Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic one-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy preserving gubernaculum.

OBJECTIVE To assess gubernaculum-sparing laparoscopic one-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy (FSO), in the management of high intrapelvic testis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Medical reports of boys who underwent laparoscopic one-stage FSO were retrospectively reviewed. High intrapelvic testis was defined as testis ≥3 cm away from ipsilateral internal ring. Testes were evaluated on physical examination at 3rd, 6th and 18th months after surgery. Children were evaluated as for their demographic data, operative findings, interventional details and outcomes. RESULTS Seven patients met inclusion criteria of the study. Six of 7 testis were small and had abnormal appearance, compared with the contralateral testis. Average distance of the testes from the internal ring was 4.2±1.1 cm (3 to 6). Average age at surgery was 6.1±4.2 years (2 to 12). Average follow-up period was 14±5.8 months (8 to 20), and 5 testis (71.4%) were considered to be normal in volume and scrotal location. Two testes were relatively atrophic and underwent orchiectomy. CONCLUSION Our preliminary results shows a good testicular survival rate for one-stage laparoscopic FSO. Sparing collateral vasculature of the gubernaculum is important.
The Physiologic Effects of Pneumoperitoneum in the Morbidly Obese

Objective:To review the physiologic effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum in the morbidly obese. Summary Background Data:The number of laparoscopic bariatric operations performed in the United States has increased dramatically over the past several years. Laparoscopic bariatric surgery requires abdominal insufflation with CO2 and an increase in the intraabdominal pressure up to 15 mm Hg. Many studies have demonstrated the adverse consequences of pneumoperitoneum; however, few studies have examined the physiologic effects of pneumoperitoneum in the morbidly obese. Methods:A MEDLINE search from 1994 to 2003 was performed using the key words morbid obesity, laparoscopy, bariatric surgery, pneumoperitoneum, and gastric bypass. The authors reviewed papers evaluating the physiologic effects of pneumoperitoneum in morbidly obese subjects undergoing laparoscopy. The topics examined included alteration in acid-base balance, hemodynamics, femoral venous flow, and hepatic, renal, and cardiorespiratory function. Results:Physiologically, morbidly obese patients have a higher intraabdominal pressure at 2 to 3 times that of nonobese patients. The adverse consequences of pneumoperitoneum in morbidly obese patients are similar to those observed in nonobese patients. Laparoscopy in the obese can lead to systemic absorption of CO2 and increased requirements for CO2 elimination. The increased intraabdominal pressure enhances venous stasis, reduces intraoperative portal venous blood flow, decreases intraoperative urinary output, lowers respiratory compliance, increases airway pressure, and impairs cardiac function. Intraoperative management to minimize the adverse changes include appropriate ventilatory adjustments to avoid hypercapnia and acidosis, the use of sequential compression devices to minimizes venous stasis, and optimize intravascular volume to minimize the effects of increased intraabdominal pressure on renal and cardiac function. Conclusions:Morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery are at risk for intraoperative complications relating to the use of CO2 pneumoperitoneum. Surgeons performing laparoscopic bariatric surgery should understand the physiologic effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum in the morbidly obese and make appropriate intraoperative adjustments to minimize the adverse changes.
La ‘troisième partie’ de l' ars grammatica

SUMMARYOne often thinks that the Latin Ars contains a so-called 'third part', inherited from Stoic linguistic analysis, on the vices and virtues of speech (vitia virtutesque orationis). Contrary to this received opinion, well estab lished in the history of grammar, we propose an evolutionary interpretation predicated on the study of texts as ensembles and not as collections of details. It results that Stoic doctrine is not compatible with the general orientation of the 'third part'. The structure of this 'third part' consists, moreover, of anomalies, which are explained if one assumes that there has been a secondary extension of theoretical grammar from its original domain — correctness — to another 'property of discourse', namely ornamentation. Evidence from Quintilian shows how this extension has been able to occur under the twofold influence of rhetoric and literary criticism.RESUMEOn estime souvent que L'Ars latine conserve une 'troisieme partie', sur les uitia uirtutesque orationis, heritee de l'analyse linguistique stoicienne. Contre cette conception fixiste de l'histoire de la grammaire, nous propo-sons une interpretation evolutionniste fondee sur l'etude des textes comme ensembles et non comme collections de details. Il en ressort que la doctrine stoicienne n'est pas compatible avec l'orientation generale de la 'troisieme partie'. La construction de cette 'troisieme partie' comporte de plus des anomalies, qui s'expliquent si l'on admet qu'il y a eu extension secondaire de la grammaire theorique, de son domaine d'origine, la correction, a une autre 'qualite du discours', l'ornementation. Le temoignage de Quintilien montre comment cette extension a pu se produire, sous la double influence de la rhetorique et de la lecture expliquee.
Resuscitation Team Perceptions of Family Presence During CPR

The literature supports family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and its many perceived benefits for patients and their families. It also suggests that, overall, health care professionals are supportive of this practice. There have not been any published studies to date that have looked at the perception of family presence from the multidisciplinary resuscitation or code team's perspective. The purpose of this study was to describe the multidisciplinary care provider's understanding and perceived barriers of family presence during CPR in an academic medical center. This study is a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive study that utilized survey methodology. The sample included all members of an urban academic medical center's resuscitation response team. The study findings reveal that, overall, code team members feel that family members should be allowed to remain at the bedside during CPR but that challenges exist including education deficits and mixed feelings that may result from family presence; the study participants caring for neonates and children were more favorable to family presence during CPR than their adult counterparts. Barriers remain related to family presence during resuscitation. Education is needed for all members of the health care team to facilitate collaborative changes in resuscitation practices. Education should include information regarding institutional policies, methods for incorporating family members into the code process, and interventions to support the psychosocial needs of family members.
Antimicrobial effect of Satureja cuneifolia Ten. essential oil

The essential oil composition of Satureja cuneifolia Ten. , was analyzed with respect to samples picked in different vegetative stages in the region of Rotimije (Stolac, Herzegovina). We did not find oil of a composition charac­ teristic of the Satureja genus. The researched species mostly did not contain either Thymol or Carvacrol. The antimicrobial effect of the oil was highly marked during the post flowering period, especially for the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. Essential oil fungicidal activity was best marked on Candida albicans yeast during the flowering period. Picking this plant at the proper time can considerably increase its therapeutic effect.
Renal graft intolerance syndrome in late graft failure patients: efficacy and safety of embolization as first‐line treatment compared to surgical removal

Although renal graft percutaneous embolization was introduced to avoid the risk associated with graft nephrectomy, there is no universal consensus about its indications and results. In order to evaluate the efficacy of graft embolization in the treatment of graft intolerance syndrome as well as its safety compared to surgical removal with respect to complications and other morbidity measures, We performed a retrospective observational study comparing two groups of patients treated for graft intolerance syndrome: Group 1: patients who had embolization as first‐line treatment and Group 2: patients directly treated by surgical removal. 72 patients were included, (32 in Group 1 and 40 in Group 2); the postintervention follow‐up continued for 12 months. Patients in Group 1 are older than those in Group 2. Otherwise, the two groups are similar concerning sex, manifestations of graft intolerance syndrome, diabetes and nutritional and functional status. The overall success rate of embolization in complete resolution of graft intolerance syndrome and ultimately avoidance of surgical removal was 84.37%. The surgical removal group had more serious complications, a longer hospital stay and needed more blood transfusions. We conclude that embolization of symptomatic renal grafts has considerable efficacy with less morbidity, and no serious complications compared to the standard surgical graft removal.
Should One Hire a Corrupt CEO in a Corrupt Country?

This paper examines the interaction between the propensity to corrupt (PTC) and firm performance. Using a unique data set of Moscow traffic violations, I construct the PTC of every Muscovite with a driver׳s license. Next, I determine the PTC for the top management of 58,157 privately held firms. I find that a 1 standard deviation increase in management PTC corresponds to a 3.6% increase in income diversion and that firms with corrupt management significantly outperform their counterparts. This study contributes to the literature that characterizes corruption using objective (instead of perception-based) measures and provides evidence regarding the positive aspects of corruption at the firm level.
The prevalence of ulcerated plaques in the aortic arch in patients with stroke.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS The cause of cerebral infarction is obscure in up to 40 percent of patients with this disorder who are studied prospectively. In this investigation, we determined the frequency of ulcerated plaques in the aortic arch and explored the part they may play in the formation of cerebral emboli. Using an autopsy data bank, we studied the prevalence of ulcerated plaques in the aortic arch in 500 consecutive patients with cerebrovascular and other neurologic diseases who were studied at autopsy. RESULTS Ulcerated plaques were present in 26 percent of the 239 patients with cerebrovascular disease but in only 5 percent of the 261 patients with other neurologic diseases (P less than 0.001). After we controlled for age and heart weight, the adjusted rates were 16.9 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively (adjusted odds ratio, 4.0; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.1 to 7.8; P less than 0.001). Among the patients with cerebrovascular disease, the prevalence of ulcerated plaques in the aortic arch was 28 percent in the 183 patients with cerebral infarcts and 20 percent in the 56 patients with brain hemorrhage. The prevalence of ulcerated plaques was 61 percent among the 28 patients with no known cause of cerebral infarction, as compared with 22 percent among the 155 patients with a known cause of cerebral infarction (P less than 0.001). After adjustment for covariates, the prevalence was 57.8 percent among patients with no known cause of cerebral infarction and 20.2 percent among those with a known cause (adjusted odds ratio, 5.7; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.4 to 13.6; P less than 0.001). The presence of ulcerated plaques in the aortic arch was not correlated with the presence of extracranial internal-carotid artery stenosis, suggesting that these were two independent risk factors for stroke. CONCLUSIONS Ulcerated plaques in the aortic arch may play a part in causing cerebral infarction, especially in patients in whom cerebral infarction has no known cause.
Effectiveness of traditional Chinese "gua sha" therapy in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE Gua sha is a traditional East Asian healing technique where the body surface is press-stroked with a smooth-edged instrument to intentionally raise therapeutic petechiae. A traditional indication of Gua sha is neck pain; no data from controlled trials exist to support this claim. The researchers aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Gua sha in the symptomatic treatment of chronic neck pain. DESIGN The study was designed as an open randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING The study was set in Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University Duisburg-Essen, Germany. SUBJECTS Forty-eight outpatients (58.5±8.0 years; 41 female) with chronic mechanical neck pain were the subjects of the study. INTERVENTION Patients were randomized into Gua sha (N=24) or control groups (N=24) and followed up for 7 days. Gua sha patients were treated once with Gua sha, while control patients were treated with a local thermal heat pad. OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome was change of neck pain severity after 1 week as assessed by visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included pain at motion, the neck disability index (NDI) and quality-of-life (Short-Form [36] Health Survey). RESULTS Neck pain severity after 1 week improved significantly better in the Gua sha group compared with the control group (group difference -29.9 mm, 95% confidence interval: -43.3; -16.6 mm; P<0.001). Significant treatment effects were also found for pain at motion, scores on the NDI, and dimensions of quality-of-life. The treatment was safe and well tolerated. CONCLUSION Gua sha has beneficial short-term effects on pain and functional status in patients with chronic neck pain. The value of Gua sha in the long-term management of neck pain and related mechanisms remains to be clarified.
SERUM URIC ACID IN METABOLIC SYNDROME

Background: The metabolic syndrome consists of a constellation of metabolic abnormalities including central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, hyperglycemia and hypertension. Aims & Objective: To study serum uric acid level in metabolic syndrome. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on fifty patients with metabolic syndrome as per IDF criteria and waist circumference, blood pressure, serum uric acid were estimated. Results: There is significant correlation found between serum uric acid levels and hypertension and also between serum uric acid levels and waist circumference of metabolic syndrome patients. Conclusion: Patients with higher serum uric acid levels has significant correlation with components of metabolic syndrome is one of the risk factor in development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
The FHA and BRCT domains recognize ADP-ribosylation during DNA damage response

Poly-ADP-ribosylation post-translational modifications play important roles in many biological processes, including the DNA damage response. Yu and colleagues now identify a set of Forkhead-associated (FHA) and BRCA1 C-terminal (BRCT) domains that recognize poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR). They show that the interaction between PAR and the BRCT domain of the Nijmegan breakage syndrome protein NBS1 is important for the activation of ATM in response to DNA damage. This study thus demonstrates how two novel PAR-binding modules mediate the DNA damage response.
Interspecific synchrony and asynchrony in the fruiting phenologies of congeneric bird-dispersed plants in Panama

Plants potentially compete for seed dispersal. Selection may favour temporally segregated fruiting phenologies to minimize this competition and also to maintain resident populations of dispersal agents. Alternatively, selection may favour temporally aggregated fruiting phenologies when the effectiveness of seed dispersal agents varies seasonally or when large, synchronous fruit displays enhance dispersal. These evolutionary scenarios assume that plants share seed dispersal agents. This assumption and temporal overlap in fruiting phenologies were evaluated for the Miconia and Psychotria of central Panama. These two genera accounted for 18 and 27%, respectively, of 1096 fleshy fruits found in regurgitation or faecal samples taken from 2054 birds of 103 species netted in the forest understorey. Two species of manakins accounted for 62% (123/200) of all Miconia fruit taken. Three species of manakins and three species of migratory thrushes accounted for 97% (282/292) of all Psychotria fruits taken. There is a high potential for intrageneric competition for seed dispersal for both plant genera. Null model analyses showed that the fruiting phenologies of Miconia (14 species) are segregated in time, while fruiting of Psychotria (21 species) is highly aggregated. The Miconia were found in up to 24% of the diet samples for the two manakin species, suggesting that Miconia may be a critical resource for both species. The Psychotria fruited when the diversity of understorey fruits was greatest, suggesting a high potential for both intra- and extrageneric competition. The abundance and nomadism of the six bird species that consumed most Psychotria fruit peaked when the Psychotria fruited, supporting the enhancement hypothesis.
Use of 5-trifluoromethyldeoxycytidine and tetrahydrouridine to circumvent catabolism and exploit high levels of cytidine deaminase in tumors to achieve DNA- and target-directed therapies.

5-Trifluoromethyl-2'-deoxycytidine (F3methyl-dCyd), when coadministered with tetrahydrouridine (H4Urd), surpasses the efficacy of 5-trifluorothymidine and 5-trifluoromethyl-2'-deoxycytidine when administered alone as demonstrated with adenocarcinoma 755 and Lewis lung carcinoma as solid tumors implanted in C57BL X DBA/2 F1 mice. It appears that the reason for the heightened efficacy of F3methyl-dCyd, when coadministered with low concentrations of H4Urd, is decreased systemic deamination and subsequent systemic catabolism by pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylases, which do not act on deoxycytidine and its analogues. Furthermore, the elevated levels of cytidine deaminase in these mouse tumors may result in selective conversion of F3methyl-dCyd to 5-trifluorothymidine at the tumor site. This suggests an approach to the treatment of human tumors possessing elevated levels of cytidine deaminase such as certain leukemias, bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung, adenocarcinomas of the colon and rectum, astrocytomas, and certain tumors which are refractory to chemotherapy with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine. In contrast to fluorinated pyrimidines in current use, F3methyl-dCyd + H4Urd potentially allows an exclusive DNA-, rather than both a DNA- and RNA-, directed approach. The major mechanism of the antitumor activity of F3methyl-dCyd appears to be via inhibition by 5-trifluorothymidine-5'-monophosphate of thymidylate synthetase, the target enzyme of fluoropyrimidine analogues in current use. However, the established and potential differences in the mode of action, anabolism, nature of incorporation into DNA, repair and cofactor requirements of F3methyl-dCyd and its anabolites, compared to that of the commonly utilized fluorinated pyrimidines, indicate that F3methyl-dCyd + H4Urd is a novel combination of agents. In comparative studies with Lewis lung carcinoma, F3methyl-dCyd (+ H4Urd) was shown to surpass the efficacies of 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine and to be essentially equal in efficacy to 5-fluorodeoxycytidine (+ H4Urd). The optimum established protocol against Lewis lung carcinoma is F3methyl-dCyd, 175 mg/kg, + H4Urd, 25 mg/kg, once per day for 7 days. Studies utilizing high concentrations of H4Urd coadministered with F3methyl-dCyd indicate that the major pathway of tumor inhibition is via conversion of F3methyl-dCyd to 5-trifluorothymidine in view of the fact that tumor inhibition diminishes at doses of H4Urd which result in extensive (93%) inhibition of tumor cytidine deaminase. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Lead Nephropathy - A Preventable Cause of Renal Failure

Since the recognition of the risks of exposure to lead, standards of environmental and industrial hygiene have improved and acute lead intoxication is not commonly seen. It has become apparent, however, that chronic exposure to lead may lead to irreversible sequelae with no overt antecedent symptoms of lead toxicity. As renal impairment may occur at any time after exposure to lead, such a history should be sought from any patient with renal failure of uncertain aetiology. If suspected, the diagnosis may be confirmed with the aid of a Calcium Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetic Acid (Calcium EDTA) chelation test.
A population density grid for Spain

This article describes a high-resolution land cover data set for Spain and its application to dasymetric population mapping (at census tract level). Eventually, this vector layer is transformed into a grid format. The work parallels the effort of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, in collaboration with Eurostat and the European Environment Agency (EEA), in building a population density grid for the whole of Europe, combining CORINE Land Cover with population data per commune. We solve many of the problems due to the low resolution of CORINE Land Cover, which are especially visible with Spanish data. An accuracy assessment is carried out from a simple aggregation of georeferenced point population data for the region of Madrid. The bottom-up grid constructed in this way is compared to our top-down grid. We show a great improvement over what has been reported from commune data and CORINE Land Cover, but the improvements seem to come entirely from the higher resolution data sets and not from the statistical modeling in the downscaling exercise. This highlights the importance of providing the research community with more detailed land cover data sets, as well as more detailed population data. The dasymetric grid is available free of charge from the authors upon request.
Molecular dissection of the mycobacterial stringent response protein Rel

Latency in Mycobacterium tuberculosis poses a barrier in its complete eradication. Overexpression of certain genes is one of the factors that help these bacilli survive inside the host during latency. Among these genes, rel, which leads to the expression of Rel protein, plays an important role by synthesizing the signaling molecule ppGpp using GDP and ATP as substrates, thereby changing bacterial physiology. In Gram‐negative bacteria, the protein is thought to be activated in vivo in the presence of ribosome by sensing uncharged tRNA. In the present report, we show that Rel protein from Mycobacterium smegmatis, which is highly homologous to M. tuberculosis Rel, is functional even in the absence of ribosome and uncharged tRNA. From the experiments presented here, it appears that the activity of RelMsm is regulated by the domains present at the C terminus, as the deletion of these domains results in higher synthesis activity, with little change in hydrolysis of ppGpp. However, in the presence of tRNA, though the synthesis activity of the full‐length protein increases to a certain extent, the hydrolysis activity undergoes drastic reduction. Full‐length Rel undergoes multimerization involving interchain disulfide bonds. The synthesis of pppGpp by the full‐length protein is enhanced in the reduced environment in vitro, whereas the hydrolysis activity does not change significantly. Mutations of cysteines to serines result in monomerization with a simultaneous increase in the synthesis activity. Finally, it has been possible to identify the unique cysteine, of six present in Rel, required for tRNA‐mediated synthesis of ppGpp.