Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution and Predictors of Change in Total Bone Mineral Density Over Time in HIV-Infected Men and Women in the Nutrition for Healthy Living Study

Background:Osteopenia is common in the era of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), yet the etiology is unclear. We evaluated the association of host factors, disease severity, and ART to changes in total body bone mineral density (total BMD) over time in HIV-infected men (n = 283) and women (n = 96). Methods:Total BMD was measured annually by whole-body dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA), and medical, dietary, and behavioral history was collected. The median time from first to last DXA was 2.5 years (range 0.9-6.8 years). Using a repeated measures regression model, we identified variables independently associated with percent change in total BMD between consecutive DXA exams (n = 799 intervals), adjusted for age, race, sex, menopause, and smoking. We estimated percent change in total BMD over an average interval (1 year) standardized for representative levels of each determinant in males, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Results:Median baseline age, CD4, and viral load were 42 years, 364 cells per cubic millimeter, and 2.7 log10 copies per milliliter, respectively. The estimated change in total BMD for those not on ART was −0.37% per year [95% confidence interval (CI) −0.76 to −0.02] for men, −0.08% per year (95% CI −0.49 to 0.33) for premenopausal women, and −1.07% per year (95% CI −1.86 to −0.28) for postmenopausal women. Greater loss of total BMD was associated with lower albumin, lower body mass index, prednisone/hydrocortisone use, tenofovir use, and longer duration of didanosine. Strength training and long duration of d4T and saquinavir prevented or mitigated bone loss. For those on ART for 3 years (not including the above agents), the rate of loss was −0.57% per year (95% CI −1.00 to −0.14) for men, −0.28% (95% CI −0.71 to 0.15) for premenopausal women, and −1.27% (95% CI −2.07 to −0.47) for postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women had greater loss than premenopausal women and men. Conclusions:Low body weight, low albumin, catabolic steroid use, and menopause may accelerate bone loss, and strength training may be protective. Tenofovir and didanosine may also have a deleterious effect on BMD.
A series of N-(2-phenylethyl)nitroaniline derivatives as precursors for slow and sustained nitric oxide release agents.

2,4-Dinitro-N-(2-phenylethyl)aniline, C14H13N3O4, (I), crystallizes with one independent molecule in the asymmetric unit. The adjacent amine and nitro groups form an intramolecular N-H.O hydrogen bond. The anti conformation about the ethyl C-C bond leads to the phenyl and aniline rings being essentially parallel. Molecules are linked into dimers by intermolecular N-H.O hydrogen bonds, such that each amine H atom participates in a three-centre interaction with two nitro O atoms. Though the dimers pack so that the arene rings of adjacent molecules are parallel, the rings are staggered and π-π interactions do not appear to be favoured. 4,6-Dinitro-N,N'-bis(2-phenylethyl)benzene-1,3-diamine, C22H22N4O4, (II), differs from (I) in the presence of a second 2-phenylethylamine group on the substituted ring. Compound (II) also crystallizes with one unique molecule in the asymmetric unit. Both amine groups are involved in intramolecular N-H.O hydrogen bonds with adjacent nitro groups. Although one ethyl group adopts an anti conformation as in (I), the other is gauche, with the result that the pendant phenyl rings are not parallel. The amine group that is part of the gauche conformation participates in a three-centre N-H.O hydrogen bond with the nitro group of a neighbouring molecule, leading to dimers as in (I). The other amine H atom does not form any intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The packing leads to separations of ca 3.4 Å of the parallel anti phenyl and aminobenzene rings. 2-Cyano-4-nitro-N-(2-phenylethyl)aniline, C15H13N3O2, (III), differs from (I) only in having a cyano group in place of the 2-nitro group. The absence of the adjacent nitro group eliminates the intramolecular N-H.O hydrogen bond. Molecules of (III) adopt the same anti conformation about the ethyl group as in (I), but crystallize in the higher-symmetry monoclinic space group P21/n. The molecules are linked into dimers via N-H.N amine-cyano hydrogen bonds, while the nitro groups are not involved in any N-H.O interactions. Owing to the different symmetry, the molecules pack in a herringbone pattern with fewer face-to-face interactions between the rings. The closest such interactions are about 3.5 Å between rings that are largely slipped past one another. 4-Methylsulfonyl-2-nitro-N-(2-phenylethyl)aniline, C15H16N2O4S, (IV), differs from (I) in having a methylsulfonyl group in place of the 4-nitro group. The intramolecular N-H.O hydrogen bond is present as in (I). However, unlike (I), the conformation about the ethyl group is gauche, so the two arene rings are nearly perpendicular rather than parallel. The packing is significantly different from the other three structures in that there are no intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving the N-H groups. The molecules are arranged in tetragonal columns running along the c axis, with the aniline rings mostly parallel and separated by ca 3.7 Å. Taken together, these structures demonstrate that modest changes in functional groups cause significant differences in molecular conformation, intermolecular interactions and packing.
MESOGLIA & MICROGLIA – A Historical Review of the Concept of Mononuclear Phagocytes Within the Central Nervous System

More than a century and a half has elapsed since the first accounts of mesodermal phagocytic elements were proposed within the central nervous system. Over the intervening decades, body and substance were added to this concept through the advancement of histological techniques at the disposal of the researcher and the acute and keen-minded skills of the pathologist. Notable among these pioneering efforts were the contributions of W. Ford Robertson, Santiago Ramon y Cajal, Pio del Rio-Hortega and Wilder Penfield amongst an entire cavalcade of other noteworthy figures. The term ‘mesoglia’ and ‘third element of the nervous system’ was bestowed upon these cells towards the beginning of the twentieth century to account for their separate origins from neurons and macroglia. It was later amended by del Rio-Hortega in 1919, to ‘microglia’ in order to further discriminate between true mesodermal elements and oligodendrocytes, previously regarded as a component of ‘mesoglia’. This particular contention sparked much controversy among del Rio-Hortega’s peers and resulted in an escalation of fruitful research throughout Europe that eventually declined up to the outbreak of the Second World War. The post-war years were a period of the ‘dark ages’ that cast doubt on the very existence and nature of microglia, until the ‘renaissance’ of research was once again rejuvenated in the 1960s, by a new cohort of intrigued minds: Cammermeyer, Blinzinger, Kreutzberg and others who saw in the ‘third element’ the potential that is now commonly ascribed to microglia: the intrinsic immune effector cells of the CNS. It is now universally accepted that microglia are involved as the first line of rapid defence in any pathology of the nervous system, and as such, present a diagnostic tool for the neuropathologist. Although our knowledge of microglia stems from an extensive body of work conducted over the last two decades, much of the earlier work (pre-1960s) has remained somewhat obscure. This is partly accountable due to the limited availability of translated works, and additionally to the lack of a compendium of these articles. This paper will present a comprehensive overview of the pioneering research on mononuclear phagocytes within the central nervous system, which has direct bearing on our present-day understanding of the concept of microglia.
Can holism be practiced in a biomedical setting? A qualitative study of the integration of complementary medicine to a surgical department

In recent decades, complementary medicine (CM) has been increasingly integrated to conventional healthcare organizations, in which the biomedical profession clearly maintains dominance. Our objective was to investigate empirically what integration and ‘holism’ mean to the diverse professional groups involved and whether treatment becomes more holistic when CM is integrated. A qualitative study was conducted in a general surgery department at a public hospital in Israel. Data were collected by means of observations of medical encounters and daily work, and 30 in-depth interviews with medical directors, surgeons, senior nurses, CM practitioners and hospitalized patients. We found that most of the interviewed nurses, surgeons and directors and some patients believed that CM treatments were of value in addressing the psychological needs of patients within this predominantly somatic-oriented department. To CM practitioners and some of the patients, integration means introducing and practicing a holistic outlook in this biomedical context, which involves elements such as Qi, energy, soul and spirit. Such practices were directed to a suitable audience, namely, patients as well as conventional medical staff who were willing to explore a holistic approach. We concluded that patient care tends to become more comprehensive when CM is integrated. Despite the overall dominance of biomedicine, holistic CM practices were introduced to the biomedical setting of the hospital. Yet, the question whether holistic CM practices and perceptions will eventually lead nurses and physicians toward paradigmatic integration, has still to be examined.
Prostaglandin E2 Induced Functional Expression of Early Growth Response Factor-1 by EP4, but Not EP2, Prostanoid Receptors via the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinases*

Prostaglandin E2(PGE2) mediates its physiological effects by interactions with a subfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors known as EP receptors. These receptors consist of four primary subtypes named EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4. The EP2 and EP4 subtypes are known to couple to Gαs and stimulate intracellular cyclic 3,5- adenosine monophosphate formation, whereas the EP1 and EP3 receptors are known to couple to Gαq and Gαi, respectively. Recently we found that EP2 and EP4 receptors can activate T-cell factor signaling; however, EP2 receptors did this primarily through a cAMP-dependent protein kinase-dependent pathway, whereas EP4 receptors primarily utilized a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent pathway (Fujino, H., West, K. A., and Regan, J. W. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 2614–2619). We now report that PGE2 stimulation of EP4 receptors, but not EP2 receptors, leads to phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) through a PI3K-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, this activation of PI3K/ERK signaling by the EP4 receptors induces the functional expression of early growth response factor-1 (EGR-1). Under the same conditions induction of EGR-1 protein expression was not observed following PGE2 stimulation of EP2 receptors. These findings point to important differences in the signaling potential of the EP2 and EP4 receptors, which could be significant with respect to the potential involvement of EP4 receptors in inflammation and cancer.
Muscle wasting: a nutritional criterion to prioritize patients for liver transplantation

Purpose of review Cirrhosis is the result of the progression of necroinflammatory liver diseases leading to fibrosis, portal hypertension, and a catabolic state, which might cause muscle wasting or sarcopenia. In this review, we analyze the methods for muscularity assessment, the incidence and clinical impact of muscle wasting, and potential novel therapeutic strategies in cirrhosis. Finally, we evaluate the value of muscle wasting inclusion to conventional systems for liver transplant prioritization. Recent findings Muscle wasting is present in up to 45% of patients with cirrhosis and is associated with higher risk of sepsis-related death rather than liver failure mortality. Despite the fact that muscle wasting is not included in the scores for prognosis in cirrhotic patients, as in the case of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) or Child-Pugh, its presence should alert clinicians to the same extent as other complications do, such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or variceal bleeding. Two studies have shown increased mortality risk after liver transplantation in patients with muscle wasting, whereas one study did not. Modification of MELD to include muscle wasting is associated with a modest improvement in the prediction of mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Summary Muscle wasting is a frequent complication in cirrhosis and contributes to increased risk of sepsis-related mortality. The impact on mortality of muscle wasting after liver transplantation is controversial and needs further study. The MELD-sarcopenia score is associated with improvement in mortality prediction; however, prior to the widespread use of this composite score, validation in larger cohorts of patients with cirrhosis is necessary.
Open Versus Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Total Gastric Resection With D2 Lymph Node Dissection for Adenocarcinoma: A Case-Control Study

Objective: A case-control study was conducted to investigate the feasibility and safety of hand-assisted laparoscopic total gastrectomy (HALTG) with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer as opposed to traditional open total gastrectomy (OTG). Methods: One hundred fifty-four patients suffering cardia, upper, middle, or whole gastric cancer operated in our department from February 2009 to February 2012 were divided into 2 groups: the open total gastrectomy group (the OTG group) and the hand-assisted laparoscopic total gastrectomy group (the HALTG group). Operative time, estimated blood loss, number of lymph node retrieval, time to the first flatus, and postoperative hospital stay were compared between the 2 groups. Results: HALTG was associated with significantly less operative blood loss, shorter time to the first flatus and shorter postoperative hospital stay, but longer operative time, compared with OTG. There were no significant differences in tumor size, retrieved lymph nodes, American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union International Control Cancer staging and tumor location between the 2 groups. Negative resection margins were obtained in all patients who had undergone a hand-assisted laparoscopic gastrectomy (100%) and in all but 2 patients in the open group (97.6%). The overall observed 5-year survival rate was 56.5% in the HALTG group and 51.8% in the OTG group (P=0.0001, log-rank test). Conclusions: HALTG is a safe, feasible, and oncologically sound procedure and has advantages over ODG.
Suppression of Calcium-Induced Repolarization Heterogeneity as a Mechanism of Nitroglycerin's Antiarrhythmic Action

Abstract: This study examined whether the antifibrillatory action of nitroglycerin (NTG) is attributable to reduction in calcium-induced heterogeneity of repolarization independent of autonomic and coronary vasodilatory influences. The effects of intrapericardial (IPC) NTG on coronary blood flow, contractility, repolarization, and arrhythmia susceptibility were measured in anesthetized pigs (N = 43). Autonomic influences were minimized by vagotomy and β-adrenergic blockade (metoprolol, 1.25 mg/kg, intravenous). Electrophysiological parameters were tested at 30 min, a time when coronary hemodynamics had returned to baseline. Intracoronary calcium chloride (CaCl2, 50-mg bolus) injection augmented contractility (dP/dtmax, 1760 ± 144 to 2769 ± 274 mmHg/s, and following NTG, 1531 ± 384 to 2138 ± 242 mmHg/s, P < 0.0002), reflecting increased myocardial intracellular calcium. Calcium increased repolarization heterogeneity (interlead precordial T-wave heterogeneity, 95 ± 15 to 264 ± 33 μV, P < 0.006; Tpeak−Tend, an index of transmural dispersion of repolarization, 37 ± 3 to 76 ± 6 ms, P < 0.05) and lowered repetitive extrasystole threshold (RET; 24 ± 2 to 13 ± 1 mA, and following NTG, 32 ± 4 to 18 ± 1 mA, P < 0.0001). IPC NTG raised the RET from baseline by 33% and blunted calcium-induced contractility (dP/dtmax by 23%, P < 0.05), repolarization changes (T-wave heterogeneity by 24%, P < 0.006; Tpeak−Tend by 18%, P = 0.04), and arrhythmia vulnerability (RET by 39%, P < 0.003). Thus, the capacity of NTG to suppress calcium-induced repolarization heterogeneity is an important mechanism of its antiarrhythmic action, which is independent of autonomic and vasodilatory actions.
Tuberculosis and silica exposure in South African gold miners

Aims: To examine the effect of silica exposure, in the absence of silicosis, on the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), which is epidemic among South African gold miners. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 520 gold miners over 37 years of age. Length of service, and cumulative and average dust and quartz exposure indices were derived for each miner. Chest radiographs were read for PTB by two NIOSH “B” readers. PTB was defined as a self-reported history of PTB or PTB on chest radiograph. Logistic regression was used to adjust for age, smoking, and silicosis. PTB effects of different exposure metrics for silica, scaled on their interquartile range (IQR), were compared. Results: Means (ranges) were: age 46.7 (37.1–59.9) years; length of service 21.8 (6.3–34.5) years; average intensity of respirable quartz 0.053 (0–0.095) mg/m3. PTB prevalence was 19.4% (95% CI 16.0 to 22.8) on history alone, and 35.2% (95% CI 31.1 to 39.3) on history or on chest radiograph. Length of service was poorly predictive of PTB, while all exposure indices which included dust or quartz yielded prevalence odds ratios (PORs) of approximately 1.4 (95% CI ∼1.1 to 1.8) for changes of one interquartile range in exposure. Controlling for silicosis—by adjustment or restriction—did not modify these results. Drillers and winch operators had the highest PTB prevalences and the highest dust and silica exposures. Conclusion: Older in-service gold miners in South Africa have a high prevalence of PTB, which is significantly associated with dust and silica exposure, even in the absence of silicosis. Limitations include a survivor workforce and the use of cumulative exposures based on current exposures. Dust control is an important component in control of the PTB epidemic in South African gold mines.
Attribution Modeling Increases Efficiency of Bidding in Display Advertising

Predicting click and conversion probabilities when bidding on ad exchanges is at the core of the programmatic advertising industry. Two separated lines of previous works respectively address i) the prediction of user conversion probability and ii) the attribution of these conversions to advertising events (such as clicks) after the fact. We argue that attribution modeling improves the efficiency of the bidding policy in the context of performance advertising. Firstly we explain the inefficiency of the standard bidding policy with respect to attribution. Secondly we learn and utilize an attribution model in the bidder itself and show how it modifies the average bid after a click. Finally we produce evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed method on both offline and online experiments with data spanning several weeks of real traffic from Criteo, a leader in performance advertising.
High Roughness Time Series Forecasting Based on Energy Associated of Series

In this study, an algorithm to adjust parameters of high roughness time series based on energy associated of series using a feed-forward NN-based model is presented. The criterion for adjustment consists of building time series values from forecasted time series area and taking into account the roughness of series. These values are approximated by the NN to make a primitive calculated as an area by the predictor filter used as a new entrance. A comparison between this work and another that involves a similar approach to test time series prediction, indicates an improvement for certain sort of series. The NN filter output is intended to approximate the current value available from the series which has the same Hurst Parameter as the real time series. The proposed approach is tested over five time series obtained from samples of Mackey-Glass delay differential equations (MG). Therefore, these results shows a model performance for time series forecasting and encourage to be applied for meteorological variables measurements such as soil moisture series, daily rainfall and monthly cumulative rainfall time series forecasting.
Outcomes of long-term exercise training in dialysis patients: comparison of two training programs.

BACKGROUND Exercise training has been shown to improve the low functional capacity and quality of life in dialysis (HD) patients. However, there are no data about the outcome of long-term exercise training and, also, the adherence of HD patients in such long-term renal rehabilitation programs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2 modes of long-term physical training on HD patients' physical fitness, perception of health and overall life situation. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-eight HD patients, free of any other systemic disease, who followed 2 modes of exercise training for 4 years, were studied. Half of them (group A) were randomly assigned to participate in a supervised outpatient exercise training program (3/weekly) on the non-dialysis days, while the other half (group B) followed a training program with stationary bicycles during their HD sessions (3/weekly). The measured domains of physical fitness and well-being every year were: aerobic capacity, as estimated from a modified Bruce treadmill exercise test and spiroergometric study, the patients' perception of health, the overall life situation and the employment status. RESULTS During the 4-year study, there were 8 drop-outs in group A and 5 in B. No adverse effects of the exercise programs were reported. The 1 year of exercise training resulted in 38% in group A (16 patients, who remained in the study) and 31% in group B (18 patients) improvement of exercise time, and a 47% increase in group A of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and a 36% in group B in comparison to baseline value. After 3 additional years of training, significant improvements were also noted in exercise time (by 53% in group A and by 43% in B) and VO2peak (by 70% in group A and by 50% in group B), as well as in other gas exchange variables in comparison to baseline values. However, the improvements in group A were more pronounced than in B. Interestingly, the gains in exercise capacity were more enhanced in the first year of training in both groups. After 4-year training, significantly more patients in both groups perceived their health and overall life situation as well, compared to baseline. In addition, perception of improved health was higher in group A. The increase in the proportion of patients working was also higher in group A than B after the 4-year training. CONCLUSION HD patients can adhere to long-term physical training programs on the non-dialysis days, as well as during hemodialysis with considerable improvements in physical fitness and health. Although training out of HD seems to result in better outcomes, the drop out rate was higher.