Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance characteristics of temporomandibular joint disc displacement in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MR characteristics of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement in elderly patients. METHODS Of the MR images of 1660 TMJs in 847 patients with disc displacement who underwent MRI for suspected temporomandibular disorders, 301 TMJs in 154 patients aged over 50 years were studied as an elderly group. These MR images of the elderly group were compared with those of a control group (1359 TMJs in 693 patients aged under 51 years) concerning disc displacement with or without reduction, joint effusion and osteoarthrosis. RESULTS The incidence of disc displacement with osteoarthrosis was significantly different between the elderly (41.9%) and the control (19.8%) groups (p = 0.000). Logistic multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the osteoarthrosis was a significant variable (odds ratio = 2.94, p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that MR characteristics of TMJ disc displacement in elderly patients includes osteoarthrosis.
Cellular composition and organization of the subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream in the adult and neonatal common marmoset brain

The adult subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle contains neural stem cells. In rodents, these cells generate neuroblasts that migrate as chains toward the olfactory bulb along the rostral migratory stream (RMS). The neural‐stem‐cell niche at the ventricular wall is conserved in various animal species, including primates. However, it is unclear how the SVZ and RMS organization in nonhuman primates relates to that of rodents and humans. Here we studied the SVZ and RMS of the adult and neonatal common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a New World primate used widely in neuroscience, by electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical detection of cell‐type‐specific markers. The marmoset SVZ contained cells similar to type B, C, and A cells of the rodent SVZ in their marker expression and morphology. The adult marmoset SVZ had a three‐layer organization, as in the human brain, with ependymal, hypocellular, and astrocyte‐ribbon layers. However, the hypocellular layer was very thin or absent in the adult‐anterior and neonatal SVZ. Anti‐PSA‐NCAM staining of the anterior SVZ in whole‐mount ventricular wall preparations of adult marmosets revealed an extensive network of elongated cell aggregates similar to the neuroblast chains in rodents. Time‐lapse recordings of marmoset SVZ explants cultured in Matrigel showed the neuroblasts migrating in chains, like rodent type A cells. These results suggest that some features of neurogenesis and neuronal migration in the SVZ are common to marmosets, humans, and rodents. This basic description of the adult and neonatal marmoset SVZ will be useful for future studies on adult neurogenesis in primates. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:690–713, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anatomic Comparison of Lateral Transfer of the Long Flexors for Concomitant Peroneal Tears

Background: Lateral transfers of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) or flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendons have been described for treatment of concomitant, irreparable peroneal tears. This study evaluated the anatomic benefits and constraints of lateral FHL and FDL tendon transfers with regard to available tendon length, diameter, and proximity to the posterior neurovascular bundle. Methods: In 9 cadaveric specimens, the FHL and FDL tendons were transected through a medial approach distal to the knot of Henry. Each tendon was transferred into a lateral incision, passing the FDL tendon both posterior and anterior to the tibial neurovascular bundle. The tendons were individually secured to the base of the fifth metatarsal with the foot in maximal eversion and dorsiflexion. The length of donor tendon available for fixation at the fifth metatarsal was measured. After the FDL tendon transfer was secured, the posterior neurovascular bundle was examined for signs of compression. Results: Average FHL tendon diameter measured 5.1 mm; the FDL measured 4.5 mm. After passage through a bone tunnel, an additional 4.9 cm of FHL tendon remained to suture to itself; only 0.5 cm remained for the posterior and anterior FDL transfers. Transfer of the FHL did not increase muscle bulk within the retrofibular groove. Every FDL transfer posterior to the neurovascular bundle produced obvious visual compression of the tibial nerve with plantar flexion and inversion of the foot. Conclusion: Use of the FHL tendon for lateral transfer consistently provided sufficient length of tendon for multiple fixation options and a stronger muscle for transfer. Fixation options for the FDL were limited due to its shorter length. Lateral transfer of the FDL tendon posterior to the neurovascular bundle caused visible compression on the tibial nerve with ankle and hindfoot range of motion. Clinical Relevance: This anatomic study confirmed several advantages for the use of the FHL tendon transfer in cases of concomitant peroneal tears.
Use of the case-control approach in vaccine evaluation: efficacy and adverse effects.

The least ambiguous method with which to estimate the protective effect of a vaccine and to assess possible adverse effects associated with its use is a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT). Double-blindness, ensuring that neither trial participants nor those assessing vaccine effects know who has received the vaccine under evaluation and who has received the comparison product, should eliminate bias. Randomization should ensure, if the study is sufficiently large, that the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups are similar with respect to risk factors, other than vaccination, for the disease and adverse reactions under study. That is, randomization controls for both known and unknown factors that might otherwise confound the measurement of vaccine effects. If the vaccine is designed to protect from a disease for which there is currently no effective vaccine, the comparison product may be a placebo or, if a placebo injection is considered unacceptable, another vaccine which is not expected to have an impact on the endpoints the trial is designed to assess. If, however, a partially effective vaccine already exists, ethical considerations may dictate that this be used as the comparison product. In such circumstances, the assessments of efficacy and adverse effects are made relative to the existing product, and absolute estimation of effects is precluded. Once an RCT of a vaccine has been conducted and the vaccine has been shown to be efficacious, further such trials may be considered unethical, especially after the vaccine has been introduced into public health use. However, it is often of interest to know not only whether a vaccine is effective in the context of a trial but also what its efficacy is under routine conditions,
Relay selection for maximizing the number of successive transmission in cooperative networks

Abstract Relay selection has an important effect on improving the performance of cooperative communication system. However, the frequent operation of relay selection can bring enormous control message overhead, and then decrease the performance of cooperative communication. To reduce the relay selection frequency, in this paper, we propose a relay selection scheme to choose the best relay considering successive packets transmission. In this scheme, through the parameters of data transmission rate, the length of data packet and the estimated channel state information, the best relay is selected to maximize the number of successive packets transmission while guaranteeing the given outage probability. It is proven by numerical results that the proposed relay selection scheme can support the successive packets transmission in cooperative wireless networks and the maximum number of successive packets transmission is affected by the different network parameters, i.e. packet length, data transmission rate, signal to noise ratio and Doppler frequency. Compared to previous relay selection schemes by simulation results, it is shown that the proposed relay selection scheme can improve the throughput performance efficiently. Graphical abstract Effect of data transmission rate on the maximum number of successive transmissions.
Bak BH3 Peptides Antagonize Bcl-xL Function and Induce Apoptosis through Cytochrome c-independent Activation of Caspases*

The Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain is crucial for the death-inducing and dimerization properties of pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family, including Bak, Bax, and Bad. Here we report that synthetic peptides corresponding to the BH3 domain of Bak bind to Bcl-xL, antagonize its anti-apoptotic function, and rapidly induce apoptosis when delivered into intact cells via fusion to the Antennapedia homeoprotein internalization domain. Treatment of HeLa cells with the Antennapedia-BH3 fusion peptide resulted in peptide internalization and induction of apoptosis within 2–3 h, as indicated by caspase activation and subsequent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, as well as morphological characteristics of apoptosis. A point mutation within the BH3 peptide that blocks its ability to bind to Bcl-xL abolished its apoptotic activity, suggesting that interaction of the BH3 peptide with Bcl-2-related death suppressors, such as Bcl-xL, may be critical for its activity in cells. While overexpression of Bcl-xL can block BH3-induced apoptosis, treatment with BH3 peptides resensitized Bcl-xL-expressing cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. BH3-induced apoptosis was blocked by caspase inhibitors, demonstrating a dependence on caspase activation, but was not accompanied by a dramatic early loss of mitochondrial membrane potential or detectable translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol. These findings demonstrate that the BH3 domain itself is capable of inducing apoptosis in whole cells, possibly by antagonizing the function of Bcl-2-related death suppressors.
Effect of maturity on degradation kinetics of sod-seeded cereal grain forage grown in northern Arkansas.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), and rye (Secale cereale L.) were overseeded into a dormant bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ) sod and harvested at 3-wk intervals throughout March, April, May, and early June. Plant growth stage was documented for each forage on each harvest date, and harvested forages were evaluated for forage quality characteristics. Degradation kinetics of DM and NDF for these forages were evaluated by the in situ method. Fractional degradation rates for DM and NDF in all three species were relatively rapid for vegetative forage (> or =0.086 h(-1)) but declined rapidly by the heading stage of development and stabilized thereafter. Forage quality declined and forages were more resistant to ruminal degradation as plants entered the reproductive stages of growth. Based on these findings, growth stage is an effective predictor of most characteristics of in situ DM and NDF disappearance. The relationships between these degradation parameters and growth stage were typically explained with quadratic or cubic models. Clearly, forage quality characteristics of overseeded rye deteriorated more rapidly with phenological development and growth stage than quality characteristics of overseeded wheat and oat grown in the same environment. For rye, this problem is further complicated by its accelerated phenological development. These factors combine to permit a very narrow harvest window in early spring, relative to the other cereal grains evaluated. Acceptable forage quality may persist for an extended period in wheat and oat; this suggests that producers wishing to utilize these forages may lengthen the harvest window by planting more than one species, either as a mixture or preferably in independent stands.
Residual transfusion risk for hepatitis B and C in southern Brazil, 1991–99

A retrospective study of 139 188 blood donor records for the period 1991–99 was conducted in the largest blood bank in the federal state of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil. The incidence/window method, based on 11 286 repeat donors with 8917 person‐years of follow‐up, was used to estimate the residual risk for transfusing hepatitis B and C due to infectious window periods for early, mid and late years of the decade. The residual risk for transfusing HBsAg contaminated blood decreased almost three times over the 1990 decade but still remains very high at 1 : 2077 (95% confidence limits 1 : 1075–1 : 4624), with a corresponding incidence of 3.00 (1.35–5.77) per 1000 person‐years. Similarly, although residual risk for hepatitis C was reduced more than 30 times in late 1990s, compared with the earlier period, the risk of 1 : 13721 (1 : 7102–1 : 30820) and corresponding incidence of 0.51 (0.23–0.99) per 1000 person‐years are still very high compared to developed countries. In addition to vaccination against hepatitis B and health promotion efforts aimed at reduction of hepatitis transmission, special measures such as PCR screening of pooled blood donations might be needed to rapidly achieve a further residual risk reduction in high prevalence areas.
Perioperative pregabalin for acute and chronic pain after abdominal hysterectomy or myomectomy: a randomised controlled trial

Context The antiepileptics gabapentin and pregabalin are used as adjuvants to control postoperative pain. Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of perioperative administration of pregabalin on postoperative acute and chronic pain and analgesic requirements. Setting Department of Anaesthesiology, Aretaieio University Hospital, Athens, Greece. Patients Eighty patients scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy or myomectomy were randomly assigned to the pregabalin or to the control group. Intervention The pregabalin group received 150 mg of pregabalin 8-hourly, starting on the afternoon before surgery and continued until the fifth postoperative day. The control group was similarly treated, but received placebo capsules instead. Measurements Postoperative intravenous morphine and Lonalgal (30 mg codeine with 500 mg paracetamol) tablet consumption, visual analogue pain scores at rest and on coughing, sedation, anxiety, dizziness, ataxia, blurred vision and diplopia were recorded. One and 3 months postoperatively patients were interviewed for the presence of pain and analgesic needs due to surgery. Results The pregabalin-treated patients consumed less morphine during the first 48 h postoperatively (P = 0.0001). However, consumption of Lonalgal tablets and visual analogue scores for pain at rest and on coughing did not differ between the groups. No difference was found in sedation and anxiety scores between the patients who received placebo or pregabalin. Patients in the control group had lower incidences of dizziness (29 versus 58%, P = 0.015), ataxia (0 versus 18%, P = 0.011), blurred vision (6 versus 26%, P = 0.028) and diplopia (0 versus 16%, P = 0.023). Presence of pain, analgesic intake due to surgery and decreased or absent sensation around the wound did not differ between the groups 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Conclusion Pregabalin in the doses given decreased morphine requirements for the first 48 h postoperatively, but neither altered the analgesic requirements beyond 48 h nor had any effect on acute, late or chronic pain.
Chlamydial cervicitis: Role of culture, enzyme immunoassay and Giemsa cytology in diagnosis

Three different laboratory tests were carried out to find the occurrence of chlamydial infections in a selected group of 150 female patients presenting clinically with cervicitis. The tests included isolation using a cell culture system, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for antigen detection and Giemsa cytology of endocervical smears. Contrary to earlier reports on cytological diagnosis of chlamydial cervicitis, endocervical smears stained by Giemsa stain and EIA for antigen detection were found to be of comparable sensitivity and specificity (73.1% and 86.3% for smear, and 76.1% and 90.9% for EIA, respectively) when cell culture was used as the gold standard.
Are synchronous and metachronous bilateral breast cancers different? An immunohistochemical analysis focused on cell cycle regulation.

INTRODUCTION The biology and pathomechanisms of bilateral breast cancers is not fully understood. We compared the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of primary tumors in patients with synchronous (sBBC) and metachronous bilateral breast cancers (mBBC), with special focus on cell cycle regulation and its correlation with markers determining intrinsic phenotype. METHODS Immunohistochemical expression of p16Ink4A, p21(WAF1/CIP1), p27Kip1, p53, cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin D1, cyclin D3 and cyclin E was assessed in tissue microarrays containing primary breast tumor cores from 113 mBBC and 61 sBBC. Expression of these markers was correlated with tumor grade and expression of estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and Ki-67. RESULTS In univariate analysis, mBBC demonstrated higher expression of p16Ink4A (both cytoplasmic: p=0.002 and nuclear: p=0.014), cyclin A (p=0.024) and B (cytoplasmic; p=0.015). In multivariate analysis mBBC were associated with lower expression of p21: p=0.038 and higher cytoplasmic expression of cyclin B: p=0.019. Lower ER expression for all BBCs and mBBC, respectively, was associated with stronger p16 expression (cytoplasmic: both p<0.000001 and nuclear: p<0.000001, p=0.00002), p53: p<0.000001, p=0.000001, cyclin A: p=0.00002, p=0.00045, cyclin B (cytoplasmic: p=0.00037, 0.00015 and nuclear: both p=0.0004) and cyclin E: p=000003, p<0.000001, and weaker expression of p27: p=0.00003, p=0.0001 and cyclin D1: both p<0.000001; for sBBC some of these correlations were absent. Higher p27 score correlated with lower HER2 expression in sBBC: p=0.018, whereas higher HER2 expression was associated with higher p53: 0.024 and cyclin E: p=0.048 expression in all BBC and higher nuclear expression of cyclin B in sBBC: p=0.027. Higher Ki-67 expression was correlated with higher expression of p16 (cytoplasmic: p=0.000015, p=0.086, p=0.0002 and nuclear: p=0.000009, p=0.016, p=0.00003) in all subsets [all BBC, sBBC (non-significant for cytoplasmic score), mBBC, respectively], p21 (all BBC: p=0.05) and sBBC: p=0.017), p53 (all BBC: p=0.0003 and mBBC: p=0.0002), cyclin A: all p<0.000001, cyclin B (cytoplasmic: p<0.000001, p=0.004, p<0.000001, respectively and nuclear: p=0.0002, p=0.047, p=0.0026, respectively), cyclin D3 (all BBC: p=0.005 and mBBC: p=0.02) and cyclin E (all BBC: p<0.000001 and mBBC: p=0.000002), and lower expression of cyclin D1 (all BBC: p=0.046 and mBBC: p=0.035) and p27 (sBBC: p=0.048). CONCLUSION Compared to sBBC, mBBC are characterized by lower expression of p21 and higher cytoplasmic expression of cyclin B, suggesting its more aggressive behavior. Correlations between cell-cycle regulation proteins and markers of breast cancer phenotype parallel those reported for unilateral breast cancer.
Lead intoxication in urban dogs.

Pet animals share man's urban environment, dwelling even in his home, and are thus exposed to the same ecologic hazards. The study of lead poisoning and other toxicologic diseases in dogs and other pets may afford valuable insight into human environmental health problems. The purpose of this report is to summarize data gathered from a large number of accidentally lead-poisoned dogs studied at a large urban animal hospital (Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts), to review the published data of others on lead intoxication in accidentally and experimentally poisoned dogs, and to compare features of lead poisoning in dogs with those in man. The information contained herein is offered to alert the medical profession to the occurrence and nature of lead poisoning in dogs, to establish the value of dogs as natural and experimental models for lead toxicity studies, and to indicate the usefulness of dogs and other pet animals as biologic barometers of environmental poisons dangerous to man. 43 references.
Conservation of First-Line Antiretroviral Treatment Regimen where Therapeutic Options are Limited

Objectives To determine rates and causes of switching from first- to second-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens in a large treatment-naive cohort (a South African community-based ART service) where a targeted adherence intervention was used to manage initial virological breakthrough. Methods ART-naive adults (n=929) commencing first-line non-nucleoside-based ART [according to WHO (2002) guidelines] between September 2002 and August 2005 were studied prospectively. Viral load (VL) and CD4+ T-cell counts were monitored every 4 months. All drug switches were recorded. Counsellor-driven adherence interventions were targeted to patients with a VL >1,000 copies/ml at any visit (virological breakthrough) and the VL measurement was repeated within 8 weeks. Two consecutive VL measurements >1,000 copies/ml was considered virological failure, triggering change to a second-line regimen. Results During 760 person-years of observation [median IQR) 189 (85–441) days], 823 (89%) patients were retained on ART, 2% transferred elsewhere, 7% died and 3% were lost to follow-up. A total of 893 (96%) patients remained on first-line therapy and 16 (1.7%) switched to second-line due to hypersensitivity reactions (n=9) or lactic acidosis (n=7). A Kaplan-Meier estimate for switching to second-line due to toxicity was 3.0% at 32 months. Virological breakthrough occurred in 67 (7.2%) patients, but, following use of a targeted adherence intervention, virological failure was confirmed in just 20 (2.2%). Kaplan-Meier estimates at 32 months were 20% for virological breakthrough but only 5.6% for confirmed virological failure. Conclusion Regimen switches were due to virological failure or toxicity. Although follow-up time was limited, over 95% of individuals remained on first-line ART using a combination of viral monitoring and a targeted adherence intervention.
Novel 14,21-dihydroxy-docosahexaenoic acids: structures, formation pathways, and enhancement of wound healing

Chronic wounds remain a medical challenge, where well-coordinated cellular and molecular processes required by optimal healing are impaired by diabetes, aging, or other diseases. In determining mechanisms that regulate wound healing, we found that wounding induced formation of novel endogenous 14S,21S-dihydroxy-docosa-4Z,7Z,10Z,12E,16Z,19Z-hexaenoic acids (14S,21S-diHDHA);14R,21R-diHDHA; 14S,21R-diHDHA; and/or 14R,21S-diHDHA. 12-lipoxygenase and cytochrome P450 catalysis in tandem converted docosahexaenoic acid to 14S,21R-diHDHA and 14S,21S-diHDHA through the intermediacy of 14S-HDHA; P450 also converted 14R-HDHA to novel 14R,21R-diHDHA and 14R,21S-diHDHA. Macrophages function as the combination of 12-lipoxgenase and P450 to generate these 14,21-diHDHA stereoisomers, as well as their intermediates 14S-HDHA, 14R-HDHA, and 21-HDHA. The structure and formation pathways of 14,21-diHDHA stereoisomers were further confirmed by macrophage biosynthesis of 14,21-diHDHA-21,22,22,22-d4 stereoisomers, 14S-HDHA-d5, 14R-HDHA-d5, and 21-HDHA-d4 from DHA-21,21,22,22,22-d5. We found that 14S,21-diHDHA and 14R,21-diHDHA enhanced wound closure, reepithelialization, granulation tissue growth, and capillary vasculature formation of murine wounds. 14S,21-diHDHA and 14R,21-diHDHA produced by macrophages may partially represent the molecular mechanisms for macrophage pro-healing function. Taken together, 14,21-dihydroxy-DHA stereoisomers and their formation pathways may represent a novel mechanism in the orchestration of wound healing processes, which may provide new insight for developing novel therapeutic modalities that counteract impairments to wound healing.