Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sociodemographics, General Health, and Psychologic Health in Uninvestigated Dyspepsia: A Comparison of Public and Private Patients

Goals To compare the dyspepsia severity, general health, and psychologic health of patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia presenting in private and public settings. Study Patients in this cross-sectional study were recruited from the Houston Veterans Administration (VA) General Medicine Outpatient Clinic and from the nearby private practice of a family physician. To be included, patients had to be at least 18 years of age and had to report a history of dyspepsia (epigastric discomfort) without alarm of at least 1 week's duration. Clinical information was obtained. Dyspepsia severity was measured using dyspepsia-related health scales, general health was measured using the Short Form 36, and psychologic health was measured using six scales. Results The authors enrolled 159 patients (59 VA). There were no differences in VA and private patients in most of the clinical characteristics related to dyspepsia. Compared with the private patients, the VA patients had worse scores on all Short Form 36 subscales, had lower expectations for treatment outcome, were more depressed, and had less optimism about life. Conclusions Burden of illness and psychologic factors such as patient expectations are known to have important effects on patient outcomes. Striking differences in these factors exist in patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia seen in private and public settings. In the future, these factors must be taken into account both in conducting studies in dyspepsia and in interpreting the results for different practice settings.
Individual and molecular level effects of produced water contaminants on nauplii and adult females of Calanus finmarchicus

ABSTRACT In the Barents Sea region new petroleum fields are discovered yearly and extraction of petroleum products is expected to increase in the upcoming years. Despite enhanced technology and stricter governmental legislation, establishment of the petroleum industry in the Barents Sea may potentially introduce a new source of contamination to the area, as some discharges of produced water will be allowed. Whether the presence of produced water poses a risk to the Arctic marine life remains to be investigated. The aim of this study was to examine effects of exposure to several compounds found in produced water—a mixture of selected organic compounds (APW), radium-226 (226Ra), barium (Ba), and a scale inhibitor—on the copepod species Calanus finmarchicus. Experiments were performed using exposure concentrations at realistic levels based on those detected in the vicinity of known discharge points. The influence of lethal and sublethal effects on early life stages was determined and significantly lower survival in the APW exposure groups was found. In the Ba treatment the life stage development did not proceed to the same advanced stages as observed in the control (filtered sea water). The scale inhibitor and 226Ra treatments showed no significant difference from control. In addition, adult females were exposed to APW, 226Ra, and a mixture of the two. Both individual-level effects (egg production and feeding) and molecular-level effects (gene expression) were assessed. On the individual level endpoints, only treatments including APW produced an effect compared to control. However, on the molecular level the possibility that also 226Ra induced toxicologically relevant effects cannot be ruled out.
Switched-beam E-band transmitarray antenna for point-to-point communications

Switched-beam transmitarray antennas operating at E band (71–76 GHz and 81–86 GHz) are investigated in the perspective of self-alignment applications for point-to-point wireless communication links, which play an increasing role in modern mobile networks infrastructures. Several designs are presented covering either one or both sub-bands. Simulation results exhibit promising performance with gain levels in the range of 31–35.1 dBi for a 100-mm diameter aperture. The design of a switched focal array is presented and enables the coverage of an angular sector of ±6.6° with 5.1 dB gain variation in the lower band and ±6.9° with 6.8 dB gain variation in the upper band.
Common features of gammadelta T cells and CD8(+) alphabeta T cells responding to human cytomegalovirus infection in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Kidney transplant recipients infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) undergo a persistent gammadelta T cell expansion in their peripheral blood. The anti-CMV function of these cells was previously demonstrated by their ability to kill CMV-infected cells in vitro. METHODS To gain insight into the role of gammadelta T cells within the antiviral immune network, we compared the expansion kinetics of these T cells with that of CMV pp65-specific CD8(+) alphabeta T cells in the peripheral blood of twenty-one kidney transplant recipients. RESULTS Both the percentage and the absolute number of pp65-specific CD8(+) T cells and gammadelta T cells showed a concomitant increase and persistence in most of the kidney transplant recipients with CMV infection. Both cell subsets exhibited an effector/memory phenotype (CD28(-), CD27(-), and CD45RA(+)) that predominated for the entire follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, CMV-specific CD8(+) alphabeta T cells and gammadelta T cells share common expansion kinetics and a common effector phenotype, suggesting that these cell types act similarly in response to CMV infection.
USE OF THE LIGASURE VESSEL SEALING SYSTEM IN LAPAROSCOPIC ADRENALECTOMY

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the operation of choice for benign adrenal lesions. During laparoscopic surgery, vessels are usually ligated with diathermy, ligaclips, staplers or ultrasonic coagulators. Use of the electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer (LigaSure; Valleylab, Boulder, CO, USA) has recently been described in a variety of procedures, not including adrenalectomy. This article is a retrospective study of 28 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy within the University of Sydney Endocrine Surgical Unit at the Royal North Shore Hospital using the LigaSure vessel sealing system. Between July 2004 and August 2005, 28 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy using the LigaSure vessel sealing system to divide feeding adrenal vessels as well as the adrenal vein. There were no bleeding complications. The LigaSure vessel sealing system can be safely used to secure haemostasis, including division of the adrenal vein, in laparoscopic adrenalectomy.
Digestibility of fiber components and reproductive performance of sows fed high levels of alfalfa meal.

Two experiments were conducted with second-parity sows fed either 5 or 50% alfalfa meal diets (Exp. 1) or 5, 50 or 95% alfalfa meal diets (Exp. 2) beginning 30 d after breeding and continuing through lactation, 21 d postpartum. Diets in both experiments were calculated to be equal in crude protein, but different in metabolizable energy content. Feed intake was restricted to 2 kg/d during gestation and ad libitum during lactation. Sows were tethered in metabolism crates 45 d after breeding. Total feces were collected during two 5-d collection periods, 60 and 100 d after breeding. Digestibilities of dry matter, fiber components (neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose and cellulose), protein and energy were determined in both experiments for all diets and periods of gestation. In both experiments, there was a reduction (P less than .05) in digestibility of dry matter, fiber components, protein and energy with increasing fiber levels for both periods of gestation. In Exp. 1, the decrease in digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose and energy was greater at 100 d gestation than at 60 d in sows fed 50% alfalfa. In Exp. 2, 50 and 95% dietary alfalfa reduced 60-d digestibilities of dry matter, all fiber constituents, energy and protein; these digestibilities were further reduced (P less than .05) at 100 d of gestation. In Exp. 1, weight gains of sows fed 5 and 50% alfalfa diets from breeding to 109 d gestation, were 42 and 18 kg/sow (5 greater than 50% level, P less than .05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Millimeter-Wave MultiBeam Aperture-Coupled Magnetoelectric Dipole Array With Planar Substrate Integrated Beamforming Network for 5G Applications

A modified topology of the 2-D multibeam antenna array fed by a passive beamforming network (BFN) is proposed by introducing two sets of vertical interconnections into the conventional array configuration. Different from the traditional design, the new array structure can be integrated into multilayered planar substrates conveniently, which has advantages of low loss characteristics, ease of realization, and low fabrication cost for millimeter-wave (mmWave) applications. A $4\times4$ multibeam antenna array that can generate 16 beams is then designed, fabricated, and measured in order to demonstrate the correctness of the proposed topology. As the crucial components of the design, two kinds of aperture-coupled magnetoelectric dipole antenna elements with multilayered feed structures and three types of vertical interconnections consisting of the vertical substrate integrated waveguides are investigated, respectively. Wide bandwidth of 16.4%, stable radiation beams, and gain up to 14.7 dBi are achieved by the fabricated prototype. The proposed array configuration provides a new mean to implement the relatively large size 2-D multibeam antenna arrays with planar passive BFNs, which would be attractive for future mmWave wireless systems used for 5G communications and other applications.
Detection of latency-related viral RNAs in trigeminal ganglia of rabbits latently infected with herpes simplex virus type 1

Using a combination of in situ hybridization and Northern (RNA) blot analysis, we investigated herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) transcriptional activity in an ocular rabbit model of HSV-1 latency. Radioactively labeled cloned fragments, representing virtually the entire HSV-1 genome, were individually hybridized to RNA in sections of trigeminal ganglia taken from rabbits during the latent phase of infection with HSV-1 (McKrae). Our results suggest that two discrete latency-related RNAs (LR-RNAs) may be present. The LR-RNAs were localized mainly in the nuclei of neurons. The more abundant LR-RNA was detected in approximately 3% of all neurons examined and was designated major LR-RNA. The other LR-RNA, designated minor LR-RNA, was detected in approximately 0.3% of neurons from latently infected rabbits. The genes for the LR-RNAs mapped in the vicinity of the immediate-early gene ICP0 (also designated IE110). The gene for the major LR-RNA partially overlapped the left (3') end of the ICP0 gene. In situ hybridization with single-stranded RNA probes showed that this LR-RNA was of complementary sense to that of ICP0 mRNA. Northern blot analysis gave an approximate size for this LR-RNA of 1.8 to 2.2 kilobases. The minor LR-RNA mapped to or near the right (5') end of the ICP0 gene. The detection of LR-RNAs suggests the possibility that these RNAs or their products may play significant roles in the initiation and/or maintenance of HSV-1 latency.
A Comparison of Silicone and Polyurethane PICC Lines and Postinsertion Complication Rates: A Systematic Review

Purpose To determine postinsertion complication rate for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), in particular the difference between silicone and polyurethane lines in general population groups as well as oncology and non-oncology patient groups. Methods A systematic review of prospective and retrospective studies in the English language between January 2000 and October 2013 focusing on postinsertion complication rates for PICCs in the adult population. Joanna Briggs Institute tools were used to extract data from the final 19 articles with information collated relating to catheter type, patient type, overall complication rate, rates of infection, occlusion, dislodgment, phlebitis, thrombus and rupture. Results Overall, the PICCs complication rates ranged from 8 to 50%. Although both lines saw similar overall rates upon closer observation, the strengths and weaknesses of both lines are shown. Polyurethane PICC lines were found to provide lower rates of infection, dislodgment, thrombus and rupture complications. Mixed results were found with catheter line occlusions, overall averages showing polyurethane lines slightly higher rates than silicone. Oncology patients however saw opposite results. Phlebitis rates saw the largest division among the postinsertion complication rates, with 6.7% more phlebitis in the general patient group and 14.5% in the oncology group more for those with polyurethane PICC lines compared with the silicone. Conclusions Both silicone and polyurethane PICC lines exhibit nearly identical overall average postinsertion compilation rates; however, it is the type of complications experienced that differ. Overall, oncology patients can expect to experience higher levels of postinsertion complications.
Influence du Niño sur les régimes pluviométriques de l'Equateur

Les regions cotieres de l'equateur sont soumises a un climat tres variable, les annees de deficits pluviometriques alternent avec quelques annees d'abondances provoquant des inondations parfois devastatrices. Cette irregularite des precipitations est fortement liee a l'etat de l'ocean pacifique au large de l'equateur et du perou. Cette region de l'ocean, ou se rencontre le courant froid de humboldt et le courant equatorial chaud, est le centre des anomalies climatiques de type enso (el nino southern oscillation). Mais, malgre ces motifs d'interet, l'equateur n'avait jusqu'a present fait l'objet que d'un nombre relativement modeste d'etudes. La methode du vecteur regional s'est averee un outil tres performant pour creer des indices representatifs de l'organisation chronologique regionale des series pluviometriques en permettant d'eliminer les erreurs de mesures et de s'affranchir d'une partie de la variabilite climatique locale contenue par les series des pluviometres. L'analyse des differences entre les annees nino et les annees normales permet de determiner l'importance et les limites de l'influence du nino sur les precipitations annuelles de l'equateur. En caracterisant les anomalies saisonnieres des pluies des regions les plus fortement influencees ainsi que les anomalies de temperature et de vent de surface du pacifique au large de l'equateur, un schema type d'apparition des precipitations a pu etre etabli. De plus, le lien entre les precipitations, la temperature et le vent a permis de determiner des modeles explicatifs et previsionnels simples et logiques des totaux des mois de la saison des pluies. Les previsions ainsi obtenues, pourront etre utilisees pour la gestion des ouvrages de regulation hydraulique. Il apparait que l'augmentation des totaux pluviometriques annuels et mensuels observee les annees nino est due a une augmentation du nombre de jours de fortes pluies pendant la deuxieme moitie de la saison des pluies. Et non pas a l'augmentation des totaux journaliers pendant le mois generalement le plus pluvieux ou a l'occurence de quelques evenements journaliers exceptionnels.
Electrophysiological Properties of Mitogen-Expanded Adult Rat Spinal Cord and Subventricular Zone Neural Precursor Cells

Growth factor-expanded neural precursor cells isolated from the mammalian central nervous system can differentiate into neurons and glia. Although the morphological and neurochemical development of these neural precursor cells has been investigated, little attention has been paid to their electrophysiology. This study examined the electrophysiological properties of neurons and glia derived from neural precursor cells isolated from the adult rat spinal cord (SC) and subventricular zone (SVZ). Cells were cultured in medium containing epidermal growth factor and/or fibroblast growth factor-2. After at least two passages, spheres of neural precursor cells were plated on coated coverslips and maintained in culture for up to 6 weeks. Whole-cell patch recordings were made using standard current clamp techniques. Immature action potentials were observed within hours of plating for both SC and SVZ cells. Input resistance and time constants decreased over the first week after plating and no further changes were found at later times. At similar times following plating, however, SVZ cells had a lower input resistance and shorter time constant compared to SC cells. SVZ cells also had higher resting membrane potentials and smaller after hyperpolarizations than those of SC cells, despite no significant difference in the amplitude of action potentials. Neither the SC nor the SVZ cells were capable of eliciting more than a single action potential in response to injected current. While all SC cells tested were depolarized by glutamate, the response of SVZ cells to glutamate varied considerably. This study revealed that neural precursor cells from SC and SVZ differ in both active and passive membrane properties. It appears also that the electrophysiological development of SC and SVZ precursor-derived neurons is incomplete under the conditions used. These observations suggest that the neural precursor cells from different anatomical locations may be physiologically diverse and may exhibit some differences in commitment toward neuronal or glial phenotypes.
Compatible organic osmolytes in rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells

Compatible organic osmolytes, such as betaine and taurine are involved in the regulation of Kupffer cell (KC) function, but nothing is known about osmolytes in liver endothelial cells. This was investigated here by studying the effect of aniso‐osmotic exposure of rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) on osmolyte transport and the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for the transport systems for betaine (BGT1), taurine (TAUT), and myo‐inositol (SMIT). Compared with normo‐osmotic exposure (305 mosmol/L), hyperosmotic exposure (405 mosmol/L) of SEC led to an increase in the mRNA levels for these transport systems and simultaneously to a stimulation of betaine, taurine, and myo‐inositol uptake, which led to an increase of cell volume. Conversely, hypo‐osmotic exposure decreased osmolyte uptake. When hyperosmotically pre‐exposed SEC were loaded with betaine, taurine, or myo‐inositol, hypo‐osmotic stress stimulated the efflux of these osmolytes from the cells. Studies on osmolyte tissue levels revealed that taurine was an important compatible organic osmolyte under normo‐osmotic conditions and predominantly released following hypo‐osmotic stress. Conversely, following hyperosmotic exposure, the increase in cellular betaine and myo‐inositol exceeded that of taurine. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐treated SEC, hyperosmotic exposure markedly raised the mRNA levels for cyclo‐oxygenase–2 (COX‐2), but not for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The increase of COX‐2 mRNA levels was counteracted by betaine and taurine and, to a lesser extent, by myo‐inositol. The findings indicate that SEC use taurine, betaine, and myo‐inositol as compatible organic osmolytes.
Characterization of the expanded T cell population in infectious mononucleosis: apoptosis, expression of apoptosis‐related genes, and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) status

Infectious mononucleosis (IM), a manifestation of primary infection with EBV, is characterized by a massive expansion of the T cell population. In this study we examined this expanded T cell population regarding its EBV status, its proliferative and apoptotic activity, and its expression of apoptosis‐related genes. Whereas previous studies were performed on ex vivo cultures or on peripheral blood, our investigations included in vivo analysis of IM tonsillectomy specimens (14 cases) by in situ hybridization for viral RNA (EBERs) combined with immunohistochemistry (IHC; CD3, CD45RO, CD20, CD79a, Ki‐67, Bcl‐2, Bax, Fas, FasL) and the TUNEL method. Of the EBER+ cells 50–70% showed expression of the B cell markers CD20/CD79a. The remainder of the EBER+ cells expressed neither B nor T cell antigens. No co‐expression of EBERs and T cell antigens was detected in any of the specimens. In accordance with a high rate of apoptosis (up to 2·37%) within the expanded T cell population, Bcl‐2 expression was drastically reduced and FasL expression remarkably increased. The levels of Bax and Fas expression showed no or moderate up‐regulation. In conclusion, the massive expansion of IM T cells is not caused by EBV infection of these cells but merely represents an intense immune reaction. Through altered expression of Bcl‐2/Bax and Fas/FasL, the activated T cells are subject to enhanced apoptosis while residing within the lymphoid tissue, which eventually allows the efficient silencing of this potentially damaging T cell response.
Improvement in Central Arterial Pressure Waveform during Hemodialysis Is Related to a Reduction in Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) Levels

Background: Cardiovascular mortality is high in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Early arterial pressure wave reflections, reflecting arterial stiffness and the endogenous nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels predict mortality in HD patients. Therefore, we aimed to study changes in ADMA levels and central arterial pressure waveform during HD. Methods: Thirty-two chronic HD patients were studied before and after a HD session. In a subset of 22 patients without arrhythmias, pulse wave analysis was performed on radial artery (SphygmoCor). Augmentation index (AIx), defined as difference between the second and first systolic peak divided by central pulse pressure, was used as a measure of arterial stiffness. ADMA was measured in plasma with the ELISA technique. Homocysteine was measured in plasma using the EIA technique. Results: HD reduced both AIx (19%; p = 0.003) and ADMA levels (17%; p < 0.001). The magnitudes of changes in AIx and ADMA during HD were correlated (r = 0.44; p = 0.045). Mean arterial pressure change was not significant. HD reduced homocysteine levels, but homocysteine was not related to ADMA or AIx. Conclusion: The reduction in ADMA level seen after HD was associated with improvement in the central arterial pressure waveform, suggesting involvement of nitric oxide in the regulation of arterial stiffness in HD patients.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Infliximab in Spondyloarthritis: An Observational Open-Label Study

Background: Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to human tumor necrosis factor alpha and which is approved for refractory spondyloarthritis (SpA). Individual adjustment of infliximab dosage may help to improve the therapeutic response in SpA. We investigated whether a knowledge of infliximab serum concentration modifies physician decision and improves the control of disease activity in SpA. Methods: Thirty-two patients routinely treated with infliximab were included in an observational open-label study. On visit 1 (V1), according to disease activity, a preliminary therapeutic decision was selected among 4 therapeutic options (ie, decrease, increase, maintain the dosage of infliximab, or switch over for another treatment), and a blood sample was collected to measure infliximab trough serum concentration. The final therapeutic decision, based on both disease activity and infliximab serum concentration assessed at V1, was applied at the following infusion (V2). Clinical and biological evaluations were performed at V3 and V4 and compared with those at V1. Results: The measurement of infliximab trough concentration modified the therapeutic decision for 10 patients (31%). For both patients with increased or decreased infliximab dosage at V2, median Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was similar at V3 or V4 as compared with that at V1. However, a trend for an inverse relationship between infliximab serum concentrations and BASDAI was observed. Conclusions: Knowledge of infliximab trough concentration modified the therapeutic decision for SpA patients with predominantly axial symptoms but did not improve the control of disease activity as estimated by the BASDAI.