Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tailoring psychotherapy in patients with personality disorders: Matching the level of psychological strengths to the level of stabilizing versus destabilizing psychotherapy.

BACKGROUND Clinical evidence suggests that patients high on psychological strengths profit more from destabilizing psychotherapy, whereas patients low on strengths profit more from stabilizing psychotherapy. This matching hypothesis was tested. METHODS This quasi-experimental study was conducted between 2003 and 2008 in 735 patients with personality disorders from 6 psychotherapy centers in the Netherlands. Patients were assigned to different levels of stabilizing and destabilizing psychotherapies. Levels of psychological strengths were measured. We used multilevel modeling to estimate outcome at 12 months after baseline. The propensity score controlled for initial differences at baseline. RESULTS The findings show that destabilizing psychotherapies have slightly better outcomes than stabilizing psychotherapies. Patients high on psychological strengths improve slightly more than patients low on psychological strengths. The observed interaction effect contradicted our hypothesis. CONCLUSION The results imply that destabilizing psychotherapies can be considered as first treatment option for patients both high and low on psychological strengths.
Rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps for neovaginal reconstruction after radical pelvic surgery

The objective of this article is to compare the flap-specific complications associated with vertical (VRAM) and transverse (TRAM) rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap vaginal reconstructions performed during radical pelvic procedures. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all patients who underwent VRAM and TRAM neovaginal reconstructions performed on the Gynecologic Oncology Service at Duke University Medical Center. Flap-specific complications were compared between the two techniques. From 1988 to 2003, 14 VRAM and 18 TRAM flap neovaginal reconstructions were performed on 32 women during the course of 22 (68%) total pelvic exenterations, 8 (25%) partial exenterations, and 2 (6%) radical vulvovaginectomies. Twenty-eight (88%) patients had been previously treated with radiation therapy or concurrent chemoradiation. Associated procedures included continent urinary conduit in 21 (66%), rectosigmoid reanastomosis in 8 (25%), and intraoperative or postoperative sidewall radiation therapy in 7 (22%) of patients. Overall median survival was 14 months (range: 2-week postoperative death to 65 months), with two (6%) acute postoperative mortalities. Fifteen flap-specific complications occurred in 12 (38%) patients, with no significant differences in flap type. Abdominal wound complications included four (12%) superficial wound separations, while one (3%) patient had a fascial dehiscence associated with complex fistulas that contributed to her death, but no patient developed incisional hernia. One patient each developed >50% flap loss after TRAM and <50% flap loss after VRAM flap, respectively. Four (12%) patients developed vaginal stricture or stenosis, two (6%) required percutaneous drainage of pelvic abscess or hematoma, and two (6%) developed rectovaginal fistula. Univariate analysis revealed a trend for increasing flap loss with body mass index >35 (P = 0.056, Fisher exact two-tailed test), but there were no significant associations with other patient characteristics or flap-specific complications. Thirteen (62%) of 21 patients who survived >12 months reported coitus. Both VRAM and TRAM are reliable techniques for neovaginal reconstructions after radical pelvic surgery and have a similar distribution of flap-specific complications involving the donor and recipient sites.
Virtual cockpit instruments displayed on head-worn displays – Capabilities for future cockpit design

Head-worn displays (HWDs) have been used on military flight decks for many years. The advancement of this technology makes it also an interesting choice for the human-machine interface (HMI) design of future civil aircraft. This paper presents an example of how HWDs can impact new cockpit layouts. We discuss several possibilities of designing and integrating so-called virtual cockpit instruments (VCIs), which are generated by an HWD. These VCIs can be imagined as virtual display areas that can be positioned freely around the pilot. Their major benefit is that they create many new options for the design of a flexible, task-adaptive cockpit environment. In this paper, the proposed HMI is applied to a helicopter scenario in an offshore wind park. We present our purpose-made hover symbology and introduce several variants for placing this virtual display within the cockpit. First results from a simulator study show the potential of VCIs for future cockpit design. Especially, the possibility to couple the virtual instrument to the pilot's head rotation to make it always available seems promising for certain scenarios. Further, the human factors experiment provides valuable insights for further development of the concept.
Three statistical experimental designs for enhancing yield of active compounds from herbal medicines and anti-motion sickness bioactivity

Background: Since antiquity, Zingiber officinale (ginger), pogostemonis herba, and radix aucklandiae have been used as traditional Chinese medicines to remit gastrointestinal discomfort. Recent evidences also show the efficacy of the three herbal medicines against nausea and vomiting. Objective: To optimize the CO2 supercritical fluid extraction (SFE-CO2) conditions for ginger and the ethanol reflux extraction conditions for radix aucklandiae, control the quality of pogostemonis herba essential oil, and evaluate anti-motion sickness activity of the compound recipes composed of the three herbal medicine extracts. Materials and Methods: Two orthogonal array designs L9 (3)4 were employed to optimize the SFE-CO2 conditions for enhancing yield of 6-gingerol from ginger and the ethanol reflux extraction conditions for enhancing yield of costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone from radix aucklandiae; a uniform design U5(53) was applied for evaluation of anti-motion sickness activity of the compound recipes. Results: Extraction pressure (P < 0.01), extraction temperature and extraction time (P < 0.05) have significant effects on the yield of 6-gingerol from ginger by SFE-CO2; ethanol concentration (P < 0.01) and times of repeating extraction (P < 0.05) have significant effects on the total yield of costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone from radix aucklandiae by ethanol reflux extraction; the anti-motion sickness effects of the optimized compound recipe composed of the three herbal medicine extracts were markedly better than those of dimenhydrinate. Conclusion: The compound recipe composed of ginger, pogostemonis herba, and radix aucklandiae could be developed as a promising anti-motion sickness medicine.
Protection of myocardium by transient, preischemic administration of phenylephrine in the rabbit

BackgroundTransient ischemia protects the myocardium from subsequent, more prolonged ischemic episodes; however, other forms of stress before ischemia might also provide a preconditioning effect. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that phenylephrine, an α-adrenergic agonist, given before ischemia can act as a pharmacologic preconditioning agent and protect the myocardium. MethodsPhenylephrine, 50 μg/kg, was given as a bolus 15 min before coronary artery occlusion in 11 anesthetized open-chest rabbits; 12 control rabbits received saline. All rabbits underwent 30 min coronary artery occlusion and 4 h reperfusion. Regional myocardial blood flow was quantified using radioactive microspheres, infarct size by tetrazolium staining, and risk zone by blue dye. ResultsPretreatment with phenylephrine significantly reduced necrosis. Infarcted myocardium comprised 23 ± 4% of the region at risk in treated rabbits compared with 39 ± 4% in control animals (P < 0.01). Mean systolic arterial pressure increased briefly after administration of phenylephrine (98 ± 5 to 141 ± 7 mmHg) but returned to baseline before occlusion. Heart rate was similar in both groups at baseline but decreased slightly with phenylephrine treatment. Regional myocardial blood flow increased after injection of the phenylephrine bolus to 2.86 ± 0.22 compared with 2.25 ± 0.08 ml/min/g in control animals (P = 0.02), but both groups were equally ischemic during occlusion. ConclusionTransient, preischemic treatment with phenylephrine makes the myocardium more resistant to necrosis during ensuing ischemia and repertusion.
Stimulation of pulmonary vagal C‐fibres by anandamide in anaesthetized rats: role of vanilloid type 1 receptors

This study was carried out to determine the effect of intravenous injection of anandamide on pulmonary C‐fibre afferents and the cardiorespiratory reflexes. In anaesthetized, spontaneously breathing rats, intravenous bolus injection of anandamide near the right atrium immediately elicited the pulmonary chemoreflex responses, characterized by apnoea, bradycardia and hypotension. After perineural treatment of both cervical vagi with capsaicin to block the conduction of C‐fibres, anandamide no longer evoked these reflex responses. In open‐chest, and artificially ventilated rats, anandamide injection evoked an abrupt and intense discharge in vagal pulmonary C‐fibres in a dose‐dependent manner. After injection of the high dose, the fibre discharge generally started within 1 s, reached a peak in ∼2 s, and returned to baseline within 7 s. The stimulation of C‐fibres by anandamide was completely and reversibly blocked by pretreatment with capsazepine, a competitive antagonist of the vanilloid type 1 receptor. Anandamide (0.4 mg kg−1) stimulated ∼93 % of pulmonary C‐fibres that were activated by capsaicin at a much lower dose (0.6 μg kg−1); the response to anandamide showed similar intensity, but had slightly longer latency and duration than that to capsaicin. In conclusion, intravenous bolus injection of anandamide evokes a consistent and distinct stimulatory effect on pulmonary C‐fibre terminals, and this effect appears to be mediated through an activation of the vanilloid type 1 receptor.
Acaricide Treatment Affects Viral Dynamics in Varroa destructor-Infested Honey Bee Colonies via both Host Physiology and Mite Control

ABSTRACT Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies are declining, and a number of stressors have been identified that affect, alone or in combination, the health of honey bees. The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, honey bee viruses that are often closely associated with the mite, and pesticides used to control the mite population form a complex system of stressors that may affect honey bee health in different ways. During an acaricide treatment using Apistan (plastic strips coated with tau-fluvalinate), we analyzed the infection dynamics of deformed wing virus (DWV), sacbrood virus (SBV), and black queen cell virus (BQCV) in adult bees, mite-infested pupae, their associated Varroa mites, and uninfested pupae, comparing these to similar samples from untreated control colonies. Titers of DWV increased initially with the onset of the acaricide application and then slightly decreased progressively coinciding with the removal of the Varroa mite infestation. This initial increase in DWV titers suggests a physiological effect of tau-fluvalinate on the host's susceptibility to viral infection. DWV titers in adult bees and uninfested pupae remained higher in treated colonies than in untreated colonies. The titers of SBV and BQCV did not show any direct relationship with mite infestation and showed a variety of possible effects of the acaricide treatment. The results indicate that other factors besides Varroa mite infestation may be important to the development and maintenance of damaging DWV titers in colonies. Possible biochemical explanations for the observed synergistic effects between tau-fluvalinate and virus infections are discussed.
Outcome of dental implants in diabetic patients with and without cardiovascular disease: A 5-year post-loading retrospective study.

PURPOSE To investigate the outcome of immediate function of dental implant rehabilitations in diabetic patients with and without coexisting cardiovascular diseases (CVD). MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 70 diabetic patients (33 females and 37 males, average age: 59 years old), rehabilitated with 352 implants and divided into two groups (CVD: 38 patients; non-CVD: 32 patients). Diabetes mellitus was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) or 2 h plasma glucose ≥ 11.1mmol/l (200 mg/dl). The data was retrieved from patient records. Primary outcome measures were prosthesis and implant survival; secondary outcome measures were marginal bone loss and complications (biological or mechanical). The follow-up was 5 years after loading for all patients. RESULTS Seven patients (10%) were lost to follow-up (one patient in the CVD group; and six patients in the non-CVD group). One prosthesis failed in the non-CVD group, rendering a 97.4% survival rate, compared to 100% in the CVD group (non-significant difference between groups; P = 0.359). Ten implants failed in 7 patients: CVD group with eight implant failures in 5 patients (86.7% cumulative survival rate) versus two implants in 2 patients in the non-CVD group (93.8% cumulative survival rate) with a non-significant difference between both groups (P = 0.365). The average (95% confidence interval) marginal bone loss at 1- and 5-years was 0.95 mm (0.66 mm; 1.23 mm) and 1.52 mm (1.20 mm; 1.88 mm), respectively in the CVD group; and 0.78 mm (0.40 mm; 1.16 mm) and 1.54 mm (0.86 mm; 2.31 mm), respectively for the non-CVD group; with no significant differences between groups at 1 year (P = 0.979) and 5 years (P = 0.300). Complications occurred in 38 patients (CVD group: 21 patients; non-CVD group: 16 patients); with a non-significant difference between both groups (P = 0.660). CONCLUSIONS Implant rehabilitations represent a valid treatment for diabetic patients with or without coexisting CVD, with a good risk/benefit ratio.
Influence of Initial Foot Dorsal Flexion on Vertical Jump and Running Performance

Faiss, R, Terrier, P, Praz, M, Fuchslocher, J, Gobelet, C, and Deriaz, O. Influence of initial foot dorsal flexion on vertical jump and running performance. J Strength Cond Res 24(9): 2352-2357, 2010-Several studies (on an inclined platform or with special shoes) have reported improved jump performance when the ankle was in a dorsiflexion (DF) position. The present study aims to test whether shoes inducing moderate DF modify vertical jump performance and energy cost. Twenty-one young, healthy female subjects (30 ± 6 yr, 58 ± 6 kg, O2max 45 ± 3 mL·kg−1·min−1, mean ± SD) participated in the study. Jump performance was tested with subjects either wearing 4° DF or standard (S) shoes. The jump tests (performed on a force platform) consisted of squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and continuous jumps (CJ) during 15 seconds. Measured parameters were jump height, speed at take off, and maximal and average power. Oxygen uptake was measured on a treadmill while subjects ran at 95% of the anaerobic threshold during a 7-minute steady-state period. As compared with S shoes, DF shoes significantly improved the height of SJ (31 ± 4 cm vs. 34 ± 4 cm, p = 0.0001), CMJ (32 ± 4 cm vs. 34 ± 4 cm, p = 0.0004), and CJ (17.5 ± 4.2 cm vs. 22.0 ± 6.0 cm, p = 0.0001). Speed at take off was also significantly higher. Mean power significantly increased in SJ and CJ but not in CMJ. Oxygen uptake was not different between conditions (p = 0.40). Dorsiflexion shoes induce a significant increase in jump performance. These results are in accordance with the concept that a DF of the ankle may induce an increase of the length and strength of the triceps surae (higher torque). However, wearing DF shoes did not require more energy during running. Dorsiflexion shoes could be used to increase jump performance in several sports such as volleyball in which jump height is essential.
Relationship of tibial speed of sound and lower limb length to nutrient intake in preterm infants

Background: Metabolic bone disease of prematurity is characterised by impaired postnatal mineralisation of the rapidly growing infant skeleton. Objective: To longitudinally evaluate postnatal changes in tibial speed of sound (tSOS; which reflects cortical thickness and bone mineral density) and lower limb length (LLL; a measure of tibial growth) in very low birthweight preterm infants receiving contemporary neonatal care. Methods: tSOS and LLL were measured using a quantitative ultrasound device and an electronic neonatal knemometer, respectively, in the same limb, weekly, for a median period of four weeks (3–16 weeks) in 84 preterm infants (median gestation 26.8 weeks (range 23–35.2 weeks) and median birth weight 869.5 g (range 418–1481 g)). Results: Initial tSOS and LLL were correlated with gestation (r = 0.42, p<0.001; r = 0.76, p<0.001, respectively) and birth weight (r = 0.23, p = 0.038; r = 0.93, p<0.001, respectively). Postnatally, tSOS decreased (r = −0.15, p = 0.011) whereas LLL increased (r = 0.96, p<0.001) with age. The rate of postnatal change in LLL, but not in tSOS, was positively influenced by intake of calcium (p = 0.03), phosphorus (p = 0.01) and vitamin D (p = 0.03). Conclusions: The postnatal decline in tSOS, which is probably due to cortical thinning secondary to endocortical bone loss, and increase in LLL provide new insight into the development of long bones in preterm infants.
Reduced glomerular filtration rate but sustained virologic response in HIV/hepatitis B co‐infected individuals on long‐term tenofovir

Summary. Reports have described a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) associated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) use in HIV positive individuals. However, no study has examined renal function over a prolonged period in HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co‐infected patients. We assessed the long‐term durability and toxicity of TDF in a cohort of 39 e antigen (eAg) positive co‐infected patients commenced on TDF 245 mg daily either in addition to or as part of standard antiretroviral therapy. Immunological and virological parameters were followed to 260 weeks, with the median follow‐up period being 251 weeks (range 69–290 weeks). eGFR was calculated using the Modification in Diet in Renal Disease equation. On treatment at 260 weeks, 88% (14/16) had HIV viral load <50 copies/mL, median CD4 count rose from 318 to 532 cells/mm3, median alanine aminotransferase (ALT) fell from 61 IU/L to 42 IU/L, with 35% (7/20) having a normal ALT, median HBV DNA fell from 69 × 106 copies/mL to 500 copies/mL, with 75% (12/16) having an undetectable HBV DNA level and 55% (6/11) becoming eAg negative. Of those with detectable HBV DNA, none had TDF resistance mutations. The eGFR declined by 22.19 mL/min/1.73 mm2 from baseline (P = 0.023) over this period, which was unaffected by protease inhibitor use, baseline CD4 count, ALT or HBV DNA level. Three patients discontinued TDF therapy due to renal dysfunction. In conclusion, TDF has sustained efficacy but is associated with a significant decline in eGFR. Further larger studies are required to clarify this observation.
Anthropometric profiles of elite older triathletes in the Ironman Brazil compared with those of young Portuguese triathletes and older Brazilians

Abstract The objective of this study was to describe the anthropometric profiles of elite older triathletes participating in the 2009 Ironman Brazil and to compare their somatotype, anthropometric and body composition characteristics with those of elite young triathletes and older non-athletes. The sample consisted of 64 males, divided into three groups: (1) older triathletes (n = 17), (2) young triathletes (n = 24), and (3) older non-athletes (n = 23). Somatotype was analysed according to the Carter and Heath (1990) method. Body mass index, sum of four skinfolds, percentage body fat, body fat mass, and fat-free mass were also estimated. Older non-athletes had higher endomorphy, sum of four skinfolds, fat percentage, and body fat mass than the athletes. Older athletes who participated in the Ironman and elite young triathletes had higher fat-free mass than older non-athletes. Older triathletes and older non-athletes were considered mainly endomorphic mesomorphs and young triathletes mainly ectomorphic mesomorphs. The findings that characterize the anthropometric profile of athletes in this sports modality could be used as a reference.
The genotoxicity of particulate and soluble chromate in sperm whale (physeter macrocephalus) skin fibroblasts

Hexavalent chromium is a marine pollutant of concern, both for the health of ocean ecosystems and for public health. Hexavalent chromium is known to induce genotoxicity in human and other terrestrial mammals. It is also known to be present in both water and air in the marine environment. However, currently there are limited data concerning both chromium levels and its toxicological effects in marine mammals. This study investigated the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of soluble and particulate hexavalent chromium in sperm whale skin fibroblasts. Both forms of hexavalent chromium induced concentration‐dependent increases in cytotoxicity and genotoxicity indicating that these compounds can be a health risk if the whales are exposed to them. These data support a hypothesis that chromium is a concern in the marine environment in general and for the health of sperm whales in particular. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 52:43–49, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nonlinear progression of Parkinson disease as determined by serial positron emission tomographic imaging of striatal fluorodopa F 18 activity.

BACKGROUND The investigation of disease progression provides important information on the dynamics of cell death in Parkinson disease (PD). OBJECTIVE To determine the progression of dopaminergic impairment in PD with the use of positron emission tomography (PET). DESIGN Longitudinal prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 64.5 +/- 22.6 months (mean +/- SD). SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS A consecutive sample of patients with PD (N = 31; age at symptom onset, 53.6 +/- 11.3 years) with a wide range of symptom duration and severity at the time of study entry. INTERVENTIONS Investigation by serial fluorodopa F 18 ([(18)F]fluorodopa) PET as a marker for striatal dopaminergic function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes in caudate and putaminal [(18)F]fluorodopa influx constant (K(i)) values. RESULTS In patients with PD, the decline rate of putaminal [(18)F]fluorodopa K(i) correlated inversely with disease duration before study inclusion (r = -0.46, P = .01) and positively with baseline K(i) values (r = 0.44, P = .01), indicating a negative exponential loss of dopamine neurons. Annual disease progression rates ranged from 4.4% in the caudate nucleus to 6.3% in the putamen. A mean preclinical period of 5.6 +/- 3.2 years was calculated with symptom onset at a putaminal K(i) threshold of 69% from controls. Assuming nonlinear progression kinetics, the required sample size to prove neuroprotection with the use of [(18)F]fluorodopa PET was found to increase strongly with the preceding symptom duration of study subjects. CONCLUSION These data suggest that the neurodegenerative process in PD follows a negative exponential course and slows down with increasing symptom duration, contradicting the long-latency hypothesis of PD.