Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low Metacarpal Bone Density, Tooth Loss, and Periodontal Disease in Japanese Women

The relationship between periodontitis and systemic bone mineral density in Japanese women is undetermined. We tested the hypothesis that periodontitis was more frequent in women with low metacarpal bone mineral density (m-BMD). Subjects were 190 Japanese women (89 premenopausal, 101 post-menopausal). Periodontal status was evaluated according to the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need (CPITN). M-BMD was measured by computed x-ray densitometry. The proportion of subjects with periodontitis (CPITN ≥ 3) increased as m-BMD decreased in pre-menopausal (18.2%, 36.9%, and 66.6% in the normal, borderline, and very low m-BMD groups, p < 0.02) and post-menopausal women (41.5%, 54.8%, 60%, and 68.4% in the normal, borderline, low, and very low m-BMD groups, p < 0.05). Among post-menopausal women, those with very low m-BMD had fewer teeth present than women with normal m-BMD (19.9 ± 7.2 vs. 25.1 ± 4.1, p < 0.01). These results indicate that m-BMD loss is associated with periodontitis in Japanese women, and with tooth loss after menopause.
Auditory comprehension of language in young children

Objective: The organization of neuronal systems that process language in young children is poorly understood. The authors used fMRI to identify brain regions underlying auditory comprehension in healthy young children. Methods: Fifteen right-handed children (mean age 6.8 years) underwent fMRI at 1.5-T using blood oxygen level dependent echoplanar imaging. They listened to stories with a reverse speech control condition. Group data were analyzed with statistical parametric mapping. Individual subject data were analyzed with a region of interest approach based on t-maps. An asymmetry index (AI = [(L−R)/(L+R)]) was calculated for each region. Results: Group analysis showed significant activation in the left middle temporal gyrus (Brodmann area [BA] 21) and left superior temporal gyrus (BA 22) along the superior temporal sulcus extending back to the angular gyrus (BA 39). Individual maps showed lateralized activation in temporal regions (AI > 0.49 ± 0.39). There was minimal activation in the frontal lobe. There were no significant correlations between age and regional AI. Conclusion: Networks for auditory language processing are regionally localized and lateralized by age 5. These data may provide a means to interpret language fMRI studies performed in preparation for brain surgery, and may be employed to investigate the effect of chronic disease states, such as epilepsy, on language organization during critical periods for plasticity.
A laser Doppler system for intracerebral measurements during stereotactic neurosurgery

A laser Doppler system for intracerebral measurements during stereotactic and functional neurosurgery is presented. The system comprises a laser Doppler perfusion monitor, an optical probe adapted for the Leksellreg stereotactic system and a personal computer with software for acquisition, data analysis and presentation. The software makes it possible to present both the perfusion and the total backscattered light intensity (TLI) in real-time. During intracerebral measurements, the perfusion signal records the tissue's microcirculation whereas the TLI signal may be used to distinguish between grey and white matter. Evaluation of the system has been done during stereotactic neurosurgery in relation to implantation of deep brain stimulation electrodes. Measurements were made along trajectories towards targets in the deep brain structure as well as in pre-calculated target areas. The measurements show that the system has a potential to be used for intracerebral guidance but further evaluation of the technique is needed.
Expression of ephrinB2 identifies a stable genetic difference between arterial and venous vascular smooth muscle as well as endothelial cells, and marks subsets of microvessels at sites of adult neovascularization.

The transmembrane ligand ephrinB2 and its receptor tyrosine kinase EphB4 are molecular markers of embryonic arterial and venous endothelial cells, respectively, and are essential for angiogenesis. Here we show that expression of ephrinB2 persists in adult arteries where it extends into some of the smallest diameter microvessels, challenging the classical view that capillaries have neither arterial nor venous identity. EphrinB2 also identifies arterial microvessels in several settings of adult neovascularization, including tumor angiogenesis, contravening the dogma that tumor vessels arise exclusively from postcapillary venules. Unexpectedly, expression of ephrinB2 also defines a stable genetic difference between arterial and venous vascular smooth muscle cells. These observations argue for revisions of classical concepts of capillary identity and the topography of neovascularization. They also imply that ephrinB2 may be functionally important in neovascularization and in arterial smooth muscle, as well as in embryonic angiogenesis.
Differences in the use of second-line agents and prednisone for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by rheumatologists and non-rheumatologists.

OBJECTIVE To compare the use of methotrexate (MTX), intramuscular (i.m.) gold, hydroxychloroquine, and prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment among patients managed by rheumatologists and nonrheumatologists. METHODS Multiple regression analysis to estimate the likelihood of starting treatment and response to treatment for patients managed by rheumatologists and nonrheumatologists. All regression analyses were adjusted for patient demographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS Therapy with all agents studied was initiated more frequently for patients with RA with at least some contact with rheumatologists during the year than for those managed strictly by nonrheumatologists. The adjusted odds ratios for starts on these medications ranged from 1.14 for im gold to 15.11 for MTX for patients managed by rheumatologists compared to those managed by nonrheumatologists. However, due to the low frequency of initiation of treatment with most of these drugs for patients managed strictly by nonrheumatologists, only the odds ratio for prednisone reached statistical significance (OR = 2.94, p = 0.0082). In the year after initiation of therapy with these agents, patients managed by rheumatologists experienced better response to treatment than those managed by nonrheumatologists. These differences were statistically significant for MTX (p = 0.0447) and nearly significant for im gold (p = 0.0597). CONCLUSION These results provide evidence of systematic differences in the propensity of rheumatologists and nonrheumatologists to initiate therapy with these antirheumatic drugs. If the observed differences in initial response to treatment translate into substantial differences in longterm outcomes, then these results suggest that the welfare of patients with RA may be jeopardized by the current trend toward primary care and restricted access to rheumatologists.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery Using MART-1 Immunostain in the Treatment of Invasive Melanoma and Melanoma In Situ

BACKGROUND Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) with melanoma antigen recognized by T-cell (MART-1) immunostaining is an effective treatment of cutaneous melanoma. OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of MMS with MART-1 immunostain in the management of invasive and in situ melanoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS A retrospective cohort study evaluated 2,114 melanomas in 1,982 patients excised using MMS and MART-1 immunostain. The margins required for excision were calculated based on Breslow thickness, location, and size. Survival and local recurrence rates were calculated and compared with those of historical controls. RESULTS The mean follow-up period was 3.73 years. Local recurrence was identified in 0.49% (7/1,419) of primary melanomas. Approximately 82% of melanomas were excised with ⩽6-mm margins. The surgical margin was significantly related to tumor location and size but not to Breslow thickness. The five-year Kaplan–Meier local recurrence and disease-specific survival rates were 0.59 ± 0.30 and 98.53 ± 0.42, respectively. Mohs micrographic surgery with MART-1 immunostain achieved lower local recurrence rates and equivalent or higher Kaplan–Meier survival rates than conventional wide local excision. CONCLUSION Mohs micrographic surgery with MART-1 immunostain is an effective treatment of melanoma as evidenced by low local recurrence rates. It offers the advantage of more tissue-conserving margins than those recommended for conventional excision.
Differential expression of P‐glycoprotein genes in primary rat hepatocyte culture

The multidrug resistance (MDR)–associated protein, P‐glycoprotein (Pgp), is expressed on the bile canalicular surface of hepatocytes, where it is thought to function in the detoxification of xenobiotics or in the transport of specific metabolites. Several studies have shown that Pgp expression in rat liver can be perturbed in vivo and in vitro; however, it is not known which of the 3 Pgp genes (class I, II, or III) are involved. In rodents, the class I and II Pgp genes have been shown to mediate MDR while the class III gene apparently does not. In this eport, we have used gene‐specific probes generated from the 3′‐untranslated regions of the three rat Pgp genes (Deuchars et al.: Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1130:157–165, 1992) to investigate Pgp gene expression in primary rat hepatocytes. We observed that the class II Pgp mRNA, the least abundant in the intact liver, is dramatically increased in culture over a 48 h period, while the class I Pgp showed only a modest increase in mRNA level. In contrast, the class III Pgp mRNA, which is the most abundant in the intact liver, exhibited a gradual decline. In rat liver hepatocytes, different culture conditions, as well as drugs such as cytochalasin D and colchicine, appear to affect the level of the class II Pgp gene expression. Moreover, under all these conditions, there is a strong correlation between the level of the class II Pgp and cytoskeletal (actin and tubulin) mRNAs. Thus, there may be a common mechanism regulating the expression of cytoskeletal protein genes and the class II Pgp gene. These findings have implications for our understanding of the regulation of Pgp gene expression in normal and malignant tissues. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Impact of Implementing Tobacco Control Policies: The 2017 Tobacco Control Policy Scorecard

The Tobacco Control Scorecard, published in 2004, presented estimates of the effectiveness of different policies on smoking rates. Since its publication, new evidence has emerged. We update the Scorecard to include recent studies of demand-reducing tobacco policies for high-income countries. We include cigarette taxes, smoke-free air laws, media campaigns, comprehensive tobacco control programs, marketing bans, health warnings, and cessation treatment policies. To update the 2004 Scorecard, a narrative review was conducted on reviews and studies published after 2000, with additional focus on 3 policies in which previous evidence was limited: tobacco control programs, graphic health warnings, and marketing bans. We consider evaluation studies that measured the effects of policies on smoking behaviors. Based on these findings, we derive estimates of short-term and long-term policy effect sizes. Cigarette taxes, smoke-free air laws, marketing restrictions, and comprehensive tobacco control programs are each found to play important roles in reducing smoking prevalence. Cessation treatment policies and graphic health warnings also reduce smoking and, when combined with policies that increase quit attempts, can improve quit success. The effect sizes are broadly consistent with those previously reported for the 2004 Scorecard but now reflect the larger evidence base evaluating the impact of health warnings and advertising restrictions.
Where is the right ventricle?

A 20-year-old man with no history of known cardiac disease was admitted with dyspnoea on exertion during a few weeks. His effort capacity was class I. At physical examination, his blood pressure was 120/70 mm Hg and pulse 80 bpm. His physical examination and ECG were unremarkable. Room air oxygen saturation was measured as 91 when evaluating patients on admission. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed that the left ventricle, left atrium and right atrium were of normal structure and function; however, the right ventricle (RV) was severely hypoplastic with an intact interatrial septum (figure 1 and video 1). Also, in the echocardiographic evaluation of patients, tricuspid regurgitation was present in …
Quality of life in patients with glioblastoma multiforme participating in a randomized study of brachytherapy as a boost treatment.

OBJECT Until recently the assessment of outcome in patients treated for glioma has emphasized length of survival with the evaluation of quality of life (QOL) limited to unidimensional, mostly physical, measures. The authors report the multidimensional assessment of QOL as part of a randomized clinical trial of brachytherapy as a boost in the initial treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme. METHODS A questionnaire previously developed by the senior authors and psychometrically validated was completed by patients on randomized entry into the study and at follow-up review every 3 months thereafter. The questionnaire was presented in a linear-analog self-assessment format. Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores were also recorded on each occasion. No differences were found between patients in either arm of the study (conventional radiation therapy consisting of 50 Gy in 25 fractions or conventional radiation plus a brachytherapy boost of a minimum peripheral tumor dose of 60 Gy) in KPS and QOL scores during the 1st year of follow-up review. However, there was a statistically significant deterioration in patients' overall KPS scores during the 1st year of follow up compared with baseline scores. Of QOL items evaluated, statistically significant deteriorations were found in self care, speech, and concentration, and on subscale analyses, cognitive functioning and physical experience (symptoms) deteriorated significantly during the 1st year of follow up, compared with baseline values. The correlation between QOL and KPS scores was low. CONCLUSIONS Future studies in patients harboring malignant gliomas must incorporate measures assessing QOL because traditional measures focusing on physical or neurological functioning give an incomplete assessment of the patient's experience.
High-Throughput Phenotyping of Maize Leaf Physiological and Biochemical Traits Using Hyperspectral Reflectance1[OPEN]

Partial least-squares regression modeling of leaf reflectance spectra provides a high-throughput and accurate approach to phenotyping photosynthesis and leaf biochemistry in maize. High-throughput, noninvasive field phenotyping has revealed genetic variation in crop morphological, developmental, and agronomic traits, but rapid measurements of the underlying physiological and biochemical traits are needed to fully understand genetic variation in plant-environment interactions. This study tested the application of leaf hyperspectral reflectance (λ = 500–2,400 nm) as a high-throughput phenotyping approach for rapid and accurate assessment of leaf photosynthetic and biochemical traits in maize (Zea mays). Leaf traits were measured with standard wet-laboratory and gas-exchange approaches alongside measurements of leaf reflectance. Partial least-squares regression was used to develop a measure of leaf chlorophyll content, nitrogen content, sucrose content, specific leaf area, maximum rate of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylation, [CO2]-saturated rate of photosynthesis, and leaf oxygen radical absorbance capacity from leaf reflectance spectra. Partial least-squares regression models accurately predicted five out of seven traits and were more accurate than previously used simple spectral indices for leaf chlorophyll, nitrogen content, and specific leaf area. Correlations among leaf traits and statistical inferences about differences among genotypes and treatments were similar for measured and modeled data. The hyperspectral reflectance approach to phenotyping was dramatically faster than traditional measurements, enabling over 1,000 rows to be phenotyped during midday hours over just 2 to 4 d, and offers a nondestructive method to accurately assess physiological and biochemical trait responses to environmental stress.
Cell-Secreted Vesicles in Equine Ovarian Follicular Fluid Contain miRNAs and Proteins: A Possible New Form of Cell Communication Within the Ovarian Follicle1

ABSTRACT Proper cell communication within the ovarian follicle is critical for the growth and maturation of a healthy oocyte that can be fertilized and develop into an embryo. Cell communication within the follicle involves many signaling molecules and is affected by maternal age. Recent studies indicate that cell communication can be mediated through secretion and uptake of small membrane-enclosed vesicles. The goals of this study were to 1) identify cell-secreted vesicles (microvesicles and exosomes) containing miRNAs and proteins within ovarian follicular fluid and 2) determine if miRNA level differs in exosomes isolated from follicular fluid in young compared to old mares. We demonstrate the presence of vesicles resembling microvesicles and exosomes in ovarian follicular fluid using transmission electron microscopy and CD63-positive and RNA containing vesicles using flow cytometry. Moreover, proteomics analysis reveals that follicular fluid-isolated exosomes contain both known exosomal proteins and proteins not previously reported in isolated exosomes. MicroRNAs were detected in microvesicle and exosomes preparations isolated from follicular fluid by real-time PCR analysis. Uptake of fluorescent-labeled microvesicles by granulosa cells was examined using in vitro and in vivo approaches. MicroRNA expression profiling reveals that miRNAs in microvesicle and exosome preparations isolated from follicular fluid also are present within surrounding granulosa and cumulus cells. These studies revealed that cell communication within the mammalian ovarian follicle may involve transfer of bioactive material by microvesicles and exosomes. Finally, miRNAs present in exosomes from ovarian follicular fluid varied with the age of the mare, and a number of different miRNAs were detected in young vs. old mare follicular fluid.
The effects of the amphibian chytrid fungus, insecticide exposure, and temperature on larval anuran development and survival

Chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been implicated as a cause of amphibian declines. Susceptibility may be influenced by environmental factors that suppress the immune response. The authors conducted a laboratory study to examine the effect of temperature, insecticide exposure, and Bd exposure during larval anuran development. The authors examined the consequences of exposure to Bd, an insecticide (carbaryl or malathion), and static or fluctuating temperature (15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, or 15 °C to 25 °C 72‐h flux) on larval development through metamorphosis of the Pacific treefrog (Pseudacris regilla). High and fluctuating temperature had negative effects on survival in the presence of Bd. Insecticides inhibited the effects of Bd; time to tail resorption of Pacific treefrogs decreased when tadpoles were exposed to carbaryl. The present study indicates that abiotic factors may play a role in the host–pathogen interactions in this system. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2545–2550. © 2014 SETAC
The effect of knee angle on the external validity of isometric measures of lower body neuromuscular function

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying knee angle (120° and 90°) on the external validity of an isometric leg press test with reference to vertical jump performance. Isometric peak force (PF 120 and PF 90 ), rate of force development (RFD 120 and RFD 90 ), and maximum height reached with a squat jump and counter-movement jump were measured in 14 males. Although RFD 120 was significantly correlated with squat jump and counter-movement jump performance ( r = 0.71 and 0.69), and the correlations with PF 120 approached statistical significance ( r = 0.53 and 0.50), neither PF 90 nor RFD 90 was significantly related to vertical jump performance. Furthermore, although both RFD 120 and PF 120 were significantly different between the best five and the worst five jumpers, RFD 90 and PF 90 did not differentiate between individuals' vertical jump performance. We conclude that the choice of joint angle affects the external validity of isometric strength testing. Based on our results, we recommend accurate control of biomechanical specificity and assessment at different angles to find the position at which isometric strength testing is most comfortable.
Rad51 overexpression and resistance to genotoxic agents. A study in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

BACKGROUND Many cancer cell lines have been found to overexpress the recombinase Rad51. The overexpression is associated with increased invasive potential and resistance to DNA-damaging therapeutic agents. This has been attributed to an increased capacity of cells overexpressing Rad51 to repair DNA lesions or to a genetic stabilization of the genome. AIM As the explanations are somewhat controversial, we attempted to reproduce overexpression in the unicellular eukaryote Schizosaccharomyces pombe to have a simpler tool to study the problem of Rad51 overexpression and its induced resistance to DNA-damaging agents. METHODS We used the nmt1 promoter inserted upstream of rad51 gene to induce its overexpression and studied the phenotype of the transformed strain, especially its sensitivity to camptothecin and hydroxyurea. RESULTS We found that overexpression induced sensitivity to the two drugs even when it was associated with the deletion of a recombination mediator rad22/rad52 gene. However, when overexpression was associated with the deletion of the helicase-encoding fbh1 gene, the sensitivity to camptothecin was diminished.
Reduction of Uranium(VI) Phosphate during Growth of the Thermophilic Bacterium Thermoterrabacterium ferrireducens

ABSTRACT The thermophilic, gram-positive bacterium Thermoterrabacterium ferrireducens coupled organotrophic growth to the reduction of sparingly soluble U(VI) phosphate. X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis identified the electron acceptor in a defined medium as U(VI) phosphate [uramphite; (NH4)(UO2)(PO4) · 3H2O], while the U(IV)-containing precipitate formed during bacterial growth was identified as ningyoite [CaU(PO4)2 · H2O]. This is the first report of microbial reduction of a largely insoluble U(VI) compound.
A useful lemma for capacity analysis of fading interference channels

This paper presents a simple new expression for the exact evaluation of averages of the form E [ln (1+x<sub>1</sub>+.x<sub>N</sub>/y<sub>1</sub>+.+y<sub>M</sub>+1)], where x<sub>1</sub>,. , x<sub>N</sub>, y<sub>1</sub>. , y<sub>M</sub> are arbitrary non-negative random variables, in terms of the joint moment generating functions of these random variables. Application examples are given for the ergodic capacity evaluation of some multiuser wireless communication systems which are difficult to solve by the known classical methods.
Detecting hip fractures with radiologist-level performance using deep neural networks

We developed an automated deep learning system to detect hip fractures from frontal pelvic x-rays, an important and common radiological task. Our system was trained on a decade of clinical x-rays (~53,000 studies) and can be applied to clinical data, automatically excluding inappropriate and technically unsatisfactory studies. We demonstrate diagnostic performance equivalent to a human radiologist and an area under the ROC curve of 0.994. Translated to clinical practice, such a system has the potential to increase the efficiency of diagnosis, reduce the need for expensive additional testing, expand access to expert level medical image interpretation, and improve overall patient outcomes.