integrity of BBB is compromised in hypoxia/reoxygenation. Enhanced gene and protein expression of VEGF may contribute to increased permeability of blood vessels. AQ4, a water transporting protein, is upregulated in astrocytes in hypoxia suggesting the cells are involved in edema formation. To this end, melatonin may be beneficial in reducing edema as it reduced VEGF concentration and, hence, vascular permeability. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alterations in gonadotropin secretion in middle-aged persistent-estrous rats following LHRH agonist treatment.

During aging female rats enter an anovulatory condition with chronically elevated circulating levels of estrogen described as persistent estrus (PE). Since this endocrine state is dramatically different from the fluctuating steroid milieu of young regularly cycling females, interpretations of altered neuroendocrine responses in aged rats have been difficult to attribute to aging per se. In the present study, young cyclic and middle-aged PE rats were treated with an LHRH agonist, [DTrp6,Pro9-NHEt]-LHRH, continuously (2.5 micrograms/h) for 12 days to suppress gonadotropin and ovarian steroid secretion. On the evening of the first day of LHRH agonist (LHRH-AG) treatment both young cyclic and middle-aged PE rats showed marked (p < 0.01) increases in plasma LH and FSH followed by progressive decreases in gonadotropin secretion which reached significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels than pretreatment values by day 7. LHRH-AG treatment significantly (p < 0.01) reduced circulating 17 beta-estradiol (E2) levels in both young and PE rats while progesterone concentrations did not change. Following LHRH-AG treatment, ovariectomy (OVX) resulted in increases of plasma LH and FSH that were delayed and attenuated in PE rats as compared to those of young females. When compared to nontreated rats, 12 days of LHRH-AG treatment in both young and PE females had a minimal and transient effect on the post-OVX gonadotropin responses, suggesting that the endocrine status immediately prior to OVX does not profoundly influence the post-OVX responses in young cyclic and middle-aged PE rats. Furthermore, LHRH-AG treatment does not appear to have permanent inhibitory effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to mite in sera and sputa from asthmatic patients.

In order to examine roles of antibodies to allergens in bronchial secretions, IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to mite in sputa from mite-sensitive asthmatics were measured by ELISA and compared with antibodies in sera. IgA antibodies to mite in sputa were significantly higher in mite-sensitive patients than in normal controls or mite-unsensitive asthmatic patients (P less than .01), whereas IgG and IgA antibodies in sera were significantly higher in mite-sensitive patients than in the other two groups (P less than .01). There were no significant differences of serum or sputum IgM antibodies among the three groups. The relative ratio of the level of IgA antibodies: the level of IgG antibodies was higher in sputum than in sera. IgA antibodies in bronchial secretions may play a protective role for asthma when allergens enter into the bronchial trees.
Complications after orthopedic surgery in alpacas and llamas: 24 cases (2000-2006).

OBJECTIVE To report complications associated with orthopedic surgery in alpacas and llamas. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. ANIMALS Alpacas (n=18) and llamas (n=6) that orthopedic surgery using internal or external fixation. METHODS Medical records (January 2000-December 2006) and radiographs were reviewed and owners contacted for follow-up information for alpacas and llamas that had orthopedic surgery involving internal or external fixation. Fourteen camelids had internal fixation, 7 had external fixation, and 3 had a combination of internal and external fixation. RESULTS Twenty-two animals (92%) were discharged after surgery (mean hospitalization, 15 days). Of 20 animals with >or=1 year follow-up information, 18 were alive (82%). Postoperative complications related to fracture healing, infection, soft tissue structures, or joints occurred in 21 camelids (87%). Thirteen animals returned to their intended use, 4 animals returned to breeding but not their intended use, 4 were euthanatized, and 3 were only able to be used as pets. CONCLUSIONS Fixation type (internal, external) did not have any significant effect on complications involving fracture healing, infection, soft tissue structures, or chronic lameness. Camelids with open fractures were more likely to have complications associated with fracture healing, repair, and infection than closed fractures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Complications after orthopedic surgery in alpacas and llamas are more common than previously reported and may result in chronic lameness or prevent return to their intended use.
Papillomavirus and cervical cancer: A clinical and laboratory study

It is now widely accepted that HPV types 16, 18, 31, and 33 are associated with the development of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and malignant lesions in the cervix. On this basis, the identification of HPV types in cervical scrape samples has been advocated as a supplement to cytological screening tests. However, little is known of the distribution of the virus at different sites in the lower female genital tract or of how this distribution may change during the natural course of HPV infection. In this survey, HPV DNA dot hybridizations and, in some instances, Southern blot hybridizations with mixed HPV 6/11 and 16/18 probes were undertaken to detect HPV DNA in cervical scrapes and biopsies of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. A total of 92 women attending a Sydney hospital were screened: 59 of these patients had cervical disease, either invasive cervical carcinoma (CaCx) or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), grades I‐III. A group of 33 women who lacked evidence of cervical abnormalities served as controls. HPV DNA, predominantly type 16/18, was detected in the cervical biopsies of 96% of the CaCx patients, 80% of the CIN III patients, and 65% of the CIN I‐II patients. In contrast only 9% of the cervical biopsies from the control group contained detectable HPV 6, 11, 16, or 18 DNA. A high proportion of the women with cervical abnormalities had evidence of concurrent vaginal and/or vulval papillomavirus involvement. The significance of these findings for routine screening and subsequent management of patients with HPV‐associated cervical disease is discussed.
Three dimensional mesoscale analysis of translamellar cross‐bridge morphologies in the annulus fibrosus using optical coherence tomography

The defining characteristic of the annulus fibrosus (AF) of the intervertebral disc (IVD) has long been the lamellar structures that consist of highly ordered collagen fibers arranged in alternating oblique angles from one layer to the next. However, a series of recent histologic studies have demonstrated that AF lamellae contain elastin‐ and type VI collagen‐rich secondary “cross‐bridge” structures across lamellae. In this study, we use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to elucidate the three‐dimensional (3‐D) morphologies of these translamellar cross‐bridges in AF tissues. Mesoscale volumetric images by OCT revealed a 3‐D network of heterogeneously distributed cross‐bridges. The results of this study confirm the translamellar cross‐bridge is identifiable as a distinguishable structure, which lies in the interbundle space of adjacent lamellae and crisscrosses multiple lamellae in the radial direction. In contrast to previously proposed models extrapolated from 2–D sections, results from this current study show that translamellar cross‐bridges exist as a complex, interconnected network. We also found much greater variation in lengths of cross‐bridges within the interbundle space of lamellae (0.8–1.4 mm from the current study versus 0.3–0.6 mm from 2–D sections). OCT‐based 3–D morphology of translamellar cross‐bridge provides novel insight into the AF structure. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:? –? , 2015.