Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Left ventricular mural thrombus after anterior ST-segment-elevation acute myocardial infarction in the era of aggressive reperfusion therapy – still a frequent complication

BackgroundLeft ventricular mural thrombus (LVMT) is a well-known complication of anterior ST-elevation acute myocardial infraction (AMI). It remains unknown how modern therapies have impacted on its occurrence. ObjectivesTo define the frequency of LVMT among contemporary patients with anterior ST-elevation AMI, the clinical and echocardiographic predictors of LVMT formation, and the intermediate-term outcomes of patients with LVMT. MethodsWe retrospectively analysed patients (in the years 1997–2002) with a diagnosis of anterior ST-elevation AMI and no prior AMI, and who underwent a thorough echocardiographic assessment within 72 h of admission. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to define predictors of LVMT formation. Survival was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier product-limit method. ResultsOf the 153 patients with complete data, LVMT was detected in 36 (23.5%). There were no significant differences in baseline demographic and clinical variables between LVMT and non-LVMT patients, or in treatments (all patients received reperfusion treatment). The mean wall motion score index was higher in LVMT than non-LVMT patients (0.88±1.79 versus 0.65±0.36, respectively; P=0.01), indicating worse cardiac systolic function. LVMT patients were treated with warfarin for 3–6 months. The incidence of death was similar between the groups (11.1% for LVMT patients versus 12.8% for non-LVMT patients, P=0.79) over a mean follow-up of 71–72 months. The only independent predictor found for LVMT occurrence was worse regional wall motion of the apex (odds ratio, 2.04, 95% confidence interval, 1.39–3.03; P<0.001). ConclusionsIn the contemporary ‘real-world scenario’, despite aggressive reperfusion treatment and anti-aggregant use, the incidence of LVMT remained high after anterior ST-elevation AMI. LVMT was not related to increased intermediate-term mortality when patients were treated with warfarin, and the only predictor of LVMT occurrence was regional function of the apex.
Tunable Aharonov-Bohm effect in an electron interferometer.

L'effet d'Aharonov-Bohm est etudie dans des anneaux de taille sous-micronique fabriques a partir d'heterostructures de GaAs-Al x Ga 1-x As construites avec une etroite barriere metallique interceptant une branche des anneaux. Bien que le dispositif puisse distinguer entre un glissement des trajectoires de Feynman et l'effet electrostatique d'Aharonov-Bohm, on ne resoud aucun phenomene periodique dans la caracteristique du potentiel de barriere
The Demands of a Working Day among Female Professional Ballet Dancers

Professional classical ballet dancers typically face long working days, and many complain of fatigue, particularly as a possible cause of injury. However, little information exists regarding the true physiological demands on dancers. The aim of the present study was therefore to ascertain the daily workload of professional female ballet dancers in terms of work intensity and rest data. Information regarding a single “work day” was obtained from 51 female dancers in one company using a multiple accelerometer. Data were examined for the amount of time spent at work intensities measured in metabolic equivalents (METS)deemed sedentary, low, moderate, and high, and the length of each period at rest. Results indicated significant differences between dancer rankings (corps de ballet, first artist, soloist, and principal) for mean exercise intensity and the percentage of time spent at sedentary intensity (< 3 METS), moderate intensity (3-6 METS) (p < 0.005), and vigorous intensity (6-9 METS) (p < 0.05). The ratios of time spent below 1.5 METS versus time spent above 1.5 METS (“rest” vs. “work”) were also significantly different (p < 0.001) between rankings. When rest periods throughout the working day were analyzed, 90% of dancers were found to spend less than 60 consecutive minutes resting at any one time; for 33.3% of dancers this was less than 20 minutes. Results also revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between dancer rankings for the greatest amount of rest at any one time during the day. It was concluded that female professional classical ballet dancers’ ranking in their companies should be considered in devising work-rest schedules to help them to avoid fatigue and resultant injuries.
Disparities in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Survival among Californians of Asian Ancestry, 1988 to 2007

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a significant health disparity affecting Asian Americans, a population comprised of distinct ethnic groups. The purpose of this article is to analyze Californians of Asian ancestry with HCC with respect to socioeconomic status, demographic factors, stage of disease, treatment received, and survival. Methods: To investigate ethnic differences in survival, we analyzed ethnically disaggregated data from 6,068 Californians of Asian ancestry with HCC diagnosed in 1988 to 2007 and reported to the California Cancer Registry. Results: Compared with the average of all ethnic groups, cause-specific mortality was significantly higher among Laotian/Hmong [hazard ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.78-2.44] and Cambodian patients (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.06-1.51), groups with higher proportions of their populations at low levels of socioeconomic status; in addition, Laotian/Hmong patients disproportionately presented at later stages of disease, with only 3% receiving local surgical treatment, resection, or liver transplantation. After adjustment for time of diagnosis, age at diagnosis, gender, geographic region, stage at diagnosis, type of surgery, and socioeconomic status, survival disparities remained for both groups (Laotian/Hmong hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.28-1.79; Cambodian hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03-1.48). Conclusions: Our hypothesis that survival outcomes would differ by ethnicity was verified. Impact: Research is needed not only to develop more effective treatments for HCC but also to develop community-based interventions to recruit Asian Americans, particularly Laotian/Hmong and Cambodians, for hepatitis B screening and into medical management to prevent or detect this tumor at an early stage. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(11); 2747–57. ©2010 AACR.
Socio-Demographic Variation of Dementia Subtypes in China: Methodology and Results of a Prevalence Study in Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xian

Objective: To characterize sociodemographic variations in the prevalence of AD and VaD in China. Methods: Data were collected in a 1997–1998, cross-sectional, door-to-door prevalence survey of 34,807 community residents ages ≧55 years in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xian. Initial diagnoses of AD and VaD were assessed by clinicians using standardized protocols, according to the NINCDS-ADRDA and NINDS-AIREN criteria; diagnoses were confirmed after 6 months by repeating neuropsychological evaluations. Prevalence odds ratios were estimated in logistic models adjusting for survey design, age, and other sociodemographic factors. Results: We identified 732 prevalent cases of AD and 295 cases of VaD. Adjusting for all sociodemographic factors concurrently, prevalence odds of AD and VaD were higher in northern versus southern China. Age trends for AD appeared different in western and eastern China. AD also showed an age-adjusted elevation among women and, in the fully adjusted model, a gender education interaction indicating a female preponderance in the highest education group. North-south variation for VaD was age-dependent. In the fully adjusted model, for AD, widowed had significantly higher prevalence odds; for VaD, widowed persons and minorities had significantly lower prevalence odds; professionals had statistically significant and borderline lower prevalence odds for both VaD and AD; sales-service occupations had significantly lower odds for AD only. Conclusion: We observed variations in prevalence for AD and VaD in different regions and demographic groups in China that persisted after controlling for potential confounding factors. Sociodemographic factors are probable surrogates for conditions such as lifestyle, environment, comorbidities, and life expectancy.
Ipilimumab induces simultaneous regression of melanocytic naevi and melanoma metastases

Ipilimumab blocks cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated antigen (CTLA)‐4, potentiating the antimelanoma T‐cell host response. Ipilimumab has been shown to improve overall survival in patients with previously treated metastatic melanoma. CTLA‐4 antibodies generate immune responses to the melanoma‐associated antigens Melan‐A, NY‐ESO‐1 and glycoprotein (gp)100 in metastatic melanoma. Digital epiluminescence microscopy (DELM) is a noninvasive method permitting the monitoring of the morphology of melanocytic lesions over time. A 50‐year‐old man with metastatic melanoma received four ipilimumab injections after failure of dacarbazine chemotherapy. Positron emission tomography revealed regression of pulmonary metastases, and simultaneously, DELM showed regression of several melanocytic naevi. On histological examination of the regressing naevi, prominent CD8+, CD4+ and CD45R0 lichenoid lymphohistiocytic infiltrates were seen, whereas nonregressing naevi were almost free of inflammatory infiltrate. Expression of melanoma‐associated antigens in benign melanocytic naevi may explain the induction of naevus regression by ipilimumab. DELM could represent a valuable noninvasive method to monitor ipilimumab efficacy.
Time‐related communication skills from the cancer patient perspective

Objective: Although it is well recognized that skilled communication is an essential element of effective cancer care, lack of time to communicate is often cited as an explanation for the ongoing cancer care communications problems patients report. In this study, we sought to answer the question: How do cancer patients describe and explain the effects of health care communication upon their experience of time?
Comorbidity patterns of anxiety and depressive disorders in a large cohort study: the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA).

BACKGROUND Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders is common and has been shown to be a consistent predictor of chronicity. Comorbidity patterns among specific depressive and anxiety disorders have not been extensively reported. This study examines comorbidity patterns and temporal sequencing of separate depressive and anxiety disorders using data from a large psychiatric cohort. METHOD Baseline data (N = 1,783) of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, collected between September 2004 and February 2007, were used. Current and lifetime comorbidity rates for depressive and anxiety disorders (DSM-IV-TR criteria) were calculated. Associations of comorbidity with sociodemographic, vulnerability, and clinical characteristics, and temporal sequencing of disorders were examined. RESULTS Of those with a depressive disorder, 67% had a current and 75% had a lifetime comorbid anxiety disorder. Of persons with a current anxiety disorder, 63% had a current and 81% had a lifetime depressive disorder. Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders was associated with more childhood trauma (OR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06-1.33), higher neuroticism (OR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08), earlier age at onset of first disorder (OR = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.22-2.07), longer duration of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.01), and higher symptom severity (ORs ranging from 1.01 to 1.03; all P values < .05). In 57% of comorbid cases, anxiety preceded depression, and in 18%, depression preceded anxiety. Comorbidity with preceding depression compared to preceding anxiety was associated with a shorter duration of symptoms of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms (OR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99), earlier age at first onset (OR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.31-0.68), and fewer fear symptoms (OR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99). CONCLUSIONS Comorbidity rates in anxiety and depressive disorders were very high, indicating that it is advisable to assess both disorders routinely regardless of the primary reason for consultation. This is especially important since comorbid patients showed a specific vulnerability pattern, with more childhood trauma, neuroticism, and higher severity and duration of symptoms.
Forced expression of hepatocyte‐specific fibroblast growth factor 21 delays initiation of chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis

Inappropriate fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is involved in most tissue‐specific pathologies including cancer. Previously we showed that inappropriate expression and chronic activity of FGF receptor (FGFR) 1 in hepatocytes accelerated diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐initiated hepatocarcinogenesis. Here we showed that although widely expressed FGF1 and FGF2 are frequently upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), germline deletion of both FGF1 and FGF2 had no effect on DEN‐initiated hepatocarcinogenesis. Thus overexpression of FGF1 or FGF2 may be a consequence rather than contributor to hepatoma progression. FGF21 is the first of 22 homologues whose expression has been reported to be preferentially in the liver. We showed that similar to FGF1 and FGF2, FGF21 mRNA was upregulated in neoplastic and regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy (PH) and CCl4 administration. In situ hybridization analysis confirmed that in contrast to FGF1 and FGF2, expression of FGF21 mRNA was limited to hepatocytes. Forced overexpression of FGF21 in hepatocytes by gene targeting had no apparent impact on normal liver development and compensatory response to injury. Surprisingly, overexpression of FGF21 delayed the appearance of DEN‐induced liver tumors. At 8 and 10 mo, only 10% and 30% of transgenic mice, respectively, developed adenomas compared to 50% (all adenomas) and 80% (60% adenoma/20% HCC) in the wild‐type (WT) mice. However, the incidence and burden of HCC at 10 mo and later was equal in the FGF21 transgenic and WT mice. We propose that FGF21 may delay development of adenomas through activation of resident hepatocyte FGFR4 at early times, but counteracts the delay by acceleration of progression to HCC through interaction with ectopic FGFR1 once it appears in hepatoma cells. This indicates a dual function of FGF21 that may reflect changes in FGFR isotype during progression of differentiated hepatoma cells. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relationships between surface-detected EMG signals and motor unit activation.

INTRODUCTION Surface-detected electromyographic (S-EMG) signals are used in exercise science to assess the extent of muscle activation, muscle fatigue, and neural activity during muscle contraction. However, the relationship has not been studied between S-EMG signal amplitude and motor unit activation at different muscle force levels. METHODS S-EMG signals were measured from 76 healthy subjects during target force levels of 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the knee extensors over 20-30 s. Mean absolute S-EMG amplitude, surface-detected motor unit action potential amplitude (S-MUAP), motor unit mean firing rate (mFR), and motor unit mean voltage, which is the product of S-MUAP amplitude and mFR, were assessed in the vastus medialis by using EMG signal-decomposition and spike-triggered averaging techniques. RESULTS Motor unit mean voltage increased to the same degree as mean absolute S-EMG amplitude with increasing force, implying that motor unit size and firing rate explain the increase in mean absolute S-EMG amplitude with increasing force generation. In addition, mean absolute S-EMG amplitude increased linearly during the course of each 20-30 s contraction, with the slope being greater at higher force levels. A small change was observed in the shape of needle-detected motor unit action potentials during the contraction, but this change was not sufficient to explain the large change in mean absolute S-EMG amplitude during the contraction. CONCLUSION Mean absolute S-EMG amplitude at different force levels and its changes during the course of a submaximal contraction are dependent on the number of motor units active, their size, and firing rates.
Achieving Equality of Educational Opportunity on Access to University Education in Nigeria : A Case of Policy Implementation (SPECIAL ISSUE : Equality and Equity in Education)

The issue of policy implementation specifically on equality of education opportunities on access to university education was seriously neglected in Nigerian higher education research. Hence this study was motivated and intended to investigate the policy implementation on equality of educational opportunities on access to university education in Nigeria. This case study using Usman Danfodio University Sokoto as the context of study investigated the issue regarding to the policy on access to university. Qualitative approach using in-depth interview and documents analysis has been employed to obtain a greater avenue of understanding the issue of equality of opportunity on access to university. From the study, it is evident that the policy content and intentions were clear but they were hampered by weak implementation. This study also indicate that as populous country like Nigeria, while 1,375,653 applied for admission to university, less than 36% or 500,000 are accommodated, which indicate that achieving equal access to university education is a great challenge.
Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen on a Human Model of Injury

To determine whether intermittent exposures to hyperbaric oxygen enhance recovery from delayed-onset muscle soreness of the quadriceps, we conducted a randomized, controlled, double-blinded, prospective study using 66 untrained men between the ages of 18 and 35 years. After the induction of muscle soreness, these subjects were treated in a hyperbaric chamber over a 5-day period in two phases, with four groups (control, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, delayed treatment, and sham treatment) in the first phase; and three groups (3 days of treatment, 5 days of treatment, and sham treatment) in the second phase. The hyperbaric exposures involved 100% oxygen for 1 hour per day at 2.0 atm. The sham treatments involved 21% oxygen for 1 hour per day at 1.2 atm. We monitored recovery using a leg dynamometer to test eccentric torque of the nondominant quadriceps muscle before and immediately after exercise and at 48 and 96 hours after exercise. Pain was tested daily using visual analog pain scales. In phase 1 a significant difference in recovery of eccentric torque was noted in the treatment group compared with the other groups. In phase 2, the recovery of eccentric torque for the 5-day treatment group was significantly greater than for the sham group from immediately after exercise to 96 hours after exercise. The pain data did not differ significantly in any comparison in either phase. The results suggest that treatment with hyperbaric oxygen may enhance recovery of eccentric torque of the quadriceps muscle from delayed-onset muscle soreness.
Elderly Patients with Pelvic Fracture: Interventions and Outcomes

We examined the outcome of elderly trauma patients with pelvic fractures. Patients 65 years of age and older (elderly) with pelvic fractures were retrospectively compared with patients younger than 65 years with pelvic fractures and also with elderly patients without fracture. Over the study period, 1223 patients sustained a pelvic fracture (younger than 65 years, n = 1066, 87.2%; elderly, n = 157,12.8%). These patients were also compared with 1770 elderly patients with blunt trauma without fracture. Although the pelvic fracture patients were equally matched for Injury Severity Score (21.2 ± 13.4 nonelderly vs 20.5 ± 13.6 elderly), hospital length of stay was increased in the elderly (12.5 ± 13.1 days vs 11.5 ± 14.1 days) and they had a higher mortality rate (20.4% [32 of 157] vs 8.3% 88 of 1066]). The elderly without fracture also had a higher mortality rate when compared with the younger patients (10.9% [191 of 1760]; P < 0.03). The elderly were more likely to die from multisystem organ failure (25.0% [eight of 32] vs 10.2% [nine of 88]), whereas the nonelderly group was more likely to die from exsanguination (45.5% [40 of 88] younger than 65 years vs 21.9% [seven of 32] 65 years or older; P < 0.05). Elderly patients with pelvic fracture have worse outcomes than their younger counterparts despite aggressive management at a Level I trauma center.
A multicenter, randomized, double blind study comparing lornoxicam with diclofenac in osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and tolerability of lornoxicam and diclofenac in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) over 12 weeks and to assess the efficacy and tolerability of lornoxicam over a followup period of 40 weeks. METHODS In a double blind, parallel group study, 135 patients (mean age 63 years) with OA of the hip and/or knee were randomized to receive lornoxicam 4 mg 3 times daily (tid), lornoxicam 8 mg twice daily (bid), or diclofenac 50 mg tid for 12 weeks. 85 patients who completed this 12 week treatment period subsequently received lornoxicam 4 mg tid or 8 mg bid for up to 40 weeks. RESULTS Over the initial 12 week treatment period, intention-to-treat analysis revealed improvements in the functional index of severity for OA in all 3 groups by -1.5 to -1.9 points and pairwise testing demonstrated significant intergroup equivalence (p < 0.033). Confirmatory analysis demonstrated the expected efficacy as outlined in the sample size calculation. The percentage of patients showing improvements in disease activity (about 46%) and pain intensity (42 to 48%) was also similar and a clear majority of patients also reported "some" or "excellent" pain relief (80 to 89%). A per protocol analysis produced similar results. During the 40 week lornoxicam followup treatment period there was slight deterioration in the functional index of severity of OA (0.3 to 1.1 points). This minor change may reflect the natural course of the disease rather than a loss of efficacy in lornoxicam. Disease activity and pain intensity continued to improve but in a lesser proportion of patients (< 23%) compared to the previous phase. Nevertheless, a similar high percentage of patients (78 to 89%) reported "some" or "excellent" pain relief. Adverse events in both phases of this study were consistent with those commonly reported during treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and included headache and gastrointestinal events. There was no difference in the frequency or severity of adverse events between any of the treatment groups. Lornoxicam was well tolerated in the long term. CONCLUSION Lornoxicam 4 mg tid and 8 mg bid were as effective as diclofenac 50 mg tid for the treatment of OA. There was no significant difference in tolerability of these regimens. Thus, lornoxicam appears to be a useful therapeutic alternative to diclofenac in patients with OA.
Angiogenic Potential of Microvessel Fragments is Independent of the Tissue of Origin and can be Influenced by the Cellular Composition of the Implants

Please cite this paper as: Nunes, Krishnan, Gerard, Dale, Maddie, Benton and Hoying (2010). Angiogenic Potential of Microvessel Fragments is Independent of the Tissue of Origin and can be Influenced by the Cellular Composition of the Implants. Microcirculation17(7), 557–567.