Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blood pressure outcomes of dental patients screened chronobiologically: a seven-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND This article is a follow-up on a 1998 article in JADA. The blood pressure, or BP, of 23 of 24 normotensive patients was monitored at 15-minute intervals for a total of nine days, in three consecutive sessions of four, two and three days, respectively, separated by a few weeks. METHODS Twelve patients were reached by phone seven years after the prior chronobiologically interpreted monitoring to ascertain their cardiovascular status since the initial monitoring. RESULTS Only two of the 12 patients reached in follow-up had abnormalities in all three sessions, and only these two patients reported having experienced an adverse vascular event (one a myocardial infarction, the other coronary artery bypass graft surgery). The difference in outcome between the patients with chronobiological abnormality in all three sessions vs. the pool of those with abnormality in only two, one or none of the sessions is statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Even a five-day (and sometimes a longer) profile, while greatly preferred to single measurements, may not suffice for a definitive diagnosis of certain patients. Retrospectively, the 864 measurements, on the average, on each person in our study could have served for a recommendation to each person. Chronobiologically interpreted BP and heart rate monitoring for a week or longer as a start detects high-risk states that may be missed by conventional casual measurements that are rarely accompanied by one-day profiles. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The dentist has an important opportunity for conveying the importance of monitoring BP and heart rate for a week to detect an abnormal variability, and for implementing this monitoring. Dentists can educate patients regarding the need for screening and for interpreting the results for variability, and contribute to their overall health by referring them to their physicians when treatment is indicated.
Anatomic study of the dorsal arterial system of the hand.

UNLABELLED Historically, the dorsal arterial system of the hand received less attention than the palmar system. The studies concerning dorsal arterial anatomy present some controversies regarding the origin and presence of the dorsal metacarpal artery branches. Knowledge of the anatomy of dorsal metacarpal arteries is especially applied in the surgical planning for flaps taken from the dorsum of the hand. The purpose of this study is to analyze the arterial anatomy of the dorsum of the hand, compare our observations with those of previous studies from the literature, and therefore to define parameters for surgical planning for flaps supplied by the dorsal metacarpal arteries. METHOD Twenty-six dissections were performed at the dorsum of the right hand of 26 cadavers by making a distal-based U-shaped incision. After catheterization of the radial artery at the wrist level, a plastic dye solution with low viscosity and quick solidification was injected to allow adequate exposure of even small vessels. The radial artery and its branches, the dorsal arterial arch, the dorsal metacarpal arteries, the distal and proximal communicating branches of the palmar system, and the distal cutaneous branches were carefully dissected and identified. RESULTS The distal cutaneous branches originating from the dorsal metacarpal arteries were observed in all cases; these were located an average of 1.2 cm proximal from the metacarpophalangeal joint. The first dorsal metacarpal artery presented in 3 different patterns regarding its course: fascial, subfascial, and mixed. The branching pattern of the radial artery at the first intermetacarpal space was its division into 3 branches. We observed the presence of the dorsal arterial arch arising from the radial artery in 100% of the cases. The distance between the dorsal arterial arch and the branching point of the radial artery was an average of 2 cm. The first and second dorsal metacarpal arteries were visualized in all cases. The third and fourth dorsal metacarpal arteries were visualized in 96.2% and 92.3% of cases, respectively. There was proximal and distal communication between the dorsal arterial arch and the palmar system through the communicating branches contributing to the dorsal metacarpal artery formation. CONCLUSION At the dorsum of the hand there is a rich arterial net that anastomoses with the palmar arterial system. This anatomical characteristic allows the utilization of the dorsal aspect of the hand as potential donor site for cutaneous flaps.
Combined Effects of Levonorgestrel and Quinestrol on Reproductive Hormone Levels and Receptor Expression in Females of the Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

The effects of treatment with a combination of levonorgestrel and quinestrol (EP-1; ratio of 2:1) on reproductive hormone levels and the expression of their receptors in female Mongolian gerbils were examined. We show that serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) decreased, whereas serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) increased after EP-1 treatment. EP1 down-regulated mRNA expression of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and the estrogen receptor (ER) &bgr;in the ovary. EP-1 up-regulated the mRNA expression of the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and the progesterone receptor (PR) in the ovary as well as ER&agr; and PR in the uterus of Mongolian gerbils. The effects were time-dependent and dose-dependent. EP-1 had no obvious effects on ER&agr; mRNA expression in the ovary. The current study demonstrates that the effect of EP-1 on the expression of ER subtypes is tissue-specific in Mongolian gerbils. EP-1 disrupted the reproductive endocrinology of the Mongolian gerbil. These findings suggest that the effects of EP-1 on reproductive hormone levels and their receptor expression in Mongolian gerbils may be the result of synergistic actions of levonorgestrel and quinestrol, with quinestrol playing the major role.
A systems perspective of slip and fall accidents on icy and snowy surfaces

Current research on slips and falls has mainly focused on floors and/or contaminated floors. Although icy and snowy surfaces near melting temperature are more slippery, more important still, slip and falls on icy and snowy surfaces involve not only outdoor workers, but also pedestrians and the general public; and occur in cold regions and in the winter season in many parts of the world. However, in comparison with the size of the problem, research work done so far in this area has been limited. The objective of this paper is to present a systems perspective of slip and fall accidents, with special focus on its occurrence on icy and snowy surfaces. In order to explore the aetiology of slip and fall accidents further, and to provide the basis for prevention, the authors put forward a systems model towards the slips and falls on icy and snowy surfaces based on a review of literature and current knowledge. Various contributing factors are systematically discussed to highlight the multi-factorial nature of the problem, providing the possibility of a multi-faceted approach to reach systematic prevention. Unresolved issues related to slips and falls on ice and snow are also identified, which necessitate further research.
HPV genotype prevalence in women with abnormal pap smears in Melbourne, Australia

Carcinoma of the cervix and its precursor, high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/3), are associated with persistent oncogenic Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly HPV 16 and 18. HPV genotype distribution varies with severity of cervical disease, patient demographics such as age, as well as geographical location. In this study, HPV genotype prevalence was determined, using the Roche Linear Array genotyping test, among a cohort of 1,676 women being managed with ablative or excisional treatment following colposcopically directed biopsies, who were referred initially due to cytological abnormalities. HPV genotype prevalence, including presence of single and multiple infections was assessed against both histological diagnosis and age. Overall, 83.9% of women were identified as HPV positive, comprising of 32.2% single and 51.7% multiple HPV infections. Of those with an available histological diagnosis at time‐of‐treatment (n = 899), HPV positivity increased significantly with disease severity: 62.4% (normal), 77.6% (CIN1), 92.6% (CIN2), and 97.9% (≥CIN3) (P < 0.006). Similarly, a significant increase in high‐risk (HR) HPV detection was observed with severity of disease (P < 0.005). The five most prevalent genotypes were HPV 16 (35.1%), 31 (12.6%), 51 (11.1%), 52 (9.9%), and 18 (8.5%). HPV 16 was the only genotype to demonstrate a significant increase in prevalence with increasing severity of histological or cytological disease (P < 0.0001). Multiple HPV infections, including multiple HR‐HPV infections, declined significantly with age (P < 0.02). These findings provide the largest dataset of HPV genotype prevalence rates within Australian women, though are not representative of the general population. J. Med. Virol. 81:1283–1291, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Performance Analysis of Hybrid Metal–Graphene Frequency Reconfigurable Antennas in the Microwave Regime

This paper analyzes the potential application of graphene in microwave frequency reconfigurable antennas. Two multiband designs, one for wireless fidelity (WIFI), covering the frequency bands of 2.4, 3.6, and 5 GHz, and another for the cellular long-term evolution system, operating the frequency bands of 1.8, 2.5, 2.6, and 3.6 GHz, are evaluated to demonstrate the working principle and the performance tradeoffs. The designs are made mostly of copper with some parts made of graphene to enable reconfigurable behavior. The graphene material’s surface impedance is tuned by applying a direct current bias voltage, which allows to obtain one of two extreme values that emulate the ON and OFF states of common switches, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs), field-effect transistor, and p-type insulator n-type diode, or continuous values to mimic reconfigurable antennas loaded by varactors. This material switching modifies the electrical length of the current propagating through the antenna and consequently switches the resonant frequencies. Additionally, results show that hybrid metal–graphene frequency reconfigurable antennas can, at the same time, provide a tunable bandwidth and antenna matching.
Growth hormone reduces plasma cholesterol in LDL receptor‐deficient mice

Growth hormone (GH) has pleiotropic effects on cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism. Pituitary GH is important for the normal regulation of hepatic LDL receptors (LDLR), for the enzymatic activity of bile acid regulatory cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (C7αOH), and for the maintenance of resistance to dietary cholesterol. The present study aimed to determine whether GH has beneficial effects on plasma lipids and hepatic cholesterol metabolism in mice de‐void of LDLR. Compared with wild‐type controls, LDLR‐deficient mice had ~250% elevated plasma total cholesterol and ~50% increased hepatic cholesterol levels; hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity was re¬duced by 70%, whereas C7αOH activity was increased by 40%. In LDLR mice, GH infusion reduced plasma cholesterol and triglycerides up to 40%, whereas HMG CoA reductase and C7αOH activities were stimulated by ~ 50% and 110% respectively. GH also stimulated HMG CoA reductase and C7aOH activities in control mice, whereas hepatic LDLR and plasma lipoproteins were unchanged. The effects of cholestyramine and atorvastatin on C7αOH in LDLR‐deficient mice were potentiated by GH, and this was associated with a further reduction in plasma cholesterol. GH treatment reduces plasma cholesterol and triglycerides and stim¬ulates C7αOH activity in mice devoid of LDLR, partic¬ularly in combination with resin or statin treatment. The potential of GH therapy in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia should be evalu¬ated. —Rudling, M. , Angelin, B. Growth hormone reduces plasma cholesterol in LDL receptor‐deficient mice. FASEB J. 15, 1350–1356 (2001)
Regulation of c-fos expression by static stretch in rat myometrial smooth muscle cells.

OBJECTIVE We investigated whether mechanical stretch stimulates expression of the immediate early gene c-fos messenger RNA in rat myometrial smooth muscle cells. STUDY DESIGN Freshly isolated myometrial smooth muscle cells (from virgin rats) were plated on flexible culture plates that were coated with either collagen I, laminin, elastin, or pronectin and were subjected to a static stretch with a computerized strain unit. Immunocytochemistry was used to define smooth muscle cell phenotype, and c-fos expression levels were assessed by Northern blotting. RESULTS Myometrial smooth muscle cells maintained their phenotype for at least 7 days in culture. Stretch induced a dramatic increase in levels of c-fos messenger RNA, which peaked after 30 minutes. Stimulation of c-fos gene expression was dependent on the degree of stretch (maximum induction at 25% elongation). Interestingly, as little as 1 minute of stretch was sufficient to induce maximal c-fos expression at 30 minutes. The most dramatic induction of c-fos was observed in smooth muscle cells that were stretched on collagen I-coated plates. CONCLUSION Myometrial smooth muscle cells can directly respond to mechanical stretch with a strength- and matrix component-dependent increase in c-fos messenger RNA. The time delay between the initial stimulus and the cumulative elevation of c-fos messenger RNA suggests a complex regulation from mechanoreception to c-fos gene expression.
Allelic variants of cytochromes P450 2C modify the risk for acute myocardial infarction.

SUMMARY Cytochromes P450 (CYP) 2C8 and 2C9 are polymorphic enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of vasoactive substances from arachidonic acid including endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor. Inter-individual differences in the action of these substances might be important in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and hypertension. This study describes the relationship between genetic variants of CYP2C8 and CYP2C9, and morbidity in myocardial infarction in a large Swedish patient material. The study included 1172 AMI patients and 1503 control subjects (matched by age, sex and residential area) who participated in the Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program (SHEEP). Genotyping was performed by allelic discrimination using a 5'-nuclease assay for the CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 variants. To estimate associations to AMI risks, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The frequencies of CYP2C8*1, 2C8*3, 2C9*1, 2C9*2 and 2C9*3 variants in the control group were 0.91, 0.095, 0.83, 0.11 and 0.065, respectively. The risk of AMI in the female individuals carrying the *2 or *3 variant alleles of CYP2C9 and that of all individuals carrying the *3 variant of CYP2C8 was higher [OR (95% CI): 1.3 (1.0-1.9), P = 0.09; 1.5 (1.0-2.2), P = 0.06 and 1.2 (1.0-1.5), P = 0.07, respectively] compared to the groups with CYP2C8*1 and CYP2C9*1. Possession of rare genetic variants of the CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 genes in females is associated with a modest increase in risk of AMI. This might be related to genetic differences in the formation of endogenous vasoregulating eicosanoids.
Cholesteatoma Surgery: Residual and Recurrent Disease

This is an analysis of 1,024 primary cases of mastoid surgery for cholesteatoma operated upon during a ten-year period at the Otologic Medical Group, inc. Our philosophy of management of the mastoid in these cases has been as follows: 1) avoid an open mastoid cavity when possible; 2) perform the operation in two stages if necessary; 3) reexplore the mastoid and middle ear for residual cholesteatoma when indicated. One-third of 380 revised cases had residual cholesteatoma, disease left by the surgeon. In 260 cases in which the surgeon felt it unlikely that there was residual disease he found it in 23%. In 4% this residual cholesteatoma was found in the mastoid. The incidence of residual cholesteatoma was higher in children and in planned, as opposed to unplanned, revisions. Residual cholesteatoma was detected in the middle ear more frequently than in the epitympanum, and in the epitympanum more frequently than the mastoid. Indications for, and timing of, the reexploration are discussed. Recurrent cholesteatoma refers to a retraction pocket and must be differentiated from residual cholesteatoma; the causes, prevention and treatment are different. Recurrent cholesteatoma was detected in 5%. The most common complication of the disease was a labyrinthine fistula (10%). Operative facial nerve damage occurred in one case. The most common postoperative complication was graft failure (3%). Intact canal wall tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy should be performed as a two-stage procedure in most cases when used in the treatment of aural cholesteatoma.
Outcomes of ankle arthroplasty with preoperative coronal-plane varus deformity of 10° or greater.

BACKGROUND Preoperative talar varus deformity increases the technical difficulty of total ankle replacement and is associated with an increased failure rate. Deformity of >20° has been reported to be a contraindication to arthroplasty. We determined whether clinical outcomes of total ankle replacement in patients with ankle arthritis and preoperative talar varus deformity of ≥10° were comparable with those of patients with varus deformity of <10°. METHODS Thirty-six ankles with preoperative coronal-plane tibiotalar varus deformity of ≥10° ("varus" group) and thirty-six prospectively matched ankles with varus deformity of <10° ("neutral" group) underwent total ankle replacement. Preoperative and postoperative evaluations included AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society) ankle-hindfoot scores, Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) scores, Short Form (SF)-36 scores, and radiographic measurements of coronal-plane deformity. RESULTS The cohorts were similar with respect to age, sex, operatively treated side, body mass index, and components used, and the mean duration of clinical follow-up was 34.7 months. Eighteen (50%) of the ankles in the varus group had a preoperative varus deformity of ≥20°. Patients in the varus group underwent more ancillary procedures during the index surgery to achieve a plantigrade foot. The AOFAS score improved by a mean of 57.2 points in the varus group and 51.5 points in the neutral group. The AOS pain and disability component scores decreased significantly in both groups. The improvement in AOS and SF-36 scores did not differ significantly between the groups at the time of the final follow-up. Tibiotalar deformity improved significantly toward a normal weight-bearing axis in the varus group. Thirteen ankles in the varus group and six in the neutral group underwent additional procedures at a later date. CONCLUSIONS Satisfactory results can be achieved in patients with varus malalignment of ≥10°, which should not be considered a contraindication to total ankle replacement. Complication rates can be reduced by utilizing meticulous surgical technique and taking care to address all causes of the varus deformity, particularly through osteophyte debridement, correction of cavus deformity, and soft-tissue balancing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic level I. See instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Self-Esteem – a Psychiatric View

The literature relating to the acquisition, maintenance, and clinical significance of self-esteem reveals theoretical differences between earlier investigators. The nature of self-esteem remains controversial, and attention is drawn to some of the problems of construct validation and measurement. Despite the difficulties, self-esteem is a concept worthy of further pursuit. This will require a measuring instrument that captures the concept more effectively than those currently available.
ACTVOD-futures workshop – a generic structure for a one-day futures workshop

Purpose This paper introduces a generic structure for a futures workshop, developed especially to be used in brief practically oriented foresight projects. Based on experiences of tens of dozens of workshops where this method has been used, this paper aims to inform and educate practitioners of futures studies on the method and discuss its characteristics. Design/methodology/approach The design of the ACTVOD workshop method was influenced by the need to have a futures workshop design that would encourage creativity and allow for the hosting of a futures workshop in a rather short amount of time. ACTVOD takes advantage from several theoretical insights and methods within futures studies. It combines elements from heuristic problem-solving, scenario workshops (focus on finding action plans towards desired future) and soft systems methodology. Findings ACTVOD is a rather easy and time-efficient way of producing and collecting good-quality insights on the future and bringing those insights to a practical level. Major challenges using it relate to the transition between workshop stages and on reporting, which relies heavily on participants' activity. Originality/value This is the first time the characteristics of the ACTVOD workshop method are thoroughly introduced in an academic journal. Learning of the method would be useful for practitioners of participatory futures studies methods, especially those who are frequently invited to facilitate short workshops for varying audiences.
Frequency of blood-borne viral infections among leukemic patients in central Iraq.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other epidemiological criteria among leukemic patients to establish basic knowledge for future leukemic patients care. METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out between February 2006 and June 2008 in the Children's Central Teaching Hospital and Medical City Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. A total of 641 blood samples (291 samples from leukemic patients and 350 samples from controls) were collected and the sera were tested for the presence of HBV, HCV, CMV, EBV, and HIV serological markers. RESULTS A significantly higher prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected among leukemic patients (32.3%) than controls (2.3%). The seroprevalence of anti-HBs was 29.9% among patients, and 20.6% among controls. This difference was also found to be statistically significant. A significantly higher prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies among leukemic patients (3.4%) than controls (0.3%) was also detected. A higher prevalence of IgG and IgM markers specific for CMV (96.2% and 12% for patients; 91.6% and 8% for controls), and for EBV (88.3% and 26.5% for patients; 75.1% and 13.4% for controls), were detected among leukemic patients than controls, while none of the patients and controls were positive for HIV I and II markers. CONCLUSION We conclude that HBV, HCV, CMV, and EBV infections are more prevalent among leukemic patients. There was an increase in the seropositivity rates of HCV, CMV, and EBV infections with increasing ages of leukemic patients. The male leukemic patients were more exposed to HBV, HCV, and EBV infections than females.