Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is it really good to be fat on dialysis?

The paradoxical observation of a lack of mortality increase with higher body mass index (BMI) in dialysis patients was first reported from France by the Diaphane collaborative study [12]. In 1998, Leavey et al. [13], while assessing the influence of a number of commonly used clinical parameters on dialysis survival, confirmed the association between low BMI and increased mortality in patients on haemodialysis. They also reported an absence of mortality risk in patients with higher BMI values. However, a study by our group, published in 1999, identified for the first time a significantly higher survival advantage for overweight and obesity in patients on haemodialysis [4]. This study, in which survival was evaluated prospectively, was based on a cohort of 1300 patients undergoing outpatient haemodialysis. The unexpected finding in this study was that overweight and obese patients (BMI of P27.5) had a significantly better 12-month Correspondence and offprint requests to: Abdulla K. Salahudeen, MD, MSc, FRCP, Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. Email: asalahudeen@medicine.umsmed. edu Nephrol Dial Transplant (2003) 18: 1248–1252 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfg101
High attrition before and after ART initiation among youth (15–24 years of age) enrolled in HIV care

Objectives:To compare pre and post-ART attrition between youth (15–24 years) and other patients in HIV care, and to investigate factors associated with attrition among youth. Design:Cohort study utilizing routinely collected patient-level data from 160 HIV clinics in Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Methods:Patients at least 10 years of age enrolling in HIV care between 01/05 and 09/10 were included. Attrition (loss to follow-up or death 1 year after enrollment or ART initiation) was compared between youth and other patients using multivariate competing risk (pre-ART) and traditional (post-ART) Cox proportional hazards methods accounting for within-clinic correlation. Among youth, patient-level and clinic-level factors associated with attrition were similarly assessed. Results:A total of 312 335 patients at least 10 years of age enrolled in HIV care; 147 936 (47%) initiated ART, 17% enrolling in care and 10% initiating ART were youth. Attrition before and after ART initiation was substantially higher among youth compared with other age groups. Among youth, nonpregnant women experienced lower pre-ART attrition than men [sub-division hazard ratio = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86–0.94], while both pregnant [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74–0.97] and nonpregnant (AHR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.73–0.86) female youth experienced lower post-ART attrition than men. Youth attending clinics providing sexual and reproductive health services including condoms (AHR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.32–0.70) and clinics offering adolescent support groups (AHR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.52–1.0) experienced significantly lower attrition after ART initiation. Conclusion:Youth experienced substantially higher attrition before and after ART initiation compared with younger adolescents and older adults. Adolescent-friendly services were associated with reduced attrition among youth, particularly after ART initiation.
The role of sodium ions in ATP formation by the sodium pump

A study has been made to characterize ATP synthesis from ADP and P1 by the sodium pump with membranes isolated from rabbit kidney. Incorporation of 32P1 into ATP was measured. ATP was not formed in a one-step reaction. Synthesis was dependent upon two separate incubations in which incorporation of P1 into phosphoprotein was followed by transfer of phosphate to ADP. The experimental conditions for the first reaction were different from those for the second (phosphate transfer) reaction. The latter took place only when a high Na concentration (at least 0.5 M) was added. ATP formation was prevented by both K and ouabain. The sequence of reactions could be repeated after washing to remove Na ions, indicating that the driving force for the reactions could be regenerated. The dissipation of ionic gradients was not involved because the Lubrol-solubilized pump was also able to synthesize ATP. It was concluded that the energy for ATP synthesis was derived from specific and reversible interactions of Na ions with the pump. The reactions for ATP synthesis by the sodium pump have been summarized in the form of a cycle.
Similar topology of injury to keratinocytes and myofibres in dermatomyositis skin and muscle

the surface of the keratinocyte. However, the autoantibodies in this patient probably cause the secondary effects including recruitment of inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages, and these inflammatory cells may generate cytokines to promote blistering or infiltration of neutrophils. Complement weakly activated by IgG2 may contribute to this development of inflammation. In conclusion, in anti-p200 pemphigoid, following the binding of autoantibodies to p200, the influx of inflammatory cells (dominated by neutrophils) is mediated by a different inflammatory pathway from the one that occurs in BP. Acknowledgments
Contribution of Respiratory Gating Techniques for Optimization of Breast Cancer Radiotherapy

A comparative, nonrandomized, multicenter, and prospective analysis were performed between April 2004 and June 2008 in 20 French centers in order to compare clinical aspects of respiratory-gated conformal radiotherapy (RGRT) during breast cancer irradiation versus conventional conformal radiotherapy. The final results based on 233 evaluable patients at 48 months confirm the feasibility and good reproducibility of the RGRT systems. The main results demonstrated a marked reduction of dosimetric parameters predictive of lungs and cardiac toxicities in the RGRT group; especially the dose delivered to the heart during irradiation of the left breast; mostly observed with deep inspiration breath-hold techniques.
F2 Isoprostane Levels in Plasma and Urine do not Support Increased Lipid Peroxidation in Cognitively Impaired Parkinson Disease Patients

ObjectiveTo determine the utility of 8,12-isoprostaneF2α-VI (iP), a specific and sensitive index of lipid peroxidation, as a biomarker for dementia in Parkinson disease (PD). BackgroundiP is a member of the F2-isoprostanes family that has been shown to be promising biomarker for Alzheimer disease. However, iP levels have not been studied in patients with clinical diagnosis of PD or Parkinson disease with dementia (PDD). MethodsPD and PDD patient plasma and urine iP levels were compared with age-matched and sex-matched controls. Clinical measures including demographics and tests of motor function, affect, and cognition were assessed and compared with iP levels. ResultsThere were no differences in plasma iP levels between PD subjects and controls (299 vs. 306 pg/mL; P=0.6). Urine iP levels were higher in cases than controls (2.8 vs. 2.1 ng/mg Cr; P=0.003), but levels were lower than those seen in Alzheimer disease patients in prior studies. Within PD subjects, there was no association of iP levels in either the plasma or urine with performance on any clinical measure. ConclusionsPlasma and urine iP levels do not seem to be substantially elevated in PD and are not associated with severity of cognitive impairment in PDD.
Group Therapy and Complexity Theory

Abstract Complexity theory, also called dynamical self-organizing systems theory, is a new scientific way of viewing the natural world. It is being applied to a vast range of multiply determined systems, as well as to created systems including psychoanalysis, and in this article to analytically informed group therapy. Examples of prominent features of group therapy lend themselves to comparison with outstanding features of complexity systems, including nonlinear determinism, self-organization, coevolution, and disequilibrium conditions for change and growth. Examples are used throughout to illustrate inferred processes called cascading, multisubjectivity, and asynchronous change processes. Therapist role indications are in the direction of implementing the group’s own processes of creating change, at close range in the sessions.
Experimental validation of crosstalk simulations for on-chip interconnects using S-parameters

Since the design of advanced microprocessors is based on simulation tools, accurate assessments of the amount of crosstalk noise are of paramount importance to avoid logic failures and less-than-optimal designs. With increasing clock frequencies, inductive effects become more important, and the validity of assumptions commonly used in simulation tools and approaches is unclear. We compared accurate experimental S-parameters with results derived from both magneto-quasi-static and full-wave simulation tools for simple crosstalk structures with various capacitive and inductive couplings, in the presence of parallel and orthogonal conductors. Our validation approach made possible the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of both tools as a function of frequency, which provides useful guidance to designers who have to balance the tradeoffs between accuracy and computation expenses for a large variety of cases
The clinical significance of variant-morphology small-cell carcinoma of the lung.

Past attempts to subclassify small-cell lung cancer (SCCL) histology (oat cell, fusiform, polygonal, intermediate, etc) have not been useful because of interrater variability and a lack of clinical significance. A review of outcome in a previous series suggested that a different histologic subtype, small-cell/large-cell (SC/LC) conferred an inferior response and survival analogous to the relative chemotherapy and radiation resistance seen in the variant-morphology (SC/LC) cultured cell lines. To evaluate the clinical impact of SC/LC we applied the proposed International Association for the study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) histology subclassification that incorporates the SC/LC category for patients with extensive-disease SCCL entering Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) protocol 1582. All cases were reviewed for eligibility by one pathologist, and all possible SC/LC (variant) plus 10% of all cases were reviewed together with a second pathologist; 577 of the 628 patients who entered were eligible, of whom 550 had histologic material submitted for review and are considered for this analysis. Initial review disclosed 24 cases with SC/LC (4.4%) and 526 with "classic" histology. The second review showed 100% agreement for classic form, but only 11 SC/LC cases with concordance between the reviewing pathologists. Eight of 24 (33%) cases from first review and three of 11 (27%) with concordance on second review achieved complete response (CR) compared with 101 of 526 (19%) for "classic" SCCL (P = .11 and .45, respectively, for the first and second review groups). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide on plasma prolactin in passerines.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a potent releaser of prolactin (PRL) in domestic fowl, turkey, and ring doves. However, few comparative studies have investigated this in wild species. We tested the effects of intravenously administered chicken VIP on plasma PRL concentrations in four passerine species: the white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii), the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), the Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), and the western scrub-jay (A. californica). In the white-crowned sparrow, junco, and Florida scrub-jay, which were tested during the breeding season, VIP induced a rapid increase in plasma PRL. Serial plasma samples taken after VIP injection in the white-crowned sparrow show a 10-fold increase in PRL within 2 min of treatment, followed by a gradual decline. Effects of VIP, as compared to saline, remained significant for at least 20 min after treatment. Western scrub-jays did not respond to intravenous VIP with a significant rise in PRL secretion, possibly because they were tested after termination of the breeding season. This study indicates that VIP control of PRL release may be widespread among avian species, and that seasonal changes in plasma PRL may be mediated in part at the level of the pituitary. In addition, analysis of the control data revealed no increase in plasma PRL as a result of injection or restraint, suggesting that unlike in mammals, PRL is not released during acute stress in passerines.
Detection of malignant pleural mesothelioma in exhaled breath by multicapillary column/ion mobility spectrometry (MCC/IMS)

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is predominantly caused by previous asbestos exposure. Diagnosis often happens in advanced stages restricting any therapeutic perspectives. Early stage detection via breath analysis was explored using multicapillary column/ion mobility spectrometry (MCC/IMS) to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaled breath of MPM patients in comparison to former occupational asbestos-exposed and non-exposed controls. Breath and background samples of 23 MPM patients, 22 asymptomatic former asbestos (AEx) workers and 21 healthy non-asbestos exposed persons were taken for analysis. After background correction, we performed a logistic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression to select the most important VOCs, followed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. MPM patients were discriminated from both controls with 87% sensitivity, 70% specificity and respective positive and negative predictive values of 61% and 91%. The overall accuracy was 76% and the area under the ROC-curve was 0.81. AEx individuals could be discriminated from MPM patients with 87% sensitivity, 86% specificity and respective positive and negative predictive values of 87% and 86%. The overall accuracy was 87% with an area under the ROC-curve of 0.86. Breath analysis by MCC/IMS allows MPM patients to be discriminated from controls and holds promise for further investigation as a screening tool for former asbestos-exposed persons at risk of developing MPM.
Effects of smoking on trace metal levels in saliva.

OBJECTIVES To compare the salivary levels of trace metals between non-smokers and smokers using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The effect of pretreatment methods on the accuracy of ICP-MS analysis and daily variations in trace metal levels in saliva were also investigated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The participants were 10 male non-smokers (mean age: 27.4 ± 3.4 years) and 30 male smokers (mean age: 26.5 ± 4.1 years). Unstimulated whole saliva was collected. Salivary flow rate, the number of metal restorations in the oral cavity, the level of blood contamination in the saliva and the levels of cotinine and trace metals in the saliva of each participant were determined. RESULTS Direct dilution of saliva samples with nitric acid showed the most accurate ICP-MS results. Trace metal levels in saliva showed wide daily variations. They were not affected by the number of metal restorations. Trace metal concentrations of saliva samples without blood contamination were much lower than the previously reported values. Salivary levels of cotinine and aluminum were significantly increased in smokers. CONCLUSIONS Saliva can be a medium for trace metal analysis. Salivary levels of cotinine and aluminum can be useful markers to evaluate smoking status.
Roles of resonance and dark irradiance for infrared photorefractive self-focusing and solitons in bipolar InP:Fe

This paper shows experimental evidence of photorefractive steady state self-focusing in InP:Fe for a wide range of intensities, at both 1.06 and 1. 55µm. To explain those results, it is shown that despite the bi-polar nature of InP:Fe where one photocarrier and one thermal carrier are to be considered, the long standing one photocarrier model for photorefractive solitons can be usefully applied. The relationship between the dark irradiance stemming out of this model and the known resonance intensity is then discussed.
Correlating Threshold Power With Free-Space Bandwidth for Low-Directivity Antennas

This paper develops a threshold power rationale that can be used to demonstrate inherent compliance for portable wireless devices with specific absorption rate (SAR) limits over the 300 - 6000 - MHz frequency range. This is achieved first by understanding the relationship between basic antenna parameters (bandwidth, operating frequency, and distance to the body) and SAR. From this, an upper limit is determined for the power transmitted by a portable wireless device such that the SAR will not exceed the compliance limit. Based on the presented computational and measured data, an empirical formula is developed for the threshold power as a function of the aforementioned parameters. It is demonstrated that the derived threshold power is conservative for all of the low-directivity antennas studied. Computed results are also compared against practical device data (mobile telephone data collected from the manufacturers) to show that the predicted threshold power data using the proposed formula are conservative. The limitations of the proposed formula are also discussed.
String Test Measurement to Assess the Effect of Spinal Deformity Correction on Spinal Canal Length

Study Design. Long cassette coronal and lateral radiographs before and after surgical correction were analyzed and string test measurements made by three observers in 55 surgical cases (13 surgical types). Objectives. The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of various corrective maneuvers for spinal deformity on the spinal canal length. Summary of Background Data. When perioperative neurologic deficit occurs, the surgeon removes implants because they are displaced into the spinal canal or the canal has been lengthened. It is important to know the effect certain constructs have on canal length because the ability of the spinal cord to adapt to canal lengthening is variable. Methods. On the coronal radiographs the concave, convex, midvertebral, and adjusted midvertebral line, and on the sagittal radiographs, the anterior and posterior vertebral body lines were measured. The adjusted coronal line was the assumed path of the spinal cord starting at the midportion of the vertebral body at the top and the bottom of the deformity and then in between, hugging the pedicles as closely as possible while staying inside the pedicles. Adjustments for magnification were made. Results. Anterior compression instrumentation without cages (n = 5) consistently shortened the spinal canal (mean delta −6.67 ± 2.30 mm, P = 0.003), whereas instrumentation with cages (n = 13) lengthened the canal (mean delta 10.54 ± 7.58 mm, P = 0.0003). Thoracic curves treated by posterior corrective forces (n = 14) demonstrated lengthening of the canal (mean delta 10.14 ± 5.23 mm, P = 0.0001), large (n = 5) curves (81–140°, mean delta 13.47 ± 7.05 mm), and medium (n = 7) curves (50–80°, mean delta 8.43 ± 3.24 mm). Conclusions. Many deformity correction maneuvers, although they do not directly include application of posterior or anterior distraction forces, do indirectly lengthen the spinal canal.
Association between childhood maltreatment and adult emotional dysregulation in a low-income, urban, African American sample: Moderation by oxytocin receptor gene

Abstract The ability to effectively regulate emotions and a secure attachment style are critical for maintaining mental health across the life span. The experience of childhood maltreatment interferes with normal development of emotional regulation and dramatically increases risk for a wide range of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. The central nervous system oxytocin systems are critically involved in mediating social attachment and buffering psychophysiological responses to stress. We therefore investigated the impact of childhood maltreatment and an oxytocin receptor (OXTR) single nucleotide polymorphism (rs53576) and their interaction on emotional dysregulation and attachment style in adulthood in a sample of low-income, African American men and women recruited from primary care clinics of an urban, public hospital. Consistent with prior research, we found that the severity of childhood maltreatment was associated with increased levels of emotional dysregulation in adulthood. Childhood maltreatment was also positively associated with ratings of disorganized/unresolved adult attachment style and negatively associated with ratings of secure adult attachment style. There was no direct association between rs53576 and emotional dysregulation or ratings of adult attachment style. However, there were significant interactions between rs53576 and childhood maltreatment in predicting level of adult emotional dysregulation and attachment style. Specifically, G/G genotype carriers were at risk for increased emotional dysregulation when exposed to three or more categories of childhood abuse. In addition, G/G genotype carriers exhibited enhanced disorganized adult attachment style when exposed to severe childhood abuse compared to A/A and A/G carriers. Our findings suggest that A allele carriers of OXTR rs53576 are resilient against the effects of severe childhood adversity, by protection against emotional dysregulation and disorganized attachment.
Recombination‐induced CAG trinucleotide repeat expansions in yeast involve the MRE11–RAD50–XRS2 complex

Recombination induced by double‐strand breaks (DSBs) in yeast leads to a higher proportion of expansions to contractions than does replication‐associated tract length changes. Expansions are apparently dependent on the property of the repeat array to form hairpins, since DSB repair of a CAA87 repeat induces only contractions of the repeat sequence. DSB‐repair efficiency is reduced by 40% when DNA synthesis must traverse a CAG98 array, as compared with a CAA87 array. These data indicate that repair‐ associated DNA synthesis is inhibited by secondary structures formed by CAG98 and that these structures promote repeat expansions during DSB repair. Overexpression of Mre11p or Rad50p suppresses the inhibition of DSB repair by CAG98 and significantly increases the average size of expansions found at the recipient locus. Both effects are dependent on the integrity of the Mre11p–Rad50p–Xrs2p complex. The Mre11 complex thus appears to be directly involved in removing CAG or CTG hairpins that arise frequently during DNA synthesis accompanying gene conversion of these trinucleotide repeats.
Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction due to anti-Fyb caused by a primary immune response: a case study and a review of the literature

Abstract Delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions (DHTRs) usually occur between 3 and 14 days posttransfusion as a result of a secondary immune response, with a drop in Hb level, fever, jaundice, or hemoglobinuria. DHTRs caused by a primary immune response are particularly rare events, and only a few reports have been known. In this report, we describe an unusual case of a DHTR caused by anti-Fyb in a 42-year-old man, who had no prior history of transfusion. Although it seems to be a rare phenomenon, we suggest that DHTRs by a primary immune response may be considered even in the case of the patient who had typical evidence of hemolysis but who had no previous transfusion history.