Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Randomised comparison of manual compression and FemoSeal™ vascular closure device for closure after femoral artery access coronary angiography: the CLOSure dEvices Used in everyday Practice (CLOSE-UP) study.

AIMS To compare in a randomised trial the safety and efficacy of the FemoSeal vascular closure device (VCD) versus manual compression (MC) after femoral access coronary angiography (CAG). METHODS AND RESULTS In 13 months, 1,014 patients were included and 1,001 patients entered analysis. Median [interquartile range] closure time was 8.0 [6-10] minutes after MC versus 1.0 [1-1] minute (p<0.0001) for the FemoSeal VCD. Bed rest for one hour after the closure procedure was recommended in both groups. The primary endpoint of incidence of large groin haematoma was 6.7% in the MC group vs. 2.2% (p=0.002) in the FemoSeal group. The combined endpoint of 14-day adverse vascular events occurred in 1.0% in the MC group vs. 0.6% in the FemoSeal VCD group (p=0.7). Manual compression (OR 3.3, 95% CI: 1.5-7.2, p=0.002), female gender (OR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-3.9, p=0.018), and multiple punctures (OR 10.5, 95% CI: 3.2-34.3, p=0.001) were identified as independent predictors of adverse events and large haematomas. CONCLUSIONS Closure of femoral access after coronary angiography by the FemoSeal vascular closure device was safe, faster, and associated with significantly fewer in-hospital large haematomas as compared to closure by manual compression.
Characterization of the cellular uptake and metabolic conversion of acetylated N‐acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) analogues to sialic acids

“Sialic acid engineering” refers to the strategy where cell surface carbohydrates are modified by the biosynthetic incorporation of metabolic intermediates, such as non‐natural N‐acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) analogues, into cellular glycoconjugates. While this technology has promising research, biomedical, and biotechnological applications due to its ability to endow the cell surface with novel physical and chemical properties, its adoption on a large scale is hindered by the inefficient metabolic utilization of ManNAc analogues. We address this limitation by proposing the use of acetylated ManNAc analogues for sialic acid engineering applications. In this paper, the metabolic flux of these “second‐generation” compounds into a cell, and, subsequently, into the target sialic acid biosynthetic pathway is characterized in detail. We show that acetylated ManNAc analogues are metabolized up to 900‐fold more efficiently than their natural counterparts. The acetylated compounds, however, decrease cell viability under certain culture conditions. To determine if these toxic side effects can be avoided, we developed an assay to measure the cellular uptake of acetylated ManNAc from the culture medium and its subsequent flux into sialic acid biosynthetic pathway. This assay shows that the majority ( > 80%) of acetylated ManNAc is stored in a cellular “reservoir” capable of safely sequestering this analogue. These results provide conditions that, from a practical perspective, enable the acetylated analogues to be used safely and efficaciously and therefore offer a general strategy to facilitate metabolic substrate‐based carbohydrate engineering efforts. In addition, these results provide fundamental new insights into the metabolic processing of non‐natural monosaccharides. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Continuous parenteral and enteral nutrition induces metabolic dysfunction in neonatal pigs.

BACKGROUND We previously showed that parenteral nutrition (PN) compared with formula feeding results in hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis in neonatal pigs. The current aim was to test whether the route of feeding (intravenous [IV] vs enteral) rather than other feeding modalities (diet, pattern) had contributed to the outcome. METHODS Neonatal pigs were fed enterally or parenterally for 14 days with 1 of 4 feeding modalities as follows: (1) enteral polymeric formula intermittently (FORM), (2) enteral elemental diet (ED) intermittently (IEN), (3) enteral ED continuously (CEN), and (4) parenteral ED continuously (PN). Subgroups of pigs underwent IV glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps (CLAMP). Following CLAMP, pigs were euthanized and tissues collected for further analysis. RESULTS Insulin secretion during IVGTT was significantly higher and glucose infusion rates during CLAMP were lower in CEN and PN than in FORM and IEN. Endogenous glucose production rate was suppressed to zero in all groups during CLAMP. In the fed state, plasma glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, and GLP-2 were different between feeding modalities. Insulin receptor phosphorylation in liver and muscle was decreased in IEN, CEN, and PN compared with FORM. Liver weight was highest in PN. Steatosis and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity tended to be highest in PN and CEN. Enterally fed groups had higher plasma GLP-2 and jejunum weight compared with PN. CONCLUSIONS PN and enteral nutrition (EN) when given continuously as an elemental diet reduces insulin sensitivity and the secretion of key gut incretins. The intermittent vs continuous pattern of EN produced the optimal effect on metabolic function.
Increased soluble ST2 predicts long-term mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease: results from the Ludwigshafen risk and cardiovascular health study.

BACKGROUND Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) has emerged as a strong prognostic biomarker in patients with heart failure and myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of sST2 in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS sST2 plasma concentrations were measured in 1345 patients with stable CAD referred for coronary angiography at a single tertiary care center. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS During a median follow-up time of 9.8 years, 477 (36%) patients died. The median sST2 plasma concentration at baseline was significantly higher among decedents than survivors (21.4 vs 18.5 ng/mL; P < 0.001). In multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, sST2 was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (risk ratio 1.16 per 1-SD increase in log-transformed values; 95% CI 1.05-1.29; P = 0.004). In the same multivariate analysis, amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) were also independent predictors, whereas galectin-3 was not. Patients with sST2 in the highest quartile (>24.6 ng/mL) displayed a 2-fold increased risk of death in univariate analysis, which was attenuated but remained significant in a fully adjusted model (risk ratio 1.39; 95% CI 1.10-1.76; P = 0.006). Further analysis showed that the prognostic impact of sST2 was additive to NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT. Using a multibiomarker approach combining these 3 complementary makers, we demonstrated that patients with all 3 biomarkers in the highest quartiles had the poorest outcome. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort of patients with stable CAD, increased sST2 was an independent predictor of long-term all-cause mortality and provided complementary prognostic information to hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP.
Bundled strategies against infection after liver transplantation: Lessons from multidrug‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Infection is a life‐threatening complication after liver transplantation (LT). A recent outbreak of multidrug‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa triggered changes in our infection control measures. This study investigated the usefulness of our bundled interventions against postoperative infection after LT. This before‐and‐after analysis enrolled 130 patients who underwent living donor or deceased donor LT between January 2011 and October 2014. We initiated 3 measures after January 2013: (1) we required LT candidates to be able to walk independently; (2) we increased the hand hygiene compliance rate and contact precautions; and (3) we introduced procalcitonin (PCT) measurement for a more precise determination of empirical antimicrobial treatment. We compared factors affecting the emergence of drug‐resistant microorganisms, such as the duration of antimicrobial and carbapenem therapy and hospital stay, and outcomes such as bacteremia and death from infection between before (n = 77) and after (n = 53) the LT suspension period. The utility of PCT measurement was also evaluated. Patients' backgrounds were not significantly different before and after the protocol revision. Incidence of bacteremia (44% versus 25%; P = 0.02), detection rate of multiple bacteria (18% versus 4%; P = 0.01), and deaths from infections (12% versus 2%; P = 0.04) significantly decreased after the protocol revision. Duration of antibiotic (42.3 versus 25.1 days; P = 0.002) and carbapenem administration (15.1 versus 5.2 days; P < 0.001) and the length of postoperative hospital stay (85.4 versus 63.5 days; P = 0.048) also decreased after the protocol revision. PCT mean values were significantly higher in the bacteremia group (10.10 ng/mL), compared with the uneventful group (0.65 ng/mL; P = 0.002) and rejection group (2.30 ng/mL; P = 0.02). One‐year overall survival after LT significantly increased in the latter period (71% versus 94%; P = 0.001). In conclusion, the bundled interventions were useful in preventing infections and lengthening overall survival after LT.
FPGA Implementation of the HySime Algorithm for the Determination of the Number of Endmembers in Hyperspectral Data

Spectral unmixing is an important task for remotely sensed hyperspectral data exploitation. It amounts the identification of pure spectral signatures (endmembers) in the data, and the estimation of the abundance of each endmember in each (possibly mixed) pixel. A challenging problem in spectral unmixing is how to determine the number of endmembers in a given scene. One of the most popular and widely used techniques for this purpose is the HySime algorithm but, due to the complexity and high dimensionality of hyperspectral scenes, this technique is computational expensive. Reconfigurable field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are promising platforms that allow hardware/software codesign and the potential to provide powerful onboard computing capabilities and flexibility at the same time. In this paper, we present the first FPGA design for the HySime algorithm. Our system includes a direct memory access (DMA) module and implements a prefetching technique to hide the latency of the input/output communications. The proposed method has been implemented on a Virtex-7 XC7VX690T FPGA and tested using real hyperspectral data collected by NASAs airborne visible infra-red imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS) over the Cuprite mining district in Nevada and the World trade center (WTC) in New York. Experimental results demonstrate that our hardware version of the HySime algorithm can significantly outperform a software version, which makes our reconfigurable system appealing for onboard hyperspectral data processing.
Blood sampling as a cause of anemia in a general ICU - a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our pilot study was to evaluate the influence of daily phlebotomy on patients' haemoglobin levels from our general intensive care unit. METHODS We prospectively enrolled 35 patients who did not present with acute haemorrhage or developed it during the study period. For each patient we recorded: the diagnosis, age, sex, haemoglobin, hematocrit, SOFA and APACHE II score, blood volume drawn in standardized vials, number of blood tests ordered per day, fluid balance per day, number of ICU days. The collected data were analyzed using the linear regression model, paired t-test, receiver operating characteristic curves, and descriptive analysis. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v.17 trial version (IBM, NY, USA). RESULTS The mean volume of blood drawn per day was 18.1 (SD ± 14.4) ml and the number of blood tests was 3.8 (SD ± 1.75) per day. On univariate linear regression analysis both the blood volume drawn daily (p = 0.04) and the number of blood tests per day (p = 0.009) correlated with a drop in mean haemoglobin concentration. The difference in the mean value of haemoglobin at admission and discharge correlated with overall mortality (p = 0.03). The sensitivity of admission haemoglobin equal to 10.6 g/dL in predicting mortality was 82.4% with a specificity of 50%, (p = 0.019, AUC = 0.732). CONCLUSIONS We evidenced the predictive power of blood sampling and number of blood tests done on haemoglobin concentration. Besides the main objective of the study we noticed that the difference in the mean value of haemoglobin at admission and discharge correlated with overall mortality. Considering that blood sampling contributes to anemia among ICU patients, we should limit the daily tests undertaken, to the tests absolutely necessary for guiding our therapy.
Etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients in northern Israel.

BACKGROUND Community-acquired pneumonia is a common infection and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Most patients with CAP are treated empirically. OBJECTIVES To identify common pathogens causing CAP in hospitalized patients in northern Israel and to evaluate the correlation between etiology and disease severity. METHODS We conducted a prospective study of patients with CAP hospitalized at HaEmek Medical Center, Afula. We collected demographic, clinical and laboratory data (blood and sputum cultures, serology, pneumococcal urinary antigen test, and respiratory multiplex-polymerase chain reaction from nasopharyngeal swab). Radiologic evaluation was performed. RESULTS A total of 126 patients and 24 controls were enrolled. At least one pathogen was identified in 84 cases (66.7%), more than one in 43 patients (34.1%), and no pathogens in 42 (33.3%). Typical bacteria were found in 23 (18.3%), atypical bacteria in 66 (52.4%), and viruses in 42 (33.3%). The number (%) of patients with pathogens isolated was: Chlamydophila pneumoniae 26 (20.6%), Streptococcus pneumoniae 23 (18.3%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae 23 (18.3%), influenza virus A-B 20 (15.9%), Coxiella burnetti 8 (6.3%), and parainfluenza and adenovirus 13 (10.3%) each. A correlation was found only between a high PORT score on admission and S. pneumoniae, although atypical pathogens did not show class predominance. CONCLUSIONS S. pneumoniae, M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae were the most common pathogens isolated, while co-infection was very frequent. PORT score did not predict any of the pathogens involved. The choice of empiric antimicrobial treatment for CAP should be made according to local epidemiologic data.
Modulation of hepatic cytochromes P450 and phase II enzymes by dietary doses of sulforaphane in rats: Implications for its chemopreventive activity

The principal objectives of our study were to ascertain whether sulforaphane, at dietary levels of intake, modulates rat hepatic cytochrome P450 and phase II enzyme systems and to evaluate the impact of such changes in the chemopreventive activity of this isothiocyanate. Animals were exposed to sulforaphane in their drinking water for 10 days, equivalent to daily doses of 3 and 12 mg/kg. Depentylation of pentoxyresorufin decreased and was paralleled by a decline in CYP2B apoprotein levels. At the higher dose, erythromycin N‐demethylase activity declined and was accompanied by a similar decrease in CYP3A2 apoprotein levels. However, sulforaphane treatment upregulated CYP1A2 levels, determined immunologically, but the dealkylations of methoxy‐ and ethoxyresorufin were not similarly increased. Hepatic S9 preparations from sulforaphane‐treated rats were less effective than control preparations in converting IQ (2‐amino‐3‐methylimidazo‐[4,5‐f]quinoline) to mutagenic intermediates in the Ames test. To clarify the underlying mechanism, in vitro studies were undertaken. In β‐naphthoflavone‐treated rats, the inhibition by sulforaphane of the O‐dealkylations of methoxy‐ and ethoxyresorufin was enhanced if the isothiocyanate was preincubated in the presence of NADPH. It may be inferred that sulforaphane induces hepatic CYP1A2 but the enzyme is not catalytically competent because of bound sulforaphane metabolite(s). Finally, sulforaphane stimulated, in a dose‐dependent fashion, quinone reductase but failed to influence glutathione S‐transferase, epoxide hydrolase and glucuronosyl transferase activities. It is concluded that, even at dietary doses, sulforaphane can modulate the xenobiotic‐metabolising enzyme systems, shifting the balance of carcinogen metabolism toward deactivation, and this may be an important mechanism of its chemopreventive activity. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Periapical health related to the quality of root canal treatment in a Belgian population.

AIM The aim of this study was to collect data on the prevalence and technical standard of root canal treatment as well as the prevalence of apical periodontitis in Belgium. METHODOLOGY The panoramic radiographs of 206 Belgian adults attending the Dental School of the University Hospital of Gent were examined for endodontic treatment, periapical conditions and coronal restorations. RESULTS Of the 4617 teeth examined, 6.8% were endodontically treated. Periapical radiolucencies were found in 6.6% of all teeth and in 40.4% of the endodontically treated teeth. More than half of the root-filled teeth (56.7%) were scored inadequate on the basis of a criterion evaluating the level of the root canal filling. CONCLUSION The endodontic treatment need of this Belgian subpopulation was great and the technical standard of root canal treatment disappointing. The findings indicate that there is still a substantial need for postgraduate endodontic education in Belgium and a need for specialists in endodontology.
Women's Education: An International Perspective

The purpose of this study is to dissect a topic that is heavily discussed around the world: women’s education and the many diverse ways in which it is practiced. One of the reasons women’s education is such a highly-debated topic is because there are still many differences in how people believe it should be accomplished while other places do not see the advantage or purpose of educating women. There are many countries with male dominated enrollment because of the women’s traditionally-held gender role of staying at home or because the family’s socioeconomic status. This study compared the experiences of women’s education in the United States to those of women in foreign countries to help widen not only the understanding of how education is perceived and practiced, but also how different cultures affect how women’s education is viewed. International female students who are currently attending universities in the United States were interviewed with questions regarding the education of women in their home countries and any barriers or obstacles women have had to overcome. Then, by comparing the differences in their educational experiences, this study helps the reader gain a better understanding of how far women’s education has progressed, and the diversity in women’s educational experiences. Thesis Mentor: _______________________________ Dr. Meca Williams-Johnson Honors Director: ____________________________ Dr. Steven Engel April 2017 Teaching and Learning Honors University Program Georgia Southern University
Operating characteristics of the male hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis: pulsatile release of testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone and their temporal coupling with luteinizing hormone.

To appraise the physiological pattern(s) of episodic testosterone and FSH release in man, we withdrew blood samples at 10-min intervals for 24-36 h in a total of 15 normal men. We subjected the resulting FSH (15 men) and testosterone (5 men) time series to 3 statistically based and mathematically independent procedures for detecting hormone pulsatility, viz. Cluster analysis, the Detect program, and Fourier transformation. The Cluster technique disclosed discrete testosterone and FSH peaks occurring at mean (+/- SEM) interpulse intervals of 112 +/- 14 and 85 +/- 3.4 min, respectively. These values were not significantly different from the mean LH interpulse interval of 95 +/- 11 min. The average durations of the testosterone and FSH pulsations were 90 +/- 11 and 59 +/- 3 min, respectively. The mean testosterone pulse amplitude reached a maximal value of 910 +/- 92 ng/dL (31.5 +/- 3.2 nmol/L), which represented a mean increase of 242 +/- 26 ng/dL (8.4 +/- 0.9 nmol/L) above the preceding nadir. FSH pulses had a maximum of 7.2 +/- 0.3 IU/L, and an incremental amplitude of 1.3 +/- 0.1 IU/L. An independent pulse detection procedure. Detect, yielded a testosterone pulse frequency of 12.3 +/- 0.8 pulses/day [P = NS vs. Cluster program (13 +/- 1.9 pulses/day)]. The Cluster and Detect estimates of FSH pulse frequency were also similar, viz. 16 +/- 1.9 and 16 +/- 0.6 pulses/day. Further analysis by Fourier transformation revealed significant circadian periodicities for serum testosterone, FSH, and LH, which had mean nyctohemeral amplitudes of 185 ng/dL (6.4 nmol/L), 0.38 IU/L, and 1.3 IU/L, respectively. Cross-correlation analyses disclosed significantly positive uncorrected cross-correlations between LH and testosterone that were maximal at a testosterone lag of 60 min (range, 50-70 min). To eliminate high intrinsic autocorrelations within the testosterone and LH time series, stepwise autoregressive fitting was employed. The resulting partial cross-correlation matrices indicated that LH concentrations at any given instant were significantly positively correlated to testosterone concentrations lagged by 10 and 20 min. Similarly, contemporaneous LH and FSH concentrations were significantly positively correlated (r = 0.40-0.89; P less than 0.001). Moreover, autoregressive modeling disclosed significantly positive partial cross-correlations between LH and FSH at a FSH lag of 10 min. In summary, we have identified significant pulsatile as well as circadian (24-h) patterns of testosterone and FSH release in normal men. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Organochlorines in Carpet Dust and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background: The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) has risen over the past several decades. Reasons for this increase are largely unexplained. Methods: In this population-based case–control study, we examined NHL risk and exposure to organochlorine compounds using concentrations in carpet dust as an exposure indicator. We identified NHL cases, uninfected with HIV, diagnosed between 1998 and 2000 among women and men ages 20–74 years in Iowa, Los Angeles County, and the Detroit and Seattle metropolitan areas. Controls were selected using random-digit-dialing or Medicare files. Organochlorine concentrations were measured in vacuum bag dust from 603 white cases and 443 white controls who had owned most of their carpets for at least 5 years. Results: NHL risk was elevated if any of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (PCBs 105, 138, 153, 170, or 180) was detected (odds ratio = 1.5; 95% confidence interval = 1.2–2.0). Risk was elevated in the top tertile of PCB 180 (1.7; 1.1–2.6) and in the top 2 tertiles of total PCBs (middle tertile, 1.6 [1.1–2.4]; top tertile 1.5 [1.0–2.2]). There was a positive trend in risk with increasing PCB 180 levels (P trend = 0.03). NHL risk was elevated if dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) was detected (1.3; 1.0–1.7), but only among men. A positive, but not monotonic, dose–response relationship was observed for DDE (P trend = 0.02). Conclusions: Our findings suggest an increased risk of NHL associated with exposure to PCBs, with evidence of greater effects for PCB 180. There is also some evidence of an association with DDE.