Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial Effect of Chlorhexidine- Containing Glass Ionomer Cement in vivo: A Pilot Study

This in vivo pilot study was carried out to test the antibacterial effect of glass ionomer containing chlorhexidine (test group) in comparison to conventional glass ionomer (control group). Fifty 6- to 11-year-old children with one occlusal lesion in a molar were randomly allocated to test and control groups in a parallel-group design. The cavity walls and one half of the floor were cleaned and restored with one of the materials without dentine conditioning. The restorations were removed after 7 days. Dentine samples were taken from the cleaned (affected dentine) and noncleaned area (infected dentine) at baseline and at day 7. Samples were anaerobically and aerobically cultivated for mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and total viable bacterial count (TVC) following common laboratory procedures. ANCOVA was used to test for treatment effects. Seven days after treatment, a significant decrease in anaerobic and aerobic bacterial counts (p = 0.0001) was shown. Lower numbers of anaerobic lactobacilli (p = 0.02), TVC (p = 0.008) and aerobic lactobacilli and TVC (p = 0.03), but not of mutans streptococci, were indicated in the test group compared to the control group. A significant reduction in aerobic lactobacilli from infected dentine treated with the glass ionomer containing chlorhexidine (p = 0.05) was observed whereas in affected dentine, anaerobic mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and TVC and aerobic TVC and mutans streptococci were significantly lower in the test group 7 days after treatment (p = 0.01). We conclude that the present pilot study revealed lower microorganism counts in chlorhexidine-containing glass ionomers than in conventional glass ionomers for both affected and infected dentine over a 7-day period.
Over‐expression of amyloid precursor protein in HEK cells alters p53 conformational state and protects against doxorubicin

Here we show that human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells stably transfected with amyloid precursor protein (HEK‐APP), expressed a conformational mutant‐like and transcriptionally inactive p53 isoform, and turned out to be less sensitive to the cytotoxin doxorubicin in comparison with untransfected cells. Treatment of HEK‐APP cells with γ‐ and β‐secretase inhibitors prevented generation of unfolded, mutant‐like p53 isoform and made the cells vulnerable to doxorubicin as untransfected cells. Changes in p53 conformational state and reduced sensitivity to doxorubicin were also found in untransfected HEK cells after exposure to nanomolar concentrations of beta‐amyloid (Aβ) and these effects were antagonized by vitamin E. The modulator effects of Aβ on p53 conformational state were, at least in part, due to the intracellular peptides as (i) treatment of HEK‐APP cells with an antibody that sequestered extracellular Aβ did not modify the capability of the cells to express the mutant‐like p53 isoform; (ii) in the presence of 1% serum exogenous Aβ peptide crossed the plasma membrane, as demonstrated by confocal analysis and ELISA, and induced p53 conformational change; and (iii) in the presence of 10% serum Aβ did not enter the cells and consequently did not influence the p53 conformational state.
Safety assessment and therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation therapy combined with percutaneous ethanol injection for hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to the gallbladder

Abstract Objective: This study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided (US-guided) percutaneous microwave (MW) ablation combined with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) to treat liver tumours adjacent to the gallbladder. Materials and methods: A total of 136 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) adjacent to the gallbladder, who underwent ultra-sonographically-guided percutaneous MW ablation, which was combined with PEI in132 patients, were retrospectively assessed. The patient population characteristics, tumour features, local tumour progression and treatment were compared and analysed. The safety and efficacy of the therapy were assessed by clinical data and imaging in follow-up examinations. Results: All patients were completely treated with two sessions; 120 patients underwent one session, 16 patients underwent two sessions. The primary technique was effective in 95.6% of the cases, according to the computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the one-month follow-up (132 of 138 sessions). PEI and other therapies were performed in the patients who had been incompletely treated (all six patients underwent PEI, and some underwent other therapies, including one transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE), one liver transplantation and two liver resections). There was a median follow-up period of 30.1 months and a range of 4 to 68 months. None of the patients had major complications. There were no treatment-related deaths. Twenty-six patients died of primary disease progression that was not directly attributable to MW ablation (19.1%, 26/136). Local tumour progression was noted in five patients (3.7%, 5/136), who had completely ablated tumours at follow-up. The patients with locally progressing tumours underwent additional therapy (three patients underwent PEI, one patient TACE, and one liver resection). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous MW ablation, in combination with percutaneous ethanol injection and thermal monitoring, is a safe and effective treatment for HCC adjacent to the gallbladder.
Treatment with a consensus peptide based on amino acid sequences in autoantibodies prevents T cell activation by autoantigens and delays disease onset in murine lupus.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that an artificial peptide, based on an algorithm describing T cell stimulatory sequences from the VH regions of murine IgG antibodies to DNA, is an effective tolerogen in vivo in the (NZB/NZW)F1 (BWF1) mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS Using proliferative T cell responses to 439 Ig peptides, an algorithm was constructed that describes the amino acid sequences likely to stimulate BWF1 T cells. Stimulatory (pConsensus [pCONS]) or nonstimulatory (pNegative [pNEG]) peptides were synthesized. Groups of 10-week-old (healthy) or 20-week-old (diseased) BWF1 mice received monthly intravenous injections of 1,000 microg of peptide or saline. Ex vivo splenic T cell responses and in vivo clinical effects were measured. RESULTS Tolerance was induced by pCONS, but not by pNEG, with respect to ex vivo T cell proliferation and T cell help for antibodies to DNA. T cell help for IgG anti-DNA was impaired not only after T cell stimulation by pCONS but also after stimulation by some peptides from nucleosomal and Ro antigens. Treatment with pCONS significantly delayed the onset of nephritis and inhibited increases in the plasma levels of total IgG, IgG antibodies to DNA, nucleosome, cardiolipin, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-4. In contrast, antibody responses to an exogenous antigen were not impaired. Survival was significantly prolonged in both healthy and diseased mice treated with pCONS. CONCLUSION Induction of immune tolerance in response to treatment with pCONS in autoreactive T cell helper populations is highly effective in delaying the appearance of multiple autoantibodies, cytokine increases, and nephritis in BWF1 mice, and dramatically prolongs survival. A striking effect is the ability of the peptide to tolerize T cell help for anti-DNA that is induced by multiple, structurally unrelated self antigens.
Validity and reliability of functional performance tests in meniscectomized patients with or without knee osteoarthritis

Aims: Reduced functional performance and muscular dysfunction after knee injury and in knee osteoarthritis (OA) is suggested to be a factor in OA development. Validated functional performance tests applicable in the clinic and large‐scale studies are lacking. The aim was to study the reliability and validity of 10 functional performance tests.
Comparisons among clustering techniques for electricity customer classification

The recent evolution of the electricity business regulation has given new possibilities to the electricity providers for formulating dedicated tariff offers. A key aspect for building specific tariff structures is the identification of the consumption patterns of the customers, in order to form specific customer classes containing customers exhibiting similar patterns. This paper illustrates and compares the results obtained by using various unsupervised clustering algorithms (modified follow-the-leader, hierarchical clustering, K-means, fuzzy K-means) and the self-organizing maps to group together customers with similar electrical behavior. Furthermore, this paper discusses and compares various techniques-Sammon map, principal component analysis (PCA), and curvilinear component analysis (CCA)-able to reduce the size of the clustering input data set, in order to allow for storing a relatively small amount of data in the database of the distribution service provider for customer classification purposes. The effectiveness of the classifications obtained with the algorithms tested is compared in terms of a set of clustering validity indicators. Results obtained on a set of nonresidential customers are presented.
Finite-time stability of linear time-varying singular impulsive systems with variable disturbance

The finite-time stability problem for linear time-varying singular systems with impulses at fixed times is discussed. Some sufficient conditions for finite-time stability of linear time-varying singular impulsive systems are derived when the exogenous disturbance is variable. If the exogenous disturbance is a constant, the result in this paper is similar with the previous one[1]. Two examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the obtained conclusions.
Rapid development and progression of proliferative retinopathy after strict diabetic control

area of medicine. There would be an uproar if such guidelines were produced for, say, the treatment of hypertension or diabetes. Drug abuse is no less complex, its issues no less debatable. There is no attempt at discussion in this document, and it may well give the impression to those who know little about drug abuse (for whom the document is intended) that all are in agreement with its statements. This is far from the case. If I may take the area of heroin abuse: in Scotland there are few, if any, psychiatrists who now use methadone in their care of drug abusers. Certainly in Glasgow most give short courses of benzodiazepines, in large doses at first and then tapering off. As these drugs are less dangerous the focus shifts from the medicinal, allowing a therapeutic relationship built not on mistrust and blood tests but on mutual respect, which facilitates dealing with the person's problems that had led to the drug abuse or the difficulty in stopping. All this is in the spirit of the two papers from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Treatment and Rehabilitation and Prevention. ' 2 The guidelines give the use of non-opiate drugs in withdrawal low priority and warn against the use of benzodiazepines. Is diazepam truly more dangerous than methadone ? Perhaps the authors should be asked to justify the use of methadone at all. Should we be giving our patients with alcohol problems a bottle of whisky ? That is only one example. In general I am saddened by this document and doubt whether it has enabled drug abusers to obtain more appropriate help than they previously would have done. I hope it has done no more harm than to confuse doctors. It would have been more appropriate if it had encouraged communication of local facilities. In Glasgow the psychiatric resources are adequate and if other doctors feel unsupported they might be helped by knowing where to go for advice.
Apoptosis is associated with CD36/fatty acid translocase upregulation in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis

Background & aims: Hepatocyte apoptosis is a key event in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We studied the effect of obesity on free fatty acid (FFA) levels, fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs) and on extrinsic and intrinsic activation of apoptosis in the liver.
Association of organic cation transporter risk haplotype with perianal penetrating Crohn's disease but not with susceptibility to IBD.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Three years after the identification of NOD2/CARD15, 2 more genes for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) were reported. The carnitine/organic cation transporter (OCTN) on 5q31 (IBD5) is associated with Crohn's disease (CD) and DLG5 (10q23), a member of membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family, with IBD. We studied mutation prevalence, assessed phenotypic expression, and performed conditional analysis to examine evidence for gene-gene interactions. METHODS A cohort of 2032 individuals was genotyped for disease-associated OCTN and DLG5 variants, including 981 patients with IBD (CD, n = 769; ulcerative colitis, n = 186; indeterminate colitis, n = 26) followed up at a tertiary IBD center. For 373 patients, DNA from both parents was available (cohort 1) for transmission disequilibrium testing analysis; case-control analysis was performed in 608 patients and 305 controls (cohort 2). RESULTS There was no distortion of transmission toward affected offspring for any of the variant alleles. Case-control analysis also failed to shown an association. A higher frequency of DLG5 113A was observed in CARD15-positive patients (12.2%) compared with CARD15-negative patients (8.7%; P = .033). The OCTN-TC risk haplotype was associated with penetrating disease (odds ratio, 1.474; 95% confidence interval, 1.028-2.114; P = .035). For DLG5, there were no associations with a particular phenotype. CONCLUSIONS DLG5 and OCTN do not play a role in the susceptibility to IBD, CD, or ulcerative colitis in the Flemish population but play a role in the phenotypic expression of the disease. OCTN variants were associated with perianal and penetrating CD. More studies in independent populations are urgently needed to assess the validity of DLG5 and OCTN in the pathogenesis of IBD.
Job strain (demands and control model) as a predictor of cardiovascular risk factors among petrochemical personnel

Background: One of the practical models for the assessment of stressful working conditions due to job strain is job demand and control model, which explains how physical and psychological adverse consequences, including cardiovascular risk factors can be established due to high work demands (the amount of workload, in addition to time limitations to complete that work) and low control of the worker on his/her work (lack of decision making) in the workplace. The aim of this study was to investigate how certain cardiovascular risk factors (including body mass index [BMI], heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking) and the job demand and job control are related to each other. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted on 500 workers of the petrochemical industry in south of Iran, 2009. The study population was selected using simple random statistical method. They completed job demand and control questionnaire. The cardiovascular risk factors data was extracted from the workers hygiene profiles. Chi-square (χ2) test and hypothesis test (η) were used to assess the possible relationship between different quantified variables, individual demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: The results of this study revealed that a significant relationship can be found between job demand control model and cardiovascular risk factors. Chi-square test result for the heart rate showed the highest (χ2 = 145.078) relationship, the corresponding results for smoking and BMI were χ2 = 85.652 and χ2 = 30.941, respectively. Subsequently, hypothesis testing results for cholesterol and hypertension was 0.469 and 0.684, respectively. Discussion: Job strain is likely to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular risk factors among male staff in a petrochemical company in Iran. The parameters illustrated in the Job demands and control model can act as acceptable predictors for the probability of job stress occurrence followed by showing a high trend of CVD risk factors.
Cigarette Smoking Alters Sympathoadrenal Regulation by Decreasing the Density of β2-Adrenoceptors. A Study of Monitored Smoking Cessation

We report the effects of monitored smoking cessation on adrenergic regulation in chronic smokers. The α2 adrenoceptor density of mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) and plasma catecholamines was analyzed before cessation and 2.3, and 8 weeks after cessation. We found a progressive increase in α-adrenoceptor density after smoking cessatin. During smoking the α-adrenoceptor density after smoking was 1,456 $$ 83 (mean $$ SEM) bindings sites per cell (n = 10), whereas 3 weeks after cessation the the density was 1,774 $$ 157 sites per cell (n = 10: < 0.05), and at 8 weeks, 1,900 $$ 227 sites per cell in (n = 8; p < 0.05), representing an overall increase of 23% Smoking cessation had no effect on binding affinity nor on lymphocyte subgroup distribution. The density of MNL cell β-adrenoceptors in age-matched nonsmoking men was higher, at 1,896 $$ 271 sites per cell, than that of the chronic smokers before cessation, 1,419 $$ 117 sites per cell (n = 14; p < 0.01). Plasma epinephrine decreased as a result of cessation from 0.36 pmol/ml (0.26–0.44m, 95% confidence interval; baseline) to 0.26 pmol/ml (0.20–0.32) at 8 weeks (p <0.05), and norepinephrine decreased from 2.09 pmol/ml (1.38–2.80) to 1.69 pmol/ml (1.14–2.24; p = 0.06). We conclude that stopping smoking progresively increases β2-adrenoceptor density on MNL cells. Eight weeks after cessation the adrenoceptor density reaches the corresponding level of nonsmokers. These reversible changes in adrenergic regulation after smoking cessation may be associated with the relatively rapid reduction in cardiovascular disease risk among ex-smokers.
Is acupuncture effective in treating chronic pain after spinal cord injury?

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for chronic pain and secondary symptoms after spinal cord injury (SCI) and to identify disease-specific variables associated with response to treatment. DESIGN A within-subjects design consisting of a 7(1/2)-week no-acupuncture baseline period followed by a 7(1/2)-week treatment period and a follow-up assessment 3 months posttreatment. SETTING Medical rehabilitation research center. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-two people with SCI who experienced moderate to severe pain of at least 6 months' duration. INTERVENTION A course of 15 acupuncture treatments was administered over a 7(1/2)-week period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Numeric Rating Scale of pain intensity; ratings of interference with activity, individualized symptom rating, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale; Speilberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and General Well-Being Schedule. RESULTS Ten patients (46%) showed improvement in pain intensity and pain sequelae after treatment. However, 6 patients (27%) reported an increase in pain that was still present 3 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS About 50% of the study sample reported substantial pain relief after acupuncture treatment, suggesting that acupuncture may provide pain relief for at least a subgroup of individuals with SCI. Future research is needed to determine what part of this effect is because of acupuncture versus nonspecific effects such as placebo effects and regression to the mean.
Randomized controlled trial of the effects of a trunk stabilization program on trunk control and knee loading.

BACKGROUND Many athletic maneuvers involve coordination of movement between the lower and upper extremities, suggesting that better core muscle use may lead to improved athletic performance and reduced injury risk. PURPOSE To determine to what extent a training program with quasistatic trunk stabilization (TS) exercises would improve measures of core performance, leg strength, agility, and dynamic knee loading compared with a program incorporating only resistance training (RT). METHODS Thirty-seven male subjects were randomly assigned to either an RT-only or a resistance and TS training program, each lasting 6 wk. Core strength and endurance, trunk control, knee loading during unanticipated cutting, leg strength, and agility were collected pre- and posttraining. RESULTS Between-group analyses showed that the TS group significantly improved only core endurance when compared with the RT group (side bridge, P = 0.050). Within-group analyses showed that the TS group improved lateral core strength (maximum pull, cable on nondominant side; 44.5 ± 61.3 N, P = 0.037). Both groups increased leg strength (deadlift 1 repetition maximum; TS: 55.1 ± 46.5 lb, P = 0.003; RT: 33.4 ± 17.5 lb, P < 0.001) and decreased sagittal plane trunk control (sudden force release test; cable in front; TS: 2.54° ± 3.68°, P = 0.045; RT: 3.47° ± 2.83°, P = 0.004), but only the RT group decreased lateral trunk control (sudden force release; cable on dominant side; 1.36° ± 1.65°, P = 0.029). The RT group improved standing broad jump (73.2 ± 108.4 mm, P = 0.049) but also showed increased knee abduction moment during unanticipated cutting (1.503-fold increase (percentage body weight × height), P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS Quasistatic TS exercises did not improve core strength, trunk control, or knee loading relative to RT potentially because of a lack of exercises, including unexpected perturbations and dynamic movement. Together, these results suggest the potential importance of targeted trunk control training to address these known anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors.
Effect of antiretroviral drugs on liver fibrosis in HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C: harmful impact of nevirapine

Background: The hepatotoxicity of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) could enhance liver fibrosis in HIV/Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients. Moreover, HAART-related immune restoration could lessen HCV-associated liver damage. The data on the effect of protease inhibitors (PI) on liver fibrosis are scant and contradictory. No information is available on the relationship between non-nucleoside analogue therapy and liver fibrosis in co-infected patients. Objective: To investigate the associations between the use of different antiretroviral drugs and the liver fibrosis in patients with HIV and HCV infections. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: All HIV/HCV co-infected patients with an available liver biopsy and known or estimated duration of HCV infection seen at a Infectious Diseases Unit were included in the study. The fibrosis stage and the fibrosis progression rate were evaluated. Results: The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 152 patients. Age at HCV infection < 20 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.19–0.82], PI-based HAART (AOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.19–0.78) and nevirapine-based HAART (AOR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.02–6.58) were associated with fibrosis stage ⩾ F3. The variables associated with fibrosis progression rate > 0.2 units/year were age at HCV infection < 20 years (AOR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.1–0.52), CD4 cell counts ⩽ 250 × 106/l at liver biopsy (AOR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1–7.1), PI-based HAART (AOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.2–0.8) and nevirapine-based HAART (AOR, 3.82; 95% CI, 1.9–7.6). Conclusions: HAART regimens including nevirapine are associated with faster liver fibrosis progression in HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C. In contrast, patients on PI as the backbone of potent antiretroviral therapy are more likely to show less liver fibrosis.