Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with acute high-risk pulmonary embolism: a case series with literature review

Background Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used for the treatment of acute high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), there are limited reports which focus on this approach. Herein, we described our experience with ECMO in patients with acute high-risk PE. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with acute high-risk PE and treated with ECMO between January 2014 and December 2018. Results Among 16 patients included, median age was 51 years (interquartile range [IQR], 38 to 71 years) and six (37.5%) were male. Cardiac arrest was occurred in 12 (75.0%) including two cases of out-of-hospital arrest. All patients underwent veno-arterial ECMO and median ECMO duration was 1.5 days (IQR, 0.0 to 4.5 days). Systemic thrombolysis and surgical embolectomy were performed in seven (43.8%) and nine (56.3%) patients, respectively including three patients (18.8%) received both treatments. Overall 30-day mortality rate was 43.8% (95% confidence interval, 23.1% to 66.8%) and 30-day mortality rates according to the treatment groups were ECMO alone (33.3%, n=3), ECMO with thrombolysis (50.0%, n=4) and ECMO with embolectomy (44.4%, n=9). Conclusions Despite the vigorous treatment efforts, patients with acute high-risk PE were related to substantial morbidity and mortality. We report our experience of ECMO as rescue therapy for refractory shock or cardiac arrest in patients with PE.
Unsupervised remote sensing image classification using an artificial immune network

In this article, the artificial immune network (aiNet) model, a computational intelligent approach based on artificial immune networks (AINs), is applied to remote sensing image processing to improve its intelligence. aiNet has been utilized for clustering, optimization, and data analysis. Nevertheless, due to the inherent complexity of the aiNet algorithm and the large volume of data in remote sensing imagery, the application of aiNet to remote sensing image classification has been rather limited. This article presents an unsupervised artificial immune network for remote sensing image classification (RSUAIN) based on aiNet. The proposed method can adaptively obtain some user-defined parameters, such as clone rate and mutation rate, and evolve the memorial immune network by immune operators and biological properties, such as clone, mutation and memory operators, using the remote sensing image for the task of remote sensing image clustering. Three experiments with different types of images were performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm and to compare it with other traditional unsupervised classification algorithms, for example, k-means, ISODATA (Iterative Self-organizing Data Anaysis Techniques Algorithm) and fuzzy k-means. RSUAIN was observed to outperform the traditional algorithms in the three experiments and hence potentially provides an effective option for unsupervised remote sensing image classification.
Sonographic Representation of Bifid Median Nerve and Persistent Median Artery

Bifid median nerve and persistent median arteries are natural anatomic variants that exist in a small percentage of the population. This case describes a young woman who was referred for electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing of her right upper extremity because of a one-year history of numbness, tingling, and discomfort in her right upper extremity consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome. Careful sonographic scanning (gray scale and power Doppler) and dynamic investigation revealed a bifid median nerve and associated persistent median artery (PMA). The awareness of a bifid median nerve and PMA is important when evaluating patients sonographically for diagnosis of upper extremity pathology, including enlargement due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Furthermore, as musculoskeletal sonography increases in clinical practice, it is important to raise awareness of this dual anatomic variant to ensure that appropriate evaluation and treatment are provided. The sonographic presentation of anatomic variations in this case along with a review of these anomalies is provided for translational clinical use.
Anti-inflammatory effects of different statins in rheumatoid arthritis; a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial

Introduction: Statin family drugs are lipid-lowering agents with anti-inflammatory effects. Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of different statins in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Patients and Methods: Around 161 eligible subjects with rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled. They randomly were divided into three groups. The first group received 40 mg/daily atorvastatin, the second group received 40 mg/daily simvastatin, and the third group received placebo as control for six months. To calculate the disease activity, DAS-28 (Disease Activity Score 28) was used while VAS (visual analog scale) was used to assess the severity of pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients. DAS-28, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) and lipid profiles were assessed once for the baseline and then after three and six months of intervention. Data was analyzed by SPSS by a P value <0.05 which was set to be significant. Results: DAS-28 score in months 0, 3 and 6 in atorvastatin, simvastatin and placebo groups was (5.36 ± 1.02, 3.23±1.24 and 2.81±1.13), (5.29±0.87, 2.75±1.16 and 2.57±1.00) and (5.52±0.96, 3.90±1.10 and 3.87±1.52), respectively. Mean of DAS-28 score differences between placebo and atorvastatin groups was 0.6±0.16 (P<0.01); the score differences between simvastatin and placebo was 0.900±0.16 that was significant (P<0.01), however, the score differences was not significant between atorvastatin and simvastatin groups (P=0.261). Conclusion: Statins decrease inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Giving short‐term prophylactic antibiotics in patients undergoing open and laparoscopic hepatic resection

The 2016 guidelines of the Japan Society for Surgical Infection and the Japan Society of Chemotherapy advocate giving prophylactic antibiotics 1 hour before surgery and until 24 hours after surgery in patients undergoing elective hepatic resection. However, the efficacy of short‐term antimicrobial prophylaxis has not been evaluated according to surgical approach. We evaluated the efficacy of giving prophylactic antibiotics in patients undergoing open or laparoscopic hepatic resection.
Tendências da frequência do consumo de feijão por meio de inquérito telefônico nas capitais brasileiras, 2006 a 2009

The scope of this paper was to analyze the trends of frequency of consumption of beans between the years 2006 and 2009 in the Brazilian capitals. This is a historical series using the Vigitel database for all Brazilian state capitals. Consumption of beans was described in terms of relative frequency and the trend was assessed using Poisson regression. Between 65.79% (2009) and 71.85% (2006) of participants reported consuming beans five or more days per week. The capitals Goiania, Belo Horizonte, Palmas, Brasilia and Cuiaba were in the highest frequency range of consumption throughout the study period. Individuals with a BMI in the appropriate and low weight category had the highest frequencies of consumption in comparison with the overweight and the obese. A significant reduction trend in the consumption of beans per year of the research, except for the 45 to 54-year-old range, was detected. The conclusion drawn was that there has been a significant reduction in the consumption of beans in the Brazilian population and the adoption of monitoring and incentive policies is necessary due to the benefits of the legume.
Anakinra Drug Retention Rate and Predictive Factors of Long-Term Response in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Adult Onset Still Disease

Background and Objective: Only a few studies have reported long-term efficacy of interleukin (IL)-1 inhibition in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and adult-onset Still disease (AOSD). Herein we report on the effectiveness of anakinra (ANA), expressed in terms of drug retention rate (DRR), and evaluate the predictive factors of drug survival in a cohort of patients with sJIA and AOSD. Patients and Methods: This is a multicenter study reviewing retrospectively the medical records from 61 patients with sJIA and 76 with AOSD, all treated with ANA in 25 Italian tertiary referral centers. Results: The cumulative retention rate of ANA at 12-, 24-, 48-, and 60-month of follow-up was 74.3%, 62.9%, 49.4%, and 49.4%, respectively, without any significant differences between sJIA and AOSD patients (p = 0.164), and between patients treated in monotherapy compared with the subgroup coadministered with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) (p = 0.473). On the other hand, a significant difference in DRR was found between biologic-naïve patients and those previously treated with biotechnologic drugs (p = 0.009), which persisted even after adjustment for pathology (p = 0.013). In the regression analysis, patients experiencing adverse events (AEs) {hazards ratio (HR) = 3.029 [confidence interval (CI) 1.750–5.242], p < 0.0001} and those previously treated with other biologic agents [HR = 1.818 (CI 1.007–3.282), p = 0.047] were associated with a higher HR of ANA discontinuation. The median treatment delay was significantly higher among patients discontinuing ANA (p < 0.0001). Significant corticosteroid-sparing (p = 0.033) and cDMARD-sparing effects (p < 0.0001) were also recorded. Less than one-third of our cohort developed AEs, and 85% were deemed mild in nature, with 70% of them involving the skin. Conclusions: Our findings display an overall excellent DRR of ANA on the long run for both sJIA and AOSD, that may be further optimized by closely monitoring patient’s safety issues and employing this IL-1 inhibitor as a first-line biologic as early as possible. Moreover, ANA allowed a significant drug-sparing effect and showed an overall good safety profile.
The Angioarchitecture of the Optic Nerve Head in Patients with Optic Disc Drusen

ABSTRACT The aim was to analyse the optic disc angioarchitecture in optic disc drusen (ODD) patients using computer-based fundus analysis in a case–control study. Compared with controls the ODD group had a significantly more centralised central retinal artery (CRA) emergence (p < 0.001) and primary CRA branching (p = 0.008), a higher number of CRA bifurcations (p = 0.02), a larger vertical optic disc diameter (p = 0.02) and a smaller cup/disc ratio (p < 0.001). The CRA emergence was largely within the nasal zone for both groups. The distinctive angioarchitecture of the optic disc in ODD patients can play a role in understanding the pathogenic cause of ODD.
Analysis of Correlated Data with SAS and R

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION ANALYZING CLUSTERED DATA Regression Analysis for Clustered Data Generalized Linear Models Fitting Alternative Models for Clustered Data ANALYSIS OF CROSS-CLASSIFIED DATA Measures of Association in 2 x 2 Tables Analysis of Several 2 x 2 Contingency Tables Analysis of 1:1 Matched Pairs Statistical Analysis of Clustered Binary Data Sample Size Requirements for Clustered Binary Data Discussion MODELING BINARY OUTCOME DATA The Logistic Regression Model Modeling Correlated Binary Outcome Data Logistic Regression for Case-Control Studies Sample-Size Calculations for Logistic Regression ANALYSIS OF CLUSTERED COUNT DATA Poisson Regression Model Inference and Goodness of Fit Over-Dispersion in Count Data Count Data Random Effects Models Other Models ANALYSIS OF TIME SERIES Simple Descriptive Methods Fundamental Concepts in the Analysis of Time Series Models for Stationary Time Series ARIMA Models Forecasting Modeling Seasonality with ARIMA: The Condemnation Rates Series Revisited REPEATED MEASURES AND LONGITUDINAL DATA ANALYSIS Methods for the Analysis of Repeated Measures Data Mixed Linear Regression Models Examples Using the SAS Mixed and GLIMMIX Procedures SURVIVAL DATA ANALYSIS Examples Estimating the Survival Probabilities Modeling Correlated Survival Data Sample Size Requirements for Survival Data REFERENCES INDEX Introductions appear at the beginning of each chapter.
Discrimination of Syzygium polyanthum Cultivars (Wight) Walp Based on Essential oil Composition

Myrtaceae has been considered as the richest species with the genus Syzygium having approximately 120 species in Malaysia. The aerial part of Syzygium polyanthum is largely consumed as ulam with the aim of treating diverse ailments and enhancing appetite in Peninsular Malaysia. The richness of the species in the niche has resulted in the taxonomic misidentification which caused a serious problem in biodiversity management and development of natural products. The study was aimed to discriminate the two cultivars of S. Polyanthum (Serai Kayu and Serai Kayu Hutan) based on the chemical composition of their essential oil. The volatile compounds were distilled from the aerial parts using Hydrodistillation. Up to 0.4% and 1.6% (v/w) were percentages of the oil yield obtained from Serai Kayu and Serai Kayu Hutan leaves, respectively. The GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 40 and 29 compounds amounting to 70.29% and 95.15% in Serai Kayu and Serai Kayu Hutan, respectively. Alpha-Pinene (38.46%), Octanal (21.01%) and (E)-Methyl-cinnamate (7.21%) were the main constituents of Serai Kayu while in Serai Kayu Hutan Z-Methyl-cinnamate (39.18%), Terpinolane (23.63%) and Spathulenol (3.98%) were the major constituents. Compounds below 1% were considered to be minor constituents in both the species. The study documents the first chemical composition of the cultivar Serai Kayu Hutan. The analysis of the chemical content has added taxonomic information to the genus Syzygium and had provided the baseline information for natural product development.
Growth performance, carcass composition, leg bones, and digestive system characteristics in Pekin duck broilers fed a diet diluted with whole wheat grain

Abstract: A total of 270 Pekin ducks were reared for 49 d to determine the effect of feeding a diluted complete commercial wheat grain diet on live weight, feed intake and conversion, carcass, leg bone, and digestive system traits. Different feeding regimes had a significant effect on the body weight of the ducks aged 35 d and the feed conversion ratio in the period between days 22 and 35 of rearing. Dilution of a complete commercial diet with whole wheat grain had no significant influence on the final live weight (day 49), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio during the entire rearing period. Ducks fed a diet with whole wheat grain had a significantly higher dressing percentage after higher percentage of pectoral muscles, skin with subcutaneous fat, abdominal fat, as well as a significantly lower percentage of carcass remainders at the age of 49 d. Dilution of a complete commercial diet with whole wheat grain had no impact on the length of the respective intestinal sections nor on the weight and percentage share of gizzard, liver, heart, and spleen. However, it significantly lowered the fracture strength of the tibiotarsus, and decreased some dimensions of the femur and tibiotarsus.
Evaluation of Bone Metabolism Biomarkers in Paget's Disease of Bone

Objective: To evaluate serum levels of bone metabolism biomarkers in patients with Paget's disease of bone (PDB). Methods: Serum levels of osteopontin, sclerostin, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin, Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1), and soluble frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP-1) were measured in 57 patients with Paget’s disease of bone and 24 controls with primary osteoarthritis. Subgroup analysis was employed to identify any differences in bone metabolism biomarker levels according to disease activity or current treatment. Results: Patients with PDB presented higher levels of osteopontin and RANKL. When compared with patients with inactive disease, patients with active disease presented higher levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and osteopontin. There was a significant correlation between serum levels of BAP and osteopontin. There was no significant correlation between levels of BAP and other bone metabolism biomarkers. Current disease extension on bone scintigraphy had a significant correlation with serum levels of osteopontin and BAP. There was no significant correlation between current disease extension and other bone metabolism biomarkers. Serum levels of osteopontin and RANKL were correlated to serum levels of BAP and disease extension. Conclusion: Patients with PDB presented higher levels of osteopontin and RANKL. Osteopontin could be a useful biomarker for activity and extension of PDB.
Attitudes towards assistance dogs in Japan and the UK: a comparison of college students studying animal care

Abstract Previous studies have indicated that the primary problems associated with ownership of assistance dogs lie not with the dogs themselves, but with people's attitudes and behavior towards them, including interference with the dog while it is working, and denial of access to public facilities. However, there has been little systematic study of the attitudes of the general public towards assistance dogs. Our study was carried out to compare the knowledge and attitudes of young people in Japan and the UK towards assistance dogs, in order to provide a basis for the future development of assistance dog provision in Japan. Forty-four Japanese and 42 British college students completed questionnaires in which they were asked about their knowledge of, and attitudes towards, assistance dogs. A similar percentage (about 20%) of the British and Japanese students reported that they were unhappy about allowing the dogs access to places where food is sold. However, the British participants were more likely to be positive about the idea of using dogs to assist people with disabilities than were the Japanese. Attitudes towards assistance dogs varied among the Japanese students. Some considered assistance dogs happier than pet dogs, because pet dogs are sometimes neglected, while others expressed sympathy for assistance dogs because they are strictly trained and exploited by humans. When asked their opinions about the idea of using dogs as assistance dogs, 98% of the British students, but only 41% of the Japanese students, agreed with the idea. Our results suggest that perception of assistance dogs, and also understanding of the well-being of people with disabilities, were both more well-informed and realistic among the British students than among the Japanese students.
Survival according to mutations in BRAF, KRAS, or microsatellite instability (MSI-H) after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in patients with peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer.

3565 Background: Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and mutations in BRAF V600E (mutBRAF) or KRAS (mutKRAS) have a worse prognosis after liver or lung surgery/ablation, whereas the impact of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) has not been well studied. Few patients with mutBRAF receive liver or lung surgery (1-4%), whereas mutBRAF is present in 5-12% of mCRC trial patients and in up to 20% of the general mCRC population. The frequency and prognostic role of mutBRAF, mutKRAS and MSI has not been well studied after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer. Methods: The Norwegian Radium Hospital is the only center offering CRS and HIPEC in Norway. From 2004 to 2015 257 patients with histology proven peritoneal metastasis from colorectal cancer, appendiceal cancer excluded, was consecutively enrolled. Molecular analyses of KRAS, BRAF and MSS/MSI in mutBRAF were done. Fourteen patients were excluded due to missing tumour blocks (7), unsuccessful analysis (4) and other malignant disease (1). Results: 180 of 243 patients obtained complete cytoreductive surgery and received HIPEC for 90 minutes with Mitomycin C (45-70mg). Median survival for the 180 patients was 47 months and 5-year survival rate 40.1%. Median disease-free survival was 10 months. mutBRAF was found in 23.4% of cases, mutKRAS 35.1% and double-wild type 41.5%. mutBRAF with MSS was found in 16.4%, mutBRAF with MSI-H in 7.0%. 3-year disease free survival (DFS) and median overall survival (OS) was 38.9% and 59 months with mutBRAF with MSI-H, significantly higher compared to 24.2% and 30 months in patients with double wild type, 13.2 % and 41 months in mutKRAS and 17.9% and 22 months in mutBRAF with MSS. Conclusions: A surprisingly high frequency of mutBRAF was seen in mCRC patients after CRS and HIPEC for peritoneal metastatic disease. Patients with mutBRAF and MSI-H had a significantly better DFS and OS after CRS and HIPEC. DFS for patients with mutBRAF and MSS was numerically lower but not statistically different from patients with mutKRAS or double wild type.
Optimising production of mannosylerythritol lipids by Pseudozyma graminicola through omic and molecular approaches

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MEL) are biosurfactants produced primarily by basidiomycete fungi. MELs have potential applications in a wide variety of fields, ranging from medicine to industrial emulsifiers, making them an important target for investigation. MEL production is species-specific, with different proportions of the four variants MEL A-D, being produced and secreted. Of the MEL producers characterised to date all have a five-gene biosynthetic MEL cluster, directly involved on the synthesis of the molecule. However, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of these genes remains unclear. The work described in this thesis contributes to the understanding of MEL production by Pseudozyma graminicola, which primarily produces MEL-C. First, we sequenced and annotated the P. graminicola genome, from which we identified the MEL cluster. Based on comparative genomic analysis, we report P. graminicola as a potential biotrophic plant pathogen. Then, we developed a 1HMR based semi-quantitative method to confirm and monitor MEL production. Alongside this we identified the optimal conditions for the production of MELs using two fermentation systems. Transcription of the MEL cluster genes was monitored during MEL producing and non-producing fermentation conditions using RNAseq and RT PCR. We developed a transformation protocol, which was applied to deletion of emt1 to validate the gene cluster function. We also used the same approach to investigate the roles of three transcription factors, areA, gti1 and pac2 with potential regulation roles in MEL production. Based on this analisis, deletion of gti1 and pac2 appear to result in reduced and enhanced MEL production, repectivly. Further detailed analysis of these mutant is now required to confirm and potentially exploit these findings. The developments described in this thesis contribute to better understanding the biology of P. graminicola associated to MEL production, providing the knowledge necessary for future development of high-yield strains.
Synthesis of Distributed Cognitive Systems: Interacting Computational Maps for Multisensory Fusion

Biological and artificial systems must process noisy and often contradictory sensory streams to interact with their environment. This work investigates a cortically inspired distributed sensory fusion framework, which acquires sensory data, and identifies and exploits underlying correlations to provide a coherent representation. The approach is a promising candidate for robust real-time sensory fusion in robotics because of its scalability, its parallelization and its adaptation to sudden sensory perturbations.