Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary arterial hypertension: noninvasive detection with phase-contrast MR imaging.

PURPOSE To retrospectively identify pulmonary arterial (PA) flow parameters measured with phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that allow noninvasive diagnosis of chronic PA hypertension (PAH). MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was HIPAA compliant and was approved by the institutional review board; a waiver of informed consent was obtained. Fifty-nine patients (49 female patients; mean age, 46 years; range, 16-85 years) known to have or suspected of having PAH underwent breath-hold phase-contrast MR imaging and right-sided heart catheterization (RHC). The presence of PAH (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP], >25 mm Hg) was confirmed in 42 patients. Parameters, including PA areas, PA strain, average velocity, peak velocity, acceleration time, and ejection time, were measured in each patient by investigators blinded to RHC results. These measurements were correlated with mPAP, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI). The diagnostic ability of phase-contrast MR imaging to depict PAH was quantified. Statistical tests included Spearman rho coefficients, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS Results showed average velocity to have the best correlation with mPAP, sPAP, and PVRI (r = -0.73, -0.76, and -0.86, respectively; P < .001). Average velocity (cutoff value = 11.7 cm/sec) revealed PAH with a sensitivity of 92.9% (39 of 42) and a specificity of 82.4% (14 of 17). Sensitivity and specificity for the minimum PA area (cutoff value = 6.6 cm(2)) were 92.9% (39 of 42) and 88.2% (15 of 17), respectively. CONCLUSION The average blood velocity throughout the cardiac cycle is strongly correlated with pulmonary pressures and resistance.
Two Languages, Two Personalities? Examining Language Effects on the Expression of Personality in a Bilingual Context

The issue of whether personality changes as a function of language is controversial. The present research tested the cultural accommodation hypothesis by examining the impact of language use on personality as perceived by the self and by others. In Study 1, Hong Kong Chinese-English bilinguals responded to personality inventories in Chinese or English on perceived traits for themselves, typical native speakers of Chinese, and typical native speakers of English. Study 2 adopted a repeated measures design and collected data at three time points from written measures and actual conversations to examine whether bilinguals exhibited different patterns of personality, each associated with one of their two languages and the ethnicity of their interlocutors. Self-reports and behavioral observations confirmed the effects of perceived cultural norms, language priming, and interlocutor ethnicity on various personality dimensions. It is suggested that use of a second language accesses the perceived cultural norms of the group most associated with that language, especially its prototypic trait profiles, thus activating behavioral expressions of personality that are appropriate in the corresponding linguistic-social context.
Extended endoscopic endonasal approach to the pterygopalatine fossa: anatomical study and clinical considerations.

OBJECT The pterygopalatine fossa is an area located deep in the skull base. The microsurgical transmaxillary-transantral route is usually chosen to remove lesions in this region. The increasing use of the endoscope in sinonasal functional surgery has more recently led to the advent of the endoscope for the treatment of tumors located in the pterygopalatine fossa as well. METHODS An anatomical dissection of three fresh cadaveric heads (six pterygopalatine fossas) and three dried skull base specimens was performed to evaluate the feasibility of the approach and to illustrate the surgical landmarks that are useful for operations in this complex region. The endoscopic endonasal approach allows a wide exposure of the pterygopalatine fossa. Furthermore, with the same access (that is, through the nostril) it is possible to expose regions contiguous with the pterygopalatine fossa, either to visualize more surgical landmarks or to accomplish a better lesion removal. CONCLUSIONS In this anatomical study the endoscopic endonasal approach to the pterygopalatine fossa has been found to be a safe approach for the removal of lesions in this region. The approach could be proposed as an alternative to the standard microsurgical transmaxillary-transantral route.
Fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and mitomycin combination versus PELF chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: a prospective randomized trial of the Italian Oncology Group for Clinical Research.

PURPOSE The combination of cisplatin, epirubicin, and leucovorin preceding fluorouracil (PELF) includes three novel agents compared with the standard combination of fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and mitomycin (FAM) in the treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma. We report the results of a prospective randomized comparison of the two combinations in previously untreated patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred thirty assessable patients were entered onto the trial; 52 received FAM and 85 PELF. A 1:2 unbalanced randomization in favor of the experimental treatment was chosen. Approximately 90% of patients had measurable tumor masses. RESULTS The overall response rates (complete responses [CRs] and partial responses [PRs]) were 15% and 43% for the FAM and the PELF regimens, respectively, with a statistically significant advantage for the experimental treatment (P = .001). Time to progression (median, 2.6 and 4.7 months), duration of response (median, 10.7 and 10.2 months), and survival durations (median, 5.6 and 8.1 months) were not significantly different between the FAM and PELF regimens, respectively. The PELF combination was more toxic compared with FAM, but generally tolerable. CONCLUSION This study showed that the PELF combination is about three times more effective than the FAM combination in inducing objective responses. Due to tolerability, it is not recommended for routine clinical use. However, it should be considered, among other second-generation chemotherapy combinations, in future randomized studies aimed to improve the therapeutic outcome in gastric carcinoma.
Staging of recurrent and advanced lung cancer with 18F-FDG PET in a coincidence technique (hybrid PET)

The aim of this study was to evaluate [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) imaging of recurrent or inoperable lung cancer using a hybrid positron emission tomography (PET) device of the third generation. Examinations were compared with the results of conventional staging. Thirty-six patients suffering from recurrent or primarily inoperable lung cancer (29 men, seven women; age 64.8±12.0 years) were examined using hybrid PET (Marconi Axis γ-PET2) 60 min after injection of 370 MBq 18F-FDG. The data obtained were reconstructed iteratively. All patients received a computed tomography (CT) scan using either the spiral or multislice technique. All lesions suspicious for primary or recurrent tumour were verified by biopsy; mediastinal lymph nodes were considered as malignant, when positive histology or a small axis diameter of greater than 1 cm measured with CT in addition to progression of clinical course was found. Distant metastases were diagnosed by CT and bone scintigraphy. Using hybrid PET all lesions showed a focally elevated glucose metabolism. Lymph node involvement of the ipsilateral peribronchial and hilar station (N1) was identified in 24/26 cases (92%), in 26/29 cases (90%) of ipsilateral central manifestation (N2) and in 11/13 (85%) cases of central contralateral or supraclavicular lymphatic infestation (N3). Pulmonary spread in hybrid PET was found in 4/8 cases (50%), whereas mainly lung metastases with a diameter of 1.5 cm and smaller were missed. Pleural involvement diagnosed by CT was verified in 4/5 patients. All four patients with bony metastases in conventional staging also presented with positive findings in hybrid PET (8/9 lesions). Concordance with conventional staging was found in 28/36 of patients (78%). In 4/36 patients (11%) unknown sites of tumour were detected leading to therapeutic consequences in three patients after radiological confirmation. Hybrid PET would have led to an understaging in four cases (11%), resulting theoretically in inefficient treatment in two patients. Hybrid PET for 18F-FDG imaging in the staging of recurrent or primarily inoperable lung cancer supplied equal (78%) or more information (11%) compared to conventional staging procedures. Using the information of hybrid PET alone, 11% of the patients would have been understaged. We conclude that hybrid PET has the potential for use as an additional staging tool in this subgroup of patients, providing supplementary information compared to conventional staging modalities.
Approximate performance analysis of heavily loaded slotted downlink channel in a wireless CDMA system supporting integrated voice/data services

This paper is concerned with the performance analysis of a slotted downlink channel in a wireless code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system with integrated packet voice/data transmission. The system model consists of a base station (BS) and mobile terminals (MT), each of which is able to receive voice and/or data packets. Packets of accepted voice calls are transmitted immediately while accepted multipacket data messages are initially buffered in first in, first out (FIFO) queues created separately for each destination. The BS distinguishes between silence and talkspurt periods of voice sources, so that packets of accepted data messages can use their own codes for transmission during silent time slots. To fulfill QoS requirements for both traffic types, the number of simultaneous packet transmissions over the downlink channel must be limited. To perform this task, a fair, single-priority multiqueueing scheduling scheme is employed. Discrete-time Markov processes are used to model the system operation. Statistical dependence between queues is the main difficulty which arises during the analysis. This dependence leads to serious computational complexity. The aim of this paper is to present an approximate analytical method which enables one to evaluate system performance despite the dependence. Therefore, it is assumed that the system is heavily loaded with data traffic, and a heuristic assumption is made that makes the queueing analysis computationally tractable. Typical system performance measures (i.e., the data message blocking probability, the average data throughput and delay) are evaluated, however, due to the accepted heuristic assumption, the analysis is approximate and that is why computer simulation is used to validate it.
Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances in Patients with Left Atrial Isomerism

WU, M. ‐H. , et al.: Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances in Patients with Left Atrial Isomerism. This long‐term study sought to determine the clinical implication of defective sinus node and AV conduction tissue in patients with left atrial isomerism (LAI). From 1984 to 1998, a total of 22 patients were identified as LAI. Patient age at the last follow‐up ranged from 2 to 276 months (90 ± 70 months). Associated cardiac anomalies were interruption of the inferior vena cava (n = 18, 82%), common atrium (n = 9, 41%), AV canal (n = 14, 64%), double‐outlet right ventricle (n = 8, 36%), and pulmonary stenosis (n = 15, 68%). Palliative interventions were performed in 16 patients (Fontan‐type operation in 4 patients, shunt followed by Fontan‐type operation in 2, repair of septal defect in 4, and extracardiac intervention in 6). During the follow‐up, over half of the patients (n = 14, 64%) developed bradyarrhythmia (onset age: from 1 to 264 months; median 78 months): junctional rhythm (n = 11), sinus bradycardia (n= 8) (5 patients also had junctional rhythm), and AV block (n = 2, both also had junctional rhythm). The probability free from bradyarrhythmia was 80% and 46% at the age of 2 and 6 years, respectively. None of the bradyarrhythmias were directly related to open‐heart surgery. Besides, junctional ectopic tachycardia occurred after Fontan‐type operation in three of six patients. In two patients, a Mahaim‐like pathway was identified during the electrophysiological study. The patients with LAI had a high probability of developing bradyarrhythmias due to abnormal sinus node function. Varied AV conduction abnormalities may include compromised AV conduction, junctional ectopic tachycardia after Fontan‐type operation, and an association of Mahaim‐like pathway.
Determination of seminal plasma malondialdehyde by high-performance liquid chromatography in smokers and non-smokers.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to establish and validate a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of malondialdehyde in seminal plasma in smokers and non-smokers and to find possible differences between the two groups. BACKGROUND Malondialdehyde is used as a diagnostic marker of lipid peroxidation and indicator of oxidative stress. Smoking is suspected to be responsible for an increase in its level. Malondialdehyde has been thought to have cytotoxic and damaging effects. METHODS Semen samples were obtained from male partners of couples requesting a fertility evaluation. Malondialdehyde was derivatized with 2-thiobarbituric acid. The malondialdehyde-2-thiobarbituric acid complex was determined by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The mobile phase consisted of 20% ethanol in 25-mmol/L potassium dihydrogenphosphate (v/v), pH 6.00 ± 0.05. RESULTS Analytical performance was satisfactory. Malondialdehyde levels were as follows: 1.50 ± 0.55 µmol/L in all patients, 1.40 ± 0.57 µmol/L in smokers, and 1.50 ± 0.53 µmol/L in non-smokers. CONCLUSION The method presented here is sensitive and accurate for seminal plasma malondialdehyde determination. Our results showed a relationship between sperm motility and the malondialdehyde level in all patients and non-smokers. Malondialdehyde may induce poor sperm functionality and negatively affect the fertilization processes (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 23).
Inhibition of endopeptidase 24.15 greatly increases the release of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in response to luteinizing hormone/releasing hormone.

Inhibitors of endopeptidase (EP) 24.15, an enzyme cleaving the Tyr5-Gly6 bond of LHRH, greatly increase the half-life of i.v. or i.c. v. administered luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) (Lasdun et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 251: 439-447, 1989). Concentrations of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured in rats after i.c. v. and i.v. administration of LHRH alone or in conjunction with inhibitors of EP 24.15. In animals treated with two potent EP 24.15 inhibitors, i.v. and i.c. v. LHRH injections induced a much greater and longer-lasting increase of plasma LH and FSH concentrations than in controls Two and 4 hr after administration of the inhibitors and LHRH, hormone concentrations were one order of magnitude greater than in controls. The magnitudes and durations of the increases were similar to those after administration of [D-Trp6]-LHRH or [D-Leu6, Des-Gly-NH2(10)]-LHRH ethylamide, two "superactive" analogs of LHRH, which are resistant to degradation by EP 24.15, due to the presence of a D-amino acid in position 6. It is concluded that LHRH degradation by EP 24.15 limits the magnitude and duration of the response of the pituitary to LHRH, and that increases in plasma LH and FSH similar to those obtained after administration of superactive analogs can be also obtained with the natural hormone, provided that its degradation is prevented by EP 24.15 inhibitors. Accordingly, the increased in vivo activity of the superactive LHRH analogs can be largely attributed to their resistance to degradation by EP 24.15.
Age‐related changes in membrane lipid composition, fluidity and respiratory burst in rat peritoneal neutrophils

The O·2−. production has been studied in rat peritoneal neutrophils of different age (3, 12 and 24 months), in order to analyse whether the neutrophil respiratory burst is modified with increasing age. To stimulate NADPH oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the respiratory burst, two stimuli that act in different way have been used: phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and N‐formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (N‐FMLP). Production of O·2− decreased with age in neutrophils stimulated with N‐FMLP (about 40%), but not in the stimulated with PMA. No difference in NADPH oxidase activity was found with age. The NADPH is supplied to the respiratory burst mainly by the pentose phosphate shunt. A progressive and significant decrease in the two most important enzymes of this route, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase and 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, was detected as a function of age; in spite of this reduction, the NADPH produced by cells from old animals seems not limiting for the O·2− production. The N‐FMLP‐induced decrease in the O·2− production may be related to the age‐dependent increase in the membrane fluidity observed. A decline in the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and a rise in the total polyunsaturated fatty acids content were found, that correlated well with the increase in the membrane fluidity. The decrease (50%) of phosphatidylinositols in the 24‐month‐old animals may be also related to the age‐impairment in the respiratory burst found after stimulation with N‐FMLP. These studies suggest that the age‐related alterations in neutrophil may result in diminished neutrophil function and increased susceptibility to infection in the ageing.
Benazepril Combined with Either Amlodipine or Hydrochlorothiazide Is More Effective than Monotherapy for Blood Pressure Control and Prevention of End-organ Injury in Hypertensive Dahl Rats

We studied the effect of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril, the calcium channel blocker amlodipine, or a combination of benazepril/amlodipine or benazepril/HCTZ on systolic blood pressure (BP) and end-organ injury (left ventricular hypertrophy, proteinuria, and endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine) in hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed either a normal-salt (0.5% NaCl) or high-salt (4% NaCl) diet for 6 weeks. Rats fed a high-salt diet developed hypertension and significant end-organ injury. Monotherapy with HCTZ (75 mg/L in drinking water) or amlodipine (10 mg/kg/day by gavage) reduced systolic BP and proteinuria; benazepril (40 mg/kg/day by gavage) decreased proteinuria without significantly lowering systolic BP. In rats receiving a high-salt diet, only HCTZ reduced left ventricular hypertrophy, whereas endothelium-dependent relaxation was improved by amlodipine and benazepril but not by HCTZ. Combining benazepril with either amlodipine or HCTZ dramatically reduced systolic BP and end-organ injury. These data clearly support clinical studies suggesting that combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy for systolic BP control and prevention of end-organ injury. Complementary mechanisms of action of agents from different antihypertensive classes appear to facilitate the greater benefit on BP and end-organ injury.
Genomic evidence for the parallel evolution of coastal forms in the Senecio lautus complex

Instances of parallel ecotypic divergence where adaptation to similar conditions repeatedly cause similar phenotypic changes in closely related organisms are useful for studying the role of ecological selection in speciation. Here we used a combination of traditional and next generation genotyping techniques to test for the parallel divergence of plants from the Senecio lautus complex, a phenotypically variable groundsel that has adapted to disparate environments in the South Pacific. Phylogenetic analysis of a broad selection of Senecio species showed that members of the S. lautus complex form a distinct lineage that has diversified recently in Australasia. An inspection of thousands of polymorphisms in the genome of 27 natural populations from the S. lautus complex in Australia revealed a signal of strong genetic structure independent of habitat and phenotype. Additionally, genetic differentiation between populations was correlated with the geographical distance separating them, and the genetic diversity of populations strongly depended on geographical location. Importantly, coastal forms appeared in several independent phylogenetic clades, a pattern that is consistent with the parallel evolution of these forms. Analyses of the patterns of genomic differentiation between populations further revealed that adjacent populations displayed greater genomic heterogeneity than allopatric populations and are differentiated according to variation in soil composition. These results are consistent with a process of parallel ecotypic divergence in face of gene flow.
A multisite examination of sex differences in cardiac rehabilitation barriers by participation status.

BACKGROUND Despite its proven benefits and need, women are significantly less likely than men to participate in and complete cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The purpose of this study was to quantitatively investigate sex differences in CR barriers by participation status. METHODS Cardiac outpatients (1496, 430 female, 28.7%) of 97 cardiologists completed a mailed survey to discern CR participation. Respondents were asked to rate 19 CR barriers on a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS Five hundred twenty-nine (43%) respondents self-reported participating in CR, with men being more likely to participate (p < 0.05). There was no significant sex difference in total number of CR barriers, but differences in individual barriers were found. For CR participants, t tests revealed significant sex differences in the perception of exercise as tiring or painful (p = 0.042) and work responsibilities (p = 0.013). For CR nonparticipants, women rated the following barriers as greater than men: transportation (p = 0.025), family responsibilities (p = 0.039), lack of CR awareness (p = 0.036), experiencing exercise as tiring or painful (p = 0.002), and comorbidities (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS Overall, women do not perceive greater barriers to CR participation than men, but the nature of their barriers differs, particularly among nonparticipants. Beliefs about the value of CR, awareness, and exercise parameters are all modifiable barriers that should be addressed among women.
Ideal Body Size as a Mediator for the Gender-Specific Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Body Mass Index

Background. While obesity continues to rise globally, the associations between body size, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) seem to vary in different populations, and little is known on the contribution of perceived ideal body size in the social disparity of obesity in African countries. Purpose. We examined the gender and socioeconomic patterns of body mass index (BMI) and perceived ideal body size in the Seychelles, a middle-income small island state in the African region. We also assessed the potential role of perceived ideal body size as a mediator for the gender-specific association between SES and BMI. Method. A population-based survey of 1,240 adults aged 25 to 64 years conducted in December 2013. Participants’ BMI was calculated based on measured weight and height; ideal body size was assessed using a nine-silhouette instrument. Three SES indicators were considered: income, education, and occupation. Results. BMI and perceived ideal body size were both higher among men of higher versus lower SES (p < .001) but lower among women of higher versus lower SES (p < .001), irrespective of the SES indicator used. Multivariate analysis showed a strong and direct association between perceived ideal body size and BMI in both men and women (p < .001) and was consistent with a potential mediating role of perceived ideal body size in the gender-specific associations between SES and BMI. Conclusion. Our study emphasizes the importance of gender and socioeconomic differences in BMI and ideal body size and suggests that public health interventions that promote perception of healthy weight could help mitigate SES-related disparities in BMI.