Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atacicept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results of a multicenter, phase Ib, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating, single- and repeated-dose study.

OBJECTIVE Atacicept is a recombinant fusion protein that binds and neutralizes B lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation-inducing ligand. The purpose of this study was to investigate the tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of atacicept treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to collect exploratory data on clinical outcomes. METHODS In this multicenter, phase Ib, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating trial, 73 patients were enrolled into 6 escalating-dose cohorts. Patients received atacicept or placebo as single doses (70, 210, or 630 mg) or as repeated doses given at 2-week intervals (3 doses of 70 mg, 3 doses of 210 mg, or 7 doses of 420 mg), followed by 10 weeks of trial assessments, with a followup assessment at 3 months after the final dose. RESULTS Atacicept was well tolerated, with few differences between treatment groups and no obvious safety concerns. The pharmacokinetics profile was nonlinear, but was consistent and predictable across all doses and regimens. Treatment-related decreases in immunoglobulin (particularly IgM) and rheumatoid factor levels were evident, and a clear decrease in anti-citrullinated protein antibodies was observed in the cohort that received 7 doses of 420 mg. The B cell response was biphasic, with an initial transient increase (dominated by memory B cells) followed by a dose-related decrease (dominated by mature B cells). Clinical assessments showed trends toward improvement with the 3-month treatment. Little effect on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein levels was seen. CONCLUSION Atacicept was well tolerated both systemically and locally. The results demonstrated that the biologic activity of atacicept was consistent with its mechanism of action.
Human bone morphogenetic protein‐7 does not counteract aristolochic acid‐induced renal toxicity

Aristolochic acids (AA) are nephrotoxic and profibrotic agents, leading to chronic kidney disease. As some controversial studies have reported a nephroprotective effect of exogenous recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)‐7 in several models of renal fibrosis, we investigated the putative effect of rhBMP‐7 to prevent progressive tubulointerstitial damage after AA intoxication in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the toxicity of AA on renal tubular cells was demonstrated by an increase in vimentin as well as a decrease in β‐catenin expressions, reflecting a dedifferentiation process. Increased fibronectin and interleukin‐6 levels were measured in the supernatants. Enhanced α‐SMA mRNA levels associated to decreased E‐cadherin mRNA levels were also measured. Incubation with rhBMP‐7 only prevented the increase in vimentin and the decrease in β‐catenin expressions. In vivo, in a rat model of AA nephropathy, severe tubulointerstitial lesions induced by AA after 10 and 35 days (collagen IV deposition and tubular atrophy), were not prevented by the rhBMP‐7 treatment. Similarly, rhBMP‐7 did not ameliorate the significant increase in urinary concentrations of transforming growth factor‐β. In summary, our in vitro data demonstrated a poor beneficial effect of rhBMP‐7 to reverse cell toxicity while, in vivo, there was no beneficial effect of rhBMP‐7. Therefore, further investigations are needed to confirm the exact role of BMP‐7 in progressive chronic kidney disease. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prehospital provider prediction of emergency department disposition: implications for selective diversion.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether emergency medical services (EMS) personnel can use selective diversion and accurately predict those patients being transported who are unlikely to need a critical care bed and those patients unlikely to require admission to the hospital. METHODS This was a prospective study of patients being transported by the local EMS service. The EMS providers were asked to predict disposition of the patient. Emergency department (ED) personnel were asked to indicate on the study sheet the actual disposition of the patient. RESULTS A total of 411 patient transports were entered into the study. The EMS providers predicted that 246 (59.9%) would be discharged to home, 96 (23.3%) would be admitted to a floor bed, and 69 (16.8%) would be admitted to a critical care bed (CCB). The actual dispositions of the patients were: 253 (61.6%) discharged to home, 99 (24.1%) admitted to a floor bed, and 59 (9.9%) admitted to a CCB. The EMS providers performed well at predicting those patients who would not need a CCB: negative predictive value 96.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]) (93.4-97.9). They also correctly identified most patients who were discharged to home: 209 of 253, 85% (95% CI is equal to 79.7-89.1%). CONCLUSIONS EMS providers appear to be capable of using selective diversion categories. EMS providers correctly identified most patients who will not require a critical care bed. The EMS providers also correctly identified most patients who will be discharged from the ED after treatment.
Robust estimation of vehicle lateral velocity and yaw rate using switched T-S fuzzy interval observers

This paper presents a new robust estimation of the lateral velocity and yaw rate using switched Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy interval observers. The longitudinal velocity is treated as the online measured time-varying parameter and the cornering stiffness at front and rear tires are assumed to be unknown but bounded with a priori known bounds. Based on a multiple model switching structure, this design divides the range of variation of the longitudinal velocity into a finite number of adjoint regions and, accordingly, develops multiple interval observers for the multiple model set. The switching law which is assumed to be available online selects automatically the appropriate candidate estimator, according to the operation sub-region. Applying the proposed set-approach to estimate the lateral vehicle dynamics allows to cope with uncertainties and ensures guaranteed bounds on the lateral velocity and yaw rate despite changes in tire/road and driving conditions. Sufficient conditions for the existence of the robust proposed observer are expressed in terms of Linear Matrix Inequalities through the use of a switched fuzzy ISS-Lyapunov function. Simulations based on experimental data demonstrate the effectivenesses of the proposed approach.
Factors associated with research interest and activity during family practice residency.

BACKGROUND Family medicine lacks a tradition of research training during residency. Previous studies of research during residency have surveyed faculty to assess residents' research interests. In contrast, we directly assessed research interest and activity during residency by surveying all 203 Wisconsin family practice residents. METHODS The survey instrument was a questionnaire that included questions about the appropriateness of research experience, interest in pursuing research during residency, involvement in research, and perceptions regarding program research support. The importance of factors that encourage research were evaluated. We then used stepwise discriminant analysis to assess whether residents with different levels of interest in research had different perceptions about program support and environmental factors that promote research. RESULTS Of 143 respondents, most (85%) felt research experience was desirable, and 48% were interested in pursuing research during residency. Only 8% were active in research. Although faculty were perceived as having sufficient research skills and encouraging resident research, few residents responded that dedicated time, seminars on goals and methods of family practice research, or funding were available. Residents with research interests were more likely to respond that their faculty had sufficient research skills and knowledge. Active researchers rated time availability and access to resource personnel as highly important. Those interested, but not active, rated basic information, assistance in identifying topics, and a forum for presentation as highly important. CONCLUSION Exposure to skilled and knowledgeable faculty researchers may stimulate interest in research. Teaching research goals and methods, assisting in identifying topics, and providing research forums, especially early in residency, may promote research activity. Dedicated time for research and availability of resource personnel will enhance this activity.
Increased glutamatergic neurotransmission and oxidative stress after alcohol withdrawal.

OBJECTIVE Neurophysiological and pathological effects of ethanol may be mediated, to an important extent, via the glutamatergic system. Animal studies indicate the acute effects of ethanol disrupt glutamatergic neurotransmission by inhibiting the response of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Persistent attenuation of glutamatergic neurotransmission by chronic ethanol exposure results in the compensatory up-regulation of NMDA receptors. Whether glutamatergic neurotransmission and oxidative stress are enhanced during ethanol withdrawal in humans is unknown. METHOD CSF was obtained from 18 matched comparison subjects and from 18 patients with alcohol dependence 1 week and 1 month after cessation of ethanol ingestion. CSF samples were analyzed for excitatory neurotransmitters, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and markers for oxidative stress. RESULTS The alcohol-dependent patients' CSF levels of aspartate, glycine, and N-acetylaspartylglutamate were all higher than those of the comparison subjects, and their concentration of GABA was lower. In addition, there were significant correlations between excitatory neurotransmitters and oxidative stress markers, which suggest that the two mechanisms may play an interactive role in neurotoxicity mediated by ethanol withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that augmentation of excitatory neurotransmission may lead to enhanced oxidative stress, which, in concert with reduced inhibitory neurotransmission, may contribute to the symptoms of ethanol withdrawal and associated neurotoxicity in humans. Whether these abnormalities represent a trait- or state-dependent marker of ethanol dependence remains to be resolved.
Measurement of magnetic fields in a 220kV Gas insulated substation

Human exposure to magnetic fields generated by distribution substations and power lines is one of the growing health concerns that has drawn much attention from Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (also called Kahramaa) and Qatar ministry of environment. This paper presents the results of magnetic field measurements in 220/132/66kV gas insulated power substation and its power lines. The substation located in the residential areas of Doha city and is operated under the authority of Kahramaa. The measurements and computer simulations were carried out using state-of-the art magnetic field equipments and computer programs developed by EPRI Environment Division. The results include the most high intensity field regions inside and surrounding the substation. The measured levels of magnetic fields were presented by color 3-D plots and contour maps in order to facilitate the location of high intensity field zones inside and outside the substation and in the control room. The results were compared with safety exposure limits of international standards. The results and conclusions of this work are outlined at the end of the paper.
Pretreatment of primary rat cutaneous epidermal keratinocyte culture with a low concentration of MNNG: effect on DNA cross-linking measured in situ after challenge with bis-2-chloroethyl sulfide.

Bis-2-chloroethyl sulfide- (BCES-) induced DNA cross-links in confluent, primary cultures of newborn rat cutaneous epidermal keratinocytes were detected using an assay that includes in situ unwinding of the DNA followed by separation of single-stranded DNA and double-stranded DNA (DSDNA) with hydroxylapatite. DNA cross-links in BCES-challenged cultures were inferred from increases in the percentage of DNA that remained double-stranded, compared with control cultures, after a 60-min alkaline unwinding incubation. The amount of DNA cross-linking after 5 or 10 microM BCES was increased when keratinocytes were first pretreated with 0.05 microM MNNG for 1 h at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. , and 8 p.m. for two consecutive days and challenged with BCES the following morning. This increase was statistically significant (p less than .05, by ANOVA). For example, after 5 microM BCES challenge, cultures not pretreated with MNNG had 114.14% control DSDNA, whereas MNNG pretreated cultures had 122.78% control DSDNA. The level of BCES-induced cross-linking was maximal immediately after 30-min challenge and decreased during postchallenge incubation. At 24 and 48 h post 5, 10, or 20 microM BCES challenge, the level of DSDNA was actually depressed below unchallenged levels. This postchallenge decrease in the level of DSDNA, indicative of SSB in DNA, suggests repair activity by glycosylases and endonucleases. However, completion of repair (i.e., a return to control levels of DSDNA) was not seen in these experiments. The activity that resulted in decreases in the level of DSDNA during postchallenge incubation response was unaffected by MNNG pretreatment.
Transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements following peripheral transluminal angioplasty procedure has more specificity and sensitivity than ankle brachial index

Objective: To evaluate the superiority of transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO 2 ) before, during and after peripheral transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in comparison with ankle brachial index (ABI) in patients with diabetes. Methods: 40 consecutive patients with diabetes treated by PTA where included. This study shows results before, during and after PTA and their progression for 8 weeks. Results: The TcPO 2 increased from 28.11 6 8.1 to 48.03 6 8.4mmHg, 8 weeks after PTA ( p , 0.001). The ABI increased from 0.48 6 0.38 to 0.77 6 0.39 after PTA
Supportive care by maternity nurses: a work sampling study in an intrapartum unit.

BACKGROUND This work sampling study examined how much time intrapartum unit nurses spend providing supportive care overall and during weekday and weekend shifts, and by patient and staff characteristics at a university hospital with 4000 births per year in Montréal, Québec. METHODS Four-hour observation periods were randomly selected to represent each shift and day of the week. Within each period, eight 15-minute observation times were randomly selected. Observers located each nurse assigned to the unit at that time and recorded her activity. Supportive activities included physical comfort, emotional support, instruction, and advocacy. RESULTS The percentage of time spent in supportive care was 6.1 percent (95% confidence interval 5.3%, 6.9%), based on 3367 observations. The time providing supportive care was similar for weekday and weekend shifts. Nurses with less than seven years of intrapartum experience spent 2.7 percent (0.9, 4.5) more time providing supportive care than nurses with seven years of experience or more. Supportive care was 9.2 percent (0.7, 17.7) greater for nulliparous than for parous women, and supportive care of women with epidural anesthesia was similar to those without it. CONCLUSION We concluded that intrapartum unit nurses spent a small amount of time providing supportive care to women in labor. This suggests the need for perinatal caregivers and hospital administrators to reexamine how nurses spend their time, given the evidence from randomized trials showing the beneficial effects of continuous support on labor and birth outcomes.
Spotlight on adapalene

Background: In the field of dermatology, topical retinoids represent a mainstay in acne treatment. Adapalene is a naphthoic acid derivative showing some pharmacological activities similar to the regular retinoids. The drug is used singly or in combination for treating acne and a few other miscellaneous skin disorders. Objective: To critically review the pharmacokinetic, pharmacologic aspects and clinical benefits and adverse effects associated with topical adapalene. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted primarily based on PubMed citations. Results/conclusions: Adapalene shares some biological activities in common with retinoic acid. However, it exhibits distinct physicochemical and binding properties for selective retinoic acid receptors. In acne, adapalene is expected to reduce comedogenesis, expel mature comedones and exert some anti-inflammatory effects. The drug is effective as monotherapy in mild comedonal acne and in combination with benzoyl peroxide for mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne. The safety profile of adapalene is good. Indeed, only discrete to moderate adverse events including erytheme, xerosis, itching and stinging may develop during the early treatment phase. Clinical experience has established that adapalene represents a valuable addition to the other current treatments for acne.
Visual specification of branching time temporal logic

Branching time temporal logic is a descriptive language for the specification of ordering relationships characterizing the execution sequencing of time-varying systems. Considerable work has been done around this model, but its acceptance in nonacademic contexts is still hindered by the asperity of its notation. A visual language is presented which overcomes this hurdle by embedding the formal nucleus of temporal logic within a visual shell. Matching the recursive syntax of the underlying mathematical notation, the visual formalism is defined through a set of recursive visualization rules, which yield a generative approach to the visualization of any generic textual formula. A system is also presented which exploits the visual formalism to provide a graphic representation of branching time formulae within a 3D virtual space. The system supports an intuitive understanding of the meaning of complex formulae by providing a concrete representation for each of the three inherent dimensions of branching time formulae: time, parallelism and nesting.
Dietary fiber intake of adolescents living in a boarding school in north-eastern part of Serbia: comparison of analyzed and calculated values

The total fiber intake in the adolescent population living in a boarding school was calculated using weighted food records and food composition tables. Total, insoluble, and soluble fiber daily intakes were also analyzed using the enzymatic-gravimetric method. The results were used to estimate the applicability of the calculation method to the Serbian diet pattern. The calculated total fiber daily intake was 28.8±10.86 g/d in winter and 32.6±13.68 g/d in summer season. Analyzed intakes of soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, and total fiber in the winter season were 4.2±2.14 g/day, 29.7±12.11 g/day, and 33.65±11.374 g/day, respectively. In summer the season daily intakes were 3.4±1.41 g/day for soluble fiber, 40.6±16.65 g/day for insoluble fiber, and 43.57±17.021 g/day for total fiber. The noticed differences for insoluble and soluble fibers between seasons were significant. The calculation method consistently gave lower values, both in winter and summer samples, in comparison with the enzymatic-gravimetric method, and the difference was on average −20.5% (P <0.05).
Trends in interventions to reduce perinatal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission in North Carolina

Background. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV has decreased in industrialized countries because of widespread use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) by HIV-infected pregnant women and perhaps to increased use of elective cesarean section. We evaluated changes in the use of ART and mode of delivery among HIV-positive pregnant women in North Carolina. Methods. We reviewed the medical records of HIV-exposed infants born in North Carolina between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 1999, who were tested for HIV DNA. These results were compared with data collected on HIV-exposed infants born from 1993 through 1997. Results. The use of combination ART increased from 1.5% in 1996 to 73% in 1999. The most common ART was zidovudine/lamivudine (39%) followed by zidovudine-lamivudine-nelfinavir (34%), although 34 combinations were used. Elective cesarean sections in the state increased significantly from 16.5% in the first half of 1998 to 49.4% in the second half of 1999. Overall transmission rates declined from 24.5% in 1993 to an average of 10.6% in 1994 to 1996 (41 of 385) and to 3.5% in 1997 to 1999 (15 of 428). Conclusions. Increased use of combination ART and elective cesarean section was accompanied by consistently low rates of perinatal transmission. However, because perinatal transmission rates were also low among women who used combination therapy and had vaginal deliveries, it is difficult to determine how much additional benefit cesarean section affords. Most HIV transmission occurred among women who lacked prenatal care and did not receive or adhere to ART.
Segmental dynamics of soccer instep kicking with the preferred and non-preferred leg

Abstract Detailed time-series of the resultant joint moments and segmental interactions during soccer instep kicking were compared between the preferred and non-preferred kicking leg. The kicking motions of both legs were captured for five highly skilled players using a three-dimensional cinematographic technique at 200 Hz. The resultant joint moment (muscle moment) and moment due to segmental interactions (interaction moment) were computed using a two-link kinetic chain model composed of the thigh and lower leg (including shank and foot). The mechanical functioning of the muscle and interaction moments during kicking were clearly illustrated. Significantly greater ball velocity (32.1 vs. 27.1 m · s−1), shank angular velocity (39.4 vs. 31.8 rad · s−1) and final foot velocity (22.7 vs. 19.6 m · s−1) were observed for the preferred leg. The preferred leg showed a significantly greater knee muscle moment (129.9 N · m) than the non-preferred leg (93.5 N · m), while no substantial differences were found for the interaction moment between the two legs (79.3 vs. 55.7 N · m). These results indicate that the highly skilled soccer players achieved a well-coordinated inter-segmental motion for both the preferred and non-preferred leg. The faster leg swing observed for the preferred leg was most likely the result of the larger muscle moment.
Gain of chromosome 7, which marks the progression from indolent to aggressive follicle centre lymphomas, is restricted to the B‐lymphoid cell lineage: a study by FISH in combination with morphology and immunocytochemistry

In a previous fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) study of patients with high‐grade follicle centre lymphomas (FLCs), we often found additional copies of chromosome 7 in bone marrow (BM) cell nuclei even though obvious malignant tumour cells could not always be morphologically identified in the corresponding cell smears. This raised the question whether the gains of chromosome 7 are really confined to B‐lymphoid tumour cells or whether other cell lineages are also of clonal origin. In the present investigation we employed FISH in combination with immunomarkers and morphological studies on BM smears and lymph node imprints from seven patients with high‐grade FCLs and diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). Three out of seven BM samples were found to contain clonal CD20‐positive B‐lymphoid cells (range 0.4–96% of the cells) and no extra copies of chromosome 7 were detected in the myelomonocytoid or erythroid cells or in the CD3‐positive T lymphocytes. All seven patients showed additional copies of chromosome 7 in the lymph nodes and, again, this cytogenetic abnormality was also restricted to the CD20‐positive cells (range 0.7–80% of the cells). Thus the present findings confirm that high‐grade B‐cell lymphomas with or without BM engagement involve the CD20‐positive B‐lymphoid cells exclusively and not the T lymphocytes, erythroid or myelomonocytoid cell lineages. These findings may indicate that anti‐CD20 immunotherapy could be of value in high‐grade B‐cell lymphomas.