Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of hydrocephalus by valve-regulated venous shunt: avoidance of complications in prolonged shunt maintenance.

N A previous paper the technical measures necessary for ideal placement of the Holter valve-controlled shunt from ventricle to venous system were described. 16 Our accumulated experience with 140 venous shunts for progressive hydrocephalus in infancy from 1956 to 1966 now provides a basis for understanding and preventing shunt dysfunction or infection which often necessitate shunt removal. Cases in which shunts were used in the management of a known neoplasm are not included in this series. Prior experience with simple check valves for venous shunts first performed in 1949 had pointed up the problems resulting from overdrainage of ventricular fluid? s Check valves of proper resistance were simultaneously developed by Pudenz, et al., 2~ and SpitzY In considering this artificial but mechanically effective method for controlling ventricular pressure and size, three principles have gradually established themselves and now form the basis of our philosophy and plan of management. First, severe uncomplicated infantile hydrocephalus, when properly treated, clearly can be followed by normal brain development much more frequently than has been taught in the past. 6a4,15 Second, the ultimate result, although related in part to the original cause and severity of the hydrocephalus, is strongly affected by the adequacy of continued mechanical palliation. Even children who are apparently tolerating a shunt blockade will often be found to have re-enlarged ventricles with sufficient elevation of pressure to prevent optimal development, a,5 Third, the many technical problems posed by continuous maintenance of shunt function in the rapidly growing infant can be minimized by expert planning. In this paper we will deal primarily with
Telemedicine and Integrated Health Care Delivery: Compounding Malpractice Liability

Telemedicine became a significant part of the health care equation long before we realized what it was or how important it will be in the future. Telephone discussions and consultations between health care providers have been a part of medical practice since Alexander Graham Bell gifted society with telephones. Furthermore, who among us has not been transfixed watching and learning about open heart surgery on cable television? Propelled by the information superhighway and the breadth of emerging computer and communication technologies, telemedicine will change the face of medicine and methods of interaction between providers and patients. Access, quality and cost of health care may all improve, but not without the sacrifice of some time-honored norms in medical practice.
An H-NS Family Protein, Sfh, Regulates Acid Resistance by Inhibition of Glutamate Decarboxylase Expression in Shigella flexneri 2457T

The glutamate-dependent acid-resistance system is the most effective acid tolerance pathway in Shigella, allowing survival in extremely acidic environments. However, the regulation of this system in Shigella remains elusive. In the current study, we identified significant differences in the levels of glutamate decarboxylase between three Shigella flexneri strains with different levels of acid resistance using blue native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF)/sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. The results showed that the degree of acid resistance and the levels of GadA/B were significantly lower in strain 2457T compared with two other S. flexneri strains. It has been reported that plasmid pSf-R27 is expressed in strain 2457T but not in the other 142 sequenced S. flexneri isolates. pSf-R27 encodes protein Sfh, which belongs to a family of histone-like nucleoid-structuring (H-NS) proteins that participate in the transcriptional control of glutamate-dependent acid resistance, implicating pSf-R27 in the lower acid resistance of strain 2457T. Transformation of pSf-R27 or sfh alone into strain 301 resulted in decreased expression of GadA/B in the recombinant strains. Thus, we confirmed that H-NS family protein Sfh, bound to the gadA/B regulatory region and regulates the expression of glutamate decarboxylase at the transcriptional level. We also examined the acid tolerance of the wild-type and recombinant strains using flow cytometry and determined that the acid tolerance of S. flexneri is closely related to the expression of GadA/B. These findings further our understanding of the acid tolerance of S. flexneri, especially via the glutamate-dependent pathway.
Persistence and Computation of the Cup Product

In this paper we discuss the computation of the cup product for the cohomology of a finite simplicial complex over a field. Working with the theory of persistent (co)homology, we study an algebraic substructure of the cohomology ring of a simplicial complex within a filtration. We study this structure in a persistence setting, allowing us to classify it by a series of barcodes. Further, we introduce and implement several algorithms for computing the cup product for a simplicial complex within the persistent and non persistent settings.
Antiretroviral therapy increases thymic output in children with HIV

Objective:Disease progression and response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected children is different to that of adults. Immune reconstitution in adults is mainly from memory T cells, whereas in children it occurs predominantly from the naive T-cell pool. It is unclear however what proportion of reconstituted CD4+ T cells comes from thymic export and homeostatic proliferation in the periphery. Thymic output is often estimated by measuring T-cell receptor excision circles and markers such as CD31 expressed on recent thymic emigrants but these are confounded by peripheral T-cell division and cannot in themselves be used as quantitative estimates of thymic output. Design:To compare thymic output in HIV-infected children on ART, HIV-infected children not on ART and uninfected children of different ages. Method:Combined T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) and proliferation data are used with a recently described mathematical model to give explicit measures of thymic output. Results:We found that age-adjusted thymic output is reduced in untreated children with HIV, which increases significantly with length of time on ART. Conclusion:Our results suggest that a highly active thymus in early childhood may contribute to better immune reconstitution if ART is initiated early in life.
Poschke , Markus Working Paper Employment protection , firm selection , and growth

Employment Protection, Firm Selection, and Growth This paper analyzes the effect of firing costs on aggregate productivity growth. For this purpose, a model of endogenous growth through selection and imitation is developed. It is consistent with recent evidence on firm dynamics and on the importance of reallocation for productivity growth. In the model, growth is driven by selection among heterogeneous incumbent firms, and is sustained as entrants imitate the best incumbents. In this framework, firing costs not only induce misallocation of labor, but also affect growth by affecting firms’ exit decisions. Importantly, charging firing costs only to continuing firms raises growth by promoting selection. Also charging them to exiting firms is akin to an exit tax, hampers selection, and reduces growth – by 0.1 percentage points in a calibrated version of the model. With job turnover very similar in the two settings, this implies that the treatment of exiting firms matters for welfare and growth. In addition, the impact on growth rates is larger in sectors where firms face larger idiosyncratic shocks, as in services. This fits evidence that recent EU-U.S. growth rate differences are largest in these sectors and implies that firing costs can play a role here. A brief empirical analysis of the impact of firing costs on the size of exiting firms supports the model’s conclusions. JEL Classification: E24, J63, J65, L11, L16, O40
Study of the usefulness of moisturizers on adherence of acne patients treated with adapalene

The efficacy of adapalene for acne treatment has been established. However, because of local adverse reactions, a fair number of patients discontinue adapalene treatment before experiencing its effects. To examine the usefulness of moisturizers concomitant with adapalene on adherence to treatment and its therapeutic effects in patients, 100 patients with mild to severe acne vulgaris were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group A, in which patients received adapalene in combination with a moisturizer (heparinoid); or group B, in which treatment consisted of adapalene alone and was converted to combination therapy with a moisturizer if local adverse reactions occurred that made adherence to treatment difficult. After 4 weeks of treatment, we compared the proportion of patients who adhered to therapy until the end of week 4, the number of treatment dropouts, and changes in the number of inflammatory eruptions and comedones between the groups. All of the patients in group A and 70% in group B continued the initial therapy until the end of week 4. In group B, three patients withdrew their consent and one patient stopped attending follow‐up visits. The treatment period with the initial therapy was significantly elongated by the concomitant use of a moisturizer. No adverse effect of the use of a moisturizer was observed on the number of comedones and inflammatory eruptions. The concomitant use of a moisturizer with adapalene from the beginning of treatment did not affect its therapeutic effects and helped to improve adherence to treatment with adapalene.
Schisandra sphenanthera Extract Facilitates Liver Regeneration after Partial Hepatectomy in Mice

Liver regeneration after surgical liver resection is crucial for the restoration of liver mass and the recovery of liver function. Schisandra sphenanthera extract (Wuzhi tablet, WZ) is a preparation of an extract from the dried ripe fruit of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils, a traditional hepatoprotective herb. Previously, we found that WZ could induce liver regeneration-related genes against acetaminophen-induced liver injury. However, whether WZ can directly facilitate liver regeneration after liver resection remains unknown. We investigated whether WZ has potential in promoting liver regeneration after a partial hepatectomy (PHX) in mice. Remnant livers were collected 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days after PHX. Hepatocyte proliferation was assessed using the Ki-67 labeling index. Western blot analysis was performed on proteins known to be involved in liver regeneration. The results demonstrated that WZ significantly increased the liver-to-body weight ratio of mice after PHX but had no effect on that of mice after a sham operation. Additionally, the peak hepatocyte proliferation was observed at 1.5 days in PHX/WZ-treated mice but at 2 days in PHX/saline-treated mice, as evidenced by the Ki-67 positive ratio. Furthermore, WZ significantly increased the protein expression of ligand-induced phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor and up-regulated cyclin D1, cyclin D-dependent kinase 4, phosphorylated retinoblastoma, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expression and down-regulated the expression of cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p27 in the regenerative process after PHX. These results demonstrate that WZ significantly facilitates hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration after PHX.
Use the GPS/IMU New Technology for Photogrammetric Application

It is an efficient way of directly measured exterior orientations using integrated GPS/IMU system. The experiment has shown that the accuracy performance of direct orientation measurement is sufficient to make orthophoto and small or medium scale map. Unfortunately, since the GPS/IMU orientation module is physically separated from the camera to be oriented translational offsets and rotations are existent and have to be considered. This paper firstly discusses the integrated GPS/IMU system and the elements of GPS/IMU-based photogrammetry. Finally, the overall system calibration is investigated through the data obtained from Jiuquan city, Gansu Province.
Enhancing physical activity promotion in midlife women with technology-based self-monitoring and social connectivity: A pilot study

This pilot study tested a novel program to promote adoption and maintenance of aerobic activity in midlife women. Lifestyle modification group sessions were held weekly for 3 months, followed by two booster sessions during the 3-month maintenance phase. During all 6 months of the program, participants used a physical activity sensor to automate self-monitoring and a web platform to facilitate social connectivity. Aerobic exercise increased from 63 to 132 minute/week from baseline to 3 months (p < .01), and activity was maintained at 6 months (135 minute/week). Technology enhancements have strong potential to promote maintenance of behavior change.
Pharmacokinetics and antibodies.

include specific activity (number of radiolabels per molecule of antibody), type of physical decay (gamma, beta), site of radiolabel on the antibody (hopefully not in the antigen binding site), antibody class (IgM, etc.), antibody isotype (IgGl, IgG2a, etc.), and each one of these characteristics can affect the biodistribution and metabolism. For example, heavily labeled antibody (many labels per molecule) causes rapid removal from the blood by the liver, and a completely different biodistribution.
Indication for labour induction and predictors for failed induction at KMCTH.

OBJECTIVE To study the incidence and indications for labour induction and study the predictors of failed induction. MATERIAL AND METHOD A hospital based prospective study done over a 12 month period between 1st November 2007 to 30th October 2008. SELECTION CRITERIA Singleton pregnancies beyond 37 weeks with vertex presentation and unscarred uterus requiring induction of labour. RESULTS The incidence of labour induction was 19.7%. Operative delivery was 34.6% in the study group and 27.4% in those with spontaneous onset of labour. 74.07% of the induction group required operative delivery for failed induction and 25.03% for foetal distress. The predominant indication for induction was post term pregnancy (51.28%) followed by PROM (17.3%), isolated oligohydramnios (8.97%), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (8.33%), maternal perception of decreased foetal movements (7.69%) and others. Failed induction was higher in nulliparas (41.2%) as compared to multiparas (23.7%). Failure rate was 53.8% when maternal age >30 y and 28.2% in those <30 y. Women with normal BMI had a failure rate of 25.6% compared to 36% for overweight and 44.4% for obese women. 24.1% had failed induction when Bishop score was >5 and 40.8% when Bishop score was <5. Between 38-41 weeks pregnancy failed induction occurred in 28-31% while it was higher at <38 weeks and >41 weeks pregnancy. The best outcome was seen when the birth weight was 2500-2900 g (22.5% failures) while 72.7% had failed induction when the birth weight was >3500 g. The duration of induction was >24 hours in 42.6% of women and 48.2% were in the latent phase of labour when taken for caesarean section. CONCLUSION Despite the proven benefit of induction of labour in selected cases, one must keep in mind its impact on increasing the rates of operative delivery. Strategies for developing practice guidelines may help to prevent unwarranted case selection and help to reduce the current high operative delivery rates.
Identification of basic fibroblast growth factor in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was identified in the papillary carcinoma of the human thyroid. Immunohistochemically, it was found that the reactivity for bFGF was localized in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells of the five papillary carcinomas. However the extract of the papillary carcinomas contained the mitogenic activity for endothelial cells. This bioactive molecule was determined as bFGF by using the heparin‐Sepharose affinity chromatography and western blot analysis. The bFGF derived from human thyroid papillary carcinoma and the recombinant human bFGF stimulated the bromodeoxyuridine incorporation by the cultured human thyroid papillary carcinoma cells. These cells also showed positive staining for thyroglobulin and cytokeratin. These results indicate that bFGF, probably produced by the neoplastic cells, plays an important role in the development of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with stimulation of angiogenesis as well as proliferation of the parenchymal cells.
The classification and diagnostic algorithm for primary lymphatic dysplasia: an update from 2010 to include molecular findings

Historically, primary lymphoedema was classified into just three categories depending on the age of onset of swelling; congenital, praecox and tarda. Developments in clinical phenotyping and identification of the genetic cause of some of these conditions have demonstrated that primary lymphoedema is highly heterogenous. In 2010, we introduced a new classification and diagnostic pathway as a clinical and research tool. This algorithm has been used to delineate specific primary lymphoedema phenotypes, facilitating the discovery of new causative genes. This article reviews the latest molecular findings and provides an updated version of the classification and diagnostic pathway based on this new knowledge.
Multidrug-resistant bacteria among patients treated in foreign hospitals: management considerations during medical repatriation.

BACKGROUND The repatriation of patients from foreign hospitals can foster the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MRB). We aimed to evaluate the incidence of MRB in patients treated in foreign hospitals and repatriated by international inter-hospital air transport in order to better manage these patients and adjust our procedures. METHODS The records from all consecutive aeromedical evacuations and overseas repatriations carried out by Mondial Assistance France between December 2010 and November 2011 were reviewed for this study. Only inter-hospital transfers with inpatient destination of an acute care unit were considered. Patients were allocated to one of two groups: those identified as MRB carriers at their arrival in France and those who were not identified as such (either negative for MRB or not tested). Data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS Analysis was performed on 223 patients: 16 patients (7%) were identified as MRB carriers. Compared with confirmed non-MRB patients, MRB carriers came more frequently from a high-risk unit (88% vs 59%, p = 0.05) and had a longer foreign hospital stay [13 (3-20) vs 8 (6-14) d, p = 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of MRB among patients repatriated from foreign hospitals is noted in a significant minority of such individuals transferred back to their home country. The typical MRB patient was admitted to a high-risk unit in a foreign hospital prior to repatriation with longer foreign hospital admissions. The prospective identification of these patients prior to transport is difficult. While these factors are associated with MRB presence, their absence does not rule out highly resistant bacterial colonization. A systematic review of this important medical issue is warranted with the development of guidelines.
Long-term variability of extragalactic radio sources in the Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue

Combining measurements taken using the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe(WMAP) from 2001 to 2008 with measurements taken using Planck from 2009 to 2010, we investigate the long-term flux density v ariability of extragalactic radio sources selected from the Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue. The single-year, single-frequency WMAP maps are used to estimate yearly-averaged flux densities of the sources in the four WMAP bands: Ka (33 GHz), Q (41 GHz), V (61 GHz), and W (94 GHz). We identify 82, 67, 32, and 15 sources respectively as variable at greater than 99% confidence level in these four bands. The a mplitudes of variation are comparable between bands, and are not correlated with either the flux densities or the spectral indices of t he sources. The number counts of WMAPKa-band sources are stable from year to year despite the fluct uation caused by individual source variability. Most of our sources show strong correlation in variability between bands. Almost all the sources that show variability are blazars. We have attempted to fit two simple, four-parameter models to th e time-series of 32 sources showing correlated variability at multiple frequencies ‐ a long-term flaring model and a rotating-jet mo del. We find that 19 sources (60%) can be fit with the simple rota ting-jet model, and ten of these also fit the simple long-term flaring mo del. The remaining 13 sources (40%) show more complex variability behaviour that is not consistent with either model. Extended radio galaxies in our sample show no sign of variability, as expected, with the exception of Pictor A for which we report evidence for a millimetre flare lasting between 2002 and 2010.
Effects of anaesthetic agents on metabolic pathways: fuel utilization and supply during anaesthesia.

It has long been suggested that anaesthetic agents as a general rule inhibit enzyme and respiratory processes, since Verworn's classical theory (Verwom, 1912) claimed that narcosis was a type of asphyxia. Later, arguments were presented against any association between narcosis and oxidative events (Henderson, 1930; Butler, 1950). Quastel (Quastel and Wheatley, 1932; Jowett and Quastel, 1937; Michaelis and Quastel, 1941) concluded that the site of action of anaesthetics (e.g., barbiturates) on respiration is located with a process playing an intermediate role between cytochrome oxidase and a flavoprotein concerned with oxidation of NADH (see fig. 1). In slices (Besombe and Longmuir, 1971), in mammalian cells in culture (Fink and Kenny, 1968), and in rat liver, heart and brain slices (Hoech, Matteo and Fink, 1966), and the isolated perfused liver (Biebuyck, Lund and Krebs, 1972a). Although reoxidation of NADH through the electron transport chain is inhibited by halothane, in isolated mitochondria succinate oxidation is not affected (Miller and Hunter, 1970; Harris et al., 1971). In the case of the isolated perfused liver, the inhibitory effect of halothane on O2 consumption is largely abolished when a fatty acid (oleate) is added to the perfusion medium (Biebuyck, Lund and Krebs, 1972b). This
Brain pathology after mild traumatic brain injury: an exploratory study by repeated magnetic resonance examination.

OBJECTIVE To explore brain pathology after mild traumatic brain injury by repeated magnetic resonance examination. DESIGN A prospective follow-up study. SUBJECTS Nineteen patients with mild traumatic brain injury presenting with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 14-15. METHODS The patients were examined on day 2 or 3 and 3-7 months after the injury. The magnetic resonance protocol comprised conventional T1- and T2-weighted sequences including fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), two susceptibility-weighted sequences to reveal haemorrhages, and diffusion-weighted sequences. Computer-aided volume comparison was performed. Clinical outcome was assessed by the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE). RESULTS At follow-up, 7 patients (37%) reported ≥ 3 symptoms in RPQ, 5 reported some anxiety and 1 reported mild depression. Fifteen patients reported upper level of good recovery and 4 patients lower level of good recovery (GOSE 8 and 7, respectively). Magnetic resonance pathology was found in 1 patient at the first examination, but 4 patients (21%) showed volume loss at the second examination, at which 3 of them reported < 3 symptoms and 1 ≥ 3 symptoms, all exhibiting GOSE scores of 8. CONCLUSION Loss of brain volume, demonstrated by computer-aided magnetic resonance imaging volumetry, may be a feasible marker of brain pathology after mild traumatic brain injury.