Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microbleeds on MRI are associated with microinfarcts on autopsy in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Objectives: To identify in vivo MRI markers that might correlate with cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) on autopsy in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Methods: We included patients with neuropathologic evidence of CAA on autopsy and available antemortem brain MRI. Clinical characteristics and in vivo MRI markers of CAA-related small vessel disease were recorded, including white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microbleeds, cortical superficial siderosis, and centrum semiovale perivascular spaces. In addition, the presence of intracerebral hemorrhage on MRI was assessed. Evaluation of the presence and number of CMIs was performed in 9 standard histology sections. Results: Of 49 analyzed patients with CAA, CMIs were present in 36.7%. The presence of ≥1 CMIs on autopsy was associated with higher numbers of microbleeds on antemortem MRI (median 8 [interquartile range 2.5–33.0] vs 1 [interquartile range 0–3], p = 0.003) and with the presence of intracerebral hemorrhage (44.4% vs 16.1%, p = 0.03). No associations between CMIs and other in vivo MRI markers of CAA were found. In a multivariable model adjusted for severe CAA pathology, higher numbers of microbleeds were independent predictors of the presence of CMIs on pathology. Conclusions: CMIs are a common finding at autopsy in patients with CAA. The strong association between MRI-observed microbleeds and CMIs at autopsy may suggest a shared underlying pathophysiologic mechanism between these lesions.
Isolated traumatic brain injury and venous thromboembolism

BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered an independent risk factor of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the role of TBI severity in VTE risk has not been determined. We hypothesized that increased severity of brain injury in patients with isolated TBI (iTBI) is associated with an increased incidence of VTE. METHODS The records of patients admitted from June 2006 to December 2011 were reviewed for injury data, VTE risk factors, results of lower extremity surveillance ultrasound, and severity of TBI. Patients were identified by DRG International Classification of Diseases—9th Rev. codes for TBI, and only those with a nonhead Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of 1 or lower, indicating minimal associated injury, were included. The association of iTBI and VTE was determined using a case-control design. Among iTBI patients, those diagnosed with VTE (cases) were matched for age, sex, and admission year to those without VTE (controls). Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS There were 345 iTBI patients: 41 cases (12%) and 304 controls (88%). A total of 151 controls could not be matched to an appropriate case and were excluded. Of the remaining 153 controls, 1 to 16 controls were matched to each of the 41 VTE cases. Compared with the controls, the cases had a higher mean head-AIS score (4.4 vs. 3.9, p = 0.001) and overall Injury Severity Score (20.4 vs. 16.8, p = 0.001). Following adjustment for all factors found to be associated with VTE (ventilator days, central line placement, operative time > 2 hours, chemoprophylaxis, history of VTE, and history of cancer), the cases were significantly more likely to have a greater head injury severity (head-AIS score ≥ 5; odds ratio, 5.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.59–17.30; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION The incidence of VTE in iTBI patients was significantly associated with the severity of TBI. VTE surveillance protocols may be warranted in these high-risk patients, as early detection of VTE could guide subsequent therapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.
Penile Human Papillomavirus Carriage among Men Attending Swedish STD Clinics

Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, we found that up to 84% of 228 men consecutively attending two Swedish STD clinics harboured human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 or 16. Mean age of the patients was 28 years (range 17–58); 70% were between 17 and 30 years old. Among men without a previous history of, or contact with, condylomata the frequency of HPV 6 detection was 76% using the PCR/dot blot (DB) analysis and 43% with the PCR/agarose gel (AG) technique. The corresponding figures for HPV 16 were 46% and 13%, respectively. These figures were comparable to those found in men with existing condylomata infection or sexual exposure to a partner with condylomata. Although the test group represents a selected high-risk population for STD including HPV, our results indicate that a high frequency of occult HPV carriage exists among sexually-active males. The significance of these findings is discussed.
Response selectivity of neurons in area MT of the macaque monkey during reversible inactivation of area V1.

1. Behavioral results in the monkey and clinical studies in human show remarkable residual visual capacities after a lesion of area V1. Earlier work by Rodman et al. demonstrated that visual activity can be recorded in the middle temporal area (MT) of the macaque monkey several weeks after a complete lesion of V1. These authors also tested the effect of a reversible block of area V1 on the visual responses of a small number of neurons in area MT and showed that most of these cells remain visually responsive. From the results of that study, however, it is difficult to assess the contribution of area 17 to the receptive-field selectivity of area MT neurons. To address this question, we have quantitatively measured the effects of a reversible inactivation of area 17 on the direction selectivity of MT neurons. 2. A circular part of the opercular region of area V1 was reversibly inactivated by cooling with a Peltier device. A microelectrode was positioned in the lower layers of V1 to control the total inactivation of that area. Eighty percent of the sites recorded in the retinotopically corresponding region of MT during inactivation of V1 were found to be visually responsive. The importance of the effect was assessed by calculating the blocking index (0 for no effect, 1 for complete inactivation). Approximately one-half of the quantitatively studied neurons gave a blocking index below 0.6, illustrating the strong residual responses recorded in many neurons. 3. Receptive-field properties were examined with multihistograms. It was found that, during inactivation of V1, the preferred direction changed for most neurons but remained close to the preferred direction or to its opposite in the control situation. During inactivation of V1, the average tuning curve of neurons became broader mostly because of strong reductions in the response to directions close to the preferred and nonpreferred. Very little change was observed in the responses for directions at 90 degrees to the optimal. These results are consistent with a model in which direction selectivity is present without an input from V1 but is reinforced by the spatial organization of this excitatory input. 4. Residual responses were found to be highly dependent on the state of anesthesia because they were completely abolished by the addition of 0.4-0.5% halothane to the ventilation gases. Finally, visual responses were recorded in area MT several hours after an acute lesion of area 17. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Barriers, Legal Issues, Limitations and Ongoing Questions in Telemedicine Applied to Stroke

The use of telemedicine services, such as telestroke, is still highly fragmented and its deployment in an integrative healthcare system is challenging. Factors impeding the growth of telemedicine include confidence and malpractice issues, technical advances, reimbursement, licensing, credentialing costs, cost effectiveness, and legal issues. These barriers, limitations and requirements in the routine use of telemedicine are reviewed, in addition to medical activities, the objectives of telestroke, technical aspects, funding, legal issues, evaluation and quality management. As telemedicine induces a new form of interrelationship between health care providers, mutual trust and acceptance need to be developed in telemedicine services. Furthermore, education and training will be crucial in order to facilitate the use of telestroke over the next decade.
Cooperative Binding of Upstream Stimulatory Factor and Hepatic Nuclear Factor 4 Drives the Transcription of the Human Apolipoprotein A-II Gene*

The activity of the human apoA-II promoter is controlled by a synergistic interaction of the distal enhancer and the proximal promoter. An important role in apoA-II promoter activity is exerted by a transcription factor, designated CIIIB1, which binds to the proximal element AB and the distal elements of the enhancer, K and L. In the present communication we establish that CIIIB1 corresponds to the previously described factor, upstream stimulatory factor (USF) using the following criteria. (a) Purification of CIIIB1 by affinity chromatography provided a heat-stable protein with an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa that cross-reacted with anti-USF1 and -USF2a antibodies; (b) CIIIB1 bound to the elements AB, K, and L was supershifted by these antibodies; (c) the heterodimer USF1/2a is the predominant form that corresponds to CIIIB1. Cotransfection experiments in HepG2 cells established the functional significance of USF in apoA-II transcription. It was found that the minimal promoter AB was transactivated by USF2a. In addition, all three E-box motifs present in elements AB, K and L are necessary for maximum transactivation by USF2a. A dominant negative form of USF2a inhibits the activity of apoA-II promoter. The USF1/2a heterodimer, which is naturally expressed in the liver, is as efficient as the USF2a homodimer in the transactivation of apoA-II promoter/enhancer constructs. Cotransfection experiments in COS-1 cells showed that hepatic nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4) synergized with USF2a in the transactivation of the apoA-II promoter. In addition, we showed that HNF-4 and USF2a bind to the enhancer cooperatively. This may account for the transcriptional synergism observed between USF and HNF-4 in the transactivation of the apoA-II promoter.
Nasopharyngeal cancer, sinonasal cancer, and occupations related to formaldehyde: a case-control study.

Formaldehyde vapor induces cancer of the nasal passages in laboratory animals. In this case-control epidemiologic study, occupational information was obtained for 198 persons with sinonasal cancer (SNC), for 173 with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) identified as incident cases by the Connecticut Tumor Registry over 41 years among Connecticut males dying of any cause, and for 605 controls sampled from Connecticut death certificates. City directories and death certificates provided information on job, industry, employer, and year of employment for exposure classification. Without knowledge as to case-control status, an industrial hygienist particularly experienced in epidemiologic studies of formaldehyde classified each study subject with respect to probability and degree of formaldehyde exposure. For those with probable exposure to the high level 20+ years prior to death the odds ratio for NPC was 2.3 [95% confidence limits (CL): 0.9, 6.0], and for those with this same risk factor among men dying at age 68+ (the median study age at death or older) the odds ratio was 4.0 [95% CL: 1.3, 12.0--with two-sided P = . 015, unadjusted for multiple significance tests, and with two-sided P = . 129 in testing for interaction between this risk factor (never any exposure vs. probable exposure to high level 20+ years prior to death) and age (age less than 68 yr vs. age 68+ yr)]. Odds ratios were close to unity for 9 of 13 industries. Formaldehyde-related occupations in printing appeared to be associated with any type of nasal cancer (either SNC or NPC).
Bowel preparation for colonoscopy with magnesium sulphate and low-volume polyethylene glycol

Background Patient compliance with bowel cleansing procedures represents one of the most objectionable aspects of colonoscopy. Adverse reactions to the purgative may result in failure to complete the preparation, inadequate visualization of the colon, polyp and even carcinoma miss rate and unwillingness to attend a follow-up colonoscopy. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bowel cleansing with magnesium sulphate and low-volume polyethylene glycol (PEG) with electrolytes. The second objective was to evaluate whether bowel cleansing was better in participants scheduled for morning colonoscopies or afternoon colonoscopies. Patients and methods Magnesium sulphate mineral water (2 l) and 2 l of low-volume PEG and electrolytes solution were used as our bowel cleansing protocol. A total of 13 914 participants, who participated in the Slovenian colorectal cancer screening programme in the period between 2009 and 2011, were included. Results Excellent bowel preparation was achieved in 11 484 (82.61%) participants; 1894 (13.62%) participants had good bowel preparation, 439 (3.16%) participants had fair bowel preparation and 85 (0.61%) participants had poor bowel preparation. Better results were achieved in the afternoon colonoscopies and in younger participant groups (P<0.001). No serious side effects of bowel cleansing were reported. Conclusion This is the first study to use magnesium sulphate mineral water and PEG plus electrolytes for bowel cleansing. We found excellent bowel cleansing in 82.61% participants and in more participants if colonoscopy was performed in the afternoon.
C‐terminal, endoplasmic reticulum‐lumenal domain of prosurfactant protein C – structural features and membrane interactions

Surfactant protein C (SP‐C) constitutes the transmembrane part of prosurfactant protein C (proSP‐C) and is α‐helical in its native state. The C‐terminal part of proSP‐C (CTC) is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and binds to misfolded (β‐strand) SP‐C, thereby preventing its aggregation and amyloid fibril formation. In this study, we investigated the structure of recombinant human CTC and the effects of CTC–membrane interaction on protein structure. CTC forms noncovalent trimers and supratrimeric oligomers. It contains two intrachain disulfide bridges, and its secondary structure is significantly affected by urea or heat only after disulfide reduction. The postulated Brichos domain of CTC, with homologs found in proteins associated with amyloid and proliferative disease, is up to 1000‐fold more protected from limited proteolysis than the rest of CTC. The protein exposes hydrophobic surfaces, as determined by CTC binding to the environment‐sensitive fluorescent probe 1,1′‐bis(4‐anilino‐5,5′‐naphthalenesulfonate). Fluorescence energy transfer experiments further reveal close proximity between bound 1,1′‐bis(4‐anilino‐5,5′‐naphthalenesulfonate) and tyrosine residues in CTC, some of which are conserved in all Brichos domains. CTC binds to unilamellar phospholipid vesicles with low micromolar dissociation constants, and differential scanning calorimetry and CD analyses indicate that membrane‐bound CTC is less structurally ordered than the unbound protein. The exposed hydrophobic surfaces and the structural disordering that result from interactions with phospholipid membranes suggest a mechanism whereby CTC binds to misfolded SP‐C in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.
Effect of the Starch Source on the Performance of Cationic Starches having Similar Degree of Substitution for Papermaking using Deinked Pulp

Cationic waxy corn starch was prepared from waxy corn starch with 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (ETMAC) as a cationic etherifying reagent. Its structure was identified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The results showed that quaternary ammonium groups were introduced successfully into the waxy corn starch, and the cationic reaction occurred on the surface of the starch granules. Cationic waxy corn starch was then applied into deinked pulp as a paper reinforcer, and the result was compared with that of cationic tapioca starch and cationic maize starch. In general, the physical strengths of the paper were improved significantly with an increasing dosage of cationic starches. Cationic waxy corn starch was superior in terms of enhancing the physical properties of paper. In addition, with the use of cationic waxy corn starch, anionic trash in the slurry could be better removed.
Preoperative MR imaging of anal fistulas: Does it really help the surgeon?

PURPOSE To evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a quadrature phased-array coil for the detection of anal fistulas and to evaluate the additional clinical value of preoperative MR imaging, as compared with surgery alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-six patients with anal fistulas underwent high-spatial-resolution MR imaging. Twenty-four had a primary fistula; 17, a recurrent fistula; and 15, a fistula associated with Crohn disease. MR imaging findings were withheld from the surgeon until surgery ended and verified, and surgery continued when required. RESULTS MR imaging provided important additional information in 12 (21%) of 56 patients. In patients with Crohn disease, the benefit was 40% (six of 15); in patients with recurrent fistulas, 24% (four of 17); and in patients with primary fistulas, 8% (two of 24). The difference between patients with or without Crohn disease and between patients with a simple fistula versus the rest was significant (P <.05). The sensitivity and specificity for detecting fistula tracks were 100% and 86%, respectively; abscesses, 96% and 97%, respectively; horseshoe fistulas, 100% and 100%, respectively; and internal openings, 96% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION High-spatial-resolution MR imaging is accurate for detecting anal fistulas. It provides important additional information in patients with Crohn disease-related and recurrent anal fistulas and is recommended in their preoperative work-up.
Amount of therapist contact and outcome in a multidimensional depression treatment program

ABSTRACT ‐ An 8‐week multidimensional program of behavioral management, cognitive restructuring, and assertiveness training was administered to depressed outpatients either individually with a single therapist (n= 12), in two small groups (n= 11), or one large group (n= 11), or as bibliotherapy (n= 12). A randomly assigned waiting list control group was also included (n= 10). Follow‐up assessments were conducted at 18 weeks. Principal findings were that 1) there were no significant pretreatment differences among groups, 2) all treated groups including bibliotherapy improved substantially over the course of treatment, 3) the waiting list control group was unchanged during this same period, 4) there were no significant differences among treated groups at termination or at follow‐up, nor did these groups change significantly over the period of follow‐up. Thus the effectiveness of this multidimensional program was supported, but its efficacy was not systematically influenced by amount of therapist contact.
The neurobiological approach to premature ejaculation.

PURPOSE Data showing the neurobiological background of rapid ejaculation was reviewed. In addition, new hypotheses to integrate clinical symptomatology, psychopharmacotherapy and psychotherapy of rapid ejaculation with brain function are provided. MATERIALS AND METHODS A computerized MEDLINE search, and manual bibliographic review of cross-references and neurobiological animal studies were performed. These reports were analyzed, summarized and compared with the studies performed by the author. RESULTS The literature on premature ejaculation published between 1887 and 2001 was reviewed. It appeared that the various psychological hypotheses and psychotherapies have not adequately been investigated. In contrast, psychopharmacological treatment studies, animal research data and stopwatch assessments in men with rapid (premature) ejaculation indicate that lifelong rapid ejaculation is a neurobiological phenomenon related to central serotonergic neurotransmission and likely influenced by hereditary factors. CONCLUSIONS Basic and clinical psychopharmacological studies suggest that premature ejaculation is a not a psychological disturbance but a neurobiological phenomenon.
Conceptual Text Summarizer: A new model in continuous vector space

Traditional methods of summarization are not cost-effective and possible today. Extractive summarization is a process that helps to extract the most important sentences from a text automatically and generates a short informative summary. In this work, we propose an unsupervised method to summarize Persian texts. This method is a novel hybrid approach that clusters the concepts of the text using deep learning and statistical methods. Although the proposed method is language independent, we focus on Persian text summarization in this work. First we produce a word embedding based on Hamshahri2 corpus and a dictionary of word frequencies. Then the proposed algorithm extracts the keywords of the document, clusters its concepts, and finally ranks the sentences to produce the summary. We evaluated the proposed method on Pasokh single document dataset using the ROUGE evaluation measure. Without using any hand-crafted features, our proposed method achieves competitive performance. ROUGE-3 recall score for system summaries generated with 25% compression ratio on Pasokh corpus is 0.27.
Surface‐induced swarmer cell differentiation of Vibrio parahaemoiyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus distinguishes between life in a liquid environment and life on a surface. Growth on a surface induces differentiation from a swimmer cell to a swarmer cell type. Each cell type is adapted for locomotion under different circumstances. Swimmer cells synthesize a single polar flagellum (Fla) for movement in a liquid medium, and swarmer cells produce an additional distinct flagellar system, the lateral flagella (Laf), for movement across a solid substratum, called swarming. Recognition of surfaces is necessary for swarmer cell differentiation and involves detection of physical signals peculiar to that circumstance and subsequent transduction of information to affect expression of swarmer cell genes (laf). The polar flagellum functions as a tactile sensor controlling swarmer cell differentiation by sensing forces that restrict its movement. Surface recognition also involves a second signal, i.e. nutritional limitation for iron. Studying surface‐induced differentiation could reveal a novel mechanism of gene control and lead to an understanding of the processes of surface colonization by pathogens and other bacteria.