Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Neurosurgical Patients

ABSTRACT In the neurosurgery patient population, one of the most frequent complications is postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to examine the incidence and predictors of PONV in a cohort of 519 neurosurgery patients undergoing elective spinal and intracranial procedures. Patients were interviewed, and their medical records were reviewed every 24 hours for up to 72 hours postoperatively to identify risk factors for PONV development. After summarizing univariate associations, a multivariable logistic regression model for each outcome was developed using forward and backward stepwise selection, with the p value for a variable to enter or leave the model set to . 05. Women, especially those who were younger and with a history of PONV, were most likely to have PONV. In addition, those undergoing craniotomy, particularly infratentorial craniotomy, were more likely to have PONV compared with patients undergoing spine surgery. This study provides a foundation for nursing and interdisciplinary intervention studies aimed at reducing this postoperative symptom in the most susceptible patients.
Comparison of experimental fine‐mapping to in silico prediction results of HIV‐1 epitopes reveals ongoing need for mapping experiments

Methods for identifying physiologically relevant CD8 T‐cell epitopes are critically important not only for the development of T‐cell‐based vaccines but also for understanding host–pathogen interactions. As experimentally mapping an optimal CD8 T‐cell epitope is a tedious procedure, many bioinformatic tools have been developed that predict which peptides bind to a given MHC molecule. We assessed the ability of the CD8 T‐cell epitope prediction tools syfpeithi, ctlpred and iedb to foretell nine experimentally mapped optimal HIV‐specific epitopes. Randomly – for any of the subjects' HLA type and with any matching score – the optimal epitope was predicted in seven of nine epitopes using syfpeithi, in three of nine epitopes using ctlpred and in all nine of nine epitopes using iedb. The optimal epitope within the three highest ranks was given in four of nine epitopes applying syfpeithi, in two of nine epitopes applying ctlpred and in seven of nine epitopes applying iedb when screening for all of the subjects' HLA types. Knowing the HLA restriction of the peptide of interest improved the ranking of the optimal epitope within the predicted results. Epitopes restricted by common HLA alleles were more likely to be predicted than those restricted by uncommon HLA alleles. Epitopes with aberrant lengths compared with the usual HLA‐class I nonamers were most likely not predicted. Application of epitope prediction tools together with literature searches for already described optimal epitopes narrows down the possibilities of optimal epitopes within a screening peptide of interest. However, in our opinion, the actual fine‐mapping of a CD8 T‐cell epitope cannot yet be replaced.
Meniscal ossicle: posttraumatic origin and association with posterior meniscal root tears.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to characterize meniscal ossicles and their association with meniscal root tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS A two-center retrospective assessment of 65 knee MRI studies with meniscal ossicles was performed. The relationship of the ossicle to the meniscal root and horn was assessed along with other findings of internal derangement of the knee. RESULTS Meniscal ossicles were identified in patients ranging from 23 to 80 years old. The ossicles were located within the posterior horn and root of the medial meniscus in 57 of 65 (88%) examinations. Associated meniscal tears were seen at the site or adjacent to the ossicle in all but one examination (98%). Meniscal extrusion was present in 52% (34/65) of examinations. Associated findings included articular cartilage loss, which was severe in 51% (33/65) of examinations. Anterior cruciate ligament injury or prior anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery was also identified in 58% (38/65) of examinations. CONCLUSION Our findings show that the vast majority of meniscal ossicles are associated with posterior horn or meniscal root tears and a high incidence of focal articular cartilage loss as well as anterior cruciate ligament tears.
Multicenter trial of cadexomer iodine to treat venous stasis ulcer.

In a crossover study designed to judge the efficacy of the topical polymeric starch iodophore, cadexomer iodine, in accelerating the healing of venous stasis ulcers, 75 patients were prospectively randomly assigned to receive either cadexomer iodine or standard treatment. The control treatment consisted of a standard saline wet-to-dry compressive dressing. The patients improved with either treatment: ulcers healed more than twice as rapidly using cadexomer iodine (n = 38) as with standard therapy (n = 37) (P = .0025). Ulcers treated with cadexomer iodine showed trends toward less pain, exudate, pus, and debris, and a more rapid development of granulation tissue. Twelve patients crossed over from control treatment to the use of cadexomer iodine because of a failure to heal, but no patients switched to control therapy from the use of cadexomer iodine (P = .01). Except for occasional mild local burning in wounds treated with cadexomer iodine, no adverse effects were noted with either regimen.
Continuous quality control of long lived software systems

To be economically successful, software systems must be continuously adapted to ever changing requirements. The maintainability of software systems is therefore of paramount importance. However, most organizations do not apply dedicated processes, tools and techniques to assure maintainability. Partly, this is caused by the lack of a precise definition of the term maintainability. This dissertation proposes a novel approach for modeling maintainability that explicitly associates system properties with the activities carried out during maintenance and thereby facilitates a structured decomposition of the term maintainability. Through a set of supporting tools, maintainability models defined by this approach can be operationalized for continuous quality control that counters quality decay. The applicability of the new approach and the tools is demonstrated by multiple case studies that have been undertaken in different industrial and academical contexts.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: When Proximities Matter for Mutual Fund Flows

Abstract We analyze the aggregate investment of 22,900 worldwide mutual funds and question factors that promote accessibility to foreign stock markets for these investors when they allocate their assets outside their domestic market. A gravity model is proposed to test the influence of geographical, institutional and cognitive proximity in explaining asset trading by mutual funds. While mutual funds invest primarily in large stock markets and in countries with similar legal systems and the same language or culture, we find robust evidence of a geographical pattern in the distribution of their assets. Investments are located primarily in countries close to home, attesting that despite the globalization of stock markets and the high mobility of capital, geography is still relevant for understanding transactions of mutual funds. Results depending on which geographical, institutional and cognitive proximity promotes accessibility to foreign markets remain robust when introducing the issue of time horizons of investors.
Ovine trophoblast protein-one inhibits development of endometrial responsiveness to oxytocin in ewes.

In experiment (Exp) 1, 12 cyclic ewes had catheters placed into each uterine horn on Day 7 (estrus = Day 0). On Days 11-15, 6 ewes received twice-daily intrauterine infusions of 1.5 mg serum protein (SP) into each uterine horn and 6 ewes received infusions of 1.08 mg SP + 0.42 mg ovine conceptus secretory proteins (oCSP) containing 25 micrograms ovine trophoblast protein-one (oTP-1) as determined by radioimmunoassay (25-35% bioactive by antiviral assay). SP-infused and oCSP-infused ewes had similar plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) profiles in response to oxytocin on Day 11, but SP ewes became more responsive (p less than 0.01) to oxytocin on Days 13 and 15 than oCSP ewes. SP ewes also had greater incorporation of [3H]inositol into inositol trisphosphate (IP3) (+3449%, p less than 0.01) and total inositol phosphate (IP) (+760%, p less than 0.08), in response to oxytocin, than did oCSP ewes (+553 and +168% for IP3 and total IP, respectively) in endometrium collected at ovariectomy/hysterectomy on Day 16. Mean CL weights on Day 16 and mean concentrations of progesterone in plasma collected at 12-h intervals on Days 6-16 were not different for SP and oCSP ewes, but concentrations of progesterone were lower (p less than 0.05) in SP ewes on Days 15-16 than for oCSP ewes. These results indicate that oTP-1 may prevent luteolysis by inhibiting development of endometrial responsiveness to oxytocin and, therefore, reduce oxytocin-induced synthesis of IP3 and PGF2 alpha. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Resting-state brain alteration after a single dose of SSRI administration predicts 8-week remission of patients with major depressive disorder

Background The present study investigated alteration of brain resting-state activity induced by antidepressant treatment and attempted to investigate whether treatment efficacy can be predicted at an early stage of pharmacological treatment. Method Forty-eight first-episode medication-free patients diagnosed with major depression received treatment with escitalopram. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was administered prior to treatment, 5 h after the first dose, during the course of pharmacological treatment (week 4) and at endpoint (week 8). Resting-state activity was evaluated in the course of the 8-week treatment and in relation to clinical improvement. Results Escitalopram dynamically modified resting-state activity in depression during the treatment. After 5 h the antidepressant induced a significant decrease in the signal in the occipital cortex and an increase in the dorsolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortices and middle cingulate cortex. Furthermore, while remitters demonstrated more obvious changes following treatment, these were more modest in non-responders suggesting possible tonic and dynamic differences in the serotonergic system. Changes after 5 h in the caudate, occipital and temporal cortices were the best predictor of clinical remission at endpoint. Conclusions This study revealed the possibility of using the measurement of resting-state neural changes a few hours after acute administration of antidepressant to identify individuals likely to remit after a few weeks of treatment.
Anteroposterior patterning by mutual repression of orthodenticle and caudal‐type transcription factors

SUMMARY Members of the Otx (orthodenticle) and Cdx (caudal) families of homeodomain transcription factors are expressed in similar embryonic regions in all animal groups and have been shown to be directly involved in anteroposterior patterning in a number of species. In the amphibian Xenopus laevis, the Otx family gene Xotx2 and the Cdx family gene Xcad3 are both expressed within the early dorsal organizer. We show that they have mutually repressive activities, suggesting that they play a crucial role in the early regionalization of the organizer into anterior and posterior territories. Xotx2 can act both as an activator and repressor of gene expression depending on context. A form of Xotx2 that acts exclusively as a repressor (OtxEn‐R) was made by fusing the Xotx2 homeodomain to the Drosophila melanogaster engrailed transcriptional repressor domain. Overexpression of this protein in vivo indicates that OtxEn‐R antagonizes the activating function of endogenous Xotx2 for anterior marker genes such as XCG and goosecoid but retains the ability to repress the expression of posterior markers such as Xcad3 and Xbra. OtxEn‐R overexpression causes a severe derangement of anterior development, resulting in the loss of cement gland, eyes, stomodeal opening, and pharynx. The specification and development of anterior neural structures is dramatically abnormal up to and including the isthmic signaling center at the midbrain/hindbrain junction. This study provides good evidence that Xenopus Otx2 is required for normal head patterning and the process of anterior neural specification. We propose that a mutually antagonistic relationship between Otx and Cdx factors is a basic aspect of anteroposterior patterning in all vertebrates.
[Antimicrobial activity of Eucalyptus globulus oil, xylitol and papain: a pilot study].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, and of the xylitol and papain substances against the following microorganisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Samonella sp. ; Staphylococus aureus; Proteus vulgaris; Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. METHOD The in vitro antimicrobial evaluation was used by means of the agar diffusion test and evaluation of the inhibition zone diameter of the tested substances. Chlorhexidine 0.5% was used as control. RESULTS The Eucalyptus globulus oil showed higher inhibition than chlorhexidine when applied to Staphylococcus aureus, and equal inhibition when applied to the following microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Candida albicans. Papain 10% showed lower antimicrobial effect than chlorhexidine in relation to Candida albicans. Xylitol showed no inhibition of the tested microorganisms. CONCLUSION The Eucalyptus globulus oil has antimicrobial activity against different microorganisms and appears to be a viable alternative as germicidal agent hence, further investigation is recommended.
Depressive Symptoms and Neurocognitive Performance Among HIV-Infected Women

The aims of this article were to explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and neuropsychological performance in a sample of HIV-infected women, and to examine the contribution of demographic, HIV-related variables, and depressive symptoms to neurocognitive performance. In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 103 HIV-infected women, recruited from February to December 2010, were assessed for depressive symptoms (with the Beck Depression Inventory) and neurocognitive performance (with the HIV Dementia Scale). Severe depressive symptoms were reported by 31.1% of the women. Findings indicated that severe levels of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with reduced cognitive functioning in HIV-infected women, particularly in domains of attention, psychomotor speed, and construction. Older age and low education level were significantly associated with neurocognitive impairment in univariate analyses. In the multivariate model, only depressive symptoms were significantly related to neurocognitive impairment. Compared to participants with none/minimal depressive symptoms, those with moderate and severe depressive symptoms had odds ratios for neurocognitive impairment of 5.03 (95% CI, 1.33–18.99) and 3.22 (95% CI, 1.15–9.06), respectively. These findings support continued investigation of the presence of neurocognitive impairment, particularly among women, and may help mental health providers with early detection, planning, and implementation of more effective interventions. The current study was supported by Abbott Laboratories, Portugal.
Beta‐secretase BACE1 is differentially controlled through muscarinic acetylcholine receptor signaling

The β‐amyloid peptides derived by proteolytic cleavage from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) play a major role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by forming aggregated, fibrillary complexes that have been shown to be neurotoxic. The β‐site APP‐cleaving enzyme (BACE1) has been identified as the key enzyme leading to β‐amyloid formation, and cholinergic mechanisms have been shown to control APP processing. The present study sought to determine whether BACE1 expression is controlled by muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtypes in the neuroblastoma cell line SK‐SH‐SY5Y. Stimulation of cells with the M1/M3‐selective mAChR agonist talsaclidine for 1 hr resulted in a dose‐dependent increase in BACE1 expression up to twofold over basal levels. Similar effects of BACE1 up‐regulation were observed when protein kinase C was directly activated by phorbol esters. However, when the MAP kinases MEK/ERK were inhibited, BACE1 expression was no longer up‐regulated by the activation of M1‐mAChR. In contrast, BACE1 expression was suppressed by stimulation of M2‐mediated pathways via selective M2‐agonist binding or direct activation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin, an effect that was prevented by inhibiting protein kinase A. These results may explain the observed deterioration of AD patients after initial improvements with AChE inhibitor or M1‐mAChR agonist treatment. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Are adverse food reactions linked to irritable bowel syndrome?

Objective:We undertook to determine whether adverse food reactions play a role in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods:A systematic review of the literature using Medline (1980–1996), targeting IBS and adverse food reactions, was performed. All clinical trials whereby dietary exclusion was followed by food challenge were selected. Each study was reviewed using a structured format to examine methodological issues and study outcomes.Results:Of the seven studies included, the positive response to an elimination diet ranged from 15% to 71%; double-blind placebo-controlled challenges identified problem foods in 6% to 58% of cases. Milk, wheat, and eggs were most frequently identified to cause symptom exacerbation; of the foods identified the most common trait was a high salicylate content. Foods high in amines were also identified. Studies of diarrhea-predominant IBS identified a higher percentage of adverse food reactions. However, all studies had major limitations in their trial designs, including inadequate patient selection, appropriateness of—and duration of—exclusion diets, and methods of food challenge.Conclusion:Whether adverse reactions to foods are a key factor in exacerbating IBS symptoms or whether dietary manipulation is a valid treatment option is unclear. Carefully designed controlled clinical trials are now needed to specifically test the potential role of adverse food reactions in diarrhea-predominant IBS.
Analysis of psychiatric consultations in a multidisciplinary hospital patients.

UNLABELLED AIM : The aim of the research is the analysis of psychiatric consultations conducted in the multi-disciplinary hospital, establishing the cause of the consultations according to ICD-10 and the analysis of psychiatric consultations regarding their number on particular wards. METHODS Retrospective analysis of medical documentation concerning given consultations in the multidisciplinary hospital in Tarnowskie Góry in the years 2002-2010 has been conducted. In the statistics studies Shapiro-Wilk test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test of independence and the others have been used. RESULTS In the analyzed years, 3,672 consultations have been done, the mean age of the consulted patients has been 46.9 years. Taking into consideration the sex of the consulted patients, 41.99% of them were female and 58.01% were male. The main diagnoses of all consultations present as follows: F00-F09: 18.82%, F10-F19: 29.58%, F20-F29: 17.70%, F30-F39: 10.29%, F40-F48: 13.83%, F50-F59: 0.16%, F60-F69: 3.21%, F70-F79: 1.77%, F80-F89: 0%, F90-F98: 1.01%, other: 3.62%. The consultations most often have taken place on the following wards: Hospital Admitting Department (13.21%), Hospital Emergency Service (6.97%), Surgery Department (8.42%), Internal Medicine Department (6.51%), Neurology Department (4.82%). CONCLUSIONS The most frequent causes of consultation were addictions, the next were organic and psychotic disorders, neurotic and affective disorders. Consultations most often have taken place at the Hospital Admitting Department/Hospital Emergency Service, Surgery Department, Internal Medicine Department and Neurology Department.
Multimorbidity in patients enrolled in a community-based methadone maintenance treatment programme delivered through primary care

Background Multimorbidity, the co-existence of two or more (2+) long-term conditions in an individual, is common among problem drug abusers. Objective To delineate the patterns, multimorbidity prevalence, and disease severity in patients enrolled in a community-based primary care methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programme. Design This was a retrospective cohort study (n=274). The comparator group consisted of mainstream primary care patients. Electronic medical record assessment was performed using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. Results Prevalence of multimorbidity across 2+ domains was significantly higher within the MMT sample at 88.7% (243/274) than the comparator sample at 51.8% (142/274), p<0.001. MMT patients were seven times more likely to have multimorbidity across 2+ domains compared with mainstream patients (OR 7.29, 95% confidence interval 4.68–11.34; p<0.001). Prevalence of multimorbidity was consistently high across all age groups in the MMT cohort (range 87.8–100%), while there was a positive correlation with age in the comparator cohort (r=0.29, p<0.001). Respiratory, psychiatric, and hepatic–pancreatic domains were the three most common domains with multimorbidity. Overall, MMT patients (mean±SD, 1.97±0.43) demonstrated significantly higher disease severity than mainstream patients (mean±SD, 1.18±0.78), p<0.001. Prevalence of moderate disease severity observed in the <45-year MMT age group was 50% higher than the ≥45-year comparator age group. Conclusions Prevalence of multimorbidity and disease severity in MMT patients was greater than in the age- and sex-matched comparators. Patients with a history of drug abuse require co-ordinated care for treatment of their addiction, and to manage and prevent chronic illnesses. Community-based programmes delivered through primary care help fulfil this need.
Habitat use and home range size of red foxes in Prince Edward Island (Canada) based on snow-tracking and radio-telemetry data

There is a lack of information regarding the ecology and behaviour of red foxes that can be used to elaborate effective management programs for this species on Prince Edward Island (Canada). The main goal of this study was to provide baseline information on habitat selection and home range size of red foxes on Prince Edward Island. Data were collected from snow-tracking and radio-telemetry sessions conducted in two study sites (including one site within Prince Edward Island National Park). Our results indicated that red foxes selected for roads and human-use areas during both the breeding and the kit-rearing seasons in the park. Outside the park, however, the data failed to conclusively show that foxes have a unique preference for human-use habitats or roads. Forests were selected against in both study sites. Although roads are frequently visited by foxes during the kit-rearing season in the park, each individual fox typically stays in this habitat only for short periods of time (< 15 min). This finding suggests that foraging efficiency along the roads is very high possibly reflecting the abundance of anthropogenic food sources. Overall, we present the largest amount of data on habitat selection ever collected for red foxes in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Our results show that food sources in human-use areas and roads are altering the selection and/or use of habitats of red foxes in some areas of Prince Edward Island.