Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis: 2001–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and correlates of bacterial vaginosis among women between the ages of 14 and 49 years in the United States. METHODS: Data from the 2001–2001 and 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were combined. Correlates of bacterial vaginosis evaluated included sociodemographic characteristics (age, race or ethnicity, education, poverty income ratio) and sexual history (age of first intercourse, number of sexual partners). Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated from logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Almost one third of women (29%) were positive for bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis prevalence varied with age, race or ethnicity, education, and poverty. Black, non-Hispanic (odds ratio [OR] 3.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58–3.80) and Mexican-American (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.99–1.69) women had higher odds of bacterial vaginosis than white, non-Hispanic women after adjustment for other sociodemographic characteristics. Douching in the past 6 months was also an important predictor of bacterial vaginosis prevalence (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.54–2.40). CONCLUSION: Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition among U.S. women, and the prevalence is similar to that in many treatment-seeking populations. Further studies are needed to disentangle the interactions between race or ethnicity and other sociodemographic characteristics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
Effect of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on aromatase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in adenomyosis

Objectives. To determine whether aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci is affected by previous use of oral contraceptives containing gestodene, and to determine whether changes in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression occur in adenomyosis during the menstrual cycle. Patient and methods. This was a retrospective cohort study carried out in paraffin-embedded endometrial tissue obtained from patients with a histological diagnosis of adenomyosis obtained during the proliferative (n = 25) and luteal (n = 10) phases of the menstrual cycle and following the use of continuous oral contraception with gestodene/ethinyl estradiol (n = 7). COX-2 and aromatase expression were measured in both eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci using immunohistochemical methods. Results. Aromatase expression was detected in 80% of the endometrial slices by immunohistochemistry. In positive cases, aromatase was mainly detected in the stromal cells of the eutopic endometrium, whereas in the adenomyotic foci this expression was negative in the majority of the cases. Oral contraceptives containing gestodene, on the other hand, were effective in suppressing aromatase expression in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium. COX-2 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in the glandular epithelium of both eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci and there were no significant changes in its intensity throughout the menstrual cycle. Conclusion. Aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci is suppressed by oral contraceptives containing gestodene. Increased aromatase activity may be responsible for the persistent COX-2 expression during the luteal phase.
Long-Lasting Consequences of Elevated Yolk Testosterone for Metabolism in the Zebra Finch

Resting metabolic rate is a common way of quantifying the cost of living in endothermic animals. The trait often makes up a substantial part of an animal’s energy budget and can also be related to sustainable peak work rate as well as to daily energy expenditure. Studies have shown that metabolic rates are often heritable, but much of the variation seems to be caused by other factors (e.g., environmental and maternal effects). In a previous study, in ovo exposure to increased levels of testosterone induced metabolic costs early in life. It is, however, unknown whether in ovo androgens also have long-term effects on individual metabolic rates. In this study, we show that experimentally increased levels of in ovo testosterone in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) result in a 7% higher resting metabolic rate when they are adults. This shows that maternally transferred hormones can induce long-term effects on metabolic demands and potentially influence variation in life-history strategies among offspring. Variation in maternal hormone transfer may also explain some of the large interindividual variation observed in metabolic rates.
Buttress Plating Versus Anterior-to-Posterior Lag Screws for Fixation of the Posterior Malleolus: A Biomechanical Study

Objectives: The preferred method of fixation for posterior malleolus fractures remains controversial, and practices vary widely among surgeons. The purpose of this study was to compare anterior-to-posterior (AP) lag screws with posterior buttress plating for fixation of posterior malleolus fractures in a human cadaveric model. Methods: Posterior malleolus fractures involving 30% of the distal tibial articular surface were created in 7 pairs of fresh frozen cadaveric ankles. One specimen in each pair was randomly assigned to fixation with either 2 AP lag screws or a one-third tubular buttress plate without supplemental lag screws. Each specimen was then subjected to cyclic loading from 0% to 50% of body weight for 5000 cycles followed by loading to failure. Outcome measures included permanent axial displacement during each test cycle (axial displacement at no load), peak axial displacement during each test cycle (axial displacement at 50% body weight), load at 1-mm axial displacement, ultimate load, and axial displacement at ultimate load. Results: The buttress plate group showed significantly less peak axial displacement at all time points during cyclic loading. Permanent axial displacement was significantly less in the buttress plate group beginning at cycle 200. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups during load-to-failure testing. Conclusion: Posterior malleolus fractures treated with posterior buttress plating showed significantly less displacement during cyclical loading compared with fractures fixed with AP lag screws. Surgeons should consider these findings when selecting a fixation strategy for these common fractures. Further research is warranted to investigate the clinical implications of these biomechanical findings.
Nerve growth cones isolated from fetal rat brain. IV. Preparation of a membrane subfraction and identification of a membrane glycoprotein expressed on sprouting neurons

This study describes the preparation of a membrane subfraction from isolated nerve growth cone particles (GCPs) (see Pfenninger, K. H., L. Ellis, M. P. Johnson, L. B. Friedman, and S. Somlo, 1983, Cell, 35:573- 584) and the identification in this fraction of a glycoprotein expressed during neurite growth. While approximately 40 major polypeptides are visible in Coomassie Blue-stained SDS polyacrylamide gels of pelleted (partially disrupted) GCPs, a salt-washed membrane fraction prepared from lysed, detergent-permeabilized GCPs contains only 14% of this protein and has an unusually simple polypeptide pattern of seven major bands. Monoclonal antibodies have been generated to GCP membranes isolated from fetal rat brain. These antibodies have been screened differentially with synaptosomes from adult rat brain in order to identify those which recognize antigens expressed selectively during neurite growth. One such antibody (termed 5B4) recognizes a developmentally regulated membrane glycoprotein that is enriched in GCP membranes and expressed in fetal neurons sprouting in vitro. The 5B4 antigen in fetal brain migrates in SDS polyacrylamide gels as a diffuse band of approximately 185-255 kD, is rich in sialic acid, and consists of a small family of isoelectric variants. Freezing-thawing and neuraminidase digestion result in the cleavage of the native antigen into two new species migrating diffusely around 200 and 160 kD. Prolonged neuraminidase digestion sharpens these bands at about 180 and 135 kD, respectively. In the mature brain, antibody 5B4 recognizes a sparse polypeptide migrating at approximately 140 kD. As shown in the following paper (Wallis, I., L. Ellis, K. Suh, and K. H. Pfenninger, 1985, J. Cell Biol., 101:1990-1998), the fetal antigen is specifically associated with regions of neuronal sprouting and, therefore, can be used as a molecular marker of neurite growth.
Tibetans living at sea level have a hyporesponsive hypoxia-inducible factor system and blunted physiological responses to hypoxia

Tibetan natives have lived on the Tibetan plateau (altitude ∼4,000 m) for at least 25,000 years, and as such they are adapted to life and reproduction in a hypoxic environment. Recent studies have identified two genetic loci, EGLN1 and EPAS1, that have undergone natural selection in Tibetans, and further demonstrated an association of EGLN1/EPAS1 genotype with hemoglobin concentration. Both genes encode major components of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcriptional pathway, which coordinates an organism's response to hypoxia. Patients living at sea level with genetic disease of the HIF pathway have characteristic phenotypes at both the integrative-physiology and cellular level. We sought to test the hypothesis that natural selection to hypoxia within Tibetans results in related phenotypic differences. We compared Tibetans living at sea level with Han Chinese, who are Tibetans' most closely related major ethnic group. We found that Tibetans had a lower hemoglobin concentration, a higher pulmonary ventilation relative to metabolism, and blunted pulmonary vascular responses to both acute (minutes) and sustained (8 h) hypoxia. At the cellular level, the relative expression and hypoxic induction of HIF-regulated genes were significantly lower in peripheral blood lymphocytes from Tibetans compared with Han Chinese. Within the Tibetans, we found a significant correlation between both EPAS1 and EGLN1 genotype and the induction of erythropoietin by hypoxia. In conclusion, this study provides further evidence that Tibetans respond less vigorously to hypoxic challenge. This is evident at sea level and, at least in part, appears to arise from a hyporesponsive HIF transcriptional system.
Preliminary investigation of rain cells in equatorial Malaysia for propagation applications

This work investigates the physical structure and geometrical features of rain cells based on two years of meteorological observations collected by a radar located at Kluang, Johor, Malaysia. Raw radar data are duly processed and rain cells are identified to carry out a detailed investigation on some features of the rain cells such as the mean rain rate, the equivalent minor and major axis length and the orientation. Preliminary results indicate that the majority of the rain cells are characterized by an equivalent diameter lying between 1 to 6 km (threshold 5 mm/h), with the mean minor and major axis lengths being approximately equal to 0.9 and 1.5 km, respectively. Furthermore, the rain cells orientation distribution is almost uniform, which is in accordance with the results obtained from the data collected in temperate regions. Further work is necessary to provide radio engineers with useful information for the design of wireless communication system in this particular area (heavy rain region).
Documentation and three‐dimensional modelling of human soleus muscle architecture

The purpose of this study was to visualize and document the architecture of the human soleus muscle throughout its entire volume. The architecture was visualized by creating a three‐dimensional (3D) manipulatable computer model of an entire cadaveric soleus, in situ, using B‐spline solid to display muscle fiber bundles that had been serially dissected, pinned, and digitized. A database of fiber bundle length and angle of pennation throughout the marginal, posterior, and anterior soleus was compiled. The computer model allowed documentation of the architectural parameters in 3D space, with the angle of pennation being measured relative to the tangent plane of the point of attachment of a fiber bundle. Before this study, the only architectural parameters that have been recorded have been 2D. Three‐dimensional reconstruction is an exciting innovation because it makes feasible the creation of an architectural database and allows visualization of each fiber bundle in situ from any perspective. It was concluded that the architecture is non‐uniform throughout the volume of soleus. Detailed architectural studies may lead to the development of muscle models that can more accurately predict interaction between muscle parts, force generation, and the effect of pathologic states on muscle function. Clin. Anat. 16:285–293, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[Migraine--diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy].

Migraine is caused by intermittent brain dysfunction. Attacks result in severe unilateral headache with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia and general weakness. The prevalence of migraine is 12 to 20% in women and 8 to 12% in man. Treatment of an acute attack is done by antiemetics in combination with analgesics. Severe migraine attacks are treated with ergotamine or sumatriptan. Parenteral treatment is performed most efficiently and safely with i.v. ASA. Frequent and severe attacks require prophylaxis. Drugs of first choice are metoprolol, propranolol, flunarizine and cyclandelate. Substances of second choice are valproic acid, DHE, pizotifen, methysergide and magnesium. Homeopathic remedies are not superior to placebo. Nonpharmacological treatment consists of sport therapy and muscle relaxation techniques.
6-Thioguanine Associated Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease May Induce Portal Hypertension

BACKGROUND:Recent studies suggest an association between 6-thioguanine (6-TG) therapy and hepatic nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). An influence of 6-TG on portal pressure remains to be determined. The aim of the study was to examine the functional relevance of long-term 6-TG treatment on hepatic hemodynamics in IBD patients and its association with NRH.METHODS:Patients treated with 6-TG for IBD underwent measurement of the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and liver biopsy. 6-TG therapy was stopped when NRH was diagnosed. If elevated, HVPG measurement was repeated after 1 yr.RESULTS:Twenty-six patients (15 women, 11 men; median age 41 yr, range 23–76) treated with 6-TG for 38 months (median; range 12–45) were included. Among 24 patients with sufficient liver biopsy, 6 patients (25%) were diagnosed with NRH. In these 6 patients, the HVPG was higher (median HVPG 7 mmHg, range 3–14) than in the 18 patients without NRH (median 3 mmHg, range 2–5; P < 0.001). In the patients with NRH, two had clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) (13 and 14 mmHg, respectively); in one patient the HVPG was slightly elevated (7 mmHg). No overt clinical signs of portal hypertension were observed. One year after stopping 6-TG therapy, HVPG decreased in all 3 patients with initially elevated HVPG levels.CONCLUSIONS:We demonstrate that IBD patients under long-term 6-TG therapy are at a substantial risk for developing NRH. NRH results in elevation of HVPG and may cause CSPH. Discontinuation of 6-TG therapy extenuates portal hypertension and may thus reduce the risk of complications.
Increased levels of MIP‐1α in CSF and serum of ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with complicated pathogenesis. No effective diagnostic test and cure exists for the disease at present. We detected the levels of MIP‐1α in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum and then further evaluated whether MIP‐1α levels correlate with the severity and progression of ALS.
Research ethics: depression and mortality in nursing homes.

In Reply. — Sachs et al raise questions that concern all researchers who study patients receiving medical care. At issue is the balance of the potential to improve care, patient confidentiality, and ethical obligations to intervene in life-threatening circumstances. The major focus of our study was on adaptation to nursing home placement and was driven by data indicating that most patients entering nursing homes remain there until death. For them, quality of care in the nursing home is extremely important. Psychiatric diagnoses are particularly relevant in this regard, and our informed consent forms stated that results of the psychiatric examination would be available to nursing home physicians at the request of the patient or the family, or if the researchers determined there was a clinical need to inform the nursing home physician. Regarding the latter, the investigators agreed to do so if depression with suicidality were evident. That occasion never
Content and quality of 2000 controlled trials in schizophrenia over 50 years

Abstract Objective To provide a comprehensive survey of the content and quality of intervention studies relevant to the treatment of schizophrenia. Design Data were extracted from 2000 trials on the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's register. Main outcome measures Type and date of publication, country of origin, language, size of study, treatment setting, participant group, interventions, outcomes, and quality of study. Results Hospital based drug trials undertaken in the United States were dominant in the sample (54%). Generally, studies were short (54%<6 weeks), small (mean number of patients 65), and poorly reported (64% had a quality score of ≤2 (maximum score 5)). Over 600 different interventions were studied in these trials, and 640 different rating scales were used to measure outcome. Conclusions Half a century of studies of limited quality, duration, and clinical utility leave much scope for well planned, conducted, and reported trials. The drug regulatory authorities should stipulate that the results of both explanatory and pragmatic trials are necessary before a compound is given a licence for everyday use.
Predicting Pregnancy Risk in Women Attending an STD Clinic

Background Although sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics focus mainly on STD treatment and prevention, women attending these clinics are also at high risk for pregnancy. Goal To evaluate the relationship between certain demographic and behavioral characteristics and the probability of pregnancy in women attending an urban STD clinic. Study Design Non-contraceptive-using women in an STD clinic–initiated randomized controlled contraception study (n = 877) were interviewed at baseline, and incident pregnancies within 1 year of enrollment were measured. Association between baseline demographic and behavioral characteristics with incident pregnancy was assessed by chi-square analysis, and logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with an incident pregnancy. Results Among the 673 women (76.7%) for whom follow-up pregnancy information was available, 220 (32.7%) incident pregnancies occurred within 1 year. By logistic regression controlling for study assignment, incident pregnancy was associated with age ≤19 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% CI: 1.5–5.2), previous abortion (OR, 3.1; 95% CI: 1.7–5.4), frequency of sexual encounters of at least once a week (OR, 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2–2.6), and having a chlamydial infection at the time of enrollment (OR, 1.8; 95% CI: 1.0–3.2). With a combination of demographic and behavioral characteristics correlated by univariate analysis with incident pregnancy (i.e., age ≤19 years, nonwhite race, high school/general equivalency diploma or less education, previous pregnancy, no use of birth control with last intercourse, sex at least once a week, previous abortion, ≥3 partners within the past month, and <17 years of age at first pregnancy), the cumulative risk of pregnancy with 6 or more of the 9 characteristics was 51%, compared with 25.6% for women with ≤5 characteristics. Conclusion For this STD clinic population, a combination of demographic and behavioral characteristics was useful when combined for identifying a subgroup of women at higher risk for subsequent pregnancy. Targeted intervention by STD care providers should include the provision for both pregnancy and STD prevention counseling.
International differences in end-of-life attitudes in the intensive care unit: results of a survey.

BACKGROUND Important international differences exist in attitudes toward end-of-life issues in the intensive care unit. METHODS A simple questionnaire survey was sent by e-mail to participants at an international meeting on intensive care medicine. Respondents were asked to choose 1 of 3 to 5 possible answers for each of 4 questions related to the treatment of a hypothetical patient in a vegetative state due to anoxic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest with no family and no advance directives. RESULTS From 3494 valid addresses, 1961 complete questionnaires (56%) were received from 21 countries. Sixty-two percent of physicians from Northern and Central Europe said they involved nurses in end-of-life discussions compared with only 32% of physicians in Southern Europe, 38% in Brazil, 39% in Japan, and 29% in the United States (P<.001 for all comparisons). Written do-not-resuscitate orders were preferred in Northern and Central Europe, whereas oral orders took preference in Southern Europe, Turkey, and Brazil. One third of Japanese physicians said that they would not apply do-not-resuscitate orders. Most participants from Japan, Turkey, the United States, Southern Europe, and Brazil chose to treat the hypothetical patient with antibiotics if he/she developed septic shock, whereas in Northern Europe, Central Europe, Canada, and Australia, terminal withdrawal of mechanical ventilation and extubation were the more commonly chosen responses. CONCLUSIONS In countries where intensive care medicine is relatively well developed, considerable differences remain in physicians' attitudes toward end-of-life care in the intensive care unit. Substantial work remains if an international consensus on these issues is to be reached.
Kinetics of creatine uptake in the perfused mouse liver: a 31P-n.m.r. study of transgenic mice expressing creatine kinase (CKBB) in the liver.

Transport of creatine in the mouse liver has been investigated in vivo and in the perfused organ. Experiments were carried out with transgenic mice expressing creatine kinase in the liver (brain isoenzyme CKBB; EC 7.2.3.2.) [Koretsky, Brosnan, Chen, Chen and Van Dyke (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 3112-3116] and in the corresponding control mice. The animals were fed a regular chow with or without the addition of 10% creatine (w/w) for 5 days. The kinetics of creatine uptake was measured in the perfused liver by 31P-n.m. r. spectroscopy and biochemical analysis following infusion of creatine at concentrations ranging over 0-15 mM and at an extracellular pH of either 7.40 or 6.40. The results suggest that creatine is actively transported by a pH-dependent mechanism obeying a saturable Michaelis-Menten type of kinetics (Km = 0.80 +/- 0.18 and 5.12 +/- 2.40 mM; Vmax. = 0.57 +/- 0.04 and 1.72 +/- 0.32 mumol.g of liver-1.min-1 at pH 7.40 and 6.40 respectively). Creatine export was evaluated in the perfused liver preloaded with creatine and the results show that less than 2.5 and 5% of the total creatine pool is exported to the perfusate during 80 min of perfusion at pH 7.40 and 6.40 respectively. Taken together, these results seem to explain the observation that creatine accumulates in the mouse liver only when blood creatine is raised by creatine feeding.
Cobalt 60 teletherapy of early carcinoma of the vocal cords.

1. A small series of 16 consecutive cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords and anterior commissure is presented.2. The patients were treated with cobalt 60 teletherapy with an average dose of 6,5000 to 7,000 r at the mid-sagittal point of the larynx in 25 to 32 days.3. Only 1 patient in this series showed a local recurrence after treatment.