Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deep vein thrombosis

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among neurorehabilitation admissions with acquired brain injury (BI). Methods: In this prospective, sequential case series, 709 consecutive initial neurorehabilitation patients with BI < 120 days—including traumatic brain injury (TBI; n = 360), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH; n = 213), primary brain tumor (n = 66), and hypoxia/other BI (n = 70)—were screened for evidence of DVT with lower extremity venous duplex ultrasonography (VDU). The admission screening protocol combined VDU and a commercial d-dimer (Dimertest® [DDLx]) latex agglutination assay. DVT was considered present based upon VDU results only. Results: DVT prevalence was 11.1%, and was higher with brain tumor (21.2%) and ICH (16%) than with TBI (6.7%) (χ2 test; p = 0.001). DVT risk factors identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis in the overall sample included older age (p = 0.002), type of BI (p = 0.04), DDLx (p = 0.0001), and greater postinjury duration (p = 0.0001), with a trend observed regarding lower Functional Independence Measure (FIM) locomotion (FIM-Loco) subscale score (p = 0.07). However, risk factors also varied with type of BI. Among patients with TBI, only DDLx (p = 0.001) and greater postinjury duration (p = 0.001) were associated with DVT. Conclusions: Admission venous duplex ultrasonography revealed occult proximal lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in 11% of neurorehabilitation patients with acquired brain injury. Deep vein thrombosis risk is multifactorial in this heterogenous patient population, with relative factor risk influenced by type of acquired brain injury. Semiquantitative d-dimer latex agglutination assay correlated significantly with presence of deep vein thrombosis.
Human Placental Lactogen Induces CYP 2 E 1 Expression via PI 3-Kinase Pathway in Female Human Hepatocytes s

The state of pregnancy is known to alter hepatic drug metabolism. Hormones that rise during pregnancy are potentially responsible for the changes. Here we report the effects of prolactin (PRL), placental lactogen (PL), and growth hormone variant (GH-v) on expression of major hepatic cytochromes P450 expression and a potential molecular mechanism underlying CYP2E1 induction by PL. In female human hepatocytes, PRL and GH-v showed either no effect or small and variable effects on mRNA expression of CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4, and 3A5. On the other hand, PL increased expression level of CYP2E1 mRNA with corresponding increases in CYP2E1 protein and activity levels. Results from hepatocytes and HepaRG cells indicate that PL does not affect the expression or activity of HNF1a, the known transcriptional activator of basal CYP2E1 expression. Furthermore, transient transfection studies and Western blot results showed that STAT signaling, the previously known mediator of PL actions in certain tissues, does not play a role in CYP2E1 induction by PL. A chemical inhibitor of PI3-kinase signaling significantly repressed the CYP2E1 induction by PL in human hepatocytes, suggesting involvement of PI3-kinase pathway in CYP2E1 regulation by PL. CYP2E1-humanized mice did not exhibit enhanced CYP2E1 expression during pregnancy, potentially because of interspecies differences in PL physiology. Taken together, these results indicate that PL induces CYP2E1 expression via PI3-kinase pathway in human hepatocytes.
Adaptation of skeletal muscle to immobilization in a shortened position

This study determined the morphological changes and adaptations that occur following immobilization of rat soleus and gastrocnemius muscles when the ankle joint is placed in complete plantar flexion for 2, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days by means of plaster casts. Previous studies of such shortened muscles have shown that the number of sarcomeres in series is reduced, but how the sarcomeres are reduced has not been determined. We observed that the fibers in the midbelly region of the muscles demonstrated a progressive degenerative process over the first few weeks. Myofibrils across the entire width of the affected fibers underwent dissolution. However, by 4 weeks new myofibrils were being formed, and sarcomere lengths appeared normal. Portions of the fibers near the tendon underwent segmental necrosis. These findings are similar to the response of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles to tenotomy and are clinically relevant to orthopedic procedures that maintain muscles in shortened conditions for prolonged periods.
Effect of dietary probiotic and high stocking density on the performance, carcass yield, gut microflora, and stress indicators of broilers.

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary probiotic supplementation and stocking density on the performance, relative carcass yield, gut microflora, and stress markers of broilers. One-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chickens (n = 480) were allocated to 4 experimental groups for 42 d. Each treatment had 8 replicates of 15 chicks each. Two groups were subjected to a high stocking density (HSD) of 20 birds/m² and the other 2 groups were kept at low stocking density (LSD) of 10 birds/m². A basal diet supplemented with probiotic 1 and 0.5 g/kg of diet (in starter and finisher diets, respectively) was fed to 2 treatments, one with HSD and the other with LSD, thereby making a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. There was no interaction between stocking density (LSD and HSD) and dietary probiotic (supplemented and unsupplemented) for all the variables. Feed intake and weight gain were significantly low and feed conversion ratio was poor in broilers at HSD. Dietary probiotic significantly enhanced the feed intake and weight gain in starter phase only. Dietary probiotic supplementation had no effect (P > 0.05) on total aerobs, Salmonella sp. , and Lactobacilli populations in the intestines of broilers. However, HSD reduced the Lactobacilli population only (P < 0.05). Relative breast yields were significantly higher in broilers reared at LSD than HSD. Thigh meat yield was higher in broilers in HSD group compared to LSD. Dietary probiotic did not affect the relative carcass yield and weight of lymphoid organs. Serum malondialdehyde, corticosterone, nitric oxide, and plasma heterophil:lymphocyte ratio were not affected either by stocking density or dietary probiotic supplementation. In conclusion, HSD negatively affected the performance and intestinal Lactobacilli population of broilers only, whereas probiotic supplementation enhanced the performance of broilers during the starter phase only. Total aerobes, Salmonella, Lactobacilli carcass yield, and stress indicators of broilers were not affected by the dietary supplementation of probiotic under the conditions of the present study.
Ultrasound guidance for placement of central venous catheters: a meta-analysis of the literature.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of real-time ultrasound guidance using a regular or Doppler ultrasound technique for placement of central venous catheters. DATA SOURCES We searched for published and unpublished research using MEDLINE, citation review of relevant primary and review articles, conference abstracts, personal files, and contact with expert informants. STUDY SELECTION From a pool of 208 randomized, controlled trials of venous and arterial catheter management, eight published randomized, controlled trials were identified. DATA EXTRACTION In duplicate, independently, we abstracted data on the population, intervention, outcome, and methodologic quality. DATA SYNTHESIS Ultrasound guidance significantly decreases internal jugular and subclavian catheter placement failure (relative risk 0.32; 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.55), decreases complications during catheter placement (relative risk 0.22; 95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.45), and decreases the need for multiple catheter placement attempts (relative risk 0.60; 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 0.79) when compared with the standard landmark placement technique. CONCLUSIONS When used for vessel location and catheter placement real-time, ultrasound guidance or Doppler ultrasound guidance improves success rates and decreases the complications associated with internal jugular and subclavian venous catheter placement.
Innovación y tecnología: una contrastación empírica de los regímenes tecnológicos schumpeterianos

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los regimenes tecnologicos de cuatro paises europeos: Espana, Italia, Francia y Reino Unido, utilizando los datos de patentes registradas en EE UU para 27 clases tecnologicas en el periodo 1974-1995. El fundamento teorico sobre el cual se basa el analisis empirico es el referido a los modelos de actividad innovadora perfilados por Schumpeter y recogidos tanto desde una perspectiva teorica, como a traves de diversos estudios empiricos por diversos autores. En cuanto a la metodologia, se analizan aspectos relativos a las caracteristicas de acumulacion tecnologica, apropiacion de los resultados de la innovacion, oportunidad tecnologica y bases de conocimiento de que se nutren las empresas, utilizando indicadores acerca de la concentracion y asimetria de las actividades innovadoras, tamano innovador y estabilidad y natalidad de innovadores. Del analisis empirico se desprenden importantes diferencias en los patrones de innovacion de las distintas clases tecnologicas, asi como ciertas disparidades en los patrones por paises. Se observa, igualmente, una elevada estabilidad en el tiempo de los regimenes tecnologicos schumpeterianos.
Hepatic Clearance of Plasma Low Density Lipoproteins

An elevated plasma LDL concentration is a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The concentration of LDL in plasma is determined, to a large extent, by events in the liver, since this organ is the source of LDL (via VLDL) and is the major site of LDL catabolism. LDL uptake by the liver is mediated largely by receptor-dependent mechanisms and fully 80 to 90% of whole body receptor-dependent LDL catabolism occurs in the liver. The rate of receptor-dependent LDL uptake by the liver is influenced by dietary and genetic factors. Cholesterol and fatty acids are the major dietary factors that alter receptor-dependent LDL uptake by the liver and appear to do so by regulating LDL receptor gene transcription. Regulation of LDL receptor gene transcription by sterols is mediated by sterol regulatory elements within the LDL receptor promoter, but how the nucleus actually senses cellular cholesterol levels and how dietary fatty acids might influence this process remain to be elucidated. Genetic factors may affect the basal rate of receptor-dependent LDL transport or the sensitivity of the LDL receptor pathway to regulation by dietary lipids. An understanding of how dietary lipids regulate hepatic LDL transport and plasma LDL levels, and identification of the major genetic factors that determine responsiveness to dietary lipids is crucial to the development of safe and effective dietary guidelines and to the selection of individuals most likely to benefit from diet modification.
Role of sortase-dependent pili of Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010 in modulating bacterium–host interactions

Bifidobacteria represent one of the dominant groups of microorganisms colonizing the human infant intestine. Commensal bacteria that interact with a eukaryotic host are believed to express adhesive molecules on their cell surface that bind to specific host cell receptors or soluble macromolecules. Whole-genome transcription profiling of Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010, a strain isolated from infant stool, revealed a small number of commonly expressed extracellular proteins, among which were genes that specify sortase-dependent pili. Expression of the coding sequences of these B. bifidum PRL2010 appendages in nonpiliated Lactococcus lactis enhanced adherence to human enterocytes through extracellular matrix protein and bacterial aggregation. Furthermore, such piliated L. lactis cells evoked a higher TNF-α response during murine colonization compared with their nonpiliated parent, suggesting that bifidobacterial sortase-dependent pili not only contribute to adherence but also display immunomodulatory activity.
Molecular analysis of predation by carabid beetles (Carabidae) on the invasive Iberian slug Arion lusitanicus

Abstract The invasive Iberian slug, Arion lusitanicus, is spreading through Europe and poses a major threat to horticulture and agriculture. Natural enemies, capable of killing A. lusitanicus, may be important to our understanding of its population dynamics in recently invaded regions. We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to study predation on A. lusitanicus by carabid beetles in the field. A first multiplex PCR was developed, incorporating species-specific primers, and optimised in order to amplify parts of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene of large Arion slugs, including A. lusitanicus from the gut contents of the predators. A second multiplex PCR, targeting 12S rRNA mtDNA, detected predation on smaller Arion species and the field slug Deroceras reticulatum. Feeding trials were conducted to measure the effects of digestion time on amplicon detectability. The median detection times (the time at which 50% of samples tested positive) for A. lusitanicus and D. reticulatum DNA in the foreguts of Carabus nemoralis were 22 h and 20 h, respectively. Beetle activity-densities were monitored using pitfall traps, and slug densities were estimated using quadrats. Predation rates on slugs in the field by C. nemoralis in spring ranged from 16–39% (beetles positive for slug DNA) and were density dependent, with numbers of beetles testing positive being positively correlated with densities of the respective slug species. Carabus nemoralis was shown to be a potentially important predator of the alien A. lusitanicus in spring and may contribute to conservation biological control.
Proximal humeral fracture as a risk factor for subsequent hip fractures.

BACKGROUND With the aging of the world's population, the social and economic implications of osteoporotic fractures are at epidemic proportions. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that a proximal humeral fracture is an independent risk factor for a subsequent hip fracture and that the risk of the subsequent hip fracture is highest within the first five years after the humeral fracture. METHODS A cohort of 8049 older white women with no history of a hip or humeral fracture who were enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures was followed for a mean of 9.8 years. The risk of hip fracture after an incident humeral fracture was estimated with use of age-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression analysis with time-varying variables; women without a humeral fracture were the reference group. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the timing between the proximal humeral and subsequent hip fracture. Risk factors were determined on the basis of a review of the current literature, and we chose the variables that were most predictive and easily ascertained in a clinical setting. RESULTS Three hundred and twenty-one women sustained a proximal humeral fracture, and forty-four of them sustained a subsequent hip fracture. After adjustment for age and bone mineral density, the hazard ratio for hip fracture for subjects with a proximal humeral fracture relative to those without a proximal humeral fracture was 1.83 (95% confidence interval = 1.32 to 2.53). After multivariate adjustment, this risk appeared attenuated but was still significant (hazard ratio = 1.57; 95% confidence interval = 1.12 to 2.19). The risk of a subsequent hip fracture after a proximal humeral fracture was highest within one year after the proximal humeral fracture, with a hazard ratio of 5.68 (95% confidence interval = 3.70 to 8.73). This association between humeral and hip fracture was not significant after the first year, with hazard ratios of 0.87 (95% confidence interval = 0.48 to 1.59) between one and five years after the humeral fracture and 0.58 (95% confidence interval = 0.22 to 1.56) after five years. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort of older white women, a proximal humeral fracture independently increased the risk of a subsequent hip fracture more than five times in the first year after the humeral fracture but was not associated with a significant increase in the hip fracture risk in subsequent years.
Lack of Association between the hOGG 1 Ser 326 Cys Polymorphism and Gastric Cancer Risk : a Meta-analysis

Oxidative DNA damage induced by reactive oxidative species (ROS) contributes to the generation and development of cancer (Marnett, 2000). One of the most common forms of ROS-generated DNA damage is 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). It prefers to mismatching with deoxyadenosine instead of deoxycytosine, which leads to a base transversion from GC to AT at the end of a replication cycle (Cheng et al., 1992). when this mutation occurs within oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, carcinogesis may initiate (Hoeijmakers, 2001). Base excision repair (BER) pathway, which prevents genes from mutating by removing modified base before DNA replication, is an important mechanism for repairing oxidatively damaged DNA. Human 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1), specifically repairing 8OHdG, is a key component in the BER pathway (Yang et al., 2006). This catalytic enzyme is encoded by the hOGG1 gene located on chromosome 3p26 which is highly polymorphic. The functional polymorphism Ser326Cys, resulting from a C to G transversion at 1245 position in exon 7, is a hotspot widely studied (Kohno et al., 1998). It is reported that ser326 allele exhibited higher catalytic activity in BER pathway than the cys326 variant (Kohno et al., 1998; Hill et al., 2006). Therefore, the hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism may influent the capacity of the host to repair DNA damage
Cost‐Effectiveness of Syringe Exchange as an HIV Prevention Strategy

Objective: To analyze the cost‐effectiveness of New York State‐approved syringe exchange programs (SEPs) and estimate the cost‐saving potential of these programs. Design and Methods: The cost‐effectiveness analysis used cost and process data provided by seven SEPs for the calendar year 1996 or the most recent 12‐month period available at the time of the study. Alternative estimates of the number of HIV infections prevented were calculated using published data and a simplified circulation model. HIV treatment costs were taken from the literature. Results: A cost‐effectiveness ratio of $20,947 per HIV infection averted was calculated based on an estimated 87 HIV infections averted across the seven programs and total program costs of $1.82 million (all amounts given in US dollars). Sensitivity analyses were also performed. Using imputed costs for donated services and estimates of lifetime costs to treat an HIV infection, syringe exchange was demonstrated to be a cost‐saving strategy from a societal perspective. Conclusions: This research demonstrates that syringe exchange is a cost‐effective and cost‐saving strategy for reducing HIV transmission.
In the Hands of the Great Spirit: The 20,000-Year History of American Indians

In the past two decades, a new breed of historians, anthropologists and archaeologist have uncovered a fuller, richer and surprising view of the entire American Indian experience. Jake Page, one of the Southwest's most distinguished writers and a long time student of Indian history, weaves these vast threads of information - including historical documents, archaeological artefacts and the Indians' oral legends - into a compelling narrative. Today, we know that the first Americans arrived here long before the once-accepted date of 11,500 years ago. We know that Indian life before Columbus featured massive upheavals, and that life after Columbus was affected more by disease and do-gooders than gunslingers. This is the true history of the Indians, from the long lost moundbuilding societies of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, to the waves of confederation from King Phillip to Tecumseh, all the way to the astonishing coast-to-coast revival of the past few decades.
The attentional window configures to object and surface boundaries

Attention can select items based on location or features. Belopolsky and colleagues posited the attentional window hypothesis, which theorized that spatial and featural selection interact such that featural selection occurs within a “window” of spatial selection. Kerzel and colleagues recently found that the attentional window can take complex shapes, but cannot configure around non-contiguous locations. The current experiments investigated whether perceptual grouping cues, which produce perceptual objects or surfaces, enable the attentional window to configure around non-contiguous locations. Using the additional singleton paradigm, we reasoned that observers (1) would be slowed by a colour singleton distractor that appears within the observers’ attentional window and (2) would be unaffected by distractors that do not appear within the attentional window. In separate blocks of trials, a target appeared upon one of two objects. Observers were cued to the relevant surface, and we asked if responses were affected by distractors on the cued task-relevant surface, and on the uncued irrelevant surface. Colour singleton distractors slowed responses when they appeared on the cued surface, even when those locations were non-contiguous locations. Distractors on the irrelevant surface did not affect responses. The results support a highly adaptable attentional window that is configurable to the surfaces and boundaries established by intermediate-level vision.
Half a decade of neonatal sepsis, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In a retrospective study to determine the pattern of neonatal sepsis, all cases admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between October 1983 and July 1988 at King Khalid University Hospital, in Riyadh were studied. During the review period there were a total of 2117 admissions to the NICU. Of those 1252 (59 per cent) underwent septic screening sometimes during their stay in the NICU. The number of babies with proven bacteremia, i.e.; positive blood and or cerebrospinal fluid culture was 190 (15 per cent). Gram-positive organisms were cultured from 132 (69 per cent) and Gram-negative organisms from 47 (25 per cent) of the babies. The single most frequent organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis accounting for 36 per cent (58/190) of all proven cases. These results differ appreciably from other studies reported previously from Riyadh as well as from some other parts of the world, and stress the need to recognize Staphylococcus epidermidis as an increasingly important pathogen in the newborn nursery.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide and its receptors: molecular genetics, physiology, pathophysiology, and therapeutic potentials.

I. Introduction THE calcitonin (CT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are derived from the CT/CGRP gene, which is localized in chromosome 11. Alternative splicing of the primary RNA transcript leads to the translation of CGRP and CT peptides in a tissue-specific manner. This alternative tissue-specific processing of primary mRNA from the α-CT/CGRP gene in rats generates two distinct peptides, CT and CGRP (1, 2). CGRP is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide expressed predominantly in the nervous system and CT is expressed mainly in the thyroid gland. CGRP receptors, widely distributed in the body, are the most potent endogenous vasodilatory peptides that have been discovered. Derived from the C cells of the thyroid gland, CT is the most potent peptide inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and is involved primarily in protecting the skeleton during periods of “calcium stress” such as growth, pregnancy, and lactation (3). In 1961, Copp and colleagues (4) postulated the existence of the calcium-lo.